Of course, he couldn't reveal the sealed Golden Dragon King. He couldn't mention Grandpa Mel. Those were secrets he would carry to the grave. But Alfred would be his teacher for years to come. It was impossible to hide everything forever.

And more importantly—

Without Alfred's support, he would never be able to afford the Dragonscale Fruit.

Alfred fell silent, his eyes deep in thought.

To sense what one's body required instinctively?

Such an ability had never been recorded.

A few years ago, he would have dismissed it as nonsense. But after Lily's six-element control… after witnessing Ray's abnormal physique…

Central Academy's motto surfaced unbidden in his mind.

"Central only accepts monsters, not ordinary people."

Perhaps his students truly were monsters.

"Fine," Alfred said at last. "I'll help you buy it. What else do you need?"

Ray scanned the catalog again, then shook his head. "Nothing else here."

He forced an awkward smile. "The remaining three items are a thousand-year Azure-veined Vine, a thousand-year-old Land Dragon Tendon, and a thousand-year Sea Dragon Marrow."

Alfred raised an eyebrow. "How will these benefit you? Will your body transform again? Is there danger?"

Ray's heart tightened.

He didn't know the answer himself.

The pain of the first seal had nearly killed him. If Alfred knew the truth, he would never allow it.

So Ray spoke carefully.

"My physique will improve, and my bloodline will continue to evolve. I'm certain the change will be beneficial… but I don't know the extent."

It was truth wrapped in omission.

Alfred nodded slowly.

"Sea Dragons were deep-sea soul beasts," he said. "They've long vanished from the continent. Their marrow is used to strengthen mana and blood, consolidate foundations, and has no side effects. Because of that, it's incredibly rare and highly sought after."

He glanced at Ray. "Fortunately, West Ocean City is one of the continent's largest coastal cities. If it exists anywhere, it may be found there."

"As for the thousand-year Azure-veined Vine," he continued, "it's a plant-type soul beast once abundant in the Forest of LamosForest. The forest is in decline now, but if it still exists, Central City would be your best bet."

"The thousand-year-old Land Dragon Tendon," Alfred concluded, "is the easiest of the three to obtain—relatively speaking. Large cities may have it, but it will be expensive. Like Sea Dragon Marrow, it strengthens the body without side effects. That makes it priceless."

Ray exhaled slowly.

He had time.

And now, for the first time, he had a path.

At Alfred's words, Ray's heart blossomed with joy.

With Teacher by his side, he no longer felt anxious about the items needed to break the second seal. What once seemed impossibly distant now felt achievable.

"Thank you, Teacher," Ray said sincerely. "I'll work hard and earn enough money to buy them myself in the future."

Hope shone brightly in his eyes.

According to the timeline Grandpa Mel had given him, he still had five full years before he needed to break the second seal. And even after that, the third seal wouldn't trouble him until he turned twenty. He was only ten now. Ten years was more than enough time for opportunities to emerge.

Alfred merely nodded, offering no further comment.

In truth, he could easily help Ray gather those materials. With his status and connections, the difficulty would be greatly reduced. But he had no intention of doing so.

Only what one obtained through their own effort would truly be cherished.

Cultivation was not merely about strength. It was about character. Ray had already proven his talent by becoming a third-rank blacksmith at such a young age. The items he needed were expensive, yes, but not unattainable. Time and effort would be enough.

Letting him walk this path himself would be far more beneficial.

"Honored guests," a gentle and melodious female voice echoed through the hall, "the auction will now officially begin."

The lights dimmed as spotlights illuminated the stage. A graceful woman in a dark red gown stepped forward and bowed slightly to the audience.

At the same time, several staff members took their positions throughout the hall, each responsible for relaying bids from their assigned sections.

Without wasting a word, the auctioneer moved behind a gilded wooden table.

"Our first item," she announced with a smile, "is a rare spirit fruit—Frozen Grass."

A cart rolled onto the stage as the screen behind her lit up.

"As everyone knows, Frozen Grass is a top-tier ice-attribute spirit fruit. It is of immense benefit to ice-attribute Soul Masters. We spared no expense to obtain this thousand-year specimen, and I can confidently say that this is the finest spirit fruit featured in today's auction."

The red cloth was lifted.

A jade-white box sat atop the cart, icy mist spilling gently from within. Inside, a light-blue blade of grass swayed softly, crystalline and pure, surrounded by a faint halo as if carved from frozen gemstones.

So beautiful…

That was Ray's first thought.

Alfred spoke calmly beside him. "She isn't exaggerating. Frozen Grass is indeed one of the best spirit grasses for ice-attribute Soul Masters."

Ray hesitated, then asked quietly, "Teacher… would it be useful to you?"

Alfred shook his head. "Not this one. It's too young."

He continued, "When Frozen Grass reaches a certain age, each leaf forms a point. Every point represents fifteen thousand years. Do you remember the Spirit Ice Sovereign you saw in the Immortal Guild hall?"

"Orion Starlight?" Ray asked.

Alfred nodded. "One of his spirit souls was an Eight-Point Frozen Grass. A hundred-thousand-year plant-type soul beast with its own consciousness. That alone tells you how powerful it was."

Ray finally understood.

Compared to that… this one really was ordinary.

"The starting price is one million federal coins," the auctioneer announced. "Each bid must increase by at least one hundred thousand. Bidding begins!"

The response was immediate.

Signs shot up across the hall as bids rang out one after another. This was exactly what the auction house wanted. The first item always set the tone, stirring excitement and loosening purses.

The price climbed rapidly.

Three million.

Four million.

Five million.

For Soul Masters with two or three rings, this was an irresistible treasure. It could raise their soul power by two ranks and enhance their martial soul's foundation. The temptation was overwhelming.

Once the price crossed five million, the ground floor fell silent. Only the private rooms on the second floor remained.

"Five million!" a voice called out.

The Frozen Grass shimmered faintly, its blue glow pulsing gently.

"Six million."

"Six point five million!"

"Seven million!"

The auctioneer's smile widened. Seven million had already exceeded the true market value. This Frozen Grass had only one point. If it had two, the price would have soared far higher.

"Seven point five million!"

Ray activated his Purple Demon Eyes. Through the dimness of the private rooms, he saw the bidder in the fourth box clenched with frustration, teeth grinding.

"Eight million!" a voice barked from the sixth box.

The fourth box fell silent.

"Nine million!" came a sudden bid from the eighth box, stunning the hall.

"Ten million!" the sixth box responded decisively.

Silence.

No one dared challenge it further.

"Ten million, going once… going twice… sold!"

The hammer fell.

The thousand-year Frozen Grass sold for a staggering ten million federal coins.

Ray's expression stiffened.

So expensive…

If a single thousand-year spirit grass could sell for this much, what about the Dragonscale Fruit? What if all four items he needed cost this much?

Even with all his effort, would he truly have enough by fifteen?

Alfred leaned closer and spoke softly. "Don't overthink it. Frozen Grass is special. They likely intend to continue nurturing it. This price is abnormal."

Ray turned to look at him.

Alfred sat straight-backed, his expression as calm and distant as ever.

Yet for some reason, Ray felt warm.

As the auction continued, other thousand-year spirit fruits appeared. Their prices were high, but nowhere near as outrageous.

Finally—

"Next," the auctioneer announced, "our fourth item: a thousand-year Dragonscale Fruit."

Ray's heart leapt.

"Dragons are the most powerful soul beasts in legend," the auctioneer continued. "The Dragonscale Fruit grows only in soil soaked with dragon blood. Whether the legend is true or not, what we know is this—without dragon blood, it cannot grow."

"Based on our appraisal, this fruit has absorbed the blood of an exceptionally powerful dragon-type soul beast, making it far more potent than ordinary specimens."

Ray clenched his fists.

This one… he had to get it.

"Dragons are the most powerful soul beasts in legend," the auctioneer continued. "The Dragonscale Fruit grows only in soil soaked with dragon blood. Whether the legend is true or not, what we know is this—without dragon blood, it cannot grow."

"Based on our appraisal, this fruit has absorbed the blood of an exceptionally powerful dragon-type soul beast, making it far more potent than ordinary specimens."

Ray clenched his fists.

This one… he had to get it.

Ray clenched his fists.

This one… he had to get it.

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