Chapter 11: Rewards!
In a moment, red energy gathered inside her palms before quickly dispersing.
"Whatever, the rules are yours, and I’m but a member here." Fixing her hair as she stood up, Any continued, "I’ll be back tomorrow. I want a quest to be available so I don’t get denied access after two days in the cultivation room."
The moment she finished her words, Any quickened her steps and soon disappeared behind the pavilion door.
Several meters away from the pavilion store, Any clutched her chest before dropping to her knees. Sweat poured down her forehead nonstop as she quickly removed her veil, her face filled with horror.
’If I had attacked at that moment...’ Any could swear that it felt as though her master had been standing right before her. She felt that her entire being would have been crushed to death like an ant if she had truly taken action.
Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she glanced back toward the store with fear-filled eyes. ’That man isn’t as simple as I thought he was.’ She had her suspicions before, but after what she had just experienced, she swore never to provoke him again.
***
Right after she left, Darius slightly narrowed his eyes.
’System, what was that just now?’ Darius could tell that the moment Any spoke, he had felt the power to crush her instantly, without her even having time to blink.
Darius didn’t know what that feeling was, but it was so real that he couldn’t deny it had happened. In fact, he had been greatly displeased with Any’s actions just now, but since she neither attacked nor showed any evil intent based on his past experience with her, he decided not to act unless she did first.
Clenching his fists, Darius couldn’t replicate that feeling again, but the system message that followed quickly explained what had happened.
[Host, for a pavilion with features that none could fathom on earth or even within the sanctuary, strength is required to protect it. The Pavilion System is never stingy, as you mentioned before.]
Darius cursed inwardly upon hearing the system’s words. ’You still remember that? Are you holding a grudge against me or what?’
The system ignored his muttering and continued.
[In a single day, the host has three cards of unlimited power inside the pavilion, each lasting one minute. These three cards refresh daily and cannot be stacked. Use them wisely, and keep in mind that bullying the weak may result in penalties.]
’So that power just now was one of those cards? If I had attacked Any right there, it wouldn’t be considered bullying the weak?’ By "card," Darius clearly understood it referred to one of those one-minute durations, but he still wanted to clarify.
[The system ignored his first useless question and replied to the second.]
[Correct. Anyone who attacks you or harbors killing intent toward you will not trigger punishment. Punishment only applies if you randomly attack the helpless.]
Darius found this reasonable. Although it was the first time the system mentioned the word "punishment," he felt it made sense. If he were rotten to the core, the Pavilion would never flourish if he killed people simply because they disliked him. The system was likely taking precautions against such abuse of power.
As the saying goes: It is better to cut off one hand of ten thieves than to jail a million thieves.
The threat alone would keep the majority of thieves at bay, never daring to try their luck...excluding, of course, professionals and not desperate orphans and the like.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Darius regained his composure. Without delay, he returned to the front of the pavilion and leisurely sat down, sipping his drink.
In the blink of an eye, business hours were over, and Darius closed the store in a hurry.
After his first member, Any, no one else showed up except for a few people who came asking about her whereabouts. Darius simply replied honestly, saying he didn’t know where she had gone. Thankfully, they didn’t press him further and continued searching for her.
Once Darius cleaned the cultivation room as instructed by the system, he had completed everything. He returned to his room with anticipation.
"My host, congratulations on completing your first system mission and receiving your reward. My host, congratulations on obtaining your first customer and taking the first step on the path to becoming the Strongest Pavilion Master."
Darius excitedly sat on the chair in his room as the system’s solemn voice echoed in his mind.
"Hehe! It’s finally here! What kind of reward will it be? I’m so excited!"
Darius’s eyes gleamed faintly as he rubbed his hands together. The calm exterior he had maintained in front of Any had completely disappeared.
"System reward: Improved version of the Cultivation Room and one fragment of the Supreme Pavilion Master set."
The solemn voice of the system announced the rewards Darius had obtained.
After hearing the announcement, the expression on Darius’s face slowly shifted from excitement to blank disappointment.
"Why is it the cultivation room again? What’s so different about the improved cultivation room?" Darius felt disappointed. He had expected something new...something cooler and more appealing...but it was still just a cultivation room. Even if it was improved... it was still a cultivation room.
[The improved version of the cultivation room is of a higher grade than the ordinary one and allows the user to experience true enlightenment, rather than merely a wisp. Cultivators below the third realm are not permitted to rent this room.]
The system calmly explained the difference. Darius was slightly surprised but didn’t think too deeply about it. After all, since it was an improved version, it was naturally better.
He truly didn’t understand the difference between a wisp of enlightenment and true enlightenment. Although he knew it was extraordinary, he lacked any concrete understanding, so his excitement remained limited.
"Then... what is the fragment of the Supreme Pavilion Master set?"
