"My son, you're alive!" Chen Li immediately woke up from her stupor and ran to hug her son, choking on her own tears of relief, ignoring all the strange circumstances around.
"Chen Yu!" Chen Jun immediately went to embrace his reunited family, it seemed like he had regained a part of himself.
The village's somber atmosphere changed to joy within seconds, with everyone gathering around the village chief's family, congratulating them.
"So many people." Draconius observed all of this, paralyzed, trying to keep a calm face with a faint smile. It was the first time he had seen mortals, and there were so many that he felt nervous, especially now that he was weak. He had a slightly awkward smile in this situation.
"What the hell is this?!" Suddenly, an enraged Elder Xin shouted, standing up with his mouth full of golden feathers, and everyone burst into laughter.
"I feel violated! WUUUU!" Gold ran, crying, towards his only friend, a few feathers missing from his rear.
"There's a first time for everything, my friend. HAHAHA!" Draconius couldn't help but burst into laughter at the miserable rooster.
"Damn, you want to fight?!" The tears instantly evaporated as Gold advanced with red eyes, flapping Draco with his wings.
*Puff* *Puff*
It was just a sad attempt to vent.
"I'm kidding, relax." With a smile, he picked up the rooster and placed it on his shoulder, the funny scene of a talking rooster on the shoulder of an attractive young man drawing the village's attention.
"Pleasure to meet you, I am the village chief, Chen Jun. Who might you be?" Chen Jun approached with a smile, extending his hand for a handshake, radiating happiness.
"You can call me the banker, Mr. Chen Jun." Returning the handshake, Draco introduced himself.
"I am the magnificent Gold!" The golden rooster proudly introduced himself, beak raised.
"We wanted to thank you for saving our son. We don't even know how to repay you, Mr. Banker." Chen Yu's mother approached, bowing to Draco along with his father. Chen Yu had told them that he was saved at the last moment by him, and the elders also thanked the mysterious banker.
'They are quite harmonious, probably because it's a small village.' Draco remembered how his parents liked to watch the intrigues among immortals and deities, this is practically the nightly soap opera for the couple.
"It's just business, Mrs. and Mr. Chen. Let's say it was a free sample of my reliable services."
Draco felt awkward receiving such gratitude, especially since he didn't save the boy.
"Services?" The elders were curious, their eyes showing doubt.
"Lord Banker, let me explain the situation to them. Come." Chen Yu signaled with his eyes for Draco to let him explain, and he dragged the villagers to the side. He didn't want to reveal to his parents that he lost 100 years of life in a negotiation, as it would complicate the contract closure and burden his father's mind.
While Chen Yu explained his deal with the banker to everyone, Draco and Gold were looking around in amazement.
"Even if it's not as beautiful as watching the universes, it gives a really good feeling, doesn't it?" Draco took off his hat and placed it on his chest, feeling the wind caress his hair and the scent of fresh grass emanating from the forest.
"Yes, I never imagined nature could be this good." The rooster agreed, smiling and stroking his golden crest with his wing.
"But let's get to work. I want you to find something for me in this village." A mischievous smile appeared on Draco's handsome face, and he whispered something to the rooster.
With a surprised face, Gold smiled back, quickly jumped off Draco's shoulder, and ran in a specific direction.
"Mr. Banker, we accept your deal, but can you really guarantee protection against this giant horde? It's much larger than it should be, as if we're already in another great cycle." Chen Jun approached him, a clear doubt on his face. The villagers began to disperse around the village, even with anxious faces.
Even though the man saved his son from a giant monster horde, he couldn't let his gratitude affect the lives of everyone in the village. After all, he was the chief burdened with that responsibility.
"You can be sure. I checked the horde when I saved Chen Yu, I'm sure I can establish a strong enough barrier. All you have to do is supply the barrier with your Prana every day, and everyone will be safe." Draco pounded his chest with confidence.
Everyone looked at him with doubt, but they decided to accept. After all, even with the successful plan, the horde was much larger, according to Chen Yu, and could resume its course towards them before reaching the city at any time.
"We also have this contract as a guarantee. If I don't fulfill it, I'll be obligated to pay the value of 2 and a half mines of spiritual stones to you." A roll of purple paper materialized with a glow in the banker's hand, surprising the crowd.
'A storage space?!' Suddenly, the elders and Chen Jun began to get nervous, this artifact was so rare that not even great spiritual masters had access to it.
But unknowingly to Draco, this small action convinced the village leaders to safely accept the agreement.
"Indeed, I feel energy in this contract, it's a rare artifact." Elder Lin and Elder Ning received the contract in their hands, confirming it with amazement in their eyes. They were even afraid to soil the paper and quickly returned it to the banker.
'We're lucky!' They were all euphoric, receiving help from such a powerful individual was a huge benefit, and they could still take advantage of half the mine to strengthen themselves.
Sniff
Suddenly, Draco closed his eyes and sniffed the air a few times.
"Let's hurry, then. I smell blood in the air, the horde must be close." Everyone became anxious upon hearing this.
"Banker! I found something good." Gold shouted, dragging two large bags that shone with a blue light.
"Thieving chicken!" Elder Xin shouted, pointing at the rooster. He was still angry about being hit by Gold, but he didn't do anything, the banker seemed powerful. Xin was brave, not foolish.
"Oh! Perfect, Gold. Two bags of this size of spiritual stones should be enough for the barrier." Draco casually spoke as if he hadn't stolen from the village's warehouse.
'Darn, I've been fooled!' Chen Yu observed the shameless rooster handing over all the spiritual stones left in the warehouse that the village couldn't take.
He had thousands of years of experience, but all he did in his life was get stronger and fight.
'He only has the innocent and relaxed appearance, but he's very clever. Worthy of someone seeking profits.' Chronos' voice echoed in his mind, comforting him. They both remembered that when Chen Yu was closing the deal, the banker said he would use the materials found.
At that moment, there seemed to be no problem, but now that the spiritual stones the village mined before would be used as materials, the duo finally realized the problem. However, as neither his father nor the elders said anything, he decided to swallow his indignation.
Was this a problem? Darn! Of course not, there was still an entire mine to mine, and two large bags of spiritual stones for a barrier that would protect them for two years, plus the connection made by the village genius with someone so strong, were infinitely more valuable.
The elders were smiling from ear to ear, ordering the villagers to organize the whole village again.
'This was easier than expected, but now I can profit in peace!' Draco's plan was simple, he would use the ability to sacrifice external energy to use one of his numerous lineage abilities.
Closing his eyes, Draco began to concentrate, making the white spiritual stones come out of the bag and float around him. The scene looked magical, causing everyone to stop what they were doing.
This innate ability is great but can currently only be used outside of combat and wastes a lot of energy. But there was no lack of energy, only five small bags were used as bombs to stop a large monster horde, not to mention two large bags that were almost three times the amount used.
"Divine Barrier!" Finishing delimiting the mine, Draco opened his eyes, which were completely golden due to the sacred power. With this command, the spiritual stones flew into the sky and dispersed, forming a gigantic dome around the village and the spiritual mine.
*ZIIII*
A sharp noise sounded as the stones began to disintegrate, forming a golden barrier that quickly became transparent and disappeared from view.
"Done!" With a happy smile, Draco said to the elders of the village who were watching with open mouths beside him, only Chen Yu wasn't so impressed.
'Now just wait for the money to come, but did I overdo it?' He thought cheerfully but looked doubtfully at the people who seemed like statues. He didn't know that manipulating so much energy without summoning a spiritual avatar was an absurd feat for simple people from the village and even the city.