The Han family.

The Han family's influence in Dongzhou can be said to have spread to every inch of Dongzhou.

The Han family, having risen to power in the mortal realm, possesses a very effective grasp of political power.

Even within the Han family, there was a clear hierarchy and a strict order of rank.

Dongzhou is located in the northeastern part of the entire Nine Realms Continent. It occupies a quarter of the spiritual veins of the Nine Realms Continent and is a very prosperous place.

This area belongs to the Han family.

Rather than saying the Han family is a family of cultivators.

Rather, they are more like the rulers of the Eastern Continent.

The Han family is also the only cultivation family that not only manages cultivators but also devotes effort to managing the mortal realm.

It's easy to see how farsighted the Han family patriarch was back then.

Is it better to be a lowly underling in the ruling system of the mortal realm, or to stand at the top of the continent, overlooking a quarter of it?

The Han family's main residence is like a palace built on a mountain. It is not only magnificent, but also has a large population, scattered houses, and abundant spiritual energy, which would make even the Shangguan family envious.

The area surrounding the Han family compound is a neighborhood inhabited by members of a branch of the Han family. This area is jokingly referred to as "the root of the imperial city" by the people living down the mountain.

Those who lived in the Han family's enormous mansion were referred to as royalty.

This ambition is obvious.

The current head of the Han family is Han Shuo, a Nascent Soul cultivator who is over a hundred years old. He is also the one currently in charge.

Han Shuo's son, Han Duo, is now the young master of the Han family. Han Duo currently has only one daughter, Han Yueji.

Han Fei is Han Shuo's illegitimate daughter and Han Duo's illegitimate younger sister. Han Shuo has many illegitimate daughters and sons, and Han Fei is just one of them.

Han Fei's death did not cause much of a stir in the Han family.

However, even though she died, she did not complete the mission, which aroused resentment in some people.

"It was a waste of a good move, and we also lost an elder from the side hall."

In the Han family's large mansion, in a courtyard in the middle, Han Cui held a black chess piece between her fingers and gently placed it on the chessboard.

As the chess piece fell, a square net suddenly appeared on the empty ground next to her. At the node of the net, a person suddenly appeared, then screamed and fell to the ground.

Han Cui clapped her hands: "See, I told you he was here."

The boy sitting opposite her didn't move, staring blankly at the chessboard, unsure whether he was alive or dead.

Han Cui didn't care and clapped her hands listlessly: "Hey, they're all people I gave to Han Fei, it doesn't seem right to kill them all."

"My dad will definitely blame me, oh well... never mind."

She waved her hand, and the golden grid disappeared.

Han Cui's lips curled up: "With Granny dead, I don't even have a single reliable person by my side anymore. What am I going to do?"

The boy opposite him remained silent.

Han Cui didn't seem to want him to speak. She reached out and traced his features on his face, saying with disappointment, "If only you were a living person. But you're disobedient, so you can only be a puppet by my side."

"Unfortunately, the puppet cannot speak."

A hint of a smile flashed in her eyes: "However, I heard that the child who assassinated the Han family is also very handsome, and he exudes a murderous aura. Bringing him over would be more interesting than you."

"Who is Auntie talking about?"

A childish voice came from behind her.

Han Cui's smile vanished instantly, but then returned the next moment.

She turned to look at the exquisitely beautiful little girl standing at the courtyard gate, and said with a smile, "Yueji, what brings you here? How are you feeling? The servants didn't do a good job this time and failed to retrieve the Soul Refining Pearl, so I'll have to trouble you to wait a little longer."

Han Yueji's smile remained unchanged as she slowly walked over, her posture steady and composed, unlike the slow pace of a child.

Every time Han Cui saw her walking like that, she felt like she was watching Han Shuo, her father, walk.

It's so tight and annoying.

"How can you blame Aunt for this? It was just that the servants didn't do their job well. It's alright, Grandfather is currently helping me find other ways to cultivate spiritual roots."

Han Yueji said with a smile.

Han Cui's smile vanished.

When did she say she blamed herself?

That brat has been at odds with her ever since he was born; he always tries to take everything from her.

If it weren't for her, Granny Han would never have gone on this mission, and she wouldn't have died outside.

Even though Han Duo has so many people around him, he insists on choosing someone from her.

Doesn't she know what Han Duo and Han Yueji are thinking?

The direct line of the Han family is struggling to survive, while illegitimate children keep popping out of the family, but the direct line is not like that.

Even if the head of the family remarries, he can only have two children at most, and then the family will begin to decline.

They either don't live to adulthood, or they're just not gifted enough.

Han Shuo was originally the illegitimate son of the previous family head. He took over the position after all the legitimate sons died. He thought he could circumvent the curse, but unexpectedly, his strength has remained stagnant since he took over.

He himself felt that he might become a god until he died.

Of course, he can also choose not to inherit the position.

But who doesn't want power?

Even though he sacrificed his strength, he still managed to control the entire Han family and live a carefree life.

Also, even if someone is exceptionally talented, their luck won't be too good.

Han Cui is one of those people who are not very lucky but have good talent. Now she is over fifty years old. Because of her bad luck, despite investing all kinds of resources, she has only just barely reached the Nascent Soul stage.

Han Duo is no good; his aptitude is too poor, and he is still only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

She gave birth to a daughter who has no spiritual roots whatsoever.

That's why Han Duo went to such lengths to make Han Yueji develop spiritual roots.

Han Duo was afraid that the position of family head would fall into the hands of his younger sister.

Unfortunately, Han Shuo agreed to Han Duo's idea and even went through his family's secret history again and again before he found the method to refine the Soul Refining Pearl.

Han Shuo wanted to change the fate of his direct lineage, and the Soul Refining Pearl, born in accordance with the will of Heaven, was the best medium.

Unfortunately, this time it failed.

Even so, Han Cui did not dare to let her guard down.

Although her niece was young, she was incredibly intelligent and almost supernatural, which made Han Shuo very fond of her.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a big fuss, risking being jointly condemned to get their hands on the Soul Refining Bead.

Han Cui looked at her coldly: "Speaking of this, my personal nanny was killed because of you. Shouldn't you say something?"

A hint of disdain flashed in Han Yueji's eyes: "Isn't it because that illegitimate daughter handled things poorly and offended someone unlucky? Why don't you take your anger out on her mother, Aunt?"

Han Cui knew that Han Yueji had never liked children born out of wedlock; in fact, she was even annoyed that she had been reborn as an illegitimate granddaughter.

He then sneered, "Being born out of wedlock means nothing to you, so how can it appease me? You might as well give me the people in your household. Your father promised me that, don't you think?"

Han Yueji stood up and said with a smile, "Okay!"

"Oh...right, I came to see my aunt this time to tell her about my grandfather's decision."

Han Cui glared at her, utterly disgusted by her smug expression.

Han Yueji didn't care and said with a smile, "The people from Mirage will be coming to our door soon, and the Helian family will definitely come to demand an explanation. The Han family doesn't want to become the target of everyone's criticism. As for the Meng family, Auntie, it's best not to make any moves for now."

Han Cui said coldly, "A few lowly rogue cultivators, can't I even touch them?"

She always needs to find a few people to vent her anger on.

Han Yueji replied, "I'm only here to convey my grandfather's words. As for whether my aunt should take any action, that's none of my business."