"Quan, You Are the Future Heir of the Chen Family."

"Northbank City."

This city, famed for "North River Market," still had standing water in its streets, yet the clamor had already begun.

The muddy streams on the streets flowed all the way to their ends. Barefoot vendors skillfully rolled their trouser legs up to their knees, waded through ankle-deep water, and began putting up their stalls.

Before long.

Cries and hawking gradually replaced the sound of rain. As Eternal Night receded, the city awoke with it.

Amid the air fragrant with fresh mud and fishy dampness, there was now a trace of steaming food.

The morning market had opened.

Even if the Rainy Season had arrived early, it did not stop the morning market from opening. After all, people still had to eat. Ordinary folk could only resign themselves to fate in the face of such circumstances; there was nothing they could change.

Yet within a residence beside the morning market district, it was exceptionally quiet, utterly out of place with the bustling market just one street away.

This grand residence in Northbank City was the estate of the "North River Chen Family."

One of Northbank City's three great powers.

"."

In the rear courtyard of the North River Chen Family, within a small yard enclosed by several side rooms, a middle-aged man dressed in training clothes stood solemnly in the torrential rain. His eyes were shut, his palms pressed together, as still as one in meditation.

The next moment!

His eyes flew open, and a sharp gleam shot forth.

Several Level 2 Eerie Stones in his palm instantly shattered, turning into dark-green liquid that drifted through the air.

"Go!"

With a low shout from the middle-aged man, his finger suddenly jabbed forward. The dark-green liquid seemed alive, darting rapidly through the air and gradually forming the illusion of an "Arrow Tower" made of pale-green fluid.

During the construction process, part of the pale-green liquid continuously dispersed into the air.

"Rise!"

Several breaths later, the man clenched his fist again.

The Arrow Tower phantom swiftly solidified amid the torrential rain, until it stood tall in the courtyard.

The servant beside him, holding an oil-paper umbrella over him, beamed as he flattered, "Attendant Liu, your energy utilization of Eerie Stones is getting higher and higher. Now, building an Arrow Tower only takes five Level 2 Eerie Stones."

"On the market, hiring a Builder to construct an Arrow Tower for one's camp costs at least 150 Eerie Stones."

"Their costs are around 100 Eerie Stones."

"The Chen Family's former Level 4 Builder needed seventy Eerie Stones just to build an Arrow Tower."

"But now, Attendant Liu, you only need fifty Eerie Stones to build one, and your success rate is as high as seventy percent!"

"Before long, you will undoubtedly become North River's number one Builder, Attendant Liu!"

"Hmph."

The middle-aged man snorted, a trace of pride flashing through his eyes. As the Chen Family's resident Level 5 Builder, he had his own pride. But after sweeping his gaze around, he frowned slightly. "Where is the family head? Doesn't he usually train here with us every morning?"

"This servant does not know."

"You may leave. I'll go see the family head."

North River Chen Family, side courtyard, council hall.

The Chen Family's current first heir—the youth who had personally exiled Chen Fan to the Wasteland—had only hurriedly dressed and risen after receiving notice of an emergency meeting that morning. Braving the heavy rain, he rushed to the council hall.

He entered the council hall.

The family head was already seated at the head of the table, with the North River Chen Family's five elders holding real power seated along either side.

"Father."

Only after lowering his head in greeting did the youth take his seat. Something about today's atmosphere felt subtly wrong. His father looked terrible, his expression mixed with anger, unwillingness, and disbelief.

Had something happened to the Lineage?

"Quan is here. Everyone has arrived. This morning's emergency council concerns the Chen Family's future direction. Speak freely, everyone. Say whatever thoughts you have." Quan was the youth's childhood name. His full name was Chen Quan.

The North River Chen Family's first heir.

Everyone had arrived?

Chen Quan froze slightly. His eyelids lifted instinctively as he looked toward the empty chair across the table. That was Attendant Liu's seat. No matter how large or small a discussion was, Attendant Liu was always invited to attend.

Attendant Liu had complained about it many times, saying that he was merely a Level 5 Builder and knew nothing about Lineage development. They should not call him to every messy discussion; he needed to cultivate and did not have that much time.

Yet Attendant Liu had not been called today?

What matter could possibly need to be hidden from the Chen Family's only Builder?

He keenly caught the scent of unease.

At once, he assumed an air of looking at his nose, his nose at his heart, and sat in his seat. His seniority was still shallow. Whatever this was, it surely had nothing to do with him. He only needed to stay quiet.

However—

His father's next words instantly drenched his back in cold sweat.

"Chen Fan, my son."

"A few days ago, he was sent to North River Chen Family Station No. 37 in the Wasteland to serve as station chief."

"The attendant he brought was his personal servant, named Crippled Monkey, a servant trained uniformly by the Lineage three years ago. When they departed, they carried only three Eerie Stones."

As the words fell.

Chen Quan's expression changed drastically. He instinctively rose to his feet, not daring to lift his head and meet his father's eyes. His voice trembled faintly. "Father, according to Chen Family rules, sending Chen Fan to train in the Wasteland complied with the ancestral teachings. Everything was done according to procedure."

Before he could finish, a tap on the table interrupted him.

His father had never mentioned this matter over the past few days. He had assumed his father knew nothing of it. Yet his father understood it so clearly, even knowing a servant's name. Chen Quan himself could barely remember what that servant was called.

Who would pay attention to a servant's name?

The middle-aged man seated at the head of the table had a face etched with deep ravines, heavy bags beneath his eyes, and tightly pressed lips as he lightly tapped the table. Leaning back in his chair, his eyes were filled with exhaustion, yet his head remained habitually raised.

His hair had turned completely white.

His face was weathered with age. This was a man whose oppressive presence could be felt with just one glance.

Like an aged lion.

"The Rainy Season arrived early. Today is the third day of the Rainy Season."

"Of all the stations in the Wasteland that could not evacuate in time, only two survived. One is Station No. 16 of the 'Qiuhe Wang Family.'"

"The other—"

"Is Station No. 37 of the 'North River Chen Family.'"

"In other words, the station where Chen Fan is."

He tossed a Ghosthide Map onto the table, leaned against the back of his chair, half-closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples. His weary voice was hoarse. "If you elders have anything to say about this, then say it."

"Quan."

"You are the future heir of the Chen Family. Think first. Later, I want to hear your thoughts in particular."

"This..."

"How could this be possible?"

The moment the family head finished speaking, several Chen Family elders exchanged looks of disbelief. They had not actually known that Chen Fan had been sent to the Wasteland, but upon seeing Chen Quan's reaction, they roughly understood what had happened.

It was perfectly normal.

Within the Lineage, such matters were all too normal.

The only abnormal thing was—

How could Station No. 37, where Chen Fan was, have survived until the third day of the Rainy Season?