Chapter 168: Chapter 168: [Attention!]
The entire cultivation world of Prime was undergoing profound changes.
The first of these transformations was the arrival of the System, an enigmatic entity that seemed to know more about a person than they knew about themselves.
The System could display a cultivator's status, their progress in cultivation, and even their physical attributes in precise numerical form.
But it was far more than just a tool; it became an essential part of daily life.
It allowed people to communicate with anyone across the world, provided the other person accepted a friend request.
Once a friend request was accepted, not only could users communicate freely, but they could also send cultivation resources, purchase items with gold, or exchange them for System Gold.
System Gold was a new currency introduced by the System upon its arrival.
It allowed cultivators to buy and sell resources and materials through the System, or participate in the System Auction.
This auction was open to everyone across the five continents, enabling anyone to auction their treasures and conduct trades with others.
Very quickly, people began to adopt System Gold as their primary currency.
Gold, silver, and other valuable materials could be exchanged for System Gold, and since the System ensured the integrity of every transaction, the risk of scams was eliminated.
Physical currency rapidly lost its prominence as System Gold became the standard.
The second significant change was to the cultivation system itself.
Traditionally, cultivators measured their progress by realms, marking significant breakthroughs.
However, the System introduced a new power-level system that divided cultivation into two categories: minor breakthroughs and major breakthroughs.
In this new system, cultivation levels were divided into tiers. Minor breakthroughs occurred at each individual level, while major breakthroughs took place every tenth level.
For instance, levels 1 through 10 were considered minor breakthroughs. The leap from level 10 to level 11 marked a major breakthrough.
From there, levels 11 to 20 were once again minor breakthroughs, with the jump from level 20 to level 21 representing another major breakthrough.
This pattern repeated every ten levels, with the major breakthroughs being the critical points required to advance further.
Without achieving a major breakthrough, one could not progress beyond that tier.
Thus, every ten levels represented a significant milestone in cultivation, and the System ensured that cultivators had a clear, structured path of advancement, with minor and major breakthroughs guiding their growth.
On this day, the third monumental change occurred: the arrival of the Towers.
Magnificent and ominous, these towering cylindrical structures of rock and metal stretched far into the heavens and deep into the core of the earth.
At the center of each continent, one of these colossal towers stood, while in every city—both large and small across the five continents—smaller but similarly shaped towers appeared.
No one knew how or when they had arrived. In the blink of an eye, and without making a single sound, these towering edifices simply manifested, as if conjured out of thin air.
It didn't take long for nearly everyone to guess who might be behind these god-like creations.
It was clear that only one being could have the power to bring forth such marvels: the Great Being, the progenitor of all noble races in the cultivation world, who had risen to become the true and unrivaled King of the cultivation realm.
Though no one could fully comprehend his intentions, the shrewdest among them could sense that something monumental was on the horizon.
As the world collectively realized the presence of these towers, a sudden ringing sound echoed in everyone's ears, followed by a system prompt.
[Attention!]
[The Tower of Awakening has arrived]
[The 'Descent' will begin in one month's time (30 days)]
[All residents are advised to read the 'Tower Guide' attached below and prepare for the day of the 'Descent.']
[Prepare for the trials ahead, for only in the jaws of danger will you grow stronger, and survive]
[Tower Guide(Basics)]>
Every single being in the cultivation world read the system prompt with a mix of emotions.
The strong and arrogant ones scoffed, seeing it as nothing more than a joke.
Meanwhile, the more experienced cultivators couldn't help but regard the word "Descent" with increased caution, understanding the potential gravity of the situation.
Then, there were those with lower cultivation levels and meager talent—those at the bottom of the ladder—who trembled at the ominous words displayed on the system prompt.
No matter the battle, it is always the weak who suffer the most, the ones who become victims to the strength of the more powerful.
As if to answer their silent cries, another prompt appeared:
[Talent fades without effort, and strength crumbles in the face of complacency. Only those who face hardship can truly grow. Prepare well, for only your hands can save you.]
This message underscored a harsh truth: whether one was talented or not, it wouldn't matter when the 'Descent' arrived.
Only those with the will to survive would endure.
Arrogance would be meaningless, wealth would hold no value. It was only through personal struggle that true power could be attained.
The 'Descent' would bring the salvation the oppressed and the weak had longed for—an upheaval that would shake the very foundations of the world and uproot the established powers.
...
The Balaur Castle, Drakulon City.
In the throne room, a man of otherworldly beauty sat casually upon his throne, his expression weary, though not from exhaustion.
He was simply tired of explaining the same things to the noble clan leaders of the Azure Dragon Continent.
"My king, please..." The leader of the Cristellini Clan began, but the moment he sensed the Emperor's irritated gaze, he froze, lowering his head in silence, a shiver running down his spine.
The Emperor sighed and shook his head. "No matter how much you beg, I will not say anything about the 'Descent' beyond what is written in the 'Tower Guide.'"
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze piercing. "Have any of you even read the Tower Guide?"
A collective shudder rippled through the room.
Even those who were closely related to the Emperor's wives—Yuna's father, Ophelia's father, Amelia's father—felt a wave of intimidation, despite knowing that the Emperor would never harm them.
His question, however, struck too close to home; none of them had bothered to read the Tower Guide.
"After all the advice I've given you, after all the warnings from the system, you remain as arrogant as ever," the Emperor's voice turned cold, and his eyes gleamed a blood-red hue.
A bloodthirsty aura began to fill the throne room, casting shadows that swallowed the light.
The noble clan leaders felt an overwhelming flood of negative emotions, magnified a thousandfold, as if their very souls were being crushed.
The weight of it was so unbearable that some of them nearly burst into tears.
The Emperor sighed again, releasing his oppressive aura and allowing them to breathe once more.
"If you wish to remain here, arrogance will not serve you," he said, his voice hard and chilling. "Even if you are related to my wives, I will not offer you any help."
His words sent shivers down their spines.
The overwhelming sense of being abandoned rooted deep in their cores, and they collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
"Forgive us, please, oh great Emperor of Dragons!" The elders of the Dragon Clans pleaded, bowing low in fear.
Witnessing this, Count Wichura and Count Scarlett also fell to their knees, begging for forgiveness for their insolence, followed by the leaders of the Fulmine Clan.
Sam watched this unfold with a neutral expression, his gaze unyielding. "I still won't help you," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"As I've said before, everything you need to know is already in the Tower Guide provided to you."
He snorted, then, with a swift motion, disappeared from the throne room, reappearing in the Eternal City, before one of his wives.
He found Helena in the middle of changing, wearing only a bra and panties.
"S-Sam?" Helena exclaimed, clearly surprised, though she made no attempt to cover herself.
Instantly, Sam felt his desire swell. With little hesitation, he appeared before her, pressing his lips to hers in a sudden, passionate kiss. Gently, he led her to the bed.
"Ah... Sam..." Helena's breath hitched, but she responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around him in a silent invitation.
They kissed passionately for a few minutes, before Sam, taking the initiative, began to remove her panties.
His middle finger, steady and confident, moved into her live hole as he massaged with full vigor sending her goosebumps.
.
.
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[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones. And if you absolutely loved it, you can even contribute a Golden Ticket. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much! - Arigato! 🙏]