《VRMMO: Martial Cultivation World.》


 Chapter 1: I shall reign, supreme!

    Beaded sweats formed on my forehead as I ran in an endurable pace on my treadmill. The speed of my running wasn''t fast nor slow, it was better to say that I am jogging than running.

    On the control panel of the treadmill, a laptop stood. A browser displayed three tabs, one was from my forum post that I monitored since yesterday, the other tab was for my favorite novel "I Shall Seal the Heavens." while the other tab was on yotube.

    I hummed in the air as I listened to my favorite song, Childhood.

    Fifteen minutes flashed by in that state. I left the treadmill and wiped the sweat on my body. After patting myself dry, I carried my laptop towards a nearby table and started scrolling down to my created post.

    [Post by: (Player: Heaven Defying)]

    [As the strongest player reigning over fifty games, I shall hereby announce, that I will reing over the first full-dive experience game! Watch me, fools! As I ascend to the throne of godhood!]

    Comments:

    [Post by: (Player: Boiling Water)]

    [Here''s this guy again... Though his in game skills were excellent, he is too arrogant. No matter how strong you are, no hard bread can withstand a hot coffee. >.<]

    [Post by: (Player: Shining Golden)}

    [Papa, Heaven Defying! The God of Games! Please marry me!!! :* Kyaaa!

    [Post by: (Player: Unseen Blade)]

    [D*mn! The fanatics are here! Run or else we''re gonna die! *flies away]

    [Post by: (Player: Whirlwind)]

    [Is this guy really good as he was described? People these days really exaggerate things to the utmost limit. >.<]

    [Post by: (Player: Shining Golden)]

    [What?! How dare you try to defame my shishou like that?! I''m gonna kill you virtually!!!]

    [Post by: (Player: Flowing Water)]

    [Pfft!]

    [Post by: (Player: Whirlwind)]

    [Hmmph! Annoying bunch of fanatics!]

    I inwardly laughed as I saw these bunch of comments, when I posted this thread yesterday, Only a few minutes have passed yet my thread already had thousands of replies. As expected, as a God of Games, I really am popular!

    As I thought of this, My smartphone vibrated on the table, I picked it up and whispered.

    "Hello?"

    A pleasing voice replied.

    "Is this customer number 1062?"

    I replied with delight.

    "Yes, this is customer." I even forgot to say the number due to my excitement.

    "I just want to inform you sir that the gaming helmet that you ordered will be arriving later at dawn. The servers will open tomorrow morning at 8 am GMT +8. Please don''t miss the first day opening of the server as special rewards will be handed out." With that, a ringing voice resonated, signifying that the call had ended.

    Even though the person behind the call was rude for putting down the phone without asking, that didn''t matter to me at the moment as ecstasy filled my mind. The fifty first game that I will dominate will open tomorrow!

    Just the thought of this made me excited, I will become a top ranked player! I decided in my heart.

    I opened my closed eyes and reflected within my pupils was firm determination to succeed. Without further ado, I strode towards the door and headed towards my room. I walked towards my cabinet and started changing my clothes. I look towards the mirror and there I saw my young, sturdy visage.

    Though my body didn''t depict the sturdiness of a muscle man, the innumerable wounds scattered around my body formed worm-like scars that looked horrendous in sight. Looking at these scars, I sigh as I thought of the distant past.

    A determined gaze flashed by my pupils as I wore my clothes and walked towards the door.

    Outside, I entered my car and started to travel towards my distant friend''s house. Looking towards the smartphone on my hand. I steered the wheel to a turn and directed myself towards my friend''s address.

    My eyes squinted as I saw that in front of me, people were frantic as they tried their hardest to run away from a nearby threat. As the people cleared the area before me, the situation became clear. A bank robbery was ongoing.

    An armored car was stopped by several assailants, they carried heavy firearms of which they spread towards the running people. The bullets flew in an incredible speed, in a flash, several people had already fallen on the ground. On their backs were gunshot wounds.

    Of course, Me, who was quit near the area was also struck by the indiscriminate attack of the robbers. My Audi A3 became pierced with deep marks from bullets, I, inside the car instinctively crouched down, the bullet grazed past my hair.

    If I was just a second late in dodging, I would been a dead man already!

    "Oh, it seems like that man there is quite brave. He actually charged here with his car." A masked assailant said, his voice signified that he was a male.

    "Shut up! Did you just destroy our gate away car from that spraying earlier?!" The other robber beside him smacked his head, the assailant could only clutch his head as he murmured. "Sorry, boss. I just wanted to see how these ants run while I kill them under my foot."

    "Under my foot my ass! Go, take that car! As for the driver inside, kill him immediately." I moved my head upwards and saw that a robber pointed towards my direction. I clenched my fists in anger.

    The masked assailant started moving towards my direction.

    "Hey, don''t worry, this daddy won''t hurt you. Just give us the car, or else blood will splatter." His tone contained deep arrogance. The fury inside my heart stirred.

    I looked towards the armored car and found that the other robbers were busy carrying the money that they have stolen, their weapons at their side. The only battle ready robbers were these two. I simulated a plan inside my mind, I opened my dashboard beside my steering wheel and took a bottle of pepper spray. When that arrogant bastard opens this door, I''ll launch my attack!

    "Hahaha, not answering? Then, I''ll send you off!" The man started to ready himself as he approached towards me, he now about three meters away from the door!

    ~Click, Creak...

    The door before me opened, my hand moved like a lightning spraying the pepper spray towards the man''s mucus membranes. He cried in shock, his expression reddened and his eyes teared, the cry startled the other robber, now is the time!

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    I swung my hand upwards just at the right moment when the assailant started to frantically click the trigger. The bullets dotted the ceiling of my car. My hand formed a palm which immediately flew towards his carotid artery in a chopping motion!

    ~Pak!

    An almost inaudible sound resonated, I crushed the assailants carotid artery, he was sure to be dead!

    All of these took time to describe but actually happened in a span of five seconds! Before the other robber outside was able to click the trigger to shoot at me, my pupils reflected a fierce glint as I took the sub-machine gun from the dead robbers hand. I aimed it towards the other robber and started to shoot!

    ~Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!

    A cone of raging bullets struck the robbers outside, before they were able to respond, I already sprayed them with live bullets! Unfortunately, the person who I thought to be the leader was quick in his thinking as he crouched down, avoiding my line of sight.

    The other robbers carrying black bags with money inside fell on the ground. A pool of blood soon spread on the ground where they lay.

    "You bastard!!!" The leader became insane with rage as he saw that his comrades were already dead. He stood up without minding his life and started to spray bullets towards me!

    ~Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!

    The bullets pierced my poor darling Audi A3 like a porcupine. The steel on my car wasn''t able to endure as bullets sprayed around inside the car. I held the dead robber''s body before me and used it as a human shield.

    The leader''s eyes were bloodshot, he laughed manically as he spread bullets around the area, the shops around the place weren''t pardoned. Glasses shattered as their establishment became pierced with numerous bullets. The civilians around the area ran towards a safer place.

    I squinted my eyes, This bastard really attacked without any care for his life! And he even dares to kill innocent civilians. Seems like he doesn''t want to live anymore. I formulated a plan inside my mind. The gun that he wielded didn''t come from GTA so it will surely run out of bullets. When that time comes, I will strike!

    Surely, after about three seconds of spraying. A click, click sound came. His bullets already run out!

    I carried the body of the dead robber on my left hand, using this guy as a meat shield was good! I threw the sub-machine gun on the ground since it doesn''t have any bullets any more and strode towards the leader! However, his eyes shone in a strange light, the new magazine was already in!

    The leader became flustered when he noticed that I''m already speeding towards him. I clenched my right fist and I raised the body of the dead robber before me.

    The spray of bullets came and the body of the dead robber that I carried violently vibrated as it met resistance against the bullets. My left arm became drenched with the blood of the dead robber. Nevertheless, the distance between me and the leader was only five meters!

    As I strode forward, an idea popped in my mind as I saw a helmet on the ground. Without hesitation, I immediately side stepped, avoiding the spray of bullets for a second, the violent vibration instantly came. But my right foot was already on the helmet! I kicked the helmet towards the leader''s temple!

    ~Bang!

    A muffled sound came and the leader fell on the ground unconscious. The helmet bent around the area where I kicked it. A numbing sensation also spread on my right foot. Seems like I kicked it too hard. Nah, whatever. The outcomes already decided.

    ...

    Damn it!

    I screamed when I arrived at my house. It was already twelve am when I settled the case about me killing one of the robbers. Like what the hell?! Killing them as self defense was enough for them to detain me for eight hours, continuously questioning me about the robbery.

    Thankfully, the case was settled and I was able to return before 2 AM. If I was detained there until tomorrow I wouldn''t be able to cry even If I wanted to.

    I wasn''t even able to go to Little Fatty''s house! Damn it, I''ll just go there tomorrow.

    I strode around my house in a continuous cycle. Even If I seat myself towards my computer and start to play the previous games that I have dominated, I would feel even more excited thinking about that immersive full-dive experience.

    Five minutes before 2 AM.

    A bell resounded on my door. My eyes brightened like a small star as I hastily run towards the door. A delivery man greeted me with a smile. I withdrew two notes in my pocket and stuffed it towards the delivery man''s palm and snatched the box from him as I slammed the door behind.

    The delivery man stared dumbstruck. All that happened earlier didn''t even last for about five seconds before he was already shut off from the door. However, staring at the two notes on his palm. The delivery man exclaimed in his heart. 200RMB!

    A/N: 1RMB = 1/6 $

    I hugged the fragile box on my arms as if it was my greatest treasure and ran in a fast pace towards my room. I immediately unpacked all the contents and a gaming helmet appeared before me! My eyes brightened and I immediately placed the cord of the gaming helmet towards a nearby electric socket.

    The gaming helmet shone in a blue light, indicating that it was ready for use. As long as the power supply wasn''t cut off. It would indefinitely function!

    I wore the gaming helmet on my head without even changing my clothes. Though the official server up was 2:30 AM. I wanted to arrive there early, so here I come!

    [System Boot up: Completed]

    [Initializing: 30%]

    [As initializing reached 90% Please close eyes.]  A string of blue words appeared before my line of sight. I immediately closed my eyes and tried to calm my excited heart! Here I come! My next dominion world!!!

    [Initializing: 60%]

    [Initializing: 90%]

    [Initializing completed: User, recognized as Zhang Wei.]

    [Server connection completed: Initializing full-dive.]

    ...

    ...

    ...

    [Welcome to Sealed Heavens!]

 Chapter 2: A Whole New World.

    Droning sounds resonated in the air. Rumbling sounds filled the world as innumerable blue lightnings danced in the air. Amidst all of these horrifying natural disasters, a youth with an azure robe seated cross-legged in a mountain peak. The mountain peak didn''t contain any trees. Rather, the surrounding ground of the mountain was scorched black.

    The youth''s eyes was closed, the clouds in the skies roiled. A violet glow shone inside the clouds. Mass amounts of clouds merged together to form a whirlpool that looked like an eye of a storm.

    It was at this moment that the youth opened his eyes. His eyes radiated a glow of decisiveness and determination. He outstretched his hands as he formed hand sigils in the air.

    The air around the youth rumbled, the clouds behind the youth became tainted with the scarlet color. The mountain peak trembled as a mysterious power gushed out form the youth''s body. The youth flicked his palm open. A mountain emanating a domineering atmosphere emerged. On the other hand of the youth, small beads of black and white appeared.

    The violet rumbling clouds above the youth trembled as thigh thick lightnings encircled around it. Soon, the cloud moved directly above the youth''s head.

    "Suppression of Life and Death!" The youth howled. The mountain on his palm scattered to countless small mountains that emanated the same amount of suppression as the original mountain. The beads of white and black shot off towards the violet clouds, all the way while emanating droning sounds.

    The violet cloud exploded with power as the whirlpool on its center gave off an earth shattering rumble. Soon, a red lightning about as huge as a human materialized. The space around the red lightning distorted.

    ~Boom!

    The beads of white and black collided with the red lightning. The red lightning became blotted with a huge hole, the hole looked like the heavens were just pierced. It became an astounding sight from below. The energy of the red lightning immediately regenerated as another red lightning with the same amount of power materialized. This time, it didn''t hesitate to shot off directly towards the youth on the mountain peak!

    "Hmmph!" The youth snorted as the countless small mountain around him converged to a point. Creating a three thousand meters tall mountain! The three thousand meters mountain gave off a heart palpitating pressure, and it gave off an extremely domineering aura, as if it was looking down on the world.

    ~BOOM!

    An incomparably large explosion occurred, the mountain scattered, as the red lightning pierced its base. The youth''s pupils constricted as he flicked his wrists a blood beam shot off towards the red lightning.

    The red lightning greatly weakened after it destroyed the mountain. Because of that, it was immediately obliterated by the youth''s retaliation.

    The violet clouds above the skies seethed, it seemed to be in rage due to the destruction of its red lightning. Red flashed filled the air as three red lightnings about the same size as the former lightning formed. The youth''s expression turned solemn as he once again summoned the mountain and the black and white beads.

    "Art of the Mountain; Million mountains against the multitude!" The youth formed a blade posture with his two fingers and pointed towards the three surging red lightnings. The mountain on his palm scattered to countless small mountains that blotted the sky.

    "Life and Death Suppression; Twisted Dimension!" The youth opened his palm and the black and white beads rumbled, the space around the beads seethed, soon. It disappeared and in a blink of an eye, it was now before the red lightnings!

    Millions of small mountains accompanied by the strange power of the black and white beads struck the red lightnings. An enormous shockwave surged around the vicinity. The mountain peak where the youth once seated on flattened like a pancake. The trees near the base of the mountain became charcoal.

    The world around the youth became a huge desert. It seemed to be void of life.

    The youth spat a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with decisiveness as he shouted.

    "I shall ascend to immortality!"

    ...

    The space around me distorted until I finally arrived inside a completely white room. The scene that I just witnessed blew my mind away. As a fan of wuxia novels. Being able to see such a spectacular sight of a cultivator fighting against tribulation shook my entire being.

    [Please choose your In-Game Name:___________]

    A blue screen flickered before me accompanied with a clang sound. It was at that moment that I woke up from my stupor. My eyes brightened and excitement filled my heart. If I soon become a high leveled powerhouse, will I be able to summon such cool looking divine abilities?!

    I immediately wrote the In-Game Name that I always used in all my games.

    [Please choose your In-Game Name: Heaven Defying]

    [Checking availability]

    [Name available, would you like to use it?]

    I tapped yes and another window appeared before me.

    [Please choose your path.]

    [Sword Path: With their firm and righteous martial hearts. Sword Path Masters can cleave through their enemies with ease, and can easily outcome any tribulation with their steadfast mind.]

    [Fist Path: The most versatile fighter, they can wield any weapon that they want. May it be sword, daggers, talismans, etc. However, they''re mostly vulnerable against long ranged classes.]

    [Mage Path: The class which deals enormous damage. Vulnerable in close range, But a God in long ranged. Their AoE spells can immediately nuke the health bar out of the enemy.]

    [Warlock Path: The class which summons monsters to fight in battlefields, the range of monsters that they can summon depends on their luck. But if used in the right way. One can summon a sea of monsters to overwhelm their enemies. Useful in Raids.]

    [Ranger Path: The masters in middle ranged fights. Their swift movements causes headaches to most close ranged fighters. But if caught, one should expect to be beaten to a pulp.]

    I tapped on the Warlock Path. Of course, even though I wanted to dominate this game, I want to do it solo. So I need monsters to accompany me in my path to glory. I smiled while I thought.

    [Warlock Path is chosen, Note: Class cannot be changed once chosen, do you want to continue?]

    My hand, or should I say. My virtual hand tapped on the yes button.

    [Class created! Thank you and Enjoy!]

    [Transporting to a random sect. Good Luck!]

    The blue screen before me flickered to an encouraging message before I was engulfed in bright white light. The space around me distorted and I felt extremely dizzy.

    On the top right left corner was my name and my health bar. But before I obtained the time to check my basic stats. A muscular man broke the door before me. His looked to be bedraggled and tears seemed to leak on the corner of his eyelids. Somewhat unfitting for a huge man like him.

    "Toad?! You''re awake?! You gotta help me here, man. Jiang Cheng is here again causing us trouble!" I looked at the muscular man with a confused expression. Wait, did he just call me toad? I thought.

    [A storyline has been triggered. Quest: Help Zhong Chi and defeat Daoist Jiang Cheng. Quest Rank: B. Reward: Middle-Ranked Talisman Paper 1 stack. Sealing Talisman 30x. 300xp.]

    Oh! A quest? A storyline no less! I exclaimed in my heart. I tapped the yes button and stood up. The muscular man called by the system as Zhong Chi threw a confused look at me. I am just a beginner in this world, how would you expect my reaction will be?

    "Thanks, Toad. I hope that you can avenge this injustice. Here." The muscular man threw a bashful look and retrieved an item from his pocket. He laid it in front of me and a blue screen flickered displaying.

    [Low-Ranked Talisman Paper]

    I took it from his palm with an ecstatic expression, and while copying my favorite MC''s expression I murmured. "Thanks, fellow Daoist."

    I walked out and saw that I am inside a small house in a huge courtyard. Before me, resplendent light flashed and booming sounds echoed. I could see NPC''s agilely leaping avoiding the other parties'' divine abilities.

    In the middle of the crowd. I could see a person with a golden question mark sign hovering over his name. Hmm... So that''s my quest target.

    It feels quite weird to be given a battle quest as my first quest, but this Rank... Hmm... good.  I felt excited to the thought of obtaining the rewards, my excited stupor ended as I heard a crashing sound followed by miserable shrieks. Blood splattered on the ground as a fellow sect member became severely injured by a flame blade.

    "Coward, Zhong Chi! Come here and meet your death!" Jiang Cheng shouted, his voice domineering to the extreme. The huge muscular man beside me became pale, he murmured towards me whilst trembling. "T-Toad... I know that this is asking too much, but I will give you my previous belongings if you humiliate that bastard!" His voice trembled in anger.

    "Boss, I''m sorry. I was unable to hold them down." The severely injured fellow sect member said, his tone muffled before falling on the ground. The other comrades of Zhong Chi strode towards the fallen member and immediately healed him with pills.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    I looked towards the pills and thought. Hmm, it seems like pills also exists here, I wonder if I can become an alchemist. I inwardly smiled.

    [Quest: Help Zhong Chi, defeat and humiliate Daoist Jiang Cheng. Quest Rank: B. Reward: Middle-Ranked Talisman Paper 1 stack. Sealing Talisman 30x Essence Stones 20x 300xp]

    My eyes brightened to the sight of increased rewards.

    "Leave them to me, fellow Daoist." I donned the same posture as earlier and walked towards the so called boss Jiang Cheng.

    "Hmm? Who the hell are you? I am not here to fight the ants. I am here to fight that so called Boss in the first district." Jiang Cheng''s eyes squinted. His pupils reflected intense killing intent. But before me who possessed some mental fortitude. How could I be swayed by just a stare?

    "You wanna fight? Come here, let''s fight!" I adjusted my posture to a basic gongfu stance. I looked towards my enemy and maintained a considerable distance between us. After all. This was a cultivation world where Qi was indefinitely available. Who knows what kind of divine ability will this Jiang Cheng release.

    "Arrogant brat who doesn''t know the distance between Heaven and Earth!" Jiang Cheng howled, his tone sharp and painful to hear. An invisible shockwave spread the surrounding dusts to scatter around him. His lackeys sneered in disdain, some gazes contained a hint of schadenfreude.

    His lackeys started to move behind while Jiang Cheng unsheathed a small scimitar on his back. Wait... What?! That guy had a weapon? Damn it!

    I turned my gaze towards Zhong Chi and silently cursed in my heart.  At the least give me some weapon to fight!

    [Domineering Fellow Disciple: Jiang Cheng]

    Health: 255/255

    Qi:        500/500

    Defense: 25

    Attack: 120-145

    What?! I turned and looked at my health bar.

    [Player: Heaven Defying (Warlock)]

    Health: 320/320

    Qi:        800/800

    Defense: 10

    Attack: 75-90

    I almost wanted to slap that Zhong Chi bastard for sending me here without any weapon to use! At this rate, with my measly defense. I would be slapped to death in two hits!

    "Die, Ignorant brat!" Jiang Cheng leaped towards me, I can see a barely visible substance enshrouding his feet. Was that Qi?!

    His scimitar aimed for my head. A ruthless attack! However, I didn''t panic since I could see the flaws in his attacks. I leaped backwards dodging the scimitar in the last second as a huge MISS icon appeared over my head. Jiang Cheng''s expression reddened. Clearly, he lost a great amount of face after missing his killing blow.

    "Annoying brat!" As I stabilized myself. Jiang Cheng''s second attack came. This time, a horizontal slash towards my chest! I crouched down and avoided his broadsword by a hair''s width and sent a palm towards his abdomen while I utilized my left hand to chop the crucial arteries in his thigh. Temporarily numbing his movement speed.

    "65!"

    "50!"

    "50!"

    In a matter of two breaths I already sent three attacks on Jiang Cheng. His body staggered backwards after receiving the attack. His body unsteady, particularly his lower body. Just the effects of my brilliant attack. I thought while giving a small smile of self-praise.

    However, this smile of self-praise was taken by Jiang Cheng as a mocking one. His face bulged with purple veins as he stabilized his sword stance. This time, he strode towards me, but his sword had a scarlet red aura enshrouding it! My natural senses were all screaming to get away from that scarlet red aura.

    Enraged effect? I thought. Enraged effects were special berserk skills that bosses normally activates when their health''s lower than ten percent. The scarlet red aura sent an oppressive pressure towards me as the airflow around my body quickened and heated.

    However, I am not just a normal person, I have experienced much more dangerous encounters than this. And so, with a simple backstep footwork. I avoided Jiang Cheng''s horizontal slash.

    "You avoided it?!" Jiang Cheng couldn''t believe his eyes when he noticed that I dodged his sword with a simple footwork. But ah, if he knows what I''ve been thinking, he would''ve died already.

    But clearly, I underestimated the strange divine ability that he activated. Though I managed to dodge the scarlet red aura''s graze. The oppressive airflow that surrounded his attack sent me flying backwards for about ten meters. I stabilized my body with a somersault and landed with the balls of my feet. Concluding with me being damaged by 50.

    Scary! And that was just the shockwave! I can''t imagine what will become of me If I''m struck by that head on! I thought as sweat formed on my back, drenching my Daoists robe wet.

    "That brat dodged it... I can''t believe my eyes... Did he really dodge it just now?!"

    "Fool! If he didn''t dodge it earlier, How could he still be there, alive and kicking?! No one is able to survive under Boss'' Burning Culling Strike!" Jiang Cheng''s lackeys discussed in the sidelines. Though their voice were just a murmur. I could hear it as if it was as clear as day.

    I once again gave my self-praise smile. But stupid Disciple Jiang Cheng took it again as a mocking one and became further more enraged. He once again summoned that strange scarlet red aura and readied a thrust stance towards me.

    A thrust stance? Did he want me to avoid his attack again?  I thought as I scoured his body with my eyesight. Wait... That barely visible substance is there again. Could it be?!

    ~Bang!

    The tiles on the ground cracked as Jiang Cheng leaped towards me. His speed became several times more faster than before. The tip of his broadsword aimed for my heart! If struck by this I would surely die!

    Shit, I really underestimated this guy again! I cursed in my mind as I waited to die. There was no point in dodging since he was now three meters before me.

    "Die!!!" Jiang Cheng''s lips curved to a twisted smile as he stared at my helpless expression. The disciples around the area couldn''t help but exclaim in shock.

    Suddenly, the airflow around the area quickened, and a shadow slipped past the sidelines towards the area between me and Jiang Cheng. By the time that this shadow materialized between us. Jiang Cheng had already crossed the two meter gap and his broadsword was only about three inches before my chest.

    ~Chii...

    A chiiing sound echoed and Jiang Cheng fell on the ground, unconscious. The blade the he held on his hand disappeared. When I recovered from my state of shock. I looked beside me and found an elderly man holding the sword, his expression dignified and an air of peace surrounded him.

    "Hmm, Disciple Jiang Cheng, and... Disciple..." The elderly man looked towards me in confusion before continuing.

    "Toad?" His words almost made me cough out blood. I registered my name as Heaven Defying. Why am I called a toad?!  I exclaimed in my heart.

    "I watched this battle in the sidelines and hmmph! This little bastard Jiang Cheng really wants to humiliate himself! If not for the fact that he the son of the Duke Jiang. I would have expelled this guy already!" The elderly man cursed.

    "Bring Jiang Cheng to the medical room. Treat him accordingly and deduct the cost on the Jiang House!" The elderly man shouted, his gaze swept past Jiang Cheng''s lackeys which nodded like a chicken pecking rice and moved their boss immediately.

    Zhong Chi stared at the sidelines. He didn''t know what to say. Earlier, he didn''t expect that Toad was really capable of defeating Jiang Cheng. But now, his doubts were cleared.

    "And as for you child, Come to the Refiner''s Hall later in the afternoon. I have something to discuss to you about this event." The elderly man didn''t say anymore words as he disappeared into thin-air.

    What a strange technique  To be able to disappear in sight with just a blink of an eye. That old man earlier must be strong.

    I contemplated, but before I could dive further in my thoughts. Zhong Chi approached me with a fawning look and said.

    "Toa- No- Boss! From today onwards. I swear allegiance to you! We already agreed to this so please accept us!" Zhong Chi knelt in one knee together with fifteen other disciples. Their gazes contained fanaticism which made my self-confidence expand even further.

    "Hrrmmph! Okay, but before that. Give me the promised treasures first!" I cleared my throat and said in a domineering tone.

    "Yes! Here is it!" Zhong Chi threw three pouches towards me as a blue screen flickered.

    [Quest Completed! Storyline triggered! Intimacy with Zhong Chi increased. Level Up!]

    A bright divine light enshrouded my figure as my level increased!

    Hahahaha, I finally reached one step closer to my goal... Dominating this world! I exclaimed in my heart while my self-praise smile reached its pinnacle.

 Chapter 3: Help Me.

    I clenched my fists as a light of determination appeared in my pupils. I turned to look at Zhong Chi which threw a confused look to me. I said to him in a solemn tone. "Take care of our brothers. We must get stronger if we want to ascend to the pinnacle." My tone copied the dignified tone of my favorite mc.

    Zhong Chi''s expression became solemn. He reached out his palm and tapped on my shoulder. "Don''t worry, Boss. I got this."

    "Thanks, Brother. Let me be on the way then. That Elder wants to meet with me." I smiled to him.

    "Ah, Elder Brian? He said that he wants to meet you at the Refiner''s Hall, right?" Zhong Chi smiled to me. I threw an intrigued look to him which made him laugh in mirth.

    "I''ll accompany you there boss. " He smiled before finally leading the way. I turned to look around the area. Hmm, this sect really is too huge. A super-billionaire''s courtyard will be shamed if he came here. I shook my head in a helpless expression.

    On our way towards the Refiner''s Hall. I could occasionally hear explosions resounding around the area, followed by miserable shrieks from what I think to be coming from my fellow sect members. I sigh in melancholy. A martial cultivation world really is cruel. Fellow sect members would even fight for resources rights. I suppose, in this world. I shouldn''t really be naive. In a world like this, almost no one can be trusted.

    I thought in my mind. After about three minutes of walking, we finally arrived before a huge door. There, hung a plaque which says. ''Refiner''s Hall.''

    [Storyline Act 1 Part 2: Meeting with Elder Brian; Activated.]

    I directed my glance towards the solemn Zhong Chi beside me. Seeing that his expression was frantic I asked. "What''s happening to you? You look like you saw a ghost in broad daylight."

    "Sorry if I''m like this, but that elder is too fierce! His attitude is eccentric, if you irritate him a little then he will punish you with a mile! But there are also instances that he was generous. But that was too rare as a blue moon. So, take care in speaking with him, Boss." Zhong Chi explained to me, his expression became much more calm after releasing his frustrations.

    I was about to reply, but a shadow swept past followed by a deep tone speaking. "Well, who''s eccentric?"

    "Ah!" I almost shat my pants as I staggered backwards, the old man earlier appeared like a ghost beside me. His skills in hiding himself was too good that I didn''t even notice his arrival! Zhong Chi was the same, he immediately ran while shouting "Mommy!" I suppressed my urge to curse Zhong Chi and turned to look at the old man.

    Hovering over the old man''s head was a name and a golden question mark.

    Elder Brian (????)

    Health: ????

    Qi: ????

    Defense: ????

    Attack: ????

    Description: One of the strongest foundation of the Solitary Sect. His power was deemed to be unfathomable. In each attack he unleashed, the land would tremble and the skies would churn. DO NOT PROVOKE.

    I felt my scalp tingle when I heard his description as depicted by the system, and that large DO NOT PROVOKE. What is he? A god?!

    "Good, Kid. Seems like you advanced in your cultivation." The Elder Brian threw a glance to me before turning his back and opening the huge door. The door creaked and I was left to think about what he said. Advanced in my cultivation? Ah! Could it be leveling up?  He knew that I leveled up?!

    Though I was quite stupid sometimes, that didn''t mean that I do not possess common sense. My body didn''t emit any kinds of qi ripples even when I fought Jiang Cheng. But how did he knew that I leveled up?! Then, that only means that his cultivation was unfathomable as what the description said.

    I laughed helplessly before greeting the sight of a huge archaic hall before me. The smell of old books lingered in the air. Elder Brian moved towards a nearby table and seated on its seat. He clasped his hands together before beckoning me to come closer.

    I threw a confused look. But after seeing his solemn pupils. I immediately moved forward, not daring to delay any longer.

    "Kid, earlier. I saw you fight Jiang Cheng with your measly 1st stage Qi Condensation Realm cultivation. Jiang Cheng was a practitioner of the 3rd stage. Yet, you defeated him. That goes to say that your skills are not too shabby." Elder Brian smiled, his gaze seemed to pierce through my entire being, I felt like a naked man inside an icy tavern in the face of his gaze.

    "E-Elder... What you said was right... I''m quite proficient in close combat." I stammered in my first few words as I spoke with an amiable tone towards the Elder. I didn''t dare to raise my tone or lower it. Provoking this Elder with an eccentric attitude was courting unnecessary trouble.

    "Good, I can see that your constitution doesn''t betray what you''re saying. In such a young age of sixteen, you can ascend cultivation and fight those higher than you! Reminds me of my early days." Elder Brian''s eyes reflected nostalgia as he spoke. Though he said that I am sixteen years old, I am actually twenty-one years old. Perhaps, this was set up by the system? Who knows.

    "Now that I know that you''re telling the truth. The reality is... I have a request to ask you." Elder Brian''s tone grew extremely solemn. The air around me quickened and the gravity in the environment seem to become much more stronger. Elder Brian''s gaze pierced right through me like an icy needle. Sending chills throughout my spine.

    "W-W-What is it... E-Elder...?" I stuttered as I tried my best to speak. The intense pressure that Elder Brian released suppressed me to the point that speaking was exhausting.

    It was at this moment that Elder Brian sighed. He shook his head helplessly before speaking towards me.

    "Earlier, one of our forces guarding the northern borders of the first district encountered heavy resistances from bandits. These bandits are too fearsome. Some of your fellow disciple members were caught. All of them beheaded and impaled their heads in huge poles. And when fight breaks out. They will bring those beheaded heads and parade it around the battlefield, lessening the morality of our Solitary Sect. "

    "The other Elders and me decided to annihilate them today. But an unforeseen event occurred. My cute little granddaughter was kidnapped. As a result, those guys wants us to hand them forty percent of our total resources. I tried to pursue the Sect Leader about this but I was denied. He said that my granddaughter was my responsibility. I can''t deny his point, but I will get back to that old corpse!"

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    "So, Youngster, I want you to help me. I want you to cooperate with me and rescue my granddaughter from the hands of those filthy bandits!" Elder Brian turned to look at the stupefied me. His gaze contained deep expectation. But what the heck?! He wants me to invade the enemy ranks and rescue her granddaughter? But for what? Wait... Could this be... A quest?!

    My expectations didn''t betray me as a huge blue screen flickered.

    [Unique Storyline triggered! Due to the activation of a Unique Storyline. Quest will be extremely difficult to complete. Storyline will return to normal if denied by the player. Do you want to accept the quest? Y/N]

    Unique Storyline... What the heck? Then, out of the five thousand players inside this game. I activated this strange fucked up storyline? And the difficulty is what?! Extremely difficult? How difficult?!

    I tapped at the yes button and Elder Brian spoke words which almost made me puke out blood.

    "Of course, I will not have you agree to it for free. I will give you a very precious reward." Elder Brian smiled, his smile contained a deep sense of familiarity towards me.

    "I accept it then!" Intrigued by the words of the scheming Elder before me. I shouted, my voice contained deep determination.

    "Hehehe... Okay, then. Hmm... Toad?!"

    "Pfft!"

    "Don''t call me, Toad!"

    "Then, how should I call you? Cricket? Ant? Soaring Dragon?!"

    "Just call me Zhong Wei!" I almost vomited blood when I heard that he called me a ''Toad'' like what the hell, system?! I registered my name as Heaven Defying, yet the NPC''s were calling me as Toad?!

    I adjusted my posture and mental strength before proceeding to said to him.

    "I said that I will accept this quest, but please do not expect me to run like a naked man in his birthday party! At least give me some divine abilities or weapons!" I requested to him, my tone pleasing to the eyes and contained pleading in it.

    "Heh, Kid. You''re pretty scheming, eh? Of course I will give you some skills, I will lose all face If everyone heard that I sent a disciple to his death due to my irresponsibility. But I''ll make this clear! If I ever found out that you renege in your promise or fail to succeed the mission. I will personally end you!" Elder Brian coldly spoke, his tone contained killing intent that could not be hidden. What the heck?! His amiable attitude from before completely disappeared like a puff of smoke! I cursed in my heart.

    "The technique that I will hand over to you is a technique that I personally made. Fortunately, you and I are in the same path. I also use talismans to seal, capture, dominate enemies in my sight. So, I will give you my created technique. ''Dominating Gaze''!"

    My eyes immediately brightened when I heard that he will give me a divine ability that he personally created. And it fits my character too much! Dominating Gaze? Will I be able to dominate monsters with just a gaze? That''s too OP!

    "Using this technique, you can dominate any living creatures with lower cultivation base than you. But for humans, if the slight resistance was made, the technique will fail. "

    I nodded my head like a chicken pecking rice. Though it won''t work in humans if resistance was made. Who cares? What I need to dominate wasn''t humans, monsters! I need to dominate monsters to unify this whole world under my hand!

    "But that doesn''t mean that you''re entirely unable to dominate humans. You can still dominate them if they''re incapable of creating any resistance. Like for example, they''re unconscious." Elder Brian''s expression darkened. A sinister smile escaped his lips. His gaze directed towards me, and In his pupils. I can see a huge black vortex revolving. His pupils disappeared, what replaced was a deep sucking endless vortex.

    My mind reeled in and I forgot the reason why I am standing here. Why I am speaking with him. Who Am I? I asked. Where Am I? I asked. Why do I exist? I asked.

    I asked countless questions in my mind that the surrounding space around me disappeared. What replaced was a pitch-black world that nothing matters. In that strange world, I completely lost myself. But my mind had a reflexive thought. That was, to obey this old man before me.

    "That''s it!" Elder Brian shouted.

    "Ah!" I involuntarily shouted. I staggered backwards and looked towards the old man in confusion. Earlier, I clearly remembered that the world around me twisted until it gradually became pitch-black. And my mind had one thought, that was too obey this Elder.

    Not long after I regained control of my mind. I stuttered as I spoke. I can feel a cold icy feeling spreading over my spine. "W-W-w-what happened?!"

    "Hahaha, your talent is good, but you''re quite naive. You didn''t even notice that you were staring right towards my Dominating Gaze. Which strengthened its effects. But, oh well! Since you accepted this request of mine. I cannot go back in my own words. " Elder Brian sighed before he pressed his palm on my forehead.

    A stream of huge information appeared in my mind. And a huge blue screen flickered before me.

    [Learned a new active skill! Dominating Gaze! Qi Cost: 0, Effects: Completely dominate any living creatures as long as its level is below the user! Can be used on humans, but if resistance is met. Dominating Gaze will fail. Cooldown: 24hrs.]

    My mind lingered in the pitch-black dimension scene. In that world, I was all alone. My five senses disappeared. Everything significant in my life disappeared. How terrifying that event was!

    Before I was able to cry in joy. Elder Brian murmured before waving his hand towards me.

    "Let''s meet here tomorrow morning and I''ll go to the specifics. Five ''am. Don''t be late!" A surge of bright light engulfed my entire being and before I knew it. I was outside the Refiner''s Hall.

 Chapter 4: Fidgety.

    I clasped my hands together and smiled towards the Refiner''s Hall. With excitement brimming in my heart. I proceeded towards the location of where I first arrived. Zhong Chi was there, he greeted me with a smile. Along with fellow disciples which numbered about four.

    "Boss! These are my fellow brothers who would want to follow you!" Zhong Chi led me towards the other disciples who stared at me with excited gazes, fanaticism clear in their eyes.

    "Hmm, good. I like the looks in your eyes." I turned towards them and smiled.

    "Thank you, Boss." A fellow disciple whose age ranged in fifteen to sixteen years old smiled. His face looked quite horrendous for it was wretched with pimples, and the movement of the muscles when he smiled made it even more terrifying to look at.

    "Now, guys! Introduce yourselves before our Boss!" Zhong Chi turned towards them, his tone solemn as he spoke.

    A disciple with a body that looked emaciated stood up. An air of death seemed to circulate around his body, and his face, filled with wrinkles made everyone who looked towards him feel extreme disgust.

    What the heck? All of them are weirdos! I spoke inwardly.

    "Boss, I am called Xiao Cheng, I am proficient in the arts of witchcraft. I can create hexes, puppets, and I can also curse people with lower cultivation than me to death." He gave a sinister smile full of killing intent towards me which made me gulp in response.

    Another man stood, this time. This one looked normal. That was until...

    "Boss! This one is called, Cang Tong! I excel in the arts of body transformation! As of now, I can transform to a werewolf." He clenched his fists together and his muscles bulged in a pace visible to the naked eye. Cracking sounds rang as his body doubled in size.

    His facial expression could not be clearly seen due to the hair that covered him wholly. His entire body looked like a bear, than a human. I sighed before turning to the former man of which I complemented earlier.

    "Hehe... This one''s name is Jobert Roe. I am skilled in hiding at the dark. Which means, I am an Assassin." He smiled to me and flicked his wrists. A gust of wind swept past on my body before a cold icy light flew from who knows where.

    The event that happened was too fast and I didn''t have time to evade. A ting sound echoed as a dagger pierced the wall behind me.

    W-W-What hidden armaments skill! A chill ran down my spine as I looked towards the former man who smiled to me amiably.

    "Sorry for that, Boss. But I thought it would be better to give a demonstration than to speak. But of course, Even though I am skilled in small skirmishes and ambushes. I cannot hope to defeat you nor Jiang Cheng. But in a contest of swift, fatal strikes. You can rely on me for that!" He raised his chest proudly, and clasped his hands together before retreating back.

    "This one''s name is Qin Shang! If Boss needs a person who excels in long ranged fights. You can trust on me!" He smiled before retreating backwards. Zhong Chi then moved forward and spoke.

    "How do you like them, Boss?" Zhong Chi spoke in a careful tone.

    "Good, They are enough for me." I said, of course. I already knew what he meant by sending these guys to me. Since I possess common sense. If this world was a dog eat world. That Jiang Cheng wouldn''t let go of me so easily, and he will surely send assassins after me.

    "Starting from now on. You guys will work for me. All of you will forever be my brothers. But of course, it won''t be free! Someday, when I have enough power or influence. I will get back to you guys and repay this favor." I clasped my hands together to the group of youngsters facing me. After I spoke, the fanaticism in their eyes grew stronger.

    "Don''t worry about that, Boss! We will protect you from that bastard Jiang Cheng''s lackeys!" Cang Tong smiled to me before clashing his fists together, his expression looked to be raring to fight.

    "Good, then I will go back now. I need to recuperate my depleted Qi." I didn''t say any further and left the area.

    "Zhong Chi. Did we really make the right decision?" Jobert Roe asked towards Zhong Chi. Zhong Chi smiled as he spoke.

    "In the entire first district. The boss was Jiang Cheng, now that he was toppled by Boss. Do you really think that we should still follow him? Why not revolt?" Zhong Chi asked.

    "But, Zhong Chi. His uncle is a deputy house master in the Sect. Can we really evict him from his position as the boss of the first district?" This time, Qin Shang was the one who spoke.

    "Who knows? But I got a feeling that Boss wouldn''t disappoint us." Zhong Chi smiled, his gaze contained deep confidence that one could trust.

    "A feeling? Really?"

    "A feeling?"

    "A feeling?"

    "Yes, a feeling."

    "Hmmph! You better not disappoint me, or else I would cut off all relations with you!"

    "Don''t worry about it, Qin Shang. Let''s just trust him for now." Zhong Chi continued, his smile looked even more excited than before."

    ...

    I didn''t hesitate any longer and proceeded towards the newbie leveling grounds. I arrived in a forest covered with lively vegetation. In front of me was a boar it leisurely lived its life, eating grasses and snorting all around the forest.

    [Boar [Low-Ranked Unclassified] ]

    Health: 850/850

    Qi: < >

    Defense: 25

    Attack: 85-100

    I almost wanted to vomit up blood after seeing its stats. Like what the heck?! A boar has more defense than me? A player? But of course, it was clear that its defense was higher due to its thick fur, but still....  I suppressed the urge to face palm myself and opened my User Interface.

    I tapped open the Martial Tome and found three skills that could be activated in the moment.

    Level 1: Bombardment = Costs three talismans, Fuse Qi into talismans to attack enemies, Single Target Spell. Costs 45 Qi Cooldown: 12 seconds. Damage: Attk * 3

    Level 1: Riposte = Costs one talismans, Deflect enemies attack while pushing them backwards. Single Target Spell. Costs 25 Qi Cooldown: 15 seconds Damage: Attk / 2

    Level 1: Incantation = Costs four atlismans, Charge up Qi into talismans to summon a temporary familiar. Costs 80 Qi, Familiar duration : 90 Seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes. Familiar attack: Attk * 2 Channeling: five seconds.

    My previously sullen expression became filled with joy when I read the Level 1: Incantation. Without further ado, I immediately assumed battle stance and equipped the talismans that Zhong Chi gave me earlier.

    ~Swish...

    Innumerable talismans swirled around my body, but though they were numerous to count. I can still see clearly due to their size only being a logan. I pointed my finger towards a boar and murmured. "Bombardment!"

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ~Chi chi chi...

    Resplendent lights shone from my finger as three talismans suddenly burned. The talismans turned into ashes which flew towards my pointed finger. I could feel a presence urging me to command the Bombardment to burn the boar to a crisp.

    I shouted. "Fire!"

    ~Bang!

    A blue light condensed and formed a beam of light towards the boar. A resonating sound echoed as a damage number popped out.

    150!

    Ouh! That damage was my attack times two!  I delightfully shouted, the boar turned towards me and its eyes turned bloodshot. It started to kick its hind leg and rushed towards me like a car!

    "Hmmph!" I snorted and pointed my fingers outward.

    "Riposte!" A chiiing sound echoed followed by a blue light converging before me, forming a transparent barrier. ~Dong! The boar crashed into the barrier and with an intention from me. I sent it flying backwards for about ten meters.

    Surprisingly, the boar agilely controlled its huge body in the air. It gracefully landed and once again rushed towards me!

    Shit!

    My defense and attacking skills were still on cool down, except for the Incantation. That cannot be used for now since it has a five second channeling time. I ran backwards and headed towards the Sect Area of which was a safe ground. The rookie players around me laughed as they saw me running from a boar. They couldn''t help but shake their heads as they murmured. "How pitiful, he actually ran away from a boar!"

    Now that my Bombardment was available. I swiftly leaped towards a tree and started casting my Bombardment! The boar below repeatedly struck the tree of which I am on, causing it to subtly shake. Damage numbers popped over its head due to its ramming and a faint trace of blood could be seen on its fur.

    I howled. "Bombardment!"

    270!

    A huge damage number popped out. It was a critical hit! The boar grumbled once again, its health already reduced around fifty percent. With that, I decided to command the talismans around me to slap the boar. Since it couldn''t jump on this tree. I decided to take advantage of this and slap it to death!

    78!

    83!

    86!

    89!

    Damage numbers popped out. The health of the boar plummeted below ten percent. Veins bulged around its body as it leaped towards me! Its leaping height increased by three times, it controlled its body to send a kick towards my abdomen! But it still underestimated this highness. I still have my Riposte!

    Without ado, I activated Riposte and a transparent barrier covered me. ~Clang! A sound of metal clashing against metal echoed as I fling my wrist sending the boar flying backwards!

    38!

    The damage was small, but it was enough to reduce its health to two percent.

    100!

    It flopped on the ground creating a small crater that resembled its body. The damage on its fall killed it! Hahahaha I laughed inwardly as a my experience bar increased by four percent! Hmm! Killing at least twenty five boars will level me.

    Before I descended on the ground. I decided to check my stats.

    [Player: Heaven Defying (Warlock) Level 2]

    Strength: 38

    Magic Power: 371

    Defense: 12

    Attack: 76-91

    Author''s Note: Strength is default attack divided by two, while magic power is Qi divided by 2.8 can only be increased by leveling. Increase in level is 1.3 which means MC''s current Qi is 1040. Magic power is 371. Defense is ten at default, depending on class. plus 2 per level. Can be increased with armor. Attack can also be increased with gear.

    Note: Talisman''s do not possess attack power. Warlock''s true weapon is a staff. Of which our MC can get in the later parts of the story. END

    I kept on taking advantage on this small glitch, and leveled up to five before five ''am. Now, I once again took a glance on my stats.

    [Player: Heaven Defying (Warlock) Level 5]

    Strength : 40

    Magic Power: 589

    Defense: 20

    Attack: 79-94

    Good! With this, I ran and proceeded towards the Refiner''s Hall. When I arrived there, sweat had already drenched my body. Elder Brian was there, greeting me with a solemn expression and a smile that I couldn''t describe if it was mirth or icy.

    "A-Am I late, Elder?" I nervously asked.

    "Good, you''re only two minutes late. I can pardon that. Now, let''s proceed to the specifics." Elder Brian nodded his head.

    "As I said yesterday. I want you to fight the bandits and help our forces guarding then northern borders. Though I said that. That doesn''t mean that I will send you there alone. Here, take this jade slip. Once you shatter this, I will immediately arrive in less than two minutes! But you must only activate this if you''re in the following conditions!" Elder Brian solemnly said.

    "One! If you found my granddaughter."

    "Two! If you''re in a life and death situation."

    "Three! If their leader came out."

    "That''s the only condition that I will set. Don''t recklessly activate this jade slip if the danger is low! Or else I will be the one to slap you to death!" Elder Brian threatened. I felt a chill running in my spine as I immediately nodded like a chicken pecking rice.

    "Now, I will make this mission clear. Infiltrate the enemy bases and rescue my granddaughter! Youngster, if you completed this mission. Then I will guide you in the path of cultivation! I will also be willing to give you half of my resources, if that''s what you wanted, and my position as the elder!" Elder Brian straightened his posture as he piously said. I was in awe, looking at his determined figure.

    For his granddaughter. He was willing to abandon everything. This Elder though eccentric had already left a good impression in me.

    "Okay, I accept!" I didn''t hesitate any further and shouted. Elder Brian gave a meaningful smile and disappeared into the shadows. But I could faintly hear his lingering words in the air saying.

    "Good! Our mission starts in the afternoon! Meeting place is here in the Refiner''s Hall! We will also discuss our plan later. Thank you for your help. Young Cultivator." The last lines of Elder Brian contained deep melancholy which stirred my heart deeply. I turned to look towards his direction and clasped my hands together.

    [Unique Quest Triggered! Quest Rank: SS, Quest Objective: Infiltrate the Harrowing Bandits and rescue Elder Brian''s Granddaughter! Quest Reward: ????]

    I stared at the blue screen until a small smile escaped my lips.

    <hr />

    Author''s Note: Ughhh! I hate maths and the complicated stats!!!

 Chapter 5: Borrowing a Knife.

    I rejoiced in my heart as I read the message that the blue screen displayed. Though the rewards weren''t displayed. The words that Elder Brian spoke earlier made it clear. There were no rooms to doubt. Although Elder Brian possessed an eccentric attitude, I knew that he was the kind of person that cared about personal family and relationships more than anything. A respectable, dignified person.

    ~Swishh...

    A glow of several resplendent lights exploded around Elder Brian''s body. The air around me quickened and the pressure of the air intensified. I could even hear the ground crack. Elder Brian is releasing his Qi!

    "The fight has started, Let''s go now!" Elder Brian solemnly shouted. He leaped towards a roof and flew towards the northern boundary. Me who stared there at shock, finally regained my consciousness and followed. But sadly, I was unable to fly, so I kept on leaping from roofs to roofs.

    Elder Brian''s flying speed wasn''t fast nor slow, Judging from the movements of the air around him. I knew that he was constantly adjusting his flying speed with my running speed. Fortunately, and strangely, though I ran non-stop. I didn''t feel tired or sore. Perhaps this was the benefits of Qi? But, who knows?

    After running for about thirty minutes. Elder Brian finally stopped. I gasped for air as my joints hurt. I turned to look at Elder Brian despite my sweat filled face.

    I could hear constant explosions and flashed of divine abilities being used. I could also hear miserable shrieks that resonated in both sides. Occasionally, I would see lightnings crossing the sky, aiming towards a certain mountain peak. Fellow disciples floated in the air and bandits alike, activating their abilities towards each other.

    The peaceful atmosphere of the northern borders of the first district became a battlefield. Trees were toppled and smaller trees, uprooted. Elder Brian''s expression turned grim when he looked around the area. I also changed my mindset to serious mode.

    "Kid, see that mountain peak over there. That''s where my grand-daughter is being held. I hope that you can save her." Elder Brian spoke, his tone melancholic.

    "But, Elder. Why did you ask me to do this dangerous mission? Couldn''t you just flatten that mountain peak while protecting your grand-daughter?" I asked, my tone contained skepticism.

    Elder Brian gave a long lasting sigh that echoed in the air. I could feel a faint helplessness contained in that sigh.

    "Kid, I must let you know that my cultivation base is too high to attack that place. Yes, I can flatten the entire mountain peak, but do you really think that they would not kill my grand-daughter for collateral damage? I am disappointed, I thought you were smart." Elder Brian snorted, as he rebuked me.

    "I see, I understand now, Elder. Then, I''ll be off." I didn''t speak anymore words and ran towards the mountain peak. Elder Brian didn''t stop me, Instead he looked at my disappearing back and murmured. "Take care, youngster."

    ....

    I opened my User Interface and found out that the system declared the area where I am in as a danger zone. From the northern borders. It changed to the name ''Battlefield of the First District.''

    In the center of the 1000x1000 battlefield. A mountain peak of about three hundred meters stood. The entire mountain peak was tainted scarlet red by the system. Declaring that the mountain peak was a very dangerous spot to venture.

    I ran while avoiding the areas where divine abilities where being used. I turned to look back and I could see floating nametags of players. Some of them leaped towards their enemies and chopped them down. Seems like they''re also included in this mission. I wonder, what Quest Rank did they obtain.

    Author''s Note: Quest Rank is the difficulty of the Quest. For Zhang Wei. The quest he obtained was an SS ranked Quest.

    I carefully took a much more longer route towards the mountain peak. But, I obviously underestimated the strict force of the Harrowing Bandits. When I was about one kilometer away from the mountain peak. I encountered resistance from several bandits.

    [Harrowing Bandit Musketeer (Level 2) Middle Ranked]

    Health: 2304/2304

    Qi: 500/500

    Defense: 25

    Attack: 350-405

    I felt dread rising from my heart, but I dismissed it immediately and turned to look at my stats. I increased the range of my basic attributes and included my health in the list.

    [Player: Heaven Defying (Warlock) Level 5]

    Health: 820/820

    Qi: 1649/1649

    Strength: 40

    Magic Power: 589

    Defense: 20

    Attack: 79-94

    I sighed in my heart. Though I didn''t have the feeling to vomit blood anymore. I still disappointingly sighed. And then, What the Fuck?! With his attack of 350-405 I can only endure at least two hits from it! And if the attack was a critical hit. I would die on the spot.

    Note: Critical attacks are, default of highest attack 110%

    Damn it! I cursed in my mind. This mission is impossible to complete. But though I thought of that. I didn''t give up. I fell onto pensive thinking while I am hiding in one of the bushes around the area. Thankfully, the bandit didn''t notice my arrival. After about three minutes, my eyes brightened as a plan appeared in my mind

    After I reached the level 5. I obtained two new skills that can be used for the picking.

    Leech: Summons a field which constantly draws upon the powers of the darkness, sucking the health of the enemies while healing for the same amount. Costs six talismans, AoE Spell. Costs 600 Qi to cast. Cooldown: 35 seconds.

    Illusion of the Samsara: Summons a zone which bewitches enemies inside, stunning and rooting them in place for 2.5 seconds. Costs five talismans, AoE Spell. Costs 400 Qi to cast. Cooldown: 90 seconds.

    I sneaked towards the bandit in a slow pace. When I was about six meters away from him. The system indicated that the bandit had entered my casting range. I immediately withdrew my stack of Middle-Ranked talisman papers. The talisman papers swirled around my body, as if they were controlled by an invisible force.

    I leaped towards the Musketeer. The Musketeer startled by my sudden appearance, but he wasn''t a rookie anymore. he quickly regained its composure and prepared its weapon. But the loading time of its weapon was too long. It gave me enough time to cast.

    "Illusion of the Samsara!" A resplendent dark glow exploded from my body. Five talismans flew before my line of sight before being burned to ashes, the ashes of the talismans flew towards the dumbfounded Musketeer. Not long, the ashes of the talismans arrived and formed a black smoke that covered the body of the Musketeer. Within the black smoke, I could hear ghastly howls of apparitions and the miserable shriek of the poor Musketeer.

    The Musketeer stood firmly, stiff like a rock. Hovering above his head were orbiting six stars indicating that he had been stunned.

    Now is the time! I exclaimed as I ran towards the Musketeer and stared at his listless eyes. "Dominating Gaze!" The Musketeer regained its consciousness after two and a half seconds but the only entity that it saw caused it to convulse on the ground whilst bubbles foamed on his mouth.

    I commanded him using Dominating Gaze to fall asleep. But since he fought back against my skill. He mentally broke and laid on the ground, unconscious.

    The reason why I was able to use the Dominating Gaze to conquer this bandit''s mind was because, his cultivation base was lower than mine.

    A/N: Cultivation base = Level

    And the reason why I still used ''Illusion of the Samsara to stun him was because he belonged to the human category that Elder Brian spoke. If he resisted under my gaze, The skill would fail.

    I sighed in relief after finding out that the location of his scouting was a very remote place. Now that he was unconscious, I can just pound him to death with rocks without any resistance.

    I felt quite guilty pounding an enemy to death unguarded. But I had no other choice, his attack was just too high for a level two NPC! Before I pounded him to death. I stripped him naked and took any things that were valuable. After that, I finally killed him and his spirit went to the afterlife.

    I picked up a small emblem of my sect from my inventory and started to rush towards the castle.

    ...

    In the harmonious mountain peak. A huge castle stood, the castle wasn''t visible to the outside. But after one neared the vicinity of the castle, one could see its enormous size of which was about four hundred meters tall. The castle pierced the sky, like a needle piercing a piece of fabric.

    On the top of the castle was a dungeon hidden from sight. Currently, inside this dungeon was a woman whose features, though could not be clearly seen, can be depicted through the dark as extremely beautiful. Her curvaceous figure could make any man''s underpants to drop. Her smooth jade like visage can be compared to the purest jade in the entire universe. No words can express the beauty of this woman.

    But this body seated like a beggar inside a filthy cell. Outside the cell were two men who smiled at the woman lecherously. On their waist were saber that emanated an extremely baleful aura which affected the mental states of any humans around them. But judging from their composure, they seem to be immune to the effect.

    "Fang Mu. How''s our operation in acquiring one of the spirit vein mines in this trash sect''s first district?" A middle-aged man with an armor which shone a green light in the dark asked to the middle-aged man beside him.

    The man beside him wore a silver armor which was oddly obvious in the dark. In contrast, the man''s skin was dark, which was suitable in night operations.

    "Li Mu. Our first squad greeted extreme resistance from this trash sect''s disciples. We suffered enormous casualty, but they also suffered the same. We still have the help of that person, so we don''t need to be fearful. " The man called Fang Mu shrugged the topic as if it was just a normal one.

    "What if the Elders attack. Those guys are at the Severed Spirit Stage! If those guys really attacks us. We won''t be able to hold a candle!" Li Mu asked, his tone contained deep dread towards the Severed Spirit Stage practitioner that they mentioned.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    "Hah! If they really did that wouldn''t they flatten the entire first district where their source of income, the spirit vein mines reside?" Fang Mu rebuked. His tone contained deep certainty.

    "Hmm, you''re right. But what if they suppress their cultivation base and attack us in masses?" Li Mu once again asked.

    "Then if they do that. Our master will be able to easily kill those bunch of old bastards. For the meantime, what shall we do with this princess?" The two turned their heads towards the cell behind them. There, inside was a woman whose appearance looked to be extremely bedraggled. Her clothing looked like a ragged that was just recently used in cleaning the floor.

    However, even though the woman''s features were stained by the clothing that she wore. Her figure can still be considered as extremely alluring. The two men couldn''t help but feel a reaction down there. They started to remove their lower body clothing and moved towards the cell. Their manhood erect and a liquid substance formed on the tip. Clearly, they''re about to explode.

    The unconscious woman inside started to blink her eyes. Her pupils widened in shock when she noticed that two burly men, who wore armor and were naked below their waist approached her. She nervously trembled and helplessly shouted.

    "No! Don''t come here! Please... No!" The two men started to lick their lips as they stared at the woman with their lecherous gazes. Inside their minds, they had already stripped the woman before them, naked.

    A clang sound echoed as the jail lock opened. The two approached the woman who desperately screamed and took a shining object from behind her. She waved the object near her neck, and the two men stiffened when they saw the object, of which was a dagger.

    "Don''t come near me! I will kill myself if you dare!" The woman''s expression became ghastly pale as tears streamed down her cheeks. Clearly, she was on wits end.

    "Hah! Do you really think that we will still not do you even if you''re dead?! Hah! Keep dreaming! We will still violate you''re precious body while your spirit watches! Hahahaha!" Fang Mu laughed, his lips leaked a sinister smile as he approached. Li Mu wiped the drool on his lips as he said.

    "Let me rip her clothes off!" But before the two men could pounce towards the woman. They heard a solemn voice which resonated from behind the steel door behind them.

    "Commanders! Commanders! I have an urgent report!"

    "What the hell is it?! To disturb our precious time here!" Fang Mu angrily shouted. The voice from behind didn''t reply. Li Mu who was also about to pounce to the woman nodded. Fang Mu stood up and said.

    "You''re coming with me."

    "Eh? Why? That''s just a report. Tell me the full details later on." Li Mu shrugged, he couldn''t suppress the raging desire in his chest anymore.

    "YoU''rE coMiNg wiTh mE!" Fang Mu emphasized and seized Li Mu by the neck before he sprinted towards the steel door and opened it. What greeted them was a man whose featured depicted that his age ranged from nineteen to twenty-one.

    "What urgent report is it that you actually dare to disturb our precious time?!" Fang Mu angrily shouted. The man standing before them didn''t reply. Instead, he nervously took an object from his pocket and presented it before the commanders.

    "Eh?" The two commanders gave an ~Eh~ sound as they glanced at the object. Their expression stiffened like a rock. A small emblem about the size of half a palm could be seen resting there silently. On its borders where intricate designs of vines, and a gigantic book with its pages opened. A crossed sword was on the center, standing before the gigantic book.

    Below the designs were two words carved in letters that expressed a domineering atmosphere that caused the two commanders to become hard like a rock. The man before them didn''t seem to be affected by the pressure emanated by the emblem. Instead, his pupils constricted when he noticed the pitiful appearance of the woman whose clothing barely covered her curvaceous body.

    The two commanders turned the emblem and glanced towards the back part of the emblem. The four words tactfully carved on the emblem caused their hearts to quake in fear. Each letter contained an even more domineering atmosphere than the previous.

    ''Solitary Sect: Elder Brian.''

    "Fuck!" Fang Mu threw the emblem on the ground as a clanging sound echoed. He turned to look towards the dumbstruck man and said.

    "Go back and tell our comrades in the front lines to immediately retreat and strengthen the defense of our stronghold!" Fang Mu solemnly commanded, but instead of the man fearfully running backwards. He just stood there, giving an icy cold smile. The hands of the man which was on his back squeezed an object which gave a green glow. The small object turned to dusts which dissipated in the wind.

    Obviously, this man was Zhang Wei. He successfully infiltrated the enemy bases by donning the equipment of a bandit! He successfully borrowed a knife! Thankfully, no one suspected him when he approached the castle. Each bandits were busy fighting the forces of the Solitary Sect. Which made the situation even more convenient for Zhang Wei.

    Zhang Wei turned towards the cell in the furthermost area of the dungeon. There, a bedraggled woman was unconscious. Hovering over the woman''s head was a golden exclamation mark and a message that said. [Quest Objective: Leila Strut.]

    Seeing the appearance of the woman whose clothing resembled a recently used rag and the clothing which barely covered her body. Zhang Wei''s anger seethed inside his chest, he turned to look towards the commander and found out that the two didn''t have any clothing to cover their lower body. Their erect manhood stood with a liquid like substance forming on the tip.

    Zhang Wei''s eyes turned bloodshot as the anger inside his chest almost immediately exploded. But still, he waited for Elder Brian''s arrival. When Fang Mu threw the emblem on the ground, Zhang Wei used the clanging sound as a cover when he broke the jadeslip to pieces.

    "Are you listening you piece of shit?!" Fang Mu grabbed Zhang Wei by the collar and pushed him backwards. Zhang Wei staggered backwards, but with this actions. His killing intent soared and couldn''t be suppressed anymore. The pupils of the two men constricted as their floating nametags turned red. Clearly, he had attracted the aggro of these two men!

    Zhang Wei''s pupils widened when he saw the stats of the two men.

    [Harrowing Bandits Commander: Fang Mu (Level 65) Nascent Soul Realm 5th Layer]

    Health: 231,351/231,351

    Qi: 182,390/182,390

    Defense: 19,325/19,325

    Attack: 10,235-13,512

    One of the commanders of the Harrowing Bandits Group, their might echoes throughout the continent. Their strength belongs to the upper limit of the entire continent. If possible, DO NOT PROVOKE.

    [Harrowing Bandits Commander: Li Mu (Level 65) Nascent Soul Realm 5th Layer.]

    Health: 120,234/120,234

    Qi: 231,350/231,350

    Defense: 8,351/8,351

    Attack: 30,132-38,312

    One of the commanders of the Harrowing Bandits Group, their might echoes throughout the entire continent. Their strength belongs to the upper limit of the entire continent. If possible, DO NOT PROVOKE.

    Fuck! Isn''t this too overpowered?! One of these guys can kill me with just a flick of their pinky fingers! Dread overcame my chest, but it was too late to regret. The two had already clenched their fists and attacked towards me!

    The airflow quickened and the dungeon room''s temperature significantly dropped. I panicked at first, but my mental strength was strong, so I quickly regained my composure and burned one talisman paper to cast Riposte. A transparent screen flickered around my body. When they noticed the shield which was as thin as a cicada''s wing around me. The two snorted in disdain as they howled. "Break!"

    ~Clang! Bang!

    158!

    188!

    As expected, the Riposte skill was able to block any attacks as long as the transparent screen lingered. Their attacks struck my shield, and I flicked my wrist, causing two damage numbers to pop out and their figures to fly backwards, striking the dungeon walls.

    A muffled sound echoed, when their body struck the dungeon walls. Riposte went on cooldown as I cursed in my mind. Damn it! That was too small of a damage! Fuck, fuck fuck!

    Now that Riposte was on cooldown. I had no other skills to block their next attacks. Fang Mu angrily stood up as small pieces of rocks floated around his body, a scarlet red substance encircled his figure, and the temperature inside the dungeon room surged!

    Li Mu also stood up, his face grim as he stared at me venomously. He opened his palm as a lightning about the size of a basketball materialized.

    "Die!" The two commanders howled, Fang Mu congealed a dragon from the scarlet red substance and threw it towards me. Li Mu sent a roaring lightning which flew in the air towards me. I felt a suffocating pressure stopping me from escaping. Even though I desperately tried to move my feet. They won''t bulge an inch.

    Looking towards my status bar. A snared debuff icon flickered. As expected, around my body was the scarlet red substance which previously revolved around Fang Mu''s body, But now. A part of it restricted me from moving while a part turned to a scarlet dragon which roared towards me.

    The lightning ball and the scarlet dragon neared my body. I mentally prepared myself to die!

    "Youngster!" A resplendent flash of divine light enshrouded my body and in the next instance. I found out that I was now outside the castle! I stood in the air, while I looked towards the castle, dumbfounded.

    But not long, an explosion decimated the upper parts of the castle. My mind connected the pieces together, the familiar voice and the sudden explosion... A striking realization struck me as I shouted. "Elder!!!"

    <hr />

    Author''s Note: Chapter delayed due to computer suddenly turning off.

 Chapter 6: Display of Power.

    I turned to look towards the huge tower and found out that a dark hand composed of an incomparably sinister qi had slapped it to ruins. Four figures floated, all of their expressions grim as they stared at each other. Fang Mu and Li Mu waved in the air and their respective weapons materialized.

    Elder Brian''s gaze turned towards the dungeon room. When his gaze landed towards his grand-daughter. The surrounding qi of heaven and earth seethed. The old man''s previously grim expression became filled with a volcanic anger. He didn''t speak any words and pointed towards the two commanders.

    "Dark Arts: Suppression of Heaven and Earth!" Elder Brian howled as the surrounding qi of heaven and earth transformed to a pitch-black sinister kind of qi which formed a stream and threatened to enshroud the figures of the two commanders.

    The pupils of the two constricted as they utilized each of their divine abilities to withstand the attack of the Elder. Fang Mu waved his hands in the air as a crimson red dragon materialized from the scarlet red substance that constantly revolved around his body. Li Mu lowly growled as a fifty meter golden shield covered his body from all directions.

    "Useless struggle! Surrender your life!" Elder Brian furiously howled. The sinister pitch-black qi enshrouded the figures of the two commanders. Elder Brian made a grasping motion in the air as a cracking sound resonated. The golden shield which protected Li Mu shattered into pieces while the crimson red dragon which roared towards the sinister qi emanated a miserable shriek before vanishing into thin air.

    The two commanders coughed a mouthful of blood as their figure swayed in the air. I turned towards Elder Brian and found out that I still couldn''t see his stats. As if a huge curtain was blocking my line of sight to see his capabilities. A chill ran down my spine as I witnessed the scene of the two commanders being injured by the Elder whose power I couldn''t comprehend.

    S-strong!

    I clenched my teeth as I watched their fight. A debuff icon was present below my health bar. The debuff icon didn''t have a name, but the image it displayed made it clear that I am currently under suppression. I couldn''t even move my body in the air. It was as if a huge mountain pressured me to stay.

    "We will not forget this, Despicable dog of the Solitary Sect!" Fang Mu howled, Li Mu''s eyes was bloodshot as they retrieved a jade slip from their spatial rings. A special kind of power seemed to revolve around the jade slip. Elder Brian''s pupils constricted when he noticed the power that came from the jade slip. Power of Teleportation?!  The Elder inwardly screamed.

    "Think that you''ll gonna live?! Think again!" Elder Brian formed several hand sigils in the air. Innumerable runic carving floated in the space around him. "Dark Arts: Chain of Oblivion!" The pitch-black runic carvings emanated an eerie ghastly cry before turning into a pitch-black beam of light which shot off towards the two commanders.

    All of this took time to describe, but actually happened in the span of three breaths. The jade slip in the two commander''s palm became dusts as they crushed it with all of their might. The space around them distorted as a strange suction power came out from behind them.

    My pupils constricted as I noticed that the source of the suction power was a three metal tear in the space which acted like a black hole. Sucking everything from the outside!

    "Shit!" Elder Brian violently cursed, he swiped his palm towards his grand-daughter which caused her to float behind her. A dark barrier protected her from the suction force. Elder Brian also swiped his palm towards me and the same phenomenon happened. I was protected by a strange pitch-black transparent barrier.

    "We will not forget this, Dog of the Solitary Sect! Soon, we will come back and sunder through your territory!" Fang Mu violently cursed as his figure retreated towards the black hole. Li Mu didn''t say any words as he flew towards the black hole.

    "Fat chance! " Elder Brian''s hand signals changed as the pitch-black beam of light turned around and stuck the black hole. "Dark Arts! Suppression of Heaven and Earth!" Elder Brian lowly growled, the surrounding qi became a pitch-black sinister qi. The black hole became enshrouded by a strange aura of sealing. It constantly flickered, threatening to be extinguished.

    "Damn you, Dog of the Solitary Sect!" Fang Mu pointed his finger on his dantian as a surge of crimson red substance came out from his forehead. The crimson red substance formed a three thousand meter huge dragon which roared towards the Elder! Blood leaked on the corners of Fang Mu''s lips. It seems like he paid a steep price when he activated this divine ability.

    Li Mu also howled as a one thousand meter golden broadsword materialized in the air. A constant stream of golden qi came out from his forehead which made the figure of the golden broadsword to be increasingly stable. By the time that the golden broadsword became life-like. Li Mu spat five mouthfuls of blood. His expression ghastly pale.

    "Fury of the Dragon Emperor!"

    "Judgement of the Saint Sword!"

    The two furiously howled as they pointed their fingers towards the Elder. Elder Brian''s expression became grim. The two commanders though incomparably weak than him, paid an extremely high price to activate a divine ability which leaped realms and realms to attack him!

    A strange light flashed in Elder Brian''s eyes. However, it was a pity that the two were his enemies. If they weren''t. They will surely be a good comrade. Their decisiveness to throw everything away was remarkable. However, in the face of true power. Their determination to win wasn''t enough. In a world of dog eat dog. Such things can easily be overlooked.

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    The surrounding qi of heaven and earth seethed, the earth trembled and cracking sounds resonated from the mountain peak below. The castle that pierced the sky cracked as if it could not withstand the power of the three figures. The Fury of the Dragon Emperor skill brightened the entire world, basking it in its crimson red glow. While the Judgement of the Saint Sword enshrouded the world with its golden glow.

    Elder Brian''s eyes flickered with decisiveness, he pointed towards the ground and growled. "Dark Arts: Judgement of Time!" An incomparably huge explosion swept forth. The world slowly became bleak. The entire mountain peak seemed to lost its vitality as the trees wilted and the huge trunks of gigantic trees turned to charcoal. In a blink of an eye, tens of thousands of years seemed to have past.

    Meanwhile, blood leaked in the corners of Elder Brian''s lips. The enormous dragon that roared towards Elder Brian dissipated, it didn''t even have the time to shriek when it faded to nothingness. The golden sword also experienced the same fate. In the face of time. It disappeared without a trace.

    My mind reeled it as I solemnly gazed towards the battlefield. Not even a second had passed when Elder Brian pointed his finger to the ground. Confused overcame my mind. What the heck happened? The huge dragon just disappeared like a puff of smoke and also the sword! The sword also vanished!

    "I-Impossible!" Fang Mu was agape as he stared at Elder Brian. When Elder Brian''s divine ability swept. His body was struck, causing it to lose all of its vitality. Now, his figure didn''t resemble a middle-aged man. But an emaciated old man that looked extremely horrendous to sight. He looked like he just came out from his grave.

    Li Mu was also the same, they looked like a pair of old corpses.

    "Enough!" Li Mu was about to speak, but Elder Brian''s cold voice resonated. Rage could be felt from his voice. It looks like this old man really was angry this time.

    A surge of deathly qi exploded from the air around Elder Brian. The deathly qi covered the entire figures of two. They didn''t have the time to cry as their body rapidly withered, until they were just a pile of broken bones, which flew, fluttering in the sky, and into nothingness.

    Elder Brian didn''t linger around here any longer, his eyes emanated a hint of wariness as he crushed a jade slip. The jade slip turned into a stream of peculiar power which quickly engulfed our figures. When I woke up. I was now in front of the Refiner''s Hall.

    I still couldn''t believe what happened. My mind seemed to enter a state of trance. The power that Elder Brian displayed was too much for me to handle. But I quickly regained my senses, of course. I wasn''t that ignorant. I turned to look around the area and found out that no one was around.

    Of course, no one would stay here to live in peace. All of the disciples, from the lowest cultivation base to the peak. Had participated in the defense battle of the first district. Of course, that also means all of my fellow players in the sect.

    I directed my gaze towards the huge plaque that hung. I clenched my fists and opened the door. What greeted me was a familiar scene, archaic books placed within shelves that emanated a nostalgic scent. Alchemical bottles were around which contained peculiar pills, and furnaces were around the area.

    But right now, there stood an old man, giving a faint warm smile towards me. On his arms was an unconscious woman. The old man turned to look towards the unconscious woman, his eyes gave off a warm light. As if the woman on his arms was his greatest treasure.

    The old man turned towards my direction. His gaze contained a profound deepness in it.

    "E-Elder..." I spoke gently, afraid that I might disturb his time.

    "Youngster... From the start. Honestly, I didn''t have much faith about your ability. " Elder Brian spoke to me. His tone indifferent.

    I didn''t reply. Instead, a smile leaked from my lips.

    "However, you have proven to me that you''re worthy to be cared off! I gave you an extremely dangerous task, and that is. To infiltrate the Harrowing Bandits group and rescue my daughter. Because I didn''t have much faith to you. I followed you throughout your journey. But when you reached the dungeon room with your efforts, I was elated. It seems like I was not mistaken." By this time, Elder Brian gave a small gentle smile.

    "Youngster, I don''t have much in me, but I can help you achieve, achievements that no one had ever achieved. I don''t have anything to give you. Except for my guidance, in your way to ascension." Elder Brian flicked his wrist as a small bag flew towards me. I quickly grasped it in mid-air and turned towards Elder Brian.

    "Starting from now on. You will be my closed door disciple. My first, and last disciple of my whole life." Elder Brian once again smiled to me and the system flickered as a ringing sound came in my ears.

    System Announcement: Please take notice, Elder Brian Strut becoming your mentor is one of the quest rewards of the SS Ranked Quest. Do you want to accept this proposal.

    I gave a small smile in response and said. "Yes!"

    Ding!

    System Announcement: Warlock class changed to [Practitioner of the Dark Arts] mentor is designated as Elder Brian Strut. Class name valid indefinitely.

    I turned towards Elder Brian, clasped my hands together and deeply bowed.

 Chapter 7: Dark Arts?

    After paying respects to my new mentor, Elder Brian Strut. I opened my inventory from the User Interface tab. There, I found a small icon of a pouch with a purple name.

    [Mentor Bundle <Unique Tier>]

    It didn''t mention the contents, and so. I excitedly opened it with a tap. A divine beam of light fell down as my level increased by threefolds! I was now at Level 8! The system mentioned that I could now further expand my basic attributes tree. Meaning, I could now see more information about my character traits. I quickly opened my profile.

    [Player: Heaven Defying (Practitioner of the Dark Arts) Level 8 - Qi Condensation Realm 8th Layer.]

    Health: 1600

    Endurance: 32

    Strength: 41

    Magic Power: 590

    Qi: 1232/1653

    Defense: 26

    Attack: 82 - 97

    Note: Health is Endurance * 50

    I laughed in glee. Looks like my stats drastically increased. I turned towards the User Interface and once again, opened my inventory. There, four new items were registered.

    [Dark Arts: Martial Tome]

    [Essence Stone 120x]

    [High-Ranked Talisman 500x]

    [Book of History]

    I joyfully smiled when I saw the Dark Arts: Martial Tome and the High Ranked Talismans. As for the Book of History, and the Essence Stones. I wasn''t quite sure about their uses, so I first used the Dark Arts: Martial Tome by tapping it.

    System Announcement: Dark Arts: Martial Tome is a unique skill tree which will erase all of your learned skills and replace it with new skills relevant to the job. Learning Requirements: Practitioner of the Dark Arts, Level 0. Do you want to learn the Dark Arts?

    "Yes!" I inwardly shouted as I tapped the yes button. A ray of divine light fell on my body as the system announced that there were new skills that I could learn. I tapped open my new Martial Tome which transformed into a black archaic book.

    Summon Familiar = Costs ten talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to summon a suitable familiar to accompany you in your journey. Familiar is permanent once casted. If familiar dies, use skill again to revive. Useable once a day. Costs 500 Qi

    Essence Absorb = Costs five talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to create a 15x15 meters zone of which enemies will repeatedly be damaged for eight percent of their maximum health. Damage heals the caster for the same amount. Lasts ten seconds. Costs 300 Qi Cool down: 15 seconds.

    Dark Riposte: Costs two talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to suppress attacking enemy and fling them backwards. Flinging distance depends on the received attack. The stronger, the longer. Damage dealt to the caster will be reflected to the attacker. Costs 95 Qi Cool down: 10 seconds.

    Dark Wind: Costs three talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to summon dark crows that will repeatedly damage enemies. Damage per second skill. Damage is for three percent of their maximum health. Can be used against multiple enemies in a 10x10 zone. Lasts four seconds. Costs 150 Qi Cool down: 13 seconds.

    Weapon Mastery = Due to the class having no set weapons. User can wield any weapon, but the damage dealt by the weapon will be lowered by ten percent if wielded by the Practitioner of the Dark Arts. Passive Ability.

    I almost screamed my lungs out when I read the information about the skills. And the Weapon Mastery, my eyes almost exploded in joy when I noticed that I can utilize any weapons belonging to any class. But the damage reduction was a downer, though I can use their weapons. The damage dealt will be reduced.

    My eyes twinkled as I immediately learned all the available skills. I ran towards an empty courtyard. Of course, it was empty due to the fact that almost all of the disciples here were on the battlefield. But now that my mission there was done, Why would I care about them?

    I switched to battle stance using the Low-Ranked Talismans that I obtained. But I got a feeling that using the High-Ranked Talismans when summoning my permanent battle partner was better so I changed to the High-Ranked Talismans. I turned towards an empty grassland and shouted.

    "Summon Familiar!" A burst of dark, icy qi surrounded my body as I shouted. This dark, and icy cold qi became a stream of qi which shot forth on the ground before me. A chiiing sound resonated as innumerable dark specks of light materialized to shape a being that I still couldn''t deduce.

    Judging from its height of which was only about twelve inches, and its body form with four legs and a wagging tail. I had a sense of premonition. Could this be a....

    Peng!

    A clear sound echoed as the gathered dark specks dispersed in a pace too fast for the naked eye to follow. What appeared before me was a puppy! Yes- a puppy! A dark puppy!

    I felt quite disappointed about the results. My permanent familiar was actually a puppy. What use does it have in a battle? But I remembered a heart-breaking scene in one of my followed novels which made me change my mindset towards this puppy. I immediately moved towards my User Interface and found out that another being had its stats displayed.

    [Dark Familiar Puppy (Heaven Defying) Level 1 - Qi Condensation Realm 1st Layer]

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    Health: 800

    Endurance: 16

    Strength: 20.5

    Magic Power: 295

    Qi: 827/827

    Defense: 13

    Attack: 49 - 54

    I calculated in my mind and found out that its stats was half of my one. Which means, as I get stronger. This cute little puppy will also become stronger. Currently, the puppy wagged its tail and directly leaped off from the ground towards my shoulder. It endlessly licked my face.

    Slightly feeling irritated. I decided to forcefully clutch it from my shoulder and place it on the ground. The puppy immediately cried with a ''Wu wu'' sound. Its eyes teary as it looked towards me in a pleading gaze.

    "Ah! I got it!" I said with annoyance as I once again placed it on my shoulder, letting it lick my face. The puppy cried and wagged its tail. It seems like its happy. I murmured to myself.

    I retracted my battle stance and opened my inventory. I tapped at the Essence Stones to find out its uses and the system displayed the following message which shocked me.

    [Essence Stones: Enables the user to recover lost qi from battle. User would need to meditate until the Essence Stones dimmed for its effect to show. Recovers 30% of lost qi. Cannot be used while in battle.]

    Recover lost qi? Now that I think about it. My qi went from 1653 to 1232. I thought, though I still didn''t understand why I lost so much qi when I just used Riposte to block the attacks of those two commanders. I could only sigh as I started to meditate. I withdrew an Essence Stone from my inventory.

    On my palm. The small stone which was as huge as a lanzones emitted a green calming light. I closed my eyes and started to meditate. As depicted by the system. After I regulated my breathing, the Essence Stone started to do its wonders and I could feel a faint relaxing aura enshrouding my body, filling it with vitality.

    Peng!

    An explosion surged as the Essence Stone before me disappeared. I turned towards my stats and found out that my qi went from 1232 to 1653 of which was the maximum limit.

    Now, its time to check that Book of History. I opened my inventory as usual and tapped on the icon of the Book of History. An archaic book which gave off a familiar nostalgic smell fell on my palm. I flipped it open and started reading the words depicted.

    It turns out that this game has ten realms of cultivation. The first realms was. Qi Condensation Realm, followed by the Qi Manifestation Realm, Qi Solidifying Realm, Qi Foundation Establishment Realm, Core Formation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, Severed Spirit Realm, Nirvana Ascension Realm, Dao Enlightenment Realm, and lastly the most fabled of all. Immortal Ascension.

    All realms had ten layers. In each realm, to ascend to the next. One would need to breakthrough. There were several items needed to breakthrough. For example, at the Qi Condensation Realm, one would need a Qi Thickening Pill.

    In the whole continent of the Green Cloud Continent. There were five major sects. First was the Burning Cloud Sect, followed by the Puppetry Sect, Solitary Sect, Soaring Dragon Sect, Sword Harmony Sect. Competitions between sects were fierce and in the most recent sect rankings. The most powerful sect was the Sword Harmony Sect followed by the Solitary Sect, Burning Cloud Sect and lastly the Puppetry Sect.

    A blinding light exploded before me as the book on my palm dissipated to ashes. Before I was able to adjust my mind as to what just happened. A system announcement flickered before me.

    [System Announcement: Please take notice, Player: Heaven Defying has exceeded the six hours limit of playing time. Any adverse health effects caused by playing after exceeding the recommended playing time will not hold the game company liable. Please be advised and log out.]

    I gave off a small laugh before closing the System Announcement. Six hours had already passed? To me it looked like I stayed here for a day. A day for about six hours in real world. That was quite good deal. I inwardly thought.

    I turned towards my User Interface and found out that the current time was already 8:30 AM. Hmm... I should visit Little Fatty soon. I was about to log-out when an epiphany struck through me. I forgot to look at the leveling rankings. Hmm... Just what level are those top experts right now.

    With a tap. The leveling ranks were displayed towards me.

    Level 10: Turning Mist

    Level 10: Cloudy Eyes

    Level 10: Hot Congee

    Level 10: Cocky Chicken

    Level 10: Little Flame

    Level 10: Domineering General

    Level 10: Unstoppable Reign

    Level 10: Undying Emperor

    Level 10: Wind Carrier

    Level 10: Gandalf.

    What the heck? All level ten? No one is level 11? I was quite shocked after looking towards their levels and found out that all of them had the same level. Why? I had some questions in my mind, but I decided to put it off for later. Now, I still need to go to Little Fatty''s house.

    I turned towards my User Interface and exited the game.

 Chapter 8: A Visit.

    [Systems shutting down...]

    A flash of bright light struck my eyes as I regained senses. I took off the gaming helmet on my head and found out that my head was filled with sweat. I stood up, surprisingly. I didn''t feel any fatigue. It looks like what they said about the gaming helmet was true. It can really be used while sleeping.  I inwardly thought.

    I moved towards the bathroom and took a small bath. I changed my clothes and cooked a simple, meal of eggs and toasted bread. With my laptop on my side, I browsed through the thread in the game Conquest that I created yesterday.

    As usual, almost all of the comments were about my greatness and how I conquered the games most difficult dungeon. Conquest was the last game that I conquered. Of all the fifty games that I''ve beaten Conquest was the hardest of them all.

    A/N: Imagine Dark Souls'' difficulty being raised for about twenty times.

    With a sigh, I decided to delete the thread and moved the tab to the Sealed Heavens official forum. While scrolling leisurely in the General Discussions tab. I found a thread which mentioned my name

    [Post By: (Player: Striking Knight)]

    I found the God of Games, Heaven Defying! He is a disciple at the Solitary Sect!!! UP UP UP UP!

    Comments:

    [Post By: (Player: Gandalf)]

    Hahaha! That arrogant bastard is here again? Coincidentally I am also in the Solitary Sect, and I wasn''t able to see his name in the Leveling Ranking. It seems like that guy doesn''t have much hope in conquering this game, huh...

    [Post By: (Player: Domineering General)]

    I think we shouldn''t underestimate the God of Games too much. Remember Conquest? He actually conquered the most difficult dungeon by himself! Fuck! What kind of bullshit was that?! But I believed it because I saw it with my own eyes... Right now, who knows what kind of miracle will that guy do in this new breakthrough of a game.

    [Post By: (Player: Passing Flower)]

    Yeah, right! UP UP UP UP !

    Hmm? Domineering General? This name sounds familiar... Did I met him in the earlier games?  I inwardly laughed as I continued It seems like my popularity among players didn''t lessen, to think that my rivals in the previous game still thought of me as a rival... Hahahaha

    I ended my self thinking and turned off my laptop. I took my smartphone and started scrolling to the contacts page and called Little Fatty. After about ten seconds of ringing, a voice dismissed my call saying that the subscriber wasn''t available.

    I sighed, that little!

    After dressing myself appropriately. I moved towards my garage. I was a daze to found out that I totally forgot about my Audi A3 being pierced by bullets. But instead of feeling angry, I felt melancholic. This little companion had accompanied me for about three years already, now look at it... All pierced with bullets like a porcupine.

    I sighed with complex emotions as I moved outside the house and observed it. The house which I stayed in didn''t look extremely luxurious nor shabby. It was just average enough for a person living in an urbanized area. But though I could see many houses with the same designs down the street. I had the feeling that this house contained almost all the years of my childhood.

    I thought of my deceased father and couldn''t help but feel a surge of complex emotions. Should I be angry? I don''t know...

    I curbed my surging emotions and decided to take the bus towards a certain province. Hebei Sheng.

    ...

    After travelling for about ten hours. I finally arrived near a house with a huge courtyard. The house was decorated in an archaic, yet classic way. The fences were built with long living bamboos and people used traditional clothes when they scurried around. The spirit of the old were actually preserved to this extent! I thought in my mind.

    Looking at this peaceful, full of harmony of a house. I was reluctant to take the steps to head inside. Little Fatty was my childhood friend. A precious childhood friend that accompanied me through my rough early years of life.

    "Ah! Lil'' Zhang!" A voice full of mirth struck my pious mind. A bolt of lightning struck me awake as I turned. Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw... Little Fatty.

    "Little Fatty..." I murmured, before me. A girl with round brown eyes and a perfectly complemented complexion paired with a bun like hairstyle. Her figure smiled towards me, her curvaceous visage almost made me unable to believe that she was the Little Fatty that I knew. After all, so many years have passed.

    The girl didn''t say anymore words. She leaped towards me and buried her face unto my chest. Time seemed to slow down, we recounted our pasts together as we indulged in our dreamland.

    After this dramatic reunion. Little Fatty or should I say. Izzy Wenceslao. Yes- That was her real name, her name didn''t sound like it came from a chinese ancestry, of course, after all. She came from a distant land called the Pearl of the East.

    I found out that her grandmother was still in the market. Selling dried fishes and xiaolongbao</a>. Earlier, she was about to buy some food for dinner. It was late in the night, yet her grandmother was still working. Even I couldn''t fathom her grandmother''s passion for work. When I was still a child, her grandmother had always done this. Working to an extent that I found to be unbelievable for a sixty years old grandmother.

    Izzy offered me a small pious dinner of dried dough sticks and soya milk, of course. With some of her signature Oolong tea. After short banters about what happened in this years, the atmosphere tensed up as she asked a question that struck me hard.

    "Have you forgiven your father?" She asked, her voice contained uncertainty. My hand subconsciously tensed up. A strange feeling of complex emotions roused inside my chest.

    I wanted to speak the words inside my mind, But I wasn''t able to. All the words that I wanted to say became stuck on my tongue.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    "Forget it. I know you don''t want to talk about him." Izzy didn''t say anymore words and sipped on her Oolong tea. I also didn''t pursue it any longer. But deep within my mind. I wanted to let go of this feelings. Clenching my fists. I stammered as I spoke.

    "F-father... I had already forgiven him." I tried my best to speak these words. When I was just five years old. My father left our household. Mother was forced to work herself harder. Mother worked in a retail in the morning until noon, and in the afternoon. Mother would wash the laundry for our neighbors. At night, Mother would read me stories until it was late. And in dawn, she would get herself ready for the morning shift in a retail store.

    There was a time when I said to Mother that I would stop going to school and help her in household chores. She insisted to me not to stop going to school. I was persistent, but I understood that Mother was doing this for my education. After all, we were a necessitous family.

    I continued in my studying, and increased my hard work for about several folds. That was until Mother fell sick. At that time I was frantic to find money for Mother''s medicines. I wasn''t even able to pay the doctor for her check ups. Despair filled my heart at that time. Until I found a certain website.

    That website seemed suspicious, they offered loans with unknown interests. After finding out that the location depicted in the website was nearby. A gleam of hope brightened inside my mind. With this, I will be able to heal Mother! Or so I thought.

    But unbeknownst to me. The loan that I expected to pay with low interest was actually astronomically high. Because I signed a contract in haste. I didn''t read the terms and conditions due to my mindset. I needed money to have Mother undergo her operation fast.

    In the end. I got the money, and Mother who was suffering with leukemia was operated on. However, after several months. I completely forgot about the loan that I did. I was heart stricken to find out that my debt was already a hundred thousand RMB.

    I tried my best to pay that despicable loan shark. At first, I wanted to report him to the police, but I found out that he had extremely deep connections with the police force itself. That bastard threatened me to kill my mother If I didn''t hand over the money by next month.

    At that time. Mother''s leukemia returned despite the operation that was done to her. Because of that, I needed even more money but the loan shark would not lend me any. However, after seeing that I was desperate for money. He gave me a deal in exchange of mother''s operation.

    And that was to work under them. I worked with them for nearly a year. Enduring excruciating pain, and sufferings. The horrendous scars on my body was the solid evidence of my perseverance. After that, I finally was able to break free from their reins.

    I invested my money in a company. Thankfully, the company went booming by the following years and my shares skyrocketed. Earning me hundreds of thousands of money. But in the end. Money cannot buy life. When Mother died, I swore that I will not forgive father and that I will live and become stronger.

    All of the distant memories flashed before my eyes. When I woke up, I found out that It was already morning. I stood up and adjusted my clothes. I looked around the unfamiliar room around me and the laid out bed that I slept on. A smile emerged from my lips.

    It was at that moment that a strange presence suddenly emerged from behind me. I crouched down as a streak of wind went past the location where my head was. Thankfully, I was able to react in time and swoop with a kick to the assailant behind me!

    The mysterious assailant leaped backwards avoiding my kick. I turned and gazed towards him. He wore a completely black robe and a mysterious mask covered his face from the chin to the lips. The man flicked his wrists to the side and clenched his fists. I closed my eyes and I entered a strange state. The airflow around me quickened and I could detect the movements of the objects around me fluidly in a ten meter radius!

    When I opened my eyes. A cold light flashed by as I chopped with my palm to the side. Clang! A small dagger with a green sticky substance on the tip fell on the ground. Hidden Armaments?!

    I turned back and charged towards the assailant. My steps rapid as I approached with clenched fists. The assailant grumbled before he slowly turned to the side. Underneath his robes, his left arm suddenly stretched towards my heart! On his clenched palm was a military knife!

    I remained calm all the time as I used my left hand to deflect it back. A Clang sound echoed as I slapped the knife to the side. Because of this, the assailant lost his balance and taking advantage of this gap. I leaped and made downward kick towards his skull!

    The assailant became flustered. But he reacted immediately and withdrew a small archaic tablet from his robes. He crushed the tablet as an aquatic barrier materialized. My kick struck the aquatic barrier followed by a deflecting force. Because I was in mid-air the force sent me flying backwards. I stabilized my body in mid-air and gracefully landed.

    "Who are you?! What did you do to Izzy and Grandma Lin?!" I shouted towards the assailant. My voice slightly shook his body. But instead of becoming threatened. He removed his pitch-black robes and a common uniform which widened my eyes was displayed before me.

    The Police!

    Panic struck my mind. After all, I worked several times in the underworld.

    My body instinctively crouched down. Preparing for a fierce battle that may occur in a moment. My arm became enshrouded by a faint icy aura that seemed to drop the temperature inside the room for several degrees.

    "Hahahaha..."

    The Police Officer gave a laugh. He removed his mask and a familiar face unveiled. It was a middle-aged man with crooked eyebrows. His face had a y like scar on his left cheek. His domineering visage made me shout.

    "General Shuixin!"

    A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter, if you have any suggestions to make or criticisms it is welcome at the comments section.