The underbelly of the Azure Cloud Sect thrummed beneath the main peaks, a labyrinth of hidden tunnels known as the Shadow Bazaar. Here, inner disciples bartered forbidden pills, smuggled beast cores, and whispered of cultivation shortcuts that skirted sect laws. Lin Feng navigated the gloom, hooded robe concealing his face, the system's Essence Scan guiding him past patrols.
[Quest: Acquire Qi Boosting Pill. Bonus: Devour a Black Market Vendor's Essence for Hidden Technique.]
The bazaar was a riot of scents—incense masking blood, alchemical fumes stinging eyes. Stalls hawked glowing vials, talismans etched with curses, and jade slips containing lost manuals. Lin Feng's heart raced; this was the cultivation world's true face, where power trumped piety.
He approached a stall draped in black silk, manned by a scar-faced rogue named Old Ghost Li. The vendor's qi was murky, laced with demonic taint—perfect for devouring.
"A boosting pill for a fresh inner?" Li rasped, yellow teeth flashing. "30 spirit stones. Or trade a technique."
Lin Feng haggled, voice low: "20 stones, and I throw in a basic evasion move." Internally, he scanned: Li's essence held a stealth art, Shadow Veil.
"Deal," Li grunted, sliding a crimson vial. But as Lin Feng reached, the vendor's hand shot out, gripping his wrist. "Wait—your qi... fresh breakthrough. Ripe for harvest."
Ambush. Two thugs emerged from shadows, blades dripping venom. Li's eyes gleamed— a predator sensing weakness, his backstory one of betrayed loyalties, turning him to predation.
Lin Feng twisted free, Shadow Step blurring him behind a stall. Chaos bloomed: shouts, qi flares. He drew spear and sword, dual-wielding with fluid grace from devoured memories.
The first thug lunged, axe swinging. Lin Feng parried with sword, countering with Lizard Tail Whip—spear coiling to crack ribs. The man crumpled, gasping.
[Opportunity: Devour?]
Hunger gnawed; Lin Feng obliged, palm to chest. Essence flowed, tainted but potent.
[Devoured: Thug #1. Gained: 10 Essence Points. Axe Mastery (Novice).]
Strength surged. The second thug, a wiry woman with wind qi, unleashed gusts that hurled crates. Lin Feng charged through with Boar Charge, wind parting like water. His spear pierced her thigh, pinning her.
She spat curses: "You'll regret this, whelp! The bazaar has eyes!"
Li fled, but Lin Feng pursued, Lotus Petal Dodge evading thrown daggers. In a dead-end alcove, he cornered the vendor. "Hand over the pill—or your life."
Li laughed maniacally. "Fool! Shadow Veil!" He melted into darkness, reappearing behind for a backstab.
Lin Feng's Scale Harden absorbed the blow, pain muffled. He spun, sword slashing Li's arm. Blood welled, qi leaking.
"You're no ordinary inner," Li wheezed, desperation cracking his bravado. "What are you?"
"The end," Lin Feng replied, thoughts analytical: His veil's predictable—gaps in manifestation. He baited another strike, then unleashed a combo: Shadow Step to flank, Whip to disarm, Charge to slam.
Li fell, broken. Lin Feng devoured, the process revealing fragments: Li's youth as a sect spy, betrayed and exiled, fueling his cynicism.
[Devoured: Old Ghost Li. Gained: 18 Essence Points. Shadow Veil (Basic). Hidden Technique: Ghost Step—Enhanced Evasion in Dark.]
Pill secured, quest complete. [Reward: +2 Stat Points (Spi). Bonus Unlocked: Black Market Contacts.]
Slipping out, Lin Feng swallowed the pill, qi exploding in his dantian. [Cultivation Progress: +30%. Layer 1 (75%).]
Back at Jade Peak, Huo Yan awaited, eyebrow arched. "Bazaar run? You reek of trouble."
He shared minimally, earning her nod. "Smart. But word spreads—Zhao's sniffing around, allying with poison clans."
Their dialogue deepened: Huo revealed her own burdens—a arranged betrothal to a rival sect's heir, chaining her phoenix blood. "Power's the only chain-breaker, Junior Brother."
Lin Feng nodded, his progression mirroring hers—flawed, driven. She's dynamic, like me; Zhao's static rage blinds him.
Night brought a sect alert: demonic beasts raiding outer villages. Volunteers called for patrol. Lin Feng signed up, system quest aligning: [Sub-Quest: Hunt 5 Demonic Wolves. Reward: Demonic Essence Core.]
The patrol formed at dawn: ten inners, led by a core disciple, Elder Brother Xuan Fei—aloof, sword qi like frozen lightning. Zhao Kun was there, glaring daggers.
The forest beyond the sect was a tangled nightmare, trees twisted by chaotic qi. Wolves howled, eyes glowing crimson—mutated by a recent rift, devouring cultivators to evolve.
Ambush struck fast. A pack of ten swarmed, alphas at Layer 2 Qi Condensation. Xuan Fei carved through three with casual strokes, his dialogues sparse: "Focus fire. No heroes."
Lin Feng hung back, scanning essences—rich, volatile. A wolf pounced; he veiled into shadow, reappearing to spear its flank.
[Devoured: Demonic Wolf. Gained: 15 Essence Points. Feral Bite (Basic).]
The kill fed him mid-battle, qi spiking. Zhao noticed, sneering: "Scavenger tactics. Fitting for rats."
But as the pack thinned, an alpha targeted Lin Feng, jaws unhinging with shadow fangs. He dodged with Ghost Step, countering with Feral Bite—his own teeth? No, qi manifested as ethereal jaws clamping the beast's neck.
It yelped, slain. Devoured instantly.
Zhao's eyes widened—jealousy twisting his features. He's changing, the antagonist thought, while I stagnate on pills.
The patrol triumphed, but Lin Feng's hauls drew Xuan Fei's glance. "Promising. Train under me if you survive the month."
Returning, Lin Feng meditated, essence integrating. His thoughts evolved: Devouring isn't just power—it's inheritance. Whose path do I forge?
Far off, Zhao met a cloaked figure: "The cripple has a system. Steal it, or die trying."