The dark alleyway terminated at the outskirts of the city, a lawless realm where refugees, shady characters, and the impoverished congregated.
This notorious haven harboured many dangerous individuals, and under the cover of night, even low-level city guards dared not venture there, wary of the lurking perils.
Ye Yang, unaware of the dangers that lay ahead, sprinted towards the outskirts, seeking refuge from the pursuing city guards. Meanwhile, the guards themselves halted at the entrance of the dark alley, hesitating as they weighed the risks of venturing into the treacherous terrain. Their eyes followed Ye Yang's fleeing figure, unsure whether to brave the perils within or retreat to safer grounds.
Guard 2 spoke up, "I think this is beyond our power and authority. We'll head back and report to the higher-ups." The other guards nodded in unison, agreeing with the decision.
Guard 1, however, sneered in frustration, "Tsk, if I see him again, I'll cut off his little dragon and feed it to the fishes of the Southern Lake." Soon they dispersed while Ye Yang was still running.
As Ye Yang emerged from the dark alley, he found himself at the city's outskirts, where a bleak and rundown landscape unfolded before him. Weathered, old buildings stood like sentinels, their worn facades a testament to years of neglect.
Tents and makeshift shelters lined the streets, casting long shadows in the flickering light of fires that burned in the distance. Shady figures huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flames as they engaged in hushed conversations or succumbed to the stupor of intoxication, some slumped over in a drunken haze, others stumbling about with reckless abandon.
Ye Yang charged forward; his path blocked by the group of shady figures.
They turned to face him, their eyes widening in surprise as they took in the sight of a slim, toned man running towards them with reckless abandon.
His naked body was a stark contrast to the heavy mask that covered his face, but it was the little dragon that truly captured their attention. The dragon's movements were hypnotic, swinging back and forth like the pendulum of a clock tower, its gentle motion at odds with the urgency of Ye Yang's approach.
As Ye Yang sprinted towards them, the crowd parted in a mix of confusion and alarm, some stumbling backward while others leapt out of the way to avoid the naked, mask-clad figure.
He ran for about a kilometre, leaving the bewildered onlookers behind, before finally skidding to a stop as a voice echoed in his mind: [System]
"Task completed"
"Reward: cultivation of 9th level Qi cultivation stage and the Yin-yang Spirit Massage Oil."
A surge of exhilaration coursed through Ye Yang's veins as he felt the newfound power take hold.
Initially, he sensed a hint of fatigue, but it was quickly replaced by an invigorating refreshment, as if his body had been reborn.
He was now a 9th level Qi cultivation stage cultivator, and the sensation was intoxicating.
"Finally," Ye Yang smiled to himself, a sense of triumph and relief washing over him. "I'm one step closer to reaching the Core Formation Realm."
Lost in his own thoughts, Ye Yang was suddenly snapped back to reality by a raspy voice. "Boy, what is heaven to you?"
The speaker was an old man clad in tattered robes, his weathered face a map of wrinkles and age spots. He sat cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by stacks of dusty, leather-bound books that seemed to hold secrets of their own.
The old man's piercing gaze locked onto Ye Yang, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glint as he awaited a response.
Ye Yang's curiosity got the better of him, and he approached the old man, his eyes fixed on the stacks of books. "Why are you selling books so late at night?" he asked, his voice laced with intrigue.
As he drew closer, he crouched down beside the old man, his little dragon's Head touching softly on the ground.
The old man's gaze locked onto Ye Yang's, his eyes sparkling with an otherworldly intensity. "what is heaven to you?" he asked again, his voice low and mysterious.
Ye Yang's curiosity was piqued, and he responded with a simple "Why?" The old man's smile was enigmatic, his words dripping with intrigue.
"According to your answer, I'll give you an opportunity that can change your life forever." His response was like a new question, leaving Ye Yang wondering what secrets lay hidden behind the old man's words.
Ye Yang's response was profound, his words dripping with reverence. "Heaven is the beginning, the law that governs all. It's the father of every cultivator, guiding us on our journey. Earth, on the other hand, is like a mother, nurturing us with the resources we need to cultivate. To me, heaven is supreme, the ultimate authority."
His words were like a divine proclamation, leaving the old man in awe. The old man's face creased into a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with delight, as if he had finally found a kindred spirit.
The old man's gaze dropped to the bundle of books beside him, and he picked one with a worn leather cover, its title "Mythology and the Secret Behind" etched in faded gold lettering.
He extended the book towards Ye Yang, but just as Ye Yang was about to accept it, the old man snatched it back, a sly glint in his eye. "Nah, nah, not so fast," he said, his voice dripping with a beggar's cunning.
"Give me something of value, something that can help an old man survive this harsh life."
Ye Yang's confusion deepened, for just moments before, the old man had seemed like a wise sage, but now he was once again acting like a wily beggar, leaving Ye Yang wondering which persona was genuine.
Just as Ye Yang turned to leave, empty-handed and sceptical of the old man's intentions, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. [System]
"Task loading...".
Two options appeared before him:
Task 1:
"Kill the old beggar and take his collection of ancient books."
Reward: "Ancient knowledge, Affinity with the Light forces. The Light forces will treat you as one of their own."
Warning: "Choosing this task will incur a curse from the Hell forces. Everyone you care about will die a horrific death, leaving you alone in the mortal world."
[Additional Reward?]
[Additional curse?]
Task 2:
"Accept the old man's deal and offer something in return."
Reward: "Ancient knowledge, Affinity with the Dark forces. The Dark forces will treat you as their own."
Warning: "Choosing this task will incur a curse from the Light forces. Your cultivation journey will become more complicated, and your progress will be reset to the 1st level of Body Tempering stage."
[Additional Reward?]
[Additional curse?]
Ye Yang was torn, weighing the risks and rewards of each task. Which path would he choose?
"Which path should I choose?" Ye Yang thought, his mind racing with the weight of the decisions before him. But as he hesitated, he realized he didn't want to choose either option.
He wanted to leave, to walk away from the tasks and their curses. But knowing his intention, the System issued a stark warning:
[System] "Warning: If the host fails to choose either task, the only outcome is death."
The harsh words hung in the air, leaving Ye Yang feeling even more helpless and trapped. He felt like he was being forced into a corner, with no escape from the consequences of his choices.