As the officials and great cultivators slowly vacated the courtyard, Adam stood there, it all crashing on him now. His new reality was clear: he was Empress's consort on paper. In all honesty, he had not gained his place yet, and skeptical eyes around him made that clear with annoying strength.
The recent rewards he received from the system were a small step, but Adam knew better than to grow complacent. This world had the strong ruling, and the weak crushed; Mortal Layer 1 was the lowest rung in the cultivation ladder. He had seen with his own eyes the power persons like General Zhou, Xue Ling, and the young masters possessed, exuding strength, and here he was, barely able to summon a fire flicker.
Standing in the centre of the courtyard, alone, the system sprang back to life in the back of his mind again.
---
New Quest: Start Cultivation
Objective: Find all materials and resources to start cultivation.
Reward: 20x Improved Cultivation Talent, 1,000 Experience Points
---
Adam's eyes widened at the notification. Twenty times increased cultivation talent? That reward alone could change everything. This world's cultivation was long and arduous; only by possessing great talent would one speed up his improvement. Now, increasing his talent twentyfold, he'd have the leaps in power others could only dream of.
But first, he needed the means. He had overheard others mention elixirs, rare mixtures and potions that allowed one to accelerate in their cultivation by nourishing the body, enhancing one's ability to absorb Qi from the world. If he was to rise up the ranks of cultivation, he would need those elixirs.
The breath he took was deep, and a sense of determination settled in his chest. He had been handed this position beside the Empress, a place few really believed he deserved, but that title lent him access to things he would never have. He would use every advantage he could.
With that thus settled, Adam wheeled on his heel and plunged back through the palace, taking the route to the Empress's inner chamber. His steps clattered lightly off marble floors as he neared the room where just hours before he had stood in the ceremony. Two guards flanked the door, their faces impassive as they watched him.
"I must speak to the Empress," Adam said, his voice level.
They regarded each other before nodding. One stepped aside and let him in. The doors swung open, and Adam moved into the room where Liandra sat again on her deeply carved throne, her crimson eyes catching his as he came into view.
For a moment, Adam was subjected to her gaze: cold, calculated, with intensity that stifled one's breath. But he stood his ground, reminding himself that this was his chance. He should at least be able to prove that he wasn't here to waste anyone's time, least of all hers.
Liandra said nothing for a few moments, just studying him for an explanation.
"I've come to request something," Adam began, his tone more formal than usual. "I wish to begin my cultivation, but I need resources-eliksirs, to be specific-to quicken this process. As your consort, I see it in my best interest to get strong as soon as possible."
Liandra raised an eyebrow, and her lips arced into a faint, unreadable smile. "You've only just arrived in this world, Adam Yuan, and already you seek to claim the resources of the empire?"
Adam's heart pounded in his chest, but his voice did not falter. "Yes. And I won't be of any good use to you or this empire if I stay weak. If I am ever to stand by your side, I need to grow; I need power.
Liandra's eyes stayed on his another second, then she rose from her throne in one smooth, imperious motion. Another step closer and the distance between them was mere feet, the raw power welling off of Liandra so thick the air around her seemed to weigh heavier, was oppressive.
"You are ambitious," she said in a voice as soft as a whisper of wind. "But it is not ambition that will carry you far in this world."
Adam stood his ground, holding her gaze without flinching. "I'm not just ambitious. I'm determined."
Liandra's smile deepened, though it never reached her eyes. "Very well. You shall have your elixirs."
She waved a hand, and from the shadows one of her attendants appeared, a small ornate box carried in their hands. He stepped forward and opened the box, revealing several vials filled with shimmering liquid. Adam's eyes had widened just a little. Those were no ordinary elixirs-he could feel the power radiating off them even from this distance.
These are high-grade cultivation elixirs," Liandra explained calmly. "They will hasten your absorption of Qi to strengthen your body, thus enabling you to get through the Mortal Layers faster. Use them well."
Adam leaned his head in a gracious attitude, his face thanking her. "Thanks.
As the attendant handed it over to him, Liandra's gaze sharpened. "But let me remind you, Adam Yuan, power is not freely given. Anything that you take away from this empire will be repaid tenfold. Fail to do so, and you will find that in Sky Phoenix Continent, there is no place for weakness in it."
Adam nodded. "I understand."
With the elixirs in his hands, Adam began to turn and leave. The weight of the Empress's words hung heavy in the air as they followed him out of the chamber. She had given him everything he needed, but the same burden of proving himself was constantly compounding by the second. Each step forward was another deeper into this world of power, in which failure wasn't welcome.
---
Sitting cross-legged on the floor of his quarters, the box of elixirs beside him, Adam felt the system pulse at the back of his mind-a constant reminder of the path he had chosen. He reached into the box and carefully chose one of the shimmering vials. The liquid inside appeared to pulse with life, swirling in shades of gold and green.
Taking a deep breath, Adam uncorked the vial and drank.
The moment the elixir touched his tongue, he could feel an energy surge through his body, like fire and lightning, burning up his veins, filling him with a vitality he had never experienced. He could feel his muscles firm up, his bones strengthen, and more importantly, the faint trickle of Qi starting to circulate in his body.
He closed his eyes, focusing on that feeling, as the Qi coursed through him. He didn't have any cultivation techniques yet, but the system provided him a basic guide—enough to channel the Qi and commence refining his body and spirit.
Minutes passed. Then hours.
As night wore on, the energy within Adam grew. The elixirs were working-hastening his progress, pushing him closer to the next stage of cultivation. But it was more than that-just the elixirs. The system was amplifying everything, guiding him, honing his instincts.
And then at the break of dawn, the first light peeking over the horizon, Adam felt it-a shift in his core.
The system flashed.
---
System Notification:
Quest Complete: Begin Cultivation
Reward: 20x Increased Cultivation Talent, 1,000 Experience Points
---
System Profile: Adam Yuan
Level: 2
Cultivation Rank: Mortal Layer 2
Skills: Infernal Flame (Rank: Basic)
Experience Points: 1,800
Next Level: 2,000 XP
Cultivation Talent: 20x Increased
---
Adam's eyes snapped open. He breathed in short gasps, his body full of the raw sensation moving through him. His cultivation rank had increased, and with it, the system granted him the increased talent he desperately needed.
He clenched his fists, feeling the strength in his muscles, the hum of energy just beneath his skin. It wasn't enough-not yet-but it was a start.