Chapter 36: Cursed Man? I’ll Make Them Eat Their Words

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Cursed Man? I’ll Make Them Eat Their Words

When Mira had agreed to return to Arcadia Academy, Xavier had expected the school to arrange a modest dormitory for the two of them.

Instead, the academy had given them an entire villa.

That alone told him how seriously the academy was taking Mira now.

It made sense. Someone who had awakened the Frost Phoenix Bloodline was no ordinary student.

Arcadia Academy would naturally be willing to provide exceptional treatment to secure such a talent.

Xavier certainly wasn’t going to complain. He had barely brought anything with him anyway.

A few changes of clothes, some personal belongings, and several miscellaneous items were all he owned.

Once everything was unpacked, he locked the door and left.

Mira had already gone to attend her classes. As for Xavier, he had spent enough of the morning dealing with the chaos surrounding Ethan.

Since he was officially employed by Arcadia Academy, it was time he returned to work.

His destination was the academy’s Resource Department.

He soon arrived at the building. Before he even reached the entrance, he spotted Caleb standing outside. The security team leader had apparently been waiting for him.

The moment Caleb noticed Xavier, his face lit up.

"Xavier!" he called out.

He hurried over and gave Xavier an enthusiastic thumbs up.

"Man, you’ve really done something this time," he said.

Xavier raised an eyebrow.

"What?" he asked.

"You don’t know?" Caleb said, looking at him as though he had just asked the most ridiculous question.

"It’s been barely a few hours, and the entire academy is already talking about what happened this morning," he continued.

He shook his head with admiration.

"Two of Arcadia’s most beautiful women protecting you at the same time. Then one of them turns out to possess the Frost Phoenix Bloodline," he said.

Caleb sighed dramatically.

"I’m telling you, you’re living the kind of life the rest of us can only dream about," he said.

Xavier couldn’t help laughing.

"Caleb, we’ll talk later. I actually came here because I need to exchange some academy points," he said.

That immediately brought the conversation back to business.

Caleb nodded.

"Sure. Tell me what you’re looking for. I’ve worked here long enough to know this place better than most," he said.

That was exactly what Xavier needed.

The Resource Department wasn’t simply a shop where academy members could purchase things.

Every instructor, student, and employee of Arcadia Academy received access to its resources.

Academy points served as the internal currency, allowing authorized members to exchange them for cultivation pills, weapons, martial arts manuals, and other valuable items. Outsiders didn’t have access to the same privileges.

Xavier already had something he could trade. Inside his spatial ring were several pills he had obtained from the Investment System the previous night.

They were rewards generated after he had given Mira the Vitality Pill he had received through his previous investment.

There were ten second-grade pills and eight third-grade pills.

Xavier had initially intended to keep them. There was no reason to expose his wealth unnecessarily. The safest approach was to quietly accumulate resources and improve himself without attracting attention.

But this morning had changed his mind. He wasn’t particularly worried about increasing his cultivation level at the moment.

His bigger problem was combat ability. The only martial technique he currently possessed was the Everlasting Life Force.

That was hardly enough. If Mira hadn’t been beside him when Ethan attacked, things could have turned out very differently.

Xavier didn’t intend to rely on luck a second time. He needed martial techniques. More importantly, he needed techniques that Mira could use.

"Then come with me," Caleb said.

He led Xavier inside. After passing through the main hall, they entered the section where martial arts manuals were stored.

Several long shelves stretched across the room, each packed with neatly arranged manuals.

Caleb immediately pointed toward the highest shelf.

"If you’re looking for the strongest technique available here, that’s it," he said.

Xavier looked up. A single thick manual rested by itself on the top shelf.

"That’s the academy’s fifth-grade martial technique, the Iron Body Art," Caleb said, lowering his voice slightly.

"It’s one of the most valuable techniques in the entire Resource Department," he added.

Xavier walked closer. A description was displayed beneath the sealed manual.

Iron Body Art — Fifth-Grade Martial Technique

When cultivated successfully, it strengthens the bones, muscles, and physical defenses. At its highest level, the practitioner’s body becomes extraordinarily resistant to blades, weapons, and physical attacks.

Exchange Cost: 10,000 Academy Points.

Xavier stared at it for several seconds. Ten thousand points. That was expensive. But the price wasn’t what made him reject it.

The technique simply wasn’t suitable for Mira. He couldn’t imagine his elegant wife turning herself into some muscle-bound warrior.

"No need for that one," he said.

Caleb looked surprised. Xavier had already moved on.

Below the fifth-grade technique were several fourth-grade manuals. Xavier examined them one by one. Then two caught his attention.

The first was a finger technique capable of condensing energy into sharp beams and firing them directly from the fingertips.

At higher levels, the attack could reach targets more than a hundred meters away, and the practitioner could release several energy blades simultaneously.

Spiritual Finger — Fourth-Grade Martial Technique

Exchange Cost: 2,000 Academy Points.

The second technique focused on movement.

It dramatically enhanced agility and speed, and when cultivated to a high level, it could increase the user’s movement speed several times over while leaving behind deceptive afterimages.

Phantom Step — Fourth-Grade Martial Technique

Exchange Cost: 2,000 Academy Points.

Xavier’s eyes brightened.

"These two," he said.

Caleb nodded.

"Good choices," he said.

One provided long-range offensive power. The other improved movement and evasion. Both were perfect for Mira.

And Xavier had another reason for choosing them. The Investment System had already shown him that investing in a martial technique didn’t necessarily mean he would receive another copy of the manual as his return.

Instead, the system could directly grant him mastery of the technique. If that happened again, these two manuals would dramatically increase his own combat ability as well.

"Now I need a sword," he said.

Caleb understood immediately.

"Follow me," he said.

They moved to the weapons section.

Xavier remembered that Mira had previously practiced a sword based martial technique, but the weapon she had once used was still with her family.

Since she would be returning to Arcadia Academy, getting her a proper sword was necessary.

After looking through the available weapons, Xavier settled on a fourth-grade longsword.

It was sleek, balanced, and considerably more refined than an ordinary weapon. The price was another 2,000 academy points.

With the shopping finished, there was only one thing left to do.

Pay.

Caleb accompanied Xavier back downstairs. The exchange counter was quiet until Xavier began taking pills out of his spatial ring.

"One second-grade pill is worth two hundred points," the staff member explained.

"A third-grade pill is worth two thousand," they added.

Xavier nodded. Then he placed ten second-grade pills on the counter. The staff member froze. Caleb stared.

Before either of them could recover, Xavier placed two third-grade pills beside them. The total was enough to cover the martial arts manuals and the sword.

The staff member looked from the pills to Xavier. Even Caleb couldn’t hide his surprise.

Xavier deliberately sighed as though he were making an extremely painful decision.

"These belonged to my parents and grandmother," he said.

He shook his head.

"I’ve kept them for years. But my wife needs better techniques and equipment, so I suppose there’s no point keeping them locked away," he said.

Caleb stared at him for a moment. Then he slowly raised his thumb.

"You really know how to treat your wife," he said.

He patted Xavier’s shoulder.

"No wonder Mira chose you," he added. "I guess those rumors about you killing your wives were just fabricated. You’re a good man, Xavier. When you get the chance, try to clear your name regarding their death.

Xavier forced a smile.

"I would do that," he said.

Only if Caleb knew that he had no idea where to start from regarding that part. Not like he was really interested, what he cared about was getting stronger.

He had come to learn something in his previous world and also in this world.

When you become powerful, people tend not to care about any other thing. So getting stronger it is.

********

By evening, everything had finally settled down.

After eating dinner at the academy cafeteria, Xavier and Mira returned to their new home.

The moment they stepped inside, Xavier handed her the two martial arts manuals and the longsword.

Mira looked at the items. She didn’t ask where he had gotten them.

She had already realized that her husband had secrets he wasn’t willing to explain. And, unlike before, she had stopped pressing him for answers.

Xavier was secretly relieved. He preferred it that way.

Mira accepted the gifts without another question.

Xavier’s expression softened. He had expected the Investment System to react to his actions eventually. He hadn’t expected the reward to arrive so quickly.

The moment Mira accepted the first martial arts manual, the familiar notification appeared in his mind. The system’s mechanical voice rang out.