Myriad Streams Peak towered over the surrounding mountains, its peak wrapped in mist. Waterfalls streamed upward into the sky. A jade palace stood at the summit, from which authority rushed downward.

  Three noble figures stood at the edge of the summit, watching the waterfalls climb into the sky.

  They were Liu Xueyin and Liu Jinghan, from the Zhan Branch, as well as Family Head Liu Zhenyi, from the Xu Branch.

  Zhenyi tapped his finger to his wrist in perfectly timed intervals. “So you finally managed to rein in a thirteen year old?” he chuckled.

  Liu Xueyin frowned, but Jinghan’s grin widened as he stepped closer to Zhenyi. “He’s an astute junior. He threw out Xueyin’s token when he realized something was amiss.”

  He side-eyed Xueyin. “Fortunately, my immortal foundation—Abyssal Mirror—was able to rectify the situation. Zhenyi, your Xu Branch will gain a truly exceptional young talent.”

  Zhenyi didn’t look at Jinghan, instead staring out into the endless mist. “And what good will that be? Once the Yan Family resolves their issue and delivers their Judgement…”

  He trailed off, finally turning towards Jinghan and Xueyin. “That junior will be more connected to the Xu Branch than I am. What use will he be?”

  Xueyin finally stepped in. “The Judgement may arrive in decades, or even never. We’re handing an Earth-grade genius to you on a silver platter—and paying for it as well.”

  Zhenyi shook his head. “That expert that you’re bringing in to transfer your karma, would he happen to be from the Yan Family?”

  Xueyin and Jinghan shot each other an awkward glance and remained silent. Zhenyi guessed as much and shook his head.

  “Do what you need to do. Xu or Zhan, we’re all Liu. Just make sure to probe that Yan member while he’s here.”

  Jinghan and Xueyin both let out sighs of relief that didn’t go unnoticed.

  Jinghan let out a slight laugh and spoke more casually. “Also, Liu Yuming mentioned to his instructor that he displayed weakness in saving his brother, a weakness that nearly cost him his life. He is seeking Xuehan for guidance.”

  Zhenyi’s eyes brightened slightly. “Xuehan has always been best at scaring children. If he’s ours, it’s better for him to be competent. I’ll send her down.”

  The three exchanged some brief words before the two Zhan cultivators departed. Zhenyi quickly glanced towards Vermillion Rose Abode.

  Liu Yuming… how can we use him?

  Wanxiu does need juniors for the Ancestral Tree matter…

  ….

  The next day.

  Yuming was meditating at the pond, trying to understand his recent experiences.

  Something was wrong.

  His cultivation had grown sluggish over the past two days, each cycling session felt like moving through mud.

  Then he took one of the pills that Liu Jinghan provided him.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The effect was immediate, far more potent than any other pill he’d consumed. He might have assumed it was because Jinghan gave him an expensive pill, but he cultivated the Unbroken Ledger.

  He felt as if the weight above him was lifting him up.

  Debt flows up, and now I only rise through their channels.

  He was deep in thought when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he saw it was Instructor Zhao.

  “Yuming, you’re wanted at the Hall,” he said softly, his voice shaking.

  Yuming noticed his trembling voice and immediately knew what this was about.

  Liu Xuehan is here this quickly?

  He made his way towards the courtyard and thought about why that was.

  She’s not Zhan, she’s Xu.

  Maybe she loves talented juniors, or maybe Xu Branch is now investing in me as well.

  He slowed his pace.

  But that doesn't make sense. Why would the Xu Branch care about me? I’ve never interacted with them.

  He had always found it strange that Xu let the Zhan Branch scheme so openly.

  Am I being transferred?

  He entered the familiar Instructor Hall, turned a corner, and saw a beautiful woman examining a jade slip.

  She wore layered silk robes, laced with silver that caught the eye. She stood aloof, in a palace dress meant for halls of power, not Instructor Hall.

  Liu Xuehan!

  “This Junior pays respects to the Ancestor!” Yuming declared with a bow.

  “Rise.” Xueyin proclaimed.

  She stared at his navel.

  “Your cultivation is inadequate given your talent,” she stated simply.

  “This Junior is incompetent… this Junior has struggled with the cultivation technique generously provided by the Ancestor!”

  Xuehan’s lips curled slightly. “Oh? You seemed confident you’d be able to handle it.”

  Yuming shook his head. “This Junior was mistaken. This Junior has found it difficult to comprehend without further references.”

  So he wants the entire technique. Zhenyi did say to give him help.

  Yuming waited. The silence stretched.

  He pushed slightly. "If this Junior had access to the full text, this Junior could—"

  “Dantian Awakening.”

  “A-Ancestor?”

  “You won’t be able to read jade scripts until you reach Dantian Awakening. Reach Dantian Awakening and you can receive the rest.”

  Yuming opened his mouth, but Xuehan didn’t give him a chance to continue.

  “You saved your brother, risking your life. You would have died if not for Jinghan.”

  Her eyes drifted upwards.

  “And now you want me to remind you why your decision was incorrect.”

  Yuming nodded.

  Xuehan sighed. “Your brother is a mortal. Do you remember what I told you about mortals?”

  “That they’re not fully real. That Heaven and Earth maintain them.”

  Xuehan locked eyes with him.

  “And what does that mean for his life?”

  Yuming fell silent.

  “It means his form is a reflection—his true existence isn’t defined. He will live, grow old, and disappear. In the eyes of the Sea, nothing ever changed.”

  She let that settle.

  “You nearly died for a ripple.”

  Yuming thought back to his brother’s trembling arm.

  “A cultivator is different,” Xuehan continued. “Every day you cycle qi, every action that is witnessed, you are etching yourself into the fabric of existence.”

  She looked at him, waiting for him to respond.

  Yuming bowed and shifted the conversation.

  “That demon—Chen Fang—he used a certain technique that induced great guilt. I believe that technique played a role in this junior’s unwise decision.”

  Xuehan clicked her tongue.

  “He was cultivating towards the Spring Mandate Root immortal foundation. It is tricky to deal with. What did it make you feel?”

  Yuming responded promptly. “It amplified my doubts and turned them against me.”

  “What doubts?”

  Yuming’s head drifted down. His response was genuine, not acting.

  “Th-that I’m becoming a monster.”

  Xuehan showed no reaction. "And Liu Hanwei? She was affected as well."

  This question was rhetorical. Xuehan continued, “She was a Qi Condensation cultivator, yet the technique worked on her too. Why would guilt destabilize someone like her?”

  Yuming remained silent.

  “Think.”

  Yuming realized this question wasn’t rhetorical. “I-I suppose that everyone has guilt?”

  Xuehan shook her head. “Close, but that’s not how the technique works. Chen Fang’s technique found fractures in her identity and pulled them open.”

  She paused.

  “But those fractures already existed.”

  She turned her gaze back to Yuming.

  "And you. Your fracture is worse than hers."

  "W-why?"

  “Hanwei had one identity with a crack in it. You have multiple. Chenming the mortal’s son. Yuming the prodigy.”

  Yuming fell into thought.

  Chenming saves his brother, Yuming feels disgusted. Chenming saves mortals, Yuming experiments on humans.

  “Each identity is witnessed, each one is real to the Sea. That’s not just a fracture.”

  “It’s a fault line.”