Thomas Howard’s cultivation had always gone smoothly, never lingering at any stage for more than five years. But after entering the early stage of Third Grade Manifested Sage, it had already been seven years, and he was still stuck at this level.

Three years ago, he had felt that he was about to break through to the mid-stage of Third Grade Manifested Sage. Yet three years had passed, and this feeling accompanied him through every starlit night of cultivation, but he still hadn’t broken through.

Tonight was the same. The beautiful starlight brought a massive amount of energy, transforming into the highest quality martial qi. That restless feeling of imminent breakthrough was always there, but the breakthrough just wouldn’t come!

Thomas Howard sighed inwardly and prepared to finish his cultivation.

Within his spiritual perception, Edward Howard was always very quiet, his breath long and steady, sleeping soundly.

Thomas Howard’s cultivation was coming to an end, about to be completed, while inside Edward Howard, the novice monk’s dharma form had just begun to chant sutras. Waves of Buddhist sound turned into faint golden mist, wandering through his meridians. In Edward Howard’s dreams, the Buddhist sound grew louder and louder, gradually turning into a torrent, surging back and forth through Edward Howard’s meridians!

At the same time, Edward Howard once again disappeared from Thomas Howard’s spiritual perception!

Thomas Howard was greatly shocked, his mind shaken, almost falling into deviation!

The Starlight Divine Furnace mental technique he had relied on all his life had shown two flaws in one night—this was absolutely fatal. If it had happened in a life-and-death battle, he, a dignified Third Grade Manifested Sage super expert, would have died twice already.

Just as Thomas Howard finally managed to guide the chaotic martial qi in his meridians back onto the right path, fully opening his spiritual perception to search for Edward Howard again, Edward Howard’s presence suddenly reappeared within his senses. At the same time, he felt as if his spiritual perception had connected with something, and a vast, grand, upright, and peaceful sensation surged in, flooding his senses.

Then this feeling quickly occupied his entire spiritual perception.

Thomas Howard’s current spiritual perception covered a full fifty zhang! Within fifty zhang, Buddhist chants lingered, and that vast, radiant feeling made Thomas Howard feel as if he were bathed in the warmest spring sunlight, comfortable beyond words.

For someone like him, a Third Grade Manifested Sage, he had long forgotten how it felt to be “immersed” like this, because he was always projecting his senses outward, always on guard, never relaxing.

But now, he tasted that feeling once again.

And that vastness and radiance surged within his spiritual perception, then actually drove his martial qi to roar through his meridians, each wave higher than the last!

Thomas Howard didn’t know why, but he wasn’t worried at all about his martial qi being somewhat out of control under this external influence.

Perhaps it was because that vastness and radiance made him trust completely, letting go of his mind entirely.

Martial qi swept through him, each surge of power growing stronger and more magnificent, until finally, this immense power found an outlet and burst forth all at once...

Boom, boom, boom—

Thunder rumbled within Thomas Howard’s body. He sat motionless, a gentle smile on his face, slowly opened his eyes, and found them brimming with tears!

The early stage of Third Grade Manifested Sage that had bound him for seven years was finally broken. He was now at the mid-stage of Third Grade Manifested Sage. Although it was just a small step, at the Third Grade level, every advancement was incredibly difficult.

What surprised him most was that after seven years of effort, he had failed, yet thanks to that mysterious, vast, and radiant sensation, he had broken through with ease!

Thinking of this, Thomas Howard suddenly realized that the sensation had quickly withdrawn from his spiritual perception, leaving not a trace.

And Edward Howard’s presence was now perfectly stable within his senses, as if the two previous mysterious disappearances had never happened.

Thomas Howard wiped away his tears, briefly felt the powerful strength of the mid-stage Third Grade Manifested Sage, then stood up, drifting to the door of Edward Howard’s room, looking in confusion at Edward Howard lying on the bed.

Edward Howard hadn’t even turned over, still lying there quietly.

Within him, the novice monk’s dharma form had returned to tranquility, eyes closed, head bowed, hands together in prayer, unmoving through the ages.

Thomas Howard could hardly imagine that his breakthrough had been brought about by such a useless, good-for-nothing second-generation wastrel. To help someone break through a bottleneck was a favor as heavy as a mountain. Thomas Howard would never be ungrateful, though he still found it hard to believe.

But if not for Edward Howard, there was simply no way to explain what had just happened. That feeling, mysterious as it was, he was certain had come from Edward Howard. Edward Howard was his great benefactor.

Edward Howard being able to help a Third Grade Manifested Sage early stage advance to mid-stage—if word of this got out, all those in Martial Capital who had always looked down on Edward Howard would never believe it.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Thomas Howard’s mouth. He didn’t know whether Edward Howard had always been hiding his strength, or if he had recently had some stroke of fortune, but it didn’t matter. Everyone thought the Howard family was in decline, but now, there was someone to carry on the legacy!

Edward Howard had no idea what had happened while he slept. Early the next morning, he got up and called out twice, but still no servants responded. Edward Howard wasn’t annoyed; he went to the well in the courtyard to fetch water and wash up, then went to have breakfast.