David Brooks let out a sigh and had no choice but to bite the bullet and go find Old Dad.

"You want more?!" Old Dad was startled. "Do you think spirit jades grow on trees?"

David Brooks grinned cheekily and started massaging Old Dad's shoulders and back. "Dad, your son is really motivated now, look." As he spoke, he casually crushed a teapot on Old Dad's desk into ceramic powder.

David Brooks was feeling quite pleased with himself, but failed to notice that Old Dad's face had turned green. "This teapot was made from local spiritual clay, personally crafted and fired by a master artisan. While it doesn't quite qualify as a magical artifact, it can greatly accelerate cultivation and enhance comprehension. It's worth thirty-six second-grade spirit jades!"

"What?!" David Brooks was dumbfounded, but quickly recovered and retorted, "You have a teapot worth thirty-six second-grade spirit jades, but you can't bear to give your son ten spirit jades when he asks?"

James Brooks: "Didn't you just ask for six?"

"You're so mean to your son, I'm going to the county city to complain to Mom."

James Brooks felt a headache coming on. "Alright, get back here." He looked seriously at David Brooks. "What exactly have you been up to lately? Why has your physique suddenly improved so much, and why are you using up so many spirit jades?"

That teapot was already almost a magical artifact. If the master craftsman hadn't been momentarily distracted during the process, it would definitely have become a first-grade magical artifact.

Not only was it highly effective, but also extremely sturdy. Even if John Brooks, a strong man in his prime, smashed it with a sledgehammer at full force, he couldn't have broken it. Yet his young son had crushed it to powder with a casual squeeze!

David Brooks hesitated, not wanting to lie to his father, but now was definitely not the time to reveal this secret.

James Brooks said solemnly, "Kid, there are some techniques you mustn't touch. They might let you improve rapidly in the short term, but it's at the cost of your future, do you understand?"

David Brooks rolled his eyes. "Do you think your son is that much of a fool?"

James Brooks thought about it. This kid had always been afraid of death and sometimes quite cunning. Even if some old demon tried to trick him into practicing demonic arts, he probably wouldn't fall for it.

He also knew that in the mortal world, there were many eccentric experts who liked to secretly train a disciple and then amaze everyone. So he nodded. "Alright, I'll give you another ten second-grade spirit jades."

David Brooks cheered, "Thanks, Dad!"

James Brooks gave a wry smile. "I just hope these spirit jades from Old Dad are worth the investment."

He would never admit that he was henpecked and actually afraid his son would go to the county city to complain to his wife...

David Brooks took the spirit jades and dashed back to his own courtyard, told John Brooks to guard the door, then eagerly opened his ring space and buried two spirit jades under the golden bamboo.

Almost visibly, the writing on the golden bamboo quickly became clearer. Without wasting time, David Brooks buried another two spirit jades under the peach tree.

Thanks to that mysterious spiritual herb, the peach tree had already blossomed and borne fruit, but the fruit was still very small. With two second-grade spirit jades, its growth sped up, but compared to the previous one, it was still a bit slow.

"So, this time the peach should be even more effective, but it'll also consume more spirit jades." At this moment, David Brooks was definitely feeling both pain and joy. He could keep improving his aptitude and speed up his cultivation, but the cost was just too high!

He hadn't even started real cultivation yet, and he was already using second-grade spirit jades! Normally, a third-level Origin Realm cultivator would only need first-grade spirit jades.

"How am I supposed to get by in the future?" he complained, then turned his head and saw a section of golden bamboo fall to the ground with a snap, immediately breaking into a smile.

He quickly put away the section of golden bamboo, then buried the "Qingyun Record" under the golden bamboo, adding two more second-grade spirit jades as fertilizer, and only then leisurely exited the ring space.

Afterward, he sat cross-legged on his meditation mat, calmed his mind, and pressed the golden bamboo to his forehead with both hands. A beam of golden light merged into his brow, but compared to last time, his improved aptitude also enhanced his comprehension, so he quickly absorbed the golden light into his mind without feeling any swelling at his brow.

Once the golden light was fully absorbed, the golden bamboo turned to ash. David Brooks silently contemplated the contents of the classic. After a long time, he opened his eyes and exclaimed in admiration, "Truly profound and extensive, but unfortunately it's only the introductory part, only enough to cultivate up to the Origin Initiation Realm."

To obtain the later sections, he would have to enter the county academy.

He began circulating the "Dual Polarity Divine Demon Body," transforming his body into pure gold, and then started cultivating the "Dao Arts." With the analysis from the golden bamboo and his improved aptitude from the innate spiritual peach, his cultivation went smoothly, completing a minor cycle without any obstacles.

Then, David Brooks, unable to stop himself, went on to complete eight more minor cycles in one go, finishing a major cycle of cultivation.

When he emerged from that mysterious state, he felt power coursing through his body, and it seemed as if heaven and earth now gave him a new "recognition."

Standing up and stretching, David Brooks felt even more different from before he started cultivating. Previously, even with the foundation of the "Dual Polarity Divine Demon Body" and the strength of nine cauldrons within him, he had never felt this sense of "the world at my command."