“Get out of the way, boom…” Just as Shawn Carter sent Charles Carter flying, the other three surrounding Shawn Carter hadn’t fully reacted yet. Then, with a thunderous shout, Shawn Carter’s voice exploded like a clap of thunder. He shrank his body, didn’t get entangled with them, and directly unleashed his strength to blast aside the people blocking his way, then charged at full speed toward the inner courtyard. Because Shawn Carter knew that, after all, the Earth Spring Realm was still the Earth Spring Realm—even at the early stage, it wasn’t something he could handle. Even if it was just one of these three, he might manage, but with two, he couldn’t be sure of winning, and with three, he would definitely lose.

Now was not the time to get bogged down; rushing into the forbidden inner courtyard of the ancestor was the only safe move. Less than a hundred meters away—having knocked Charles Carter aside and stunned the other three—he should have no problem making it through.

“Useless!” At that moment, in a pavilion atop a rockery several dozen meters away, Charles Carter—whose face was already long—looked even more sullen, making his face appear even longer. Anger flashed in his triangular eyes. Luckily he had come today; he hadn’t expected that Charles Carter, bringing people with him, couldn’t even handle such a simple matter. If the boss found out, he’d be punished right along with them.

“Boom…” At the same time, Eric Carter made his move. Though he was a year younger than Charles Carter, unlike Charles Carter who had struggled to reach the Earth Spring Realm, Eric Carter was already at the late stage of the Earth Spring Realm. In an instant, his vital energy enveloped most of his body’s key points. Power surged beneath his feet, and with a burst of force, he shot out horizontally from a high point, crossing over a dozen meters in the air as he charged forward.

Not good!

Just as Shawn Carter was halfway across, he sensed Eric Carter charging at him. Eric Carter’s attack was decisive, like a thunderbolt, and the force was on a completely different level from Charles Carter’s. Plus, he was already at the late stage of the Earth Spring Realm, his vital energy densely packed, his strength overwhelming.

“Afraid of you?!” Sensing Eric Carter coming at him, Shawn Carter seemed to be in a berserk state, suddenly charging straight at him instead. Clenching both fists, he rapidly circulated his internal power.

“Hm?” Seeing that Shawn Carter didn’t dodge or keep running, but instead charged head-on, Eric Carter was momentarily stunned. He thought, is this guy out of his mind? Someone at the mere Human Spring Realm actually dared to go head-to-head with him—utterly overestimating himself.

Eric Carter was already moving fast, and now that Shawn Carter was charging to meet him, they collided in an instant. At that moment, Shawn Carter suddenly grabbed his left wrist with his right hand, inhaled sharply, and channeled all his Human Spring power into his left arm. In a flash, his left arm swelled to two or three times its normal size, and his forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. He pushed his body technique to the limit, making himself as light as a falling leaf.

“Bang…” At that moment, Eric Carter’s fists, seemingly wreathed in flames, smashed heavily into Shawn Carter’s left arm. Using his left arm as a shield, Shawn Carter’s body, like a leaf in the wind, was sent flying backward by Eric Carter’s full-force blow.

“Crack…” Shawn Carter could clearly feel the pain and the sound of bones breaking in his arm, but he paid it no mind. As beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, he used the momentum to float dozens of meters away. As soon as he landed, he pushed off with both feet, flipped, and shot forward again, quickly dashing deeper inside.

Only then did Eric Carter realize that Shawn Carter hadn’t really tried to fight him—he was just putting on a show, using Eric Carter’s own strength to escape. The gap between them was so huge, and yet he, Eric Carter, who was ranked in the top ten of the genius group, had actually let an ordinary Human Spring Realm like Shawn Carter slip away from his grasp. To Eric Carter, this was a humiliation.

“Trying to run? With your useless skills, you dare compete with our boss for a woman? You must have a death wish.” Eric Carter shouted angrily, his fury burning. He pushed off with his feet again, chasing even faster. His fists opened, and flames gathered in his palms—Blazing Flame Palm. This was the true technique that could unleash his full power. If he had used Blazing Flame Palm just now, he could have severed Shawn Carter’s arm directly. But he hadn’t thought it necessary before; now, though, he was truly enraged.

“Pah!” Shawn Carter spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and, charging forward with all his might, said, “Idiots, morons! You get played and still help count the money for the one who tricked you. You don’t even know you’re being used, don’t even know you’re being toyed with, and you’re still here shouting. A lovesick, brainless fool leading a whole bunch of you idiots and morons.”

“Hmph, do you think saying that will get you off the hook? She openly said she likes you, and you got scared and chickened out. I really don’t get what Miss Yuxian sees in you.” Eric Carter chased with all his strength, closing the distance—just a little closer and he’d have him.

“You just believe whatever people say, huh? Pig brain. Scared? Scared of what? That woman, I’ll settle the score with her sooner or later. As for you lot, just you wait.” Shawn Carter had never known what it meant to be afraid. He wasn’t trying to explain or defend himself; these guys just kept blocking his way and causing trouble. Even if they wanted to call it quits, Shawn Carter wouldn’t let it go. This wasn’t over—not with that inexplicably flirtatious Qin Yuxian who attracted attention and then claimed to like him, nor with these lovesick idiots. He wasn’t about to let any of them off the hook.

As for cursing them now, it was just because they were pig-brained idiots—sold out, used, and still helping count the money for the one who tricked them. It was infuriating.

“Flame Palm… boom…” At that moment, seeing Shawn Carter already entering the inner courtyard, Eric Carter panicked. He didn’t bother saying anything else, his figure shot forward, and with a change of his hands, flames seemed to burst from his palms as he lunged at Shawn Carter.