The next morning, Song Clan village.
The scent of polished steel and aged wood filled the air as the siblings stepped into the bustling heart of Song Village's weapon shop. Rows of gleaming weapons lined the walls, while cultivators browsed and bartered, their auras flickering like restless flames.
A middle-aged clerk in a simple gray robe approached with a courteous smile.
"Good morning. How can I assist you, sirs, madam?"
Asier stepped forward, expression sharp and composed.
"We're here to sell some materials—and purchase weapons."
The clerk's brows rose with mild interest.
"What sort of materials?"
Nika hefted a large sack onto the counter. The polished glint of Windy Boar tusks peeked through the opening.
"Tusks and fur," he said simply.
At first, the clerk's excitement dimmed—Windy Boar parts were common in the region. But when Asier spoke again, the tone shifted.
"We have one hundred and eighty tusks at forty centimeters, six at sixty centimeters, ninety six sets of light green fur, three dark green... and the tusks and fur of a Hundred Beasts King Windy Boar."
The clerk froze. His smile vanished. Only the faintest tremble in his fingers betrayed his shock.
"P-Please wait here. I'll call the head manager."
He rushed off in a near-stumble.
The siblings were soon escorted to a private room on the upper floor, its atmosphere refined. A portly man in a deep blue robe sipped tea alongside a striking young woman dressed in elegant crimson.
"My apologies for the earlier oversight," the man said, rising. "I'm Elder Bong Song, and this is Lady Penelope Song, daughter of the Song Clan's Leader."
The trio bowed with immediate respect. Lady Penelope—poised, graceful, and unmistakably powerful—returned their gesture with effortless dignity. Even without releasing her aura, her presence commanded attention.
"Thank you for your time, Elder Bong," she said, setting her cup down. "Don't forget our conversation." She nodded politely at the siblings and exited, a faint trace of perfume marking her departure.
As the door closed, Elder Bong's expression shifted to business.
"Let's see what you've brought."
Nika opened the sack. The gleaming tusks and vibrant furs spilled out across the table. Elder Bong's eyes lit up like gemstones under firelight.
"Impressive…" he murmured, examining the pile. "How did you come across all this?"
"Three months of hunting in the mountains," Asier answered calmly.
The explanation was simple and clean—enough to avoid suspicion, yet plausible. Still, Bong probed further.
"And the Hundred Beasts King?"
Ilargia's expression darkened slightly.
"We spent a month laying traps and preparing the terrain. Even with that, it nearly killed us."
That hint of vulnerability sealed the story's authenticity. Elder Bong nodded, satisfied.
"For the forty-centimeter tusks, I can offer three Elemental Stones each. That totals five hundred and eighty eight."
Asier's gaze was firm.
"We were hoping for six hundred and fifty."
After brief negotiations, they settled on nine hundred Elemental Stones for the standard tusks. Bong then turned to the rarer pieces.
"The sixty-centimeter tusks... five hundred stones apiece. That's fair."
"Done."
With the deal sealed, Elder Bong handed them a heavy pouch and a purple token adorned with the Song Clan insignia.
"This marks you as esteemed guests of the Song Clan. It grants you merchant privileges, discounted weaponry, and a single favor from the clan."
"Now," he said, standing, "let's see what kind of weapons suit your talents."
The second floor of the shop felt like a different world—quiet, refined, exclusive. Only a few cultivators browsed under the watchful eye of a lone senior clerk. The siblings fanned out.
Ilargia's eyes were drawn to a pair of twin daggers—one black, one white. Moonstone blades, hilts forged from Black Night Steel. Faint runes glowed along the edges, designed to absorb moonlight and amplify edge sharpness.
"They're exquisite, aren't they?" came a familiar voice.
Ilargia turned. Lady Penelope stood nearby, admiring the same blades.
"Too bad I don't use daggers," Penelope added with a soft smile.
"They suit me," Ilargia replied, her tone guarded but firm.
"Bong Song must've been impressed to hand you a purple token. He's usually stingier than a miser with his coin," Penelope said, clearly probing.
"We sold a few Wind Boar materials," Ilargia replied nonchalantly.
Lady Penelope smiled, reading between the lines but choosing not to press.
"I'm hosting a tea gathering next month. Discussion on the Law of the Elements, plus some friendly duels. I'd be honored if you and your brothers attended."
She handed Ilargia three finely embossed invitations.
"We'll do our best to attend," Ilargia said.
"Good. Strong cultivators always make things more interesting," Penelope said before walking away.
Ilargia watched her go, then turned as Nika and Asier rejoined her.
"What did she want?" Nika asked.
Ilargia held up the invitations.
"A tea party invitation. Duels and elemental theory."
Asier's gaze lingered on the exit.
"She's not just a socialite. Her cultivation's already at Bone Training Stage, and she doesn't act like someone handed everything to her."
"Still," Nika shrugged, "her father's a Semi Elemental Realm cultivator. She has every advantage."
"Perhaps," Asier murmured.
"Anyway," Ilargia asked, "did you find your weapons?"
Nika grinned and held up a gleaming, brutal long-axe.
"Gold and Sundust alloy. Has a formation that harnesses sunlight. Boosts strength with every swing."
Asier displayed a sleek longbow, almost whisper-thin but powerful.
"Crafted from Farseeing Tree and Exploding Spider thread. The quiver generates both poison and regular arrows. The bow's runes enhance vision, allow for explosive strikes, and even track energy signatures."
Ilargia nodded approvingly. "Perfect picks."
"Now we just need materials for the Bone Melting Formation," Nika said. "The Oier Clan book says it's the best path forward for bone tempering."
"We'll find them," Ilargia replied, eyes firm. "And then we'll break into the Bone Training Stage ourselves."
With new weapons strapped to their backs, and their pouches brimming with Elemental Stones, the siblings descended the stairs—each step a step closer to the next stage of their cultivation journey.
They had wealth. They had tools.
Now, it was time to evolve.