NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: I am Your Killer
'Ding,
The host's Special Talent [I am Your Killer] is triggered.
'Ding,
The host has received 115 Life Points.
'Ding,
The host's Lifespan has been increased by 15 years.
'Ding,
The host's mastery of Shadow Steps has been upgraded from the Beginner Stage to the Small Success Stage.
'T-this… the effects of my Special Talent look really generous.'
Ethan received three things, and all of them were quite valuable, making him curious about his new special talent.
At the same time, his inner dilemma about killing someone, which had already lessened when he received his Special Talent, disappeared completely after seeing the gains.
'Let's check the details of the Special Talent to get a better understanding.'
Ethan believed that only by fully understanding his talent could he make the most of it.
Thus, he decided to check its information.
'Before that, it's better to leave here.'
Ethan quickly checked the assassin's body and found only a Storage Ring, which he took before hurrying away.
After collecting the spoils of war, Ethan rushed to the Hidden Cave, which was closer compared to Ironwood Town.
…
Inside the Hidden Cave,
'System, show me the information on my Special Talent.'
The first thing he did after settling in was to check out his Special Talent.
'Ding,
Special Talent: I am Your Killer
Effects: The Talent Holder can extract the following things from his target.
Life Points: The remaining Lifespan of the target will be converted into Life Points and extracted into the host. Lifespan: 10 percent of the target's Lifespan will be extracted. Cultivation Technique: If the target has the same cultivation technique, the mastery of that technique will also be extracted.
Description: I am Your Killer, and I take more than just your life.
The full information about [I am Your Killer] appeared in front of Ethan, and as he read through each effect, his heartbeat quickened.
'Am I going to walk the path of mad killing?'
Looking at the details of his Special Talent, Ethan felt his initial excitement fade, replaced by a lingering unease. The thought of becoming a deranged psychopath, slaughtering others just to grow stronger, sent a chill down his spine.
'At the beginning, it might seem exciting and fun, just like my office work; however, as time passed, I forgot that I had a family and a life.'
It only reminded Ethan of his past life.
'Ding,
Note: The talent only considers those who killed the host as targets. So, killing random cultivators won't grant any of these benefits.
Suddenly, a system notification popped up, making Ethan realize he had misunderstood his Special Talent. His lingering uneasiness disappeared.
'Killing my killers to grow stronger feels far more justifiable than turning into a mindless psychopath.'
Just because he had transmigrated into a dangerous cultivation world didn't mean he wanted to kill others without a strong reason.
It was also the reason Ethan was able to kill the assassin in the first place. Otherwise, there was no way he would have taken someone's life so easily.
'Those who take my life should be prepared to lose theirs in return.'
With that thought in mind, Ethan's love for his new talent reached a whole new level.
'Ding,
Host Name: Ethan Kai.
Lifespan: 16/85 (+15).
Cultivation: Level 6 Qi Refining Realm.
Cultivation Technique: Cloud Grasping Art (Spark Stage), Shadow Steps (Small Success Stage).
Cultivation Talents: None.
Special Talents: I am Your Killer.
Spirit Root: Chaotic Multi-Attribute Root (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Metal).
Life Points: 163.
System Items: Revival Life Card, A Free Voucher worth 100 Life Points.
Next, Ethan checked his interface and noted changes in his Lifespan, Cultivation Technique, and Life Points.
'The next time I die, I will gain an extra 15 Life Points.'
Although 15 Life Points wasn't much, it was a good improvement compared to his first death.
'The only sad part is that I still don't know who wants to kill me.'
Ethan was happy with everything except the fact that he couldn't get any information from the assassin regarding his employer.
'Thinking about it only gives me a headache. If someone really wants to kill me, they'll come for me again.'
With his current strength and the [Godly Revival Ability] refreshed, Ethan was no longer worried about death and instead focused on the storage ring he had collected from the assassin's body.
'Owning a storage ring had always been Kai's dream, and now, I got my hands on one.'
Ethan bitterly shook his head and injected a bit of Spirit Essence into it.
Since the previous owner of the storage ring was dead, there was no need for Ethan to break any seals.
With just a little of his Spirit Essence, Ethan saw the small space inside the storage ring filled with various items.
'Ding,
The storage ring contains the following items:
1) Low-level Spirit Stones x 153.
2) Qi Refining Pills x 50.
3) Minor Foundation Pill x 1.
As he checked the items, a screen appeared in front of Ethan, displaying the contents of the Storage Ring.
'He had a Minor Foundation Pill?'
Ethan wasn't surprised by the Spirit Stones and Qi Refining Pills, but he was pleasantly surprised to see a Special Rank 1 Pill inside—a pill that could cause an uproar among low-level loose cultivators.
For cultivators at the end of their Lifespan, stuck at the Completion Stage of the Qi Refining Realm, this pill gave them a second chance by helping them break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Of course, the downside was that the consumer would forever be stuck in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
'If I auction it, I can easily earn thousands of Spirit Stones.'
Ethan had memories of the uproar caused whenever a Minor Foundation Pill appeared.
'For now, I don't have any plans to sell it and attract attention.'
Ethan wanted to maintain a low profile for a while, so he didn't bother taking the items out.
'For tonight, I will rest before I go meet my new parents.'
Since nighttime in the cultivation world was dangerous, Ethan decided to rest in the Hidden Cave.
…
A few hours later,
Outskirts of the Blackcloud Forest,
'What a piece of waste! Can't even complete a simple [Bronze Mission], and what's worse, he ends up dying on the job.'
A masked man in black robes observed the bloodied corpse before him and mocked it.
'Do I have to use the expensive [Killer Tracking Talisman] to avenge this failure?'
Looking at the corpse, the masked man felt annoyed.
A [Killer Tracking Talisman] was a special Rank 1 Talisman that cost as much as a Rank 2 Talisman. The thought of using such an expensive item for someone who had failed a simple mission irritated him.
'Hiss~'
Just as the masked man was about to activate a blood-coloured talisman, he noticed a slight movement in the corpse before a small snake slithered out.
'Bloodsniffer Serpent?'
Seeing the snake, the masked man's eyes lit up as he hurriedly grabbed it.
"Can you track the one who killed your master?"
'Hiss~'
Surprisingly, the black snake didn't resist. Instead, it nodded in response.
That's right! The black snake was none other than the Bloodsniffer Serpent used by the assassin Shadow Ryu to track his targets.
Its master had been killed right before its eyes, and as a support-type Spirit Beast, it lacked any offensive skills. It had patiently waited for its master's associates to come so it could take revenge.
"Great. You just saved me a lot of Spirit Stones."
Elated by the Bloodsniffer Serpent's response, the masked man ordered it to track its master's killer.
'Looks like today is really my lucky day.'
The masked man smirked, pleased with how things had turned in his favour.