Chapter 141: Finch

"What is your name?"

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Luo spoke first. This strange stone contained immense energy, and he intended to trade for it. However, a few Seven-Star Pills certainly wouldn't suffice; it all depended on how high a price he would have to pay.

"Finch!"

"Finch? The seventh-ranked student on the Heaven Academy leaderboard?"

Hearing this, Wang Luo was instantly startled. The Heaven Profound Academy leaderboard flashed through his mind, and indeed, the fifth position was held by Finch—a peak sixth-level wind mage, the first mage to ever appear on the Heaven Profound Academy’s top rankings!

Looking at Finch again, a flicker of genuine interest crossed Wang Luo's eyes. He had assumed those on the leaderboard were mostly veteran students around twenty years old, like Hanrod or Chelsea. He hadn't expected someone so young to hold the fifth spot.

Moreover, he had heard about Finch from Prier and the others. Finch was different from the rest; he came from a poor background, had no connections, and achieved everything through his own relentless effort. Since entering the inner academy, he had spent nearly ninety-nine percent of his time in the Trial Forest, training bitterly.

Although Finch rarely appeared in the academy, his reputation was no lower than that of the top four—Hanrod, Chelsea, Carl, and Binro—or even the mysterious student ranked at zero, Beat. However, aside from the ranking tournament three years ago, very few had seen his face. Many knew only his name, having no idea what he looked like.

"The leaderboard doesn't mean much. Some veteran students who reach the academy but haven't broken through to the seventh level apply to become academy guardians or go out to train, so they aren't on campus and don't participate in the rankings. So, my fifth-place title is a bit inflated," Finch said with a casual smile. Yet, even without the participation of the older students, one could hardly call someone who reached fifth place—and the top spot among mages—a simple individual.

"While a single Seven-Star Pill is precious, it isn't enough compared to this stone. What else do you want?" Wang Luo was quite interested in such stories of self-made success and admired such people; however, admiration was one thing, and business was another.

"If I traded it entirely for Seven-Star Pills, how many could I get?"

"Entirely for Seven-Star Pills?" Wang Luo looked at Finch with a puzzled expression and pondered for a moment.

"Although this stone contains energy comparable to a ninth-level magic core, it cannot be equated to one. The energy inside is impossible to refine or absorb. It is truly a case of 'tasteless to eat, but a pity to discard.' How do five Seven-Star Pills sound to you?"

"Deal!" Finch said cheerfully, giving Wang Luo a deep look. He handed over the stone while carefully accepting the five pills, a surge of goodwill toward Wang Luo growing in his heart.

The stone was exactly as Wang Luo had described: useless to keep, yet a shame to throw away. He had tried trading it with others before, but they were either uninterested or offered a pittance. Wang Luo’s offer of five pills far exceeded his expectations. He had originally planned that if the offer was decent, he would add some other items to make up five pills, as there were five in his group. One for each of them would significantly increase their chances of breaking through to the seventh level in the Advancement Illusion Realm.

"Wait a moment. I just returned from the Trial Forest. I have some magic cores and spirit herbs here; they should be perfect for trading for any other pills you might have!"

"Fine!"

With the trade concluded, Wang Luo hurriedly departed with his two beasts to catch up with Prier and the others. They likely wouldn't return before the opening of the Advancement Illusion Realm.

"Wang Luo!" Watching the figure slowly fade into the distance, Finch gripped the pills tightly, whispering the name in his heart and etching that figure into his memory.

"Brother Finch, let's hurry to the Trial Forest to hunt magic beasts! Someone posted a mission on the bulletin board saying they'll trade Seven-Star Pills for magic cores!"

Just as Finch turned to head back, two men and two women ran over from not far away. A woman in fiery red robes, holding a magic staff, reached them breathless and spoke with unusual excitement.

"Brother Finch, I don't know which spendthrift is trading Seven-Star Pills for magic cores and energy-rich items. If we head into the Trial Forest now and hunt, combined with our previous savings, we might actually be able to trade for a few pills before the Advancement Illusion Realm opens!"

A young man who appeared more composed, with faint fuzz on his chin, added his encouragement. The other man and woman urged him as well.

"Haha, come inside first!"

With a mysterious smile, Finch led them into the house. He sat down unhurriedly on the sofa, which still held a trace of warmth, and looked at them enigmatically.

"Brother Finch, tell us what's going on! If there's nothing, we need to pack up and go to the Trial Forest!" The fiery girl, thinking of the Seven-Star Pills that could be snapped up by someone else at any moment, said anxiously.

"Haha, the stone I got last time has been sold!"

"What? You sold it? Even though that stone has a lot of energy, it can't be absorbed. Who would want it?" The girl in red was stunned for a moment, then spoke with resignation. She didn't even bother asking for the price, clearly occupied only by thoughts of the Seven-Star Pills.

"Wait, the stone has a lot of energy. Brother Finch, why did you sell it now? If we had used its energy, maybe we could have traded it for one or two Seven-Star Pills!" Suddenly realizing the potential, the girl felt deeply discouraged.

The other three reacted similarly, looking equally dejected. Yet, no one blamed Finch; if not for following him, given their backgrounds and lack of resources, they had no idea when they would have reached the peak of the sixth level.

"Hehe, I used it to trade for the Seven-Star Pills. Guess how many I got?"

The four were stunned, then their faces lit up with joy. They began guessing, though it was clear they hadn't quite grasped the scale of the "few" he meant.

"Half a pill? Even though the stone has a lot of energy, it's useless. It's tasteless to eat and a pity to discard. Getting half a pill would already be pretty good!" A quiet, taciturn person who had been looking down lifted his head, revealing a rare smile as he spoke.