Chapter 2: Difficult Times

Seventeen years have passed since the day of Qin Yun's birth.

It's hadn't been easy seventeen years though, since many problems came from every way possible.

The moment Qin Yun was blessed by the Phoenix Goddess, his family was thrown out of inner court to outer court with his mother's status similarly decreasing.

It was all thanks to his 'father', the sect master of Heavenly Lightning sect.

Blessing of the Phoenix had aroused others envy and greed, and among these people were some who were quite influential but if his father had wanted to protect him, then even those of highest status in whole central continent would not dare to try anything against them, but his father simply didn't care and had thrown them out at the time of need.

If it were his legitimate children who were blessed, they would be heiled as great holy sons/daughters and would be protected all day and night.

While they were demoted in status, those great powers of central continent didn't dare to do anything out in the open, but that was only on surface they definitely didn't care about what happened in the dark.

Assassination attempts at his life were quite frequent and it was all thanks to his mother who saved his life at the stake of her own.

It was only when his aunt Xie Ling had sent someone to protect his family that the people who threatened his life had seized their actions.

The world of cultivation was vast, and people with great cultivation lived long lives.

His mother was Already approaching her 70's and even Xie Ling, his aunt was already above 80's.

Even his father, the sect master of Heavenly Lightning sect was already more than two centuries old, yet they all looked young and vibrant.

Even if Qin Yun wanted grow strong he would need time, and people of central continent were quite patient so they didn't rush it and waited for the moment of opportunity to show up.

Thinking like this, Qin Yun couldn't help but sigh, his life had been hard, hanging on a thin line of thread.

His sister's that were once young had now all grown up and were quite powerful, they were the main source of income (mostly cultivation resources) of their family.

His aunt Xie Ling had also helped them a lot.

While Qin Yun called her aunt, she wasn't actually his aunt, she was in fact principled wife of his father.

Normally, she should be hostile towards them, after all her husband had intimate relationship with his mother, but they were in fact quite close.

It was because of their past relationship, they were junior and senior sisters during their time as disciples of the sect and their bond had only grown stronger with time.

While Xie Ling was from a high ranked noble family, his mother was of more humble Origin.

When Xie Ling had been betrothed to his father, he would often come to visit her in sect.

It was during that time his father met his mother, at that time he had been a good man, he promised his mother that he would marry her and his mother, who had been foolishly in love with him had given her everything to him.

But, even after he had two children with his mother, he had not fulfilled his promise and even before he was born, he had completely cut his connection with her.

If it weren't for Xie Ling they would have been long since thrown out of the sect, and h was thankful for that.

All of this had been told to him by his aunt Xie Ling whenever he visited her.

Like his mother, Xie Ling also had three children, oldest was her daughter, Zhang Xi.

Zhang Xi was a bold woman who lived for battles, and people called her battle angel. It was said that she had inherited this trait from her mother who was similarly called war princess during her younger days.

Zhang Xi was quite good to Qin Yun and his family and was even his older sister's master, she was already nearing sixty in age and yet she hadn't married, of course few people cared about this since cultivators have long life span and could marry lately, like his father who had married when was he almost one and half centuries old.

Second was her son, Zhang Long.

He was what would be called as cultivation maniac. He lived for cultivation and might even die for cultivation.

His obsession towards cultivation was so great that he had left his home at the age of 20 to wander around the world. Of course his father had been disappointed with his actions since he was going to be the next heir to the sect but Zhang Long simply didn't care.

It has already been 18 years since he left, and Qin Yun had never seen him.

Third was her daughter, Zhang Ruo Yu.

She was Qin Yun's age only a few months older and had quite a Competitive personality. She considered herself as Qin Yun's rival and challenge him for battle whenever she liked.

While Qin Yun felt annoyed by her personality, he didn't complain since her company had always managed to give him some peace.

And among all of them, his bond was stronger with Zhang Ruo Yu, because he spent most of his time with her.

His mother Qin Yi, who was previously an outer court elder, a 6 Rank Martial Emperor cultivator was now an outer court elder, her salary had also been lessened compared to inner court's.

She was a kind woman unlike her senior sister Xie Ling who would resort to violence whenever a conflict arose.

And Qin Yun thought that it was because of this kindness of her's that she had fallen pray to sect master's advances.

Qin Xaing was Qin Yun's oldest sister, and was one of the cultivation genius of her generation (Zhang Xi, Zhang Long and Zhang Ruo Yu included).

She was like Zhang Xi, a person who liked to fight no matter how small the reason.

It was because she looked up to Zhang Xi that her personality matched her's. She was also quite powerful, at the cultivation level of Rank 4 Martial King.

While on the other hand his second sister, Qin Yutong was not that talented.

She could be considered above average but not at the realm of genius, it was mostly because her physique was of low rank, only at Earthly mortal level.

But she was quite hardworking and had managed to cultivate upto Rank 8 Martial Lord.

While his big sister, Qin Xaing had inherited her father's blonde hair and blue eyes, his younger sister had only inherited her father's blue eyes and her mother's black hair.

They both looked very beautiful having inherited their looks from their mother.

Qin Yun on the other hand looked quite similar to his mother, he had inherited her black hair and eyes and his face was quite handsome.

Being seventeen years old, he stood at 160cm of height and had well defined muscular physique.

The flaming mark in the middle of his brows only enhanced his charm, it seemed alive as if it would burst with flames at any given moment.

The flaming make was golden-red in colour with white edges, and seemed to be constantly moving like a burning flame.

Having the blessing of Phoenix Goddess, his cultivation level had risen smoothly.

While his speed wasn't absurdly fast, it wasn't slow either, it could compare or even slightly surpass his brother and sisters.

But even so Qin Yun felt useless because he still wasn't strong enough to let his family live in peace.

'sigh, life is hard but no matter how hard it becomes I will always strive to become strongest and let my family live in peace and comfort.'

---------------------

Author's note: Yo! How ya doing?Good?

Okay, then I'ma gonna explain something's here like cultivation level and Physique's.

First, I will be releasing an auxiliary chapter that will explain cultivation levels.

Second, Physique's will be explained soon when the plot reaches there, for now just know, that Physique's at Mortal level are divided into three: Yellow, Earthly and Heavenly.

•Yellow level Physique are those who possess innate divine strength, there is no special attribute attached to them. It's also called false Physique.

•Real Physique's start from Earthly level and have attributes attached to them, but they are also the lowest level Physique's and doesn't give much boost in one's potential and talent.

Ex: MC's sister has Wind Wings Physique, it lets her deploy wing made of wind element and makes her faster than those at the same cultivation level as her and even increases her affinity with wind element.

On the other hand, MC's mother has Shadow Domain Physique, which is at Heavenly mortal level.

It lets her deploy a dome of darkness where no light is present, it can also cut targets senses making them easy prey.

It also enhances her agility and masks her presence, making her the most perfect assassin.

Other things will be explained later on, for now just do with it.