“This physical body is far too fragile. Its meridians are naturally blocked—no wonder, after consuming so many elixirs and miraculous medicines, it’s still only at the first level of Meridian Opening Realm. Truly, an utter good-for-nothing! But with the Devouring Heaven Secret Art, even a waste like this is nothing to worry about!”

Ethan Clark’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as surging spiritual energy rushed toward his entire body. Yet the moment it entered Ethan Clark’s body, it became incomparably docile, demonstrating Ethan Clark’s superb control.

Strands of that spiritual energy split apart, launching an assault on the blocked meridians within Ethan Clark’s body.

Boom!

A sound like muffled thunder exploded inside Ethan Clark, and under the violent impact of the spiritual energy, his meridians suddenly burst open.

The fourth meridian!

The fifth meridian!

The sixth meridian!

……

The eleventh meridian!

The twelfth meridian!

……

In the Meridian Opening Realm, every four meridians opened count as one level. When all thirty-six meridians throughout the body are connected and true qi circulates through the whole system, one can break through to the True Qi Realm.

Originally, Ethan Clark was only at the first level of the Meridian Opening Realm, with three meridians opened. But under the effect of the Devouring Heaven Secret Art, one meridian after another was opened, and his aura gradually grew stronger.

Boom!

When the fifteenth meridian was opened, Ethan Clark’s cultivation stabilized at the fourth level of the Meridian Opening Realm!

At this moment, all the energy from the spirit stones was completely exhausted, reduced to nothing but powder.

“This body really is useless! Over ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones—enough for an ordinary person to break through to the True Qi Realm!”

Ethan Clark let out a bitter laugh, clearly dissatisfied with this round of cultivation.

However, if anyone else saw Ethan Clark’s terrifying cultivation speed, they’d probably be scared to death. In just a moment, he’d opened twelve meridians—such speed was simply defying the heavens.

For others, opening a single meridian required extreme caution, taking days or even more than ten days to open just one. But for Ethan Clark, breaking through was easier than drinking water.

Whoosh!

Ethan Clark stood up, a foul stench emanating from his body. A layer of black keratin had formed on his skin, all toxins expelled from within.

Ethan Clark jumped into the bath he’d prepared in advance, thoroughly washing himself clean. Only then did he feel refreshed, putting on a new set of clothes.

Creak!

The door opened, and Ethan Clark, dressed in black and tall in stature, walked out.

“Olivia Brooks, I’m going out for a walk!”

Ethan Clark informed Olivia Brooks and then walked off into the distance.

Ethan Clark and Olivia Brooks lived in a valley, the residence of outer disciples of the Longevity Sect. Inner disciples, true disciples, and the elders all lived atop the towering Longevity Mountain before them.

Ethan Clark ascended the mountain path of Longevity Mountain, gazing at the drifting clouds and verdant peaks all around, feeling a deep sense of how things had changed.

“Ten thousand years… I never thought the Longevity Sect would still exist, though it’s fallen to such a state!”

Ethan Clark thought to himself.

The Longevity Sect was the sect of the Longevity Supreme Grace Brooks. Ten thousand years ago, it was one of the most powerful martial holy lands on the War God Continent, filled with mighty experts—even peerless Supreme Realm powerhouses were numerous.

But now, the Longevity Sect had only a handful of people left, reduced to a third-rate sect, shrinking back atop this Longevity Mountain. Even the sect master with the highest cultivation, William Harris, was only at the Grandmaster Realm.

Ten thousand years ago, Ethan Clark was the number one under heaven, but a solitary figure. He never founded a sect, yet he invested much effort in the Longevity Sect, nurturing many strong cultivators for them.

But after ten thousand years, those people must all be gone by now, right?

Even Supremes cannot live ten thousand years. No matter how dazzling your glory, how can you resist the passage of time?

Ethan Clark felt a bit desolate in his heart, and before long, he arrived at a plaza atop the mountain.

This plaza was the symbol of the Longevity Sect. Usually, disciple competitions and ancestor worship ceremonies were held here.

At this moment, only a few scattered disciples were on the plaza, and no one noticed Ethan Clark.

“That is…”

Ethan Clark’s gaze flickered, instantly spotting the two stone statues standing at the center of the plaza.

The first statue was of a woman in a red dress, her features delicate and stunning, holding an ancient sword, exuding a soaring sword intent. She looked otherworldly, like a goddess from the heavens.

The second statue was of a tall man in black, his brows like divine swords, eyes bright as stars, his whole being radiating an aura of dominance over the world. He stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, his eyes unfathomably deep.

The Longevity Supreme!

The Devouring Heaven Supreme!

Seeing the inscriptions on the statues, Ethan Clark’s eyes filled with endless longing. The first statue was Grace Brooks, the second was himself.

He never expected that after ten thousand years, he would still see something so familiar.

“The aura of the Longevity Sword Intent… Grace Brooks, these two statues must have been left by you, right?”

Ethan Clark felt a pang of sorrow, walked over, and touched Grace Brooks’s statue. The stone felt smooth and warm like jade, but his heart was filled with endless bitterness.