Kairos immediately tried to reimburse the instructor for his Beast Grade Spirit Stone, and although Lalhal was unwilling to accept at the start, his resistance ultimately crumbled.

Because of his pride as a teacher, it was hard for him to take an item from a boy, but thinking about the cost of the gemstone he stuttered when trying to reject it.

In the end, the whole class found out on his reluctance.

“I have lots of Beast Grade Spirit Stone, and even Titan Grade ones are like decorations in my abode… b..bbut.. if you are so sincere in being filial to your teacher, I will generously accept… um...”

“Shameless! He is so shameless!”

“The moment he sees money, his eyes turn into coins!”

All the students secretly thought in their heads, while the staffs looked away wordlessly.

Lalhal shoved the new Spirit Stone down his pouch with a blush, while Alan gave him an apologetic smile. Even if he was a prodigy from one of the Great Noble families, it was difficult for him to save up so many mansion-priced spirit stones; they are all of his cultivation resources at this time.

If he squandered them, he would have a hard time begging for more from his father, and worse still, if the elders found out that he had lost the stones because some turtle chewed it up when showing-off, he would be ridiculed to death.

He burst out laughing all of a sudden, then patted Kairos on his back, “You… you have a bright future ahead, boy.”

Then he turned away from them and replaced the energy sources for the array. This time, he used lower grade spirit stones that wouldn’t cost him as dearly if history repeats itself.

He promptly ignored Alan throughout all these. After everything that happened, Lalhal was not in the mood to shake hands and makeup. However, his curiosity is driving him insane, and after a while, he couldn’t help but ask, “Disciple Alan, just what kind of turtle is this? I do not know of any species that could devour Spirit Stones.”

Contract Beasts, like humans, could extract Heavenly Energy from the stones, but it is impossible for them to crunch the hard object between their teeth and swallow it.

Of course, theoretically, there are definite benefits of consuming such potent items instead of slowly refining it; therefore it led to countless cultivators who tried to find a way in the past.

They believe that the one who succeeds would gain the world.

For cultivators, it is a chance to gather a large amount of Heavenly Energy to cultivate themselves far quicker than others. For those who could not refine Ki, or have poor talent, they could sell the information in Rielon’s black market and be paid a king’s ransom.

Unfortunately, it is an unreachable treasure trove, for even the brightest and the most learned of men had failed in this endeavour.

They have concluded that ingesting a Spirit Stone does nothing except creates a congested stomach, and sometimes constipation.

On the other hand, for Kairos and most students who lacked the knowledge of such a rave, they did not notice anything out of place when they saw the turtle eat the Spirit Stone.

But, Lalhal discerned the oddity immediately.

When he asked Alan his question, because of the strangeness in Lalhal’s words, Kairos felt something was wrong and spoke up in his brother’s stead, immediately.

“I bought it for him at the beast shop in the city, and I’ve heard that it’s an offspring of a Stone Biting Turtle and a Pentagram Box Turtle,” Kairos answered, “But I think it might be a variant.”

When Snow had first tried to identify their Contract Beasts, she had dismissed the Cosmic Wanderer’s variant to be Alan’s pet due to the unlikeliness of such a happenchance to occur, and instead suggest it could be a mixture of a Stone Biting Turtle and a Pentagram Box Turtle. The two species are both black in colour and has a great deal of endurance.

However, the children still secretly hoped that it would be the Cosmic Wanderer’s offspring. Such a possibility made their hearts pound.

After all, it is difficult to identify the type, since most encyclopaedias do not include pictures of the young beasts. And they have witnessed first-hand how the turtle survived unscathed when a substantially hefty tome fell on it. A feat that not many young turtles could accomplish.

Lalhal nodded understandably and returned to his tasks.

If the black turtle has a bloodline of the Stone Biting Turtle, then it could be easily understood on why it ate the Spirit Stones.

It is well-known to be a ravenous species, especially their young that had not found out what is ingestible would attempt to eat even stones; giving their kind its name.

It had been a topic of research since a long while ago when people first discovered some beasts do consume Spirit Stones. But when they found out that the Spirit Stones pass through their bodies undigested, they lost all interest.

Lalhal felt disappointed from Kairos’ answer and left. The rare ability of the turtle is now explained.

“The powerful defence of a Pentagram Box Turtle, the biting strength of a Stone Biting Turtle and in addition, a Variant with the ability to devour attacks… It all makes sense.

What was I hoping for, to become disappointed like this?

But… At least, I’ve gained a couple of those beauties… bwahahahaha!”

Not all of the Beast Grade Spirit Stones that he placed were eaten, some of them were only chewed slightly before they stopped the turtle. However, Kairos insisted on replacing every damaged stone, and thus, he had secretly looked forward to accepting it. Still, after a moment of happiness, he forgotten about his gains and returned to being gloomy at having lost the chance to study the first beast that could consume and digest spirit stones raw.

“A mere Stone biting Turtle… what a shame.”

Though a variant is rare, to have one appear amongst lower tiered beasts is nothing noteworthy.

Kairos on the other hand felt a sense of relief, knowing that somehow, he and his brothers had barely dodged a bullet.

In fact, all they are doing these days seems to be dodging potential disasters.

He knows that there is always an option for them to escape to the Immortal Realm, as offered by Old Ye. They would join the Immortal Blue Sect where Jones should be settled in by now.

Unfortunately, with families depending on them, it was a terrible time for the five of them to leave.

Financially, they no longer need to be concerned, but within this political whirlpool, different factions were hungering to possess the Snowdrifts, especially since it promises riches untold.

Not only so, the dangers of Orcs, Devils and a vengeful Silent Lambs Empire, was hovering on their horizon, and he knows that man was kept safe by more than bread.

In the end, it all boils down to them being powerless to protect themselves. If their cultivation secrets were ever found out, they would be wiped out overnight. No, even surviving half a day would be a miracle.

Their group might be strong enough to challenge a single Guardian, but it is a fact that Syriong is far from the strongest in the Mortal Realm, and their paltry level of strength doesn’t provide them with any bargaining chips on the Table of Kings.

It is for this reason, of having a powerful organisation respected by all has become the target which Kairos aimed to nurture the Snowdrifts towards.

And by extension, as the leaders, their academic experience cannot be missed.

The hands of time turned quickly, and the partner battles are finally about to begin. The enthusiastic cheers of the students distracted Kairos from his long train of thoughts.

He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile as he once again noticed how his mind had been bogged down by the grand designs that their future holds. It felt like a heavy stone pressing down on his shoulders, relentlessly.

“It seems that my burdens are indeed weighing me down.”

The things running through his head created a repetitive pattern, too easy for him to introspect. The reins of leadership had required him to think far ahead.

At this time, Relestia, the only other person who could not participate in the battle, came and stood silently by his side.

Seemingly, she could sense the burden that Kairos is carrying, radiating from his body.

She did not know what caused her big brother who was only a few years older than her, to be giving off such an aura, and she tenderly placed her hand on his arm.

There weren’t any words, but the coolness of her skin jolted Kairos from his reverie, like a refreshing drizzle to a parched garden.

“Relestia, I’m alright,” He said simply, though his lips break into a warm smile.

The two observed as the students took their place with their Contract Beasts positioned beside them.

“You may begin,” Lalhal announced, and all at once, the participants started moving.

There were those they sought to team with another. Others that tried to meld into the background. Others, still, that declared their superiority and welcomed challengers.

The paired battle no longer depends on the ability of their Contract Beast, for the strength of the Tamer now plays a large part. Those that are confident in themselves stood close to the middle of the arena.

At the very edge of their battleground, Alan is squatting over his beast.

“Little Turtle, quickly! Let’s go!!”

He gestured with his hands, hoping to hasten the tiny thing’s speed, encouraging it to wobble forward. Though, from the looks of things, his black turtle was not thoroughly impressed by his requests.

“If you run, I will treat you to Spirit Stones tonight,” without giving up, Alan whispered urgently.

The turtle, as though it understood, lifted its flippers immediately. Its small shell bounced up and down as it paddled itself forward as quickly as it could, making it look like a pebble skidding across the water. Unfortunately, its top speed equalled to a pace of an inch per second.

“Uhh, Alan, you can carry it you know? We are no longer doing a beast-only brawl,” Tommy said from his side.

The four of them are standing together, and intend to fight as a team, but so far they had hardly taken a step from where they were.

“Well, if it couldn’t charge by itself, how could they do a two-prong attack?” Jim asked. Their grand scheme was to distract the enemy, while the turtle sucks out all the energies from unsuspecting victims from behind.

Edward shook his head, not understanding how they could come up with an impossible plan like this.

“In that case,” The archer starts, “why don’t you hide your turtle in your hands, and throw it at the opponent when they least expected?”

“Ohhhhh,” The two said at the same time to the baffled Tommy and Edward.

Kairos almost burst out laughing looking at this scene. How can he contain himself when he vividly remembers that to ‘attack by throwing the turtle’ was something they had teased Alan about when he first returned with his Contract Beast.

At that time, Alan was really depressed when teased, but now, over the same hilarious suggestion, he is treating it as a serious, even brilliant strategy.

His face was filled with an expression that screams, “Why didn’t I think of this!”, when he went to his turtle that was still struggling to push itself forward.

And then, he clasped it between his hands and charged headfirst into the chaos, yelling, “No one will expect it! Let’s go!”

His brothers rolled their eyes and followed closely behind with their beasts.