If one were to ask about the cornerstone of an aristocratic family's strength, the answers might vary.

Some would say talent, others honor, and a few might point towards wealth. However, the true foundation of an aristocratic family's power lies within its Family Treasury.

Why is the treasury so vital?

It's not merely a vault for hoarding wealth and assets.

A Family Treasury contains the legacy left by ancestors, a tangible link to a glorious past where humanity wasn't just surviving but thriving and conquering.

In today's harsh world, where humanity teeters on the brink of survival, these legacies hold the key to a family's resurgence.

Most families place greater importance on their treasuries than on anything else, understanding that within those vaults lies the power that once enabled their ancestors to dominate.

This power comes in many forms: ancient techniques, journals filled with wisdom, miraculous pills, and weapons of untold strength.

Each item holds the potential to elevate a family's status or protect it in times of dire need.

Therefore, access to the treasury is often restricted to the most talented members of the family or opened in desperate times as a last resort.

The logic behind this is clear: the stronger the legacy, the more others will covet it. Protecting these treasures becomes a family's top priority because, as the saying goes, "In the strength of the past lies the salvation of the future."

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Nie Li couldn't hide his disappointment as he surveyed the nearly empty treasury of the Heavenly Marks Family.

"This is pathetic," he thought to himself, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief.

The Heavenly Marks Family, one of Glory City's oldest families, had a treasury that was practically barren.

It made no sense to him.

Patriarch Nie Hai, noticing Nie Li's dismay, coughed awkwardly to regain his attention and gestured weakly, trying to explain.

"The family is in a dire situation," he admitted, "I had to sell a few items."

"A few?" Nie Li thought incredulously, looking around the empty room.

"This looks like you sold almost everything." Disappointment turned to anger.

"Okay, I take back every nice thing I thought about you. Who sells their ancestors' legacies just for some quick money? Those legacies should be used to strengthen the family, not sold off."

Nie Li was appalled.

The thought of how many irreplaceable legacies were lost to shortsighted decisions made his head spin.

"No wonder the family's in such a dire state with leaders like these," he mused.

"A grand elder who's nothing more than a sycophant, believing the family can only succeed under his watch. And a patriarch who's good with words but whose actions have done more harm than good."

Feeling a headache coming on, Nie Li pinched the bridge of his nose and decided to voice his concerns.

"Patriarch, can I say something?" he asked, keeping his tone respectful despite his growing frustration.

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"Of course, you're my heir," Nie Hai responded, offering a kind smile that did little to soothe Nie Li's irritation.

"Do you really think selling our legacies was a good idea?" Nie Li asked, genuinely curious about the Patriarch's reasoning.

"We were desperate," Nie Hai replied, trying to justify the decisions.

In his mind, Nie Li couldn't help but think, "Then you're an idiot for not using the legacies instead."

But he held his tongue, understanding that he wasn't in a position to openly disrespect the Patriarch.

"Why didn't you use the legacies, Patriarch?" Nie Li couldn't help but ask, genuinely curious about the reasoning behind such a critical decision.

"The family is split into different factions, Nie Li. If I were to give the legacy to one person, that faction would become too powerful and take control," Nie Hai explained, revealing the depth of his concern.

As Nie Hai spoke, everything started to make sense to Nie Li.

The Patriarch feared becoming a puppet leader once more.

The legacies held immense power, enough to potentially elevate someone to equal or greater strength than himself.

The options were bleak: either become a figurehead for the dominant faction or be eliminated by those stronger than him.

Despite understanding the Patriarch's dilemma, Nie Li still thought it was foolish to sell off their ancestral legacies. In doing so, Nie Hai had inadvertently empowered outsiders who might grow greedy and pose a threat to the Heavenly Marks Family.

"Why are you giving me this chance, then? Aren't you worried I'll align with a faction?" Nie Li asked, pondering the inconsistency. He knew the Patriarch was aware of his meeting with Elder Nie Wei.

If Nie Hai was so concerned about distributing power within the family, why entrust him with the legacy?

"You are... talented," Nie Hai finally said after a pause.

Suddenly, it all made sense to Nie Li.

From the moment his soul wings were revealed, his path to surpassing black gold rank was virtually guaranteed.

The Patriarch likely wanted to ensure Nie Li's loyalty to him over any faction.

"How many items can I choose?" Nie Li inquired, intrigued by the offer.

"You are the heir, Nie Li. Everything here belongs to you. Take anything you want," Nie Hai stated, his words holding a weight of finality.

"And if I wanted every item here?" Nie Li joked, half-serious.

"That can be arranged," Nie Hai responded seriously, surprising Nie Li.

Nie Li realized then just how much the Patriarch wanted to keep him from joining any faction.

[ Simulation System Initiated ]

[ Input: Player's Desire - "Find me the items that can be most useful for me." ]

[ Process: Creating Simulation to Identify Optimal Items for Player's Needs ]

- [ Analyzing... ]

- [ Progress: 1% ]

- [ Progress: 2% ]

- [ Progress: 10% ]

- [ Progress: 50% ]

- [ Progress: 60% ]

- [ Progress: 80% ]

- [ Progress: 100% ]

[ Analysis Complete ]

[ Result: Optimal Item Locations Identified ]

[ Actions Required: ]

[ - Proceed by following the indicated arrow to discover and acquire the items. ]

Following the giant yellow arrow, Nie Li found himself drawn towards a corner of the treasury where a pair of rusted katars caught his eye.

These short, punch-daggers, despite their worn and neglected appearance, were glowing under the guidance of the system—a sign that these were the items Nie Li needed.

Then, the arrow led him to a plain-looking box, seemingly unremarkable and currently serving as a paperweight on a stack of old parchments.

As he picked it up, the guiding arrow vanished.

"Huh? These are the optimal items for me?" Nie Li couldn't hide his skepticism. A pair of rusted weapons and an unassuming box were what the system deemed perfect for him?

"What are these anyway?" Nie Li wondered aloud, examining them through the lens of the system.

[ Item: Rusted Katars ]

[ Type: Weapon - Obsolete ]

[ Description: These katars, once deadly in close combat, have been significantly dulled and corroded over time. Their blades, consumed by rust, can no longer serve the purpose for which they were forged. ]

[ Grade: Unknown ]

[ Effects: ]

- [ Inoperable: Due to severe deterioration, these weapons cannot be used in combat or for defense. ]

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[ Item: Plain Box ]

[ Type: Storage Object ]

[ Description: An unassuming box bound by an unknown seal. Its origins and contents are a mystery, hidden away from the eyes of the world. The box awaits someone capable of breaking its seal to reveal the secrets it holds. ]

[ Grade: Unknown ]

[ Effects: ]

- [ Sealed: The box cannot be opened by conventional means due to a powerful seal. ]

"These items are useless; a weapon I can't use and a box I can't open," he thought, but a deeper intuition nudged him.

The system had never steered him wrong; if it suggested these items were crucial, there had to be a reason.

Turning to Patriarch Nie Hai, Nie Li announced, "I have finished choosing."