This is what he desired most.

　　Letting out a heavy breath, he was about to stop cultivating when all the muscles in his body twitched again.

　　Pa! Pa! Pa!

　　Three more consecutive sounds.

　　“???”

　　Henry Clark was stunned.

　　Why is it still making noise?

　　Wasn’t it said that six sounds are a once-in-a-century occurrence?

　　Crack! Crack! Crackle!

　　His muscles twitched again, the sounds coming in a dense flurry.

　　Henry Clark: “……”

　　Are you celebrating the New Year here?

　　Looks like this isn’t Tiger-Leopard Thunderclap… it just sounds a bit similar!

　　Makes sense.

　　How could a health-preserving technique possibly produce the Tiger-Leopard Thunderclap that every martial artist dreams of?

　　What a joke…

　　Just as he was wildly speculating, the whip-like sounds ended, and the power within his body suddenly collapsed inward. Even more vigorous spiritual energy roared in, rushing rapidly toward his lower abdomen.

　　Boom!

　　In an instant, the barrier that had been sealed for years was torn apart, and vaguely, a vast spiritual valley appeared before his eyes.

　　Martial Artist Level Four, the Spirit Valley Realm, also known as the Dantian Realm—opening the dantian to gather spiritual power. Ever since reaching the Body Tempering Realm at age eleven, he had been trying to break through, and now, he had succeeded just like that…

　　Could it be that I’m not suited for the Xu Family Qi Cultivation Technique, but rather for health-preserving techniques?

　　Henry Clark was confused.

　　But soon, his attention shifted.

　　Breakthrough or not, it didn’t matter—the important thing was his lifespan!

　　Full of excitement, he opened the Longevity Chart again.

　　Henry Clark: Resident of Xu Family Village, Jiyuan City, son of the village chief Thomas Clark.

　　Cultivation: Martial Artist Level Four, Early Stage.

　　Lifespan: 16 years / 16 years. (35 days remaining).

　　Stolen Opportunity: Qing Emperor Longevity Technique.

Chapter 005: What Does the Young Clan Leader Want?

　　“Qing Emperor Longevity Technique?”

　　Henry Clark was baffled.

　　How did modifying the “Guiyuan Technique” result in this?

　　Puzzled, his eyes fell once more on the last option.

　　“Stolen Opportunity” flickered, and a booming sound echoed in his mind, like a great bell, as if to tear his spirit apart.

　　“Heaven and earth, all things are stolen. All things are stolen by man. Man is the thief of all things.”

　　“When the three thefts are in harmony, the three talents are at peace.”

　　“As for the Stolen Opportunity, none under heaven can see it, none can know it. The gentleman who obtains it strengthens himself; the petty man who obtains it risks his life…”

　　After a long while, the voice faded.

　　Henry Clark gained some understanding.

　　The so-called Stolen Opportunity refers to borrowing lifespan to steal the secrets of heaven.

　　Just like earlier, by increasing his lifespan and modifying the Guiyuan Technique, he had stolen a sliver of vitality from the world, turning the technique into the more powerful “Qing Emperor Longevity Technique.”

　　Is it a specific method, or can only the Guiyuan Technique be modified successfully?

　　Still puzzled, he tried the “Xu Family Qi Cultivation Technique,” but no matter what, it wouldn’t work at all.

　　It seems not every technique can be modified.

　　After studying it for a while without reaching a definite conclusion, Henry Clark stopped dwelling on it and turned his attention to his increased lifespan.

　　A whole extra month!

　　It’s not much, but cultivation is a continuous process. In this sense, it seems he’s found hope for longevity…

　　“Go find the Level Four technique…”

　　Within the clan, to prevent juniors from being reckless and overreaching in their cultivation, the techniques were deliberately divided into many levels. Only by reaching the next level could one copy the current method.

　　The “Guiyuan Technique” was the same.

　　What he had copied from the library before was only the Body Tempering method. Now that he had broken through, to continue, he’d have to go copy the Level Four one.

　　He pushed open the door, about to head out, only to realize it was already the hour of the pig—past ten at night…

　　Never mind whether the Elder of Destiny was still on duty at this hour—even if he was, he himself should be sleeping.

　　Because… a barrage of “pop-ups” was already coming.

　　Staying up late, lifespan: -0.01, -0.01…

　　Staying up late really is the enemy of longevity.

　　Of course, if you really have to stay up, it’s best to keep laughing nonstop. That way, the +0.01 from a happy mood can offset the -0.01, so it won’t have much effect…

　　After washing up, Henry Clark lay down on the bed and fell soundly asleep.

　　……

　　Before dawn, with darkness still all around, Edward Clark got up from bed, changed into light clothes, washed his face, and went out to the courtyard.

　　This was his daily morning lesson… morning exercise!

　　He learned it from his cousin Henry Clark, and his cousin was much more diligent than he was!

　　Every time he got up and rushed to the training ground, his cousin had already run three laps around the courtyard and finished five sets of push-ups and five sets of crunch jumps.

　　As the son of the clan leader, to be so self-disciplined and not the least bit arrogant—he was simply his role model.

　　Because of this, he admired him greatly and was happy to follow behind as his little brother.

　　He quickly ran toward Henry Clark’s residence, but before he got there, he saw the room was pitch black.

　　“Sure enough, he’s already gone. So hardworking!”

　　Full of admiration.

　　Yesterday’s hunting had been exhausting, and he thought his cousin would rest. But now it seemed that hardworking people just keep pushing themselves…

　　Soon, he arrived at the training ground.

　　There were a few people doing morning exercises, but not many. After searching around, he didn’t see Henry Clark, and Edward Clark couldn’t help but look puzzled.

　　Could it be… he didn’t come?