Chapter 169: Astonishing Breakthroughs In Few Hours

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Astonishing Breakthroughs In Few Hours

Congratulations, Host! You have successfully invested a fifth-grade Creation Pill. The investment triggered a double return! You have received one fifth-grade Star God Pill and one Marrow Cleansing Pill!

Congratulations, Host! You have successfully invested a fifth-grade Creation Pill. The investment triggered a onefold return! You have received one fifth-grade Lesser Enlightenment Pill!

...

Congratulations, Host! You have successfully invested a sixth-grade Qiankun Pill. The investment triggered a thousandfold return! You have received one ninth-grade First-Stage Golden Pill!

Congratulations, Host! You have successfully invested a high-grade fourth-tier Demon Core. The investment triggered a thousandfold return! You have received one peak fifth-tier Demon Core!

Congratulations, Host! You have successfully invested a space-type Runestone. The investment triggered a thousandfold return! You have received one Space Rune Armor!

Congratulations, Host! You have successfully invested the seventh-grade martial skill Ghost Shadow Flash. The investment triggered a sixfold return! You have received Ghost Shadow Flash at the Beginner Stage!

Xavier was momentarily stunned.

"Three thousandfold returns?"

He hadn’t expected such a result.

Previously, most of the investment returns he had received were only a few times the original value. With the relatively low multiplier chances, he had even been prepared for an ordinary outcome this time.

Instead, he had received three thousandfold returns.

And one of them was a ninth-grade pill!

Xavier had barely managed to collect a handful of eighth-grade pills, yet the system had now rewarded him with something even more valuable.

A ninth-grade First-Stage Golden Pill!

This was an incredible gain.

The Space Rune Armor was another pleasant surprise.

Ever since he had first obtained a Rune Fragment, he had wondered whether he would eventually get his hands on a complete set of Rune Armor. He hadn’t expected that wish to come true today.

And then there was the peak fifth-tier Demon Core.

That was no ordinary resource either. Its value was comparable to an eighth-grade Hunyuan Pill.

Most demon cores contained powerful energy that martial artists could absorb to strengthen their cultivation. A core of this level could provide a considerable boost.

Xavier was already eager to examine it more closely.

He couldn’t wait to find out exactly what benefits it could bring him.

"Mira, I need to step out for a while. Finish your meal, then go and report to your master, Victoria."

He spoke quickly as he stood up.

Before Mira could ask what had happened, Xavier was already heading out.

She pouted slightly but didn’t take his sudden departure to heart.

Her husband had always been mysterious. He often disappeared to handle things she knew nothing about, and she had gradually grown accustomed to it.

Besides, she didn’t feel the need to question every little thing.

For a couple, gradually discovering each other’s secrets could be an interesting part of their relationship.

Xavier eventually arrived at the back mountain of Arcadia Academy.

The place was no longer ideal for testing his abilities. His strength had grown too much, and the surrounding area could easily be damaged if he wasn’t careful.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t found a better location yet.

Still, he wasn’t planning to conduct any major training today. He only wanted to examine the resources he had just obtained, so there was no need to cause a disturbance.

He found a quiet spot and began reviewing his gains.

Just as he was becoming absorbed in his thoughts, his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen.

It was the phone registered under the name Xavier used in the Extraordinary Department.

He answered the call.

"Hello. Am I speaking to Brother Major?"

Xavier paused.

"Is that Liam?"

He was a little surprised.

"How did you get my number?"

As soon as he asked, he remembered something and lightly slapped his forehead.

He had promised Liam in the Destiny Space that he would contact him later. However, after returning to the real world, he had become occupied with other things and completely forgotten about it.

He couldn’t help blaming himself.

It was difficult to think about anything else when he had such a beautiful wife waiting for him.

"I found your information through the Extraordinary Department," Liam explained honestly. "After that, I contacted Victoria Quill, and she gave me your number."

He paused briefly before adding something else.

"By the way, Brother Major, I’m already on my way to Valemont. I should arrive soon!"

"What brings you to Valemont?"

Xavier was surprised by Liam’s announcement.

He wasn’t particularly surprised that Liam knew Victoria. The circle of martial artists who had reached the peak of the Star Sea Realm wasn’t especially large. Across the entire Dragon Kingdom, there were fewer than a thousand people at that level.

Both Victoria and Liam were prominent figures, so it was only natural that they knew each other.

What Xavier couldn’t understand was why Liam had suddenly decided to travel to Valemont.

"I found out that my niece is living somewhere in Valemont!" Liam answered without hesitation.

Xavier raised an eyebrow.

"Didn’t Victoria tell you that we’re planning to visit Groundcrest soon?"

"She did. But you haven’t decided on a date yet, have you? Besides, I’m not busy with anything at the moment. I might as well come over first. When I arrive, Brother Major, don’t forget that you promised to spar with me!"

Xavier immediately understood.

"Is that the real reason you’re coming?"

"That’s only part of it!"

Liam readily admitted it. Then his voice lowered slightly.

"Victoria also told me that my niece has awakened the Calamity Poison Body and that Shadow Ring has placed her on its assassination list. I can’t just sit around after hearing something like that. I need to see her personally and make sure she’s safe."

"All right."

Xavier smacked his lips, feeling rather pleased.

Liam had learned about Maya’s situation and immediately set out from Groundcrest for Valemont. That alone showed how much he cared about his niece.

It seemed Maya had at least one relative who genuinely wanted her to be safe.

Xavier wasn’t disappointed by that.

However, there was something else he needed to clarify.

"Is this your personal decision, or did the Shelby Family send you?"

"It’s my own decision."

Liam’s tone became somewhat gloomy.

"As for the rest of my family, let’s not talk about them."

Xavier immediately understood what he meant.

In other words, the Shelby Family didn’t welcome Maya.

He thought for a moment before asking another question.

"Does your eldest sister know you’re doing this? What’s her attitude toward Maya?"

"I don’t know."

Liam sighed.

His decision to travel to Valemont had been entirely his own. He hadn’t discussed it with anyone in the family, although he knew it would be difficult to keep his movements hidden from them.

What troubled him most was Sarah.

After their conversation the previous night, he had left believing that his sister simply didn’t want to acknowledge Maya. But after thinking about it more carefully, he began to feel that something wasn’t quite right about her reaction.

He couldn’t figure out what was bothering her.

Still, there was no point dwelling on it now.

He wanted to meet Maya first. Once he saw her, he could decide what to do next.

"You’re not sure?"

Xavier found the answer a little amusing.

Was Liam really so straightforward that he couldn’t even tell whether his own sister welcomed the idea or not?

But he didn’t press the matter.

Instead, he asked, "Since you’re coming to Valemont, what exactly do you intend to do about Maya?"

"I haven’t figured that out yet."

Xavier was speechless for a moment.

"Then when will you arrive?"

"I’m not sure... Wait, I know that one! I should reach Valemont sometime tonight."

"Fine. We’ll discuss everything when you get here."

With that, Xavier ended the call.

From what he had learned so far, Liam seemed to be the only person in the entire Shelby Family who genuinely wanted Maya back.

The others were either openly against her return or simply didn’t care what happened to her. Even Sarah, Maya’s own mother, might not be willing to see her daughter again.

Victoria had previously mentioned that Sarah was deeply depressed because of what had happened to Maya.

Xavier still didn’t know what had taken place between the mother and daughter, or why Sarah had reacted so strongly when Liam brought up the idea of bringing Maya home.

There were clearly many things he didn’t understand.

But one thing was certain.

Liam’s arrival was a pleasant surprise.

"Whatever happens, Maya has me as her master. I’ll protect her, so she doesn’t need to depend on the Shelby Family."

Xavier’s expression became firm.

"If they don’t want to acknowledge her, that’s their choice. I’ll simply cultivate her until she becomes someone they could never hope to reach, even if they wanted to build a relationship with her."

With that thought, he stopped worrying about Maya’s family affairs.

He had more important things to attend to.

His attention returned to the rewards he had received from the investments earlier that afternoon.

The first item he wanted to examine was the ninth-grade pill.

It was the first time he had obtained a pill of this rank.

A description appeared in his mind.

First-Stage Golden Pill (Ninth Grade)

Effects: Removes evil influences and toxins, strengthens the body’s foundation, and restores those whose life force has been severely damaged. It can even temporarily revive someone whose life force has been completely exhausted. An ordinary person who consumes this pill will immediately reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. A Foundation Establishment Realm martial artist will advance directly to the Spirit Platform Realm, while a Spirit Platform Realm martial artist will enter the Star Sea Realm. Martial artists already in the Star Sea Realm or above will receive a substantial boost in cultivation.

Xavier was astonished.

This pill was practically a treasure that could do everything.

It could cleanse the body of toxins, heal severe injuries, stabilize one’s foundation, and even increase cultivation.

He hadn’t personally experienced its detoxifying effects, so he couldn’t judge how effective that part of its description was.

However, its healing ability alone was astonishing.

Being able to temporarily restore someone whose life force had already been exhausted was an extraordinary effect. Among all the healing resources Xavier had encountered, nothing else came close.

"As expected of a ninth-grade pill. It’s incredible!"

He immediately summoned the First-Stage Golden Pill from his system space.

The moment it appeared, a rich medicinal fragrance spread through the surrounding area.

Xavier instinctively took a deep breath. The pleasant scent made him feel as though his entire body was being cleansed.

He was already very close to reaching the Fourth Star of the Star Sea Realm. Now, after merely inhaling the pill’s fragrance, he could feel his cultivation stirring. It was as if his body was preparing for another breakthrough.

If simply smelling the pill could produce such an effect, how powerful would it be once he actually consumed it?

Xavier didn’t hesitate.

He swallowed the pill in one gulp.

Boom!

The moment it entered his mouth, the golden pill dissolved completely.

A tremendous stream of pure energy rushed into his body, spreading from his stomach and resonating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

His chaotic energy immediately began surging.

Every star within his body trembled and released brilliant light. The energy circulating through his meridians grew increasingly powerful as his cultivation continued to rise.

After an unknown amount of time, the violent fluctuations finally began to settle.

Xavier slowly opened his eyes.

"Seven hundred and thirty-six stars..."

A bright glimmer appeared in his gaze.

"That puts me at the Seventh Star of the Star Sea Realm!"

He could hardly contain his excitement.

This was precisely why he had gone to such lengths to gather and exchange resources.

For an ordinary Star Sea Realm martial artist, advancing from the Third Star to the Seventh Star would require years of painstaking cultivation. Even someone with exceptional talent and powerful martial arts would probably need two or three years to achieve such progress.

Yet Xavier had accomplished it in less than a day.

In fact, he checked the time and realized something even more astonishing.

"Not even a full day. I’ve only spent about two hours!"

He shook his head in disbelief.

After enjoying his breakthrough, he turned his attention to the other changes in his body.