"There is no sin greater than betrayal.”


    — Liu Changfeng, Grand Marshal of the Dawn


    【Congratulations!】


    User [Liu Changfeng] Rejoice! For it is your time to be assimilated into The Fated Grand Marshal System!


    [User] Has been altered to [Challenger].


    You have unlocked the main quest: [Ember of Hope].


    A single ember can fade into ash or ignite a wildfire.


    Challenger [Liu Changfeng], your performance in this life will be appraised.


    Defy Fate. Struggle against Fate. Change Fate. Control Fate. Destroy Fate.


    Liu Changfeng groaned. Who is it? Whose loud voice is this spouting fated nonsense? The Jade Emperor himself!?


    One moment ago the world was black and dead, just like himself. So who the hell could’ve been talking to him?


    Before Liu Changfeng could think anymore, something violently jabbed into his ribs. His eyes flapped open and he shot up.


    “Third Brother, what is this white powder thing on your table?”


    Wha—Liu Yuan?


    Lui Changfeng blinked in confusion. His little brother…was alive? He blinked twice more but his surroundings didn’t change. How could one see such vivid scenes in death?


    The moment this thought flashed across his head, Liu Changfeng felt as though billowing waves had risen in his mind. He struggled to open his eyes and soon, a brilliant radiance spilled onto his vision. Not too far away from him, Liu Changfeng saw a pouting boy staring at him in displeasure.


    "I told you not to ignore me!"


    The little boy used his slim finger to jab Liu Changfeng once more.


    "Little brother?!"


    Liu Changfeng couldn''t believe what he was seeing. That little boy had eyebrows shaped like crescent moons, bright eyes, and white jade skin.


    But more than anything, the boy was his little brother who was supposed to be dead.


    He stared at his little brother’s face blankly. Forget that voice he heard after being beheaded, his mind was unable to react to this sight!


    Didn’t I die? He remembered clearly that at the very last moment, he finally killed the traitorous Xian Xueye. How was it possible for him to see his youngest brother here?


    Furthermore, his youngest brother was so tiny. This was obviously how he looked when he was about eight, and Liu Changfeng was five years older than him. If his youngest brother was only eight years old, didn''t that mean that he was…


    Thirteen!?


    Liu Changfeng lifted his arms. He saw a pair of skinny and pale arms.


    In that instant, Liu Changfeng was speechless. Had he come back to life?


    Joy and anxiety gripped Liu Changfeng''s old heart. More than that, he felt apprehensive.


    "Little brother, pinch me."


    Without hesitation, Liu Yuan did so. Around that tiny hand, there were faint white ripples.


    Those faint ripples of white energy seemed to congregate around his hand instead of dissipating into the surroundings. They looked mesmerizing—wait this is bad!


    That faint white layer symbolized a 9th Star Primeval Refining expert. How could he have forgotten that his younger brother possessed an Extreme Physique with unmatched cultivation? He’d die if Liu Yuan pinched him!


    "Wait wait wait! I was joking! Don’t!” He crawled back, but it was too late. The pesky child nabbed his leg, Primeval Energy crackling.


    “OW! LET GO! I YIELD.”


    “Oop.” Liu Yuan said. “Third brother, you can’t blame me! You told me to!”


    Liu Changfeng frowned from the agony pulsing in his leg but it cleared his head. His heart was heavy with many different emotions. He truly returned to the past!


    “Hm?” Liu Yuan tilted his head and frowned. “Are you feeling unwell? Is it because father scolded you?"


    “No…no–?”


    “Ah! Or is it this white powder!”


    Liu Changfeng shook his head, grabbing the packages of narcotics from Liu Yuan’s hands. With a smile, he hugged Liu Yuan, tightly. This was his younger brother, someone who loved his unsavory third brother dearly. The Liu Changfeng from back then couldn’t understand this. He wasn''t able to understand this love until he lost him…and everyone else who could’ve loved him and he regretted it.


    But the heavens had given him another chance! In this life he will not fail, he promises it.


    Liu Changfeng’s face darkened as he hugged Liu Yuan, hidden from his little brother’s sight.


    “Don’t worry, youngest. This brother is back.”


    Liu Yuan pushed back, his large beady eyes lifted in surprise. It was because his third brother was acting weird. The Liu Changfeng everyone knew lived without care, treating everyone beneath him despite having nothing of substance himself. He wasn''t the type to say such words.


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


    "Little brother, you should hurry back. You shouldn’t be here with me—if Father returns, he won’t be pleased!" Liu Changfeng laughed heartily.


    Liu Yuan’s face blanched. “Y-you’re right! Oh, but Mother told me to remind you to head to the grand hall to eat!”


    His little brother ran out, Primeval Essence lingered where he stepped.


    Liu Changfeng rubbed his forehead and realized that his hand was full of cold sweat. He really thought that Liu Yuan had managed to sneak in without anyone''s notice. Even if he managed to get past their father, he was unable to escape their mother''s all-seeing eye!


    With his little brother gone, Liu Changfeng closed the door and leaned against the wall. His face tilted slightly upward as he stared at the high roof of the luxurious room. His face slowly regained its calmness.


    He walked over to the balcony.


    What greeted him first was the sky, but not a sky he knew. Supple clouds drifted overhead—fresh air painted with blue and bright colors.


    Gone was the abysmal atmosphere of sweltering static, sprawling storms. He couldn’t spot a sign of those crimson lightning bolts that swept the skies like trailing willows.


    Everything that happened during his moment of death flowed through his mind, and eventually, he recalled the brilliant shooting star that had streaked across the sky just as he was beheaded. Then, old distant memories he thought had been buried by the weight of old age surged forth as he took in the fresh air of home.


    He laughed wildly.


    A shooting star that returned him to the past?


    It sounded like the stuff of legend, the tale of a hero. Not for an old soul who failed in the end.


    Regardless, he had returned. He had truly returned to this day, almost seventy years ago!


    More importantly, this was the era of prosperity! This was before the Great Disaster—before those horrific Nightmare Gates descended and abominations wreaked havoc. This was when the Great Luan Empire stood at its pinnacle!


    The vast eastern seas, the western ridges, the southern jungles, and the northern plains—all were part of this empire’s sphere of influence.


    The Luan Empire dominated all foreign countries. Furthermore, its military was filled with countless generals of extraordinary caliber, and it was reputed to possess the ''Radiance of the Hundred Generals.''


    Without a doubt, this was the center of the world.


    But great strength facilitates stagnancy. The illusion of prosperity enamored all.


    Only Liu Changfeng knew how close the Luan Empire was to destruction. Such was the fate of an empire stretched too far and thin.


    His beloved homeland lit in flames before him. As such, the powerful Liu Clan of generals fell. He lived his previous life like a scoundrel, only turning a new leaf when everything was already destroyed. It took the loss of everything before he turned his life around.


    However, with the memories and experience of his previous failures, he will not allow the same situation to reoccur!


    "I will not allow the Great Luan I hold so dear to fall," he pronounced, shouting up into the too blue sky as if someone up there were listening.


    First, he must prevent the downfall of his household.


    How can one hope to command the tides of the world without first steadying their own ship? If he cannot mend the cracks in his foundation, how can he withstand the storms to come?


    —


    The Liu Clan of generals had many blood descendants. However, regardless of their status, as long as they were in the capital, they had to return home for the weekly family meal.


    If things progressed as they did in his previous life, at this time, his father should have returned for dinner by now.


    This was the last day of Liu Changfeng''s punishment after vicious rumors said he…violated a common girl. He didn’t, of course, but he did take the blame for it on his so-called ‘friend’, Feng Mo, who performed the cruel act.


    In his previous life, Liu Changfeng was a straightforward brat. He was ignorant in the ways of the world. Never would he believe that the other scions were so scheming against him like snakes in the grass.


    These fellows used his name to fool around outside. In the end, he was even labeled with the sin of defiling a commoner. The other matters could be forgiven, but such a vile act was truly beyond him. His Lord Father, a general of the Great Luan, was forced to deal with his unruly son.


    From then on, his father gave up all hope on this unfilial scoundrel of his and never bothered with him again. Liu Changfeng faded away from the Liu Clan for years until he happened on a chance to help fight against foreign powers and the Nightmare Gates.


    Not this life. Liu Changfeng was fully aware that he only had this meeting to redeem himself.


    “Third young master!” A pair of rough voices said.


    Two young men with broad shoulders and towering stature dominated the scene. Their presence felt like an indomitable tower, and with a single glance, it was clear that they had endured numerous wars on the battlefield.


    Life has been tough on you two.


    Liu Changfeng wore a bitter smile.


    He remembered these two guard captains. His father, Liu Dong Tu, had specially chosen them from the army to guard the Liu Clan’s residence.


    In his previous life, Liu Changfeng didn''t care much about these guards, not even knowing their names. After the Liu Clan’s fall, only these two guards and a few other servants stayed closely by their side.


    Only at that moment did their names etch deeply into Liu Changfeng''s mind.


    “I’ll be heading inside, Han Zhen, Jiang Yun.”


    "Y-Young master?"


    The two guards stared at Liu Changfeng in astonishment. In the past, this young master often acted haughtily and arrogantly, thinking that it was unbefitting for him to speak with such lowly guards. Taken ab,ack they awkwardly fumbled with the gate before ushering Liu Changfeng inside.


    Liu Changfeng’s old soul knew what they were surprised about but he simply smiled and brushed past them.


    It’ll take time, but this young master will change.


    Before Liu Changfeng could clearly make out anything, the deep aroma of various delicacies that made one salivate reached his nose. In the massive hall, a large table that was sufficient for more than a dozen clan members to sit by was placed in the middle.


    Yet no one ate except his voracious brother, Liu Yuan.


    Liu Changfeng’s heart sank. In this life and the last…shame never got easier. Lifting his head to take a glance, he saw the grim expressions on the faces of his father and his mother.


    His father, Liu Dong Tu, wore a tranquil expression, but the furrowed brow was all Liu Changfeng needed to see to understand his father''s true feelings.


    His mother had soft eyes, yet her knuckles were white as she clutched his father’s arm.


    Liu Dong Tu sighed. "You’re late—"


    Before his father could say another word, Liu Changfeng collapsed to his knees. He slammed against the hardwood floor and kowtowed.


    "Father, Mother," he said, bowing deeply until his forehead touched the floor. "This unfilial son has failed you. I have brought dishonor upon myself and our family. Please forgive me."


    The room grew deathly quiet. Even Liu Yuan paused his eating, his chopsticks hovering midair as he looked on in surprise.


    Liu Dong Tu, his father, was mute. The man eyed his son with clear distrust.


    Liu Changfeng knew that he was in no position to beg for forgiveness. Time after time, they were forced to clean after his mess for the name and dignity of the clan. Throughout the last five years, his fuckups had been too many to count. He would ask to be forgiven as many times as it took.


    –SLAM!!!


    Liu Changfeng battered his forehead down. “I will sever all ties to Feng Mo and the other scions! This son will turn over a new leaf starting today. I swear it.”


    That’s right. I swear it. I won’t fail. He thought, holding back tears away from sight.


    [The Third Son’s Catalyst of Change: 10 Fate Shards Obtained!]