In the next moment, Elric opened his mouth, and a sharp, fierce wind shot out.
The wind tore through the air like a blade, rapidly heading toward the horned wolf's position.
Wherever the fierce wind passed, grass and plants were shredded into tiny pieces, demonstrating the power of the attack.
The horned wolf sensed the danger, leaping high into the air, narrowly avoiding the wind blades.
Before it could catch its breath, a cold glint flashed in Elric's eyes.
He didn't stop his attack.
Instead, he lifted his head, controlling the fierce wind from his mouth to follow the trajectory of the horned wolf's jump.
The previously straight wind blades suddenly arched upward, chasing after the horned wolf mid-air.
With no way to change its direction in mid-flight, the horned wolf saw the wind blades closing in and had no escape.
It twisted its body, desperately trying to dodge again, but couldn't entirely avoid the razor-sharp blades.
The wind blades grazed its side, leaving a deep, bloody gash.
The horned wolf let out a pained cry, its balance faltering as it crashed to the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, Elric's eyes glowed with determination.
He gripped his dagger and charged toward the fallen beast with incredible speed.
The dagger moved swiftly, like lightning, sinking deep into the horned wolf's neck with great force.
The blade pierced through its flesh, causing blood to gush out.
The horned wolf, in agony, let out a low growl, attempting one final counterattack.
Its head, adorned with sharp horns, swung violently, aiming to force Elric back.
But Elric reacted quickly, abandoning the dagger without hesitation and swinging his fists.
Psychic energy surged through his arms, and in his fury, he unleashed a flurry of punches.
Each punch carried immense psychic power, and each strike landed with the sound of tearing flesh and breaking bones.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With every punch, the horned wolf's body shuddered, blood splattering everywhere.
Elric didn't stop. Every punch was delivered with all his might.
His fists were soaked with blood as the horned wolf's life force rapidly drained away.
The once-ferocious beast's final struggles weakened, until it lay completely still.
Panting heavily, Elric stood beside the horned wolf's lifeless body, drenched in sweat, his fists trembling slightly.
After catching his breath, Elric made a cutting motion with his right hand, gathering psychic energy.
A sharp gust of wind swiftly sliced through the horned wolf's body, precisely severing its valuable horn from its head.
He picked up the sharp horn, feeling its hard texture.
This horn would fetch a good price.
Carrying his spoils, Elric set off back to Blackstone City.
When he finally saw the bustling streets of Blackstone City, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Familiar with the streets, Elric walked directly to the Stonewood Herbal Shop, a place he had visited many times before.
The shop specialized in buying materials from psychic beasts.
Pushing open the door, Elric approached the counter, placing the horned wolf's horn on the table with practiced ease.
The shopkeeper smiled, picking up the horn.
After a thorough inspection, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad, not bad. This horn is in excellent condition."
"This horn should be worth twenty silver coins, right?
You said the last one was too small," Elric said.
This time, the shopkeeper didn't haggle, swiftly handing Elric twenty silver coins while humming a cheerful tune.
Elric pocketed the coins and walked back to the inn.
He had been staying at the inn for half a year, but despite wanting to move to a new place, few people were willing to rent a house to a child.
Once in his room, he took out the Rose Sigil that had accompanied him for nearly half a year.
This sigil had helped him recover from numerous injuries, but tonight, its effects would be completely exhausted.
As he gazed at the sigil in his hand, Elric couldn't help but sigh, feeling a tinge of reluctance.
Throughout the past months of grueling training, the Rose Sigil had seen him through countless bouts of pain and fatigue.
"Mommy, what are we doing tomorrow?" Elric asked, biting into an apple and speaking with his mouth full.
"Do you remember the explosive sigils I made?" Calista asked.
Elric nodded as he took another bite.
For half a year, he had watched Calista meticulously craft explosive sigils almost every night.
There were two ways to create sigils: engraving and writing.
In the past six months, Calista had mostly been writing sigils.
"Tomorrow, we'll take those explosive sigils and sell them."
Elric was puzzled.
"To the grocery store?" he asked.
Calista shook her head gently and replied.
"No, we're going to auction them at the largest auction house in Blackstone City."
Elric was stunned, nearly dropping his apple.
He had never imagined he'd be going to an auction house.
He felt both nervous and excited.
"Are we really going to the auction house?" he asked, still finding it hard to believe.
Calista smiled and nodded.
Elric immediately rushed under his bed, pulling out a chest.
When he opened it, inside were neatly arranged stacks of white explosive sigils.
These sigils were the result of Calista's tireless work over the past six months.
That night, Elric could hardly sleep, tossing and turning in bed with excitement.
His mind was filled with thoughts of the upcoming auction, wondering how much the sigils would fetch.
The next morning, Elric set off for the Blackstone Auction House with a chest full of explosive sigils.
He was thrilled as he hurried to the auction house, the largest and most prestigious in Blackstone City.
It was owned by the wealthiest family in the White Swan Empire, the Blackstone family.
The Blackstone family had a long and storied history in the White Swan Empire, spanning thousands of years. Their wealth was unmatched.
There were even rumors of their deep, intricate connections with the imperial family.
In the White Swan Empire, the Blackstone family was one of the four great noble houses, alongside the White Orchid family, the Violet family, and the Iceheart family.
The four families were strategically placed: Duke Blackstone guarded the south, Duke White Orchid controlled the north, Duke Violet the east, and Duke Iceheart the west.
The Blackstone Auction House was a key part of the Blackstone family's vast wealth, and no one dared offend them.
…
As Elric stood before the grand auction hall, a wave of nervousness washed over him.
He quickly ducked into a secluded alley, preparing a disguise.
From his bag, he pulled out a black cloak he had prepared beforehand and draped it over himself.
The cloak was oversized, concealing not only Elric's face but also his small, thin frame, making him look bulky and unrecognizable.
Now, it was nearly impossible for anyone to easily identify him.
Even someone as close to him as Calista might struggle to recognize him at first glance.
Taking a deep breath, Elric felt a little more at ease.
This careful disguise wasn't without reason. Explosive sigils were highly sought after by many factions.
For them, the ability to use sigils in large quantities could make up for a lack of powerful psychic users and even play a decisive role in certain situations.
This was why Elric had to be cautious to avoid unnecessary trouble.