The fact that three Augurk Beasts guarded this treasure chest spoke volumes—whatever lay inside had to be far more valuable than what Kael had found in the underground palace last time.
Though the Augurk Beasts possessed immortality, their strength paled in comparison to Kael's current power. With his mastery of Mana Resonance and Domain, dispatching these once-troublesome foes had become child's play.
"Boss Kael is incredible! Even scarier than before!" The Snow Bear Beast leader scurried over, shamelessly flattering Kael while hopping around him like an overexcited rabbit. It even stuck out its tongue at the three barely-conscious Augurk Beasts, taunting them with a mocking grin.
The guardians let out weak, guttural growls, their fury evident but their voices lacking conviction. Though their menacing glares might have once intimidated the Snow Bear Beasts, the creatures now only feigned a brief startle before resuming their triumphant posturing.
Kael chuckled at the antics but kept his focus on the prize. Heart pounding with anticipation, he strode toward the chest and lifted its lid.
A brilliant light erupted from within, momentarily blinding him.
"Whoa—!" The Snow Bear Beasts gasped in unison, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
Even Amelia blinked in astonishment, clearly unprepared for the sight before them.
Inside the chest, a kaleidoscope of colors shimmered. Kael's pulse quickened as he identified the contents—magical ores, but not the common gemstones from his last haul. Those had been valuable yet relatively accessible, priced at a few thousand to tens of thousands of gold coins apiece, with their worth lying primarily in quantity.
This time, however, the treasures were in a league of their own.
Elemental Crystals—the core ingredient for brewing Mana Source Elixirs. A single one of these palm-sized crystals could fetch tens of thousands of gold coins, and the specimens here were so massive they could yield multiple batches, pushing their collective value well over 100,000 gold.
Then there were the high-tier elemental gems, each rarer than the last. Unlike the previous finds, these were all premium-grade.
Take the Sunfire Gem, for instance—the pinnacle of fire-attuned minerals. Imbued with the purest flames, just one could auction for over 100,000 gold. Yet here, three of them lay nestled in the chest.
These were the pinnacle of fire-attuned gems—treasures even Archmages would covet.Though each Sunfire Gem was no larger than half a finger, their worth was staggering. Kael couldn't help but marvel at how expensive high-tier cultivation had become.
But the hoard didn't end there.
Frostmourne Gems—the apex of water-attuned crystals—lay nestled beside them, also three in number. Their value rivaled the Sunfire Gems, though such rarities were often priceless in the truest sense, rarely appearing on the market.
These gems were perfect for Amelia's cultivation. However, their energy was so concentrated that a single one would suffice for her needs.
The chest brimmed with other elite-grade gems as well. While none matched the Sunfire or Frostmourne Gems' tier, each was still a first-class treasure worth tens of thousands of gold coins apiece.
This single chest's contents easily surpassed several million gold in value.
Kael had just become an instant tycoon.
For his territory's construction—a project akin to filling a bottomless pit—this windfall was far from trivial. At the very least, it provided the seed capital he desperately needed.
Of course, these gems were too rare to recklessly liquidate. Kael wasn't foolish enough to sell them all. The Sunfire and Frostmourne Gems would remain in his vault, reserved for personal use. Only the lesser (though still exorbitantly priced) gems would be traded for development funds.
As Kael and Amelia surveyed the haul, their joy wasn't merely about wealth—these gems represented power.
With the Sunfire Gems, Kael's post-eighth-tier cultivation was secured. The Frostmourne Gemsvirtually guaranteed Amelia's breakthrough to the eighth tier.
The Snow Bear Beasts drooled openly, their eyes glittering as brightly as the gems themselves. Apparently, their love for shiny objects rivaled their obsession with roasted meat.
With a satisfied smile, Kael stored every last gem. Though small in size, their collective worth dwarfed even the Granite Adamantine and rivaled the Violet Thunderstone. After all, while the thunderstone was invaluable to him, these gems were the true universal currency.
"Everyone contributed greatly this time. Once we leave the ancient ruins, I'll treat you all to a feast of roasted meat!" Kael's declaration sent the Snow Bear Beasts into a frenzy of cheers and praise, with some even launching into shameless flattery. The scene grew lively in an instant.
Watching the jubilant creatures, Amelia shot Kael a playful, sidelong glance. "You certainly have a way with these Snow Bear Beasts—they're utterly wrapped around your finger."
Kael smirked. "Of course. But then again, whose man do you think I am?" His gaze lingered on her with deliberate suggestiveness, drawing a blush to Amelia's cheeks that only enhanced her ethereal beauty.
Between Amelia's radiant presence and their staggering haul, Kael's mood soared. "These ruins have been nothing short of a blessing," he mused. "With these gains—and the support of the Unicorn Rhinos and Snow Bear Beasts—we finally have a true foothold on the continent."
He couldn't help but reflect. Without the ancient ruins, his journey to the Lafei Plains would have remained fraught with hardship. Though building his territory would still be challenging, it was no longer an impossible struggle.
Amelia nodded, resting her head against Kael's shoulder as she entwined her arm with his. A rare, unguarded happiness flickered in her eyes—one she seldom revealed. Of course, with no one else around, she allowed herself this moment.
Kael stroked her silken hair absently while waiting for the remaining Snow Bear Beasts to return. Of the thirty-odd scouts, only about half had reported back so far.
Soon enough, the stragglers arrived in waves.
"Report, Boss Kael—nothing found!"
"Same here, Boss! No luck!"
"Nothing on my end either!"
As the last of them delivered their disappointing updates, Kael could only shrug. "Guess we've looted this place dry," he admitted wryly. The underground palace had yielded all it could.
"Not a feather left on the goose, and the sky itself three feet higher!" (Literal translation of the Chinese idiom meaning "to loot everything thoroughly")
"The underground palace is filled with elemental gems—this must indeed be an elven ruin,"Kael remarked.
Amelia nodded in agreement. "The architectural style and certain trees in the forest are unmistakably elven—their signature traits."
"Let's move out now that we've looted everything!" Kael declared with a grin.
Flush with newfound wealth from the underground palace, Kael's voice brimmed with confidence and vigor. He could hardly wait to set off for the Lafei Plains.
The Black Valley was still a considerable distance from the Lafei Plains, so there was no time to waste. With most of the ancient ruins' treasures now in his possession, Kael decided it was time to depart.
After all, the Sacred Council's appointment had already been announced across the three continents, officially establishing Kael as the rightful Lord of Lafei and a hereditary earl. Delaying his arrival at the Lafei Plains for too long might draw the Council's displeasure—or worse, raise suspicions about what Kael had been doing all this time. If the secret of the ancient ruins were exposed, the consequences would far outweigh the gains.
With his mind made up, Kael immediately set off with Amelia, storing both the Snow Bear Beasts and the Unicorn Rhino herd within his Contract Space.