Villain's Evolution: Investing in My Minions Yields Crazy Returns!

[Ding!]

[Detected: Host has made an investment in a high-potential target!]

[Investment Target: Leah Vane]

[Potential Evaluation: SSS]

[Current Status: Astral Core resonance instability. Profession growth is restricted.]

[Investment Item: Spirit-Core Resonance Stone]

[Investment Value: 60,000 Academy Contribution Points]

[Investment Conditions Satisfied!]

[Calculating Investment Return Multiplier...]

Victor’s heart started pounding.

Here it comes!

No matter how many times he had seen the System screen, it never ceased to excite him.

[Congratulations, Host!]

[This investment has triggered a Special Growth Return!]

[Investment Multiplier: 128x!]

[Equivalent Return Value: 7,680,000 Academy Contribution Points!]

Upon seeing the huge return value, a flash of delight immediately appeared in Victor’s eyes.

Although this was merely the standard the System used to calculate the value of the reward and didn’t mean he would directly receive an equivalent amount of academy contribution points, such an astonishing multiplier still far exceeded his expectations.

Still, that did nothing to ruin his mood.

’As expected, when investing in a target with SSS-rank potential, as long as I seize the right opportunity for their growth, the returns are simply incomparable to those of ordinary investments.’

While Victor was secretly excited, another System notification appeared.

[Detected: Investment target possesses a special profession core!]

[Generating Corresponding Return Rewards...]

[Please Select Your Investment Return Reward!]

[Option One: King-grade Special Item — Astral Origin Crystal!]

[Option Two: Permanent Attribute Reward — Spirit +45!]

[Option Three: Epic-grade Skill — Astral Resonance!]

Victor’s gaze swept across the three options.

Any one of these rewards could be considered extremely precious, especially the second option, forty-five Spirit attribute points!

One had to know that his current Spirit attribute was only 53 points.

If he directly selected this reward, his Spirit attribute would practically double in an instant.

For a Magic Swordsman, this would undoubtedly be an enormous improvement.

However, Victor’s gaze quickly fell upon the first option.

A King-grade special item: Astral Origin Crystal!

Compared to Epic-grade skills and permanent attribute rewards, King-grade items were clearly much rarer.

Furthermore, judging from its name alone, this item seemed closely related to astral energy.

Victor’s interest was piqued, and he attempted to inspect the detailed information of the first reward.

The next moment, a new System panel appeared before his eyes.

[Astral Origin Crystal]

[Quality: King-grade]

[Effect: Contains extremely pure astral origin energy. Can be used to strengthen special energy cores, assist high-level astral professionals in cultivation, and improve the stability of astral energy.]

It was just as he had suspected! This thing could indeed strengthen special energy cores!

More importantly, it could also assist high-level astral professionals in their cultivation.

If he were to invest it in Leah later...

A thoughtful expression flashed across Victor’s face, but he didn’t make his decision immediately.

Because he suddenly realized something.

What did he currently need most?

An immediate increase in his personal strength?

Or a special resource capable of generating even greater value in the future?

If he chose Spirit +45, his strength would undoubtedly receive an immediate and noticeable boost.

However, a King-grade resource like the Astral Origin Crystal was probably not something he could easily obtain simply by spending academy contribution points or even his own money.

Especially considering its ability to strengthen special profession cores, it might even help Leah further unlock the true potential of an Astral Spirit Envoy.

With this thought, Victor finally made his decision.

”Choose Option One.”

[Ding!]

[Reward Selection Successful!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained a King-grade Special Item — Astral Origin Crystal!]

[Item has been deposited into System Space!]

As the notification ended, a crystal emitting a faint silver-purple glow quietly appeared within Victor’s System Space.

The crystal was only the size of an egg, yet it seemed to contain an endless starry sky.

Merely by sensing it with his spiritual power, Victor could perceive the vast and exceptionally pure special energy contained within.

’Truely worthy of a King-grade...’ He couldn’t help but smile.

He soon shifted his gaze to Leah, who was sitting across from him and was currently holding the Spirit-Core Resonance Stone with extreme care, seemingly somewhat at a loss.

”Young Master.”

”Hmm?”

”Can I use it right now?”

Victor returned to his senses.

”Of course.”

After thinking for a moment, he continued,

”However, don’t rush things during your first attempt. Let your Astral Core gradually adapt to its energy before slowly increasing the resonance intensity.”

Leah nodded seriously. ”I understand.”

With that, she followed Victor’s instructions and sat cross-legged on the cultivation mat in the center of the study, gently holding the Spirit-Core Resonance Stone in her palm.

As she slowly infused her spiritual power into it, the silver patterns within the deep-blue crystal began to circulate.

Buzz!

A gentle spiritual fluctuation spread from the crystal’s surface.

The Astral Core within Leah’s body responded accordingly, and the astral energy that had previously been somewhat chaotic actually began flowing along a more stable path.

Victor stood nearby, carefully observing her condition.

A moment later, Leah suddenly opened her eyes.

”Young Master!”

Her voice was filled with unmistakable excitement.

”I can feel it!”

”What?”

”The vibrations in my Astral Core have weakened!” Leah said excitedly. ”Previously, whenever I tried to increase my mana output, the core would become slightly unstable. But now, it seems to be gradually adapting to this resonance!”

”That’s great.” Victor commented in a satisfied tone.

However, this was only the beginning.

If Leah wanted to completely resolve the stability issues of her Astral Core, she would clearly need to spend some time cultivating.

”Keep going.” Victor smiled. ”Don’t try to finish everything in one attempt. Take it slowly.”

Leah nodded vigorously.

”Mm!”

Watching as the young girl entered her cultivation state once more, Victor’s gaze involuntarily shifted toward his System Space.

There, the King-grade Astral Origin Crystal was quietly floating.

Just then, a faint layer of silver starlight suddenly appeared around Leah, who was still cultivating.

The astral energy within her body, which had previously been somewhat unstable, actually began circulating in a much steadier manner.

Although she was still some distance away from achieving a genuine breakthrough, at the very least, she had finally found the right direction.