"Pfft!"

Inside the room, on top of the bed, Nathan Pierce spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Nathan, are you awake?” A beautiful woman who was probably in her thirties asked, with concern.

“Mom, how long have I been unconscious?" Nathan's mouth moved slightly as he asked weakly.

"It's been a month..." Helen Foster replied.

Nathan propped himself up with both hands, trying to sit up. But a sense of weakness came over him, causing him to lose his balance and fall back onto the bed.

His face turned pale, "My…‘Spirit well’ is shattered… Mom, how did this happen?”

Helen choked up, "Don’t you remember what happened?"

"I remember practicing in the forest, entered a cave and fought with a ferocious ape... but that ape was too powerful for me... Is it... that it did this to me?" Nathan's gaze was unfocused as he recalled the events.

Helen nodded, "Yes, Nathan, don’t worry, 'Julia Thompson' is back from Waxford Academy, and mom has asked her to treat you."

"No, I’d rather be a cripple than have her save me!" Mentioning this woman, Nathan replied resolutely.

"Nonsense!" Helen reprimanded before gently touching Nathan's face, "Mom understands that you have a grudge against Julia, but only she can save you in the entire South Heaven City. If you miss this opportunity out of pride, then you can only remain bedridden forever…"

Nathan gave a complicated smile.

"Nathan, stop thinking about it, Julia is just outside the door, mom will get her, you rest." Helen stepped out of the room.

After a short while…

"Creak!"

The door to the room was once again opened, letting the sunlight filter in.

Nathan squinted his eyes. He saw an enchanting figure, bathed in the dim light, walking towards him with grace and elegance.

As their eyes met, the room fell into sudden silence...

Neither of them said a word.

Rachel Parker slowly walked over and began placing silver needles at various acupoints on Nathan's body.

After a while, she finally stopped, saying, "With some time, your meridian can recover..."

Nathan's brow furrowed, "What about my spirit well?"

"Unless a miracle happens, it's hard for a damaged spirit well to recover," replied Rachel Parker.

"So, does this mean I can never practice martial arts anymore?" Nathan felt a chill in his heart.

"Yes," said Rachel.

Nathan's heart sank further. He laughed coldly: "I suppose you'd be happy to see this happen to me, wouldn't you?"

"Why would you think that?" Rachel asked.

"Why don't you tell me," retorted Nathan, with icy voice.

Rachel looked at him, "When I left you, I did feel somewhat guilty. So, I travelled miles from the academy to treat your illness. Wouldn't you say I've done my duty?"

"Just healing ailments? Compared to the humiliation you've given me over the years, this is nothing," Nathan sneers.

Rachel coldly says, "This is the reality. Since the day I was confirmed to have the 'Holy Body,' everything had been predetermined. Don't you understand?"

She goes on, "I know you always want to catch up with me, but you have no idea how big the gap between us is. Now that your spirit well is shattered, it's good for you to avoid risking your life on childish trials!"

Nathan seriously says, "Rachel, stop pretending to be superior in front of me. If it weren't for your 'Holy Body,' you would be nothing compared to me. Mark my words, as long as I, Nathan, am still alive, I will definitely defeat you one day!"

"Defeat me?" Rachel stands up, scoffs, "Alright, I'll be waiting for you at 'Shadowleaf Academy'. If you have the courage, then come."

With those words, Rachel gives Nathan a cold glance, then slams the door and exits.

"Bang!"

The door is tightly closed!

Silence!

Nathan keeps replaying Rachel's words in his mind. After a while, he mutters, "Shadowleaf Academy, I, Nathan, will definitely go!"

He grits his palm, slapping it on the bed, as if hitting a hard object!

Inside the clothes scattered on the bed, he pulls out a "stone plate".

He couldn't help but curse, "If I hadn't found you in that cave, I wouldn't have had to fight that fierce ape and end up in this state!"

"Hum!"

Just as he was about to fiercely smash the stone plate, it buzzes and emits dazzling rays of light, encasing him within.

As the light entered his body, it felt like a divine purification, causing every pore on his body to relax and spread, A deep sense of tranquility washed over him, as if his entire body had been bathed in warmth and renewal.

The spirit well within his body also started to heal and regenerate at a pleasing pace.

"How could this be?" Nathan excitedly exclaimed, "This stone disk... it can actually repair my spirit well?"

A loud, piercing voice came from outside.

"Mrs. Helen, Nathan is already disabled. Our Pierce family doesn't keep the disabled. By the command of the Madam, you and your son should move into the storeroom immediately."

...

Outside the door, Helen pleaded, "Mr. Steward, my son is weak now. If he stays in the storeroom, his illness will only worsen. Could you please appeal to the 'Madam' for her mercy and let us stay for a few more days..."

"Humph, I'm just following orders. The Madam has given a strict command, now move aside!"

Mr. Steward waved his palm, pushing Helen to the ground.

"My medicine!" Helen cried out.

"Clear off, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Mr. Steward shouted.

Helen bit her lip, swallowing back her tears. She knew the medicine was vital for Nathan's survival, and she didn't have the extra money to buy another dose.

Mr. Steward voice rose with contempt, "Ungrateful wretch! I respected you enough to call you Mrs. Helen, now in your current situation, you're nothing more than a servant. How dare you obstruct my work, audacious!"

His face twisted cruelly and he raised his hand, aiming for Helen's face.

"Stop it!"

Just as he was about to strike Helen, the front door was violently burst open!

Nathan came out!

Mr. Steward was both surprised and outraged: "You little bastard, aren't you useless now?"

"Mom, are you alright..." Nathan stepped forward to help Helen up.

"Nathan... Nathan'an, quickly go back to bed, you are weak now, you can't just get out of bed and move around!" Helen, in the beginning, was a bit stunned, immediately pushed Nathan away.

"Don't worry, I'm fine now."

Nathan's face remained pale, but his internal injuries had already healed by half.

The stone plate was indeed incredibly miraculous.

Looking at Mr. Steward, Nathan gritted his teeth: "What a dog slave, you even dare to disrespect my mother, I think you have lived enough."

Mr. Steward sneered: "You're already a wreck, still playing the hero? Hurry up and go to the storeroom with your mother. So I don't have to act."

Nathan coldly said: "Act? You might want to give it a try."

Mr. Steward coldly said: "Looking for trouble, I'll oblige you."

With that, he slapped towards Nathan!

Nathan grasped his palm, his move was as fast as lightning, he griped his wrist and with a sudden jerk, a sound of bone breaking echoed.

Ah!

Mr. Steward instantly wailed, sweat was dripping down his forehead.

"How is this possible?" He found it hard to believe.

"Touch my mother, and you are gonna lose this arm today!" Said Nathan in a cold tone.

"Sir, spare me, I'm wrong, I won't dare to do it again." Mr. Steward finally woke up and pleaded for mercy.

Nathan remained indifferent. His years of harsh experience in the mountains had hardened his heart, making it firm as a rock, without an ounce of leniency.

"Crack!" Steward's other arm also drooped down, crawling on the ground like a dead dog.

Nathan coldly snorted, "I spare your life, go back and tell madam, if she dares to stir up trouble again, it won't be so simple next time!"

"Nathan, this time making you and Mrs. Helen degraded to servants, isn't just madam's idea, master also approves it. If you two don't do it, I'm afraid you will not be able to set foot in Pierce's family."

"Besides, madam is at her maiden's home now, she will return in ten days. By then, you'd better fend for yourselves!"

Mr. Steward, with a face full of resentment, tottered off.

"Father agreed to this too!" Nathan narrowed his eyes.

"Nathan, are you really okay?"

Helen asked in surprise.

"Rest assured, mother, I will recover soon. In order to avoid trouble during this period, we have to move to the purple room. When my strength recovers, I will take back everything we have lost. It's our only choice right now, mother."

Nathan responded with a faint smile, knowing that the stone disc can restore his Spirit well, his confidence was boosted.

"Foolish boy, your mother was just a maid to begin with. I don’t mind living in the storeroom—as long as you can endure it too." Hearing Nathan's confidence in recovery, Helen was also very happy and gave a gentle smile.