Riven went to a training ground at the Azurilum Pavilion. The place where he wanted to increase his strength. He sat on the grass. Ten meters in front of him was a waterfall, but it was partially covered with a slight mist.
Riven tried to remember the game he used to play in his old world. He could even reach the stage of Eternal Void God, who could destroy the world. But that was in a game. And Riven would prove to everyone that he would become a legendary figure who would not die. Riven began to close his eyes. He focused all his attention on himself, then tried to find out what his current ability level was.
[Novice Status]
Name: Riven
Level: 1
Rank: Mortal -F
Strength: 2
Endurance: 1
Agility: 0
Qi: 1
Perception: Low
Skill: -
"Pathetic," Riven winced. He had almost lost against the three men who bothered Lan Xue with his current abilities.
Riven closed his eyes again. He forced his body to feel the flow of Qi in the air. He centered his focus on himself. At first, Qi felt like a thin mist that refused to be touched. But once Riven's body accepted it, a feeling of nausea came over Riven's body. This time, it intensified. Riven's body felt hot as it accepted the energy.
A system voice suddenly filled Riven's head.
[Ding! Level Up!]
Strength +2
Endurance +4
Agility +3
Qi +3
Riven opened his eyes. This time his vision felt sharper. His breath was more stable. His body felt lighter.
"Tell me my current power level."
[Ding!]
[Bronze Status]
Name: Riven
Level: 4
Rank: D
Strength: 4
Endurance: 5
Agility: 3
Qi: 4
Perception: Medium
Skill: Passive Skill -Predator
Riven closed his eyes again. He was not yet satisfied with his current abilities. Remembering Su Ling, who was able to lift a giant rock at him, Riven's resentment boiled over. Riven filled his meridians with the Qi in the air. Riven's skin turned red. The veins in his neck began to show.
The system voice echoed in Riven's head again.
[Ding! Level Up!]
Level +2
Skill +2
Strength +2
Endurance +2
Agility +2
Qi +1
Riven smirked. He then opened his eyes. "Interesting. Tell me my current level."
An invisible screen suddenly appeared in the air containing Riven's power level.
[Affirmative!]
[Level Up!] [Silver Status]
Name: Young Master Riven
Level: 6
Rank: C
Strength: 6
Endurance: 7
Agility: 5
Qi: 5
Perception: Intermediate
Skill: Passive Skill -Predator
Active Skill: Shadow Step
Unique Skill: Time Glitch
Riven stood up, sensing the air in the Azurilum Pavilion. As he took a step, Riven was suddenly surprised by his incredibly fast pace. Riven laughed happily.
"So this is what it feels like to be a pawn in an RPG game?" Although the Cultivation world and RPG were different, at least they had the same foundation.
"If wounds are the requirement to become the best, then let me suffer within them." Riven smiled cynically. Now he understood how to control himself. With a feeling of joy, Riven left the Azurilum Pavilion training ground.
Unbeknownst to Riven, a young man watched him improving his cultivation system from behind the fortress. He snorted, seeing Riven's torn back clothing. His gaze shifted to a statue behind the waterfall, which was destroyed by the increase in Qi within Riven. His hands clenched; he had never seen such a drastic change in Riven that allowed him to have abilities like this.
"Whatever efforts you make, I will always be ten times ahead of you," the young man thought to himself.
Riven snorted, walking past the servants who bowed fearfully when they saw him. The personality of the body's previous owner was truly troublesome. He was less interested in having fun right now. His image was completely tarnished as a stupid and heartless person.
"You don't need to fear me, hey. I won't punish you like before. Unless you annoy me," Riven said to the servant who brought him clothes. Riven had just noticed that the back of his clothes was torn. And that raised a question for him.
"Forgive us, Young Master," the servants said.
"Yes, yes, yes. You may leave."
"Very well, Young Master." The servants bowed respectfully and left Riven with a feeling of fear.
After changing his clothes, Riven decided to look for Lan Xue. The wound on his shoulder was healed, as if Riven had never experienced the pain that made him suffer. Because for an ordinary person, without Qi power, Riven was just an ordinary human. And that was why his Rank was F. Remembering that, Riven felt embarrassed with himself.
Riven decided to ask the guard at the kitchen door for Lan Xue's whereabouts.
"Is Lan Xue inside?"
"Sorry, Young Master. Since this morning, Lan Xue went to the market to buy cooking ingredients."
"You sent her to buy cooking ingredients alone? How dare you."
"I apologize, Young Master. Lan Xue herself requested it. She went accompanied by two other servants."
Bang!
Riven punched the guard's stomach, which sent him flying ten meters away. The guard coughed up blood. Everyone in the kitchen screamed hysterically. They begged Riven to show them mercy. "How dare you! I never assigned you to let her leave Beifeng alone. If anything happens to her, your life will be forfeit."
"Ye-yes, Young Master. Please forgive me."
With an uneasy feeling, Riven left the gate. Without delay, Riven flew down the road toward the market, which was not far from the Beifeng Clan. Riven landed right on a rarely used road. He then moved toward the bustling market for buying and selling. Passing several places and tracing the market, Riven finally found the woman. He sighed in relief while hiding from Lan Xue's sight. Riven just didn't want Lan Xue to experience a tragic event like she did at the brothel. He peeked again at Lan Xue, who was putting her groceries into a bag. Occasionally, the woman laughed with her friends.
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
Riven was surprised to get a sudden pat from Elina.
"What are you doing here?" Elina asked.
"Me? I just want to buy something. How about you?"
"I want to buy a plant to give to Su Ling. I heard he has trouble sleeping lately."
Riven just said "oh." He immediately approached a jewelry seller, leaving the pouting Elina.
"Hey, wait for me. You... why are you deliberately avoiding me? We are still friends, aren't we?"
"Give me that one." Riven took out 3 coins and received a beautiful blue ring and bracelet. "Do you want this too? Choose whatever you like."
"It's unusual for you to buy me jewelry. But I already have some from Su Ling, though I guess I won't refuse." Elina looked at the row of jewelry made of various materials.
"How about this jade? Wow, this is so cool. I think I would look very beautiful wearing this necklace. Right?"
"Yes, you are beautiful." Riven immediately paid for the woman's jewelry. Then he pulled her hand to another spot. He wanted to watch Lan Xue's whereabouts. Riven occasionally ignored the chatter of his childhood friend.
"What are you doing at the vegetable stall?" Elina asked in surprise.
"Me? I want to buy vegetables that can increase my stamina. I think these vegetables are very good for your health."
"You are so strange."
Riven ignored his friend's probing gaze. He immediately chose vegetables and fruits, then paid for them using several coins. Riven began to think of a way to carry the vegetables, considering that carrying a bag of vegetables would damage his dignity as the son of the Beifeng Clan leader.
Riven scratched his non-itchy eyebrow. "Did you come here alone?" Riven asked.
"Of course not. I came with a guard. You know I feel uncomfortable if I have to be followed by others, right?"
"Of course. You are indeed a strange person. Call that guard over here." Riven tied up the sack containing the vegetables and fruits.
"Okay."
That was the end of Elina's grumbling throughout the journey, followed by the guard who carried the sack on his shoulder. She couldn't avoid the threat that her secret would be revealed by Riven if she didn't obey his wish to go home immediately. Unfortunately, she also had to carry the box of koi fish she had bought, and she found that very embarrassing to do.
Riven hid as he saw Lan Xue walking past him. Not wanting to be caught by people who recognized him, Riven immediately looked for a quiet place. He decided to go home and flew through paths unknown to people.