Chapter 7: Echo and Bite
The golden lightning faded with a low crackle. Sparks fizzled out into tiny blue lines that sank into the floor. Then, thud, thud, thud, five maids appeared like shadows stepping through thin air, each holding scrolls and books that smelled of spirit ink.
Yin Zhe's eyes twitched. Hmph. He cursed himself for missing the golden lightning array when they were first teleported here. Careless. Way too careless.
Each maid walked up to one of them, heads low, feet moving in rhythm with a tap-tap-tap. They handed the scrolls and books over without a word, then stepped back in a perfect line.
Elder Han Zhen leaned on his chair, eyes half-shut. His voice rolled across the room like a calm wave. "I know some of you are criminals who deserve to die… and some are just unlucky. I'm giving you a way out, your freedom."
The room went dead quiet. Only the faint crackle of the candle could be heard.
Yin Zhe didn't say a word. He scanned everyone's face instead. Ren Tie's calm didn't break. Bao Zi's fat fingers tapped the table, tok tok tok. The other two shifted uncomfortably, eyes twitching. Yin Zhe caught it. Just enough. Something hidden. Hmm. So, not everyone here's as clueless as they act.
Ren Tie cleared his throat hmmm, and spoke first. "Elder Han… what's the favor you want?"
The old man smiled, soft but sharp. He reached for a silver cup, poured himself wine. Glug, glug. He took a long sip, then said, "Join the Shattered Star Competition, held by the Iron Vein Spirit Palace. Win a place as disciples of the palace."
Bao Zi frowned. "And the second favor?"
Han Zhen waved a hand lazily. Fwip. "Do the first one. Then we'll talk." His tone had no room for argument.
He stood up, brushed off his robe, and added, "Finish eating. When you stand, use the token on your seat. It'll teleport you outside, near Frostpetal Town. You'll find bottles of spirit crystals among your things. Try to run, and…" He smiled, tapping the table once. Crack. A faint spark of golden lightning crawled over the wood. "…you'll find out what happens."
Then he vanished. No flash, no sound. Just, whoosh. Gone.
The five maids bowed once and left, doors sliding shut behind them. Thud.
The silence that followed was heavy enough to choke.
Bao Zi was the first to whisper. "We're dead, aren't we?"
Ren Tie snorted. "Not yet."
Yin Zhe sat still. His face calm, but inside, thoughts raced like wind. That old man doesn't need threats. The arrays around this place are everywhere. I can feel them. Lightning-type too. Hmph.
He stood up first. The others hesitated, then followed. Each touched their token, and the room shone with lines of gold. Fwoom. The world bent for a second, and the next moment, boom, they were gone.
Frostpetal Town glowed under a cold moon. The streets were quiet, mist rolling between wooden houses. Lanterns swung lightly, creak creak, like sleepy eyes half open.
Yin Zhe landed in an alley, his boots hitting the stone road with a thud. His body tingled from the teleportation. He took a deep breath. The air smelled of pine and smoke.
He looked around. No one. Good.
He went straight to an inn called "The Moon Jar," a small place with a dim red sign and old wood walls. The owner didn't ask questions, just took one look at the spirit crystal pouch and gave him a room key.
Click. Door locked. Yin Zhe exhaled, sat cross-legged on the bed.
The new clothes were soft, the air faintly sweet from burning herbs. He placed the books and scrolls on the table. Thump. Dust rose.
He began reading.
The scrolls spoke about Core Essence Formation, cultivation stages, and how to balance energy inside the nine spirit roots. His own level, first stage of Root Awakening, was the lowest. Tch. A long road ahead.
He opened another scroll: rules of the Shattered Star Competition, maps of the Iron Vein Spirit Palace, and a note about a "Spirit Essence Pill."
He found a small bottle filled with them, each glowing faintly blue.
He already knew their use, to speed cultivation. He smiled faintly. Heh. "At least the old man isn't stingy."
He set everything aside and finally looked at the translucent screen floating in front of him. Ding.
[System Interface Activated]
He still had 8 golden tickets and 10,000 Reactive Points.
He squinted. "Slot machine, huh? You should've called yourself a gambling system instead of a reactive one."
He knelt on the floor, pressed his head down, and muttered, "RNG Zeus, bless me!" His voice echoed through the inn.
Bam! He hit his head again for good measure. Somewhere below, a guest yelled back, "Shut up!"
Yin Zhe grinned and pulled the lever. Clunk… clunk… clunk. The reels rolled.
"Better luck next time."
"Better luck next time."
"Echo Body – Reactive Skill."
"Better luck next time."
"Better luck next time."
"Better luck next time."
"Jade Skin – Reactive Skill."
"Better luck next time."
He froze. Then burst out laughing. Ha! Hahahh!
He dropped to his knees again. Thud. "Thank you, gods! I knew you loved me!"
The system chimed again.
[Reactive Points Farming Unlocked]
[Shop Access Expanded]
[Skill Ticket Purchase Available]
Yin Zhe rubbed his chin. Hmm. "So I can farm points by getting attacked? Or by taking hits?"
He scratched his head. Pfft. "Guess I'm a living punching bag now."
Then, buzz. Something bit his neck. "Ow!"
He slapped it. Smack. A mosquito fell to the floor. But instead of blood, it twitched like it had been struck by lightning.
[Attacked: RP +1]
His eyes widened. "What the…"
The mosquito rolled over, tiny legs trembling like it regretted everything. Yin Zhe grinned. Heh. "So, Jade Skin deflects the pain… and Echo Body bounces it back. Perfect combo."
He leaned back on the bed, staring at the mosquito like it was his first test subject. "Guess I should thank you, little guy."
Then he opened the shop window.
Golden Ticket – 10,000 RP
Skill Ticket – 1,000 RP
He frowned. "So that's what I missed… each hit gives me one point. Ten thousand to get one golden ticket?"
He looked at the mosquito again. "You up for ten thousand bites?"
Hiss. The mosquito wobbled away weakly.
Yin Zhe sighed. "Didn't think so."
He used all his 10,000 RP to buy ten skill tickets, leaving just 1 RP behind, the mosquito's gift.
Now came the hard part. Where to use them. His new skills were still low level. Too weak for the competition.
He laid back, eyes half-closed. The inn outside was silent except for a distant howl and a passing whistle of wind. His mind replayed Elder Han's words, the lightning arrays, the favor. None of it sat right.
Thud. His fist hit the bed softly. "I'll figure you out, old man."
The mosquito twitched again on the floor. bzzt. Yin Zhe opened one eye and smirked. "Maybe I should start training with you first."
Hmph.