For the last two weeks, Lloyd has been in closed-door cultivation inside his residence. Every once in a while, Trisha brings him food. Unlike ordinary mortals, cultivators do not require frequent food intake because the mana in their dantian not only strengthens their body and spirit but also sustains it. There would even come a point in their cultivation journey where cultivators do not have to eat food ever again and remain perfectly healthy. That was one of the wondrous things that cultivators can do.

Inside his residence, Lloyd was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed. After an indeterminate amount of time has passed, he opened his eyes with a hint of disappointment mixed within.

“Arghhh! So hard!” Lloyd said.

“Why can’t I advance to the next realm? I am already on the third level of mana gathering realm and I have already absorbed the necessary mana needed for advancement but whenever I try to break through that barrier, something always tries to block my path!” Lloyd grumbled.

He looked at his pendant that was hanging on his neck and thought, ‘Maybe I just needed some external aid? Or maybe I shouldn’t force the breakthrough for now.’

Lloyd got up and went outside his residence. When he opened the door, Lloyd went to the kitchen and found Trisha. She was so focused in cooking that she did not notice Lloyd at the entrance of his room.

“Silly girl…She knows that I do not eat all the time but still cooks every day,” Lloyd whispered.

Trisha noticed something and looked back. She saw Lloyd standing at the door so she immediately stopped what she was doing and approached Lloyd.

Trisha bowed slightly and said, “Good Morning, Young master!”

“Good morning, Trisha. Why are you always cooking?” Lloyd asked.

“Because I figured that i should always be ready just in case young master wants to eat,” Trisha said.

“But I do not frequently eat, you know that right?” Lloyd responded.

“Yes, young master. However, when the time comes and you want to eat, I want to make sure that there is enough food available” Trisha retorted.

“Well, I always appreciate your efforts. Besides, your cooking is simply the best that I have tasted,” Lloyd said while smiling.

Trisha blushed when she heard it and looked down. Suddenly, Trisha looked at Lloyd and said, “Young master, I almost forgot, a messenger came here yesterday and said that clan chief wants you to see him as soon as possible. I didn’t inform you because you were in closed-door training.”

“Oh? I see. Thank you, Trisha. I will head there right now. I will be back in no time,” Lloyd said.

“Take care, young master!” Trisha said while slightly bowing. After bidding his farewell, Lloyd headed to his father’s headquarters.

In a grand-looking and spacious room decorated with various auspicious and luxurious items, a person was currently meditating. He was in his late 40’s with a long black hair and beard. When he breathes, mana also comes rushing towards him and it feels like the room slightly moves. He is the current clan chief of the Noble Blanc clan, Trevor Blanc.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the front door.

“Come in,” Trevor said.

When the servant came in, he bowed then immediately said, “Lord Trevor, your oldest son is here.”

“Let him in,” Trevor ordered.

“Yes, My lord,” the servant said.

After a while, the servant came back but this time, Lloyd was standing next to him. Lloyd went forward, faced his father and slightly bowed.

“Good Morning, Father,” Lloyd politely said. After saying that, Lloyd stood straight and looked at his father with an expressionless face.

“Hmm…” His father said. Like Lloyd, his father was also expressionless. The two parties, father and son, just stared at each other for quite some time. If a stranger were witnessing this scene, it would not cross their mind that they were father and son. Lloyd’s father, Trevor, was quite shocked because Lloyd was staring straight at him without any signs of backing down. This was unusual because the Lloyd he knew cannot even stand straight when they were facing each other. Trevor thought that something has changed since he last meet his son.

 After a silence, which seemed to have lasted an eternity, Lloyd’s father finally responded. “How are you feeling right now?” his father asked.

“I am feeling fine, Father. Thank you for asking,” Lloyd responded.

“I believe you know about the incoming tournament for the younger generations of our clan?” his father asked.

“Yes, father, I am aware,” Lloyd said.

“Good, are you planning on joining?” his father asked.

“I am, father,” Lloyd responded.

“Then, I just want to let you know that besides knowing the current strengths of the younger generations, the main goal of the tournament is to introduce your younger brother as the next clan head,” his father said. When Lloyd heard it, he unconsciously furrowed his eyebrows. His father noticed it but just did not care.

‘So this father of mine is actually this cold-hearted, huh? Fine, I will play with your games. I just hope all of you are prepared,’ Lloyd thought.

“Also, for those who still thinks that you should be the next clan head despite how little their numbers are, you joining the tournament and losing will surely distinguish their hopes. So I hope that you really join,” his father said.

With an expressionless face, Lloyd responded, “Do not worry father, I will not let down your expectations.” It contained a deep meaning that only Lloyd could get.

“Okay, you may go now. I have still have some matters to attend to,” his father said. After saying that, Trevor closed his eyes and completely ignored Lloyd.

“I will now go, father. Good bye,” Lloyd said while slightly bowing. After bidding farewell, he went out of the room without looking back. While on his way back to his residence, Lloyd have so much in his mind.

‘I thought that the previous Lloyd’s father did not manage to attend his cremation because of some very huge matter which concerns the clan. Turned out, I was wrong. He just did not care. Huh… I thought that my only true enemy in this place is my step-mother, seems like I should also add him on my list,’ Lloyd mused.

While Lloyd was deep in thought walking back, he heard somebody speaking.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my older brother.”

Lloyd got back on his senses and scanned his surroundings. After a quick search, he found a person sitting on a wooden bench just 5 meters in front of him. It was a man about 10-years of age, wearing a blue shirt and black pants. He has a fair complexion with grey hair, brown eyes and slightly thick eyebrows. His name was Jon Blanc, Lloyd’s younger stepbrother. After finding out that it was Jon who spoke to him, he completely ignored him and casually passed by.

When Jon saw it, he was flabbergasted at first, but after a while, he snapped back to reality and shouted, “Hey! I am talking to you! Can’t you hear me!?”

Lloyd continued to ignore Jon and kept on walking until the distance was quite far. Lloyd does not see Jon as a worthy opponent because first, Jon was just a child and was just being manipulated by his ugly mother. Second reason, was that even though Jon was currently higher in cultivation than him, with Lloyd’s talent, together with the time left before the tournament, Lloyd firmly believes that even if he does not surpass Jon, he would not be below him.

Jon felt insulted. When he saw Lloyd was quite far from him, he shouted, “Lloyd! Just you wait until the tournament! I will prove to everyone that you are not the genius you once were! I shall trample your dignity and pride and make you regret ignoring me right now! Just you wait! I will defeat you thoroughly!”

When Lloyd heard that, instead of feeling afraid or terrified, he just laughed. ‘What a child, I thought that he matured a bit during these last few years, seems like I was wrong,’ Lloyd mused. He continued his journey back to his residence while hearing his younger brothers’ cursed shouts from afar.

It did not take too long for Lloyd to arrive at his residence. The sun was about to set so the surroundings was beginning to darken. When Lloyd opened the front door of his residence, he saw Trisha sitting at the dinner table staring back at him. Lloyd was taken aback for a moment before realizing the situation.

“Trisha, why are you sitting there? You have given me a fright just now. Are you waiting for my return?” Lloyd asked.

Trisha stood up and slightly bowed. “I apologize young master. Even though it was presumptuous of me, I was worried that something might have happened so I could not help but wait for your return,” Trisha said in a light voice.

Lloyd was touched by Trisha’s concern, this was the first time in Lloyd’s thirteen years of existence to have a girl, and a beautiful one at that, worry about him.

Lloyd smiled and said, “Thank you so much, Trisha. To be honest, I guess you’re the only person I can trust in this clan.”

Trisha was touched and at the same time, saddened when she heard it. “Do not worry, young master! No matter what happens, even if everyone else in the world hates you, I will always be on your side!” Trisha proudly declared with a serious face and a clutched fist.

Lloyd was amused by how Trisha acted so he pinched her left cheek and said, “Ha ha, thank you Trisha. I feel okay now. I appreciate your presence and love.”

Trisha blushed when Lloyd pinched her cheek and shyly looked down on the ground. Lloyd, on the other hand, didn’t find anything wrong with it and so proceeded to his room while laughing. Before going in, Lloyd stopped on his tracks and looked at Trisha.

“I will now go back in my room and cultivate. You should also go back to your room and rest. We will continue our walk around the city together with Francis. I hope that nothing happens so that it will not be postponed again for the third time. Ha ha! Goodnight!” Lloyd said before going inside his room and closing it.

Trisha was left there standing like a statue and blushing. It took a while before she snapped back to reality and went home.