However, the series of events that followed proved David Bennett's words—word for word!

At least, up to today, William Harper's life trajectory has not deviated from what David Bennett predicted...

Since he could remember, William Harper only knew his father, James Harper, who, seventeen years ago, sent him as an infant back to the Ji family. Since then, James Harper has never returned, his fate unknown—whether alive or dead!

As for his mother?

Not a single member of the Ji family knows, so naturally William Harper is even less likely to know.

While others enjoyed the love of their parents, William Harper could only endure loneliness alone.

His grandfather, Thomas Harper, lived in frustration within the Ji family, unable to recover from the pain of James Harper's uncertain fate. Thomas Harper was not someone adept at expressing emotions; he would only watch William Harper from afar, silently offering his care.

It wasn't until ten years ago, when Grace Harper returned to the Ji family with four shocking scars on her face, that William Harper finally received unconditional care.

Yet, at that very time, the cruel truth that William Harper was unable to gather elemental force was brutally exposed!

At such a young age, William Harper began to suffer even deeper exclusion within the Ji family. In a family where strength is everything, a child unable to gather elemental force was no different from a cripple!

Just as he was beginning to understand the world, all William Harper received were looks of ridicule, indifference, and mockery from others...

Another ten years of suffering, added to the first seven years without parental love before he could even understand, made a total of seventeen years.

Seventeen whole years!

This is how William Harper has lived!

And now, William Harper has suffered yet another devastating blow!

There are a total of fifteen cultivation secrets for Sky Warriors on the first floor of the Sutra Depository. By last night, William Harper had tried every single one. He had tried every possible method, but aside from repeatedly fainting midway, he still gained nothing.

For three months, not only had William Harper's body shown no change, but his living environment remained the same as always: his grandfather Thomas Harper still looked at him with loving yet deeply disappointed eyes, his aunt Grace Harper continued to care for him wholeheartedly, even treating him with extra caution, as if afraid he might not be able to handle the repeated setbacks.

As for the other members of the Ji family...

They were just as before—cold, mocking, ridiculing, as if they would never stop!

Or, like Alice Harper, would occasionally use him as a punching bag to vent their frustrations and make themselves feel better.

Before entering the Sutra Depository, William Harper had pinned all his hopes on the Sky Warrior cultivation secrets within. At that time, William Harper still had hope in his heart, so no matter how bitter or difficult life was...

Because of that sliver of undying hope in his heart, he was able to endure it all.

However, after trying every secret one by one, as the flame of hope in William Harper's heart was gradually extinguished by his own hands, he began to feel lost, confused, helpless...

Even despair!

Suddenly losing the goal that had supported him, and watching all his perseverance be destroyed bit by bit by himself, was simply too hard for him to bear...

"Bitter crossing...

Bitter crossing...

When will I ever truly cross this boundless sea of suffering?"

Sitting atop Qingyan Mountain, gazing at the ever-changing five-colored miasma over the distant Yunmeng Marsh, William Harper's face was filled with a deep, unshakable sorrow and bitterness, and an overwhelming sense of grief!

...

"Chang Kong."

A soft call came, and Grace Harper's figure quietly appeared at his side, gently saying, "Don't lose heart, there is still hope."

William Harper's expression was blank as he stared at Grace Harper. After a long moment, he shook his head and gave a bitter smile, "Hope?

Hope has already been destroyed by my own hands!"

"No!"

Grace Harper's heart ached, and she hurriedly said, "There really is still hope!"

Before William Harper could think further, Grace Harper quickly explained, "I came here this time to take you to Wushan. It's said that the Sky Warrior cultivation secret practiced by the Old Mother of Wushan is extremely unique.

Every disciple who goes to Wushan to become her apprentice, as long as she accepts them, will be granted a surge of elemental force by her, which the disciple can use as a primer to gather more elemental force and continue cultivating."

Seeing that William Harper's attention was caught by her words, Grace Harper pressed on, "It's said that even an ordinary person, as long as they are accepted as a disciple by the Old Mother of Wushan, can use the elemental force she bestows to cultivate into a Sky Warrior!"

"Aunt, don't worry. I won't do anything foolish like jumping off a cliff."

William Harper shook his head, his eyes clear but tinged with sorrow, and sighed softly, "If there really was such an Old Mother of Wushan, you would have taken me there long ago. Why wait until now?"

"You child, you're too smart for your own good and overthink things!"

Seeing that William Harper truly didn't seem to have any thoughts of ending his life, Grace Harper finally let out a sigh of relief. She first scolded William Harper with a smile, then dared to step forward and gently pulled him away from the edge of the cliff.

"That Old Mother of Wushan was originally a Sky Warrior from the endless islands of the Eastern Sea. She only came to the Central Lands two years ago and has been hiding away cultivating atop Wushan in Lingyun City. Very few people know of her, and it wasn't until half a year ago that she officially began accepting disciples."