He moves his qi and blood, unblocks his meridians, stirs his organs, draws upon his bone marrow, fills his diaphragm with energy, opens his orifices to clarity—each of these requires a will honed through countless trials and a powerful spirit, remaining unflinching even if Mount Tai collapses before him, laughing and chatting even as blades and axes fall upon his body.

This is something that merchants and politicians simply cannot achieve.

Only with great righteousness and courage, and the resolve to abandon everything, can one attain such meticulous control, manipulating every tiny part of the body.

After the meal, William Fisher wrote out a check. “This is your advance payment for being my daughter's bodyguard. From now on, you are her bodyguard.”

Ethan Thompson glanced at the number on the check. “It's too much. If I deserve one, I take one; if two, I take two. I won't take more or less. Just pay me the agreed price.”

“I like people like you.” William Fisher took back the check and wrote a new one. “You are a man of principle. It's a pity—if you walked the proper path, with your family background, you would surely rise to the top.”

Swish!

Suddenly, Ethan Thompson's eyes burst with a piercing brilliance. William Fisher was startled, feeling a murderous aura from the other like a raging storm. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he swept his bowl to the floor, shattering it to pieces.

Behind him, Jack Green was also shocked. He rushed forward, thinking Ethan Thompson was about to kill someone.

This murderous aura was so intense it seemed to condense the air into water, squeezing every bit of oxygen from the lungs.

“What is the proper path? The path I walk is the proper path. How could emperors and ministers compare to us?” Ethan Thompson withdrew his killing intent, his breath returning to calm. “If you said such words in front of Jack Thompson of the Ten Steps of Impermanence, you would already be a corpse. Martial cultivation is our faith and must never be insulted.”

William Fisher, worthy of his deep scheming, quickly raised his wine glass. “I misspoke. I’ll punish myself with a drink.”

Night.

In the bedroom.

William Fisher and Grace Fisher were having a private father-daughter talk. At this time, Jack Green and Ethan Thompson were not present. Jack Green was in another bedroom, while Ethan Thompson was in a neighboring building.

“Dad, you misjudged him. Ethan Thompson is not a playboy. But do you really want me to marry him?” Grace Fisher looked conflicted. She admired the strong, which was why she dated Henry Ford, but the appearance of Ethan Thompson made her realize there were even more outstanding men in the world.

Henry Ford is a master, but Ethan Thompson is like an immortal.

“No, I’ve changed my mind. You wouldn’t be happy marrying him.” William Fisher shook his head. “Relatively speaking, Henry Ford is a bit better.”

“Why!” Grace Fisher didn’t understand. “At first, you thought he was a playboy and I wouldn’t be happy. Now that he’s so outstanding, you still think I wouldn’t be happy. Why?”

“If he were a playboy, he could change as he got older. The Thompson family is strict; he wouldn’t do anything outrageous.” William Fisher sighed. “But he’s not human. Not just the Thompson family—even the law can’t threaten him. And he has no romantic feelings at all, will never marry or have children. Also, people like him are bound to cause great disasters sooner or later.”

“He seems fine to me, and he knows his limits.” Grace Fisher argued.

“That’s because he hasn’t reached the realm he spoke of. The Ten Steps of Impermanence is also pursuing that realm. Once they reach it, they become even less human. When an emperor is enraged, blood flows like rivers; when an immortal is enraged, the world is overturned.” William Fisher looked at his daughter. “Remember, don’t fall for him, or you’ll never be happy.”

“Is that so…” Grace Fisher fell into thought.

In a spacious, quiet room, Ethan Thompson sat upright in the center on a grand armchair, hands resting on the arms, sitting with perfect posture, motionless, cultivating his energy and refining his essence. His spine was straight, his breath reached the crown of his head, connecting with the night sky, entering a state of communion between man and heaven.

He was not gathering his qi and blood to break through the life-and-death threshold, because he knew that required opportunity. In this world, every action is a matter of fate.

Causes and conditions come together to form appearances.

At his level of cultivation, his body’s potential had reached its limit. The next step was spiritual cultivation, which is endless.

The entire estate covered more than ten acres. As long as he released his spirit, even a mouse would be within his perception, let alone a person entering.

“Come in.”

He suddenly opened his eyes.

Creak—the door opened. Jack Green flashed inside and stood before Emily James. “I’ve spoken to my master on the phone. He’ll come here on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. He’s very interested in you.”

“Very good.” Ethan Thompson remained motionless. “So, your master still hasn’t broken through the life-and-death threshold. He wants to find a worthy opponent to fight, to stir his qi and blood through battle, to feel the intensity of life.”

“It’s always through battle that one can break through. Without knowing death, how can there be life?” Jack Green said with a trace of excitement. “I didn’t expect my master to value you so highly. It seems you really are a human immortal on his level.”

“Your master is already over forty. If he doesn’t break through, he’ll have no hope in this life. Naturally, he wants to find someone of equal strength to fight. I’m the most suitable, because I have been defeated before.” Ethan Thompson was silent for a long time before speaking. “Since he’s come to me, it’s my fate. Then let it be the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Who will be indestructible, and who will fall into eternal damnation? It all depends on fate.”

Jack Green bowed and quietly withdrew.