Chapter 25 – He's with me
Li Chen lay flat on his bed, one arm lazily draped over his forehead as he stared at the ceiling.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
For the first time in what felt like hours, there was nothing trying to kill him, no arrows flying at his face, no crushing pressure bearing down on his body.
Just silence.
And yet…
His mind refused to stay still.
It drifted.
Then suddenly , his eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh no."
The system panel flickered to life almost immediately, as if it had been waiting for this exact moment.
---
[Active Quest Reminder]
[Mission: Opportunistic Acquisition]
[Objective: Obtain items worth at least 50 copper coinn]
[Time Limit: 24 hours]
[Penalty: ???]
---
Li Chen stared at the panel.
Then slowly sat up.
"You've got to be kidding me."
He dragged a hand down his face.
"Of all the things to remember…"
A faint pause lingered in the air.
Then ,
The system voice returned.
This time, however, it lacked its usual smug edge.
Instead, it sounded… oddly neutral.
"You appear distressed."
Li Chen gave a dry laugh.
"Distressed? That's one way to put it."
He pointed lazily at the floating panel.
"You want me to steal."
A brief pause.
"Incorrect."
Li Chen blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"The term 'steal' is an exaggerated interpretation of the task."
Li Chen sat up straighter now, clearly offended.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Breaking into someone's possessions and taking what isn't mine is now what? A misunderstanding?"
The system didn't hesitate.
"It is called acquisition."
Li Chen stared into empty space for a few seconds.
Then let out a short laugh.
"No, no… you're actually insane."
"Your perspective is limited."
Li Chen rubbed his temples already feeling stressed from the excessive bickering.
"I just survived a deadly trial, broke through a cultivation stage, and now I'm arguing ethics with a voice in my head."
"Correction. You are losing an argument with a voice in your head."
Li Chen scoffed.
"Listen carefully," he said, sitting up fully now. "I'm not stealing from anyone."
A pause followed.
"Disappointing."
The single word hung in the air.
Li Chen raised a brow.
"You're disappointed?"
"You possess the ability to claim resources yet choose inaction."
"That's called having standards."
"That is called limiting your growth."
Li Chen exhaled slowly.
"…I'll take my chances."
His gaze shifted back to the quest panel.
"Let's see what this 'undisclosed penalty' is first. Then we'll talk."
The panel flickered once… then disappeared.
The system didn't argue further.
Li Chen leaned back slightly, letting out a small breath.
"…That was exhausting."
---
A few moments later, he swung his legs off the bed and stood up.
Stretching slightly, he rolled his shoulders.
The breakthrough to the peak of the Mortal Plane had changed something.
His body felt… lighter.
His gaze felt sharper.
More responsive.
But as he flexed his fingers, a thought crossed his mind.
During the trial…
He had fought bare-handed.
Against arrows.
Against armored strikes.
Against something that could have easily ended him.
"…That was reckless."
He muttered the words under his breath.
Strength alone wasn't enough.
Technique wasn't enough.
He needed something more.
A weapon.
Li Chen reached into his robe and pulled out a small pouch.
The faint clink of coins echoed softly.
He weighed them in his palm.
"…Should be enough for something basic."
Just as he was about to head for the door—
The system voice returned.
And this time—
It laughed.
Not a chuckle.
Not a smirk.
An actual laugh.
"You intend to purchase a weapon?"
Li Chen paused.
"…Yes" his reply coming out more like a question
Another laugh.
Softer this time, but no less mocking.
"The weapons of this continent are largely… unimpressive."
Li Chen frowned slightly.
"Unimpressive?"
"Crude. Inefficient. Lacking refinement."
"…You're telling me an entire continent's weapons are trash?"
"Not entirely."
A brief pause.
"A few are noteworthy."
Li Chen folded his arms.
"And the rest?"
"Decorative metal."
"…Right."
He shook his head.
"Well, unless you've got something better—"
"I do actually."
Li Chen paused.
Slowly.
"…You do?"
The system's tone shifted slightly.
More focused now.
"I can guide you in forging a weapon suited to your current capabilities."
Li Chen blinked.
"…You want me to forge a weapon?"
"Correct."
"…I don't even know how to hold a hammer properly."
"That's irrelevant."
Li Chen stared blankly ahead.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
A brief pause.
Then—
An all too familiar panel appeared.
---
[Suggested Materials for Basic Weapon Forging]
Void Iron Fragment
Spirit Ash Residue
Azure Beast Tendon
Low-grade Core Catalyst
---
Li Chen read the list once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
"…What."
He looked up.
"Where exactly do you expect me to find Void Iron?"
"That is for you to discover."
"…And Spirit Ash?"
"Also for you to discover."
Li Chen let out a long breath.
"…You've lost your mind."
"On the contrary."
A faint pause.
"This is the most efficient path forward."
Li Chen stared at the panel again.
The materials sounded ridiculous.
Impossible, even.
And yet…
This was the same system that had guided him through the trial.
The same one that had helped him grow stronger.
Slowly, he closed his eyes.
"…I've got nothing to lose, do I?"
He opened his eyes again.
"…Fine."
A small smirk formed at the corner of his lips.
"Let's see where this madness leads."
---
A short while later, Li Chen stepped out of his quarters.
The sect grounds stretched quietly around him.
A few disciples passed by, minding their own business.
Some glanced at him briefly.
Most ignored him entirely.
Li Chen walked calmly, his hands resting loosely at his sides.
His mind, however, wasn't focused on his surroundings.
It drifted again.
To the core.
To the orb.
To the quest.
To the ridiculous materials list.
"…Void Iron," he muttered.
"Where am I even supposed to—"
"You."
The voice cut through his thoughts like a blade.
Sharp and filled with disdain.
Li Chen stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Three figures stood a short distance ahead.
All dressed in inner sect robes.
The one in front stepped forward slightly.
His face was strikingly familiar.
Li Chen didn't need more than a second.
Zhao Ming's older brother
"Senior brother Zhao"
The young man's lips curved into a cold smile.
"Looks like you haven't forgotten."
Li Chen sighed softly.
"Hard to forget someone who looks always eager to cause trouble."
The man's expression darkened instantly.
" You," he continued, eyes narrowing, "are the one who humiliated my younger brother."
Li Chen tilted his head slightly.
"…Ah. That."
He shrugged lightly.
"He shouldn't have picked a fight he couldn't win."
The two lackeys behind Zhao Tianyu snorted.
One of them stepped forward.
"You've got quite the mouth for someone who is outer sect trash"
The other added quickly,
"You should kneel and apologize to senior brother Zhao while you still have the chance."
Zhao Tianyu raised a hand slightly, silencing them.
His gaze remained locked on Li Chen.
"Since you seem to lack basic understanding," he said slowly, "I'll make it simple."
A faint pressure began to leak from his body.
"Drop to your knees."
Li Chen didn't move.
"Grovel."
Still nothing.
"And perhaps," Zhao Tianyu continued, his tone growing colder, "I'll consider forgiving you for the disgrace you brought upon my family."
Silence.
Li Chen simply looked at him.
Unbothered.
Unimpressed.
Behind his calm expression, however—
The system voice stirred.
"Three opponents."
Li Chen's eyes flickered slightly.
"One primary threat. Two minor variables."
"…I can see that."
"Strategy?"
A faint pause.
Then—
Li Chen's lips twitched ever so slightly.
"…Plenty."
"Elaborate."
"…We beat them."
"Direct approach?"
"…Or," Li Chen continued internally, "we beat them and take their stuff."
A brief silence.
Then—
The system responded.
"…Now you are thinking efficiently."
Li Chen almost laughed.
"Relax," he muttered under his breath.
"I haven't agreed to your stealing nonsense yet."
"Acquisition."
"…Same thing."
Zhao Tianyu's voice cut in again, irritation evident now.
"Are you deaf?"
Li Chen blinked.
"Oh, sorry."
He scratched the back of his head casually.
"Were you saying something important?"
The lackeys immediately stepped forward.
"YOU—"
But before they could finish—
A voice rang out.
Clear.
And unmistakably authoritative.
"He's with me."