"If you repay within seven days, there's no interest. If you repay within a year, the interest is 2,000 Dawn Coins!"
What the heck! Boss, you even offer high-interest loans here!
What kind of shop did teacher Javion recommend me to?
"Boss, since you allow credit, can I borrow 1 million Dawn Coins?" Bertram asked.
This time, it was the boss's turn to be silent.
"While we do offer credit with interest, it's still a small investment on my part. Based on your current potential, I'd say you can borrow around 3,000 Dawn Coins. If you want more, you'll need to show better results!"
As the boss spoke, he packed the White Source from a Moon-Gazing Ape and two Blood Sources from a Golden Moses that Bertram had requested. He even prepared the IOU.
Bertram signed the IOU and took his items.
In these uncertain times, borrowing as much as possible was the way to go. It was a good deal, after all.
The boss was kind-hearted; otherwise, no one would take such high risks.
"Boss, I'll be a regular customer of your loan service!" Bertram said with a smile.
As Bertram walked away, the boss smiled slightly.
"This guy is interesting!"
Then, the boss looked into the shop. In the darkness, a figure was slowly lifting a teacup to drink.
"Over the years, I've always given the students you recommended some care and credit. Unfortunately, none of them have ever come back alive to repay their debts. I hope this time, your student has a chance to pay it back," the shopkeeper said softly to the shadowy figure.
"How do you know they're all dead? Maybe some just got lost out there," the figure's voice was clearly a bit defiant.
"Suit yourself, but remember, these IOUs will ultimately be your responsibility if they go unpaid," the shopkeeper said with a smile, waving the IOUs in his hand at the figure in the darkness.
In the dim light, the figure's face became faintly visible—it was Bertram's homeroom teacher, Mr. Javion.
Meanwhile, Bertram quickly returned to school.
As graduation approached, a gloomy atmosphere pervaded the entire school, a common scene for high schools of this era.
Only the top-tier schools, filled with elite students, seemed to have an air of fearlessness.
Bertram headed to the training room and began absorbing the white source.
Strands of Ryder, emitting a faint, pure light, peeled off from the white source and entered Bertram's body through his breath.
In his mind, the silver thread representing his supernatural ability began to grow and lengthen.
By the time Bertram had absorbed about one-tenth of the white source, the silver thread had reached its peak, matching the level he had achieved in his life simulation.
A silver thread extended from Bertram's palm, quickly reaching a length of five feet.
"The understanding of the realm is there; all that's missing is the mental energy. Absorbing the white source can quickly replenish that, instantly bringing me to the level of my life simulation!"
Since he had already reached the matching level of his supernatural ability, Bertram stopped absorbing the white source to save it.
Although continuing to absorb it could still enhance his ability, the efficiency would be much lower, and the white source would be consumed significantly.
It's best to wait until the life simulation brings back cultivation insights before practicing, so you can make the most of your limited cultivation resources.
Next, Bertram took out a blood source.
This was the blood source from Golden Moses.
Within the crimson energy source, there was a faint aura of battle.
Perfect, his Void Sword Body needed energy to nurture sword qi, and a blood source with battle aura was ideal.
Bertram began to absorb the blood source. Wisps of blood mist entered his body through his nostrils, making his internal energy surge and become more powerful.
With his martial talent upgraded to E-level, the previous cultivation limitations were gradually lifting. Bertram's martial cultivation was slowly advancing from F-level to F+ level.
The most crucial part was in the Void, where sword qi was slowly condensing. Thanks to the battle aura and blood source energy, the condensation speed increased exponentially.
Before long, a finger-sized, deep black sword qi formed in the Void, swimming like a fish.
Bertram was thrilled. He controlled the sword qi to flow into his finger and shot it out suddenly. Instantly, a finger-sized hole appeared in the nearby wall.
The entire process was incredibly silent, like a silenced gunshot.
Six Veins Divine Sword or a silenced gun?
Bertram was very pleased with the sword qi nurtured in his Void.
After consuming the sword qi, nurturing another one wouldn't be as troublesome. The Void would just absorb the energy, and it would quickly transform into a strand of sword qi.
However, the second strand of sword qi would need to be cultivated slowly.
Bertram continued to absorb the blood source. Perhaps because it belonged to Golden Moses, the process of nurturing his sword energy in the Void Valley was remarkably swift.
By the time he had fully absorbed the blood source, three strands of deep black sword energy were already swirling within the Void Valley.
Only then did Bertram stop.
He still had one blood source and nine-tenths of a white source left.
These needed to be saved.
In half a day, he would be able to undergo the next Infinite Life Simulation, gaining another batch of cultivation experience and insights. He needed to prepare the blood source and white source in advance to convert them into his real cultivation as quickly as possible.
After leaving the school's training room, Bertram headed straight to a nearby martial arts school.
In his second life simulation, he had joined this martial arts school as a sparring partner and encountered a mysterious girl with formidable combat skills.
During that encounter, Bertram was utterly defeated, not even qualifying to be her sparring partner.
This time, besides earning money through the martial arts school, his goal was to become the official sparring partner of this mysterious girl.
In the simulation, just a brief exchange with her had brought him significant benefits. If he could become her official sparring partner, he would not only earn more money but also rapidly improve his combat skills.
Moreover, sparring with a strong opponent would also enhance his cultivation.
No matter how he looked at it, this was a win-win situation for him.
Chaoyang Martial Arts School.
A recruitment notice for sparring partners was posted at the entrance, with a minimum requirement of F-level cultivation.
Bertram walked into the martial arts dojo. Behind a long table sat a middle-aged man, handing out forms.
"Write down your martial arts level, any special physical traits, and any abilities you have! Based on your information, we'll arrange a combat assessment for you. If you pass, you'll become a sparring partner at our dojo!"