Only those at the Earth Origin Stage can truly be called experts; and by the time a martial artist reaches this level, they have usually already achieved something… Yet, advancing even one level within the Earth Origin Stage is like climbing a mountain.

“So it turns out that now, I’ve already surpassed the so-called ‘elite among men’… I can already be considered an expert…” Ethan Brooks actually felt a bit smug.

In his previous life, it took him a whole year to cultivate from the first grade of the Human Origin Stage to the first grade of the Earth Origin Stage, but now, it had only taken a single day!

“This speed…” Ethan Brooks stroked his chin, feeling a bit dizzy. Such cultivation speed was something he couldn’t have dreamed of in his previous life.

Although he knew well that this was the benefit of having just started practicing the Purple Qi from the East Divine Art, Ethan Brooks was still extremely satisfied. Only those who have cultivated know how hard it is to level up…

The former wastrel Ethan Brooks, though unlearned and undisciplined, had still practiced some profound arts under his father’s strict pressure. Not much, but he had reached the third grade of the Human Origin Stage. The General’s Mansion did have this kind of foundation. However, the amount of vital energy in this Mr. Brooks’s body was there, but it was full of impurities.

“But having a foundation is good. Even though he weakened his body so much that my old man couldn’t stand to watch… at least he still has his life.” Now Ethan Brooks was in a great mood and didn’t care about anything else.

“Let me try and see if this bead has any other functions?” Ethan Brooks was full of interest.

Aside from being delighted at his own cultivation progress, what interested Ethan Brooks most was still that Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow; you should know, the Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow hadn’t really been used yet. Just by entering the bead’s space and the energy it emitted, he had already undergone a complete transformation, washing his muscles and cleansing his marrow, and this useless body had broken through the Earth Origin Stage in one go.

If… he could use a bit more, wouldn’t that be… hehehehe?

With a thought, he entered the space again. Ethan Brooks went straight to where the Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow was placed, looked up at it, stroked his chin, and thought, “Should I… cut off another piece?”

No sooner thought than done. Ethan Brooks leapt up and reached for the Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow…

Although he hadn’t been able to cut the Spirit Marrow with a dagger before, now that he had Earth Origin cultivation, Ethan Brooks figured he should be able to handle this hard thing now!

But…

Boom!

A flash of purple light.

Ethan Brooks was slammed heavily to the ground, his butt almost split into eight pieces, and for a moment he even forgot the pain, staring in shock.

The Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow was clearly right there, visible at a glance.

But… it was within sight yet out of reach, no matter what he did, he couldn’t touch it!

And not only that, when he tried to take it out just now, a sudden flash of purple light had blasted him away…

“What’s going on? I went through so much trouble to get this thing, and now, in my own territory, I can see it but can’t touch it!? Is there any justice in this world!” Ethan Brooks rubbed his butt, his face full of tangled confusion.

Unwilling to give up, he jumped twice more, but the result was the same.

Young Master Brooks, now covered in dust, was frustrated: he really couldn’t get it!

Looking up at the Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow high above, Ethan Brooks sighed and groaned, “I’ve never seen anything like this. I got it myself, it’s in my own space, it’s clearly my thing, and yet I’m not allowed to touch it! You… this damned bead space, do you have any sense of reason?”

After repeated experiments, Ethan Brooks finally collapsed weakly onto the ground inside the space.

He finally understood: while he could bring things in, his current cultivation was simply too low, and he had no right—or ability—to freely control this place.

Ethan Brooks also knew that something as precious as the Heavenly Crystal Spirit Marrow would be a terrible waste if used now! Sure, it could rocket his cultivation up in a very short time; but it would also bring considerable hidden dangers: after all, it wouldn’t be gained through hard cultivation, and his foundation would inevitably be unstable. It would be hard to reach that state of “endless vitality.”

But… that kind of temptation to soar to the top overnight was something no one could possibly resist—well, now that he could only look but not eat, there was no more “temptation” to speak of.

“Forget it, it’s not bad if this place can serve as a storage space.” Ethan Brooks settled for second best, comforting himself.

Then he exited the space, grabbed a chair, and tried to send it in…

“Uh, it doesn’t work?” Ethan Brooks looked at the chair still in his hand and couldn’t help scratching his head.

Was it too big?

Then let’s try something smaller.

Ethan Brooks grabbed a small stone, only about the size of an egg.

But… it still didn’t seem to work?

“What’s going on?” Ethan Brooks was truly baffled now.

I can get my whole body in, so why can’t such a small stone go in!

Try again!

He kept experimenting several times, until he tried to send in a piece of jade crystal left by his father in the General’s Mansion, which contained the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—only then did he finally get a reaction…

But it wasn’t that the jade crystal could enter the space, rather—

“It’s less…” Ethan Brooks looked at the jade crystal in his hand, which had changed, and couldn’t help but laugh and cry.