Spirit Master Second Rank

When they arrived home, the whole family was in tears.

Grace couldn’t help but feel her eyes sting with emotion.

In her memory, Grandfather Lawrence was always living with the army, and rarely came home.

Even when he did come home, he was mostly with her father, Uncle Ernest, and Third Uncle.

Grace didn’t get many chances to spend time with him.

But Grace always remembered that when she was little, there was a time she was bullied and sat crying in a corner of the garden.

He picked her up and comforted her, gave her tasty treats, and even made a little toy out of foxtail grass, making her laugh through her tears.

To her, Grandfather Lawrence was a truly warm person—much kinder to her than Grandmother ever was.

......

That night, Uncle Ernest’s family and Third Uncle’s family all came over, and everyone gathered for dinner.

Everyone crowded around Grandfather Lawrence, asking where he’d been all these years and if he was doing well.

He said he’d been hiding in a temple deep in the mountains at the border of Bluewave Kingdom and Vermilion Kingdom.

Even though he ate nothing but vegetables and tofu every day, his cultivation actually advanced another rank—he’s now at the Ninth Rank.

He looked quite pleased with himself as he said this.

Grace’s father, Uncle Ernest, Third Uncle, and the others were all even more excited.

After that, Grandfather Lawrence’s eyes landed on Grace, and he beckoned her over.

Grace walked over, smiling, and called out, “Grandfather, do you still recognize me?”

“Of course I do!” Grandfather Lawrence said with feeling, looking at her. “You’ve grown so much. And you were once a girl without a Spirit Root, but now you’ve become someone with a Celestial Five-Element Root—what a miracle!”

“Grandfather, if she’s a miracle, then you and Grandmother are the creators of that miracle. Without you two, there wouldn’t be her, right? Grace, don’t you agree?”

It was Queenie Zhu who spoke.

Grace glanced at her, smiled, and nodded.

She hadn’t seen her in ages, but her flattery skills had clearly improved.

“Minghan, did you say Grace is engaged to Evan Xiao?” Grandfather Lawrence asked again.

“Yes, Father,” Minghan replied.

“Go call Evan Xiao over,” Grandfather Lawrence ordered. “Let’s have a drink together.”

Minghan glanced at Grace and agreed cheerfully, sending a servant to invite Evan Xiao over.

Evan Xiao showed up as soon as he was invited.

He used to serve as a soldier under Grandfather Lawrence, so when they met, there was no distance between them.

In fact, Grace felt that Evan Xiao seemed even closer to Grandfather Lawrence than to her.

At least, there were many things they talked about that Grace had no idea about.

“Back then, your cultivation was only at the Sixth Rank, and now... Minghan says you’ve reached the Ninth Rank, right? Same as me!”

Grandfather Lawrence seemed to want everyone to know he’d reached the Ninth Rank, and brought it up again.

Evan Xiao replied, “My cultivation is now at Spirit Master, Second Rank.”

Everyone was stunned.

Grace was stunned too.

It seemed like Evan Xiao’s cultivation wasn’t gained through normal training.

Whatever rank he needed, he just became that rank—so fast it felt unreal.

Grandfather Lawrence asked in surprise, “I remember—you have an Earth Root, right?”

“Yes.”

“Earth Root... can really advance this fast?”

That’s not normal!

“It’s because my master’s cultivation technique is special,” Evan Xiao said. “I advance much faster than most people.”

“Then your master must be quite the character!” Grandfather Lawrence said. “Could you introduce us sometime?”

“Of course, General.”

Grandfather Lawrence patted his shoulder with satisfaction. “Evan Xiao! I’ve always liked you. I used to think about marrying one of my granddaughters to you, and now it’s really happening! Hahaha!”

Evan Xiao smiled.

“So, when are you going to marry our Grace?” Grandfather Lawrence asked again.