Hengsheng is testing the new power system that the ultimate leveling system has provided him for a while. He moved the mana around and gained some more low-tier skills while he did it. Then he checks the skill details to see how it is going.

Ding!

[Skill: Fireball (Lv.1)]

Tier: 1★

Type: Offensive

Description: A basic fire-elemental offensive spell. The user conjures a sphere of condensed flames and launches it toward a target. Upon impact, the Fireball explodes, dealing fire damage and inflicting the [Burn] status effect.

[Burn] Effect:

* Deals continuous fire damage over 5 seconds.

* Reduces target’s resistance to fire attacks by 10% while active.

Skill Progression:

* Lv. 10: Increases explosion radius.

* Lv. 20: Increases fire damage.

* Lv. 30: Adds a chance to cause [Ignite], dealing additional fire damage over time.

* ….

* ….

The status window is not just for show as his first main system did—it is actually adding another power system to him without any connection to the cultivation realm. The most impressive feature of this status window is the power of Mana.

This Mana does not come from any external source; it is generated from the system window itself. This marvel can occur only because of the existence of the Origin energy.

As the Origin energy flows through Hengsheng's body, it writes the entire framework of the leveling power system using its own power and attaches it to his body.

With the leveling power system framework created by the Origin energy bonded to the system user, it is as if the system user is wearing a permanent, growth-type power suit. In fact, the system window has become like another body overlapping his real body.

This status window operates under a different set of existence rules, similar to those governing the God Spawn.

The existence of Mana also stems from this status window’s innate abilities. With this power of Mana, Hengsheng can now deal direct damage to the God Spawn’s life essence, since he designed the mana energy trait to be flexible and able to adapt to many forms of the existence rules so it is capable of affecting most enemies.

This fantastic energy trait does not come without a drawback—he must sacrifice energy potency for flexibility, making mana significantly weaker than spiritual Qi.

However, thanks to its flexibility, he can infuse mana into his spiritual Qi, the result is a new type of energy that preserves the mana energy flexibility trait while still retaining the energy potency of spiritual Qi.

The Magic Qi! At least, that’s what he’s calling it for now.

"How is it, Master? Is my leveling system cool?" Hunter stood on the surface of the planets within the system world, speaking to Hengsheng through their system connection.

"It’s cool! I can't wait to go out and level up." Hengsheng smiled as he replied, continuing his conversation with Hunter, who eagerly urged him to head out and slaughter all the demon beasts.

Hengsheng chuckled dryly—he had finally met someone even edgier than himself. But his amusement faded as his eyes narrowed. He sensed someone outside his cultivation cave.

A moment later, a Qi voice transmission bypassed his concealment formation and reached him directly inside the cave.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, I mean no harm! May I have a word?"

The voice was familiar. Hengsheng thought for a moment before recalling—it belonged to Cao Feng, a disciple of the Golden Sword Sect.

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Hengsheng's brows furrowed. How did this guy even know he was here? He thought for a moment before deciding to step outside the cave and meet his visitor.

Standing up from his seat, he brought Yunsu out of the system world.

"Meow?"

Hengsheng glanced at the cat, now dressed in beautiful modern clothes woven from Origin Energy. However, the moment those clothes were exposed to the Heavenly Dao world, they began to dissolve into thin air.

"Why are you dressed like this? you look so silly! Hahaha!" Hengsheng burst into laughter, amused at the sight.

Yunsu's ears twitched, and her eyes burned with embarrassment. Her secret hobby had been exposed! Gritting her teeth, she let out a sharp hiss of displeasure, refusing his affection. Biting his hand in protest, she leapt onto the floor.

"Hiss!" Hengsheng tries to catch her but she always slips away with her swift movement, she does not let him touch her at all!

"I'm sorry! But we have company now—please forgive me just this once, okay?" Hengsheng pleaded, watching Yunsu’s tail flick aggressively. She was still sulking, but after a moment, she jumped back into his arms, pretending to be a calm and composed cat.

Hengsheng straightened his posture, his amused expression fading into an emotionless one as he stepped out of the cave, slowly stroking Yunsu’s back.

Outside, a group of five disciples from the Golden Sword Sect awaited him. He immediately recognized Cao Feng, but the other four were unfamiliar—they weren’t part of the group of nine that had escorted him to the sect's private grounds.

Hengsheng's gaze swept over them. In his eyes, their faces brimmed with arrogance, their expressions showing clear displeasure.

On the other hand, Cao Feng only managed a faint, uneasy smile, seemingly nervous about how Hengsheng would react to his teammates’ behavior.

"What business do you have with me?" Hengsheng asked, his tone cold.

One of the disciples behind Cao Feng visibly tensed, veins bulging on his forehead in anger. His thoughts fumed—How dare this country bumpkin act so arrogantly in front of us?

Just as he was about to raise a finger and lash out, Cao Feng swiftly extended a hand, stopping him.

"Apologies, Fellow Daoist Lan," Cao Feng said with a respectful bow. "My junior lacks proper manners when dealing with those outside our sect."

Hengsheng returned the bow, accepting the apology before speaking.

"Now, you may speak. What brings you here?"

He already had a good guess—this visit was most likely related to the black-masked cultivators.

Cao Feng’s expression turned serious. "This may seem rude, but I’m here to ask for your help."

Hengsheng remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Cao Feng hesitated before pressing on. "I understand this may be difficult to hear, but our sect has been tasked with monitoring the secret land... including observing those within it."

He paused, watching Hengsheng’s face carefully, expecting anger—after all, no one liked being secretly monitored.

To his surprise, Hengsheng’s expression didn’t change. There was no sign of fury, no outrage.

"Go ahead," Hengsheng said calmly, noting the awkward length of Cao Feng’s pause.

He could tell what Cao Feng was thinking just by his face, but Hengsheng didn’t feel any anger. Unlike most people in this world, he was already used to being watched.

His past life had been filled with government surveillance, especially over the wealthy who lacked political power—taxing them as much as possible under the guise of regulation.

Cao Feng, seeing Hengsheng did not react, then he continued.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, as we once fought together, I know you have a great hatred for those traitors… a group of Black mask cultivators," Cao Feng spoke in a serious tone.

"With ours meant to monitor the secret land, we found that they are now gathering the large army of the monster—the white skin demon beasts you have fought."

"They plan to launch a full-scale attack on our stronghold. We are gathering every available cultivator from all forces to join us in the upcoming battle."

"That is why I have come—to personally invite you to fight alongside us once more. Your strength would be invaluable. Will you fight with us?" he finished, waiting in silence for Hengsheng's answer.

Hengsheng gazed at Cao Feng and the others behind him and gauged their strength. he recalled that a thousand Golden Sword Sect disciples had entered the secret land.

He wondered why they needed to invite him and others when their strength should be enough to fight against the black-masked cultivator group, as they were obviously stronger.

Even ten thousand of the God Spawn should be able to handle it with their superior strength if they are careful enough.

"May I ask why you need others to join you, since from what I know you should have no problem dealing with those black-masked cultivators because you obviously have better strength?" Hearing Hengsheng's words, the disciples behind Cao Feng began to act proud.

"That's because this battle is risky and we can't take even a single chance of failure. The consequences of failure are such that our pride means little. Please don't ask for more details, Fellow Daoist Lan; it is a dangerous secret that you are better off not knowing for your own safety."

Hengsheng's eyes narrowed as he observed Cao Feng and gauged whether Cao Feng's words were threatening him or just a friendly warning.

Finding no hint of threat, and combined with his own suspicions about the Black mask goal, Hengsheng decided to accept the invitation.

"How much are you paying?" Hengsheng asked, knowing that even if he decided to join, it did not mean he would do it for free.

"Pardon?" Cao Feng replied, confused.

"You say my strength is invaluable; how much is it?" Hengsheng negotiated his fee for joining, leaving the others behind him fuming with anger as he stated his price, while Cao Feng tried to lower it a bit.

Finally, Cao Feng agreed to pay him 10,000,000 mid-grade spirit stones. It was a price enough to buy a middle-rank of a Divine-grade treasure if they were on the continent's surface.

Even though Divine treasures were lying around in this secret land, what Hengsheng really needed now was Spirit Stone!

With the agreement done, he began to follow Cao Feng's group in the direction of the Golden Sword Sect's private area.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at an area that appeared perfectly normal, the forest teeming with metal trees.

As Hengsheng followed the group ahead of him, he felt his body enveloped by Natural Qi—the Qi emitted by the Formation. And then, before his eyes, he saw it.

The first thing he noticed after passing the concealment formation was—the Golden Pagoda."