Chapter 13: New Horizons and Skill Mastery
Luo Shen stepped out of the small, shabby rented house he'd called home for far too long. His mind was still buzzing with the events of the previous night—the successful auction at the Black Spire Auction House and the hefty sum of 300 million yuan now sitting in his Account. With this new - found wealth, he had decided on his first major purchase: a house.
Luo Shen made his way to the most exclusive real - estate agency in the city. The moment he stepped inside, the receptionist, a well - dressed woman with a practiced smile, sized him up. His simple attire and unassuming entrance led her to assume he was just another curious passer - by.
"Can I help you, sir?" she asked, her tone polite but laced with a hint of condescension.
Luo Shen looked around the luxurious office. "I'm interested in buying a house. A large one."
The receptionist's smile faltered for a split second. "Of course, sir. But our properties here come with rather high price tags. Perhaps you'd be more comfortable looking at some more... affordable options?"
Luo Shen merely raised an eyebrow. "Show me your best listings."
The receptionist reluctantly led him to a display of high - end properties. Luo Shen's eyes landed on a magnificent mansion on the outskirts of the city. It was surrounded by a large garden, had multiple floors, and was equipped with state - of - the - art security systems.
"I'll take this one," he said without hesitation.
The receptionist stared at him in disbelief. "Sir, this property is worth over 200 million yuan. Are you sure you can afford it?"
Luo Shen reached into his pocket and pulled out a black card, courtesy of the auction house's discreet payment system. "I can afford it."
The receptionist's face turned pale. She quickly recovered and began the paperwork, all the while muttering apologies under her breath.
After finalizing the deal, Luo Shen made his way to the city's most prestigious shopping district. He walked into a high - end clothing store. The sales assistants, dressed in immaculate designer outfits, looked him up and down with disdain as he entered.
"Can I help you?" one of them asked, her voice dripping with haughtiness.
"I need a complete new wardrobe," Luo Shen said.
The assistant scoffed. "Our clothes are for discerning clients. These aren't the kind of things you can just walk in and buy."
Luo Shen ignored her and started browsing the racks. He selected several tailored suits, designer shirts, and expensive shoes.
"Wrap these up," he said, placing the items on the counter.
The assistant was about to protest when the store manager, a sharp - eyed man who had been watching from a distance, intervened. "Of course, sir. We'll have these ready for you in no time."
As the manager was processing the payment, a group of young, wealthy - looking individuals entered the store. One of them, a tall man with a haughty expression, saw Luo Shen and laughed.
"Look at this guy. Trying to pretend he belongs here. What, did you rob a bank to afford this?"
Luo Shen turned to face him. "I suggest you mind your own business."
The man stepped closer. "Or what? You're just a nobody trying to act big."
Before the situation could escalate, the manager quickly stepped in. "Gentlemen, please. This is a place of business. Mr. Luo is a valued customer."
The group of men looked at the manager in surprise. "Mr. Luo? Who is he?"
The manager smiled. "Mr. Luo has just purchased our most expensive suit collection. He's clearly a man of means."
The men's expressions changed from arrogance to embarrassment. They mumbled apologies and quickly left the store.
Luo Shen collected his purchases and left the store. As he walked out, he couldn't help but smirk. His new wealth was already causing misunderstandings, but he didn't care.
As he made his way through the city, his mind wandered to the recent expenditures. He'd thought the 300 million yuan from the auction would be a fortune, and in a way, it was. But buying a luxurious house in the elite part of the city and a set of high - end branded clothes had eaten up a significant chunk of it. "I thought 300 million was a lot," he muttered to himself. "But it seems it can disappear rather quickly."
Returning to the rental house, he sat on the rickety old bed. With a wave of his hand, the familiar [System Panel] materialized in front of him. He had 170 points left, hard - earned from his battles. The system, as if sensing his need, highlighted a particularly enticing option - a Mental Power Incredible skill book. It was priced at 150 points, but the system prompt also informed him that this was only one - third of the complete skill. The other two parts were significantly more expensive, lurking in the shadows of the system mall, waiting for him to amass more points.
Without hesitation, Luo Shen purchased the skill book. A warm glow filled the room as the knowledge seeped into his mind. But he knew that simply having the knowledge wasn't enough. He needed to master it.
Using the remaining 20 points, he directed the system to increase his comprehensive efficiency in learning the skill. Time seemed to blur as he delved deep into the practice. With the system's aid, the complex mental techniques started to fall into place. By the end of the day, he'd mastered the skill. His head throbbed slightly from the intense mental exertion, but a sense of accomplishment washed over him. He could feel the new power coursing through his mind, a subtle yet profound change.
Now, with his new - found skill, Luo Shen set off towards his new house. As he walked through the streets of the wealthy neighborhood, mansions and luxury cars lined the roads. The air seemed different here, filled with an air of opulence and privilege. He couldn't help but smile as he thought about how far he'd come in such a short time. But he also knew that with his new status and power, more challenges were sure to come his way, especially from the likes of the Thunder Fang Alliance. Yet, armed with his new skill and a growing confidence, he was ready to face whatever awaited him in his new abode.
As Luo Shen made his way, brimming with excitement to see his new house, his path collided with a group of five hunters. They were older than him, the leader being a B - Rank Entry level hunter, while the others were C - Rank. In their animated conversation, they had been walking without paying attention to their surroundings, and it was clearly their fault. However, upon seeing Luo Shen, who appeared younger, they decided to shift the blame onto him, assuming he'd be intimidated.
But they were sorely mistaken. Luo Shen stood his ground, unyielding. The leader remained stationary, sizing him up, while the C - Rank hunters, thinking they could easily push this 'youngster' around, advanced on him. They reached out to shove him, but their efforts were in vain. Luo Shen's strength was far beyond what they'd anticipated, and they found their hands meeting an immovable force.
In response, Luo Shen decided to teach them a lesson. He called upon the Mental Power skill he had just mastered. With a subtle concentration, he unleashed a wave of mental pressure. In an instant, the air seemed to thicken around the hunters. The C - Rank members were hit the hardest. They buckled under the intense pressure, their knees giving way as they struggled to even stand.
The leader, though a B - Rank, was also severely affected. He managed to stay on his feet, barely, only by using his sword as a support. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he realized the grave miscalculation his team had made. Realizing the futility of their position, he quickly apologized, ordering his team members to do the same.
Luo Shen had remained silent throughout the encounter, letting his actions speak for themselves. Since it was the team members who had initially behaved aggressively, and seeing the leader taking responsibility, he decided to let them go. He released the mental pressure, and the hunters, looking thoroughly chastened, quickly scurried away.
Luo Shen then resumed his journey. As he walked, the number of houses in the area began to thin out, indicating the exclusivity of the neighborhood. And then, he saw it - his new house. It loomed large in front of him, a magnificent structure with multiple floors. The exterior was sleek, with a modern design that exuded luxury.
He stepped through the front gate and made his way inside. The scent of fresh paint and polished wood greeted him; everything was pristine. The house was outfitted with brand-new appliances—sleek kitchenware, glossy countertops, and furniture that looked like it had come straight out of a high-end catalog. The lights hung from elegant modern fixtures, and the fans were state-of-the-art, their blades whisper-quiet. Yet, to Luo Shen's mild disappointment, none of them carried the advanced auto-adjusting functions he had initially expected.
Just then, his System interface flickered to life before his eyes, its translucent screen shimmering faintly in the air. A line of text began to scroll across it:
[Detected Devices: Security System, Lighting Network, Ventilation Units, Internal Sensors.]
[Request: Take Full Control?]
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
"Yes," he commanded.
At once, streams of glowing code cascaded down the panel, lines of data stitching themselves together as his System seamlessly linked to every device within range. The air seemed to hum faintly with the synchronization. Even the security cameras fell under his jurisdiction, their feeds instantly appearing in a compact grid along his interface. The front yard, the back garden, hallways, bedrooms—every angle of the house was now at his fingertips. It felt less like stepping into a home and more like annexing new territory into his System's domain.
Luo Shen walked through each room, testing his control. With a thought, the lights dimmed to a soft glow, then brightened to daylight intensity. A flick of his fingers altered the fan speeds, their quiet whir responding instantly. He navigated through the camera feeds, observing every corner in sharp clarity, ensuring there were no blind spots.
A sense of satisfaction settled over him. This wasn't just a house anymore—it was a fortress, seamlessly integrated into his growing arsenal. Every function bent to his will, every lock and switch obeyed him without hesitation.
Another step forward. Another tool secured.
And in this world where danger lurked in every shadow, Luo Shen knew: control wasn't just convenience—it was survival.