Great Sage Path

Besides the City Lord's Mansion, the Bai family, along with two other prominent families, controlled most of the commerce, shops, banks, and martial arts venues in Mufeng City. Among them, the Bai family was the most powerful, the leader of the three major families. At this moment, in the main hall of the Bai family, the atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with a somber mood. Several elders and high-ranking members of the Bai family were present, with a middle-aged man seated at the head. He had thick eyebrows and fierce eyes, though somewhat thin, and a hooked nose, giving him a somber air. This man was Bai Shifeng, the acting head of the Bai family. In the main hall, almost everyone was focused on a young man standing in the center. This young man appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, somewhat thin, with smooth black hair and an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were very clear and bright. However, at this moment, his face was pale, his fists clenched, and he gritted his teeth silently. “Sun Sheng, you should understand our meaning. The family doesn't support useless people. With your current actions, to put it bluntly, you have no value whatsoever. Moreover… you shouldn't belong to the Bai family in the first place. After discussion among the elders, we've found you a place to stay in the south of the city. Take your severance pay and leave on your own,” said Bai Shifeng, the acting family head, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. The other high-ranking members of the family, looking at this young man named Sun Sheng, remained silent, some with pity, others with mockery. Sun Sheng clenched his fist, a cold smile playing on his lips. Not supporting useless people… what a useless person! To be honest, Sun Sheng didn't belong to the Bai family. His mother was a member of the Bai family, and the eldest daughter, Bai Shifeng's older sister, named Bai Ling. It was because more than ten years ago, Bai Ling defied the family's objections and married a wandering hermit, who was Sun Sheng's father, Sun Zheng. Later, Sun Sheng was born. Below him was a younger sister. Sun Sheng was the eldest, so those who knew him called him Great Sage. Speaking of which, Sun Sheng was no ordinary person. In this world, all those of high status cultivated qigong. The Bai family, being a prominent family in Mufeng City, was no exception. Originally, Sun Sheng's father, Sun Zheng, was not well-liked in the Bai family. However, after Sun Sheng was born, at the age of four, Sun Sheng displayed extraordinary talent in qigong cultivation. The initial stage of qigong cultivation is divided into four sub-stages: guiding qi, gathering qi, circulating qi, and refining qi. Beyond that lies the true qi, which can be released instantly with powerful destructive force, capable of injuring people from a distance and even shattering solid rocks. After Qi cultivation, one enters the true stage of Qigong practice, transforming Qi into Xuan Qi. This is the universally accepted form of Qigong in this world, refined with Xuan Qi, divided into nine stages. Only by passing through the Xuan Qi refinement and achieving perfection in all nine stages can one become a true Qigong master, revered by all. When Sun Sheng was four years old, he learned the Bai family's Dragon-Tiger Qi Refining Method, displaying astonishing talent. He could draw Qi within a month, gather Qi within six months, and move Qi within a year. By the age of six, he could already refine Qi. Furthermore, at the age of seven, Sun Sheng further cultivated his Qi, and within a mere three months, transformed his Qi into Xuan Qi, beginning Xuan Qi refinement. This extraordinary talent was unparalleled, not only within the Bai family, but even in Mu Feng City, and even within a radius of eight thousand miles centered on Mu Feng City, Sun Sheng's talent was one in a million. Bai Huatian, the head of the Bai family and Sun Sheng's maternal grandfather, valued Sun Sheng highly and devoted himself entirely to his upbringing. Sun Sheng, undeterred by the challenge, had already reached the seventh stage of Xuan Qi Refining by the age of twelve, astonishing the Zi Sect, a qigong sect tens of thousands of miles away! The Zi Sect was a top-tier sect within a radius of tens of thousands of miles, and even within Sun Sheng's own country, the Chu Kingdom. They cultivated extremely powerful qigong, and their practitioners possessed extraordinary abilities. It was said that Zi Sect masters could move mountains and fill seas, unleashing powerful supernatural abilities with their qigong to incinerate hundreds of miles of mountains. The Zi Sect granted four slots to the Bai family, making an exception to accept four members as disciples, all solely because the Zi Sect had taken a liking to Sun Sheng. However, this trip to the Zi Sect became a turning point in Sun Sheng's fate. During the sect's assessment, Sun Sheng, in protecting two members of the Bai family, offended a true disciple of the Zi Sect. This disciple, relying on his age and strength, fought Sun Sheng fiercely, causing him to vomit and even stomping on his dantian, breaking one of his legs. As a result, of the four members of the Bai family, Sun Sheng and the other two were eliminated, with only one gaining the favor of the Purple Sect and being recruited. Sun Sheng was carried back to the Bai family. Although the Bai family head, Bai Huatian, tried his best to stabilize Sun Sheng's dantian, Sun Sheng would never be able to cultivate qigong again for the rest of his life. Although his dantian had coalesced, it had cracked and could no longer store qi. Sun Sheng did not give up. For two consecutive years, he persisted in cultivating, more diligently than anyone else, getting up earlier and going to bed later than anyone else. But his original talent was ultimately gone forever. His ruined dantian meant that for the past two years, Sun Sheng could only remain at the stage of qi circulation, unable to break through. Now, in the main hall of the Bai family. Sun Sheng's body trembled violently. He asked himself if everything he had done was worth it. He suffered a devastating life-altering tragedy for the Bai family, only to be abandoned by them at his lowest point… Unfortunately, his parents were no longer with him… After his mother, Bai Ling, gave birth to a younger sister, his father, Sun Zheng, mysteriously disappeared with his child. Bai Ling herself left a month later, claiming she was searching for her husband and son, and never returned. Ten years have passed, and there has been no news of them; even the Bai family has abandoned them. Now, Sun Sheng is about to be abandoned by the Bai family. Who will speak for him? Who will protect him? He has been an orphan since childhood, losing both parents. Over the years, he has earned his status and respect through his own hard work and cultivation. But now, all those hopes were shattered by his trip to the sect two years ago. “Sun Sheng, do you have any objections?” In the center of the main hall, Bai Shifeng frowned, his displeasure evident as he saw Sun Sheng's hesitation. “Sun Sheng, you must understand, the Bai family is a prominent clan. You are no longer the genius you once were. Staying in the Bai family will only invite gossip. This is for the sake of the Bai family's reputation and your personal dignity. It's better to be alone.” Beside Bai Shifeng stood another person, Bai Shimin. He was Sun Sheng's third uncle, and he too issued a stern warning, his face indifferent, his eyes revealing undisguised disdain. “Don't you want to leave? You were never part of the Bai family. Staying here would only waste money on you every month.” The speaker was Bai Shimin's wife, Sun Sheng's third aunt. Her face was equally harsh; she glanced at Sun Sheng and turned her head away in disgust. “What else do you want? The Bai family has already treated you well. We built you a house in the south of the city and gave you an acre of land. Oh, and that ox in the backyard was something you found outside years ago. Keeping it in the family is a waste of resources; you can take it with you.” Bai Shimin said, waving his hand at Sun Sheng. Bai Shifeng, the acting head of the family, tapped his fingers on the table, frowned, and hesitated for a long time before saying, "How about this, I'll give you ten grade-three spiritual herbs as severance pay, is that alright?" "What! Ten grade-three spiritual herbs? Second brother, that's far too much! My son only gets two grade-three spiritual herbs a month. You're giving this good-for-nothing ten? He can't cultivate anymore, these ten grade-three spiritual herbs are just a waste!" Bai Shimin's wife immediately said, her words harsh and undisguisedly mocking Sun Sheng. "These ten grade-three spiritual herbs might be enough for you to earn a little money, enough to support yourself. Don't bother me anymore," Bai Shifeng said, his disdain for Sun Sheng growing stronger. In the main hall, Sun Sheng's chest heaved violently. He hated the Bai family for treating him this way, completely disregarding the reputation he had earned for the Bai family, even being beaten and having his dantian destroyed while protecting their descendants. Now they were kicking him while he was down. Finally, Sun Sheng took a deep breath and said, "Fine, I can leave. I have no complaints about how the Bai family has treated me. To you, I am indeed worthless now. However, although I, Sun Sheng, am young, I am not without ambition. I hope one day you won't regret this!" With that, Sun Sheng turned and limped towards the hall exit. His left leg, crippled years ago, had never healed, leaving him with a lingering ailment. "Oh, oh, oh, still not convinced? If you're so tough, then get out of here! You won't take a single needle or thread from the Bai family!" Sun Sheng's third aunt sneered. Sun Sheng reached the door, glanced back, and his eyes flashed coldly. That single look was like an icy abyss, causing his third aunt to inexplicably feel a chill and involuntarily take a step back. "Hmph!" Sun Sheng sneered, turned, and walked away without looking back. Watching Sun Sheng's retreating figure, everyone in the main hall fell silent. Bai Shifeng, Bai Shimin, and several elders of the Bai family around them all breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing smugness. Only Sun Sheng's third aunt, her face venomous, gritted her teeth and muttered viciously, "That brat has some nerve, daring to glare at me. Does he really think he's still the favored son of heaven he once was? My son, Bai Zhanfei, is far superior to you. He should really be taught a lesson by Zhanfei. A useless cripple dares to be so arrogant."