Chapter 4 – The Price of Knowing
The night was unnervingly still, the faint creak of the beams above my bed almost mocking.I sat at the edge, the pouch of gold coins heavy in my hands. Payment, yes… but also a chain.
I loosened the drawstring, letting the coins spill onto the table. In the flickering candlelight, they gleamed a warm, mocking gold.
Then the air rippled.
A blue panel shimmered into existence before me.
System Activation Complete. Host recognized.
The voice from yesterday wasn't a fever dream. It was real.
"Tell me…" My voice cracked. "…Mei. Where is she? Is she safe?"
The panel pulsed gently.
Locating target: Mei.Cost: 3 gold coins. Proceed?
"Yes."
Three coins vanished into thin air. A pause, then:
Subject: MeiStatus: In custody of Azure Cloud SectCondition: UnharmedClassification: Potential discipleRisk level: Low
A shaky breath left me. Safe — for now.
I steadied myself. "System… what can you do?"
The panel brightened, text cascading down in neat rows.
System Functions
Body Status Scan – Free; reveals physical condition, injuries, and weaknesses.
Knowledge Acquisition – Obtain information about objects, places, people, or concepts in exchange for spirit stones or gold.
Location Tracking – Pinpoint people or items; cost varies by distance and importance.
Analysis & Identification – Examine unknown herbs, materials, or techniques.
Combat Insight – Real-time battle analysis.
Cultivation Guidance – Techniques and tailored training plans.
Locked
Locked
One option blinked — Body Status Scan. I selected it.
A ghostly outline of my body appeared, marked in red where I was weakest.The verdict was merciless: weak muscles, strained lungs, stamina barely above that of a sick farmer.
I forced the air out of my nose. "Tell me about cultivation."
Query cost: Free
Basic Cultivation Stages
Qi Gathering – Absorb spiritual energy from the environment.
Qi Refinement – Purify and circulate Qi within the meridians.
Foundation Establishment – Strengthen body and dantian.
Core Formation – Condense a Golden Core; a major threshold.
Nascent Soul – Birth of spiritual consciousness.
Soul Ascension – Preparation for immortality.
I leaned back, eyes on the fading text.Mei was safe. I now knew how this world measured strength.
But knowledge had a cost, and my pouch was lighter already.Seven coins remained. Seven chances to gamble with fate — and I intended to spend every last one to bring Mei home.