As for Daoists, they meditate and practice breathing techniques to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, replenishing this vital breath; or they refine elixirs and mystical medicines, and after consuming them, draw upon their spiritual energy to nourish this breath.

There are also Buddhist followers and Confucian scholars who, through understanding and enlightenment, use wisdom to comprehend the principles of heaven and earth, cultivating this breath.

A thousand methods, ten thousand secret arts—all are ultimately for the sake of this breath.

“By cultivating with diseased qi, you not only accumulate merit but also improve your cultivation. Truly defying the heavens…”

Henry Carter calmed the surging true qi within his body and sighed softly, unable to help but think of his master.

If not for his master, he would probably have remained at the lowest level of the sect, even if he had managed to stay in the immortal gate.

But his master had only recently died of illness, and was soon removed from the rolls by people from other peaks, even severing the inheritance.

For those who cultivate immortality, breaking the line of inheritance is like a common family losing its descendants.

“Hmph, as long as I am here, my master’s legacy is not broken. Since Qingcong Mountain has removed the name of our Zuowang Peak, I will make the inheritance of Zuowang Peak stand alone. Sooner or later, those greedy villains will pay the price…”

Henry Carter swore silently in his heart, determined to use this method to avenge his master.

“I’d better not dwell on these things for now, or it will disturb my state of mind. The most important thing now is cultivation. Since I’ve broken through another level today, I’ll see if I can master the second seal…”

Whenever Henry Carter thought of his master, his emotions became chaotic. He knew this was bad for his cultivation, so he forced himself to suppress it, deciding to focus on training. After all, whatever he wanted to do in the future would depend on his own strength.

“Great Sorrow Seal…”

Henry Carter pressed his palms together, his ten fingers forming a complex and mysterious hand seal.

As he formed the seal, the spiritual energy around him began to ripple and shift, with faint demonic sounds emerging.

“Pfft…”

Just as the seal was about to be completed, Henry Carter’s expression suddenly changed, the spiritual energy instantly dissipated, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

“It’s still not working. Although my true qi has broken through another layer, it’s still not enough to cultivate the second seal…”

Henry Carter frowned.

The cultivation method he practiced, the Great Illness Immortal Art, was centered on nine seals, each with unparalleled wonders. So far, he had only mastered the first seal, the Great Illness Seal. This seal included techniques such as drawing diseased qi from the sick, refining it into a Great Illness Pill for his own consumption, and so on.

The second seal, called the Great Sorrow Seal, was still beyond Henry Carter’s reach, even though he had reached the seventh level of true qi.

“Forget it, I can’t force it. I’ll focus on increasing my cultivation instead!” Henry Carter sighed inwardly.

Early the next morning, Henry Carter got up and slowly practiced a set of boxing forms in the courtyard. He wanted to greet his father, but found that his father was not yet up, so he returned to his room. Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened the door, he saw a bowl of steaming hot tofu pudding on the table.

“Who put this tofu pudding here?”

Seeing the bowl of tofu pudding, Henry Carter was moved and went out to ask the family servants.

“It was Miss Parker from the alley next door. She had someone deliver it early this morning…”

The servant replied with a sly grin, looking rather mischievous.

“What are you grinning at…”

Henry Carter kicked the servant in mock annoyance and amusement, then returned to his room.

He slowly picked up the bowl of tofu pudding. It was tender and smooth, topped with green scallions and red chili, and the taste was very familiar.

After finishing, he took the bowl, grabbed a few packets of pastries from home, and headed to the alley next door.

From a distance, he saw a young woman in a coarse linen dress busy at work. She was only seventeen or eighteen, tall and graceful, with a delicate and lovely appearance. She always had a sweet smile for everyone, and her every gesture carried the poise of a lady from a noble family, which seemed out of place in her current surroundings. Seeing this, Henry Carter couldn’t help but sigh, thinking that he must help this Miss Parker now that he was back.

This Miss Parker, named Emily Parker, was Henry Carter’s childhood playmate. Back then, the The Parker Family had not yet fallen, and the two of them were childhood sweethearts. Later, however, Emily Parker’s father went out of town and, by misfortune, encountered a monster from Blackwood Mountain while it was out hunting. He was taken away, leaving only Mrs. Parker and Emily Parker, two women, behind. At that time, Emily Parker was still young, and Mrs. Parker did not know how to manage the family. With creditors coming to the door, the family’s fortune was soon squandered. Mrs. Parker had no choice but to open this tofu shop to make a living.

Back then, Henry Carter often came by to eat tofu pudding, and his relationship with Emily Parker never grew distant.

So when he saw the tofu pudding on the table, he knew it must have been sent by Emily Parker.

Last night, while chatting with Mr. Carter, he learned that Mrs. Parker had fallen ill three years ago, and now all the work in the tofu shop was handled by Emily Parker alone. Of course, Mr. Carter, out of old friendship, often helped them in secret.

“Boss, a bowl of tofu pudding, please…”

Henry Carter walked to the shop entrance and said with a cheerful smile.

Chapter Four: The Prodigal Son

Suddenly hearing a voice that was both familiar and a little strange, Emily Parker, who was busy working, trembled slightly. She turned her head, her expression a mix of joy and surprise, with a hint of sadness. For a moment, her eyes even grew moist. But she quickly recovered, wiped the corners of her eyes with her apron, and smiled, saying, “I already sent you a bowl, isn’t that enough?”

Henry Carter laughed and said, “How could one bowl be enough? I need at least three! After seven years on the mountain, what I missed most was the tofu pudding here!”