Chapter 15
"Stay with me a little longer, dear." Charles Parker pulled his wife into his embrace.
Grace Chen quieted down, leaning against his chest.
Time passed.
As midnight approached—
"The kids should all be asleep by now." Charles Parker finally got up and said in a low voice, "Honey, I have to go, or I'll miss the high-speed train."
"When I reach the Northern Frontier and receive the fifty-thousand credit compensation promised by the government, I'll send it to you."
"The family… is in your hands now."
—
Inside Jordan Parker's room.
The lights were off, with only faint illumination from the streetlights and moonlight filtering through the window.
The room was less than twenty square meters, containing two wardrobes and a two-square-meter household virtual network pod.
The rest of the space was nearly empty.
One of the wardrobes was actually a foldable Murphy bed, designed to save space and allow Jordan to practice martial arts at home.
But ever since awakening his Divine Mind Palace in his second year of high school, he had rarely used it. Most of the time, he sat directly on the wooden floor.
Tonight was no exception.
"Hmm?" Seated cross-legged, Jordan's ears twitched slightly.
His superior physique had enhanced his hearing far beyond that of an ordinary person, and in the quiet of the night, even the slightest noise was noticeable.
"Uncle left?"
He heard the faint click of a door closing. Moving like a shadow, he rose without making a sound and stepped to the window.
Half a minute later, he saw his uncle, Charles Parker, carrying a suitcase as he hurried out of the building's main entrance.
After taking a few steps, Charles paused and looked back toward the upper floors before quickly moving on, disappearing around the corner of the road.
Jordan stood at the window for a long time.
"Uncle… are you really willing to go to the Northern Frontier?" He sighed inwardly.
His uncle's words—Someone has to go—left a deep impression on him.
Since childhood, his uncle had been filled with a sense of duty to the country and had always guided Jordan toward that same path.
But in Jordan's view, the situation in the Northern Frontier hadn't reached that point yet.
"Uncle's decision isn't just because of the government's call… that generous compensation must be a factor too." Jordan's gaze darkened. "With both Lucas and me training in Martial Cultivation, our family's financial burden is too heavy."
Raising his hand—
Hum!
Without a sound, a thin beam of light shot from his wrist, forming a transparent holographic screen before him.
Displayed on it were numerous war reports on the Robhai Star Realm, including news on combat subsidies and support allowances.
"I have to get into one of the Five Elite Martial Schools." Jordan clenched his fists, his determination growing stronger.
Whoosh!
He moved to the wardrobe beside the window and pressed gently. The door popped open, revealing not just clothing but also a specially crafted metal box. The exterior of the box was adorned with the vast cosmos, its glow resembling countless stars.
It was the insignia of the Astral Martial Hall, one of the Three Great Martial Halls.
Opening the box—
"Basic Vitality Elixir."
Inside the case, ten vials were arranged in two neat rows—nine of them empty, leaving only one untouched.
Jordan picked up the last remaining vial.
"Two thousand credits per bottle."
The bottle itself was almost transparent, smooth, and cool to the touch.
It was specially designed to preserve the elixir's potency for extended periods.
Through the clear surface, the crimson liquid within shimmered under the faint moonlight, radiating an almost lifelike energy.
This was the standard Basic Vitality Elixir.
Regular meals, even nutritious ones, could only prevent a martial artist from suffering from vitality depletion during intense training.
But to accelerate physical evolution? That required rare elixirs and treasures.
Jordan knew that many advanced vitality potions offered better effects, but their prices were far higher.
In terms of cost-effectiveness, Basic Vitality Elixirs were the best among training supplements.
Even so, each bottle cost two thousand credits.
Jordan's training required one bottle every three days.
That meant roughly twenty thousand credits per month just for elixirs.
Adding in food expenses, his monthly martial cultivation costs approached thirty thousand credits.
That didn't even account for clothing, tuition fees, and other expenses.
Not to mention Lily and Lucas… The financial strain on his uncle and aunt was unimaginable.
"According to my schedule, I need to drink one tonight."
Jordan uncorked the bottle.
A unique aroma spread through the air.
Gulp!
He skillfully tilted his head back, downing the entire elixir without leaving a single drop.
Only after ensuring the bottle was empty did he place it back into the case.
Soon, a wave of warmth spread throughout his body, seeping into every muscle and bone, which eagerly absorbed it.
It felt… good.
"After three days of intense training, the effects of the previous elixir have worn off. My body was starving for this." Jordan was satisfied with the results.
"Hmm."
"It's past midnight… time to train in the Grand Sun Astral Sutra."
Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes.
Slowly, his mind emptied, and his spirit withdrew inward.
His consciousness focused.
Boom!
Without a sound, his awareness arrived at a mysterious realm.
There, floating in the void, was a strange and magnificent palace.
This mysterious realm was vast and boundless, stretching endlessly in all directions.
Mental Awareness.
" Every time my awareness enters my inner world, I can't help but feel amazed," Jordan Parker mused to himself.
This mysterious space awakened when his physical constitution reached Level 5.0.
After numerous attempts, he finally confirmed that this place was the origin of his mental awareness—his inner world.
The concept of an inner world was mentioned in the many martial cultivation texts Jordan had studied. Powerful martial artists referred to it by various names: Upper Dantian Palace, Sea of Consciousness, or simply the Mind's Domain.
Simply put—it was the mind!
It was the core of his soul's awareness.
If Jordan wished to leave, a mere thought would suffice.
Divine Palace.
Jordan's consciousness focused on the mysterious Divine Palace within his inner world.
From the outside, the palace appeared to have four levels.
This was the greatest factor behind his rapid improvement over the past year.
Buzz!
Distance held no meaning in the inner world. With a single thought, Jordan's awareness entered the mystical Divine Palace.
Inside, the space was vast and boundless.
Divine Palace Interface.
With a single thought, a data panel materialized within his field of consciousness.
The Divine Palace Interface had first appeared when Jordan became aware of his inner world and entered the Divine Palace for the first time.
It was the first benefit he had gained from this palace.
However, Jordan had not entered the Divine Mind Palace merely to wander aimlessly.
His focus was drawn to the only furnishing within the grand hall—a jade platform.
Its entire form was a crystalline crimson, gleaming with an otherworldly luster. Upon closer inspection, intricate, mysterious patterns covered its surface, following a distinct and profound order, faintly emanating an indescribable, mystical power.