Ryan Carter had just entered his final year of high school, yet he was already selected by a mentor from the Federal University for a guaranteed admission. To say this brought honor to the The Carter Family was no exaggeration.

Federal University was the top-ranked university in the entire Federation, backed by the federal government. Of all humanity, fewer than one in a hundred thousand could gain admission—each one an elite among elites. In the old feudal terms, its graduates were destined for greatness; countless generals in the military hailed from Federal University, and more than half the high-ranking officials in government came from there as well. The same was true for famous figures in scientific research, economics, and culture—too many to count.

Getting into Federal University basically guaranteed a bright future!

As for Brian Carter, who was only a few days younger than Ryan Carter, he naturally became the negative point of comparison. He had heard more than once people say to his face that all the brilliance of the The Carter Family was concentrated in Ryan Carter, and that Brian Carter, born just a few days later, hadn’t inherited any of it at all—he was nothing but a good-for-nothing.

Compared to the average person, Brian Carter was not lacking, but when set against the genius Ryan Carter, in many people’s eyes, he was no different from a failure.

Everyone has their pride. Having been compared and looked down upon so openly since childhood, how could Brian Carter not feel anything? He had simply learned to hide it, not letting these emotions show, because he knew that the ones truly hurt were not the bystanders enjoying the spectacle, but only his parents, who loved him most.

Thinking of this, Brian Carter glanced at Emily Carter again, his eyes full of regret. His own talent was mediocre, but Emily Carter was different—her talent was outstanding, in his view no less than Ryan Carter's. Yet fate was so unfair, giving her a congenital genetic disease. No matter how gifted she was, she could not overcome her weakening body.

Listening to the sounds coming from the room, Brian Carter knew in his heart—was his father really so spineless?

Did he just do whatever Grandpa and Uncle said? If they told him to borrow money, he’d borrow money?

He had once accidentally learned of his father’s plan. He knew he might never earn enough in his lifetime to cure his sister, but Ryan Carter was different. With his extraordinary talent, he would become an elite among humans. Though ten million was a huge sum, for Ryan Carter at that time, it might not be so difficult.

If, at that time, Ryan Carter remembered their bond and lent a hand, his sister’s illness could be cured!

It was precisely because of this plan that his father was willing to swallow his pride and let Grandpa and Uncle order him around.

“No, I have to change all of this!”

As he thought about it, Brian Carter couldn’t help but clench his fists, his knuckles turning white, his nails digging into his flesh without him even noticing.

Once his sister Emily Carter finished eating, Brian Carter gathered up the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Thanks to modern technology, there was no need to wash dishes by hand anymore—they would be cleaned and neatly arranged automatically.

After tidying up, Brian Carter went into his room, closed the door, sat cross-legged on a cushion under the bed, and began his routine cultivation.

Chapter 5: An Unbelievable Cultivation Speed

Brian Carter pulled his thoughts back, recalling the strange events at school today. That dream had felt so real, as if he had lived another person’s life all over again—it was simply unbelievable.

There was no way to explain it, but even with today’s technology, there were still many unsolved mysteries about ultra-ancient civilizations.

Still, he believed it was definitely not just a dream. For some unknown reason, he had inherited the memories of the Pill Emperor.

His body had also changed after that dream.

But he felt these changes were good. Now, he felt more clear-headed and refreshed than ever before. The world seemed more vibrant, colors brighter, sounds clearer, and his whole body felt filled with boundless energy, as if a powerful force was surging within him.

He didn’t dare tell anyone about these changes. Instinctively, he felt that if he did, it would cause a huge uproar. After all, these were the memories of an emperor! He might even be taken away as a lab rat for dissection and research!

He was just a bit puzzled—he didn’t know where the Pill Emperor’s Mountain and River Diagram had gone, nor the divine core wrapped within it.

After thinking for a long time without figuring it out, Brian Carter could only give up. Soon, he refocused and began to cultivate.

In his mind, a set of incantations appeared—the “Basic Qi Cultivation Formula.” This “Basic Qi Cultivation Formula” was issued by the federal government, the most fundamental of all qi cultivation formulas, the foundation of all internal arts.

It was created by countless experts and martial arts masters of the Federation, based on many qi cultivation formulas unearthed from ultra-ancient civilizations. The “Basic Qi Cultivation Formula” was relatively simple, but it was stable and safe.

It was the foundational internal cultivation method for all humans in the Federation. However, generally speaking, only commoners would practice the “Basic Qi Cultivation Formula” for long periods. The geniuses, or the children of great families and major sects, all had their own inheritances and simply didn’t bother with the “Basic Qi Cultivation Formula.”