I materialized [Bow]. An arrow slotted itself as soon as my free hand touched the bowstring. I activated [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Silver] in conjunction with [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode White]. It became easy for me to notice the living beings, even if they were many kilometers away.

Calming my breath, I shot the arrow. With a ‘whoosh!’ it traversed through the air and disappeared after few kilometers. It didn’t hit anything. It wasn’t supposed to.

The arrows kept slotting themselves automatically and I kept shooting them, making them disappear at the exact same place where the first arrow disappeared. A few arrows were off a little but most reached the target I had designated

Ding!

Congratulations!

Your Skill has leveled up.

is now Level 5.

I frowned. It had been a long while since any of my skills leveled up.

GENERAL

Name

Su Ren

Age

11 years old

Cultivation Method

Heart’s Yearning

Realm

Qi Gathering 9

(999/1000 Essence)

Lifeforce

5580/5580 (Regeneration: 20% per second)

Qi

5640/5640 (Regeneration: 20% per second)

ATTRIBUTES

Strength

537

Physique

558

Movement

556

Control

555

Soul

564

Comprehension

580

Charm

68

Fate

41

INNATE TRAITS

Innards of a God

Kaleidoscope Eye

Photosynthesis

Eternal Stratum (Incomplete)

############

Heavenly Butterfly Flame

Bow

Living Grimoire

Bond:

Byakko (White Tiger)

QI SKILL LIST

Slot

Skill Name

Rating

Level

1.

Qi Arrow

Unranked

8/10

2.

Earth Steps

Epic

7/10

3.

Heart Force

Unranked

5/10

4.

Spiritual Sense

Unranked

3/10

5.

Mindscape

Epic

1/10

I hadn’t observed much growth the past few weeks. The easy and comfortable life I had in the city was not a good influence on my development.

Next, I sat down and trained . But this skill was so stubborn that it refused to level up in spite of all the training I did. After thirty minutes, I could only give up. I hoped it would accumulate and eventually level up. I thought about training my other skills but gave up in the end. What I lacked was not training but stimulus. Thus, I ended my daily routine.

Should I make a trip to the magical forest? I could fight all the beasts I wanted. The city was starting to make me feel stifled. It was too peaceful. Apart from the Arena, people were not allowed to fight anywhere within its walls. It was the Law. Everyone had to obey it, even if it was the City Lord.

Well, there were small fights. It seemed fine as long as there were no deaths and serious injuries.

“Young master.” Xue’er approached me with a towel as soon as she noticed that I was done.

I couldn’t help but cringe inwardly when I saw her. She was dressed in a maid uniform!

After that small incident at the restaurant, she had insisted on buying some sets. I never knew that she could be that adamant. The impetus was the momentary lapse of concentration I suffered when I saw a real life maid for the first time.

I took the towel and wiped the sweat from my face.

She took the towel back like it was natural. She had totally stepped into the role of a maid. I couldn’t help finding it a bit strange but you got to admit, it felt good to be served. It was like a hidden desire that I didn’t know I had was being fulfilled.

“Young master, breakfast is ready,” she said.

I nodded.

Xue’er had been getting better and better at cooking. With her at home, the need for Byakko, Ling and me to visit restaurants had disappeared altogether. She had also gone on many espionage missions to other restaurants to steal… no, strike that, to learn new recipes.

Our lives became so much better. She was a great blessing to us, the three gluttons.

But her ailment always bothered me. I was keeping my eyes and ears open for any solution that could help to resolve this ailment.

After a satisfying meal, I made an announcement. “My growth has stunted here. I am going back to the magical forest to train for a bit. I will be back in a few days.”

“I want to go with you, father. I am tired of staying cooped up in the city,” Byakko said as soon as I was done.

Ling also fluttered to show that she wanted to go.

“Xue’er also wants to accompany young master. Without Xue’er, young master will not be able to have any good meals.” Xue’er added her input.

“No,” I refused all of them. “I plan to go much deeper. It might get dangerous.”

The three of them started to raise all sorts of objections. I could feel my head hurt. But I stood my ground firmly. In the end, I was able to convince them to stay in the city for the time being. I promised to take them together with me on my next trip.

“Young mistress, the boy has stepped out of the city.”

Mu Lanran nodded. “Tell Uncle Bai to go on with the plan.”

“Understood, mistress,” the figure in the shadow said.

You can’t blame me for being a little ruthless, Mu Lanran thought. Blame yourself for not falling for a harmless trap.

It felt good to step out of the city after many days. It was strangely liberating. Unlike when you entered the city, there were no tedious procedures involved. You could freely walk out of the city.

I walked towards the magical forest. My destination: the core region of the forest.

I had taken down a Nascent Soul Stage Basilisk and a Spirit Transformation Stage Demon. But I knew that if it were under normal circumstances, I would have stood no chance. For starters, both of them had been injured. Also, when I attacked them, they had been in no position to retaliate. I couldn’t let those two accomplishments get into my head. Their stats were higher than mine. I had to be on my toes at all times.

The Core Formation Stage beasts shouldn’t be much of a challenge.

I used [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Silver] to survey the surrounding. There didn’t seem to be anything out of place.

I killed a few beasts and used them as snacks. The snacks Xue’er prepared for me were all gone. I could only make do with the beasts I killed and roasted.

Before I knew it, the night had descended. I found a clearing and set up a camp there. The cave we used to live in before was still some distance away.

Apart from the rustles of the leaves and cries of the nocturnal creatures, it was a peaceful night. Yes. It was a peaceful night. A little too peaceful!

I woke up with a start. Try as I may, I was unable to shake off the unease in my heart. I could feel a premonition. Something bad was about to happen.

I activated [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Silver] and [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Lumen]. Nothing. My trait detected nothing. But the unease that I was feeling didn’t ebb away. I switched [Kaleidoscope Eye: Lumen] with [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode White]. Immediately, I was able to see all the energy signatures around me.

Not good. There was a strong energy signature just twenty meters away from me. I was not able to identify it. That only meant one thing: a cultivator of Nascent Soul Stage or higher.

A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator must break through the third shackle of a mortal. That meant all his basic attributes were above six hundred. That was higher than mine as I had yet to break through the third shackle. Moreover, this cultivator seemed to have no impairment that I could take advantage of.

The only saving grace in this whole situation was that the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator had yet to make his move. I had some time to prepare.

I used [Kaleidoscope Eye] to investigate my surrounding. I noticed a huge mass of peculiar energy some kilometers away. A plan slowly formed in my head. It was definitely risky but it was worth a shot. If the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator made his move, I definitely wouldn’t stand a chance. I made up my mind.

Summoning [Bow], I charged up a with Essence Flame. This was the most powerful attack I could use.

I sneaked a peek at the hidden figure. It didn’t seem to have noticed me. My conjecture was proven to be correct. The figure didn’t have its activated. Otherwise, it would have noticed my action. It was understandable. It was not a skill you could keep activated all the time unless you had an endless supply of Qi. This skill was simply too draining.

It took me a while to fully charge it. I was thankful to the cover offered by the darkness and my tent.

I cast [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Yellow] and froze the figure. I wasn’t sure how long it would last but it shouldn’t be long. Activating to create a stable footing, I released the .

Boom! The arrow blew the tent apart and flew towards the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. The arrow hit right on target.

Ding!

Congratulations!

Your Skill has leveled up.

is now Level 8.

Dismissing the notification, I dashed out of the broken tent towards where I had noticed the peculiar energy. I made it a point to check on the figure with my [Kaleidoscope Eye]. I was able to safely create a distance of six hundred meters before the figure moved. It immediately ran after me in pursuit.

I released the sigh I was holding in. It didn’t seem to possess a long-range attack.

The figure was cloaked in a dark hood. Even with [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Lumen] I was unable to make out the face.

The figure closed in at a very high speed.

I used [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Yellow] to freeze its movement from time to time. It was barely able to earn me ten seconds each time but that was more than enough. I was able to reach the place with the peculiar energy.

The dark figure stood about fifty meters away from me.

I couldn’t help but give it a triumphant grin.

Whoosh! Something hard hit me. The pain forced me to let out a groan.

My lifeforce stat floated in front of my eyes.

Lifeforce

2103/5580 (Regeneration: 20% per second)

This simple attack shaved off more than half of my lifeforce.

This was not the end. The momentum of the force was so strong that it sent me flying backward right into the gorge that was behind me. With a ‘splash’, my body collided with a river of magma!

“Ling! What’s wrong?” Xue’er asked as she saw the little butterfly flying around frantically. Flames were flickering madly around her.

Did something happen to the young master? She felt worried. Ling was one of her young master’s traits. The fact that she was behaving weirdly meant that something strange was going on with her young master.

“Byakko!” she called out.

The little white tiger cub trotted into the kitchen. “Yes, Xue’er?” he asked in his immature voice.

“Can you sense anything wrong with young master through your bond?”

“With father?” little Byakko closed his eyes for a few seconds. “Nothing. There’s nothing wrong with father. Except, he seems to be feeling somewhat hot?” He corked his head, confused.

She released a sigh of relief. Thank goodness! Her young master seemed to be safe and sound. But still… she looked at little Ling. What was going on with the little butterfly?

The little butterfly was flaring with a huge amount of flame. The temperature in the room was increasing at a drastic rate.

“What’s wrong with little Ling?” Byakko finally noticed the unusualness of the Heavenly Butterfly Flame.

Xue’er didn’t know what to say. Even she was unable to understand the situation. She was only a ten-year-old kid in the end.

What should Xue’er do? She panicked as the flames surrounding Ling started to grow.

A stray flame hit her out of nowhere. She was very close to the berserk butterfly. It was no wonder one of them hit her.

But to her surprise, the burning sensation she was expecting didn’t come.

Ding!

You have absorbed Pure Yang Qi.

Effect of has been reduced.

What? These flames could help alleviate her ailment?

She looked around. Ling was giving off so much extra flame that if she weren’t stopped soon, their home would be burnt to the ground. Xue’er hesitated for a bit. Then, she stretched her hand towards one the stray cluster of flames.

The flames immediately disappeared.

Ding!

You have absorbed Pure Yang Qi.

Effect of has been reduced.

She went to next one.

Ding!

You have absorbed Pure Yang Qi.

Effect of has been reduced.

Next.

Ding!

You have absorbed Pure Yang Qi.

Effect of has been reduced.

Next...

Next...

Next...

Finally! Xue’er wiped of the sweat off her brow. There were no more flames in the room anymore. Ling’s condition had also stabilized.

Ling had changed. As for the exact detail, Xue’er was unable to quite put her finger at it. As far as looks went, there wasn’t much change. But she couldn’t shake off the feeling that Ling was somehow different. It was like she had been elevated to a higher level.

Ding!

You have accumulated a huge amount of Pure Yang Qi.

Congratulations!

Certain effects of have been removed.

You can now use the trait [Divine Ice Phoenix].

Limitation imposed on the growth of your stats has been removed.

You can now cultivate.

She checked the details of her ailment.

TOUCH OF DEATH (Ailment)

Cause: Presence of five yin traits

Effects: Disables the use of four yin traits. Reduces the maximum lifeforce limit by 5% every year.

Cure: Presence of equally powerful yang energy in the body.

Some of the effects had disappeared.

Xue’er felt like crying. She had given up on ever getting rid of her ailment in her entire short lifetime. But she was already rid of some of the effects. She knew it was all due to her young master. She didn’t know what he did but he was definitely behind this.

“Ling!” Xue’er was suddenly brought out of her thoughts by a sharp crisp voice. “Ling can finally talk.” The little butterfly was fluttering excitedly in the air.

Mu Lanran heard someone knock on her door. There was a certain rhythm and pattern to it.

“Please enter, Uncle Bai,” she said.

The door opened to reveal a haggard looking old man with injuries all over his body.

“What happened?” she asked in surprise.

Uncle Bai was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. There were very few cultivators who could do this to him in Red Dawn City.

“The boy found me before I could act. With the cover of darkness, he sneak attacked me…” Uncle Bai told the rest of the story. “…In the end, I lost it and attacked him with my full power. He fell into magma.”

Mu Lanran never expected a boy who was still wet behind his ears to give her so much trouble.

She had tried to investigate his background to use it against him but came up with nothing. It was like the boy came out of thin air. Next, she had set a group of wastrels on him. She had expected the boy to feel provoked and pick a fight with that bunch. Many major clans would get involved in the process and put pressure on the boy. Then, she would step out and solve the problem. Thereafter, she would have had no problem taking him under her wing. The assassination attempt had similar motive. She wanted to make him feel insecure. In that way, when she offered to take him under her wing, he would readily agree.

But all those plans had gone wrong from the very first step.

She clenched her fist tightly. She had the urge to scream. But she couldn’t do it. If she did it, it would offend Uncle Bai. Moreover, it would affect her image. In the end, she could only bear through it.

“Thank you for all your work, Uncle Bai. I am sorry for keeping you here long when you are in this state. Please go and take a proper rest. Let Lanran know if there’s anything she can do for you.”

“Thank you, young mistress.” Uncle Bai’s figure flickered and disappeared from the room.

Mu Lanran sighed. She needed to think of a proper plan. That is, if the boy made it back alive.