At the end, she finally added her real purpose: “Ethan, are you in a relationship, or have you fallen for some girl?”

“It’s not that. It’s just a song, nothing serious. Besides, I didn’t write this song—it’s something I heard by chance.”

“I see.”

“Really?”

Grace Brooks was a bit skeptical.

“Really.”

As Ethan Brooks spoke, he cleared the dishes and stood up. “I’m done eating.”

Seeing Ethan Brooks leave, Grace Brooks felt a bit regretful. “Actually, I think Ethan has a lot of potential as a music creator.”

“Oh? Then as his big sister, you should support him more. Practicing martial arts is fine as a hobby, but as a profession, it’s not much. Back when Xiya was fighting for independence, your second grand-uncle even worked as a royal bodyguard. Now he just teaches a few students at home to get by.”

“Alright, after Ethan goes to college, he’ll know how to dress up, and he’s good-looking too—perfect for the artsy youth vibe. Coincidentally, I’ve studied music arrangement. I’ll put this song together and get my girlfriends to give some feedback.”

……

Ethan Brooks went upstairs and turned on the computer on his desk.

This world was bigger than that other world, with a planetary diameter of forty-nine thousand kilometers. In addition to the yellow, black, and white races, there were also merfolk, cave dwellers, beastkin, and other humanoid species. The humanoids and humans weren’t friendly with each other. Also, in this world, the First World War broke out in 1925, there was no Second World War, and the atomic bomb never emerged under the pressure of war. Militarily, this world was generally behind the 1980s of that other world.

The shift of resources and manpower led to significant advances in civilian technology, probably on par with the 1990s of that other world. The most obvious features were the appearance of computers and mobile phones.

Ethan Brooks turned on the computer he’d bought last year with his extra income—six thousand yuan—and typed in the characters “William Clark”.

In a moment, he found some useful clues.

William Clark, elder of the Iron Sword Sect, master of Tiger Roar Fist, renowned martial arts master, president of the Miro City Martial Arts Association, deputy leader of the Miro City Special Operations Group, level-three martial artist…

“Miro City, capital of Daro Province, four hundred and twenty kilometers from Wuhe City.”

Ethan Brooks then typed in “Adam Carter”.

There was a lot of information.

Adam Carter, head of the Jiang Martial Arts School, master of Dragon Form Fist, senior director of the Sumen City Martial Arts Association, special consultant to the judicial group, level-two martial artist…

Sumen City, neighboring Wuhe City, eighty-one kilometers from Wuhe City. Like Wuhe City, it was a city under the jurisdiction of Xiahai Province, one of Xiya’s twelve provinces.

“Level-two martial artist Adam Carter, level-three martial artist William Clark… Good.”

Ethan Brooks made a note of it.

Next, he started searching for information related to martial arts.

The amount of information online was enormous. After a round of searching, not only did he find Benlei Jin and Thunder Breath, he even found the Thunder Dominator Spirit Refining Visualization Method that had long been lost from his second grand-uncle’s teachings.

This left Ethan Brooks speechless.

Maybe what he’d been practicing was just some common stuff.

If he’d known, he wouldn’t have told his father he was secretly going to train at some famous sect.

Look at this sect, Nanxiang Martial Arts Academy—just the name sounds impressive. And this one, New Oriental Martial Arts School—eight million disciples with strong vitality? Three thousand masters with top skills? Incredible, incredible!

Unfortunately…

He could only look on with envy.

Common stuff is fine. Since he’d already joined his second grand-uncle’s school, he’d have to keep practicing, even if it meant doing so with tears in his eyes.

“I’ll memorize the Thunder Dominator Spirit Refining Visualization Method. Didn’t second grand-uncle say it was lost? I’ll help him complete it.”

Ethan Brooks skimmed through the Thunder Dominator Visualization Method. This method involved visualizing an ancient thunder beast in the mind, drawing on the thunder power within the beast to nourish the spirit and stimulate the body…

But this method didn’t provide a core visualization image of the ancient thunder beast.

No idea what a thunder beast looked like?

No problem.

Ethan Brooks searched for “ancient thunder beast” again, and soon, a series of thunder beast images appeared.

But every ancient thunder beast looked different?

Who knew which one was the real thunder beast and which was fake?

Ethan Brooks searched for a long time and picked the one that looked the most imposing and majestic, memorized it intently, and then turned his attention back to the Thunder Dominator Spirit Refining Visualization Method.

The entire method had ten levels, described in great detail.

After memorizing it, Ethan Brooks pondered it for a bit. It seemed…

“Pretty simple. Well, let’s give it a try.”

Ethan Brooks was a man of action.

Once he decided to do something, he did it. He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Thunder Dominator Visualization Method, cultivation begins.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before Ethan Brooks opened his eyes again.

“The first level of the visualization method: entering tranquility. Focus your mind, enter the visualization state within three minutes, clear away distractions, tame your restless thoughts, and maintain it for more than half an hour. That means you’ve mastered the first level of the Thunder Dominator Visualization Method…”

After speaking, he glanced at the alarm clock on his desk.

One hour and six minutes.

“The first level is done. It really is simple. Let’s continue and try the second level.”

The second level of the visualization method: inner illumination—using powerful spiritual awareness to reflect on oneself and sense subtle changes within.

Three hours later.