Chapter 101: Getting Rich Overnight!

Ryan’s expression remained calm, but inwardly, he was considerably more satisfied than he appeared.

He had acquired several treasures that could prove extremely useful in the future, and the total price was acceptable.

Of course, the real value of his purchases lay in their individual properties.

[Burning Blood Art]

[Grade: Ultimate Grade Origin Realm Secret Art.]

[Requirement: Not restricted by Bloodline Type.]

[Effect: By burning half of one’s own essence blood, the user can temporarily increase their strength by up to three minor realms within the same major realm.]

[Limitations: The technique cannot bridge the gap between major realms. Once its effects subside, the user will suffer a decline in cultivation, accompanied by a reduction in Origin Energy and blood vitality.]

Ryan’s eyes lingered on the description for a moment longer than the others.

Burning Blood Art!

The reason he had selected this technique was simple.

He had witnessed Gareth use a similar art before, and the power displayed at that time had left a deep impression on him.

Of course, the technique Gareth had unleashed was clearly of a much higher grade than the one recorded in this Skill Stone. Nevertheless, even this version possessed considerable value.

Burning half one’s essence blood was undeniably a heavy price to pay.

Depending on the user’s condition and the severity of the backlash, the consequences could be unpleasant, and the temporary increase in strength certainly wasn’t something to be used carelessly.

But Ryan understood something that many people tended to overlook.

A trump card wasn’t meant to be used in ordinary circumstances.

It existed for the moments when every other option had failed.

If he ever encountered an enemy so powerful that he couldn’t escape or fight back, what would be the point of preserving his cultivation if he died before he could use it?

Compared with losing his life, a temporary decline in cultivation was a price he could accept.

Moreover, Burning Blood Art wasn’t restricted by Bloodline Type.

That made it especially valuable to Ryan.

He didn’t have to worry about his bloodline being incompatible with the technique. As long as he met its cultivation requirements, he could use it regardless of the direction his future development took.

It was a reliable trump card to keep in reserve.

And considering how unpredictable the world could be, he preferred having one more means of survival rather than regretting its absence when it was already too late.

His attention then shifted to the next two items.

[Wandering Body Eight Trigram Palm]

Grade: Spirit Rank Low Grade Combat Skill.

Requirement: Enhancement Type Bloodline.

Effect: A powerful close-combat palm technique derived from the ancient Eight Trigrams Diagram. It emphasizes continuous transformations, fluid combinations, and the accumulation of momentum through successive attacks.

[Wandering Body Footwork]

Grade: Spirit Rank Low Grade Movement Technique.

Requirement: Enhancement Type Bloodline.

Effect: A movement technique derived from the same ancient Eight Trigrams principles. It focuses on shifting steps, changing angles, evading attacks, and maintaining fluid movement during close combat.

Both techniques demanded considerable physical ability.

Their greatest strength, however, lay in how naturally they complemented one another.

The Eight Trigram Palm focused on offense, allowing its user to launch successive attacks that became increasingly difficult to predict. The accompanying footwork enabled the user to shift positions, evade incoming strikes, and exploit openings while maintaining constant pressure on the opponent.

Together, they formed a remarkably effective close-combat system.

One technique strengthened the user’s attacks, while the other ensured that the user could maneuver into favorable positions to unleash them.

When mastered together, their combined effectiveness could approach that of a Spirit Rank Middle Grade combat skill.

Naturally, this didn’t mean their individual grades would change. Their advantage came from the synergy between them, which allowed a skilled practitioner to accomplish far more than either technique could achieve alone.

Ryan was particularly pleased with this combination.

His physical strength was already considerable, and he intended to develop it further.

Acquiring techniques that complemented his physical abilities was far more sensible than collecting impressive-looking skills he might never use.

Furthermore, these were only their current versions.

With the right opportunities and sufficient resources, he could potentially refine them in the future, improve their underlying principles, or develop more advanced applications based on their foundations.

Even if he couldn’t immediately bring out their full potential, they would remain valuable additions to his arsenal.

Ryan had no intention of letting them slip away.

The fourth Skill Stone, however, was a different matter.

[Thunder Impact]

Grade: Spirit Rank Low Grade Combat Skill.

Requirement: Transformation Type Bloodline with Thunder Attribute.

Effect: The user envelops their body in lightning and launches a ferocious charge toward the enemy. By concentrating the force of the movement through the shoulders and elbows, the user delivers a thunderous impact capable of knocking down opponents caught along the attack’s path.

This was a specialized combat skill.

Unlike Burning Blood Art, it wasn’t something just anyone could learn. It required both a Transformation Type Bloodline and a Thunder Attribute, making it unsuitable for Ryan’s current circumstances.

Initially, he hadn’t intended to purchase it.

There was little point in acquiring a skill he couldn’t use immediately.

However, as he examined the inventory more carefully, he realized that this was the only Thunder Attribute combat skill Silent Lowell had available.

That changed his calculations.

Thunder Attribute combat skills were relatively rare, and suitable Skill Stones weren’t something one could easily purchase whenever the need arose.

Ryan also remembered the Beast Core he had previously encountered, the one that emitted bright red lightning arcs.

He couldn’t be certain what opportunities that discovery might lead to, but it had given him a reason to consider the possibility of developing an affinity for Thunder Attribute techniques in the future.

If he eventually found a way to use Thunder Impact, he would already have the necessary Skill Stone.

If he couldn’t, he could always trade it away later.

It was a calculated investment rather than an impulsive purchase.

As for the Ice Soul Pills and Earth-Leaving Pills, Ryan had a similarly practical reason for acquiring them.

Both were Tier 3 Medium Grade elixirs.

Although he didn’t currently have an immediate use for either, he had learned from experience that useful resources shouldn’t always be judged solely by their immediate benefits.

Opportunities could emerge unexpectedly, and having suitable elixirs on hand could save him considerable trouble later.

Besides, the price was reasonable.

The three principal Skill Stones had a combined conventional value of approximately 90,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones, while the remaining items accounted for roughly another 10,000.

A total of 100,000 was a fair deal.

Ryan had no reason to hesitate.

"Alright, no problem."

Silent Lowell agreed without further negotiation.

He had just spent 1.8 million Low-Grade Origin Stones on the Black Flame Leopard. Compared with that staggering expenditure, the additional 100,000 required to acquire the beast’s owner-side treasures was hardly worth arguing over.

Besides, the transaction had benefits for both parties.

Ryan would obtain the items he needed, while Silent Lowell would finally secure the Black Flame Leopard he had been pursuing.

There was no reason to complicate matters unnecessarily.

Silent Lowell immediately turned toward Elena.

"Miss Elena, here’s the commission."

He took out 180,000 Low-Grade Origin Stones and handed them over.

That was the ten-percent commission on the 1.8 million Origin Stones he had bid for the Black Flame Leopard.

Elena accepted the payment and confirmed the amount before setting it aside.

With that matter settled, Silent Lowell proceeded with the exchange.

He retrieved 1.52 million Low-Grade Origin Stones from his spatial ring, along with the four Skill Stones and the two elixirs Ryan had selected.

The Origin Stones were neatly arranged in several storage containers, each holding a clearly counted quantity.

Ryan inspected the payment and the accompanying treasures before accepting them.

He wasn’t about to become careless simply because the transaction had gone smoothly.

After confirming that everything was in order, he transferred the Origin Stones and treasures into his spatial ring.

Only then did he feel the tension in his heart ease.

Everything had gone according to plan.

He had converted a beast he couldn’t currently make full use of into a substantial fortune and several valuable resources that could directly contribute to his future development.

It was difficult not to feel pleased.

Once he had finished storing his new acquisitions, Ryan reached into his own spatial ring and retrieved the beast pouch containing the Tier 3 Black Flame Leopard.

He held it out toward Silent Lowell.

"Here you go. The Tier 3 Black Flame Leopard."

Silent Lowell’s attention immediately locked onto the pouch.

Even through its restraints, he could sense the faint aura of the beast contained within.

For a moment, he seemed to forget about everything else.

He carefully accepted the pouch with both hands, his movements far more cautious than they had been when handling the Origin Stones.

After all, the pouch contained the very treasure he had just spent an enormous fortune to acquire.

A Tier 3 Black Flame Leopard!

A genuine prize that could potentially become a powerful Natal Beast and provide him with a significant advantage in future battles.

The moment the exchange was completed, Ryan finally allowed himself to savor the feeling of success.

Sold!

He had actually sold it!

And not for a mere handful of Origin Stones, either.

More than 1.5 million Low-Grade Origin Stones, together with several rare Skill Stones and useful elixirs, had now entered his possession.

The thought alone was exhilarating.

Of course, he understood that the transaction had been unusually favorable.

The Black Flame Leopard was a Tier 3 beast with considerable value, and Silent Lowell had been willing to pay a premium because of his personal desire to acquire it.

Had Ryan tried to sell it under ordinary circumstances, he might not have received such a generous offer.

But that was precisely why he was pleased with the outcome.

He hadn’t merely found a buyer.

He had found someone whose determination to acquire the beast was strong enough to drive the bidding far beyond its usual market price.

And Ryan had made the most of the opportunity.

He glanced at the Origin Stones inside his spatial ring, then at the newly acquired Skill Stones.

His resources had increased dramatically in a single transaction.

More importantly, much of that wealth could now be put to productive use.

The Burning Blood Art would provide him with an emergency trump card. The Eight Trigram Palm and Wandering Body Footwork would help strengthen his close-combat capabilities, while Thunder Impact might become useful if his future development allowed him to learn it.

Even the elixirs could prove valuable later.

Every item had a potential purpose.

Ryan had exchanged a beast he couldn’t currently utilize for resources that offered him considerably more flexibility.

That was an excellent trade.

After all, in Ashfall City, acquiring high-quality treasures wasn’t simply a matter of having enough Origin Stones.

Items above Spirit Rank, along with elixirs exceeding Tier 3, were largely controlled by the major powers. Ordinary Bloodline Fighters often struggled to obtain such resources, even when they possessed sufficient wealth.

Unless they were fortunate enough to encounter a suitable opportunity, their only alternative might be to visit an auction house and compete against other wealthy buyers.

And as this auction had demonstrated, the final price could easily soar far beyond the original valuation.

Some treasures weren’t difficult to purchase because they were unaffordable.

They were difficult to purchase because the people who possessed them had little reason to sell.

That was why opportunities like this mattered so much.

Ryan had obtained several valuable Skill Stones in a single transaction, while Silent Lowell had secured the Black Flame Leopard he wanted.

Both parties had gained something important.

However, if anyone had benefited disproportionately from the circumstances, it was arguably Ryan.

He had taken an asset that was temporarily of limited use to him and turned it into a fortune capable of supporting his next steps.

No wonder a famous saying had circulated in Ashfall City for years.

"Capture a Black Flame Leopard in the morning, get drunk at Velvet Garden at night!"

The saying wasn’t entirely literal, of course. It was a colorful way of describing the extraordinary wealth that capturing and selling a valuable Black Flame Leopard could bring.

But at that moment, Ryan finally understood why people said it.

Getting rich overnight?

This was exactly what it meant!

And as he quietly examined the fortune he had just acquired, a thought emerged in his mind.

If a single Black Flame Leopard could bring him such an enormous return, then perhaps his next priority shouldn’t be spending all his time searching for ordinary treasures.

Perhaps he should start paying closer attention to the opportunities hidden in the things other people overlooked.

After all, in a world where wealth, strength, and opportunity were so closely connected, knowing what to sell could be just as important as knowing what to acquire.