[System: Emergency Reminder!
Current Cultivation Level: Qi Refining,
Stage 1 (Embarrassingly weak)
Combat Ability: Barely above an average human… by a hair
Suggested Approach: Act your way out! Act well!]
"I got it!" Dare muttered to the System. "No need to remind me!"
The leader of the thugs eyed him suspiciously as he mumbled to himself. "What's… wrong with this guy?" he asked his cohorts, looking wary.
"Actually…" Dare turned dramatically, his robe sweeping in a wide arc (thankfully, it didn't snag on anything). "I'm speaking with… the Heavenly Court!"
He then raised his hand to the sky, channeling just a hint of Qi to stir up a light breeze, making his robes billow. Right at that moment, a cloud drifted by, casting a sudden shadow over him. The crowd murmured in awe.
"The Immortal has appeared!"
**[System: Special Effect—"Masterful Acting" Activated!
Poise: +100Luck: +200Believability: Subject to audience discretion
Note: "Who knew you had a knack for acting?"]**
"Do you all see it?" Dare pointed to the sky. "That's the sign! The Heavenly Court is…"
THUD!
A pomelo from a nearby stall suddenly dropped straight onto the thug leader's head.
"There!" Dare declared with gusto. "That's divine punishment! The Dao of Pomelo—smashing evil heads!"
[TinyFairy2k: "He's really overdoing it! LOL"]
[Guest1810: "Best supporting actor of the year!"]
[Viewers: 15,000+]
Just then, the leader, enraged, raised his head, his eyes flashing a deadly green. Dark demonic energy began swirling around him.
"Oh no…" Dare muttered under his breath. "Maybe I overdid it…"
[System: Warning! Level 2 Demonic Energy detected!
Advice: RUN! NOW!
Suggested Action: Yell "Fleeing is the best strategy!"]
"Shut up!" he snapped at the screen. "I'm a Celestial Master, I can't just…"
Before he could finish, the thug leader lunged at him like an arrow. Dare tried to dodge, relying on his years of reflex training. But in this mortal body, his formerly graceful moves turned into… an awkward tumble.
CRASH!
Fortunately, the accidental fall allowed him to narrowly avoid the attack. The thug flew past him, crashing headfirst into a vegetable stall.
"Oh, my vegetables!" the old vendor cried out.
Ahem. Dare dusted himself off, struggling to his feet. "That… was the Celestial Dodging Technique!"
[Guest1810: "He's really getting into character!"]
[TinyFairy2k: "Fell flat on his face but still kept his style!"]
[Likes: +5000]
The crowd began murmuring. Someone yelled, "Demonic energy! There's a demon in the market!"
"Immortal! Immortal, save us!"
"Retreat!" shouted the thug leader, his body shrouded in dark energy. "Our master forbids us from revealing ourselves now!"
But before they could escape, Dare channeled his last bit of Qi, creating a small gust that blew some talisman papers from the leader's hands.
"What's this…" He caught one, eyes lighting up. "Summoning charms for demonic energy! So, you're not just any group of thugs…"
[System: Quest Complete!
Rewards: 300 Credits
New Skill: "Demonic Energy Detection Level 1"
New Title: "Masterful Demon Slayer"
Village Fame: +500
Note: "Not sure if it's your acting or sheer luck, but well done!"]**
"Immortal!" Young Ani, the vendor boy, quickly dropped to his knees. "I owe you my life…"
"Get up! Stand up!" Dare helped him to his feet. "Tell me, when did those men start showing up?"
"Well…" Ani stammered nervously. "They came about a month ago, right after an old Daoist arrived in the village. He's always drunk, calling himself the Great Heavenly Boar or something…"
"Heavenly Boar…" Dare chuckled. "So, Zhu Bajie, you've come to the mortal world too?"
Suddenly, the crowd surged forward like a flood:
"Immortal, please stay and protect the market!"
"My family has chickens and ducks to offer you!"
"Here, take some cakes!"
"Fresh vegetables from my garden!"
**[System:
New Title: "Hero of the Market"
Received: Gift Basket from Villagers (Value: 500 Credits)
New Quest Unlocked: "Investigate the Abandoned Shrine"
Note: "From Celestial Master to Hero of the Market… who would've thought?"]**
"Uh…" He glanced at the pile of goods they'd given him, then remembered an important matter. "By the way… is there somewhere nearby…"
[TinyFairy2k: "Here we go! Homeless hero?"]
[Guest1810: "Wait… Immortals need inns too?"]
[Viewers: 50,000+]
[CelestialPalace_001: "… Some things never change."]
"I… I have a small loft…" Ani offered hesitantly. "If the Immortal wouldn't mind…"