Kalzara
patreon
Chapter 7: Don't Gamble Kids
🕑 Added 2023-09-29 01:35:26 +0000 UTCDeep into his cultivation trance, the growl of Slifer’s stomach echoed louder than the ancient chants of his ancestors. He cracked open one eye, then the other, and sighed. Hunger, it seemed, was the true ancient enemy of cultivators.
Ding!
Congratulations!
You Have Advanced To The Next StageYou Have Gained 1 Karmic Credit
"Show stats."
Name: Slifer
Race: Human
Alignment: Demonic
Cultivation: Qi Refining – 7th Stage
Lifespan Remaining: 48 Days
Credits: 69
Skills: Insight (Basic)
Items: Reversal Cards x2, Peak Slifer Card x2, Critical Block x2
Checking his Stat screen, a proud grin spread across his face. "Seventh Stage of Qi Refining!" he cheered internally. "Just think, if my belly wasn't so rebellious, I might've reached Foundation Establishment!"
Exiting his quarters, the sight of Morvran waiting in the courtyard caught his attention. Has this guy been standing here all these hours? Does he not get bored? Slifer mused, quirking an eyebrow.
Morvran, seeing his master's inquisitive glance, hurriedly knelt. "Master! The mission you assigned... it was successful."
Slifer blinked. Ah, the mission that Hughie… or Caelum mentioned. Slifer still had no idea what it was. But deciding to play along, he adopted a sagely air, stroking his beard. "Ah, yes, excellent. Now, do enlighten me about the... intricate details. It's always prudent to ensure no loose ends, after all."
Relieved that his master seemed in a good mood, Morvran nodded. "Of course, Master. As per your command, we have successfully kidnapped the daughter of Grand Elder Olakin from the Black Heart Sect."
Slifer’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, but he managed, with considerable effort, to maintain a placid exterior. Holy sacred turtles! Kidnapping the daughter of an Origin Realm expert? This isn't a daily errand! It's a ticket to the afterlife!
Back when Morvran joined his disciples in beating up that annoying Legacy Disciple, Slifer realized that it was only his own actions or that of his disciples that influenced karmic credits, so he was unable to rely on the System to warn him if Morvran committed any evil actions – like kidnapping a girl.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions and scenarios running in his mind. Let me guess, he thought sarcastically, next, the beautiful, misunderstood daughter and I will share a deep, soulful connection. We'll bond over... I don’t know, shared affinity for dumplings or something? And then, just when we’re about to sip tea together under the moonlight, Elder Olakin will burst onto the scene, hell-bent on turning me into a human pancake.
Wait a moment. I'm an old man! There's no way the girl would even glance my way, unless it's to identify my corpse after her father kills me. So, maybe, just maybe, that particular xianxia trope won't apply here.
In a voice that trembled just the slightest bit, he asked, "And where, pray tell, is this esteemed guest?"
Morvran, oblivious to Slifer’s internal turmoil, replied, "In the dungeon, Master."
Slifer gulped. Of course, she's in the dungeon. Why not make her stay more miserable? I need to somehow turn this trope around before it's too late.
Slifer activated his Insight skill to assess Morvran, just to be sure.
Insight!
Name: Morvran
Realm: Peak Core Formation
Known Techniques: N/A
Known Affiliations: Slifer’s Chief Subordinate
Disposition: N/A
His brow furrowed in confusion. He really is at the Core Formation realm. How could he possibly...
He voiced his doubts, "Morvran, she must have been guarded by Nascent Soul cultivators. How did you manage to kidnap her under their watch?"
Morvran responded, "Master, I made use of the treasures you generously bestowed upon me. They proved more than effective in dispatching her protectors."
Slifer's face darkened at the mention of the dead Nascent Soul cultivators. Those were not mere foot soldiers; their deaths would send ripples through any sect.
"And did you, by any chance, leave evidence pointing back to me?"
Morvran nodded solemnly, "Of course, Master. I made sure to leave enough clues so that they know it was you who orchestrated this."
Is this man out of his mind? No, wait, maybe he's trying to get me killed. Or...
Slifer's complexion went from dark to a sickening pale in seconds. He asked in a slow, dangerously calm voice, "And why would you do that?"
Morvran bowed even lower, "You instructed me so, master. It is not my place to question."
So, it isn't Morvran who has it out for me but it was the original Slifer. That old coot clearly had some bizarre death wish! And now I'm caught up in his whirlwind of madness!
"Why didn't you inform me of this sooner?"
Morvran scratched the back of his bald head, looking slightly embarrassed. "Well, Master, I got distracted. There was that Legacy Disciple who needed some... discipline. By the time I remembered to inform you, you were already deep in closed-door cultivation."
If I knew earlier, I could have tried to free the girl, explained the situation... Slifer's thoughts trailed. He sighed deeply, realizing the gravity of the situation. But with the deaths of the Nascent Soul cultivators, would the Black Heart Sect even listen? They might just see this as a deliberate act of aggression from us and I can’t even blame them because they would absolutely be right.
"Alright, Morvran, take me to the girl," Slifer said decisively, standing up. But as he did, his stomach growled loudly.
Morvran's unwavering expression seemed to falter for a split second, a hint of surprise showing in his eyes. Nascent Soul cultivators didn’t typically need sustenance. "Master, are you…hungry?"
Slifer gave an awkward laugh. "Erm, yes. The breakthrough took more out of me than I thought. Any chance you could get me some... dumplings?"
Master's cultivation may appear stagnant to outsiders, but it seems that he is still making progress and experiencing breakthroughs. Morvran bowed. "Of course, Master. Would you prefer the celestial cloud dumplings or the golden phoenix ones?"
Slifer blinked, a bit taken aback. "We have celestial cloud dumplings? What in the heavens are those?"
"They are a delicacy made from the finest ingredients, steamed atop a cloud during a rare celestial event, giving them a unique taste," Morvran explained.
Slifer stared at him, momentarily speechless. Then why have I been eating regular meat-filled dumplings this whole time?
"Bring me the celestial cloud ones, and oh, a pot of immortal brew tea."
Morvran nodded. "Very well, Master. I'll have them brought to you promptly."
The dungeon was a dark and gloomy place, the walls made of cold gray stone, dimly illuminated by flickering torches. The suffocating scent of dampness and despair permeated the air. On either side of the narrow path, prisoners were chained up, their gaunt faces bearing the signs of intense torment. Some of them were whimpering, others groaning, and a few appeared to have given up altogether, their eyes vacant.
Amidst the sea of anguish, one particular prisoner stood out.
A young, beautiful lady named Leah. Her robes were in tatters, her pale skin marred with blood and bruises, yet the fire in her eyes hadn’t been entirely extinguished. With raven-black hair that cascaded down her back, eyes that shimmered like the purest of amethysts, and a grace only matched by celestial beings, she was the epitome of sect royalty. Men wanted her, women envied her, and cultivators from other sects respected her solely because of her father’s fearsome reputation.
Born into unimaginable privilege, she never had to struggle. Everything was given to her, from the rarest cultivation resources to the ancient scripts holding the sect's secrets. Under the protective gaze of her powerful father and the sect's resources, she achieved the Core Formation realm in a mere 18 years.
However, here she was, humiliated, injured, and imprisoned. She felt a fury and shame she had never experienced before. Her current state was so far removed from her past life that it seemed like a cruel joke played by the heavens. Never in her worst nightmares had she envisioned a fate like this.
Slifer strolled into this scene, a plate of dumplings in one hand. He tried to maintain the elegance and poise befitting an elder as he nibbled on them, but he was having a hard time managing the chopsticks. How do people even eat with these infuriating things? he wondered as he fumbled, almost dropping a dumpling.
But his culinary frustrations took a backseat as his eyes fell on the injured lady. He paused mid-chew, his demeanor changing instantly. This is horrendous! She’s been here for what, a day? Morvran, what the hell did you do?
She looked up at him, a fierce hatred burning in her eyes. "So, the demon finally makes an appearance."
Slifer ignored her, his mind raced as he tried to recall classic xianxia reasons for such a capture. Is it leverage? A hostage to extract some treasure or technique from the Black Heart Sect? Or maybe it's revenge, making Elder Olakin suffer by harming his beloved daughter. His thoughts took a darker turn. It couldn't be the blood sacrifice trope, could it? Using her pure blood for some forbidden ritual?
His train of thought was rudely interrupted when she, gathering strength, spat out a mouthful of blood in his direction. He dodged just in time, narrowly evading the flying projectile. Whew! That would've been embarrassing.
Morvan’s expression darkened. "How dare you!" he bellowed, stepping forward and entering her cage with speed. With a swift motion, he slapped her across the face. Slifer’s eyes widened in horror, not used to seeing a woman get beat.
"Enough!" Slifer shouted, raising his hand.
Morvan’s hand froze mid-air. He immediately stepped back and bowed deeply to Slifer. "As you command, Master."
This is getting out of hand, Slifer thought. Not only do I have to figure out why she’s here, but I also have to rein in Morvan before he turns this whole thing into an even bigger disaster.
"Step out, Morvan. I need to speak with the young lady alone," Slifer said, his tone severe.
Morvan nodded, exiting the dungeon and standing guard outside, his face still flushed but obedient.
Slifer turned his attention back to the woman. "Now," he began, setting aside the now forgotten dumplings, "let's sort this out."
There was an awkward silence between Slifer and the young woman. What do I even do with her? he wondered. Releasing her without getting anything in return would raise suspicions among the sect, after all, when has Elder Slifer just let a prisoner go? But holding her was a bigger issue, it would risk the wrath of her father and the Black Heart Sect and that was definitely something he was not equipped to deal with. There must be a middle ground, he thought.
Finally, he sighed. Blackmail it is, then. But first, let’s see what we’re working with.
Insight!
Name: Leah
Realm: Early Core Formation
Known Techniques: N/A
Known Affiliations: Black Heart Sect
Disposition: N/A
Suddenly, another notification chimed in.
Ding!
Rare Cultivation Body Discovered!
A rare cultivation body? That makes things more complicated. It seems that the previous Slifer had an eye for rare treasures, he thought as his gaze travelled up and down her form, suspecting the original Slifer's intentions for kidnapping Leah. The plot thickened. But try as he might, he couldn’t recall any relevant memories that could shed light on this plan. It was like groping in the dark.
You Have Gained 5 Credits!
He raised an eyebrow at the sudden credit gain. This System... giving me credits for discoveries now? He smirked, a hint of suspicion twinkling in his eyes. Is it trying to tempt me to leave the safety of the Sect in search of more rare phenomena? But he was cautious. He knew the System all too well. Only something truly special or out of the ordinary would lead to a reward. He would not foolishly leave the sect, hoping that he could get credits for discovering something basic, like a new location.
Lost in thought, he failed to notice the young lady shivering under his intent gaze. Why is he staring at me like that? she fretted.
Clearing his throat, Slifer began his first ever attempt at blackmail. "I apologize for the way you’ve been treated." He paused, her resentful eyes piercing into him. He took a deep breath and pushed on, "But if your father provides me with a Heaven Rank Righteous Cultivation Method, I will ensure your release."
Her face contorted into a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Really? All of this... for a Heaven Rank method? That's the only reason?" Her pride was wounded. She was a woman in the prime of her youth, and to think that her only worth in this situation was to be bartered for a cultivation method was deeply insulting.
Slifer raised an eyebrow, he sensed her rising indignation but misunderstood its root. What did she expect, a poetic declaration? "You don't really have anything else of value to me."
She scoffed, her inner thoughts practically screaming, I am a beautiful young woman! Surely there's more to me than just some ransom material!
Realization struck Slifer like a slap in the face. Wait a minute! Is she expecting me to... coerce her? Panic edged his thoughts; he was not that kind of guy. I’m just trying not to get killed here, woman! It's my life versus your beauty, and honestly, right now, life is winning by a landslide!
"Listen," he continued, "if your father gives me the method, you're free to go. No harm, no foul. And you can get back to... whatever it is you do when you're not being kidnapped."
Seeing that Slifer wasn't swayed by her beauty, she retorted, "Nothing will save you from my father’s wrath when he finds out how I've been treated."
Slifer inwardly cursed. Girl, why are you making things difficult for me? I don't even want you here.
Hoping to regain some semblance of control, Slifer decided to put on the Demonic Sect Elder act, he fixed her with an ominous glare. "If your father's revenge is inevitable, then perhaps I should end this now and be done with you."
She visibly paled, any remnants of her previous bravado melting away. Eyes wide, she fell silent, perhaps realizing that she was not in the position she thought she was.
Nodding his approval, Slifer softened slightly. "Be a good girl, and maybe we can all walk away from this relatively unscathed."
Turning on his heel, he made his way out of the cell. But just as he was about to step out into the corridor, a pitiable sight from the corner caught his attention. Amongst the prisoners, one stood out as particularly wretched. It was Elder Tarnyx’s disciple.
The man was a shadow of his former self. His skin clung to his bones, giving him a skeletal appearance. His clothes were tattered, and every inch of his visible skin seemed to be covered in welts, bruises, and cuts. Most disturbingly, his eyes – once bright and alert – now stared blankly ahead, as if the very essence of his soul had been drained.
Slifer winced internally. So, the old man wasn’t exaggerating. He really did this to his own disciple. How heinous!
As he stepped out of the dungeon, Slifer couldn't help but feel that life had dealt him a complicated hand.
Turning to Morvan, who had been waiting patiently, he spoke, "Put her in one of the guest quarters but keep an eye on her. Oh, and get into contact with her father, tell him if he wants to see his daughter again, to bring me a Heaven Ranked Cultivation Method.”
"Yes, Master.”
Back in the tranquility of his quarters, Slifer settled down, lost in his contemplations. His thoughts naturally wandered to his disciples and their mission. It was the first time he had anyone under his care, it was a strange feeling and not something he had gotten used to yet.
Ding!
Your Disciple Hughie Has Killed A Demonic Foundation Establishment Cultivator
You Have Gained 5 Karmic Credits
Seeing the notification, a smile appeared on Slifer’s face, he had been seeing similar notifications pop up throughout the day, his credits were rising rapidly. However, he couldn’t help but feel like he was missing something.
He idly tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, but as the moments passed, an unsettling realization dawned upon him. Wait a minute... In the world of cultivation, even when there's no apparent danger, a protagonist will somehow attract it. Like moths to a flame.
And then it hit him—the typical Xianxia trope. When the protagonists get into trouble, someone usually swoops in to save them. His face paled. That 'someone' is usually their master... which would be me.
"System!" he exclaimed, a sense of urgency clear in his voice. Responding to his call, a holographic screen floated before him, showcasing various items available for purchase. His eyes scanned the list, looking for something – anything – that could potentially save him if the situation arose.
He quickly scanned through the options. Cultivation techniques, weapons, talismans... they all had their own prerequisites, be it a certain cultivation level or a set duration for mastery. Neither of which he had the luxury of time for.
Then his eyes landed on the 'Cards' section. These cards were mostly one-use items that didn’t rely on cultivation levels to activate, making them perfect for the situation. He found a few that he could see come in handy and others that he found interesting.
Cards
Random: 25% Chance Of Gaining a Card - 10
Reversal: Devours The Life Energy In Its Vicinity To Reverse The Age Of Its User - 50
Critical Heal: Heals 30% of wounds -100
Random Skill: When Activated, 95% Chance Of Granting User A Random Skill - 200
Critical Block: Protects User From A Critical strike - 900
Impeccable Defence: Provides 10 seconds of damage immunity - 1,200
Reflection Barrier: Creates Energy barrier That Reflects Incoming Ranged Attacks Back At The Attacker For 20 seconds - 1,500
Peak Slifer: Harness Slifer's Peak Cultivation For A Duration Of 10 Minutes - 10,000
Heavenly Tribulation Strike: Lightning Bolt At The Level of: Nascent Soul Realm (69%), Origin Realm (25%), Astral Awakening Realm (5%), Ascendant Realm (1%), Immortal Realm (0.0001%) - 85,000
Deadly Strike: Deliver a fatal blow to the target - 100,000
2nd Life: Activates Automatically When User Dies - 1,000,000
The price range, however, had him heaving a sigh. Of course, nothing good comes cheap.
He had limited options, given that he only had 239 Karmic Credits. His eyes then fell upon the 'Random Card,' which cost only 10 credits but had a catch: a 25% chance of giving him a useful card and a 75% chance of leaving him empty-handed.
His smile was tinged with irony. Ah, gambling. We meet again. If he was being honest with himself, the System's previous warning against gambling wasn't unwarranted. His past experiences with gambling weren’t entirely positive. A couple of big wins were overshadowed by greater losses, thanks to his tendency to double down. He wasn’t a gambling addict or anything, well that’s at least what he assured himself.
Okay, so if I spend on three Random Cards, I’ll still have enough for four Reversal Cards just in case things go south with my lifespan.
He paused for a moment, making sure he had not missed anything. Well, if there's a time to gamble, it's now.
Muttering a quick prayer to whatever deities watched over gamblers and desperate cultivators alike, he selected the 'Random Card' and spent the 10 Karmic Credits. Let’s hope luck's on my side this time.
Ding!
Random Card Acquired!
Activate Now?
(Yes/No)
Holding his breath, Slifer mentally chose 'Yes'.
The anticipation as he activated it was palpable. A faint glow enveloped the card, but as the light faded, Slifer was greeted with a hollow echo.
Ding!
Unsuccessful
Better Luck Next Time!
His face fell, and a muttered curse escaped his lips. "Of course, my luck wouldn’t be that great on the first try."
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he tried to muster some optimism. Come on. Second time's the charm. With that hopeful thought, he bought another Random Card.
Ding!
Random Card Acquired!
Activate Now?
(Yes/No)
“Yes.”
Ding!
Successful!
You Have Acquired: Heavenly Tribulation Strike Card
Description: Lightning Bolt At The Level of: Nascent Soul Realm (69%), Origin Realm (25%), Astral Awakening Realm (5%), Ascendant Realm (1%), Immortal Realm (0.0001%)
Slifer's eyes widened in astonishment. His heart rate picked up, adrenaline pumping through his veins. "By the heavens!" he exclaimed.
This card was a game-changer. It was guaranteed to be effective against Nascent Soul cultivators and if his luck was good, then perhaps it could even one-shot more powerful cultivators! This was the ray of hope he needed, something to even the odds should a threat arise.
His eyes darted back to the shop. The temptation to gamble for a third card was intense. The familiar itch to take a risk coursed through him. Maybe, just maybe, I can strike gold twice in a row, he thought, his hand hovering over the buy option.
Should I press it?
"No," Slifer said out loud, his fingers clenched into a fist as he pulled his hand back. "Enough is enough." I know how this works. The house always wins in the end. The third one will most likely be a dud, and then I'll regret it.
He leaned back in his chair, satisfied yet still buzzing from the adrenaline of the gamble. "I have something that can protect them, and that's what matters. No need to push my luck further."
And so, reining in his desire to gamble, Slifer turned his focus back to the matters at hand. With the Heavenly Tribulation Strike now in his inventory, he felt a smidgen more secure, both for himself and for his wayward disciples. May this card never need to be used, he thought. But he knew that in the dangerous world of cultivation, it was always better to be safe than sorry.
