Dying wasn't as dramatic as people made it out to be. No fshing montage of my life, no mysterious figure guiding me into the afterlife. Just me clutching my chest in a dimly lit office, while my computer screen insisted I had an overdue spreadsheet update.

  One second, I was mindlessly scrolling through reports, ignoring the fifth email from HR about mandatory training. The next, there was this weird pressure in my chest, like someone had shoved a brick into my ribs. I blinked. My fingers went numb. The pain grew worse.

  That's when I realized: "Oh, I think I'm dying."

  I wanted to call for help, but my throat tightened. My vision blurred. And in my st moments, as my head hit the desk, I had one st thought: "Who's going to delete my browser history?"

  Then everything went dark.

  No divine voice offered me a second chance. Just the endless, suffocating void.

  Until I opened my eyes again and found myself in a crib.

  At first, I thought I was in a hospital. Maybe I survived the heart attack? Then I noticed the wooden beams overhead, the smell of incense and medicine, and worst of all—I had tiny baby hands.

  Reincarnation wasn't as fun as novels made it sound. For one, being a baby sucked. I was born into the Chi Merchant Family, one of the wealthiest trading families in the region. That sounded nice on paper, but in reality, it meant I was the fourth child in a cutthroat family where business and strength determined your worth.

  My siblings? Future merchants and cultivators. Me? A helpless baby with noodle arms.

  I had to endure years of being coddled, spoken to in baby talk, and worst of all, diaper changes. I don't care how strong someone is; there's no dignity in being wiped down by a servant five times a day.

  By the time I was three, I had mentally accepted my fate. By five, I figured out my family dynamic. And by six, I realized something important: I needed to make myself useful.

  The Chi Family wasn't just rich; they were ruthless. My father, Chin Ren, was a man of calcutions, not emotions. He valued results. If you weren't useful, you were forgotten. And my mother? She was beautiful, graceful, and emotionally distant. She cared for me, sure, but in the same way, someone cares for a delicate vase—with admiration but no real attachment.

  In this world, there are cultivators, and the realms are known as:

  Qi Condensation: The foundation stage where cultivators learn to absorb and refine spiritual energy (Qi).Foundation Establishment: The cultivator solidifies their Qi, creating a base for further advancement.Core Formation: The spiritual energy is condensed into a "core," significantly increasing power.Nascent Soul: The cultivator forms a spiritual soul, allowing for greater control over energy and the use of advanced techniques.Soul Transformation: Focuses on refining the soul and achieving a deeper connection to the ws of the universe.The realms beyond remain unknown.

  In this world, spirits assist you on your cultivation journey. Here are the ways to obtain them:

  Born with a Spirit: Most cultivators are born with a spirit. Its tier is random, but bloodlines can influence its power.Spirit Contracts: Cultivators can form bonds through rituals or spirit artifacts, but it's difficult and costly, especially for higher-tier spirits.Spirit Awakening: Some unlock their spirit ter in life, triggered by cultivation breakthroughs or intense experiences.One Spirit Only: A cultivator can only bond with one spirit.Repcing a Spirit: To repce a spirit, the cultivator must perform a ritual, which is difficult and may come at a high cost, especially if the spirit is of a higher tier. Each one has its unique powers and its own cost to use them.| Tier 1 | Basic help with cultivation | No significant price | | Tier 2 | Moderate cultivation | No significant price | | Tier 3 | Advanced cultivation | Major sacrifice | | Tier 4 | Legendary cultivation | Severe sacrifice | | Tier 5 | Divine cultivation & | Tremendous price |

  Our spiritual bloodline is that of the Verdant Bloom Deer:

  Verdant Bloom DeerTier: 2 (Intermediate)Type: PntAppearance: A graceful, pale green deer with glowing moss growing on its antlers. Its hooves leave trails of flowers and small pnts as it moves through the earth, and its eyes shine with a soft, emerald glow.Abilities:Nature's Touch: This can accelerate pnt growth, causing pnts to bloom rapidly for healing or binding enemies.Roots of the Earth: The deer can summon vines and roots to entangle foes or create barriers, offering defense.Healing Aura: Its presence promotes rapid natural healing, allowing cultivators and allies to recover from minor wounds and fatigue.I had six siblings, each unique in their own way:

  Chi Mei: The eldest. Cold, ambitious, and probably capable of murder.Chi Xue: The second eldest. A smug prodigy with a punchable face.Chi Renjun: The middle child. Surprisingly kind, always trying to keep the peace.The others? Too young to be relevant yet.And me? Chi Huang.

  I learned everything about business. By then, I could calcute trade margins faster than some of our family’s accountants. By twelve, I could spot a fake gemstone just by looking at it. By fourteen, I had memorized trade routes, market trends, and negotiation tactics.

  But no matter how much I excelled, my father’s approval was… minimal at best.

  "He learns quickly," he once told an elder. "Perhaps he will be useful in management."

  Useful. Not brilliant. Not impressive. Just useful.

  And then came my fifteenth birthday—the day of my awakening ritual. The day I learned just how worthless I was.

  Every noble child underwent the awakening ritual at fifteen. It determined two things:

  Your cultivation talent (S-Tier being the highest, F-Tier being the lowest).Whether you had a spirit (the more substantial your talent, the higher the chance).If you had A or B-tier talent, your future was secured. If you had C-Tier talent, you could still become a decent cultivator. If you had D or F-Tier talent… well… you might as well start a dumpling shop.

  The awakening hall was packed. I stepped forward, touched the glowing crystal, and waited. The energy fred—and then dimmed.

  The elder’s voice was ft, merciless. "Chin Huang: D-Tier Talent."

  The silence was deafening. My father exhaled through his nose—the kind of sigh that could extinguish a candle. My mother looked away. My siblings had mixed reactions:

  Chi Mei smirked.Chi Xue ughed.Chi Renjun just looked… disappointed.And my father? "He is no longer a candidate for succession."

  That was it. No anger. No lectures. Just a simple statement that ruined my entire future.

  After the ceremony, my status plummeted. No more special tutors. No more private lessons. Even the servants stopped bowing as deeply. My mother barely spoke to me. My father ignored me entirely. And my siblings?

  Chi Mei acted like I didn’t exist.Chi Xue was insufferable.Chi Renjun tried to comfort me, but what could he even say?One evening, he sat beside me. "You okay?"

  "Do I look okay?"

  "Not really," he admitted. "Look, I know it sucks, but—"

  "But what? I have no talent. No spirit. I’m useless."

  "You’re not useless," he said. "You’re smart. And sometimes, being smart is more valuable than having a strong punch."

  "Tell that to Father."

  Renjun sighed. "Yeah. He’s an ass."

  I chuckled. "You’re not supposed to say that."

  "What’s he gonna do? Ground me?"

  At least one sibling still had my back.

  A few months ter, my father summoned me. "If you wish to be useful, then prove it," he said. "You will oversee a trade expedition. Bring back profit, and you may keep your pce in the family."

  Transtion? Succeed, or be forgotten. And so, at sixteen, I left the family estate heading toward the Mo Sect’s territory with:

  A caravan of goodsTwenty guardsTen servantsA childhood friend as my attendantIt was supposed to be a simple trade mission.