A flash of excitement danced across Zhou Tianxu's eyes.
What better way to insult someone who has no money?
Simple: Flaunt Wealth
And this was the strategy he was going to use on Han Yuming right now.
[Warning: Avoid physical conflict, host current cultivation level too low to engage with Chosen One. Chosen One currently on medium level of Foundation Establishment Realm. Famous for surviving life-threatening trials due to his narrative "plot armor." He wields Frostmoon Sacred Sect's signature sword technique.]
"Yeah yeah I know, I am a weak villain" Tianxu muttered under his breath, annoyance clear from his tone.
This damn system had to remind him of weakness and ruin his excitement. His mind was already counting how much FP he needed to physically deal with this Han Yuming.
"I am the one who paid for this manual first" Han Yuming spoke, trying to keep calm.
"What does it matter, I will pay more for it" the rogue cultivator replied, flashing a smile filled with yellow teeth.
"Urgh, never knew teeth could be that shade of yellow" Tianxu muttered, feeling a bit disgusted by the sight.
"Sir, please be fair. I have already given you the requested 100 taels of silver for this manual" Han Yuming said, on the verge of tears.
"And I am offering 150, if you can top that, then you can take the manual" the other man replied, unfazed.
The stall owner was a little troubled.
He wanted to keep it fair, but this was 50 taels extra, how can he say no to that?
The commotion escalated and soon both men were about to get physical with each other when a low but clear voice sounded.
"I will add 50 taels for him" an old man suddenly appeared behind the crowd.
Han Yuming's eyes lit up and he walked towards the old man and bowed "Master Gu"
Oh so that old man was his master, coming to his disciple's rescue. Tianxu thought to himself.
"250 taels," the rogue cultivator said.
"300 tales," Han Yuming's master added.
"350" the other man said.
"400," Master Gu said.
Now it was a bidding war and the stall owner was beaming with excitement, the more this went on. The more money he would make from this old manual he found in his late father's belongings.
The stall owner wasn't a cultivator, but seeing how fiercely they fought over the manual, he realized he had badly underpriced it.
"1000 tales" suddenly a new voice sounded in a far corner.
Everyone turned and there stood Zhou Tianxu. From head to toe, his robes screamed wealth... Today he was wearing a white robe with gold threads that shimmered in the sunlight adding somehow an immortal glow to his already handsome face.
He flashed a wide mocking grin towards Han Yuming and strode forward.
The stall owner stammered, "Sir.. Sir, are you willing to pay 1000 taels of silver for this manual?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"No, no, not all," the stall owner said quickly, scanning the crowd to see if by any chance anyone wanted to bid higher.
"You!" Han Yuming stared at Tianxu with wide eyes. "How are you not dead? You should be dead!"
Tianxu's grin widened, "heaven thought my time hadn't come, and besides how can I die before you?"
"You!" Yuming was at a loss for words, anger visible on his face. His jaw clenched tightly.
"Young man, please show me some respect. We are from the Frostmoon sect and my disciple really needs this manual" Master Gu said respectfully.
He had never seen this young man before, but judging from the conversation it was clear that this person had some blood feud with Yuming.
"Oh! And what is so special about Frostmoon? Their disciples can't even afford a mere manual and you think you can pressure me with that?" his voice was dangerously low, though he had a smile on his lips but his eyes were cold.
"Young man, I am sure you were taught to respect your elders" Master Gu tried the age card.
"My elder is my father, I am not obligated to respect anyone else other than him. Even if the Heavenly Emperor were here I wouldn't give away this manual because he said so"
From these words everyone held their breaths, this… who in this world has ever spoken such disrespectful words?
"Zhou Tianxu, you are getting out of line!" Yuming screamed.
"So? If you can afford to, you can just outbid me. But bare in mind… I have a lot of money to spare"
[Host, Chosen One feeling humiliated. To avoid conflict escalation host is advised to stop]
Tianxu just listened to the system notification and did a mental nod.
"So are you giving me this manual or not?" he turned to the stall owner and asked.
"Yes yes" the stall nodded foolishly as he packed the manual.
As Tianxu paid and took the manual, he could hear Yuming grinding his teeth.
Angry so soon? More to come. He mused inwardly.
Tianxu walked towards a young who looked not more that 16, ever since he arrived he had seen something in that boy's eyes: Ambition
And Tianxu loved ambitious people. His quest was going to be long, though he had Liang Chen by his side. Getting more loyal followers was beneficial to him.
The young man was wearing tattered clothes and by the looks of, he was a beggar.
Good, someone with nothing, give them a single warm meal and shelter and they become your loyal dog.
"You. Come with me," he said pointing to the young man.
Dazzed, the young man followed him. He was used to this, people would give him tasks and pay him a few copper coins. He figured this esteemed Young Master wanted the same.
[Congratulations Host, you have humiliated a Chosen One. Earned 50 FP. Current FP Balance 120 FP. Current Chosen One FP balance: 150 FP.]
"He humiliates easily… Good. The easier his pride breaks, the faster his fate will shatter." Tianxu muttered.
"How can I help you sir?" the young man asked as soon as they were away from the crowd.
"What's your name?"
"Cui Xianhe"
"How old are you?"
"17"
"Where do you live?"
"I don't have a home," Cui Xianhe said, shrugging his shoulders.
"You want to be a cultivator?"
"I have no foundation"
"I asked if you want to be a cultivator, not whether you have a foundation or not"
"Yes"
Again that ambition, it excited him. The way Cui Xianhe talked with such clear speech and no fear told Tianxu that he had made the right choice.
"Come with me to buy a few things and I will give you a home, wealth and power"
"And what do you get in return?"
Tianxu lagged, amused.
"A loyal blade"
"I won't be doing anything immoral"
"Hmm you have a backbone, i like that. But I am immoral by nature. It seems we're not fated"
Tianxu took out a pouch filled to the brim with silver and tossed it to him.
"I hope one day you can find the power you crave without doing anything immoral"
With that he walked towards his carriage.
Cui Xianhe stood there, his mind reeling, teeth and fists clenched.
Inside the carriage, Tianxu sat, leaned back lazily and closed his eyes while the carriage slow moved towards the centre of the city.
"Three… Two… One"
"Wait!"
Tianxu smirked and the carriage stopped.
Cui Xianhu climbed onto the carriage without a word.
Tianxu didn't say a word either, he knew this young man had made his final decision. His ambition had tossed away that so-called morality he spoke of.
After buying a few things and some clothes for Cui Xianhe, they headed home.
A maid was already waiting and as they got out, Tianxu instructed her to settle Cui Xianhe and they will have dinner after he has washed up.
Cui Xianhe followed the maid while Tianxu headed straight to his chamber.
Zhou Tianxu shut the doors of his courtyard and sat cross-legged on the jade mat.
The room was silent. His heartbeat sounded like a war drum in his ears.
"System," he said slowly, "show me my status."
A translucent blue interface materialized before his eyes.
[Host: Zhou Tianxu]
Realm: Body Tempering – Peak
FP Balance: 120
His lips curved. "Use 100 FP. Break me into the next realm… straight to Peak."
[Confirmed. Consuming 100 FP.]
[Initiating Forced Breakthrough: Qi Condensation Realm → Peak Level.]
The moment the words vanished, pain exploded inside him. Not the dull ache of normal cultivation. This was brutal. It felt like someone had poured molten metal into his veins.
Tianxu's body arched as invisible pressure crushed down on him from every direction. His bones creaked. His muscles convulsed. His skin flushed crimson as spiritual energy flooded into him like a raging river with no dam.
"Ghh—!" He clenched his teeth, refusing to scream.
The air in the room began to vibrate. Qi—pure, violent, arrogant Qi—was being dragged from heaven and earth into his body by force. It didn't trickle in. It slammed in.
His meridians screamed as they were torn open, widened, reforged. The Qi swirled in his dantian like a storm, spinning faster and faster, compressing, thickening—
From mist…
To liquid… To something dense and heavy. His consciousness trembled. A thunderous BOOM echoed inside his soul.
Qi Condensation Realm — ENTERED.
But the system didn't stop. Not even for a breath. The Qi kept pouring in. His cultivation shot upward like a spear breaking through cloud layers.
Low level…
Mid level…
High level…
Each stage shattered as soon as it formed. Tianxu's body glowed faintly as impurities were forced out through his pores in thick black sludge. The air filled with the stench of filth as his mortal weaknesses were burned away.
Then— Everything stopped.
The Qi inside him stabilized. Tianxu's eyes snapped open.
[Breakthrough Complete.]
[Realm: Qi Condensation – Peak Level.]
[FP Remaining: 20]
He sat there in silence for a long moment.
Then he laughed. Low.
Slow. Dangerous. "Hah…"
"So this is the Qi Condensation Realm…" he murmured. "And the system just dragged me here like I was skipping stairs."
His smile widened.
But his mind was already elsewhere: How to earn more FP to break through to the next realm. And his target for now was Shen Yao.