Chapter 35: A Week Later...

...….

"It seems that, just like my Traits, my stats also have their own hidden effects," Azmodeus muttered, his face filled with a confliction. "Although the only noticeable change right now is an improvement to every aspect of my existence, who knows what sort of price I'll have to pay later on in my journey…"

It was becoming increasingly apparent that every ounce of power he obtained came with a price — a price that no other cultivator would need to pay so early on in the journey to the peak.

But unfortunately for him, he was given the crappiest roles when it came to what he had in this lifetime…

Even so, Azmodeus was willing to endure any price if it meant that he would never have to return to the life he had before obtaining the Infinite Evolution System!

Even if it meant that he would slowly but surely lose all of his emotions and sense of self along the way…

Still, even if something like that did happen, Azmodeus was certain that he would never lose sight of his life's prime objective.

To survive…

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 'I wonder if immortals exist… and if so, could I become one someday…?'

Azmodeus thought on a slightly humorous note as the notion of becoming immortal was a nice one. But, in the end, he knew that the peak of cultivation was the Mahayana Realm, so that was what he truly aimed for.

Nevertheless, that was a topic to be worried about in the far future. Right now, all he wanted to do was continue absorbing all the cultivation essence that he obtained from the cultivation pills. That was, of course, excluding the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill, which would be saved for later.

_____

Several days later, a young boy, around 5'9, was seen darting from tree to tree, moving like a shadow.

Over the last week or so, Azmodeus had been cultivating like a madman. He would repeatedly go back to his master to acquire more cultivation resources to fuel his process before repeating the process over and over again, pushing himself harder than ever before

He had also spent some time with Yang Hua, who would frequently ask him to join her for meals and shopping trips in the Spirit River City.

On a side note, he also made sure to spend an appropriate amount of time hunting down the spiritual beasts in the Yang Forest, carefully honing his skills.

It was through all of these relentless efforts that Azmodeus was able to reach the very peak of the 100% Tempering Marrow Realm and save up nearly 1.5 million Evolution Essence without spending a single point!

It was also on this day, as he was out with the ever-innocent and adorable Yang Hua, that he finally glanced over his system interface.

BLING!

__________

{[Infinite Evolution System]}

[Host: Azmodeus]

[Race: Human]

[Lifespan: 12/124]

[Cultivation: Peak Stages of the 100% Tempering Marrow Minor Realm (Body Refinement Major Realm.)]

[Overall combat power: Half-Step Qi Condensation Realm]

[Level: 32]

[Evolution Essence needed for stepping into the next level: 60,000]

[Evolution Essence Bank: 1,480,000]

{[Stats:]}

[Strength: 267 + 84 (351)]

[Speed: 266 + 82 + 120 (468)]

[Defense: 268 + 86 (354)]

[Qi: 285]

[Cultivation Talent: 225]

[Spiritual Roots: Crystallized Embryo] (Rank: ???)

{[Assimilated Evolution Traits/Qualities]}

[Inherited Traits and Active Species Alterations:

[Stealth - Level 5] (J Rank) → [0/100,000]

[Mirror Mirage - Level 4] (I Rank) → [0/100,000]

[Super Strength - Level 4] (I Rank) → [0/100,000]

[Shadow Cleaver - Level 4] (I Rank) → [0/100,000]

[Speedster - Level 4] (I Rank) → [0/100,000]

[Fortress - Level 4] (I Rank) → [0/100,000]

[Spirit Animal - Level 4] (I Rank) → [0/100,000]

__________

Although Azmodeus was pleased with his system interface, in the end, he still wasn't able to breach the wall that stood between the Half-Step Qi Condensation and 1st Stage Qi Condensation Realms.

"It looks like that old bastard will be beating my a*s once again," he muttered in a slightly vexed tone.

All the constant beatings from the Sect Leader during their 'Daily Training' sessions had started to annoy him.

Although Azmodeus would also constantly improve with each passing day, in the end, the Sect Leader would always win their fights in a special area of the Yang Mansion.

And he would do so effortlessly, without even breaking a sweat!

'Crossing the divide between the Body Refinement and Qi Condensation Realm will not be an easy one. But as long as I continue practicing and am able to push my Cloud Chaser Arts and advance it to level 2, then I would like to see how much longer those frail bones of his can keep up…'

Some oddly sinister thoughts swirled around inside his head as he imagined giving that old bastard a good whipping!

However, there was still a girl who required constant attention, so he took himself out of his thoughts before being dragged along by a bright, green-eyed girl, who brought him into every single establishment that caught her eye.

"Look, Azmodeus," she exclaimed in excitement. "Do you see those chocolate cakes!? Let's go in and eat some!"

Her small frame had already darted into the sweets shop without waiting for a reply.

"Does this girl not have an off switch…?" Azmodeus muttered.

But despite his thoughts, a faint smile formed on his face as he looked fondly at the effervescent girl ordering everything on the shop's menu.

'I'm glad that it isn't my money that she's blowing through like the end of the world is coming…'

He felt a little sympathetic for the Sect Leader, but when he recalled how merciless that old bastard was in his beatings, that feeling vanished as quickly as it came without leaving a trace.

"Could you get me a few things as well, Yang Hua?" Azmodeus asked with a slightly sinister smirk on his face.

"Sure thing, Azzmodeus! Which ones do you wantch!?" Yang Hua responded with a mouth full as she handed him the menu.

'If that old bastard is so rich, then I wish to see just how much I and his precious daughter need to spend to burn through his bank account…'

While scanning through the menu items, Azmodeus wore an expression unbefitting of his status as the sole heir of the Yang Sect. His arm interlinked with that of the adorable girl beside him.

After ordering three of everything, he and Yang Hua left the sweets shop with content expressions, although for two very different reasons…

...…