Mark Brooks’s brows furrowed slightly. The two sides had never interacted before—what was Charles Brooks’s intention? Suddenly, seeing Charles Brooks’s gaze drifting toward Huo Wu, he spoke coldly: “Right and wrong are clear to all. It is the clan leader’s duty to restrain the clan’s sordid affairs. If you intend to use this as leverage for something, I’m afraid I cannot comply.”

Sensing Mark Brooks’s faint hostility, Charles Brooks looked a bit embarrassed and gave a dry laugh: “Mark Brooks, I know your family has suffered a lot of unfair treatment these past two years and harbors some resentment toward the clan. Fine, fine, I know no amount of explanation will help. Uncle Brooks, please help clean up the battlefield.”

The old servant said nothing and began to handle the aftermath, holding a bottle and swiftly sprinkling ‘Corpse Dissolving Powder’ on each corpse.

In the blink of an eye, black smoke rose from the bodies, accompanied by the sizzling sound of flesh rapidly decaying. In no time, they turned into charred powder, which scattered in the wind, leaving nothing behind but some bloodstains on the ground.

Such a method made Mark Brooks and his siblings shudder with fear. This world was truly too dangerous.

However, Mark Brooks also knew that many of these troubles were actually caused by Samuel Brooks, and had nothing to do with the clan leader. Charles Brooks had rushed to their aid in a moment of crisis, and for that, he owed him some gratitude.

Thinking of this, Mark Brooks cupped his hands slightly and said, “Thank you, young clan leader, for your help. I, Mark Brooks, will remember this favor.”

Seeing the other’s indifference, Charles Brooks could only exchange a few more polite words before cupping his hands in farewell. Before leaving, he repeatedly promised that he would definitely ask his father to restrain Samuel Brooks.

After he left, Mark Brooks finally breathed a true sigh of relief. The string of fierce battles had drained all his energy and spirit.

Although he had survived this calamity, there was not a trace of joy in his heart. He knew his own strength was still far from enough to protect his family. Even Charles Brooks’s strength just now was not to be underestimated—he was not yet a match. And with the third elder Samuel Brooks still lurking, eyeing his family with malice, he had to seize every moment to cultivate.

But Mark Brooks firmly believed that, with the Divine Tree of Light and the Great Radiance Divine Art, he would surely surpass him.

Linda Hughes also helped Henry Brooks out. She still looked shaken, while Henry Brooks, aside from being moved by his younger siblings’ growth, had a trace of loneliness in his eyes.

After chatting with their family for a while, the siblings cleaned up the messy courtyard.

Linda Hughes quickly prepared the washing supplies: a coarse towel, an earthen basin, and a basin of clear water. With her head lowered, she silently wiped the bloodstains from Mark Brooks, her heart full of pain and reluctance. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but afraid the children would worry, she bit her lip and stubbornly refused to let them fall.

“Mom, let me do it myself.” Mark Brooks snatched the basin and gently pressed Linda Hughes into a chair.

The strong mother had managed the household, toiling for the three siblings and worrying herself sick—her temples already streaked with silver.

If not for saving him, with his elder brother’s talent, he would not have fallen so far. In his heart, Mark Brooks silently vowed to cure his brother and restore him to his former self, and to make that woman who brought her lover to break off the engagement regret it deeply.

As for sneaking into the small cave world, neither his brother nor sister blamed him in the slightest. This made Mark Brooks’s heart warm—indeed, family was always the best.

After tending to his wounds, Mark Brooks returned to his room to meditate and cultivate. The Radiant Profound Qi was truly extraordinary.

He had already felt its power during normal cultivation, but in actual combat, it was even more overwhelming. Its destructive force was far beyond that of his previous, mixed Green Wood Profound Qi.

And this was only the first level—already so powerful. Mark Brooks couldn’t help but look forward to reaching the second and third levels, dominating the battlefield, awe-inspiring and unstoppable. The anticipation was plain on his face.

But in the next moment, Mark Brooks grew pensive. To upgrade the Great Radiance Divine Art and reach the second level, he had to let it fuse with and devour other profound arts. But right now, he was poor—he only had the Green Wood Art and no way to upgrade for now.

Besides that, the tender sprout growing in his sea of consciousness was also remarkable. In today’s battles, if not for the help of the green liquid, he could not have won relying solely on the Great Radiance Divine Art and Vajra Fist. But it was also a resource hog—if he didn’t take good care of it, he couldn’t expect it to produce green liquid in the future.

Thinking of this, Mark Brooks’s brows furrowed even more as he muttered to himself. Truly, the child of a poor family grows up fast. He had to find a way to make money. If only he had a wealthy father like Charles Brooks, his current problems would be nothing.

Mark Brooks returned to his sea of consciousness. After being squeezed dry today, the tender sprout was now wilted and drooping, its leaves a dull gray-green, completely lacking luster.

Mark Brooks couldn’t help but feel a trace of fear—if the sprout withered, he would be left with nothing but tears. Not daring to delay, he activated the Great Radiance Divine Art, trying to feed the sprout with Radiant Profound Qi.

Immediately, the listless, spiritless sprout reacted like a cat smelling fish, becoming restless. It began to frantically devour the Radiant Profound Qi before it.