Chapter Twenty-Five: A Bargain with Father

It is worth mentioning that although the skill points within this skill stone function identically to those he earned by completing storylines in the instance realms, there is a subtle difference in their essence. The skill points gained from instance storylines are personal and cannot be traded. The skill stones he just obtained, however, are condensed from the harvesting of the instance domain’s very source by the master of the instance realm. These are tradable resources, generally valued at one gold coin per point.

Yet such valuable items are always in short supply. The ten skill points he now possessed could easily fetch more than twelve gold coins if sold. This was one of the advantages of having a family backing him. The family owned several small instance realms, and at the end of every year, when the domain’s source power was reaped, a large amount of rare resources could be condensed—such as skill points, free attribute points, and so forth.

Leaving the ancestral hall, Chu Cheng returned straight to his branch of the family residence, sending a message to his father along the way:

“Father, I’ve returned.”

It was quite a while before Chu Huaisheng replied coldly:

“Is there something you need?”

“I have something I wish to discuss with you.”

“…I’m at home.”

And that was all—just a few indifferent words, as if they were strangers.

This calm tone only strengthened Chu Cheng’s resolve: to take one last benefit from his miserly father, then become self-reliant.

Of course, this didn’t mean leaving the family or severing the father-son relationship; it was simply an opportunity to profit. Truthfully, whether the father-son relationship endured was of little importance—what mattered more was the value of the family connection.

Regardless of his relationship with his father, as a member of the family, he would always enjoy its protection and certain benefits. Awakening his talent earned him one gift package; successfully advancing to elite class at level thirty would bring another, and reaching extraordinary class at fifty would have the family’s support as well.

These were extra advantages that required little from him—he’d be a fool to give them up.

Of course, nothing in the world comes free. The family’s generosity would all have to be repaid in time. Should he become extraordinary one day, it would fall to him to protect the family in return, a responsibility he could not shirk in times of crisis.

But that wasn’t really a problem. By the time he reached extraordinary status, he’d have enough power to shape his own fate. If the family faced a crisis within his ability to resolve, he would act; if it was beyond him, even the family elders wouldn’t let him take the risk.

By then, he would be the family’s mainstay—the elders would hardly be willing to send him into danger.

Lost in thought, he soon arrived at the familiar courtyard.

It was a three-part courtyard villa: the main building stood three stories tall, with two-story side wings on either side. Inside, there was a garden, stone bridges, and flowing water—a place of exquisite beauty.

Chu Cheng had grown up here, but what should have been familiar now felt strangely alien.

Passing through the hanging-flower gate, his gaze swept across the broad courtyard and instantly fell on his cheap old man, Chu Huaisheng, who was sitting in the main hall talking to his stepmother.

He strode across the courtyard, climbed the steps to the main hall, where the man turned to face him, revealing a countenance much like Chu Cheng’s own, but more mature. At his side sat an elegant woman.

His two half-brothers were not present—they were likely at school. Several years younger than Chu Cheng, they had not yet reached the age to condense their law-bodies and were still engaged in cultural studies.

Chu Cheng stepped forward and called out in a deep voice:

“Father! Aunt Li!”

Chu Huaisheng looked at his son with an expressionless face and asked impatiently, “If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

Chu Cheng sneered inwardly, and without preamble, said, “I have now completed my class transfer, but with the college entrance exams in just over six months—which are crucial for my future—I have come today to ask for your support with some resources.”

Chu Huaisheng pondered for a moment before asking, “How much do you want, and of what?”

Chu Cheng glanced at his stepmother, who was secretly tugging at his father’s sleeve, then replied impassively, “I am willing to renounce all rights of inheritance.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than he saw the astonished, barely contained delight on his stepmother’s face, and her furtive tugging at her husband’s sleeve.

Chu Huaisheng was also visibly surprised, his face showing emotion for the first time as he lapsed into thought for nearly half a minute before asking, “Are you sure? You are my legitimate son in this branch—your future inheritance would include a five percent share of the profits from one of the family’s small instance realms. That’s not an insignificant income.”

Chu Cheng answered with unwavering resolve, “I’ve made up my mind.”

After all, there was no guarantee he would inherit what was promised; when interests were at stake, even fathers and sons might turn against each other. Better to secure a good deal now, before things soured.

By taking his share, Chu Huaisheng would no longer be caught between his eldest son and his wife, and his stepmother would get what she wanted—a win for all three.

There was little more to say. Chu Huaisheng took him to the ancestral hall to handle the formalities.

Such matters had to go through the ancestral hall, registered with the family elders to serve as notarization, preventing either party from reneging.

The elders were surprised by their request but not shocked—everyone in the family knew their situation.

After routine questioning to confirm both parties’ intent, an elder drew up a formal document of distribution in triplicate, with one copy kept in the ancestral archives.

An hour later, Chu Cheng received ten gold coins and twenty skill stones.

This certainly didn’t compare to the income from a five percent share of a small instance realm, but inheritance rights didn’t guarantee actual inheritance; if his father was set on denying him, he’d get nothing. Being able to walk away with resources worth about thirty gold coins was already quite satisfactory.

With twenty skill points from the stones, added to his previous savings, he now had thirty skill points—enough to raise two skills to a very high level.

With the resources in hand, Chu Cheng felt relieved.

Now he could focus on developing himself and try to close the gap with the likes of Li Weilong and the others.

He’d already noticed during their previous team-up that they not only had luxurious equipment but also powerful skills—not only more in number but higher in level as well.

Despite possessing a formidable talent and two extraordinary specialties, he hadn’t outperformed them by much; in fact, other than his overpowered talent for farming mobs, they were even stronger when it came to boss fights.

Their basic attacks and bursts were both extremely powerful. Their survivability was not lacking either, with much higher health and defense than the other students.

They had only transferred classes three major lessons earlier than he had. Without family support, it would have been impossible to create such a wide gap in that short time.

“But that was all in the past.”

Thirty skill points would significantly close the gap, and ten gold coins would allow him to buy a whole set of high-level gear—even a piece of rare red-grade equipment.

Chu Cheng didn’t linger at home long—just two days before he returned to school.

Back in the dormitory, the first thing he did was—not study, but seek out his homeroom teacher to buy two skills.

This was a special privilege for the most elite students in the class: intermediate skills at two gold coins each.

Duan Yuqin asked nothing, simply sent him a form listing not only skills, but also various equipment and items, with several pieces of rare red-quality gear included.

Lounging on his bed, Chu Cheng opened the form and began to browse through it slowly.