The ckwoods paid little mind to the squabbling Parker duo and set about dividing their spoils.


    "Brother, we seven are tough as nails. We don''t need any of this fancy stuff. Look at this ''Seventh Grade Gold Ingot.'' It''s perfect for your Sky Pce. Refine it, and your power will surely increase."


    "This Golden Coin and Treasure Basin, they''re a matched pair of top-grade ability weapons. Offense and defense in one package. It''s how Neil reached the Pinnacle Apprentice rankings. Anyone? No? Too shy and attention-grabbing?


    Fine, Katie, you take them for now."


    "Joseph, you get the Golden Silk Robe. You need something to keep you safe in this dangerous Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary."


    "..."


    Katie and Joseph stared at the powerful artifacts in their hands, a mixture of emotions swirling within them. Their elders were practically showering them with treasures, holding nothing back.


    Once the loot from Neil was distributed, the ckwoods turned their attention to the treasures they had acquired within the Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary.


    They had in numerous Rising Stars, amassing a small fortune in mystical artifacts. Since they couldn''t leave yet, they might as well put their newfound wealth to good use, bolstering their strength for the challenges toe.


    They gathered in a secluded spot, their eyes gleaming as they emptied their Storage Rings.


    Andrew, his massive 16-foot frame casting a long shadow, resembled a walking mountain as he crouched down, effectively shielding the group from view.


    The contents of George, William, and Justin''s Storage Rings, however, were the most shocking.


    "Sixth Grade?! Sixth Grade mystical herbs and ores... hundreds of them?! What have you three been up to?!" Thomas roared, snatching George by the cor.


    "There are people watching, Father! Have some decorum!" George protested with a wry smile.


    "Oh, right, right." Thomas hastily set George down, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "That''s my boy! A chip off the old block when ites to acquiring... treasures."


    "Heh heh heh."


    The ckwood''s third generation watched with amusement as "The Magical Three Viins" divvied up their loot. Jessica, having spent most of her time protecting the younger generation, had little to show for her efforts.


    Marcus, however, was ecstatic. "Four mystical artifacts?"


    "Hahaha, excellent! Once Uncle refines these, the Sky Pce will be even more formidable. We''ll be unstoppable within this Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary!" William dered triumphantly.


    Before he could finish his sentence, however, he was hoisted into the air, much like he had been back in the Forebearer''s ancestral hall. "What''s the big idea?!" he sputtered, indignant.


    Ignoring his protests, they shook him upside down, and sure enough, two more Storage Rings tumbled out of his robes.


    Leave it to William to hide the best forst.


    Sensing their using stares, William exploded. "What are you looking at me like that for? I''ve spent my entire life risking my neck for these treasures! Can''t a guy keep a few things for himself? Besides, these are useless to you! One ring is full of severed heads, nothing but trophies.


    The other has some decent ability weapons, but they''re all for surveince."


    George, sensing his brother''s distress, intervened. "He''s right. We wouldn''t have been able to pinpoint Uncle''s location without William''s gadgets. Especially that mirror... what was it called again?"


    "The Eternal Element Mirrorr," William supplied, his mood brightening slightly now that his brother hade to his defense. "See? My Storage Rings are full of tools for the trade, not your average trinkets."


    "Then what''s this?" George asked, his face darkening as he pulled another Storage Ring from William''s hair.


    "That... heh heh..."


    William''s protests were cut short as he was engulfed in a wave of darkness, his cries echoing through the air.


    Once William''s punishment was dispensed, the ckwoods gathered to discuss their next move.


    "The Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary''s closure is unpredictable," Jessica began, her voiceced with concern. "The entire ce is in chaos. There are no rules anymore. And our battle with Neil... it didn''t go unnoticed. Other Competent Force experts are aware of our presence."


    Her words cast a pall over the group. They had sensed other Out-of-Body stage experts observing their confrontation with Neil. Some had even seemed poised to take advantage of the situation, but Marcus''s arrival had deterred them.


    "Elders," Joseph spoke up, his voice tight with anxiety. "This ce is no longer safe. We need to leave, before stronger opponents..."


    His words were cut short as their expressions shifted, their senses screaming in unison. A powerful Competent Force aura had descended upon them.


    "Damn it!" Marcus roared, the Sky Pce materializing in his hand.


    They whirled around just in time to see Brent unleash a surge of natural energy, shattering the formations that bound Neil. He grabbed her by the leg and flung her into the air with a speed that defied belief.


    In the blink of an eye, Neil was gone.


    ...


    "Brent."


    Neil soared through the sky, her heart pounding against her ribs.


    She didn''t dare look back, but her eyes stung with unshed tears. Everything that had transpired had been a chaotic blur, a nightmare she couldn''t wake from. She hadn''t anticipated Marcus''s overwhelming strength, the betrayal of her own family elders, or the sheer number of ckwoods lurking within the Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary. But the most unexpected twist of fate...


    Brent, the seemingly spineless traitor, had been ying a dangerous game, biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.


    She could still see the look on his face as he crouched beside her, urging her to live, his smile more dazzling than any treasure she had ever seen.


    Neil had grown up in a world of merchants, her life driven by profit and gain. For the first time, she understood that there was more to the Parker family than just wealth and power. The Patriarch had always told her that a merchant''s tears were worthless, but for the first time...


    Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the starlight above.


    "Brent, Brent!" she cried out, her voice raw with emotion. "I will survive! And when I do, I will paint the ground red with the blood of everyst ckwood, a tribute to your sacrifice!"