C10 A Present That Even in His Dreams He Would Want!

No one could have anticipated Liu Xingchang's sudden and audacious act.

The shock was so intense that people nearly stopped breathing.

Those at the mine were unaware of the events that had unfolded in the Royal Capital the day before, but the Third Prince and the Qing siblings were in the know, and they were the quickest to grasp the situation.

Qing Bai expressed his admiration, "What a resolute and decisive move by Liu Xingchang! 'Charge with a knife'—what a powerful phrase!"

The Third Prince lamented, "To think I missed the opportunity to befriend such a valiant figure, that is indeed my loss!"

Liu Chang, Xun Tong, and Xu Chan's eyes went wide in amazement.

Even the iron-blooded warriors couldn't believe their eyes as they watched Liu Xingchang.

Liu Xingchang, now handing the large saber to Liu Chang, declared, "Uncle Liu, what belongs to the Liu Family stays with the Liu Family. We must fight for every inch of ground! From now on, if these fleas dare to defile the Liu Family's name, we'll cut them down without hesitation!"

Liu Chang, still in a daze, accepted the knife and asked, "Are you truly Liu Xingchang?"

With a smile, Liu Xingchang assured, "Guaranteed genuine."

"Ah-ha!"

Liu Chang's realization hit him like a wave, his blood surged, and he burst into a triumphant roar, "General Liu! Your grandson has finally seen the light! I've been suffocating from holding back all these years!"

Xu Chan's eyes sparkled, and Xun Tong's shone even brighter.

Suddenly, Xun Tong's eyes narrowed fiercely as he bellowed, "Brothers, what are you waiting for? It's time to release the frustration that's been building up for years!"

The spirited young men let out an exhilarated roar and, following Xun Tong's lead, drew their sabers and charged forward.

Their blades were now wielded for offense, not just defense.

Liu Xingchang unsheathed his own sword, driving the Wang Clan's defenders into a frantic retreat.

Having retaken the other half of the Heavenly Stone mine with Xun Tong and the others, Liu Xingchang then led the charge towards the Spirit Stone mine that was once part of the Liu Family's holdings.

The Spirit Stone mine was split between the Dai Family and the Hong Family, the latter of which had been a noble house for three generations.

As Liu Xingchang and his men forced the Hong Family's guards to retreat, the head guard of the Hong Family cried out, "Liu Xingchang! Do you not fear the wrath of the Hong Family? Are you not afraid of bringing ruin upon your own house?"

Liu Xingchang cast a disdainful look at the members of the Hong Family and sneered, "Go tell your Patriarch what I, Liu Xingchang, have said. If anyone from your Hong Family dares to set foot in the Liu Family's mine again, I'll personally come over and chop off that old dog's head to accompany my drink!"

Liu Xingchang's display of strength was astonishing. He possessed the cultivation of the Seventh Stage and could even battle across realms, effortlessly defeating an Eighth Stage Cultivator. This feat truly shook the Hong Family to their core.

The Hong Family members didn't dare utter another word and scurried away from the mine, their spirits crushed.

Securing the third Spirit Stone mine proved even easier than the second, as the news had swept through the Royal Capital like a whirlwind.

The major powers, still reeling from the shock, saw the owner of the third Spirit Stone mine promptly instruct the guards to withdraw quickly, eager to avoid the wrath of Liu Xingchang. The recent loss of two Spirit Mastery Realm elders was the talk of the town among the Royal Capital's major forces, and no one wanted to suffer the same fate as the Dai Family.

Once all three mines were reclaimed, Xun Tong and his fellow Iron Blood warriors were so overwhelmed with emotion that they nearly wept with joy. Learning of the previous day's events in the Royal Capital only heightened their excitement.

Xun Tong grasped Liu Xingchang's arms, his voice filled with emotion, "Xingchang! Uncle Xu misjudged you! You truly are General Liu's grandson. We've defended these mines for the Liu Family for so many years, and now, at last, it all feels worthwhile!"

Liu Chang laughed heartily and said, "That... Xingchang, my apologies, I spoke too harshly earlier. Don't take it to heart."

Liu Xingchang responded, "How could I take offense? I've witnessed all the sacrifices you and the others have made for the Liu Family over the years! You are the benefactors of the Liu Family, and we will never forget your loyalty!"

Xu Chan also bowed her head, looking sheepish as she added, "That... earlier... I too was a bit harsh."

Hearing this, Liu Xingchang laughed heartily and reassured her, "You're Uncle Xu's daughter, my sister. How could I possibly be upset with you? But if you really feel guilty, then tonight, you can make amends with three cups of wine!"

Xu Chan's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Absolutely, I've been craving a drink!"

Qing Bai, caught up in the excitement, bellowed, "At a moment like this, to be without wine would utterly spoil the mood!"

The Third Prince chimed in with a grin, "We might have missed lunch, but it's the perfect time for dinner. I'm sure everyone's famished by now. I've sent for the finest food and the most abundant wine from the city's top taverns!"

Xun Tong and the others, unaware of the Third Prince and Qing Bai's true identities, knew only that they were friends of Liu Xingchang. They burst into laughter and declared, "Tonight, no one leaves the mine until they're thoroughly inebriated! If anyone drinks less than three hundred cups, they're not done!"

The stalwart men of the mine erupted in cheers, reveling in a joy and ease they hadn't felt in ages.

Even as a man reborn, Liu Xingchang couldn't resist the rush of vigor that came with the camaraderie.

Liu Xingchang relished the atmosphere, as did Qing Bai and Qing Yi. The Third Prince, reflecting on the day's events, found his opinion of Liu Xingchang greatly improved.

After three rounds of drinks, Liu Xingchang was still sober and sought out the Third Prince, who was equally clear-headed.

The Third Prince was clinking cups with Qing Bai. Qing Yi, slightly tipsy but having grown up tough as any boy, was surprisingly still standing strong.

Liu Xingchang approached the Third Prince with a smile, "Third Prince, you've graced us with an abundance of food and wine, so allow me to present you with a gift in return."

The Third Prince responded with a smile, "Such hospitality is trivial, Brother Liu. There's no need for formalities."

Undeterred, Liu Xingchang grinned, "No, Third Prince, this gift is something you've only dreamed of receiving."

Qing Yi scoffed playfully at Liu Xingchang, teasing, "Oh, please, you're boasting! What could the Third Prince possibly lack? He's royalty; what can't he dream of obtaining that you could possibly provide? Or perhaps you've had one too many?"

The Third Prince, still in good spirits, suggested, "Brother Liu, if you're still sober, let's go for another round."

Liu Xingchang waved his hand dismissively, grinning as he spoke, "Third Prince, there's no need to divert the conversation. I assure you, I'm not drunk. The gift I have for you will certainly meet your approval!"

The Third Prince offered a slight smile in response. "Hearing you put it that way, I must admit, my curiosity is piqued. What exactly is this gift you plan to give me?"

Narrowing his eyes, Liu Xingchang enunciated each word with deliberate emphasis, "I have a method that can set you on the path of cultivation!"

At these words, the Third Prince shot to his feet, exclaiming, "What!"

In a world dominated by Cultivators, the Third Prince's inability to cultivate effectively halved his chances of ascending to the throne. Despite being the emperor's favorite, the Third Prince's innate lack of a Spirit Sea was an undeniable flaw.

Given the opportunity to cultivate, the Third Prince would willingly give up all his amassed wealth!

Qing Bai and Qing Yi were visibly shaken and asked, "Liu Xingchang, do you truly mean what you say?"

"Absolutely," he affirmed, "but..."

Leaning in, Liu Xingchang whispered to the Third Prince, "In helping you, you must also do me a favor... It is only proper to return a kindness, a concept you are no doubt familiar with."

"I will trust you this once," the Third Prince declared, gripping Liu Xingchang's hand firmly, leaning in to listen closely, and then nodding in agreement after a brief exchange.

...

The following day dawned with the Third Prince, his mind preoccupied with Liu Xingchang's promise, having rushed back to the Royal Capital through the night.

Qing Bai and Qing Yi, having overindulged in drink, opted to stay with Liu Xingchang at the mine.

Nursing their hangovers, the trio vowed to never drink so heavily again. They gathered around the table, sipping porridge to soothe their throbbing heads.

Xun Tong chuckled, "Back in my army days, we'd drink far more than this. We'd swig straight from the jar—using bowls was considered too pedestrian."

Waving her delicate hand, Qing Yi pleaded, "Thank goodness we only used bowls. If we'd drunk from jars, I might not have lived to see today's sun."

The room erupted in laughter at her remark.

At that moment, one of Xun Tong's men escorted a servant from the Liu Family into the main tent and announced, "Commander, this individual claims to be a servant from the Liu Family and has urgent matters to report to the Patriarch."

Liu Xingchang recognized the servant and immediately gestured, "Ah, it's Ading. What brings you here? What's the matter?"

Upon seeing Liu Xingchang, Ading quickly blurted out with urgency, "Patriarch, there's trouble. Tian Daigan has returned!"

"Tian Daigan?"

Liu Xingchang paused briefly, then responded, "The eldest son of the Dai Family? One of the renowned Eight Young Masters of the Royal Capital? So he's back, what's the big deal?"

Ading replied with concern, "He's taken a seat at the Phoenix Restaurant and has declared that any Cultivator willing to join the Dai Family will receive a quantity of Spirit Mark Runes corresponding to their level. Many independent cultivators have already joined him! The Great Elder warned that once Tian Daigan's forces grow to a certain size, it will inevitably harm the Liu Family!"

Qing Bai furrowed his brow and added, "Tian Daigan was selected as one of the Eight Young Masters of the Royal Capital precisely because he's a Rune Master. A Rune Master is a revered profession, capable of crafting Spirit Mark Runes. They're scarce throughout the Royal Capital, and their emergence always sparks a scramble among the powers to recruit them. Even our Prime Minister's Mansion has only one Rune Master."

Xun Tong frowned, expressing concern, "This complicates matters. The Liu Family doesn't appear to have a Rune Master."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xingchang was momentarily taken aback, but then a sly smile formed on his lips.

A Rune Master?

How formidable are they?

Ironically, in my past life, not only was I the preeminent Sword God of the Northern Polar Heaven Domain, but I also held the title of the top Rune Master there.

Want to dabble in Spirit Mark Runes, do you? Well then, I'll join the game!

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