Author’s note: This chapter was sponsored by Nicolas M! Many thanks for the support, everyone!

Host’s note: Alongside the donation author’s note, there was another note about some confusion in the naming. However, that’s irrelevant now as the past chapters were altered in the past to alleviate that confusion.

I do believe the chapter name should be “Old Way; New Life” with a semicolon instead of a comma. Honest mistake. I’ll keep it though and contact the author about it.

The Jin Clan’s inner family competition was an event where the clansmen in the family, be it young or old, main family or branch family, would have the opportunity to challenge any one they like for pointers. As long as one is confident enough to fight, one may challenge any person in the Jin family to battle.

Usually, this was a friendly event to show off the prowess of individual families within the Jin Clan. But sometimes, death was inevitable in face of intense competition between the main family and the branch families of the Jin Clan. In the event that someone dies during the inner competition, the Jin Clan had all agreed to turn a blind eye; of course, given that the death was “accidental.”

Jin Xia decided to use this chance to fully place himself, and his blood family, at a higher position within the clan. Although he had initially felt that he would just ignore the Jin Clan and set out on his journey later on, after thinking for a while, Jin Xia felt it was a bit…lacking.

What happens once he attains the position as the peak level expert in this world? And after going even higher and regaining his position as a deity, then what? After his revenge on those who had plotted against him, then what? Would he simply go back to his old lifestyle where life was endless for him?

Then, what?

Go back to his repetitive life? Go back…alone?

No!

This was not what he wanted.

Having spent aeons focusing on solely cultivating his strength and entertaining his hobby as a collectionist, Jin Xia had led an extremely boring and solitary lifestyle as a deity.

No worthy opponents to fight against. No fellow brothers to talk his heart with. No women to flirt with and get intimate with. He had missed several, if not countless, opportunities of what one could say “experiencing life.” And what was the use of racking up knowledge, but unable to use it?

After thinking everything through, Jin Xia decided to change his goal in this world. If in the end, he would become a deity again, why not head back to the Heaven Domain with a group of people whom he could call companions? Why not experience this world a bit, and personally interact with those people he had only observed from afar in his previous life? Why not…have some fun?

As such, Jin Xia decided that while he would continue increasing his cultivation, he would engage in this world a bit more closely. He wanted to play this world — like a “game.”

A game, that only he could afford to play so relaxedly.

So, Jin Xia determined that he would first raise a bit of his cultivation and then focus on elevating his Jin Clan. Once his own Clan was powerful enough to hold on by itself, then Jin Xia would travel on a journey to further his cultivation and “mortal experiences.”

And someday when his clan would possess the ability to compete on a world-stage level with those other parties across the continents, Jin Xia would then begin the process of ascending back to godhood.

But at that time, he would be doing so with a group of powerful companions whom he would have had personally selected and nurtured by then!

This way, not only would he evolve from his isolated status once he returns to the Heaven Domain, he could even experience the fulfilling “life events” that were observed in the Mortal Domain.

Moreover, it would naturally also be much easier to deal with those obnoxious bastards in the Heaven Domain if he had more people to get rid of the small fries.

In short, he would relieve his boredom in this world. After all, deities could live almost endlessly, so Jin Xia was in no need of rushing back to the Heaven Domain. He was certain those old foxes would still be alive when he returns!

And the first step to realize his aim, Jin Xia would have to first clear out the dirt in his Jin clan. The family inner competition would serve as the perfect event to begin his preparation.

With his ambition set in mind, Jin Xia immersed himself into cultivating his Imperial Heart skill. For the next two months, besides eating now and then with his family, Jin Xia rarely ventured outside as he continued his behind the door training.

Jin Xia would also frequently review the information on the previous Jin Xia’s life and would bring several books from the clan’s library to study up on this current world.

Surprisingly, after a while, Jin Xia found that the previous host was actually quite the learned scholar, despite his poor personality. Jin Xia discovered he already knew many of the facts that were listed in the large, historical records that he took to his room.

The days continue to roll by without stopping.

After a few trainings, Jin Xia was able to successfully trained the Imperial Heart directly up to the 2nd Layer, Chaos Mirage.

During this period, Jin Xia had also instructed a few servants who were loyal to the main Jin family to scout out the rebellious clansmen in the clan.

After a few reports, Jin Xia already had a rough idea idea of the people that were obstructing the unity of the Jin Clan. All five Jin branch families seemed to be engaging in suspicious activities lately behind the Clan’s back. And the patriarch seems to know about those activities, but chose to blatantly ignore them…

Although JIn Xia had already predicted such outcome, he wanted to make sure that there were no “innocent” bystanders in the branch families. Otherwise, clearing them all out without differentiating the good ones with the bad would be too cruel.

But it seems JIn Xia need not worry anymore. Out of the two hundred members of the Jin branch families, all two hundred were guilty. And each one of them at least had some bloody history with his own blood relatives within the shadows of the Jin Clan.

Moreover, there were even a few reports and suspicions of the branch family wanting to act against the Main family during the upcoming family tournament.

At this point, Jin Xia knew he need not hold back.

With everything settled, Jin Xia leisurely cultivated in his room as soft “Boom!” sounds echoed from within his room, followed by a noise that was akin to dispersing gas.

______

Like that, two months quickly passed. Today was the Jin Clan’s inner family competition. The clan had decorated a huge yard that was within the Jin mansion. In the middle of the yard was a large, plain rectangular stage. Seats were placed several feets away from the stage, lining and filling up each four side of the rectangular stage.

A stream of people in colorful clothings could be seen walking into the Jin mansion as they took their seat and sat down with their respective group. A group of Jin clansmen were situated near the door to greet the guests.

Since the Jin family’s inner competition was an event where the clansmen got to show their strength, the clan had naturally invited as many influential people in the city, and the surrounding ones as well, to witness their display.

As people were sitting down, a commotion broke out near the entrance. A group, consisting of two females and three males, were swaggering through the doorway. Each of them had a decent visual as they caught the eyes of several young men and women.On their chest, was the character “Fei.”

“Look! Aren’t those people from the Fei Clan?”’

“Wahh, the women from the Fei clan are certainly quite nicel. I wish I could find a wife like them.”

“Hehe, dream on, buddy. That’s one of the four major clans in Tian City, the Fei Clan! You think someone like you would be worthy to even carry their shoes?”

“Wait, look! That’s the clan master, Fei Sheung! He even came personally!”

Right as the crowd was still clamoring, two groups of expensively dressed people entered the yard.

One of the group was full of six men, and was exuding a powerful aura over the crowd. The character “Gao” was on the chest of their clothes.

The other group had four males and one female among them. There was a character on their chest as well, written “Ting.”

Seeing them, the audience was once again riled up.

“Wahh! Clan master Gao Dai and even clan master Ting Teng came!”

“What’s going on today? These three clan heads rather attend an event like this before. Why are they all coming today?”

“Those people behind the clan masters look strong, especially the Gao Clan. They all live up to the name of being the major powers in this city.”

For these kind of VIP guests, the patriarch Bao Lei and the elders from the Jin Clan personally went to greet them.

While the crowd of people were discussing the arrival of the three major clans in Tian City, the Jin clansmen had all arrived in the yard. They went to their respective sides as they took their seat. On the longer, right end of the stage sat members of the main Jin family. One the left end, were the people from the five branch families.

After the greetings, everyone returned to their seats as they looked at the stage in front of them with anticipation.

Further away from the middle of the stage, Jin Bao Lei slowly sat down on a high stone chair. The seat was exquisitely decorated with gold coatings on the chair arm, while the back of the chair was covered in soft, brown fur from some kind of animal. While he sat there, there was tense expression on his face, as if he was struggling to restrain himself.

After all, he was sitting right next to the person who allowed his son to get crippled, and two seats down, there was the culprit’s father! When Jin Liu Dan and his wife first received the news that his son was crippled, he felt like the entire world had collapsed on him. And just as he was about to go out and wreck havoc, he was told who crippled his son, extinguishing his fury and drowning in frustration.

Since Jin Feng Hao was Jin Hao Lin’s son, the culprit would naturally be supported by his father. And behind Jin Hao Lin was the patriarch’s biased backing. If Jin Liu Dan had done anything then, it would be akin to be sending his entire family off to the Yellow River; he was certain Jin Hao Lin and Bao Lei would not miss the opportunity to strike him dead.

This was the frustration and helplessness of living right next to a tiger’s den!

Beside the patriarch, there were two other people seated beside him. On the right rested Jin Xia’s father, Liu Dan. On the left, was the head of the five branch families, Jin Hao Lin. He was also Feng Hao’s father.

The patriarch Bao Lei smiled as he looked around the audience. Everyone was here now.

It was time to begin the Jin Clan’s inner family competition!

Host’s note: Ten chapters and wordcount is around 20k. With the 50k wordcount requirement for a donation button, we may meet it a little past chapter 20. So, once that comes along in 3 days, I’ll contact the author and give him this account’s details and directions on how to set up the donation buttons. Alongside info on how to post chapters and change the password/email if he feels fit to kick me off; a reasonable thing to do with something as sensitive as donation in place.