Since that’s the case, if there’s any hidden mystery, it must surely be on this letter addressed to himself.

Carter Foster knew that his elder brother would definitely send that item back.

The people of the Great Xia Dynasty, after all, still lacked a bit of imagination. They simply thought that his elder brother, being able to achieve one of the greatest legends in the three thousand years since the founding of the Great Xia’s Dao at the age of twenty-nine, was merely due to his astonishing talent—a heaven-sent prodigy rarely seen in three millennia. But Carter Foster had always felt that his elder brother must have some secrets unknown to others...

It wasn’t just because, when he was very young, his brother thought he couldn’t understand and so said some strange things in front of him. It was also because Carter Foster felt that, being born of the same mother as his brother, there was no reason for his brother to be such a genius while he himself was so mediocre...

...

...

Thinking this, Carter Foster took out the letter, calmly opened it, and sat at his desk to read it slowly.

Looking at the neat and vigorous small regular script on the letter, Carter Foster read word by word, and suddenly his heart trembled slightly.

“As expected!”

Chapter Four: Innate Qi

Charles Foster’s letter was just an ordinary family letter, with only a few hundred words.

First, he inquired about their parents’ well-being, then asked how Carter Foster’s recent studies were going, and then simply said that he had just entered the Immortal Hall and was busy with many affairs, so he had neglected to write home. But once his current matters were settled, he planned to return home to visit, to fulfill his longing.

Reading it over and over, there was nothing unusual.

Even the paper used for the letter was ordinary, without the slightest trace of spiritual energy.

Carter Foster understood in his heart that although this letter looked completely ordinary, and the spiritual seal on the letter was still intact, if someone had truly been on guard against his elder brother, this letter might have already been read by many people. After all, this was a world with Qi refiners, demons, and evil spirits—there were plenty of methods to read this letter inside and out countless times without leaving a trace.

He even suspected that, even now, someone might be watching him, to see what he could glean from the letter.

So there was no need to expect any issues to be written out openly; the true meaning had to be sought between the lines.

What made Carter Foster feel something was amiss was a particular passage in the letter:

“Cun’s aptitude far surpasses that of his brother. Only out of concern for our parents being without support did I act selfishly, forbidding you from entering the academy, leaving you at home to fulfill filial duties in my stead.”

This passage seemed very ordinary—nothing more than Charles Foster lamenting that his younger brother Carter Foster was actually highly gifted, even more so than himself. But since he had already embarked on the path of cultivation, destined to wander far from home and sever ties with the mundane world, there would be no one left to care for their parents. Thus, he forbade Carter Foster from entering the academy to cultivate, leaving him as a mortal in the clan to serve their parents in his stead.

This was, in fact, the situation of the Fang family as seen by outsiders.

Charles Foster had shown extraordinary talent from a young age and stood out, while Carter Foster had grown to seventeen and was still at home.

Given Charles Foster’s reputation and status, entering the Immortal Academy should have been a very simple matter for him. Even the renowned Bai Xiang Academy of Liuhu City had once sent a master to the Fang family to invite him, personally guiding him onto the path of a Qi refiner.

Yet, with the opportunity right before him, Carter Foster refused to go, claiming it was too arduous, and spent his days idling about, wandering the streets and alleys.

Even the Fang family patriarch, when speaking to outsiders, would only say that the path of a Qi refiner was too hard—once you become one, you’re rarely home for half your life. Having one cultivator in the family was enough; with the younger one staying home to serve, it brought peace of mind.

Because of this, many people thought Carter Foster lacked ambition, failing to seize opportunities, and often secretly mocked him.

But what they didn’t know was that Carter Foster actually couldn’t get into the academy!

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The talent for Qi refining is bestowed by heaven!

Everyone is born with a breath of innate qi, which strengthens the spirit, wards off demons, crosses life’s tribulations, and distinguishes all living beings.

This breath is the very first breath a person—or any living creature—takes upon birth, remaining in the body ever after. Invisible and formless, yet truly existent, it is from this breath that one crosses from chaos to clarity, from the womb to oneself. Through the experiences of growth, understanding, and learning, from childhood to youth to adulthood and finally to old age, this breath remains, and when one dies, it departs...

This breath is the origin of a person, and the very foundation of cultivation.

Because it is innate, bestowed by the heavens, it is called “innate.”

So-called Qi refiners are those who cultivate using this breath of innate qi.

A person’s aptitude depends on this—some are born with strong innate qi, never falling ill and possessing sharp minds.

Others are born with weak innate qi, resulting in frail bodies and dull minds.

Among thousands of people, the differences in this breath of innate qi create thousands of personalities.

And thousands of personalities lead to thousands of destinies.

At the root of all these fates is this breath!

Everyone possesses innate qi, so everyone can cultivate.

But those with strong innate qi naturally have better talent and are more likely to be favored.

Those whose innate qi is not strong are harder to train and less likely to achieve greatness.

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