Fantasy: Critical Compensation For Giving Away Opportunities
Author: Fantasy Critical© WebNovel
Chapter 1: Junior, Have This Foundation Establishment Pill!
Editor: Atlas Studios
The heavenly domain of Jingzhou was the center of Daoism. Paintings covered the walls of the enormous hallway, illuminated by flickering candlelight. The old man sitting at the head of the table exuded an aura of death, as if it were about to take him.
He was the present master of the Dao Sect.
In front of him stood a fresh-faced pair: a man and a woman. Only, the woman was a little younger, around fifteen or sixteen.
"Lingyun, you're a talented prodigy. By right, this Foundation Establishment Pill should be yours. But talent doesn't determine everything. Although your senior, Su'en, is not as talented as you, he has been working hard for the Dao Sect all these years. Ten years ago, I agreed to give him this Foundation Establishment Pill. So, I'm sorry, but I can't give it to you."
The old man's gaze shifted slowly to the girl, who looked disappointed. The Foundation Establishment Pill was a sixth-grade medicinal pill. If she could consume it, she could shorten her cultivation time by at least three or four years! But her master had already made a decision, and there was no point arguing.
She turned to face the young man in the white robe beside her: slender, fair-skinned, and refined in appearance.
Her senior, Su'en.
*Ten years before she had joined the Way of Daoism*:
"Phew!"
Su'en heaved a sigh of relief.
Being honest, he'd thought that he hadn't a single chance of obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill.
After all, his junior, Ye Lingyun, was far more talented than him. She was practically a prodigy. If she just sharpened her abilities, her aptitude would surpass that of most people. It wasn't hard to imagine that she might reach the highest Immortal Ascension Realm in the future! When his junior had joined the Dao Sect, he had resigned himself to being overshadowed and overlooked from then on.
Who would have thought that his master would gift him this precious Foundation Establishment Pill? It was amazing! He had made the right call in joining this sect all those years ago.
However, a pair of eyes was burning into him with resentment. Su'en sighed inwardly.
It was true. On the basis of aptitude, this Foundation Establishment Pill was Ye Lingyun's by right. But he, who was merely average, needed it more! Without the pill, it would take him at least decades to break through his current realm. And who had that much time in one lifespan?
While Su'en was lost in thought, the old man took out a jade vase. Although it was covered, he could still smell the medicinal fragrance wafting from it. A simple breath was all it took for Su'en to feel his realm expand.
"Take it," the old man told Su'en with a smile. Although his disciple wasn't naturally gifted, he was hardworking and never complained. He just needed a little push to grant his abilities an extra edge. That way, when he died in the future, there would be people in the Dao Sect who could support him, and he wouldn't be rendered unable to face his ancestors.
"Thank you, Master!" Su'en reached out and took the jade vase. It sent a thrill of excitement through him.
An emotionless, mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[Ding!]
[The Fortuitous Opportunity Compensation System is online!]
[Commence binding!]
[Binding successful!]
"A… system?"
Su'en's eyes widened. He had called out to the system many times after arriving in this world, but had never received a response. After countless failed attempts, he had given up.
Only for it to finally answer his call now!
Su'en took in a deep, steadying breath and carefully examined the functions of the system. They were written behind the system rules.
[If the host passes this opportunity to another, they can receive Critical Compensation!]
Such a simple, straightforward statement.
"Pass on this opportunity? In exchange for Critical Compensation?"
Su'en was mildly stunned. This system was rather strange! Surely more opportunities only meant greater benefits? Why was the system asking him to pass it on to someone else? The only redeeming factor was the Critical Compensation. However, he didn't know what this compensation entailed.
Suddenly, a caption appeared on the system panel.
[Host, please give the opportunity to someone else, and receive Critical Compensation!]
"Pass the opportunity to someone else?"
Su'en's gaze flickered around, landing on the jade vase in his hand. This was a priceless Foundation Establishment Pill. In the Heavenly Domain, only a high-level sect could refine it–and he had waited ten years for this!
"Fine. I'll give it away!"
After a moment of hesitation, Su'en chose to trust the system. He calmed himself and rationalized the situation in his head, then looked at Ye Lingyun. His sudden attention caused Ye Lingyun's beautiful face to twist in confusion. Why was her senior staring at her?
While she was absorbed in her own thoughts, Su'en grabbed Ye Lingyun's hand and placed the vase containing the Foundation Establishment Pill in her palm.
"Senior, what are you doing?" Ye Lingyun asked, puzzled at his intentions.
So was the old man beside them. "Su'en, what is this about?" he asked.
"Master, I've thought about it. I want to give this Foundation Establishment Pill to Junior Lingyun!" Su'en gave a violent cough, but his tone was serious when he responded. "Junior Lingyun's potential is far greater than mine. She can completely absorb the effects of this Foundation Establishment Pill. If I use the pill, I'll only be able to absorb half of its effects. It's too much of a waste!"
"Even that half would be invaluable aid to you," the old man urged, frowning.
"Master, I understand your concerns, but my abilities are too mediocre. They won't improve much. But Junior Lingyun is different–she'll achieve things I'll only ever be able to dream of! And," Su'en said with a smile, "the Way needs her more than it needs me."
"Well. If you say so!" Seeing that Su'en's mind was made up, the old man said no more.
Ye Lingyun looked at the jade vase in her hand, her face filled with surprise and disbelief. She couldn't believe that anybody would be willing to give up this Foundation Establishment Pill. How was that possible? It was a Foundation Establishment Pill–some sects in the outside world would go to battle over it!
But now, her senior had chosen to give it up–along with his future–giving her the pill without hesitation.
Ye Lingyun was stunned by this unexpected turn of events.
"Why are you just standing there? Take it!" Su'en patted Ye Lingyun on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Senior." Ye Lingyun blushed, unable to meet his gaze. Not out of bashfulness, but shame. When she hadn't been the one to receive the Foundation Establishment Pill earlier, she had felt ill at ease, thinking she deserved it more. But now, her senior had taken the initiative to give her the pill. A tinge of guilt pricked at her.
At that moment, Su'en received a system alert.
[Ding!]
[The transfer has succeeded!]
[Triggered Hundredfold Critical Compensation!]
[Obtained: Foundation Establishment Pill*100]
Chapter 2: Successfully Breaking Through the Foundation Establishment Realm!
Editor: Atlas Studios
A Hundredfold Critical Compensation!
A hundred Foundation Establishment Pills!
Could there really be so many?
Shock poured through Su'en, followed by elation. A hundred Foundation Establishment Pills! Just one could easily allow him to break through his current realm. With 100 pills, he would be able to go beyond the Crystallization Realm to the Golden Core Realm.
In the world of cultivation, skill and talent were important, but so were resources. If he had enough of the latter, even with average potential, he could still unlock a high-level realm.
"System, I owe you big time!"
Su'en was thrilled. From now on, he would have no lack of cultivation resources, and be able to ascend to a higher realm! The future was suddenly looking very bright.
The old man observed the camaraderie between his disciples in the Dao Sect, pleased. He, too, felt that the future of the sect was promising.
"From today onwards, I will go into seclusion. If I don't come out in two years, my lifespan might be exhausted. Su'en, you will be the next master of the Dao Sect."
After hearing his master's words, Su'en's buoyant mood began to sink. His master treated him very well. During his ten years in the Dao Sect, he had given Su'en plenty of cultivation resources and guidance on cultivation techniques. However, there was nothing he could do about his master's current situation. After all, issues of lifespan depended on the advancement of their civilization, not ordinary medicinal pills. His master's cultivation level had already reached the upper limit of his potential; it wouldn't increase no matter how many pills he took.
"Don't worry. Such is the way of life. Off I go." The old man smiled and closed his eyes.
"Of course," Su'en and Ye Lingyun answered in unison.
Su'en turned to leave. He hoped that he would encounter the Immortal Essence Fruit this year, so that he could extend his master's lifespan. However, the Immortal Essence Fruit was a legendary, precious fruit that could only be chanced upon by luck. Over thousands of years, only a privileged few had encountered it.
And once it was found, the location of the fruit would turn into a war zone.
...
The sect that Su'en belonged to was called the Dao Sect, one of the hundred sects in the Heavenly Domain.
The Heavenly Domain was the largest paradise in the continent of Jingzhou. It was rich in Qi. A long time ago, when the Heavenly Domain was flourishing, there had indeed been a hundred sects, but as time passed, some sects had either faded into obscurity or were destroyed, while others had chosen to merge.
Now, there were only about twenty sects in the Heavenly Domain.
The Dao Sect was one of them, albeit the weakest. If not for its glorious history and its nostalgic value to the higher-level sects, it would have long disappeared.
After returning to his courtyard, Su'en sat on the bed and took out the Foundation Establishment Pill that the system had compensated him with. A hundred of them were placed in a slightly larger treasure box. Su'en opened the lid and poured one out.
The pill was crystal-clear, emitting a medicinal fragrance that made one relax. Just one sniff energized Su'en.
"As expected of a Foundation Establishment Pill. Let's see how far a hundred Foundation Establishment Pills can be cultivated!"
Su'en's eyes gleamed. Martial arts cultivation was divided into ten realms: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Crystallization, Golden Core, Spirit Convocation, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Martial Dao, Immortalization, and Immortal Ascension. Of course, above the Immortal Ascension Realm was an even more advanced level of immortality, but it wasn't one anyone could reach. For most cultivators, the Foundation Establishment Realm was basically the limit, and Su'en was currently in the late stages of his own realm.
Foundation Establishment was the True Qi cultivated from the Qi Refinement realm to perfect one's physique. Only by honing one's physique could one advance to the next cultivation realm. Some people lacked the groundwork to break beyond the Foundation Establishment Realm, after which came Crystallization. This so-called Crystallization was to open up one's Energy Core and condense their True Qi into a crystal in their Energy Core, thereby producing more True Qi. Afterwards, their True Qi could be released with destructive power.
Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment could only cultivate True Qi in the body, not release it. However, Crystallization was different. Crystallized True Qi could be unleashed. Those of high cultivation levels could transform True Qi into battle strength and shatter mountains.
Therefore, advancing from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Crystallization Realm could make or break one's power. Entering the Crystallization stage was one's first step into the cultivation world.
After deep consideration, Su'en swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand, which contained a considerable amount of medicinal power. The lower one's realm, the longer they would take to digest the pill. If he took a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills at once, he might explode and die. However, Su'en was currently at the late-stages of his Foundation Establishment Realm and could take three Foundation Establishment Pills at once.
"BOOM!"
Immediately after the Foundation Establishment Pill entered Su'en's body, it turned into a powerful wave of spiritual energy that surged through him.
Su'en felt at home in this spirit field. He savored the sensation for a moment, then began to absorb the medicinal power of the pill. Although his potential was nothing to boast about, and he could only absorb half the medicinal power of a Foundation Establishment Pill, even that half was significant. It wasn't a Foundation Establishment Pill for nothing.
Su'en absorbed the pill's effects in no time. He felt that he had already entered the perfected stage of his Foundation Establishment Realm.
Next, he chose to swallow three Foundation Establishment Pills at once.
Shock waves made his limbs vibrate. Gritting his teeth, Su'en mustered his willpower. True Qi kept pouring into his body. Color was beginning to bloom against the gray of his Energy Core, with the influx of True Qi.
After an hour…
"BOOM!"
An explosion went off inside Su'en.
After peering inside his body, he realized that his Energy Core had been opened, where True Qi he hadn't known existed was quietly circulating.
Looking at the True Qi, Su'en was struck by inspiration.
With a thought, the True Qi manifested into a sword in his hand, and he casually executed a Daoist sword technique.
A faint, sharp blade fired from Su'en's fingertips.
The Sword Qi shot out and pierced a small hole in the wall not far away.
"Is this the power of releasing True Qi? Even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators are no match for this!"
Su'en's eyes were grave. The materials used to construct each courtyard of the sect were anything but ordinary. Previously, he, who was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, had brandished his fist at the wall, and managed nothing more than a shallow crack.
But now, he had used his True Qi to pierce through it.
One could easily imagine how powerful True Qi was.
No wonder it was said that hundreds of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators would be no match for a single crystallized warrior–unless their crystallized True Qi was used up, of course.
The power gap between them was akin to a yawning chasm!
Su'en had no doubt as to that; he had personally experienced the power of True Qi.
The difference was that while the Foundation Establishment Realm involved martial arts battles, things mainly got serious in the Crystallization Realm, which superior refinement allowed one to kill from thousands of miles away!
Su'en looked at the Foundation Establishment Pill in the box in his hand.
"Please, keep on cultivating!"
There were still more than ninety Foundation Establishment Pills left, which was definitely enough for him to raise his cultivation to a higher realm!
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