Chapter 401: The Reward That Was Never Meant to Be Claimed

Marcus stepped into the Wind-Hearing Pavilion expecting solemn silence or grand ceremony. Instead, he found Liam Windrunner seated calmly across a low wooden table, playing chess.

Opposite him sat an elderly man dressed in flowing black robes, the kind of figure who looked as though he had walked straight out of an ancient legend. His white beard fell neatly across his chest, his eyes sharp and alert despite his age, carrying the quiet authority of someone who clearly held high status within the Harmony Peak Sect.

Neither man seemed surprised by Marcus’s arrival.

Without looking up from the board, Liam placed a chess piece down with a soft click.

"Stonehaven. How did the trial go?"

That was all it took.

Marcus’s frustration exploded immediately.

"Liam, your trial was insane!" he burst out, striding forward. "You sent me to fight a Mythic Beast one-on-one! That’s not a trial, that’s suicide! Completely unfair!"

He had been holding that in for days. If Liam did not hand over proper rewards after everything Marcus had gone through, there was absolutely going to be a problem.

"So you failed the trial and returned to complain," Liam replied calmly. "That is not very knightly behavior."

Only then did Liam lift his gaze. His eyes landed on Marcus’s chest.

He froze.

The Eagle’s Crest gleamed faintly against Marcus’s armor. A rare smile slowly appeared on Liam’s face.

"Stonehaven... not bad. You found the Earth-Wind Spirit Cave and retrieved the Seven-Colored Divine Eagle. And in such a short time as well. That is no small accomplishment."

Liam knew exactly what waited inside that frozen tunnel. The Earth-Wind passage alone would have stopped most warriors cold. Someone below Level 50 should never have been able to cross it safely, let alone complete the trial.

Yet here Marcus stood.

Liam studied him carefully.

The boy’s level was still low. His aura lacked the depth of a seasoned master. And yet... he had succeeded.

Marcus had far exceeded what Liam had expected.

Marcus, meanwhile, stood frozen.

’Wait.’

From Liam’s tone, it sounded like he had never expected Marcus to succeed at all.

Then realization struck him.

"Liam," Marcus said quickly, his voice tightening, "the eagle already recognized me as its master. You’re not planning to take it back, right?"

Before Liam could respond, Marcus summoned the bird.

"Dancing Colorful Eagle!"

The Seven-Colored Divine Eagle appeared instantly, fluttering around him before landing affectionately on his shoulder. It rubbed its head against him as if proudly confirming their bond.

Marcus folded his arms and leaned forward slightly.

"Let’s be honest. That trial was completely unfair. Abuse of a beginner. Jealousy toward a rising genius. An attempt to crush a future hero before he shines."

The old man in black raised an eyebrow.

Shadow Panther, standing nearby, failed to hold back his laughter.

Marcus immediately switched tactics, flashing a friendly grin.

"So, Liam... at the very least, you should let me keep the eagle as compensation. Consider it encouragement from one of the Dreamland Continent’s Top Ten Experts toward promising young talent."

The eagle chirped happily and hopped closer to Marcus’s neck, clearly unwilling to leave him.

Marcus had already decided. There was no universe in which he handed it back.

Liam stared at him in silence.

He had genuinely hoped the experience inside the Mystic Turtle’s Tomb would have tempered this young knight’s personality. Perhaps hardship would have carved away some of that shameless greed.

Apparently not. If anything, it had gotten worse.

Liam frowned slightly.

In his mind, Marcus had likely failed the trial, wandered the tomb for ten exhausting days, realized he could not overcome the challenge, and returned empty-handed. Knowing when to retreat was not weakness, but giving up so quickly left Liam disappointed.

He had believed Stonehaven possessed potential.

Yet the young knight before him appeared impatient, opportunistic, and far too eager for rewards.

What Liam did not know was that Marcus had already secured the Bodhi Stone. Nor did Marcus understand Liam’s true purpose in assigning the trial in the first place.

"Kid..." Liam began slowly.

He had no intention of reclaiming the eagle. Still, watching Marcus aggressively bargain for rewards stirred irritation deep in his chest.

Liam had little patience for young people who begged for benefits instead of earning them through discipline.

"Stonehaven, if you complete the trial and fulfill the quest, the eagle will naturally belong to you as your reward. However..."

Liam shook his head, deliberately adopting a stern expression, preparing to lecture him.

Marcus heard only the first half.

"Wait. You mean if I completed the quest, the eagle is mine?"

The words hit him like heavenly music.

"That is correct," Liam replied, expecting disappointment when Marcus realized he had failed.

Instead, Marcus nearly jumped into the air.

"Yes!"

He spun toward the bird, eyes shining.

"Little eagle, you’re officially mine!"

"Stonehaven, you..."

Liam stopped mid-sentence. Something about Marcus’s reaction felt very wrong.

Marcus grinned widely.

"Here! Liam, look!"

He stepped forward, extending his hand, then he opened his palm. A radiant stone rested there, glowing with quiet, profound energy.

"The Bodhi Stone!"

Marcus laughed triumphantly as he placed it into Liam’s hands, then immediately scooped up the eagle again in celebration. The bird squawked in protest, flapping its wings indignantly as Marcus hugged it far too tightly. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"The Bodhi Stone..."

Liam stared down at the object in his hand. It was real. Not an imitation and not a fragment.

A genuine Divine-grade Bodhi Stone.

For a moment, words abandoned him entirely. The shock struck like thunder crashing through his mind.

A knight under Level 50 had entered a Mythic Beast’s domain... stolen its guarded treasure... and returned alive.

Impossible did not even begin to describe it.

Marcus, meanwhile, turned back with sparkling eyes.

"So, Liam... what other rewards do I get?"

The eagle finally wriggled free and pecked his palm in irritation. Marcus ignored it completely, his attention fixed on Liam with unmistakable greed.

"One trial, two objectives," Marcus continued reasonably. "That means at least two rewards, right? Maybe more?"

Silence filled the pavilion.

Liam Windrunner, King of the Mountains, found himself utterly speechless. Nothing about this situation made sense.

A young knight far below the expected level had accomplished a feat none of Liam’s chosen candidates could have managed. Worse still, the person responsible was shameless, opportunistic, and openly bargaining for payment moments after delivering a miracle.

Had the world changed while he was not looking?

Was honor no longer the path to strength? Had shameless opportunism somehow become the secret to greatness?

Across the room, Shadow Panther stood frozen. Even the old man in black robes had stopped observing the chessboard entirely, his sharp gaze fixed on Marcus as if examining a rare and dangerous creature.

After a long moment, Liam muttered under his breath,

"Stonehaven... what exactly are you?"

Marcus leaned closer to him, eyes practically glowing.

"Honestly, Liam, forget the smaller rewards," he said eagerly. "Just give me five drops of the Divine Water you obtained from the Well of Earth ten years ago. That’s all I’m asking."