During that time, there were also a few junior female disciples who threw tantrums, but everyone was young and innocent back then, so nothing outrageous happened. William Carter was also a young and outstanding talent, the beloved prodigy of the sect, not yet burdened with the responsibilities of the sect.

Grace Cooper, that enchantress, was the first point of conflict between the two.

“Who can remember so much? I was only thinking about the vitality of young men. You know, my Lord, my cultivation has stagnated for years without any progress. If this goes on, I’ll start getting wrinkles.” As she spoke, Grace Cooper took out a mirror and looked at her face, as youthful as a girl of eighteen, and only then was she satisfied enough to continue, “William Carter’s vitality is extraordinary. He has a thunder spiritual root, with the power of thunder and fire in his body, and seems to harbor a mysterious force. I always feel that if I could absorb his power, I would definitely improve my strength!”

Cultivators have five common spiritual roots: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as well as five variant roots: wind, thunder, ice, light, and darkness. Most ordinary people have three, four, or five mixed roots; dual roots are considered excellent aptitude in the cultivation world, while a single common root is one in ten thousand. A single variant root is a genius rarely seen in millennia, and William Carter is precisely a single thunder root.

A single root struck out by heavenly thunder before reincarnation? Edward Morgan pondered silently.

That mysterious force was, of course, divine power. William Carter’s previous life was a postnatal deity, reincarnated with his postnatal godhood. Lily Harris is an innate deity, her godhood born with heaven and earth, unable to merge into a mortal body with her, but William Carter’s godhood can.

If Grace Cooper were to harvest William Carter, relying on the power of his godhood, her strength would indeed increase greatly.

“Three months ago, why didn’t you make a move on him? He shouldn’t be as strong as you,” Edward Morgan asked.

“Sigh,” Grace Cooper sighed, “I did think about it, but his power is very special. If he’s not willing to be with me, I can’t force him. He has someone he loves, a little girl who’s just as pretty as me, and she’s very sharp—she’s always suspicious of me and keeps a close eye on her lover, never giving me a chance.”

“Oh?” Edward Morgan raised an eyebrow slightly. “It has to be voluntary?”

The book didn’t mention this, since it was from Lily Harris’s perspective. William Carter told her he was bewitched and taken away by Grace Cooper, and Lily Harris believed him.

“My Lord, don’t you know me by now?” Grace Cooper said coquettishly. “When it comes to this, I insist on mutual consent. Those men—if they behave well and please me, I’ll even return enough true essence during cultivation to make up for their loss. Except for enemies, which of the little sweethearts in my Daoist residence hasn’t tasted the benefits? Some I get tired of and try to send away, but they refuse to leave.”

“I really didn’t know that. It seems there’s much I don’t know,” Edward Morgan thought to himself.

“But as for William Carter, I won’t let him off so easily,” Grace Cooper pledged her loyalty to Edward Morgan. “Their Shangqing Sect is leading this attack on Xuanyuan Sect. How could I show mercy to the chief disciple of the enemy? Rest assured, my Lord, I’ve been secretly meeting with William Carter for some time now, disguised as a pitiful woman behind Lily Harris’s back. He pities me and often sneaks down the mountain to help my subordinates. Sooner or later, I’ll get him.”

Edward Morgan pondered for a moment and said, “No, there’s no need.”

“No need for what?” Grace Cooper blinked her beautiful big eyes.

“No need to destroy this person,” Edward Morgan tapped the armrest of the chair and instructed, “Do as you usually do. Only with give and take can things last. He does have a special power in his body, which will benefit you greatly. There’s no need to go to extremes.”

“Huh?” Grace Cooper was stunned. Was this really her Lord, who always eradicated threats without mercy?

She frowned. “But he’s the most promising chief disciple of the Shangqing Sect, a pillar of the righteous path. If we don’t destroy him while he’s young, are we going to leave a future threat? If I return some power to him during cultivation, his strength will grow even faster. That may benefit me, but for Xuanyuan Sect, it’s not a good thing.”

As Grace Cooper spoke, her expression turned fierce, no longer the soft and charming look from before.

Her words greatly pleased Edward Morgan.

In Edward Morgan’s view, this was how a cultivator should be. The Great Dao is ruthless; rather than being attached to love, it’s better to gain benefits from it. And one’s stance must be firm—never raise a tiger to become a threat out of momentary softness.

Look at Grace Cooper’s resolve, compare it to James Walker’s actions, and recall how, in the book, he himself gave up Xuanyuan Sect for Lily Harris out of infatuation. Edward Morgan deeply felt he was far inferior to his two guardians.

If it were an ordinary person, they’d probably just want to stay away from Lily Harris in the future to avoid getting too involved. But Edward Morgan was the type to face challenges head-on. He was determined to confront Lily Harris and William Carter, harden his heart, and never be swayed by love!

With this in mind, he instructed, “Grace Cooper, you must look to the long term. You need to be a nail.”