The sun rose on Ironclad Village, painting the aftermath of the monster horde in hues of gold and crimson. The villagers, now safe, buzzed with an energy born of relief and awe. Eric, however, allowed himself little rest. The Wyvern carcass, a monumental testament to their impossible victory, lay sprawled in the village square, drawing gasps from every passing eye.
"Elder," Eric addressed Elder Jian, his voice calm despite his inner fatigue, "we need to arrange transport for the materials. The Sky-Carriage we arrived in... it needs to return to the Academy. But the Wyvern and other cores... they are too valuable to leave behind."
Elder Jian, still visibly shaken by the Wyvern's sheer size, nodded slowly. "Indeed, Eric. Such a treasure... we have no way to move it. What do you propose?"
"I will arrange for two separate transports from Azure City," Eric explained. "One, a private Sky-Carriage for my mother and Lena. The other, a dedicated spiritual transport for the monster materials. It will be secured. It's the safest way."
He then approached his mother, Lena clinging to her side. "Mother, the journey back will be quicker this time. I've arranged for a comfortable carriage, just for us."
Elara's eyes, still wide with the shock of the past night, held a hint of apprehension. "Such a grand carriage, Eric... and all this wealth. It's... it's a lot to take in."
"You'll get used to it, Mother," Eric assured her gently, offering a reassuring smile. "It's for your safety and comfort. You won't have to worry about anything ever again."
True to his word, two days later, two Academy-affiliated spiritual transports arrived from Azure City. One was a sleek, luxurious Sky-Carriage, clearly designed for comfort and speed. The other was a heavily armored, enchanted transport cart, its interior glowing faintly with preservation formations. The sight of them, accompanied by a small contingent of Academy guards (who seemed utterly bewildered by the giant Wyvern carcass), caused another stir in the village.
Eric oversaw the careful loading of the monster materials. The Wyvern's head, still imposingly fierce even in death, was wrapped in thick, spiritual cloths and loaded with immense difficulty. Its scales, talons, and the dozens of other monster cores and valuable parts they had collected filled the transport. He knew the potential fortune contained within.
"Be extremely careful with these," Eric instructed the lead guard, handing him a discreetly folded spiritual note for the Academy's logistics department. "Their value is immense."
The guard, a grizzled Foundation Establishment cultivator, merely nodded, his eyes wide with awe at the sheer scale of the Wyvern's corpse.
The journey back was uneventful. For Elara and Lena, it was a dizzying experience. The vastness of the plains, the towering mountains, and finally, the colossal, glittering sprawl of Azure City, dwarfing anything they had ever imagined.
"By the Ancestors," Elara whispered, clutching Lena's hand as their Sky-Carriage descended towards the city's main landing platforms. "It's even more magnificent than the tales."
Lena's eyes were wide with wonder, her small face pressed against the enchanted window. "It's like a dream, Mama!"
Eric watched their reactions, a quiet sense of satisfaction blooming in his chest. This was why he fought, why he pushed himself. For them.
"Driver," Eric instructed, as they landed. "Take my mother and sister to the address I provided. It's an apartment I've already secured for their temporary stay. Ensure their comfort and safety. I will meet them there after I conclude some business."
The driver, accustomed to the demands of powerful cultivators, merely nodded. "As you command, young master."
Eric disembarked, carrying only his Spatial Pouch, and made his way directly to the Azure Market Guild, the largest trading hub for spiritual resources in the city. He bypassed the bustling main hall, heading straight for the high-value trading section.
The receptionist, a haughty young woman in polished robes, looked him up and down. "Do you have an appointment, sir? This section is for high-value transactions only." Her gaze lingered dismissively on his simple (though now Inner Court) robes.
"I don't," Eric replied calmly. "But I assure you, what I have is of sufficient value to warrant immediate attention." He pulled out a single, perfectly preserved B-rank Demon Bear Core, its spiritual energy pulsating faintly.
The receptionist's eyes widened. A B-rank core! Her dismissive attitude vanished, replaced by a flustered scramble. "My apologies, young master! Please, come this way!" She quickly led him to a private consultation room.
Within minutes, the Guild Supervisor, a portly man with shrewd eyes and a cultivation base at Core Formation Stage 3, was ushered in. He looked at Eric with cautious respect, having heard the rumors of the Academy's rising star.
"Young Master Eric, I presume? It's an honor. What rare treasures do you bring us today?" the Supervisor asked, his voice smooth.
Eric calmly opened his Spatial Pouch. He began to lay out the materials: dozens of high-grade B-rank cores, shimmering Spirit-Infused Ore, glowing Qi-Condensing Gems, rare Glimmerroot Fungi, and bundles of powerful Earth-elemental crystals. The small room filled with a dazzling array of spiritual energy, the sheer volume of wealth breathtaking.
The Supervisor's eyes widened, then narrowed in careful appraisal. He was seeing a fortune. "This... this is an incredible haul, young master! Truly magnificent! But..." he paused, a bead of sweat forming on his brow, "the sheer quantity, especially of the B-rank materials... it would require a significant portion of our Guild's liquid spiritual stones to purchase all at once. And some of these, like the Qi-Condensing Gems, are incredibly rare."
"I understand," Eric said, his voice even. He knew the Guild wouldn't have enough on hand for everything, especially the Wyvern.
"However," the Supervisor continued, his voice regaining its professional tone, "we would be honored to purchase a select portion of these immediately, to demonstrate our good faith. As for the rest, especially the truly unique items... we could offer to trade them on your behalf. We have extensive connections with other major guilds across the city, even powerful families, who would be eager to acquire such treasures. We would, of course, take a small commission for our services."
Eric considered this. It was the most practical solution. He didn't want to alert too many people to the full extent of his wealth, and he certainly didn't want to be burdened with individual sales of legendary items.
"Agreed," Eric stated. "I will sell you a substantial portion of the B-rank cores and the immediate consumables. As for the rest, including the Wyvern's core, scales, and other unique parts," he revealed, causing the Supervisor to gasp and visibly tremble, "you may trade them on my behalf. I expect fair market value, of course, and strict discretion."
"Of course, young master!" the Supervisor practically saluted. "Absolute discretion! We will handle this with the utmost care and professionalism! This... this is truly an unprecedented windfall!"
The transaction was swift and efficient. Eric walked out of the Azure Market Guild a spiritual millionaire, his Spatial Pouch now lighter in weight but overflowing with a fortune in Superior Spiritual Stones that would last generations. He could buy anything now. His family's security was absolute.
He took a spiritual carriage directly to the apartment he had rented. It was a spacious, well-furnished unit in a respectable part of the Inner City, far from the shabby Outer Court dormitories. Lena shrieked with delight as she explored the multiple rooms, and Elara stood in the living room, her eyes wide with disbelief, touching the soft, spiritual silk furnishings.
"Eric, this is... it's like a palace!" Elara whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "How did you...?"
"Don't worry, Mother," Eric said, a warm smile on his face. "It's ours now. And it's safe."
They had a simple, but comforting dinner. Elara, after years of frugal living, found the abundance overwhelming but heartwarming. After Lena had been tucked into bed, Eric led his mother to the living room.
"Mother," Eric began, taking a deep breath. "There's something more I need to show you." He then opened his Spatial Pouch and spilled out a small mountain of Superior Spiritual Stones onto the table. The room was instantly illuminated by their soft, pulsating glow, the sheer volume dazzling.
Elara stared. Her eyes, filled with a lifetime of struggle, simply could not comprehend the sight before her. Her hands trembled as she reached out, touching the smooth, cool surface of a single stone. This was not just a few coins. This was... unimaginable wealth.
"Eric," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "what... what is this? Is this real?"
"It's all real, Mother," Eric said, his voice gentle. "This is the fortune I acquired. It's enough for us to live comfortably, in luxury even, for generations. You will never have to worry about a single spiritual stone again. Lena will have the best education, the finest resources. Everything."
Tears streamed down Elara's face, silent and profound. She looked at the spiritual stones, then at her son, her eyes filled with an overwhelming mix of disbelief, gratitude, and fierce, maternal pride. She didn't say anything, she couldn't. She simply pulled Eric into a tight embrace, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Thank you, my son," she finally managed, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you. You... you have done so much for us. You truly are a dragon."
Eric held her close, a deep sense of contentment filling him. This was worth every danger, every struggle.
The next morning, Eric, feeling refreshed and invigorated, went house hunting. He had no intention of living in an apartment now that he possessed such wealth. He sought a permanent residence, a true home for his family. He walked into one of the city's most exclusive real estate offices.
The agent, a slick, impeccably dressed man named Master Lorren, looked at Eric with thinly veiled skepticism. "Good morning, young sir. How may I assist you?" His eyes flickered over Eric's still relatively simple robes, clearly judging him as someone who had wandered into the wrong office.
"I am looking to purchase a residence," Eric stated calmly. "A house. With at least six bedrooms. And a private cultivation garden, if possible."
Master Lorren's eyebrows rose, but his smile remained condescending. "My dear sir, houses of that caliber, especially with cultivation gardens, are exclusively located in the Inner City's elite districts. They start at millions of Superior Spiritual Stones. Perhaps you would prefer to view some of our charming, more affordable apartments?"
"I am quite aware of the costs," Eric replied, his voice firm, a subtle flicker of his spiritual aura making Master Lorren's eyes widen imperceptibly. "Show me your best properties."
Master Lorren's demeanor shifted, a hint of professional interest replacing his disdain. He quickly pulled up holographic projections of various estates. Eric chose a beautiful, sprawling six-bedroom mansion nestled within a lush, spiritually rich garden, complete with its own small Qi-gathering pond.
"This is suitable," Eric said, nodding. "What is the asking price?"
Master Lorren, still slightly flustered, quoted a staggering sum. "This magnificent estate, young master, is priced at... 50 million Superior Spiritual Stones."
Eric simply reached into his Spatial Pouch and, to Master Lorren's utter disbelief, materialized a stack of spiritual stone cards onto his desk, each shimmering with the immense value they represented. "That will cover it," Eric stated, his voice flat. "I wish to close the deal today."
Master Lorren stared at the cards, then at Eric, his jaw slack. His professional facade crumbled completely. "You... you wish to pay upfront? Fifty million... Superior Spiritual Stones?"
"Indeed," Eric confirmed. "Are there any issues?"
"N-no issues at all, young master!" Master Lorren stammered, scrambling to compose himself. "A pleasure doing business with you! The deeds will be transferred immediately!" His respect, now, was utterly genuine, bordering on reverence.
Eric left the office, a homeowner in the most prestigious district of Azure City. The satisfaction was immense.
Upon his return to Azure Dragon Academy, the news of the Ironclad Village victory had spread like wildfire. Whispers about the "Wyvern Slayer" and the "unbelievable strength" of the Azure Dragon Academy's rising star filled the air. Students, even those from the Inner Court, now looked at Eric with a mixture of awe and fear.
He was immediately summoned to the Principal's office. When he entered, he found Principal Xiao seated at his desk, but this time, he was not alone. A man in sleek, unadorned black robes stood by the window, his back to the room. His aura was suppressed, almost non-existent, yet Eric's spiritual sense screamed a warning. This man was dangerous. Incredibly so. His Qi felt like a hidden abyss.
"Eric," Principal Xiao greeted, his usual calm demeanor strained, a hint of gravity in his eyes. "Welcome. I trust your journey was... fruitful." He looked at the man in black. "This is Master Varian, from the Imperial Intelligence Directorate."
Master Varian slowly turned. His face was sharp, almost emotionless, his eyes like chips of obsidian. His cultivation was utterly concealed, but Eric knew, instinctively, that this man was at least at the Nascent Soul Stage, possibly even higher. He was a cultivator who could kill with a thought.
"Young Master Eric," Master Varian said, his voice smooth and cold, devoid of inflection. "A fascinating performance you gave at Ironclad Village. An S-rank Wyvern, dispatched by a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. And a monster horde of thousands, broken by four students. Extraordinary. Quite extraordinary." His gaze was like ice, piercing, dissecting. "Perhaps you would care to explain how such a feat was accomplished?"
The air in the room grew heavy, charged with unspoken power. Eric knew, with absolute certainty, that this was not a congratulatory visit. This was an interrogation. And his life, and the safety of his secrets, depended on his next words.