Argen, even though he just wanted to sleep and relax, he couldn't.
'Danger!'
'Danger!'
'Your virginity, sanity, and freedom are at stake here. Don't you dare sleep! Use your time to strengthen yourself and escape!'
His subconsciousness kept on pestering him until he finally gave in.
Argen positioned himself for cultivation and sat cross-legged.
He tried to feel the spiritual essence inside the air.
In cultivation worlds, because of the constant training from the mother when the child was still inside her womb, gradually, the baby is nurtured and in return, a baby with a cultivation base is born. This is the reason why no one is not a cultivator in cultivation worlds.
The lowest would be Earthly Martial 1.
In Earth, however, spiritual essence is non-existent therefore, no one is a cultivator even if someone practices a cultivation technique. If a human from this planet steps inside a cultivation world, naturally, that person can cultivate after being taught of the plausible way to do so.
Therefore, Argen knows how to cultivate even though he isn't born a cultivator to begin with. Firstly, it is because he had received knowledge and ways from SA regarding about the topic and secondly, Hiarga is present with spiritual essence that makes cultivation possible.
[Countdown until forced acceptation of the mission: 12 hrs | 32 m | 21 s
Mission Progress: 0/100 EXP
Time left: 48 hours | 00 m | 00 s
(Start?) ]
"Start" Argen was optimistic about cultivating and started absorbing the spiritual essence after he started the mission.
10 minutes later...
+1 Exp
Another 10 minutes...
+1 Exp
"...."
30 minutes since he first started.
+1 Exp
"No....! NOOO!!! This is too little! Why is this happening?!"
He broke away from cultivation and pondered.
"Is it because the cultivation technique I am using is for the hosts only? I am partly a system, so maybe? Although this technique is basic, I thought I could at least benefit greatly. I heard the SA has a mission reward for cultivation techniques specifically for systems. Maybe I should try that?" He muttered and at the same time had a thought to edit and combine the two techniques to suit him.
Argen opened up the mission panel and searched for such rewards. He searched it in the reformed mission panel where the missions are edited to suit his irregularity.
The reason why Argen's mission panel is able to edit the missions perfect for his half-system/host self is because the former SA Informant's soul has this ability as an Informant. Once it was absorbed, instead of further strengthening Argen's soul like what the host's soul did, it used its ability from its brand to specifically aid Argen and indirectly 'steal' rewards from SA.
"Haaa... Guess the combining of the cultivation techniques will have to wait." He commented when he saw lots of them with every text in the red color, indicating that he is still not eligible.
The easiest one required Argen to reach sky martial.
Argen sighed and resumed the former cultivation stance, the one used for hosts.
"Let's just bear with this. Although the process is abysmally boring compared to resuming dream mode, this cultivation thing is just temporary until I escape from this place. Yeah. Just temporary." He comforted himself and continued to helplessly acquire 1 exp every 10 minutes.
------
At another area inside the Geriko family mansion was a slightly massive room that was spectacularly decorated with elegance and a tinge of beauty from Mother Nature.
In the middle of the room was a table and there lay a handsome male that was quietly sipping his tea. Behind him was a maidservant and a eunuch.
The male was the fourth prince of Tanon Kingdom, Reginald.
The door slammed open and an incensed lady about 25 years of age was angrily stomping her way inside.
She banged the table with her hands and glared at the calm male.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SCRAM FOR GOOD?! YOU JUST DISTURBED ME BIG TIME!" She yelled as if this man killed her whole family.
The male calmly placed his tea down and plastered a smile that did not reach his eyes.
"Look, cousin. If our royal family didn't want our bloodline to stay pure until generations to come, I wouldn't want to marry you and commit incest either. But is there even any other alternative? You're the last one who fits the criteria for marriage and the family couldn't wait any longer. They say we are already past the prime for this kind of stuff and we should not delay it any longer"
"That's why I wanted you to persuade the emperor! Even if you are not the crown prince, at least you are his favorite!" Miss Rena angrily took the seat opposite the prince. "So, what brings you back here Reginald? Surely this marriage thing is not the topic for you to be here again right?"
"Correct. I am here to tell you something important." Reginald said and beckoned the two servants to leave.
Once the two outsider were out of sight, Reginald immediately went straight to the topic.
"The infamous assassin group, Night Rangers have been caught."
Boom!
This information greatly shock Rena's ears deaf.
"You mean they have captured every member?! All 5 of them?!"
Reginald nodded and spoke. "The emperor assigned you to supervise the interrogation process, seeing you excel at torturing people insane." Reginald's eyes let out a gleam of mockery which irritated the vixen.
His interlocutor rolled her eyes. "At least we get the information we wanted."
"Your brother will accompany you too." The prince said.
"So, can we go tomorrow?" She asked.
Tonight was supposed to be the time where she was going to rape----no, indulge in happy activities with the auction's surprise product.
The fourth prince shook his head. "Now."
"Now?"
"We can't afford to delay in handling those criminals or else the other assassin group will soon wreak havoc to save them"
The vixen frowned at his words and gritted her teeth.
'Guess that handsome will have to wait'
_____
Night came and the moonlight passed through the curtains and bathe the individual inside the room with its brilliance.
The door opened after a knock and a male servant came inside. He turned the essence lamp on and after closing the door, he placed the food tray on the desk where a neatly folded clothing lay untouched.
The butler scrutinized the male sitting crossed-legged on the bed and found out the guy was in deep meditation. The servant sighed in awe at his appearance before he woke up the 'guest'.
"Sir, please eat your dinner. Also, you haven't touched the clothes the miss gave you from yesterday. Please change seeing your robe is stained with blood." The butler respectfully exited after Argen woke up and nodded.
The door was locked again.
Argen checked the mission's progress.
[Progress: 33/100 Exp
Time left: 43 hrs | 31 m | 21 s]
"It still have a lot of time. 24 hours is supposed to be more than enough if I madly cultivated straight without eating or sleeping. Guess the mission panel is thoughtful" He smiled and slammed his head onto the soft pillow. He felt his tummy rumble and identified the food. When he found out that there wasn't poison or...a-aphrodisiac mixed in, he sighed in relief.
"I haven't eaten in a long while! I'm gonna dig in!"
While eating, he suddenly had an idea regarding about his escape plan.
"Now I know what to do about that sky martial b*tch!" His eyes sparkled and a malicious smile formed his lips.
He stood up and went inside the bathroom to freshen up.
He took off his clothes and placed it inside his mental world's storage.
Argen was really careful as to check the water, soap and privacy.
"Well the room didn't have a spying jade installed so obviously the bathroom doesn't!"
Spying jade is similar to CCTVs back in Earth.
A whole 20 minutes passed and the individual inside the bathroom finally exited. He wore the new clothes provided by the butler after confirming there wasn't anything wrong with it such as the clothes enchanted with a tracking device and such.
The same malicious grin appeared and he let out a snicker when thinking of his trump card.
The bed's mattress squeaked when Argen sat. He studied the room for moment and began to search for some tools he could use. He collected them and placed them inside his built-in storage space.
Argen then opened up a small drawer and found a quilt, ink, and a scroll. Argen was pleasantly surprised and he began drafting out his plans. He had already memorized the mansion's structure, rooms, and his location after he activated his divine scrutiny last time.
"Wait a minute... after I escape, where will I go?! I don't even know what place this is! Dammit! I shouldn't have visited the mental world back in the carriage and perhaps I could've have memorized the route!" Argen slapped his thighs in regret. Now how is he going to plan his escape route?
Argen looked outside his window and saw the 10 meter wall. He could vaguely see the outlines from numerous trees' leafy heads.
"Outside the wall, is a forest? There's hope! First I need to scam that servant into devolving some information about the area outside the mansion's walls and I could draft my escape route flawlessly!"
He slammed his body back into the bed to get some sleep. After a long while, he still kept on adjusting his position, trying to get the perfect sleeping posture.
"This bed is horrible! I can't sleep" He sat up and scratched his head.
Usually, not even a minute will pass and he would successfully return into slumber.
He blamed it all on the bed, but the truth was, his subconsciousness kept on nagging him to fully use his time well.
"Fine! Your call!" He stood up and decided to study the materials the door and windows were made.
--------
The sun rose up from its sleep and returned to its former post as torch for the world.
Argen was still busily cultivating. He had already perfected his plan during night.
Although his pace was fast, its pace was expected in reality seeing anytime now, danger could approach.
He woke up and activated the status panel where the system points were.
Points: 3
STR: 2 | INT: 2 | AGI: 2 | VIT: 2
(See descriptions?)
"Yes"
Points have two kinds.
The passive and reward points. Passive points are different than the reward points since they only increase to match the normal power output of the rank.
Rewards points gives 1/2 increase power output of your rank.
STR (Strength)
Every point leads to an increase in defense and strength (internal or external)
1 Reward point =
+ 1/2 strength of your current rank.
+ 1/2 defense of your current rank.
INT (Intelligence)
Every point leads to an increase in speed of cultivation, speed of spritual essence regeneneration, and expanding spiritual essence storage.
1 Reward point=
+ 1/2 of your current cultivation speed
+ 1/2 speed of spiritual essence regeneration
+ 1/2 increase in spiritual essence storage
Practically everything adds 1/2 of your current stage if you use reward points. For example, you spend the 3 points in STR, your power output will therefore reach Earthly Martial 2.5 even though your real stage is in Earthly Martial 1!
VIT (Vitality)
Every point leads to an increase of stun, elemental, poison, and disease resistance. It also increases the speed of healing (external or internal).
AGI (Agility)
Every point leads to an increase in travelling and attack speed, stamina, and accuracy.
-----
After reading, Argen decided to spend it all on AGI. After all, he needs to escape and speed is essential.
A knock was heard once again, and the door opened with the same butler hold the food tray. The servant greeted Argen respectfully before he took away the empty tray and replaced it with the sumptuous one.
He was about to leave when Argen called up to him to have a talk.
The butler followed Argen's request and sat on a chair. Argen then concocted flowery words and awesome stories and eventually since the butler was gullible, he began chattering his own stories. The rambling went on for a long time.
"-----After that, the miss was so strong that she took out that rascal in one minute! Therefore...."
Argen finally intercepted. "So tell me about this mansion's history. There's gotta be something interesting about this part right? Like how the forest was filled with beasts and was haunted! And how awesome this family was to build a mansion in this very forest!" He intentionally directed his words straight about the forest.
After all, he already knew how to get out of this place but the place he chosen as his escape route was a blur.
The butler's expression turned serious. "How did you know?"
"What?! You mean I was spot on?!" Argen was taken off guard.
His interlocutor nodded and began to tell the story.