Afterward, the faction of elders led by the Grand Elder and the Vice Patriarch launched an attack, seizing Grandfather’s position as patriarch and causing the patriarch’s line to fall into complete decline. It was precisely because of this series of blows that Grandfather Richard Carter fell gravely ill and, a year later, passed away.

That year, Edward Carter was sixteen. He sat in silence before his grandfather’s grave for a month, yet could not bring this strong and admirable old man back to life.

At eighteen, it was only when the whereabouts of the jade pendant were revealed by a drunken Samuel Price that Edward Carter realized the attack he suffered at Wanren Mountain was, in fact, the beginning of a conspiracy by the elders’ faction targeting his grandfather.

“Young master, the old master is waiting for you.” Uncle George’s reminder jolted Edward Carter from his memories.

Edward Carter took a deep breath, nodded, and pushed the door open to enter.

The room was somewhat empty, containing only a stone table, stone chairs, and a stone bed, all carved from the gray rock of Wanren Mountain. The only luxurious item was the blanket on the stone bed, interwoven with strands of gold thread that shone brightly, illuminating the entire room.

Beneath the blanket was a round bulge, as if a ball of flesh was hidden underneath, from which faint breathing could be heard.

In front of the stone table sat an old man in white robes, with gray hair and thick eyebrows. His imposing presence commanded respect, and though he showed no anger, he exuded authority, sitting there like a lion and inspiring awe.

“Grandfather…”

In his previous life, after the destruction of Burning Town, Edward Carter had imagined countless times that if he could see his grandfather again, he would embrace this dearest relative tightly, wailing and releasing the longing he had harbored for so long.

But now, with a thousand words unsaid, only a soft greeting escaped his lips. In his heart, Edward Carter had only one thought: in this life, he would become the pillar of support for his grandfather and the Qin family, never letting his grandfather toil so hard again.

“Mo’er, why are you just standing there like a fool? Were you scared by what happened these past three days? Hmph, useless! You’re nothing like my grandson.” Richard Carter scolded sternly, his booming voice making Edward Carter’s ears ring.

“Old master, Young Master Mo has returned safely and even broken through to the warrior realm. This is a double blessing!” Uncle George chimed in from the side.

“Hmph! You’re always shielding him. This boy is spoiled by you.” Richard Carter said with a stern face, his expression growing even colder.

But Uncle George didn’t mind. The old patriarch had always been cold on the outside but warm on the inside, especially toward his grandson.

Thud… Suddenly, Edward Carter knelt down: “Grandfather, I’ve made you worry. From now on, your grandson will work hard and shoulder the burden of the Qin family.”

Hearing this, both Richard Carter and Uncle George were stunned, quite surprised by Edward Carter’s action.

After a brief thought, Richard Carter quickly understood. His grandson had been stuck at the ninth level of martial apprentice for eight years, and now, after a sudden breakthrough and a prolonged fight with a second-level warrior opponent, plus three days of tempering at Wanren Mountain, it was not surprising that he had regained his former confidence.

However, in Richard Carter’s view, this kind of growth was like a flower in a greenhouse—having just weathered a bit of wind and rain, Edward Carter still had a long road ahead.

“You brat, just because you broke through, you think you’re something special? Can eight years of stagnation be made up in a day? With your current strength, you can barely squeeze into the top hundred of the third-generation family disciples. Don’t aim too high.”

While scolding, Richard Carter walked over and helped Edward Carter up. His grandson’s determination already made him quite happy.

Edward Carter’s lips moved as he nodded, accepting the lesson. In his heart, he smiled wryly—after seeing his grandfather, his emotions had surged, leading to such an action. Unexpectedly, in the eyes of his grandfather and Uncle George, it seemed like the boastful words of a youth. But thinking about it, it made sense: at fourteen, being at the first level of warrior was not outstanding in the family, and to vow to shoulder the Qin family’s burden sounded like youthful arrogance.

Just then, the blanket on the stone bed was suddenly thrown aside, and a round figure leapt up.

“Brother Mo!” With a childish cry, a chubby little girl threw herself into Edward Carter’s arms.

“So heavy!”

Even though he had just begun to awaken the Holy Body of Battle, and his strength far surpassed that of his peers, Edward Carter still felt a powerful force crash into his chest like a boulder, knocking him to the ground.

Sitting in his lap was a little girl with two pigtails, about seven or eight years old, but she was extremely chubby. Her round face and plump body made her look like a ball of flesh at first glance. Only her eyes were particularly striking, shining with a mysterious liveliness.

This was Edward Carter’s younger cousin, Grace Carter!

From birth, she had possessed extraordinary strength but was unable to cultivate true qi, making her the most famous oddball in the Qin family!

“Wuwuwu… Brother Mo, Grandfather said you might have gone far away and would never come back. You’re so bad, you’re a bad person! You went so far away—why didn’t you take Little Grace with you…”

The little girl’s eyes filled with tears as she sobbed uncontrollably, her chubby fists pounding Edward Carter’s chest with a “thump thump” sound.

“Didn’t I come back? Little girl, stop hitting me—I’m about to be pounded to death by you.”

Edward Carter struggled to escape the little girl’s “demonic fists.” This little one was so strong that even a warrior-level martial artist couldn’t withstand her blows, and his chest felt tight from the pounding.