Chapter 6: Where’s my tutorial?

"What the fuck!"

Zhao Lingfeng stared at the notification window hovering in his peripheral vision, his expression frozen in a state between laughter and despair. The ambient spiritual energy of the secret realm swirled around him, as he had accidentally released some of his Qi after his cursing, but all he could focus on was the absolute absurdity of his situation.

[S-Rank Quest: The Son of Destiny, Lin Tian, bears a grudge against your fellow sect disciple.]

[Protect your sect disciple from Lin Tian's wrath. Failure will result in Lin Tian's overwhelming success and further targeting of the Liuyun Sect.

Reward: ???

Penalty: A high likelihood of the imminent destruction of the Liuyun Sect.]

[SSS-Rank Quest: The secret realm is a trap. An ancient evil spirit plans to consume cultivators for its return.]

[Stop the spirit's return. Failure will result in the destruction of the secret realm and all who reside within it.

Reward: System's Forbidden Technique Scroll + System Upgrade + 1 Cultivation Realm upgrade (x3) + Perfect Heaven's Insight Token (x2) + Perfect Talent Grade Upgrade Crystal…

Penalty: Annihilation.]

A son of destiny? Ancient evil spirit? Where's my Tutorial Mission? What happened to 'kill ten spirit rats in the nearby cave' or in this case something like 'Tutorial Mission: Map out the Secret Realm'?"

The notification's golden text seemed to mock him with its stark simplicity, as though announcing the end of the world was as casual as marking attendance at a sect meeting.

Zhao Lingfeng almost wanted to close his eyes, but he had to see even though he knew the answer in his heart. Forcing himself to look at reality, he turned his gaze to the floor.

On the floor was the crumpled form of the 'no-name disciple'—Lin Tian, his system helpfully identified—who still lay where Young Master Guo had struck him down. Beside his name tag, he could also see his level which was Level 10, though not his cultivation level. The fallen cultivator appeared barely visible against the ancient forest's uneven ground.

"…"

He quietly moved a little closer.

From his new position, he was able to partially see the face of the man whose hood had been exposed.

He was fucking handsome.

Even though it was smeared with soil and blood, it was a devastatingly beautiful face that could make even women jealous.

But the real point that robbed his attention was this man's hand.

Not the fact that his hands appeared to be clawing the ground as though he refused to accept his fate, but the fact that on one of his fingers, an unassuming white ring was worn.

Instantly, he began to piece things together.

Offended an arrogant young master, check.

Somehow survived a killing blow that would leave most cultivators dead in one hit, check.

Surname was within the top 5 surnames for a cultivation protagonist, Lin, check.

Had an extremely handsome face as though it was carved by the Heavens, check.

Body language that exuded the aura, "I refuse to accept my fate" even on the brink of death, check.

Had a ring on his finger that probably held the spirit of a powerful old man or jade beauty, check.

Fuck!

Son of Destiny?

It wasn't just that.

This guy clearly was the protagonist!

He had never heard of this protagonist, let alone have talked with him. But because he was affiliated with a young master in some way, he was already at a stage where his sect would be destroyed in the future if things continue like this.

Damn was he going to slaughter my sect's families too?

Now Zhao Lingfeng knew the real cause of what made his System suddenly prematurely awaken: it was because he had encountered the protagonist!

This was no longer good news, but bad news.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the spirit-rich air, and then analysed the SSS-Rank Quest.

An ancient evil spirit plans to consume cultivators for its return.

The words echoed in his mind, each repetition bringing new layers of dread. He'd seen similar plots in games before. It was the hidden boss revealed only after players had committed too deeply to retreat. But this wasn't a game. There would be no respawn point, no loading previous saves if he made the wrong choice.

It was said that the secret realm would close automatically some time during the 5th day. At the same time, one couldn't retreat until the 5th day unless they had something to allow them to escape the realm.

The problem was Zhao Lingfeng did not have such luxurious items.

That did not matter though. Knowing how these plots go, he was 95% sure there would be some 'unexpected' spatial restriction, disabling such measures.

"Two death flags right off the bat… I don't recall putting the settings on Nightmare Mode."

He tapped the Inbox.

There must be something there that would help his situation. No matter what, he thought this was too much.

[Starter Gift Package]

Newbie Beginner's Sword (Unique)

A plain, unassuming iron sword with no special properties. +10 Attack Damage.

Health and Energy Elixirs (x10 each)

Basic potions that restore health and replenish Qi. The Health Elixirs also provide a modest replenish to physical vitality.

Newbie Armor Amulet (Unique)

A small jade amulet that passively boosts defense by 20% and contains a one-time-use shield capable of blocking a killing blow with the full strength of a Golden-Core cultivator. Once activated, the amulet will be destroyed. + 12 Defence

Lucky Loot Charm (Tier 4)

A consumable charm that guarantees one high-quality drop upon defeating an enemy.

Beast Tamer's Whistle (Tier 3)

A whistle that can summon a low-tier spirit beast to fight alongside the user for a limited time.

Preliminary Party Formation Token (Unique)

A unique token for a sneak peak in the future unlockable Party Function! This item allows the Host to invite one person into his party, sharing EXP, loot, and stat multipliers. The System highly advises the Host to ponder carefully before usage. 

"Hahahahahah… I'm so screwed."

Most transmigrators often have a very generous newbie gift package. For example, supreme cultivation techniques, divine weapons, or bloodlines that would allow him to instantly soar, providing perfect foundations and strength to become the strongest.

Him?

He had a newbie package that was very RPG-like. The system clearly wanted him to start at the very bottom, grinding his way up like a clueless player in a newbie village. This was completely fine, but then why the hell did it have to give him two quests way beyond his level.

"Fine System. If that's how you want to play, then I accept your challenge!"

He wasn't a hardcore gamer in his previous life for nothing.

He can already perceive the usefulness of what he received and was already forming plans in his mind. If there was one complaint, it would be the sword. Wasn't this sword no different to the sect's training sword he brought?

No, in fact, it was worse!

But considering it was listed as [Unique], there may be more to it. Perhaps it had infinite durability. Was this some sort of foreshadowing?

Zhao Lingfeng quickly claimed the items and equipped the two Newbie items, his fingers traced the outline of his new sword, its plain iron surface cool against his skin.

"As expected from a sword from the System, it was well made."

He had never seen such a flawless blade. Too bad at first glance the sword did not appear to be imbued with any special properties. 

With the sword in his right hand and the jade amulet hanging around his neck, he felt a familiar warmth began to build in his chest. The same feeling he'd had before particularly challenging bosses in his past life. The odds were impossible, the stakes absurd, and failure meant complete annihilation.

"You know," he whispered to the empty air, a ghost of his old raid leader confidence seeping into his voice, "I actually missed this feeling."

His gaze returned to Lin Tian's fallen form. The other disciples had long since dispersed, following Young Master Guo deeper into the secret realm. No one spared a second glance for the 'dead' cultivator.

The quest text floated before him, its implications clear.

He had two choices: follow the crowd and inevitably face destruction, or take the path that every gaming instinct told him was the proper route—help the mysterious hidden protagonist.

As for eliminating him?

He never had such a thought.

That was courting death!

A wry smile spread across his face as he began walking toward Lin Tian's prone form, each step measured and deliberate. The spiritual energy in the air seemed to thicken, creating an almost tangible pressure that made his skin tingle.

"Fellow daoist," he called out softly, crouching beside the fallen cultivator. "I can help—"

A flash of movement was his only warning.

Lin Tian exploded into action, his supposedly broken body moving with deadly grace as he swept Zhao Lingfeng's legs out from under him.

A foot sweep?!

Zhao Lingfeng had his sword ready, prepared for a sudden retaliation. But due to his lack of real combat experience, he did not expect such a move. Before he could try and counter, in the same fluid motion, Lin Tian pressed a razor-sharp dagger against Zhao Lingfeng's throat.

So freaking fast!

"Help?" Lin Tian's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried enough venom to kill a thousand men. His face, though still streaked with blood and dirt, showed no sign of the grievous injury he'd supposedly suffered.

Only his eyes betrayed his true state.

Cold, calculating, and filled with a hatred that seemed to burn straight through Zhao Lingfeng's soul. "Like how your sect helps itself to others' treasures? Like how your Young Master helps himself to whatever he wants?"

The dagger pressed closer, drawing a thin line of blood. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't repay your sect's kindness right now."