Steakyy! As my first supporter, I will always remember you in my novel. But don't let it stop as a one-time thing, okay?
And thanks to 'Tony_Starks_0576' and '_Darker_Than_Black' for their support in the form of P.S. and a review as well.
The support of ya'll is appreciated but like I said, don't let it end there. In return, let's see if what I bring you is worth it.
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Chapter 7
Each level up earned me three additional stat points that I could invest in any one of my stats.
Of course, in Murim, the choice had always been my physical stats because the rest weren't necessary and my Ki could be improved by cultivation.
However, here, where there was no Ki, each stat point was precious and I had to invest it all into the obvious stat that would be the most important stat to me since only the system could produce it, and to recharge it, I would need elixirs that were locked behind the restriction of the levels.
[Ki: 13]
[Ki 30\130]
I ignored the notifications and reached down in my dantian to indeed find a little amount of Ki but never had I ever thought that such a pitiful amount would ever be so precious to me.
I sighed and moved on. After the chickens, it was the turn of the pigs. There were only four pigs and I didn't take much time to kill them. Unfortunately, I didn't gain a level through them. I did, however, get very close to gaining one.
[Level: 2(89%)]
After I killed the pigs in five minutes, I buried them, the same as the chickens, and moved on to the sheep. Like the pigs, they were very easy to kill too. All I had to do was make sure my presence wasn't noticed before I plunged the knife into them.
I would have loved a better weapon but I only had this illegal sharp pocket knife that I purchased to look cool. But, as long as it pierced their vital spots and killed them, albeit very slowly, it did its work.
[Ding]
[You have leveled up]
[Level: 3(67%)]
[You have received 3 APs]
I received the level up as soon as I killed the first sheep but I had to kill the rest before the smell of blood got to them first. Couldn't have them alerting anyone after all.
Same as before, I put all the additional stat points in my Ki stat and moved on to the last section of the farm. The cow den, the barn. I was pleasantly surprised to see a horse in the barn as well. But since it was sleeping soundly along with the rest of the cow, I decided to kill it last.
[You have killed a cow]
[Level: 3(87%)]
As expected, the level gain was different compared to the rest. Just one cow almost gave me twenty percent of the EXP I needed so I needed to kill one more to level up. I would have to hurry though because these I couldn't bury. The smell of blood would not only get to the rest of the cows and the horse, but in the morning, the smell would be intense enough that this is where the owners would come.
[You have slain a cow]
[You have slain a cow]
[…]
[…]
And finally, I moved on to the horse. I didn't check my status but I heard the level up ding two times so I was very happy to get halfway through my goal.
Of course, the requirement would increase each level up so I want sure if killing the same amount of animals would grant me the same amount of EXP as well.
I approached the horse because it was sniffing even in its sleep and no doubt it would be waking up soon.
Unfortunately, before I got to it, it did.
As soon as it did, it neighed but not loud enough for the owners of the farm to take notice. But what it did next would surely attract the owners. It turned around and kicked me. fortunately, I was fast enough and reinforced my chest with Ki, spending thirty of the sixty points of Ki I had.
I was blown away but I wasn't injured thanks to the Ki reinforcement. However, when I bashed into the wall of the barn, I was pretty sure the owners would have heard it. Without a second thought, I ignored the horse and ran out of the barn.
I could hear the barks of the dogs in the distance but with how much blood there was, it would give me enough time to get out of here.
I ran at my full speed and arrived at the motel. I hurriedly took off my hoodie and picked up my bags. I wasted a minute to make sure I left nothing behind. The name and ID I had given at the counter were fake so there was no way of tracking me except for the car but I would be out of this town's range by the time they ran the plates anyway.
I made my way to the car but unfortunately, I saw a cop coming towards me from my left as well. I noticed him but I made sure to act like I didn't and made my way to my car.
Just as I opened the door, the cop from behind me said, "Nice car."
I turned, acted surprised, and said, "Thanks."
He had the usual county uniform on him but the star on his chest indicated that he was the fucking sheriff of this town. It meant he had the authority to arrest me if I gave any off vibes.
I turned around and put my bags in, acting like he was just making a small conversation. I made sure to act calmly like any other person would.
"What are you doing here though? I'm sure I never saw you here before." He said. I smiled and turned around as I replied, "Well, I study at the University of Sunshine, Sunshine City. Going home for the weekend but I felt a bit lightheaded and decided to stop by for a few hours to get refreshed."
I gave the most plausible reason I could and hoped he would buy it.
He nodded and said, "I see. Well, make sure you feel well to drive again."
He said, turned around, and then left. I was about to sigh in relief when he suddenly stopped and said, "Oh, by any chance, you're not drunk, are you? Because then I would have to ask you to not drive."
I smiled and said, "Of course not. I'm not drunk. But if it makes you happy, you're welcome to use the tube." I also gave my consent for that to appear cooperative.
"No need for that. I will take your word for it." He said and then turned around. I didn't waste another second and got into the car. Before I got into any more situations, I made sure to get the hell out of there. In just five minutes, I was out of that small town and on my way to Sapphire City.
While on the way, I checked my status to see how much I had gained. Unfortunately, I couldn't stop anywhere else for the same so all I could do was gut it down and be content with what I got.
[Level: 5(71%)]
[You have leveled up]
[You have leveled up]
[You have received 6 APs]
I had leveled up halfway to my target and for the rest, I would have to just wait for an opportunity to arrive.
For now, I put all the points in my Ki and my Ki increased by another 60 points. It wasn't much but it was at least something. I had to waste thirty points of Ki to protect myself from the horse kick because for sure if I was hit by it, I wasn't going to come out of that without a scratch.
I was stronger than a human but even three humans combined couldn't take that kick lightly. I would have surely been gravely injured if not with a hole in my chest. So using thirty points of Ki was a little disappointment, but not regretful in any way.
[Name: Jacob Conner (Kim Hyu Jin)]
[Age: 20 (1020)]
[Level: 5(71%)]
[HP: 14\14]
[Ki 90\220]
[Class: Dark cultivator (Locked)]
[Secondary class: Monarch of corruption (Locked)]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 18]
[Stamina: 19]
[Intelligence: 19]
[Charm: 21]
[Ki: 22]
[AP: 0]
The change to my status wasn't much but it was enough to make a difference. I had to admit that I was too weak and I needed to hasten my efforts, but for some reason, I didn't want to. As long as my cleansing problem was sorted out, I would be square.
I doubted I would need Ki for anything other than firepower, after all, I didn't know how strong I needed to be or my stamina needed to be for me to be impervious to bullets. But if Ki could protect me from a horse kick, it might be able to protect me from a bullet too.
I would just have to expend a bit more Ki and cover myself with it because, unlike a horse kick, a bullet was quite fucking fast.
And while I pondered on all of that, the world began to brighten, and the first thing I saw in that brightness was the city of Sapphire. I didn't know why it was named that way, but it was quite a city. A thousand years have gone but I still won't forget this city of light and dark.
My home in the past and now my future lay in that city. Let's see what this new chapter in my life brings me.
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