“Strange, so strange, how did it get in? How did a vortex end up inside my Human Spring, and it's still spinning...” A boy who looked only thirteen or fourteen, dressed in fine, tight-fitting clothes—clearly not from an ordinary family—had eyes usually full of spirit and energy, but now tinged with a trace of annoyance. His handsome brows were slightly furrowed as he muttered to himself.

His eyes weren't even on the road; instead, he was staring fixedly at his own lower dantian, the place where his Human Spring was condensed. To others, his body looked perfectly normal, but only he knew the truth. At the location of his Human Spring, a golden vortex was slowly swirling, faintly emitting the sounds of wind and thunder.

The Human Spring is the foundation of cultivation, and for such a golden vortex to suddenly appear here was truly terrifying.

Though he kept his head down, he was clearly extremely familiar with this courtyard, and moved quickly without any mishap.

“Greetings, Second Young Master. Second Young Master, you are...”

“Greetings, Second Young Master, Young Master...”

“Greetings...”

...

At this moment, he passed by another large courtyard, where a group of servants and some patrolling guards were walking by. Upon seeing the boy, they hurriedly bowed and greeted him. Yet the boy paid no attention to anything around him, striding forward at full speed like an ordinary person running, flashing past in an instant.

This surprised some of the servants and even the patrolling guards, because anyone who could be in the direct residence of the Carter family—whether servant or guard—came from generations of service. This Shawn Carter young master was usually very kind to the servants and guards, never putting on airs, happier than anyone. What was going on with him today?

Though they were inwardly puzzled, this was, after all, the master's business. The Carter family was one of the five great families of the Six Clans Alliance, with a heritage of over three thousand years. The territory under its control was no less than that of an ordinary dynasty, and even among its subordinate forces were some small nations. The rules within were strict, and people like them dared not gossip or get involved—just felt very curious in their hearts.

At this moment, still staring down at his dantian as if fixated on his lower body, Shawn Carter had already entered another courtyard—a vast garden. Passing through here would bring him to the very core of the Carter family estate.

“Whoosh... whoosh...” Suddenly, three figures darted in from three directions, blocking Shawn Carter's front and both sides.

Shawn Carter, who had been walking forward with his head down, was startled and quickly stopped, looking up at the three people and immediately feeling a sense of dread.

Damn, I was so distracted by this strange vortex that suddenly appeared in my body that I didn't notice these guys blocking me. Now I'm in trouble. Shawn Carter thought, his gaze passing over the Carter family youth four years older than him who was blocking his way, and saw that in just another hundred meters or so, he'd reach the inner courtyard's forbidden area. No fighting was allowed there, and no one dared to make a move in the ancestor's courtyard.

“Run, go on, run if you can! Haha... Shawn Carter, you didn't expect me to be waiting for you here, did you? You dared to use tricks and broke my arm—if I don't break all your limbs today, I'm not Charles Carter.” At that moment, a sharp voice came from behind Shawn Carter.

Shawn Carter didn't even need to look to know who it was, but he still turned around to face Charles Carter.

Charles Carter was four years older than Shawn Carter, already seventeen. His right arm was in a sling across his chest, and his already sharp chin looked even more menacing as he laughed triumphantly, his eyes burning with anger as he approached step by step, like a predator about to hunt its prey.

“You, a mere Human Spring stage, tried to ambush me, a Ground Spring stage, and ended up with your arm broken by me. Such a humiliating thing, and you still have the nerve to talk about it? If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to show my face.”

“Shawn Carter... you dare say that? That was you playing dirty! And you think you can compete with our boss for a woman? We just wanted to teach you a lesson, but you actually dared to break my arm. Fine, if you kneel and beg for mercy today, I'll only break your two arms. If you keep mouthing off, I'll break all four of your limbs...” Charles Carter was instantly enraged, now standing right in front of him. The four of them surrounded Shawn Carter tightly, so he raised his uninjured left hand, intending to jab his finger at Shawn Carter's forehead, to force him to kneel and beg for mercy, to make him plead for forgiveness—otherwise, Charles Carter's anger would not be appeased.

“Bang...” Without any warning, just as Charles Carter raised his finger and confidently stepped forward to jab at Shawn Carter, Shawn Carter's fist suddenly smashed out.

Fast, sudden, without any sign—though Charles Carter was a whole minor realm above Shawn Carter, he was unprepared and had no time to activate his protective Yuan Qi. His nose took the full brunt of Shawn Carter's punch.

“Ah... you dare... ugh...” Charles Carter screamed, flying backward and landing flat on his back, blood spurting from his mouth and nose. Most importantly, Charles Carter could clearly feel the bones in his nose shattering and collapsing, the intense pain bringing tears to his eyes.

As he flew through the air, his mind went blank. He had brought three people, all at the peak of the Human Spring stage, plus himself at the Ground Spring stage. Even with his arm injured, it should have been an overwhelming advantage. He never imagined Shawn Carter would dare to fight back, and so decisively and cleanly, catching him completely off guard.