When he walked out through the heavy gates of the city lord's manor, the warm light of the setting sun fell like silk, instantly sweeping away the oppressive aura that had filled the courtyard.
Mu Rong's steps were slow and unhurried, as calm and composed as ever.
Yet beneath the ancient ring on his finger, partly hidden by his sleeve, a faint and mysterious sensation quietly spread. It carried a secret that no one else knew.
Five stars!
Five complete golden Soul Fragments!
After walking quite a distance, and confirming that no one was watching him, Mu Rong could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart. He stopped in his tracks.
He clenched his fist, his gaze fixed on the Soul Eater ring on his finger.
He hadn't merely gotten a little lucky. It was thanks to the wisdom he had gained from living in another world, and the careful strategizing he'd done against the city lord. He'd trodden on thin ice, danced on the edge of a knife, and finally brought home his first bucket of gold! The thrill of it, the pain and loneliness he'd endured, were things only he himself could truly understand.
With this Soul Fragment ring, at the very least, the resources he would need to reach the second tier of the Soul Blade realm would be abundant.
Even if his daily income was limited, he still held a method of earning money that far surpassed the methods of this era.
Wasn't this just making money?
He secretly reminded himself not to let his guard down. Then, holding back his excitement, he headed toward the most prosperous commercial district in Ju Yuan City.
The Four Seas Trading Company was said to be the largest general store in Ju Yuan City and even the surrounding cities.
Reportedly, it had the support of a major merchant clan. Its shelves were crammed with all manner of goods, and it was practically a gigantic treasure trove.
As soon as Mu Rong stepped inside, a fresh scent of herbs, the coolness of metal, and a thick leathery smell rushed toward him, instantly sharpening his senses.
"Young brother, what can I help you with?"
A shrewd-looking attendant greeted him warmly.
Though Mu Rong looked young, his clothes were neat and well-made, and he carried himself with a dignity beyond his years. The attendant secretly guessed that he came from a wealthy family and didn't dare show him any disrespect.
"I want herbs that can be used for a medicinal bath. The older, the better."
Mu Rong went straight to the point and stated what he wanted.
The attendant's eyes lit up. He knew this was a major sale, and his enthusiasm immediately grew.
He led Mu Rong to a row of neatly arranged herb cabinets and asked earnestly, "May I ask which herbs you'd like? We have some that are ten years old, and some that are over a hundred years old. We have all sorts."
Mu Rong's gaze flashed. He took out a note listing the herbs, then quickly calculated their uses and prices in his mind before choosing.
"Three stalks of century-old Blood-Soothing Grass, two roots of century-old Nether Vine, and a pair of two-hundred-year-old Dragon's Beard Flowers..."
In one breath, he named ten kinds of herbs, each one a precious ingredient used to nourish the body, strengthen the blood, and revitalize the spirit.
These herbs might not seem remarkable on their own, but combined and prepared into a medicinal bath, their potency would be enough to support a Soul Blade practitioner through an intense month of cultivation. They were a powerful aid for anyone training in the Soul Blade arts.
"Of course! Please wait just a moment!"
The attendant quickly packed all the herbs Mu Rong had asked for.
Mu Rong then walked over to the counter where another shop assistant was selling precious Soul Blade materials and asked in a polite tone, "Could you bring out the best Soul Bones you have? I'd like to take a look."
Soul Bones were formed from the essence of giant sea beasts' bones. They were valuable treasures that could strengthen the body and raise one's Soul Blade level. They were highly prized in the Soul Blade world, but even so, thousand-year-old ones were extremely rare.
Soon, the jade case that the attendant had brought over was placed on the counter.
Mu Rong opened it one by one, carefully examining the quality and color of each Soul Bone.
"I'll take this century-old Soul Bone, this thousand-year-old one, and that ten-thousand-year-old one too... I want them all."
After finishing his selection, he also picked out a few rare herbs that could help enhance mental strength, then finally stopped.
"How much altogether?"
Mu Rong asked casually.
The attendant picked up an abacus and clicked away at it, then announced a number:
"Honored customer, the herbs come to five thousand golden Soul Fragments, the Soul Bone materials come to thirteen thousand, so altogether that's eighteen thousand golden Soul Fragments."
"Phew..." Mu Rong had been mentally prepared, but when he heard the number, he still couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.
Wasn't that a little too much? Eighteen thousand golden Soul Fragments!
Keep in mind, these herbs were only ordinary-grade materials. If he'd chosen high-grade herbs that were over three hundred years old, he wouldn't have had enough even with all five thousand golden Soul Fragments.
Despite the sharp ache in his heart, Mu Rong paid without changing his expression. He placed all the goods into his storage ring, then turned and left the Four Seas Trading Company. He couldn't help sighing: cultivation really was the most expensive thing in the world.
When he returned to Ju Yuan Academy, Mu Rong didn't go back to the dormitory first. He headed straight to the teaching office.
The teaching office director had just woken up from a nap. Hearing someone come in, he stretched and yawned before asking, "What is it?"
"Director, I'm here to withdraw from the academy."
Mu Rong answered calmly.
The director froze. He stared at the young man before him, then asked in disbelief, "Aren't you that prodigy who caused a stir the other day, the one with the innate Martial Soul? Why would you withdraw? Academy life may be tough, but you can learn things here you won't find anywhere else."
"There's no need."
Mu Rong calmly took six golden Soul Fragments out of his pocket and placed them on the table.
"I'd like to rent a separate dormitory."
The director's jaw nearly hit the floor. He thought to himself:
Where did this kid get so many golden Soul Fragments? Wasn't he a poor commoner who had awakened a Soul Beast?
Forget it. It wasn't any of his business. Only an idiot would turn down money.
So he quickly pocketed the golden Soul Fragments, then hurriedly arranged the keys for Mu Rong.
Mu Rong took the key to his new dormitory and found Suo Ling, who was tending the flower beds. He said, "It's settled. I've rented a dorm."
Suo Ling was stunned, but she still followed Mu Rong obediently. The two of them carried his belongings together and moved into the seven-star dormitory.
The other students in the dormitory watched him move into the high-class dorm on the other side of the academy. Their eyes widened with envy.
The new dormitory was indeed nothing like the old one. Not only was it clean and spacious, it was also much larger, with over thirty square meters of space. There were two large beds, a sturdy desk, and far more room than the previous place. It was like rising straight from the earth to the heavens.
"Mu Rong... y-you... you really spent ten golden Soul Fragments on this?"
After seeing him open the door, Suo Ling stood in the huge, bright room, swallowed hard, and asked in disbelief.
"Ten thousand? That's not easy to earn."
Mu Rong set down the packages and poured himself a glass of water. He took a sip, then said calmly, "Don't worry. We'll have it by the time we reach five thousand."
"F-five thousand?!"
Before you continue