BXBX NOVEL Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Aric reaps the reward
As he lowered himself into the steaming water, Aric felt the tension of the previous days begin to melt away. His muscles relaxed, and his mind cleared, the weight of his responsibilities momentarily lifting. The water was soothing, a balm for his weary body and spirit. He allowed himself a few moments of stillness, closing his eyes and breathing deeply.
When he finally emerged from the bath, his skin tingling and his mind sharp, he found that the women had discreetly left the room. He was alone now, the quiet and solitude a stark contrast to the night\'s festivities.
Aric dressed in his formal robes, the deep blue fabric embroidered with the golden emblem of the Lei family. He felt the familiar weight of his responsibilities settle upon his shoulders once more, but this time, it was a mantle he wore with pride. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
It was finally time to see the rewards he had earned through his hard work and perseverance.
"System, show me my profits."
The system chimed cheerfully.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +5000 Villain Halo and +50,000 Villain Points for defeating the protagonist, Jarod Lei.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +3000 Villain Halo and +30,000 Villain Points for bringing the relationship between Ryan Chen and Jarod Lei to the brink of breaking off.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +500 Villain Halo and +5000 Villain Points for angering the protagonist, Jarod Lei.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for breaking the mentality of the protagonist, Jarod Lei.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +2000 Villain Halo and +20,000 Villain Points for creating fear of you in the mind of the protagonist, Jarod Lei.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +3000 Villain Halo and +30,000 Villain Points for taking the Jarod-Sylvia relationship to the point of breaking off.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for affecting the mentality of the Daughter of Destiny, Sylvia Song.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for giving a heartbreak to the Daughter of Destiny, Sylvia Song.]
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have gained +1000 Villain Halo and +10,000 Villain Points for developing a positive view in the mind of the Daughter of Destiny, Sylvia Song.]
"Wow, such a great harvest," Aric mused, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "System, show me my panel."
[The Ultimate Villain System]
[Name - Aric Lei (Ethan)]
[Age - 20]
[Cultivation Level - Spirit Severing Realm (1st Stage)]
[Strength - 48]
[Agility - 47]
[Intelligence - 127]
[Charm - 38]
[Physique - None]
[Bloodline - None]
[Cultivation Techniques - Iron Body Technique, Soul Devouring Technique, Celestial Harmony Dual Cultivation Technique]
[Skills - Absolute Mind Control (Grand Master), Eclipsing Shadow Blade (Master, Subskills: Shadow Slice, Phantom Strike, Eclipse Barrage), Tengzhi Fusion Fist (Beginner), Mystic Wind Movement]
[Items - Heavenly Jade Sword]
[Villain Halo - 52,000]
[Villain Points - 280,000]
"System, how much will it cost to upgrade my cultivation further?"
[Ding! Host, you will require 25,000 Villain Points for each upgrade in the Spirit Severing Realm. To upgrade to the Divine Transformation Realm, the cost will be 50,000 Villain Points.]
Aric pondered for a moment. "I\'ll decide about that later. For now, I need an item that can hide my cultivation level."
[Ding! Host, here are some items you can consider purchasing:]
[Veil of Obscurity: Conceals the user\'s cultivation level from others. Cost: 30,000 Villain Points]
[Phantom Cloak: Not only conceals cultivation level but also enhances stealth abilities. Cost: 50,000 Villain Points]
[Mystic Shroud: Offers complete concealment of cultivation and provides a defensive barrier. Cost: 70,000 Villain Points]
[Shadowbane Amulet: Hides cultivation level and enhances resistance to detection techniques. Cost: 45,000 Villain Points]
[Eclipse Mantle: A rare cloak that masks the wearer\'s presence and cultivation level, while also boosting agility. Cost: 80,000 Villain Points]
"Hmm, interesting choices. System, what can you tell me about the Shadowbane Amulet?"
[Ding! The Shadowbane Amulet is a powerful artifact that conceals the user\'s cultivation level and enhances resistance to detection techniques. It also provides a slight boost to overall defense, making it a versatile and valuable tool for any cultivator.]
"Perfect. I\'ll take the Shadowbane Amulet."
[Ding! Deducting 45,000 Villain Points for the purchase of Shadowbane Amulet.]
"System, can I get a discount on this purchase?"
[Ding! Discounts are not available for items in the store. The prices are fixed.]
"Figures," Aric muttered. "Alright, let\'s move on. I want a medium-level lottery too."
[Ding! Deducting 100,000 Villain Points for the purchase of Medium-level lottery.]
"Draw the lottery."
[Ding! Host, you have received the Shadow Veil Cloak ]
[Shadow Veil Cloak: A cloak that allows the wearer to blend into shadows, increasing stealth and agility. It also provides moderate protection against physical attacks.]
"Not bad," Aric thought.
He admired the cloak\'s dark, almost ethereal fabric, which seemed to shimmer and blend with the shadows around him.
"It complements my Eclipsing Shadow Blade technique and will enhance my stealth capabilities."
Aric draped the cloak over his shoulders, feeling its light weight and the way it seemed to merge with the surrounding shadows. He knew it would be an invaluable asset in future confrontations.
"System, show me the remaining points and my panel."
[The Ultimate Villain System]
[Name - Aric Lei (Ethan)]
[Age - 20]
[Cultivation Level - Spirit Severing Realm (1st Stage)]
[Strength - 48]
[Agility - 47]
[Intelligence - 127]
[Charm - 38]
[Physique - None]
[Bloodline - None]
[Cultivation Techniques - Iron Body Technique, Soul Devouring Technique, Celestial Harmony Dual Cultivation Technique]
[Skills - Eclipsing Shadow Blade (Master, Subskills: Shadow Slice, Phantom Strike, Eclipse Barrage), Tengzhi Fusion Fist (Beginner), Mystic Wind Movement]
[Items - Heavenly Jade Sword, Shadowbane Amulet, Shadow Veil Cloak ]
[Villain Halo - 52,000]
[Villain Points - 135,000]
"System, show me if there are any rare items or physiques I can acquire to enhance my strength further."
[Ding! Host, here are some high-value items and physiques available for purchase:]
[Dragonheart Physique: Grants immense strength, endurance, and regenerative abilities. Cost: 1,500,000 Villain Points]
[Phoenix Rebirth Technique: A rare cultivation technique that allows the user to rise stronger after every defeat. Cost: 1,200,000 Villain Points]
[Voidwalker Boots: Grants the ability to teleport short distances and enhances speed. Cost: 900,000 Villain Points]
[Thunder God\'s Bloodline: Infuses the user with the power of lightning, enhancing speed and attack power. Cost: 2,000,000 Villain Points]
[Heavenly Jade Sword: An ancient weapon that enhances the user\'s combat abilities and can channel spiritual energy. Cost: 1,000,000 Villain Points]
As Aric reviewed the list of rare items and physiques, he couldn\'t help but feel a sense of frustration. The costs were astronomical, far beyond his current means. Even though the potential benefits were immense, he realized he would need to accumulate significantly more Villain Points before he could consider acquiring any of them.
"These are incredibly expensive," Aric thought, feeling the weight of his current Villain Points. "I need to gather more points before I can afford any of these."
"System, I can\'t afford those high-value items yet, but I can still strengthen myself. I\'ll spend 100,000 Villain Points to upgrade my cultivation by four stages."
[Ding! Host, upgrading the cultivation level will cost 25,000 Villain Points per stage in the Spirit Severing Realm. Are you sure you want to proceed?]
"Yes, proceed with the upgrade."
[Ding! Deducting 100,000 Villain Points. Upgrading cultivation level from Spirit Severing Realm (1st Stage) to Spirit Severing Realm (5th Stage).]
Aric felt a powerful surge of energy coursing through his body as the system began the upgrade process. His muscles tensed, and his spiritual energy pulsed, growing more intense with each passing moment. He closed his eyes, focusing on the transformation occurring within him. It was as if every cell in his body was being infused with newfound strength and vitality.
Moments later, the process was complete. Aric opened his eyes, feeling a profound change in his being. His senses were sharper, his movements more fluid, and his spiritual energy far more potent.
[The Ultimate Villain System]
[Name - Aric Lei (Ethan)]
[Age - 20]
[Cultivation Level - Spirit Severing Realm (5th Stage)]
[Strength - 58]
[Agility - 57]
[Intelligence - 127]
[Charm - 38]
[Physique - None]
[Bloodline - None]
[Cultivation Techniques - Iron Body Technique, Soul Devouring Technique, Celestial Harmony Dual Cultivation Technique]
[Skills - Eclipsing Shadow Blade (Master, Subskills: Shadow Slice, Phantom Strike, Eclipse Barrage), Tengzhi Fusion Fist (Beginner), Mystic Wind Movement]
[Items - Heavenly Jade Sword, Shadowbane Amulet, Shadow Veil Cloak ]
[Villain Halo - 52,000]
[Villain Points - 35,000]
"System, this feels incredible. The increase in my power is substantial."
[Ding! Host, your cultivation level has significantly improved. With your current strength, you will be able to face more formidable opponents and overcome greater challenges.]
"Good. I will continue to gather Villain Points and eventually acquire those rare items and physiques. For now, I am ready to face whatever lies ahead."