C9 Mustn't Make a Fuss about It

"You really shouldn't tempt fate!" Yang Wei seethed internally, now completely drenched in his own blood.

His body was riddled with wounds, each more gruesome than the last, forming a chilling sight.

At that moment, one of the four assassins, a tall and lanky figure, scoffed.

"Kid, did you really think we were weaker than you when you landed those kicks at the start?"

The tall and thin assassin chuckled before adding,

"We let you land those kicks on purpose at first, just to gauge your strength."

Yang Wei felt a shiver run through him upon hearing this.

Then, the shorter assassin chimed in with a sneer,

"You started off bragging about using us as a sharpening stone, but you've been such a letdown. The force of your kick barely reached the fifth level of Body Refining. And you thought you could use us, who are on the verge of reaching the seventh level, as a whetstone? That's laughably absurd."

No sooner had he spoken than the short assassin delivered a punch that shattered several of Yang Wei's ribs.

"Puff!"

Blood spurted out again, and Yang Wei's vision darkened as he lost control over his limbs.

Upstairs, Ye Hua covered her face, weeping uncontrollably, tormented by guilt for having dragged her benefactor into this mess.

"Kid, it's time to finish this! Rest in peace!"

The assassins were all powering up, ready to deliver the final blow to end Yang Wei's life.

"Boom!"

The four streams of Fist Qi merged into a formidable force, hurtling towards Yang Wei.

Yang Wei knew that if this blow landed squarely, he would be done for.

But just as the Fist Qi closed in, mere inches from his face, Yang Wei's thought shifted.

The Fist Qi halted right before him, motionless.

Time outside had once again come to a standstill.

The next moment, Yang Wei's head spun, and as the world whirled around him, he found himself back in the Cultivation World.

Yang Wei slowly opened his eyes to a new scene, no longer the endless desert but a forest alive with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers.

"What place is this? Why isn't it the desert anymore?"

As soon as Yang Wei stopped speaking, he heard the system's voice in his head.

"The desert region you were in before was akin to a beginner's protection zone."

"As your level increases, the world will unlock more areas for you to explore."

"Of course, the newer the area, the more dangerous it is relative to your abilities. However, the Experience Value gained from slaying Demonic Beasts will also be higher."

"I wish you great fortune in battle."

With that, the system fell silent once more.

Yang Wei felt a sense of frustration. The system never provided enough guidance, always offering just a few words before going quiet.

This Miraculous System was truly unreliable.

"Self-reliance is key; I must take matters into my own hands."

With that thought, the familiar Light Screen materialized before Yang Wei.

Host Name: Yang Wei

Level: 6 (680/1000)

Body Tempering Fourth Stage

Today's Mandatory Mission (Incomplete)

...

Glancing at the panel of attributes, Yang Wei sighed.

"Currently at the Body Tempering Fourth Stage, I'm no match for those four assassins. The only way to beat them is to slay monsters quickly and level up to enhance my realm."

"But rapid advancement comes with side effects, and I don't know if they could be fatal."

"No matter, if I don't enter the Cultivation World, I'll be killed by those assassins anyway. It's better to advance my realm quickly. I refuse to believe I can't handle a mere side effect."

Resolved, Yang Wei grabbed his Black Bone Sword and began weaving through the dense jungle on his quest to slay beasts.

Before long, he encountered several boars. Despite some difficulty, he managed to kill them all.

The bodies of the boars dissolved into orbs of blue light that merged with Yang Wei's body.

"Does the color of the light change with the Experience Value gained from killing the beasts?"

Not dwelling on it, Yang Wei was single-mindedly focused on killing monsters and leveling up. After a brief ponder, he ventured deeper into the jungle.

Where Yang Wei tread, the bodies of Demonic Beasts transformed into streaks of blue light.

As evening approached, the deep jungle echoed with the roars of Demonic Beasts.

Yang Wei, feeling somewhat weary, perched atop a tall stone by the creek. The moon hung brightly in the sky, casting its light so that no moonlit place felt dark.

After taking a sip of the stream's water, Yang Wei concentrated, and the Light Screen materialized.

Host's name: Yang Wei

Level: 8 (820/1400)

Body Refining Stage 6

Forced Mission (Completed)

...

Yang Wei quietly mused as he observed his level on the Light Screen.

"There was no backlash. It seems there's a transition period to adapt to new strength after each level increase."

"I'm at Body Refining Stage 6 now, and those assassins are likely at the same stage."

"Handling one at my level might be feasible, but taking on four simultaneously is probably too much."

"It looks like I need to advance a few more stages before I can stand a chance against four assassins."

Deciding not to dwell on it, Yang Wei chose to sleep instead. Time in the outside world stood still once he entered the Cultivation World, so he could afford to let his recently enhanced realm strength stabilize for a bit.

Bathed in moonlight, Yang Wei quickly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, he rose early and dispatched several nearby Demonic Beasts, advancing to Body Refining Level 8.

Host's name: Yang Wei

Level: 10 (1080/1400)

Body Refining Level 8

Martial Summoning

Forced Mission (Completed)

...

Yang Wei eyed the unfamiliar term on the panel with confusion.

"What in the world is Martial Summoning? Is it possible to summon weapons in the Real World?"

Though puzzled, Yang Wei didn't dwell on it. His immediate concern was to deal with the four assassins in the Real World.

"Return!"

He silently commanded.

After a whirl of disorientation,

Yang Wei's eyes snapped open just as the Fist Qi made contact with his face. Unfazed, his expression remained stoic.

In the next instant, Yang Wei's body burst forth with an intense aura.

The white marble pillars in the room shattered instantly, and the Fist Qi dissipated mere inches from Yang Wei.

"How can this be!"

"Our Four Protectors' combined technique has been shattered! This kid's been playing possum!"

"Take him down!"

The four assailants launched themselves at Yang Wei.

"An ant who overestimates his own strength."

Yang Wei sneered, silently invoking "Martial Summoning" in his mind.

As expected, the next moment, the Black Bone Sword materialized from nowhere.

"Exactly!"

Yang Wei grinned, confirming his suspicion that Martial Summoning could indeed call forth weapons in the Real World.

"Strike!"

With a surge of power like a rainbow, he cleaved the four attackers in two.

"No!"

One of them choked on black blood, eyes wide with resentment, dying a bitter death.

While Yang Wei was quietly reveling in his victory, a raspy voice echoed from the second floor.

"Freeze! Or she dies!"