One step, two steps, it wasn’t until Howard almost left the hall that the stall owner finally believed Howard’s words.
If he was really looking for a bargain, he wouldn’t be so resolute in leaving!
With this thought, the stall owner couldn’t help but crack a smile, shouting, “Brother, come back! Give me a Legendary-grade equipment, and both the Crimson Seal and the Dragonheart Stone are yours.”
Hearing this, Howard couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, but he knew that he couldn’t let his guard down until the Dragonheart Stone was in his hands.
Therefore, instead of turning around and going back immediately, Howard paused, stood his ground, and scoffed, “You better not be playing tricks on me. My time is precious, and I don’t have the time to argue with you.”
Seeing that Howard was not in a hurry even after he had agreed, the stall owner fully believed him and chuckled bitterly, “So young, yet so experienced. Alright then, the Dragonheart Stone really hasn’t shown any special uses, apart from being a bit sturdy and looking nice. Since you want it, consider it a bonus.”
“You don’t have to make it sound so pitiful,” Howard approached the stall owner and said calmly, “You didn’t even dare to share the properties of the Crimson Seal. It’s highly likely that it’s not worth the price of a Legendary-grade equipment, even with the addition of the Dragonheart Stone, you’re still making a profit.”
“Besides, it’s only because I, as a magus, need the Crimson Seal, that I’m giving you this chance to make money.”
Hearing this, the stall owner gave a sheepish laugh and said no more.
He wasn’t foolish; he knew that if he angered Howard at this point and caused the deal to fall through, he would be the one at a loss!
Just as Howard had said, the Crimson Seal alone was simply not worth the money.
Since he was making a profit, taking a few hits to his pride was something he could endure.
In fact, the stall owner wasn’t worried about Howard trying to find a hidden gem.
Because the Dragonheart Stone had been scrutinized by many powerful individuals before, and not a single one of them was able to discover its special effects!
Seeing how young Howard was, the stall owner firmly believed that he lacked the capability to unlock the mysteries of the Dragonheart Stone.
Thus, with fake smiles hiding their true thoughts, Howard and the stall owner completed the transaction.
After giving away a redundant Legendary-grade equipment that he had previously fused, Howard got his hands on the Dragonheart Stone and the Crimson Seal, which made his breathing hasten.
However, he managed to maintain a calm demeanor as he strode out of the hall and disappeared into the night amidst the teasing laughter of the woman.
When Howard finally returned to the inn, Abby, who had just been worn out earlier, was still sound asleep.
Howard gently touched her cheek, and then immediately opened his Storage Bag, eagerly checking the properties of the Dragonheart Stone and the Crimson Seal.
[Dragonheart Stone]
???
As expected, something that was put up for sale at a stall and deemed expendable was practically worthless just by looking at its properties.
The three large question marks seemed to be telling Howard that this item was utterly useless.
However, as Howard looked at the Dragonheart Stone, he couldn’t shake off the premonition that it had a significant purpose.
Taking a deep breath, Howard decided not to place the Dragonheart Stone back into his Storage Bag, but instead, he placed it close to his heart.
Such an item with unknown effects would be a waste if left in the Storage Bag.
It would be better to carry it on his person; that way, if he ever encountered something special that could trigger its effects, it would be a pleasant surprise!
[Crimson Seal]
[Level: 20]
[Grade: Diamond]
[Equipment Attribute Bonuses:]
1.HP+1000
2.Upon defeating a target, there is a 10% chance to summon the target’s soul to fight on your behalf. The soul possesses 50% of its attributes from when it was alive. A maximum of two souls can exist at the same time, with each soul able to last up to 300 seconds, or until death.
“Just a 1000 HP boost for the base attributes, and there’s only one special effect?”
“No wonder he was willing to throw in the Dragonheart Stone; turns out the Crimson Seal’s effects are that mediocre!”
Howard couldn’t help but chuckle, guessing that the stall owner was probably quite pleased at the moment, thinking he had made a killing.
Little did he know, Howard didn’t care about the attributes of the Crimson Seal at all.
Trading an excess Legendary-grade equipment for the Dragonheart Stone was a huge win in his book.
The attributes of the Crimson Seal being somewhat useful to him was an unexpected bonus.
Swiftly equipping the Crimson Seal and witnessing the growth in his attributes to ensure the equipment’s effects were in place, Howard contentedly wrapped his arm around Abby and drifted into a deep sleep as well.
The night passed without further incident.
The next day, Howard was awakened by a peculiar sensation of friction. 𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ
Glancing down, he discovered that Abby, already awake, was rubbing her hair against his chest.
“Ah, you’re awake,” he noted.
Abby’s cheeks flushed slightly as she realized he was awake.
Howard grinned, saying, “I didn’t know you could be so mischievous. If we didn’t have to attend the assessment today, I would have to give you a proper lesson!”
Abby, now a wife, understood the implications in Howard’s words, and her heart fluttered with shyness.
After getting dressed and freshening up, Howard and Abby quickly headed back to the school.
Fortunately, the assembly time set by Holy Abyss Academy was not too early, so they weren’t late.
When they arrived at the playground, not all of the new students had gathered yet.
Judy spotted them and quickly came over, greeting them with a smile, “Hey, are we going to team up for this qualification match?”
Hearing Judy’s words, Howard raised an eyebrow in confusion, “Unless I heard wrong, only one person will be selected in the end. You still want to team up with us?”
“That’s right.” Judy nodded affirmatively, “With more people, we have more strength. Our performance as a team will definitely be better than individuals. As for who gets selected in the end, it doesn’t really matter. As long as we gain plenty of rewards during the trial, that’s all that counts.”
Howard scrutinized Judy carefully, and seeing no signs of deception, he nodded in agreement, “Sure, let’s continue as a team.”
Other students might not be aware, but how could Howard not know that he was bound to be the one selected?
Teaming up with Judy meant having a strong priest as a backing, and that was definitely a great advantage!
After reaffirming their team arrangement with Judy, it wasn’t long before Nick and Mike also arrived.
These two were quite self-aware, recognizing that they couldn’t secure the so-called qualifications on their own.
They decided it was better to team up with Howard to farm more monsters, earn points, and reap benefits!
It wasn’t just them; as the students all gathered together, another student with a robust build approached Howard’s group of five, speaking earnestly, “Howard, may I join your team? My name is Morgan Augustine, a level 19 knight. Although I haven’t acquired a mount yet, I possess three defensive skills.”
With that, the student presented a shield, as tall as a person and engraved with mountain patterns.
Howard gave Morgan Augustine a thorough once-over and did not reject his request to join, responding with a smile of acceptance.
Howard had already decided to use the Soulcharm Incense to attract monsters, reasoning that the more team members they had, the better — just in case any unexpected situations arose.
However, typically, a small team would consist of five to six people.
Seeing Howard’s group had already formed, the rest of the students didn’t approach them.
This time, the mentors did not interrupt the students’ team formations.
They waited until all the students had grouped up before Daniel spoke with a smile, “Fellow students, for this qualification match, I hope each of you can demonstrate your strength and shine brightly. I believe this opportunity is truly one of a kind!”
“Alright, let’s set off!”
With a wave of Daniel’s hand, Wales, Tana, and two other unfamiliar mentors stepped forward.
Once again, the Dragonhawk descended onto the field.
Inside the academy, Wales seemed reluctant to appear overly familiar with Howard.
On the other hand, Tana held Howard in high regard.
With a swaying of her hips and a beaming smile, she led Howard’s squad onto the leading Dragonhawk.
In the past, Abby might have felt jealous.
However, after becoming Howard’s woman, Abby no longer harbored any insecurities.
Besides, in this world where the strong prey upon the weak, monogamy had long since vanished.
It was not uncommon for powerful individuals to have dozens of wives.
Thus, Abby wasn’t concerned about Howard potentially having other women.
After all, she was already his number one!
Once all the students were seated on the Dragonhawks, a series of sharp and piercing cries rang out.
The magnificent creatures flapped their wings and soared into the sky, taking the students up into the clouds in no time.
Daniel watched the Dragonhawks disappear into the distance, his eyes squinting slightly as he murmured to himself, “What on earth is Wales up to? He has been so diligent and dedicated for over a decade. Why is he acting so strange around Howard?”
It was undeniable.
Despite his secretive actions, Wales hadn’t escaped the keen eyes of old fox Daniel.
However, Daniel could also tell that Wales had no intention of harming Howard, which is why he had not taken any action.
Time slowly passed by.
Under the rapid flight of the Dragonhawks, Howard and his team took less than an hour to reach the largest map near Adia City — Regos Forest!
Legend had it that terrifying thunderstorms perpetually gathered within Regos Forest, with lightning striking down every moment, turning the area into a deadly zone that halted the progress of many awakened.
Years of relentless thunderstorms had also affected the nearby monsters, infusing their bodies with lightning, making them extremely aggressive and formidable opponents for the awakened, forcing them to retreat time and time again.
𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝘮