Emily Harper's half-exposed, fair jade-like hand slammed heavily on the table. The rice bowl in front of her jumped from the impact, and half a bowl of thin porridge splashed onto the faces of Linda Foster's family of three sitting across from her. Although Linda Foster, Brian Foster, and Kevin Foster reacted quickly, they were still left in a rather sorry state by the spilled porridge.

"I would rather die than get engaged to him!"

Before Linda Foster could get angry, Emily Harper shot to her feet with a roar, ignoring her father John Harper's darkened expression, and stormed out of the house like a ball of fire.

As she passed the wooden door, she slapped it with her small hand, and a burst of orange-red flame shot out. The wide wooden door suddenly exploded, and before the dozen or so fragments of wood hit the ground, Emily Harper's delicate figure had already vanished.

John Harper was just about to scold her when he suddenly froze. He looked at the fallen wood fragments, his eyes brightening as a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"Big brother! When did Emily reach the seventh level of Body Refinement? The overflow of spiritual power—this is clearly the unique sign of the seventh level of Body Refinement!" Robert Harper exclaimed excitedly, slapping the table, his face full of joy. "To reach the seventh level of Body Refinement at fifteen, Emily's talent is even more astonishing than Sarah's! At this rate, before she's twenty, she will definitely step into the Kaiyuan Realm. The Kaiyuan Realm... She will surely attract the attention of Nebula Pavilion in the future!"

Suppressing his inner excitement, John Harper coughed lightly and asked Sarah Harper, "Emily, when did she break through?"

Sarah Harper, dressed in a long green dress, her jet-black hair draped over her shoulders, wore an elegant and serene expression on her delicate face. Her skin was as white as jade, and even sitting down, her tall and alluring figure drew the burning gaze of Brian Foster, whose eyes never left her.

"Little sister broke through just seven days ago. She was originally eager to tell father the good news right away, but..." Sarah Harper changed her tone and sighed softly, "But a couple of days ago, she heard that father had promised Grandpa David Carter long ago that she would get engaged to Ryan Carter on her birthday, so..."

Sarah Harper didn't continue, but John Harper had already guessed the reason, his expression helpless.

"Whew!"

At that moment, Ryan Carter, who had been eating with his head down and ignoring everyone since entering, suddenly stood up. It was as if he hadn't heard a word of the conversation or the conflict, and as usual, he left as soon as he was full.

He headed straight for the medicine mountain behind Harper Town.

"Big brother, I have a few words I'd like to speak to you alone." Robert Harper also suddenly stood up, gave his big brother a look, and after Ryan Carter, left the dining hall as well.

John Harper, deep in thought, followed after them.

On the rugged mountain path, John Harper and Robert Harper, the two brothers, kept some distance from Ryan Carter as they also walked toward the medicine mountain, their eyes drifting to Ryan Carter as they spoke in low voices.

"It's been five years since David Carter brought Ryan Carter here. The two of them spend all day in the mine. Big brother, aren't you curious what they're actually doing in there? What have they found?"

"Of course I'm curious. But I made an agreement with David Carter not to enter the mine without reason. Besides, our The Harper Family has been developing the mine in the medicine mountain for years and never found any valuable spirit stones. Otherwise, why would I have agreed to let them have the mine?"

"As for the engagement between Emily and Ryan Carter, what's really going on? Big brother, I know you wouldn't sacrifice Emily's lifelong happiness, so why?"

"Before David Carter passed away, he insisted I promise him this. Considering all the help he's given us over the years, I gritted my teeth and agreed. But it's not what you think. He probably just wanted to make sure that after he was gone, Ryan Carter would continue to be cared for by our The Harper Family."

"What do you mean?"

"It's just an engagement, nothing more. Ryan Carter and Emily are both fifteen. He asked our The Harper Family to look after Ryan Carter until he turns seventeen. When Ryan Carter is seventeen, either he or I can unilaterally break off the engagement. The engagement exists only so that, for these few years, with the status of a son-in-law, no one in The Harper Family would dare mistreat him, that's all."

"Don't worry. Now that Emily has reached the seventh level of Body Refinement, she's destined to enter Nebula Pavilion in the future. I certainly won't let Ryan Carter affect her prospects. When the time comes, I'll immediately dissolve the engagement!"

"So that's how it is." Robert Harper nodded. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Big brother, there's something I'm not sure I should say, but... sigh..."

"Just say it!" The The Harper Family Patriarch frowned and barked.

"According to what you said, the engagement is just a formality. It doesn't have to be Ryan Carter and Emily—he could get engaged to Sarah instead, right? Sarah is only two years older than Ryan Carter, that shouldn't matter, should it?" Robert Harper probed.

The The Harper Family Patriarch's face suddenly darkened.

"Big brother, sister-in-law passed away early. I know you love Sarah and Emily equally, and so do I." Robert Harper chose his words carefully, speaking earnestly. "But even an engagement can affect a girl's reputation. This year, Emily is only fifteen, and she's already reached the seventh level of Body Refinement! Even in normal times, you and I can see that her cultivation talent and comprehension of spiritual arts far surpass Sarah's. Emily's future... is truly limitless. She will be the real hope of our The Harper Family in the years to come!"