After paying respects to my new mentor, Elder Brian Strut. I opened my inventory from the User Interface tab. There, I found a small icon of a pouch with a purple name. 

[Mentor Bundle ]

It didn't mention the contents, and so. I excitedly opened it with a tap. A divine beam of light fell down as my level increased by threefolds! I was now at Level 8! The system mentioned that I could now further expand my basic attributes tree. Meaning, I could now see more information about my character traits. I quickly opened my profile.

[Player: Heaven Defying (Practitioner of the Dark Arts) Level 8 - Qi Condensation Realm 8th Layer.]

Health: 1600

Endurance: 32

Strength: 41

Magic Power: 590

Qi: 1232/1653

Defense: 26

Attack: 82 - 97

Note: Health is Endurance * 50

I laughed in glee. Looks like my stats drastically increased. I turned towards the User Interface and once again, opened my inventory. There, four new items were registered. 

[Dark Arts: Martial Tome]

[Essence Stone 120x]

[High-Ranked Talisman 500x]

[Book of History] 

I joyfully smiled when I saw the Dark Arts: Martial Tome and the High Ranked Talismans. As for the Book of History, and the Essence Stones. I wasn't quite sure about their uses, so I first used the Dark Arts: Martial Tome by tapping it. 

System Announcement: Dark Arts: Martial Tome is a unique skill tree which will erase all of your learned skills and replace it with new skills relevant to the job. Learning Requirements: Practitioner of the Dark Arts, Level 0. Do you want to learn the Dark Arts?

"Yes!" I inwardly shouted as I tapped the yes button. A ray of divine light fell on my body as the system announced that there were new skills that I could learn. I tapped open my new Martial Tome which transformed into a black archaic book. 

Summon Familiar = Costs ten talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to summon a suitable familiar to accompany you in your journey. Familiar is permanent once casted. If familiar dies, use skill again to revive. Useable once a day. Costs 500 Qi

Essence Absorb = Costs five talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to create a 15x15 meters zone of which enemies will repeatedly be damaged for eight percent of their maximum health. Damage heals the caster for the same amount. Lasts ten seconds. Costs 300 Qi Cool down: 15 seconds.

Dark Riposte: Costs two talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to suppress attacking enemy and fling them backwards. Flinging distance depends on the received attack. The stronger, the longer. Damage dealt to the caster will be reflected to the attacker. Costs 95 Qi Cool down: 10 seconds.

Dark Wind: Costs three talismans. Call upon the powers of the netherworld to summon dark crows that will repeatedly damage enemies. Damage per second skill. Damage is for three percent of their maximum health. Can be used against multiple enemies in a 10x10 zone. Lasts four seconds. Costs 150 Qi Cool down: 13 seconds.

Weapon Mastery = Due to the class having no set weapons. User can wield any weapon, but the damage dealt by the weapon will be lowered by ten percent if wielded by the Practitioner of the Dark Arts. Passive Ability.

I almost screamed my lungs out when I read the information about the skills. And the Weapon Mastery, my eyes almost exploded in joy when I noticed that I can utilize any weapons belonging to any class. But the damage reduction was a downer, though I can use their weapons. The damage dealt will be reduced.

My eyes twinkled as I immediately learned all the available skills. I ran towards an empty courtyard. Of course, it was empty due to the fact that almost all of the disciples here were on the battlefield. But now that my mission there was done, Why would I care about them? 

I switched to battle stance using the Low-Ranked Talismans that I obtained. But I got a feeling that using the High-Ranked Talismans when summoning my permanent battle partner was better so I changed to the High-Ranked Talismans. I turned towards an empty grassland and shouted.

"Summon Familiar!" A burst of dark, icy qi surrounded my body as I shouted. This dark, and icy cold qi became a stream of qi which shot forth on the ground before me. A chiiing sound resonated as innumerable dark specks of light materialized to shape a being that I still couldn't deduce.

Judging from its height of which was only about twelve inches, and its body form with four legs and a wagging tail. I had a sense of premonition. Could this be a.... 

Peng!

A clear sound echoed as the gathered dark specks dispersed in a pace too fast for the naked eye to follow. What appeared before me was a puppy! Yes- a puppy! A dark puppy! 

I felt quite disappointed about the results. My permanent familiar was actually a puppy. What use does it have in a battle? But I remembered a heart-breaking scene in one of my followed novels which made me change my mindset towards this puppy. I immediately moved towards my User Interface and found out that another being had its stats displayed. 

[Dark Familiar Puppy (Heaven Defying) Level 1 - Qi Condensation Realm 1st Layer]

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Health: 800

Endurance: 16

Strength: 20.5

Magic Power: 295

Qi: 827/827

Defense: 13

Attack: 49 - 54

I calculated in my mind and found out that its stats was half of my one. Which means, as I get stronger. This cute little puppy will also become stronger. Currently, the puppy wagged its tail and directly leaped off from the ground towards my shoulder. It endlessly licked my face. 

Slightly feeling irritated. I decided to forcefully clutch it from my shoulder and place it on the ground. The puppy immediately cried with a 'Wu wu' sound. Its eyes teary as it looked towards me in a pleading gaze. 

"Ah! I got it!" I said with annoyance as I once again placed it on my shoulder, letting it lick my face. The puppy cried and wagged its tail. It seems like its happy. I murmured to myself. 

I retracted my battle stance and opened my inventory. I tapped at the Essence Stones to find out its uses and the system displayed the following message which shocked me. 

[Essence Stones: Enables the user to recover lost qi from battle. User would need to meditate until the Essence Stones dimmed for its effect to show. Recovers 30% of lost qi. Cannot be used while in battle.]

Recover lost qi? Now that I think about it. My qi went from 1653 to 1232. I thought, though I still didn't understand why I lost so much qi when I just used Riposte to block the attacks of those two commanders. I could only sigh as I started to meditate. I withdrew an Essence Stone from my inventory. 

On my palm. The small stone which was as huge as a lanzones emitted a green calming light. I closed my eyes and started to meditate. As depicted by the system. After I regulated my breathing, the Essence Stone started to do its wonders and I could feel a faint relaxing aura enshrouding my body, filling it with vitality.

Peng!

An explosion surged as the Essence Stone before me disappeared. I turned towards my stats and found out that my qi went from 1232 to 1653 of which was the maximum limit.

Now, its time to check that Book of History. I opened my inventory as usual and tapped on the icon of the Book of History. An archaic book which gave off a familiar nostalgic smell fell on my palm. I flipped it open and started reading the words depicted.

It turns out that this game has ten realms of cultivation. The first realms was. Qi Condensation Realm, followed by the Qi Manifestation Realm, Qi Solidifying Realm, Qi Foundation Establishment Realm, Core Formation Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, Severed Spirit Realm, Nirvana Ascension Realm, Dao Enlightenment Realm, and lastly the most fabled of all. Immortal Ascension.

All realms had ten layers. In each realm, to ascend to the next. One would need to breakthrough. There were several items needed to breakthrough. For example, at the Qi Condensation Realm, one would need a Qi Thickening Pill. 

In the whole continent of the Green Cloud Continent. There were five major sects. First was the Burning Cloud Sect, followed by the Puppetry Sect, Solitary Sect, Soaring Dragon Sect, Sword Harmony Sect. Competitions between sects were fierce and in the most recent sect rankings. The most powerful sect was the Sword Harmony Sect followed by the Solitary Sect, Burning Cloud Sect and lastly the Puppetry Sect.

A blinding light exploded before me as the book on my palm dissipated to ashes. Before I was able to adjust my mind as to what just happened. A system announcement flickered before me.

[System Announcement: Please take notice, Player: Heaven Defying has exceeded the six hours limit of playing time. Any adverse health effects caused by playing after exceeding the recommended playing time will not hold the game company liable. Please be advised and log out.]

I gave off a small laugh before closing the System Announcement. Six hours had already passed? To me it looked like I stayed here for a day. A day for about six hours in real world. That was quite good deal. I inwardly thought.

I turned towards my User Interface and found out that the current time was already 8:30 AM. Hmm... I should visit Little Fatty soon. I was about to log-out when an epiphany struck through me. I forgot to look at the leveling rankings. Hmm... Just what level are those top experts right now.

With a tap. The leveling ranks were displayed towards me. 

Level 10: Turning Mist

Level 10: Cloudy Eyes

Level 10: Hot Congee

Level 10: Cocky Chicken

Level 10: Little Flame

Level 10: Domineering General

Level 10: Unstoppable Reign

Level 10: Undying Emperor

Level 10: Wind Carrier

Level 10: Gandalf.

What the heck? All level ten? No one is level 11? I was quite shocked after looking towards their levels and found out that all of them had the same level. Why? I had some questions in my mind, but I decided to put it off for later. Now, I still need to go to Little Fatty's house. 

I turned towards my User Interface and exited the game.