Clang! "Mission Conquer the Serpent completed. Reward: One Earth-Grade martial skill summon."
Lan An's lips curved into a delighted grin at the System's chime. It was as if fate had handed him a gift just when he needed it most—his martial skills were sorely lacking. Yet, this was a random summon, and if it yielded a skill requiring a different spiritual root, he'd be out of luck.
"Begin the summon," Lan An said, gritting his teeth, silently praying for a Water-attuned skill. His Mysterious Water spiritual energy still lacked a proper outlet.
Clang! "Initiating random Earth-Grade martial skill summon: 15, 14, 13… 3, 2, 1."
Clang! "Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Mid-Tier Earth-Grade martial skill Mother Earth's Requiem. Temporarily stored in System space."
"Another Earth skill?" Lan An exhaled in relief. Though not Water-based, an Earth skill was still usable, fitting his current capabilities.
With a thought, a jade pendant pulsing with Earth spiritual energy appeared in his hand. Following familiar ritual, Lan An dripped blood to claim it, and the skill's details flooded his mind.
Mother Earth's Requiem
Grade: Mid-Tier Earth-Grade
Origin: One of the signature skills created by the Five Elements Emperor in his youth.
Function: Devastating destructive power, capable of forming sand coffins and tombs to crush or bury enemies alive.
"What a domineering skill," Lan An murmured, drawing a deep breath. Mother Earth's Requiem offered two attack forms: crushing foes with compressive force or entombing them alive.
"Impressive indeed. The Five Elements Emperor was an ancient titan, wielding five spiritual roots aligned with the five elements. In his era, none dared challenge him," Jin'er said, her rare praise underscoring the emperor's legend.
"Five spiritual roots?" Lan An inhaled sharply.
Lan Yu's dual spiritual roots crowned him the Lan Clan's top genius. Yan Ruo's dual roots qualified her for Saintess candidacy.
The Five Elements Emperor's quintuple roots marked him a peerless prodigy, his talent so staggering that Lan An could only click his tongue in awe.
"Beast Martial Heavenly Sovereign, Time Empress Linh, Five Elements Emperor, White Moon Clan…" Lan An whispered, committing these fearsome names to memory.
At his current level, such figures were far beyond his reach. They didn't even hail from the Bing Tian Frost Continent, likely dwelling on other stars. This universe was vast, and his world was but a grain of sand in an endless desert.
"What a thrill! This boundless world—I, Lan An, will conquer every corner!"
His laughter boomed with heroic zeal, blood surging as he quickened his pace, eager to test his new skill on beasts.
"No surprise the System picked him," Jin'er murmured, her eyes glinting with admiration at Lan An's unyielding spirit.
One Month Later
Lan An navigated the Shan Mu Forest, seeking an exit. His White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye shimmered, extending his vision to 200 miles, piercing through trees and cliffs as he moved.
By late afternoon, he spotted a plume of smoke rising skyward. His face lit up, and he hastened toward it.
Around a bonfire sat a group, the savory scent of roasted meat wafting from their meal. Five figures—three men, two women—clad in gear and armed, marked them as beast hunters.
Lan An made no effort to hide, and the group instantly noticed him, rising warily.
Yet, seeing a lone youth, they relaxed. Lan An caught the disdain in the eyes of two younger men.
"Fellow daoists, I'm lost in this forest. May I travel with you?" Lan An asked, clasping his hands courteously while subtly observing them.
"Lost? Do you even know where you are?" a bearded middle-aged man, radiating Peak Foundation Establishment aura—the group's strongest—frowned.
"Look at this filthy kid with that freaky eye. Definitely no good," a youth in blue robes, about 20, with sharp eyes and Peak Qi Refining cultivation, sneered.
Lan An glanced at his tattered grey servant's robe from the Lan Clan, worn from two months' training. Smiling wryly, he said, "I truly am lost. I meant to train at the forest's edge but wandered too far. It's embarrassing, but I humbly seek your aid."
"Uncle Ji, our Qingbai Crew could help him for a fee," one of the young women suggested, her gaze lingering on Lan An's empty left socket with pity.
Lan An shot her a grateful look.
She was a lively girl in a fresh cyan dress, her short black hair framing an oval face, with pink lips and bright, watery eyes. Her budding figure hinted at budding beauty, her Late-Stage Treasure Refining cultivation nearing its peak. A charming little beauty.
"Ting'er, you're too trusting. That eye's creepy, and he's a stranger. Best ignore him," Yan Ting, a tall, thin youth in black, said, his Peak Amber Refining, his eyes occasionally leering at Qing'er with greed.
"I agree with Ting'er. If he pays, helping him aligns with our Qingbai Crew's principles," the other woman said calmly.
Around 25, she wore a fiery red dress, her curvaceous figure alluring, her lips vivid as flame, her Mid-Stage Foundation Refinement aura radiating charm.
Lan An noted the beauty of Tu Zhen Realm women, their skin flawless thanks to the continent's crisp climate and spiritual energy. Even those not born stunning often boasted above-average looks.
"You two…" the young men bristled.
The bearded man cut them off. "We'll guide you out of Shan Mu, but you must pay."
"No problem. What's the fee?" Lan An asked, gleaning details: the forest was Shan Mu, and this crew were mercenaries, likely a temporary team given their discord.
"Twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones," Uncle Ji stated, the others agreeing.
"Deal," Lan An nodded.
Spirit Stones, infused with spiritual essence, were universal cultivation resources, graded into Low-, Mid-, High-, and Supreme-Grade.
Though Lan An lacked stones, he'd collected beast corpses, including the Third-Tier Blazing Flame Bird, stored in his Spirit Blossom Orb. Their value could cover the fee.
"How do we know you have stones? I want to check your receipt first," the blue-robed youth, Yang Qing, scoffed, eyeing Lan An's ragged state.
"Don't mercenaries collect payment after the job?" Lan An frowned, his patience waning. He wasn't one to be pushed around.
"Enough. Pay after we're done," Uncle Ji said, glaring at Yang Qing, annoyed by his provocation.
"I doubt he'd dare skip out," the black-clad youth, Chen Linh, added coldly.
"What's your plans? Can we leave now?" Lan An asked, ignoring the youths and addressing the others.
"Traveling at night is risky. We completed a hunt for a Late-Stage Second-Tier beast and will leave tomorrow morning, taking you then," Ting'er said proudly, thrilled by their success.
Lan An hid a smile at her innocence, feigning admiration. Using the Immortal Genesis Scripture, he masked his aura as a Mid-Stage Treasure Refining cultivator.
"My thanks," Lan An said warmly, nodding to Ting'er and Hong Lian Qing.
"No need, little brother. A Mid-Stage Treasure Refining cultivator reaching here alone speaks to your luck," Hong Lian teased.
"Come eat, kid. You must be starving," Uncle Ji said, gesturing to the fire.
They sat, and Ting'er, beside Lan An, chirped, "I'm Die Qing, but call me Ting'er. What's your name? Your eye's so strange!"
"I'm Xiao An," Lan An said, smiling. "My eye's just how I was born."
Her purity was endearing, devoid of guile.
"Really? This is Uncle Ji, the blue-robed brother is Cao Li, the black-robed one is Shen Mu, and this is Sister Lian Qing," Ting'er said, nibbling roasted rabbit, her glossy lips shimmering.
"How long have you been lost, Xiao An?" Hong Lian asked, drawing attention.
Shan Mu hosted Third-Tier beasts—Golden Core equivalents. Their team barely escaped one, yet this youth reached them unscathed.
"A few days. I've been lucky, avoiding beasts," Lan An said calmly, sensing Hong Lian's probing.
"Hmph, dog's luck," Shen Mu sneered, Cao An nodding.
Lan An ignored them, eating. Suddenly, his brows furrowed, his gaze darting into the distance.
Hong Lian, covertly watching, caught his shift. Her alluring eyes glinted, a cryptic smile playing on her lips.
Moments later…
Thud, thud.
Footsteps grew louder.
Another group approached, prompting Uncle Ji and the youths to leap up, tense.