Chapter 5: Buying Out the Epic Packs

Lin Yang followed a senior outer disciple toward the outskirts of the Qingyuan Sword Sect. The Demon Beast Suppression Hall was a long way from the main peak.

Before they reached it, he saw several disciples coming up the mountain, carrying a blood-soaked demon wolf and two stretchers covered with white cloth. The wolf was as large as a calf, half its head hacked away. The stretchers could only mean that two disciples had died.

His guide sighed. “Things have been chaotic in the mountains lately. There go two more.”

Lin Yang clicked his tongue. Trouble had only recently begun? If cultivation novels were anything to go by, that meant something big was about to happen.

But he didn’t want to die. Until he was strong enough, there were certain spectacles he’d rather avoid. He only had one life, after all.

Inside the Demon Beast Suppression Hall, a scar-faced middle-aged steward received them.

“Lin Yang, third-grade metal and wood spirit roots, newly admitted disciple. Here are your technique, weapon, and robes.”

The steward set three items on the table. As Lin Yang looked at them, his player panel appeared.

【Azure Steel Sword】

【Tier: One】

【Quality: Common】

【Rating: 112】

…

【Qingyuan Qi-Guiding Art】

【Tier: One】

【Quality: Common】

【Cultivation requirement: First-grade spirit root or higher】

…

【Azure-Patterned Robes】

【Tier: One】

【Quality: Common】

【Rating: 105】

All three were ordinary, but better than nothing.

“The Demon Beast Suppression Hall’s assignments are dangerous,” the steward said, “but the rewards are higher than in other halls. Cultivate diligently and complete your assignments, and you can earn more spirit stones and sect contribution points.

“Also, our disciples don’t live in shared courtyards. Everyone has a private residence.”

Lin Yang’s eyes lit up. “A perk like that?”

His guide grinned. “Of course. The hall has plenty of space, and people die fast. We’ve got loads of empty courtyards.”

“That’s not exactly a perk, is it?” Lin Yang said, embarrassed.

“You’ll get used to it.”

The steward tossed him a wooden plaque. “Courtyard C-17. New disciples have seven days to settle in. You won’t be assigned compulsory mountain patrols during that time. Afterward, you must complete at least one demon-suppression assignment each week.”

Lin Yang caught the plaque. Seven days was plenty! Forget dealing with a few demonic beasts. If he made full use of the system shop, seven days from now he might not even regard the master of the Qingyuan Sword Sect as a threat!

He wasn’t bluffing. With this system, he really was that confident.

Courtyard C-17 covered four or five hundred square meters. Besides three rooms for living in, it had a quiet cultivation chamber and a small plot of spirit field. A simple isolation formation surrounded the walls. Once he placed his identity token in its control point, no one outside could spy on the courtyard.

“Nice place.”

Lin Yang was satisfied. What he needed most was privacy. Shopping would surely create a commotion, and a shared dormitory would be inconvenient.

He had just set the Azure Steel Sword and Azure-Patterned Robes on the table when someone knocked.

“Lin Yang, are you there?”

Tang Yu? He opened the courtyard gate. She had changed into water-blue robes, her long black hair falling down her back, and held a slender wooden box.

“How did you find me?”

“I asked the steward at the Demon Beast Suppression Hall.” She stepped inside and offered him the box. “This is for you.”

Inside lay a long, entirely green sword, a faint azure spiritual light flowing along its blade.

【Verdant Wood Radiance Sword】

【Tier: One】

【Quality: Rare】

【Rating: 826】

【Additional effects: Spiritual power transmission speed increased by 20%! Power of wood-element sword techniques increased by 20%!】

【Reference price: 500 low-grade spirit stones!】

Lin Yang stared. “This is worth five hundred spirit stones! You bought it for me?”

Tang Yu nodded. “My master gave me a thousand low-grade spirit stones as a welcome gift. I passed the sect’s Myriad Treasures Pavilion and saw that this sword suited metal and wood spirit roots, so I bought it.”

“You spent half of it just like that. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“I’m a personal disciple now. Coldwater Peak will provide my cultivation resources, so I don’t need that many spirit stones for the moment.” She looked at the Azure Steel Sword on the table. “The weapons issued by the Demon Beast Suppression Hall are too poor. They’re no use against a powerful demonic beast. You’ll be safer with this one.”

Lin Yang pushed the box back. “Keep it yourself. I really don’t need a weapon!”

“You have metal and wood spirit roots; mine is water. The sword doesn’t suit me.” Tang Yu wouldn’t take it back. “Besides, I’ve already bought it, and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion won’t accept returns. You looked after me before. If you really feel you owe me, you can repay me later.”

Lin Yang could only accept the Verdant Wood Radiance Sword. “All right. Thank you.”

Tang Yu nodded gently, but stayed where she was.

“Is there something else?”

She looked at him in silence for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. Lin Yang froze at the warmth and softness in his embrace. Could she like him too?

“Lin Yang, take care,” she whispered. Then she released him, turned, and walked out of the courtyard. Before he had recovered, she was already far away.

Standing in the doorway, Lin Yang touched his chest. “What was that? System, can I check my charisma stat?”

【That function is unavailable.】

“Tch!”

He shook his head and shut the gate again. Fang Qingyao had given him two hundred spirit stones, and Tang Yu had brought him a rare sword worth five hundred. Both feared he might die at any moment in the Demon Beast Suppression Hall. Lin Yang himself, however, wasn’t worried in the least.

Huang Bin had deliberately sent him to the hall and slapped Wang Biao down in front of him. Lin Yang had a score to settle. But Huang Bin was now the Supreme Sect Master’s personal disciple. If Lin Yang merely defeated him, the sect master would probably step in to protect him.

So Lin Yang set himself a simple first goal: surpass the master of the Qingyuan Sword Sect in a short time. Then he’d go slap Huang Bin and see who dared stop him! Anyone who tried would get slapped too. He wanted to live like the hero of a power fantasy, settling grudges and beating whoever he pleased. Simple as that.

Any other player with a third-grade spirit root would have to be out of their mind to think that way. But Lin Yang was different. He had a whole big spirit stone!

He placed his identity token in the formation’s control point. With a hum, a white barrier rose around the entire courtyard. At last, no one could interrupt his spending!

“Open the Blue Star Newcomer Limited-Time Packs!”

The golden shop page appeared.

【Tier 1: Tier-One Epic Weapon Selection Chest!】

【Price: 0.0000006 low-grade spirit stones!】

“Purchase!”

【Purchase successful!】

【Please select a weapon!】

Hundreds of weapons appeared: sabers, spears, swords, halberds, bows, hammers, and more. Lin Yang chose a sword without hesitation.

【Congratulations! Player has obtained a tier-one epic weapon: Pure Yang Sword!】

A long sword glowing red-gold landed in his hand.

【Pure Yang Sword】

【Tier: One】

【Quality: Epic】

【Rating: 7988】

【Additional attributes: Sharpness, Evil-Breaking, Burning, Spiritual Power Amplification!】

Judging by rating alone, the Pure Yang Sword was several times better than the Verdant Wood Radiance Sword. The Azure Steel Sword issued by the hall couldn’t even compare to a fraction of it. Still, Tang Yu had given him the Verdant Wood Radiance Sword, so he intended to keep it safe. As for the Azure Steel Sword, he could use it to chop vegetables.

He continued shopping.

【Tier 2 purchase successful!】

【Congratulations! Player has obtained a tier-one epic magical treasure: Eight Trigrams Mirror!】

【Tier 3 purchase successful!】

【Congratulations! Player has obtained a tier-one epic cultivation technique: Primal Qi Refining Scripture!】

【Tier 4 purchase successful!】

【Congratulations! Player has obtained a tier-one epic spirit pet egg: Mountain-Melting Scarlet Hound!】

Lin Yang stared at the black egg. “Wait. Why does a dog hatch from an egg?”

【Notice: This item is a spirit pet sealing egg. It was not laid by a Mountain-Melting Scarlet Hound.】

“That’s more like it. You nearly destroyed twenty years of biology lessons.”

He put the egg away for now and bought the final tier.

【Tier 5 purchase successful!】

【Congratulations! Player has obtained a tier-one epic cave abode core: Lesser Five Elements Abode Core!】

【Requirements: Reach the third level of Qi Refining, possess a personal cave abode, and complete subsequent main quests!】

His current residence was merely a courtyard assigned by the sect, not a personal cave abode, so he couldn’t use the core yet. He wasn’t worried. He had already bought it.

【All five newcomer pack tiers purchased!】

【Total spent: 0.000114 low-grade spirit stones!】

【Shop balance: 0.999886 low-grade spirit stones!】

Lin Yang was delighted. He’d spent so much money, yet his balance had barely moved. This one big spirit stone really could stretch! The life of the rich was so plain and uneventful.

He first took out the Primal Qi Refining Scripture, an ancient book glowing purple. When he opened the first page, he found that the system had conveniently converted the writing so he recognized every word. Put together, though, he had no idea what any of it meant. It was all gibberish to him!

【You have read the Primal Qi Refining Scripture once. Comprehension progress: 0.001%.】

“That’s all? I was the top scorer in my province!”

A notification appeared.

【Player’s current attributes are insufficient. Comprehending the Primal Qi Refining Scripture independently is too difficult!】

【Technique requirements:】

【Comprehension: 1,000. Current: 12!】

【Overall spirit root rating: 600. Current: 318!】

【Soul: 200. Current: 9!】

【The host is advised to meet these requirements before attempting independent comprehension!】

Lin Yang compared his attributes with the requirements. He was nowhere close!

Another notification appeared.

【Personal instruction from an accomplished teacher proficient in the Primal Qi Refining Scripture can lower some requirements and accelerate comprehension!】

“Find a teacher? No need. I’ve got money. I can raise my own attributes!”