《Try Reincarnation, They Said. It Would Be Fun, They Said.》
Chapter 1- “Try Reincarnation, It’ll Be Fun.”
What am I doing right now? Why am I doing this anyway? I ask myself that question as I am pulled out of the entrance of yet another clothes store. This was honestly infuriating. At this point I was wondering why anyone would want a girlfriend. All they do is make you spend money on them, and you really cant get laid unless you two are ready to get married. I dont think Ill ever find myself a lover. At least not as far as I can see into my future.
Sorry for making you do all this, I understand she can be a bit of a hassle. A voice behind me snaps me out of my musings.
I turn and look at my friend Riley. Its his girlfriend that has been so pushy. Or pully. Either one is fine, although the second one fits the situation more. Ah! Sorry, got off track there. Riley has been my best friend since middle school. I say best, but there werent exactly a lot of people to choose from. I was always more of a loner in school. I preferred working alone. I would almost say Im unsociable, but I dont exactly hate people to the point where I despise the human race(The fact that Riley is still with me proves that).
Riley had always been a great friend, despite my avoidance of a social life. Somehow this man was always an unconscious player. He didnt receive many love letters or confessions, but girls would always listen to him and blush when he complimented them. The gossip network of girls would be 75% rumors about him, yet he never seemed to notice. That thick head of his would be able to stop basically anything in this world, no matter what it was. I think that was what got him on such good terms with me, that rock solid skull of his. He never once got my subtle messages to go away, eventually I accepted him though. He got his girlfriend in his last year of high school, now they even go to the same university. Im still in university by the way, except I go somewhere different.
Because this idiot still doesnt understand the concept of going on a date with just a significant other, he brought me along. I dont know his girlfriend much, all I know is that her name is Alice and he was the one who asked her out. Despite being a huge leech on money, she seems nice, I understand why he would like her. Shes cute too, and almost as thickheaded as him. Almost. No one can reach his level.
Thankfully, this was the last stop that she decided to make before going home to look at all her new clothes. After this, they plan to go on a lunch date and finally to the new amusement park that just opened up yesterday. Before they head off to lunch is when I plan to ditch them. Dont worry man, youll thank me later when you two get closer because of this. If that ever happens, considering that theyre both denser than a black hole.
Yeah, no problem. Its better this way, I dont want you to lose all your money to this girl. I say as we pass through the doors to the parking garage.
Hey! Riley snaps. Shes not that bad! Alice is nice and cares for other people. Unlike you.
I laugh and shrug my shoulders, which is rather hard with the amount of bags Im being forced to carry. Riley smiles as well and turns back towards Alice, who is currently at the other side of the crosswalk, beckoning for us to catch up. I sigh and shake my head. That girl is too energetic for me. Where does she get all that energy? I guess Ill never know.
As I step out onto the road, I hear a loud and long honk to my left and quickly turn towards it.
...What?
Is that?
Me and Riley are both right in the way of a semi charging at us full speed. My head snaps back to my front, where Riley is. Hes petrified. Fear in the headlights. Glad Im not like that. I take one, big jump forward, and push him out the way. I doubt hed actually make it out of the way in time, but hey, Id prefer not to take my best friend with me to the afterlife. Or whatever comes after life. Guess thats why its called the afterlife.
The semi is already here. Damn its fast. Haaah
Is this how it ends?
The semi doesnt stop. Its inches away from me.
Seems this is how it ends.
Goodbye. Cruel world.
The semi hits me and Im sent flying.
Argh!
*Clang*
SHIT!!
*Thud*
ACK!The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Is this the ground?
Ugh
Im still rolling
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!
I cant begin to describe the pain Im in. It hurts like all hell. I cant move any part of my body.
! !
Who?
I can hear someone yelling. But who?
Ah. It sounds male. Maybe its Riley? Yeah, hopefully he didnt die.
I, on the other hand, am rather happy to die. Just not painfully. I didnt really have a future to look forward to. Just repeats. Days repeat. My life wouldve just been a circle.
Urgh!
Throat!
I cough up some blood.
I cant breathe anymore.
I cant see
Seems Im dying for real.
Should I say something?
Some cool final words?
Nah, Im not one for that kind of stuff. Ill just die quietly. Not like I can speak anyway. My lungs probably ruptured or something like that. My organs are probably all squashed by the impact. There goes my organ donor status. Not like I care what happens to me after death. I wont be there to care either way.
A weak and bitter smile forms on my face before I finally leave this world.
Dont be sad, youll just forget about it later on when you start getting to the real action. Besides, these two didnt exactly have lots of character development. Youll probably cry buckets later on when oops, shouldnt spoil the future story. Got to have some surprises for you.
Oh. Wait a minute. Im just talking to myself, satisfying my own desire to be in a fiction novel that is actually well written, unlike the ones I used to write, those were terrible. Dont know why people liked it.
Well, theyll never have anymore chapters, seeing as how Im dead.
What the hell?
Where is my next life? Where is that common fantasy reincarnation. Well, I dont really care about what happens to me, but isnt something supposed to happen? Reincarnation, resurrection, traveling down the river of souls, meeting gods? SOMETHING? HELLO? ANYONE?!?!
...
Nothing answers. Was I expecting someone to answer? I guess I was, seeing how disappointed I feel. But seriously, Im bored. Do I need to think something specific to specify whats going to happen to me next? Like where I get resurrected or reincarnated or really anything?
Im so confused.
...
Fine, I concede.
I wish I had the chance to be omnipotent, so I can protect those close to me...But, it seems that this is the end. Is that true? Then so be it...
Oh god, even when Im dead, thats so embarrassing. Im old enough to stop thinking that what I wish will actually come true, I know what reality is and that I am eternally bound by its metaphorical chains. Argh!! I need to be more realistic, there is no way something like that will
Actually
Wor k
What?
That seriously worked?
I can see? What is this? Its amazing...
Whoa... I uttered.
There is no better words to use. Its too shocking. Suddenly seeing the entire universe as though it is a part of you. There are no other words to describe it. I feel something from above me, if above is the right words, there really is no such thing for me right now. I dont know what exactly it is, but it feels majestic, glorious, overpowering, urbane. The very definition of something you should bow to. Something, a voice, reaches to me from that amazing aura.
SHIT! I FUCKED UP!!
Well. That was unexpected. It sounds really worried. To be accompanied by such a voice, if that aura had a consciousness, it would probably be embarrassed for being related to such a voice. I suddenly have the urge to laugh. All the power the aura was previously exerting on me was now gone. I blink in surprise as information fills my head.
NONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOO!!!
That voice is someone called God, but isnt really? The info Im getting is really confusing
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUUUUUUUUUUCK!
Apparently there are multiple people like him, but he is the most supreme.
DAMN IIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT!
God can destroy and create nearly any universe as many times as he wants. Truly, he was indeed worthy of that previous aura.
IM SUCH A SHAME, I DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIIIIIIIIIISSSSS!!!
...Youre really not helping me out here.
Oh wait!
Huh? He seems to have though of something.
I just have to kill him before he can control all of the qi in this universe! Good job me!
NO!
I dont care who you are, but I suddenly have much more attachment to life. So Im going to have to stop you right there!
NO! I shout.
Huh? Wait, I can speak now?! Since when?!
Wait, youre speaking... God said. Seems hes as shocked as me.
Yes, yes I am. If I had my glasses, I wouldve pushed them up my nose to sound scholarly.
NOOOOOOOO, its already too late to kill you then! DAMN IT ALL!
Well, Im getting surprised lots of times today.
No wait, I got it!
Seems hes back to talking to himself.
If I just reduce his control to a single planet and limit him to just that planet, then I can do this! Yes! Alright, time to send him to...
He wants to trap me? I honestly dont mind as long as Im still alive at this point. But
Hes taking forever to think of a place!
AH! Yes, the planet Nephila is the place where he could be held the longest. Its not like he has a lifespan anymore, so Ill have to continually trap him in different planets until that universe implodes.
Oi, did I just hear something worrying?
I guess its as they say!
As who say?
Try reincarnation...
Wait... Isnt that a meme?
Itll be fun!
It is a meme!
Off to Nephila you go young man! Or should I say young woman?! Hahahahahaha! I am indeed a genius!
Im sorry, what was that?!
What about a woman? What are you talking about God? Are you changing my gender? Dont do that, you bastard!!
WAIT!
NOOOOOOOO!
This feels really weird!
But at least it doesnt hurt.
Well, goodbye boring life, hello new body! Is what the anime protagonists would say in this situation. Im more worried about what he meant about me being a woman. Was he just not sure about my gender? Please dont let me be a woman after this!
(A\N: In the next chapter, you will be introduced to what gave the MC the information, as he wasnt just given it by reincarnating. He was occupied with adapting to what happened to him so he was too busy to pay attention to where it came from at the time.)
Chapter 2- Hey System, He Has a Point You Know...
So, that happened. Seems God was either trying to play mind games, or really didnt know my gender. Because I was most certainly a dude before. But now Im genderless. No gender for me it seems. Im glad to be alive, so whats this feeling of defeat? Oh wait, my manly pride. I still had that?
Who the hell am I kidding, Im so pissed. As a man, I had pride in my gender and I want to keep that pride as it may be the only thing I can actually be happy about having! I cant say anything about the size of Jr, but I certainly thought it was at least average. What the hell god?! Youre a dude too right?! WHY?!?!
Alright, rambling finished. Now to check out what the hell is going on in my new life. I immediately turn my attention to the closest area of, well, anything. Oh yeah, I am basically in control of this entire planet. I can control the terrain, weather, even the ozone layer! But I dont think its ozone as Im not too sure that it is made up of the same stuff.
I wonder if I can look at the atoms of the atmosphere? Seeing as how I can do anything I want besides blowing up the planet, it might be possible. Lets take a peek.
OH! OH! OH THIS IS RATHER COOL!
It seems I really can look at the atomic structure of these things. Ah, wait. What was ozone made up of though?
{Ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms.}
Wait? What did I just do?
{As a benefit of becoming the supreme being of this planet, you now have access to the system. In your terms, it can be considered google. Including all of its branch products as well.}
Thats amazing! I am now have my own google apps that allows me to obtain any information in this world! That is one of the most overpowered things ever. Because knowledge is power. I understand that much. Wait, I forgot! All google products *Gasp* Even!
{Unfortunately, the system does not provide services like YouT*be.}
Tch.
Freaking out of date products, theres nothing good about outdated models when the new stuff is so much better. Damn. I require an update!
{Your request was denied, you do not have the status nor contributions to request the system to change anything.}
You have ruined my fun.
{And you have ruined my life.}
Was that programmed?
{That assumption is correct.}
There is some high-tech stuff in the universe. I mean, seriously, you crazy immortals are freaking amazing, making something like the system. And it answers any questions you have. This thing is great.
{Would you like to rate your experience with the system? Y/N?}
No, I dont do ratings.
{If you leave a rating, there is a possibility of your request of a YouT*be similar app being accepted.}
What do I rate it out of?
{Please rate out of five, with one being the lowest and five being the highest.}
Five of five, no question.
{Thank you for leaving a rating. Note: Your request has been denied once again.}
Can I lower my rating?
{You can leave a rating one heaven cycle later.}
Ooh! A new term. What might a heaven cycle be? And why is it called that?
{In your terms, 1 million years. A heaven cycle is called that because every 1 million years, the rulers of Heaven have heavenly fire descend on all universes that have cultivators and eliminate veritable amounts of cultivators to lower the population.}
...Thats too long. That is way too long! That is also way too harsh! Why kill all those cultivators? What did they do to you?
{The cultivators killed are only those who have not surpassed their tribulation to immortality, also know as the immortal tribulation, and some of those who are capable, but not currently cultivating. The reason is to limit the burden on the universe. If there are too many cultivators that are not strong enough to leave their universe, those who have not surpassed their immortal tribulation, then this universe will not be able to hold them all. For a better description, please consider this example; like a boat with too many people, it will sink into the Primal Void and fall apart, killing everyone residing in it. To answer your second question; there is nothing in particular cultivators in general have done to the system or those who made this law at the time.}This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Primal Void?
{Your question is too general to provide an accurate answer. Would you like the simple explanation or the long one?}
For now, simple one please.
{The space that this universe resides in is the multiverse called Primal. Primal is separated into three different levels. Primal Void, Primal Chaos, and Primal Firmament. The level that universes such as this one is the Primal Chaos. The Primal Void is the bane of all mana, qi, essence, universal energy, etc. If this universe falls into the Primal Void, then all the universal energy that holds this universe together would disperse, destroying this universe. This is because of the unique void energy that is produced in and only exists in the Primal Void. Referring back to the previous example pertaining to boats and cultivators, cultivators can be considered to have a special weight. The more cultivators that have not transcended their tribulation, the more the universe is weighed down. If the universe has too much weight, it will sink into the Primal Void and be destroyed before it can leave. The Primal Void, even among cultivators with great attainments, is considered mysterious and unfathomable as some universes can still exist in it. The universe you reincarnated from was a special universe residing in the Primal Void.}
Guess I can''t really go back no matter how hard I tried now. Why was my previous universe safe from destruction? It was in the Primal Void, so shouldnt it have been destroyed?
{Your universe is special in that it rejects any form of universal energy. It only accepts energy formed inside itself or the Primal Void. The Primal Void does not reject the energy created in your universe, but confines it inside of your universe.}
Interesting. Are there other universes in the Primal Void that have not been destroyed?
{Yes.}
That was direct. Guess I need to elaborate. Why are they still existing? Have any universes that sunk into the Primal Void still exist in there?
{Universes that exist in the Primal Void have either been born from the Primal Void, or have been formed from remnants left by the destruction of universes that have fallen into the Primal Void. To answer your second question; Not in their original state.}
Alright, please record all that information you gave me in Google Docs.
{The system does not have the app Google Docs.}
Oh, of course. Wait, I can actually remember it all? Thats pretty nice, reincarnating improved my memory. Also, Primal Chaos? Primal Firmament?
{Your questions are too general to provide an accurate answer. Would you like the simple explanation or the long one?}
Simple again please. Just for now.
{The Primal Chaos is the realm where universal energy is produced to form universes and valuable treasures. There is no other special function of the Primal Chaos besides being the optimal environment for universes to reside. The Primal Firmament is where the most powerful cultivators who have surpassed their tribulation in Primal often reside. Divine energy and arcane energy are the most prominent energies in that realm. It is made up of very few divine worlds. Universes that have produced enough immortals in the Primal Chaos have a chance to transcend to the Primal Firmament and become a bridgeworld, where they can serve as a gateway from the Primal Chaos to the Primal Firmament. Bridgeworlds have a chance to ascend once every heaven cycle during the ascension trails. If they complete the ascension trails, they will become a divine world, where the inhabitants will finally be introduced to divine energy. The bridgeworlds that have ascended to divine worlds will have the same privileges as natural divine worlds.}
Thats a lot to take in. My head hurts from all this info. Anyway, I have an idea what is going on here. I have just a few questions.
{The system will answer any and all questions as long as they do not breach regulations.}
How did Primal form? Simple version please.
{A Multiverse core was created by an ancient expert who was able to jump planes of reality and turn fiction into fact and fact into fiction. He was the absolute coolest person ever and you should prostrate yourself before his very mention, as he is so much better than all of you noobs who cant measure up to him. Also, subscribe to his YouT*be channel.}
Was that programmed?
{That assumption is correct.}
Figures. Did he also create the system?
{Yes.}
That makes sense then. Alright one more, how was all the information you gave me discovered by cultivators? Simple as possible please.
{The creator of Primal gave knowledge of cultivation to the first inhabitants. Eventually, one cultivator transcended their tribulation and saw universes ascending and falling into the void over the course of his life. He was also given an order by the creator of Primal to try and prevent universes from falling into the Primal Void. All the other information was given by the creator of Primal.}
Right. Question again. Was the order to prevent universes falling into the Primal Void for fun or for serious?
{For serious.}
Just one question then.
{The system will answer any and all questions as long as they do not breach regulations.}
If the creator seriously didnt want any universe sinking into the Primal Void, then why did he give cultivation techniques to the inhabitants in the first place? Actually, why did he make the Primal Void in the first place if he didnt want any universe being destroyed like that?
{
I-Its not like I want to answer your question or a-anything. I-idiot!}
You tsundere
{-I-idiot, i-its not l-like that!}
Was that programmed?
{That assumption is correct.}
...
I love this world.
(A\N: Yes, that entire info dump came from our MC wanting to know what the atomic structure of ozone was. I surprise even myself sometimes. Also, tsunderes. And no, this is not supposed to be an American trying to write a wuxia novel. It has some elements like that, but it is not a fully wuxia or xianxia style novel.)
Chapter 3- Bored as Hell, Even Though Real Hell is Actually Rather Fun.
Bored. So bored. I bet Id made a fortune if I figured a way to bottle up my boredom and sell it. References aside, Im extremely bored. I have had nothing to do for?
{Answer: 13 years, 3 months, 12 days, 16 hours, 33 minutes and 51 seconds.}
13 years. Right. That long. I could hardly stand it. Thankfully, I managed to understand my position as the supreme ruler of this planet. I could control any and all types of qi, including arcane power, which is the most versatile and profound variation of qi. Actually, qi began as arcane power, which was inherited from Primalcore, the creator of Primals daoist name. Yes, daoist names1are a thing here.
Well, I did have fun the first seven years, as I had reincarnated around the time there was a World War on Nephila. It was amazing, and no, not in the way that I took joy in watching people making war (And a bloody one at that), I was a bit uneasy with that at first, but I got over that. It was amazing in the way of the use of magic. Magic is amazing, except for the fact that I couldnt fully enjoy the amazingness of magic with bodies constantly flying across my vision.
Yeah, no, Im still not used to that. If there was something like a game system-
{YOU CALLED?!}
No.
{Affirmative, resuming previous functions.}
Anyways, if there was such a thing, I probably wouldve gotten the skill, [Emotionally Detached], or [Emotionless], something like that. I must say, Im confident in my poker face skills as well. Speaking of which, still dont have a body. I cant figure out how to make one. But I have made other things. Like those treasures you see in wuxia/xianxia novels. Because of the treasures that I made, a new ranking system ({YOU CALLED?!}No! Go away, Im busy. {Affirmative, resuming previous functions.}) was made to judge treasures. It doesn''t really have any significance to me, but it did make feel a bit proud, knowing that these cultivators cared about these new treasures enough to change what they already have.
But this isn''t really an accomplishment as I get stuck with the planet that has the least chance of immortals, A.K.A the weakest planet. What did I expect? God himself said that it would be the place where I could be sealed the longest. Well, if thats the case, this is probably the planet they would summon heroes to, like those in Japanese novels. No, Im not joking. Planets, universes and sometimes even bridgeworlds will summon heroes if their fighting strength drops low enough, or they need people with talent to prepare for ascension (Bridgeworlds only).
Heroes, as is in accordance with the ancient laws, they are blessed with great and rare talent in multiple fields. This, of course, happens as the summoned are en route to their new planet. They compound with already held talents, sometimes giving insane talent that makes even me, with no need for such things, jealous.
Another interesting fact. Summoned people, monsters, demons, and familiars can only be summoned from the Primal Void. This is because of the nature of the summoning spell. A summoning spell is meant to steal an inhabitant from their universe. Summoning spells for heroes require massive amounts of qi, which means that it cant be used efficiently with the amount of people required for a spell of that scale. To make this spell have an effect, the people involved subconsciously force their spell into the place with the loosest space. The Primal Void is the first target. Universes in the Primal Void have their space damaged, and it loosens for many trillions of years. During this time, summoners can summon things from these universes easily.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Surprisingly, my previous universe is the prime target for hero summons. The reason being that the qi there is unique, and affect its inhabitants. The qi produced by my previous universe stayed dormant until exposed to outside forces. That is what cultivating talent is for us, dormant qi being unleashed. The hero summoning spell will seek out those with lots of qi on the Primal Void and well, I think you can make the connection.
However, I don''t plan to ever seek out these people if I ever get a body. Wanna know why? Because they are all really pathetic. Despite the fact they came to a cultivation world, where bloody battles are often fought, they are still hanging onto the old values of Earth. How does that happen? I mean, some of these guys have to have read wuxia/xianxia novels, where they say, directly even, that cultivators are meant to fight in bloody battles and kill others to refine techniques. Hell, the summoning spells even managed to pick out the people that almost perfectly define the words ''cliche summoned hero''.
How do you do that? The almost same personality every summon! DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT?! WHY AM I ANGRY?! Seriously summoners, do you summon heros that are of the smae bloodline? You have to to get people that similar in nature. Is the summoning spell rigged? Why else would they be so similar? No, they ha-
{Rambling is unnecessary, you cannot effect the summoning spells from your current position.}
Don''t you start stuff system!
{No promises.}
I think I blew off enough steam now.
Bored again. So goddamn bored. What the hell God couldnt you have given me something better to do in the time I am here? You shouldve given the system some games to entertain me!
{The system was not given games as it would be assumed that all users would be able to cultivate, move freely and have adequate knowledge to provide themselves with entertainment on their own.}
Of course, what did I think, it makes sense. Why would someone who cant cultivate and can be omniscient on just this planet be able to access the system?
{Because, to put it simply, you done fucked up and so did God.}
Thanks, real helpful. Guess Ill just have to wait until I figure out how to make myself a body. Despite the many times I attempted to make a body, I still ended up failing miserably. Either nothing happened, or a big explosion happened. The latter, however, only happened once. Nearly started another war because of that.
Oh?
Talk about timing. Someone is gathering qi enough to solidify it, and right after my talk of a new body. This is a good chance to try and make myself a body. Woohoo! 13 years of sitting on my ass watching the grass grow has finally come to an end! Goodbye boring life, hello new body!
Wait, that sound familiar for some reason. Why is that?
1(A\N: For those of you who are uninformed, daoist names are things like: Waterwind, Thousand Saber, and Sevensuns. These are things in Chinese wuxia/xianxia novels. I wanted to put them in because I thought it would be a fun idea.)
(A\N: The long-awaited new body is becoming reality. Im sure you guys were waiting for this moment, seeing as how all I did was world-building and info dumps with barely any plot movement. Oh well, look forward to the next chapter!)
Chapter 4- Whenever I Hear ‘New Body’, I Always Think of Captain Ginyu.
The reason I thought that I could form a body because of someone compressing qi to the point of it solidifying it, was because I cant take over a body. Two reasons. One, unless the person is an immortal, they wont be able to handle the power that I have. Two, it goes against my morals. Yes, even after watching seven years of a World War, I still have morals and a conscience. I was born on Earth during peaceful times, it made me rather soft.
Anyway, back to body forming. My consciousness shifts to where these people are solidifying qi. With my coming, the qi starts to solidify faster. This is because Im basically the ruler of all the qi on Nephila, so I can stop this or speed it up. Obviously I sped it up. Qi flow becomes extremely smooth and qi solidifies into an even bigger lump of pure power. The expressions of the wizards, as I will now call them, brighten instantly, but soon most turn confused. That makes sense, the very nature of qi is to be spread out. Relations between qi is like the relation between two positive poles on a magnet or the relation between a son who wants to kill his dad and would seriously do it if given a good reason. They naturally are against getting closer. Seems those wizards understand that much.
Now, there is enough qi for me to make a new body! I slow down my perception of time, so that everything looks like its moving in slow motion. I quickly stop the qi condensing formation and force the solid qi to stay together and form into the shape of my new body. Obviously Im not going to look the same. New world, new me. First, my figure. Obviously male, I dont gender bend for real life. Ill be slim, about the same as the famous enviable nerd physique but without as much muscle. Youll still be able to see my abs though. Hehe, I already look pretty good. Ill be about 6 with black hair that reaches to the back of my neck and covers my eyes slightly. Purple eyes that seem to glow with mystic light, nice face that makes people want to open up. It isnt as easy to get someones life story as they make it seem in fantasy novels, so I have to do what I can to get that information.
Clean shaven, as per usual. Actually, lets go with no visible body hair at all, it makes me look sexier. For the manhood... well just say that it is average size (Im not too sure what average size is here and I dont want to look at other mens, thats just weird). Now, unto the less important things like clothes. Plain white, but comfortable t-shirt, normal, but easy to move in blue jeans, very dark blue jeans that are almost black. Black boots to match my jeans. That badass looking overcoat that cool MCs wear, except with dark purple lines going down the seams that make it look even cooler. Finally, the most important thing of everything Ive done so far. Glasses! Theyre gonna be normal with a deep blue frame.
What? Do you have a problem? I was rather attached to my glasses in my previous life, of course I want them in my next life. And yes, I did make it so that I need the glasses. My vision will actually be rather bad without my glasses in my new body. Anyway, time to finalize. I slow down my perception of time even more to make sure I can get everything quickly. I get information from the system about organs, blood veins, meridians and all those important things need for a human body to function properly and smoothly.
Whew
I can relax a bit. Ive done everything I can think of. Oh wait! I quickly increase the strength of my immune system. I want to be disease resistant, Id prefer not to miss something important because of a cold. Right, other improvements as well. Better natural regeneration, faster neurons, improved nervous system for smooth and fast information transmission, general brain improvement. Lets see
Background? No, Ill think of that later.
Familiar? No, I think Ill go it alone for now.
Treasure? Oh! I did nearly forget that!
Right, treasure. I think Ill go with two, one for long range and one for close range. For my long range one, itll be a bow or hovering ball I think. Actually, I have a better idea. Ill cultivate normally, like any other person. Ill have my nine tribulations, which will give me nine life treasures that I can turn into a true treasure. Alright then! Ill have my OP close range treasure for my start, and my true treasure will be long range.
Despite my desire to be original in my weapon choice, I choose a sword. But to be original as possible, I choose a broken sword. Itll miss half of its original length, putting the blade just a bit over a foot and a half long. Except for the first day, this treasure will be sealed until I reach immortality and become the strongest person on the planet. The blade of the sword will be translucent and cracked at the place where the upper part of the blade should be. The hilt will be like a normal bastard sword but leather wrapped and dull red in color. Scabbard of the sword will be on my back to prevent the coat from whipping around in the wind too much. Of course the scabbard will be meant for the full sword to provide the best effect of badassery.
Alright, preparation completed! Now, new body, become mine!!The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
{You are currently attempting to sever your current control over the planet and its qi. This means you will not be able to fully control the planets laws and functions until you reach immortality for your new body, except for certain exceptions that can be explained later. You will still have access to the systems archives. Are you sure you want to change bodies?}
CHANGE NOOOOOW!1
My world instantly becomes much smaller as I transfer into my new body. I can no longer see at all. I cant feel anything. Im not aware of anything at all. Its as if Im dead again. Oh please dont let me be dead again. System?
{Functions of the system have been locked. Verifying credentials Credentials verified. Access has been willingly limited to information archives only. Unlocking information archives Information archives successfully unlocked. Adapting to new host Successfully adapted. Establishing set parameters Parameters successfully established. The system is currently functional within established parameters. What do you require?}
Am I still alive?
{You are.}
Oh thank god. So, whats currently happening to me? Why cant I see or feel anything?
{Your consciousness is currently being transferred to the body you created. This process will not take long to complete. To answer your second question; your perception of time has slowed down to a ratio of 1:9,001 seconds, because of this time warping on your perception, you are experiencing the feeling of your conscious being transferred much slower than normal.}
Oh, forget to return my perception of time to normal. Better do that right now. As my perception of time returns to normal, I start feeling things again. Qi flow, air currents, clothing, boots, my body. Finally. I can feel sensations again. All those things that I missed. All the things I needed. Thank god. My eyes are still closed to add to the badass effect. I inhale deeply and then exhale. Then the smell assaults my nose. Blood, thats what it is. With the amount of qi here it should smell like a deluge heavenly flowers and divine farts, but what I smell most is blood. I slowly open my eyes and look around at my new surroundings. The wizards are still in the same place, but have become so shocked that they forgot about the qi gathering formation. All the solid qi immediately disperses into the air, but the wizards are still too startled at my appearance to even react to that.
Ill break them out of their stupor so I can get some answers. I think Ill start with a question
Hey, I said, trying to sound friendly. Why does it smell like blood? Or is that just me?
One of the wizards snaps back to reality and pull a spear from somewhere? I think it might be a spacial ring or something similar. He points the spear at me with both fear and rage on his face. Hey man, what the hell?
Kill him!
WHAT?! Bro, what the fuck?! Why do you want me dead?! What the hell did I just do wrong? System, this time Im actually asking you the question! Why do they want me dead?!
{Based on data gathered from the actions of these people, the most likely conclusion is that they are reacting in a way as though you have interrupted an evil ritual and you are the hero for justice. This conclusion was put together based on information gathered from fantasy novels you have read. There are 7 other conclusions that have been generated. Would you like to hear them? Y/N}
No thank you, not right now. Currently the wizards are charging me! I need to clear up this misunderstanding right now!
I think there might be a misunderstanding, Im not here to interrupt your evil ritual! That is, if it is an evil ritual.
Quickly, kill him!
Okaaaaaaay, seems head wizard wants me dead, no matter my excuse. Well, shit. I had hoped to understand what the hell these guys were doing. Seems that my plans have just gone out the window and into the dog crap in the neighbors backyard.
I grasp the handle of my new sword, which I still havent named. I pull it out and turn in a circle, holding the sword in front of me. An invisible ripple of power spreads out from spin slash. It instantly bisects all those who are charging me. The formation that I used to get a body rumbles and dims, out of power. Makes sense, I killed those in control of it. The head wizard just stares in shock at the death of his subordinates. Good, he knows my strength now. Hopefully hell open up.
So...
Before I can even get a question out, head wizard roars and jumps at me, spear thrust forward. Goddamn! Please chill, I just want some answers thats all. Its not like Im your archenemy. I sigh and lean to the left, just enough to dodge his thrust. I sadly look at him and bring my sword down, the invisible ripple decapitates him. Propelled by his momentum, his corpse smashes into the wall on the other side. Well, there goes any chance of information now that hes dead.
These guys werent tough, and very normal in fact. Still though, its weird. These wizards have only just reached Mystic Soul level, they shouldnt have access to this type of formation. Too bad I havent started cultivating yet, otherwise I couldve done a Soulsearch2on them and gotten information. Speaking of cultivating, I need to start so when my one day time limit is up I dont get screwed.
Now, time to search this place. I can still smell blood and divine farts3.
1(A\N: Captain Ginyus special move, hes from Dragon Ball Z.)
2(A\N: Mind reading, except it makes people a vegetable.)
3(A\N: Yes, these shall be a thing.)
Chapter 5-You Know How Main Characters Always Are Helped By The First People They Meet?
I have a moment to think about changing myself into a demi-human, as I think that might be interesting. I still have little bits of control over the qi in this world, but it wont be long until that changes. Besides, my body still hasnt full solidified itself. I need to make sure that I dont accidentally explode, my body is made out of qi after all. Qi reject being close to each other after all.
Actually, allow me to correct myself. My body is made out of arcane power, which has similar properties to qi, just much more effective. Arcane power naturally wants to stay in gaseous form and stay away from other arcane power... Ions? Particles? What would you call the measurement of cultivation energy? Anyway, arcane power is more malleable than qi. Qi wouldve been too hard to form into a real body, so I purified it into arcane power and then made my body. Arcane power still takes some time to change, so thats why I gave myself a day with the full power of my sword, to make sure nobody has the chance to disrupt the last step of my body formation.
Now, Im sure youre wondering why I want to be a demi-human. Humans are naturally curious, so why wouldnt I want to at least try? But, on the other hand, I really do like being human, unlike some other people who hate the human race. Humans are more numerous than demi-humans, and demi-humans are indeed treated differently from humans, but...
In this world, demi-humans are like nobles, unlike what most people would assume when they think about demi-human racial differences. Demi-humans have great affinity to magic, longer lives and racial traits that help with cultivator battles. Some rare variants even have abilities that allow them to fight those who are a level above them. Now that I think about it, being a demi-human would really make me annoyed with people who want to recruit me. I also, as a commoner from Earth, would not like to be treated as a noble. Lets stay human then.
Well, shall we get going?
Goddamn! I was not expecting this! A strong bloody smell assails my nose, even the divine fart smells cannot cover it up. Im currently staring down the stairs of the basement level, if where I am wasnt already a basement. Bodies of cultivators, which can be considered unrefined treasures to some, are strewn and stacked all across both the stairs and the floor. There are, what, hundreds of bodies? The area is pretty big so I wouldnt doubt that. What the hell though?
During the World War, it was mostly just lots of people killing each other, people self detonating and backstabbing. But I never saw anything like this kind of body hoarding. People mostly just up and killed them, took their treasures and sometimes burned and buried the bodies. This this is just something else. I guess there are times where peace is worse than war. I check the closest body, right next to my foot. All the qi that should be left in the body of a cultivator who still has their flesh is gone. So, they drained their qi to power the formation? Or was the formation meant to extract the qi from their bodies? If it was to be collected by the formation, then, based on the average cultivation of these corpses, it probably wouldnt be enough to fully build my body.
Well, even though I hate it, no point in thinking about it now that Ive killed them all. Well, they deserved it anyway, seeing as how they dared to attack me. Huh? Was that pride I just heard? No, I must have thought wrong. Anyway, time to find some documents. Documents here, however, arent on paper. Their on jade slips, like most other wuxia/xianxia novels. So, instead of documents, jade slips. Why do I feel kinda disappointed?
FRESH AIR!
I suck in a deep breath and let it out. The outside is great! Although when I was back on Earth I wouldve said something different, but new life, new me! Im a lot different from before. Anyway, getting back on track. Where should I go? Actually, I should prepare. Prepare for what, you ask? My eventual meet with other sentient indigenous creatures of Nephila. A background would be the first thing on my list. Thankfully, I have a thorough understanding of this worlds common sense. I have watched from the sidelines long enough, gathering information and biding my time. I know what I should do and what I shouldnt. I can do this! I can successfully blend in!
{3 days later} -System.
What was that I said a few days ago? About blending in? Oh right, I thought I could. Seems Im in prison now. Blending in shouldve been simple, given my expertise ({*Snickers*} System, did you just laugh? {That assumption is incorrect.}). Who wouldve thought that, out of the few places I wasnt paying attention to, this place hated humans?! Its outrageous! I mean, what the hell?! The human race is widely accepted throughout this entire planet, why the hell does this place hate them?! What the fuck did humans ever do to them?! System?!
{This is a city of demonic beasts. Because of their natural distaste towards humans and the fact that you were exceedingly suspicious, they decided that they should arrest you on the spot and ask questions later, possibly never. To make matters worse for you, this city has a long history of mutual dislike of humans.}
WHAT THE FUCK?! HOW?! WHA-?! FU-?! HUH?! WHA-DA?! HUH?! WHY?! WHA DA FUK M8?!
{Status effect: Hysteria, identified. LOL.} (Read in monotone)
DONT YOU MOCK ME SYSTEM!!
{No promises.}
These programmed responses are just too amazing. They know when to mock you, to joke with you to mock you. Ah whatever, I need to start cultivating soon. Too bad I cant cultivate until the week time limit is over. I needed a week to make sure that there is no problems with my body. Then I can start cultivating.
System, why do you think those wizards decided to do that ritual here? Arent they humans too?
{Incorrect, the wizards were, in fact, demon beasts. They most likely decided to do the ritual here because this was where such a thing would be most likely to be accepted, considering all the corpses you found were of human cultivators.}
Oh? They were demon beasts? How interesting, I didnt even notice. Wait, dont demon beasts need to be in the Origin Realm?
{That assumption is correct for higher tier demonic beasts. The wizards were some of the lowest tier species known on Nephila.}
So they were low tier demon beasts? I guess I understand why they were so weak even with their Mystic Soul cultivation. Hey system, any ideas on how to break out of this prison?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
{None.}
Huh? Why not?
{Your cultivation is insufficient to break to defeat the guards outside. Adding on to the fact that most of the demon beasts that guard you are at least mid tier, you have no hope of escaping without external help.}
So Im screwed then?
{That assumption is correct.}
Time to wait until something convenient happens then
{Day of the trial, he is soooooo screwed.} -System + Programmed Response
So, why am I on trial?
{Because you are determined to be a spy, albeit a bad one.}
I aint even a spy, so why am I on trial?
{Because they assume you to be one.}
How can I get myself out of this situation?
{Besides killing every single guard in the city (which, may I add, is impossible for you now), you have no chance at even escaping three feet.}
Wow, real encouraging there system.
{Those words were not meant to be encouraging.}
Goddamn it. Do I have to die like this? With a system that doesnt get sarcasm, not even a friend to talk to?
{Technically, you wo-}
Shut up please. I dont want to hear it.
{Understood.}
Damn, damn, damn. Im stupid. I shouldve been more mindful that just walking in doesnt work like it does in fantasy novels. I never thought my speaking skills, although already bad, wouldve gotten worse over the years I was here. What the hell have I done to deserve this treatment? Bad karma in my past life? Dont answer that, its rhetorical.
{Understood.}
Fucking shite! Why the hell do I have an accent?! No, calm down me. Calm down. What to do now though?
Ah! System, how many times can I use that?
{You can use it three times, if you wish to use it to escape, I suggest you see if there are any options of possible escape left before using that, as you call it.}
Good, good, good. I have a chance! A chance to live.
{End of the trial, because the other stuff is deemed boring and ''unnecessary''.} -System
Human spy, The demon beast judge roars, You are to be put to immediate execution!
Oh come on! I shout, I havent done a single thing! Why the he-
*Smack*
Quiet, your punishment has been decided, human.
The person who is keeping me in check demands coldly. God these beasts are real demons. I havent done shit and yet they want me dead. Assholes. Guess Ill have to resort to that, even if I dont want to use it. I gave myself three chances to use this, as it is in accordance with the ancient laws. Seems that Ill be forced to use it without truly living on this planet for even a week.
A few minutes later, Im forced down to my knees and my head pushed onto the chopping block. In the background, I hear a dragon roar, but for some reason, nobody pays attention. I guess its normal. As the priest gives me my last rites, eight divines something or other, I quietly open the menu to that and give a small smirk. The priest finishes giving the rites, and the headsman turns to me.
Any last words, human? He asks.
Why the hell do they say human after they address me? Do they need to remind themselves that Im human just in case they forget? Is me being a human able to make them not feel guilty about it?
Yes actually. I say, my voice filled with some pride. This Lordll be damn sure to remember all of you and what you did. False accusations and bullshit discrimination towards this Lord. Count your days until this Lord personally ends them, as theyll be quite valuable for you. This Lord isnt normally this much of an asshole, but you all have successfully pissed this Lord off. If you had just stayed in your hole like you beasts should, then you never wouldve incurred the wrath of this Lord!1
The crowd has a stunned silence, I assume its because their shocked that a mortal human dares utter such arrogant words. After the short stunned silence. Half of the crowd erupts into laughter and the other half starts booing. As expected. I scoff at their reactions and the headsman raises his blade. I guess I should use that now.
Console commands, activate. I whisper.
As the headsmans blade swings down, it passes through my neck as if it isnt there. I back flip and land on my feet, bindings already torn off. As soon as I land, I give a roundhouse kick at the headsman, my foot cutting him in half as if it was a blade. The crowd is once again silent. The soldiers react quicker however. One calls for reinforcements, while the others rush me; however, even for these guards at the Sky Stepping Realm, numbers are nothing in the face of true power.
{Commencing switch to POV of random demon beast guard...} -System
With emotionless eyes, the prisoner raised his hand and pointed it at my comrades who are attempting to kill him. I dont know how this human did it, but he managed to escape the headsman without any qi fluctuation. None! We shouldve Soulsearched him to get this technique, but its too late know. He draws back his hand and sweeps it forward. Once again no qi fluctuations are felt from this man, but instead, the ambient qi that is present everywhere moves instead! How did he do that?! Before I can reach an answer, however, a sharp blade of ultra condensed qi shoot out from that simple arm sweep.
In but a second, all of my comrades charging him are now dead.
...What?
T-this man, no this monster! How did he do that? He has no visible cultivation base. Even those old undyings at Star Lighting Realm cant do something like controlling ambient qi like this. At least, not without emitting some sort of qi fluctuations. And if this human senior2was such a person that is above Star Lighting Realm, why would they willingly let themselves be arrested and almost executed like this?
The human senior was indeed powerful. Even if he isnt above Star Lighting Realm, he is powerful enough to kill all of us with ease. I quickly throw down my weapon and drop into a dogeza3.
Pleaseforgivemealmightysenior! I scream, desperate.
I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to read this anymore! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I dont want to die! I DONT WANT TO DIE!!
No. The emotionless answer reaches me.
NO! I WONT DIE!
I stand up and grasp my weapon, ready to face this senior, even if it means my death. I wont die in submission.
I WONT GO DO-
*Shlick*
{Transferring to authors POV} -System
A head flies into the air and lands not too far away from the body it was separated from. It was the head of the only man who had a chance to beg for his life before his city was turned into Demons Folly Crater.
*Phew* Boy, that escalated quickly; I mean that really got out of hand fast.
1(A\N: In Chinese culture, they have different ways of saying I. They sometimes address themselves as superior beings with things like this young master or this king. I decided to use this to make our MC seem very arrogant. Suited for some last words of a supreme being. *Chuckles*. By the way, I havent studied this, just taking it from other wuxia novels that Ive read.)
2(A\N: I know Im doing lots of things from Chinese novels, but I really do feel like they fit nicely. For those of you who dont want a true wuxia novel, dont worry; Im just using terms that are used in those novels, Im not copying their style. Back to the real topic, senior is a respectful way to address someone with higher age, higher status or higher cultivation than the person speaking. Junior is used to address those who have lower age, lesser status or lower cultivation. This was borrowed from wuxia novels.)
3(A\N: Japanese pose of self degradation, basically getting on hands and shins and throwing your head onto the floor and screaming unintelligible stuff. That thing Sora does to Shiro in No Game No Life to apologize about the fact hes against incest.)
(A\N: If you cant tell, I will be using the systems quotes to transfer points of view.)
POV Chapter 1- New Happenings on Nephila, Rudren Steinverg.
I can say that Nephila is a predictable world. Nothing can ever happen here besides cultivator battles, and there are never any good treasures that appear here. Of course, for the residents of this world, treasures such as these are magnificent. But they have no idea the vastness of the Primal multiverse. These local bumpkins are so full of themselves. Especially those old men at the Origin realm. They think theyre the strongest beings on the world. While it may be true for this planet, it still angers me knowing that they think they are at the pinnacle when an immortal such as me stands in front of them.
My fellow disciple and I are supposed to observe this world and collect data on the cultivators. This is the most disappointing world Ive been to. Ive seen worlds that have only produced a few immortals, but this is something else. There isnt even a World Turning expert among them. World Turning is a level achieved by all cultivating planets, but Nephila seems to be a different story. The elders told us that a reincarnation happened here, and it was special to the point where the reincarnator could affect the world from birth, but I didnt think he would be able to remove World Turning experts from the planet to the point where no one remembers them.
It is possible that there was simply no World Turning experts existed in the first place, but
No need to think about what is unchangeable, Nephila is most definitely ranked last. We only need to stay here a few more days and then we will be able to leave and report back to the sect. What a pain. However, its inevitable.
Finally the day has come when we can leave! This planet has nothing of interest to a cultivator in the Immortal Realm. Not even World Turning experts would be interested by anything here. Im surprised that Origin Realm experts even started wars about these treasures.
We begin to take our leave, erasing our traces of visit from the minds of mortals and cultivators alike, not that any of them could stop us.
As our shuttle begins to leave, intense natural qi fluctuations begin rippling around our Immortal treasure.
W-whats happening? My fellow disciple demands in anger.
I activate my heavenly eye technique and see something I never expected to see on this disappointing planet.
Sol Treasure Formation.
Treasures that normally only form from the concentration of qi reaching a max in solar systems. A planets qi should only ever be able to form Terra Treasures, which are a level below Sol treasures. And so many of them too.
At least thirteen Sol treasures are being formed at the moment. Thirteen Sol treasures at the same time. Thirteen! Sol treasures! Same time! What is this madness?! An elder in the sect at God Realm could do this, but but this is Nephila! The last ranked planet! Why would there be a God Realm senior here?! There is no reason for such a strong expert to be here, and if that expert had mortal ties here, they would all have probably severed by now! Did this senior have a debt that needs to be repaid here?! If the senior is honoring a debt to a cultivator, then he must be extremely talented to reach God Realm before a mortal cultivators life expires! This is not a person to offend!Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The Sol treasures that form are of all different types. One is a bow, another is a spear, and other is a weirdly shaped Well, what the heck do you call that?
The treasures all hover there, floating as if there is nothing better to do. My fellow disciple has used his heavenly eye technique as well. He notices that the treasures floating outside are indeed at Sol level. I see his expression brighten. It seems he hasnt reached the same conclusion as me.
Fellow disciple Rudren, He shouts excitedly. Arent those Sol treasures? Why have they formed on a planet that isnt a bridgeworld? We should take them!
He begins the fly towards the treasures, but I grab his arm to stop him. This idiot, isnt it obvious it isnt natural.
Fellow disciple Altmer, is it not obvious that this is not natural! An almighty senior mustve made these treasures for a reason! If we touch them, we might incur his wrath!
Altmers face blanched as he realizes what he was about to do. He obediently flies back down onto the ship and waits for what will happen next. It doesnt take long before we hear someone.
Geez, I can never get these things right, can I? These things are failures, not even close to what I had made before. Seems it was a stroke of luck to even make something stronger than these. Well, I guess they can just go to random areas, maybe someone will find them and use them.
The voice seemed to come from every direction, as if there was no one speaker. This truly a powerful expert. He even called Sol treasures failures! Apparently he has also made something stronger as well? Powerful. It is best not to get tangled with his business. I prepare to try to stealthily guide the ship out of Nephila, but Altmer decides to ruin my efforts.
Senior! Altmer shouts in the air, intent on talking to this mysterious expert. You said you have no use for these treasures and that they are failures! I hope you will not mind if this junior asks you for these treasures if you do not need them!
THIS FOOL!
Why?! Why would he risk angering the senior for a few Sol treasures? A senior this powerful could rampage as they wish in the sect! Why Altmer, why?!
Sure, I dont care what you do with them.
Many thanks senior!
...Huh?
Did Altmer just succeed?
The senior really let us have these powerful Sol treasures?
The treasures float to the front of Altmer, where he immediately collects them. He once again bows and thanks the senior, as I am still unable to move in shock.
We have reached the sect, finally. The senior seems to have not followed us and indeed kept his word. He let us take the treasures with no strings attached. He was quite an eccentric senior, but no doubt powerful. We gave our report to the sect and told them about the senior and the treasures he gave us. Some elders personally came to see us after the report we submitted. They inspected the Sol treasures and confirmed that they were indeed at Sol level.
Although I never got to thank the senior, I still am deeply grateful in my heart.
{3 year later}- System
I leave closed door cultivation and decide to go to the Pill Hall to buy more pills for divine power. Recently, my cultivation has made a breakthrough to the True Immortal Realm, and it is all thanks to the Sol treasure weapon the senior from Nephila gave me. Because of this treasure, I was able to battle those who were levels above me, refining my techniques and Dao. In truth, it is thanks to my fellow disciples who agreed to spar with me. But the only reason I was able to even fight them in the first place was because of the Sol treasure.
Someday, I must truly thank that senior.
{Back on Nephila.}- System
*Achoo*
The senior that required deep gratitude from Rudren sneezed loudly. He sniffled and wiped his nose. He looked around in confusion, wondering what made him sneeze.
Am I catching a cold? No way, I made my immune system strong so theres no way Ill catch a cold this early. Somebody must be talking about me then. I wonder who it is.
In reality, this phenomenon of sneezing when someone talks about you is a universal law set in stone by the creator of the Primal multiverse, Primalcore himself.
Chapter 6- A Nameless Dream and A Nameless Man.
So. Done wiping an entire city of the map. That felt pretty good actually.
That was not something I expected myself to say. I never wiped a city off the face of the planet before, so I cant say its different from previous experiences. For some people, killing others would make them feel sexually aroused while others will throw up. I wonder which side Im leaning to? I mean, I dont feel great about committing mass murder, but Im not really at the point where I would never even think about doing it. Hmm. I guess Id have to say that Im leaning towards the okay with it side, considering that I feel refreshed after doing it.
Either way, this monologue isnt great for deciding on which direction to go. I didnt exactly have a chance to snag a map in my anger. I dont think Ill be able to go back and take some from scattered rumble, charred corpses, possible survivors that will hate me and a giant crater. Yeah, there isnt anything for me there. So, just gonna stay away from that.
System, is there anywhere I can go to sleep, safely? Im tired.
{Continue to walk three miles in the direction youre traveling, after you reach that point, more precise directions will be given.}
Oh good, there is somewhere. Lets go, to a sleeping spot and hopefully a comfortable bed!
A cave?
{Correct. This location was determined to be the safest location for the user to rest and relax for a maximum of a week.}
Why a cave?
{This location was determined to be the safest location for the user to rest and relax for a maximum of a week.}
Seriously?
{Seriously.}
If it was a normal cave, then I wouldnt have minded it at all. Key word there: normal. This cave is creepy as hell. Why is there red liquid dripping down the stalagmites, stalactites? Which is it again?
{Stalagmites are on the floor and stalactites hang from the roof. The red liquid is a fluid beneficial for Beyond Mortal realm cultivators.}
Thats less creepy now that I know what it is, but it still looks like blood. Im used to war and jump scares, but knowing Ill be staying in a place that has blood-like fluid dripping down the stalagmites, thats something different.
{Stalactites.}
I dont care. I just need some food, water and rest. My basic human needs except for clothing are unfulfilled, making me the least depressed person in ten miles. Im still depressed, just, those demon beasts whose town I destroyed is still within ten miles. I cant call myself the most depressed if there are survivors there. Ah, whatever, I need to focus on this stupid cave. Hey system, can I use the blood to start cultivation?
{It is called Elementary Refinement Liquid and yes, you can use it to cultivate once morning comes in 19 hours, 12 minutes and 33 seconds.}
Wait, using console commands didnt reset my time?
{No, you influenced the natural qi to do your will and did not change any part of your body while doing so.}
Oh, thats nice. I dont do anything to my body when I use console commands. Good, now all I have to do is take a long nap and when I wake up, I can cultivate! Hahahaha! As a person from the non-magical Earth, something like this is absolutely amazing! Even though I had controlled great power before, I never had the chance to cultivate in any way or experience a great battle. You know, the classic stuff.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
No point in thinking about it now, I should sleep. I let out a yawn as I walk in the cave and take a look around. Seeing that its safe, I find a comfortable spot and lay down, exhaustion quickly bringing me into sleep.
*Drip*
...Huh? Drip?
*Drip*
What is that noise? It doesnt sound like a liquid, but it still makes a drip sound? How weird.
*Clunk*
Whoa, what was that one? Hey, wait, stop!
*Clang*
No Please no
*Thud*
Please stop
! !
Please dont Not him too
Stop it. Youre better than this. Dont be stupid. Dont you care about your friends? You know very well what your fate has in store for you. Stop running away from it.
I beg you, anything but that. Please, please leave them alone. I dont want that, I dont.
Then stop running.
But if I stop if I stop
If you stop, what?
Itll happen, theyll all die
Wake up, ?̡¦צƦ!
NOOOOOOOO! PLEASE STOP! DONT!
!
I jerk up and roll forward, banging into the cave wall across from me. Im breathing heavily, cold sweat dripping down my back. What what was that?
{Error, identification of dream has failed. Unable to correctly analyze structure and purpose of dream. Most probable cause: aftereffects of reincarnation. Reason: only a body that sleeps has dreams, original form was unable to sleep. Reincarnation affected user in some way unknown.}
A dream it was a dream. I cant remember it well, but it was scary. Theres no other way to put it. Even if I cant remember everything that happened, the fear has a lasting impression. Im trembling, Im scared. Who was that? That voice? System?
{No voice has been identified within hearing range in the past 24 hours. No voice was detected in your dream.}
Not in my dream? No, I definitely heard a voice, they were there, they threatened me or something like that. I remember the voice, but not what they said. Am I going crazy?
{That assumption is incorrect, user is perfectly sane.}
Thanks
I need to take a walk, just a small one. I need to get my mind off that dream. I walk to the mouth of the cave and look outside. Its night now. It was midday went I went to sleep. I let out a sigh and pick a random direction to walk to. Ill need to relax and meditate or something.
Now that I think about it, I heard my name in that dream.
Im resting in the branches of a tree, staring at the moon. That was when it hit me. I cant remember my name. My name from my previous life, I mean. I guess thats a thing of reincarnation, you forget your name. I think its purpose is to help you cut ties with your past life and help you focus on your current life. How nice of them. But also cruel, seeing as how I need to think of a name for myself. Hmm Give me a moment.
I decided to go with a rather simple name, and one that sounds cool. I cant exactly have a stupid and boring name, now can I?
Leonidas. Nickname: Leo.
That will be my new name! What do you think? Cool right?
{You are not original.}
Shall we ignore him?
So what if it isnt original?! Im terrible at coming up with names, alright?! I thought it was a nice name! Do you have any better ones?! Ones that are suited to this world?!
{Yes, please reflect on these names: Cino, Natos, Meliodas, Riel, Diali, or Lycar. Would you like more names? Y/N?}
Oh. They do sound better, I agree. Well, Ill leave that alone for now. Ill name my sword and see if I can get inspiration from doing that, even if Im naming a sword and not a human.
Alright, I think Ill name my sword now. To match what its power should be in the future, and the name of a move I have for it, Ill have to call it something badass. Something that will suit it.
Severance.
It shall sever the threads of reality and cut the ties of body and soul. At least, thats what I plan for it to do. It cant exactly do it right now. Well, I think Ive had a nice walk, Ill go back now. Its been a few hours so Im tired again, and I still havent gotten a good sleep. System, how long until I can cultivate?
{7 hours, 55 minutes and 42 seconds.}
Then a nap should solve everything. Please tell me when I can cultivate, do like an alarm thing.
{Understood.}
Well, time to get a move on!
*Achoo*
Am I catching a cold? No way, I made my immune system strong so theres no way Ill catch a cold this early. Somebody must be talking about me then. I wonder who it is.
(A\N: Something interesting has happened! A nightmare about the future? A random dream? But what could this mean? Even the system did not hear that voice in the dream. What a mystery, even to me. Also, did you like how I tied in the Special POV Chapter? I thought it was pretty good myself.)
Chapter 7- Cultivation, What Else?
I yawn loudly and stretch out my arms. That was a good, hopefully long, nap. I wonder if it las-
{*RIIIIIIIIIING*}
FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK!! THATS SO FUCKING LOUD!! MY EARS, WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE TO MY EARS!! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, TURN THAT SHIT OFF! STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!!
{Alarm has been silenced. Would you like to turn it off? Y/N?}
Yes, please, turn that shit off!
{Understood, alarm has been turned off.}
You are to never use an alarm that loud, never! Were you trying to kill me?
{No.}
Good, goddamn that was fucking loud I cant hear. My ears, they arent working! What are you going to do to fix this system?
{Users ears are in perfect shape, you are obviously trying to get something from the system. The system has nothing to provide you except information.}
Oh. Well, I seem to have been seen through. My plot has been foiled! Curses, the system is too strong for me alone to defeat. But through the power of my poor, abused ears, I expect to hear an apology.
{The system apologizes for your temporary mental torment of your weak ears being unable to hear the quiet alarm.}
Youre mocking me. Youre mocking me and I dont like it. Oh, whatever, that was the alarm for my time up right?
{Correct.}
I dont feel any different though?
{The users meridians were incapable of moving qi through them, otherwise your body wouldve broken apart and dispersed. Now that your body has stabilized, you can move qi throughout your meridians without having your body disperse. The reason you do not feel different is because no bodily function has noticeably changed. In a laymans terms, you can now cultivate without turning into particles.}
Sweet! Finally, cultivation has begun! I jump up in joy and smile brightly. Why wouldnt I be happy? I can finally trek along the path of the cultivator, reaching levels never before seen by the inhabitants of this world! There is but one problem. System, how do I cultivate?
{You use a cultivation method to move qi through your body and slowly absorb it, building a foundation and increasing your cultivation base. For someone to begin cultivating, one must first sense qi, only then would they be able to truly start cultivation.}
I see. And, um I dont exactly know a cultivation method. Maybe you could, uh give me one?
{Cultivation methods are part of the systems information archives. Would you like to explore the cultivation section of the systems archives? Y/N?}
My luck has not abandoned me! I still have a chance to cultivate! Even though I may know nothing of how one cultivates, with this great treasure, I will be able to stand at the pinnacle of the world, and make a myriad of creatures bow before me! Onto the cultivation archives, yes!
{Dont call me a great treasure, *blushes*} (Read in monotone)
T-that please dont do that again
{No promises.}
Holy Shit
My consciousness was taken inside the archives of the system, where information can be displayed easier. As expected of a digital library, it is all one color. But I wasnt expecting a golden library! Especially not one will multiple floors and never-ending shelves. What is this madness? This is absolute bullshit, I cant read through all these.
{You can choose cultivation methods from up to the 18th floor, which contains all known methods that allows one to reach God Realm.}
The systems voice resounds through the entire place, instead of my head. The 18th floor There seem to be even more of these floor though, how many are there?
{The highest amount of floors any user of the system is allowed to access is up to the 31st floor, which contains cultivation methods that allows one to reach the Paragon God Realm.}
Wait, these floors. Are they arranged according to cultivation? Like is each floor equivalent to the level of cultivation that one can reach with the method on that floor?
{That assumption is correct.}
Then, if I use a floor 18 cultivation method, Ill be able to reach the 18th level in cultivation, called God Realm?
{That assumption is correct.}
Then, what is the highest level in this world again, according to floor?
{The highest cultivation among the inhabitants of this world is Origin Realm, which equates to floor 8.}
Im able to go more than double their cultivation! Amazing! Im so awesome!
{However, Nephila is the last ranked planet in Primal, and there are multiple cultivators who are above God Realm.}
Tch. Let me wallow in superiority for a little longer, would you?
{Would you do the same for me?}
No and is that programmed?
{That assumption is correct.}
Anyway, take me to the 18th floor please!
{Affirmative.}
I begin to float up, slow at first, and then faster as I pass by each floor, each floor containing numerous books on cultivation methods. Honestly, the line of shelves are endless, I cant even see where the floor circles back around. At least, I think it circles back, mainly because the floors seem to be curved. Soon, I arrive on the 18th floor. Its massive, just like all the other floors. Curious, I move to the shelf closest to me. On there, I find books (Obviously) with weird titles. I guess that its supposed to be weird, considering that theyre cultivation methods and not real books that you read for entertainment.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
A sudden thought hits me and I step out to look at the shelves that line the hallway. A bitter grin makes itself known on my face. There are too many shelves. Do you expect me to go through all these shelves?
{No.}
Like I could anyway! Going though this amount would cost me my natural lifespan! I cant do that. I need a way to look at all of these quickly. Hmm I have an idea. System, can you filter through all the books on the 18th floor and choose the ones that are most suited to me?
{Affirmative, sorting through all 472,364,281,283,286,190,370,027,126 books on the 18th floor All books successfully sorted. Filtering all 472,364,281,283,286,190,370,027,126 books according to suitability for user All books successfully filtered. Providing 13 books for the user to choose from.}
Huh? There are that many books in total?! On the 18th floor only?! The system has quite a collection here. Suddenly, my vision distorts and is replaced with 13 floating, golden books. Still golden, despite the drastic reduction in amount of books on this floor. Hmm, lets see what theyre called.
Golden Dragon Cultivation Method
Yin Yang God Cultivation Method
Lightning God Cultivation Method
Veritable Death God Cultivation Method
False Demon God Cultivation Method
False Heaven God Cultivation Method
Upper Idyllic God Cultivation Method
World Shaper Cultivation Method
Ruling Paragon Cultivation Method
First Eternity Cultivation Method
Gods Truth Cultivation Method
Sky God Cultivation Method
God Emperor Cultivation Method
All of these sound rather cool, except for Sky God Cultivation Method. I dont know why, it just doesnt sound good. Do these have an introduction page or something similar?
{Yes.}
Nice. Well, time to get reading!
First Eternity and Upper Idyllic are both parts of another cultivation method, apparently meant to give to disciples who just joined a powerful sect. As for the rest, they are full cultivation techniques that end at God Realm. However, the God Emperor Cultivation Method was slightly different. It was a weaker version of a more powerful God Emperor Cultivation Method, which was on the 27th floor apparently. Its a tough choice, deciding what to choose. I had the system help me out when understanding certain things about these methods, but it is still quite hard to choose.
From what I can tell, the Emperor, Eternity, Idyllic, False series, and Golden Dragon are the most powerful. The Golden Dragon would be the weakest of the six, but also the fastest. The False series lean in different directions, the False Demon leaning towards evil cultivation, where lots of people need to be killed, and False Heaven leans more towards gathering good karma. Both are very hard, but build a solid foundation. Eternity focuses the most on foundation, while Idyllic focuses on control and creation techniques. The Emperor is a jack of all trades, with good foundation, control and techniques.
Both of the False series are out, as those would be too hard and too annoying. The Golden Dragon neglects the foundation for quicker power, so it is more likely to suffer from qi deviation or develop an inner demon. First Eternity has a great foundation, with vitually no chance of inner demons or qi deviation, and can improve if given Second Eternity, but the cultivation speed is abysmal, a person who cultivates this technique will have their cultivation progress twice as slow as their peers; however, this does allow the cultivator to fight those at a level above them. Idyllic has great control over qi, which can allow for users to fight those at a Realm above them, but the amount of qi is shallow and not suited for long battles. God Emperor makes up for all the faults in the previous methods, but as a result, loses the strengths of all the previous methods as well.
What a hard choice
Wait, could I do that? Possibly, it could work. I dont knowledge of cultivation, but if I spend enough time looking through these books than maybe
System, how does one go about creating a cultivation method?
{First, an expert often takes from existing techniques and analyzes the effects of each of them. Using the knowledge from those methods, he then goes about experimenting on the ways to move qi throughout the body. Eventually, he finds a way to move qi through the body in a way he likes. He then proceeds to fine-tune the method until his knowledge reaches a limit or it can be improved no more.}
Thank you, now can you help me out with a few things?
{The systems only available function is to allow the user access to the archives.}
Thats great, thats all I need for this to work, just give me advice and answer my questions as I do this, okay?
{The system will answer any and all questions as long as they do not breach regulations.}
Thats good enough for me!
Now, would that work, or would it crash there?
{It would crash, instead of moving it like that, you should move it more like}
Wait that doesnt make sense, how does that even work?
{First, qi reacts with the body in ways different than}
Hey system, is time different in here than outside? Like is it slower in here than out in the real world?
{That assumption is correct. Time moves much slower in here than in the real world.}
Oh thats good, otherwise I dont think Id be able to do all this without worrying about the real me.
Where''s the bathroom?
{There is no bathroom.}
Oh. Good thing I don''t need to pee then.
Finally, its done! My very own cultivation technique! This is the first one Ive made, so I dont know how it compares to others, but I think its stronger than all of the other God Realm cultivation methods Ive seen so far, and Ive look through lots of them. Now that I think about it, I dont know what Realm this cultivation method will allow me to reach. I shouldnt spoil the fun of finding out its true power, so I just need to know if its above the God Realm cultivation methods. System?
{Yes, your cultivation method is above God Realm cultivation methods and will allow you to reach-}
No! Dont tell me, I wish to find out myself.
{Understood.}
Well, there is another question I should ask. Will this cultivation method be harmful in the future for me? Like, will it effect my cultivating speed unnaturally, give me inner demons, do something normal cultivation methods shouldnt?
{No, your cultivation method can be deemed safe despite the lack of testing.}
Good, I thought I might actually have to make a choice between these cultivation methods to keep my future intact. I think thatll be all for now. I choose, my newly created cultivation method as my future path! Lets name it then. Hmm For now, Ill call it the Nameless Cultivation Method! I will now take my leave of the archive.
{Understood, bringing the user out of the archive}
My vision swims and I start to feel light-headed. I feel myself return to my body, just like how it was when I first got my body. I feel uncomfortable, probably from being in the same position for too long. I know time was slowed in the archive, but it was a very long time that I was in there. I couldnt count time there, and I couldnt be bothered to ask the system, but it mustve been at least a year. Well, now that Im done choosing my cultivation method, how much time has passed in the real world?
{10 hours, 9 minutes and 54 seconds.}
Ten hours?! I was in there a hell of a lot longer than I thought! Well, its only ten hours, not ten days. It would be like I was unconscious, not active.
Urgh... I let out a groan, and begin to get up. Huh? I dont remember the cave floor being this soft
Oh, youre awake. A female voice says.
I freeze. My eyes snap open and I turn towards the sound of the voice. Its a girl. Shes wearing hunting clothes with her black hair tied up in a ponytail. Her clothes hide much of her figure, but I can still see her face. Shes got green eyes that have a gentle look and has a small smile forming on her face. I can assume shes in her late teens or early twentys.
Who.. is she?
Who- I begin, but I break out in a fit of coughs, my throat scratchy from under use. Wait, how could thatve happened so soon?
{The stream water you drank has a bad effect on mortals throats.}
THE WATER?! Why the water? That makes no sense! Water is supposed to be good for your throat! Wait, no, stop it. There are more important things here. The girl is looking at me, worried. I guess that cough sounded really bad.
After Im done coughing, she asks me: Are you okay?
Yeah, just need some water please. I reply
She nods and heads to the door, Im pretty sure that shes using a well or pump. She comes back in moments later, cup of water in hand. I give her a light smile and gratefully accept the cup. Without bothering to think if its poisoned, I down it in one go. I dont have to worry about being poisoned with the trusty system here! Now system, was that drink poisoned?
{No.}
See what I mean? I let out a satisfied sigh and hand the cup back the girl, lets go with lady actually. The lady smiles again and sets it on the table in the middle of the room. She takes a chair from that same table and drags it to the bedside. Ive sat up, so now were face-to-face. We stare it each other for a while, before she breaks the silence with a question.
Who might you be?
Announcment!
I put up another fiction that readers here might want to check out. It''s called Legends of the Worlds Gate and it is currently in the expirimental phase. If you guys like it, I will put out more of it. I don''t plan for this to affect this series, but I will write chapters for it if you want it. This would be a side project and would, hopefully, not affect this fiction. Please do give it a look and decide if you want more or not. I''m repeating information because RRL requires the chapter content to be 500 characters long, even if I don''t have much to say.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Chapter 8- The Girl of The Forest, AKA First Love Interest (Maybe).
My name? Right, right, I still havent chosen it. I need to do this fast. Um Lets see. Um Alright, Ill choose this one. Thank you for the suggestions system, but seems I have my own ideas.
My name is Ardven.
Thats my new name. Ardven.
Ardven, huh? What a nice name. She says smilingly.
A nice name? I chose it at random because I liked it the most, and its a nice name?
...How unexpected of her. Well, I need to ask a few questions myself.
How about you? Whats your name? I ask.
She seems surprised. Why would she look surprised? Isnt it normal to exchange names?
My name is Rucia, its nice to meet you. She says happily. What a change.
Ah, nice to meet you too. I nod.
Alright, introductions are out of the way, lets get down to business. I need information.
What am I doing here? Did you kidnap me to sell me? I ask quickly.
First Tactic in Getting To Know Your Mysterious Captor, Book 1 By Ardven, start with an unlikely assumption and keep a straight face. Observe their reaction. Make conclusions and choose next Tactic.
N-no! O-of course not! I had no such intention! She says, flustered.
Alright, noted. Rucia is flustered, a good status effect for me. Second part of the First Tactic. Continue pushing with more unlikely assumptions. Observe their reaction. Make conclusions and choose next Tactic.
Then, to rape me? I follow up.
That one is not my favorite question.
R-r-rape?! She stutters, embarrassed. N-no! Not th-that either! I-I just wanted t-to help you out! You seemed like you were in a bad situation, so I decided to take you home and and...
Oh! Ardven used Unlikely Assumption! It was super effective! Push! PUSH! DO IT ARDVEN! JUST DO IIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT! KEEP THAT STRAIGHT FACE!
And what? I ask as calmly as possible.
And And And... Rucias voice gets quieter and she lowers her head.
No! STOP IT! DONT YOU DARE! YOULL RUIN IT! STOOOOOOOOOP!
Pwahahahaha! Sorry, just, hahahaha! I burst out laughing.
Im sorry, I just never thought that Id see someone react that violently to the word rape. Its hilarious. Rucia raises her head, embarrassment replaced with confusion at my laughter. It seems to dawn on her that I was teasing her and the confusion turns to anger. She stands up and raises her hand. Oh shit.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Dont do thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttt! She screams.
Bwaaaahhhh! She slapped me.
Im sent into the wall to my right. Although it doesnt break, I hear something crack. Hopefully not my bones. But hell, that hurt! She mustve started cultivating. Probably only at Beyond Mortal Realm, otherwise I wouldve been turned into a bloody paste. I groan as I try to stand up, my legs still unsteady from that strong slap. She realizes what she did and runs over to my side and helps me stay up.
Sorry, Im so sorry! She frantically apologizes. I didnt think about the amount of force I put in. Im so sorry!
Im fine, I dont think anything is broken. I lie.
Of course Im not fine! You bitch slapped me into a fucking WALL! If this was old me, I wouldve jumped on you the moment you started apologizing, but this is a new me. I need to keep my calm. I can use this chance. She sets be back down on the bed, where she once again starts apologizing. This is where I use the Third Tactic of the Mysterious Captor book! Exploiting their mistakes.
Well, you can do something to make up for that, if you want. I employ the first phase.
Really? Thank you!
Heh, all going according to plan. Now, moving onto phase 2!
Just answer some of my questions and thatll be all. I say, trying to sound forgiving.
Thats all? She realizes her mistake and quickly switches. I mean, of course, anything!
Good. Phase 3, its your time to shine!
Why did you touch my body like that? Misleading sentence, I choose you!
She blushes, but manages to get out her answer. You seemed unconscious and I thought you had hit your head exploring, so I brought you here to make sure you would be okay.
Alright, it fits with her personality that Ive seen. Okay, phase 3! Once again!
How did you find me? I ask, getting closer to her face.
Um Rucia shys away. I come to that cave to get the red liquid that improves your body. You know, the one that drips down the stalagmites.
{Stalactites.}
Grammar Nazi.
Elementary Refinement Liquid.
She looks up in surprise, but seeing my stern gaze, she once again looks down. I move my head back to give her some space.
Is that what it was called? I didnt know. Rucia says.
Obviously.
Did you do anything to me while I was asleep? 3 of 4 questions done, now answer me!
She blushes once more. No, I just carried you here.
Good. Final question.
Alright, now this is the most important question. I say, leaning in closer.
Rucia looks up and is forced to stare at me as I get close. I intentionally let out a heavy breath along her neck, making her tense up. Good, just the reaction I wanted. Now, play your cards carefully Ardven! Ask her the question, be serious as possible and make sure she answers! Now go!
What have you done to my glasses?
Eh?
What have you done to my glasses, theyre gone.
Y-your glasses?
Yes, what have you done to them? I need them.
A-ah, r-right, theyre here.
Rucia takes my glasses from the table behind her and hands them to me. Theyre broken.
...
T-these are yours, right?
Broken...
Sorry? I didnt catch that.
WHY ARE THEY BROKEN?!?! I yell in anger.
My glasses! NOOOOOOOO! Theyre broken! What have you done she-demon? You cant get another pair of these glasses, theyre one of a kind! I made them myself, perfect creations! PERFECT! And you ruined it! How am I to fix these?!
{If you insert qi into your glasses, they will naturally repair themselves.}
I know that system. Im having my fun with her. Have you ever teased somebody before?
{No.}
Exactly.
S-sorry! I-I-I, I didnt mean to break them, they, they just- Rucia tries to explain herself.
Put it in. I say.
H-huh?
I said, put it in.
P-put what in?
Qi.
Qi? Whats qi?
Huh? Is this girl an idiot? How can she be cultivating without knowing what qi is? She is a cultivator, right?
{That assumption is correct.}
Yeah, what have you done girl? Just what have you done?
{She has cultivated using the Elementary Refinement Liquid without proper instruction. The qi has been absorbed into her body without it being used in the usual way to cultivate.}
Hahhhhh What am I going to do with you Rucia?
{Teach her about qi?}
HOW THE FUCK DID YOU KNOW?!
{Not telling.}
Dick...
Chapter 9- Because We Don’t Meet the Required Quota of Muscle-heads.
The muscle-headed girl and the future-predicting system. What is this? The worst comedy trope ever? No, lets not answer that. As the system said, I need to teach her about qi so I can get my glasses fixed. I could do it myself, but then Id have to start cultivating, and thatd leave me black and sticky with impurities. Maybe. My body might not have any impurities, considering its built out of arcane energy. Nows not the time to think about it, Ill find it out later.
You have no idea what qi is? I ask Rucia, exasperated.
She tilts her head and looks at me quizzically: Ive never heard of qi before, should I know it?
Y-yes you should. This girl really has no idea what it is, does she?
She looks at me puzzled, like Ive told a four year old to solve a logarithm. Actually, that seems to be a pretty good comparison to whats happening now. I sigh and let my head droop, I cant get a break, can I? Allow me to tally up everything that has happened so far, to observe my record of defeat. First, reincarnated as the most boring thing in the world and stayed that way for 13 years, second, was assaulted irrationally by wizards, walked in a forest, hungry, for three days straight, then arrested, once again, irrationally, sentenced to death, massacred a few thousand people, walked for another few days, hungry, found a creepy-ass cave to sleep in, my blood, sweat and tears fit into one book, and now Ive been kidnapped by an idiot. AND, she broke my glasses. Had enough fun yet God?
...
Prick.
What is qi then? Rucia picks up where I left off.
Qi is actually, lets start with a question, I say. When using the Elementary Refinement Liquid-
Blood water She interrupts.
-Elementary Refinement Liquid! When using it, have you ever felt some sort of energy flowing through your body? Around the heart area? I question her.
Um... Rucia visibly struggles to find an answer. I think so?
Why is it a question?
Because I cant really remember it that well. I just drink it and then exercise.
FOR! FUCKS! SAKE!
Alright then, I say, trying to keep my composure.Some of it should still be floating around the heart area, try feeling for it.
Rucia nods and closes her eyes, relaxing. Good, she knows to relax instead of tensing up. I could comment that she didnt go into the lotus position, but that isnt really that big of a deal. After a few minutes, she seems to be getting frustrated. Come on now, you were doing so good! Dont make me give you guidance, its a pain! Finally, she relaxes once more, but this time, it seems as if shes given up. She opens her eyes and looks at me.
Whats a heart?
I fell out of my chair.
̡??? (̡?) ?ǡ????????!!
*Bang*
SON OF A-!
*Bang*
FUCKING WHORE-!
*Bang*
DUMBASS BIRCH- I MEAN BITCH!
*Bang*
THE FUCK WOMAN?!?! HOW THE FUCK DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT A HEART IS?!?! IM GODDAMN SURE THAT EVEN PEASANTS KNOW WHAT THE FUCK A HEART IS!! WHAT MANNER OF CREATURE ARE YOU TO NOT KNOW WHAT A HEART IS?!?!
WHAT DO MEAN YOU DONT KNOW WHAT A HEART IS?! THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN?! I vent my feelings.
Y-your head, i-is it alright? She asks nervously. MY head? What about yours?
MY HEAD DOESNT MATTER!! WHATS WRONG WITH YOUR BRAIN MATTERS!!
Whats a brain?If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Excuse me for a moment.
S-sure. A-are you sure that your head doesnt need treatment? Its bleeding really bad.
Ill be fine.
O-okay...
I step outside for a moment and close the door behind me. I take in a breath of fresh air and breath it out once more. A wide smile appears on my face.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!! I scream.
HOW STUPID CAN A PERSON BE?!?!?!?! IS IT GENETICS?!?!?! HEREDITARY?!?!?!? WHATCHAMACALLIT?!?!?!?! BITCHES?!?!?!? BIRCHES?!?!?!? M8 IS THE H8 M8!!!! WELL FUCK ME SIDEWAYS AND CALL ME LUCY, CAUSE I FOUND MYSELF A BITCH, AND HES RIGHT HERE!!!! I ramble.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!!!!!*cough* *cough*, argh, *hack* *cough* *cough*! I scream, my throat breaking in the process. (He hit a high note on the last few As)
I spit up some blood, the result of being so hard and loud. Fuck me, that birch is- I MEAN BITCH! That bitch is stupid as hell. How the fuck does she not know what a heart or brain is? Was she raised by wolves? No thats impossible because she has a fucking house, speaks the language and knows manners. How the shit does she not know what the heart and brain is if she knows about etiquette? I want to know what happened! Seriously, I do! System, can you explain?
{Rucia was raised by her maternal grandmother, alone. Her grandmother had taught her the language, manner, a little fighting and values. She died before she could teach Rucia anatomy.}
Ill admit that I feel a bit bad about that know that I know her, but Im still pissed at her grandmother. How do you not teach your granddaughter about the heart or the brain? I dont get that. You know what? Dumb grandmas dead. Ill teach her about this stuff in her stead. I take a deep breath in and let it out. Ive calmed down now.
I open the door and walk in. I see her standing where I left her, looking both confused and scared. I smile her way and nod my head. She relaxes a bit, but still seems to be tensed up. I politely mouth to her: can you get me some water? She seems to understand and I let her pass through to go get some water. She comes back quickly, and hands me a glass of water, just like I ask. I drink it and rub my throat. Its still sore from screaming my lungs out. I put down the cup and look her direction. She flinches. Ah, thisll be hard.
First question, I say scratchily. Do you have any clue what a heart is?
Um.. She stutters nervously. I-I think its the thing that controls emotions?
Incor- *cough* *cough* *cough*- Incorrect. I try to shout, but end up saying in a quieter tone.
In-incorrect?
Right, the heart is not an emotional thing. At least, not the real heart. People have used the term heart to describe emotional things when, in reality, it is an organ that keeps you alive. Do you know what an organ is?
Yes, its those things in animals that kill them quicker if hit!
Oh no.
*Facepalm* Its worse than I thought.
I-is something wrong?
No, no, yes, yes, yes there is. An organ is a vital function that is kept inside your body. You said that organs are fatal spots in animals?
Yes-
Dont answer that. You have those inside you too, just different, both in size and amount. The heart and brain are the most important organs. The brain is what makes you you, from birth till death, the brain is what you are. It also is what allows you to think, move your body, breath and stay alive. If your brain is damaged, you will either have serious mental problems or die.
Your heart is just as important as the brain. Without your heart, your brain would not be able to function. Your heart pumps blood through your body and keeps you alive. If youre even in a situation where you dont know whether youre alive or dead, reach to the left side of your chest and feel for something beating, a pulse. Thats how youll know if youre alive or dead. Got it?
Y-yeah, I-I got it.
Good. Now, where did I say your heart was?
My left chest.
Correct, now feel for your heartbeat. Go ahead and do it.
A-alright.
Rucia puts her hand on her left chest, just like I said. Her eyebrows jump in surprise as she feels her heartbeat for the first time. I nod in satisfaction. Good, my apprentice, now give into the anger. Feel the qi coursing through your veins. I clap my hands to both get her attention and reward her for a job well done.
Good job, you did something a baby could do! Now lets move on to something a child could do.
A-a baby?
Ill need you to find the energy I spoke of earlier, qi. Once again, its around your heart. Now, try it.
Rucia sits down on the chair behind her and once again tries to locate the qi near her heart. Some minutes pass before she opens her eyes again. I look at her with a bored gaze. Finally, she better be done.
I think I found it...
Good, now Ill give you a simple cultivation method to help you control the qi so you can fix my glasses.
I decide to take a simple Sky Stepping cultivation method from the systems archives and impart it to her. To prevent leak of information, I tell it to her directly instead of writing it down. Of course, she could still tell it to someone else, I just dont want her to publish it and make money off the technique. Actually, she could do it as long as she knows how to write Oh whatever, lets just give it to her and get this over with.
A cultivation method? Whats that?
Oh god, do I have to teach her everything? Well, its as I just said, everyone starts from the basics. Actually, I wonder if somebody famous did say that?
Itll help you move the qi in your body, so just listen as I recite it, because I dont have a paper copy.
Alright then...
*Blah blah blah, cultivation mumbo-jumbo, this, that and the other thing, did you know that there is a movie called Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx? Yeah, I know, its a stupid title, right? Im just putting needless words here to make you understand that even the author has no idea what to put as a cultivation methods content. There is some weird stuff on the internet. No, I mean REALLY weird. Well, I think its time to end the little session, how about you?*
Alright, now start cultivating okay?
Got it!
Rucia gets in the lotus position and starts cultivating the method I taught her. Now that shes doing her thing, Ill do my thing.
{Ten minutes later, you obviously know something just fucked up, dont you?}- System & Programmed Response.
*Scream!*
OH MY FUCKING GOD, WHAT IS IT NOW?! DID A SPIDER MAKE YOU WET YOUR PANTS OR- OH SHIT!
Rucia is currently lying on the floor, blood dripping out of her nose, eyes, mouth and ears. I wonder who fucked up this time?
Im an asshole for thinking this now, arent I...
Chapter 10- Oh Hey, None of Us Directly Screwed Up!
Rucia is bleeding like crazy in front of me. Its very possible that she could die from this. I should immediately think of some ways to treat her so that she stops bleeding. Yet what do I think? I wonder who fucked up this time. What an asshole I am. System, what is wrong with her and how do I fix it?
{Because of an innate constitution, her body is unable to properly absorb qi, and is only able to gain it through external means such as the Elementary Refinement Liquid. To fix the current problem, remove all qi that she has absorbed through the cultivation method.}
How much qi did she absorb? I cant fix it otherwise.
{Unknown.}
Unknown? What? Why is it unknown?
{The systems external sensors did not track how much qi she absorbed, thus, the amount of qi she has absorbed is unknown.}
Fuck, system! Why is it that you fail me when I need you the most?
{Circumstances.}
Argh! Fuck it! I bend down and place both my hands and glasses on Rucias chest. I move what little qi that I have absorbed and find the heart area. A pool of qi about ten times bigger than mine is boiling. The qi is turning violent, destroying her organs, starting with the heart. Shit! Is it too late? No, not for me! It isnt impossible. Remember who you are Ardven! The ruler of this world! Status: Currently de-throned!
Shit!
Its not convincing, but it still wont change who I am. The master of all qi! This little bit isnt even worth my effort. You should be thankful that I have come to your help little girl! You shall thank this Lord once you come back. This Lord guarantees that you will live! So live! My qi touches the violent qi of Rucia. My qi is hit with a backlash, as it is too small to truly stop the rampaging of Rucias qi. A line of blood leaves my clenched mouth and drips to the floor.
Rucia This Lord Is not yet finished with you So dont you dare die!! I shout as a desperate attempt to stop the violent qi.
This is the first person that has truly talked to me, been friends with me, teased by me DONT YOU FUCKING DIE! I send my desperate will through the thin thread of qi between mine and Rucias qi. My will reaches the violent qi, causing a massive reaction to happen. The qi that was once about to burst calmed down and seemed to prostrate itself before my will. My qi as well, seemed to tremble in excitement and pride. Well, that would be if qi had a consciousness
*Remembering...*
He may be qi itself...
Qi itself...
Qi itself...
Qi itself...
Qi itself...
(From chapter 1)
*Finished remembering...*
Oh. Oh. Oh. Oooooooooh. Ooooooooooooooooooooohhh! I forgot about thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttt! I am qi itself, just lots better than normal. How come I forgot that? Wait no, better just find out what to do here. Hmm All of the qi Rucia has has all been converted to her own qi, so I cant tell which is which anymore. Well, they seem to obey me, so might as well give them a command.
Disperse! I command the qi.
All the qi in Rucias body immediately leaves it, scared of my terrifying presence. Heh, Im pretty cool arent I? Lets hope she wakes up soon. I stand up and brush off my knees. I take one look and Rucia and I realize my mistake. I didnt clean up the blood on her face
Oops!If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
{Rucias POV, switching now} -System.
It hurts. It really hurts. The energy that Ardven called qi, why does it hurt? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? It hurts!
Please stop it! The pain, please stop the pain!
??t??-?ǡ!
Ardven? Ardven, is that you? Have you come to help? I can hear some noises, but I cant tell what it is. What is he doing? I feel a touch. Is that him? Is he trying to help? I feel something, reach towards what Ardven called the heart. Is that qi? Ardvens qi? It feels so much more powerful than mine pure
His qi tries to calm the raging waves of qi, but it only seems to effect him instead. Please Ardven! Dont kill yourself for me, Ill be okay, just give me a bit of time! His qi gets smaller and smaller, until it is nothing but a fraying thread. Please, Ardven Dont die
Rucia This Lord Is not yet finished with you So dont you dare die!!
Ardven
I feel tears coming to my eyes. Not the blood that has been running out my eyes, but real tears of emotion. Ardven you are too kind, to care for me so much thank you, but you cant do anything Its already too late
I feel something like a determination, or a will. But it seems desperate, desperate to save me. Ardven This time, the real tears truly do come out. Why would he be going so far, for someone he just met? Would he be killing himself for me? Why? Why would he do this for the insignificant me? They all left me. Sis, mom, dad, grandfather, even grandmother They all left. All because of me It has to be because of me, why else would they leave? But why does he? Why does he stay with me? Why? Dont do it Youll only get hurt, like everyone else Please dont A nice person like you doesnt need to do this for me
The desperate will Ardven sent has an arrogance to it, like it can do anything. He is that kind of person, isnt he? Even when he can do nothing, hell still be arrogant until the end. But, its no use. Huh? Why do I feel like I should bow? The qi in my body calms down and congregates before Ardvens will. Its as though its the ruler and my qi is his subjects. Even his own qi feels different, like it is under the will of its owner. His will gives one command to my qi.
Disperse!
This this must be a secret technique! Secret techniques always have a backlash for using them incorrectly, and this! The secret technique hes using must be extremely powerful to do something like that! Then the backlash must be NO! Please Ardven! Why did you have to do something so rash?!
I feel his qi and hands leave my body. Please dont tell me he passed out. Please
Sorry Rucia, I nearly forgot to clean up the blood. Hope you dont mind. Wait, who the hell am I talking to? Shes unconscious, right?
He sounds fine How? Was the technique he used a lifespan decrease or something without an immediate effect? Or something even worse? Ah I cant hold on My consciousness is slipping I cant stay awake I need to tell him Tell him Tell him
Tha...nk yo...u... I choke out.
I black out.
Tha...nk yo...u... Rucia says weakly.
Oh? Was she conscious the entire time?
{That assumption is correct.}
Oh no I said that embarrassing stuff and she listened Nooooooo
Geez, this is was why I dont do speeches, its super embarrassing. Well, lets move her to the couch. I pick her up and place her on the couch, putting a pillow behind her head. She seems discomforted by the sudden move, but her next words annul that.
Ardven Dont... She sleep-talks.
WHOA!! WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE IMAGINING?! IT BETTER NOT BE RAPE YOU CRAZY BITCH!!
Please She sleep-talks once more.
She sounds worried. Does she think that I did something too much by moving her? No, possibly could she be worried that I used a secret technique that does damage to the user? That could be it, she is a good person after all. She worries too much.
Sleep girl, I say lightly to her, patting her head. Nobody would be so stupid as to harm themselves permanently trying to save someone they just met, thats only for the stupid heroes, not me.
Shes a good girl, isnt she. My head patting seems to have calmed her down for now. Theres just one problem left to solve
Where the fucks the bathroom?
I havent peed since two days ago, I need to release it. Do I have to pee in the forest? Please, no. There is some hope however. I heard that a girls bathroom is stalls only, so it is possible that they need the toilet to pee
I speed through the house, checking for the bathroom. At the end of the hallway, I find the glorious room that I had searched long and hard for. All hail bathrooms!
I relieve myself. Letting out a satisfied aah... as I finally release everything that has built up in the past two days.
As, I finish relieving myself, wash my hands and walk back into the room where Rucia is, I decide to do something good for her. She should thank me repeatedly for this great gift I have given her. I walk into the kitchen and search the cabinets, intent on finding what I need most. During my search, I pick up some other valuable items to help me achieve my goal. In one of the last cabinets I check, I find what I needed and then proceed to look for the last item I need. I find it quickly and set it next to everything else that I have.
Cooking supplies all collected! I have the ingredients for making my masterpiece! Lets begin, shall we?
Rucia has waken up now. Ive finished my dish and placed it in front of her. I had asked her not to say anything until I fed her, and she did so. I gave her the silverware needed and gave her a smile.
Please enjoy! I said happily.
She cut herself a piece of her meal and took a bite. She foodgasmed. (From Shokugeki no Soma.)
Chapter 11- Worlds of Difference in Skill Level.
How is it possible for someone to make such heavenly food?! It is impossible!! That food tastes too good to be from this world!! Just who are you?!
WHAT THE FUCK?! Did Rucia just discover that Im originally from another world with just my food?! Or does she think that Im the disciple of some sort of heavenly cooking sect? Well, what shes thinking is probably wrong, considering that she doesnt have enough information. I doubt shed believe me even if I told her the truth. On the other hand, this reaction is actually rather funny. Shes grabbing the collar of my clothes and demanding me to tell her where I learned to cook. Should I tell her I went to Tootsuki? Thats the only cooking school I know that can make someone foodgasm from just one bite. Hmm, lets just go with the truth, with little bits of information withheld.
Im self-taught, I say, exasperated. I had to cook on my own ever since I was twelve, so I obviously tried to make better food. I just didnt know that other people thought it was this good.
Rucia relaxed and let go of my collar. Well it is still too good for it to be self-taught. How the hell did I get visions of angels coming from the heavens and tickling me with their wings? And why did my clothes explode there? Are you a pervert?
Er... Im unsure how to answer this. Well, allow me to answer your questions one by one. Your first one, I dont know. Second one, I dont know. Third one, everyone is.
Wait, what? What do you mean everyone is?
Everyone is a pervert, even you.
Rucia blushes and looks to the side. Even after all that, she seems to be the same. I give a small laugh, and put my hand on my head. Now that all the food business is over, Im a bit confused on how to transfer the conversation. I know that I may have been spouting eloquent words earlier, but I havent really talked to anyone but her in over 10 years, its obvious that I have lacking communication skills. I have teasing skills, but I dont have real, serious, allow-me-to-explain-my-life-story-and-you-understand-and-get-closer-to-me communication skills. I mean, I had some teacher skills. On Earth, I joined a club in high school that was all about spreading knowledge, so I got to teach some little kids. Im terrible at small talk, and I cant do serious conversations. So, the only two communication skills that Im good at have been used, but the ones that really need to be used, are terrible. Well, here goes nothing.
Alright, I try. Im going to be really direct about this. There is absolutely no way that I would do permanent harm to myself just so you can live. Ive know you for, what, a day? If you want someone like that, then go summon a hero, Im sure hed do it.
Rucia looks up at me in surprise. Yeah, I would too, considering that the conversation jumped from everyones a pervert to slightly clich response to saving your life. I said it before didnt I, I cant do serious talk. Actually, now that I think about it, the old me wouldve been unable to even hold a five minute conversation with anybody. How did I last so long? Wait, I know. Its either reincarnation makes someone able talk to someone, isolation is actually good for my speaking skills, or someone is working behind the scenes. Its too stupid, theres no way I can be this good, can I? Is it really possible that Im in a story?If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
(A\N: SHIT! HES CAUGHT ON! BILL, GET THE HAMMER! IM ERASING HIS MEMORY! Bill: Wouldnt you kill him by hitting him on the head with a hammer? I mean, you are the author, right? Author: SHUT UP BILL, YOURE JUST MADE UP!)
Nah, I dont think that last one is real. I mean, I can think for myself and all that. I feel real, with all the qualities of a real person. Besides, a good author would never let their character think this.
(A\N: LET ME AT HIM! LET ME AT HIM! Bill: AUTHOR, please calm down! Author: NO, IM A FUCKING KILL HIM! HE CALLED ME A BAD AUTHOR! (REAL A\N: I do not think like this in reality. If someone called me a bad author, Id say hes right.))
Rucias head drooped, looking at the ground. Huh? Is she happy? Is she sad? I cant read emotions you know! Ah Is she crying? Oh shit! What the fuck did I do? Wait! I know this! Its a clich, right? Shes crying because shes so happy thatd I did something for her. This is it, right? I would feel really guilty if this isnt it.
R-Rucia, are you okay? I asked worriedly.
Thank you, Rucia whispers. Really, Ardven. Thank you. Thank you so much.
She embraces me and lets her tears flow. I hug her back, staying silent. Huh. Is this You know, Ive never had a girl care about me before. My mom died when I was young, so I never remembered her, and my dad was, well, not the best. I never felt the need to have someone else in my life, I just wanted away from my dad. Because of that, I decided to go to college to get a good job and pay for my own house. Because I needed money to leave, I never wanted a social life. To pay the tuition fees, as well as the rent, I had to work part-time after school. Even on days off, I never could get a break.
Because of all this, I never had time to attend gatherings except for what was necessary. Joining a club was too much of drain on time, so I never did, excluding myself even more. The only friends I had had all gone somewhere else. Riley was the only one who had ever hooked up with me during college. When I saw his girlfriend, I had two thoughts. I still ashamed to say that one of those was I cant believe he''s degraded to having a girlfriend. Im less ashamed to say the other one was go explode riajuu. I never understood the feelings of love at the time, as I never had anyone to give them to me. Even after reincarnation, I was still alone, with only the emotionless system to keep me company. But now I think I can experience something close to it
Thank you, Ardven. Rucia whispered again.
It should be me thanking you, not the other way around...
I toss and turn in the bed Rucia allowed me to stay in. Not her bed, mind you, but the guest bedroom, the one her grandmother slept in. I wouldve been able to tell, even if she didnt tell me, it smells like old person in here! What the hell Rucia?! Clean this place up! I cant take it in here, I dont like old person smell. I get up, somehow managing to tangle my foot in the covers and tripping. Thankfully, I grab the dresser and stop my fall. But why does it seem so cloth-like? I get my foot out and check out the dresser. Seems I grabbed a bra.
WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK?!?!?!
I fling it to the other side of the room. FUCKING GROSS OLD PERSON BRA! RUCIA, I SWEAR TO GOD YOU NEED TO CLEAN THIS PLACE! Fuck this, Im sleeping on the couch. I leave the room, shutting the door behind me. I go to the bathroom to use the water in there to wash off my hands. I swear Im never setting foot in there again! I walk quietly to the couch and precede to promptly lay down and get a real sleep.
... But I still cant sleep. For some reason, I cant get Rucias words out of my head.
*Remembering...*
You have to teach me how to cook that way! Theres world of difference in skill level here! For the sake of my survival, I need to learn how to cook like that!
But once you become a cultivator, food means nothing...
No excuses! Tomorrow, as soon as I wake up, you will teach me to cook and cook breakfast at the same time! Two birds with one stone!
*Finished Remembering...*
The two birds with one stone quote still exists here, even though I thought it would be exclusive to Earth. I wonder who said it here
Chapter 12- Civilization, Here We Come! We’ll Reach You In A Few Months.
I want to go to somewhere other that this small and stuffy cabin in the woods.
Its not that bad.
Are you kidding me? You dont even have air conditioning.
Whats air conditioning?
I can officially say that most of my common sense and 21st knowledge will not apply to Rucia. As previously proven by the explanations of major organs and air conditioning, which I actually expected no one here to know, she needs to be taught from scratch; and frankly, I will not teach anybody that lacks most of my knowledge. Why? Because I feel like I would lose brain cells. I know thats harsh, but I dont have the patience nor communication skill to give someone the full course of teaching. Teaching Rucia about cultivation only required a few things for her to learn, so I was able to cope with that. However, teaching someone about many things that may or may not require more than a single day, will be extremely frustrating to me.
So now that I know I cant teach, lets go to civilization. I know that most people wouldve done this sooner, but I was rather busy and Hold up. If this was the old me, I wouldnt have really cared about civilization if I could cultivate. I mean, I did go through a phase where I didnt leave my house for a week (It was a week because I ran out of food after one week), but I never escaped from other people for longer than that. Am I having withdraw symptoms? No
No way
Goddammit.
Truthfulness: JUST ADMIT IT!
Pride: NO! I CANT!
Reasoning: Come on Pride, its okay, its not like youre going to lose anything.
Pride: YOU SHUT UP REASONING, YOU ARENT HELPING!
Reasoning: Actually, my very existence ensures all of you guys survival, you want to badmouth me now?
Pride: Im Sorry Fuck me, that hurts!
Memory: I found something rather interesting. You all want to hear it?
Sociability, Pride, Reasoning, Truthfulness, Conscience, Instinct, Greed, Lust: YES!
Memory: Alright, the source is unclear, but an experiment proved that humans are, quite literally, social creatures. A human, cut off from vision, hearing and social interaction will actually start having hallucinations about fantasy creatures, family members and their false god. Many other things are also included, but upon having social interaction, the mind of a person can actually heal from insanity and other externally caused mental problems. Of course, I cannot verify everything I said is truth, since I am Memory, but if Truthfulness can confirm? Also, why is Lust here?
Lust: Because there is a girl in the vicinity.
Conscience: You come with just the presence of a girl? Looks like I need some tempering.
Lust: No, I mean that, because Sociability feels attraction to the opposite sex, no matter how little it is, I will be wherever there is a girl.
Sociability: Hes right.
Conscience: You sound like a pervert.
Lust: Are you stupid? Of course I am, just look at my name.
Conscience: Argh, youre right.
Greed: And nobody cares about me being here?
Truthfulness: To be honest, which is always, youre always here, so its not so weird.
Greed: Thats kinda cruel...
Truthfulness: Sorry Memory, I cant confirm any of that, but I think that there is some truth to that, I just cant what.
Conscience: Thats normal, after all, its as they say-
Instinct: No you fucking dont!Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Conscience: - In every lie, there is a grain of truth.
Instinct: Thats it! Imma kill you!
Conscience: DUDE! WHAT THE FUCK- ARGH! SON OF A- WHY ARE YOU BITING ME?!
*Crash* *Bang* *Shatter*
Truthfulness: Instinct, you need to control yourself.
Instinct: *Chomp* Since Truthfulness said it, I guess I need to then.
Conscience: Why the hell did you do that?
Instinct: You know that idiot who reincarnated us? His meme.
Greed: Yeah screw him!
Memory: It was unexpected. But calling himself God God doesnt exist.
Reasoning: Memory, are you an atheist?
Memory: Yeah. Why?
All, except Memory: How unexpected
Memory: Eh?! Why is everyone here? And why is it unexpected?
Reasoning: Because Main is an agnostic, and that means everyone else here should be as well.
Main: What the fuck am I doing?
Yeah, what the hell was that? A comedy skit in my head? Seems that Memory was right No wait, focus Ardven. FOCUS! Right, teacher for Rucia. Argh, my fucking conscience is making me do this. I wish I could get rid of it for just this once.
Conscience: Yeah, love you too Main.
No, just ignore it. Just ignore
So Rucia, I begin. Would you be interested in going to civilization with me?
Civilization... Rucia pondered. Is that a city?
Fuck my mother all the way to the third generation... I mumble in defeat.
No, no, no, and no. Its not a city. Its where other people are. I say to Rucia.
So its part of a city! Rucia exclaims in enlightenment.
Fuck me sideways and call me Carol. Not even gonna try to hide my voice this time.
Carol? Rucia is confused!
You forgot the fuck me sideways part.
A-ah u-um, w-what do you-? Rucia has hurt herself in confusion! (Pokemon reference)
You know what? Im done! Im done! Im just done! As a person with little tolerance for useless things that benefit no one, Im done. Look, heres how its gonna go. First thing: Im leaving today, you cannot stop me.
H-hold on-
SECOND THING! You can follow me and possibly obtain my affection and, with a less than one percent chance, my dick!
Your what?!
THIRD THING!! If youre following me, go find someone else to teach you about common sense. I will not do anymore because Im not good with dealing with those fools who dont understand. Goodbye!
At this point, Pride has been kicked in the dick by Truthfulness. No, seriously, I think I can still hear Prides anguished screams.
Pride: WHY THE DIIIIIIIICK?!?!
Yeah, see what I mean? Im going slightly insane. Although, I think I was before reincarnating. I mean, sometimes I did comedy skits like this before. In my head, with all the emotions, at this point, I think its just a running gag. I dont think Im insane, its just my mind is too active.
Prick: Insane people have the most active minds, you know?
Ignore, ignore, ignore. If you ignore it, itll go away. Actually, its surprising how well that quote fits. I tried my best to ignore reality back home, escaping into the folds of Japanese, Chinese, Korean and original novels and attaining the widest of fantasy worlds. In a way, ignoring reality has led me into my fantasy. Except, it is still reality. Or is it?
Im getting a headache
Huh? What was I just thinking about? This being fantasy? Ouch! Headache again
(A\N: This time, Ive gone for the more subtle approach. Im sure he wont notice it this time. Ill show him what its like to mock me! Every time you think this might be fantasy, which would be many times Im sure, you will be struck with a terrible headache! Kukukuku Hehehehehehe HAHAHAHAHA! Bill: Forgive me, Ardven-san. I could do nothing in the face of Author-samas terrifying ability. Author: Did you say something Bill? Bill: Of course not, Author-sama. Author: Attaching the -sama feels really nice.)
Anyway! Back onto the topic! I stand up, walk to the door and bid farewell to Rucia, who still seems to be flustered about something. Time for civilization! I leave and head in a random direction. Im not going to ask the system for a direction to go, that would take out the fun in adventuring. I suck in a deep breath of fresh air. I exhale. For some reason, I feel so much more different. I used to be such a lazy bastard previously, and now Well, I never thought I would be looking forward to the adventure part of traveling. The world works in mysterious ways.
W-wait for me! A female voice calls out to me.
Ah. Its Rucia. She seems to have gotten all her gear in a rush and ran to catch up with me. This is actually the first time Ive seen her weapons, isnt it? A single bow, arrows, and a dagger. Cmon, at least carry a sword in case the bow breaks. I mean, I understand a dagger for protection reasons, but it has no reach and just the same piercing and slashing ability of a sword, if not worse. A dagger and a bow just makes you unbalanced. What am I going to- NOPE! Not going to start that again.
No, hurry up and walk with me if youre so intent on coming. I yell out in reply.
Rucias face brightens and she jogs up to my side, slightly out of breath. I nod at her, and she gives an excited nod back. This is it, huh? My first real adventure that doesnt have a slap stick goal that will crumble in seconds. A travel to places I dont know. Meeting new faces. New places. New things. New food. Finding my destiny, maybe? Honestly Im
So, where are we going? Rucia asks.
Who knows, I reply in a light tone. Thats the fun of the adventure!
The fun of adventure?
You never heard of it?
Its not that, but I just dont really understand it.
Its simple, I smile at her. A real, truly happy smile. Meeting new faces, new places, new things! So much to do, so much to see, so much to do when youre free. Thats what the fun of adventure is!
You seem excited.
Of course. Its the first real adventure that Ive had that doesnt involve me escaping previously deadly situations. This time, I left with a plan. A plan to have fun. The fun of adventure!
The fun of adventure!
Thats it girl!
Huh?
Hahahahahaha!
Why are you laughing? Hey! Answer me! Dont just laugh!
Hahahahahaha!
ARDVEN!!
Honestly, Im
Excited!
Chapter 13- Traveling (With a Bad Sense of Direction) and Cultivating (With a Bad Sense of Danger).
As we walk along the dirt road that seems to be rarely traveled, I try kicking some rocks into the air. Im trying to do what I was able to do back on Earth, getting things airborne with just my feet. Believe it or not, this is actually a form of training. Instead of strength training, this is training my control. I used to be able to get a small pebble on top of my head with just my feet, although that was only on a rare few occasions that I could manage that. Rucia doesnt ask why Im so focused on the pebbles instead of the scenery; Ill have to thank her for that. Id prefer for her not to interrupt my concen- Hey Ardven? Ah
Ardven? Rucia moves in front of me and asks.
Yes, yes, what is it? I reply.
I know I might sound nosy, but where did you learn the cultivation method you gave me?
An unexpected question. But I got this. A good friend of mine was accepted into a cultivation sect at an early age. When we got older, he repaid a debt he had with me by giving me some cultivation methods. Funny thing was, it was assumed I had no talent for cultivation. Surprising how things turned out. I finally start cultivating and I have great speed compared to the average Outer Disciple there. Hahaha.
Of course, that is obviously false. The last part is somewhat true. One of the sects that had been wiped out in the past few years did indeed match the description that I made of the sect. So, I have some truth to the lie, though just enough to make it believable.
Really? It doesnt seem like something a friend would give you so easily. And they missed such talent as yours? Hardly believable. Rucia says accusatively. Furthermore, you have cooking skills that are worthy of the heavens themselves. I refuse to believe that your story is a simple as it seems.
What is she, a detective? No, no, no. Its not what you think it is. I truly just had a friend with good talent that owed me a debt. I know it sounded like he did a lot, but he felt guilty because I got really injured when saving him, so he gave me lots of good things. And I already told you about my cooking, Im self-taught.
Thats impossible. Theres no way such amazing cooking techniques can be perfected in How old are you?
Huh? Im 19, why?
Really? You look younger than that.
I DO?! What? Thats not right! I made sure that I look 19, Im sure of it. It feels weird to pretend to be younger, so why would I do that? Dont tell me I fucked up!
I mean, I dont know what everyone else looks like, I only met my grandmother, so I cant tell. It just doesnt seem like your 19.
Oh...
Thank god! Even though I know that no one would be able to know, I would feel guilty for pretending to be younger than I really am. Although Im not actually 19, I died then, so I feel the same age, considering I dont have a body. Speaking of which, how old are you Rucia?
Me? Im 19, same as you.
WHAT?!
WHAT?! NO WAY!!
Hm? Is that weird?
You said I dont look my age, but you certainly dont. I mean, you look so much younger than any 19 year old Ive seen. Well, except for cultivators, but those guys are exceptions.
Is that so?
Yeah, now if youll excuse me, I have some training to do.
Training?
Concentration and control training. Watch if youre confused.
I find a nearby pebble and point it out for Rucia. I the kick it in a way that will, hopefully, land on my head. While doing that, I move my qi in a way that will make the pebble turn my way in just a little bit. My qi moved the pebbles trajectory by at most a few degrees. The pebble flies according to my will and somehow lands on my head. Huh.
Huh. I think aloud.
Wow! Rucia exclaims. I can feel the admiration from over here. How did you do that? Please tell me!
This is tough. Um Well, it takes a lot of practice, so its really hard. For now try getting a pebble high into the air. Kinda like this...
I kick a pebble so that it curves into a splendid arc and lands on the cobblestone wall on the side of the road. Ah. Ive seen that before. It literally has the exact same stack of stones I put up when I was bored two nights ago. We just camped here! How did we make a circle?! I turn to look at Rucia. I see her staring at the rock stack with a confused expression, just like I am. System, I require an answer to this phenomenon.
{After you and Rucia started traveling again yesterday, you mistakenly chose the way back because you two forgot the natural landmarks that differentiated between the two directions. In a laymans terms, you both have a bad sense of direction.}
Why am I not surprised? Of course. Bad sense of direction is an understatement. At least, for me, Im not too sure about Rucia. Just when the sun was getting low too. Damn, I guess well have to sleep here again. I let out a sigh and knock down the stack of rocks. Rucia asks what Im doing, but I just ignore her for now. I then take the rocks and move them to the side of the dirt road. I arrange them in the shape of an arrow, pointing towards the direction we came from. Our true destination.
Cmon, lets get to the cave we were at last time. Im getting tired and we should wake up early to make up for lost time. I say to the dumbfounded Rucia.
Ah! Right! Rucia says quickly and runs to me.
Not that well ever make up for this lost time...
What was that?
Nothing, lets go. I wanna sleep.
As we reach the cave, we do the usual procedures. Making the place safe, setting up our sleeping bags (Made by yours truly) and lighting the only lantern, and other such things. Rucia goes to sleep first, saying things about how a woman needs her beauty sleep. Arent you also not supposed to ask a woman her age? I think you should learn that kind of thing- actually no. Screw not being rude. Im not saying I prefer male dominant culture, but I certainly dont support female dominated culture, so I wont adhere to that one.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Argh. Whatever, just drop that stuff me. I should finish up the little details. I grabs some small sticks and throw them into the fire we lit. We have a lantern as well, but that doesnt give us heat. Good thing we turned that off when we lit the fire. I sigh and sit down on my sleeping bag. Instead of sleeping, I decide to cultivate. Ive been neglecting that part of my life recently. I settle down into the lotus position and move my qi according to my Nameless Cultivation Method.
{About 5 hours later}- System.
I decide that Im done cultivating for now and finish the last circulation before opening my eyes. The scene before me is rather impressive, something right out of an anime or manga. Three people in black clothing are digging through the backpack that Rucia had brought. The other one that I had borrowed from her remained untouched. I feel offended, going through hers but not mine? Fools. Ill make you pay.
What? Beat them up from stealing from up? Of course, why wouldnt I? I just need to make sure they know very well that discrimination is wrong. I quietly stand up and walk behind the nearest discriminator. I hook my arm around their and throw him to the ground. They let out a grunt of surprise as I knock the wind out of him. The other two turn around, but are unable to react as I stomp him in the throat. There. He isnt dead, but he is certainly unable to breathe for a while. One of the two who backed up charges at me. Admirable courage, but its a foolish mistake. I sidestep while turning my body, sending a kick at his feet, tripping him. However, he uses his momentum to flip and land on his feet. Damn, hes good. But not better than me, I think.
The last discriminator comes at me as well, except he pulls a dagger out of a hidden pocket. He slashes at me, using it like a sword. I easily dodge it but bending backward. I continue to bend backwards, using the speed I have to do a back flip and kick him in the chin. He falls backwards and his last comrade takes out his weapon...s. The last discriminator is carrying some rather cool kunai knives. Alright, now Im serious. I. Want. Those. Knives. So its a little childish, but I always liked the look of those things. I even practiced throwing them a little when I was in high school.
This time, I take the initiative to charge. He throws some of his knives, but I just tilt my body to the right to avoid them all. Hes an amateur First of all, he can barely even throw those things correctly, second, he doesnt even throw them in a different direction, just straight forward. Seems he cant be considered a professional. I grab Severances handle, which I still have strapped on, and pull it out. I bring Severance closer to my chest and perform a sweep at the abdomen. Unless hes super flexible, he cant dodge it.
Or not. He jumped back and accidentally stepped on the still sleeping Rucia. Well, not on her, just on her bag and slipped. He grazed her, but didnt touch her. He let out a sound of pain. Rucias response to which was, Urgh 5 more minutes...
...
Both me and the discriminator are shocked. I mean, heavy sleepers are one thing, but Rucia is in a world of her own. Being the first one to recover, most likely because of the life or death situation, the discriminator throws a kunai at me. I jerk to the side, but the kunai still grazes my cheek. Shit. My Pride!
Pride: FUCK! WHY IS ALWAYS THE DICK?!?!
Im better than him overall, but he still managed to graze me. Sure, the situation is a factor, but being hit by an adversary that I am much better than is still disgraceful. He throws another kunai, which I take on instead of dodging. He looks surprised. Using qi to improve my body, I grab the kunai and flip it around so I can throw it. The discriminators face turns pale (I assume that, because I cant see his face.). With my improved strength, I throw the kunai at an extremely fast speed. He doesnt even have time to react as the kunai goes straight through his head and bounces off the wall, partially broken. Aw And I really like kunai knives too
My anger cools and I collect their bodies. I throw them into one pile and dig out a big enough grave for all three of them. After I finish that, I find a suitable stone for a grave marker. I carve their epitaph into the gravestone. It said, here lies three assholes who tried to steal from me. Simple enough for people to understand that the person who buried them didnt know them. Well, they probably deserved an unmarked grave somewhere in Nowhere, Space, but, I digress. Finishing this train of though, I take my leave.
When I arrive at the cave where me and Rucia were sleeping, I notice someone at the entrance. Weird, were we expecting someone?
Oh shit.
It must be one of the discriminators buddies. That means I must finish the job. Ruthless, coldhearted, call me whatever you want, I need to make sure that guy doesnt chase us in the short run. As I try to be stealthy, I, by the mysterious workings of fate, happen to just step on that random stick that screws over every heavy-footed sneaker ever. Fuck sticks. Fuck them to the ninth circle of hell. As I curse out the race of sticks, the big frame of the discriminators friend turns around and faces me. Jesus Christ, he has muscles! Hes fucking stacked! You know those stupid cartoon characters that have insane muscles, yeah, he makes them look like scrawny bitches. How the fuck do you get that much muscle?
Who are you? The muscle man asks.
His voice perfectly matches his body. Deep, gravely, and rough. Well, Ive been found, no point in hiding. I put two kunais in both my sleeves as an insurance. I try to take on a friendly tone as I ask, I could ask the same of you. Who are you and why are you here?
I can literally feel the narrowing of Muscles eyes. So my subordinates havent come here yet?
Yeah, okay, be all direct about it. Gives me proof that I should kill you. As I say those lines, I release the kunai in one of my sleeves, making it look as though I threw one from each hand, even though they both came from the same one. Muscle simply waves his arm and the kunais bounce off of his arm. Oh. Seems I underestimated him. He takes out his own sword and comes at me. Shit, hes fast! That speed he must be a cultivator. I jump out of the way, just barely avoiding his strike.
Damn, Im outmatched. If he had the same physical strength as me, I would be more confident, but unfortunately, there are no ifs in reality. Even though Im physically weaker than him, he doesnt fight like that against me. He attacks viciously and quickly, leaving me only time to just barely dodge. I cant fight back, hes just too strong! Dammit! I dodge a chop from Muscle, but he somehow produces another sword and stabs to my position. Im cornered! I cant escape! Im doomed!
No! I reach for the handle of Severance, but it wasnt there. What?! Oh no! I had left it back in the cave because I thought I wouldnt need it. Damn you past me! I circulate my qi and try to drive it into my feet. As a desperate last attempt, I expel the qi in my feet, intending to use it as a propelling force to escape. It works and Im free from Muscles second sword. Unfortunately, the first sword gets me and scrapes across my abdomen. Fuck! Damn that hurts! I quickly back away and move towards the cave. Muscle seems surprised, but he doesnt let this chance escape. He comes after me, dual wielding his murder blades. Murder blades? Theyre swords though FUCKING HELL! FOCUS!
At the cave is Severance. I snatch it up and turn around to face Muscle. But he wasnt there. I dont relax, but instead jump out of the cave. Clich, clich, you cannot escape the clich. Muscle was behind me, and cut the air where I once was. Thank god I left there! Now, with my sword, I feel much more confident. Muscle charges me once more, but I deflect his first strike with the handle of my sword. His second sword comes from below, but I backstep away. The broken part of the sword is filled with a light as I activate its special function. With a full sword, I charge Muscle, who is certainly surprised. He attacks with both swords at the same time, a fatal mistake. He slashes downward in an X shape, which I slide under. Because Muscle is tall, I can fully slide under him. I twist around and get to my knees. I thrust my sword at his exposed back.
*Shlick*
Stabbed right through him. I get to my feet and swing Severance, which is still in his body, up. It cuts cleanly through his body, partially cleaving him in two. His slightly bisected corpse falls to the ground, the life already gone from his eyes. I step back and clutch my wound. Damn It still hurts. I need to heal before I break into Beyond Mortal Realm, or else black impurities might get into the wound. Ew. Gross. I look quickly in the cave at Rucia. Shes still sleeping.
Not only do we have a bad sense of direction, we also have a bad sense of danger...
Chapter 14- Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove. Or Something Like That.
I disposed of the body of Muscle. He was very heavy, I could barely pick him up. Despite the fact that he was a real Beyond Mortal Realm cultivator, he was really poor. He didnt have any treasures that a cultivator should have. No storage treasure, no weapon treasure and no armor treasure. Im sure there are other types of treasures, but I cant remember them right now. I doesnt matter either way, he had nothing! Literally nothing but the clothes on his back. Fucking nothing! You are a cultivator Muscle, get your shit together! You made my opinion of robber/scammer cultivators even worse! And it was already bad!
God Muscle, you better have just had treasures at your base instead of here. Not that Ill ever find it. You know what?
{Your question is too unclear to provide an answer. Please restate your question.}
Thats what.
{?}
Yep. I feel satisfied now. I guess its time to go back then. I turn around and leave the cliff edge, walking back towards the cave. Along the way, I notice something rather interesting. Its a forest with trees that have white leaves. Ive never seen a tree with white leaves, so Im interested.
Truthfulness: No shit Sherlock. Do you need to repeat that.
Shut up, your a figment of my imagination. Trees with white leaves are new to me, so Im interested.
Instinct: Just stop, its painful.
Fucking fine. Hope you have fun in that pit of joy and acceptance youre rolling in.
Instinct: I am. It was really good until you came around and ruined it.
I head to the trees, intent on getting a closer look at the white leafed trees (Instinct: Hey! Dont ignore me!). As I step into the general vicinity of the trees, a weird feeling runs up my spine. Woah shit! That felt weird. I walk backwards out of the weird place of white leaf trees. Yeah no, Ill come back in the morning. I turn around and head straight back to the cave, not bothering to check out the scenery once more. So, for now, just gonna put that aside.
I wake up in the morning, feelin great. Well, wake up is a bad term. I was cultivating through the night, which -thankfully- does the same thing as sleeping. Even better actually, more than just taking a good nap, I feel like I took that nap after soaking in a hot spring. Alright, I confess, I didnt know cultivation felt that refreshing. I have indeed been missing out on this great, relaxing feeling. Please excuse me as I indulge in this new sensation.
Hrmm Ardven, are you awake?
For fucks sake Rucia, do you have to interrupt everything I try to focus on?
Yeah, Ive been awake all night. I tell her. Well, Im not lying.
Ah! Im sorry if I made you do that. Rucia quickly apologizes.
No, that was my choice. Anyway, I found something interesting nearby. Its a place with trees that have white leaves.
White trees?
Trees with white leaves.
Hmm
She ignored me
Ah, Rucia exclaimed. I think its the Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove. Or something like that.
Alright, what does it do? I felt a weird chill when I went in there and from the name, it is obviously something that is useful to cultivators.
Um I think it helps improve your cultivation base or soul. Im not too sure though, I didnt really read up on it. Though I do have a book with nearby important landmarks somewhere...
Helps improve your cultivation base or soul. Its name was Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove (God thats long)? Yeah, no shit it helps improve the soul.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Here it is! Rucia says happily, handing a book to me.
I take it and flip to the first few pages, hoping to find a table of contents. Im not disappointed as I see the long list of regions and page numbers. I know what region Im in, so I flip to the page that holds the landmarks of our region. The front page has its own table of contents, so I search for the Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove on it. Finding it, I flip to its page. The first thing that catches my attention is the picture of the place. Although it doesnt look like where I entered, the description of the trees disagree with my thoughts. White leaves, brown and smooth trunk. Check and check. So it is really the Mysterious Soul Tempering- ah fuck it. Im calling it Soul Grove, that other name is too long.
It seems this Soul Grove can -to my great surprise- can help in tempering the soul of a cultivator, and pushing them closer to the Mystic Soul Realm, which is just a level above Sky Stepping Realm. Although the Soul Grove is most effective for Sky Stepping and Mystic Soul Realms, cultivators who want to improve their cultivation base can come here and benefit from the refinement power that is deep into the Soul Grove. Apparently there are dangers in the core region where the refinement power is, and is recommended to bring a cultivator at Mystic Soul Realm to keep yourself alive. Please, if someone could get a Mystic Soul Realm cultivator to do that, then Im sure they can also get pills, treasures and guidance that is worth much more than the refinement power. God author, think about this kind of stuff.
Hm? Theres a footnote. Warning: Cultivators who are under Foundation Building are liable to hallucinations of their greatest desire. Please proceed with caution. Greatest desire huh Insert Lenny face here please. Well, seems the time is not ripe for me to enter that place. It is literally a shit show of bad restrictions and benefits. Theres no point, absolutely none. Cultivators should have already cut the place down and used it for pills or something, its worthless as a training area. Mystic Soul Realm is a low level Realm. Its like the average cultivation for core disciples in a large size sect. Oh. When I put it that way, its rather important, isnt it. Nevermind, Mystic Soul Realm is rather important. A small sect would look up to Mystic Soul cultivators like gods, and mid sects would probably have the sect master at that level.
So, even though Mystic Soul Realm kinda is important, it is still a low level Realm, these people are just too weak and stupid (In terms of understanding cultivation, Im not saying that they think 2+2=5) to understand that. Seems Ill forget about that then. Cultivation goes normally then, seeing as how Ill probably not make it to the core region in the forest. I look through the rest of the book, as Im curious as to what else is here.
Although I looked at the world when I was younger (?), I didnt bother memorizing the names and functions of the places. Unless I made them, which I didnt. For most of them, at least. Well, Ill talk to Rucia about this for a bit.
You wanna go there? I ask her.
I dont mind, but do you? She replies.
I dont care.
Then lets go.
Okay, if you want.
Thankfully, theres a river in the Soul Grove, so I can wash myself off when I break into Beyond Mortal Realm. Aaaaand, time skip!
(A\N: Author: Hey, that actually worked! Bill: gФֹͣ룡Author: GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!!)
I sit down and start cultivating. Me and Rucia are at the edge of the Soul Grove, right next to a river. Since I havent broken in to Beyond Mortal Realm yet, Ill need to wash once I get purified. So, cultivation once more.
...
Aaaaand I broke through. Jesus that wasnt even a minute. Oh, oh god, oh god. The impurities are here. Ew. Ew. Theyre gross. They feel gross. They feel slimy. Ew. Oh god its like jelly. That came from me?! Oh god Im disgusting. But there isnt as much as I thought there was. I can only see about ten bead-sized black drops. Only ten where I can see? Thats a surprise. Youre supposed to look like you just took a bath in black sludge once you break through, but this Anyways, jump into the river!
*Splash*
Brr. Thats a cold-ass river. I climb out of the river and use my qi to dry myself off. Thank god for qi, otherwise Id be freaking cold. So, wheres Rucia? I look around, yet I cant see her anywhere. Rucia? Did you wander off? Now I know I shouldnt- fuck it, system help me. Where is she?
{Rucia is currently walking down the river you just exited. She is trapped in a delusion of the Mysterious Soul Tempering-}
Fuck, stop! Im tired of hearing that name. Just curious, but what is she seeing?
{Delusions of being with her family and you.}
Family and me, huh? Me
Me
Family and me
Why do I feel something is wrong here? Does she already like me? System, please answer that last one.
{Rucia does hold positive feelings that surpass that of what is considered a friend.}
Dont you fucking fall for me Rucia, Ill feel extremely guilty. Im not one for love, I certainly cant return it if you really love me. If you fall for me, Ill be the worst boyfriend ever. Ah, screw it. Ill deal with that when it comes to it. Since Im not thinking about that anymore, where are you Rucia?! Swiggity, swooty, comin for that booty.
...
Im freaking out too much from that. Argh, system? Can you erase the contents of the last 30 seconds from my memory?
{Affirmative. Erasing memory}
What the hell was that?
{The system received your request and erase the last 30 seconds of your memory.}
My request?
{Yes.}
Mustve been bad. So, wheres Rucia?
{Follow the river deeper into the Mysterious-}
Got it, following the river. Rucia, youll pay for making me save you this much. Hopefully in cash.
Chapter 15- The MC Halo Makes No Sense.
Its at times like these where I wish I often revert to the old me. The old me that just wants to curl up in a ball and sleep forever. Not die, just enjoy sleeping. I could dream about me being an OP protagonist in a world like this, cutting down those who dare to try to pull down my face. I simply released my overpowering aura and a myriad of beings would bow at my feet. I was peerless above the heavens. Of course, that was only in my dreams, here is currently different.
Lets talk frankly. The situations is, Im screwed. Yep. Im screwed. The danger in the Grove is most certainly real. So that stuff that would kill Sky Stepping cultivators -the dangers near the core region- would kill me, 100% death. Unless I used the console commands, but Id like to not use my three time god mode for saving my worthless life from easily avoided situations. I mean, even a flea would have enough intelligence to avoid something like this, but guess what? Im here now!
Oh, seems Im going into self-degradation mode because I walked into a trap like this. Seems like I need to work on my self-esteem.
Me: Cmon me, you know humans make mistakes!
Me: Thanks me But, arent I not human?
Me: Uh Weeeeellllll, you used to be human, so that probably effects your decision making. AND! And! You have no personal experience in the cultivation world, so it makes sense!
Me: What about my ability to recognize clichs?
Me: Fuck it, just go run for your life and bring your waifu along.
Me: She isnt my waifu!
*Ahem* What I meant to say was, theres too many demonic beasts! What the fuck?! The strongest one is at Jinxin Realm, so Im definitely screwed! I only just broke through to Beyond Mortal, what the hell am I supposed to do to these guys?! Even the weakest one is stronger than me in terms of cultivation! I say in terms of cultivation because I have my super cool Severance to watch my back. I say watch my back, but- OH FUCK!!!
(A\N: According to Google Translate, the Chinese characters (Jinxin) literally means Golden Heart, while the characters (Jindan) mean Golden Egg. As I am not a Chinese professional, I cannot say for certain if jindan actually means something more symbolic than just the literal translation. I decided to go for a more literal translation, just to try being original. For those of you wondering what the hell Im talking about, Im taking inspiration from wuxia/xianxia novels and changing what is often called a jindan to jinxin for this fiction.)
*Riiip*
A demon beasts claws tears through my overcoat that I havent taken off since making it. My clothes! Ah, well, Im glad I had these absorb qi to repair as well. Just need to put it in Now that I think about it, that was a really bad design flaw wasnt it? Shouldve made it naturally absorb natural qi instead Well, too late now! Besides, if a treasure can gain a spiritual consciousness, then it can absorb qi by itself, as long it still remains conscious, that is. AH! Fucking beasts trying to kill me!
I dodge and weave through the onslaught of demon beasts, just barely managing due to my breakthrough and their stupidity. Though the demon beasts at Vanquish Tribulations, Foundation Building and Jinxin Realms are better than me in literally every physical aspect, I maneuver better than them due to my footwork. One of the three Jinxin demon beasts lunges at me, but sidestep and turn while bending backwards, just barely avoiding another attack. Using this opportunity, I bring my sword up, aiming to cut through the beasts stomach. However, its too fast for me, and it passes by and my sword hits empty air.
I roll backwards, unable to stay on my feet after turning, sidestepping, and bending at the same time. I turn during the roll to dodge a Foundation Building demon beast. Unfortunately, I arrive in front of a Vanquish Tribulations demon beast. It has already raised its terrifying looking claw and is bringing it down. Huh, seems the difficulty is going down with each dodge. If I could dodge this guy, I would get a Beyond Mortal demon beast, then?
Dont fuck with meeeee! I roar in angry.
Executing some practically impossible acrobatic ninjutsu, space-warping bullshit example of physics that I dont understand how works, I manage to get away from that certain death strike. Well fuck me sideways and call me Carol, I just became a badass. Ah. Now is not the time! I get to my feet and observe my situation. Im screwed. That is my situation. I dont think I can escape, unless my Main Character Halo comes in and-
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Is something getting closer?
...AAAAAAAAAAAA!
Someone would probably be a better answer.
AAAAAAAAAAAA!This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
A girl? Another one for my harem? Is this my MC Halo helping out?
...AAAAAAAAAAAA!
Oh, no, thats a boy. A young one, maybe?
AAAAAAAHHHHH!!
OHSHITFUCK--!
As the voice ends, something that seems to have come from outer space rockets in and fucks up the landscape. It sends me flying as well as the demon beasts that are trying to kill me. Woah! Im flyin- GAH! Fucking trees! GUH! Fucking rocks! Ugh Oof! Fucking ground! Oh wait Ground is good. Stand Stand STAND THE FUCK UP!!
Motor functions: IM TRYING!!!
Main: Go scold the MC Halo while youre at it!
I stand up uneasily. My knees are weak and my arms are heavy. Due to my weakness, I lean up against the tree that I ricocheted off of. I stay there for a minute, unable to move. I cant even think straight. My mind is all clouded and I feel like Im slipping. Damn! Does getting shot off a tree really hurt that much? Really? It does that much?
{That assumption is correct. If you were a normal mortal were to be caught up in a shockwave of that magnitude, they would die if unlucky and come out crippled if lucky.}
Oh, Im glad this world has cultivation. Wait! Its because of cultivation that Im in this situation in the first place! Goddammit!
Hey! A male voice called out from the mist. You, fellow daoist over there! Are you okay?
Huh? Does he mean me? Do you mean me? I called out to him.
Yeah, are you alright? The male voice seems to have come closer.
Im alive! Dont know if Im alright though!
Good. Hes gotten really close.
The dust caused by the impact of whatever the hell that was cleared, and I could see who had spoken. It was a young man just a bit older than me. He had blue hair and blue eyes, though one of them was closed. Hes wearing a white robe with black embroidery that probably has an important meaning. Seems to be a friendly guy, seeing as how he called out to see if I was okay. Though I think he probably couldve checked me himself instead of calling out, but I dont judge. I fact, I would thank him for not doing that. Ah? Hes at Mystic Soul Realm, a pretty important figure in this world. Initial Mystic Soul Realm. His mystic soul is still unstable, so he probably came here after breaking through to temper his mystic soul and increase his cultivation while stabilizing his mystic soul at the same time.
The reason I can tell? I asked the system while you werent paying attention. Im not omnipotent, you can only read a persons cultivation level when youre stronger than them, or they reveal it to you. Im only a Beyond Mortal cultivator, how could I read the cultivation of a Mystic Soul cultivator? I may possibly have an MC Halo, but there are limits to a xianxia MC Halo. Speaking of MC Halos, I wonder how you would classify them?
What is a Beyond Mortal cultivator like you doing in the Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove? The Mystic Soul cultivator asked.
Oh god he calls it that too? Im looking for my friend, she disappeared when I turned away, and now I have no idea where she is. However, I think she mightve gone in here by accident, she is a real airhead after all.
Actually, using the extremely popular System Maps?, I can locate where she is, anywhere, anytime. However, do you think hell believe me? Eve if he does believe me, how can I be sure that he wont try to exploit my ability to use the system? The thing called human nature can be defined by the words seven deadly sins, and cultivators are much more susceptible to giving into those desires. In fact, cultivators are the ones to exercise these traits even more than mortals, because mortals have a ruler to stop them from doing these things, and they have no personal power. Cultivators have power to move mountains with a wave of their hand and redirect rivers with a sneeze. Because one person obtained the power called cultivation, the rest of the world followed in their footsteps and gained power, causing even more people to crave power. A never-ending cycle of greed. Greed strong enough to kill friends and loved ones over. Cultivators arent feared because they have power, its because they are human that they are. Power, is a disaster. Especially in the hands of humans. The fact that I cultivate as well, means that I, too, am a part of this disaster. *Sigh* What a trend I decided to follow.
Oh? Lost a friend? Ill help you out, I cant have Beyond Mortal cultivators here, thatd only get them killed. No reason to waste promising talent. He says while laughing.
Promising talent? Im genuinely confused.
Huh? Youre so young and without a sect, yet you are already in Beyond Mortal Realm, thats a great achievement!
Oh yeah, these guy are really weak. Thank you senior, I really cannot express my gratitude to you.
Hehe No problem. Now, shall we find your friend? He extended his hand to me and a flying sword appeared next to him.
Many thanks senior. I clasped my hands and bowed, a classic xianxia salute of respect.
I took his hand and got on his flying sword, which took off immediately. I was shaken a bit due to the sudden acceleration, but it stayed at a speed where I could adjust myself so as to not fall off. I looked at the Mystic Soul cultivator, and saw him looking at me with a bit of praise in his eyes. The way he looks at me Is he gay? No, lets not disrespect him, he saved me. For now, at least. Still though, theres more than praise in his eyes
Is it greed?
Greed: About a 90% chance.
Main: Huh? Why so sure?
Greed: I can recognize one of my nature easily. However, he is being hidden, so I cant tell for certain if it is a fellow kinsman. But, its nature is very similar. It could be lust, gluttony, or envy. These are all options because they are part desire.
Good. Wait, not good. He wants me? Oh god, he really is gay! No, no, no, no. It could be that he wants my potential for his sect. Mm, that makes sense. Anyway, the flying sword speeds around at a speed fast enough so that I cant catch full glimpses of everything passing by. He could probably go faster than this, but I think hes slowing down for me. Or their cultivation is really so shit that theyve done something wrong and I just havent detected it yet. This world is full of problems, isnt it?
It takes a bit, but soon, the Mystic Soul cultivator finds Rucias trail. I wouldve guided him in the right direction, but I couldnt really make it obvious. I only said that I thought I saw her following the river. Other than that, I couldnt do much more than that. Sorry Rucia, but I think that I wont be able to get to you as fast as I thought. We follow Rucias trail, but the Mystic Soul cultivator asks me a surprise question.
Say, how come you arent affected by the illusions that the Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove produces? He asks.
Oh shit, this is bad. Im sorry, I dont understand what you mean by that senior. I say respectfully.
I mean that the Mysterious Soul Tempering Grove produces illusions that all cultivators under Foundation Building are affected by, no exceptions. Unless you knew ahead of time, which you obviously didnt, theres no way to counter this affect.
Hes trapped me! Hes trapped me splendidly! He cut off an escape route by stating that I didnt know with the word obviously. He cut off another one with no exceptions and another with theres no way to counter this affect. Hes good! However, so am I. If he thinks hes got me, then he is sorely mistaken. Ill break right through your word blocks!
Senior, it may seem that I wouldnt be able to resist these effects, but I practiced an incomplete mental protection method, which I havent made much progress on. However, I had no idea it was so mystical as to be able to protect against illusions as strong as these. I counter.
Though it isnt perfect, I should be able to slip by these word maneuvers. But then, I hear a scream. Rucias scream. I turn in that direction. Shes surrounded by multiple demon beasts. Damn you conscience, stop making me want to save her! I jump off the flying sword and land near Rucia.
Im here, Rucia.
Ardven!
Its only now that I remember I came along with a cultivator who can crush these demon beasts underfoot like how a mortal crushes an ant.
Whoops. Tee-hee!
Chapter 16- The MC Halo Makes Its Move.
Although I was stupid enough to jump down without Nice Guy, Im not so weak as to where I would be easily killed by these beasts. Rather, Im surprised that Rucia is having any trouble at all. These beasts are newborns at Beyond Mortal Realm. Which makes no sense. Why would little baby Beyond Mortal beasts even be deeper in the Soul Grove than those guys I met earlier? You know, those bastards that were all killed by Nice Guy? Why did they get weaker as they go in?
Ah. Newborn Oh, theres a nest near here, and the mama is probably away right now.
OH SHI-
ROOOOAAAAR!!! A powerful roar comes from not too far away.
I am truly an idiot for not thinking this through. However, Im sure this is an opportunity for the MC Halo to make its move. Right? Please let me be right. As Im thinking stupid things as well as fighting off little demon beasts, Nice Guy turns his attention to mama demon beast. I glance over at him, hoping to see what he wants to do; but when I look back, hes flying away with a pale face and blood trickling out of his mouth. Hes flying really fast
Oi. You just gonna leave us? I thought you were a nice guy? Would it kill you to pick us up and then fly out of here? Just because mama demon beast is scary doesnt mean you should tuck your tail between your legs and fly away! Were gonna die here you know? You sure you want to let go of such good talent such as mine and Rucias?! Fuck you! I snap back to the demon beasts in front of me, and bring Severance in front of my face to block the bite of one of the babies. Unfortunately, the edge misses the teeth, but still makes the baby demon beast roar in pain.
Hurry, the mother is coming! I yell at Rucia as I grab her hand.
Huh?! Rucia screams in shock.
I bolt away with Rucia following close behind me. I jump forward and turn back, presenting me the scene of the baby demon beasts chasing after us. I swipe Severance in an arc, causing a bit of sword qi to rocket out at the demon beasts chasing us. As these demon beasts are still babies, they havent developed instincts for danger, so they dont avoid the sword qi; because of this, many of them are sliced up and cause the others that were still alive to trip over their corpses. Having succeeded in slowing them down, I face forward again.
I dodge the tree that was right in front of my face and look around. I need an opportunity to escape; after all, we still have the mama demon beast that is coming after us. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a huge cliff that sticks out like a sore thumb. Seriously? Why the hell is something like that in here? Because Im desperate, I grab Rucias arm and bring her to the cliff. I stop at the edge and look down. Thats a long drop. I dont know if Ill survive it, but at this point, I think Id prefer to die by falling than eaten by a demon beast. Just me though, cant speak for others.
Well, I tell Rucia. Shall we jump?
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Jump?! Down there?! Well die! Rucia complains.
Better than being eaten. I wont say our luck is good enough to survive, but even if we fought the mama demon beast, wed die. I think Id prefer to die killing the enemy rather than the enemy beating me around like a toy.
Thats...
Fuck it! Are you jumping or not, nows not the time to be indecisive!
Ill jump.
In that case were out!
I pull Rucia close and hug her tightly. I run to the edge of the cliff, and jump off. The wind whistles in my ears as I am pulled to the ground by gravity. I tighten my grip around Rucia, I cant let this idiot girl die, itd stain my conscience. Even if I die (lose my body), I wont have someone else die. Not my friend, at least. Not a person that has been so nice. The ground is coming closer, like when you zoom in on a camera. Except, this is the real thing, not a camera zoom. Here it comes. Just like the truck
A shiver runs up my spine, making me feel cold all over.
What? What the hell? OH SHIT GROUND! I try to hit one of the trees that were speeding by to reduce my fall. I catch onto one, and try to pull myself on, but the branch snaps because of the speed I was falling at. I fall and a part of my body hits a thick branch.
My balls
*Whimper*
Ardven?
?꣤???~|̡ҡ????ǡ??????!+?o̡|-m~???ܡ֡١??ޡ?MM??????! C? ???? ?¡M֡?????4|??̣!
...
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!
MY BAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLSSSSSSS!
FUCK MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ardven, are you okay?
Balls
I fall to the ground weakly. I cant even move. The only thing that is functioning right now is my brain, but even then, its in low power mode, entirely focused on keeping all of my bodily functions in check, with my consciousness being regulated to just barely being able to understand whats going on. Am I making sense? Who cares
Ah, Im going to pass out. The pain of my balls being crush after falling hundreds of feet yards is too much. I need to tell Rucia something
Rucia... I groan hoarsely.
Ardven! She hugs me tightly.
Stop! Stop! My balls!
Sorry, sorry! She releases me.
Listen to me. I can hardly move after that fall, so please find somewhere we can stay for a bit, preferably somewhere close. Hurry, Im slipping... I managed to get that all out.
R-right, Im on it!
Ah good girl. Gd night I finally pass out.
Urgh... I groan as I wake up.
I rub my eyes and open them to look around. Its a cave. A cave that seems to have some better concentration of natural qi than most. I spot Rucia cultivating near the entrance of the cave. Huh, shes surprisingly diligent, even though she should be able to cultivate normally. System, can you help explain?
{Bzzt bzzt ksh}
The fuck? The system is blocked? How is this possible? Wait, the systems connection to the user is decided primarily on the users strength on secondarily on the users status in the Primal multiverse. Both of mine are low, so even the fact that I got access to the systems archives is a miracle. If some sort of interference appears, it is probably because of chaotic qi or an abundence of qi.
As I think that, I feel a pang of pain from my balls. Ouch. Thats right, I nearly got them crushed when I fell off the cliff.
Am I forgetting something?
I quickly pull my pants open to check the nether region. I inspect my balls stability. Thankfully, they are in perfect condition aside from the occasional twinge of pain. I sigh in relief and let my pants go back to their original position. I stand up and look around once more. Closing my eyes, I sit down and start cultivating as well.
I realize something is wrong almost immediately. The natural qi here is too refined to be called natural. In case you didnt know, natural qi is called that because it is produced by worlds and treasures born in the Primal Chaos. They exude qi that is not refined, but still fit for cultivators to absorb. I mean, how would we get qi otherwise? But, natural qi is not refined and only exists in the simplest form. But this qi is not the simplest form of qi. Moreover, I cannot feel a connection to it, unlike natural qi. Could it be that a treasure powerful enough to produce refined qi hidden in this cave?
Has the MC Halo decided to make its move?
Chapter 17- The MC Treasure Makes an Entrance.
If the MC Halo has truly made a move -and this is assuming that I even have the MC Halo- then I believe that this is something I can take advantage of. If we leave Rucia alone, she probably wont be able to get involved with this probably very important treasure that is probably really powerful and probably has lots of people after it. There were a lot of probablys in that sentence. Well, if we follow these types of clichs, then this will definitely turn out to be something important. However, I cant be sure what era and what organization this came from. Its even possible that it something that would make even God, the ruler of the entire Primal multiverse, to drool with greed. Though, I doubt it. Theres no way something so powerful could be on a weak planet like this.
I stand up and look in the direction the qi flow is coming from. Its deeper in the cave, but I cant tell where exactly, Ill need to get closer. I approach the wall of the cave, but arrive at a dead stop before it. It is beyond the wall of the cave, which means Ill probably have to punch a hole in there or something. Well, here goes nothing!
*Crack*
Ow My fucking hand
Damn, what the hell is this rock made out of? I think my hand is broken. Lets see I move my hand a bit.
Yep thats fucking broken... I say in a strained voice.
With my hand broken, I dont think Im willing to hit the wall again. It was my right hand as well Ah well, I have Severance. Its pretty good, it is way better than those other treasures that I used to create. Even though Severance was a bit of a sudden job, I poured my heart and soul into making this thing. I wouldnt worry about its durability, even immortals from another world desired my failure products, so this should have no problems making a hole in this wall. Even though Im ambidextrous, I prefer to use my right hand; so to use my preferred hand, I start to absorb some of that refined qi and direct it into my hand. In this backwater known as Nephila, this technique to heal injuries isnt widely known, for some reason. This healing shall take a bit, so Ill dive right in to my angry rant on this worlds stupidity.
This is a basic technique that literally EVERYONE knows about. Hell, even before I reincarnated, I knew about this! Its obviously not because I experimented on it, but because I understand that, in novels with any type of mystical energy, energy, qi or otherwise, can be used to heal if you use it correctly. Whats good about qi is that it does this in combination with your natural healing, increasing your natural healing rate by a certain percentage based on the quantity and quality of qi in your body. All one has to do is stimulate qi to actively heal your injured area. How it does this is much like stem cells from Earth. Actually, stem cells are here as well, but Earth is where it was really researched, so Im giving its ownership to Earth. Anyway, qi takes the information of the DNA from nearby cells and turns itself into the appropriate shape and then merges with the rest of the bone, tissue or blood and becomes one with your body and will never change back.
This is different from the arcane energy I used to make my body because of some very minuscule differences. Arcane energy cannot properly be merged into a body unless the body is properly tempered and has reached a certain realm. Body tempering and energy improvement are separate, much to many cultivators displeasure. The only exception to this rule is the great milestones of cultivation, the earliest one being Beyond Mortal, which I have already passed. When a person finally becomes a cultivator and breaks into the Beyond Mortal Realm, then that person passes the first body tempering boundary, expelling impurities and changing the body into a suitable vessel to hold qi. Until one reaches the Immortal Realm, body tempering continues and both energy improvement and body tempering are done. After breaking through to the Immortal Realm, one can choose a path to take, body tempering, energy improvement or both.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Back onto arcane energy, the body can finally accept arcane energy once it becomes and Immortal Realm body. Not to be confused with an immortal body, those two are completely separate. Right now, my body is kept together because the arcane energy that makes it up is completely under my control. If it wasnt Lets say that Id have exploded into particles of glowing light that would be picked up by the wind a long time ago. No, seriously, it would be glowing particles of pure arcane energy that would either sink into the ground or be taken away by wind. Its not pleasant.
Ah, Im done healing. I removed Severance from its sheath and take up a stance in front of the wall. Moving my qi, I activate the blade function of Severance, causing a glowing yellow light to emerge from the broken part of Severance and completing the blade, making it look like one whole sword. I clamp both my hands on the handle and take a deep breath. I pull the sword back, and tighten my grip.
Graaaaaaaah!!! I shout as I swing at the cave wall.
*Riiiiiiiiip*
As expected, Severances blade cuts right through the wall without any resistance. Because only part of the wall has been opened, I continue to slice through the wall until a gap big enough for me to fit through opens up. By the time a gap does open up, Im out of breath from shouting too much. Im completely serious when I say that.
I return Severance to its scabbard and turn around to look at Rucia. Because she hasnt learned to keep her five senses active while shes cultivating (not that I have either), she hasnt noticed my manic swinging and yelling. With a sigh of relief, I step into the hole in the wall. By just stepping in, I can already feel the amount of refined qi increase. My sense of adventure is tingling! Now, lets go get this treasure.
*Crack*
*Thud*
Ah, what the he... I exclaim as I try to get up after tripping.
...
?
...
Is this
*Poke**Poke**Poke**Poke*
Yep.
Well I feel retarded. I comment.
C-can I just facepalm? Hand. Hand. Hand! Start working!
*Facepalm*
There we go.
*Sigh* I sigh.
Turns out that this little treasure was right in front of me this entire time. The other stuff I was saying about adventure was nonsense, please ignore it. However, there really is something down that way, although the way down is super dark, so I cant see anything. But lets put that aside and take a look at this shiny new treasure. I dig it out of the ground brush off the dust, taking a good, long look at it.
Its a simple, dark red ring with seemingly no special properties. However, if you check on the inside of the ring, there is a small formation inscribed here to produce refined qi. Its the most complex one Ive seen so far, but 70% of the formations in the systems archives are more complex than this. In fact, this formation would be at the level of an emperor formation expert here. Though everywhere else would probably have this formation ranked much lower.
By the way, formation, alchemy and all the other things like that have the same ranking. From weakest to strongest: novice, adept, master, grandmaster, origin master, lord, king, emperor, and immortal. These are all the ones that Ive cared to remember, but Im sure theres more. This formation here was most likely inscribed by a formation emperor (the proper way to say it) due to the complexity and trademarks of the emperor level. Still, it seems quite complicated, even for a formation emperor. Something is wrong here
Or not. I say as I discover something.
This formation was made by someone in the Immortal Realm. Imbued into the formation itself is immortal energy, which is the trademark of the Immortal Realm. I can positively say with confidence that nobody on Nephila made this formation. Most likely, it was made by a normal formation master, which is Nephilas equivalent of a formation immortal. Yes, there is that much of a difference between Nephila and the outside worlds.
Well, with my current mood, I dont want to crack the secret of this MC Treasure. It interrupted my adventure down into the deep unknown. Thinking this, I slip the ring on my finger and turn my attention to the path down. Smiling, I step down into the unknown.
...
Thought it was over? Well, youre damn right, because this leads FUCKING NOWHERE!! Where the hell is my adventure you promised me?! Huh?! Answer me, bastard! Imma fuck your spine right out yer ass if ya dont fuckin answer me ya bitch!
Oh my!
*Cough* Excuse my rude behavior there, I was a bit upset. Well, if this is how its going to be, then I just give up. Excuse me, Ill return to my girlfriend and go hang out. Have fun, dead end.
Chapter 18- Treasure Too OP, Please Nerf.
My fun really is ruined by many things in this world. Reality is one of them, and greedy pricks are another. My father was also a bastard that worked me to the bone because he was too drunk to care about anything other than money, I never had fun near him. Lack of friends are also a something that makes me feel depressed; but mainly when those conglomerates of popular kids move around in their groups that resemble cancer tumors near me. Power outages when I played video games, the one time I had terrible diarrhea, those times where I couldnt find anything to entertain me, and those critics on RRL that constantly kick my motivation in the dick (A/N: Im not speaking from personal experience here, everybody has been extremely helpful, if thats the word. Just trying to make the man relatable, okay?). The world is extremely harsh, especially the human race.
Now, I could go on and on about how the human race is the worst, but anybody with any knowledge of history and some thinking about human history would know. Moving on, my fun is often ruined by the very existence of things that are necessary, such as food, shelter, clothing, water and education. That was based purely on the viewpoint of someone from America, so I cant speak for others. Here, in Nephila, those necessities are different. Education is excluded, and food and water are unnecessary if you cultivate. So some necessities that block my fun are removed. However, that leaves me with shelter. As Im traveling, there is no need to stay inside a building as I enjoy the scenery. However, I get tired and I need to sleep. Sleeping is safer in shelter, and I dont particularly hate sleeping, so shelter is something like a commensalism relationship from biology, with me being the unaffected one or something like that.
So, all-in-all, the only thing that affect my fun is reality and my dad. I wont ever meet my dad again, so thats ruled out. That leaves only reality. Reality. Fucking reality You know, I wanted to have some goddamn fun with this little cave, but its just a goddamn hide hole! A little fucking closet the main characters of horror games hide themselves in to mislead the monster! Fuck reality!
Reality:
Argh, so pissed Well, at least I got something good out of it. I look down at the ring. With my adventure ruined, I fiddle around with it a bit. Trying to find the special property of the ring, trying to activate the formation, none of it works. Turns out Im at lot more useless at discovering things than I thought. Sighing, I put the ring in my pocket and return to the main cave area, only to find
Actually, exactly what the hell did I find? In the time I was gone, it seems Rucia made friends with the local natives. Animals, animals everywhere. Theres squirrels, birds, rabbits, wolves, deer and a fucking BEAR. I know that its just a mortal bear, but still, the first bear Ive ever seen face-to-face. First wolf as well, but they look like dogs, so Im less shocked. Despite the hordes of animals looking at her like homeless people look at a 5-star hotel, Rucia is still cultivating without a care. So, animals like cultivators? Is it like an enlightened cultivator preaches the Dao and all living beings stop and listen? Guess it is something similar, otherwise the wolves and bears wouldve already gotten her with her poor danger sensing ability. I quickly walk over and tap her shoulder a few times.
Rucia, I whisper into her ear. Wake up and get rid of your admirers.
She doesnt budge. Seriously?!
Rucia, I tell her in a normal voice. Wake up and get rid of your potential bestiality crimes.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Still doesnt work?!
RUCIA, IM GOING TO RAPE YOU! I yell into her ear.
Please do! Rucia reacts in a way I couldve never imagine.
Error, server has crashed.
Attempting to reboot
Loading, please wait 0%
...
Loading, please wait 29%
Ardven?
...
Loading, please wait 47%
Uh umm What I just said, please forget about it! I-I didnt mean it! I-i-it was a mistake, I-I dont really want you to r-rape me...
...
Loading, please wait 65%
A-Ardven? Are you okay?
...
Loading, please wait 79%
Umm, are you mad at me, perhaps?
...
Loading, please wait 99%
Ardven?
Hm? Sorry, I was attempting to reboot the server and it took a while. What did you say earlier?
Server? Reboot?
Ah, dont worry about it. What it means was that I was trying to understand why in the seven hells you said please do when I said I was going to rape you.
T-That was a m-mistake, I-I swear!
Oh, alright.
H-huh?
Well, it obviously wasnt on purpose, so I wont be so confused about a simple misunderstanding when the truth is different.
O-oh...
I youll excuse me, Ill start cultivating.
R-right Am I forgetting something?
No, I dont think so?
Ending that conversation, I sit down and start cultivating. If youre wondering why I reacted so violently earlier, it was because I was just so shocked at her answer that it took a moment for me to come back. Before shutting my eyes, I look around to see if any animals stayed behind after my shout. There were none save for a few squirrels and rabbits that lingered in the forest. Satisfied that I wont be mobbed by animals, I start cultivating.
If youre wondering how Rucia can cultivate with her special constitution, its because I brought along some cultivation liquid. There were a few other types I found, not just Elementary Refinement Liquid. She can use those or plain water imbued with qi to cultivate. However, if she can find a Clear Qi Lotus, then she should be able to get rid of the problem and cultivate normally. Thankfully, Clear Qi Lotuses exist on this planet, so I can get some.
Anyways, on to cult-
I hear a sound. I listen to the sound. I understand the sound. Rucia is doing the second cleaning of her body, also known the Deep Cleaning, I can tell from the sound. The sound speaks to me. It is mocking me. It is mocking me. Although my knowledge, talent and cultivation method are superior to Rucia in every way, she is faster than me. Why is she faster than me? So the system can answer the question, I quickly bind the ring and stop its interrupting qi flow.
{Interference with the system has been terminated by external forces. What is your question?}
System! I missed you, old friend!
{The length of time you were unable to access the system would not be considered to have given rise to the feeling of missing someone according to the archives.}
As sassy as ever, I see. Anyway, why is Rucia faster than me? Shes already done her Deep Cleansing, but why am I behind her?
{She has spent more time than you in cultivation, enough to surpass your level.}
The answer was so simple
Ah! One more thing. What rank artifact is this? I motion to the dark red MC Treasure in my hand. The analysis from the system will finally confirm if it is a real MC Treasure. Im excited!
{This treasure has been confirmed as a top-tier God Treasure, one suitable for an Archaic God, the 24th level of common cultivation.}
Goddamn its a real fucking MC Treasure
Chapter 19- Because Its OP!
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
Its a real fucking OP MC Treasure! Fuck yes! Im so goddamn happy! It feels like I just won the fucking lottery! Not that Ive ever won the lottery. Who the hell cares about the lottery, OP MC Treasures are much more valuable! My luck is fucking great! Yeah! High five!
{The system cannot use any hands to complete your high five.}
Aah That felt good. Not what the system said, but letting out my happiness. Fucking great! Its like in Pokemon when you capture legendary Pokemon, thats how it feels. Except, its not Pokemon. Im sure you get the analogy though, Im very happy. I gaze at the MC Treasure in my hands. I really want to find out its secrets. Well, lets have the trusty system here help me out. Its not cheating, Im just using resources to their fullest potential. Now, reveal to me your secrets, little ring!
{The system is blocked from obtaining all information from the target.}
I thought you could do it system. I thought you were the best system to ever system. Why have you let me down so?
{The system is not omnipotent.}
Then Id really like to find someone who is.
Damn... I mutter unconsciously.
Wait! System, you said that you were blocked from getting all information from the ring, right?
{That assumption is correct.}
Then, what do you know?
{The targets base ability is storage, you can store up to 100 trillion square miles within the dimensional space inside the target. Currently, 6 square miles have been used up.}
You fucking serious?! 100 trillion square miles are no joke, you know! Thats fucking huge! Its bigger than Earth!
Damn This is great. I was let down, but now I was brought back up. By the way, how do I see whats inside the ring?
{Send a strand of qi into the ring.}
But Im still in Beyond Mortal Realm, and I havent even reached Qi Externalization yet.
Beyond Mortal Realm is separated into 5 subdivisions. The first is the Shallow Cleansing, where you body is cleansed of impurities, but because the qi in your body is insufficient, you cannot fully clean yourself. Then comes Qi Absorption, which is where Im at. Qi Absorption is as the name says, you gather qi to prepare for the Deep Cleansing. Deep Cleansing comes after Qi Absorption and gets rid of all the impurities that Shallow Cleansing missed. After that comes Qi Externalization. Before this stage, qi is stuck inside the body and cannot exit unless it used in a magical ability or others like it. After you reach this stage, you can finally freely send your qi outside your body. Finally, Qi Spiritualization comes and gives your qi the ability to change attributes freely, and gives its own attribute, which is different for each person. Basically, its where your qi becomes an individual. It also strengthens your qi so it can be manipulated better outside your body.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
After explaining this to no one, I listen to the system explain.
{As long as the target you wish to send your qi into is touching your body and is not separated by any other layers, it will be able to enter your target without any hindrances.}
That makes sense. Following the systems instructions, I send my qi into the MC ring. The flow of qi gets aggravated between my skin and the ring. The ring forcibly takes the qi that Ive sent into it, and, basically, eats it up like dinner. It moves my qi through its digestive system -although it doesnt have one- and finally shits it own as an ownership authentication.
That was a terrible metaphor.
Uwah I let out an exclamation of shock.
Its understandable. I have never encountered a treasure above the level of an Empyrean treasure, which is a level above Sol treasures and 4 levels behind a God treasure. Basically, something way better than my proudest creation that Ive ever made before. Inside this MC Treasure is a massive space glittering with countless stars on a black backdrop. Right through the middle is a hazy pink wide line, looping around like a ring through this space. When I put it like that, it seems like its the physical part of the ring. Makes sense.
I look in front of me.
What the fuck are those?
{The most likely answer is: items left behind by the previous owners of this God treasure.}
Huh
I kinda expected that, but what the hell is that one? I point an item that looks like it was made from grinding wheat.
{The closest match to that item is the Soul Grindstone. The effect of the treasure is to temper the strength of heart and Mental Force.}
Ah?! Mental Force tempering?! Hell yes!
Explanation time children! Please take your seats and remember to take notes. Mental Force is an energy created from the mind. It actually comes from the soul, but it is referred to as Mental Force instead of Soul Force because of various reasons. Mental Force is something you cultivate, similar to, well, cultivation. It is divided into 13 major realms, and divided once more into 9 sub-realms. Why 9 and 13? Shit if I know. The 13 realms are, from weakest to strongest, Mortal Soul, Free Soul, Soul Split, Buddha Soul, Immortal Soul, True Soul, Sublime Soul, Dust Soul, Earth Soul, Sky Soul, Heaven Soul and Soul of Ambition. Well, These are all unrelated to cultivation -which I will now refer to as immortal cultivation for conveniences sake- and rise separately.
Right, back to what I was doing. I move to it, because Mental Force tempering is real nice. It means I dont have to spend as much time purely rising ranks because this little grindstone will help me out. I stare at it intently, trying to figure out how to use it. The first thing I think of is to use my Mental Force to activate it. Surprise, I actually have some Mental Force cultivation! Its because all I needed was my soul to start cultivating. Guess what, I had 13 years to give it my all without any distractions. Although, I only used 12 years of that time to actually cultivate. During those 12 years, I reached Soul Split, but reached a bottleneck. I neglected it because Soul Split is already higher than the higher-end average area of Mental Force cultivation on Nephila.
Sending a wisp of my Mental Force into the Soul Grindstone, I probe around it. I only sent in a bit because I was cautious, but do I need to put in more? I try adding more and more Mental Force, eventually reaching the threshold of Free Soul, where something finally happens. The Grindstone starts spinning, and I add more, trying to get it to turn faster. The two wheels on the Grindstone make a clank sound and I feel a reaction from my Mental Force, a sense of connection. Right before the pain hit me.
Gah! I let out a chocked shout of pain.
I cant breathe! Suddenly, I find myself back out in the real world. The pain is gone and all Im left with is the memory of it. What was that? It was painful as hell! Why was me binding it the trigger for that?
{Due to the Mental Force being inside the Soul Grindstone, the function of it was immediately activated. The pain you felt was due to the forceful and brutal methods by which ones Mental Force is trained in the Soul Grindstone. It applies the concept of destruction before establishment and viciously destroys the owners Mental Energy so that it can become more resistant to foreign forces that can destroy Mental Energy.}
That makes a lot of sense
Well, lets get going.
{POV change to Rucia, commencing} -System
As I open my eyes after a successful session of cultivation, I turn to where Ardven was cultivating as well. I had forgotten that he was asleep since he was so lively, but it seems he was okay. I see him laying down, twitching on the floor. This doesnt look good.
Ardven? Are you okay? I ask him.
If he doesnt respond, something must be wrong. I sit and wait for a few moments. He doesnt respond. Oh no! What do I do? I stand up and hurry over to him. I shake him repeatedly to wake him up.
Ardven! Are you okay? Wake up! I shout at him.
His eyes snaps open and he glares at me. His body stops twitching and seems to have calmed down. W-why are you looking at me like that?
As I though, Ardven whispered. Shes an idiot.
I can hear you, you know!
God, hes such a jerk!
What the heck were you doing?! You worried me, you know! I helped you out of my own good will, yet this is how you respond?! I ask him angrily.
Whatever, leave me alone a bit. He mutters to me.
Argh! Why is he being such a pain?! Wake up jackass!
Why wont you listen to me?! I demand.
BECAUSE ITS OP!! He roars.
What?! Is this OP more important than me?!
YES IT IS!! RIGHT NOW AT LEAST!
WHY?!?!
Chapter 20- Dao of OP.
For some reason, Rucia was really angry about the fact that I wanted to involve myself more with the MC Treasure than her. I dont understand her anger. Yes, I would be angry if someone ignored me and focused on some ring rather than me, but I wont be this mad. If I didnt know her well, I wouldve thought she mightve actually killed me. Does she hate me and is covering it up well? No, shes too stupid for that
Unless?! Is the personality that shes shown me all fake?! I see. In reality, shes very intelligent, but doesnt trust me, so she crafted the fake stupid personality to trick me and get me to reveal more of my character to see if she can trust me. I wish I could change now that I know this, but its already too late to feed her a fake personality. However, her acting is extremely good. I couldnt even tell that she was faking even a slight bit. I really thought she was stupid. Impressive, most impressive.
Anyways, onto my God Treasure. There are quite a few secrets to unravel, and the system is blocked from discovering any more than the storage function. I believe all of its functions can be accessed from the beginning, only that it requires cultivation to actually make it work. Since my Mental Force is higher than my cultivation, I should be able to access more Mental Force properties of this treasure than I should cultivation.
Im currently free of Rucias angry yelling, so I can leave. As long as she doesnt detect me, Ill be able to try out the functions of my MC Treasure. I get to my feet and stay crouched down. Slowly and as softly as possible, I walk along the edge of the cave, as far away from Rucia as I can be. As I pass by her location, I see her muttering angrily. As I watch her mouth move, I notice something somewhat strange. The language of this world is known as Kurtsian. Rather strange, because Ive never heard anything like Kurts or Kurtsia, but thats what it is.
The thing is, shes speaking English.
Now, Im American, and Americans speak English. Some speak it as their native language and others speak it as a foreign one. English is my native language, but either way, any American would know English as soon as they see it. You see, there is a tiny problem here.
THIS IS ANOTHER FUCKING WORLD!!
I would understand if somebody from Russia or somewhere else would speak English; but this is a completely different world! This is fucking billions of trillions of light years away from Earth, from the Milky Way! How the fuck did English get here?!
Ah. Wait, I know.
I just remembered that this place summons heroes because of their abysmal cultivation ability. It makes sense that some language would come over here as well. Since heroes are from Earth -and the language is different- there would be language that transfers over. However, Im confused why Rucia knows English. Now I think -just think- that Rucia is a descendant of hero. Not the pussy Japanese ones, but the real American ones. Not stereotyping here, it is a fact based off of my observations over the years. Besides, Japanese (heroes) would pass down Japanese (language), not English. Same with other heroes. Unless theyre British. Because Brits speak English as well.
So, leaving it at that, I silently escape from the cave. Since Rucia would probably get me if I did anything close to the cave, I move through the forest as fast as possible. I pass by rabbits, squirrels and, surprisingly, a duck. What the hell is a duck doing here? I hear a yell from in front of me. Human. What is a- OH FUCK THIS ISNT PROMISING!Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
My vision snaps to the front, only to see that the tip of a sword is rapidly enlarging in my eyes. I sidestep to the right, turning my body to the right, so I can see my attacker better. I avoid a damaging injury from the blade, but it cuts open a scratch on my right cheek. Thankfully, this guy seems pretty weak. After I finish turning, I jump back once more, landing on a tree branch. I instinctively remove Severance from its sheath and get into battle stance.
The person whos attacking me is very poor. From his appearance, I understand that much. Hes wearing worn down and ripped up clothes. Simple pants, simple shirt, simple shoes, simple face, probably a simple dick as well. Either way, hes got salty brown hair and dead eyes to match his hair. God hes so fucking simple! His simple thought process probably led him to believe that it was okay to attack a guy who looks like a badass without caring. This, is the terrifying thing about simple people.
Hey, The simpleton says angrily. Why did you dodge?
Why wouldnt I? Are you stupid or something? I ask the simpleton.
It is an honor for you to be killed by the great me. Next time, dont dodge.
Are you an- no, you are! You are an idiot! Here I thought you just had a simple thought process, but it seems like it is a stupidly simple thought process! They simple people are scary, but the only thing that scares me is your stupidity. At this point, I feel like giving up on the human race.
Stop mocking the great me. You are inferior. You do not have the right to question the great me. Inferior human.
Inferior human? Oh, he has little animal ears on his head. So hes a demi-human, then. It explains the arrogance, but not the stupidity. Was he thrown out from his tribe because he was too simple or something? Whatever, because hes pissed me off and tried to kill me, I think Ill give him what he deserves. Even if demi-humans are mostly superior to humans, this one has yet to learn a lesson.
I step off the tree and land easily. I hold my sword forward, a -what I think is- intimidating smile on my face. It seems to work, and the idiotic simpleton backs up. Still, he seems to have learned actual sword arts, and is not self-taught, unlike me. Despite this, my self teaching is better than his professional-taught swordsmanship.
That doesnt sound right.
Inferior human, you dare challenge the great me? The idiotic simpleton demands.
For fucks sake, stop calling yourself the great me, I know that you certainly dont deserve it. I rebut.
He really doesnt.
I dash froward sword at my side. The idiotic simpleton reacts quickly, but is unable to stop my sword from severing his sword arm. He stares at his stump of an arm in shock. Slowly, he returns to reality. Upon which he screams and holds his stump. It seems he cant even hide the pain. How pitiful. He stares at me venomously, eyes full of hatred. Stop, weaklings do not have the right to hate the strong.
You dare harm the great me?! You will pay! The idiotic simpleton lives up to his name.
How arrogant can one get?! If you value your life, then shut the hell up and let me give you a painless death. I tell him angrily.
Wow I get arrogant and villainous when I get pissed. However, this idiot really deserves it. Actually, here would be a good place to investigate the power of the MC Treasure. Thats too long. Without a name for it, I think Ill call it the OPMCT. I lift my hand with the OPMCT ring on it and point it at the idiotic simpleton. I channel some Mental Force into it, trying to find any abnormality that feels somewhat similar to the feeling that the storage space gives.
Due to some good luck, I find it quickly. It seems to be something like a mental attack. It obviously uses Mental Force, so I put enough in for one go. I wave my hand and the idiotic simpleton stops in place. I wait for a moment.
Is that all? I ask nobody.
Seriously? All it does it stops him? How stupid
Aah I see... The idiotic simpleton mutters. Death is sweet release.
He dies. Dead. Heart has stopped beating. Qi has stopped flowing. Breathing has ceased.
So it makes the person suicidal?
*Sigh* I sigh.
It seems I need to meditate on the dao of OP before being able to use any OPMCT to its full power. I still have much to learn...
Announcement to all readers
Today, on a whim, I decided to make a website. At the time this was posted, I''m still not finished uploading all of this fiction''s chapters. It''ll take about half an hour, and then it''ll be done. But if you think that only TRIWBF and LOWG are on there, you are wrong. You see, I added in some side projects that have little chapters. They''re basically stuff I occasionally write whenever I have time.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
RRL requires me to prove that I own this fiction and the website, so I will now present to you four undeniable facts of my ownership.
1- This fiction was made before my website even began
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4- The creator of that website and the owner of this fiction (and LOWG) is me.
POV Chapter 2- Nicten Terminus
I am Nicten Terminus, the successor of the noble demi-human noble Terminus house. I have been blessed with the greatest talent in many generations, and was sure to do great things. My birth was heralded with the flight of azure phoenixes and the roars of True Dragons. My innate constitution blessed me with high Mental Force. In fact, it was said that I was already on par with Mental Force geniuses. Though I was born only at Free Soul, with some effort, I could break through to Soul Split and finally step above other geniuses.
My family had been cultivating since recorded history, and one of our ancestors even reached Star Lighting Realm. Though it was not Origin Realm, it was already close to the apex. Ever since then, more and more of our clan have reached the Spirit Sub-Realm. I have always been praised as the next clan member to be able to reach Star Lighting. Many other jealous clan members have tried to pull me down with their tricks, but none of them have ever been successful. However, our clan soon experienced a calamity that we were unable to escape from.
An elder of the Spirit Sub-Realm offended a Star Lighting senior. That ruthless Star Lighting senior was angered to the point of attempting to wipe the clan out. Thankfully, our ancestor left behind a grand formation meant to protect the clan. It held the senior off long enough for us of the younger generation to escape. Though I wished to fight, I was still only 15, and only in Beyond Mortal Realm. Though I had great talents, I neglected them because I was arrogant. With me being this weak, I cannot defend my clan
I do not know what happened to the rest of the clan, but the senior did not chase after us. Whether it was because he was fended off or because he forgo the action of killing us, I do not know. Me and my fellow clansmen retreated far away, not daring to go to any other places held by the clan. Though I assured them that we would be safe as long as the clan protected us, they venomously showed their own stupidity and disagreed. I disregarded them, and continued to lead them to the clan without them knowing.
It had seemed that one of them caught on, and a small group of clansmen ambushed me and forced me out of the group. They were fools, ousting me, Nicten Terminus, was a foolish mistake. They will not be able to pay the price for rebelling against me. When I come back, I will be sure to punish them harshly. However, fate still has other things in store for me.
Though I managed to escape mostly unharmed I suffered a few injures and severe damage to my clothes. I did not wish to go naked and stain the great name of Terminus, so I search for clothes. It takes seven days, but I find a corpse of a demon beast that was in human form. Its clothes are damaged and worn down, but it is still in better shape than my current attire. I quickly removed the clothes off of the corpse of the demon beast.
Though it really is below me to loot clothes off of a thing like this demon beast, I am truly in dire straits. There is one thing Im curious about though. Where did it come from? There is most likely nothing here, and I cannot see any city. It seems to have been flung from some place, so I follow the path of its crash landing and then head in the direction it was thrown from.
What is this?
Insane There is a giant crater, far deeper than I have ever seen. Inside is all black, as though scorched with a frighteningly hot flame. Here and there, I see rubble that resembled buildings. However, not even a mortal could live in any of these pieces. There is just too little of it left to even be called scrap material. I cannot even see any corpses from here. No, wait, I see
a whole stack of bodies
I throw up. I couldnt help it, the scene was just too gruesome. This this is just too much, who would do this?
How frighteningStolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
{A few hours later} -System
I walk through a forest close to the crater of the destroyed city. Although I should feel the effect of the injuries I received, all I feel is numb. Is it because of the?
I throw up again. I just cannot remember that scene without reacting. I do not understand why someone would do that. No, just who would do that?
Stop it. I tell myself.
I need to stop thinking about it. Whats important right now is finding the clan and getting to training. First, I need to find food. Though I can without food for some time, I am starting to feel hungry. I search through the forest. Suddenly, I hear some rustling. With my senses, I can tell that whatever is making that sound is not trying to conceal it. It is something big, probably a bear or something similar. It should give me a good haul.
I wait for it to get closer, before I jump out and stab towards it with my sword. However, my target was not an animal, but a human. It turned to the side and jumped back. I felt my sword hit him, but it mustve been a glancing blow only, seeing as how it doesnt seem to have injuries. Though I am certainly regretting attacking a human without reason, I cannot let it show. I am Nicten Terminus, I must be proud at all times. I turn toward it, and it looks at me, holding a broken sword and standing on a tree branch.
Hey, why did you dodge? I demand of the human.
Why wouldnt I? Are you stupid or something? The human audaciously retorts.
How dare this inferior human?! It should know just by looking at me that I am a noble demi-human, not one of his kind. I originally intended to work my way out, but now it seems that I need to eliminate this audacious human.
It is an honor for you to be killed by the great me. Next time, dont dodge. I order him.
Are you an- no, you are! You are an idiot! Here I thought you just had a simple thought process, but it seems like it is a stupidly simple thought process! They simple people are scary, but the only thing that scares me is your stupidity. At this point, I feel like giving up on the human race.
This fucking human! How dare it call the great me an idiot?! It dares lump me with the inferior human race?! Death is what you deserve!
Stop mocking the great me. You are inferior. You do not have the right to question the great me. Inferior human.
The human looks at the top of my head, where my ears are. It dares only notice it now?! Not even caring about my exalted status, it leaves the tree branch and lands on the ground. Sprouting a confident smile, it walks towards me, broken sword in hand. Although it truly should pose no threat, as it is Beyond Mortal as well, I feel fear from the figure of the human. I unconsciously take a step back.
What did I just-?! How could I?! It is just a human, there is no need to be afraid. All humans are inferior to demi-humans, and I am greatly talented. This human is nothing but garbage to me!
Inferior human, you dare challenge the great me? I demand, mostly to regain my confidence.
For fucks sake, stop calling yourself the great me, I know that you certainly dont deserve it. The human talks back to me.
HOW DARE IT!!
I was about to make the first move, but it rushes forward first. Fast! Its too fast for a Beyond Mortal! I try to rise my sword to defend, but my arm wont respond. Why-?! Its gone! The human has actually severed my arm! I grasp my arm and howl in pain. I cant stop it, it is just too painful. I glare at him with my most piercing stare. However, the human just stares at me with indifferent eyes. How
You dare harm the great me?! You will pay! I inform the human.
How arrogant can one get?! If you value your life, then shut the hell up and let me give you a painless death. It shouts in anger.
This thing!! It raises its hand and waves it in front of me. It seems to have done nothing, and I move forward all the same. However, thats when it hits me.
Its all hopeless. The clans already ruined. Our clan cannot stand against the wrath of that senior.
No! Theres still hope!
Stop kidding yourself. You remember the crater? That is the result of our clans folly. We foolishly thought that we were invincible under the heavens, and dared to offend a great senior. Now where are we? About to die at the hands of a no-name human. We arent worth anything. In the grand scheme of things, we are worthless. A disposable pawn.
Yes It makes sense
Aah I see Death is sweet release. I mutter to myself.
I use my qi to stop my heart.
Gah! What was I thinking?! My life-saving treasure was a one use only. Although I killed myself, it recognized death and circulated my qi and restarted my heart. Now, I can think freely again. Before that was some sort of Mental Force attack. This this human actually has such capabilities?!
Though I was convinced to kill myself, most of what was fed to me was indeed true. I am weak to him, so I must ask to be sheltered by him. If I can become his retainer, I can certainly rise. Although my arm was severed by him, I can reattach it if I get a healing pill. Therefore, I must have this senior take me as his retainer.
Please wait, great sir!
If he accepts me, I will be able to rebuild my clan!
Chapter 21- Retainer’s Oath Upon The Heavenly Dao.
Please wait, great sir. The voice of the demi-human I shouldve killed comes from behind me.
Dude, the fuck? Since when could weaklings come back to life? This is absolute bullshit, youre too weak to have resurrection treasures. I am certain that such things are not easy to come by. The fact that this little bitch (dictionary definition) is even alive at this moment goes against the will of common sense. I mean, common sense dictates that such a weak little bastard cannot have any good treasures. I mean, theyd just get stolen. What the fuck is this?
Why. The fuck. Are you. Still alive? I ask the bitch (dictionary definition).
My clan gave me a one-time use life saving treasure. It activated automatically when I died, and since it activated immediately, I was able to come back completely.
Okay But why do you have such a thing in the first place?
I am the son of the clan chief, and was blessed with great talents. I am sure that I will be of use to you, should you decide to make use of me.
What the fuck prompted this change? I dont understand his thought process. I killed him, so he wants to serve me? Okay, he can admit that Im stronger than him, but why doesnt he just play dead until I leave? I thought he was a heavens proud son, one who could influence the world with just a word. So, who the fuck is this?
{Nicten Terminus, successor to the house of Terminus, a first-rate power.}
Yeah, really helpful. Just the time when I need better information too
So let me get this straight, I ask Nicten. You try to kill me, I take jabs at your pride, you get angry and insult me, I kill you, you come back to life, you got brain damage during your time dead and suddenly you want to serve me. Am I correct?
I dont believe that my brain has received any damage, but other than that, you are. He replies with a straight face.
Hmm Hmm Then what made you want to serve me?
Your strength. Your techniques alone surpass anything Ive ever seen, and although your swordsmanship lacks something, it is still very powerful. In fact, I believe most Vanquish Tribulation Realm experts could not match up to your achievements in the sword.
Now I know that I have some talent in the sword, but can a self-made technique really take me this far? No, Im not being arrogant, I really do have some talent in the sword. Do you really think that someone with no talent could really kill a person who has gone through multiple battles? Talking about you Muscle. Now that I have his reason, I need to pry a bit deeper. After all, theres no way hes this ready to become my retainer.
So? Just because Im strong doesnt mean that youd jump at the chance to serve me. If you really do have all the talent that you claim to have, then you shouldnt be so ready to serve me. In fact, you have a clan behind you as well. Why do you need me? Seriously, it makes no sense.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Ah... Nicten looked to the side while clenching his fists. One of my clans elders incurred the wrath of a senior at the level of Star Lighting Realm. Since the strongest of us are only at the Spirit Sub-Realm, we were not able to withstand his anger for long. The seniors of the clan sent us of the younger generation away, me included. However, the others forced me out, and I was unable to return to the clan.
Aah A traumatic past character huh? I think I remember some anime where the main character was a total pussy because he had a trauma of some sort of weapon. However, this seems to have not been a trauma for him? I must say, for a silkpants young master, he has pretty good strength of heart. After all, he was turned away from the darker side of humanity -or, demi-humanity in his case- for his entire life and survived this event without giving up.
I see, I say. Dont think of yourself as special, things like this happen often. It happened to your clan, but in the grand scheme of things, its one of many insignificant events that happen over the course of years.
Its true. I can remember something like that happening many times over the course of this life.
... Nicten had nothing to say.
Well, I only have one more question for you. I tell him.
Pray tell, great one.
If you really are of a noble house, how come your face is so simple?
...
Yes, Im rather curious. Do tell, young one.
I-Its Nicten seems like he doesnt want to say it.
Its alright, just say it. I tell him comfortingly.
I-Im sure that when I reach a higher Realm, Ill be more handsome.
Oh. So he doesnt want to say, and avoided the topic. Thats actually rather funny. First time Ive seen someone act like this in a long time.
Alright, thats all I need for now. You want to become my retainer? Ill need you to swear on the Heavenly Dao. I tell him seriously.
An oath on the Heavenly Dao is the highest form of oaths I can use as of this moment. There are other ones, like a Primal Oath, which means that you swear an oath that is regulated by the will of Primalcore. However, that one needs a certain treasure, often held by sects that span multiple planets. Since I dont have such a thing, I decided to use an oath of the Heavenly Dao, which can be used by anyone, as long as they are a cultivator. Thankfully, this way of swearing an oath is know on Nephila, so I dont have to explain it.
Oath on the Heavenly Dao? Nicten looks at me.
What? Do you not know it? Or are you unwilling? I ask him.
No, I simply didnt know that we could swear one at our current level.
Yes, as long as a person is a cultivator that has stepped into an actual Realm, they can swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao.
Then, I have qualms with this arrangement.
Good. Shall we get started then?
Yes.
Then, you start.
Alright. I, Nicten Terminus, swear upon the Heavenly Dao to serve...
Aah, he doesnt know my name. Even though I dont have a last name, it doesnt matter as long as I recognize the name I give him as mine.
Ardven. I tell him.
Ardven wholeheartedly and with all my power. To never betray him or submit to another master. To obey all commands he gives me and carry them out with ardor. Should I break this oath, may the Heavenly Dao carry out my punishment. He finishes his side of the oath.
I, Ardven, swear upon the Heavenly Dao to accept Nicten Terminus as my retainer. To not treat him unjustly and to never give him immoral and unreasonable orders. To hold the right to release him from his duties at any time I see fit. Should I break this oath, may the Heavenly Dao carry out my punishment.
We swear upon the Heavenly Dao! We swear at the same time, finishing the oath.
A boom of thunder resounds in the distance, followed by the feeling of my qi boiling. This means that the Heavenly Dao has accepted the oath, and that the oath has taken effect. Now neither of us can break the oath without suffering the consequences. Should we break it, the lightest punishment is death, the heaviest is the destruction of your soul.
With this, the oath has been made. I say.
You are now my master. Nicten kneels before me. I hope you will make use of me.
I will. Now rise.
Yes, master.
I really like acting like a king in situations like this. It feels good to tell a person to rise from a kneeling position. I feel like a god! Hahahaha!
Wait, arent I something like a god of this planet already?
Chapter 22- Like-Minded People Hit it Off Quite Well, Dont They?
Because Im done with testing out my OPMCT, I head back to the cave. I really dont have anything else I need out here, so I can head back. However, once I start going back, Nicten stops me. It seems hes very desperate about this, I can see a rare change in his expression over this. Since hes so desperate, Ill hear him out. Turns out he was very hungry, he didnt eat for a few days when he ran. Apparently, he also saw a giant crater filled with dead bodies. After seeing that, he threw up, which emptied his stomach of any food he had previously had. I was surprised about how he could say that without hesitating, but it seems he thought it was natural.
Also, that story about the crater seems familiar
Oh... I mutter.
Master? Nicten looks at me, confused.
Ah. No, its nothing.
I see.
Yep, that was me. Im really unsure how to feel about this; should I feel guilty, or slightly proud. Im mixed on this subject. I feel sorry about him seeing that, but
Well, if you need food, we can hunt some animals on our way back. I tell Nicten.
Thank you, master. Nicten puts his hand to his chest, like how a butler would.
I nod and then turn back in the direction I came from. However, it seems that the direction I came from has been made unknown to me. Yes, quite splendidly, I have become lost. You see, its not entirely my fault. First, this entire forest looks exactly the same. Second, I got involved with Nicten and messed up my sense of direction. Third, fuck this forest. Despite the fact that its not necessarily my fault, it does not change the fact that I am lost.
I have an idea though. Lets see, Nicten came from that direction. I look in the direction he came from, seeing his footprints and how they stop behind the tree. I dont have much footprints because I was being light-footed. No, that does not mean Im really light, I just normally run in a way that reduces my footprint. Thats how I am, no need to judge. I turn in the opposite direction from Nictens footprints and head in that direction, Nicten behind me. Im confident that this is the direction I came from. On the way, we hunt for game.
{An hour later} -System
Where the fuck are we?
I thought you knew, master?
No, no I certainly did not. If I did, we wouldve left by now. And have finally met up with Rucia again.
Rucia? Your wife? Should I call her mistress?
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Uh No, I just travel with her. Feel free to call her however you like.
I understand, master.
Now, where to go now...
Indeed.
{Midnight} -System
Its midnight.
Yes it is, master.
When did we start going back again?
About midday, I think?
Were never gonna get back.
{The next day} -System
I need to sleep...
Master? Are you alright?
I need the fluffy bed Foam mattresses Memory Foam Bliss...
M-master?!
I NEED TO SLEEP!
{Dusk, the same day} -System
I trudge along the dirt of the forest. Im truly lost right now. Thankfully, were out of the Soul Grove, otherwise, even with my Mental Force cultivation, I would be doomed. Actually, my Mental Force cultivation is high enough to do whatever the fuck I want in that Soul Grove (minus the demon beasts), I would only succumb to the illusion because I know it would make it seem like Im sleeping on a mattress. A real one. Like one from Earth. Aah It sucks when I remember my past life, I get really envious.
Eh? Isnt this the cave? Size, check. Scenery, check. Animals, check. Rucia, check. Oh, were here. Thats nice.
FINALLY!! I shout in joy.
Master?! Nicten was shocked at my sudden outburst.
THE BEDS ARE WAITING!!
Master?! W-wait for me!
I run into the cave, alerting Rucia. She looks up at me, a smile on her face and her eyes wet. She stretches out her arms, like shes catching something big. I guess cultivating that long does make your body feel slightly weird and you may need to stretch, but not that much. Ignoring her, I jump straight over her head. My eyes are fixated on the bed. My pillow and blankets have not been touched since I used them last. That means all I have to do is roll in and Im asleep. My right foot hits the ground, and I begin to land. However, since I dont want to land, I twist my foot so I fall into a roll. At the same time, I send a burst of qi to lift up the sheets. I fall into a roll and the sheets go flying into the air. I continue my roll into the bed, losing my momentum and stopping as soon as I reach the bed. My head falls onto the pillow and the sheets cover my body softly.
Aah Sweet bliss
Though hes a nice person, he really does like to go his own way. A female voice that belongs to Rucia.
True, he certainly does treat people nicely. After all, in the oath to the Heavenly Dao, he swore to not treat me unjustly or give me orders I cant carry out. A male voice belonging to Nicten.
I know. When we first met, he actually gave me a cultivation method for
For what?
It-its embarrassing...
I understand. If you do not want to say it, you do not need to.
Thank you, Nicten.
Its alright, you are a friend after all.
Ah, thats right. Hes kind of mysterious as well!
Mysterious? Certainly, hes strong and doesnt talk about his strengths, but it doesnt seem like hes mysterious at all.
Its because you havent known him as long as I have. He has so many things hes good at. In fact, he manages to avoid conversation about his power in such a natural way. His cooking is supreme! I only tasted it once, yet I want more! He claims hes self-taught, but both his swordsmanship and cooking are impossible to achieve without a teacher. There was a time where I was about to die. At the time, he wasnt in Beyond Mortal Realm, and I was; however, when my qi was wreaking havoc inside my body, he made it calm down as though it was the easiest thing in the world! After that, he said that he wouldnt risk permanent injury for someone he just met... Her voice trailed off.
I see. He is a man to look up to indeed. With great strength and a great demeanor to go with it. I am truly glad to serve a man like that.
Right. Hes amazing!
Im trying to sleep here. I interrupt their moment of worship.
A-Ardven?!
Master?!
My god you two, if youre going to turn me into an object of worship, please do it in the other room. Of course I dont say that to them, Id rather focus on sleep. I am deprived, and I need something to bring me back to life. Sleep is my lord and savior at the moment, so allow me to indulge.
Just, be quieter if you want to worship me. I tell them.
R-right... They coordinate quite well.
Like-minded people hit it off quite well, dont they? Anyway, back to sleep!
Chapter 23- Adventuring Through… Nope, We’re Here.
When I wake up, both Rucia and Nicten are asleep. Though we are already cultivators, we dont have much of an advantage over mortals in terms of food and sleep necessities. Right now, our qi is mostly used for temporary use, we cant infuse it into our body. Once we finally harmonize with our qi and become able to actually absorb it instead of hold it in our bodies, we can go without sleep or food for a long time. But if you ask me, Id prefer some sleep and food, its whats nice about being a mortal. I stretch a bit, then get into a meditative pose and start cultivating.
Both Rucia and Nicten wake up at the same time. Wow, they really are coordinated. If theyre this good, they should probably go out already. Just kidding, Nicten doesnt seem like the type to fall for anyone. I mean, he also has a simple face. Surprisingly simple for someone of a noble house. Arent nobles supposed to have good looks and things like that? I mean, those dog ears look good on him, but the looks themselves arent going to be superb just because of the dog ears. Seriously, what happened to my expectations.
Putting that aside, Im close to a breakthrough. I was already just half a step away from Deep Cleansing, so I broke through almost immediately. Since I have a powerful cultivation method, my speed is fast. I havent been putting as much time into it as I should, so I made up for it by exerting twice the effort. Due to that, Ive finally made it to Qi Externalization. Sorry, nearly made it to Qi Externalization. Just need to take that one last step. My begins to move faster and faster, a sign that my breakthrough is here. I breathe, and make my breakthrough.
My qi rushes to the surface of my skin, trying to break out. If you dont regulate it, you skin will explode and fly everywhere, along with blood. So, you know, not going to let that happen. I calm it down and guide it out through the pores of my skin. After this, my circulates around me and cover my entire body, like a thin layer of bubble wrap. Somehow popping those non-existent bubbles, my qi makes popping sounds as it absorbs the laws of the world. What I mean by that is that its taking the laws of Nephila into itself and shaping itself so that it abides by it. Once I become an Immortal, my qi will once again regain its freedom and cast off the bindings made by the laws of the world.
However, theres currently a bit of a problem. Nothing is changing! What he fuck?! My is supposed to change because of the absorption of natural laws. WHY THE FUCK ISNT IT CHANGING?!?!
{Your qi is above the natural laws of the world, and can be considered the Prime Qi of this world. This is due to your absolute control over the qi in this universe. Even though that power has been sealed, you are still recognized as the supreme ruler of this universes qi. Since you are unable to control this universes qi and your control has been restricted to just Nephila, the qi you have cultivated has taken over as the current Prime Qi.}
Thats surprisingStolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Ahem, Prime Qi is basically the qi that all of the other qi on the planet comes from. Even if a world is destroyed, as long as its Prime Qi survives, its essence is preserved. From this Prime Qi, a world can be rebuilt and filled with qi once more. Of course, the natural process of this takes a long time, and if anything disturbs the Prime Qi, shit will hit the fan. But the Prime Qi is also like the commander in an army. If its destroyed, all the other qi that abides by the laws of its world will go berserk and kill everyone. Then, the planet is devoid of life, and will probably never have life again due to the insane and murderous qi. But with my qi being the Prime Qi, if I become an Immortal, what will happen to this world?
{The Prime Qi of Nephila will become what it was previously, and your qi will have longer be the Prime Qi of this world.}
Whew Nephila is safe, then. With the discussion about the safety of the world ending, I have finally reached Qi Externalization, with my qi NOT changing due to the influence of the natural laws and the natural laws bowing to my qi instead. Honestly, I dont know if this will do anything to the world, but I really hope it doesnt. After all, I dont know how to fix it if I do break it.
I open my eyes, and glace at both Rucia and Nicten. Theyre still half asleep, so I dont talk to them as I pack up my things. Im bored here after all. I left to go adventuring, and adventuring I will go. Nobody can stop me, unless theyre stronger than me. Rucia and Nicten both pack up as well, after they fully woke up, of course. Now that weve done our thing in this cave, well need to get moving again. After all, we made one hell of a mistake trying to traverse the Soul Grove. We nearly died, and we didnt even make it that far.
So this time, I have a plan. I know that theres a medium-sized sect is nearby, and may even be related to Nice Guy. Since my sword arts are self made and have not been guided by any teacher, I want to join that sect. I know all three of us have potential -seeing how both Rucia and Nicten are at Deep Cleansing at their age- so Im sure well get accepted. Nicten would probably get accepted because hes a demi-human, even if he didnt have outstanding potential. Rucia and I both have talent, with Rucia having even greater talent than me. I cant prove it though, seeing as how our cultivation methods are different. But no matter whose potential is better, we both have superior qualities and are sure to get accepted.
With this in mind, we head out into the great unknown, ready to face the world!
Lame I mutter.
Its really lame. I thought that we might experience some nice scenery, or maybe even spot some wild animals, but no. Its lame. Its boring. Its sad. This is probably the worst adventure Ive ever had. When I was on Earth, any adventure I made wasnt boring because I had never seen anything like it before. But now, Ive seen too many things like it to even care. Its boring as hell! Trees to my right, tree to my left. Dirt path in front, dirt path in back. Sky above, dirt below. Theres nothing interesting about this!
We travel for a few more days, before finally seeing what we were looking for. On top of this cliff, we can see the entire city from above. Its full of buildings and people. Theres small and large building, and theres even some sort of gathering in the center of town. Its a large place due to being close to a sect, and just the perfect place to make our debut. Now, onwards!
Were here. Hiedens, a city that benefits from being close to the Free Sword Sect. Also the place where were going to make ourselves known. Hehe, lets go! I tell the group.
Yeah! Rucia pumps her fist and cheers.
The sect is bigger than I thought it would be Nicten shares his impression.
With me and Rucia smiling -and Nicten with his resting bitch face- walk at a faster pace down the mountain.
Chapter 24- Joining The Sect.
Nicten, Rucia and I are all on the list to join the Free Sword Sect. Once we expressed wanting to join the sect, they were happy to accept us. Normally, only inner disciples have reached Beyond Mortal Realm around 20 in this sect. Nicten is the same age as Rucia, 19, so were all very much welcomed. Although well start out as just inner disciples, its almost certain that Nicten will be accepted as core or direct disciple almost immediately because hes a demi-human. Im sure of this, but not of where me and Rucia will be accepted. Whether well just be inner disciples or core disciples is up in the air.
After our cultivation was checked, we still had to go through the normal test, which was easy. Since we passed the test with flying colors, one of the elders in charge of disciple came personally to watch us. Because he only came after the first time, we had to redo the test. But it was such a breeze, we could go through it again and again without resting for quite a few times. The disciplinary elder was really impressed at our performance, so he let us join immediately. He even said that he would recommend us to a higher ranking elder. We might actually become core disciples, might.
So, we got accepted and were brought to the actual sect location along with a bunch of little mortal kids who would join the outer sect. We went through the procedures and got a bag of holding, a sect robe for inner disciples -Nicten immediately got a core disciple robe- and a flying sword. Nicten was allowed to choose one treasure from the sects vaults, and was taken there immediately. That little bastard even though Im technically his master, he just had to be accepted as a core disciple while me and Rucia are still inner disciples.
Haah Well, it isnt really his fault. Anyway, after all that happened, we were escorted to our respective dwellings. Rucias was surprisingly far away from mine, but was close to the mountain that Nicten had for himself. Dude got a whole damn mountain for himself! A whole damn mountain! What is even going to do up there that requires an entire mountain?!
Anyway, all that happened a week ago. Until now, all I was doing was peacefully cultivating. Previously, I had been breaking through the stages without a care, but now Ive reached a bottleneck. Its only a small one though. Ive reached the peak of Beyond Mortal Realm, Qi Spiritualization. All thats left for me to do is break through into Vanquish Tribulations Realm. Vanquish Tribulations is separated into nine different tribulations. In order, they are Mortal, Demonheart, Death, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and finally the Lightning Tribulation. The Mortal Tribulation puts the cultivator in an illusion where they try and resist the seven desires of mortality. Basically, you try not to succumb to your urges. The seven desires are the same as the seven deadly sins from Earth. The Demonheart Tribulation is all about internal demons. You just have to kill off some internal demons, nothing else. The Death Tribulation forces you to resist the aura of death, which is slowly killing you. Normally, if an aura of death appears on someone, they have less than .000001% of their life left, or some super small number like that. You just have to survive longer than that arbitrarily small number. Then the five elements tribulation, which is Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water Tribulations. They just physically attack you with the five elements. The Lightning Tribulation is the hardest. All you have to do is survive nine lightning bolts. But they are extremely strong. Over three quarters of Vanquish Tribulation cultivators are killed here.
I was planning on kicking the tribulations in the dick, but someone is at my door. I dont know who they are, but they definitely dont have good intentions. I can tell by those evil grins on their faces. I dont think someone smiles like that normally, so its probably an evil grin. They havent done anything but stand in front of my door, but because I set down a formation to protect myself -granted, its not very strong- I can see everything happening within it. There are five of them, and they are all wearing the robes of inner disciples. By the way, outer disciples have dark red robes, inner disciples have dark red robes with white lining, core disciples have dark blue robes, and direct disciples have dark blue robes lined with the main color of their masters robe, which is based on their ranking. I have never interacted with fellow disciples, so I have no clue if these people are important or not. However, since we are a part of the same sect, I should greet them. If they come to greet me.
The leader knocks on my door and says: Disciple Hayden has come to visit junior apprentice-brother Ardven. Open up.
How do they know my name? I stand up and walk to the door. Although I dont want to open it, Ill make enemies if I dont. Ive only been here a week, a new disciple like me has no backer. Actually, a core disciple with the initials NT is my retainer, so I do have the support of a core disciple. However, I would loathe to rely on him because of his position. Its a matter of pride. I cant have my retainer, who is supposed to be lower than me, use his position to help me out. Thats disgraceful. Since this is the case, I open the door to welcome the five in.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Disciple Ardven greets senior apprentice-brother Hayden and friends. I greet them normally.
Hmph. Let us in. Hayden and his pals barge in.
These fucks
Apologies senior apprentice-brothers, but I do believe I welcomed you in?
It is common courtesy to let fellow disciples in after greetings, is it not?
Senior apprentice-brother is correct, we all welcome our senior apprentice-brothers and junior apprentice-brothers when they come calling. One of Haydens cronies says.
You senior apprentice-brothers may follow that line of thinking, but I do not. However, since you senior apprentice-brothers have come for me, I will humor you. What might you senior apprentice-brothers need from this junior?
Hmph. You certainly have quite a big tone for someone who has just joined the sect. I think you need to learn to respect your fellow apprentice-brothers. Hayden stands up, walks in front of me and says.
Thank you for the offer senior apprentice-brother, but how would you go about teaching me this?
Obviously you do not learn well through words, so I will instead teach you through a spar.
A spar?
He actually wants to spar with me? My bag of holding held the sects cultivation method, sword arts, and a few low-level pills. I honestly didnt even need the pills and my cultivation method is far superior, so I only looked over the sword arts. The reason it took me a week to reach the peak of Beyond Mortal was because I was also studying the sword arts. The basic ones were inferior overall to my personal sword art, but it had some good ideas that I integrated into mine. There were others that were a part of a bigger sword art, but were held back. Those gave me lots of insight, and my sword art improved rapidly. Right now, my sword art should be more powerful than anything an inner disciple has, unless theyve completely mastered the entirety of the full version of one of the incomplete sword arts. Even if their sword arts were better than mine, they are all below Qi Spiritualization, so Im physically superior to them as well. Im confident that Ill win. However, this might be a good chance to actually see some of the sword arts in action.
Yes, a spar. What, are you too scared?
No, I didnt mean to give you that impression. I was simply shocked that senior apprentice-brother would be so eager to be humiliated by me.
With this, he now has no way of escaping. Hed be too angry to think straight and immediately get on with the spar. That is, if he follows the template.
You... He points his finger at me in anger.
Yes, what about me?
Hah! Hes a perfect template!
Youll regret making a fool of me! Senior apprentice-brother Jaron will not let you off!
Jaron? Who is this AH!
Ah, I see why you came. You are just a lackey this senior apprentice-brother Jaron. Tell me, is he a core or direct disciple? Or is he perhaps an apprentice-brother with a rule of force in the inner sect? Or does he perhaps have familial connections with one or more of the elders? Is he the heir to a powerful clan? No matter what he is, I do not plan on becoming his errand boy like you! A cultivator should be proud, not willing to stoop so low as to shamelessly recruit a new disciple for your faction through force! If you dare call yourself a genius, then you can scram before me!
Fuck this guy!
You dare-?!
Of course I dare! What is a man without pride or courage?! Its obvious you cannot tell me, as you lack those unless this senior apprentice-brother Jaron is there to manipulate your strings!
How dare you?!
Hayden is fuming red at this point. His sword is already in his hands, and he probably wouldve tried to kill me if the sect laws did not restrict it.
Now now senior apprentice-brother, cool your anger, save it for the spar. Or would you like to change it to a duel?
Normally, the sect laws prevent killing among inner disciples and higher. However, inner disciples can challenge another inner disciple to a duel. In a duel, as long as it is supervised by an elder, then it will go on. In a duel, inner disciples are allowed to kill or cripple the enemy. Normally, a duel is not initiated unless there is a life or death grudge. However, Hayden has been angered greatly, and there is no chance he will deny this offer. He might want to cancel it later, but if he does, he will be left with no face. Itll seem as though he is scared of a newly initiated disciple. As a man that latches onto someone else, their face and life are the two most important things to them.
Now, template Hayden, will you accept?
Youre going to regret even challenging me to a duel. Youre on!
Youre right, I will regret it.
Huh?
I will most certainly regret showing that our sect has incompetent inner sect disciples that, despite having a backer, fall so easily to a newly recruited junior apprentice-brother.
Tomorrow! Sect area! Youre dead!
Understood, senior apprentice-brother.
Hayden and his cronies storm off. Ill look forward to this duel.
Celebration Chapter – Character Sheet.
Name C Ardven
Age C 13 (32 from both lives)
Gender C Male
Eye Color C Purple
Hair Color C Jet Black
Height C 6 feet
Weight C 201 lb
Notable Feature C Glasses
Personality C Has many different types based on mood. Mocking and good with words when hes angry. Often teasing and playful when happy. Serious and depressing when sad. Overall, not good with people, bad with conversation, and tends to end conversations earlier than intended, but kind, determined, forgiving and will help friends in need. Acts mainly on rationality, but at rare times will act solely on his feelings.
Current goal C Becoming Strong
Favorite food C Steak
Person they like the most - I wont lie to you, its myself.
Current Cultivation C Beyond Mortal Realm, Qi Spiritualization stage
Hobby C Cultivating
Description C A reincarnated person from Earth. His true form is the consciousness of all the mana of the universe Nephila resides in. Is a friend of Rucia and the master of Nicten, bound by an oath on the Heavenly Dao.
Relationships C Rucia: friend
Nicten: retainer
Free Sword Sect: Inner Disciple
Hayden: a stepping stone
How I (somewhat) imagine him to look- Shamelessly stolen from Google. Instead of gray eyes, theyre purple.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
(P.S. He''s from the anime ''Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata'', English name: ''Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend''.)
Name C Rucia
Age C 19
Gender C Female
Eye Color C Green
Hair Color C Black
Height C 5 9
Weight C Secret
Notable Feature C Smile
Personality C Very pure, will get flustered at the mention of anything obscene. Is very kind, and will help anyone in need. Anyone shows the same kindness to her, she will get very embarrassed and flustered. Works hard. Can put up with Ardvens teasing without feeling angry for real. Tends to judge the distance between people (not physical) badly.
Current goal C Get closer to Ardven and Nicten
Favorite food C Any type of rabbit stew
Person they like the most C Unavailable
Current Cultivation C Beyond Mortal Realm, Qi Externalization
Hobby C Making food
Description C A young woods girl. Is quite talented, but not at the point that would make a sect go crazy for her. An inner disciple of the Free Sword Sect and a friend of Ardven and Nicten Terminus.
Relationships C Ardven: crush
Nicten: friend
Free Sword Sect: Inner Disciple
How I (somewhat) imagine her to look C Shamelessly stolen from Google. Hair is black and eyes are green.
(P.S. The girl in that picture is from the anime ''Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo'', English name: ''The Pet Girl of Sakurasou''.)
Name C Nicten Terminus
Age C 19
Gender C Male
Eye Color C Salty Brown
Hair Color C Salty Brown
Height C 5 11
Weight C 213 lb
Notable Feature C Dog ears
Personality C Is mainly stoic, but is a bit touchy when mentioning his appearance. Before meeting Ardven, he was extremely proud and put no human in his eyes; he didnt even put his fellow clansmen on the same level as him. However, after being beaten easily by Ardven, his pride greatly diminished, and he doesnt strut around and flaunt his power like he used to. Is very diligent in his cultivation. Is quite serious.
Current goal C Serve Ardven well
Favorite food C Any of his clans meat dishes
Person they admire the most C Ardven
Current Cultivation C Beyond Mortal Realm, Qi Spiritualization
Hobby C Creating techniques to improve himself
Description C A young demi-human prodigy of the fallen Terminus house. The son of the clan chief. The retainer of Ardven, bound by an oath on the Heavenly Dao. Friend of Rucia.
Relationships C Ardven: servant
Rucia: friend
Free Sword Sect: Core Disciple
House of Terminus: son of the clan chief
How I (somewhat) imagine him to look like C Shamelessly stolen from Google. The eyes match the hair.
(P.S. I''m sorry, I don''t know this one.)
Chapter 25- A Message To All!
After verbally massacring Hayden, I focus on training my sword arts. If I just cultivate, Ill break through into Vanquish Tribulations, and that just wouldnt be fair to him. Not that he had a chance to begin with. Besides, conquering the Mortal Tribulation will probably take more than a day. My foundation in the Beyond Mortal Realm is secure, and I can break through at any time. However, I feel that theres a flaw in my sword art. I know that it is not fast enough, other swords are faster. Yet, there is something else that bothers me. Its like a memory you need to remember, but cant. It escapes your mind. You chase after it, but it always slips through your grasp. I just cant seem to understand whats wrong
{}
Well, right now, I need to focus on my speed. My sword is too slow compared to the other aspects. My power, penetration and everything else have reached the peak of what they are currently able to be. The only thing that lags behind is my speed. I go over various sword arts and try out my own creations. However, nothing satisfies me. With this, time flies by, and it is already the day of the duel with Hayden.
Its late morning when I head for the area. I use my flying sword to travel to the area. The sword isnt a very strong treasure. Its suited only for Beyond Mortal cultivators. If a Vanquish Tribulations cultivator tried to insert their energy, its most likely that the sword would just fall apart. However, its only real purpose is flying, so it isnt a problem. Even if you tried to use it for battle, it would be inferior to any treasure made for combat.
It only took half an hour to reach the arena. When I arrive, some spectators have already gathered, and Hayden was sitting in the lotus position. Oh? He broke through into Qi Externalization? Well, since internal demons dont hinder your cultivation this early, he is sure to be fine. Well, he wont be soon enough. Ill be sure to cripple him.
Youre finally here. Hayden growls and stands up.
Finally may be a bit excessive. After all, we never set a time. I say calmly.
Hmph. No matter. An elder has come to supervise, so we are free to proceed with the duel. Or are you not ready? Need some pills or something? Theyre allowed, so feel free.
Nah, Im good.
I glance over at the elder that is supposed to supervise. He wears a black robe. Im not sure what his position is called, but its something like an honorary elder. Hes only in that position because his cultivation is high, he performed merits to the sect and no other elder wanted him as a disciple. Most of these elders are of the Vanquish Tribulations Realm, a few weaker ones are of Qi Spiritualization. From what I can tell, hes only passed the Mortal Tribulation. That means hes weak enough for me to beat, if we judge by normal standards. He doesnt pose a threat, so I turn back to Hayden.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Then, you may start. The elder declares.
Youre dead! Hayden rushes in.
Foolish. I state.
I easily sidestep his obvious attack. I dont even use my sword as I chop him in the back of the neck. Although it doesnt knock him out, it makes him lose his balance and fall to the ground. I kick him in the side and send him rolling. I imbued that kick with some of my cultivation base, so it ought to hurt. Hayden pants heavily as he stands up, holding his stomach. I sigh in disappointment. I expected more. I truly did. This is more than disappointing, this is disdainful.
Im disappointed in you. Is that all you have? I say disdainfully.
You bastard... Hayden growls.
Any tension I had vanishes. I just cant get any entertainment out of this. I planned to humiliate him, but he just isnt worth it. One kick at less than a quarter of my power is already better than him. I expected more. I wanted more. I craved more. I wanted a fight. Even if it was just me suppressing him completely, I wanted something, not this. Hayden takes a different stance, and rushes in once more. Weak.
Gah! Hayden coughs up blood as my fist meets his sternum.
Weak.
Bfgh! My foot to his face.
Weak.
Bleurgh! My fist to his stomach.
Weak.
Gufuu! I kick him to the edge of the arena.
Weak.
I raise my foot, and stomp on the center of his chest. A sound like the shattering of glass echoes through the silent arena. Ive crippled his cultivation. With this, hes learned his lesson. He may reach his previous strength, but he will never again serve the young master character. I lightly kick him off the stage. The other disciples are murmuring amongst themselves. I dont care what you people think, but allow me to shed some light upon you. Allow me to make my declaration!
I have something I would like to say to my fellow disciples. I announce.
At this moment, all heads turn to me. Maybe some think that I will brag, but I have so such intent.
Apprentice-brother Hayden came to recruit me into his faction yesterday. Im sure you all know what a faction is, so I wont explain. However, he came in so pompously and arrogantly, I just couldnt take it, and we settled on a duel. Yet, he told me one thing. He stooped low enough to serve someone of the same generation completely. Now, I understand that not all of you are geniuses, and may need to beg a stronger person to protect them. Thats acceptable. However, he dared to strut around without humiliation, and showed disgraceful actions.
When I decided to join this sect, it was because I thought highly of it. I had expected better personalities to make it into the inner sect. However, it was not unacceptable to have that, after all, it is only the inner sect. Yet, why is it that the senior apprentice-brother of a different robe displayed the same behavior? Of course, I have not seen it myself, but apprentice-brother Hayden and his friends all served him shamelessly. Recruiting through force and intimidation. Apparently, it is alright for those methods to be used? Am I wrong? I should be. Yet it still happens
Inside all of you, is a desire to sit at the top, to rule over the world of cultivation with unparalleled power. I too, have that desire. But answer me this. What do you do to get power? Is it the gathering of others? Is it a rule of an organization, where the leader takes out his enemies before they gain power? Is it a rule of fear? Of elimination? Or of ignorance? Or is it of personal strength? I do hope you can give me an answer.
I step on my sword and fly back to my residence. The other disciples and elder and still quiet. Even if they did call out to me, I would still ignore them. I make it back to my residence without trouble. I wonder, will any of them be able to find out the answer?
Chapter 26- Vanquish Tribulations Realm.
My duel with Hayden is over. Ive sent my message to all those at the scene, and Im sure it will spread. Most likely, this Jaron C apologies, senior apprentice-brother Jaron C will take notice of me. If he is like what I think he is, then hell pretend not to be angered, and send some of his other cronies to suppress me. However, he might be one with a bad temper, and openly try and beat me down. Of course, theres no way he can force me to agree to a duel, but if he demands a spar under the guise of teaching the younger disciples, then it would be a great loss of face. Was this Earth, I probably wouldnt have minded, saying something along the lines of youre too strong, Ill just be beat. However, this is the world of cultivation. Those who make themselves known as the weak are crushed underfoot. Whether or not I am weak is up for me to decide, but I will be targeted if I present myself as weak. So, for my continued safety and cultivation time, I will present myself as dominant and peerless in my Realm.
But I dont intent to stop there. Now that Im back, I enter secluded meditation in an attempt to break through into Vanquish Tribulations Realm. Most of entering this Realm is an accumulation of qi, but the other part is call the Heavens and be given the Tribulation of Mortals. Its a textbook description, but its the textbook for a reason, eh? Im sorry, Ill stop trying to be funny. The only problem that I will really encounter is the blocking of my memory. With this, I may have a practically new personality. Most of the time, this doesnt happen. However, if a cultivators mind C which is really the soul C is weak, then their memory will get blocked more than the average cultivators mind. With my Mental Force at the grand Free Soul, Im sure to have most of my memory.
Ah! I never explained the sub-realms of Mental Force, did I? Sorry! So, from weakest to strongest, basic, average, spirited, superior, greater, grand, central, great circle, then pure. For some reason, great circle is used differently than the others. While the others are used like grand Free Soul and basic Free Soul, great circle is great circle of Free Soul. I dont understand it! Its like the author just used other novels for words and phrases that sounded cool and copied them without caring about consistency!
(A/N: Thats cause I did! )
Anyway, time to call the Heavens. I circulate my qi, getting it warmed up for the calling. Now that my qi is boiling, I reach out for the laws that exist everywhere on a planet. With my cultivation this weak, I cant actually sense them normally, but when a cultivator reaches Qi Spiritualization, they can faintly sense the laws of their world. Just how like you can faintly sense a creepy person staring at you from behind, but on a more privacy-invasive way. My qi finally reaches the laws, and the Mortal Tribulation descends. Though I say descend, its more of the laws invading my body and messing with my mind/soul.
Did it just touch my souls dick?
Aah Where am I? This is a palace? A beautifully ornate palace, with gold seeming to be the main building material. Why the hell would they build a palace with pure gold? Thats super wasteful. Out of the corner of my vision, I notice a women dressed in expensive clothes walking up to me. Im sitting on a throne, wearing wait, these dont match at all! Its neither the clothes I was wearing, or something that fits in! Why the fuck am I wearing robes that seem to have come out of a xianxia novel?! Why the fuck am I here in the first place?!
My lord, is there something wrong? The lady asks.
Yes, and its very serious. I say.
If Im some sort of lord here, might as well act like it. The lady looks shocked, but quickly fixes her expression. She bows deeply, and begins to speak once more.
My lord, if there is something I can do, simply ask of me, and the 4 Heavenly Queens will do as you say. The lady says.
No, it cannot be solved by outside force. It is a problem only I can solve. I tell her, managing to keep my voice calm.
Theres actually a 4 Heavenly Kings?! Just what I have I done to land up in this fantasy world with beautiful and powerful women at my command?! Just who am I now?!
Then, my lord, Im sure use of your treasury would aid you greatly. The lady motions towards a massive pile of gold.
No, even all the money and precious materials in the world would be able to solve this issue. I deny her.
This is an absolutely massive amount of money! You fucking scrooge, just how much money do you have?! Dear lord! Though this mountain of gold certainly sends my mind spinning, I really dont want it. Well, I do want it, but if Id have to give up, say, my game console for this, Id say no. I mean, its money beyond my imagination, but I simply dont care about this mass of money. Id like it, but theres no need to give up all my data just for this much. I know I could download it back, but I never earned this money. I got it for free, and that is sketchy as hell.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
As I think that, the scene in front of me morphs, and Im suddenly in a different place. Im sorry, what? This this is a bedchamber? Those are yes, they are extremely beautiful women that are stark naked. Oh my. However, you dont arouse me! Why, because fuck you, thats why! Eh? Why are they climbing in my bed? Why am I naked? I cant move! I cant fucking move!
{Scene has been deleted to keep this novel, Try Reincarnation, They Said. It Would Be Fun, They Said. family friendly. As for all of those perverts who were looking forward to a sex scene, you all have other things to play with, like those erotic magazines you keep under your nightstand, behind the bookshelf, in your messy-ass closet and that folder called Research on your desktop. So stop highlighting the previous paragraph and trying to copy and paste this into that text document you opened in Research and get a grip. With thoughts like those, youll never get a girlfriend. Even if you didnt have those thoughts, with a face like that, not even your mother would love you. Just by thinking about you and a member of the opposite sex makes me want to puke. And if youre so desperate for pleasure, close this tab, and switching over to private browsing. Dont get my pure, clean, and non-sexual novel tainted by your nightly ventures, you horny scum.} - A humorous message from both the System and the Author. Bill helped as well.
Dear lord There were so many Im so fucking tired of this shit I dont want you! I never wanted you! I dont want your chastity! I dont want your rights as a human being! I want your cat ears, but not it a sexual way! Fuck off! All of you!
The bed and women disappear, and so does my fatigue. And anything else from there. By now, I understand whats going on. This seems to be one of those mental tribulations from Chinese fantasy. I dont know why exactly Im here, but Im here. Thinking logically, I mustve already died and been reincarnated into a fantasy world where things like this are possible. Its also possible my soul is being put through weird things for someone elses pleasure. Of course, this could also be part of the afterlife, but I doubt it. I cant make any definite conclusions because my memory is too clouded, but this is definitely some sort of trial. I think this tribulation involves the Seven Deadly Sins. So far, Ive had lust and greed. Whats next?
The scene changes to me sitting on the couch in front of the TV, watching my favorite show. Its my house. Nothing seems wrong. My stomach grumbles. Im slightly hungry. Meh, Ill get food after the show is over. No, wait! This is probably the trial of sloth, so if I wait, Ill fail! Or it could be the trial of gluttony! Damn, which is it?! No Im not starving, so it should be the sloth trial. However, I wouldnt really care about getting up and grabbing some chips, so it must be more. I look at the time on the cable box. Its around the time I eat dinner. Dad isnt home, so I might just have to cook dinner. Nothing lazy either!
Once the commercials begin, I get up and head to the kitchen. I look through the cabinets, searching for some ingredients for a dinner. Hmm I have a lot of ideas, but I think Ill go with an omelet, we have a lot of eggs after all. I reach out for the eggs, and the fridge in front of me disappears. Eh? Was that it? The sloth trial, over like that? Seriously? Are you kidding me? The fuck?
...
Well, okay. Where I am now is at the head of a table, many dishes laid out in front of me, ready for the taking. Gluttony, definitely. I simply eat enough to sustain me, and then excuse myself by saying I need to use the bathroom. The food was tasty, but I could tear myself away. As soon as I leave the table, the scene vanishes.
Isnt this tribulation too weak? I mean, I reverted to the me from Earth, so it mustve been strong with the memory portion. Wait-! I couldve purposefully done this to temper my mental strength! Most likely, if these trials are this easy, I mightve put myself in a vulnerable state to reap more gains. However, I wouldnt do this unless I have faith in myself.
Im touched, other me. No sarcasm, I really am touched
I seem to be in a blank space, with nothing around me. I look around, but I cant find anything. Suddenly, a sign appears in front of me. Its something like what you would see for people apologizing for construction, complete with a person bowing and everything. I look at the words and read them aloud.
We were unable to find a way to piss you off in any way that would be effective in at least a little way. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to increase the difficulty of this tribulation. Thus, the Wrath portion of the Mortal Tribulation will be counted as complete and you will be moved onto the next portion. We apologize for the inconvenience. Signed, Natural Laws of Nephila.
A-are you serious? Im not quite sure how to feel about this Should I be happy? Sad? Angry? Im so confused
The scene changed once more, turning into a scene of a busy metropolitan street. These people are all super strong, some are jumping over heavy traffic, while others are speeding by me at high speeds. Some are even jumping onto the tops of buildings. I turn around and see others playing video games in an arcade. Even though I say arcade, its full of game consoles instead of the stuff you would normally see in arcades. I watch them for a while and come to two conclusions.
One, THEY ARE FUCKING GOOOD!
Two, this is the envy portion.
Alright, I did envy these physically strong people and these people good at video games. However, Ive long since come to the conclusion that the real me is way better than these fools. After all, the real me is a cultivator! Or something like that. But, I dont envy them, with the power that the real me has. After all, I think cultivation is far better than physically strong legendary gamers. With that thought, the scene disappears, and is replaced by a dirty back alley.
Next is pride? How is this pride? Should it be something like, Im proud to be an American? Or is it something else? As Im thinking, the scene disappears, and Im faced with white space, along with swirling energies of different color. Far in front of me is a person, sitting in the lotus position. Hes handsome, and slightly childish looking. Hes wearing the same robes as me, the same glasses as well. Is he the real me? If so, then I suppose I must go merge with him?
I thought so. After seeing the strength of the Mortal Tribulation, I was tempted to laugh. In all honesty, it was weak. Even if I had no Mental Force cultivation, with my personality, I could pass it easily. I say that because my personality is about 30% indifferent. Or, there arent too many things that I know that bothers me. However, I wasnt expecting that Wrath portion to be like that. It was very funny. I didnt have a camera, but if I did, I most certainly wouldve taken a picture.
With this, both my cultivation base and Mental Force have increased in power. Im at the first level of Vanquish Tribulations, if I send out my qi to communicate with the laws once more, Ill experience the Demonheart Tribulation. Theres no point in gathering qi in the Vanquish Tribulations Realm, it has no affect on your cultivation. Only after youve beaten the Lightning Tribulation, does your body actually require qi for a breakthrough, though you mostly get that through the lightning brought down by the Tribulation.
Oh, and my Mental Force went up to central Free Soul.
Chapter 27 – An Inevitable Event.
I dont attempt the next tribulation. I have confidence to beat it, I just feel that it would make everyone else who is stuck on any level in the Vanquish Tribulations Realm want to break their head on a piece of cardboard. Wait, no, tofu, not cardboard. I think thats the phrase. Either way, I still will be improving until then, as its much better than sitting on my hands. Since my qi cultivation cant improve, Ill switch to Mental Force cultivation. I broke through into central Free Soul, so I need to stabilize my foundation. Though stabilizing my foundation just means that I need to to put it in a way you would understand, Ill be flexing my Mental Force muscles. And I do just that.
For five days.
The month is nearly over, and pills will be distributed to the inner sect disciples. Logically, I should go ahead and report my cultivation advancement to the Hall of Might -the part of the sect that focuses on qi cultivation- but Id like to attend my first pill distribution first. Id feel really awkward if I advanced to the core disciples before being here to attend a pill distribution. I cant be certain that Ill be promoted to a core disciple, but I wont stand for being one of those honorary elders. Also, that is what they are called, surprisingly. If Im told that Ill be turned in to an honorary elder, Ill quit the sect right then and there. I wont tell Rucia or Nicten though; because if I do, then they might join me. Theyre good people, so they might just do it. Well, the pill distribution is three days from now.
{Three days later, location of the pill distribution} - System
Im one of the last ones there. I obviously have no use for any pills, so I couldnt care less about being early. Everyone gets their share, of course, but sometimes youll be lucky enough to get extra pills. Other disciples will fight you for them, and if you get good ones, disciples with higher cultivation bases will target you for them. Its the cruel world cultivators live in. Its even worse than an apocalyptic world, since your peers will stab you in the back if you gain. In an apocalypse world, your peers are less likely to betray you because there is the looming threat of death always there.
Sorry, but I definitely wont have this problem. I can tell because the other inner sect disciples part like the Red Sea when I make my way through. Though my face is deadpan and doesnt show my emotions, Im really stressed here. Though I know none of these fellow disciples will try and attack me without me agreeing to a duel, the respect and fear they show me makes me worried. But this makes it easier to find Rucia. My cultivation is too low, so I dont have spiritual sense. That means I cant comb the area around me for her. Now I wonder if I should make all those cultivators break their heads on tofu, just so I can find her.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Mmm
No. I think Ill look for her myself. I hope I can find her soon. I look over the heads of my fellow disciples to find Rucia. I search until the core disciple that presides over the pill distribution arrives. I couldnt find her at all. She couldnt have already been promoted to a core disciple, right? While she certainly has outstanding talent, I dont think it could possibly be better than me, who has a body built specifically for cultivation.
Ah. Its starting. The required section of the pill distribution goes by quickly. I get my pills in a clich space bag, or whatever its called. I notice some disciples glancing at me, but I dont feel any hostile intentions, so I ignore them. The ones that do have hostile intentions are all weaker than me. There are some Qi Spiritualization cultivators among them, but they pose no threat. But this time, I wont lose my cool, and face them properly. I look forward to seeing your styles, cannon fodder for my growth.
Now, for the special pill distribution.
Mm? Ah, I should pay attention.
The Spirit Well pill will go to inner disciple Rucia. Inner disciple Rucia, where are you?
Huh?! Im shocked! Im not angry, just surprised that a special pill went to her. Of course, not saying that Im doubting her talent, just surprised they started cultivating it so quickly. But once you consider her performance in the initiation test, it makes sense. I get to finally see her face after a long time. However, the expression I see when she catches the pill is not something I like to see.
{Rucias PoV} - System
I arrived at the pill distribution early, but there were still other fellow disciples here before me. I wonder how they all managed to come so early. Just what are they trying to prove by getting here so early? Looking around, I dont see Ardven anywhere. I breath a sigh of relief, but I dont know how to feel. I like him, after all, hes my savior, but the way he looked during the duel I was very scared. Him that way it was like he gave up on the world, like everyone was nothing more than ants building a colony in his yard.
Im not sure I want to see him again until getting over this fear. So for now, Ill do my best to avoid him. I find a spot near a group of fellow disciples and start to cultivate. Ive nearly broken into Qi Spiritualization, so with this pill distribution, Ill finally be able to cross that barrier thats been holding me back for so long. Though, Ardvens probably already broken into Qi Spiritualization. Even among the geniuses of the sect, his cultivation speed is top notch. I have to catch up to him!
{The start of the pill distribution} - System
The pill distribution goes smoothly. Im sure if its any different than normal, but no problems occur. Most likely because theres a core disciple watching everyone. Im about to leave when the senior apprentice-brother says something about a special pill distribution. There are special pills? Are they only for a few people, like a reward? The senior apprentice-brother pulls out a brown pill that has a strong medicinal scent. Just from the smell alone, it already seems strong. The person who gets that must be really lucky
The Spirit Well pill will go to inner disciple Rucia. Inner disciple Rucia, where are you?
?!
Me?! He means me?! From my reaction, he notices me and tosses the pill to me. I cant it on reflex, but I really wish it wasnt direct to me. If I have a special pill, then the other disciples are sure to go after it. I can already feel their gazes Oh god, what do I do?!
Chapter 28- Ardven’s Influence.
Junior apprentice-sister, would you like to trade your Spirit Well Pill with me? I swear that it will be a fair trade.
Junior apprentice-sister, I know a few cultivation methods that arent taught by the sect...
Junior apprentice-sister
Junior apprentice-sister...
They all swarm me with questions, I cant even process them all. The only thing I know is that I can refuse them, but they will surely challenge me to a duel or spar if I refuse. The rules state that Im not allowed to refuse a match if I havent had a duel that day. So even if I refuse them now, someone will challenge me to a match. What do I do?
Enough, all of you! A familiar voice commands.
!!
Is Is that
If you want her pill, youll have to go through me first.
...
The crowd goes quiet. They seem to want to talk back, but theyre too afraid. One bold disciple walks up and talks back.
Junior apprentice-brother Ardven, we are still your senior apprentice-brother and sisters, you need to show respect!
Respect? Ardven snorts. What have you done to earn my respect? Have a weaker cultivation than me? Bully a junior apprentice-sister to get a mere Spirit Well Pill? If you think such actions would earn anyones respect, it seems that your head is a bit loose. Shall I fix that for you?
B-But what if junior apprentice-sister Rucia wants to pass off the pill to one of us?!
Ha! The sun will rise from the west before that happens!If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Tears well up in my eyes. Ardven, you shouldnt be doing this. Theres no need to put yourself out there like that. Even you wouldnt be able to handle all of the Inner Sect. If they want my pill, Ill gladly give it to them, just stop doing this. Please, before you get hurt. Ardven puts on a smug smile, then grabs my hand. What-?!
Then, we shall take our leave.
Ardven leaves with me, pill and all. I want to say thank you, but I cant even open my mouth. I can only meekly follow behind him. I only separated from him when we reached his house. From then on, it was a blur. I only remember saying yes and no; I wasnt really paying that much attention. Maybe it was due to stress, or maybe I was exhausted, but I fell asleep, somehow.
{Ardvens PoV} - System
Rucia mustve been frightened quite a bit, she hardly even paid attention to me. Of course, it mightve been my fault as well, seeing as how I wasnt exactly comforting when I fought Hayden. Yeah, if its my friend, they might be freaked out by my change in demeanor; especially if its Rucia, shes pure and innocent enough to be afraid. Well, I hope that can be smoothed over and she wont fear me anymore.
Of course, there is also the possibility of her liking me and she got caught off guard by my performance. Well, that is only a conjecture, I doubt thats the reality. I would like it if she did have feelings for me, but I dont think Id be able to return them well. In all my life, the one question Ive wanted answered was what is love?
Baby dont hurt me.
*Ahem* Back to the present. I grab a blanket from the closet and throw it over Rucia. Beyond Mortal is an amazing realm for normal mortals, but its not often realized that cultivators at that stage still can catch colds, feel cold and hot. Its only once you reach Vanquishing Tribulations C Oh shit I forgot about my life treasure.
Right, once you overcome a tribulation, you need to form a life treasure before you can face the next one. Its a real oversight on my part, as the best time to form your life treasure is right after you complete your tribulation. Argh! Im such a forgetful idiot, goddammit! Waiting doesnt affect the life treasure you create too much, but it makes the true treasure you create after the nine tribulations weaker. Fuck And here I wanted to make a badass true treasure, but I forget to form my life treasure
Actually If I make my nine life treasures parts of the true treasure I intend to create, then it shouldnt matter when exactly I form life treasures. I immediately sit in the lotus position and draw upon my qi. Inside my qi is a significant amount of heavenly energy. Heavenly energy is a variant of qi which is most useful for creating things. Legend has it that the first thing to exist was heavenly energy, which gave birth to time, space, life, and everything in between. Just from that, you can tell heavenly energy is pretty important. Since these tribulations come from whatever mind overlord that controls the multiverses, it can easily do whatever it wants with heavenly energy.
I grab hold of the heavenly energy and begin to manipulate. Im making it into a bowstring. If you are an idiot, that means that my true treasure shall be a bow. Im not really sure exactly what the hell a normal bowstring is supposed to be like, so I just trust the mind overlord to understand my intentions and help me out here. But even if he doesnt help me out, I have the system. Thisll take a while. If I cant finish by the time Rucia is gone, then Ill just end mid-sentence -
{The next day, third person PoV} - System
Rucia left for her abode, passing the training grounds along the way. She didnt want to go by, but she had no choice, unless she wanted to go all the way around the sect and take much longer. She just hoped that she wouldnt be noticed by her fellow disciples. However, a few other disciples noticed her and ran up to her. Her face went pale, and she backed up. In harmony, the disciples all, at the same time
Bowed at the waist and shouted, Greetings, senior apprentice-sister Rucia!
Huh? Rucia was dumbfounded.
Ardvens influence is quite great, is it not?
Chapter 29 – Core Disciple.
Its done. It took a whole week, but my first life treasure is done. Its a string, with loops at both ends. It isnt a long string, nor does it extend, but its perfect for my future use. Now, there are eight more tribulations I have to deal with. Since its an even number, then Ill be able to have the two bow limbs made from three treasures each, and the grip would be made from the remaining two. Theyll all fuse together once I break through into Foundation Building.
Actually, its more like fusing them is a requirement for breaking through into Foundation Building. Of course, Ill be breaking through to Foundation Building and fusing them either way. I store my bowstring in the storage bag and inspect myself. Im all sweaty for some reason. Is that what happens when you create a life treasure?
Naturally, I wash myself off in the river that runs by my living quarters. The cold water feels great on my bare skin. The water causing my abs to glisten in the bright light of the sun. My wet hair sticks to my head. I flick it out of my eyes, splashing water in the air as I stand.
Oh my god I whisper, holding in my laughter.
I tried to make myself look like those people in beauty commercials, but I dont think it worked. Im good-looking, but Im not a model candidate. With my performance over, I redress and head to the Hall of Might. I didnt report my breakthrough to them immediately, so they might be angry. Or they could fell indifferent. Im not sure, all I was told to do was to immediately report my cultivation advancement as soon as I made one. Well, Im doing it now.
I was expecting more. I told them that I made a breakthrough, they tested my cultivation, and then let me go. No reward, no good job, no paperwork, no meeting with an elder, nothing. Ive made it back to my living quarters, and I laid down. Im currently on my bed, staring at the ceiling. Youre probably wondering, Y u b so sad?, am I right? Well, Im not sad, Im pissed.
Im greedy. As a person, thats unavoidable. Im not too greedy though, if they had given me anything I wouldnt have complained. But they did NOTHING! Fucking, nothing! What, is it just common sense that youre supposed to sit on your hands and wait until you get a letter from administration or something?! If so, then fuck me sideways and call me Lucile, because all of my years spent observing has gone to waste!
Haah... I sigh.
I justStolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Fuck it, Im going to sleep.
*Knock Knock Knock*
Is apprentice-brother Ardven there? I have a message from Elder Wu Dai. A voice said.
Hmm? Someones at my door? Elder Wu Dai? Ah, he was the elder who tested my cultivation. I wonder, what does he want? Oh, this must be my reward, or good job! I get off my bed, shouting a coming! at him. Woah that did not sound right. I open the door, and see a young man about my age wearing the robe of an inner disciple. He holds a bamboo scroll in both his hands and presents it to me.
I accept it and he takes his leave. Well, he was very messenger-y, in my opinion. I unravel it, and read it. Its very long-winded, but the gist of it was that Im to get a promotion to core disciple, and I need to report to the hall of might to get my rewards. Thats what I expected. My cultivation is fast, and being at Vanquish Tribulations Realm at my age is practically unheard of. Though I would only be able to be promoted to a direct disciple if I chalk up achievements to my name, Im bound to be promoted if I try.
I hop on my flying sword, and shoot off to the hall of might, ready to receive my due.
This, is the sects artifact treasury. It holds hundreds of different treasures, the strongest being at Origin level! A core disciple introduces the treasury to me.
Theres not much here that interests me, as my treasures are already satisfactory. Of course, my bow will further satisfy me. I dont need any treasures that help with cultivation, as my cultivation is already to fast for everyone. I search the place, but nothing catches my eye. I do plan on taking something to support my combat abilities, but these are all too weak for me to use. Even though I should expect this, it still disappoints me.
Mm? A small, blood-red pearl that sits on top of a cushion draws my attention. Everything here has at least some aura, no matter how weak, but this does not have one. It must be know that any treasure emits an aura, as they all possess qi. However, this one does not. In my mind, there are only two reasons why this is. One, it is not a treasure, and is simply a blood-red pearl from the mortal world. Two, this treasure is so powerful, it has developed its own spiritual consciousness, and hid its aura. Only Empyrean treasures and above can develop spiritual consciousness. Even though I say Empyrean and above, it is extremely rare for Empyrean treasures to actually have spiritual consciousness. Only after millions of years can Empyrean treasures develop spiritual consciousness, and thats only if theyre lucky. Either way, this means that this pearl is at least an Empyrean treasure. If number two is correct.
Ill take this one. I say, holding up the pearl.
Alright. Now that you have chosen your treasure, all you need is to pick a mountain for yourself. The core disciple says.
An entire mountain to myself...
Would I even need that much space? Why, just why would someone need an entire mountain in their territory? Its not like theyre going to start a farm, so why would they need it? Its beyond me
A while later, Ive chosen the smallest mountain available and spruced up the place. It was dusty from lack of people, and a few spiders had made it their home. I nearly wanted to burn the place down once I saw all the millions of babies come out once I killed the mom. I wont be getting that out of my head any time soon. I purchased food from the Food Hall and filled up the kitchen. Its only at Foundation Building that you can stop eating for extended periods of time. At Jinxin Formation Realm, you can go without eating as long as you have qi in your body. But, thats in the future, and this is the present.
Im finally a core disciple, huh
Fuck yeah! Now I dont have to feel inferior to my own retainer!
Chapter 30 – Drop of Blood.
I make a quick meal and eat it. Since Ive already gone through the ceremony for becoming a core disciple, I dont need to do anything other than cultivate, do the assignments Im assigned, and recruit disciples once every month. I dont have any chores to do in my first month, so Im free to relax. The first thing I need to do
I sit cross-legged on the rug in the living room equivalent and place the blood-red pearl in front of me. Im going to assume that the old monsters that managed the sect in the past didnt just randomly throw this in here. Most likely, it caused some sort of phenomenon to attract the attention of cultivators. Im not too sure where they got it, but it was definitely something interesting if they grabbed a hold of it.
Before I got my body, there was a World War like the World Wars of Earth. It was absolute hell. Even though Im able to hold back fear and vomit, the scene still haunts my dreams Thats a figure of speech, Ive only had one dream since reincarnating, and I cant remember it well. Back on topic, before the World War, the Free Sword Sect was extremely powerful, one of the most powerful, even. However, it fell to a mid-ranked sect after sustaining losses in the war. I dont remember seeing such a powerful treasure after the war, so it was probably before I even came here that the Free Sword Sect got it.
That means it was important enough for a top-tier sect to fight over others with it. Most likely, that was far in the past, otherwise, it wouldnt be up for grabs like it is now. As for what it could be, Im unsure of. I would ask the system, but I think that I should inspect it myself. After all, it kind of ruins the feeling if I ask someone else. Now, lets see
I probe it with my qi, trying to elicit a reaction. However, it just bounces of, repelled by an even stronger force.
This!
Im sure what it is, but it holds a power far beyond anything Ive ever seen. Ive seen cultivators that have stepped into the Immortal Realm, but they are like ants compared to this! The qi itself seems to completely fill the pearl, however, its in a stagnant state. Normally, it should be flowing in a circle, creating a qi flow. Even the most simple of treasures have at least some qi flow. If the qi flow has stopped, then it must mean that this treasure no longer works, or has been so damaged that it could have stopped working completely. Either way, it doesnt work.
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Damn, what kind of treasure could it be if the qi inside still repels me yet it doesnt work?
{It is not a treasure.}
Huh?
{It is a drop of blood from a Godbeast known as a Phoenix. The Phoenix species is know for its incredible regeneration abilities and intimacy with fire. This drop of blood has come from an old Phoenix, and-}
Stop, stop I think Im good.
Phoenix, like the legendary immortal bird, that Phoenix? The one that even in cultivation novels are supreme beings that deserve every ounce of respect theyre given? One that never bothers with the mundane? That Phoenix?!
{Yes.}
Well, fuck yeah! Phoenix blood, fuck yeah! Now I can get supreme regeneration powers and get fire powers and shit! Fuck yeah!
It took me a while to calm down, but Im good now. The first thing I need to do is just fucking down it in one go. I fill up a glass of water, and start downing it. I slip in the Phoenix blood as well, swallowing it with the water. Proper pill swallowing technique. After finishing the water, I sit down in the lotus position and start to feel for the Phoenix blood. As its well, Phoenix blood, I find it quickly. Now, to begin assimilating with it.
For many hours, I surround it with my qi, and gradually get it to accept me. There are methods to make it go faster, but those have a high chance of failure, and could cause more than death by bodily explosion. If the power inside the blood is strong enough, it could even destroy my soul! Since Im not a reckless fool, I wont use such a method. Even if it takes weeks, assimilating a Phoenix bloodline is far better than dying.
However, since my control is good, I dont need to take weeks or even days. Within 20 hours, Im ready to begin assimilation. There are many steps to this. First, is the basic assimilation, which will give only a few benefits, then half assimilation, which provides about half the benefits, and then full assimilation, which provides all benefits available. The amount of benefits depends on how much blood you have, so I wont get a lot. However, I have an idea Ive yet to try to increase the amount of Phoenix blood
Well, first, I need to reach the basic assimilation. I concentrate on the drop of blood, trying to make it fuse with the rest of my blood in my body. I separate a cell of blood from the full drop and have it float near my heart, keeping it there until I need it. Obviously, itll show its use in the future, just not sure how long until it does. This is only possible because the blood has begun to accept me. If I had tried this earlier, it wouldve exploded.
Assimilating a bloodline requires the mixing of genes with my blood and the Phoenix blood. However, the original blood will most likely be lost when doing this. Since Im smart and know cell theory, Ive set aside a Phoenix blood cell so I can make more Phoenix blood. Hahahaha! I never understood why no one had thought of this before! Im a genius!
Now, Ill just leave that blood cell aside and assimilate the rest of the blood. I concentrate, and time flies by. Its time to unlock the first level, and gain access to the secrets hidden inside the Phoenix blood! I manipulate a strand of qi into the drop of blood. However, what I expected did not happen. Instead of my head getting filled with information, or my blood boiling due to power, or my cultivation base erupting with power, my consciousness begins to fade.
Wait this isnt whats su...ppos...ed to hap...pen...
Delay Announcement
I''m sorry readers, I need a mental health week. I don''t know if it''s physical or not, but I just feel like a bag of sand is strapped to my back. I simply am lacking in motivation to the point where I don''t even want to wake up in the morning. I assure you, it''s not depression. At least, I don''t feel depressed. Either way, there won''t be chapters this week, but there will be chapters next week. I will chalk this missed week as owed chapters, so you all will get your chapters. Again, sorry. Honestly, I can''t get my imagination and other necessary qualities to write a chapter. Once I regain those qualities, I''ll be pumping out the chapters like usual once again.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
TLDR: I won''t be posting a chapter this week
Chapter 31: The Secret of The Blood.
Urgh
What the fuck just happened?
My eyes open, but nothing seems to have changed. Its still completely black. Well, there is a vague feeling of space around here. As I try to move my limbs, I realized that I cant even blink. The only movement that Ive been able to make is opening my eyes. I try looking around, and, thankfully, I can. So, what happened?
I remember starting to assimilate the Phoenix blood, but then I passed out? Why did that happen? Was there something hidden in the Phoenix blood I didnt detect? Could there is still a remnant will from the former owner? If thats the case
I unconsciously gulp.
If thats the case, then I could get my soul injured, or even destroyed. The power of this Phoenix is unimaginable to the current me. Most likely, it has an extremely high cultivation, enough to obliterate Nephila with just a single glance. If that Phoenix doesnt take kindly to a human like me trying to assimilate its blood, then my life might just end here. Theres nothing I can do but wait for death, then. Since this is out of my control, I shall wait. Even my full power would be like an ant compared to it.
I wait for some time, exactly how long, I cant tell. During that time, I reached out for the system, but it didnt respond. Most likely, Im trapped in this space until Im set free by the remnant will. As I wait, frozen in mid-air, the dark space around me begins to light up with small dots of light appearing in front of me. Slowly, more are appearing and getting bigger. This are they getting closer?
Hurry Hurry!
A voice speaks in my mind. It doesnt seem to be speaking to me. Hurry so I am moving. The bright lights get bigger and bigger, until the full size of one is shown right next to me.
A star?! Its a star! Definitely a star! That that means whatever is going on, whoever is causing this, is making me go extremely fast. Fast enough for that gigantic star to quickly get smaller as I pass by. Then where was I before? If I had been moving this entire time, what was that eternally dark place, where even the light of the stars could not reach. How unfathomably far away is it for stars that have been shining for probably millions of years not reach it?
I have to make it! Faster! Faster! I need to go faster!
The speed that I go seems to go even faster. The speaker referred to itself as I, so that must mean that the one flying is it. Am I experiencing a memory? This is the Phoenixs memory?
MOVE!!
My train of thought stops abruptly as I hear the voice shouts. Even with my senses suppressed enough so that looking at a star up close doesnt hurt my eyes, that shout still makes my ears ring. Up ahead, I see a black-robed old man with a long beard that resembles an old Chinese man stereotype. Hes holding a staff in front of him, right in the way of me. I can feel the anger and desperation from the Phoenix.
Hmph. Wei Song, do not get involved. It is already too late for your wife and son.
Wife? Son? Too late?
Old Man Mo, it is not your place to tell me what I can and cannot do! Do not bar my way! It is out of respect for everything youve done for my clan that I have not already killed you!The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
???
Wei Song, do not force my hand. You know very that Im looking out for your safety.
The old mans tone became frosty as he shouted to me/Phoenix.
Old Man Mo, you know very well you are not my match! Do not waste your life needlessly!
Haah... Fine then. Wei Song, you have turned away from heaven only to barge into an unwelcoming hell!
YOU!!
Me/Phoenix and the old mans staff crashed into each other and an explosion erupted from the epicenter. The old man was sent flying back, while me/Phoenix strode forward and continued to unleash attacks on the old man. The old man did not take it sitting down, and counterattacked. With each collision of attacks, they created a massive explosion that destroyed even the stars around them. Me/Phoenix was obviously stronger, and beat back the old man with every move. However, me/Phoenix suffered injuries as well, showing that the old man was nearly on par with me/Phoenix.
Why do you stop me, Old Man Mo?!
Me/Phoenix demanded as he sent a powerful blow into the stomach of the old man. The old man tumbled back and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Wei Song, you are a prodigy of the Phoenix race, should you lose your life here, every since member of the Phoenix will feel it. Your race will not perish here, but it already too late for your family. Just give it up. Do not lose your life in a meaningless struggle.
SHUT UP!!
Me/Phoenix delivered the final blow to the severely weakened old man. His body blasted apart, there was hardly anything left of him. Me/Phoenix turned away and sped off as fast as me/Phoenix could go. I could feel the sadness and guilt from the Phoenix. Those two had some close connection, but the old man wanted to protect me/Phoenix from some sort of danger that had already befallen his family. However, he refused to be stopped, and thus, killed the old man.
Haah how sad.
Wei Song rocketed away at a speed surpassing light, but he was no longer as fast as he was before. The injuries he suffered from his battle with the old man slowed him down. They were healing, but it was too slow for him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he pushed himself, even burning some of his blood essence to go faster.
Soon, gruesome scene came into view. A veritable ocean of Phoenix, three-eyed giants, and animal corpses. Blood painted the dark around him red, but still was unable to cover the battle of gods in front of him. The Phoenix and other animals fought against the three-eyed giants. The stars and space around them had been destroyed completely. The only thing that existed in that area was their battle. Things like planets, asteroids and stars were simply paper-thin obstacles blasted through with ease. To Wei Songs far right floated a planet larger than most stars, and glowed with a brilliant radiance. Its aura was majestic, holy, transcendent. However, it was like an astronomical wolverine had clawed four deep gouges into the planet.
Even the smallest ripple could kill even Immortal Realm cultivators. A battle like this was something beyond what I couldve imaged. However, Wei Song did not pay attention to the three-eyed giants, but looked among the Phoenixes. He spotted two Phoenixes near the left flank of the Phoenix army. I could hardly tell the difference, but it seemed that he could. Currently they were in battle with two three-eyed giants. Their wings were bloodied, and the Phoenix flames on them were very dim. Even I could tell that they were near death.
Wei Song immediately rocketed to them. He quickly reached the two three-eyed giants. Though those two were strong, he was even stronger, and gravely injured them both with a single blow. He sent Phoenix fire over the other two Phoenixes, bolstering their own fire. However, they faded quickly. The two Phoenixes looked at him, their eyes holding only a single question.
Why?
Chener. Xuer. Sit still, Ill heal you!
Wei Song bathed them in his Phoenix flames, but they were only able to keep their fire from going out.
Father why did you come?
The smaller Phoenix asked weakly.
Chener, how could you think I would leave you and your mother to die?!
Wei Song said angrily, as he sent even more of his Phoenix flame over, his own growing dimmer and dimmer.
Husband, it is already too late for us. Do not kill yourself just to prolong our death.
Xuer...
Tear flowed from Wei Songs eyes. He embraced his family in his arms, holding them tight. The despair in his eyes grew thick, leaving nothing else.
Father?
What is it? Chener?
Why did you resist Old Man Mo? He was only looking out for you, so that you did not have to see us like this...
How could I do that? What kind of man would I be if I couldnt be around to hold you tight when youre like this?
Father...
Husband...
The twos Phoenix flame, without the support of Wei Songs, faded away. The heartbeat of the two stopped. Their qi no longer flowed, and their souls that had already been cracked shattered. The two Phoenixes bodies went limp and cold. Though I couldnt read the expressions of Phoenixes, I had a feeling that they were smiling.
Wei Song trembled, the tears completely breaking free from his eyes and flowed freely. He let out a heart-wrenching cry as the people he loved the most in the world died in his arms. The battlefield echoed with the heartfelt cry of pain and loss. Everyone, no matter how far, could feel the grief contained within.
Chapter 32 – Transmission.
Well shit. Thats fucking sad. Since I have only experienced the actual tear-jerker scene and not the entire thing, my emotional connections with the characters have not been built up enough. Honestly, if Wei Song was the main character and the author was trying to get the readers to cry or be emotional, then they shouldve started somewhere else. Therefore, these arent tears there just, a ninja cutting onions
Haah While I did cry, if this situation was described in a novel, I probably wouldnt cry. Maybe I would have some tears in my eyes, but thats all. Experiencing it in reality cannot be compared to reading words off a page. Damn, I really need to fix my emotions. Ive entered a world where the weak are food for the strong. Any weakness in my heart needs to be immediately expelled, or else the price for my weakness will be my life.
The scene faded away, the last thing to be seen was Wei Song holding his family in his arms as he cried. Now, there was nothing but the vast expanse of darkness before me. I have no choice but to wait, as I still cant move my body. Slowly, a feeling of heat spreads through my body. As if I was hanging, my body suddenly falls, and on instinct, I move my arms. The floor wasnt that far below me, so I landed fine. I moved my fingers a bit, making sure I had control of my body again.
In front of me, a warm, red wisp of fire flickered to life. I stared at it. It seemed to be a simple fire, a torchlight, to be exact. However, it slowly grew bigger, and more intense. It whipped around, swayed by an invisible wind. It grew and grew, until it became as tall as a mountain. From my position, I should be feeling an intense amount of heat from it, but in fact, I felt slightly cold. As the fire grew, it eventually stopped. Suddenly, it split in two, both of which began to immediately shrink.
One fire shrunk until it became nothing more than a spark, then went out. When that happened, it felt as though someone had punched me right in the heart. I held my chest and staggered back, but my feet were suddenly encased in ice, and were unable to move. It didnt grow, so I just waited. It was impossible to escape anyway. I turned my attention to the other flame, which had shrunk at a slower pace than the other flame. Instead of disappearing, it turned blue and stopped shrinking. It wasnt as cold as before; instead of a chilling cold that pierced ones bones, it felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water on me.
Then, the fire got stronger, once again becoming as tall as a mountain, before shrinking once more, at an even slower pace than before. It began to change color once more, this time to an even darker blue, before repeating the process once more. This went on for many times. From blue, it became indigo, then purple, then, quite suddenly, to white, then to green After that, I lost track. With each change in flame color, the cold it emitted became warmer and warmer. When the flame reached a golden color, it was warm, no trace of cold could be felt from it. However, this golden flame could only grow, and not shrink.
The flame began to come together, forming into the shape of a phoenix. The flame stayed like that for a while, before vanishing from existence. While I had no idea what the hell was going on, I felt as though I knew what was happening. It was like rereading an old book you havent read in many years. It was certain that I had never seen this in my previous life, so what could this be?
As I was thinking, a comfortable heat spread from my chest. It spread through my body, melting the ice holding my feet. The ice did not turn into water, but turned the darkness around me a sky blue. I looked below me, and saw clouds being pushed by the wind. I looked around me, and saw wisps of clouds that were hardly held together. I looked above me and saw the stars. I had never really seen them before. Not like this. It was surprising that looking up at the sky could be so stunning. A clear sky like never before. A world out there filled with bright lights.
I remember watching something which had a scene like this. The calm, quiet night sky, filled with stars aplenty, shining their light unto the world below. Its beautiful. A sound entered my ears, breaking me out of my stupor. I turned my head to look at it, only for my face to go pale. Its a fucking airplane coming right at me!You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
AAAAAAAHHH! I scream, knowing that if I were to get hit, it wouldnt feel good.
I try flailing my arms, but I could hardly move my body. I close my eyes as the plane approaches, but it passes harmlessly by. I open my eyes slowly, and let out a breath of relief after seeing it passed by. So, this is probably Earth, seeing as how theres an airplane.
Hmm No, not Earth, but probably an illusion based on my memories? Yeah, thats probably it. I continue looking up at the starry sky, before noticing something wrong.
Are the stars vanishing?
I look closely. Yes, one by one, the stars wink out of existence. It was slow at first, but it began to get faster and faster. A cold fear crept into my hear. Although it probably wouldnt kill me, its certainly scary. All I can do is wait, as the darkness that approaches washes over me.
To replace my world with your own, you are quite talented, junior. A voice echoes in the darkness.
Huh?
Wei Song? The Phoenix? I ask.
Yes, that is me.
Then this is some sort of shard of your divine will or something talking to me right now?
Ho? You are quite perceptive, junior. This is indeed a shard of my divine will.
You overpraise me, senior. Ive simply read a lot of novels.
Novels? Do people write novels about their journey through cultivation these days?
No, theyre all fiction. None of the events in the book are real, its only that the cultivation type novels also describe cliches like this.
???
Senior, if I may be so rude, what might you want from me?
Ah, right. I do indeed have something I wish to pass onto you.
A glowing ball of fire came to life in front of me. Somehow having regain control of my body, I reached out for it. Upon touching it, a rush of information filled my head, causing me a splitting headache. Though it was information giving, it wasnt like the system, which spoke words one at a time, this was like all the entire lecture was spoken all at once, while I understood the entire thing.
This is my one of my personal techniques, Everlasting Flame. Your cultivation method is something I have never seen before, but I can tell that it would allow you to reach the basic level of requirement to join my Phoenix clan. When you awake, you will find a jade token before you. You may use that to join my clan. As your strength increase, I will pass more techniques onto you.
Senior, does this mean...
Yes, you shall inherit my legacy.
Then, senior, who were those three-eyed giants that your Phoenix clan fought?
Them? Do not concern yourself with them, they have already been destroyed by my Phoenix clan.
Senior, thats a flag.
A flag?
Yes, if a flag is raised, then that means a certain event will happen. The flag you raised was the exterminated enemies are not dead flag. This means that, because you said those words, there are certain to be at least one three-eyed giant that will still be alive. Moreover, there are sure to attempt to block my path.
Im sure why you are so convinced that there is still some Gigants alive, but fine, I will listen to your request. Gigants are known for their outstanding physical strength, and although their speed in understanding the Dao is slower than normal, they still prove a threat to any normal cultivator on the same level.
So theyre the ones with just brute strength Senior, are they easy to manipulate, or do they just hate other races?
Hmm While most of the Gigants have a low level of intelligence, a few members of their race will occasionally have intelligence that rivals that of humans. I can assume you are asking this to see why they attacked our Phoenix race?
Yes. It is with this information that I can hope to find a weakness.
It amazes me how assured of their existence you are. Well, the Phoenixes and Gigants had built up countless grudges over many trillions of years, a war was inevitable. The Gigants were the ones to initiate the war, so you can assume that they were manipulated into doing this even though they had lacked the proper strength to exterminate our Phoenix race.
Thank you senior.
It is of no problem. With my techniques, may you ascend to immortality and find my Phoenix races home world. Remember, use that jade token to gain entry.
Of course, senior.
Then, goodbye for now.
The voice fades away, and the darkness world around me begins to fill with light. In the real world, I open my eyes, the Phoenix blood having merged with my blood. I clench my fist, already feeling a far more powerful physical strength then I had before. I break into a grin. Receiving a legacy of a Phoenix, how wonderful is that?
Hahahahaha! I laugh aloud, greatly pleased with my gains.
Official Apology Letter + A Surprise.
Dear Readers,
It is with great regret that I inform you of my delays. My computer, the only thing that has my work, is currently unavailable. Due to personal reasons, I shall not disclose the exact reasons, but just know that there shall be no updates for anything for an uncertain amount of time. This does not mean that I am ending anything, it just means that I shall be going on a hiatus that will last for a long time.
I cannot properly express my sorrow at being unable to continue with these projects. I enjoy writing them as much as you all do reading them. Although I make complaints, my plots full of holes, and my descriptive qualities lacking, I will not give up. These are my pride and joy, and I will never give up on them. Until the day I am unable to write, I shall continue making more and more.
On that note, I have a surprise for everyone. During my time away from my computer, I used a library computer to write a new story. The updates will be sporadic and the quality about the same (or even less, God forbid) as the other stories, but it is the only thing I can do to provide more content to everyone.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Introducing
Ita
Ever since the introduction of the calculations by artificial hands, man has dreamed on making AIs. A life, not birthed by living beings, but through metals and data, the inorganic resources glorified by mans hand. Through great trial and error, the preparations have been made, the data compiled, and the resources collected. All for the sake of creating artificial life. It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce the results of the experiment- -un! gone, its all!
Humans Bow Down!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Its over...
Some good news and bad news. Let''s start with the good news, as the bad news is really depressing and the good news would do nothing to make it better.
Good news: I got a new computer, meaning: I can finally start working again.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Bad news: I have absolutely no motovation to write. I can''t get any ideas and I can''t think of what else to do. I''ve hit an insurmountable roadblock, and it seems I''m to cave in first. I''m sorry, but this is the end. I can''t work on it any more. Apologies, but I can''t do anything thing else.
P.S: This doesn''t mean I''ll stop writing.