With an indifferent cold icy smile, Riku walked towards the door. And as if it noticed his presence. The door automatically opened. Followed with a chii sound. A rumbling noise emanating from his body halted his footsteps.
Clutching his abdomen, a deep feeling of hunger came over his body.
"Hungry?" A familiar feminine voice resounded beside him. When Riku turned his head to the side, he found the girl whom he was talking to earlier. Fang Xue.
"Oh, I thought you left already." Riku lightly smiled as he said.
"Yes I already left, but I only left the library. That doesn't mean that I left the hallways." Fang Xue teasingly smiled.
Riku helplessly shook his head as he realized that the girl before him was already this cunning even though she was still young. Who knows how easy would she manipulate people before the palm of her hands?
"Since It's noon anyways, I should just invite you to a meal. " Fang Xue turned around before gesturing to Riku to follow her.
Without a little bit of hesitation, Riku followed behind Fang Xue as the two traversed through the endless hallways. The atmosphere around the two became awkward since no one spoke much words after walking. Riku didn't wait for the fuse to dissolve and said. "Miss Fang, why is it that there are no windows in these rooms? "
Hearing Riku's words, Fang Xue's footsteps halted as she turned over his head and glanced over Riku's intrigued figure. With a light laugh, Fang Xue explained. "The reason why there are no windows in any of these rooms is because, we placed protective screens instead off windows to entrap the coldness coming from the air conditioners, making the room somewhat cold."
"Ah..." Riku lightly nodded as he smiled. But in actuality, listening to Fang Xue's words, he really didn't understand even an inch of what Fang Xue was saying, but hearing the words 'protective screens' made it obvious that something was being protected. And about what it was, Riku himself didn't even know.
After this small talk, and after about three hundred paces and a ride on the elevator. The two eventually reached the ground floor. What greeted them below was a clamor of different murmurs and myriads of footsteps welcomed them in the ground floor.
Multitudes of chairs and tables were scattered before them. On the furthermost area, lines of students clutching their waiting trays were patiently waiting for their turn to order. All of the students here numbered at most two hundred. With that amount. One could imagine how huge the facility where Riku currently was in.
"Let's go there." Fang Xue gestured and unexpectedly clutched Riku's rough hands. Riku was slightly startled as he felt the warm and soft feeling of Fang Xue's hands, but gradually, his shocked mind became tranquil.
Under the heated gazes of envy and even hatred. Riku felt like his mind was being stabbed by countless needles. His Core Formation soul was extremely sensitive to any attitude changes and so, even though these guys hid their intent quite well. They still weren't able to fool Riku's senses.
With a helpless laugh. Riku lightly touched the ground as he increased his walking pace. Catching up to Fang Xue's figure.
Looking around the cafeteria, Riku couldn't help but feel awe. Transparent screens were floating before him, displaying different kinds of foods with their images and names. Although Riku wasn't quite familiar about the currency in the current world he was in. He was still able to judge the the viands before him were quite expensive since the money needed to buy them was in the four digits.
After about fifteen minutes of standing in line and the scorching heat of the men's gazes. Riku finally calmed himself down as he seated. Before him was a transparent, but hard, table. Touching the texture of it. Riku found it to be extremely brittle.
"Here's the food." Fang Xue's small voice sounded. And an arousing scent wafted around Riku's figure. Sending his stomach in a protesting frenzy. There was even a trace of drool coming out of Riku's mouth as he glanced over the beaming food being placed on a glass plate.
"Hmmph! Just who does he think he is? Drooling in front of our goddess!" An unsatisfied voice sounded behind Riku. Hearing this. Even Fang Xue couldn't help but frown. Riku on the other hand wiped the drool from his lips, and looked around, trying to find a wooden chopstick.
But unfortunately, he wasn't able to find any chopsticks. What was placed before him was a trident looking beaming steel, and a slightly deep spoon.
Seeing Riku's expression. Fang Xue couldn't help but ask. "Hmm? Is there anything wrong?"
"Hahaha..." Riku slowly laughed. His mind filled with panic.
"Could It be that you cannot use forks and spoons? "
"What? I can't use these things? Who said so? Look! I will use this to chop this meat off!" Riku was a bit startled, but then. He started to pout some nonsense coming from his mind as he used the slightly deep spoon and stabbed on the the juicy meat of the chicken.
"Ding!"
The wooden spoon slid off the greasy chicken and struck the glass plate, causing a small dinging sound to resound from him.
"Hahaha, You don't need to try so hard. Let me find a chopstick for you." Fang Xue chuckled as she stood up.
"I'm really sorry for troubling Miss Fang..." Riku's said in a tone full of resignation.
After waiting again for about ten minutes. Fang Xue came back grasping a small wooden chopstick. Riku's eyes lit up, as well as his rumbling stomach as he snapped the wooden chopstick off and started to wolf down the food.
"Careful, careful. You might end up choking yourself." Fang Xue covered her mouth with her palm as she lightly chortled. Apparently, for her. This youth before him was quite interesting, and weird. At least, in more ways than one.
"Riku, you really overdid it this time. Now my grandfather even summoned you to discuss some serious matters about how you injured Senior Han Qiang's cousin, Han Shu." Fang Xue said as she stirred her green tea.
"Ahhh, So Senior Lin really did summon me. Of course I would face them upfront! Why would I hide when I'm not doing anything wrong!" Riku proudly said as he slammed unto his chest. Looking a bit childish.
"Hahaha, You're here trying to look so proud but then. The real issue isn't that. The fact that you injured his cousin who was a Rank 3 Adapter, quite caused a turbulent wind from Han Qiang's side." Fang Xue explained with a serious tone. Her previous calm face disappeared, and a grim cold suffocating aura covered her as she said.
Feeling the pressure. Riku couldn't help but indifferently smirk. After about two breaths did he said. "Miss Fang, can you please explain to me what those rankings and adapters are?" Riku scrutinized, completely changing the topic.
Hearing this, Fang Xue could only reveal a long lasting sigh before saying. "I can give you some bits of information, since explaining them all would take too much time, nonetheless. I will explain."
Fang Xue paused before throwing a quick glance towards Riku. Riku also nodded in response to this look.
"Adapter are those who specialize in close combat battles. Rangers are those who specialize in mid range battles, while Snipers are those who specialize in long range battles! Their characteristics are their Radiant Armaments!" Fang Xue declared.
Riku had already read through some information about Radiant Armaments and was familiar on them to an extent.
"Adapters have Radiant Wristbands, while Rangers have Radiant Rings, Snipers on the other hand have Radiant Necklaces!"
"With these pieces of armaments, they can evoke any programmed spell in the arsenals. As long as it is within the reach of their Mana Force. They can use fierce attacks without the problem of wasting Mana Force because of leakage!" Fang Xue said as she shook his wrist. There, a silhouette of a sky blue wristband appeared on her right arm.
"With the use of these wonders. Even I can use a spell that can create craters five meters deep and even slice off an entire area of trees!" Fang Xue proudly said. Her face plastered with a small smile that was neither too proud nor too indifferent.
"Cough, cough. About other informations... You need to find them in the library yourself!" Fang Xue stuck out her tongue as she teased Riku's helpless figure. Riku could only led a small awkward laugh as he can feel the heated gazes behind him intensify in strength.
Some were even filled with killing intent. 'This girl, she really is famous around here."
Fang Xue abruptly stood up. Riku's gaze flickered as he glanced over Fang Xue. With frowned eyebrows. Fang Xue exclaimed. "What are you waiting for? Let's go to the sixth floor! Grandfather is waiting for us there."
"Yes!" Riku immediately replied like a soldier suddenly shouted at by his commanders to attention.
...
Inside the Disciplinary Hall. A tense atmosphere enshrouded everything. It was as if everything inside the room was shaking. Seating on the chair was an old man, at a glance. His age was about 40 to 50 years old. With an unconsciously slouched back and an a beard which contained unknown amount of knowledge in it.
If Riku was here to see this old man. He would immediately recognize him as Senior Fang Lin.
But under the glint of his eyes was a deep stirred emotion of annoyance. Witnessing this, The visages of the five fairies fell.
Beside the five figures. There was an indistinct figure of a man. He wore the same uniform as the males inside this facility. His deep brown eyes enshrouded with mystery, and his neatly arranged hair fluttered inside the room as if a wind passed by beside it.
But underneath this feeling of nobility. This figure was actually quite scared. Witnessing the suppressed anger inside the old man his heart couldn't help but shudder. Though he kept his facade, his mind was still in a turmoil.
This figure would be familiar in the eyes of Riku. That's because this youth was the one whom he helped. Lin Meng.
Han Qiang, who exuded a deep feeling of extravagance before, didn't even dare to act haughty before Fang Lin. Instead, a deep feeling of respect resurfaced in the glint of her eyes. As if she was looking unto the figure of a supreme expert.
But Han Qiang clearly understood the meaning behind the anger hidden beneath Fang Lin's beaming eyes. Just the thought of it made Han Qiang clench her fists.
Liu Yin, and the other fairies were calm. As tranquil as the waters.
"Now let me explain the current situation." A cold snort, followed by an overbearing tone broke the silence and tense atmosphere enshrouding the room.
The tensed nerves of the six shook as they glanced upon Fang Lin's overbearing figure. They concentrated all their hearing towards Fang Lin's words and carefully memorized them in their minds.
"Han Qiang, you cousin Han Shu recklessly attacked five students on the sixth floor. According to my sources, his aim was to acquire the source codes that the victims, carefully created." Fang Lin's words like a thunder. Resounded inside Han Qiang's mind. She frowned her eyebrows as despair filled her chest.
She was only capable of being overbearing before was because of the connections she had in the outside world! But inside this academy facility. Fang Lin's words were like an emperor's decree! No matter how strong her clan was, they didn't even think of angering Fang Lin!
"Han Qiang, do you plead guilty to this crimes?" Again, each words that Fang Lin spoke slowly echoed around the surroundings. And Han Qiang herself felt like being pierced by countless needles.
"Y-yes." Han Qiang stuttered as she said. Even speaking itself became a hassle to do.
"Hmm." Fang Lin nodded.
"But there's also that and there's also this!" Fang Lin suddenly howled. His voice shook the hearts of everyone present. Even the number one goddess Liu Yin, and the strongest adapter couldn't help but feel an extreme feeling of suffocation.
"You four fairies didn't even help to suppress the situation! With the exception of Liu Yin, you really did make me disappointed this time!" Fang Lin's voice echoed like a booming sound of exploding grenades.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
"Shen Qiu! Xiao Fei! Yan Lin! and Han Qiang! Because of the violation of the School Grounds Act Number 4212. The four of you will be permanently expelled from the disciplinary line up! And you will also be stripped off two Rank 2 source codes!" Fang Lin's overbearing voice howled forth.
Hearing the punishment that Fang Lin bestowed. The figures of the four fairies became deathly pale. Being expelled from the disciplinary line up was only like that, but being stripped off two Rank 2 source codes was something too extreme!
One must take note that source codes were extremely precious! Programming just one Rank 2 Attack Type Source Code would take even two months of countless debugging and experiment runs! And surrendering one's source code would mean an abysmal drop in one's cultivation strength!
"S-s-s-Sir!"
"Silence!"
The four of them simultaneously exclaimed. But before they could explain something, Fang Lin's right hand had already cleaved the air around them as the Radiant Wristband on his right wrist shone with a violet light, enshrouding the figure's of the four fairies before beams of pure white flew from their respective Radiant Wristbands towards Fang Lin's.
Seeing their source codes being forcefully stripped off from their Radiant Wristbands, their hearts fell to an abysmal despair as they frantically opened their User Interface Terminal and check the type of the two Rank 2 source codes that were snatched.
"M-m-my Draconic Ice Bla-blades!"
"N-n-no! My Gravitational Pendulum!"
"My God! My Maneuver Type Wind God!"
"Thi-this is... My Spatial Cannons disappeared! No!!"
All of them couldn't help but exclaim in despair. Each of the stripped source codes were fundamental spells that were very beneficial to their battles, they made it after being bathed by the scent of liquid and fire. They had undergone insurmountable problems upon creating their respective source codes yet they were now stripped off from them!
It's because of that one youth!
The four fairies heart shuddered as the figure of a handsome youth became plastered in their hearts. Their hatred of him soared high.
"Now, scram!" Fang Lin howled.
They momentarily shuddered before scrambling to make their way towards the exit. But just before they reached the exit. A chiii sound resounded as the door before them automatically opened. Revealing the indifferent figure of a youth of which age was about fourteen to fifteen years old. Beside her was an otherworldly beauty.
Glancing unto his figure. The four fairies hatred surged up as they tightly clenched their fists, making their figures seemed to be a bit murderous.
"Hmm? What's everyone doing? This seems like fun so let me join!" Riku lightly exclaimed as he stepped foot inside the room.
Seeing Riku's carefree figure. The four fairies once again gritted their teeth as they stepped forward and imposingly said. "You bastard! If you're strong enough then leave your name! Otherwise this enmity between us will never be settled!" Han Qiang was the first to shout so. Interrupting the words of the other fairies.
"Hmm? Ah! Senior Han Qiang! This junior greets senior." Riku respectfully clasped his hands as he said.
"And also, this junior's name is Riku Lightshield. I hope you take care of me!" Riku lightly said as he chuckled. Intentionally raising the hatred inside the four fairies hearts.
"Riku Lightshield? Hmmph! We will pay this matter a hundred fold!" Han Qiang stopped her feet outside as the three other fairies followed behind and pierced Riku's figure with a glare full of hatred. Riku maintained his bowing posture, and only when the door slowly closed did he retracted his posture and turned forward.
"Riku Lightshield, I assume? " Fang Lin lightly said. His overbearing tone disappeared without a trace. Witnessing this, Liu Yin and Lin Meng's figure slightly flinched. When did this overbearing principal's tone became as gentle as the whistling wind?
Just what was Riku Lightshield's identity? Even the Rank 5 Adapter Liu Yin couldn't help but feel awe, just by looking at Riku's carefree figure.
"Yes, this junior is Riku Lightshield. I give my respects to the principal." Riku once again clasped his hands as he slightly bowed.
"Hmm, good! Now that you're here. I would like everyone to go outside. I want to talk to him with some matters." Fang Lin smiled as he glanced over everyone's dumbfounded figure.
Private matters? Fang Xue's figure slightly flinched before retreating back to the exit. Donning a light smile, she clearly knew about her grandfather's teasing attitude. And so, without any worries in her mind. She had gone outside the room.
Lin Meng and Liu Yin on the other hand also followed Fang Xue from behind, wearing a helpless smile. The two slowly approached the exit but was stopped by Fang Lin's careful voice.
"Lin Meng, Liu Yin. You two stay here. I still have to give my thanks to you and so, I would like you to stay." Fang Lin gently said, and darted his gaze towards Riku. Who still had his gentle smile.
"Yes, senior." The two simultaneously clasped their hands and respectfully retreated on the outermost corner near the exit.
Riku also turned his head behind and witnessed as the two retreated unto the dark.
~~Whisss
A whistling sound came before him. When Riku turned his head forward. He was greeted by a crescent shaped violet colored moon. Because of the speed it approached him and the element of surprise. He was caught underhanded and was only able to raise his arms to defend. Enshrouding both of it with a pale blue light.
~~Boom!
A deafening explosion occured inside the dimly lit room. And a figure flew backwards like a puppet that had its string cut. Riku's body thrashed around the room and heavily struck the wall behind him. Followed with two cracking noises. Two of his ribs broke just from that impact.
Lin Meng and Liu Yin's pupil's constricted. Just now, Fang Lin suddenly threw an attack towards Riku of which caught him off guard, and even sent him flying across the room, breaking two of his ribs in the process.
'Weren't they friends?!'
Coughing a mouthful of blood. Riku struggled to stand up and said. "Senior Fang Lin! What's the meaning of this?" Riku grimly said as he struggled to stand up. Just now, when the crescent moon struck him. Seventy percent of his Mana Force was drained and absorbed by the strange attack.
Currently, his Mana Force didn't even amount to thirty percent! With only one strike. Riku succumbed to a serious injury. His Core Formation Soul sent threads of its power towards Riku's struggling body. Healing it at a snail's pace.
"Hahaha, how disappointing. And here I thought that you were as strong as I thought. And here you are, cannot even withstand one of my small attacks!" Fang Lin mockingly said as a violent crescent moon surfaced on his forehead, making him look like a murderous death god. His Radiant Wristband also flickered with a violent light. And madly suppressed his Mana Force to prevent leakage.
'Small attacks my ass! You're a Soul Condensing Stage expert yet you strike me a lowly Flesh Improving Stage!'
But just as Fang Lin was about to say something. A pale blue needle condensed into the air and struck towards Fang Lin, aiming unto his throat.
Witnessing the condensed needle. Fang Lin couldn't help but say. "Hmm, You're still quite capable despite being unable to take one of my attacks."Hmmph!" Fang Lin coldly snorted as he cleaved the condensed needle mid air.
But just as his palm strike about to strike the needle. It mysteriously disappeared from the air and condensed behind him. Aiming to strike at his back.
"Oh, damn!" Fang Lin's old voice resounded as he twisted his body and strike a roundhouse kick towards the needle.
"Ding!" The needle flew aside as it disappeared. But before he could try to scour the area for Riku's presence. A cold sensation ran through his throat as a weak voice said.
"Senior Fang." Fang Lin turned his head behind and found that Riku's hand had formed a chopping stance and aimed it close to his neck, ready to strike.
"Hahahaha..." Fang Lin laughed as he retreated backwards. And with a helpless tone. "Okay, okay, I admit defeat. Just now I was only trying to probe you. Your control of your already scarce Mana Force was incredible enough that you were able to condense a soul needle despite being heavily injured. Losing to someone who was incredible control on their Mana Force, this old one's defeat is justified." Fang Lin lightly chortled as he said.
"Senior is too humble, just now. You didn't even utilize even twenty percent of your strength yet you were able to heavily injure me. If you've used about fifty percent. I would have died." Riku clasped his hands as he bowed. His tone became more respectful than before.
'This old man is unexpectedly proficient in martial arts. Hahaha, If I wasn't able to forcefully condense a soul needle. I would have been defeated.'
What were soul needles? They were the manifestation of one's Mana Force itself! Even condensing one would take extensive concentration on the cultivators part! But because of the Azure Soul Takeover of his Core Formation soul. He was able to enter the realm of intense concentration and painstakingly and forcefully condensed the soul needle with the price that he would need to recuperate for a few days.
But even though he would become a cripple for about two days or more. It was still a priceless one, since he was able to contend with the first strongest cultivator he had seen inside this strange world!
In his previous life. Soul Condensing Stage cultivators were like ants to be stepped to someone of the Severed Spirit Stage like Riku. But now, It seemed to be a huge blocking mountain! More or less, a bottleneck!
"Hahaha, Junior is too humble. I am just an incapable old man." Fang Lin chortled as a reply unto Riku's statement.
With a long lasting sigh. Riku stabilized his wounds with the meager amount of Mana Force he had. Right now, he was currently weak. Similar to a person with no cultivation at all. So if Fang Lin were to attack him now with ill intents. He could only die with regret.
But seemingly, this strange old man Fang Lin wasn't as harsh as he thought. Since Fang Lin waved his hands as three pills floated towards him. Seeing the pills. Riku's eyes couldn't but lit up. These three pills were filled with plenty of elemental life force, which was extremely important for healing.
Without further ado, Riku stuffed the pills in his mouth and seated himself cross-legged and slowly refined the pills with two percent of his Mana Force.
The elemental essence life force filled his body with a decent feeling of euphoria. And after about three hours of refining. The pills were completely disintegrated within his body. His two broken ribs were now fully healed and his sore joints were now cooled off.
Standing up, he could feel the presence of the two people behind him. Their expressions revealed that they were still shocked by the sudden outcome of Fang Lin's attack, and with that. Riku could only shake his head helplessly.
"Oh, you're healed already? Hahaha, how's my pill?" Fang Lin lightly smiled as he gently said.
"Was that senior's pill? So that's the reason why it was quite amazing. In less than four hours of refining. My body had already healed to the point that it looked to be uninjured in the first place!" Riku said with an appreciative tone.
"But still, senior..." Riku's voice turned serious all of the sudden as he grimly continued.
"What's the true reason of why you summoned me here?"
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Author's Note: This is CodexofImmortals, bringing you the chapter six! I am really sorry for being unable to post within these past days. That's because I was quite busy with everyday work and in real life endeavors! Nonetheless, thank you for reading and as always, If you have any comments, suggestions, ideas, pointers or even harsh criticism, just place it on the comments!