The Female CEO's Personal Bodyguard

Chapter 690: Chapter 690: Strength Is the Only Criterion_1

Isabel Reid left with a face as black as the bottom of a pot.

After all, who wouldn’t after being hit by such a hard strike from Delaney Hunter?

Delaney had demanded two million Spirit Stones right off the bat, and Isabel, whining about poverty and bemoaning her plight, had haggled the price down to six hundred thousand Spirit Stones plus her magical treasure, the Demon Bull Drum.

She had come looking for trouble, only to have her own magical treasure extorted from her—how could she not be furious?

Even more importantly, losing face like that in front of hundreds of people because of Delaney’s extortion was utterly humiliating.

Isabel had already decided to enter seclusion as soon as she returned, vowing not to emerge until she had achieved Divinity Transformation, so as to avoid any further pointing fingers.

As for Carson Flores?

He was someone who had already made a name for himself with the Cave Master. If it were an open and rule-abiding conflict, even causing him harm would be acceptable. However, neither her disciples nor daughter could beat Carson, and if she used her power against him directly, it would be seen as bullying. Delaney wouldn’t ignore this, and it was uncertain how the Cave Master might react.

Enough of this, let the matter drop.

She was someone not to be trifled with!

Russell Combs was taken away, destined to live out his days as a cripple, no longer qualified to live atop the peaks, resigned to spend the rest of his life on the ground below.

It must be nothing but regret in his heart every time he looked up at those floating peaks, reflecting on the promising future he once had.

Carson followed Delaney back to her cliffside cottage, setting foot in her residence for the first time.

”Take a seat. Feel at home and don’t be shy.”

Qingling brought Carson tea with a beaming smile, herself surprised at how swiftly he had become Delaney’s junior brother.

”The Water-Fire Mirror you possess is bound to attract the envy of many, but since you’ve announced your association with the Cave Master, they likely wouldn’t dare to openly challenge you. In secret, however—like if you enter the Secret Realm—you’ll need to be careful...”

Carson nodded, ”Killian Jaramillo has agreed to help me with Alchemy, so I should soon seclude myself in my cave to enhance my abilities while also practicing the Three-Foot Sword Screen Technique you’ve given me.”

Delaney hummed in acknowledgment, ”Though you’ve reached the Golden Core Initial Stage at a young age, showing astonishing talent, in real battles, no one cares about rules. Strength is the only standard. The Water-Fire Mirror can certainly help you, but it will also bring you troubles.”

Carson listened obediently, ”I will do my best to improve my abilities, so I can better protect myself.”

Delaney smiled, ”Once you’ve reached Nascent Soul and have cultivated the Three-Foot Sword Screen Technique beyond a hundred layers, I won’t worry about you when you travel outside.”

Carson replied with a wry smile, ”That’s indeed a long way off. Not to mention the practice itself, the resources for cultivating Sword Bone aren’t so easily obtained.”

Delaney’s lips curled into a smile, ”That’s why you need to work hard to earn Spirit Stones. I’ve practically scoured all of Nutwood Heavenly Cave for Dark Iron Raven Essence. If you want some now, you’ll have to buy it from the outside with a hefty sum of thirty to forty thousand Spirit Stones per piece...”

Calculating in his mind, even at thirty thousand Spirit Stones each, and considering Delaney had already cultivated to the 158th layer, she must have used close to fifty million Spirit Stones just for Dark Iron Raven Essence, not counting other resources for cultivation. Such a staggering figure—Isabel Reid, also a Nascent Soul, couldn’t even produce one million Spirit Stones and had to use her magical treasure in lieu of payment—how did Delaney ever manage to accumulate so many Spirit Stones, especially when the cultivation of the Three-Foot Sword Screen Technique required more than just Dark Iron Raven Essence?

Just thinking about it, Carson realized how difficult Delaney’s journey to this point had been.

Though he was shocked, Carson wasn’t worried. With the combination of the Life Essence Pearl and Water-Fire Mirror, cultivating Spiritual Medicine to earn Spirit Stones should be easy for him.

For Carson, earning Spirit Stones was merely a matter of time.

It wouldn’t delay his cultivation—he wasn’t in a rush.

Carson asked, ”Previously, Killian Jaramillo’s father, Branson Jaramillo, mentioned attending the Cultivators’ Market. Senior Sister, what level of strength do I need, or what conditions must I meet, before I can leave the cave and travel to other places?”

Delaney answered with a laugh, ”You want to go out?”

Carson nodded, ”Yes, I’ve always been curious about the Cultivation Realm, and I hope to leave early to search for my family in other Sects. Besides, didn’t you just mention it, Senior Sister? There’s no more Dark Iron Raven Essence in Nutwood, and to obtain it, I must go out, right?”

Delaney replied with a soft chuckle, ”The outside world isn’t as safe as inside the cave. It’s too dangerous to go out with low strength. First, improve your abilities, and when I go out, I’ll take you with me to see the world.”

Carson was delighted, ”Thank you, Senior Sister.”

Delaney instructed, ”Start with cultivating the Three-Foot Sword Screen. If you make progress, then you can practice Sword Bone. I still have some materials here that you can use for now. As for the rest, we’ll gather them slowly over time. But I must remind you, this is a long and arduous process; you need to be mentally prepared...”