Shen Haoran was a small boy from the youngest generation.
He attended Shen Liqian's cultivation sessions along with Shen Kexin, whom he considered his rival.
The reason?
She called Chief Liqian "big brother" which made him jealous.
He declared Shen Kexin his rival in front of his entire class and Shen Liqian.
"I will reach the First Realm of Qi Attunement before everyone else and you, Kexin!
"I will become Chief Liqian's little brother!"
He then cupped his hands to the Clan Chief and got straight to cultivation.
It was his first show of courage and conviction.
Yet, his baby cheeks and ears were so red that Shen Liqian chuckled and held himself back from pulling at them.
"That's a promise, Xiao Haoran."
After fulfilling that promise, Shen Haoran sprinted across the village straight to Shen Kexin's house.
He knocked on the door with a little too much enthusiasm.
Shen Kexin pulled the door ajar and peeked outside.
Once she saw her classmate, she opened the door wide and looked at him.
"Haoran?"
Shen Haoran rubbed his nose.
"I am Chief Liqian's little brother now!
"I am at the First Realm of Qi Attunement!"
His words reached Shen Kexin's parents.
Both opened their eyes and stared at the little one in shock.
It hadn't been long since Shen Haoran's first cultivation session with Shen Liqian, yet he had already connected one of his Spiritual Roots to his Dantian.
It was a groundbreaking event!
His parents must have been proud and ecstatic about it.
Without a doubt, it would be best for everyone if Shen Haoran had nine Spiritual Roots.
If not, at least seven.
"You're amazing, Xiao Haoran," Shen Kexin's mother said, her smile gentle.
Her husband nodded, his smile just as wide.
Shen Kexin pouted and looked away.
"I will catch up today!"
"Hehe!
"You don't have to!
"You are just a girl!"
Shen Haoran stuck out his tongue and turned around, sprinting across the village.
Little did he know that in the future he would be the one to chase after Shen Kexin.
Shen Kexin harrumphed and closed the door, then jumped into her mother's lap and began cultivation again.
This time, she had even more reason not to lose to anyone!
Meanwhile, Shen Haoran ran across the village straight to the Clan Chief's Manor.
He was like a little snowball as his short legs blurred.
His mother, Shen Siyu, was in his way.
She easily scooped him up and held him against her.
"Where are you running to?
"Have you met Xiao Kexin?"
She asked softly, her forehead creased.
Shen Haoran beamed at his mom.
"I saw Kexin!
"I must see Big Brother now!"
Her little one had already called Shen Liqian his brother a few times, so she knew who he meant.
It also meant her son wanted to barge into the Clan Chief's Manor!
Despite knowing her son had made a promise with Chief Liqian, Shen Siyu paled at the thought of him bothering the Chief.
"How many times must I tell you not to bother Chief Liqian?!"
Shen Haoran swallowed hard.
"You must never bother Chief Liqian!
"Wait until the next cultivation session!"
Shen Haoran nearly teared up, but he was now the strongest cultivator of his generation, so he stopped his tears.
He nodded to the tyrant known as his mom.
Shen Siyu's smile softened.
"Come, we will make a snowman!"
"Oh! Let's go!"
His mom was no longer the tyrant.
———
Unaware that a little snowball was about to cause chaos and would soon be stopped by his mom, Shen Liqian excitedly stared at the wheel in front of him.
Various items flashed in front of him on the wheel's face.
It's fun to see it spinning.
What kind of reward will I receive this time?
At last, the wheel stopped.
Shen Liqian leaned forward.
[You have obtained A Lucky Karma Cauldron(Spirit)]
It was without a doubt an alchemy cauldron.
Shen Liqian received the reward and set it in front of him.
As he was still seated in the lotus position, the black cauldron's belly overshadowed him.
At a glance, the cauldron didn't look special at all.
It was black, round, and its polished steel shone with newness.
Its design was as simple as it could get.
Shen Liqian looked at its description.
[A Lucky Karma Cauldron (Spirit): A cauldron that can link to its owner's Spirit and read its karma from the current life and past lives.
[Depending on the karma, the concocts either receive positive or harmful effects.]
How on earth is such a grand item only at the Spirit Grade?
It can literally tell whether someone was a good or bad person in their previous lives!
It's… awesome, to be honest!
Since it had been confirmed that his mother had a talent for alchemy, Shen Liqian picked up the cauldron and shoved it into his spatial ring to quickly present it to her.
He'd had no way to give her anything his entire life because he'd been so unlucky.
That had now changed, and he couldn't wait to spoil his parents.
They deserved it all.
Thank you, Little Brother Haoran.
I will reward you in the future with great items!
You deserve them as well.
Shen Liqian knew that using his system with strict fairness wouldn't be the best move.
He needed to strengthen those with potential and reward others adequately.
It didn't mean he would forget about his people's hard work.
Shen Haoran would receive an adequate reward in the future once other clan members began reaching their breakthroughs.
Given that he was the first one to reach the First Realm of Qi Attunement, Shen Haoran surely had enough talent to attract Chief Liqian's attention and gratitude.
Shen Liqian left his vassals in his cultivation abode and walked to where his mother was with a spring in his step.
No one could wipe away his smile, a little mischievous as he prepared to pull a magic trick and summon a present for his mother.
Can't wait to see her reaction!
Zhiyin stared at him.
Liqian's so cute.