Chapter 51: Dahlia’s Surprising Wish
Dahlia stood in the center of the arena, waiting for what came next.
Then, suddenly, two figures walked down from the stands, going to the arena.
One was old and wore a simple grey robe, while the other was huge, grinning ear to ear, and wore a big robe.
The crowd whispered loudly when Garion appeared beside the gray-robed elder.
Dahlis smiled instantly as soon as she saw Garion. She ran forward and stood before Garion.
"Master... I did it. I won this tournament."
Garion placed his hand on her head and ruffled her hair lazily.
"Good. As expected from my first disciple."
Dahlia puffed her cheeks slightly.
"You don’t have to mess up my hair..."
Before Garion could laugh again, the gray-robed elder coughed, stepping forward.
"Now, now. Congratulations on your victory, Miss Dahlia. As the champion of this tournament, it’s time for me to reward you."
The arena went silent again, and Dahlia’s eyes lit up.
"A prize?"
The gray-robed elder nodded, smiling.
"Yes. There are three types of rewards you may choose from."
He raised one finger.
"First, materials and resources. Tell me what kind of resources you want, and I will give them as long as I have them."
A second finger lifted.
"Second, cultivation arts. Battle techniques, cultivation manuals, etc, that you wanted based on your body."
The elder also leaned in, reminding her.
"And also, whether you chose the cultivation arts or resources, all of them would be at least second realm quality."
The crowd gasped in envy at those words.
Second realm treasures were things most of them couldn’t even dream of.
Dahlia tilted her head. "And the third?"
The gray-robed elder smiled slightly as he raised his third finger.
"The third is simple, a request. Whatever you ask, as long as it is within my power, I will fulfill it."
Dahlia blinked, her mouth parting slightly.
"...Anything?"
The elder nodded calmly. "Anything."
She rubbed her chin, thinking. Then her eyes turned toward Garion.
"Master, what should I choose?"
Garion shrugged casually, folding his arms.
"Up to you."
Dahlia frowned.
"Up to me? But I won this for you, didn’t I? Shouldn’t you pick?"
Graion smirked.
"Heh. I don’t need it. Just choose what you think will make our God Gym better."
Dahlia crossed her arms, still frowning.
"That’s unfair. You’re just making me do the hard part."
Garion leaned down a little, his grin widening.
"That’s called training, too."
Dahlia was shocked, hearing that.
"Training?! Even now?!"
The gray-robed elder hid a small smile.
"Well? Have you decided, Champion?"
Dahlia tapped her foot against the broken stone floor, her brow furrowed deep.
Materials could help them build more equipment. Techniques could give her and Garion new ways to fight.
And a request... that was wide open, and she may have thought about it.
She glanced once more at Garion, who only gave her a thumbs-up.
"Whatever you pick, make it heavy."
Dahlia groaned.
"That doesn’t even mean anything!"
Garion just laughed, while the crowd leaned forward, waiting to hear her decision.
---
Dahlia pressed her lips together, still unsure. Her master’s word echoed in her head.
This is training too.
Then she suddenly realized something.
She thought back on everything that had led to this moment. Her master’s crazy workouts. The lonely mountain hall they had been using as their base.
His dream was to spread God Gym across the world, gathering disciples so she wouldn’t be the only one suffering.
Slowly, her eyes widened.
That’s it. That’s what Master and I want. That’s what I should ask for.
Dahlia turned toward the gray-robed elder, smirking.
"I’ll take the third option."
The elder nodded once.
"I see. And what is your request, Champion?"
Dahlia raised her chin proudly.
"I want a huge place for us to build a new God Gym. And I want a promise from you that no sect will disturb us for at least a decade."
The crowd erupted in noise.
"What?!"
"Instead of treasures or arts, she asked for land?"
"Is she crazy?!"
Garion blinked, his grin faltered for the first time before laughing hard, slapping his thigh.
"Good girl! That’s... that’s actually a damn good plan."
He admitted inwardly it was even better than he had thought.
Their current gym wasn’t even the size of a proper middle sect.
With Dahlia’s request, they could truly plant their roots.
The gray-robed elder chuckled, stroking his beard.
"A wise request. I can do that. I promise, no sect will disrupt your God Gym for at least ten years, but..."
His eyes sharpened.
"Which place do you want?"
Dahlia frowned, her mind racing. Garion’s smile tightened too as he thought of another problem.
His mountain hall was already mark as the God Gym... could it even be moved?
Before he could think about anything, a glowing screen suddenly appeared in front of him.
[New Mission Unlocked!]
[Relocate God Gym to a New Site]
[Recruit at least 100 new members]
[Recommended Location: Demon Gate Island]
[Reward: Hidden Function Unlocked]
Garion froze, seeing the new mission.
Relocate? A hundred new members? And what’s with this Demon Gate Island? Sounds like a horror movie set...
He then sighed, rubbing his head.
It seems that this mission just dropped, thanks to Dahlia’s request. It seems that I need to think more about what I do.
Garion then stepped forward, placing his hand on Dahlia’s shoulder.
"Dahlia, let me take it over now."
She nodded, stepping back, letting him take care of this.
Garion then faced the gray-robed elder, his grin returning.
"As for the place, I indeed have one place in mind."
The elder raised a brow.
"Oh? Which one? As long as it isn’t claimed, I can give it to you."
Garion’s grin widened, his voice loud enough for the entire arena to hear.
"Demon Gate Island."
The arena erupted instantly.
"What did he say?"
"Demon Gate Island?!"
"Is he insane?!"
Even the elders who had sat calmly until now jerked forward in shock.
The gray-robed elder’s smirk finally slipped, his eyes narrowing.
"Garion... do you even understand what you’re asking for?"
Garion only smirked, staring back at the elder.