Would you like to open the gift pack?

He tried to soothe himself. Maybe, just maybe, this petite pack, despite its unimpressive name, holds some Heaven Destroying bullshit items.

Congratulations You have been gifted 4 items

How many items could the other packs possibly contain if even this petite one has four? Slifer wondered.

The system soon displayed the contents and their descriptions:

Reversal Card x3 This Card Devours The Life Energy In Its Vicinity To Reverse The Age Of Its User WARNING! Using Demonic Techniques Will Result In A Karmic Credit Deduction

Slifer's jaw dropped. "What kind of twisted logic is this?" He yelled, throwing his hands in the air. "You hand me this card and then penalize me for using it!?"

He mused aloud, "Next, you'll probably make me buy it from your shop, then take away even more credits when I actually use it. Fantastic business model!"

Peak Slifer Card x3 Activate to harness Slifer's peak cultivation for a duration of 10 minutes WARNING! Using Demonic Techniques Will Result In A Karmic Credit Deduction

Slifer was nearly apoplectic now. "Are you kidding me!? From the memories I've seen, the old man practically breathed demonic techniques! It’s as if this darned System is trying to kill me!"

He paused, taking a moment to steady his thoughts. Alright, Slifer, remember the xianxia lore: the harder the trials an MC faces, the sweeter the rewards. Maybe there's a silver lining here somewhere.

Critical Block x3 Passive Skill: Protects User From A Critical Strike

“Hmm, not bad.” Slifer could see this coming in handy.

With a mix of hope and trepidation, he looked at the final card.

Random Skill Card When Activated, 95% Chance Of Granting User A Random Skill Caution: When Buying A Random Skill Card, Beware Of The Risks Associated With Gambling

"Oh, come on," Slifer muttered. "Really? Handing me a random skill card and then giving a lecture on the dangers of gambling? As if you didn't just force me into this gamble!"

He huffed, crossing his arms in exasperation. "This system... It's like offering candy and then lecturing about cavities."

Taking another deep breath, Slifer forced a grin. Well, at least I don’t have to worry about not seeing it past 24 hours.

“Activate Reversal Card!”

***

Amidst the dense fog of the Yiru Mountains, three figures carefully observed Slifer from a discreet distance. Tenvil, a young man at the Early Core Formation realm, fidgeted with nervous energy. Beside him stood Jornak and Quindel, both middle-aged cultivators at the Mid Nascent Soul realm. Overlooking them with a commanding presence was Elder Lornox, an old cultivator at the Late Nascent Soul stage.

"He's lost it!" Jornak whispered, trying to suppress a laugh. "Look at the Elder of the Black Rose Sect, muttering to himself like a lunatic!"

Quindel smirked, "Seems like age and treachery have finally caught up with the old demon."

Tenvil, curiosity evident in his eyes, asked, "Can you hear what he's saying?"

Jornak shook his head, "No. We're staying far enough so that old demon doesn't detect us. Trust me, Young Master, you don’t want to be close when one of them has a meltdown."

Elder Lornox, deep in thought, commented, "I sense that his qi is extremely weak, barely detectable. Likely, he exhausted all of it to recover from his grave injuries." Turning his gaze to Tenvil, he continued, "Young Master Tenvil, this is our opportunity. We should strike now."

Quindel laughed, "Who would have thought? The Elder of the Black Rose Sect nearly brought down by his very own disciple! Ah, the irony!"

Jornak chimed in, trying to mimic Slifer’s voice for a comedic effect, "Ah, disciple, you dare betray me? After all those demonic bedtime stories I told you?"

Elder Lornox’s eyes narrowed, "Enough jesting! We have the upper hand now. Young Master Tenvil, give the word, and we'll act."

Young Master Tenvil remembered the havoc wrought by the demonic cultivator. Villages pillaged, innocents sacrificed in grotesque rituals, and countless disciples of their revered Radiant Dawn Sect sent to early graves. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him. The Elder of the Black Rose Sect posed a real and potent threat to the Radiant Dawn Sect’s future.

Taking a deep breath, he began, "For the safety of our sect and the future of the innocent, we must end this menace now. On my order, we-"

But he couldn't finish. A sharp scream tore from his throat as he felt an intense drain, like the very essence of his being was being sucked out.

"No! What is this?!" Quindel exclaimed, his voice edged with panic. The pull of energy from him was slower than from Tenvil, but it was relentless.

Jornak grunted, trying to form a protective barrier, but it was futile. "Damn it! This... force... It’s insidious!"

Elder Lornox's face twisted in pain. Drawing upon his Late Nascent Soul cultivation, he attempted to seal his meridians and keep his life energy from being siphoned away. His decades of cultivation granted him a momentary defense against the energy drain.

Struggling to speak, Lornox shouted, "It's him! That demon! He's using a forbidden technique, draining our life essences to rejuvenate himself!"

Sure enough, through his blurred vision, Lornox could see Slifer standing tall, laughing as he looked up at the heavens. The old demon was not muttering to himself, as they had thought; he had been conducting a demonic ritual!

Jornak, amidst his agony, cursed, "That cunning fox! He baited us, knew we would come, and now he's using us to heal himself!"

Tenvil, weakened and near his limit, choked out, "We... we need to retreat!"

Elder Lornox, his voice filled with regret, said, "We underestimated him. Today, the Radiant Dawn Sect has truly seen the depths of the Black Rose Elder's cunning."

As the life energy drained from Tenvil, his eyes rolled back, and he began to collapse. Without hesitation, Elder Lornox lunged forward, catching the Young Master just in time. "Hold on, Young Master!" he urged.

Holding Tenvil tightly, Elder Lornox began retreating, swift as the wind. "He's not breathing!" Lornox's eyes widened in panic, the Young Master can’t die, at least not under his watch! From his robe, he retrieved an assortment of jade pills and fed them to Tenvil. Each pill shimmered with a soft glow, releasing potent healing energy.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the chaos unfolding not too far from him, Slifer roared with ecstasy. The influx of life energy coursed through him, rejuvenating every cell in his being. He laughed heartily, his voice echoing through the heavens. "So, this is what it feels like to be the MC! Such power!"

But as the elation started to wane, Slifer's grin turned upside down. Glancing down, he noted his wrinkled, gray hand. "Wait a minute," he muttered, confused. "Shouldn't I be young and dashing by now?"

When he looked up, the stat screen blinked into existence.

Name Slifer Race Human Alignment Demonic Cultivation Body Tempering: 9th Stage Lifespan Remaining 50 Days Karmic Credits 0 Items Reversal Cards x2, Peak Slifer Card x3, Critical Block x3, Random Skill Card x1

Slifer's face turned crimson with fury. "Fifty days?" he hollered. "What good is that when I only have two Reversal Cards left? That's not even half a year! How am I supposed to reach the Origin Realm in such a short span?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Before he could further lament his fate, another message flashed.

-25 Karmic Credits for using a demonic technique

Slifer blinked. "Oh, come on! That's daylight robbery! Those Reversal Cards are a total rip-off!"

Another notification appeared.

-10 Karmic Credits for killing a Core Formation cultivator

He looked around, confused and slightly paranoid. "Who? Where? I didn't kill anyone! There's literally no one here!"

Shaking his fist towards the heavens, Slifer shouted, "System! Are you playing tricks on me? Is this your idea of a sick joke?" But as expected, the System remained maddeningly silent.

Huffing in frustration, Slifer murmured, "If only it came with a terms and conditions."

He then scratched his head, trying to formulate a plan. "Alright, think, think," he muttered. "First things first, getting back to the Black Rose Sect." It was an ironic twist of fate. For someone like him, the very heart of a demonic sect turned out to be the safest haven. Unlike other such places, Black Rose frowned upon its members killing each other. "Who'd have thought? A demonic sect with...rules!"

However, as Slifer surveyed his surroundings, a grim realization hit him. The sect was nestled deep within the formidable Mount Desolace. "With my current... limited abilities," he grimaced, "it would take me nearly a hundred days on foot. And that's without counting the countless beasts, bandits, and other miscellaneous obstacles that might fancy an old man for dinner."

"Okay, what do MCs do in this situation?" He pondered aloud. An idea struck him. "Communication token! Yes! Every sect worth its salt has one!"

"Aha! My trusty ring should have it," Slifer beamed. He looked down at his hand, eyes locked onto the ornate storage ring gracing his finger. It shimmered with a subtle purple glow, adorned with intricate patterns of black roses. He recalled from the previous owner's memories that one had to channel their spiritual sense into the ring, unlocking its contents much like a key to a treasure chest.

"Simple enough," he thought, already anticipating the smooth journey ahead.

However, his jubilation was short-lived. As he tried to channel his spiritual sense, he paused, frowning. "Wait a minute... Body Tempering cultivators don’t have a spiritual sense," he recalled, horror dawning on him. The spiritual sense was a trait gained during the Qi Refining Stage.

“I’m fucked..."

Slifer glanced around, trying to come up with a plan. "Alright, let's see... walking will take an eternity," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Maybe...just maybe, this skill card could help."

“Activate Skill Card!”

Come on, System. Do me a solid this time.

Randomising Skill Congratulations Skill Acquired - "Insight" Grants information about an object or person upon focus. Can be upgraded for more detailed insights

"Ah, of course. Insight. Because that's precisely what I needed right now! Not teleportation, not a speed boost, but insight." Slifer sighed, his shoulders slumping in disappointment.

"But hey, could have been worse. I could've gotten 'Advanced Pebble Sorting' or something."

Although, he perked up at the thought of upgrades. So, the System can upgrade skills. Noted. It was a silver lining in an otherwise frustrating situation. Not every system out there had the luxury of this feature.

Still, the pressing matter of how to get back to the Black Rose Sect weighed on him. Slifer looked up to the heavens, half in jest, half in desperation. "Dear Xianxia gods, if there ever was a time for a protagonist to catch a break, now would be it. So, if you could send a handy beast mount or a kind stranger with a super-fast chariot, I'd be eternally grateful. Also, a snack would be nice."

Not expecting a reply, he began his long journey, "One foot in front of the other. It's just a hundred days. A hundred long, tedious, danger-filled days."

“What could possibly go wrong?”

----------------------------------------

Fenlok soared through the sky, a glinting sword beneath his feet propelling him forward. The wind brushed past his short, jet-black hair, his sapphire eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Elder Slifer.

He sighed heavily, a pitiable expression on his face. Of all the times... he thought. Fenlok had finally persuaded Junior Sister Lenvari to go sightseeing with him, but this blasted mission had to come up.

"Sightseeing," Fenlok muttered to himself. "Why in the seven heavens would anyone want to simply look at things they've seen a million times? Clouds, trees... other clouds."

But his seniors had sworn by the tactic. "Women love it," Senior Brother Zonrak had said with a knowing wink. "Take them sightseeing, and they'll be eating out of your hand in no time."

Eating out of my hand? But why would she want to do that? Fenlok's naivety was almost endearing.

Yet here he was, not gazing at clouds with Lenvari, but chasing after an old demonic cultivator. All thanks to his master’s peculiar vendetta against Elder Slifer.

Why on earth does Master hate him so much? He'd heard numerous wild theories from fellow disciples.

Some whispered that Slifer had once borrowed a treasured teapot from the master and never returned it. Others claimed that both Elder Slifer and the master had once fallen for the same woman, a celestial beauty who chose neither and instead ascended to a higher realm, leaving them both in bitter rivalry.

Then there was that absolutely ridiculous rumour that Elder Slifer had once bested the master in a dumpling-eating contest. Fenlok chuckled at that. If that’s true, it explains a lot about Master's weight loss attempts.

But of all the stories, Fenlok's favourite was the one about the legendary phoenix feather. Legend had it that back when they were disciples, Elder Slifer had gifted the master a phoenix feather, claiming it had the power of reincarnation. The master, in his enthusiasm, had showcased it everywhere only to later find out that it was a mere chicken feather painted in vibrant hues. The humiliation was said to be something the master had never gotten over.

Fenlok shook his head, a grin on his face. Who knew the world of cultivation would be filled with such... pettiness.

Fenlok's was brought out of his thoughts when Brolin, one of the younger disciples, spoke up, a hint of terror evident in his eyes. "Who's going to be the one to approach Elder Slifer?"

The group, all riding on their flying swords, exchanged uneasy glances. Yurna, a petite woman with fire-red hair, and Charn, a stocky man with a perpetual frown, simultaneously raised their hands and vigorously shook their heads.

"Oh no, not me," Yurna stated, shivering. "I've heard stories. Didn’t Elder Slifer once vaporize a disciple because he sneezed too loudly near him?"

Charn gulped, "And I've heard he reduced another to ashes because the poor fellow complimented him on his robe. Turns out, it was the Elder's least favourite outfit!"

Dentos, a tall and lanky disciple, chimed in, his voice squeaking more than usual. "Don’t forget about that disciple who gifted him the 'Elixir of Everlasting Youth.' Turned out to be prune juice. That guy? Instantly turned into a statue and now serves as a garden ornament at the sect’s entrance."

Everyone shuddered.

Fenlok shook his head, "Come on, these are just exaggerated tales! They're like the stories where Senior Brother Zontu reached the Heavens by stacking chairs and climbing. Entertaining, yes, but hardly true."

Yet, deep down, he knew that the tales of Elder Slifer's temper and random bouts of punishments were what kept half the sect on their toes. Having the highest cultivation amongst the group, Fenlok knew the expectation weighed on his shoulders.

He finally nodded, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Alright, alright. I'll do it. After all, how bad could it be?"

Dentos whispered to Yurna, "He's so brave. Or very, very foolish."

Yurna nodded, "Perhaps both."

Brolin looked visibly relieved. "Thank you, Fenlok. And if... well, if something does happen, I promise I'll personally dedicate a ballad in your name."

"Great," Fenlok replied, rolling his eyes, "just what I always wanted. But after this, all of you owe me big time. I'm missing my precious sightseeing date for this!"

Fenlok's eyes narrowed as he sensed a surge of powerful qi signatures rapidly approaching. "Formation!" he barked, startling the group.

Brolin, trying to maintain his balance on the sword, asked with a trembling voice, "What's wrong, Fenlok?"

"Nascent Soul cultivators are coming our way," Fenlok replied grimly, his hand instinctively going to the jade amulet he wore around his neck.

Dentos gulped, "Nascent Soul? Why couldn’t it be a group of Core Formation juniors? We could've just intercepted them, maybe rough them up a little for fun." He paused, a sheepish grin on his face, "You know, to...uh, relieve stress?"

Yurna nodded enthusiastically, "Right! That’s what lower stage cultivators are for. A good smack here, a pinch there. But Nascent Soul cultivators? They're just big bullies!"

Despite being Core Formation cultivators themselves, there were few at that stage that could threaten them. As long as an MC-like character didn't appear, they could treat other Core Formation cultivators like dirt.

Charn muttered, "The irony of our thoughts doesn’t escape me, you know."

"We can't face them head-on!" Brolin exclaimed. "What do we do?"

Fenlok took a deep breath, "Get your life-saving treasures ready. If we're going down, we're taking at least one of them with us!"

Everyone nodded, determined expressions on their faces. Brolin clutched a tiny golden figurine, Yurna held a shimmering orb, Charn brandished a silver dagger, and Dentos was... well, he was rummaging in his pockets, cursing under his breath. "I swear I had it here... maybe the other pocket..."

But inwardly, Fenlok’s determination was far from genuine. The moment things go south, I'm out. After all, Junior Sister is waiting. And nothing, not even Nascent Soul bullies, will keep me from that date, he thought, sneaking a glance at the escape talisman in his palm.

The arrival of the three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Radiant Dawn Sect had the Black Rose Sect disciples tense.

Jornak spat disdainfully in the direction of the Black Rose disciples. "Scum!" he hissed.

Quindel snarled, "You lot will pay for the Young Master's death!"

But Elder Lornox, glancing around nervously, hissed back, "Quiet! 'He' could be nearby!" Without waiting, he flew faster as he carried the corpse of the Young Master. He did not have the time to bother with mere Core Formation ants.

Seeing them flee, the Black Rose Sect disciples exchanged puzzled looks. "Erm…what just happened?" Dentos whispered, rubbing the spot on his robe where the spit almost landed. "Who killed the Radiant Dawn Sect’s Young Master?"

Charn gulped, "Do you think...it could be our Elder?"

Yurna scoffed, "The Elder? After the tribulation he faced during his last breakthrough? I doubt he's in any shape to fight a kid, let alone Mid Stage Nascent Soul cultivators."

"No," Fenlok murmured, eyes widening in realization. "It must be Tyrus."

The group went silent, the mere mention of that name sending chills down their spines. Tyrus, the prodigious cultivator who had achieved the Nascent Soul Realm at a mere age of 30 and was now at its Peak Stage. Tales of his power and ruthlessness were legendary.

Dentos scratched his chin, "Tyrus? You mean, the 'I-can-practically-cultivate-in-my-sleep' Tyrus?"

"The very same," Brolin whispered, swallowing hard. "He's the only one they'd be this scared of."

“Regardless, we need to head there now,” Fenlok replied as he urged them to follow him.

“Uh, found it!” Dentos pulled out a slightly squashed pastry from his pocket. He grinned, holding it up proudly.

Fenlok looked back, shaking his head in disbelief, mumbled, "Seriously, we need to revise our emergency preparations." But there was no denying the relief in his voice. Another disaster averted, and the sightseeing date was still on!

----------------------------------------

Slifer moved effortlessly through the dense forest, admiring the vibrant canopy above. At least I'm hidden now, he thought, reflecting on the bare openness of the desolate region he had just traversed. In a place like this, I would've been an all-you-can-eat buffet for any beast with even half-decent vision. And given this is Xianxia, they probably have eagle eyes... or dragon eyes or whatever.

The rustling of leaves and distant sounds of birds felt familiar, yet Slifer couldn't shake off the strangeness of this new body. Every step felt too light, every movement too fluid.

Man, I could probably jog for days in this body without even breaking a sweat, he thought.

His previous body was, well, more rounded. The sort of physique that got winded walking from the couch to the fridge. "The kind where just lifting a fork felt like weight training," he said aloud, chuckling.

He paused, struck by a sudden realization. Isn't it weird? Here I am, an old man probably knocking on heaven's door any moment now, yet I'm more fit than I ever was as a middle-aged man on Earth. Go figure.

He couldn’t help but reminisce about his days on Earth. The nights spent binge-watching TV shows, the endless pizza boxes stacked up in the corner of his living room, the "marathon" sessions of moving from his bed to his gaming chair.

"Good times," he sighed.

Slifer's wandering mind was jolted back to the present as a voice proclaimed, “Found him.” He nearly leapt out of his skin, looking up to find five young cultivators hovering on flying swords, sneering down at him. Their sharp eyes glinted with mischief, their robes flamboyantly adorned, and their hair various shades of vibrant colours, looking like the antagonists of a xianxia novel. Their oppressive auras pressed down on Slifer, making his knees buckle.

Activate Insight!

Name N/A Realm Late Core Formation Known Techniques N/A Known Affiliations N/A Disposition N/A

Shit! Core Formation? I’m so dead. Slifer didn’t see the point of using Insight on the others, one Core Formation was enough to snuff him out like a feeble candle in a tempest.

Oh, great. Just what I needed, Slifer thought bitterly, his eyes darting around for an escape route, even though he knew there was no escape, Slifer wasn’t one to just give up. This old geezer must've ticked off these punks. Now they're here to collect!

The disciples exchanged glances, a myriad of thoughts racing through their heads.

Is... is this really the mighty Elder Slifer? Fenlok wondered, squinting at the seemingly frail figure before them. I can't feel any qi emanating from him. Is he... is he hiding it? Or does he... not have any?

Meanwhile, Dentos scratched his head in confusion. Why is he... walking? Don't elders, you know, fly or teleport or whatever they do?

The weight of their gazes bore into Slifer, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Shit! Why are they looking at me like that? His fingers twitched, thoughts racing to the only trump card he had left. Am I going to have to use ‘it’?