"Big brother, I'm begging you, David has finally managed to cultivate true qi. He's your own nephew—can't you just give him one or two martial arts manuals?"

Sarah Thompson pleaded tearfully.

"Little sister, let me be blunt—David Walker has always been weak and sickly since childhood, and he can't awaken his bloodline. Even if he somehow managed to cultivate a bit of true qi, what's the use? He'll never achieve anything significant. He'd be better off living peacefully as an ordinary person for the rest of his life."

"Besides, let me tell you, Grand Elder Walker has already spoken to me and told me to know my place. Little sister, I'm in a tough spot here—if I help you, I'll offend the Grand Elder."

John Thompson said indifferently.

"Big brother, please, I'm not hoping for David to achieve anything great. As long as he can become a martial artist and strengthen his body, I'll be satisfied. Big brother, I promise this is the last time I'll ask you. I won't trouble you again in the future." Sarah Thompson continued to plead.

John Thompson frowned, pondered for a moment, then took out a book and tossed it in front of Sarah Thompson, saying, "For the sake of our years as siblings, take this 'Three Strikes of the Drawn Sword.' It's not a top-tier technique, but it's good enough for David Walker. Don't bother me again."

"Mother!"

At this moment, David Walker and Autumn Grace arrived.

David Walker helped Sarah Thompson up, feeling her body trembling slightly, clearly from kneeling for too long.

"David, aren't you going to thank your uncle?" Sarah Thompson gave John Thompson a deep look and said to David Walker.

"Thank him?"

Rage filled David Walker's chest as he said, "We don't need their charity. Mother, let's go home."

Without even glancing at the martial arts manual, David Walker supported Sarah Thompson and left the The Thompson Family.

"Ungrateful fool. Just because he managed to cultivate a bit of true qi, he really thinks he's a genius."

"He's just a worthless loser."

All the younger members of the The Thompson Family sneered coldly.

David Walker ignored these people. Without strength, words are meaningless. The more you say, the more they look down on you.

But David Walker swore that one day, he would make all these people shut up with his actions.

After leaving the The Thompson Family, Sarah Thompson sighed and said, "David, you were too impulsive. That was a martial arts manual. As long as it could help you become a martial artist, it would be worth it for me to endure any humiliation."

David Walker stood tall and straight, like a divine sword, his eyes filled with determination. "Mother, even without the The Thompson Family's charity, I will become a martial artist—and a powerful one at that!"

After returning home, David Walker entered the Supreme Divine Hall and began to train even harder.

After finishing a round of 'Flame Dragon Fist,' David Walker started practicing 'Dragon Serpent Step.'

'Dragon Serpent Step' is a movement technique, extremely profound. Once mastered, one's movements become as agile as a dragon or serpent, swift as lightning.

With the help of the chanting in the palace, David Walker progressed rapidly.

After just two rounds of practice, he had already 'glimpsed the basics.'

Swish! Swish!

David Walker's body twisted, moving like a dragon or serpent. With a twist of his waist and a single step, he covered a distance of over three meters.

A distance of over three meters is one zhang.

"Dragon Serpent Step has reached the first level—glimpsed the basics. One step covers one zhang. At the second level, one step will cover two zhang. With each breakthrough, the distance increases by one zhang. I still have a long way to go. Keep going."

Next, under David Walker's arduous training, ten days passed.

In these ten days, David Walker managed to open two more meridians, reaching the peak of the mid-stage Meridian Unblocking realm.

The greatest gains were in martial arts techniques.

Both 'Flame Dragon Fist' and 'Dragon Serpent Step' were cultivated to the third level, achieving complete mastery.

"The cultivation of true qi is still too slow. At this rate, I don't know when I'll be able to open three divine meridians."

David Walker pondered.

To quickly open the meridians and condense a qi vortex to enter the Warrior realm, a large amount of Dragon Tiger Pills is necessary.

But each Dragon Tiger Pill costs a hundred taels of silver, and he doesn't have a single coin to his name.

"Now that I've reached the peak of the mid-stage Meridian Unblocking realm, and both martial arts techniques are at 'complete mastery,' I have some ability to protect myself. It's time to try my luck in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range."

The Demonic Beast Mountain Range is a massive range fifty li outside of Windfire City, stretching hundreds of li, with ancient trees towering to the sky.

Within the mountains, many spiritual herbs grow, attracting large numbers of martial artists from Windfire City to search for herbs.

Of course, opportunity always comes with risk. The mountains are filled with fierce beasts, and even more powerful demonic beasts. Every year, many martial artists die at the hands of these creatures.

David Walker had no intention of venturing deep into the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. He just wanted to try his luck on the outskirts and hone his martial arts skills.

Finding an excuse, he informed Sarah Thompson, then set off for the Demonic Beast Mountain Range.

Two hours later, David Walker arrived at the foot of the mountains. Looking up, the Demonic Beast Mountain Range resembled a giant beast, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Without hesitation, David Walker charged into the mountains.

Roar!

He had only gone a few li in when a fierce beast lunged at David Walker.

It was a white-browed hanging-neck tiger, over a meter tall and three meters long. Even before it reached him, a wave of murderous intent rushed at him.