The task bar hovered before him, its options taunting him like a cruel joke. "I've never even killed a mouse," Ye Yang thought, his mind recoiling at the notion of harming the old man.
Yet, he was faced with an impossible choice: sacrifice his family or abandon his hard-won cultivation.
And that wasn't his only concern - the additional rewards and curses loomed like Specters, threatening to haunt him no matter which path he chose.
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 gazed at the task bar once more, his eyes scanning the options with a sense of finality. "I can't sacrifice my family and loved ones," he declared, his voice firm with newfound resolve.
"I'd rather give up my cultivation and start anew, no matter how daunting the prospect of beginning from scratch may be." With a deep breath, he steeled himself for the challenges ahead, ready to accept the consequences of his choice.
"With the System by my side, I'm confident that completing a few more tasks will propel me to even greater heights in no time," Ye Yang thought, his mind racing with the possibilities.
"But what can I use as an exchange?" He pondered for a moment before recalling the reward from his previous task. "System, I want to use the Yin-Yang Spirit Massage Oil that I won as a reward," he requested in a firm tone.
[System]
"Inventory unlocked. Host can now store any non-living items."
A new screen materialized before Ye Yang, displaying his inventory's capacity.
[Inventory]
[Slot: 6]
"1 occupied, 5 remaining"
[System]
"Simply think of the item, and it will materialize in front of the host."
Ye Yang focused his mind, envisioning the Yin-Yang Spirit Massage Oil. Instantly, a small bottle appeared before him, roughly the size of an adult's middle finger. He reached out, and his fingers wrapped around the delicate container, feeling its smooth surface.
Without hesitation, Ye Yang held out the bottle, "Can I exchange this for the book?" he asked.
The old man's eyes lit up as he snatched the bottle, "Why not, why not!" he exclaimed, handing the book to Ye Yang.
As soon as Ye Yang's fingers made contact with the cover, he felt the book's ancient texture, worn and weathered with age. His eyes traced the title, "Mythology and the Secret Behind," etched in faded gold lettering that seemed to whisper secrets of the past.
Ye Yang opened the first page of the book, only to find it blank. He turned to the next page, and the next, but every single one was empty.
A sense of disorientation washed over him as he flipped through the pages, feeling the weight of the mysterious power emanating from the book, yet finding nothing but emptiness.
His mind raced with questions, "Why is this? What's the point of a blank book?" He looked around, expecting the old man to provide answers, but he was nowhere to be found.
Ye Yang's gaze swept the area, but he was alone. Just as he was about to give up, a faint, ethereal voice whispered in his ear, "Normal eyes cannot see through the mystery behind Heaven and Earth."
Next moment he heard the notification,
[system]
"task completed"
Task 2:
Reward: Ancient Knowledge:
You have gained Ancient Sight, allowing you to discern truth from lies and perceive hidden secrets. Nothing can remain concealed from your gaze.
the book glowed briefly, beckoning Ye Yang to gaze into its pages once more.
Affinity with Dark Forces:
The Dark Forces have acknowledged your sacrifice. From now on, whenever you witness acts of crime, corruption, sin, or criminality, your cultivation will increase by one level.
Warning: Curse of the Light Forces:
You have been cursed by the Light Forces. Within 15 minutes, your cultivation will be reset to the 1st level of the Body Tempering stage. Furthermore, your cultivation speed has been reduced by 10%. Each time you enter a new cultivation stage, the reduction will increase by 10%, eventually culminating in a 100% reduction.
Additional Reward:
Due to your affinity with the Dark Forces, you have been granted the coveted "Space Swapping Cultivation Technique".
This ancient technique was forged by a mysterious entity who once belonged to the Light Forces but later served the Dark Forces. It allows the user to teleport to previously visited locations, providing unparalleled mobility and strategic advantage.
Restrictions: Limited uses: 3 teleportations per 24 hours.
Additional Curse:
Due to your affinity with the Dark Forces, your loved ones have become unwitting pawns in the shadows. The Dark Powers have extended their influence to those closest to you, casting a subtle yet sinister spell.
Their fate is now inextricably linked to yours, and the consequences of your actions will reverberate through their lives.
Ye Yang, "what the?" he was not happy with the conditions of the additional curse but he knew it's better than leaving them dead, "at least they are save."
As time ticked away, Ye Yang felt his cultivation waning. "I can use the Space Swapping Cultivation Technique to return to my quarters," he thought, ensuring he was alone before removing his mask.
With a focused mind, he activated the technique, picturing his room. The air around him distorted, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in his own space - naked and vulnerable. Just as he caught his breath, the door creaked open, and an unexpected visitor entered.