Ethan Carter was extremely familiar with the Bai family. He moved along the small paths, doing his best to avoid the patrolling guards. Half an hour later, he arrived at the side of the main gate, then lowered his head and walked toward the gate to leave.

The sound of footsteps echoed with a crisp clatter. At this moment, Ethan Carter felt a bit nervous. If he were caught now, Brian Baker would hardly let him off easily.

However, just as Ethan Carter stepped out of the gate, he heard footsteps coming from ahead. Instinctively, he lowered his head even further.

“What are you sneaking around for? Look up.” A familiar, cold voice reached Ethan Carter’s ears, making his heart tremble slightly. A strange smile appeared at the corner of his lips—he hadn’t expected to run into her at this moment.

When Ashley Baker saw Ethan Carter raise his head, her body couldn’t help but tremble slightly as well, and she took a small step back.

Silence. Both of them fell into a moment of silence. Ethan Carter watched as Ashley Baker went from initial panic to calmness. He seemed to understand something, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

“I have no choice.” Ashley Baker finally spoke. Ethan Carter just looked at her without saying a word. He had never imagined the two of them would face such a situation.

“You’ve spent years developing an extraordinary understanding of condensing star souls, but what’s the use? You can only help others condense their star souls, while you yourself are doomed to self-deception.”

Ashley Baker’s long, jet-black hair danced in the night like a spirit of darkness, but Ethan Carter had no mind to appreciate it—his heart was cold as ice.

“So this is the Bai family’s reason for repaying kindness with ingratitude?”

Ashley Baker didn’t answer, but continued, “Edward Lee, at thirteen, communicated with the Martial Fate Star of the Second Heaven and condensed his first star soul; at fifteen, he entered the Wheel Pulse Realm, opened the second star gate, communicated with a star from the Third Heaven, and condensed his second star soul. Now, at eighteen, Edward Lee is at the eighth level of the Wheel Pulse Realm and is expected to reach the Yuan Mansion Realm before the age of twenty. You and him—one is in the heavens, the other on the earth.”

Ethan Carter understood what Ashley Baker meant. The intended marriage partner this time was surely Edward Lee.

“You should go. After all, you’ve helped me before. For the sake of old times, I won’t make things difficult for you. Even if you survive, it won’t affect the marriage alliance between the Ye and Bai families. Besides, in the future, you and I are destined to be people from different worlds.” After speaking, Ashley Baker walked past Ethan Carter. A faint breeze brushed by, and Ethan Carter suddenly felt that she was so unfamiliar, to say such ridiculous words.

“Ashley Baker.” Ethan Carter suddenly called out, making Ashley Baker stop in her tracks.

“Three years ago, your father Brian Baker proposed a marriage alliance to my foster father. My foster father didn’t want to delay you, but Brian Baker insisted again and again, so my foster father finally agreed.”

“For three years, my foster father provided your Bai family with cultivation resources, helping you rebuild, never once acting overbearing. As for me, I treated you all as family.”

“Five days ago, I helped you communicate with the Martial Fate Star and condense your star soul. Yet your Bai family now wants to kill me. Now you say you’ll let me go, as if it’s some kind of favor. How ironic.”

Every word from Ethan Carter was cold. Then he walked away at a leisurely pace. “But there’s one thing you weren’t wrong about: you and I are indeed people from different worlds.”

Chapter 6: Emperor Star Academy

Carter Residence was located in the northern part of Tianyong City, more than a hundred li from the Bai family. After leaving the Bai family, Ethan Carter walked quickly, but by the time he arrived at Carter Residence, it was already daylight.

Having set foot on the path of martial arts, his body was strong and resilient. After walking all night, Ethan Carter didn’t feel the slightest fatigue. Outside the gates of Carter Residence, the statue of the Qin family ancestor William Carter, holding a long spear and riding a fine steed, still stood tall.

William Carter, former marshal of the Chu Kingdom, commanded the armies of Great Chu, his might shaking all directions and his battle achievements legendary. He once saved the former emperor from peril and died for the country. Yet after the current emperor ascended the throne, he ordered Carter Residence to move north to Tianyong City, far from the center of power, and gradually weakened Carter Residence’s influence in the military, causing the family to decline with each generation.

Looking at the marshal’s statue, Ethan Carter gave a bitter smile. His recent experiences were somewhat similar to what Carter Residence had gone through.

Stepping into Carter Residence, Ethan Carter saw many people hurrying in one direction. He stopped a maid and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Young Master Wentian, yesterday all the young masters and ladies who were cultivating at the academies in the imperial city returned. Today, the family head is in the martial arena, testing how much progress they’ve made over the past year.” The maid replied.

The Chu Kingdom had been established for three thousand years, vast and boundless, with over a hundred cities and a population in the hundreds of millions. The imperial city was the most prosperous, not only the center of power but also a sacred land for martial cultivation, home to many renowned martial academies and noble families. People from all over Chu would send their talented youths to the famous martial academies in the imperial city to train.

Carter Residence was no exception. In Ethan Carter’s generation, three people were cultivating at martial academies in the imperial city—they were the future of the Qin family.

“Returning from the capital, I wonder what level they’ve reached.” Ethan Carter thought to himself, then lifted his feet and headed toward the martial arena of Carter Residence.

When Ethan Carter arrived at the martial arena, he saw that many of the more important members of Carter Residence were present. On the battle platform, the sound of wind and thunder roared as two young disciples sparred in combat.