Published: March 8, 2025
“Cruel?” Ao Xieyun let out a heartbreaking smile. “Such a cruel opportunity is not something everyone can endure. Only those from prestigious families can truly understand this.”
“So the scions of noble families often mature earlier than common youths.”
“Chu Yang, the Ao Clan has developed for over a thousand years, to be precise, one thousand one hundred and fifty-six years! Every eighteen years, a generation is born, over seventy generations! A family of such standing, which descendant does not have multiple wives? Which normal man does not have seven or eight children? If such tragedies did not occur... the Ao Clan's population would have long surpassed a million! What a colossal entity that would be! But now, apart from the outside warriors, the clan's bloodline consists of only a few thousand people. Why?”
“The vast majority of clan members have perished because of ambition!”
“Sharing hardship is easy, but sharing wealth... is immensely difficult! In times of adversity, when the future is bleak, everyone feels insecure; if they do not unite, they will surely be destroyed. Thus, they can all work together, even sacrificing their lives for each other, which is normal. But once they achieve success and enjoy the fruits of victory, everyone wants to taste the sweetest one! Because everyone has contributed, no one has contributed less than the others.”
“Hence, at this moment, ambition and desire will sprout, grow wildly, and ultimately become uncontrollable! Even if not for oneself, for the sake of their descendants, no one will be willing to concede. Which parent does not wish for their child to succeed? Which pair of parents would willingly let their hard-raised child become someone else's servant?”
“That’s why every family, after establishing success, must endure generations of bloodshed to slowly thrive. Every family first extends the knife towards their own kin, their own brothers, before turning to their enemies! So when a king establishes a country and ascends the throne, they often do not focus on expanding territories, but first on eliminating their loyal ministers. When the birds are gone, the bow is put away, and the rabbits are dead, the dogs are cooked... this is an inevitability for all families and nations!”
Ao Xieyun fixed his gaze on Chu Yang. “This is the price that successful people must pay, an endless price for countless generations! Furthermore, it is unavoidable!”
Chu Yang pondered over Ao Xieyun's words, feeling a glimmer of understanding in his heart.
At such a critical moment, Ao Xieyun would never idly discuss the history of family and national development without a purpose.
And Chu Yang had already guessed some of Ao Xieyun's intentions.
“Every patriarch, after such a cleansing, is left physically and mentally exhausted, praying that their children will not vie for power and profit, but will live in harmony. Yet every patriarch ultimately ends up disappointed.
“Every patriarch, as a parent, is deeply attached and cannot bear to be harsh with any of their sons. Unless they go too far... So, once a successor is determined, parents will feel that besides this heir, they have wronged the other children, and towards this heir, they will be increasingly strict.”
“As a result, other brothers receive pampering, and some even become arrogant because of being favored, while the heir feels increasingly insecure.”
“Consequently, once the successor is determined, they must begin to deal with their brothers. Because if they do not deal with them, they cannot survive! So... the hidden troubles begin from the moment each patriarch's second child is born.”
“The more children there are, the greater the harm!”
“So, every patriarch from the moment they secure their position to successfully ascend, is a bloody road! Thus, every patriarch is a decisive heroic overlord of a generation!”
“This elimination process is like the great waves washing away the sand, enough to forge a victor's heart of iron!”