“Jason, don’t pay attention to your fourth uncle. Come, try this freshly brewed [Qingya Sparrow Tongue].” William Carter placed the tea tray on the stone table, warmly inviting Jason Brooks.

“Thank you, fourth aunt, for your hospitality.” Jason Brooks expressed his thanks and stood to the side. Only after his fourth uncle Henry Brooks sat down on the stone stool did he take his seat, sitting up straight.

“Your fourth aunt is stingy. Usually, getting even a sip of her Qingya Sparrow Tongue is harder than climbing to the sky.” Henry Brooks rolled up his sleeves and smiled as he poured tea for Jason Brooks. “Today, your fourth uncle is benefiting from your presence.”

“Henry Brooks, who are you calling stingy?” William Carter shot him a playful glare. “At your age, you shouldn’t be wasting such precious spiritual goods. But Jason here is an honest child, born with four spiritual roots—his future is limitless.”

As she spoke, she took out a delicate little jar and handed it to Jason Brooks, saying, “This is a small token from your fourth aunt. I wish you great success on your cultivation path.”

This [Qingya Sparrow Tongue] was a specialty spiritual tea of the Lingbei Zheng clan, always expensive, and it was clear that fourth aunt William Carter had brought it from her family.

“Fourth aunt, this... this isn’t appropriate. Why not save it for fourth brother?” Jason Brooks hurriedly stood up to decline.

Don’t be fooled by the youthful appearance of Peter Brooks and his wife, a handsome couple—they were actually both in their forties and had several children.

Their eldest son, Andrew Brooks, was already twenty-three and had just married Helen Scott of the Hedong Gao family half a year ago.

“Jason, if your fourth aunt gives it to you, just take it.” Henry Brooks gave his nephew a look. “That rascal Andrew only has five spiritual roots—he’ll never reach Foundation Establishment in this life. Whether he drinks this tea or not makes little difference.”

“But you, since childhood, have cultivated the [Jinyuan Body Tempering Technique] with your grandfather. If you can reach Foundation Establishment a year earlier, you’ll have a better chance of advancing to the late Foundation Establishment stage.”

“If you can be like your great-grandfather and reach late Foundation Establishment, you’ll surely bring honor to our Chen family once again.”

At the mention of Ethan Brooks, Henry Brooks’s expression dimmed slightly—grieving for his grandfather’s death and worrying about the predicament the Chen family was about to face.

Jason Brooks also sighed inwardly, but in the end, he accepted the spiritual tea from his fourth aunt, his expression solemn. “Thank you, fourth uncle and fourth aunt, for your gift. I, Jason Brooks, will work hard in my cultivation and live up to the family’s expectations.”

“Jason, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just focus on your cultivation—your elders will handle everything at home. The sky won’t fall.” Henry Brooks smiled easily. “Enough of that, come, let’s drink tea.”

Jason Brooks nodded and drank his tea.

Inside the teacup, the Qingya leaves stood upright like sparrow tongues, exuding a cool fragrance. With one sip, he felt a refreshing sensation spread throughout his body, clearing his mind.

If drunk regularly, it would surely cleanse the spirit and strengthen the divine sense.

“Excellent tea! No wonder Qingya Sparrow Tongue is famous in Hedong—one of the finest spiritual teas.” Jason Brooks couldn’t help but praise.

On the path of cultivation, the four essentials are [Law, Wealth, Companion, Land], each interdependent and equally important.

Law goes without saying—the [Jinyuan Body Tempering Technique] that Jason Brooks practiced was a top-tier wild technique. Of course, if he could obtain an [Orthodox Technique], that would be even better.

“Wealth” is also crucial.

Spirit stones, rare treasures, elixirs, talismans, magical artifacts—all are vital.

This Qingya Sparrow Tongue, spiritual rice, and spiritual meat are all manifestations of wealth.

With abundant resources, one can buy all kinds of cultivation materials, naturally surpassing those impoverished rogue cultivators, and progress much faster.

After a few cups of tea,

The spiritual essence of the pot was completely consumed, leaving it bland and tasteless.

Only then did Henry Brooks reluctantly end the morning tea, waving his hand at Jason Brooks with a hint of impatience. “Alright, Jason, go wait outside the courtyard. Let me say goodbye to your fourth aunt.”

Jason Brooks couldn’t help but laugh.

Fourth uncle and fourth aunt truly are a loving couple.

After paying his respects, he went to wait outside [Siyuan Residence].

Once Jason Brooks had left,

The relaxed expressions of Henry Brooks and William Carter gradually faded, replaced by lingering worry.

“Brother Yuan, has it really come to this?” William Carter’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, her tone tinged with concern. “The old master has only just passed, and the Zheng and Zhao families are already eager to redistribute the benefits. Isn’t that going too far?”

“In the cultivation world, strength is everything.” Henry Brooks sighed. “While grandfather was alive, our Chen clan enjoyed forty percent of the profits for so long. The Zheng and Zhao clans have long been dissatisfied, but since they were weaker, they had to swallow their resentment.”

“Now, with only the clan head left at early Foundation Establishment, our strength is much diminished. The Zheng and Zhao clans can’t hold back anymore and have started testing our limits with little tricks. It’s only natural.”

“Brother Yuan, should I return to my family and beg the old ancestor? He’s always been fond of me.” William Carter bit her lip, her bright eyes shining. “I really don’t want to see the rift between the Zhao and Chen families deepen, leading to endless conflict.”

“Absolutely not.” Henry Brooks refused at once. “Yunmei, Ancestor Chiqiu dotes on you because, for the sake of the Zhao family, you were willing to sacrifice and marry me.”