Samuel Harper and George Harper, the father and son, had their smiles freeze abruptly at Richard Clark’s words. Their faces turned as if they had swallowed a fly, suddenly becoming ugly, their eyes filled with undisguised shock, grief, confusion, and anxiety...

“I heard that two years ago, Edward Harper was defeated by Evelyn Grant.

Heh, I also know a bit about the feud between your Ji family and the Yinshan Jiu family. I don’t want to comment on that matter.

However, if Edward Harper really wants to compete with Evelyn Grant, I’m afraid his current strength is still far from enough...” Richard Clark said calmly.

Edward Harper is still lingering at the Realm of Two Instruments, while the other party has already broken through to the Realm of Three Talents—a whole realm apart. If the two were to fight again, he would be utterly defeated!

The gap between realms is like a chasm. For a cultivator at the Realm of Two Instruments to defeat one at the Realm of Three Talents, “difficult” isn’t even enough to describe it!

“Three Talents Realm...

Three Talents Realm...

That girl should only be seventeen this year. How is that possible?

Two years ago, she had just reached the Realm of Two Instruments, and now, only two years later—just two years!

She’s actually managed to break through again!

This...

This really is a distance that makes one despair...” George Harper muttered to himself in a daze.

The smile had completely vanished from Samuel Harper’s lips, his face full of embarrassment.

“In this world, there are people called peerless geniuses!

That girl Evelyn Grant is exactly that kind of person!”

Richard Clark concluded.

...

“Master, come take a look.”

Just as Samuel Harper and George Harper fell silent, the steward Franklin Cooper, who had come with Richard Clark, suddenly waved to him from a distance.

Richard Clark was taken aback, gave an apologetic smile to Samuel Harper and George Harper, and walked over to Franklin Cooper. Standing before him, Richard Clark asked in confusion, “What is it?

What could surprise you?”

Others might not know Franklin Cooper’s strength, but how could Richard Clark not?

Though both were cultivators of the Six Harmonies Realm, Franklin Cooper’s true strength was definitely above that of the Ji family head, Samuel Harper!

The external Three Harmonies—eye, hand, body; the internal Three Harmonies—essence, energy, spirit; Franklin Cooper had mastered them all!

He only needed to use his own blood, will, and soul to nurture a divine weapon of his own, and Franklin Cooper could take another step forward and reach the Seven Stars Realm!

Besides his formidable strength, Franklin Cooper’s composure was also something Richard Clark greatly admired. Normally, no matter what happened, Franklin Cooper would never make a fuss. For him to call out like this, Richard Clark naturally found it very strange.

“Master, look.”

Franklin Cooper let out a gentle breath and pointed upward.

His exhale signaled his unsettled state of mind. Having known Franklin Cooper for many years, Richard Clark naturally understood what this small gesture meant. In recent years, Franklin Cooper had rarely lost his composure.

Thus, Richard Clark grew even more puzzled and couldn’t help but follow Franklin Cooper’s finger.

The direction Franklin Cooper pointed was precisely where William Harper had chosen to climb!

Looking up from there, more than ten zhang above, William Harper was still struggling to move. As Franklin Cooper’s finger moved, the direction he pointed followed upward. When his finger passed over the still-struggling William Harper, it paused briefly, then continued upward, finally stopping at the summit of Qingyan Mountain.

As Franklin Cooper’s finger moved, Richard Clark’s eyes followed.

At first, he didn’t pay much attention, but when Franklin Cooper’s finger paused on William Harper, Richard Clark seemed to realize something.

He was stunned for a moment, then silently calculated in his mind, and his expression suddenly grew grave...

ps: Only one spot away from the new book rankings, just a few hundred recommendation votes short. I hope my brothers can cast your votes for me and lend me a hand!

Come on, show some enthusiasm!

.

Chapter Four: Recognizing Talent

At the foot of the mountain, Franklin Cooper’s eyes shone brightly as he gazed up at the still-struggling William Harper.

Richard Clark’s face was extremely grave, and like Franklin Cooper, he focused his gaze intently on William Harper, a thoughtful look on his face.

“Master must have noticed as well.”

The old steward Franklin Cooper let out another gentle breath, calming his mind before saying in a low voice, “He can’t leap from one rock to another, because his body isn’t agile or strong enough. There’s no way he could grab and hold onto a rock at the very instant he lands.

So, he can only look for rocks right next to him, ones his hands and feet can just barely reach, to move his body.”

“Climbing from this angle, the mountain is extremely steep!

The scattered protruding rocks are unevenly spaced—some are close together, others are half a zhang apart!

I originally thought that someone who couldn’t move through the air had absolutely no chance of reaching the summit of Qingyan Mountain. So I was sure that the frail William Harper would soon have to give up halfway, unable to find a rock to use as leverage!

Taking a deep breath, Franklin Cooper’s expression grew solemn, and he said word by word, “But I have to admit, I may have been wrong this time!”