These things are impossible to figure out no matter how hard you rack your brains, so Charles York simply stopped thinking about them. After cultivating Thunder Roar Inner Force for so many years, he already had some foundation in the thunder element. Now that there was a martial art even more profound than Thunder Roar Inner Force, Charles York naturally wanted to give it a try.

Charles York immersed himself in the mysterious first level of the Thunder Emperor Technique. Although he could only glimpse a fraction of its wonders, it was already enough to make Charles York savor it with delight.

The night passed without incident, and before he knew it, dawn had broken.

Morning mist shrouded the area. Charles York's wooden house was located in the backyard of The York Estate, a quiet place rarely visited by others. The surrounding trees were lush, a small bridge crossed flowing water. Although the place looked a bit dilapidated due to lack of care, it was still full of vitality.

Charles York stepped out of the wooden house and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. From this morning on, he felt as if the whole world had changed. The fragrance of flowers in the air was intoxicating, and his heart was more peaceful than ever before.

After studying the Thunder Emperor Technique all night, Charles York discovered that many things in Thunder Roar Inner Force were actually wrong. After correcting those mistakes, his cultivation speed could increase several times over. After reading the incantation of the Nine Star Heavenly Chen Technique, Charles York's understanding of martial arts rose to a new level.

Mysterious energy kept seeping out from the flying knife, and Charles York's energy grew stronger and stronger, soon touching the barrier to the third level. Suddenly, there was a boom in his dantian, and the barrier to advancement shattered under the impact of the energy.

Third level!

For most people, advancing from the first to the third level would take at least a year or two even at the fastest. Charles York managed to restore his energy to this level in just one night—an astonishing speed!

Charles York wondered whether he should tell his father the incantation of the Thunder Emperor Technique. With it, his father's strength would likely improve by leaps and bounds, breaking through from the eighth to the ninth level would be no problem. Together with the old man, two ninth-level experts would make the family's strength completely different, and The York Estate could escape its current predicament.

The latter three levels of the Thunder Emperor Technique were too shocking, but he could give his father the first three levels for now. However, he needed to come up with an explanation for the origin of the Thunder Emperor Technique.

Over these three years, his father had worked hard to gather a large number of Qi Gathering Pills to nourish Charles York's meridians, causing the overall strength of The York Estate to decline. Yet his father never uttered a word of complaint, and all the uncles treated Charles York with great care. This kindness was not something that could be repaid with just a Thunder Emperor Technique.

In addition, a cold glint flashed in Charles York's eyes. Whoever had inflicted such pain on him back then would have to pay back double!

Charles York practiced his breathing to calm his fluctuating emotions. After reaching the Pure Yang Realm, he felt his senses were much sharper than before, and his mind was more agile. He had never had such insight before.

After meditating for several hours, he reviewed the family martial arts he had learned previously, including Collapsing Thunder Break and Violent Thunder Fist.

Thunder techniques were the most destructive among many martial arts. Collapsing Thunder Break could condense thunder energy into the palm, and when clashing palms with an opponent, the thunder power would penetrate the opponent's body, unleashing several times his own attack power. The key to Violent Thunder Fist was speed—striking fast and fiercely, leaving no chance of survival.

Charles York had already mastered these two martial arts when he was at the peak of the sixth level. Although he was a bit rusty now, he quickly regained his proficiency.

Finally able to practice martial arts again, Charles York felt an indescribable excitement in his heart.

Chapter 5 Cousin Emily York

Charles York left his residence and rushed toward the family head's mansion, eager to tell his father that his meridians had fully healed.

When he arrived, Charles York found that the main hall was crowded. Henry York, David York, William York, and others were all present, as well as Matthew York, Ethan York, and William York's daughter Emily York.

Glancing to the side of the hall, he saw Charlie was there too. Although Charlie held a special status in The York Estate, all the uncles treated Charlie as their own daughter, never avoiding her.

Everyone seemed to be arguing about something, their faces red with anger. Charlie waved at Charles York, and he quietly walked over to stand beside Charles York, listening silently.

"William York, why don't you tell me—what makes my son Ethan unworthy of your daughter?" Matthew York snorted coldly. "In terms of character and talent, Ethan is definitely one of the best in The York Estate! Are you brothers all looking down on me, Matthew York?"

Charles York looked to the side and saw Emily York standing behind William York with her head bowed, on the verge of tears. Emily York was his third uncle's daughter, his cousin, with a pretty face and good talent. She was currently at the peak of the fifth level, just a step away from reaching the sixth. Standing beside Matthew York was Ethan York, who looked extremely nervous.

"Marriage among the younger generation should be decided by themselves. Without feelings, how can there be happiness? Emily, are you willing to marry Ethan?" William York looked at Emily York and said, "Feel free to speak your mind."

"Marriage is nothing more than the order of parents and the words of a matchmaker. Before marriage, how can there be any feelings? After spending time together, feelings will naturally develop. William York, you are clearly making excuses!" Matthew York said angrily.