The panel buzzed a little, and a golden pill materialized in Leo's hand. He stared at it for a moment. It exuded a strong medicinal fragrance. If anyone else saw it, they wouldn't understand how important this pill was. But Leo or Ronan knew about it very well.
In his previous world, where cultivation was real, everyone began cultivating their bodies from an early age. Because when grown up, the meridians won't open up easily for the passage of qi through the body. And without qi, cultivation is impossible.
That's where the meridian restoration pill came. Either one's meridians were destroyed or still blockaded; this pill would both restore them and open them.
At present, Leo's body is already 18 years old. And as there was no spiritual energy in this world, his meridians never had the necessity to open up. But now, though Leo knew about cultivation, opening the meridians wasn't possible.
That's why he needed this pill badly.
Leo clenched his fist, the pill resting inside.
He went back to his room, took a shower, and changed into a new pair of clothes.
After that, he sat down in a lotus position. He raised the pill before his eyes. After a few seconds, he pushed the pill inside his mouth and swallowed it without hesitation. After the last few days, he didn't have any more reason not to trust the system.
The moment the pill reached his stomach, it melted instantly. A burning sensation spread through his whole body.
Leo quickly shut his eyes and focused inside. He could feel it. Those blocked meridians that had been lying useless for eternity stirred. Their walls began to expand, a hollow forming inside. It was painful as if his flesh was being torn apart. But that pain bowed before his resolute will.
Time passed by, and Leo didn't move an inch. After almost one hour, the restoration was finally finished. Leo's eyes snapped open as he felt the energy slowly rising inside him, as if a Phoenix bursting out of the ashes. His muscles didn't grow, nor did his bones grow any stronger. But an overwhelming sensation enveloped him.
He clenched his fist and stared at it. "This strength. It feels good to have it back." His lips curved up into a smile.
[Congratulations, host.]
The panel shimmered before him.
[You have successfully become a cultivator.
Present realm: Spirit Apprentice level 1
Qi required for next breakthrough: 0/5000]
"Only a level 1 spirit apprentice, huh. But no matter. With this system, it won't be long before I reach the peak again." Leo said with satisfaction.
While Leo was busy savoring the feelings of finally becoming a cultivator again, something darker was happening at the other corner of the same villa.
Judy stood before a man in a cloak, his face hidden under the hoodie.
"I need you to make sure he doesn't return from the summer campaign next month," Judy said.
"What is his level? Also, what type of magic ability does he have?" The person in the cloak asked.
"Level? Magic ability?" Judy said sarcastically. "What level can a magicless nobody like him have? His level is zero."
"He has no magic? It's rare for a family like the Huntsman to have a defective heir like him. But if he's that useless, why do you want to kill him? And why do you even need my help?"
"It's none of your business. Aren't assassins supposed just to take the money and do the work?" Judy asked in dissatisfaction.
"Yes, we are. But given the threat level, we request payment. This mission feels shady. Why would anyone need our help to kill a simp like that? Either you are not telling how strong he really is to get the job done with less money, or you are setting a trap for us." The man said cautiously.
'What a pain!' Judy felt a headache. "You are exaggerating it too much. I asked for your help because I don't want anyone to find out about who was behind it. Killing him is just like dealing with a fly for me. But I don't want my father to find out about it."
The man in the cloak didn't say anything immediately. But after some thought, he said, "Alright. But I want two million for it."
"Two million? Why don't you go and rob a bank instead?" Judy said with clear dissatisfaction.
"If you aren't happy with the price, you can go and ask any other assassin guild."
"Don't have any morals?"
"The price I asked isn't much considering our guild's reputation. Also, though the target may be a useless prick, he is still the heir of a prestigious noble family. So the risk isn't zero. And what was that about morale? You are asking an assassin for a murder, yet spouting nonsense about morale? That's really funny." A chuckle left his mouth in amusement.
Judy could only grit his teeth. 'What should I do? Mother said I must do it properly this time. And other than the Scavenger guild, no one else would agree to infiltrate a university and murder someone.' He fell into deep thought. But after some hesitation, he had no other choice but to accept the offer.
"Alright. 2 million it is. But don't make a mistake, or you won't get a single cent."
"Don't worry. Transfer half of the total payment to this account." The man in the cloak handed Judy an account number. "The rest of the half, you can deliver it after the task."
"Okay." Judy helplessly grit his teeth.
The man in the cloak soon left the place. Judy also returned to the house after looking left and right to make sure no one was there.
Meanwhile, Leo slept for the night. The next night, he again came outside the house and completed the tier 2 workout session task.
Once the system gave him the option to choose between an earth-grade meridian restoration pill and a normal-grade qi boosting pill, he chose the normal-grade qi boosting pill this time.
The panel shimmered, and a blue-colored pill landed on his hand. Leo looked at it once before swallowing it with hesitation.
He was about to sit down in a lotus position and refine the pill to absorb the qi, but a notification stunned him.
[Qi absorbed: 2500
Present realm: Spirit Apprentice level 1
Qi required for next breakthrough: 2500/5000]
"What? Is it already refined and absorbed? Just like that?"