My Celestial Ascension

The crimson red gemstones caught Yuan's attention, and he couldn't help but feel the abundant spiritual energy emanating from them.

"Magnificent," Yuan muttered, his voice filled with awe. "These gemstones are radiating an incredible amount of spiritual energy."

[Host, you're mistaken. These are not gemstones but monster cores from the Nine Heavens. Most of them are Level One Spirit Master realm monster cores, which hold significant value.] Said Nora. 

"Monster cores? I didn't expect to find such treasures here."

[Monster cores are primarily used for cultivation and can also be utilized in alchemy. When a monster above the Spirit Apprentice realm is slain, there is a 10 percent chance it possesses a monster core within its body.] Nora enlightens Yuan about the significance of monster cores.

Yuan's gaze shifted back to the stall, his mind buzzing with possibilities. The allure of the monster cores and their potential benefits for their cultivation journey beckoned to him.

"But how did these monster cores from the Nine Heavens end up here? There are no cultivators apart from the six of us in this city." Yuan's curiosity grew.

[That is the question. It seems peculiar that such valuable items have made their way here. There must be a story behind it.] Nora said. 

Yuan's two mothers, Anna and Grace, his elder sister Lily, and his beloved Xi Meili felt the powerful spiritual energy radiating from the monster cores. 

Xi Meili, recognizing the significance of these cores from her inherited memories, approached Yuan with a beaming smile.

"Hubby, we've struck gold!" Xi Meili exclaimed. 

"These are monster cores, and they're all above the fifth level of the Spirit Warrior realm. We must buy them all. They hold immense value for our cultivation."

"I agree. These monster cores can greatly reduce our cultivation time and efforts. We should acquire them." Yuan nodded, fully aware of the benefits these monster cores would bring. 

Before them lay a total of 350 monster cores. Among them, 50 were first-level Spirit Master realm monster cores, while 100 were eighth-level Spirit Warrior realm cores. 

The remaining 200 were sixth-level Spirit Warrior realm cores. The abundance of resources would undoubtedly accelerate their cultivation progress, saving them significant time and effort.

The stall owner, noticing the young man and the beauties accompanying him showing interest in his array of gemstones, greeted them with a friendly smile.

"Welcome, dear guests," the stall owner said. 

"I see you have an eye for quality. These gemstones are indeed extraordinary. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to ask."

"We intend to purchase all the gemstones you have here. Please let us know the total cost." Xi Meili, spoke up, her eyes shining with determination. 

The stall owner's smile widened, impressed by their decisiveness. "Certainly, madam. The total cost for the 350 monster cores would be 500 gold coins."

"We will take them all. Here are the 500 gold coins." Yuan said. 

As Yuan handed over the coins, the stall owner's smile widened. However, unknown to Yuan, the stall owner had a sly smirk hidden behind his facade. 

The stall owner muttered to himself, 'What a fool, paying 500 gold coins for these useless stones.'

Nonetheless, the stall owner maintained his pleasant demeanor and expressed gratitude. 

"Thank you for your patronage. I hope these gemstones bring you great fortune." The stall owner said with a delighted smile. 

With the transaction completed, Yuan stored the acquired monster cores in his system storage, causing the stall owner to look on with a puzzled expression. The cores vanished into thin air before his eyes, leaving him bewildered.

"By the way, can you tell us where you obtained these gemstones?" Yuan, curious about the origins of the gemstones, decided to inquire further. 

The old man hesitated and scratched the back of his head, indicating that he wasn't willing to reveal the information for free. He pondered for a moment, considering Yuan's request.

'What a cunning old man... ' Seeing the hesitation, Yuan let out a sigh and took out 10 additional gold coins, placing them on the counter. 

"Now, can you please tell me?" Yuan asked, holding out the additional coins as an incentive.

The stall owner's eyes gleamed with greed as he gladly accepted the extra payment. 

"Ah, very well. These gemstones were obtained from a very ancient ruin, located a hundred kilometers to the north, deep within the Teldrassil Forest. It's a perilous journey, but the rewards are worth it." The stall owner said. 

Yuan and his wives exchanged intrigued glances, realizing the potential value of the information they had just acquired.

"Thank you for sharing the location. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have much to attend to." Yuan nodded, satisfied with the response. 

As Yuan and his wives turned to leave, the stall owner's smile widened. He knew he had made a considerable profit from the seemingly worthless gemstones.

Anna observed Yuan and Xi Meili with a curious expression, and spoke, "Those gemstones are quite remarkable. They radiated an immense amount of spiritual energy. You two must know something about them, considering you purchased all of them for 500 gold coins." 

"And to top it off, you even offered an extra 10 gold coins just to learn their origin from that greedy stall owner."

"Actually, those aren't gemstones, Mom. They are monster cores, and they hold immense value for our cultivation. Monster cores can greatly enhance our cultivation speed, allowing us to progress at a much faster pace. They are highly sought-after resources among cultivators." Yuan explained. 

"That's right, Sister Anna. Monster cores are remnants left behind by powerful monsters. They contain concentrated spiritual energy and are crucial for our cultivation advancement. By absorbing the energy within these cores, our progress will be accelerated, and our strength will grow exponentially." Xi Meili said. 

"So, these monster cores are the reason behind their extraordinary spiritual energy. No wonder you both were so eager to acquire them. It seems we have stumbled upon a rare opportunity to expedite our cultivation journeys." Exclaimed Anna, as her eyes winded in realization. 

"Indeed, Mom. With these monster cores, we can reduce the time and effort required to cultivate. It's an invaluable resource that will benefit all of us greatly."

Grace joined the conversation, her eyes filled with anticipation. And she said, "Just imagine the progress we will make with these monster cores. Our strength will increase, and we'll be better equipped to face any challenges that come our way."

Emma, Lily, and Xi Meili nodded in agreement, their excitement evident. 

"It's a blessing to have found such valuable resources. With these monster cores, we can unlock new heights in our cultivation journeys." Emma added. 

As Yuan pondered the stall owner's mention of an ancient ruin, a thought crossed his mind. 

'The ruin mentioned by that old geezer... It's possible that it could be somehow connected to the so-called Nine Heavens in the past.' Yuan thought. 

[That's a possibility indeed!] Nora exclaimed. 

'We will know about it once we explore the ruin ourselves. I hope that I can find a way to go back to earth... I wonder what Lulu is doing now over there... Sigh!' Yuan thought. 

A few moments later, the group entered the elegant tavern known as "Silver Dine," they found themselves a vacant table and settled down, ready to indulge in the city's finest cuisine. 

The atmosphere was lively, filled with the clinking of glasses and the pleasant murmur of conversations.

Not too far away, a young man adorned in attire made from rare-time fabric caught sight of Anna, Grace, Emma, Lily, and Xi Meili. His eyes widened in awe as he observed their captivating beauty. 

A twinge of jealousy stirred within him as he noticed Yuan's presence with such exquisite companions.

Unable to resist his curiosity, the young man decided to approach the group.

"Greetings, fair ladies. My name is Adrian, and I couldn't help but be drawn to your unparalleled beauty. I would be honored if you would accompany me for a delightful meal." Said Adrian. 

However, instead of responding with warmth or interest, the group met his request with a cold expression of disdain. They didn't even spare a glance in his direction, making it clear that his advances were unwelcome.

"We appreciate the offer, but we have already made plans for the evening. Excuse us." replied Anna, with a hint of annoyance in her voice. 

"We have no desire to dine with strangers." said Emma. 

"We prefer the company of our own."Lily added, her voice tinged with irritation as she said. 

Xi Meili, her expression aloof, simply nodded in agreement, not bothering to entertain the young man's advances.

"This..." Taken aback by their cold rejection, Adrian's face reddened with embarrassment.

Adrian, undeterred, insisted on his invitation. "But surely, such beauty deserves to be admired and pampered. Allow me to show you the finer things in life. It would be my honor to share this experience with you."

'What a thick skin...' Anna, Grace, Lily, Emma, and Xi Meili thought with a disgusted expression. 

"We appreciate your intentions, but we have no need for your company. Kindly leave us be." Said Grace, with her icy tone. 

Undeterred by their cold response, Adrian persisted, his voice filled with determination. "Please reconsider. I assure you, this meal would be unforgettable, and I would prove myself a worthy companion."

Yuan, who had been observing the exchange, decided to intervene. 

"We prefer to enjoy our meal in the company of our trusted companions. Your persistence is becoming disrespectful." Yuan said with a hint of killing intent. 

Adrian's face flushed with frustration, but he quickly composed himself. 

"Very well. If that is your final decision, I shall respect it. However, should you change your mind, I'll be here, ready to offer you an experience you won't forget."

With that, Adrian retreated back to his table, his eyes still lingering on the group. 

Yuan, Anna, Grace, Emma, Lily, and Xi Meili turned their attention to their own conversation, dismissing his presence entirely.