Chapter 48: Legacy Investments and the Weight of Expectations
Legacy Investments and the Weight of Expectations
[Ding! The current target can trigger a Gold-grade Legacy Investment return!]
[Invest a Rare-grade Spirit Gathering Pill → Obtain the Legendary-grade Celestial Guardian Pill!]
[Invest a Rare-grade Treasure Artifact → Obtain the Legendary-grade Sovereign Starblade!]
[Allow the target to comprehend Sword Intent → Obtain the Supreme Sword Scripture: Heavenbreaker Eternal Sword Canon!]
[Ding! The current target can trigger a Purple-grade Legacy Investment return!]
[Allow the target to comprehend Reincarnation Intent → Obtain the Legendary-grade Eternal Soul Beacon!]
[Invest a Rare-grade Tranquil Spirit Pill → Obtain the Legendary-grade Eternal Soul Origin Pill!]
Listening to the familiar notifications of the Eternal Legacy System, the corners of Victor’s lips curved upward ever so slightly.
His golden eyes quietly shifted toward Damien Salvatore and Nux.
The warmth in his gaze became even more obvious.
After all...
The wool truly came from the sheep.
Using the wool gathered from the sheep to make the sheep themselves stronger...
What could possibly be more satisfying than that?
It was a perfect cycle.
The stronger his family became, the greater the rewards the Eternal Legacy System returned to him.
And the stronger he became through those rewards, the more he could nurture the Salvatore Family.
Everyone benefited.
Victor naturally had no reason to be stingy.
The two young men, meanwhile, had no idea why the Patriarch was suddenly smiling at them.
They instinctively straightened their backs.
Victor slowly walked toward them.
The morning breeze gently stirred the hem of his black robe embroidered with golden dragons while sunlight filtered through the surrounding trees, scattering patches of golden light across the courtyard.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Birdsong echoed softly in the distance.
Even Elder Black remained silently standing several steps behind Victor like an ancient guardian who had existed since the beginning of time.
Looking at the two youngsters still arguing with one another, Victor smiled faintly.
"Why are you two making such a racket this early in the morning?"
The moment they heard his voice...
Both immediately stopped arguing.
"Patriarch!"
"Patriarch!"
The two respectfully bowed.
Victor casually waved his hand.
"There is no need for such formalities."
Only after they straightened did he continue speaking.
"You are both Qilins of the Salvatore Family."
"You should encourage one another and grow together."
His gaze first landed on Damien.
"Little Damien has already reached Peak Mortal Forging."
"Very good."
"Keep working hard."
"As a genius of the Salvatore Family, you naturally won’t lack cultivation resources."
"Take this."
As his words fell, a delicate jade box quietly appeared in his palm.
The box emitted a faint medicinal fragrance even before it was opened.
Victor extended it toward Damien.
For a brief moment...
Damien stood frozen.
His expression became slightly complicated.
The cultivation techniques Victor had previously bestowed upon him—the Four Seasons Hidden Spring Scripture and other priceless inheritances—had already left him deeply indebted.
He had never expected to receive even more.
Unlike an ordinary child...
He was the reincarnation of the former Quick-witted Lord.
Even without relying on the family’s resources, he possessed countless cultivation methods accumulated over two lifetimes.
With the Eternal Tribulation Sword assisting him...
His future path would never be ordinary.
The Salvatore Family had only recently begun rising.
Every cultivation resource was precious.
In Damien’s opinion...
Those resources should be distributed to disciples who needed them more than he did.
He instinctively wanted to refuse.
Just as he opened his mouth...
Victor’s calm voice suddenly echoed directly within his mind.
"No matter what happens..."
"The Salvatore Family stands behind you."
"And behind the Salvatore Family..."
"Stands me."
"Little Damien..."
"All you need to do is what a child should do."
The words were calm.
Simple.
Yet they struck directly into the deepest corner of Damien’s heart.
His eyes trembled slightly.
That’s right...
There was no longer any Quick-witted Lord in this world.
That legendary assassin had already died.
Only Damien Salvatore remained.
A mischievous thirteen-year-old boy.
A child protected by his family.
Someone who finally had a place he could truly call home.
An indescribable warmth quietly spread through his chest.
At the same time...
Embarrassment surfaced on his face.
The Patriarch probably saw through my identity as a reincarnator long ago...
He sighed inwardly.
The memory of awkwardly inventing the story about an old beggar to explain the Heavenly Secret Realm suddenly resurfaced.
Looking back now...
It was unbelievably clumsy.
Victor had probably understood everything from the very beginning and simply chose not to expose him.
Thinking of that made Damien wish he could disappear into the ground.
He quietly accepted the jade box with both hands.
"Thank you for your reward, Patriarch."
Victor nodded slightly.
"Mm."
A moment later, another flash of light appeared in his hand.
An elegant longsword slowly emerged.
Its blade reflected the morning sunlight with a cold brilliance.
Faint spiritual patterns flowed naturally across its surface, while an ancient aura quietly radiated from the weapon.
"You possess some talent in the sword path."
"You’re clever enough that continuing to use a wooden sword would be wasteful."
"Take this sword for now."
The instant the weapon appeared...
Damien’s pupils contracted violently.
"A Rare-grade treasure artifact?!"
His breathing unconsciously became heavier.
Weapons of this level were incredibly valuable.
Before the Salvatore Family absorbed the Ashthorn Family and the Ravencreast Family...
The entire clan had possessed only a single treasure artifact.
Even after absorbing both families’ wealth...
Their total number had only increased to five.
Such a precious weapon...
Would undoubtedly create greater value in Victor’s own hands than in the hands of a thirteen-year-old junior.
That was Damien’s first thought.
Then...
His gaze unintentionally shifted toward Elder Black.
The black-robed veteran remained standing silently behind Victor.
The moment Damien saw him clearly...
His entire body stiffened.
A forgotten memory from his previous life suddenly surged into his mind like a violent tidal wave.
His fingers trembled almost imperceptibly.
This person...
This person...
His breathing slowed.
His heartbeat quickened.
Recognition flashed deep within his eyes.
He vaguely remembered hearing legends of such an existence during his previous life.
An ancient figure...
A nameless veteran...
A terrifying swordsman whose history had long been buried beneath endless years.
Although the memory remained incomplete...
One thing became absolutely certain.
The old man before him was no ordinary guardian.
He respectfully lowered his head.
Then accepted the sword with both hands.
"A gift from the Patriarch cannot be refused."
Almost simultaneously...
The familiar voice of the Eternal Legacy System echoed inside Victor’s mind once again.
[Ding! Legacy Investment successful!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Legendary-grade Supreme Treasure: Sovereign Starblade!]
[Ding! Legacy Investment successful!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Legendary-grade Supreme Pill: Celestial Guardian Pill!]
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