Paradyne Academy, Inner Disciple Region.
The cheers of the crowd resonated in the area, creating a deafening chorus which trembled even the earth itself. Surrounded by the crowd were two figures of a man and a woman, holding their respective choice of weapon. All sorts of cheers and supporting words flew towards them, as the Judge who was an Elder of the Academy, announced.
"This battle has been requested by the Challenger, Vincent Lancea by the grounds of objecting towards Natalie Longinus' promotion for the position of an Honorary Disciple." His voice rang loud and clear as the crowd around them lowered their voices.
Inside a balcony where you could see everything below. The figures of Mathias and Charlotte along with several high-ranking Elders could be seen staring at the commotion with amusement, visible on their faces.
"Just where did you find such a genius, Clan Chief? Though her skeletal age is higher than what I would like, her talent alone is astounding and she will definitely soar greater heights as long as she's nourished," An Elder commented with a smile, he stared at Natalie and secretly thought that he will make sure that she falls under his tutelage.
"Just make sure that you don't steal her under me, Elder Barok," A feminine voice echoed from the side and Elder Barok turned around before saying with a bitter smile, "Give me a break, Elder Josephine, you already have that genius with you, give this old bones a chance, will you?"
The other Elders chuckled,
"It's not like we're belittling you, Elder Barok, but a lecherous Elder like you wants to have such a gorgeous and innocent girl as your apprentice? Not happening," Another Elder said and Elder Barok turned towards him and glared. Mathias glanced at these bunch of old men before shaking his head and said, "You need not worry about that Elder Barok, I have someone that has the same talent or even higher than Natalie..."
The expressions of the other Elders, flickered, Elder Barok revealed an exhilarated visage as he said, "Really? Where is he? and who is he?"
"He'll come here soon, maybe, three months later..." Mathias left these words and turned to stare at the ongoing battle, ignoring the old men behind him that started their fervent discussion.
Atop the platform, Natalie held a soft sword, swinging it around. It looked like a whip which tore through the air itself. Lifting her head, she assumed a stance and said towards her enemy, "I do hope that Senior doesn't become indignant about his defeat, and I hope that you honor your promise..."
Vincent's expression turned for the worse, "Why would I renege on my promise? As long as you defeat me, I won't bother about you anymore and all of my complaints shall cease...However," His eyes flashed in a solemn light, withdrawing his lance, he mumbled, "If you can defeat me, that is!"
Several days ago, just when he was about to be crowned as an Honorary Disciple, and just as the enormous amount of resources from the Academy would be bestowed upon him. Natalie suddenly arrived and stole that spotlight. Filled with indignance, he complained but when the Elders of the Academy realized Natalie's talent in the martial path, they disregarded his presence and instead, they rewarded him with a position inside the Core Disciple's Region.
The difference between an Honorary Disciple and a Core Disciple wasn't that huge, but the former had more freedom than the latter! That means that if he acquired the Honorary Disciple position, he could come and leave from the Academy as he wanted!
Wielding his lance, his figure disappeared and reappeared beside Natalie. The tip of his lance sliced at Natalie's torso. When it comes to frontal battle, because of the lance's reach and its innate sturdiness, it would most likely win an exchange with a sword.
However, why would Natalie clash with him in the first place? Leaping backward, she evaded Vincent's attack and counterattacked with a thrust. Vincent merely smiled and dodged it without any problems.
"What's wrong? Is that the best that you can do? If that's all that you can do, then it would be better for you to admit defeat! Remember, I advocate gender equality!" He sneered and Natalie's expression went cold. At first, she wanted to go easy with Vincent due to the fact that she felt guilty about Mathias' arrangement. But hearing his words, she coldly chuckled and said.
"Is that so? Then I will go serious on you..." Natalie's cultivation base rotated, a tempest manifested in the area as her momentum, brewed. The fierce wind rattled the audience as the Judge summoned a barrier which prevented the tempest from injuring the crowd.
Vincent clicked his tongue, "No matter how much momentum you gather, I will pierce it with my Lance!" A confident smile lifted on his lips, "Martial Technique: Sun Flare!" He mumbled and a brilliant light surged on the tip of his lance. The brilliant light gave off a fierce heatwave which dissipated the surrounding tempest.
Mathias who stared at them from above mumbled, "So they're planning on ending this in a single attack?" A small smile lifted on his lips as he observed. Juliet who sat beside him stared at her mother with a worried expression on his face.
Charlotte crossed her arms together. Her expression indicated her trust for Natalie. After sparring with her several times under her father's instructions, she had a solid grasp of Natalie's strength. Vincent who couldn't even last ten exchanges under her attacks shouldn't even dare of defeating Natalie whom she could hardly beat.
The Tempest and the Golden Sun concentrated. Natalie raised her soft sword towards the skies as she mumbled, "Blessing of the Lightning God: Manifestation!" The first stance of the Longinus Clan's Divine Arts rotated as a lightning bolt from the heavens struck the tip of her soft sword.
Lightning crackled around her and paired with her fiery red robe which enunciated her gorgeous figure. Everyone became dumbstruck and even the old men that observed them from above, couldn't help but become entranced. Natalie's beauty couldn't be compared to Charlotte's innocent visage, but the latter couldn't compare to the former's charisma.
Natalie's sharp eyebrows, along with her cold expression painted a picturesque scene which could never be forgotten by everyone that saw her today. As of now, she wasn't a disciple of the Paradyne Academy. She was a Goddess that descended from the heavens to punish her impudent enemy!
Vincent gave a bitter chuckle. Natalie's momentum pressured, not only his body but also his soul. However, his pride and ambitions that he wanted to achieve, didn't let him give up. Instead, he raised his lance and hardened his resolve.
Pointing his lance towards Natalie, his expression said that if a Buddha arrives, he would slay. If a Devil arrives, he would annihilate, and even if the heavens itself descended to obstruct his path, he would personally seal for eternity!
Wielding his lance along with his formidable path of the Martial Arts. He roared and leaped towards the center of the tempest!
BAAANGGG!
A deafening boom resonated. The Golden Sun clashed directly with the tornado of Lightning and their exchange, destroyed even the reinforced platform itself. Dust madly flew and everyone could not see what exactly happened in their exchange.
Several seconds later, visibility returned and the crowd was astounded to find that the person laying on the ground was Natalie and not Vincent!
"Eh? What happened?! How did Sister lose?!" Charlotte stuck her head out of the balcony and Juliet's expression looked teary upon seeing her mother's bedraggled figure. She started crying and squirming, asking for her mother's presence.
Vincent's expression revealed his shock. His figure trembled like a leaf as he spoke in a hoarse voice, "You...Why did you..."
Natalie gave a light chuckle, staring at the sun, she mumbled, "Your determination and the hard work that you placed to reach your current position is enough for you to deserve that title..." Her eyes rolled and her consciousness, darkened.
Her words reverberated inside Vincent's mind like a thunderbolt. The crowd stared with widened eyes at Vincent, they didn't expect that the latter would win. After all, Natalie's momentum alone gave her a higher chance of winning.
The Judge dissipated the barrier and stared at Vincent. Raising his hand, his mouth opened. But before he could speak, Vincent's wobbled and fell on the ground like a kite that lost its strings.
This battle between the two geniuses, despite Natalie's effort of giving him the win. Ended in a draw!
...
The first burst of light descended from the skies and Dan along with the two children, awakened from their slumber. After taking their breakfast, Dan ordered the two to secure some dried rations that could last them for months. Although the two looked doubtful, they obeyed and when they returned, Dan along with the two children discussed with each other.
"Since both of you struggled for money in this City, I suppose that you guys know about what kind of job earns the most money, right?" Dan asked with a slight smile on his face as Sandra turned at him and said, "Could it be that Master is running out of money?"
"Ermm, not exactly running out of money, It's just a temporary shortage..." Dan lightly coughed and Jacob commented, "Having a shortage is the same as running out..." When he said these words, the two children became somber and despondent once again.
The reason was they felt guilty about the fact that they let themselves indulged in such expensive meals and they even bought luxurious clothes for themselves. Dan noticed their feelings and said, "You need not worry about such things since both of you are following me now, I can't be so harsh with my subordinates, right?"
Jacob and Sandra nodded their heads. The guilt within their hearts and their eyes slightly diminished. Jacob turned to Dan and said, "Master, my years of experience in this Merchant Town tells me that the best way of earning money is trading..."
Dan gave a wry smile, "You don't say?"
Sandra smacked the back of Jacob's head as she scolded, "Master isn't obviously asking for that, how can we trade items when we don't have a capital?" Jacob rubbed his aching head and turned to Dan with a pitiful expression. Dan chuckled and said, "She's right, Jacob, what I want to know is what's the best possible way of earning money without having a capital, like, you know, gambling and stuff..."
"Gambling? Master wants to gamble?" Jacob's eyes twinkled, and Sandra turned to Dan with an uncertain expression. Though Gambling could potentially rake enormous amount of money, that doesn't mean that it doesn't have its risk. And if you're a greenhorn when it comes to it. You will definitely be ripped off.
"If possible, I don't wanna do that since it's a pain, is there any other way than gambling that could earn me money without spending much effort?" Dan said and Sandra and Jacob fell into deep contemplation, "Ah! I remember the Soy Sauce and salt uncle talking about the Merchant Town's Medicinal Hall! He said that rich merchants are coming in droves to have their illness healed!"
Dan lifted an eyebrow, "Interesting, let's take a look at the Medicinal Hall..." He said and the group set off towards the direction of the Medicinal Hall.
The Medicinal Hall stood beside the City Hall. In term of luxuriousness and height, it was only second to the latter. However, when it comes to crowd concentration, the people around the City Hall couldn't compare to the number of people that enters or comes out from Medicinal Hall.
Several lavishly-decorated carriages could be seen parked outside the Medicinal Hall with numerous bodyguards clad in armors standing around the area. Because of this commotion, the common populace was shoved aside in favor of the VIP that came to have himself checked up.
Dan knitted his eyebrows and walked towards the gates. The people noticed his arrival and when they saw his clothes, they glared at him as the guards respectfully let him in without even asking for his identity. What a joke! The clothes that Dan and the two children wore alone was about several gold coins in money. How could someone masquerade as a noble and wasting such vast amount of money?
The backing behind the Medicinal Hall was the Town Mayor itself. Not only that, he's also the Chief Physician which treats people with severe injuries or health issues. According to the gossips that Dan learned from the surrounding people, the person from the carriage was the previous general of the Empire of Eternal Faith.
After being severely injured in a battle. He returned back to his hometown, the Merchant Town of Kalur and peacefully lived along with his two sons, Ricky and Charles. However, his condition gradually worsened to the extent that he could not even move without the assistance of his best friend, Ronald.
Now, his last chance for life lies on the Town Mayor. If the latter who held a Grandmaster qualification when it comes to the medical field, still couldn't heal his illness. Then, that only means that his fate was only sealed and he could only resign to it.
Dan knitted his eyebrows, instructing Jacob and Sandra, he said with a small smile on his face, "I found our money, stay here and I'll get it for us..." He turned around and walked towards the direction of the most protective room inside the Medicinal Hall.
Ever since he arrived. His habit made him scan the entire Hall along with simulating a holographic map of the area. Because of this, Dan easily found the room where that VIP went and secretly tailed him using Stealth.
Inside the room, a bearded old man placed his right index finger on his patient's wrist. Inspecting his pulse. But soon, he shook his head and said, "The damage has destroyed most of your meridians along with your nerves. Now, it spread towards your vital organs and it should only be a matter of time until you leave this world..." He heaved a deep and regretful sigh.
"I am regretful to say that only the Gods from the heavens itself could heal your ailment..." His expression looked sorrowful and downcast. The fact that he had to say these words towards a patient as a Grandmaster Physician made him disheartened.
The old man on the chair gave a small amiable smile, "Thank you for the efforts, Town Mayor, But It's fine, I have already come to terms and I know my body well than anyone..." He turned towards his best friend and said, "Let's go, we don't want to disturb the Town Mayor that much..."
His best friend nodded his head and both of them stood up as the former assisted the latter. But before they could walk away, the door suddenly opened. Revealing the figure of Dan who said, "Old man," The confused gazes of the three, focused on him.
"If I could heal you, are you willing to let me loan some money?"
His announcement rang loud and clear inside the silenced room.