Chapter 25: Accumulating Power

Li Mei woke up early, the first light of dawn casting a soft glow over her courtyard. She had been up late the previous night, her mind buzzing with the events that had transpired. The relic's destruction had brought a temporary peace to the city, but she knew it wouldn't last. The forces at play were too powerful to be vanquished so easily.

As she stretched and prepared for the day, the system chimed in her mind, a familiar sound that had become an integral part of her life.

[Daily Sign-In Complete.

•Reward: 10 System Points, Low-Grade Spirit Stones x10]

The daily sign-in rewards had been generous lately, reflecting her system's recent upgrade. But as useful as the spirit stones were, Li Mei knew that she needed more than just resources to face the challenges ahead. She needed power—and the only way to gain it was through cultivation and completing missions.

Li Mei sat cross-legged on the floor, focusing her mind as she activated the system's interface. The familiar translucent screen appeared before her, displaying her current status.

[System Status]

Current Level: 2

System Points: 180/200

Next Upgrade: 200 Points Required

Current Missions: None

Available Missions: 1

Her eyes narrowed as she noticed the points. She was only 20 points away from the next system upgrade. The thought filled her with anticipation—every time the system upgraded, the rewards grew more generous, and the opportunities for growth multiplied.

But first, she needed to complete another mission to accumulate the remaining points. She tapped on the "Available Missions" tab, and the system quickly generated a new task.

[New Mission: Bandit's Bane]

• Objective: Eliminate the bandit group terrorizing the northern villages and rescue the captured villagers.

• Reward: 30 System Points, Mid-Grade Cultivation Technique, Healing Elixir x2

• Failure Penalty: Loss of 50 System Points, Injury to Host

Li Mei studied the mission carefully. The northern villages were a few days' journey from the city, nestled in the mountains where bandits often took refuge. The task was straightforward enough—eliminate the threat, rescue the villagers, and return. But she knew better than to underestimate any mission the system gave her.

The rewards were tempting, especially the mid-grade cultivation technique. Her current techniques were adequate, but she needed something more advanced to break through to the next cultivation stage. The healing elixirs would also be invaluable in case of injury.

She accepted the mission, feeling a familiar surge of determination. With 30 system points as a reward, she would have more than enough to trigger the next upgrade. But the mission itself wouldn't be easy. Bandits were dangerous enough on their own, but in these mountains, they could be backed by something much darker.

Li Mei wasted no time. She packed her belongings, including her storage ring, which held various supplies and the rewards from her previous missions. The ring had become one of her most valued possessions, a gift from the system that allowed her to carry everything she needed without being burdened by the weight.

By mid-morning, she was on the road, her pace steady as she made her way north. The journey was uneventful at first, the rolling hills and thick forests providing a serene backdrop to her thoughts. But as she neared the northern villages, the atmosphere began to change. The air grew colder, and the once-vibrant foliage took on a sickly hue. It was as if the very land had been tainted by the presence of the bandits.

When she finally arrived at the outskirts of the first village, Li Mei paused to take in her surroundings. The village was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that spoke of fear and despair. Houses were boarded up, and the few villagers she saw were huddled together, casting wary glances at the woods beyond.

She approached a group of villagers, her presence drawing their attention. They looked at her with a mixture of hope and skepticism—no doubt they had seen many so-called heroes come and go, none of them able to drive away the bandits for good.

"Are you here to help us?" one of the villagers, an elderly man, asked. His voice trembled slightly, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Li Mei nodded. "I'm here to deal with the bandits. Where are they holding the captured villagers?"

The man pointed toward the mountains, his hand shaking. "In the old mine, deep in the forest. They took our people there days ago. We haven't heard anything since."

Li Mei's gaze followed his hand to the dark line of trees at the edge of the village. The old mine—she had heard of it before, a place long abandoned after the ore veins ran dry. It was the perfect hideout for bandits, with its narrow tunnels and hidden chambers.

She thanked the villagers and set off toward the forest, her senses on high alert. As she entered the woods, the oppressive feeling grew stronger, the shadows seeming to close in around her. The trees here were twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. It was a place devoid of life, as if the very essence of the forest had been drained away.

Li Mei moved silently through the underbrush, her footsteps barely making a sound. She knew better than to rush in blindly—bandits were often skilled in setting traps, and the last thing she wanted was to be caught off guard.

As she come near the mine's entrance, she caught sight of a group of bandits standing guard. They were rough-looking men, their armor mismatched and dirty, but their eyes were sharp and alert. Li Mei knew she couldn't take them all on at once without risking injury, so she decided to employ a different tactic.

She waited until one of the bandits moved away from the group, heading into the forest to relieve himself. Silently, she followed him, staying hidden until he was far enough from the others. Then, with a swift, precise strike, she incapacitated him, rendering him unconscious before he could cry out.

With the guard out of the way, Li Mei quickly changed into his clothes, covering her face with his helmet. The disguise wasn't perfect, but it would be enough to get her inside the mine.

She returned to the entrance, joining the other bandits as they made their way into the tunnels. The air inside was damp and cold, the walls lined with the remnants of old mining equipment. The tunnel sloped downward, leading deeper into the mountain, where the bandits had set up their base.

As they walked, Li Mei listened carefully to their conversation, picking up bits of information. The bandit leader was a man named Feng, a ruthless figure who had terrorized the region for years. He had recently acquired a powerful artifact—one that allowed him to control the minds of his men, making them even more dangerous.

Li Mei's heart quickened at the mention of the artifact. If Feng truly had such a thing, it could be the key to his power. Destroying it would weaken him and free his men from its influence, making it easier to take them down.

The tunnel opened up into a large cavern, where the bandits had set up camp. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long shadows across the rough stone floor. At the far end of the cavern, Li Mei spotted the villagers—bound and huddled together, their faces pale with fear.

She needed to act quickly. But before she could formulate a plan, the system chimed again, this time with a new notification.

[Objective Update: Infiltrate the Bandit's Lair]

• Objective: Rescue the captured villagers and destroy Feng's artifact.

• Reward: 50 System Points, Advanced Combat Technique, Rare Artifact

• Failure Penalty: Permanent Loss of Cultivation Stage

The stakes had just been raised. Li Mei felt a surge of determination as she silently moved toward the villagers, keeping to the shadows. She couldn't afford to fail—not with so much on the line.

As she approached the captives, she noticed the artifact—a small, glowing orb, pulsating with dark energy, sitting on a makeshift altar near Feng's throne. The bandit leader was a tall, imposing figure, his eyes cold and calculating as he surveyed his domain.

Li Mei knew that destroying the artifact would be the key to bringing down Feng. But to do so, she would need to draw the bandits away, creating a distraction long enough for her to strike.

With a deep breath, she prepared herself for the next phase of her mission. She was close to completing the objective, close to upgrading the system. But first, she would have to face the most dangerous foe she had ever encountered.

The system points were within reach, and the upgrade would soon follow. All she needed was one final push.

The system points were within reach, and the upgrade would soon follow. All she needed was one final push.

[Accumulated System Points: 230/200] [New Upgrade Available. Confirm to Proceed?]

Li Mei hesitated for only a moment before mentally confirming the upgrade. She could feel the power of the system surging within her as the interface began the process, and her surroundings dimmed as the system took precedence in her mind.

[System Upgrading… Please Wait…]

[System Upgrade Complete.

System Level - 3 ]

• New Features Unlocked: High Tiers Reward, Enhanced Combat Mode, Skill Refinement System

• Current System Points: 30/600

With the system upgrade completed, Li Mei felt stronger, more capable, as if a new power had been unlocked within her. She clenched her fists, feeling the energy