I clasped my hands together and smiled towards the Refiner's Hall. With excitement brimming in my heart. I proceeded towards the location of where I first arrived. Zhong Chi was there, he greeted me with a smile. Along with fellow disciples which numbered about four.
"Boss! These are my fellow brothers who would want to follow you!" Zhong Chi led me towards the other disciples who stared at me with excited gazes, fanaticism clear in their eyes.
"Hmm, good. I like the looks in your eyes." I turned towards them and smiled.
"Thank you, Boss." A fellow disciple whose age ranged in fifteen to sixteen years old smiled. His face looked quite horrendous for it was wretched with pimples, and the movement of the muscles when he smiled made it even more terrifying to look at.
"Now, guys! Introduce yourselves before our Boss!" Zhong Chi turned towards them, his tone solemn as he spoke.
A disciple with a body that looked emaciated stood up. An air of death seemed to circulate around his body, and his face, filled with wrinkles made everyone who looked towards him feel extreme disgust.
What the heck? All of them are weirdos! I spoke inwardly.
"Boss, I am called Xiao Cheng, I am proficient in the arts of witchcraft. I can create hexes, puppets, and I can also curse people with lower cultivation than me to death." He gave a sinister smile full of killing intent towards me which made me gulp in response.
Another man stood, this time. This one looked normal. That was until...
"Boss! This one is called, Cang Tong! I excel in the arts of body transformation! As of now, I can transform to a werewolf." He clenched his fists together and his muscles bulged in a pace visible to the naked eye. Cracking sounds rang as his body doubled in size.
His facial expression could not be clearly seen due to the hair that covered him wholly. His entire body looked like a bear, than a human. I sighed before turning to the former man of which I complemented earlier.
"Hehe... This one's name is Jobert Roe. I am skilled in hiding at the dark. Which means, I am an Assassin." He smiled to me and flicked his wrists. A gust of wind swept past on my body before a cold icy light flew from who knows where.
The event that happened was too fast and I didn't have time to evade. A ting sound echoed as a dagger pierced the wall behind me.
W-W-What hidden armaments skill! A chill ran down my spine as I looked towards the former man who smiled to me amiably.
"Sorry for that, Boss. But I thought it would be better to give a demonstration than to speak. But of course, Even though I am skilled in small skirmishes and ambushes. I cannot hope to defeat you nor Jiang Cheng. But in a contest of swift, fatal strikes. You can rely on me for that!" He raised his chest proudly, and clasped his hands together before retreating back.
"This one's name is Qin Shang! If Boss needs a person who excels in long ranged fights. You can trust on me!" He smiled before retreating backwards. Zhong Chi then moved forward and spoke.
"How do you like them, Boss?" Zhong Chi spoke in a careful tone.
"Good, They are enough for me." I said, of course. I already knew what he meant by sending these guys to me. Since I possess common sense. If this world was a dog eat world. That Jiang Cheng wouldn't let go of me so easily, and he will surely send assassins after me.
"Starting from now on. You guys will work for me. All of you will forever be my brothers. But of course, it won't be free! Someday, when I have enough power or influence. I will get back to you guys and repay this favor." I clasped my hands together to the group of youngsters facing me. After I spoke, the fanaticism in their eyes grew stronger.
"Don't worry about that, Boss! We will protect you from that bastard Jiang Cheng's lackeys!" Cang Tong smiled to me before clashing his fists together, his expression looked to be raring to fight.
"Good, then I will go back now. I need to recuperate my depleted Qi." I didn't say any further and left the area.
"Zhong Chi. Did we really make the right decision?" Jobert Roe asked towards Zhong Chi. Zhong Chi smiled as he spoke.
"In the entire first district. The boss was Jiang Cheng, now that he was toppled by Boss. Do you really think that we should still follow him? Why not revolt?" Zhong Chi asked.
"But, Zhong Chi. His uncle is a deputy house master in the Sect. Can we really evict him from his position as the boss of the first district?" This time, Qin Shang was the one who spoke.
"Who knows? But I got a feeling that Boss wouldn't disappoint us." Zhong Chi smiled, his gaze contained deep confidence that one could trust.
"A feeling? Really?"
"A feeling?"
"A feeling?"
"Yes, a feeling."
"Hmmph! You better not disappoint me, or else I would cut off all relations with you!"
"Don't worry about it, Qin Shang. Let's just trust him for now." Zhong Chi continued, his smile looked even more excited than before."
...
I didn't hesitate any longer and proceeded towards the newbie leveling grounds. I arrived in a forest covered with lively vegetation. In front of me was a boar it leisurely lived its life, eating grasses and snorting all around the forest.
[Boar [Low-Ranked Unclassified] ]
Health: 850/850
Qi: < >
Defense: 25
Attack: 85-100
I almost wanted to vomit up blood after seeing its stats. Like what the heck?! A boar has more defense than me? A player? But of course, it was clear that its defense was higher due to its thick fur, but still.... I suppressed the urge to face palm myself and opened my User Interface.
I tapped open the Martial Tome and found three skills that could be activated in the moment.
Level 1: Bombardment = Costs three talismans, Fuse Qi into talismans to attack enemies, Single Target Spell. Costs 45 Qi Cooldown: 12 seconds. Damage: Attk * 3
Level 1: Riposte = Costs one talismans, Deflect enemies attack while pushing them backwards. Single Target Spell. Costs 25 Qi Cooldown: 15 seconds Damage: Attk / 2
Level 1: Incantation = Costs four atlismans, Charge up Qi into talismans to summon a temporary familiar. Costs 80 Qi, Familiar duration : 90 Seconds. Cooldown: 5 minutes. Familiar attack: Attk * 2 Channeling: five seconds.
My previously sullen expression became filled with joy when I read the Level 1: Incantation. Without further ado, I immediately assumed battle stance and equipped the talismans that Zhong Chi gave me earlier.
~Swish...
Innumerable talismans swirled around my body, but though they were numerous to count. I can still see clearly due to their size only being a logan. I pointed my finger towards a boar and murmured. "Bombardment!"
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
~Chi chi chi...
Resplendent lights shone from my finger as three talismans suddenly burned. The talismans turned into ashes which flew towards my pointed finger. I could feel a presence urging me to command the Bombardment to burn the boar to a crisp.
I shouted. "Fire!"
~Bang!
A blue light condensed and formed a beam of light towards the boar. A resonating sound echoed as a damage number popped out.
150!
Ouh! That damage was my attack times two! I delightfully shouted, the boar turned towards me and its eyes turned bloodshot. It started to kick its hind leg and rushed towards me like a car!
"Hmmph!" I snorted and pointed my fingers outward.
"Riposte!" A chiiing sound echoed followed by a blue light converging before me, forming a transparent barrier. ~Dong! The boar crashed into the barrier and with an intention from me. I sent it flying backwards for about ten meters.
Surprisingly, the boar agilely controlled its huge body in the air. It gracefully landed and once again rushed towards me!
Shit!
My defense and attacking skills were still on cool down, except for the Incantation. That cannot be used for now since it has a five second channeling time. I ran backwards and headed towards the Sect Area of which was a safe ground. The rookie players around me laughed as they saw me running from a boar. They couldn't help but shake their heads as they murmured. "How pitiful, he actually ran away from a boar!"
Now that my Bombardment was available. I swiftly leaped towards a tree and started casting my Bombardment! The boar below repeatedly struck the tree of which I am on, causing it to subtly shake. Damage numbers popped over its head due to its ramming and a faint trace of blood could be seen on its fur.
I howled. "Bombardment!"
270!
A huge damage number popped out. It was a critical hit! The boar grumbled once again, its health already reduced around fifty percent. With that, I decided to command the talismans around me to slap the boar. Since it couldn't jump on this tree. I decided to take advantage of this and slap it to death!
78!
83!
86!
89!
Damage numbers popped out. The health of the boar plummeted below ten percent. Veins bulged around its body as it leaped towards me! Its leaping height increased by three times, it controlled its body to send a kick towards my abdomen! But it still underestimated this highness. I still have my Riposte!
Without ado, I activated Riposte and a transparent barrier covered me. ~Clang! A sound of metal clashing against metal echoed as I fling my wrist sending the boar flying backwards!
38!
The damage was small, but it was enough to reduce its health to two percent.
100!
It flopped on the ground creating a small crater that resembled its body. The damage on its fall killed it! Hahahaha I laughed inwardly as a my experience bar increased by four percent! Hmm! Killing at least twenty five boars will level me.
Before I descended on the ground. I decided to check my stats.
[Player: Heaven Defying (Warlock) Level 2]
Strength: 38
Magic Power: 371
Defense: 12
Attack: 76-91
Author's Note: Strength is default attack divided by two, while magic power is Qi divided by 2.8 can only be increased by leveling. Increase in level is 1.3 which means MC's current Qi is 1040. Magic power is 371. Defense is ten at default, depending on class. plus 2 per level. Can be increased with armor. Attack can also be increased with gear.
Note: Talisman's do not possess attack power. Warlock's true weapon is a staff. Of which our MC can get in the later parts of the story. END
I kept on taking advantage on this small glitch, and leveled up to five before five 'am. Now, I once again took a glance on my stats.
[Player: Heaven Defying (Warlock) Level 5]
Strength : 40
Magic Power: 589
Defense: 20
Attack: 79-94
Good! With this, I ran and proceeded towards the Refiner's Hall. When I arrived there, sweat had already drenched my body. Elder Brian was there, greeting me with a solemn expression and a smile that I couldn't describe if it was mirth or icy.
"A-Am I late, Elder?" I nervously asked.
"Good, you're only two minutes late. I can pardon that. Now, let's proceed to the specifics." Elder Brian nodded his head.
"As I said yesterday. I want you to fight the bandits and help our forces guarding then northern borders. Though I said that. That doesn't mean that I will send you there alone. Here, take this jade slip. Once you shatter this, I will immediately arrive in less than two minutes! But you must only activate this if you're in the following conditions!" Elder Brian solemnly said.
"One! If you found my granddaughter."
"Two! If you're in a life and death situation."
"Three! If their leader came out."
"That's the only condition that I will set. Don't recklessly activate this jade slip if the danger is low! Or else I will be the one to slap you to death!" Elder Brian threatened. I felt a chill running in my spine as I immediately nodded like a chicken pecking rice.
"Now, I will make this mission clear. Infiltrate the enemy bases and rescue my granddaughter! Youngster, if you completed this mission. Then I will guide you in the path of cultivation! I will also be willing to give you half of my resources, if that's what you wanted, and my position as the elder!" Elder Brian straightened his posture as he piously said. I was in awe, looking at his determined figure.
For his granddaughter. He was willing to abandon everything. This Elder though eccentric had already left a good impression in me.
"Okay, I accept!" I didn't hesitate any further and shouted. Elder Brian gave a meaningful smile and disappeared into the shadows. But I could faintly hear his lingering words in the air saying.
"Good! Our mission starts in the afternoon! Meeting place is here in the Refiner's Hall! We will also discuss our plan later. Thank you for your help. Young Cultivator." The last lines of Elder Brian contained deep melancholy which stirred my heart deeply. I turned to look towards his direction and clasped my hands together.
[Unique Quest Triggered! Quest Rank: SS, Quest Objective: Infiltrate the Harrowing Bandits and rescue Elder Brian's Granddaughter! Quest Reward: ????]
I stared at the blue screen until a small smile escaped my lips.
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Author's Note: Ughhh! I hate maths and the complicated stats!!!