Chapter 59: I Might End Up Addicted To This!

A faint, Dark Flame emanated from his sword, illuminating the cave as he deftly sliced through the Direwolf's hide.

Each cut was precise, his sword gliding effortlessly through the thick fur and muscle now. In no time, he had expertly carved the Direwolf's flesh into tender, manageable pieces, neatly laid out on a nearby rock.

He carefully placed the two teeth required for the mission, along with the Primal Core and extra meat of the Ironclaw Direwolf, into his Spatial Ring. Unfortunately, this beast didn't possess a Blood Essence Crystal.

Reon then took out some wood he had previously gathered and stored in his Spatial Ring, preparing to set up a fire.

The aroma of raw meat filled the air, but it wasn't enough to satisfy him. He needed it sizzling and seasoned.

Setting up a small fire, he grabbed a few choice herbs he had collected earlier in the forest, their fresh, aromatic leaves crinkling between his fingers.

He sprinkled them over the meat, adding a pinch of salt from his travel pouch, and placed the chunks onto a flat stone over the fire.

As the meat began to cook, the rich, smoky scent wafted through the cave, making his stomach rumble louder.

Grinning, Reon sat back, waiting for the meat to reach the perfect golden-brown. Soon, he would have his reward—a hearty Direwolf fry that would not only satisfy his hunger but celebrate the hard-fought victory over the beast.

As the meal neared completion, Reon extracted some of the Ironclaw Direwolf's blood, ready to share both the feast and the experience with Cloudia.

He took his first bite of the cooked meat and was taken aback.

"This is incredible!" he exclaimed, surprised by the rich flavor. "The herbs make it even better—it's more delicious than I expected."

Next, he sampled the beast's blood, allowing its warm, metallic essence to linger on his tongue.

The taste was intense, richer and far more potent than the blood of the Shadow Claw Bear he had tried before.

"Damn," Reon murmured with a smirk, "I might end up addicted to this."

Suddenly, a surge of energy rippled through him, filling him with a familiar warmth. His Qi circulated faster, growing more intense, and he recognized the unmistakable sensation of a breakthrough.

"Oho! I've broken through another stage just from the beast's blood. This power is incredible," Reon marveled, feeling the surge within him. "Now, I'm officially a Stage-9 Qi Refining Realm cultivator."

Satisfied, Reon finished his meal, feeling his Spiritual Qi fully replenished from the energy-packed meat of the Ironclaw Direwolf.

After resting for a while, he stood up, motioning for Cloudia to follow as they ventured deeper into the cave.

Now that the system had issued his reward for completing the mission, it meant there were likely no stronger foes left lurking within.

The path ahead should be safe for exploration, or so he thought. As they progressed, the cave grew darker and the air cooler, with only the faint echo of their footsteps breaking the silence.

After walking for an hour, a faint golden glow began to shimmer in the distance, piercing through the shadows.

Intrigued, Reon cautiously approached the source of the light, each step more careful than the last. Just as he got close, his foot hit something hard, throwing him off balance. He tumbled forward, landing face-first on the cave floor.

"Ouch!" Reon winced, rubbing his head. But as he looked around to see what he had tripped over, his eyes went wide with shock.

"Holy…!" he gasped, stunned by the sight before him.

The entire floor of the deeper cavern was covered in piles of glittering Gold Coins, shimmering and stacked in careless heaps.

The sheer amount of treasure was overwhelming. Reon quickly focused his Spiritual Senses, trying to estimate the fortune scattered around him.

"Damn," he muttered, barely able to believe his own assessment. "There's at least half a million gold coins here. With this amounts of wealth… I could live comfortably for decades!"

Even the major families of the Eastern Province Counties would take years to amass this amount of gold. For an ordinary mortal, this fortune would feed their descendants for generations.

A grin spread across his face as he realized the enormity of his discovery. This cave had not only been a proving ground but a hidden treasure trove, a reward beyond anything he'd expected.

Without hesitation, Reon began storing everything in his Spatial Ring, moving swiftly yet carefully to make sure he left nothing behind.

Among the gold, he found a few Uncommon-Grade techniques. While he knew they weren't powerful enough to aid his own cultivation, he still took them, recognizing their value for trade or for sharing with allies.

With his spoils secured, Reon took one last glance at the now-empty cavern, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

He patted Cloudia, who had stayed by his side through the journey, then turned toward the cave's exit, his steps lighter than when he had first ventured in.

As he retraced his path through the dark, winding tunnel, his mind buzzed with the possibilities that lay ahead.