"Explain," Lei Meihua demanded, her voice firm.Lei Meilin's heart raced as her older sister's stern voice caught her off guard. She hadn't expected Lei Meihua to walk in on her, and she certainly hadn't anticipated to be caught with Atticus lying with his head in her lap."Uh, I didn't do anything!" Lei Meilin stammered, her cheeks flushing bright red. She tried to maintain composure, but the sight of Atticus looking so vulnerable in her presence had her flustered.Lei Meihua crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Never said you did, but why is he unconscious? Is he hurt?""Well, I met him this way. He was in pain, and then he got better but slept off immediately. I think the fight took a toll on him," Lei Meilin said, not mentioning anything about the markings she had seen on Atticus's body."Alright then, lay him to rest properly. Tomorrow I will come have a proper conversation with him," Lei Meihua replied, giving Atticus one last look before strolling out of the room.Lei Meilin
"Where's the treasure?"Atticus was confused as to why both Elders where asking about a treasure,their presence on the other hand didn't come as much of a surprise. The commotion he had cause was enough to alert everyone around but he was ready to deal with the consequences."Isn't there a treasure here? The entire sect is in disorder because of whatever you may have brought in!" Zhou Mei said loudly, looking a Atticus with a stern look.He didn't expect to find this trash to be the source of all the commotion. Could he be even called trash anymore? After all he defeated his good for nothing son Zhou Feng, but now that he thinks about the shocking performance Atticus had put up, he might be keeping a secret. Maybe it was even related to this treasure! As Zhou Mei thought about this he became more determined to fish out whatever treasure Atticus might hold."There's no treasure here" Atticus replied with a deadpan expression."You do realize that the spiritual energy around the sect al
Atticus strolled out to the outer court training ground, where he could already see some of the disciples engaged in their exercises. The training area was bustling with activity; some disciples were sparring with partners, while others focused on solo training. It was a common sight for practitioners in the sect to refine their control over their newly acquired strength after a breakthrough.As Atticus walked further into the training ground, he spotted a cluster of large rocks positioned neatly in one corner. They were meant for disciples to practice their strikes, and Atticus thought it would be the perfect way to test his newfound strength.He approached the rocks, his gaze fixed on them. His physical strength had skyrocketed after his unexpected breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm, and he was eager to see just how powerful he had become. He decided to start with some classic punches.With a deep breath, Atticus drew his fist back and launched it forward, striking o
With his victory over Feng Liu still resonating in the air, Atticus approached the four disciples who had once tormented him. They gazed at him with a mixture of astonishment and trepidation, not anticipating Atticus's confrontation."You all remember me, don't you?" Atticus's voice remained calm, but it carried an undercurrent of threat that was hard to ignore.The four disciples exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent.Atticus pressed on, "Come on! You made my life a living hell. The least you can do is respond. How about an apology? Maybe then I'll consider letting you off the hook."One of the disciples, a burly young man with a sneer, mustered the courage to speak. "Don't let your recent victory get to your head, Atticus. You might have defeated Feng Liu, but it doesn't mean you can take all of us."Atticus flexed his fingers, his demeanor taking on a more menacing edge. "I didn't come here to fight all of you at once. That would be too embarrassing for y'all and you probabl
Elder Zhou Mei approached Atticus with a stern expression, his gaze piercing through the lingering shock of the onlookers. The training ground had fallen into an eerie silence as the aftermath of Atticus's brutal victory unfolded."Atticus, your actions go against the principles of our sect. This level of brutality is unacceptable," Elder Zhou Mei declared, his voice echoing across the now somber arena.Atticus met the elder's gaze with steely resolve. "I only did what was necessary to end the challenge, and this was just proof of strength."The elder's stern expression did not waver. "There are rules, Atticus, and you have crossed a line. You will face the consequences of your actions."Atticus sighed, seemingly unfazed. "Consequences? I've faced worse."Elder Zhou Mei's tone grew more severe. "You may have gained a little strength by mysterious means, but true strength is tempered with discipline and restraint! Your actions today have endangered the harmony of our sect.""Harmony?"
A colossal wolf, its fur the color of twilight, stood on its hind legs, its massive form easily dwarfing even the largest of cultivator Atticus have ever come across. Its eyes, two burning orbs of molten gold, fixed on Atticus with a predatory glint. Razor-sharp fangs, dripping with a viscous silver liquid, protruded from its maw, and a low growl rumbled from its chest, resonating through the clearing like an approaching storm.This particular beast is considered the lone wolf of the forest, a Moonshadow Stalker, a creature said to roam the deepest, most ancient parts of the forest as it was a vicious predator that was born to slaughter, its power rivaling even some early stage spirit gathering cultivators. Atticus kept his gaze on the colossal wolf as his heart pounded a frantic rhythm against his ribs, adrenaline coursing through his veins. This wasn't just a hunt anymore; this was a fight for survival as Atticus did not expect to meet such high level beast so quickly...or at all.He
As Atticus delved deeper into the forest, the dense foliage cast heavy shadows around him, obscuring the path ahead. He pressed on, mindful of every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs, his senses heightened by the recent encounter with the Moonshadow Stalker.Suddenly, the air grew thick with the acrid scent of sulfur and smoke. A guttural roar echoed through the trees, alerting Atticus who was close by. He quickened his pace, drawn towards the source of the commotion by an unseen force.Emerging into a clearing, he was met with a scene of utter chaos. Four figures, clad in the familiar blue and white robes of outer court disciples, were locked in a desperate struggle against six monstrous creatures. The beasts resembled giant lizards, their scales shimmering like molten obsidian in the dim light, their eyes burning with an infernal glow. Each lizard stood taller than any man, their razor-sharp claws flashing as they lunged at their prey.The outer disciples, clearly outmatched and ou
Atticus resumed his hunt, his body feeling lighter and stronger after the recent battle. The System had finally registered his complaint and refrained from passively absorbing the core of the beasts he had just slain. He reached into the pouch on his waist where six cores now resided, pulsing orb of fiery energy from the fire breathing lizards he had slaughtered. A smirk played on his lips. These cores would normally be worth a significant amount of contribution points, enough to finally purchase the strengthening pills and several other cultivation resources from the alchemy pavilion in the sect but most of the cores with him will probably be going to the sect in return for not being punished for solitary confinement.Atticus wasn't bothered about this though since he could already feel his body getting stronger and more resilient. The rate at which he absorbed and consolidated qi had increased too, once more pushing his cultivation base to the peak of the 3rd level of foundation e
As Atticus left the underground ring, the cheers and bloodthirsty roars of the crowd still echoed in his ears. His steps were steady, his expression calm, but beneath the surface, his body thrummed with a strange energy. The soul essence of the Bone Crusher, the life force of his defeated opponent, lingered within him, fueling his every step. The system was doing its work, absorbing the essence and converting it into raw power. His mind was flooded with the sensation of strength—a heavy, suffocating weight that both thrilled and disturbed him. The Reaper Points tally flashed in his vision, now at a staggering 50,000."All that from one fight," Atticus muttered to himself as he crossed through the dark, winding corridors. The weight of the negative emotions he had absorbed—the fear, the hatred, the malice of the crowd and the Bone Crusher—pressed down on him like a suffocating cloak. It had fueled his victory, his current profit. It was a dark, addictive power, one that came at the co
The next day came by with a flash and tonight was the night his request would be answered. He spent the days leading up to this moment in a haze of fights, each victory further solidifying his dominance in the Bloodfist Arena. But it wasn’t enough. The thrill of victory, once intoxicating, had dulled. He craved more—something darker, more dangerous. He needed it...he needed to kill.That desire led him here, to the bowels of the Bloodfist Arena, where Grimlock had agreed to take him to the underground ring. The hidden arena was a myth whispered among fighters—a place where death was certain, but the rewards were even greater.As the evening began, Grimlock appeared in the training hall, his face grim and set as always. "You ready, kid?" he asked, his voice rough with experience.Atticus wiped the sweat from his brow and gave a curt nod. "Lead the way."Without another word, Grimlock motioned for Atticus to follow. They descended into the depths of the arena, passing through dimly lit
Atticus could barely feel the thrum of his pulse through the haze of exhaustion as he emerged from the arena. The demon’s death had bought him the Reaper Points he needed, but it had also left him with a gnawing emptiness. The shadows of the arena’s blood-soaked ground seemed to cling to him as he made his way through the labyrinthine corridors to Grimlock’s office.The arena manager’s quarters were a stark contrast to the brutal spectacle of the arena. Lined with opulent furnishings and trinkets from across the realms, the room was a testament to Grimlock’s status. It was here that Atticus found him, hunched over a desk cluttered with papers and gambling receipts.“Grimlock,” Atticus began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.Grimlock looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Atticus. You look like hell. But that's the point uhn. Gunning for more fights?”“Actually,” Atticus said, leaning against the doorframe, “I’m here to talk about something similar.”Grimlock’s interest piqued. He
Atticus stood alone in his quarters, the heavy silence pressing in around him. His thoughts churned as the system’s cold voice echoed in his mind. 'Two choices. Both deadly.'Facing Xar'gath, a 'Nascent Soul-level demon', was as good as a death sentence. The demon lord’s power was unrivaled in this realm, and Atticus knew he wasn’t strong enough to take him on. But the alternative was just as dangerous. The **Gate of Oblivion**—a forbidden technique that could tear open space itself, allowing him to escape. Yet the system’s demand for more death, more souls, was a price Atticus wasn’t sure he could pay.His chest felt tight as the weight of the decision bore down on him. The system was relentless, pushing him to act. But what would be left of him after? His chaos meridian was already fragile, weakened by the demonic qi that coursed through him. If he used the Reaper System too much, if he harvested too many souls, he risked losing control—risked losing everythingBut he couldn’t stay
Days turned into weeks, each one bleeding into the next as Atticus fought battle after battle in the Blood Fist Arena. Every day, the same routine: wake, fight, survive. The dim corridors and oppressive heat had become his world, and the echoes of the roaring crowd were a constant reminder of his captivity. For Atticus, time had lost all meaning, every fight just another step in a seemingly endless cycle of violence.Each day felt heavier, his muscles aching more as the constant combat began to take its toll. But it wasn’t just his body that suffered—the stagnant energy in his cultivation gnawed at him. He was stuck, unable to break through to the next realm, and the weight of his situation began to settle in like an immovable burden.Weeks had passed since he last thought of his purpose, of the Reaper System and the mission that had brought him here. His days had become a haze of blood and battle, and his nights were haunted by restless dreams of a life he barely remembered. It was a
Atticus returned to the arena lodge with Kraul's words still echoing in his mind. 'I will just have to find an alternative I guess'Tomorrow's fight loomed ahead, but his thoughts were consumed by the plan Kraul had laid out. Allowing Xar'gath to breach the veil and invade his world was a prospect that gnawed at him, yet he knew he had to stay focused. His mind swirled with conflicting emotions as he entered the lodge. The familiar scent of sweat, blood, and metal filled his senses, grounding him in the reality of the moment. The arena was where he had honed his skills, where he had survived against all odds. But now, it felt like a distraction from the larger conflict, a cruel reminder that his true battle lay far beyond these walls.A few fellow fighters nodded in acknowledgment as he passed, their respect for him evident. He had earned his place among them through sheer dominance in the arena, his reputation growing with each victory. But there was no camaraderie here, only a sha
As night fell over the Bloodfist Arena, Atticus felt a tension building within him. The day had been grueling, with hours spent preparing for tomorrow's fight, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn't shake the feeling that something pivotal was about to happen, something that would change the course of his journey in this cursed realm. As the shadows deepened, he heard a familiar rustling outside his quarters. Before he could react, Vex slipped into the room like a wraith. The wiry man’s sharp eyes glinted in the dim light, his usual cautious demeanor even more pronounced."It’s time," Vex whispered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the arena. "The meeting's happening tonight. We need to leave now."Atticus nodded, already prepared. He had been expecting this, though he hadn’t anticipated the urgency in Vex’s voice. They left the arena under the cover of darkness, navigating the winding streets of the demon city with practiced ease. The tension in the air was palpabl
Atticus pressed onward, the towering monolith before him radiating an ominous energy. As he approached, the pressure around him intensified, like invisible hands gripping at his very essence, trying to squeeze the life from him. He gritted his teeth, every step becoming harder as the weight on his soul grew unbearable.When he reached the base of the monolith, a deep vibration coursed through the ground, and the ancient runes etched into the stone glowed a fierce crimson. Without warning, a pulse of energy shot out from the monolith, slamming into Atticus and sending him staggering backward.His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought to remain on his feet. The pressure was no longer just physical—it was attacking his soul, probing for weaknesses, for any crack in his resolve. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled as the crushing force intensified, threatening to tear his spirit apart.But Atticus was no stranger to pain. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright, defying the
The air was heavy with anticipation as Atticus stepped into the heart of the forest, the shadows deepening around him as if the very trees were conspiring to trap him. The memory of the voice still echoed in his mind, a grim reminder that Haven was far from finished with him. He knew that another trial awaited, one that would test the very core of his being.As he walked, the forest seemed to close in around him, the trees twisting and gnarling into unnatural shapes. The path beneath his feet became uneven, roots curling up to trip him, forcing him to remain vigilant with every step. The melody in his mind had grown softer, a distant hum that was barely perceptible over the rustle of leaves and the occasional creak of branches.Ahead, the trees parted to reveal a narrow pathway, lined with stones that glowed faintly in the dim light. There was something deliberate about the path, as if it had been placed there for him, guiding him deeper into the heart of Haven. He hesitated for a mom