Emily Thompson's heart trembled, but her face remained expressionless as she said, "If you can cure me, I can grant you an official position, or give you countless cultivation resources."

Henry Langley smiled and said, "There is only one way to cure the Three Yin Severed Meridians, and that is to cultivate the Three Yin Profound Art. And I just happen to know this technique. I can teach you, but on one condition—you become my follower."

Emily Thompson couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. She was a noble lady of the Thompson family, a martial arts prodigy who had reached the eighth level of Gathering Origin at only seventeen. Now, a mere second-level Body Refining cultivator dared to say he wanted her as his follower—where did he get such confidence, such courage?

"Don't feel wronged, because I can give you a much broader sky, let you reach even higher martial peaks. The Seven Great Deadlands, the Four Great Death Valleys, the Three Hanging Seas—have you ever seen them?" Henry Langley patiently coaxed. Although the Three Yin Severed Meridians were cursed by heaven and earth, heaven never truly cuts off all paths. Such people often possessed heaven-grade spiritual roots. As long as she cultivated the Three Yin Profound Art, she would surely soar to the skies.

Emily Thompson couldn't help but feel her heart race. She had a fervent pursuit of martial arts—it was her entire life.

Chapter 0004: The First Command

Although Emily Thompson was moved, agreeing to become Henry Langley's follower was still out of the question. She parted her red lips and said, "Change the condition!"

Henry Langley smiled slightly and said, "You're at the peak of the eighth level of Gathering Origin, right? I'll give you two lines of a formula as a sign of my sincerity: 'Three Yin nourishes the origin, the Dao forms the map; Three Flowers gather at the crown, break through the firmament!'"

At first, Emily Thompson didn't care. This guy was only at the second level of Body Refining—what amazing formula could he possibly offer? Most likely, he was just putting on an act. But as she listened to the two lines, the origin power in her body began to stir restlessly, as if the door to the ninth level of Gathering Origin was about to open.

She was moved. Although she knew she would eventually break through to the ninth level, that should have happened a month later. But now, she had a strong feeling that it would only take a day—no, she could even go into seclusion and break through right now.

This was just too unbelievable—just two lines of a formula!

"These are two lines from the general outline of the Three Yin Profound Art. What do you think?" Henry Langley said with a smile. Then, raising his voice, he continued, "Become my follower, and I'll teach you supreme divine arts!"

Pfft!

Clark Langley and the other three all spat out, unable to hold back their laughter.

Seriously, could anything be more ridiculous? A mere good-for-nothing wanted to take the genius of Tiger Sun Academy as his follower, and even claimed he would teach her supreme divine arts? That was the biggest boast under the heavens, and the boldest nerve imaginable.

A fool overestimating himself—truly laughable!

Several maids also covered their mouths, trying not to laugh. Of course, they knew Henry Langley's background, and just by looking at how Clark Langley and the others treated Emily Thompson, it was clear how noble this young lady's status was.

Emily Thompson's slender hand trembled involuntarily. She was experiencing an intense inner struggle—should she agree or refuse? The two thoughts kept intertwining.

Rationally, as a noble lady of the Thompson family and a genius with a top-grade heaven-level spiritual root, how could she become the follower of a mere second-level Body Refining nobody? But her martial heart was stirring, as if urging her to agree.

Besides... Henry Langley said he could cure her illness, and it didn't seem to be an empty promise.

"Forget it, there are plenty of talents in the world. I don't have to have you!" Henry Langley deliberately shook his head and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Emily Thompson finally made up her mind, rushed forward, and grabbed Henry Langley's sleeve. "I agree! But, only for three years!" After three years, she would be twenty. If she didn't fall into an endless sleep, she would be completely free.

Pfft—Clark Langley and the other three spat out again, but this time in utter shock and confusion.

Did their ears just malfunction? Did they really hear Emily Thompson agree? Agree to become Henry Langley's follower? The subordinate of a good-for-nothing?

Th-this-this—this must be a mistake, absolutely!

Henry Langley turned back, a smile on his face, raised his hand, and said, "It's a deal!" If he couldn't win her over in three years, he would be a failure. Besides, he was just weak for now and needed a helper—like dealing with the soon-to-be-enraged Clark Langley.

Clap!

Emily Thompson also reached out and gave him a high-five—this was a martial artist's agreement.

Such soft hands!

As their palms met, Henry Langley couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart. Although he had once been a powerhouse at the Heaven-Human Realm and an emperor of alchemy, with countless beauties throwing themselves at him in his past life, after merging with his current soul, he seemed to have become young and impulsive again. The long-lost passion was burning fiercely within him, making him feel as if he had truly returned to sixteen.

Henry Langley savored this change—this was the meaning of life.

"Thompson Miss, don't listen to this little brat's nonsense. Let's get back to business," Clark Langley interjected. He didn't want Henry Langley to keep causing trouble. And that William Bolton—what an idiot! He couldn't even keep an eye on a good-for-nothing. When they got back, he'd have him killed!