As Lin Tian walked away, he could feel Liang Shen's eyes burning with anger and resentment. He knew that Liang Shen was not one to let things go, and he was waiting for him to make his move. Suddenly, Lin Tian felt a surge of energy behind him, and he turned just in time to see Liang Shen launching a fierce attack.
Liang Shen's cultivation base was at the peak of the Core Formation realm, and his power was overwhelming. His fist was glowing with a dark, malevolent energy, and Lin Tian knew that he had to defend himself quickly.
Lin Tian raised his hands, and a shield of pure energy erupted from his body, deflecting Liang Shen's attack. However, the force of the blow was too great, and Lin Tian was sent flying backward, coughing out blood.
Liang Shen's eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he prepared to deliver the final blow. His fist was charged with an incredible amount of energy, and Lin Tian knew that he was doomed.
Just as Liang Shen was about to strike, a powerful voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks. "Enough, Liang Shen!"
Elder Lian appeared out of nowhere, his eyes blazing with anger. He was a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul realm, and his presence was enough to make Liang Shen tremble with fear.
Liang Shen's face paled as he realized that he had gone too far. He knew that Elder Lian would not hesitate to punish him if he continued to attack Lin Tian.
With a snarl, Liang Shen turned and stormed off, leaving Lin Tian lying on the ground, wounded and exhausted.
Elder Lian rushed to Lin Tian's side, helping him to his feet. "Are you alright, Lin Tian?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Lin Tian nodded, still coughing up blood. "I...I'm fine, Elder Lian," he said, his voice weak.
Elder Lian's eyes narrowed. "You're not fine, Lin Tian," he said. "You need to rest and recover. I'll take you to the infirmary and have the sect's healers tend to your wounds."
Lin Tian nodded, grateful for Elder Lian's help. He knew that he owed his life to the elder, and he was determined to repay him someday.
_System Notification_
"Battle Experience: +50. You have gained 50 points of battle experience for surviving the battle against Liang Shen. Your reputation among your peers has also increased by 5 points."
After a while
Lin Tian lay in the infirmary, his body aching with pain. He had been badly injured in the fight against Liang Shen, but thankfully, the healers had been able to treat his wounds.
After a few hours of rest, Lin Tian felt well enough to leave the infirmary. He made his way back to his room, his mind still reeling from the events of the day.
As he entered his room, Lin Tian was greeted by the familiar sight of his bed and desk. He sat down on the bed, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.
But he knew he couldn't rest for long. Elder Lian had given him a mission, and he needed to prepare.
Lin Tian stood up and walked over to his storage ring. He had received the ring as a gift from Elder Lian, and it was incredibly useful for storing and carrying items.
Lin Tian opened the ring and began to stock up on supplies. He added a few days' worth of food and water, as well as some healing potions and other useful items.
With his preparations almost complete, Lin Tian took a moment to review his mission objectives.
_System Notification_
"Mission: Investigate Ancient Ruins. You have been tasked with investigating the ancient ruins of the Moonlit City and uncovering its secrets.
Mission Reward:
- 1000 Spirit Stones
- 1000 Experience Points
- A rare artifact hidden within the ancient ruins
Preparation Status: 90%. You are almost ready to depart. Please review your supplies and equipment before setting out."
Lin Tian finished reviewing his mission objectives and took a deep breath. He was almost ready to depart.
_System Notification_
"Preparation Status: 100%. You are now ready to depart. Good luck on your mission!"
Lin Tian smiled and stood up. He was excited to start his journey and uncover the secrets of the Moonlit City.
But before he left, Lin Tian had a question for the system.
"System, what's the use of experience points?" Lin Tian asked.
_System Response_
"Experience points are used to measure your progress and growth as a cultivator. As you accumulate experience points, you will level up and unlock new abilities and skills. Experience points can also be used to upgrade your equipment and enhance your physical and mental abilities."
Lin Tian nodded, understanding the importance of experience points.
"System, how many experience points do I have till now?" Lin Tian asked.
_System Response_
"You currently have 1,500 experience points. You gained 1,000 experience points for completing your previous mission, and 500 experience points for surviving the attack of Liang Shen."
Lin Tian thought for a moment, considering his options. He had 1,500 experience points, and he could use them to upgrade his equipment or enhance his physical and mental abilities. But he decided to use them for something more important: his cultivation.
"System, I want to use my experience points to cultivate," Lin Tian said.
_System Response_
"Confirmed. You have used 1,500 experience points to cultivate. You have achieved a breakthrough in your cultivation!"
Lin Tian felt a surge of energy flow through his body as his cultivation level increased. He could feel his qi growing stronger, and his senses becoming more acute.
_System Notification_
"Congratulations, you have broken through from Foundation Building 9th Layer to Core Formation 1st Layer! Your cultivation has reached a new level."
_System Reward_
"As a reward for your breakthrough, you have received:
- The Heavenly Sword (a rare, high-grade sword that can upgrade and evolve alongside your cultivation)
- Eye of the Void (a rare skill that allows you to see through illusions and deceptions, granting you a deeper understanding of the world around you)
- Skill Description: Eye of the Void is a powerful skill that allows you to pierce through illusions and deceptions.
With this skill, you will be able to see the world in a new light, uncovering hidden secrets and revealing the true nature of reality.
- Sub-Skill: Insight - Allows you to see the stats of people and creatures, including their cultivation level, strength, and weaknesses.
- Increased cultivation speed by 10% for the next month
Keep up the good work and continue to cultivate!
Lin Tian's eyes sparkled with excitement as he thought about the Heavenly Sword and his new skills. He muttered to himself, "The Heavenly Sword... a rare, high-grade sword that can upgrade and evolve alongside my cultivation.
This is a game-changer. And the Eye of the Void... being able to see through illusions and deceptions will definitely come in handy.
And the Insight sub-skill... being able to see people's stats will give me a huge advantage. I can already think of all the ways I can use these skills to my advantage..."
As he thought for a moment
Lin Tian's eyes seemed to bore into the very soul of the universe, a deep, dark, and cold glint flashing within them.
It was as if his gaze could tear through the fabric of space itself, leaving destruction in its wake. His expression turned icy, his voice barely above a whisper as he muttered,
"Liang Shen... you just wait. I'll show you the true meaning of power. You may have underestimated me before, but next time... next time, you won't be so lucky.
The air around him seemed to grow colder, as if the very darkness itself was responding to his malevolent intentions.
Lin Tian stood up, his eyes still gleaming with a hint of darkness. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and walked out of the room. He made his way to the main hall, where Elder Lian was waiting for him.
"Elder Lian, I'm ready to depart," Lin Tian said, bowing slightly.
Elder Lian nodded, his eyes serious. "Be careful, Lin Tian. The mission will be challenging, and the risks are high. But I have faith in you."
Lin Tian nodded, his expression determined. "I won't let you down, Elder Lian."
With a final bow, Lin Tian turned and walked out of the sect, disappearing into the misty mountains beyond.