The glowing text hovering over the coin didn't vanish when Lu Chen blinked. It stayed there, sharp and undeniable. [Seal of the Fallen Monarch: Mythic Grade].
The sheer weight of that information made Lu Chen's breath hitch. In this world, items were ranked: Trash, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic. Even an Epic-grade item could buy a mansion in the inner city. A Mythic item? That was the kind of treasure nations went to war over.
"Sovereign's Breath..." Lu Chen whispered.
As if responding to his voice, the purple light from the coin suddenly liquefied. It turned into a stream of violet mist that surged into his nostrils and pores.
[Ding! Detecting 'Sovereign's Breath' Cultivation Technique...]
[Would you like to learn? (Warning: Process is painful for those with 0 Mana Capacity)]
Lu Chen looked at the bruises on his arms from where Young Master Zhao's bodyguards had shoved him earlier. He thought of Su Mei's cold, disgusted eyes.
"Do it," he hissed through clenched teeth. "I don't care about the pain."
[Learning initiated. Rebuilding Meridians...]
In an instant, it felt as though liquid fire was being injected into his veins. Lu Chen collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the basement, his body convulsing. Usually, a "Zero" like him had blocked meridians tiny channels in the body that allowed mana to flow. His were like rusted, clogged pipes. The System was currently acting like a high-pressure jet, blasting through the rust.
He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. His muscles tore and knitted back together. His bones groaned as they became denser. Black, foul-smelling impurities oozed out of his skin the "trash" residue of twenty years of being a non-awakener.
After what felt like an eternity, the heat receded, replaced by a cool, refreshing energy that swirled in his lower abdomen.
[Ding! Meridians Cleansed.]
[Host has reached Level 1 (Body Tempering Realm).]
[Mana Capacity: 100/100 (Evolving)]
[New Skill Acquired: Sovereign's Pressure (Passive) Your presence subtly intimidates those of a lower level.]
Lu Chen stood up. He felt lighter, faster, and his senses were terrifyingly sharp. He could hear the scurrying of rats behind the walls and the faint sound of Old Man Gore snoring in the office upstairs. He looked at his hands; they were no longer pale and thin, but lean and pulsing with hidden strength.
He picked up the coin again. It was now a dull grey, its energy spent. But he didn't need the coin anymore. The treasure was inside him.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The basement door was kicked open. Old Man Gore stood at the top of the stairs, holding a half-empty bottle of cheap beer.
"Lu Chen! You lazy brat! Why is it so quiet down there? If those crates aren't sorted, I'm taking the cost out of your"
Gore stopped mid-sentence. He squinted through the dim light at the figure standing in the center of the room. Lu Chen was covered in black grime, but his eyes... they were glowing with a faint, predatory gold light.
"What the hell happened to you?" Gore growled, walking down the steps. "And what is that smell? Did you break a sewage pipe, you useless"
Gore reached out to grab Lu Chen's collar, a move he had done a hundred times before. But this time, Lu Chen didn't flinch.
Before Gore's hand could close, Lu Chen's hand shot out. It was a blur. He caught Gore's wrist in mid-air.
"Let go of me, you piece of—" Gore started to yell, but he stopped.
He felt a crushing pressure. Lu Chen's grip felt like a vice made of cold steel. But it wasn't just the physical strength; Gore felt a sudden, inexplicable primal fear. It was as if he wasn't standing in front of an orphan employee, but in front of a starving tiger.
[Target: Old Man Gore]
[Level: 3 (F-Rank Awakener)]
[Weakness: Chronic liver damage, rusted knee joints, slow reaction time.]
Lu Chen looked at the text box floating next to his boss. He saw exactly where to strike to end the man's life. He saw exactly how much pressure it would take to snap the wrist bone.
"Boss," Lu Chen said, his voice calmer than it had ever been. "The sorting is done."
"You... you..." Gore stammered, his face turning pale. "Your eyes... you awakened?"
"Maybe," Lu Chen said, releasing the wrist. Gore stumbled back, nursing his hand, his arrogance completely evaporated. In this world, the moment you awakened, your social status changed. An Awakener, even a Level 1, was a citizen. A Zero was a slave.
"I'm leaving," Lu Chen said, picking up his tattered jacket.
"Leaving? Now?" Gore found his courage as he thought about his profits. "You have a contract! You owe me for the room and board!"
Lu Chen turned around. He let a tiny sliver of [Sovereign's Pressure] leak out. The air in the basement suddenly felt heavy, like the gravity had doubled. Gore's knees buckled, and his beer bottle shattered on the floor.
"Check the crates in the corner, Gore. There's a rusted dagger there. It's not scrap; it's a 'Viper Blade' with a poison enchantment. It's worth ten times what I owe you. Keep it as my resignation fee."
Lu Chen didn't wait for an answer. He walked past the trembling man and up the stairs.
He stepped out into the night. The rain had stopped. The neon lights of Sector 7 reflected in the puddles, looking like scattered jewels. For the first time in his life, Lu Chen didn't feel like he was drowning in the city. He felt like he owned it.
His stomach gave a loud growl. Rebuilding his body had burned every calorie he had.
"First, I need to eat," Lu Chen muttered. "Then, I need to find a way to turn this 'Appraisal' skill into real money. If I remember correctly, the Underground Auction is tonight."
He looked down the street toward the glimmering skyscrapers of the Inner Circle, where the rich and the powerful lived.
"Su Mei, Young Master Zhao... I hope you're enjoying your head start. Because I'm coming for everything."
[Ding! New Quest Triggered: The First Pot of Gold.]
[Objective: Earn 100,000 Credits in 24 hours.]
[Reward: Skill 'Eyes of Deception' (Allows you to hide your true level from others).]
Lu Chen's eyes narrowed. A quest? This really was like a game. And he had no intention of losing.