"Yes, time is tight, it's fine not to pack... I have three hundred taels in silver notes here, all saved up over the years. Take them, use them for your travel expenses."

Although William Foster had previously mocked and ridiculed Brian Carter, in the end, they were siblings born of the same mother. Her scolding was out of frustration at his lack of progress. Now, with Brian Carter in crisis, true feelings emerged in adversity.

"No need, I—"

"Just take it when I tell you to! Stop arguing!"

William Foster stuffed the silver notes into Brian Carter's arms, then grabbed him directly: "Let's go quickly. If the clan members arrive, it'll be too late."

With that, she pulled him and rushed straight out of the courtyard.

But as soon as the two of them reached the entrance, three people blocked their way at the intersection. Seeing them, one sneered from afar: "William little sister, Brian Carter, where are you two planning to go? The clan elders sent me to bring you back."

"Henry Foster, Samuel Foster, Thomas Foster..."

Seeing these three, William Foster's expression changed: "Brian Carter, hurry and go! You absolutely can't let them strip you of your status. I'll hold them off."

"You'll hold me off? William little sister, you think too highly of yourself. You've only reached the Marrow Cleansing stage for less than a year, right? But I've been immersed in this realm for three years, and may soon refine my five organs. What makes you think you can stop me?"

The leader of the three, Henry Foster, sneered. Then, with resentment in his eyes, he turned to Brian Carter, gritting his teeth: "I'm the top expert of the younger generation in the Foster family. If you hadn't stolen the token, I would have been the one to become a disciple of the Hunyuan Heavenly Sect. It's all your fault—you ruined my opportunity and cut off my bright future! Brian Carter... Before, I was wary because you were the clan leader's direct son, so I only dared to punish you in secret, not daring to go all out. But... soon you'll be stripped of your status, you'll no longer be one of us. When that happens, I want you dead..."

"Brian Carter, run!"

Hearing the hatred in Henry Foster's voice, William Foster shouted anxiously.

"Run!? Think you can get away? Grab him!"

A cruel smile flashed in Henry Foster's eyes as he waved sharply at Samuel Foster and Thomas Foster.

"Clang!"

Swords were drawn. As Samuel Foster and Thomas Foster charged at Brian Carter, William Foster's sword was already out, blocking their path: "Stop right there!"

Seeing that William Foster actually dared to draw her sword against them, a look of triumphant scheming flashed in Henry Foster's eyes. He too drew his sword: "William Foster, how dare you draw your sword against your own clan!? Now, even if I seriously injure you, it's self-defense. Not even your father can protect you! Prepare to die!"

"Brian Carter, I'll hold them off—run!"

William Foster shouted, bravely charging at Henry Foster.

However...

Brian Foster did not, as William Foster expected, take the chance to escape while she blocked Henry Foster and the others. Instead, he stepped forward: "Was it you who injured me four days ago?"

Chapter Five: Continued

At this moment, not far from the alley where Brian Carter lived, on the main street, the renowned young talent of Yunhuang City, George Green of the Jin family, was entertaining Ethan Brooks. Accompanying them were George Green's sister Linda Green, the eldest son of the Fang family James Walker, the second Miss Olivia Walker, and the second son of the Feng family Charles Reed.

A month ago, George Green, James Walker, and Charles Reed were, like Ethan Brooks, considered the most outstanding young talents of Yunhuang City. But now, while the three of them still dominated the mundane city of Yunhuang, Ethan Brooks had already become a disciple of the Hunyuan Heavenly Sect, one of the top ten holy sects of the Tianhuang Continent, putting her on equal footing with the heads and elders of the Jin, Fang, and Feng families.

The group of seven sat in the restaurant, drinking together. The commotion in the alley naturally drew some attention.

"Hey, aren't those people from the Zhuo family?"

Olivia Walker looked curiously in that direction: "The Zhuo family's presentable ones—Henry Foster, Samuel Foster, and William Foster—are all there, and even that good-for-nothing eldest son Brian Foster?"

Mentioning Brian Foster, Olivia Walker secretly glanced at Ethan Brooks.

It was by taking advantage of Brian Foster's infatuation with her that Ethan Brooks managed to rise from obscurity and become a personal disciple of the Hunyuan Heavenly Sect.

Brian Foster was considered useless because he gave all his cultivation resources to Ethan Brooks. Yet, even without resources, he still managed to reach the Tendon Changing stage at the age of twenty-two, showing remarkable talent. But compared to Ethan Brooks, the number one genius of Yunhuang who had nearly completed a blood exchange and could be called a grandmaster, he seemed utterly ordinary.

"If it weren't for their connection to the Hunyuan Heavenly Sect, the Zhuo family would be nothing. Those prime mines and resources outside the city would never fall to them. Right now, among the younger generation, only Henry Foster is barely presentable, but they're still far from rising to prominence."

George Green flicked imaginary dust from his sleeve and spoke indifferently.

"Henry Foster has reached the Marrow Cleansing stage. At his pace, who knows how long it will take him to enter the Organ Refining stage? Naturally, he can't compare to Brother George Green, who has already refined three of his five organs..."

Charles Reed smiled slightly.

"I've only refined three of my five organs, but Miss Ethan has already completed the Organ Refining stage. She only needs an opportunity to awaken her bloodline and forge true blood. Compared to Miss Ethan, my meager achievements are hardly worth mentioning."