Chapter 5: The Copper Coin’s Message

“No formalities are needed. I have come this time to notify everyone of some news. Not long ago, it was confirmed that the next Beast Horde Siege is not far off. Our county has urgently allocated a batch of supplies from Falling Star City. As per the usual arrangement, they will be sold for Beast Crystals at a price thirty percent higher than market value. The extra thirty percent is to activate the defensive array of the Outer District and weaken the Savage Beasts’ assault. Additionally, when the time comes, everyone will be invited to the city walls for joint defense. We must unite, cooperating wholeheartedly to overcome this crisis.” After speaking, Yan Huo went up to the second floor.

“Pangzi, it’s up to you now,” Yang Tong and Scarface said, patting Pangzi on the shoulder.

Yang Tong took Yang Tong home. On the way, Yang Tong asked curiously, “Dad, who was that man just now? He seemed very imposing.”

“Oh, that was County Magistrate Yan Huo, an Earth-Rank Fifth Level Martial Spirit Master, one of the strongest individuals in our county. I don’t know when I’ll be able to awaken and become an Earth-Rank Martial Spirit Master. If I could, our lives would be much better. We wouldn’t have to stay in this small county town; we could choose to move to Falling Star City, which is much safer and filled with experts. Moreover, only cities of Falling Star City’s level and above have advanced academies,” Yang Tong explained.

From his father’s words, Yang Tong sensed his deep longing for an awakening and profound fatherly love.

“Keep going, Dad. You can do it,” Yang Tong loudly encouraged him.

Upon returning home, Yang Tong still felt somewhat dazed. On one hand, he was excited from seeing a genuine Earth-Rank powerhouse today. On the other hand, he was worried about the Beast Horde Siege. Although Yang Tong had never experienced the terror of a Beast Horde Siege, he could pick up some clues from what he saw and heard today. He could tell from the worried expressions of his dad and Uncle Li that it must be quite dangerous.

After dinner, Yang Tong went back to his room. He fell onto his bed, feeling completely listless. It wasn’t physical fatigue but a sense of helplessness from deep within. He was too weak, yet becoming stronger wasn’t something he could achieve just by wanting to.

After lying down for a while, he sat up and took out the seven Beast Crystals he had obtained today.

These were quite novel. His family wasn’t poor; he usually received daily pocket money—2 Spirit Coins, which was enough to last half a month in this county town. Beast Crystals were another kind of hard currency. A single Beast Crystal was worth as much as his entire year’s pocket money!

Holding four Beast Crystals in one hand and three in the other, he slowly turned them over, studying the crystals while thinking about how to best make use of them.

“Hmm, what should I buy with them? Food? Wasteful! A Storage Ring would naturally be the most ideal thing, but with only these seven low-grade, inferior Beast Crystals in hand, it’s simply unaffordable.”

Just then, Yang Tong’s head suddenly throbbed with pain. A mysterious suction force emanated from within his body. He could feel that the seven Beast Crystals in his hands were the source of this suction. The crystals were gradually vanishing at a visible rate, signifying that the energy within them was being absorbed.

A wave of fear washed over Yang Tong. His own body was acting beyond his control.

Suddenly, everything went dark before his eyes, and he fainted on the bed.

When Yang Tong’s consciousness awoke once again, he found himself in a dark, empty place with nothing around him. With the eyesight of an Apprentice Third-Level Warrior, even in complete darkness, he could vaguely see objects ten meters away. Now, he saw nothing, meaning this wasn’t his room but some unknown location.

“Hello? Is anyone there? Where is this?” Yang Tong called out, his voice echoing, but there was no response for a long time.

Just as Yang Tong began to feel anxious and uneasy, a brilliant golden light suddenly shone ahead. In the pitch-black space, a bridge of light abruptly appeared, stretching right up to Yang Tong.

After a moment’s thought, Yang Tong stepped onto it. His vision blurred for an instant, and when it cleared, he found himself facing what looked like a huge round Copper Coin with a square hole. The coin clearly displayed seven cracks; one of them was shallower and shorter and was slowly healing. It was the source of the light.

Suddenly, a faint beam of light shot from the Copper Coin and, before Yang Tong could react, entered his body. A simple message was transmitted directly into his mind.

After absorbing this information, Yang Tong finally understood. He saw the scene after he lost consciousness while saving someone in his previous life. The very culprit behind his transference and rebirth was this Copper Coin before him.

So this was his own consciousness space—the dwelling place of a sentient being’s Origin Essence, the soul.

Because the Copper Coin was incomplete, Yang Tong didn’t receive very detailed information, but he did get some. As long as one of the cracks was repaired, the Copper Coin’s power would be unlocked.

The seven cracks on this mysterious Copper Coin were like seven seals tightly restraining its power. Combined with the energy consumption during the journey through time and space, it was already fortunate that the coin could awaken from its slumber with the infusion of Beast Crystal energy.

From the information Yang Tong received, this treasure had merged with his soul—in simpler terms, it recognized him as its master. This was a great, a tremendous, piece of good fortune. Once he repaired this treasure, he would have the foundation to establish himself in this world. At the very least, this Copper Coin, capable of traversing time and space, was surely no ordinary object.

To repair the shallowest of the seven cracks, all that was needed was a large amount of energy. Afterward, it would unlock the soul’s potential, increasing spiritual power tenfold and condensing soul force. As long as sufficient energy and soul force were infused into the Copper Coin, it would slowly increase Yang Tong’s Origin Essence soul.

And this was only the first seal! In Yang Tong’s view, this was simply incredible! Although he didn’t know what kind of treasure this Copper Coin was, nor its specific name, he gave it a name anyway: “Copper Coin of Fate Alteration.” Precisely because it had altered the course of his entire life!

Simultaneously, this treasure became Yang Tong’s greatest secret. No matter whom it concerned—even his own parents—Yang Tong would choose to keep it hidden. If this treasure were exposed, it could bring disaster, even death and annihilation to his family.

Yang Tong didn’t know how much power or what wonders the highest-level Spirit Tool could possess. However, he dared to believe that even the most miraculous top-grade Spirit Tool could never compare to this Copper Coin of Fate Alteration, which could carry a soul across time and space.

After receiving this information, Yang Tong felt at ease. With a thought, his consciousness emerged from the consciousness space. He opened his eyes and sat up. The Beast Crystals in his hands had long since vanished without a trace.

“Energy, a large amount of energy! I need a large number of Beast Crystals or Standard Crystals.” At this moment, Yang Tong was brimming with confidence. Not only did he possess knowledge far exceeding that of ordinary people, but he also had a treasure to secure his place in the world. As the saying goes, with reserves in mind, there’s no panic in heart. Now, he was no longer filled with uncertainty about the future. He was incredibly confident that he could awaken and become a true figure of authority.

Only with sufficient strength could he protect his most beloved parents in this life and protect this home.