Demonic Cultivator System

Morning came, but the desolation of the battlefield lingered in the air. The blood that soaked the earth had dried, leaving the ground cracked and blackened. I glanced over at Lian Yue. She was awake, sitting against the remnants of a broken pillar, her face slightly less pale than the night before. She had used the spirit stone I gave her well. A faint aura of energy now clung to her, stabilizing her injuries.

"Can you walk?" I asked, my tone devoid of concern but laced with practicality.

She nodded, struggling to her feet. Despite her weakened state, her movements were steady, her eyes sharper than before. There was a determination in her that mirrored my own.

"What's the plan?" she asked.

Plan. That word carried weight in this world, where survival meant plotting your every step and second-guessing every breath. But right now, there was only one plan: get stronger.

"We leave this wasteland. Find a place to regroup, train, and gather resources," I said curtly. "You know the area better than I do. Any nearby towns?"

Her brow furrowed as she considered. "There's a small settlement east of here, close to the Black Ridge Forest. It's neutral ground—no sect controls it. But it's dangerous. Bandits, rogue cultivators, demonic beasts… it's not a safe place for the weak."

Safe? That wasn't a word I expected to hear in this world. If the system had taught me anything so far, it was that safety was an illusion, bought with blood and fear.

"Then we'll go there," I said. "Danger means opportunity. If we can handle the risks, we'll come out stronger."

The journey to the settlement was uneventful at first. The barren terrain gave way to rough trails and sparse vegetation, the air thick with the hum of unseen life. I kept my sword unsheathed, its blackened blade a reminder of what I had become.

Lian Yue was quiet for most of the walk, but her gaze frequently darted toward me. She was sizing me up, I realized—evaluating whether I was someone she could trust or someone she needed to fear.

"What did you do to end up here?" I asked, breaking the silence.

She hesitated. "I told you—my sect was betrayed. The Crimson Moon Sect wasn't large, but we were strong for our size. We specialized in alchemy and spirit techniques. Then, out of nowhere, the Inner Circle turned on us. Killed the elders, burned the archives, slaughtered everyone. The few who escaped were hunted down."

"And you?"

"I was tasked with protecting one of the sect's treasures. A pill recipe. But I was ambushed before I could escape. They... they tortured me to make me talk. I didn't."

Her voice faltered, but she quickly regained composure. "I thought I was going to die. Then you showed up."

I said nothing, but her story struck a chord. This world didn't reward loyalty or bravery; it rewarded power. Her sect's downfall was proof of that.

"What about you?" she asked. "You don't seem like someone who just wandered onto that battlefield by chance."

I didn't answer immediately. How could I explain the truth? That I wasn't Xian Luo, that I wasn't even from this world?

"I'm just someone trying to survive," I said finally. It wasn't the whole truth, but it wasn't a lie either.

As we approached the settlement, the forest around us grew denser. The air was heavier, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and rot. Shadows danced between the trees, and the occasional rustle reminded me that we weren't alone.

"Beasts," Lian Yue whispered, her hand gripping the dagger she'd scavenged from one of the corpses. "Low-grade, probably. But they hunt in packs."

I tightened my grip on my sword. "Stay close. Let's keep moving."

We didn't make it far before the first attack. A low growl echoed from the trees, followed by a blur of movement. A wolf-like creature, its fur bristling with dark energy, lunged at us. I sidestepped its attack and brought my blade down in a single motion. The creature yelped as its body hit the ground, lifeless.

"More are coming!" Lian Yue warned, pointing to the shadows.

I didn't need her to tell me. The system was already analyzing the situation.

"Host, these creatures are Darkfang Wolves, low-tier demonic beasts. Their energy can be absorbed to enhance your cultivation. Eliminate them swiftly."

The pack emerged, five of them circling us with predatory precision. Their glowing eyes locked onto us, and their growls grew louder.

I glanced at Lian Yue. "Stay behind me. Cover my blind spots."

She nodded, her dagger at the ready.

The first wolf leapt, and I met it mid-air, my sword carving through its torso. Another lunged from the side, but Lian Yue intercepted it, her dagger piercing its throat. The remaining three closed in, their movements coordinated.

I darted forward, my sword a blur of motion. Each strike was precise, fueled by the energy I had absorbed from my previous kills. The wolves fell one by one, their bodies disintegrating into faint wisps of dark energy that the system greedily consumed.

When the last wolf collapsed, the forest grew silent again. My breathing was heavy, but I felt a surge of power coursing through me.

"Your cultivation has increased," the system announced. "Foundation Establishment, second stage. Progress is satisfactory."

Lian Yue looked at me, her expression a mix of awe and caution. "You're not an ordinary cultivator, are you?"

"No," I said simply, sheathing my sword. "Let's keep moving."

The settlement was more of a sprawling shantytown than a village. Wooden huts and tents were scattered haphazardly, and the air was thick with the stench of unwashed bodies and cheap liquor. The inhabitants were a mix of mortals, rogue cultivators, and merchants, each eyeing the others with suspicion.

"This place is… lively," Lian Yue muttered, her hand instinctively gripping her dagger.

"We won't stay long," I said. "Just long enough to gather supplies and information."

As we entered, the crowd parted slightly, their gazes lingering on us. I could feel the weight of their curiosity and hostility, but no one dared to approach.

"Careful," Lian Yue whispered. "Places like this are full of vultures. Show weakness, and they'll pounce."

I smirked. "Let them try."

We made our way to the largest building in the settlement, a rundown tavern that doubled as a trading post. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and tension. Cultivators sat in groups, their voices low as they exchanged information and plotted their next moves.

At the counter, a grizzled man with a missing eye looked up from polishing a cracked mug. "What do you want?"

"Information," I said, sliding a spirit stone across the counter. "And a map of the region."

The man pocketed the stone and pulled out a worn piece of parchment. "Anything specific you're looking for?"

I leaned closer, my voice low. "I need to know about any nearby sects. Their strength, their weaknesses."

The man's remaining eye glinted. "You planning something dangerous, kid?"

"Just planning to survive," I replied.

He chuckled, handing me the map. "Well, good luck with that. In this world, survival's the hardest thing to achieve."

I took the map and turned to Lian Yue. "Let's go."

As we left the tavern, I couldn't shake the feeling that our journey was about to get much more complicated. But that was fine. Complications meant challenges, and challenges meant opportunities.

And I intended to take every opportunity this world threw at me.