Second status.

Like a giddy kid, I couldn't hide my own anticipation.

[Jack Heltros]

Age : 26

Immortal Cultivation : Qi Sensing Realm (Qi Absorption)

Immortal Title : None

HP | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (2.03 / 2.03)

DT | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (2.03 / 2.03)

STR : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-

SPD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-

END : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-

SEN : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ E-↑

SOUL : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-

WISD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F↑

FATE : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ ?? (LOCKED)

Skills : Tech Eye - lv.2 [+], Crimson Arts - Lv.1 [+]

I cannot believe my eyes. At most, I expected a slight increase, maybe reaching F overall for the targeted stats. However, only the wisdom stat received that treatment. Surprisingly, my sense stat skyrocketed all the way to E. My very first E-Rank on this new status, even my previous stats weren't this good!

Excited, I took out the only item with a rank I had yet to see through that I could procure on the moment. The crystal used to enter the other training space. Due to my earlier attempts at finding a hidden feature, I read through every stat description. The SEN, also known as sense stat can help the system put a rank on anything. If it went up so much, maybe I'll be able to see through this item?

I take it out and soon see a prompt.

Lost Spiritual Fragment (D-)

>A white octahedron crystal pulsing with colorful, mesmerizing lights. It contains a sealed space only available through the mind.

>Can be used by anyone.

I can! It's actually lower than I thought it would be. Also, my fate stat is still hidden. Which is good. Not complaining for now, even though it's a little unsettling. Since it was locked away, I didn't really get much information. When I select it, it's just explained as a variation of luck. Checking my first status, I press the luck stat and read. It affects stuff like drops for example. Well, better than nothing. I also realize all my stats to be at G-Rank now. That is except for my mind stat that is B-Rank. Wait, damn I can see it now! It's above D-Rank and I can see it!

This improvement to my sense stat kept on giving, however...

Back to cultivating I guess...

Relaxing my body, I let it soak into the Qi it is filled with. This energy seems to be acting wildly, or maybe I'm the cause for it. Because no matter how much I apparently feel, there's still more. Or perhaps it's just too strong and therefore feels infinite to me.

In any case, there's plenty for me to take advantage of. My body is and will be nourished for as long as I need it to be.

.

.

.

Today marks the end of my debuff. A week has elapsed since my improvement, and despite my training, raising both my HP and DT to 2.15, the legendary Stone King simply obliterated me each and every single time.

Let alone the difference in martial arts, it felt like its nerfed stats were just an illusion. So, as I received a bunch of notifications, not only did I sigh from losing out on the reward, but I also paled. Since, unexpectedly, there was something else mixed in.

[Time has run out. The restrictions on your existence have been lifted.] Finally, I was freed from that burden. Yet...

[Initializing Tier-3 Challenge, 'Random Encounter'...]

What?! Wait!

Random Encounter

Challenge (T-3)

>Objective : Survive the night.

>Difficulty : Fated

>Mission Difficulty : Beginner

>Mission Failure Penalty : All stats slightly diminished for 30 days.

[Good luck. And may Fate be with you.]

Wait I'm telling yo-

A massive warp almost twisted my guts, a vast pressure pushing and pulling on my entire body. A moment later, which felt like an eternity, I was sent wobbling on my feet. I stood there, dazed as pop ups kept pouring in.

[Initialization successful. The host's body has been stabilized.]

[You may pronounce or think 'Status' to obtain more information at any given time.]

Still disoriented, I struggle to think of anything. Right... hum... status? Half-mindedly, I read a new light screen.

Soul Name : Jack Heltros

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Name : ???

Age : ???

Immortal Cultivation : Foundation Establishment Realm (First layer : Brain Pillar)

Immortal Title : None

HP | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (50.7 / 50.7)

DT | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (50.7 / 50.7)

STR : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F+

SPD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F+

END : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F+

SEN : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F+

SOUL : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F+

WISD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ E-

LUCK : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ E-

Skill : Qi Manifestation - lv.7

I find myself in a body around twenty-five times better than my own. Yet, strangely enough, I don't feel much of a difference. Standing in the middle of a small room at night, clear from the large hole in front, I punch ahead half-mindedly.

Obviously I expected something more, but the sensation of pure power coursing through my arm at this moment, let alone the blast and visible push of the surrounding wooden chairs, threw me off. Thinking back, I remembered what DT was classified as. Just to make sure, I checked again, unbothered by the situation.

[DT (Dantian) : A measure of one's potential or current Dantian's influence, as well as its reserves. It is mainly associated with the following stat : STR (Strength) [+] ]

Expecting more details, I press on the button, finding myself reading more and more.

[A value of one DT is equal to one Martial Ton of power. Compared to Earth's original ton, classified as Mortal Unit, a Martial Ton is much heavier.

As reference : 1 Martial Ton = 1 000 Martial Units (Martial Kilograms)

It is important to note, that beneath the Martial Unit exist the Magic Stone, only functional in Mana Grounds and below. Further down, at the lowest level, stands the Mortal Unit, only functional in Infant Worlds and Burial Grounds. [+] ]

Obviously bored since nothing came, I kept going. How far was the explanation planning to go? I only intended to learn about DT, but that was fine either way. I'll take anything I can get my hands on.

[Due to Earth's evolution caused by ??? ??? years ago, it shed its original Infant World status, being elevated to a brand new, exciting world type. Because of this ??? ???, Earth finds itself in a new category, currently named as : Fusion World]

I can't help but wonder what happened back then. You're telling me that Earth wasn't always like this? What do different world thingy even do?

Not expecting much, I'm quite surprised by the system.

[Using your current privileges, the following information is made available.]

[Different tiers of worlds indicate different potentials. An Infant World (Tier-1), cannot exist alongside energies. Be it Qi or Mana, none can exist without destroying the world itself.

Opposite to it, a Burial Ground (Tier-1) cannot form a coherent or sustainable world. It is considered a world only due to its appearance. Often times seen as a flat or spherical bundle of chaotic energies. A place where a stable world filled with life cannot form. Rarely can it maintain land, transforming into a barren and desolate planet, brimming with loneliness. In all cases, it remains weak.]

[Would you like to learn more?]

Looking around, I don't hear or see anything, so I shrug and nod. Yes please.

[Then stop dwindling your thumbs and complete the challenges ahead of you!]

Hold up! That wasn't an AI! Don't try to fool me! Who is it?!

"Show yourself!" I pan around the room, small yet furnished. To my glee, I hear a response. "Oh~? So I've been found out? As expected of sir @#%*ù! This junior is impressed! Or should I say us juniors?"

Facing me, as if a ghost appearing out of nowhere, a squatting figure stands in between me and the nightly wheat fields. The large square hole, which must be a window in design, is now obstructed by his smiling eyes. The far away full moon, still into view, shines brightly behind him.

Moving my eyes, as if time froze, a man stands with his arms crossed to my right, against the wall. Another is opposite, on my left, holding a bow and arrow, the tip almost grazing my cheek. However that wielder has yet to let go of the string. Sensing something, I feel a presence behind me. Quickly stealing a peek, I see another guy blocking the way out. All of them were covered from head to toe in black robes and masks. One versus four... fuck me.

But, strangely, I don't particularly believe in my guaranteed loss. Instead, as I peek at the most obvious target with my skill, I almost leave out a nervous chuckle, not expecting this. This mix of despair and arrogance confuses me.

Name : Yveron

Age : 35

Immortal Cultivation : Qi Refining Realm (Ninth Revolution)

Immortal Title : None

HP | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (49 / 49)

DT | ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿ | (49 / 49)

STR : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F

SPD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F

END : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F

SEN : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F

SOUL : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F

WISD : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F

LUCK : ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ F-

Skill : Basic Stealth - lv.2

If they're all the same... I'm pretty sure I can't win. Yet, why does my brain feel so cold? Like it's been shoved into a freezer?

Why is it getting hotter now?

Why is my vision trembling?

"Hey! Are you high? Hmmm? @#%*ù?" Once again, this distorted, glitched voice. But I can barely hear it. I'm too focused, looking down at my hand.

Why?

Why is everything so slow? His mouth is barely moving, but... I can move normally? No, almost can. I feel heavy... I'm dizzy... but I'm also light at the same time?

Gazing back up from my clutched hand, I fall to the ground, crouching in an instant, swiping my leg to the bowman's own. From front to side to behind, the archer's heel is caught, knocking him over. But I don't feel good about it.

I'm much heavier than I thought. No, I'm just slow.

Subconsciously, I'm reminded of a picture in the back of my mind, looking back at the status as my crouched figure retreats. Is it because of this? Focusing on the cultivation level, it mentions the brain. I felt jealous, extending the same left leg further behind, swinging from the floor to the roof. An impact is immediately sensed through the heel, a loud crack I can vividly hear. Must've been the chin of the guy behind, who I hear slide down the door I saw earlier.

A calmness I had yet to control with my own body, a surge in strength I cannot yet imagine obtaining. Let alone skyrocket, my confidence became unstoppable. Taking an explosive step forward, I closed the distance back to my original position. A massive shift in momentum sends me to my right, the back of my hand already smashed into the man's jaw. His arms were still crossed, unable to react in time as everything took place within seconds.

I watch ahead as the last opponent's bandaged arms reach for the insides of his dark robe. Lowering my posture, dozens of thin needle-like knives are launched at me with incredible velocity. I could even tell there to be a purple shimmer near the tips. Poison?

Slowly dodging everything in this slowed down perception, my left fist finds a clear path, connecting with the man's innards. This serious punch was supposed to knock him out of the fight for a couple minutes, but instead, my knuckles pierced, or more precisely blasted through his torso like paper.

Gazing upon my retracted arm, a tingle awoke me, seeing a visible turquoise aura around it. But it wasn't time for questions. Without messages, I was left in the middle of a mess. Is it asking for some dirty work? Grimacing, I can only clench my fists and get to work.

Soon, I'm lashing out a rain of heavy punches down upon them all.

When I'm done, I look at my surroundings, admiring the chaos, before finally seeing something.

[Mission completed!]

[You have cleared the Challenge successfully!]

[Calculating your reward based on the achieved results...]

Raising a brow, I tilt my head and hold a small piece of dark meteorite. What's this?

Rank Boost Crystal (F)

>Increases one stat by a small increment.

Already ecstatic, I freeze on the spot.

[Reward calculated. Congratulations on gaining the skill : Qi Manifestation (E-)]

That op crystal wasn't even the reward?!