Sogen contemplated the quest for a moment. While there was no penalty for rejecting it, he understood that the system was aiding him in becoming stronger.
"What is the cultivation stage of the Ember Serpent, sir?" Sogen asked Mr. Rudriger.
"It's at the peak of the Earth Realm, 4th stage," Mr. Rudriger replied.
Sogen was confused by this. "Sir, there aren't any powerful cultivators in this town. How have these people become courageous enough to fight an Ember Serpent at the 4th peak stage?"
"Do you remember those hooligans from before? The ones who rob townsfolk in the name of a protection fee each month? They will handle it. Those people who were buying equipment are with them," Mr. Rudriger explained.
"But they aren't even at the Earth Realm 3rd stage! Even if all the cultivators around the town gathered to fight the monster, it's clear they'd lose the battle and their lives," Sogen argued.
"Boy, these hooligans create so much trouble, but still, the people don't fight back. If the townspeople wanted to get rid of them, they could hire a small sect by offering money for assistance. The reason they haven't done this is because of 'Vilkan.' He is the leader of this group of hooligans and is at the Mid Stage of the Earth Realm 4th stage. He's only 22 years old," Mr. Rudriger said.
Sogen thought, "It's not that impressive to reach the Mid Stage of the Earth Realm 4th stage at such a young age. I am at the Peak of the Earth Realm 4th stage, but I have the help of the system."
Then he suddenly recalled the Solomon Thunder Claw.
He asked, "Sir, why did you give me a Blue Grade Low-Level Technique, even though you know my cultivation stage and didn't warn me about how dangerous it could be for me? I could have died from it!"
Mr. Rudriger smiled slightly and replied, "Boy, first, you wouldn't die but would retain some internal injuries, given your training and physique. Second, in cultivation, you should always be aware of your limits and understand where you stand. And third, this world is far more dangerous than you think. A friend standing beside you, whom you trust, can stab you in the back at any moment. Never trust anyone completely, even if they become close to you, because betrayal can happen at any time. If you want to earn a name and survive in this world, remember these three things always."
Sogen was left speechless by all this. All he could do was nod in affirmation.
"Sir, what is the innate talent of the Ember Serpent?" Sogen asked.
"It's Poison Fire Grade D. It adds poison to its fire, making it highly acidic and toxic," Mr. Rudriger replied.
"Sir, why are they going to such lengths to kill an Ember Serpent? They are not kind enough to hunt it for the safety of the townspeople."
"You are correct. They are hunting it for its Ember Core. Vilkan's brother wants to absorb its energy to break through from the peak of Earth Realm 7th stage to reach King Realm."
Sogen was puzzled by this. "Sir, but even if he obtains the Ember Core, it will be impossible to absorb its energy directly. Although they've collected money from the people for several years, they still wouldn't have enough to hire a spiritualist. So how does he plan to use it?"
"Vilkan has a brother named Kristin, who is part of a small sect, the Blood Phantom Sect. While it is not as large as the big clans, it is still considered a decent sect compared to others. Kristin is an inner disciple of this sect and has obtained an alchemist tablet from an elder. He can ask for his help," Mr. Rudriger explained.
"Alchemists are similar to spiritualists, but they cannot be compared to spiritualists in terms of pill-making, power, and other capabilities. These individuals are highly talented but lack spiritual power. Still, they can create low-grade pills and potions. Most big clans have alchemists to assist them, as they can gather multiple alchemists to make effective pills. Instead of relying on spiritual energy, they use Spiritual Wood. Spiritual Wood is used to ignite the furnace fire. While it is expensive, it is still affordable for any cultivator. Alchemists are considered valuable like spiritualists, but they aren't as capable and cannot create every type of pill. The pills and potions they make are not comparable to those manufactured by spiritualists."
"Kristin has collected all the materials needed for the potion. I've heard that he will ask the alchemist to make an Earth Elusive Potion. This potion will not only help him in his breakthrough but also heal his internal injuries and strengthen his body. After this, all these hooligans will become even more reckless and cause trouble everywhere," Mr. Rudriger added.
Though Mr. Rudriger did not show any emotions, Sogen could tell he was worried about the townspeople.
"He thinks, 'I can buy many things from the system shop, but my cultivation level isn't high enough to purchase potions and equipment. For now, I can only afford some rare or unique herbs. However, I know all the ingredients needed for the Earth Elusive Potion thanks to the Advanced Herbs Identification Manual, which I bought for 50,000 coins from the system shop. If I could obtain the Ember Core from them, then all the herbs for the potion would be available in the shop. But taking the Ember Core from Vilkan would mean I directly become an enemy of Kristin.'
He sighs and adds, 'What a hassle. At my current cultivation level, I'm unable to fight Kristin. However, if I use the Ember Core for my cultivation, I might have a chance to defeat him. But first, I need to obtain the Ember Core at all costs. I also have to hide my identity from them, or it could lead to serious repercussions. I need to make some preparations.'"