"Joy Zheng, what's in this little bottle? It smells really nice. Can I have some?"
The man wasn't very old, maybe around twenty. He wore a wool sweater and had a slightly gloomy look about him.
His original name was Eric Chang, the son of Frank Chang, a gardener for the Oceanport Zheng Clan. Thanks to his father's job, he grew up in the Zheng family's back garden. As a kid, he often watched Ben Moran, the Zheng family's chief steward, practicing martial arts in the yard. Over time, he secretly picked up quite a few moves.
Seeing his talent, Ben Moran took him on as a disciple. When he turned twelve, the old patriarch of the Zheng family granted him the Zheng surname, and Leon Zheng, the eldest son, formally adopted him as a righteous son. From then on, he was officially renamed Eric Zheng.
Now that he'd reached peak Inner Strength, his skills counted as top-tier talent. The Zheng family held him in high regard.
Even though he was a granted-surname heir, his status was just as good as anyone else's.
At that moment, Eric Zheng was wandering the back courtyard. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of a faint, refreshing fragrance that instantly lifted his spirits.
Following the scent, Eric Zheng arrived just in time to see Joy Zheng about to take a Small Foundation-Cultivating Pill.
"Evan gave me this. If you want some, you'll have to wait for Evan to come back and agree to it."
Joy Zheng looked a little troubled.
Ever since she came back, Joy Zheng had noticed that quite a few people in the Zheng family weren't all that happy to see her.
Her eldest brother, Leon Zheng, had the worst attitude. Back then, he was obsessed with marrying the Zheng family into the Qi family from Oceanport, but Joy Zheng had refused no matter what. In the end, the Zhengs lost face and became enemies with the Qi family, and Leon's career took hit after hit.
Leon Zheng blamed all of it on Joy Zheng. When the old patriarch kicked Joy out of the family, Leon was the one fanning the flames behind the scenes.
"Joy, that's not right. I see your little porcelain bottle is pretty full. If Zhiyuan wants a taste, just let him have some. We're all family—why be so stingy over a tiny bit?" Nearby, a woman in her forties with heavy makeup tried—and failed—to hide her plain looks.
Seeing Joy Zheng refuse outright, her face cooled and she looked at Joy with obvious annoyance. "Besides, Zhiyuan said he just wants a taste, not the whole thing. You're his aunt—don't be so petty."
The woman was Susan Xu, Leon Zheng's wife and therefore Joy Zheng's sister-in-law.
When Joy Zheng came home a few days ago, Susan Xu hadn't missed a chance to give her attitude.
"Sis-in-law, I don't mind sharing most things, but this one really isn't possible." Joy Zheng shook her head.
After taking the Small Foundation-Cultivating Pill for a while, the changes in her body were obvious. That made her even more aware of how valuable the pill Evan gave her really was.
Besides, Joy Zheng honestly didn't like Susan Xu or Eric Zheng much at all.
“Hey, enough already! It’s just a little something to eat, I’m not asking for much. If Grandpa were home, I’d just go ask him for it directly, and you’d have to hand it over anyway, wouldn’t you?” Eric Zheng shot a dark look at Joy Zheng, who was still refusing, and stepped forward to snatch it.
He reached out and, before Joy Zheng could even react, snatched the porcelain bottle from her hand.
"Give it back!"
Joy Zheng’s face changed and she rushed forward.
"Come on, Joy. Eric just wants a taste of something—there’s no need for a family to get worked up over a tiny thing like this, right?"
Susan Xu stepped up and blocked Joy Zheng’s way: "Besides, Eric’s just a kid. Kids want candy, so shouldn’t adults let them have a little?"
"But—"
Joy Zheng tried to say something more.
Susan Xu cut her off, face cold: "Enough with the ‘but’s. There’s nothing to argue about."
"You’re living in our house, eating our food, not paying a cent, and now you’re fussing over a little thing to eat? You should be grateful for the convenience, not making a scene over this!"
Susan Xu turned away with a look of indulgence at Eric Zheng: "Go ahead, Eric, try it!"
Eric Zheng poured out a Small Foundation-Cultivating Pill from the bottle and, ignoring Joy Zheng’s protests, swallowed it in one gulp.
As soon as the pill entered his body, Eric Zheng felt warmth flooding his limbs and bones, power surging through his muscles, and an exhilarating sense of expansion.
“Ha ha! Awesome!”
Eric Zheng burst out laughing, stomped hard on the floor, and instantly smashed a huge pit into the tiles, shattering them to dust beneath his foot!
"I’ve felt like I was about to break through for ages—never thought today I’d finally get it!"
Eric Zheng was grinning ear to ear. He raised his arm, and a wave of invisible inner force shot out, smashing directly into a nearby tea table.
Bang!
The tea table instantly exploded into a pile of splinters. Eric Zheng spun and threw a punch at the wall from across the room.
Boom!
A powerful burst of inner force smashed a deep dent right into the wall.
"What was that sound?!"
Moments later, people rushed in from outside, drawn by the commotion.
"Zhiyuan! Did you break through?"
The newcomer was a man in his forties, looking a bit weathered and worn.
His face was full of shock and excitement—it was Frank Chang, the Zheng family's gardener and Eric Zheng's biological father.
"That's right! I've stepped into the Pseudo-Vajra realm! Dad, I finally made it!" Eric Zheng exclaimed.
Seeing his son, Frank Chang was overwhelmed with emotion.
Frank Chang's tears flowed freely. He'd been the Zheng family's gardener for decades, and though he didn't fully understand what the Pseudo-Vajra realm meant, he knew Eric's breakthrough would elevate their status in the clan.
"Zhiyuan! Amazing! Once your grandparents and Master Moran get back, I'll make sure they reward you properly!" Susan Xu beamed, unable to hide her delight.
Only Joy Zheng stood pale-faced, shaken by Eric Zheng's destructive outburst.
"Mom, I don't want anything else—I just want this whole bottle of pills!" Eric Zheng clutched the Small Foundation-Cultivating Pill bottle, his face glowing with excitement.
He'd only taken one pill and already felt his body changing. If he could take them all...
Maybe he'd be able to step into the Fifth-Rank Vajra realm for real!
Just imagining it made Eric Zheng's heart race with excitement.
"If you want it, just take it! Go ahead! When your grandparents get back, I'll explain it to them!" Susan Xu said, fully indulging him.