The Strongest Businessman

"Yes, even a Spirit Grade costs 400 spirit stones. A Heaven Rank is even greater because it cost as much as 100,000 spirit stones." Barry shared his knowledge with regards to Herbal Gardens.

"..." Dylan was silent for a long time because he was calculating the expenses he needed​ for the expansion of his business.

2000 spirit stones were equivalent to 2 000 000 gold coins. Since Dylan's current income was 15,000 gold a day, he needs approximately 4 ½ months in order to earnsuch an astronomical sum if he relied to the supply of the herbs grown by the Cosmic God Mansion.

But, he would have to use 40% of the amount for the income of his employees and another 40% for the renovations and rental payment of the workplace he had already planned. So the remaining amount of 400,000 gold coins would be left for his business stocks. Therefore, even his quarter-annual income would​ be insufficient to fund the creation of the Earth Grade Herbal Garden.

Dylan knew that with his current income, he needed about 1½ years to earn the said amount. But if he wants to increase his income and expand his business, he would need to find a way to get the necessary money for the Herbal Garden's construction.

'I guess I have to loan some money from the Premier Hall now.' Dylan thought to himself before speaking to Barry. "I'll be able to gather the amount, brother."

"Are you sure you can manage?" Barry asked.

"It's fine. I have my ways to get the money needed. I'll just tell you along the way to Thundercloud City. Now, I have to ask you to guard me while I cultivate inside the cave." Dylan requested.

"Oh, are you trying to break through to the Awakened Spirit Realm?" Barry was curious what Dylan used the Heavenly Formation for.

"Nope, I'm trying to reform my spirit core." Dylan smirked mysteriously as he walked towards the cave.

"Eh?!" Barry was in utter shock because he never expected that Dylan would say such an impossible thing to do.

...

At the end of the cave...

"Brother, isn't what you are doing impossible?" Barry still could not believe what Dylan was trying to do.

What Barry said was only logical because like the spirit veins, spirit core is also something that is given by the heavens. Being the first aspect of cultivation to master, every human has the same spirit core with each other but of course, there could be exceptions. There are humans that are fewer than few which are blessed with a variation of a spirit core, the same goes with spirit veins. One of the rare constitutions ever reported in the Mystical Clouds Country was the Sky Core, a rare variation of the spirit core which permits the user to absorb the very unique Sky Energy and even be capable of preemptive flight.

"It is for others. But having gained the inheritance of an ancient cultivator, I received a heaven defying manual that allows me to reform my spirit core." Dylan revealed this secret because he trusted Barry and the oath that they have formed.

"Oh, I guess it is something similar to our clan's sacred scroll which allows us to easily communicate and manipulate all the plans in our vicinity." Barry shared as well to reciprocate Dylan's willingness of revealing his secrets.

"Mn." Dylan nodded. He went to the center of the Minor Heavenly Refining Formation which was emitting blood-colored lights. He sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes to prepare his mindset for he knew that to make his Legendary Core evolve he would need to endure pain far more mind-breaking than his previous attempts.

The brutally painful sensation he felt was as clear as day in his mind and body because how could could he forget the torture he needed to overcome in order to gain an even greater power than anyone else. After adjusting his state of mind, Dylan opened his eyes with immovable calmness. It was as if no matter what storm he encounters, he would be unfazed and remained composed at all times.

"Brother, I'm going to start now." Dylan reminded.

"I may not be supremely strong but I can assure you that no one would be able to hinder you from reforming your spirit core. As assurance, I scattered the pollen of the Concealing Mimosa Flower which could hide our presences​ for about an hour. Sit back and remove unwanted worries for I, your brother is here to protect you." Barry smiled with reassurance. He wanted Dylan to be able to cultivate without worries in order to yield the best results possible.

"Brother Barry, sure is an adept in spirit botany. The pollen must have been of great price. I can't express my gratitude enough, brother. I will surely repay you in the future." Dylan was touch by Barry's act of assurance.

"Hahaha, don't mind it. I mean what are brothers for? We are brothers for life. You and I will be relying on each other to overcome countless trials so just think of this as an early payment for you healing me one month from now." Barry laughed nonchalantly while he waived his hand.

"Thank you, brother." Dylan smiled emotionally. He can't help but remember his brother Dale who he had wronged big time and might never see ever again. So, he could not help but feel guilty. He was stuck in his deep thoughts​: 'I will do my best to be the best brother I can be for Barry. This will also be a form of repentance that I will never keep any secret to my brothers ever again.'

"No need to be so emotional, bro. Go on, you need to cultivate now or else the formation's energy might dissipate. Hahaha." Barry joked with a merry laugh.

"I will​." Dylan took a deep breath as he closed his eyes and began his cultivation. He pulverized a couple dozen of the remaining Primal Stones he still had to fully recover his strength

...

After absorbing and recovering his energy reserves to its peak state, he was circulating his energy according to the Cosmic God Manual and began breaking his Legendary Core!

Dylan's​ heart sank as he quickly discovered that the difficulty of breaking the Legendary Core has increased by 5 compared to breaking an Upgraded Spirit Core! He immediately prepared his mind and body for pain far more gruesome than the earlier reformations!

He intensely guided his energy and started to break the Legendary Core once more! He created 5 clusters of energy within his Legendary Core which had the objective of breaking it through five barrages in five different directions!

'GO!' Dylan inwardly signalled and the 5 clusters of energy that he created shot out into five different paths. Each single one of these balls of energy was capable of destroying Dylan's previous Upgraded Spirit Core. Dylan decided to go all out in order to only feel the pain in just an instant!

*Crack* *BOOM!!!*

The moment the barrage hit, cracks immediately appeared and an explosion was its subsequent event! The sudden destruction of Dylan's Legendary Corecaused Dylan's body to convulse. Blood flowed out of Dylan's mouth and nose unceasingly.

Dylan wanted to shout to relieve some of the pain but the horror of it was that he could not even emit a sound despite opening his mouth due to the intensity of the hurt Dylan was feeling.

...

"Oh no, something went wrong! Dylan!!" Barry immediately felt something wrong happened when he heard an explosion from Dylan. He even thought that he had misheard but what happened after caused him to suspect that something bad has occurred because blood was unceasingly gushed out from Dylan mouth and nose!

Barry wanted to get near him but the moment he reached the formation, he was repelled backwards by a powerful force! He fell on his rear and was a few meters far from the formation. It was as though there was a powerful force field preventing anyone to go near Dylan.

"What the hell is happening?" Barry was lost he could not understand what just happened. He was worried for his newfound brother. He did not want to lose one ever again.

"Dylan, you can overcome this. Heavens, I will beg of you just this once. Don't let my brother die! " Barry prayed on his knees because it was the only thing he could​ think to do.

...

'Why is it getting so dark?' Dylan scanned his surroundings and could only see boundless darkness.

Dylan was losing his consciousness very fast and his body was starting to crack which became wounds that bled severely. His life force was also quickly fading!

'Am I going to die here...?' Dylan unwillingly asked himself. His mind was telling him that if he lose his consciousness he might, no, rather he will die!

However, his body was betraying him as he felt it became suddenly heavier and a bit colder. It was like sending a message to him that it was okay to sleep and rest.

'Suddenly... death doesn't seem too bad after all...' He closed his eyes after that thought.

When he was just about to lose himself, he heard faint voices amidst the darkness.

"Dylan..."

"Dylan..."

"Dylan..."

"Who's there...?" Dylan weakly said as he lazily opened his eyes.

Suddenly, a ray of light appeared out of nowhere and landed on Dylan.

"What's this?" Dylan was blinded by the lights and raised his arms in an attempt to block the light but to no avail, the light could not be be blocked.

After some time, Dylan found that his body was no longer in extreme pain and state of weakness. However, he did not rejoiced because he suddenly found out that he was in a completely different place. It was a celebrity class luxury suite with a king sized bed and a 100 inch TV. The room was filled with high class furnitures and had a special meal for two with sumptuous and salivating gourmet which was exquisitely presented and prepared.

He was extremely shocked not because he was unfamiliar with the place he was in, rather because he was far too familiar with this place as though it was from...

A distant memory.

"Love..." A sweet and beautiful voice that was like very pleasant to the ears like slow music called his name.

"Could it be..." Dylan turned around immediately because he knew that voice all too well. He knew whose voice it was because it's owner was the lady he had vowed to only love for as long as he will live.

When Dylan saw the lady whose beauty was without equal, he could only softly whisper as he enjoyed the pure smile of this peerless beauty.

"Rose..."