Roshan and the others got to their feet, but the cultivators who had surrendered to Kamura earlier remained on their knees in shame.


    Roshan nced at them but said nothing as he waited.


    Wilbur looked at the cultivators calmly. "I can''t me you for choosing to surrender. At the end of the day, you were just trying to survive, and that''s your right as a human being. Seeing as you didn''t cause any harm, I won''t give you any trouble for what you did."


    "Thank you, sir." The cultivators bowed once more and got to their feet, but their expressions were full of shame.


    Wilbur sighed to himself.


    It was notpletely these people''s fault that they chose to surrender. After all, who wouldn''t want to live?


    Seeing as they had not harmed their own people like Karmon and Eagle had, Wilbur decided to just let the matter go.


    "Thank you for your generosity, sir. I''ll never forget it." Roshan was the first to speak after that, clearly approving of how Wilbur had handled the matter.


    Wilbur smiled. "Don''t worry about it."


    "Sir, are you really going to challenge the Shia cultivator circle?" Roshan asked worriedly.


    "Well, they were cocky enough to be deserving of a lesson," said Wilbur.


    "I have no doubts about your power in the slightest, sir," Roshan frowned. "But..... you''ll be going abroad, and alone too. Don''t you think that''s a little dangerous? How about we go with you? We might not be nearly as powerful as you are, but we can help you out on the way there as well as settle you down when you reach."


    "That''s right. Can we please go with you?" Robert and the others lit up excitedly as well.


    Wilbur smiled. "That''s quite alright. I''ve got plenty of elites to take with me if I n on going withpany. Don''t you worry about that."


    Indeed, Wilbur had Chester and Zeke, both of whom were of Sanctuary level.


    Then there were Shepard, Eileen, and Braum, the three super Sanctuary level elites.


    Skilled cultivators were the least of Wilbur''s problems.


    The only reason he was going to challenge the Shia cultivator circle alone was so that there would be no external conflicts toe out of this.


    Roshan and the others could only nod at the exnation.


    With their skill level, they might even be a burden to Wilbur if they went with him. Yes, it was best if they just stayed put.


    Roshan sighed. "You really are the best of the best in terms of skill, values, and patriotism, sir. You sure put me to shame."


    "Anyone who disrespects my nation shall be punished, no matter how far away they are. Loja of Shia might only have provoked the cultivator circle of Dasha, but I shall not let him get away with it. He needs to be taught a lesson," Wilbur said calmly.


    Roshan and the others bowed to Wilbur deeply once more at the words. "Long live Master Penn. We shall all be waiting for your glorious return, Sir."


    "Ha! Alright, alright." Wilbur did not turn down the praise in the slightest.


    Just then, Roshan nodded at his son.


    Robert ran to the room and returned holding a wooden box that he raised above his head and handed to Wilbur.


    "Oh? What''s this?" Wilbur asked, confused.


    Roshan said, "Sir, I''ve prepared a gift for you in gratitude for saving our lives. I hope it''s enough."


    "Oh... you''re too kind." Wilbur scratched his head awkwardly.


    Roshan''s tone was insistent. "My bones would be reduced to ashes by now if it wasn''t for you, sir. God knows what would have happened to everyone else here, either. You saved our lives, no gift is enough to repay you."


    "Thank you," Wilbur replied with a chuckle.


    Just then, Roshan came forward and opened the wooden box to reveal a hairpin.


    The hairpin seemed to radiate rays of mesmerizing light, brightening up the living room in a lovely glow.


    "That''s..."


    Wilbur got to his feet slowly at the sight before him.


    The hairpin was made out of jade and encrusted with eight jewels. It was a little under a foot long, emitting stunning rays of light.


    One end of the hairpin had been expertly carved into a phoenix''s head, with a string of pearls hanging from its gaping mouth.


    It was clear from the quality of the jade and the handiwork alone that the hairpin had been around for up to a good thousand years. There was no doubt that it was an antique, and a priceless one at that.


    And to make the hairpin even more precious...