Andrew Walker naturally understood what Edward Walker was saying. Although spiritual cultivators did not hold noble titles, they possessed a status equal to that of nobles. Their formidable strength had already granted them a position above the mundane world. Even the lowest-ranked spiritual disciple among them held a status comparable to that of a low-ranking noble. Even as commoners, when meeting nobles like The Walker Family, The Warren Family, or The Quinn Family—families granted titles by the state—they had the right to speak as equals, and could even address nobles by name directly.

"Is this spiritual cultivator very powerful?"

Edward Walker shook his head and said, "From the perspective of spiritual cultivators, he isn't particularly powerful—after all, he's just a spiritual disciple. But considering his age, he is quite impressive. He's only twenty-two this year, and he's already a mid-level spiritual disciple..."

Reaching mid-level spiritual disciple at twenty-two?

Andrew Walker was slightly surprised. Logan Walker had reached the sixth level of the Body Strengthening Realm at twenty-one, which was already considered quite talented in cultivation. But this person, at just twenty-two, had already entered the realm of spiritual cultivators. His progress was truly astonishing. Unless he had some extraordinary encounter, he must be an absolute genius.

Perhaps, if there’s a chance, I should meet this person...

As for the purpose, that would have to wait until after meeting him.

……

The next day, Andrew Walker was still cultivating in his room when his personal maid Abigail Abbott rushed in, a bit flustered, to inform Andrew Walker that people from The Warren Family and The Quinn Family had already arrived.

A cold smile appeared on Andrew Walker's face. Coming so early—they really can't wait.

"Let's go, let's have a look."

When Andrew Walker arrived at the main hall, Edward Walker and Logan Walker were already there. Opposite them sat the head of The Warren Family, Samuel Warren, and in the seat of honor was still the head of The Quinn Family, Thomas Quinn.

Seeing Andrew Walker walk in, both Edward Walker and Logan Walker's eyes lit up. They exchanged a glance, and could see the anticipation in each other's eyes. Because today, The Walker Family not only needed to thwart the schemes of The Warren Family and The Quinn Family, but also, in front of many witnesses, to wash away Andrew Walker's reputation as a cripple and restore him to the ranks of the nobility.

Samuel Warren and Thomas Quinn's gazes also focused on Andrew Walker. The two of them exchanged a subtle glance, both unable to hide the confusion and surprise on their faces.

"Andrew Walker... you... how did you become like this?"

Andrew Walker gave a faint smile to the astonished Samuel Warren: "Does this, too, violate the Empire's iron laws?"

There was a clear undertone of sarcasm in Andrew Walker's words, but Samuel Warren was too shocked to ponder the meaning. He simply stared blankly at Andrew Walker.

Samuel Warren had seen Andrew Walker more than once. In his impression, Andrew Walker was a timid, even sullen, dark-skinned boy who didn't dare meet anyone's gaze. But the handsome young man before him, chin slightly raised, eyes brimming with undisguised confidence and mockery—was this really the same sixteen-year-old cripple, Andrew Walker?

In just a month, he seemed like a completely different person. This was just too strange.

Thomas Quinn was the first to recover. Seeing Samuel Warren staring blankly at Andrew Walker, he frowned, gently picked up the teacup on the table, and coughed lightly twice.

Samuel Warren was startled by Thomas Quinn's cough and snapped back to his senses. His old face flushed with embarrassment. After glancing around, he turned to Edward Walker and said, "A month has passed. I wonder, Edward Walker, what do you have to say?"

Edward Walker replied calmly, "Just as we agreed before, today we will all go to the appraisal center together to have my son Aotian's level assessed."

Samuel Warren frowned, looking at the delicate-skinned Andrew Walker, and began to feel uneasy. No matter how he looked at this boy, he didn't seem like someone who had practiced the Body Strengthening Technique. So why was Edward Walker so insistent?

"Your son looks so delicate, just like a young lady. He doesn't look like he's ever practiced the Body Strengthening Technique... You're not planning to cheat at the appraisal center, are you?"

Edward Walker scoffed at Samuel Warren's accusation: "Samuel Warren, are you out of your mind? Cheating at the appraisal center—do you think the appraisal center is run by my The Walker Family? Or do you think your The Warren Family has the ability to tamper with the results at the appraisal center?"

Samuel Warren opened his mouth, but couldn't find any words to refute. After all, all the staff at the national appraisal centers were subordinates of the Sacred Land, directly responsible to the Sacred Land itself. Their status was exalted and their discipline strict; it was simply impossible for them to risk their reputation by cheating. Samuel Warren had just blurted it out without thinking, and now, faced with Edward Walker's retort, he could only swallow his words in frustration.

Thomas Quinn shot an unhappy glance at Samuel Warren, but seeing the confident demeanor of the three men from The Walker Family, he also felt a sense of foreboding and said nothing more, leaving Samuel Warren to take the lead.

"Fine, let's go. We'll head to the appraisal center right now. I really don't believe he could suddenly become able to cultivate!"