《Premordial essence system》


 First Start

    A young boy with his fragile skeletal wrist reached out to the old dusty cup to drink the last drinkable water from it, even though the water in the cup was brownish and nothing at all like clean water.


    The last bit of water. Just a little further from his lips.


    Death! It was like death screaming, laughing in his presence, begging for a hug. His eyes met with the fierce crimson eyes of a beast.


    The abyssal beast''s eyes looked at him like it was in a fierce beast competition with him.


    He knew that even a blink of an eye would lead him to his death, so he didn''t dare move or take a breath.


    The twitch of an eye could lead him into trouble. The abyssal beast doesn''t harm anything inanimate because it only goes for walking prey that it can chase.


    Clink! Unexpectedly the crappy cup from the boy''s hand fell, causing loud noise in the room, and at that moment of shock, the boy''s eye twitched.


    The boy''s heart beat rapidly after the incident. His fate was already decided.


    The abyssal beast''s crimson eyes disappeared from the hole in the wall, and soon the ground started vibrating.


    The boy''s feet became unstable, and he fell. He took a big gulp of his saliva.


    He knew what was happening. The shaking was caused by the abyssal beast, and it plans to rip the shabby house apart to chase its prey.


    He had been discovered; the boy tried to stabilize his feet getting off from the flow, and hurriedly he looked for some sharp object.


    Anything sharp could save his life: a kitchen knife, a rusty broken mirror, a fork.


    Kitchen items scattered on the ground as the boy rampaged for something sharp.


    Finally, he beamed like a rainbow when a knife from a corner below the kitchen board got to his hand.


    The abyssal beast terror fell more on the fragile house, and the foundation of the house, brick, by brick crumbled to the ground.


    The crumbling of the house was going to kill him anyway, but the boy did not wait for death, instead, he swiftly ran with his short feet to the door, escaping the crumbling house.


    All doors for survival were closed; the abyssal beast was outside, but the house was crumbling at the same time, and either way, he was going to die. But the boy wasn''t a coward to wait for a simple death. If not, what was the point of him getting the rusty kitchen knife in his hand? He would have used that time to flee to nowhere he knew he could not survive.


    The house crumbled, finally, and dust filled everywhere, making the air pungent, unfit for anyone to take a nice breath.


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    The boy coughed, struggling to breathe. The abyssal beast was now in his eyes, a beast ten thousand feet taller than him.


    The creature, like Satan or Grim Reaper, comes to take his soul away.


    The foul beast, with its large body, red flesh bulking out of it, and its skin nothing like skin but mixed with its flesh that seems rotten.


    The word beauty was nothing related to the beast; only the tiny string of hair in its body and set of sharp white teeth could be called the beauty features of the beast.


    Although it was a distorted creature, slightly laughable to look at, it did not stop it from being a fierce creature. The abyssal beast lunged its feet towards the boy, as he was too tiny for it to use its claw effectively.


    The boy saw the monster''s feet coming at him, and at that moment he leaped like lightning, escaping any of the monster''s attacks that came towards him.


    Left and right. Repeatedly the monster attacked, and the boy was like a tiny ball of light playing with a beast.


    The boy seemed to be working very hard to survive, and he seemed to have gotten the beast right where he had wanted.


    With the beast distracted, focusing on smashing him. The boy with a speed of flash aimed the kitchen knife at the eyes of the monster.


    It was a very clear hit. The kitchen knife pierced the right eye of the beast, causing a perilous cry to escape the beast''s oddly shaped mouth.


    The boy''s lips twitched something close to a smile¡ªhis plan had worked.


    But it was peaceful before the chaos. The abyssal beast that had just gotten its eye that contained all its powers pierced. Gathered its strength and whipped its tail towards the boy, catching the boy off guard and sending him flying towards the tall old pillars.


    The boy greased his brow.


    I hate what is going on now. This was a disgrace to a warrior like me. A proud cultivator defeated by a beast that is not even at level one stage of power. Very laughable.


    While the boy was staring at the erratic dark sky, thinking twice about life, a familiar voice rang in his mind, and his vision blurred. When his eyes refocused, a familiar holographic display flashed in front of him. The words ¡°mission accomplished¡± flashed boldly, followed by a stream of data:


    MISSION: Defeat the abyssal beast and survive it.


    STATUS: completed.


    REWARDS: +20 EXP + 2% level 0 ultimate essence collection master cultivator (still locked until essence is collected)


    OBJECT: Collect the essence of the abyssal beast.


    The boy wanted to roll his eyes, seeing the system bar that had popped up in his mind.


    I almost got killed just from drinking water. Can this alien in my head do anything worse? It took all my powers, and now I can do nothing. I never knew the abyssal beast would be part of the mission; I might have been a goner if I hadn''t pushed myself to the limit of killing that loathsome beast.


    The boy had all the right to say anything he wanted in his heart. Because the system, which seemed to be his enemy and helper at the same time, couldn''t read his thoughts, and so he got his free will to curse all he wanted.


    Before the boy could further catch his breath, the system voice chimed in his head again.


    [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: SIGNS OF LIFE FOUND!


    Eradicate the abyssal beast


    WAIT TILL FURTHER NOTICE FOR YOUR GAINS !!]


    The system appeared panicked this time around, and the boy panicked too because he had drained the last bit of strength to fight the abyssal beast.


    Why does the system always push me into death traps?


    Maybe I should just get the essence from the beast while it is still alive.


    His train of thought was going in another direction that he did not know. If the system could read his thoughts, it would have warned him to stop his dangerous string of thoughts.


    ¡°System, do I have to go and fight that monster all over again, or is there a shortcut? Can I extract its essence while it''s still alive?¡±


    Lucky for the boy, he decided to ask the system before he took any action.


    [SYSTEM: well done. Now you are one wrong move away from becoming the beast''s dinner. ]


    The boy wanted to be shrugged, but he couldn''t. He had no strength left.


    He checked his status bar, a green holographic screen:


    [STATUS BAR]


    POWER: -6


    AGILITY -78


    WILLPOWER: -0]


    I''m too tired to fight that beast again. Is there an easier way?


    Like that, his enthusiasm dropped, just like his willpower.


    It was time to perform the unpleasant task of extracting the beast''s essence ¨Cits energy ball, to be precise.

 Mission

    The boy stared at the small blue ball lying in the middle of his palm. The system had been kind enough and gave him some little energy boost to finish the beast and take the last essence, and now he was truly tired.


    "When are you going to tell me what you use the essence of my defeated enemies for?"


    The boy asked the system in his mind, but all he got was a bitter silence.


    The boy panted and dropped his butt to the floor, without a care in the world. His eyes drifted off to the crumbled house. And for a moment, he missed home.


    He isn''t actually from this place: the realm of chaos and other bizarre elements. He was a cultivator, happy with his life and his proud cultivation.


    But bad things happened. When a siege happened, he was a participant in it, and to his misfortune, he got killed, and he died.


    By the time he opened his eyes, he found himself not dead but alive, and then he got to meet his system. The system: something that he finds alien and baffling.


    It did not take long for the reason he got the system to become clear. The system saved his life and brought him to the chaotic realm, and he got to work for it like a well-obedient slave, well, a slave with benefits. He gets to upgrade and cultivate the new cultivation that the system has made for him. In return, he gives the system all his trophies (gained Essence), and he gains name and power (immortality).


    And after immortality, he can go back to his world. A pretty nice deal with the system being the sponsor and him the hard-working young fella. But the situation he found himself in was hard.


    All his powers in his real world, he has lost it all. Now he was just a weak orphan trying to survive.


    His role was like a player in a level-up game according to what the system has said. He is not sure about it.


    ...


    As the system refused to answer him, the boy sighed, playing with the dirt that came to his hands, "I feel like what you are making me do is evil cultivation. I mean, you haven''t explained everything clearly to me.¡±


    ¡°The essence that I''m collecting. Isn''t it like stealing one''s life-earned cultivation?¡± He continued to question as the system kept still in silence.


    He needed a clear understanding of what had happened to him. Everything about his new cultivation and more details. But the system was being a wood and not answering him.


    Awkward silence. The boy did not want to say anything again. Already giving up on having any more chat with the system, but that was when the system voice sounded in his mind. The system''s quick response.


    "The essence that you collect is not an act of evil cultivation. In this realm of chaos, the strong dominate the weak, and the weak they leave them to surfer under their will.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°It is by all rights that a warrior or cultivator takes their trophy, and after winning a battle, the essence you collect from your defeated enemies is your reward."


    "I get it now," the boy mumbled slightly to the system in his heart. Getting up, he dusted his butt, now staring at the crumbled home. Life was hard enough. The house was pretty old, but it still held him from the cold and monsters. Although the protection was not lasting, it was still a fifty percent means of his survival.


    "System, where will I live?" His worried expression was clear on his eyebrows. The land outside the old house was not safe. Monsters, demons and beasts could easily destroy him, and eat his bones.


    The house was his only territory. He can easily avoid danger, which he was sure of.


    But as for the environment outside the house, he was not so sure about it.


    The boy sighed, still waiting for the system''s response.


    The system steadfastly answered the boy, "Don''t worry. The shabby house will rebuild itself in no moment."


    The system seemed to know a lot, and in no time, the boy saw the broken bricks reconstructing themselves. Many bricks floated in the air, simultaneously forming building blocks and finally bringing the house back to shape.


    The boy looked in slight awe at the phenomenon that had happened. He was not shocked. He was so familiar with strange things happening, but he still.


    Smiled, grateful the house was fixable. "Ha! I can have a nice rest. My bones need some stretching."


    In his moments of feeling relief, the system interface gave another update in his mind.


    [System: NEW MISSION ARRIVAL!!]


    [Mission: A group of evil bandit cultivators are planning to attack a helpless orphan. Fight the bandits, defend your home, and come back with no skin sliced.]


    Difficulty: easy


    Object: Collect the cultivation essence of the bandits.


    Rewards:


    +60 Exp


    +50% increase in level 0 ultimate essence primary cultivator.


    Tools: (the weapons or objects found on the bandits are your gains)


    Skills: Essence detector


    "This is too quick. The energy boost has exhausted all my strength." the boy furrowed his brow, dashing into the renewed house to lock the doors and all entrances that connect the house to the outside.


    Safety first, before any battles. His mind was too unstable at the moment to rush into fighting the bandits. He has got no stamina, and he didn''t know the race of the bandits. The system didn''t make that clear to him.


    If the Bandits were giants, they might crush him, and if they were orcs, it was just his sweet luck.


    "It is pointless what you are doing," the system''s discouraging words sounded in his ears. The boy''s action, to the system, it was just a waste of time trying to avoid the inevitable. The boy should stand at the front door and welcome the Bandits with might.


    The boy growled slightly, ignoring the system''s words. He had heard the system through too many discouraging words too many times. If he hadn''t used his acute calculation, he wouldn''t have survived until now.


    "How long does it take for the bandits to reach here?" The boy asked the system as he moved, gathering things to shield the window, and he did not forget the tiny hole in the wall that had regenerated, the thing that almost brought him to his doom with the abyssal beast.


    The boy took a deep breath of relief, looking at the doors and windows that he had well shielded.


    At least it gives him a little time to hide before the bandits break the door.


    The system sneered at the look on the boy''s face, keeping silent again. The system silence did not affect the boy. He has learned that the system, as a thing that offered small help to him, it does not care about the life or death of this body that he inhabits, because it could easily find another person to use.


    "You have an hour till the bandits arrive," the system reply came too late for the boy to realize that it was talking to him.


    The boy turned with a slight frown, and then he nodded. "Yes, that time is enough to calm my mind. By the time the Bandit gets here or breaks the doors or windows, I would have observed their skills by then; fighting them won''t be hard."


    As the boy said that, he went and hid behind a stone statue. He took a deep breath, standing still.


    The time would be long, he thought, slightly bored, and he decided to the system.


    The boy''s heart was unstable and frightful.


    Talking to the system to calm his racing heart was the only way. So he started some random conversation not suitable for the moment.


    "Uh, so about the essence. What do you do with it?"


    [SYSTEM: I NEED PEACE; SILENCE YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN.]


    The boy rolled his eyes and refused to keep silent. "Won''t you answer me? Are you keeping some big secret?". You know what is best for you; just give me all the essence. You don''t seem to need it from what I observed."


    [SYSTEM: The system business does not concern you. Accept what the system provides.]


    "What have you offered?" the boy asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes and slapping the scorpion that had somehow crawled to his neck.


    [You are disturbing!]


    The system voice said with an annoyed tone.


    The boy had something to say and wanted to move his lips.


    But then the system voice came as chills in his heart.


    [ALERT: BANDITS HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR LOCATION.]


    "Damn! you. system, you said an hour"

 Fatal hit.

    Boom boom. The vibration of the earth outside shook with rhythm as if giants were coming.


    The boy took a deep breath, looking at the rusty sword in his hand. He was only at level 0 of the ultimate master essence cultivation, so he couldn¡¯t use spiritual force to battle the enemies.


    How many bandits were there, and what were their levels?


    The booster was limited and drained his powers. The system chose now, when he was at his weakest, to send him into danger. It felt like a cruel fate.


    Sweat beaded on his temple. He felt the sweat on his palms.


    The system, almost as if it could read his heart, sounded its voice in his mind.


    [System: THERE ARE FIVE BANDITS OUTSIDE. ADDING IN THEIR BOSS MAKES SIX.]


    [THE BOSS IS AT LEVEL 2 CULTIVATION. HIS MINIONS ARE AT LEVEL 0 AND 1.]


    The boy frowned. That piece of information wasn¡¯t comforting at all.


    His heart pounded.


    Using one of his cheats, he zeroed in on a bandit outside. A scared, lean figure with warrior-like banners on his hands stood out.


    His powers were pure combat. At least he could exchange a few strikes with the bandit, inflict fatal injuries, and potentially kill him.


    However, another figure caught his attention. A massive figure, like a giant, floating in the air. The boy observed. This person relied more on the spiritual. He was going to be a formidable enemy. Someone difficult to defeat.


    While the others gave him the feeling that he could handle them, the real challenge was when he locked eyes with the boss.


    The guy was at level 2. He wasn¡¯t sure if his powers had gotten there.


    The boy¡¯s hand on the stone statue clenched. He wanted to give up. There was no point in fighting.


    The system voice sounded further in the boy¡¯s mind, with more resolution.


    [SYSTEM: DON¡¯T BE A COWARD. GO OUT THERE AND FIGHT THE BANDITS. IN THE END, THEIR LEFTOVERS ARE YOURS.]


    The boy rolled his eyes at what the system said. "Thank goodness you said leftovers. I¡¯m looking for a way to survive, brother, not a way to die!!"


    His heart raced. Even when he communicated with the system in his mind, the system was an unpredictable ally.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    The boy heard the bandits.


    "Break the door. Bang harder."


    ¡°You moron, hit harder. I can''t believe it''s an ordinary door that you can¡¯t break!¡±


    It seemed to be the leader of the bandits who cursed and ordered his men.


    "Boss, it seems to have a spell we can¡¯t break."


    "And the spell seems to be powerful."


    The bandits complained, hitting the door harder.


    "Work harder, idiots!"


    [System: BEWARE. THE DOOR WON¡¯T KEEP YOU SAFE MUCH LONGER. BE READY TO RUN INTO ACTION. YOU CAN¡¯T AVOID THE INEVITABLE.]


    The system¡¯s cold, heartless warnings hit the boy hard, but he knew there was no turning back. He must face them. He was ready.


    Boom!


    The bandit broke the door open.


    All of them immediately rushed forward.


    The boy sprang from the stone statue, delivering a sharp kick to the lean bandit¡¯s face.


    Before the bandit could react, another attacked from behind. The boy, still locked on the first target, whipped his sword backward and slashed across the bandit¡¯s neck. Blood splattered, and the man crumpled to the ground.


    The boy spun, his body flowing like water, dodging the strikes from the remaining bandits. He was already on the offensive, cutting through their defenses as he moved.


    A bandit who hovered in the air sent spiritual blades flying toward him. The boy¡¯s senses kicked in. He tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the attack. The floating bandit smirked, and his eyes gleamed with malice.


    "Die, stupid brat. Your treasures are ours," he sneered, sending another flurry of blades.


    They sent more spirit blades toward the boy. The boy jumped, skipped, and performed acrobatics, escaping death.


    The floating bandit needed to be dealt with... the boy, in a nick of time and deep thought...


    The boy made his choice. He hurled his rusty knife toward the head of the floating bandit.


    The sword didn¡¯t just cut his head but sent his hair pinned to the wall.


    The boy¡¯s eyebrows furrowed together. Even with the slight victory, his face showed no pleasure.


    In that last attack, which he used on the floating bandit, he inserted his small amount of spiritual force. At such a point, his chance of survival was slim. Whenever he used spiritual energy for his level, he took 20% damage for his frail body. The pain was hard enough to handle.


    [System: Stupid decision.]


    The boy ignored the system and focused more on the bandits who appeared fierce because he had killed one of their own.


    "You¡¯ll pay for killing my brother," the leader of the bandits attacked, rushing at the boy with his spear.


    As the blade came at his neck, the boy flew over and dodged the lean bandit¡¯s approach.


    The lean bandit swiftly flew up, sending a sharp spear attack at the boy. The spear aimed at his chest.


    The boy used his double knives, stopping the force of the coming strike. He couldn¡¯t retrieve his force, because any mistake would cause the blade to pierce his heart.


    The boy pushed forward as the bandit pushed harder.


    The boy refused to reduce his hold on the knives.


    Both the bandit and the boy persisted.


    The sweat on the boy¡¯s face grew plentiful, and some drops dripped onto his knives.


    The situation seemed fine at first, but it turned out to be far from good.


    The system¡¯s voice sounded in the boy¡¯s mind at that moment of intense action.


    [SYSTEM: Rewards: cheat for 2.0 seconds. Skill: The Ultimate Force of Earth.]


    The system notification rang like a god¡ªno, a savior¡ªin the boy¡¯s mind. And at that moment, he felt his powers grow considerably. With just a little push, he sent the bandit flying, his body like a lifeless thing hitting the stone statue, shattering it.


    The boy mumbled a silent thank you in his heart to the system.


    Now he was fully serious. His attention shifted back to the few remaining bandits. A smirk stretched across his face.


    "What are you all looking at? Come, fight me if you have the courage. I promise your death won¡¯t be as easy as his."


    The faces of the remaining bandits twisted into grimaces of anger.


    The system in the boy¡¯s mind, for the first time, cheered.


    [SYSTEM: GOOD, THAT''S HOW A MAN SHOULD ACT. DON¡¯T BE A COWARD IN THE FACE OF DANGER.]


    The boy would have sneered and engaged in a fierce argument with the system if he hadn¡¯t been in the middle of something critical.


    His attention stayed on the leader of the bandits, who had come forward.


    Bandit Leader: "You brat. Very impressive. You could be an exceptional talent in the future. But sadly, you shall die by my blade today!"


    The boy wiped his sweat, and a smug smirk appeared on his face.


    "You, bandits, should all be ashamed of yourselves. Attacking a helpless orphan. What value do I bring to you?"


    The leader of the bandits sneered. "Keep on pretending to be stupid. This territory alone is a treasure. By killing the owner of the territory, which is you, we can own it and create a home for my bandit brothers!"


    The boy swung his sword into action.


    "Oh, spare me the crap and get into action. I hate people talking about killing me."


    His knife cut the ear of the bandit leader. Before he could react, his blood spread freely in the environment. His ear fell for the wild mice to feed on.


    The leader of the bandits


    roared in pain.


    And without reason, he used all of his force, sending the blade toward the boy¡¯s head.


    [SYSTEM: AN UNAVOIDABLE ATTACK. BEWARE!]