Outside the door, Mr. Huang hurried forward, worry etched across his face.
"Rest assured," Ethan said calmly. "It has been resolved. The young master is still very weak, but by tomorrow morning, he will awaken. He will need a few days of gentle recovery, but he will regain his strength quickly."
Mr. Huang exhaled a long, relieved sigh.
"I cannot thank you enough, Masters. I don't know what we would have done otherwise. Please accept this one hundred taels of silver."
Ethan gestured to Daniel, who smiled warmly as he accepted the bundle of silver, carefully placing it into his pocket's magical pouch.
Under Mr. Huang's guidance, the three entered the guest room. It was still before dawn, and having guarded through the night, Daniel and Evan immediately fell into a deep sleep. Ethan, however, gazed at the faint gray glow lingering in his spiritual sea.
Indeed, the lingering resentment of the wolf spirit had dissipated, granting him a merit energy. This energy also activated his next talisman. Saving the young master, who had been on the brink of death, had produced far more merit than simply eliminating a white zombie.
The corners of Ethan's mouth lifted slightly. The Ox Talisman, he thought to himself, revealing a rare smile.
Zombies were undeniably strong, but not invincible. It reminded him of Uncle Zombie in the tales, where the Four-Eyed Patriarch had possessed ancestral power and subdued a royal zombie with ease.
"This means I might finally experience the thrill of overpowering zombies myself."
The thought made his smile stretch wider. Soon, he drifted into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast prepared specially by Mr. Huang, the three set out. Among them, only Evan did not live at the charitable estate. Since he had not returned home the previous night, he planned to stop by his aunt's rouge shop along the way.
Evan's aunt was familiar with Ethan and his brothers, having accompanied them on several previous visits. She favored the well-behaved boys, especially Ethan, whose delicate features often drew the attention of customers when he visited the shop.
Seeing Ethan and Daniel passing by, she insisted on taking them inside for breakfast. After some explanation, she let them go but still tucked a few boxes of pastries into their arms as they left.
Ethan glanced at Evan, who shrugged helplessly as if to say, "What can I do? You're just that popular."
The two returned to the estate with a box of pastries in hand.
Once back, Ethan recounted the events of the previous night to Master Lin, who nodded in satisfaction.
"You three did well. The wolf spirit did not commit any heinous acts. Place the jar next to the ancestral hall."
Following Ethan's instructions, he and Daniel moved the altar into a small room filled with jars containing spirits. These spirits all had the potential to reincarnate, but their lingering resentment or unfinished life must first be resolved before they could pass on.
Afterward, the two returned to their own room, placed their belongings down, and headed to the main hall.
"Master, here is the one hundred taels of silver from Mr. Huang, and these pastries are from Evan's aunt. They are quite delicious you should try one."
Master Lin smiled warmly and picked up a pastry.
"Keep three taels aside, one for each of you. Do not waste the rest."
"Thank you, Master!"
Ethan continued, "Master, I wish to begin body refinement. I can feel the power of the Celestial Deity of Literature. If I combine this with physical cultivation, my strength will increase dramatically."
Master Lin's eyes lit up.
"The Celestial Deity of Literature, you say? Very well. This is a rare opportunity, and with your determination, I fully support you. If Daniel and Evan also wish to train, the estate can provide for them."
Daniel's face, already aged in expression, creased further in worry. Quietly, he asked, "Master, may I abstain from body refinement? My constitution is weak, so it would be wasted. Better to let my senior brother do it, reducing some of the burden."
Hearing this clever yet timid excuse, Master Lin scolded him lightly, tapping him on the head.
"If you trained alongside your senior brother from the beginning, you would not be at this stage of cultivation."
Seeing Daniel's guilty expression, Master Lin sighed.
"Very well, Daniel. Focus on your studies. Physical cultivation will be for Ethan and Evan."
Daniel's face brightened. He understood his limitations and was content to leave it at that. He happily went to prepare breakfast. Since Daniel had arrived, he had become the estate's cook a rare talent, even if his cultivation was lacking.
The next morning, in the estate courtyard, Ethan held a stone hammer in each hand, roughly the size of a watermelon, his stance firm and steady.
Evan froze for a moment at the sight. Observing Daniel sweeping nearby, he asked, "Senior Brother, what kind of training is this?"
Daniel explained casually, "Ah, this is for laying the foundation of physical cultivation. You'll see its purpose shortly."
Evan, still puzzled, walked to the ancestral altar to pay his respects. Master Lin then explained the physical cultivation regimen to him. To Daniel's surprise, Evan's face lit up with excitement.
"I'm glad you have the determination. With the Celestial Deity of Literature's blessing on your senior brother, it is normal for your progress to be slower. Just follow the steps carefully, and you will advance."
Evan nodded firmly. Master Lin then handed him a small manual.
"This is the Basic Maoshan Body Refinement Manual. Ethan's Supreme Clarity Scripture contains a body refinement section. You may follow this method. With your aptitude and consistent practice, your achievements will not be insignificant."
Evan examined the manual with reverence but soon looked confused.
"What does this say? I recognize the characters individually, but together, they seem unfamiliar."
Master Lin realized that Ethan had memorized all fundamental Taoist cultivation methods since childhood, while Evan had only studied a little. To him, the manual was practically a sacred text.
"Follow your senior brother for basic exercises first. In the afternoons, we will teach you Taoist methods."
Evan agreed eagerly, stripping off his shirt and picking two smaller stone hammers from the ground. Holding them at chest level, he discovered the difficulty. The exercise was manageable for short periods, but prolonged effort set his shoulders ablaze.
His hammers were still smaller than Ethan's, yet Evan thought silently, "What kind of monster is my senior brother? This is insane."
He dropped the hammers repeatedly, picking them up again with determination.
Master Lin watched, satisfaction shining in his eyes.
Ethan, meanwhile, circulated the Supreme Clarity Scripture's body refinement energy, reflecting quietly.
"The Ox Talisman's power is truly remarkable. It enhances strength, defense, and endurance significantly."
The previous afternoon, Ethan had experimented while crafting these hammers. Using the Ox Talisman, he lifted a spherical stone half a meter taller than him effortlessly. At thirteen or fourteen years old, all three were over 1.7 meters tall a rarity in a time when simply being well-fed was a common goal.
He even tested the talisman's protective power by slicing his arm with a carving knife. Not a mark remained. Later, by channeling thirty percent of the Ox Talisman's power, he hurled a stone into the river. It exploded like a cannonball, sending a massive splash skyward, which almost attracted the security team. Ethan had fled upon realizing the noise was too loud.
"The Ox Talisman is powerful, but its energy consumption is considerable."
Ethan realized that the talisman's effectiveness was linked to the strength of his own body. At full exertion, he could only display the force of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator at peak Qi Refinement.
For the coming months, Ethan and Evan trained relentlessly. From weighted stances to weighted long runs, deep squats, and swimming, they pushed themselves to their limits.
Villagers who witnessed them were astonished. The feats of Master Lin's disciples inspired both awe and deep respect for the master.