///___///

After that little incident, the protagonist from the Wei clan had just sworn I'd rue the day of messing with him or some shit. Idk I was distracted by the brown stain on his pants as he dragged away his sobbing servant. Funnily enough, I'm pretty sure I saw his red halo dim a bit but I'm not sure which of my actions caused that. I'll have to test being an asshole to protagonist types more thoroughly. On the plus side, my halo has a little red swirl in it now. So that's neat. No idea what to do with that. Onto more important matters, like the fact he reminded me of something.

Servant, huh… I got two of those. Xiang's memories had informed me that he'd mostly just been using the Inn's staff as his servants outside of those two. I should probably remember their names… nah that'd be out of character, so Blue and Green it is. Because I'm such a good boss I gave those two the shitty wine bottle that I had Green bring to insult my unplanned guests.

Anyway, the rest of the night went rather peacefully, if I do say so myself. I drank myself to sleep, of course. Being drunk off of spiritual wine is the greatest pleasure imaginable. Truly, my life as an alcoholic was blessed by coming here. Amen.

What really surprised me was in the morning when one of the Inn's servants brought me a letter and a space ring. Why didn't my servants answer the door? They're both wasted as fuck, I was rich enough to keep the wine flowing, both shitty and spiritual. I think I gave Blue some spiritual wine at some point and the dude went out like a light.

So what was in the ring? Thirty thousand mid-grade spiritual stones. Seems my fiancé was so embarrassed from being hit by my ‘power word soil’ that she decided to handle things quietly and without complaints. I mean, it's good in my books. Despite pissing herself I still praise the heroine's pragmatism. With a shrug to myself I pull out the contract, rip it in half, then have the servant send it and the ring back after moving the spiritual stones to mine. Why didn't I keep the ring? My pride as a villain, truly. It wasn't part of the bargain and I want to craft the image of being a villain of my word, or some shit like that.

I already stiffed her enough, and those things cost a fair sum. I'll just buy another one if I need one. Speaking of buying, I can't keep going like this. Wei dude had a cultivator as his servant, while mine are just two dudes who survived by being out shopping when the massacre happened. I'm pretty sure they were the stable boys. Regardless, it's unacceptable. Using my divine sense I first check Green. Let's see, his spiritual roots are Wind, Nature, and Metal, of the three only Nature is a mid-grade one, the rest low. While Nature and Metal are a bit rare, having multiple roots is not a good thing unless it's some heaven-blessed bullshit. Essentially, I see why he was passed by as a potential cultivator when my family chose them. Leaving the young brown-haired man to clutch his pile of bottles on the floor, I head over to Blue.

Blue, he's kind of a special case, isn't he? People with blue luck are the successful ones, outside of being a child of heaven or something. I'm sure that the Wei clan dog from last night will eventually work his way to Elder if the smell of his piss doesn't haunt his dreams for the rest of his life. Regardless, Blue being passed by so easily by the family just feels off. As I study the blackout drunk who has his face on the table, I eventually hit him with the good ol’divine sense.

Bro what?

What the fuck is a Dual Celestial and Dream Root?!

MOTHERFUCKER MY SERVANT’S A PROTAGONIST TEMPLATE!

Do I just kill him? I reel back some at how instinctive the thought was. Rong, your memories are not a good influence on my already rather fragile mental state. Well, the Willpower perk hopefully helps with that. As for dealing with Blue… I'm honestly surprised I hadn't noticed before. Then again, I treated him like a nameless mook, and I still treat him like a nameless mook. He, however, indeed fits the bill of a protagonist. Same black hair, and I poke his eyelid up a bit to check he indeed has the generic black eyes. His appearance is really average though. So maybe considering his luck he's the regressor or reincarnated immortal type? I doubt he's the glow-up kind, his luck is too ass for that.

If I'm right in my estimate it hasn't happened yet. Putting a hand to my chin I ponder. To kill or not to kill, that is the question… Yeah, I’ma let him live. All it took was me realizing that'd cut my workforce in half, along with the fact Blue is the smart one of the two. Dunno if this will bite my ass eventually, but if he does end up being my enemy I can just use him to steal his opportunities. It's a win-win situation here. I do, however, take a closer look as to why our family missed such bullshit Spiritual Roots.

Focusing my divine sense on Blue as a whole instead of just his roots, I find the problem. This fucker has a special Physique. I don't know what it is, but it's probably demonic of some kind if it's hindering his Roots so badly they couldn't be picked up by the Root-sensing artifact. Considering one of his Roots is holy in nature. I'm tempted to just say fuck it and take the Physique right there, surely I could use it better. But no, that's the cultivator in me talking, and I already decided I'd let Blue live.

Besides, I've wasted enough time looking at these guys. I'll just give them both one of the basic bitch starter manuals then throw some spiritual stones their way. If they can succeed, good, if they fail, they're still useful enough as servants. Knowing I can't just tell them this, I pick the two up and drag them to another room, a female servant of the inn comes up to me in a panic.

“Young Master Xiang, that room was already reserved for the night by-”

“Don't care, I'm taking it. Add it to my bill.” I cut her off, and she instantly pales. “Leave.” She bows low, then speedwalks away. Ah, the things I do for my precious subordinates.

Truly, I am a good boss.

///___///

Jie Long blinks his eyes awake, one of those eyes stinging, just on the lid as if it were bruised. What happened? He remembers his Master giving him a sip of Spiritual Wine then nothing.

He rockets up in a panic at the thought. What time is it!? Master might kill them if they slept in!? A groan to the side draws his attention, Tan Bo, his friend and only fellow servant, is asleep clutching a bottle as if it were a woman.

Jie Long feels a vein bulge on his forehead at that, kicking the sleeping man.

“Gyaah?!” Tan Bo cries in pain at his sudden awakening. “Ouch ouch ouch, my head! Jie Long why do you kick a hungover man!?”

“We don't have time to waste around! We have to go serve Mas- Where are we?” He interrupts his words as he looks around the room he most definitely has never been in before. The Phoenix Motifs are everywhere and the red sheets on the bed assure him of that. Before he can get his bearings Tan Bo walks over to the big desk in the room, then says something inconceivable.

“Huh, master wants us to cultivate.”

“What did you say, you imbecile?”

“You know I can read, you're the one that taught me.” That was true, he sees the stupid younger man as a dumb little brother. “Look, the note is right here, and there's even a book under it!” Jie Long finds himself hesitantly approaching his eager friend. Then he blanks after reading the note shoved into his hands.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Learn this technique, reach the first stage in two months or go die.” -Xiang Rong, Master of two dogs.

Not for the first time, Jie Long realizes his Master seems to have changed. Despite the usual threat of violence and insults, a deep gratitude settles in his heart. Along with excitement.

He was going to become a cultivator!

///___///

I feel like sneezing, but bodily functions like that are below someone so great such as I. Instead I focus on getting back to what I was doing.

Learning what the fuck this book has me chanting as a mantra.

The words of an ancient tongue are burned into my mind, and I don't even physically need to speak them. Just thinking about them circulates my Qi in the way that the manual follows. Each circulation of Qi seems to add more and more to the lake of blood at my Spiritual Tree's base. Yes, that thing is no fucking Root, I'm calling it a Spiritual Tree now. The Qi itself is black, just like my former Darkness Root, but now it has a tinge of red to it, dyed in the same way the tree is. I don't know exactly how the Qi and the Blood Lake are connected, but I've realized they do mirror each other. My dantian is full of the liquid like Qi which is approximately the same amount as the lake in my soul. I think I'll only get answers on what that means when I reach the next stage.

Which I can do now, I think. Rong sat on his ass for a year after hitting 7th stage, and before that he half-assed his cultivation. So I'm fairly positive I can shoot right into Foundation Establishment. A shame I'm not getting there under twenty though, so no cred for being a super once-in-a-lifetime genius to the public. Damn you Rong, you lazy bastard! Generic Heaven-sent genius will have to do. Decided on my path, I nod to myself. I only have one thing left to do first.

Book-chan, please tell me your secret, what does this mantra mean?

Beg for help from the sentient book in my soul. I gave up trying to translate, learning other languages has always been the bane of my existence. I once feared retribution from the Duolingo bird. I almost shiver at the thought. Book-chan gives me the mental equivalent of a sigh again. Ah, I kinda feel bad disappointing Book-chan like this, but I really wanted to know what I was saying here. Then, the information from the ancient script is burned into my mind.

With Blood, subjugate the Earth

With Darkness, control the Heavens

With Strength, dominate the Demonic

Rise unfettered, and know Truth

Book-chan, you just got straight to the point huh? Well, whatever, I've already accepted my fate as an edge lord here. With a quick thanks to Book-chan, I immediately start cultivating, chanting in my mind, Qi is absorbed and circulated at a breakneck speed.

Time to reach Foundation Establishment!

///___///

Just a bit earlier

“I already told you, what do you mean my reservation was canceled, do you know who I am!?” He screams at the manager who dares to block him. Everyone always thinking they can step on him over the years has given him the inability to let a slight like this pass.

Ever since Cheng Hong was crippled and his engagement broken at a young age, he's seen the absolute worst people can be to one another. Now that his cultivation has recovered, and even flourished with the help of his ring-bound Master, he can't possibly put up with the injustice being shown.

“Young Master, I implore you, to please take one of our other rooms while we wait for the Phoenix room to become available again.” The pale-faced manager cowers in front of him, the female attendant Cheng had unfortunately hit in his anger stands behind him with her head low and his hand print on her face. While he feels sorry, he would not lower himself to apologize.

“Hypocritical brat, you'd apologize in a heartbeat if it were one of those Jade Beauties you always chase after.” His Master scoffs, not even leaving the ring to scold him. Cheng would rub the back of his head in shame if he wasn't being watched by the Inn staff. Instead, he ignores his Master's words and lets a serious look slip onto his face.

“Pray tell, why I, this humble Lord, should wait? You mean to say there's another Foundation Establishment Cultivator in this backwater city?” A smug smirk comes to his face as he unleashes just a small amount of his killing intent. He notices the sweat dripping from the pale face of the now kneeling manager.

“Enough with the theatrics, Boy.”

Fine. He'll just get to the point then. “Who would dare to take my room?”

“It was young Master Xiang!” The attendant he hit cries after seeing the even now reluctant look on the manager's face.

“Xiang? The Ancient Xiang Clan? Boy, ask right now!”

“Of the Ancient Xiang Clan?” He asks.

“Just a branch, one that was wiped out! But Xiang Rong has his entire branch's assets if rumors are to be believed!” The young woman states hurriedly, her manager looking at her in shock.

“Just a branch clan?” Cheng scoffs. The man sounds like a Villain if the fear of the people here is anything to go off of. A wealthy villain. Cheng ignores his Master's deep sigh.

“Xuiyei, do you have a death wish?!” The manager screams at the attendant. Truly the true color of these people is vile, the same as the rest of those people who bullied him.

“Do you?! I'd rather place my bet on the powerhouse rather than a spoiled brat with a silver spoon!” She seethes back at the man who had originally stood in front of her as a protective shield.

“Enough. Take me to this Young Master Xiang.” He flashes his Intent once again. They quiet, the attendant bows and then motions him to follow as the manager looks on in dismay. Sorry mister manager, you should have picked better.

A short walk later they arrive at what looks to be the Dragon room. The gall of that man! He dares take Cheng Hong's room then doesn't even use it!? When he asks the attendant who is using his room, he's shocked to learn it's two servants. A beating will be nowhere near enough for this bastard. He debates quickly killing the man's servants but decides to save it until after he decides their Master's fate.

And so, Cheng Hong pushes open the door, breaking the rudimentary lock as well. Just as he enters the room, he freezes. A swirling black mass of Qi takes up his vision, and a moment later an aura of fear and dizziness grips his heart. When he comes to again it's to his Master's shouting.

“Cheng Hong! Run, you can't deal with this man!” He almost runs on instinct before his gaze meets the closed eyes of the man floating above a red and gold sheeted bed. Then he scoffs at the thought of running. For all that show, the man before him is only a newly ascended Foundation Establishment Cultivator! His master was worried for nothing. So with a smirk on his face, he takes out his sword. “Cheng Hong, please, play not the fool or it will be your last breath you take.” He rolls his eyes. Seriously, what does his Master think this is-

The man on the bed opens his blood-red eyes, and those eyes are the last thing Cheng Hong sees.

///___///

I don't know whether I should call my luck horseshit, or good.

On one hand, Foundation Establishment was something I could do in an instant. Which wasn't luck per se, but I still feel lucky.

On the other hand, as soon as I was done breaking through a Son of Heaven showed up with what I presume is his ring daddy. I'm glad I was able to immediately hit him with my Madness Intent at full blast, even if it took two of such blasts to knock him the fuck out. Seriously, a Foundation Establishment 5th stage is pretty darn tough apparently. The first blast was on instinct, but as soon as I saw him smile and take out his sword, I knew he was the asshole kind and took him out immediately. Shoulda figured he was an asshole when he broke my door.

So what exactly do I have here? A red halo passed out on the floor, a golden halo floating above his finger, and a green ha- huh, this is the first time I've seen a halo do that. I watch in real-time as the horrified-looking woman's dim green halo gets dimmer and dimmer until it turns grey. Presuming she led the dipshit to my door, I don't feel that bad at watching her lose her luck with fascination. When it settles on a dull grey, I turn my gaze to her. “Leave before you join him.” I glance at the man on the floor who she probably thinks is dead. Without even a nod she runs away, a scream of terror on her lips. I'd just kill her if I was a psychopath like everyone thinks I am. No, I only kill bad people, and maybe people that really piss me off.

Killing is not something I'd thought of doing outside of like joining the army back home. I would have, too, if a bunch of psychiatrists hadn't barred me from it, dicks. As for acceptable targets? This dude drooling on my floor looks like one to me. I use my divine sense on the dude and see that he indeed has a Physique, yet I still can't tell what it is automatically. Does it have something to do with emotions? Maybe. This… will be the first time I'm using this power, so I'm a bit weary. Then again, this dude did think I was an easy kill so fuck him.

It was quicker than I expected. One moment I'm standing over him, the next a dark wave of Qi covers his body head to toe, a connection to it coming from the center of my chest. Qi manifestation at this level isn't something you'd be able to see a Qi Gathering Cultivator do, so I am a bit curious about what would have happened if I used the ability before breaking through. The Qi keeps wrapping around him, piercing through his robes and flesh with jagged constructs created inside what's essentially a semi-translucent black-and-red blanket. His red halo rapidly darkened, going closer and closer to black. The smell of blood fills the air as the Qi retreats to me, and a corpse riddled with stab wounds is all that remains on the floor, blood pooling out of it.

“Ninety percent chance”, yeah I can see that. I guess if you have a very good fucking doctor on hand or a Miracle drug they could live easily enough. Otherwise, good luck. Without that, there's a higher likelihood you'll turn into a pincushion and then go and cross the Yellow River. So, that wasn't creepy at all. Who am I fooling? I just saw a fucker get iron maiden’d, I'm positive the only reason I can joke is my sick sense of humor and the fact I have that Willpower perk. Shit's showing use in spades right now. Distracting myself seems like the play here, don't look at the dead guy and obviously, he won't be there.

Ancestral Heart Destroying Physique, is a physique passed down from generation to generation that allows the owner to destroy the fighting will of their enemies. When activated, it gives its owner an aura that targets the hearts of his enemies. Making them give up by thinking the fight is hopeless from the start.

What the fuck is this supposed to be? Isn't this just killing intent? How the fuck does it judge friend from foe? Not gonna lie fam, this shit’s probably hella useful but right now there are too many unknowns. At least I can turn these things off and on. Shrugging to myself, I keep it mentally clicked off for now. My attention then goes to the ring he had on his finger. Using some Qi, I pick it up, placing it in my palm. Seeing the golden halo, bright and shiny, yet not a peep from the ring has me raise an eyebrow. Guess I'll start the conversation first.

“You must think me a fool to think I wouldn't notice a little pest latching onto that mongrel.”

A FRIENDLY greeting.

A sigh comes first, followed by a rather morose voice. “What do you want, monster?”

This is the start of a pleasant conversation, I just know it.