Resources!

Zhu Ziyang and Zhu Changhe returned to Anyang City from Dragon City.

Not long after the father and son arrived home, they received a visitor.

"Brother Hong! What brings you here?" Zhu Changhe asked in great surprise.

"What? I'm not allowed to come?" Hong Zhen said with a smile.

"No, that's not what I meant." Zhu Changhe hurriedly waved his hands in denial.

"Hello, Uncle Hong." Zhu Ziyang also greeted Hong Zhen.

"Ah! Good!" The moment Hong Zhen saw Zhu Ziyang, his face broke into a delighted grin. He stepped forward, excitedly patted Zhu Ziyang on the shoulder, and said, "Xiaoyang, you're a Soul Grandmaster now?"

At that, both Zhu Changhe and Zhu Ziyang understood why Hong Zhen had come.

"That's right!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, answering with pride on his delicate little face.

"This is truly..." Hong Zhen could not help sighing. His rugged face was filled with astonishment and excitement as he said, "This is truly wonderful! Xiaoyang is only eight years old, yet he's already reached the Soul Grandmaster level. I'm afraid he's one of a kind in all of Zhenbei Province!"

"That's right!" Hearing Hong Zhen praise his son, Zhu Changhe looked immensely proud as well, his face full of smiles.

"Brother Changhe, Ziyang is now the greatest hope of our Anyang City. You mustn't let him suffer any hardship!" Hong Zhen said solemnly to Zhu Changhe.

"Brother Hong, listen to yourself. Ziyang is Xiaoying's and my only son. How could we possibly let him suffer?" Zhu Changhe said helplessly.

"Haha, I mean you should prepare more soul beast meat and medicinal herbs. Xiaoyang is at the best stage for cultivation right now, so his resources mustn't fall behind!" Hong Zhen said with a laugh.

"Of course!" Zhu Changhe said, though a bitter smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Even if you hadn't said so, Brother Hong, that's what we've been doing. But some medicinal herbs and resources simply aren't things my wife and I can buy."

For Soul Masters, innate talent was the foundation, while cultivation resources were more like icing on the cake. As the most basic cultivation resources, soul beast meat and medicinal herbs were indispensable to a Soul Master's growth.

Soul beast meat contained abundant energy and had many uses. Any Soul Master Clan with even a little wealth would have its younger members consume it.

Although Zhu Ziyang's family was a commoner Soul Master family, after several generations of savings, they had accumulated a modest fortune. Thus, their meals included soul beast meat every day or two.

The same was true of medicinal herbs, except they were more precious and scarce.

The soul beast meat and medicinal herbs available on the market were all the most ordinary varieties, offering limited help to Soul Masters.

The soul beast meat and medicinal herbs truly beneficial to a Soul Master's growth were monopolized by the Empire and the great clans. Without an imperial title or clan status, one could only purchase these so-called exclusive resources after reaching the Soul King level.

That was why Zhu Changhe wore such a helpless, bitter smile.

As an Imperial Baron, Hong Zhen naturally understood this. Seeing Zhu Changhe's bitter smile, he laughed and said, "That's why I came looking for you!"

Hong Zhen's words left both Zhu Changhe and Zhu Ziyang somewhat stunned. Yet Hong Zhen paid no mind to the father and son's dazed expressions, calmly taking five or six bundles from the Soul Guidance Ring on his hand.

"Take a look!" Hong Zhen said to the father and son, his voice filled with excitement and pride.

"What are these?" Zhu Changhe asked, looking doubtfully at the bundles Hong Zhen had taken out.

Zhu Ziyang was more direct. He stepped forward and opened all six bundles one by one, revealing five different kinds of fresh meat and bones, along with a bundle of dried purple flowers and herbs.

"This is... Crimson Ox Tendon?!" Zhu Ziyang recognized one of the soul beast meats and immediately cried out in surprise.

"What?" Zhu Changhe was instantly startled and looked toward Hong Zhen. He understood Hong Zhen's intentions. Though deeply moved, he could not help feeling conflicted. "Brother Hong, isn't this inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? I'm not doing this because Ziyang is my nephew, but because he's the person from Anyang City with the greatest hope of getting into Shrek Academy!" Hong Zhen waved his hand, his attitude firm.

"Thank you!" Hearing this, Zhu Changhe no longer refused and spoke sincerely.

"Haha! Come, let's look at this soul beast meat and these medicinal herbs." Hong Zhen laughed, pointing at the resources before them as he introduced them one by one. "Fifteen jin of Century Crimson Ox Tendon. Fifteen jin of Century Deep Sea Cod. Fifteen jin of Century Demonic Armored Scaled Crocodile Meat. Fifteen jin of Century Golden-winged Sparrow. Five jin of Millennium Heavy Armored Dragon Rhinoceros Meat. And this—fifteen jin of Century Bone Forging Flower."

As Hong Zhen introduced them, Zhu Ziyang quickly recalled the information about each soul beast he mentioned.

The Crimson Ox was a soul beast whose aggression had been domesticated. Its flesh greatly benefited a Soul Master's sinews and bones, especially its tendon, which was the most effective.

The Deep Sea Cod was a deep-sea soul beast. It was expensive, its meat was delicious, and it contained a large amount of Soul Power. Eating it could increase one's Soul Power.

The Demonic Armored Scaled Crocodile was an amphibious soul beast of immense strength. Its flesh could improve a Soul Master's physique.

The Golden-winged Sparrow was a small predatory bird-type soul beast with extremely fast flight speed. Its flesh could nourish the spleen and lungs.

The Heavy Armored Dragon Rhinoceros was a dragon-type soul beast with dragon bloodline. Its defense was exceptionally powerful, and its Life Force was remarkably tenacious. Its flesh could bolster one's vitality and blood, strengthening the physique.

Lastly was the Bone Forging Flower. As its name suggested, it could improve a Soul Master's physique.

The five kinds of soul beast meat and one medicinal herb Hong Zhen had brought were all exclusive resources. They were not available on the regular market and might only appear on the black market. As an Imperial Baron, Hong Zhen naturally had no need to buy them there.

"What do you think? These were all allocated from Dragon City. They were originally meant to be sent to Anyang Academy, but then I thought that rather than giving them to those kids at the academy, it would be better to give them to Xiaoyang. After all, Xiaoyang's talent speaks for itself," Hong Zhen said. "There'll be more every month from now on, so don't worry, Brother Changhe."

"This... Thank you so much, Brother Hong!" Zhu Changhe could not refuse, because with these resources, Zhu Ziyang's growth would undoubtedly become even faster.

"Ah! What are friends for?" Hong Zhen waved his hand dismissively. "No need to be polite."

After sitting for a while, Hong Zhen rose to leave. Zhu Changhe got up to see him off, and the two walked out together.

Looking at the resources before him, Zhu Ziyang could not help smiling. Among them, the most valuable was likely the Millennium Heavy Armored Dragon Rhinoceros Meat. Not only did it possess dragon bloodline, it could also strengthen the physique and replenish vitality and blood—exactly what Zhu Ziyang needed.

Hong Zhen had truly helped them immensely!

That evening.

Liang Ying stewed Demonic Armored Scaled Crocodile Meat and Deep Sea Cod.

The family sat around the dining table, chatting as they ate.

"Mom, are you a disciple of the Earth Dragon Sect?" Zhu Ziyang asked, remembering that Uncle Liang Yu from Dragon City.

"Huh?" Liang Ying froze, and her movements stopped as she looked at Zhu Ziyang. "Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"We met Liang Yu in Dragon City," Zhu Changhe said quietly.

"Oh!" Liang Ying suddenly understood. "Mom isn't from the Earth Dragon Sect. Your grandfather used to be, but he left later."

"This..." Zhu Ziyang froze and did not ask any further questions.

Clearly, there was a story behind this.

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