Free Web NovelChapter 17: The Weight of a Patriarch
The Weight of a Patriarch
Afterward, Victor rose to his feet and opened the door.
A cool autumn breeze drifted into the room, carrying with it the faint scent of rain-soaked earth. The strange rain that had fallen throughout the previous night had washed away the lingering smell of blood that once clung to the Salvatore Family estate. Instead, the entire clan grounds felt refreshed, as though heaven itself had cleansed away ten years of humiliation.
Standing outside was Nux.
He was dressed in spotless white robes, though faint crimson stains still remained along the sleeves and hem. No matter how carefully they had been washed, the marks left behind by yesterday’s slaughter refused to disappear completely.
His black hair was tied neatly behind him, and his crimson eyes shone with newfound confidence.
Although he looked energetic, Victor immediately noticed something that most people would never detect.
His nephew’s soul aura was slightly unstable.
It wasn’t because he had been injured.
It was exhaustion.
He had clearly pushed himself to his limits throughout the entire night.
At the same time, Victor sensed another pleasant surprise.
Nux’s cultivation had risen once again.
A faint smile appeared on Victor’s incomparably handsome face.
"You brat..."
He stepped forward and gently patted Nux’s shoulder.
"You’ve worked hard all night."
Despite the casual tone, there was unmistakable approval in his voice.
Nux scratched the back of his head sheepishly before breaking into a grin.
"Hehe, Uncle, it wasn’t hard at all."
His expression carried the excitement of someone who had finally accomplished something meaningful.
"The Salvatore Family has already reclaimed every business that originally belonged to us."
His crimson eyes gleamed proudly.
"Not only the principal..."
"We recovered the interest as well."
A brief pause followed.
His smile slowly disappeared.
"As for the matters that couldn’t be settled with money..."
His gaze became cold.
"They’ve all been handled."
Victor nodded silently.
He didn’t need to ask what "handled" meant.
Some debts in this world could never be repaid with spirit stones or gold.
Only blood could wash away blood.
Ever since awakening the true essence of his Abyssal Bodhi Slaughter Physique, Nux had undergone a subtle transformation.
He remained respectful toward his family.
He remained kind toward ordinary people.
Yet whenever he faced an enemy...
His methods became swift, decisive, and utterly merciless.
Victor wasn’t worried.
That was precisely the correct path for Nux.
Compassion should be reserved for those worth protecting.
Mercy toward enemies often became cruelty toward one’s own people.
The Salvatore Family had already paid dearly to learn that lesson.
In truth, the Salvatore Family’s foundation had never been weak.
For generations, they had possessed the formula for the Vitalis Tempering Elixir.
It was an invaluable medicinal formula capable of allowing ordinary mortals to temper their bodies and officially step onto the path of cultivation.
Because of that single formula, almost every direct descendant of the Salvatore Family possessed at least some cultivation talent.
Compared to other noble families throughout Aurelia City, the number of cultivators within the Salvatore Family had always been astonishing.
The reason they had declined over the past decade wasn’t because they lacked talented descendants. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Nor was it because they lacked courage.
They lacked only one thing.
A pillar capable of holding up the heavens.
Without a supreme expert to intimidate their enemies, every ambitious family had smelled weakness.
Like wolves surrounding an injured lion, they slowly tore away pieces of the Salvatore Family until almost nothing remained.
But now...
Victor had returned.
The pillar of the Salvatore Family stood once more.
At that exact moment, the familiar voice of the Eternal Legacy System echoed within Victor’s mind.
[Ding! Purple-grade family member detected.]
[Legacy Investment available.]
[Invest the Abyss Sovereign Blood Scripture and receive: Abyssal Styx Sovereign Blood.]
[Invest one Profound-Rank medicinal pill: Ancient Lotus Pill and receive: Low-Tier Myriad Worlds Blind Box.]
Victor’s eyebrows rose slightly.
"Oh?"
His gaze naturally shifted toward Nux.
A translucent status panel quietly appeared before him.
Name: Nux Salvatore
Destiny: Purple
Note: This family member possesses an extraordinary physique. Once its remaining seal is completely removed, his Destiny Grade will advance to Gold.
Comprehension: Genius
Foundation: High Grade
Cultivation: Fourth Layer Arcane Meridian Realm
Physique: Abyssal Bodhi Slaughter Physique (Slaughter Heart Awakened)
Abyssal Bodhi Slaughter Physique: Slaughter strengthens the body. Compassion enlightens the soul. One path tempers endless killing intent, while the other nurtures boundless wisdom. Only when both become perfectly balanced can its true potential awaken.
Fortune: Born Heavenly Slayer. Possesses an abyss-like heart capable of slaughtering all enemies, yet also carries a compassionate spirit that seeks to protect all living beings.
Talent Grades: Mortal < Ordinary < High Grade < Genius < Heavenly Pride < Peerless < Monstrous < World-Shaking < Heaven-Ruling
Victor quietly closed the panel.
As expected.
After comprehending the true meaning of slaughter during yesterday’s battle, the seal suppressing Nux’s physique had loosened considerably.
His destiny had also evolved.
A Purple Destiny...
Even among major sects, such a genius would be regarded as a treasured disciple.
Victor couldn’t help feeling pleased.
His gaze toward Nux softened.
Of course...
It definitely wasn’t because of the system rewards.
Absolutely not.
It was simply because the boy had become much more pleasing to look at.
"Your cultivation has improved quite a bit overnight."
Victor nodded approvingly.
Nux lowered his head modestly.
"It was all thanks to Uncle’s guidance."
"I finally understand what my path should be."
He clenched his fist.
"Yesterday..."
"For the first time in my life..."
"I stopped fearing myself."
Victor smiled faintly.
He knew exactly what Nux meant.
For years, the boy had feared the bloodthirst hidden inside him.
He believed himself to be abnormal.
He feared bringing disaster upon the Salvatore Family.
Now...
He finally understood.
Killing itself wasn’t evil.
The one deciding who deserved the blade was the cultivator.
That realization had become the key that unlocked his true potential.
Without another word, Victor raised his hand.
A finely carved jade box quietly appeared from his spatial storage.
The moment it emerged, a faint medicinal fragrance spread through the courtyard.
Nux blinked.
"Uncle?"
Victor handed him the jade box.
"You’ve worked hard all night."
"Inside is a cultivation technique."
Nux instinctively accepted it with both hands.
Victor continued calmly,
"For now..."
"It’s only a Low-Grade Profound-Rank cultivation technique."
His golden eyes carried calm confidence.
"But it suits your physique perfectly."
"I believe you’ve already realized that you’re different from ordinary cultivators."
Nux unconsciously nodded.
Victor continued.
"This cultivation art feeds upon slaughter."
"The more enemies you defeat..."
"The stronger it becomes."
"It evolves alongside its master."
He paused briefly before finishing,
"And one day..."
"It will evolve into..."
"A Heaven-Rank cultivation technique."
Those simple words struck Nux harder than any thunderbolt.
His breathing stopped.
His pupils trembled violently.
Everything else faded away.
Only four words remained echoing endlessly inside his mind.
Heaven-Rank cultivation technique.
Even the Salvatore Family’s ancestral Crimson Sunset Scripture was merely a Profound-Rank cultivation art.
Yet now...
His uncle was calmly handing him something capable of evolving into a Heaven-Rank cultivation technique.
Nux stared blankly at the jade box in his hands.
His fingers trembled.
He suddenly felt that the small jade box weighed more than an entire mountain.
"Uncle..."
His voice shook with excitement.
The ruthless young master who had frightened countless enemies yesterday had disappeared completely.
Standing here now...
He was simply a nephew receiving recognition from the person he admired most.
Victor merely smiled.
"You needn’t say anything."
"You’ve worked for the family."
"As Patriarch..."
"I naturally won’t mistreat my own people."
He paused, his dignified expression gradually softening.
"But as your uncle..."
His lips curved into a faint smile.
"You brat..."
"You’d better become stronger as quickly as possible."
"A direct descendant of the Salvatore Family..."
"...should never be inferior to anyone."
