The secretary froze. Although he didn't quite understand, he dared not ask further questions.
"Understood, Miss. I'll cancel the Brown family's invitation immediately," the secretary replied.
Then, he began typing away on the computer.
"Wait." At that moment, Emily Taylor suddenly changed her mind.
A glimmer of cunning flashed in her eyes. "Send the invitation as usual."
"Huh?" The secretary looked even more confused.
Emily blinked her bright, watery eyes and murmured softly, "I really wonder what kind of expressions they'll have when they see Ethan Smith at the banquet..."
...
Dragon Rising Community was the most upscale area in River City.
The property that Quillen Taylor had gifted Ethan Smith was situated right in its center.
As he gazed at the luxurious decorations inside the room, Ethan couldn't help but feel like it was all a little surreal.
"I really can't figure out what kind of identity Miss Emily could possibly have..." Ethan muttered with a bitter smile.
But deep down, Ethan was very aware that favors would eventually run out. Only by having enough strength himself could he earn true respect from others.
Ethan didn't waste any time.
He sat cross-legged on the sofa, closed his eyes slightly, and golden rays of light began to burst forth rapidly in his mind.
These golden rays carried medical arts beyond imagination and cultivation methods that defied belief.
Ethan devoured the information eagerly. Before long, he realized that these medical arts far exceeded anything he had ever imagined!
At their pinnacle, not only could they heal ailments, but even bringing the dead back to life wouldn't be out of reach!
And the cultivation methods? Those left Ethan utterly stunned!
Even the earliest levels of the Qi Refining Stage allowed one to move unopposed across the mortal world!
Reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage rendered one nearly invincible, with a lifespan extending several hundred years!
The more Ethan read, the more thrilled he became, his eyes lighting up with excitement!
"As long as I embark on the path of cultivation, the so-called Brown family will mean absolutely nothing," Ethan said, clenching his fists, his confidence surging instantly!
"Gary Brown, Sylvia Johnson, just you wait!" A trace of madness flickered in Ethan's eyes.
Wasting no more time, he began absorbing nature's spiritual energy using the methods recorded in his memory.
The spiritual energy from across the entire community slowly converged toward Ethan at the center.
The energy surged through Ethan's pores, flooding into his body before finally merging with his breath in his dantian.
It was only at dawn the next morning that Ethan slowly opened his eyes.
He exhaled a mouthful of impure air, and not only did he feel no fatigue at all, but instead, he was brimming with energy!
"So this is the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage?" Ethan took a deep breath.
He clenched his fists, feeling the abundant strength coursing through his body, the smile on his face growing broader.
Compared to his previous powerless self, this was nothing short of a transformation.
Attempting to test his strength, Ethan threw a punch at a nearby boulder.
With a resounding "bang," the boulder instantly turned to dust!
Ethan couldn't help but take a sharp intake of breath. *To possess this much power at just the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage—what would even greater strength feel like?* This thought only exhilarated him further!
"It's a pity the spiritual energy around here is far too thin," Ethan sighed lightly.
In just one night, the surrounding energy had been depleted. Advancing further would be incredibly difficult.
According to the knowledge stored in his memory, apart from absorbing nature's spiritual energy, there was one more method: using herbs.
The older the herbs, the more spiritual energy they contained.
After pondering for a moment, Ethan decided to head out to a pharmacy to buy some herbs.
He rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a total of $132.
This sight made Ethan chuckle bitterly.
Ever since marrying Sylvia Johnson, all the money he earned had gone straight to her. Even his monthly allowance depended entirely on her mood.
A thirty-year-old man only having just over a hundred bucks to his name—just mentioning it would likely make people laugh their heads off.
"It seems even on the path of cultivation, money is still a necessity," Ethan said with a wry smile.
Pocketing the money, he stepped out the front door.
Just as he reached the entrance to the community, a Mercedes-Benz pulled up and blocked his path.
As the car came to a stop, Gary Brown and Sylvia Johnson stepped out.
"Ethan, aren't you disgusting? Following us around?" Sylvia cursed at him the moment she got out of the car.
"We've already signed the divorce papers! Why are you still clinging to me? What's the point?" Sylvia said with a face full of disdain.
Ethan cast her a cold glance and said, "Don't flatter yourself."
"Flatter myself?" Sylvia pointed at her own nose, nearly bursting into laughter.
"You show up here first thing in the morning just to block me, and you say I'm flattering myself?" Sylvia said with a frosty expression.
Off to the side, Gary Brown stepped forward, clapping Ethan on the shoulder.
"Listen, kid. Sylvia's my woman now. If you dare pester her again, I'll break your legs. Got it?" Gary said with a smug grin.
Seeing this despicable pair, Ethan felt a wave of nausea.
*How did I ever share three years of my life with someone like her?* Ethan thought to himself, unable to comprehend it.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan said in a cold voice, "Don't worry. I have no interest in garbage like her. You can keep her."
"What the hell did you just say? Who are you calling garbage?" Sylvia shrieked, her face contorting with rage as she shouted like a madwoman.
Gary immediately stepped forward, blocking Ethan's path.
With his face darkening, Gary said, "Ethan, are you tired of living? I'm warning you, kneel down and apologize to my wife right now, or I'll break your legs."
Ethan swatted Gary's hand away, clenched his fist, and said coldly, "Let me give you a chance: kneel down and apologize to me, and maybe I'll let this go!"