My Children’s Gifts Give Me 1000x Returns!

The next two months passed in a blur of blood, sweat, and unrelenting discipline within the high, stone-walled courtyard of Radiant Crest Villa.

Thanks to the spiritual gathering formation embedded in the villa's bedrock, the air inside the estate was thick with dense Qi. But the real secret behind the twins' terrifying progress wasn't just the environment—it was the house-sized "sparring partner" currently residing in their backyard.

BOOM!

A sharp wave of compressed air rattled the courtyard's reinforced wooden training posts.

Ethan blurred across the stone tiles, his linen-wrapped spear whistling through the air like a striking viper. Opposite him, the Earth-Crushing Bear—its power scaled down to a manageable Grade-3 level by the Grand Sovereign Collar—swung a massive, stone-plated paw in a ferocious counter.

CLANG!

Ethan didn't retreat. His gold-tempered bones hummed with vibrant power as he used the butt of his spear to deflect the crushing blow, pivoting on his heel to create an opening.

"Elena, now!" Ethan barked.

A streak of cold azure light flashed behind the beast. Elena appeared like a ghost, her movement footwork executed flawlessly as her sword struck the soft leather skin behind the bear's shoulder joint.

SLASH!

A clean spray of blood erupted, and the giant bear let out a gruff grunt, stumbling two steps backward before lowering its massive head in defeat.

"Stop," Gabriel's calm voice echoed from the shaded balcony overlooking the courtyard.

Ethan and Elena immediately froze, dropping their combat stances and panting heavily, sweat soaking their training tunics. The suppressed bear trotted over to the side of the courtyard, lying down quietly like a massive, overgrown guard dog.

Gabriel dropped down from the balcony, landing without making a single sound on the stone tiles. He looked at his children, noting the deep, steady rhythm of their breathing and the dense Qi circulating beneath their skin.

Over sixty days of daily life-or-death sparring against a Grade-3 suppressed monster had forged their combat instincts into deadly weapons. They no longer fought like inexperienced students; they moved like battle-hardened mercenaries.

"Your combination was much better today," Gabriel said, stepping forward. "Elena, your entry angle was precise, but Ethan—you delayed your pivot by a fraction of a second to protect your left shoulder. In a real fight against a noble heir with high-grade spatial artifacts, that fraction of a second means losing your arm."

Ethan bowed his head deeply. "I understand, Dad. I'll correct it in the afternoon session."

Gabriel smiled inwardly. Their dedication was absolute. But he knew they had reached a critical threshold. Their physical bodies were thoroughly tempered at Mortal Physique (Peak), and their meridians were ripe for the next major leap.

He reached into his inner coat pocket—drawing from his System inventory—and pulled out two small, obsidian-carved bottles.

Inside each bottle sat a glowing, violet-hued pill that pulsed like a tiny heart: Mid-Grade Meridian Awakening Pills.

"You've pushed your physical limits as far as they can go," Gabriel said, handing a bottle to each of them. "Today, you break through to the Spirit Vein Opening Realm."

Elena gasped, staring at the glowing bottle in her hands. "Spirit Vein Opening... Dad, most geniuses in the Inner City don't touch this realm until their second year of college!"

"You aren't most geniuses," Gabriel said plainly. "Swallow them. Sit cross-legged and guide the energy into your Dantian."

The twins didn't waste a second. They sat on the cool stone floor, popping the pills into their mouths.

BZ—ZZZ-T!

Instantly, two distinct surges of violent, purple spiritual energy erupted within the courtyard. Ethan's body glowed with a deep, fierce crimson light, while Elena's skin shimmered with a brilliant, lightning-azure hue. Their internal channels—strengthened by weeks of rigorous training and past Heaven-Grade resources—expanded rapidly to accommodate the influx of true Qi.

CRACK-CRACK!

The sound of their internal spirit channels snapping wide open resonated in the quiet air.

[Ethan has successfully opened 12 Spirit Veins!][Elena has successfully opened 12 Spirit Veins!][Both Offspring have officially broken through to the Spirit Vein Opening Realm (Early Stage)!]

The familiar crystal bell rang echoing through Gabriel’s mind, far louder than usual.

[Ding! Host's Offspring have achieved a Major Realm Breakthrough under Host's guidance!]

[Bestowing 2x Mid-Grade Meridian Awakening Pills triggered a 1000x Critical Return!]

[Host receives: 1x Divine Imperial Origin Pill!]

[Host receives: Imperial Martial Technique — 'Sovereign Dragon Pressure'!]

Without hesitation, Gabriel retreated to his private meditation chamber inside the villa. Sitting cross-legged on a jade cushion, he summoned the Divine Imperial Origin Pill into his hand and swallowed it whole.

BOOM!

Unlike the burning liquid fire of previous pills, this divine pill melted into a vast, boundless ocean of golden liquid energy that flooded every corner of Gabriel's soul and body.

His already Divine-Grade meridians roared like cosmic rivers. The bottleneck of the Martial Scholar Realm that stopped millions of cultivators across the continent was shattered in less than three seconds!

Martial Scholar (Mid Stage)...Martial Scholar (Late Stage)...Martial Scholar (Peak Stage — Great Circle)!

BANG!

A golden aura burst from Gabriel’s body, radiating through the walls of the chamber. His consciousness expanded outward, touching the fabric of space itself. He felt the weight of the air, the flow of regional pressure, and the subtle law of intent surrounding him.

He had broken straight through the Martial Scholar realm, stepping firmly into the Martial Master Realm (Early Stage)!

In the entire Outer District of Verdant Haven Citadel, the strongest noble branch leaders were merely Mid-Stage Martial Scholars. Gabriel had just crossed into a realm where he could coat his weapons with elemental domain intent and crush dozens of scholars with a wave of his hand!

He opened his eyes, two golden dragons flashing briefly within his pupils before fading back into deep blackness.

Meanwhile, far away in the prestigious Core City, deep within the towering, sword-shaped fortress of House Aurelius...

A grand, marble hall lit by floating spirit lanterns sat in quiet solemnity. At the head of the hall sat a regal woman in luxurious silver-embroidered robes, her hair tied with jade pins. Despite her radiant beauty, her eyes carried a deep, lingering sadness.

She was Lady Evelyn Aurelius—Gabriel's wife, and the daughter of a high elder of House Aurelius.

"My Lady," a loyal old maid whispered, stepping into the hall and bowing low. "I have gathered the latest reports from the Southern Territory, as you requested."

Evelyn raised her head, her voice quiet but tense. "Is there any news of him? Of Gabriel and the children?"

The old maid hesitated before shaking her head softly. "Nothing concrete, My Lady. As you know, the Outer Ring of Verdant Haven Citadel is vast and chaotic. However... there are strange rumors circulating from the Southern Wilderness."

"Rumors?"

"They say a mysterious master named 'Gabriel' recently appeared in the Outer District. He crushed a Valerius branch leader in a single move, secured twin S-Rank test results for his children, and accepted an estate from the Global Guild."

Evelyn’s breath hitched for a moment, her heart hammering against her chest. "Gabriel...?"

"My Lady, please do not raise your hopes," the maid cautioned gently. "Gabriel is a common name across the empire. The report states this master possesses power far exceeding a peak Martial Scholar. Your husband's Spirit Veins were completely shattered eight years ago... it is impossible for a crippled man to achieve such feats in the outer slums. It is almost certainly a coincidence."

Evelyn squeezed her hands tightly in her lap, tears welling in her eyes before she forced them back down.

"I know..." Evelyn whispered softly, looking out the grand window toward the distant southern horizon. "I know it’s impossible. But if the elders find out about any connection, they will send pursuers to eliminate any potential threat to the family’s honor."

She looked at the old maid, her gaze turning firm. "Send two of our secret shadowed guards to Verdant Haven Citadel. Tell them to protect any commoner named Gabriel from House Valerius's retaliation—just in case."

"As you wish, My Lady."

Evelyn turned back to the window, unaware that the husband she believed to be a helpless, crippled guard was currently rapidly advancing toward a realm that would soon make the entire continent tremble.

Back in the Radiant Crest Villa, the three months had finally come to an end.

Gabriel stood at the front gates of the villa, looking at Ethan and Elena. Both twins were now tall, sharp, and radiating the distinct, steady aura of Spirit Vein Opening (Early Stage) experts.

Across their shoulders hung high-grade travel packs, and their weapons rested cleanly at their waists.

Ahead of them, the massive, iron-reinforced gates separating the Outer Ring from the Inner City stood wide open, guarded by elite armored knights of the Imperial Guard.

Gabriel patted his son's shoulder and straightened his daughter's cloak, a proud smile on his face.

"Three months ago, they called you slum trash," Gabriel said, his voice ringing with quiet, absolute power. "Today, you walk into the Inner City as S-Rank scholars of the Imperial Grand Martial College."

He looked toward the grand, shining spires of the Inner City towering in the distance.

"Let's go," Gabriel commanded, stepping forward. "It's time to take what belongs to us."