Bab 35: A Week Later...

...….

"It seems that just like my Traits, my stats also have their own hidden effects. Although the only noticeable ones right now are improvements to all aspects of my existence, who knows what sort of price I'll have to pay later on in my journey…" Azmodeus murmured with a conflicted expression.

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 rolls when it came to what he had in this lifetime…

Even so, he was willing to pay every price necessary if it meant he never had 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 over time…

But, even if something like that did happen, Azmodeus still believed that he would be able to retain his prime objective in this life.

That objective being to survive…

I wonder if immortals exist, and if so, I wonder if I can one day become one…

Azmodeus thought on a slightly humorous note as the notion of becoming an immortal was a nice one. But in the end, the peak of cultivation was the Mahayana Realm, so that's what he would aim for.

Nevertheless, that was a topic for a him far into the future. Right now, all he wanted to do was continue digesting the cultivation essence that he obtained from all the cultivation pills, excluding the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill.

...

A few days passed as a young boy around 5'9 was seen jumping from tree to tree like a shadow.

Over the last week or so, Azmodeus had been cultivating like a madman, going back to his master to acquire more cultivation resources before repeating the process over and over again.

He had also spent some time with Yang Hua, as she was always asking him to come with her into Spirit River City to eat and shop.

On a side note, he also made sure to spend an appropriate amount of time killing all the spiritual beasts that he found in the Yang Forest.

It was through all of these actions 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 that he looked over his system interface while out with the adorably innocent Yang Hua.

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 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 gap 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 mumbled with a slightly vexed tone.

He was truly getting annoyed by all the beatings that he willingly took from the Sect Leader when it was the time of day that they would begin the 'Daily Training'.

Although Azmodeus constantly improved 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 without even breaking a sweat!

The difference between the Body Refinement and Qi Condensation Realm will not be an easy one to cross. But as long as I continue practicing the Cloud Chaser Arts and advance it to level 2, then I would like to see how much more those frail bones of his can take…

Some oddly sinister thoughts swirled around inside his head as he was ready to give that old bastard a good whipping!

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

"Look, Azmodeus, do you see those chocolate cakes!? Let's go in and eat some!" She exclaimed, her small frame already darting into the sweets shop.

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

But despite his thoughts, a small smile formed on his lips 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 sympathy vanished without 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 pulled him into the lively sweets shop.

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…

Azmodeus wore an expression unbefitting of his status as the sole heir of the Yang Sect as he scanned through the menu items, his arm interlinked with 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…

...…