The moment Li Xuan stepped out of the Tomb of the Thousand Hell Gates, the sky above the academy dimmed slightly—as if it too felt the presence of the monster now walking amongst mortals.
He moved silently, cloak bloodied and torn, but his stride carried weight. The guards at the tomb's entrance instinctively stepped back. One even dropped his weapon.
System:
—Mission Evaluation Complete—
—Brutality: Extreme.
—Close Combat: God-tier.
—Kill Count: Excessive.
—Rewards Calculated.—
A glowing interface hovered in front of his eyes, casting a faint blue shimmer across his face.
—Reward 1: Cultivation Boost (minor)
—Reward 2: Ability Unlocked — Soul Sight
—Reward 3: God's Eye Fragment
—Reward 4: Bonus Evaluation—
Raw Power Exceeds Current Utilization Threshold.
Granting Compatibility Weapon.
Storage Unlocked: Dimensional Ring Initiated.
Reward Dispensed: Dark Saber — [Heaven-Shearing Executioner]
Thud.
Something impossibly heavy dropped into his storage ring, sending a shockwave through his soul. He closed his eyes and summoned it.
From a flash of darkness emerged a long saber — obsidian-black, with faint crimson runes etched along its blade. It was thick, brutish, and felt alive in his grip.
He slashed it once through the air. The air screamed.
System:
—Weight: 7,200 jin.
—Type: Destruction.
—Bound to Host.
—Passive: Each swing sharpens battle instinct. Absorbs blood to evolve.—
Li Xuan's lips curled into a faint grin. "Now that's a weapon."
A flick of his wrist sent the saber vanishing back into his ring.
System:
—New Feature Unlocked: System Points (SP)
—Earned by completing missions, brutal kills, cultivation milestones.
—SP Required to Upgrade System Intelligence.
—Current SP: 137
—Next Upgrade: 500 SP
—Note: Higher Intelligence grants better communication and autonomous system suggestions.—
Li Xuan nodded slowly. This was good. No… this was the start.
And he hadn't even begun.
—
Three days passed.
He returned to the academy grounds like a ghost slipping through the cracks. Most assumed he'd died in the tomb. Some openly celebrated.
But when they saw him at the library steps, flipping through ancient scrolls like nothing had happened… silence swept the crowd.
"Isn't that…?"
"He survived?!"
"He looks… stronger. Different."
None dared approach. Not after seeing the faint red glow in his eyes and the way his death aura made cultivators three realms above him step aside.
Li Xuan reached the movement technique section of the academy library.
System:
—Recommended: Phantom Step — Low Heaven Grade
—Cost: 1,000 contribution points or 1,000 gold—
He didn't hesitate.
From the tomb, he had looted dozens of guardian rings, spirit jades, relics. A small fortune. He cashed in everything but the most valuable.
He walked out with Phantom Step in one hand, and an ancient qi compression technique in the other.
He needed control. Precision. Refinement.
Raw power could destroy, but refined power… would dominate.
—
That night, he sat cross-legged within the hidden cultivation chamber beneath the academy—a privilege granted only to elite students.
He held a small golden token.
System:
—You discovered a hidden reward: Academy's Spiritual Key
—Access Granted: Heavenly Spirit Pool—
—Conditions: One use. Limited time.
—Warning: Over-absorption may rupture meridians—
Li Xuan activated the token.
In a flash, he stood in a chamber filled with ethereal mist and glowing liquid.
The Heavenly Spirit Pool.
He stripped off his cloak and stepped into the pool, pain lancing through his body instantly.
It was as if lightning fused with lava flowed through his veins.
He gritted his teeth. He didn't scream.
He endured.
System:
—Spiritual Meridians Reinforced
—Soul Sea Expanded by 12%
—Perception Increased Significantly
—Cultivation Breakthrough Imminent: [Late Qi Condensation] 89%—
His mind calmed.
He now understood.
Everything until now had been preparation.
This was the threshold.
He emerged from the pool with skin steaming and muscles thrumming with power. His spiritual energy was vast. His perception… terrifying.
When he opened his eyes, they shimmered like twin blood moons.
Red. Striking. Unnatural.
System:
—Skill Integration Compatible
—Technique Suggestions Pending—
He now had three things:
1. Raw Power
2. Refined Control
3. A Weapon Made for Slaughter
—
The next day, as he walked through the outer sect grounds, a commotion broke out near the mission board.
"Hey! Who the hell cut in line?!"
"Do you want to die?!"
All voices stopped when they saw him.
Li Xuan walked past the gathered disciples. No words. Just presence.
He reached the board and scanned.
—Available Mission:
'Purge the Blackwind Bandits' – Mid Qi Condensation Enemies, Reward: 300 gold
'Escort Merchant Caravan' – Low danger, Reward: 120 gold
'Soul Grass Collection (Cursed Lands)' – High risk, Reward: 700 gold—
He chose the Cursed Lands.
And then he chose the Bandits.
Two missions. Simultaneous.
System:
—Double Mission Mode Activated
—Warning: Death Probability: 78.3%
—Host Response?—
He smirked. "Good odds."
—
Behind him, a few outer sect disciples exchanged fearful glances.
"Who is he?"
"He's not one of us. He's… something else."
Somewhere in the inner sect, a certain elder watched from a spirit mirror, eyes narrowed.
"That boy… he's moving like Long Tian did in his youth. But there's something darker inside him."
Another elder leaned forward. "Should we suppress him early?"
"No," the first said quietly. "We watch. And when he rises… we choose."
—
That night, alone beneath the stars, Li Xuan looked at the long saber resting beside him.
The system spoke again—clearer than before, more humanlike:
"Li Xuan. Your strength is rising, but your path is drenched in blood. Are you prepared for what comes next?"
He didn't even blink.
"Always."
System:
—New Mission: Survive Lightning Tribulation
—Estimated Time to Trigger: Unknown.
—Reward: Companion Lightning Serpent (???), ???—
Li Xuan smiled.
Not yet.
But soon.
Chapter End.
Cultivation Status: Late Qi Condensation (89%)
System Points: 137 / 500
Companion Flame Serpent: Dormant
Current Techniques: Phantom Step, Close Combat (Self-taught), Qi Compression
Weapon: Heaven-Shearing Executioner (Bound Saber)
System Storage: Activated
Academy Standing: Outer Disciple (Feared)