"Yuntian Group President Zhao Yalong has completed the third evolution, becoming the eighty-third human in history to enter the Fourth Spirit Crucible. His lifespan is now projected at five hundred years, granting him the status of demigod..."
"Prodigy Ling Feng of the Feiyu Galaxy has entered the Second Spirit Crucible with a perfect one hundred mutation Lingyuan Points, achieving the rank of evolver and extending his life to three centuries..."
"In a historic first, Federation High Councilor He Mingwei successfully slew a demigod-class star of the ocean yesterday..."
"Authoritative experts predict humanity's first fourth-evolutionary leap into the Fifth Spirit Crucible may occur within the decade..."
Gu Chen materialized from the teleporter of the Gangjia Fortress just as the news cycle flashed across a nearby virtual screen.
"Evolver, surpasser, and demigod." Gu Chen clenched his fist, a fierce determination burning in his eyes. "With the black crystal, I can do all of that. And I'll go even farther." He stepped away from the teleport station and boarded the maglev train for home.
Before he even reached the yard, a harsh female voice cut through the air.
"Luo Sulan, don't think you can just take the old Han family house for yourself. This house belonged to our parents. My two brothers and I each own a part. Now that my eldest brother has passed, we won't bully you. You're a widow, so you can have his share. But if you think you're getting everything, you can forget it."
"That's right!" a middle-aged man’s voice chimed in. "The old house is our parents’ inheritance. We all have a right to it, and you can't keep it. Your family has lived here for over twenty years, rent-free. You've already taken more than enough advantage of us. It's time to divide what's ours."
"My brother is right," a soft-pitched male voice continued. "You've had the use of this house for two decades. We won't ask for back rent, but the property itself is our inheritance, and it has to be divided."
Then, a young woman’s voice, sharp and clinical. "We have an estimate from a lawyer. This house is now worth over three million. That's a million for each of our three families. You can either pay us two million to own the house outright, or we sell it and split the money. The choice is yours."
"Exactly," the first harsh voice resumed. "Now that our eldest brother is gone, we're not going to bully his widow and children. Give us the money or sell the house. It's up to you."
"Brother, sister, you don't have to do this," a woman said, her voice heavy with sorrow. "You know our situation. We don't have two million."
"Then put the house up for sale," the harsh woman said instantly.
"But where would we live? Gu Chen just graduated, and Han Yan is about to start school," the sad woman pleaded.
"Sister-in-law, that's hardly our problem. Do you think you're the only one with troubles? Your children, Gu Chen and Han Yan, are only in integrated compulsory education. My Han Yue goes to a private academy. Do you have any idea what his tuition costs me every year?"
"My sister is right," said the effeminate voice. "We all have our struggles. Everyone needs money. Why don't we just sell? We'll all get a share, and you'll have enough for Han Yan's schooling."
"Either way, you give us the money or you sell the house," the young woman said coldly. "Choose."
Fury coiled in Gu Chen's gut as he listened from the doorway. He shoved the door open and stormed inside. He saw his mother, Luo Sulan, shedding silent tears as she held his sister, Han Yan. The five-year-old girl was curled up in her mother's arms, her big eyes wide with fear. Across from them stood two men and two women, their faces masks of indifferent cruelty.
"How dare you come here and ask for this house?" Gu Chen’s voice shook with rage as he pointed a finger at a fierce-looking, heavy-set woman. "Aunt, you were an accountant at the company. You ran up tens of millions in bad debts. Don't you remember who cleaned up your mess after you came begging to my dad?"
"Gu Chen, what nonsense is this? Who caused bad debts? Stop your lying," cried a skinny man with an effeminate voice, pointing back at Gu Chen.
"Uncle, you embezzled company funds to play the market and lost millions." Gu Chen turned his accusing finger on the skinny man. "Or have you forgotten coming to my home and getting on your knees to beg my father for help?"
"And you, uncle," Gu Chen said, his gaze shifting to the fat, middle-aged man. "You owed so much in gambling debts you were on the verge of suicide. Who helped you? When you were nearly beaten to death, who saved your life?"
Gu Chen's eyes swept over all four of them, his teeth clenched. "Xingchen Group wanted to acquire our family business. My dad stood up for all of you, and his falling out with them is what led to him dying under such suspicious circumstances. Isn't that right?" His voice dropped to a low growl. "But you—you couldn't even be bothered to show up for his funeral. The moment he was dead, you sold the company to Xingchen Group. Did you give us a single cent of that money? And what about your own houses? Who paid for them when you got married? Were they any cheaper than this one? Did any of you take care of your parents for a single day when they were alive? How dare you come here and demand a share of anything?"
"That's enough!" Uncle Han Lei said brazenly. "Your father did what he wanted. That company belonged to our father, and we all had shares. He had no right to make decisions for us. And we had every right to spend the company's money."
"He's right," Aunt Han Yumei shouted. "Your father was a dictator. We were just taking back what was ours. It doesn't matter what you say. Give us the money or sell the house. Otherwise, we'll see you in court. You'll lose, no matter where you go."
"This is all your dad's fault..." They started to launch into a tirade, blaming Gu Chen’s late father for everything.
Gu Chen was shaking with anger, a profound sense of injustice for his father washing over him. When his father had taken over, the company was just a small business, worth one or two million at most. He had poured his life into it, all while looking after his worthless siblings and cleaning up their catastrophic mistakes. The company had nearly gone bankrupt several times because of their greed. His father had died for that company. And now, his wife and children were being bullied by the very relatives he had spent his life protecting.
His father had always said they were family, that there was no need to argue over such things. What a bitter irony that had become.
If they were truly in need, if they were facing genuine hardship, Gu Chen would have agreed without a second thought. But the private aircraft they'd flown here were each worth more than a million. They had received at least ten million from the sale of the company, all of which had vanished into their own pockets while his family got nothing. The idea that they were hurting for money was an absolute lie.