Rafael Jefferson roared, “Someone! Send people to protect Chris immediately! Under no circumstances can anything happen to Chris while he’s in the Jefferson family!”
“Yes!”
At his command, several Jefferson family cultivators quickly set out to protect Chris.
If Chris were present, he would certainly be shocked. Even Brian Jefferson and Rafael Jefferson were so wary of Archer Wintersong. It was impossible to fathom just how terrifying his teacher truly was.
Soon, news of Chris’s situation spread like wildfire within the Jefferson family.
Everyone knew Chris had offended Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite. Initially, people assumed Chris would be executed to appease their fury.
However, against all expectations, not only was Chris unharmed, but Brian Jefferson and Rafael Jefferson also deployed cultivators to ensure his safety. They even issued strict orders: Chris was not to be harmed under any circumstances while in the Jefferson family.
This sudden turn of events left everyone extremely curious. Who was Chris, that he could command such respect and protection from Rafael Jefferson and Brian Jefferson?
—
The next day, Chris and Esther prepared to return to the East Coast.
The family gathering had ended, and for Chris and Esther, staying in the Jefferson family no longer served any purpose.
Besides, after offending Alexandre Leite and Elias Dorneles, remaining in the Jefferson family had become almost impossible.
On the way back, Chris remained silent.
Seeing him like this, Esther felt deeply concerned. She knew the events at the Jefferson family had taken a significant toll on his mind.
The humiliation he endured from Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite was, without a doubt, an unbearable disgrace.
“Are you okay, love?” Esther asked, her voice full of worry.
Chris smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, Esther. I’m fine.”
Hesitating for a moment, Esther cautiously asked, “About Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite…”
She trailed off, unsure how to continue. Though anger boiled inside her, there was little she could do to help Chris.
Chris chuckled and said, “Esther, don’t worry about them. Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite are insignificant. They can’t hurt me. If anything, they only motivate me to work harder. One day, I’ll trample them beneath my feet. No matter how powerful an Aetherbinding cultivator may be, I will never fear them.”
Hearing this, Esther sighed in relief. She had been afraid Chris might spiral into despair and make rash decisions.
Chris exhaled softly. “Esther, I know what you’re worried about. But the truth is, this world has always been survival of the fittest. If you’re weaker than others, you’ll be bullied. I’ve understood this truth for a long time.”
Esther fell silent.
She knew Chris carried many burdens on his shoulders. While he rarely spoke about them, he faced countless challenges on his own.
As a mere mortal woman, Esther felt powerless to help him.
The thought of her own helplessness filled Esther with self-reproach.
Chris had once believed himself invincible.
However, this visit to the Jefferson family revealed to him the overwhelming power of Aetherbinding cultivators.
These individuals stood on a level far above the rest, their strength unmatched.
Even as Amerosia Primus, Chris seemed no more than an ant in the eyes of these Aetherbinding cultivators.
Would Chris succumb to despair?
Of course not!
Chris was Amerosia Primus!
Though Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite humiliated him, they also opened his eyes to the vastness of the world.
Chris vowed to grow stronger, to become the most powerful being in existence.
“Elias Dorneles, Alexandre Leite, mark my words. One day, I’ll make you understand that even with my ‘useless Soulseed,’ I’ll make you pay the price!”
Chris had learned something about his so-called “useless Soulseed” while at the Jefferson family.
In ancient times, the “useless Soulseed” had been regarded as the strongest Soulseed in the Aetherbinding realm.
Every individual who possessed a useless Soulseed had been a genius of unparalleled brilliance.
However, as the world’s spiritual energy dwindled, the useless Soulseed gradually became a liability, now mocked as a worthless trait.
Yet Chris felt there was more to the useless Soulseed than met the eye.
The next time he saw his teacher, he planned to ask about its origins and secrets.
—
By the time Chris and Esther returned to the East Coast, it was already 9 PM.
At the airport, Juliette and Harold were waiting to pick them up.
Back at Cloud Bay, Chris and Esther took a shower before going to bed.
Though Chris claimed he was fine, the humiliation from Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite left a deep scar.
In the days that followed, Chris became noticeably quieter.
This change puzzled Juliette, who finally asked Esther, “What happened? Why does Chris seem so different since returning from the Jefferson family? He’s always so quiet now.”
Esther’s face fell, a trace of pain flashing across her expression.
She understood Chris well. While he pretended nothing was wrong, the events at the Jefferson family still weighed heavily on his mind.
With a shake of her head, Esther replied miserably, “Don’t ask, Juliette. I can’t talk about it.”
The events at the Jefferson family filled Esther with guilt.
If not for her, Chris wouldn’t have gone there.
If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have been humiliated by Elias Dorneles and Alexandre Leite.
—
One day, Chris drove to pick up his daughter, Hope, from school.
When classes ended, a delicate and beautiful little girl emerged from the building.
It was none other than Chris’s daughter, Hope.
Upon seeing her father, Hope shouted excitedly, “Daddy!”
Since returning from the Jefferson family, Chris had been spending more time with his family.
Every day, he made sure to pick Hope up from school and take her home, fulfilling his role as a father.
Now in first grade, Hope was more sensible and mature than before.
As Chris’s daughter, no one at school dared to mess with her.
After picking her up, Chris brought Hope home. While she worked on her homework in the living room, Chris cooked dinner in the kitchen.
Around 6 PM, Esther returned home from work.
The family of three sat down for dinner together.
—
Later that evening, Chris received a phone call.
Glancing at the screen, he saw it was from Lindsay Windson.
“Mr. Shelby, I’m back from the Jefferson family. I’d like to treat you to dinner.”
“Sure. Where are you? I’ll come right over.”
With that, Chris ended the call.
The call from Lindsay Windson surprised him.
As it turned out, though Lindsay had joined the Jefferson family, she had been granted a few days of leave to visit her family.