My Children’s Gifts Give Me 1000x Returns!

**ARC 2: COLLEGE DUNGEON TRIAL & ANCIENT CLAN AWAKENING**

Within twenty-four hours of the incident at the Forbidden Shadow Dungeon, tremors rippled through the political landscape of the Southern Realm.

In the grand halls of the Inner City Military Council, the news that a newly registered entity—House Sterling—was backed by an active, unrecorded Martial Grandmaster sent shockwaves through every major faction. Elder Vane’s line was stripped of its administrative titles, while the surviving first-year scholars spoke in hushed, reverent tones of Ethan and Elena Sterling.

They were no longer viewed as lucky commoner scholars who had managed to awaken S-Rank aptitudes. To the entire Inner City, House Sterling had transformed overnight into an enigma—a sleeping, ancient clan revealing its vast foundation step by step.

Inside the serene, mist-shrouded courtyards of the Floating Cloud Island, miles above the cloud layer of Verdant Haven Citadel...

Gabriel sat in a carved white jade pavilion, watching the rising sun illuminate the floating waterfalls and rare medicinal gardens of his domain.

Across the stone table, Ethan and Elena were seated cross-legged on velvet mats, meditating quietly. The dense, pristine spiritual Qi of the Floating Island swirled around them in visible ribbons of crimson and azure light, settling deep into their Dantians.

Having passed through the life-and-death ordeal of the mutated dungeon and shattered the arrogance of Garron and Kaelen Valerius, both twins carried a far sharper, more immovable presence.

Ethan opened his eyes first, letting out a long breath of refined white air. "Dad... the spiritual density on this floating island is unreal. My spirit channels feel twice as thick as they were last week."

"Your foundation has stabilized," Gabriel said smoothly, pouring a cup of warm spirit tea and pushing it toward his son. "You faced high-tier pressure, held your stance, and didn't rely on reckless anger. That is how a true cultivator tempers his heart."

Elena opened her eyes as well, touching the obsidian Sovereign Teleportation & Protection Amulet resting against her collarbone.

"Dad," Elena murmured softly, looking up at Gabriel with deep curiosity. "General Ignatius... he called you 'Sovereign Master.' The way he bowed to you... it felt like he was serving a monarch, not just an elite cultivator."

Gabriel took a quiet sip of his tea, a faint, mysterious smile gracing his lips.

"In this world, titles are given by the weak to describe what they cannot understand," Gabriel replied calmly, his deep black eyes meeting his daughter's. "What matters is not what others call us, but whether we possess the absolute force to protect our own. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Dad," both twins answered in unison, bowing their heads respectfully.

BZ—T!

The crystal bell chimed clearly inside Gabriel’s mind.

[Ding!]

[Major Milestone Achieved: 'Shattered Noble Conspiracy, Exposed House Valerius, & Established Martial Grandmaster Prestige'!]

[Triggering 1000x Critical Return!]

[Host receives: Ancient Clan Architecture — 'Sovereign Sterling Ancestral Hall'!]

(Unlocks high-tier clan inheritance arrays, automated defensive wards, and a 100% boost to all clan members' cultivation speed while within the estate).

[Host receives: 1x Imperial Pill — 'Soul-Forging Grandmaster Elixir'!]

[Host receives: 200,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones!]

Gabriel’s eyes glinted as he reviewed the rewards. A 1000x Critical Return! The System was showering him with resources to transform House Sterling into a true, unshakeable empire.

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

Inside a high-ceilinged marble chamber lit by floating silver lanterns, a tall, imposing man in silver-and-white dragon robes stood by a floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the northern mountain ranges.

He was Elder Jonathan Aurelius—a High Elder of House Aurelius and the biological uncle of Evelyn Aurelius.

SWISH.

A shadowed figure clad in dark leather armor materialized out of the air, kneeling on one knee before Jonathan.

"Report," Jonathan commanded, his voice cold, sharp, and sounding like a drawn blade. "Has there been any movement from the shadowed guards sent to the Southern Territory?"

"High Elder," the shadow scout reported nervously, bowing his head to the stone floor. "A major report just arrived from Verdant Haven Citadel. The commoner named Gabriel... he has officially registered a clan named House Sterling."

Jonathan frowned slightly, his cold eyes narrowing. "House Sterling? A crippled guard from eight years ago registered a clan?"

"High Elder... he is not crippled!" the scout stammered, sweat breaking out across his neck. "During the recent Imperial College trial, a branch elder of House Valerius attempted to trap Gabriel's twin children inside a mutated dungeon. Gabriel stepped directly through a spatial rift... accompanied by an active, peak Martial Grandmaster who crushed the Valerius branch in seconds!"

CRACK!

The marble floor beneath Jonathan’s boots shattered into fine powder!

Jonathan turned around slowly, his face twisted in utter disbelief and deep, surging alarm.

"A Martial Grandmaster?!" Jonathan growled, his voice vibrating with lethal sword Qi that made the floating lanterns flicker violently. "Gabriel was a crippled commoner whose meridians were shredded by our own elders eight years ago! Where did he acquire the backing of a Martial Grandmaster?!"

"W-We do not know, High Elder!" the scout wailed. "The intelligence network suspects he may belong to an ancient, hidden sovereign lineage that was dormant in the outer wilderness!"

Jonathan’s hands clenched into tight fists inside his silk sleeves, his mind racing.

Eight years ago, House Aurelius had forcefully dragged Evelyn back to the Northern Realm, leaving Gabriel and the twins to freeze and starve in the outer slums. If Gabriel truly possessed the backing of a hidden Grandmaster lineage, House Aurelius had created an unimaginable, terrifying enemy!

"Does Evelyn know of this?" Jonathan asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.

"Lady Evelyn remains under light house arrest in the Northern Frost Pavilion," the scout replied. "Her shadowed guards have sent messages, but we have intercepted most of them. However... rumors are spreading among the younger disciples."

Jonathan looked out the window toward the southern horizon, his cold eyes glowing with sharp, ruthless intent.

"Keep this information strictly contained," Jonathan ordered coldly. "Send word to our branch intelligence in the Central Capital. I want a full investigation into House Sterling’s true origins. If this Gabriel becomes a threat to House Aurelius's standing..."

Jonathan's hand rested on the hilt of his ancient silver sword.

"...we will eliminate him before he reaches the Core City."

Back in the Inner City of Verdant Haven Citadel...

A majestic black-and-gold luxury carriage glided to a smooth stop outside the gates of the Imperial Grand Martial College.

Ethan and Elena stepped out, wearing their refined navy-and-silver House Sterling coats, their S-Rank tokens gleaming in the morning sun.

As they walked through the grand jade archway into the main courtyard, the thousands of gathered noble students and commoner scholars instantly parted, forming a wide, wide lane for them.

Every single noble heir—including those from second-tier merchant clans and branch lines—bowed their heads respectfully as the twins passed by. No one dared to raise their voice, no one dared to make eye contact with a sneer.

Ethan looked at Elena, a quiet, sharp smile playing on his lips.

"Dad was right," Ethan whispered, his hand resting comfortably on his linen-wrapped spear. "Respect isn't given by nobles... it's taken by force."

Elena adjusted her azure sword, looking toward the high administrative spires of the college.

"The College Trial is over," Elena said softly, her eyes glowing with absolute determination. "Next is the Regional Academy Exchange Tournament... and House Sterling will take first place."