Dinner was extremely sumptuous, and Samanra and the others had also arrived.
“Where did you go?” Samanra asked as soon as she arrived. “We haven't seen you for days. Lina said you went treasure hunting?”
Everyone else also looked at Zhang Ye with curiosity written all over their faces.
Zhang Ye smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I went treasure hunting and found a massive treasure.”
Wasn't Hainowei the greatest treasure of all?
Copico immediately asked with curiosity, “What kind of treasure?”
Zhang Ye gave a mysterious smile and stretched out his hand. As everyone crowded around, he opened his palm. A tear-shaped crystal lay quietly in his hand, emitting a soft, gentle glow.
Since everyone came from prominent backgrounds and had seen much of the world, several of them recognized what it was on the spot.
“A... Water Spirit's Tear?!” Lina exclaimed in shock, and the others gasped in admiration.
However, Lina's gaze toward Zhang Ye quickly became a bit strange.
A Water Spirit's Tear, which means the tears of a water spirit... What on earth did Big Brother Ye do to that water spirit? Did he actually make her cry?
The others didn't notice Lina's expression. They simply stared at the beautiful Water Spirit's Tear, clicking their tongues in wonder.
“The last time a Water Spirit's Tear appeared was at the Holy Light Empire's royal auction house, and it sold for an astronomical price of 1.257 billion gold coins!” Copico said, swallowing hard.
Samanra also marveled, “A Water Spirit's Tear can immensely improve the latent talent and constitution of a water-attribute mage or warrior. It's said that whoever absorbs a Water Spirit's Tear—even if they're an ordinary person—is guaranteed to reach the Saint-tier!”
Hearing this, Zhang Ye finally got a general idea of how valuable this Water Spirit's Tear was.
No wonder Hainowei said humans loved these things.
Humans loved anything that could improve their latent talent; they would flock to it like moths to a flame!
Otherwise, the elves wouldn't have been driven to extinction.
Copico stared at the Water Spirit's Tear with burning eyes. He hurriedly said, “Big Brother Ye, can you... sell it to me... No, sell it to my family!”
“The Thomas family!”
To a water-attribute cultivator, a Water Spirit's Tear was nothing short of a sacred relic, and a legendary one that could only be found by pure luck!
With this Water Spirit's Tear, the Thomas family could produce another Saint-tier powerhouse, perhaps even a high-star Saint-tier. Or, it could drastically improve Copico's own talent, ensuring that as long as he didn't die young, he would become at least a Seven-star Saint-tier in the future!
They would sell everything they owned just to buy it!
Zhang Ye shook his head. “Sorry, Chips, but I'm not selling this Water Spirit's Tear.”
“Aw...” Copico's face instantly fell with disappointment. But refusing to give up, he quickly added, “1.5 billion! My family can put up 1.5 billion!”
Everyone gasped in shock.
1.5 billion! Even typical major families would find it difficult to produce that much liquid capital all at once.
This was only possible because Copico's family, though lacking in martial strength, possessed outstanding business acumen.
1.5 billion gold coins was enough to fund the development of an entire small nation.
Zhang Ye shook his head again. “It's not a matter of money.”
Everyone was shocked once more.
He wouldn't even sell it for 1.5 billion?!
Overwhelmed with curiosity, they desperately wanted to know what kind of decision would make Zhang Ye completely ignore 1.5 billion gold coins.
Zhang Ye gently closed his hand around the Water Spirit's Tear.
“I'm preparing a surprise for Big Nana, and this is the final step of that surprise.”
Hearing this, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of shock.
He was turning down 1.5 billion gold coins just for a surprise?!
Countless people, families, and financial groups would do absolutely anything for 1.5 billion, yet Zhang Ye cast it aside without a second thought?!
At this moment, only pure admiration remained in everyone's hearts.
Right then, a rich, magnetic voice echoed from behind them.
“Are you all here?”
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. Leona was standing right behind them, her gaze fixed intently on Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye's face lit up with joy. “Big Nana, you're here!”
“I heard you were back, so I came to make sure you weren't missing any arms or legs.” Leona walked over and reached out to ruffle Zhang Ye's hair.
Zhang Ye: “...”
As expected of Big Nana, she always has such sweet things to say!
Seeing Zhang Ye grin like an idiot, everyone finally understood why he loved ruffling other people's hair so much.
Perhaps in his mind, it was the ultimate symbol of affection.
“Didn't you say you were going to give me a surprise?” Leona looked into Zhang Ye's eyes, anticipation practically written all over her face.
Zhang Ye chuckled. “Let's eat first. I'll give it to you after dinner.”
Leona nodded. “Alright.”
Soon, the whole gang arrived, with even Talia and Paige in attendance.
“Where have you been these past few days? Things are practically in an uproar at the guild. Everyone is clamoring for you to host a concert,” Talia said at the dining table.
Zhang Ye chuckled and nodded. “I'll host a concert tomorrow evening. Help me apply for a venue.”
Talia nodded. “No problem. The academy has already sent down word that as long as you want to hold a concert, the Grand Dueling Platform is yours to use whenever you like.”
“Your songs don't just have an incredible unifying power, they also guide people to be positive, while helping students improve and consolidate their cultivation. Because of this amazing positive influence, the academy has already granted you an all-access pass!” Talia said with a smile.
Zhang Ye was instantly delighted. Having the academy's full support was naturally the best outcome possible.
Everyone ate this dinner with immense satisfaction.
During the days Zhang Ye was away, they could only eat at the cafeteria. Compared to Zhang Ye's cooking, the cafeteria food was practically miles apart.
Getting to eat his cooking again today, Renomon polished off five bowls of rice in a row, completely unable to stop!
Once they were full, Zhang Ye bid everyone a quick farewell and pulled Leona out of the dorms.
“So mysterious,” Leona said with a laugh, looking at the excited Zhang Ye.
“It's a surprise, so of course it has to be mysterious!” Zhang Ye grinned. Then, holding Leona's soft little hand, he soared up into the high sky.
By now, the sun had already set, and a beautiful river of stars blanketed the night sky.
The two of them stood high in the air, gazing out at the gorgeous night sky.
Zhang Ye sighed with emotion. “In my world, I've never seen such a beautiful starry sky.”
Leona asked, “Why?”
“The heavy smog of the cities completely blackened the night, blocking out the starlight,” Zhang Ye said softly. “So...”
“I'm so glad that I could come to this world.”
“And I'm so glad that I met you.”
Leona gazed at him, a flush of red coloring her breathtakingly beautiful face. She felt as though something was about to happen.
It was a feeling she had never experienced before, yet found herself anticipating.
Zhang Ye pulled out an exquisitely crafted wooden gift box, clearly handmade by himself.
“These are some snacks I made for you. You can eat them whenever you're bored,” Zhang Ye said.
Leona took it and opened it. The box was packed to the brim with snacks, neatly separated by small compartments and magic barriers. There was a wide variety, and half of them were spicy.
Zhang Ye knew that Leona loved spicy food.
Leona gladly accepted it and smiled. “Is this the surprise you had for me?”
Zhang Ye shook his head. “No.”
He pulled out an even more exquisite little box. “This is.”
Facing Leona, Zhang Ye slowly opened the small box. Instantly, a soft, radiant glow filled Leona's vision.
It was... a ring.
A ring that was impossibly beautiful.
The ring was entirely aqua-blue, intricately carved into the shape of a flame.
Oddly enough, even though Leona could clearly sense it was a water-enchanted ring, she didn't find the flame carving jarring at all. Instead, the flame shape and the blue color complemented each other perfectly, resembling a fire enhanced by Hydrogen-Oxygen.
It was both beautiful and extraordinary.
Leona's eyes trembled slightly as she watched Zhang Ye take the ring out and gently lift her hand.
Leona didn't resist in the slightest. On the contrary, her heart was trembling.
Was she touched?
Or was she filled with anticipation?
It was both.
She had always believed she could perfectly control her emotions, but at this moment, she truly couldn't.
Just like any other girl presented with a ring, she lightly covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes softening.
Zhang Ye holding the ring, gently slipped it onto her finger.
He placed it on the middle finger of her left hand.
The ring fit Leona's slender finger perfectly. Zhang Ye gently cradled her small hand, the deep emotion swirling in his eyes completely impossible to hide.
“In my world, wearing a ring on the middle finger of the left hand represents... engagement.”
“And wearing it on the ring finger represents... marriage.”
“Big Nana.”
“I hope that one day, I can personally place a ring on your ring finger.”
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Leona didn't even notice that her shoulders were trembling.
She only felt her breath turn scorching hot, as if a fire was trying to burst forth from her chest.
But he wasn't done yet.
Zhang Ye reached out, and the Water Spirit's Tear in his hand slowly floated up, hovering between them. The azure crystal was as deep and profound as the ocean.
“A Water Spirit's Tear?!” Leona said, her voice shaking.
Zhang Ye smiled and nodded. “It will accompany you to bear witness to this journey.”
In the next moment, Zhang Ye took Leona's other hand, and together, they grasped the Water Spirit's Tear.
Zhang Ye's mana entered Leona's body, guiding her own mana into the Water Spirit's Tear.
Leona didn't resist. Instead, she leaned into it, feeling an incredibly warm and cozy sensation spread throughout her body.
In the next instant, the Water Spirit's Tear emitted a beautiful, gentle light. As Zhang Ye pressed his hand down, the Water Spirit's Tear slowly descended, eventually sinking into Leona's ring and merging completely with it.
At that moment, the ring seemed to spring to life, the carved flames appearing to dance and flicker.
Though it was fire, it was as gentle as water.
This was the method of using a Water Spirit's Tear that Hainowei had taught him.
“Wearing it will automatically apply the 【Hydrogen-Oxygen Enhancement Formation】 to your every attack. It will also keep your heart perpetually calm, preventing you from being consumed by rage.”
“Further, the power of the water spirit will constantly cleanse your body, gradually and subtly improving the quality of your mana.”
“It will protect you, alongside me.”
“Leona, I like you.”
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