Chapter Nine: Calling at the Door

Sensing subtle changes in his body, Fang Nian couldn't wait to open the menu and take a look.

Host: Fang Nian

Physical Level: F (Physical condition comparable to a national second-tier athlete.)

Sensory Level: F (Vision F-, Smell F, Taste F-, Hearing F-, Touch F+.)

Sixth Sense: None

Profession: Soul Hunter (Initiate), Arena Architect (Not initiated)

Hunter Professions: Warrior (Unlocked, Initiate), Story Curator (Locked), Machinist (Locked), Codebreaker (Locked).

Arena Architect Types: None

Skills: “Clarity Formula,” “Qi Transformation Chapter of Muscle-Tendon Change Classic”

Items: None

Achievements: None

Arena Clearance Record: “Buried Alive” A+.

Self-Designed Arenas: None

Arena Templates:

Horror Platform (Human Nature Template): The flaws of humanity are greed, selfishness, complaining, and vanity. Construct a cage with the ugly desires of human nature and destroy the last shreds of humanity in hunters. (Unlockable at Initiate, construction fund 5000 Hope Coins)

Mirage (Mind-Bending Template): Under the butterfly effect, the hunter’s life will change unpredictably. Want to return to the original path and complete your mission? Impossible. As the architect, can you fry the hunter’s mind? Can the death loop break through the hunter’s final psychological defenses? (Unlockable at Beginner, 30000 Hope Coins)

System Tasks: Complete system-assigned missions to receive rewards, which can be used to improve physical abilities, unlock more professions, and gain more templates, etc.

Fate Lottery Box: Contains astonishing rewards as well as abyssal demons. Enter with caution.

Other Functions: To be updated.

……

Fang Nian was thrilled; compared to the original barren menu, it was now far more substantial. Not only had his senses made a qualitative leap, but his physical state was also much improved.

He quickly searched his mind and found the “Qi Transformation Chapter of Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.” After grasping the entire skill set, Fang Nian felt somewhat disappointed. It wasn’t the legendary martial art from wuxia tales, but rather a method to guide him in cultivating qi.

But, upon reflection, no true martial arts master starts out at the top. Everything begins with the basics, and so he set his disappointment aside.

“No wonder this is a reward for hell-level difficulty—it’s certainly generous. It seems I should challenge higher difficulties whenever I get the chance. But those high-level arenas are truly dangerous. If it hadn’t been for the Clarity Formula in the coffin, I wouldn’t even know how I died.”

Calming his thoughts, Fang Nian opened the task menu again. The task list had also been updated.

Commoner Difficulty: Thoroughly study the Warrior’s Manual to understand the warrior’s role in the arena.

Mortal Difficulty: Raise the qi level within your core to Stage 2 (Stage 5 is the maximum).

Hell Difficulty: (Did your first hunt make you realize something? Do you have the courage to keep exploring?) Find its shadow in an arena above F+ level. (Double reward)

Nightmare Difficulty: Temporarily unavailable.

Staring at the new hell-level task, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Fang Nian’s heart skipped a beat; he quickly stripped off his clothes and discovered that his shoulder was swollen and red, with two pinprick-sized blood holes at the center.

“When I left the arena, I only felt a slight pain and didn’t pay attention. Now it looks like a bite from a desert marching ant. But… how is that possible? My consciousness was brought into the arena—wasn’t everything that happened there just an illusion? Why are there wounds on my body?”

Confused, Fang Nian glanced over the hell-level task again and suddenly seemed to understand a little.

“It seems these rewards aren’t easy to earn. One careless move, and you could lose your life. Its shadow? Hmm… the answer must still be in the arena.”

With this thought, Fang Nian decisively accepted… the mortal-level task.

“Before I find a suitable high-level arena, I’d better stick to the lower-difficulty missions. Besides, I do want to improve my physical condition.”

……

Over the next few days, Fang Nian and Fatty took the time to recover from their harrowing ordeal.

Fang Nian gradually grasped some of the secrets of qi cultivation. He could now clearly sense the flow of qi within his core, and it wouldn’t be long before he reached Stage 2.

Meanwhile, word began to spread through Soulfall Street that Fang Nian had slain the latest theme in the Xu Family Arena on his very first attempt. Many people speculated about which expert had come to stir up trouble in the Xu Family Arena.

But as this person never appeared again, the rumors slowly died down, leaving only the mysterious tale of Number 251.

—

During lunch,

“Old Fang,” Fatty said, “we can’t just sit here and eat through our savings forever. We need to find some work. Also, when are you going to the Xia family to see your little wife? I’m telling you, we’re not exactly safe right now—one of these days the Ye family might come knocking.”

Fang Nian spread his hands helplessly. “I plan to go to the Xia family this afternoon. I have to keep up the fine tradition of living off my wife. As for work… you’re right, we do need a backup plan in case the Xia family isn’t reliable in the future.”

He set down his chopsticks and spoke seriously. “I’ll go to the Xia family this afternoon. You go wander Soulfall Street, see if there’s a little shop available. You used to work in a hunter’s camp, and I have some skills, too. Let’s go back to the old trade.”

Hunter’s camp was a soul arena spin-off industry, essentially providing all kinds of services to help clear arenas: crafting and selling items, gathering and selling intel, repairing and refurbishing arena gear, training hunters, and so on.

When Fatty was in the Black Triangle, this was his business. He wasn’t a master, but he had plenty of experience. Hearing Fang Nian’s proposal, he nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, that works. I’ve been wandering Soulfall Street these past few days. Compared to the Black Triangle, the order here is much better. With my experience, I can at least make a living. It’s settled.”

……

That afternoon, gentle flakes of snow drifted down from the sky, and the noisy city felt a touch more serene. Fang Nian bought two seemingly high-end tonics at the market, then made his way to the Xia family estate.

One had to admit that the mansions of the great families in this era were almost like prisons. The sprawling hillside villa was ringed by high walls, with armed security in watchtowers at each corner, ever vigilant and unrelenting.

If such a large family had to be so cautious, it spoke volumes about the poor state of public security in this world.

“Hello, my name is Fang Nian, from District 4. I’d like to pay a visit to Master Xia, Xia Hong.”

The Xia family’s gatekeeper was polite. “Very well, please wait a moment while I confirm.”

A few moments later, the towering iron gates slowly opened, and a butler-like figure courteously escorted Fang Nian into the main reception hall of the villa.