Volume One, Chapter Eight: The System Shop

After finishing his meal, Jiang Buyue began to cultivate the Chaos Swallowing Heaven Technique without a moment’s rest. He cycled through eating, digesting the energy, cultivating, and exercising, repeating the process until late into the night. After half a day of physical exertion, he felt as heavy as if his body were filled with lead, exhausted to his core.

[Ding! Chaos Swallowing Heaven Technique proficiency has reached Proficient (12%).]
[Ding! Extreme Shadow Steps proficiency has reached Perfection.]
[Ding! Gale Slash has cursed the two idiots; it has felt shame and is now motivated, reaching Mastery (1%).]
[Ding! Your cultivation has broken through to the eighth stage of Quasi-Martial Artist (1%).]
[Attributes: Strength 68, Physique 50, Agility 50, Spirit 11]
[Ding! Extreme Shadow Steps has reached Mastery. Achievement "Self-Breakthrough" unlocked. Obtained 1,600 Killing Points. System Shop opened!]

Jiang Buyue was stunned, then replaced by a surge of pleasant surprise. He opened the system interface and found the shop in the top left corner.

[System Shop (Refreshes at midnight daily)]
[Earth-tier high-grade martial art: One-Qi Technique, Price: 1,599 Killing Points.]
[Two-hour double cultivation card, Price: 2,000 Killing Points.]
[Unnamed fruit rich in spiritual energy, Price: 100 Killing Points.]
[C-tier high-grade battle blade, Price: 1,599 Killing Points.]
...
[Current Killing Points: 1,600]
[Killing Points are obtained by hunting creatures.]
[System Shop refresh time remaining: 2 hours.]

"System, why didn't you bring this out sooner!"

A smile tugged at Jiang Buyue's lips. Without hesitation, he spent 1,599 points to purchase the C-tier high-grade battle blade. Gale Slash was the first technique he had ever practiced, but due to the lack of a suitable weapon, its proficiency lagged far behind his other skills, not to mention that he had never systematically trained in swordsmanship.

At 7:30 the next morning, Jiang Buyue arrived at the school gate, leisurely sipping a milk tea.

"Jiang Buyue!"

Upon hearing that voice, his pleasant mood vanished. He turned his head to look at the figure he detested. Li Shishi paused. Is this Jiang Buyue? Did she mistake him for someone else? Could Jiang Buyue really look this dashing? Only when she noticed his cheap, worn-out T-shirt and shorts did she dare to confirm it was indeed him.

Before Jiang Buyue could speak, she continued, "Jiang Buyue, you’ve finally done something right. Hand it over!"

Jiang Buyue narrowed his eyes at the self-righteous woman, wondering what this bitch wanted now.

"Jiang Buyue, why are you just standing there like a fool? Give me the milk tea!" Li Shishi frowned as she looked at the cup in his hand. "Why is there only one? Where is Xiaowei's?" She rolled her eyes and reached for the bag.

Jiang Buyue stepped aside. "Li Shishi, aren't you being a bit too presumptuous? Didn't I tell you before? We walk our own separate paths."

"Jiang... Buyue, is this supposed to be fun? Do you think acting like this will get my attention? How boring."

Jiang Buyue didn't want to engage with her at all, treating her like a barking dog.

"Jiang Buyue! We’re still young, haven't I told you? I’ll consider being your girlfriend after I get into university!" Li Shishi’s eyes reddened, looking pitiful.

Jiang Buyue was speechless. In his previous life, he was a veteran of the club scene; this kind of performance didn't stir a single ripple in his heart—in fact, he found it laughable. A crowd had gathered, eager to watch the drama.

"Who's that girl? She looks so familiar."
"That's the thirteenth-ranked school beauty, I think from Class 14."
"You remember that? I only remember the first place, the indisputable top beauty."
"Who's the guy? He actually made the thirteenth-ranked girl cry."
"He looks quite handsome," a girl remarked, clearly smitten.

Just then, a cold voice rang out. "Jiang Buyue, are you looking for death? What did you do to Shishi!"

Jiang Buyue looked at the tall, dark-skinned boy behind Li Shishi. It was Luo Xiang from Class 12, another one of Li Shishi's sycophants.

Jiang Buyue ignored him. "Don't you have another lapdog here? Tell him to buy you some milk tea!"

Li Shishi looked at Luo Xiang with annoyance. She disliked him from the bottom of her heart—he was thick-headed, always smelled of sweat, and didn't fit her aesthetic. Rumors said he was entangled with other girls, and the only reason she kept him around was his family's wealth.

"Apologize to Shishi, Jiang Buyue!"
"None of your business!" Jiang Buyue retorted coldly.

In an instant, a powerful gust of wind rushed toward his face—a punch aimed directly at him! Jiang Buyue felt no panic; he even wanted to laugh. If this were two days ago, he would have been floored, but he was no longer the same person.

Boom!

Jiang Buyue caught Luo Xiang’s fierce attack. A look of shock flashed across Luo Xiang’s face. A cold glint flickered in Jiang Buyue’s eyes. *He started it! Everyone saw it! This is self-defense!*

Jiang Buyue kicked Luo Xiang in the abdomen. Luo Xiang flew backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground. Li Shishi, who had been watching indifferently, froze. She knew Luo Xiang’s strength—he was a sixth-stage Quasi-Martial Artist, and he practiced a strength-based technique. Even if he were careless, he shouldn't be a match for Jiang Buyue.

Luo Xiang scrambled to his feet, surrounded by white steam.

"The Qi-Armor Technique, an Earth-tier mid-grade martial art."
"Looks like he's reached the entry level. That handsome guy is in trouble."

Luo Xiang let out a roar that shook the playground like a thunderclap. His sturdy frame surged forward like a ferocious black bear, his powerful arm raised high to strike. This blow was twice as powerful as his previous one! If it landed, Jiang Buyue would be in the hospital for months.

However, Jiang Buyue’s figure blurred into ghostly afterimages, elusive and unpredictable. With agility like a phantom, he dodged the heavy blow in the blink of an eye.

*Slap!*

He slapped Luo Xiang across the face. The scene went dead silent. What just happened?

"Ten afterimages! Extreme Shadow Steps at Perfection! Did my eyes deceive me?"
"You didn't see wrong! He used Perfection-level Extreme Shadow Steps to slap him!"
"Holy cow! That’s incredible!"
"Record it! Someone record it!"

Everyone looked on in sheer amazement.

"A Perfection-level technique? How is this possible? That loser Jiang Buyue actually mastered a martial art to Perfection!" Li Shishi’s eyes were wide with shock. In the corner, Jiang Yiyun, who had been about to intervene, also wore an expression of utter disbelief.