Steven returned to Crimson Hills Estate for the evening, after dropping Veronica at her house. Alex has also arrived there and was waiting for him in the living room. Steven had told his parents that he was with Alex, doing some planning. They had also seen the news about SilverByte Studio and trusted Steven.
Steven sank into the plush couch in the living room, his body melting into relaxation. "When will I finally be able to sleep here?" he wondered silently. He couldn't even justify owning a Lamborghini Aventador. To cover it up, he told his parents the car belonged to Alex and that Alex had just lent it to him temporarily. But how could he possibly explain owning a luxurious villa in Crimson Hill, the most prestigious neighborhood in the city? Or that he was the owner of the Sky Pearl Club and the Rosewood Hotel?
Shaking off his thoughts, Steven turned his attention to Alex and their latest project—the promotion of their next game, *Dreadfang*. It was an ambitious survival game set in the prehistoric era of dinosaurs. The storyline followed a time traveler who, after encountering a space-time storm, found himself stranded in the dinosaur age with his ship destroyed. With no way back, the traveler had to rely on the resources around him to survive.
The game promised an immersive experience, stunning graphics, and cutting-edge dynamics. Players could hunt dinosaurs, tame them, and use them for survival. They could craft weapons from wood and stone, explore vast prehistoric landscapes, and uncover hidden secrets. *Dreadfang* wasn't just a game—it was a masterpiece, a journey into a dangerous yet fascinating world millions of years in the past.e
"We will release this game with the standard price of $100." Steven told Alex
"Yes Sir. That would be great."
After further discussion on the deployment strategy, they finally reached a conclusion. They decided to collaborate with a streamer, granting them early access to the game. This would allow the streamer to play and explore the game before its official release. It was a brilliant strategy—using the streamer to boost the game's popularity while giving viewers a sneak peek of what to expect.
Afterward, Steven returned home. The next few days passed smoothly without any issues. Arnold didn't come to school during this time. Meanwhile, Steven's classmates admired and praised him, and even the teachers commended him for the success of SilverByte Studio. Many relatives called his parents, applauding Steven for his courage and achievements. They also praised his parents for raising such a determined and successful individual.
Today, Arnold finally returned to school. He maintained his aloof and arrogant attitude, but there was a stark difference in the kind of treatment he was receiving now and the kind of treatment he had received in the past. Nobody could blame Arnold for backing out of the bet. The bill was truly exorbitant, but nobody could idolise a person who would run away, leaving his friends behind.
The teacher entered the classroom. "Student's we are having a school trip to country side."
"What no way,"
"Yeah, finally a school trip"
"What are we going to do there, will it be fun?"
Students cheered and eagerly asked teacher about the trip.
"This trip is sponsered by Arnold's family. The goal is to let student the life of countryside. You all have seen the kind of work we do in city. We all prefer and study for high profile carreer like lawyers, doctors, engineers, architect, businessman and all. The city life is all about hurry— running and chasing. It will be a unique experience to witness the calm and unsophisticated life of country side. The kind of life those people live." Teacher explained. "It will be a five day trips. We will stay in a local inn. Food will be provided by the inn. We will do fishing on riverbank, mountain treking and even nighttime bonefire. The trip will be fun."
Steven knew that it was all show, the trip didn't cost much to White family. They must have contacts with the local inn, possibly even owning it. This was a good move by White family. Not only will this help Arnold recover his reputation but also displays White family influence, authority, and magnamity.
Coincidentally, the trip was scheduled on the release day of Dreadfang. Steven didn't mind. It wasn't as though the thirty students buying the game on the first day would make a significant impact. He had done ample promotion for the game, giving streamers early access. They had also promoted the game globally, asking popular streamers from foreign countries to try and promote it. Additionally, they released a stunning trailer showcasing how players try to survive in a world full of dinosaurs, living in a small cave, eating dinosaur eggs, and escaping from a T-rex on a river raft while searching for food in the dense forest, including berries, shrubs, and more.
Players have to experiment with combinations, test them, and use them intelligently. There was a combination in the game where two berries, when crushed together, formed a poison that could be applied to weapons for hunting.
A few days flew by, and the much-anticipated day of the trip and the release of Dreadfang had arrived. The class boarded a bus arranged by the White family to head to the countryside. Meanwhile, Arnold drove his Cadillac, clearly attempting to flaunt his wealth and authority. However, his efforts fell flat. Just days earlier, the students had witnessed Steven driving away in a Lamborghini Aventador— worth enough to purchase more than half a dozen Cadillacs. Arnold's display seemed unimpressive in comparison.
As they arrived in the countryside, they were greeted by the crisp, refreshing air. The village was nestled beside a picturesque river, where the locals made their living through farming and fishing—a serene and idyllic setting.
[Rich Lord System— Task: Buy Old Man George's land. Reward: $10M, 10 Sun Mango Seeds, 10 Cloud Peach Seeds, 10 Bags of Heavenly Farmer's Divine Fertilizer, Private Fishing Spot adjacent to Old Man George's Land.]
Steven was taken aback. This was the second task issued by the Rich Lord System, and the rewards were intriguing. He had never heard of sun mango or cloud peach before, and he wasn't sure what he would do with seeds and fertilizer. However, he trusted that the system wouldn't provide anything useless. The only problem was that he knew nothing about Old Man George or his land.
His curiosity was soon satisfied. At the village entrance, there was a billboard advertising Old Man George's land for sale, complete with contact details. Steven quickly snapped a picture of the billboard, already planning his next move.
The teachers led the students to a nearby local inn. The building, though simple, had around 50 rooms and met all the basic needs. The innkeeper, a round-bellied old man, came hurrying to greet them. "Welcome, dear guests! You must be from Sunny Heights. Mr. White has already made the arrangements. Please, allow me to show you to your rooms." The students were guided to their accommodations, and after settling in, they came downstairs. To their delight, the innkeeper had prepared four long tables filled with a modest yet satisfying meal.
"These are all local delicacies. You rarerely have such food in city."
Steven was in the hospitality business and had a deep understanding of culinary delights. The table was laden with comforting dishes: porridge, hodgepodge, rice pudding, fresh sourdough bread, and milk. There were also fritters, boiled eggs, bacon, sausages, waffles, and pancakes. These were the kinds of meals that evoked nostalgia— reminiscent of visiting your hometown village during a vacation, where your grandmother lovingly prepared food just for you. Everyone savoured the meal. Gradually, the students began to treat Arnold with respect and gratitude, forgetting his actions at Sky Pearl just a week earlier. Arnold smiled smugly; this was exactly what he wanted—his reputation restored.
After the meal, the innkeeper encouraged everyone to explore the village. "Kids, you should check out the village market," he suggested. Taking his advice, the students headed to the bustling market. It was a vibrant hub of activity. Vendors were selling fresh fruits, while others offered dried fish. Stalls displayed handcrafted hats and intricately embroidered handkerchiefs. Polished stones with unique, gem-like patterns caught the eye, their beauty captivating. Other sellers showcased colorful, handcrafted glass bangles, along with necklaces and rings made from river-found shells.
Steven, however, had a different plan. He called the contact number displayed on the billboard and arranged to meet Old George. George, a pot-bellied man in his fifties, wore a simple shirt and trousers. The old man took Steven to view his property, which turned out to be an impressive and expansive piece of land. It featured an orchard, a small farm with dried plants, an empty henhouse, and a large cottage.
Steven found it peculiar that such a promising property had been left neglected. The dried plants and vacant henhouse hinted at a once-thriving place. He could envision how beautiful it must have been—a vegetable farm, a bustling henhouse, and a flourishing orchard. It resembled the kind of farmhouse wealthy families use for vacations.
Old George shared the story of the property. It had once been an orphanage, a sanctuary for abandoned children. George and his wife had cared for the children, who helped maintain the henhouse and flowerbeds. But as the children grew up, they moved to cities and built lives of their own. George and his wife, now elderly, could no longer manage the large property. The flowerbeds dried up, the henhouse became empty, and only the orchard remained. George explained that he wanted to sell the property and move to the city, where life would be easier for him and his wife.
Steven was deeply moved by the story. Moreover, the property was being sold at a remarkably low price—just seven hundred thousand dollars. Without hesitation, Steven offered one million two hundred thousand dollars instead. Old George was astonished; most buyers tried to negotiate a lower price. Steven explained that he was genuinely happy with the property and planned to transform it into a serene retreat for his vacations.
For Steven, it was an excellent deal. After all, he was getting such nice property. He was also getting ten million and a fishing spot adjacent to property, along with some other rewards. Why should he care about a million and two hundred grand.
The contract was signed, and Steven officially became the owner of the property. As old man George drove off to the city, Steven received his task completion reward from the Rich Lord System. Ten million USD was deposited into his bank account, and 10 Sun Mango Seeds, 10 Cloud Peach Seeds, along with 10 Bags of Heavenly Farmer's Divine Fertilizer appeared in his system inventory.
[Super Growth System— Did a meritorious deed by buying the old man George's property for more than he asked for. Helping a good man is helping the great heaven. Reward: 50MP, Luck +10]
Steven was surprised to find that he earned merit points. He had figured out how to earn system points, but he hadn't found the way to earn merit points. It was by doing good deeds. Not only did he get fifty merit points, but also an increase of 10 in luck stats. Steven has researched luck on the System store and found luck candy. One of these candies costs 100 points. It increased luck stats only by one. An increase of 10 was equivalent to consuming 10 luck candies, that's a thousand points. He also found that luck stats influence his life, bringing fortunes to him and his loved ones.
[Super Growth System— Task: Plant a Sun Mango and a Cloud Peach seed and grow them with the help of Heavenly Farmer's Divine Fertilizer. Reward: 500 SP, Nirvana Pill, Sky Lord Mystic Art.]
"Looks like my luck stat came through. 500 SP for such an easy task? I'll get it done right away," Steven thought with a grin.
Heading to the orchard, Steven carefully planted the two seeds—one for a Cloud Peach and the other for a Sun Mango. He then retrieved a bag of Heavenly Farmer's Divine Fertilizer. The description on the bag claimed it could grow hundreds of immortal trees within minutes. Steven raised an eyebrow at the seemingly exaggerated claim but decided to give it a try.
He read the instructions: mix the fertilizer with water and use the solution to water the seeds. Simple enough. Steven walked to the old man's cottage and brought back a humble pot of water. Opening the bag, he scooped out some of the fertilizer with his hand. It resembled salt but dissolved into the water even faster than salt would.
With the mixture ready, Steven poured it over the freshly planted seeds. To his utter astonishment, two magnificent trees burst forth from the soil almost instantly. They were enormous, their branches heavy with ripe, luscious fruits. Steven stood frozen, his jaw dropping in disbelief.
"If just one scoop can do this… a whole bag could grow an entire forest," he muttered, staring at the bag in his hand. And to think, he had ten of them.
"This stuff is insane. I'd better use it sparingly," Steven thought, his mind racing with the possibilities. There was still a lot of water remaining in the pot. He used that to water other trees. The trees didn't grow, but they were loaded with fruits now. He even watered the dried flowers in the flowerbed, and now it was full of vibrant, colourful and rare flowers. The fragrance of the flower calmed his nerves.
[Super Growth System— Task completed. Reward: 500SP, 1xNirvana Pill, Sky Lord Mystic Art]
[Nirvana Pill: A miracle pill that gives you the experience of nirvana and awakening. Retrieve it.]
Steven first took out the Nirvana Pill. He trusted the system and placed it in his mouth immediately. It was like a bomb had exploded in his body. His entire body was hot like on fire. He immediately removed his clothes and jumped into the river. This didn't do much. After five minutes, which felt like eternity, the heat disappeared. Steven came out of the river. His body felt entirely different, free, energised. Even his skin had a stark difference. It felt more vibrant. Steven opened his system panel and saw major changes there.
[SUPER GROWTH SYSTEM]
Host: Steven Blake
System Level: 2
Stats:
Strength: 50
Agility: 50
Stamina: 50
Intelligence: 50
Charisma: 50
Luck: 110
Cultivation: Awakened
Mana:100
Force:100
System Points: 723
Merit Points: 50
His stats, which were in their 30s, have all gone to 50. His Mana and force, which were in their twenties, have reached a hundred. He could now practice Dragon Martial Arts and Dragon Mystic Art.
Steven then focused on Sky Lord Mystic Art.
[Sky Lord Mystic Art: The Mystic Art of the Heavenly Sky Lord. This art grants mastery over the energies of fire, ice, and lightning elements. It comprises three fundamental techniques:
Frozen Touch: Harness ice energy to freeze anything upon contact.
Fire Palm: Deliver a fiery palm strike that channels fire energy into the opponent's body, making it feel as though they were struck by a burning hand.
Lightning Strike: Execute a punch infused with lightning energy, delivering a powerful electric shock akin to being struck by lightning.
In addition to the basics, there are three advanced techniques:
Ice Shuriken: Summon shurikens made of ice, ideal for assassination as they vanish into thin air moments after being thrown.
Fire Ball: Conjure fireballs that can be hurled at enemies, exploding into bursts of flames upon impact.
Lightning Blade: Manifest a blade of pure lightning energy, capable of slicing through massive rocks as if they were butter.
Do you wish to learn this mystic art?]
"Learn it," Steven declared with unwavering determination. He wasn't going to miss out on such an incredible mystic art.
The moment he made his decision, knowledge surged into his mind, unlocking mastery over the Sky Lord Mystic Art. New insights about cultivation, mana, and force unfolded within him.
Mana and Force—two essential energy forms—were the foundation of practicing martial and mystic arts. Force acted as a physical amplifier, enhancing strength, speed, and endurance. Mana, on the other hand, was a mystical energy capable of summoning elements, creating astral projections of beasts and weapons, and bending reality itself, limited only by imagination.
Cultivation revolved around expanding the capacity of both Mana and Force, akin to increasing the size of water containers. At the Awakened stage, the maximum capacity for each energy was 100 points. Advancing to the Cultivator stage would increase this limit to 1,000 points.
For the Sky Lord Mystic Art, Steven could practice the three basic techniques at the Awakened stage. However, unlocking the advanced techniques required reaching the Cultivator stage.
Each basic move consumed 5 Mana, but thanks to the Dragon Breathing Technique, his Mana replenished within minutes, ensuring he could practice the art consistently.
Steven was ecstatic. He had mastered three incredible moves from the Sky Lord Mystic Art, along with a few techniques from both Dragon Martial Arts and Dragon Mystic Art. Feeling energised, Steven climbed a towering tree to pick some cloud peaches and sun mangoes. The fruits glistened with vibrant colours, promising a delightful feast.
He took a bite of a cloud peach, and it was as if he had ascended to paradise. The peach offered an unparalleled experience—its texture was as soft as a cloud, bursting with flavour and juice. It struck the perfect harmony between sweetness and tanginess. Every bite felt like a revelation, and Steven devoured the large peach in just a few mouthfuls, savouring each moment as though it were his first.
Next, he reached for a sun mango. Peeling it hastily, he sank his teeth into the succulent fruit. The pulp was irresistibly juicy, its texture flawless, and the taste utterly divine. As he ate, a warm surge of energy coursed through his body, invigorating him from within. Steven polished off the mango in no time, relishing every bite of its heavenly flavour.
I should definitely have this with me. I wouldn't mind having one for a quick snack anytime. Steven was even more astonished when he read the description. Both fruits were packed with nutrients, offering a complete energy boost for the entire day. There was practically no need to eat anything else. Additionally, they provided medicinal benefits. The cloud peach nourished the body, enhanced skin, and replenished energy. Meanwhile, the sun mango was rich in yang energy and boosted testosterone levels in males.
"Fuck, these aren't fruits anymore. They were heavenly delicacies."