“Wow! So Big!”

Luo Qiqi exclaimed as they entered the gates of their new home.

Feeling Smug, Ikasa teasingly asked Luo Qiqi, “Do You believe your Brother Ikasa is rich now?”

“No.”

And she left to catch up with the others.

“You little devil…” Ikasa called out to her with mock anger. The only reply he got was 😝.

“Don’t take her mischief to heart. She is just trying to cover her emotions while trying to be happy-go-lucky. She has gotten so used to playing truant, that she has actually become naughty.”

Xin Ruo, who was walking with Ikasa, explained.

“You don’t have to be so careful with me. I understand these kids. I lost my parents early in my life too. Even though I didn’t grow up in an environment as harsh as yours, I have had my share of problems.”

Xin Ruo looked at Ikasa, surprised by his confession. Ikasa was staring straight ahead, avoiding eye contact. He didn’t want her sympathy. Right now, he wanted her to see him as someone she didn’t need to guard against.

Soon everyone was settled in their new home. Their disbelief had turned into excitement. Ikasa gave everyone time to adjust to their new surroundings. He himself also needed time to get used to this new house.

It was also his first day here after all!

When the sun rose the next day, everyone was gathered on the grounds. The Kids were looking forward to the Cultivation manuals Ikasa had promised them.

But Ikasa was nowhere to be seen. They could only perform their exercise half-heartedly.

Meanwhile, Ikasa had already used today’s chance to get one more copy of [Dumb Belle’s Guide to Strength]. He lovingly caressed the stack of seven books, all of which were the cultivation manuals.

Then he heard the commotion from the training grounds. Under the soft glow of the Sun, the kids were practicing the punching routine diligently.

“Since Feng Yan is not around I thought these kids would grow lax and stop training. I am glad that is not the case.” Ikasa murmured as he sipped his morning cup of tea.

Then he looked at the stack of Manuals on his desk.

“I guess I should prepare a spectacular advertisement for my product”

–

When the kids returned sweaty and tired from exercise, they were greeted by a delicious smell wafting from the kitchen.

The kids looked at each other. They had similar greedy looks in their eyes. Just when they were about to sneak into the kitchen to steal food, Ikasa spotted them.

“Go wash up first! Then come and join me for breakfast in the dining room.”

Yan Xiao turned red while Chu Qing had a defiant look in his eyes. Pei Yuan was stoic as ever. But Luo Qiqi clicked her tongue in annoyance as she followed the other kids to their rooms.

“Tsk, Spoilsport” Ikasa heard her whisper as she passed by his side.

‘This Tsundere!’

Ikasa noticed the absence of Xin Ruo and Hei Ying. So he wandered to the training grounds looking for them. There, he saw them sparring. Xin Ruo’s moves were unorthodox as she dodged Hei Ying’s punches.

‘Eh, why do those punching movements look familiar?’

Hei Ying was going low and suddenly punching up rapidly.

“That Punch! That looks like the Gazelle Punch!”

Ikasa looked with astonishment as Xin Ruo trained Hei Ying while correcting her flaws. He decided to seek out Hei Ying later to learn from her experience and returned without disturbing the duo.

Soon Hei Ying and Xin Ruo finished their training. They too freshened up and joined Ikasa at the dining table.

The breakfast was a thick porridge of semolina cooked with tomatoes, onions, and chilies.

The meat was a luxury as Animal Husbandry had not developed well. But tomatoes and chilies grew in the backyard while Onions were a specialty product of Sal City’s Farmlands.

When Ikasa ate a spoonful of the dish, he was reminded of the ‘Upma’ he had in India during his travels. All this dish lacked was a few peanuts to make it complete.

Ikasa was glad to see kids enjoy their food as they dived in with a complete lack of table manners. When Ikasa’s eyes met Xin Ruo, she gave an embarrassed smile as she clumsily tried to emulate Ikasa’s actions of eating with a spoon.

Everyone only stopped when the food prepared was finished. The Caretaker looked aghast as the kids emptied even the extra portions he had prepared for himself and his family.

The full stomachs lulled everyone on the table into silence. Then Chu Qing’s burp broke it causing everyone smiled.

“How are we supposed to advertise for you?”

“When are you giving me the manual you promised?”

Hei Ying and Luo Qiqi spoke at the same time. Hei Ying’s tone was polite and that of gratitude, while Luo Qiqi was one rude brat who was acting spoiled.

‘This Brat! She may be the cutest one of these kids but if I don’t correct her rudeness, she will provoke endless troubles for me.’

He pointedly ignored Luo Qiqi and addressed Hei Ying.

“Today is the weekly market day. You kids just need to dress well and follow my instructions after we head there. So get ready and meet me by the entrance in an hour.” And then Ikasa stood up to leave.

“Hey, what about my Manual?” Luo Qiqi immediately demanded loudly.

Ikasa still didn’t look at her but he answered.

“I don’t like to speak to rude brats. Maybe if you asked politely…”

When he still didn’t hear anything after a few seconds, he decisively started walking toward his room.

“Stupid Uncle. Just say you don’t have the manual if you don’t have it. Why pretend?”

Ikasa almost stopped and lashed out, but he controlled himself. If he had a System, he would get notifications like;

[You have been taunted.]

[With great mental fortitude, you have overcome the taunts’ effects.]

–

Almost every city in the Holy Wood Empire had a day for weekly markets. These Markets were special as Merchants from neighboring cities, Villagers from nearby villages as well as Adventurers; all gathered to sell their wares.

Merchants traded in the specialty products of the cities they traveled from. Villagers sold excess farm produce and some crude handicrafts. And Adventurers sold animal carcasses or live animals they managed to capture.

Thus, weekly markets were the only place where commoners could get meat and specialty products.

Ikasa and his group attracted the attention of marketgoers because of their clothes. He stood at the intersection where the three lanes of the marketplace met.

He distributed the one cultivation manual each to the kids and asked them to use the manuals on his signal.

He then stood on a makeshift stage made of wooden boxes and started attracting the attention of people.

“Attention all Market Goers. I welcome you all to see a revolutionary Cultivation Manual that lets you break through to the Path Forging Realm as soon as you use it!”

People were intrigued by Ikasa’s claims and a crowd soon formed around Ikasa and his entourage.

“Do you think such a miraculous thing exists?”

“I think he is just making tall claims.”

“But see his confidence. I don’t think he is faking it.”

“All Conmen are good at exuding confidence. Don’t fall for it.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I am just here to watch the spectacle!”

Ikasa could hear the whispers and murmurs from the crowd. Rather than believing, more people were skeptical of his claims.

Ikasa’s lips curled upwards as he saw the numerous adventurers and merchants in the crowd gathered.

“Don’t believe my words. Believe your eyes! These four children have yet to set foot on the path of cultivation.”

Immediately Luo Qiqi, Yan Xiao, Chu Qing, and Pei Yuan stood up.

“If any of the veteran Path Forgers are present here, please come on stage and help me verify my claims.”

Soon a few people stepped up. Two were very well built middle-aged men and the other two were older men with greying hair and pot bellies.

All four of them had checked the pulses of each one of the kids for signs of energy path. Then one of the older men with a potbelly stepped forward.

“I, Su Ma of Horse Trading Group concur with this gentleman’s claims. These children are ordinary mortals who have yet to step on the path of cultivation.”

The name Su Ma immediately caused the crowd to go wild.

“Horse Trading group? The only supplier of Horse Beasts in our County?”

“Wow! Look at his belly! He must be a bigshot in the Group!”

The other three men also backed Ikasa and Su Ma. Each one of these people had a great identity but was not as illustrious as Su Ma. Ikasa let the whispers die down.

With an excited expression and exaggerated gestures, he pointed toward the children.

“What you are going to witness now is nothing short of a miracle! As soon as these children learn from my cultivation manual, they will immediately become Path Forging Realm Cultivators.”

Ikasa signaled the kids to open their manuals.

*Swoosh*

One after another, vortexes formed around the kids fluttering their clothes and giving them a radiant glow. Ikasa watched the gaping mouths of spectators with glee.

‘This demonstration is going to spread my name in every nook and cranny of this city and even some surrounding cities.’

As soon as the glow subsided, he took the stage.

“These Kids have stepped into the Path Forging Realm.”

Ikasa’s words broke the silence. People still couldn’t believe their eyes.

“I invite the Seniors to check the realm of the kids again.”

Even before Ikasa had finished his words, Su Ma was before Yan Xiao, checking his pulse. Other dignitaries were also before other kids.

“They… They have really forged a path for energy!”

With fervent eyes, Su Ma turned his gaze towards Ikasa.

“You… How did You…?”

Everyone had their eyes now on Ikasa. The happenings at the intersection had attracted the attention of other market-goers as well.

With a smirk, Ikasa started to advertise his product.

“This was possible only due to my single-use cultivation manual. This manual works for every mortal. Today I will sell two of these amazing manuals to the highest bidder. Please show your appreciation.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep