CHAPTER 58: FIRST QI VICTIM

While listening to Caden’s story. Rollins felt pity in his heart, he wasn’t cautious anymore.

If everything Caden told him was the truth then he understood why Caden decided to kill all of them.

It was to relieve them of their suffering.

He couldn’t blame Caden anymore. Rollins smiled faintly as he glanced at Caden "I understand your pain Caden, even though you were the main assasination target"

"Others suffered. I understand why you felt guilty and I’m sorry I was one of those who felt disgusted by you"

"Allow me to apologise" Rollins spoke. His words made Caden to smile, "I don’t really care if my actions generate enemies for me"

"I did what I had to, I did what was necessary for me to do....." Caden spoke, "Sometimes even death is mercy on its own"

Rollins nodded with a smile, after tendering an apology to Caden. He left the dorm room.

Since Caden had chosen this empty dorm room first. It’s now officially his, with Rollins gone.

It was time for him to focus on something else.

Caden breathed in deeply "I received a few things as a reward but I wasn’t able to access them because of where I was"

"Now that I’m alone....let’s check them out" He was ready, "Status" The transparent cyan panel was summoned once again.

[You’ve unlocked the first Advancement Stage]

[Information: Host is able to advance a single cultivation by one level]

[Please choose which cultivation you would like to advance?]

[Sword Level cultivation]

[Mana Convergence Stage]

Caden’s eyes narrowed, he read through the Informations displayed on the screen "So this is what the Three Advancement Stage meant huh?"

"I received the qualifications to activate an Advancement Stage which meant I can advance a single cultivation by one levels"

Caden gently careesed his chin, he could be seen in deep thoughts "Then which one should I proceed to advance?" He muttered.

He was currently at middle staged Sword Level, Sword Knight, if he chose it. He could become a Sword Level, Sword Veteran.

Or if he chose the Mana Convergence Stage. He could become a Mana Convergence Stage, Second-tier mage.

Caden’s lips curled faintly, "To think it would be hard to choose eh? I’ve not practiced magecraft too well"

"But I’m doing good for a sword level cultivator, which meant I’m lacking in magic"

"It would be best to become a Second-tier mage" Caden smiled. He stretched forth, he had already made his decision.

[You’ve chosen the Mana Convergence Stage]

[Advancement Stage has been used]

[Congratulations! You’ve advanced from Third-tier mage to Second-tier mage]

[Your Mana stat gained a significant increase]

[Medium Task Reminder]

[Uncover the mysteries of the Red Spies in the Valor Royal Academy]

[Task Duration: 30 Days]

[Task Reward: 1 Silver Gift Box, 1 Draconic Magic Artifact, 1 Skill Upgrade]

[Task Penalty: 7 Days Slumber]

Reading this made Caden chuckle out loud. Back then, he only got the task duration of thirty days.

But now he’s finally seeing the reward and the penalty. "The task reward is quite good, I really need to upgrade one of my B-Ranked Skills"

"And that draconic magic artifact will also be essential to boost my growth as a mage" Caden exhaled softly, His lips twitched for a second.

"But isn’t the task too much? I would slumber for seven days?" He gulped, swallowing his saliva.

"This ain’t a task I can afford to fail, I have to complete it no matter the odds" This steeled his resolve.

Even sealing his Mana Core was extremely dangerous for him now going into slumber for seven days is like a death sentence.

With Red assasins hidden in the academy.

But something else had his attention, "Now that I’m a Second-tier mage, I should start training in magic properly"

"Perhaps I should make magic my primary stage" Saying that, Caden’s lips curled into a faint smile.

It was good enough to deceive anyone.

It’s known that everyone who chose Mana Convergence Stage as their primary stage aren’t good fighters.

He’s a good fighter, he could easily deceive his enemies to strike first.

"Now let’s focus on something else" He muttered. His finger went through the transparent cyan panel.

He clicked an icon on the screen.

[Exp: 0]

[Leveling Point: 200/1000]

[Qi Point: 380 Qi Points]

"I really do have Qi Points huh?" He sighed, "Qi is Life Energy, and Life Energy is versatile"

"While it could be used to expand one’s lifespan. I can also use it as a dangerous weapon against my enemies"

"Only a handful of supreme leaders knows about Qi, I should use it to my advantage" He concluded.

[Skill: SS-Ranked Skill: Qi Manipulation]

[Skill Information: User can manipulate Qi, absorb Qi and amplify one’s own strength with Qi]

[Sub Skills: Qi Drain, Qi Amplification, Qi Zone]

Caden’s eyes shone with brilliant light "Oh? Sub Skills? This is the first time I’m seeing such"

"This is my second unique skill but I’ve never seen something like this before, this is interesting" Caden said.

Even though he awakened the SS-Ranked Skill: Infinite Adaptation, he hasn’t seen the need to use it.

There isn’t many things he needed to adapt to.

If there was a war ongoing. He would use it, especially in a battle against the Red Empire.

He would need to adapt to their flame innate skills.

His eyes gleamed as he kept staring at the screen, "Let me try out a sub skill first" He mumbled.

[Sub Skill: Qi Drain]

[Information: User can drain a significant amount of Qi from a living substance or entity, it varies from living beings to plants]

[But absorbing too much Qi would trigger the lifespan Qi, killing the target]

"Hmmm" Caden breathed in deeply "This is a dangerous power to have, but if I had it before, I could drain the Qi on those Red spies I captured then"

"Now I feel like their deaths were nothing but a waste, I can see many things to do with them" He sighed.

"Let’s check another sub skill" Caden’s eyes flickered with determination.

[Sub Skill: Qi Amplification]

[Information: User can amplify his Qi into any weapon of his choice. Or his physique to boost his strength to a signature decree depending on your Qi Points]

Caden nodded with a smile, "This is a good sub skill to have, I can use it to gain significant increase in strength, I just need to increase my Qi points"

He went to the last sub skill.

[Sub Skill: Qi Zone]

[Information: User can manipulate Qi within a designated zone. Creating a field of absolute dominance for a specific period of time]

"Hehehehe" Caden’s white teeths shone, "This is perfect, aside my Level 2 Dragonman’s abilities"

"This should be considered my trump card as well" He stated. It felt good to have this many abilities.

This many trump cards in case the enemies come against him in great numbers.

He could just activate Qi Zone and dominate the field. Killing the enemies effortlessly or draining their Qi.

Caden slowly approached the window, he could see the world outside his dorm room, "Should i test out my sub skill?" He muttered.

He wanted to see how effective his sub skill: Qi Drain was.

[Would you like to activate S-Ranked Skill: Shadow Cloak?]

[Yes] [No]

Without hesitation, Caden clicked the Yes icon. His shadow expanded, wrapping itself with him.

To the ordinary eyes, he became invisible.

He could even pass through walls without restrictions. While in this state, he could even become intangible.

Caden exited his dorm room through the window, diving down from his window.

He landed on the ground without making a single sound.

He softly exhaled, Caden sprinted. Covering distance within seconds, he could see second year and third year student moving around.

First year students were heading towards their dormitories and he could even see the three quadruplet princes approaching the special dormitory.

Caden wanted to experiment on them but he shook his head few seconds later "They were good to me, I can’t use them as my lab rats"

"I should use a staff" Caden concluded as he snucked away. Approaching a corner, he could see a female staff moving.

She was carrying a metallic box filled with books and a few things inside, heading towards another area.

Caden ambushed her, knocking her out from behind.

But before she collapsed on the ground, Caden caught her. "I’m sorry" He whispered.

Even though he didn’t want to use her as his test subject. He couldn’t use it on anyone else.

Second year students were tough and so were third year students. And there are some staffs with higher status in the academy.

But this lady could be considered one of the lowest staff members.

She was the perfect test subject. Even if she died, no one would care.

He carried her into a corner, they arrived at the back of a building and Caden laid her on the ground.

Her back rested on a wall, Caden stared at her for a few seconds, he stretched forth his hand.

Placing his right hand on her shoulder. His eyes flickered.

[Would you like to activate SS-Ranked Skill: Qi Manipulation?]

[Yes] [No]

Caden clicked the Yes icon, using his left hand.

[Activating SS-Ranked Skill: Qi Manipulation]

[Activating Sub Skill: Qi Drain]

Caden felt it. This addictive feeling, despite the staff knocked out. He could see her eyes twitching.

Something was exiting her body and entering his. His lips curled faintly "So this how it feels huh?" He mumbled.

Caden was distracted by this feeling, it was a feeling of lust. He didn’t even realized what was happening anymore.

Just then the screen appeared before him once again.

[Qi Drain has completed it’s task]

[You’ve received 100 Qi Points]

Caden’s eyes widened in shock, he staggered back, his heart skipped a beat "What have I done?"

Below him laid the lifeless body of the staff member. Unable to control himself, he not only drained a significant amount of Qi from her body.

He also drained her lifespan, killing her in the process.