Susan Grant felt a bit of joy in her heart. Although a Saint-grade Sacred Blade Token was not exactly priceless, it was already the highest reward the family head had given to her branch in recent years. Even when she was promoted to Scholar, all she received was a Superior-grade Sacred Artifact Token as a congratulatory gift.

"Just in time, now that I've advanced to Scholar, I can start learning techniques, and I really need a handy weapon."

Charles Baker spoke as he prepared to channel his qi and activate the True Fate Dao Seal, ready to inscribe words on the Sacred Blade Token and draw out the weapon within.

Susan Grant was startled and quickly grabbed Charles Baker: "This is a Saint-grade Sacred Artifact Token! You'd better think carefully about what to write. If you only draw out a Medium or Inferior-grade weapon, it would be such a waste of this rare Saint-grade token."

Susan Grant didn't believe Charles Baker could compose a Saint-grade verse like he did in the Scholar's Garden in such a short time. For most Saint-grade Sacred Artifact Tokens, getting a Superior-grade result was already not too bad. After all, Saint-grade poetry was even rarer than Saint-grade tokens.

"It's just a Sacred Artifact Token, no need to overthink it."

Charles Baker smiled, then directly reached out and carved two lines onto the token.

"**************, once it meets the winds and clouds, it transforms into a dragon."

After finishing, Charles Baker looked at his work, quite satisfied with these two lines.

Although he only copied half of the divinatory phrase, Charles Baker felt it was enough. These two lines best represented the transformation of a carp into a dragon, making them a perfect match for this brocade carp illustration.

As soon as Charles Baker finished writing, the golden brocade carp on the Sacred Blade Token instantly emitted ten thousand rays of golden light, filling the hall with dazzling brilliance, making it hard to see anything ahead. Then, a clear dragon's roar was heard, and only then did the golden light slowly fade away.

When Susan Grant regained her sight, she immediately looked at Charles Baker, only to see that the Sacred Blade Token in his hand had vanished, replaced by a golden dragon-shaped weapon about four feet long. The tail formed the handle, the head was the tip, the dorsal fin was the serrated edge, and the four claws were like hooks. The blade was covered in layers of sharp, fine golden scales. At a glance, the fierce aura emanating from the blade was terrifying, as if a casual swing could tear through anything—a truly peerless and fearsome weapon.

"A Saint-grade weapon!"

Susan Grant stared in disbelief at the Saint-grade mark on the dragon-shaped weapon.

Beside her, Little Grace was already stunned, her little mouth wide open, big eyes unblinking as she stared at the dragon-shaped weapon in Charles Baker's hand. Only one thought remained in her mind: "Young Master Baker has composed another Saint-grade poem."

Charles Baker casually swung the dragon-shaped weapon a couple of times. Though it looked a bit odd, like a cross between a blade and a hook, it felt extremely comfortable in his hand, perfect for slashing. Injecting qi into it was completely unobstructed; in fact, it even felt as if his qi was being amplified.

"This Dragon Scale Blade feels pretty good. I'll find a blade technique manual to practice with it another day."

Charles Baker activated the True Fate Dao Seal, allowing the Ten Directions Ancient Emperor to store the Dragon Scale Blade in the void, so he could retrieve it at any time when needed.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go back and rest first."

With that, Charles Baker turned and walked out of the hall.

"**************, once it meets the winds and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.

Is this truly what you desire in your heart?"

Susan Grant watched Charles Baker leave with a complicated expression, feeling a strange sense of discomfort in her heart.

After being married for over four years, Susan Grant suddenly realized that she didn't seem to understand Charles Baker at all.

"Miss, didn't the person sent by the family head say that the family head wanted you to bring Young Master Baker to see him?

Why did you let him leave?"

Little Grace snapped back to her senses and stomped her foot anxiously.

"Just go call him back, and have him change into something more presentable while you're at it."

Susan Grant sighed softly.

Chapter 8: Great Talent?

The head of the The Grant Family, Samuel Grant, was the elder brother of Susan Grant's grandfather and the only Sage in the The Grant Family at present. Because Charles Baker was disliked by most members of the The Grant Family, even though he had been in the family for several years, he had only met Samuel Grant a handful of times.

Samuel Grant, already one hundred and two years old, looked only about forty, with thick, jet-black hair and beard, exuding a scholarly elegance.

"Cultivation can prolong life and delay aging—perhaps that's the greatest benefit of this world.

But if every day is spent either cultivating or fighting, what's the point of living longer and staying young? There's hardly any time to enjoy life."

Charles Baker sized up Samuel Grant, thinking to himself.

Even as a direct descendant of the The Grant Family, once you turned eighteen, you had to accept the family's arrangements—either to resist the invasion and harassment of monsters or to serve the family in some capacity. This was the duty every family member owed after enjoying the family's protection.

Naturally, Charles Baker was no exception. Fortunately, he was not yet eighteen, and now that he might enter Nanli Academy, he could avoid these troubles for the time being.

"This is my good friend Master Howard and his beloved son, The Scholar of Bluefield."

Samuel Grant introduced the two to Charles Baker and Susan Grant.

"Old Grant, I truly have no other choice this time, so I must shamelessly ask for your help. I hope Old Grant will grant my request."

Master Howard clearly had little interest in Charles Baker and Susan Grant. After the introduction, he immediately turned to Samuel Grant.

"Howard Green, don't worry. Your father and I were the closest of friends. A mere Saint Blade Token—it's only right that I give it to you."