Imperial Scepter

As the sun gradually sank behind the western mountains, the last rays of its afterglow disappeared below the horizon.

As night fell, lights began to twinkle in the village.

The mystics who were supposed to return to the village had all come back, and the crowd in front of the stalls gradually dispersed.

Gao Chun looked at the remaining mysterious objects on the ground and estimated that about one-third remained.

The fire-attribute mystic items in his storage bag were more than enough to support his breakthrough to the second star of the Bronze Realm, and there was even a little left over.

Thinking that he would soon break through the bottleneck and advance to the second-star bronze realm, he realized that he would soon be able to do so.

Gao Chun felt as if a small flame was burning in his heart, warm and exciting.

He was happily tidying up his stall, sorting the remaining mysterious items into storage bags.

A familiar and friendly voice suddenly came from behind: "Hey, setting up a stall here?"

Gao Chun's body suddenly froze, and then he quickly turned around.

Upon seeing the person approaching, his eyes instantly lit up like two stars, and his smile widened even further: "Dad! You're finally back!"

The person who arrived was Gao Changhe.

Her tall and straight figure was outlined in a light blue outfit, and her eyes were as deep as the night sky, but they softened instantly when she saw her son.

Gao Changhe smiled and stepped forward, reaching out his large hand to gently pat Gao Chun's head.

The praise in his eyes was almost overflowing, so thick it was almost palpable.

This child certainly didn't disappoint him!

Before leaving the village, he deliberately did not leave Gao Chun any fire-attribute mystical items.

I just wanted to test my son to see what he would do in a situation where cultivation resources were running low.

Is it because they rely on their relatives, crying and begging their older sister and brother-in-law for money?

Or is he using his position as the young village chief to force people to buy and sell things at the grocery store? Or is he demanding money from the villagers?

Or is it self-pity and stagnation?

He had considered countless possibilities, but he never expected that Gao Chun would choose such a safe and strategic path.

Bartering avoids owing favors and taking advantage of others.

This not only made use of his own idle mystical items, but also met the needs of other mystics in the village.

This achieves two goals at once, making everyone happy.

To his even greater surprise, Gao Chun not only came up with this idea, but also considered every single detail meticulously.

They chose the village entrance at dusk, precisely timing their return to the village by the time the adult cultivators would arrive.

They capitalized on their desire to replenish resources: they categorized and arranged the mysterious items, labeling their grade and purity to make the transactions clear at a glance.

The transaction process is fair and impartial.

They gained both the mysterious treasure and the hearts of the people.

He's only nine years old...

Gao Changhe was filled with mixed emotions.

Children of this age are mostly still being pampered by their parents, with simple minds and naivety.

But his son was not only exceptionally talented, but also gave birth to an unprecedented five-colored Dao seed.

They can also remain calm when cultivation resources are running low, and solve the predicament with their own wisdom and hard work.

He possesses a calm and adaptable mind in the face of adversity, a self-reliant and honest character, an emotional intelligence that is considerate of others and knows how to maintain appropriate boundaries, and a strategic mind that allows him to plan precisely and seize opportunities…

This is no ordinary child; he is clearly a born master, a natural leader!

Gao Changhe recalled the last time he secretly returned and used his divine sense to see his son engrossed in cultivation.

Whether it was a scorching afternoon or a starry night, this child persevered without ever slacking off.

At that time, he was already filled with joy, feeling that his son would surely achieve great things in the future.

Now, we see that Gao Chun not only perseveres in his studies but also uses his intelligence for good.

By resolving the resource shortage through fair trade, they even subtly won over the village's mystics.

This established the image of the young village chief as reliable and fair, and this sense of satisfaction transformed into a profound sense of pride that surged within him.

"Not bad, knowing how to earn a living, that's what a Xuanzhe should be like." Gao Changhe's voice was filled with undisguised laughter and pride.

He gently patted Gao Chun's shoulder with his palm; the force was light, but full of encouragement and recognition.

"Remaining calm in the face of adversity, using your brain, and upholding justice are more important than acquiring more mystical items."

"The path of the Xuanzhe not only requires profound cultivation, but also upright character and mature mind. You did very well today, much better than your father did back then."

He paused, his gaze falling on Gao Chun's bulging storage bag, and added.

"Your ability to exchange idle, rare items for what you need shows you are adaptable; your ability to choose the right time and place shows you are observant; your ability to trade fairly and honestly shows you are committed to staying true to yourself."

"These qualities are more precious than any high-level mystical artifact, and will become your most powerful asset in the future."

Gao Changhe smiled broadly, his eyes brimming with approval.

"Dad, I've exchanged a lot of fire-attribute mystic items, enough to break through to the second-star Bronze Realm!"

Gao Chun excitedly grabbed his father's hand and said with a proud tone, his childish voice full of joy.

"Good! Good!" Gao Changhe smiled, his eyes crinkling with fine lines. He reached out and affectionately patted his son's head, his voice full of satisfaction.

"Pack your things, let's go home, we can talk on the way."

Gao Chun nodded vigorously, a joyful smile on his face, and quickly gathered the remaining mysterious objects and cardboard neatly.

He carefully folded the slightly worn signboard, neatly tucked it into the storage bag at his waist, and then held his father's hand tightly.

My steps were so light I almost jumped as I walked along the country lanes into the village.

"Dad, you've been gone for so long, where did you go?" Gao Chun looked up at him with curious eyes.

"Where else can we go? Naturally, we'll go to the Southern Wilderness Forest to find cultivation resources."

Gao Changhe's voice was gentle and steady, with a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

"For us cultivators, the most indispensable thing is resources."

"Your father has neither the miraculous little green bottle from the storybooks, nor a spatial magic treasure for growing mystical herbs, nor a treasure basin that can replicate mystical objects..."

"I don't have any special skills. I can't refine pills or craft weapons, nor do I know how to make talismans or set up formations. I can only go to those dangerous places to hunt mythical beasts and seek opportunities."

"Wow! The Southern Wilderness Forest?" Gao Chun's eyes lit up suddenly, but then a hint of worry appeared on his face.

"I heard from the village elders who are also spiritual practitioners that that place is extremely dangerous, isn't it?"

"It was indeed dangerous." Gao Changhe nodded, his tone becoming more serious as he patiently explained.

"Not only are there ferocious mythical beasts roaming in the Southern Wilderness Forest, but there are also three dangerous places, each harboring hidden dangers."

He paused, then said slowly, "The first place is the Absorbing Profound Land, which will continuously absorb the profound energy within the sea of ​​qi of a profound practitioner. However, among the three great perilous places, this is the mildest one."

"What about the other two places?" Gao Chun listened intently, and subconsciously tightened his grip on his father's hand.

"The second place is the Black Mist Land, where large swaths of black mist often emerge without warning." Gao Changhe lowered his voice.

"Those mists can erode the physical body and drain one's vital energy. Once trapped, one can easily damage one's very foundation if one is not careful."

"The most dangerous place is the Void Rift, which is full of shattered spatial rifts. Once you step into it, no one knows where you will be teleported to."

It might be a blessed land hiding supreme treasures, or it might be a hopeless abyss of no return; countless cultivators have disappeared there over the years.

Gao Chun listened with great interest, his eyes wide open, marveling at the strangeness of the Southern Wilderness Forest while also feeling worried for his father.

He quickly looked his father up and down, and seeing that although his father's clothes were a bit dusty, his figure was upright and he was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, returned to its place.

The father and son walked side by side, talking incessantly, the dust and longing of the journey dissipating in their rambling conversation.

Before long, the familiar outline of the village came into view, and my own courtyard house was almost in front of me.

Neither father nor son were in the mood to cook, and they turned around and headed straight for Gao Chun's sister Gao Xuemei's house.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by the aroma of food filling the room.

My little niece, Yao Yao, was like a cheerful little sparrow, chirping and frolicking around Gao Chun.

My nephew Gao Chengzhi was still eating while reading a storybook, a true storybook fanatic.

The family sat around the table, clinking glasses and chatting happily, enjoying a warm and cozy dinner.

The laughter and cheerful conversation at the banquet dispelled the chill of the night and soothed Gao Changhe's fatigue from his journey.

After dinner, Gao Chun and his father thanked his sister's family and set off side by side on their way back to their own courtyard.

As night deepened, the sky was dotted with stars, and the bright moonlight shone on the country road, casting long, thin shadows of the father and son.