the rise of the useless son-in-law of a wealthy family

an exception

"Should I go in?" Su Jian wondered, hesitating at the threshold. But his curiosity outweighed his fear. Carefully, he descended the small hidden staircase behind the door. Each step echoed, and the darkness surrounding him deepened the eerie atmosphere. 

After a few moments, he arrived in a room that seemed to glow on its own, as if the walls emitted a soft light. At the center of the room stood a small altar, and atop it lay a long sword sheathed in a black and red scabbard. 

"Wow," Su Jian murmured, stepping closer, his eyes locked on the exquisite blade. The hilt was adorned with a carving of a small dragon, and the partially visible blade shimmered with a mesmerizing blue hue. 

Before he could touch it, a voice echoed in his mind.   "You... have finally arrived."   

Su Jian jumped back, nearly losing his balance. "Who's there?!" 

  "I am the sword,"   the voice replied.   "I have been waiting for you for many years, master."   

"Master?" Su Jian stared at the sword, bewildered. "Wait a second. Me? Master? You must have the wrong person. I'm just Su Jian, nobody important." 

  "There is no mistake. You are the destined heir to wield me. Only the worthy can find their way to this chamber and awaken me from my slumber."   

Su Jian scratched his head. "But I didn't do anything. I was just cleaning the house." 

  "That is enough. Fate has guided you here."   

The sword glowed faintly, and as if drawn by an unseen force, Su Jian's hand reached out and grasped the hilt. The moment he touched it, a warm sensation coursed through his body. Blue light radiated from the sword, illuminating the entire chamber. 

Su Jian felt something shift within him. Somehow, he felt stronger, more confident, though he still didn't fully understand what was happening. The sword felt light in his hands, as though it had been crafted just for him. 

"So, what does this mean?" Su Jian asked, still confused. "Why would a sword like you choose me?" 

  "You are the last heir of an ancient bloodline. Though your soul appears simple, your heart is pure. That is why I chose you."   

Su Jian felt odd hearing such praise. "Wait a minute. If I'm the heir, does that mean I have to do something important?" 

  "You will understand in time. For now, you must train yourself and learn my power. Prepare yourself, for your journey has just begun."   

Su Jian nodded, even though he didn’t entirely understand. He sheathed the sword and slung it across his back. But before he could leave, he heard footsteps approaching the secret chamber's entrance. 

"Hey, who's down there?" a voice shouted from above. It was one of the Xia family servants. 

Panic set in. Su Jian wasn’t sure if he was allowed in this hidden room, let alone to take an ancient sword that might be a priceless Xia family artifact. 

Hurriedly, he ascended the staircase and shut the hidden door behind him. The servant, a burly young man, eyed him suspiciously. "What are you doing here? You look like you've been up to something strange." 

Su Jian forced a nervous smile. "I… I was just cleaning! Yes, cleaning this room." 

The servant gave him a sharp look before shaking his head. "Fine, just finish your work quickly. Don't cause any trouble." He walked away, leaving Su Jian alone. 

Once the coast was clear, Su Jian glanced at the sword now strapped to his back. "What am I even doing?" he muttered to himself. 

  "You have taken the first step toward your destiny, master,"   the sword's voice echoed in his mind. 

Su Jian let out a long sigh. "Well, I hope the next step won't involve this much trouble." 

---

Sitting under a large tree in the Xia family’s garden, Su Jian’s thoughts drifted to the strange events he had just experienced. The mysterious sword now hanging on his back seemed to emit an aura that both intrigued and unnerved him. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of not belonging in this world. 

The world Su Jian lived in was one of wonder and power. People called it the   World of Heaven and Earth  , a place where the skies stretched endlessly, and the land was filled with boundless spiritual energy. Here, every individual was born with the ability to absorb this energy from nature, building a cultivation base within their bodies. This base allowed them to strengthen themselves, expand their spirits, and achieve feats beyond the limits of ordinary humans. 

But Su Jian was an exception. 

Since childhood, Su Jian had been different. He lacked a cultivation base—a core that usually formed naturally in a person’s body as they grew older. While his peers began to showcase their abilities—controlling elements, enhancing their bodies, or even flying—Su Jian could only watch from afar. 

Those around him either pitied him or, more often, mocked him. Without a cultivation base, he was seen as less than ordinary, weaker even than the simplest farmer. This made life difficult, especially after he married Lengyi, a girl from a distinguished family of cultivators. 

---

   The Xia Family and the Cultivation World 

The Xia family was one of the great families in the cultivation world, ruling over the Eastern Wind Region, a land rich in spiritual energy. Nearly all members of the Xia family were gifted cultivators, and they guarded their ancient techniques fiercely, passing them down through generations. 

In this world, cultivation was divided into levels. From the lowest to the highest, the ranks were Mortal, Early Spirit, Mid Spirit, True Soul, Golden Core, and finally Ascendant, a pinnacle achieved by only a select few. Each rank came with its own challenges, requiring a blend of talent, dedication, and abundant resources to advance. 

Lengyi, as the Xia family’s heir, was one of the most talented cultivators of her generation, having already reached the Mid Spirit level at a young age. Her mastery of ice manipulation made her a standout figure, both for her strength and her cool, commanding demeanor.