The people from the three great sects chatted and laughed among themselves, but the moment they faced the scholars from the county academy, their expressions turned cold, adopting an attitude that kept others at a distance.

David Brooks did not have a strong desire to enter the county academy or cultivate in a sect—his father could guide him just fine. So he stood aside, watching the commotion. Unexpectedly, he even spotted an acquaintance in the crowd—Henry Carter.

The Carter family was indeed very poor. Just a couple of days ago, when David Brooks saw Henry Carter, he was wearing a coarse cloth shirt patched seven or eight times, and today, it was still the same one.

Standing in the line, Henry Carter seemed somewhat out of place. Compared to those around him in bright, clean clothes, he looked destitute, yet there was a stubbornness deeply rooted in his bones.

Since ancient times, immortals had guided the mortal realm out of the wilderness. Heroes from a hundred clans emerged, cultivating and fighting against the many dangers of the wild, finally establishing the current state of the mortal world.

However, the mortal realm was still not truly safe. Not to mention the barbaric lands beyond civilization, where countless fierce beasts and secretive tribes still lurked—even within the areas already conquered by civilization, many fierce beasts remained, and there were even “beast domains” occupied by them.

In such an environment, cultivation had undoubtedly become the best way for children from poor families to rise to greatness. Everywhere, there were legends of impoverished youths who, through talent and hard work, became top cultivators, bringing glory to their families and benefiting their communities.

Who could say that Henry Carter wouldn’t be the next one? So, although the others in the line looked down on this patchwork-clad boy in their hearts, few let such feelings show.

While David Brooks watched from the side, Henry Carter had already finished registering at the county academy and then lined up for the Zhenlei Hall.

His registration fee was undoubtedly earned by his younger sister Linda Carter selling herself. David Brooks noticed that every time Henry Carter opened that exquisitely embroidered purse, the muscles on his face would twitch. He couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for the siblings.

At the first three tables, Henry Carter didn’t attract much attention, but when he reached the last one, the old cultivator from the Cloud Gate, who looked like an immortal, seemed to favor him, even asking in detail where his family lived. It seemed Cloud Gate intended to take him in.

After Henry Carter left, David Brooks also felt a bit bored. Since it was getting late, he strolled back to the Brooks residence.

John Brooks and William Brooks were each standing guard at the gate, arms hanging at their sides. When they saw David Brooks return, they beamed and hurried over to report: “Master went out on business today, young master, you’ve dodged a bullet.”

David Brooks curled his lip, put his hands behind his back, and entered through the main gate, casually instructing John Brooks, “Go and bring Linda Carter to me.”

John Brooks’s eyes flickered, but he left without showing any emotion.

He found Linda Carter in the kitchen, helping peel potatoes. The poor girl was struggling with a pile of potatoes taller than herself.

“Linda Carter, the young master wants to see you.”

Linda Carter looked a bit troubled, glancing at the half-peeled potato in her hand, completely unaware of the envious looks from the others in the kitchen.

John Brooks smiled and said, “Dress up nicely. You won’t have to do this kind of work anymore.”

In an instant, Linda Carter understood, and her face turned deathly pale. Although she had prepared herself for this the moment she sold herself into servitude, the last time her brother caused trouble at the Brooks residence, the young master hadn’t gotten angry, which had given her a sliver of hope.

But today… her heart was filled with bitterness and despair: David Brooks was infamous in Qidong County for being a profligate. How could she have been so naive to think he was a good person?

John Brooks said discontentedly, “It’s your good fortune that the young master has taken a liking to you!” Glancing at the people around, he held back the rest of his words, then led Linda Carter out of the kitchen. Once there was no one else around, he quietly advised, “I’ve always been by the young master’s side. You’re his first woman. If you play your cards right, you may not become the main wife, but being a concubine is no problem. If you can bear him a son or daughter, your Carter family will prosper in the future.”

Tears streamed down Linda Carter’s face, and she didn’t hear a word he said.

David Brooks was still worrying about how to get a second-tier spirit jade when John Brooks brought in the dolled-up Linda Carter.

Of course, this little girl didn’t know how to dress up, so John Brooks had found a woman in the household to help her. Though the style was a bit garish, at her age, with her good looks, it was hard for her to look bad no matter how she dressed. Even if the style didn’t suit Linda Carter, it gave her a different kind of charm.

David Brooks was momentarily stunned. John Brooks, thinking he had done a great job, looked smug. Unexpectedly, David Brooks slapped him: “Idiot!”

He was used to his own strength now; otherwise, that slap might have taken off half of John Brooks’s head.

Even so, John Brooks’s face swelled up like a pig’s head on one side. He complained, “Young master, why did you hit me?”

David Brooks ignored him and looked at Linda Carter. The girl looked so pitiful that David Brooks felt a bit embarrassed. The young man’s handsome face flushed slightly, and he coughed before asking, “That purse Henry Carter carries—did you embroider it for him?”

Linda Carter was taken aback. She had braced herself for the most terrifying moment of her life, but unexpectedly, David Brooks suddenly asked an unrelated question. She instinctively nodded, “I did.”