When all the vital energy and green vitality were completely exhausted, he continued to sit in meditation, refining his qi and blood, and nurturing the tender branches.

　　And so the cycle repeated.

　　No one knew how many days had passed.

　　The temperament of Mark Brooks, now somewhat tempered and reserved, sat cross-legged, silently cultivating the Great Radiance Divine Art. Its power was beginning to show its ferocity, carrying a hint of the most masculine and unyielding aura. When combined with a forceful martial technique like the Vajra Fist, its might was multiplied.

　　He didn’t know how much time had passed, but both his mysterious energy and qi and blood had swelled to the brink. His meridians felt painfully swollen, as if about to burst. At that moment, a booming sound seemed to explode in his mind.

　　A cool, spring-like current surged forth, constantly washing over his body, nurturing his meridians...

　　In this vast, deserted, and silent space.

　　Suddenly, a clear, long howl rang out. Within the howl was a strong sense of joy, mixed with an excitement that could not be contained.

　　Three years—it had been three whole years of being regarded as a useless person.

　　He had finally escaped the nightmare, broken through his shackles, and advanced from the early stage to the middle stage of Spirit Disciple.

　　He could feel the abundant mysterious energy in his dantian. According to the method of the Great Radiance Divine Art, he circulated the mysterious energy, and a strand of bright mysterious energy, carrying the aura of the morning sun, instantly flowed along his meridians into his arms.

　　Mark Brooks clenched his fist, energy swelling, his bones crackling, and his punch shot out like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Chapter Four: The Aura of a King

　　With a “whoosh” as his fist cut through the air, it stopped at the full extension of his arm, the surface of his fist wrapped in a faint green energy laced with threads of white, brimming with vibrant mysterious energy.

　　“Spirit Disciple, middle stage!”

　　Mark Brooks discovered that both the quality of his mysterious energy and the strength of his bones and flesh were far beyond what they had been before. This was not just a change in quantity, but a qualitative transformation.

　　After a hundred days, this magical space shattered like fragments. In the next instant, Mark Brooks appeared before the colossal mysterious tortoise.

　　After a hundred days of focused cultivation, he had comprehended the first layer of the Great Radiance Divine Art, fused it with the Azure Wood Art, and transformed his mysterious energy into bright mysterious energy. Not only that, he had also advanced his cultivation, which had been stuck for years, to the middle stage of Spirit Disciple. His basic-grade martial technique, the Vajra Fist, had reached the level of initial mastery.

　　If he were to face Edward Brooks now, he was absolutely confident that, without any external help, he could beat him so badly that even his parents wouldn’t recognize him.

　　The greatest change, however, was in his temperament. His delicate and handsome face now had sharper, more striking features. Though his clothes were tattered, they could not hide his clear, jade-like aura, with a faint, sunny charm that made people like him.

　　“In just a hundred days, you’ve made such progress. Not bad, not bad~” The mysterious tortoise praised in its deep, rumbling voice: “Even more precious are your character and perseverance—unyielding, courageous, and diligent. A hundred days of solitude have washed away the hostility in your heart, making your will even more resolute. Good, good~”

　　Mark Brooks, thinking of his family, hurriedly said, “Senior, I’ve already met your requirements. With your divine powers, sending me out of this small paradise shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

　　“No rush, no rush. Since you have inherited the legacy of the divine clan, though your current level is still low, your future is limitless.” With that, the mysterious tortoise closed its eyes, looking thoughtful.

　　Mark Brooks was anxious to return home, but dared not interrupt, waiting nervously.

　　After ten breaths, the mysterious tortoise opened its eyes, full of reluctance, yet also with a sense of resolve: “As the guardian of the Radiant Clan, on behalf of my master, I have decided to grant you, this outstanding descendant of the divine clan, the highest reward.”

　　Mark Brooks was overjoyed. The highest reward of the divine clan—surely it would be a heaven-grade technique or better? Just as he was dreaming of a wonderful reward, without any warning, a giant egg, about a zhang in size, suddenly appeared before him.

　　The eggshell was bluish-gray, and though it looked smooth, it was covered with countless profound and mysterious patterns, as if proclaiming the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

　　A vast, ancient aura rushed toward him.

　　“Silly boy, what are you standing there for?” The divine beast, the mysterious tortoise, urged, “Quick, drip a drop of your essence blood onto the egg.”

　　Mark Brooks seemed to guess something, feeling a bit excited. He cut his finger, forced out a drop of essence blood, and smeared it on the egg.

　　That drop of blood, drawn by some mysterious force, turned into countless fine lines, instantly spreading across every intricate pattern on the eggshell.

　　For a moment, the eggshell shone brightly, and a strong sense of life seemed to pulse within.

　　“This is my own offspring, the most orthodox descendant of the Xuanwu bloodline,” the mysterious tortoise declared grandly. “Let it accompany you as you grow, become your companion, and together, restore the glory of the Radiant Divine Clan.”

　　It really was the mysterious tortoise’s offspring—Mark Brooks’s heart almost leapt out of his chest. He had witnessed the divine powers of the mysterious tortoise with his own eyes. If he could obtain a divine beast, wouldn’t he be invincible?

　　Crack, crack—the giant mysterious tortoise egg was already close to hatching. After Mark Brooks recognized it as its master with his blood, it began to break open. A young tortoise head, as large as a millstone, struggled out of the shell.