"Uck..." I groan.
Torches line up the rocky wall. Although the dark cloth around my face can be slightly seen through, its colour diminished the degree of the lighting. Still, my eyes hurt. I decided to close my eyes and rely on my other senses.
Everyone in this large cavern stares at my appearance.
"The last one is finally here." Says a large man standing above us on a rocky cliff beyond.
To my left are several other groups with cave passages behind them, similar to the one I came out from.
There is, however, one huge difference: everyone is in a diverse state. The people around me have dark cloth wrapped around their eyes and are skinny from malnutrition, who probably went through the same ordeal as I. The people besides my group, on the other hand, are either heavily injured on the exterior or interior; I was able to figure it out from the way they move, some trudging their legs when they don't have any exterior injuries.
This is the blood sect...the notorious place where merciless killers gather.
"I am sure each of you has had some questions. To make things short, if you don't comply, you die. It's that simple." The large man, whose shadow engulfs us, says. From my angle, I could see a line of masked people around the cliff staring down at us.
The large man seems carefree with his tone despite the large scar across his bare chest that extends up to the face. On his head is a large pelt of a gigantic beast, as if foreshadowing a warning to any potential opposer.
"Remember, we control your life. You die and live when we want you to. Understand?!" He shouts, suddenly changing his tone.
Majority of us nod.
"Good." The man gazes at my group. "The shadow assassin disciples..."
Afterwards, he turns to the next group to my left. They have many pores on their skin, both reddened and with a glimpse of green. "The blood poison disciples..."
"And finally, the vanguard of the sect, the Swords."
He is referring to the last group with heavy wounds or scars. From the fact that they look completely fit and healthy, they possibly ate well... Were they fighting against a beast and won? Most likely, that might be where they get their meat from.
...
Despite our obvious situation, no one cowered in fear, and no one complained. The weak-willed had been filtered out and died in the first ordeal before this.
"First of all, congratulations. Each of you gets to live to see another day. However, another trial will be undergoing a month from now. Before that period, each of you will be given a martial art to learn. Learn and master it if you want to survive. That's all."
With a short and simple speech, he left, leaving behind everyone.
------------------------
Warning!
An enemy is about to ambush you. He is aiming to knock you out.
Chance of survival: 99%
What would the player do?
1. Fight Back
2. Flee
3. Defend
4. Use Inventory Item
Time remaining: 5
------------------------
!
A panel abruptly pops out as the atmosphere flash into a grey.
Even without turning my body, I can feel Fan Ling's presence behind me, the attacker is him.
No matter what I pick, nothing will change.
-------------------------
Flee option was chosen.
-------------------------
-------------------------
"Flee" had failed.
The player has too low Qinggong.
-------------------------
*Bam!*
Something hit my nape and my vision falls away.
*thud*
===============================
...
When I regain consciousness, I feel the cold gravel on the floor. A torch is hung on the wall far away but that was enough for me to discern the entire field.
-------------------------
Main Quest updated!
+1 life
+5000 exp
Level up!
6->9
+9 free stats.
You have found your way into the blood sect, the very organisation that caused your agony. Grow as a martial artist and rise in the ranks.
Skill Obtained:
-Domain Perception(lvl 1)
Task:
-Reach the position of Core Disciple(0/1)
-Survive
Reward:
-Clue about your father's death
-Clue about your village attack.
+1 million exp
+10 lives
Failure: Death
----------------------------
Touching the ground, I can feel movements all around the cavern I am in.
"What?" I mumble.
There are activities all around me, it's hard to grasp specifically where each is coming from. This means...I am in some sort of cavern that is stacked on top of another, each is a space for a disciple to train their martial arts.
Beside me is a book that is worn out.
----------------------------
A new Side Quest has arrived!
Master the Shadow Blood Qinggong(0/1)
Reward:
+10000 exp
+1 life
Failure: Death
-----------------------------
Death? If I don't master this, something will kill me. I can guess what.
I sit down and take the tattered book into my lap.
----------------------------
Shadow Blood(Qinggong)(Common)
Does the player wish to attempt learning this martial art?
[Yes][No]
-----------------------------
I touch "[Yes]"
-----------------------------
The requirements are not met!
Requirements:
12 Strength
16 Qinggong
-----------------------------
Ah...okay.
Status.
--------------
Player "Hong Xie Mo"
Title: none
level: 9(500/4000)
Hp: 200[+]
Qi: 0
Qinggong: 10[+]
Strength: 10[+]
Intelligence: 15[+]
Skills:
-Farming
-Knife Handling lvl 1
-Domain Perception lvl 1
-Bluff lvl 1
You have nine free stats!
------------------
I distribute 2 stats to strength, 6 to Qinggong, and the last one to "Hp".
This time, contrary to the usual, a volcanic explosion of pain splashed around my body.
"ARGHH!!!!"
My body is being forcefully reformed!
I lay on the ground grasping my chest.
"Ack! Huff huff...Argh!!!"
This pain is even worse than the torture I felt! Patches of agony stab into my body repeatedly.
"Huff...huff..."
...
I take a deep breath and stabilise my rapid heartbeat.
Afterwards, I take my shot at the martial arts again.
--------------------
Martial Arts "Shadow Blood" has been added to the 'Martial Arts list.' The list can be accessed on the player's status screen.
Shadow Blood(Qinggong)
Mastery: 0
---------------------