Business of Playing with Fire

"A godly medicine that's able to increase your Dou-Qi! The Elixir of the Foundation Spirits is once again available!" "The auction will start soon!" "All guests, please enter in a orderly fashion. Don't push!" As crowds moved to the Mitre Auction House, the most eye-catching object was the large ad-poster of Yan smiling and giving a thumbs up on how effective the Elixir of the Foundation Spirits was.

[AN: But seriously, how did a cultivation world get a poster that big?]

"..." Yan stood and stared at the large poster covering half the houses of the Mitre Auction in shock. Xun-Er giggled at the sight.

"Xiao Yan Ge-Ge, they sure drew you pretty well!" She commented at the perfect poster of Yan, on how it was almost looked like it was printed from a camera.

[AN: F?...]

*Yes?*

[AN: What did you do?...]

*Made some money~ Spending my time as a mangaka really paid off!*

Yan facepalmed in shame as he was tricked into advertisement. 'Ya Fei, that woman... Is a born business-woman...' He thought as Ya Fei once suggested him to be a poster-boy.

He wanted his face in smaller quantities, not in large qualities! His face was shown to the public, and it was awkward and improper to not respect someone's privacy and rights! Sadly this was the Dou Qi Continent. Earth laws were more civilised than killing someone because they insulted you...

'Damn, if it wasn't the fact that I needed money for that pill...' Yan mentally groaned in disdain. She maybe stunning on the outside, but she was a vixen in nature.

"Let's go. We shouldn't keep father waiting!" Xun-Er replied as she held Yan's arm. Mark was absent in the auction as he had to do more important things than going into a 'boring-ass auction'. Not that Yan minded.

...

"Man, I wonder where the Mitre Auction House gets so many of their Elixirs from..." A random person replied to the crowd of buyers.

"THIS TIME, I MUST GET SOME FOR XIAO NING!" The Head Elder exclaimed.

"Hm? The last time I bought one, you seemed to have a lot to say about it..." Xiao Zhan amusedly and playfully commented.

"You had great foresight. I had no idea the Elixirs were so effective!" The Head Elder spoke out in denial.

"It would be great if our clan had ties which such a powerful receptarier!" Yan playfully poke out a tongue in a joking manner. 'I'll be in trouble if they knew I was the one selling Elixirs...' He thought amusedly.

Ya Fei gained the crowd's attention to her. "Everyone's gathered today for this amazing Elixir! Ya Fei also hopes that everyone gets what they want!" She introduced the bundle of Elixirs on the betting table.

"Let's not wait anymore! The auction of the Elixir of the Foundation Spirits begins now! Bidding starts at 10,000! Begin!" She started the auction.

"12,000!" "17,000!" "Miss Ya Fei, marry me!" "20,000!" Most of the crowd burst into desire and affection as they wanted Ya Fei's attention more than any else.

Yan 'hmm'-ed. "Being a receptarier seems to pay really well... Such a small bottle can be sold for a high price, I wonder how High Grade Elixirs can be sold for." He wondered the price for High Grade Elixirs could be.

"Haha... High Grade Elixirs aren't something that can be bought by money alone..." Xun-Er, who was beside him, smiled and began to explain.

"Receptariers are the wealthiest people on the Dou Continent. And for High Grade receptariers, money no longer interests them! In order to obtain an Elixir from a receptarier, one must present abilities, Dou Skills, Rare ingredients, Monster Cores, so on..." She explained -for some reason- knowing an awful amount of knowledge about Receptariers...

"You're saying that trade is required?" 'No wonder Master has so much amazing stuff he could use to make Pills and Elixirs...' He spoke as he thought of the prices of the expensive ingredients for the Elixirs.

'Hmph! It also depends on my mood, just because an item is good, doesn't mean I'll give them an Elixir!' Lao spoke in some arrogance and ego.

"Yes, master is the greatest..." Yan silently agreed to his master's ego.

"The first bottle of the Elixir of the Foundation Spirits is sold for 47,000!" Ya Fei knocked the bidding hammer for the confirmation. She smiled.

"The remaining six bottles will be sold in batches, with each Batch having two bottles!" She lent out two bottles to the table.

"The bidding will start at 30,000! Begin!" "35,000!" "40,000!" They all called out enormous prices of bidding. Meanwhile, Yan grinned in mischievousness.

'Haha! Compared to the last time, the bidding is more competitive. I'm going to be rich!... For the right purposes, of course...' Yan thought as he unconsciously became slightly arrogant and greedy to money. It was for... Research and training purposes!

"Sister, in a few months, the Jia Nan Academy will be coming to look for new students, right?" "Why? Do you want to go?" Yan heard Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning suddenly having a conversation with each other.

"Of course! If I get favored by a professor, I might even get Higher Ranked abilities and Dou Skills! It's the Jia Nan Academy! All the professors are at least a great master! Even the Yun Lan Sect pales in comparison!" Xiao Ning exclaimed in excitement.

"And everyone who graduates, there is a force to be reckoned with, with a bright future ahead of them!" Xiao Ning continued. Xiao Yu gently smiled at the eager emotions of her brother.

"Okay, don't get too excited. The school's admision criteria is very strict. Entrants must have acheived Eighth-Stage Disciple Rank before the age of Eighteen and be tested by a professor. But the one in charge of Wu Dan City, this time happens to be my professor. If I were to put in a good word for you, it wouldn't be a problem..." Xiao Yu spoke. Yan rolled his eyes.

"To depend on relationships for something that simple, I'm not sure if I should be amazed or surprised..." Yan flatly commented on the reliability of using good word in order to be accepted to the Academy. Talent is judged from their skill and hard work. Not good words and praises that weren't true...

Then again, this was the Dou Continent.

Xiao Yu's and Xiao Ning's ears noticed that comment and later fumed in anger. Xiao Ning almost got up from his seat in anger if it wasn't for his sister grabing his shoulder.

"STOP BEING COCKY! If it wasn't for that bottle of Elixir, would you have reached the same rank as me already?!" He half-shouted, as his sister told him to stop gaining attention.

Yan's eyes suddenly turned cold and serious. "No. I wouldn't. I've worked hard for this position than anyone else, and I'll be damned if I don't try every trick in the book." His icy-cold tone caused Xian Ning and Xiao Yu to flinch.

He's worked his ass off to survive and endure against Mark's hellish training. He's thrown away his arrogance a long time ago, and he ain't gonna let it control him.

He wasn't cocky or arrogant.

He was just confident enough.

"Xiao Yan... How did you reach the Ninth-Stage since we last saw you?..." Xiao Yu spoke in uncertainty. Yan scoffed as he crossed his arms.

"Simple. Just like everyone else. They trained." He answered like it was obvious thing in the world.

"... Xiao Yan Ge-Ge, aren't you going to try for the Jia Nan Academy?..." Xun-Er asked in curiousness. Yan looked up in thought and hummed.

"At first, I wasn't interested. But that's just me being cocky again. I'm... thinking about joining or not, but it's a thought I should think about later..." Yan answered as he thought about Mark and his Master's training.

Mark told that he should expand his sights on learning, believing that it would be a good practice in being stronger. After all, it wouldn't hurt to learn additional stuff...

...

"71,000!" "73,000!" The crowd raised the stakes of the bidding. Meanwhile, Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes in thought. Xiao Ning had the same expression as he leaned closer to his sister's face.

"Sister, is it just me, or did our failure of a nephew changed?..." Xiao Ning whispered.

"He has definitely changed. His manners, his cockiness, almost everything has changed." Xian Yu commented on the changes of Xiao Yan. She wasn't sure if Xiao Yan was either arrogant, or just coldly determined. No, confident.

Xiao Ning eyed Xiao Yan behind him. "... Whatever it may be, I don't doubt Xiao Yan has trained hard..." He whispered back. She nodded in agreement.

'Xiao Yan, you did not advance without someone's help. I must know what you've done to gain this power...!' She thought, determined to know the reason of Xiao Yan's sudden advancement and mysterious training.

...

"73,000... Sold! These two bottles of Elixir go to Ao Ba Pa!" Ya Fei announced.

"Hmph, 'the poor should not mix around here'. Seems like someone has said this to me before?" Ao Ba Pa insulted to Jia Lie Bi, who fumed in anger.

"You gloating-" "We will now begin bidding on the second batch of Elixirs!" The Patriarch was interrupted at the announcement and later scowled.

As Jia Lie Bi was about to bid, Xiao Zhan acted first. "75,000!" He called out an enormous amount that caused Jia Lie Bi to almost fall down in shock. He later regained his focus and scowled.

"Xiao Zhan, are you deliberately going against me?!" The Patriarch shouted in outrage.

"If the Jia Lie Clan Leader wants it, he can raise the price! This is an auction house, where the highest bidder wins!" Xiao Zhan replied in response. Jia Lie Bi grit his teeth and later mischievously grinned in scheming.

"80,000! The Jia Lie Family is wealthy, we are not afraid!" Jia Lie Bi raised the bid.

"85,000! Getting back your dignity won't be that easy!" Xiao Zhan called back.

"I won't let you win this time! 90,000!" "Not in this lifetime! 95,000!" They shouted out in raising the prices.

"1... 100,000! Raise your bid, Xiao Zhan! I'll win if you don't!" Jia Lie Bi shouted back to wait for a reaction to cause Xiao Zhan to foolishly raise the price.

But however, Xiao Zhan smiled as Jia Lie Bi knew, he fucked up.

"Congradulations, Jia Lie Clan Leader! You won again!" Xiao Zhan did a 180 and tricked the Patriarch again. Jia Lie Bi choked in shock and disbelief of the audacity.

"Waaaahhh! Bastard! You were acting again!" Jia Lie Bi pointed a finger at Xiao Zhan in outrage as he was played again.

"Weren't you doing the same? Except your acting was terrible!" Xiao Zhan smirked. Meanwhile behind the front seats, Yan and Xun-Er struggled to keep their laughter to a minimum at the act.

'Haha, Jia Lie Bi got tricked again!' Yan thought in amusement as he silently chuckled. Jia Lie Bi was enraged to the point he got up from his seat in anger.

"Xiao Zhan, you have some nerve! I'll get you back for this! Just you wait, I'll make sure the Xiao Sect disappears from Wu Dan City within two months!" Jia Lie Bi shouted and stated to the calm Xiao Zhan.

'Whoa, a public declaration of war? This could get interesting...' Yan thought in interest.

"Ah... Getting angry at being bested, he should be trying to save his face instead." Xun-Er commented at the naiveness of the Jia Lie Clan Leader.

"Alright, I welcome you with open arms! I'm just afraid you can't do the same!" Xiao Zhan smirked challengingly.

"Alright everyone, let's stop fighting and focus on the final two Elixirs left in the auction! Place your bids!" Ya Fei regained the crowd's attention to the last two Elixirs left on the table.

"I bid 65,000!" Xiao Zhan's eyes suddenly gleamed in seriousness.

"Ah.. He dropped his bid. Let's give up, we may end up like Jia Lie Bi if we try..." "We can't afford to offend the Xiao Sect... We give up too..." The crowd murmured and gave up trying to buy the Elixir for themselves.

'It is true that the more older you are, the more experienced they become! Not only father manage to trick Jia Lie Bi, he also managed to make everyone else afraid to bid against him, just like killing two birds with one stone!' Yan thought as he grinned at the clever tactics that his father performed.

Ya Fei looked to the crowd. She smiled when no one bidded. "Since no one else wishes to bid, the last two Elixirs go to the Clan Leader Xiao Zhan!" She announced the winner of the last two bottles.

'Now it's time to act!' Yan thought as he knew it was time.

Suddenly, Yan clutched his stomach in pain. Xun-Er turned to Yan in concern. "What's wrong, Xiao Yan Ge-Ge?" She asked as to why Yan clutched his stomach for unknown reasons.

Yan quickly left from his seat and ran. "Stomachache! Toilet, TOILET!" He ran outside of the auction room, leaving a very confused Xun-Er in thought.

...

As Yan ran away from the auction room, he changed his pained face into a normal state. He acted as if he had a stomachache, but it was just an excuse for meeting Ya Fei and Clonney to get the money.

"Xiao Yan Zi, that excuse really lacked any creativity. Couldn't you have came up a better one?..." His master replied with a deadpan.

"It was the only excuse I came up with! What was I going to say?" Yan replied back in response to defend himself.

...

In the Goods Inspection Room, there held Clonney holding a medium-sized storage chest and Ya Fei holding a stack of money.

Yan was also wearing the same dark cloak as a disguise of his true identity.

"Mister, the seven bottles of the Elixir of the Foundation Spirits were sold for a total of 285,000 gold. The net amount after commissions is on this card!" She lended the card to Yan.

"In addition, all the ingredients you asked for are here. Everything was hand-picked by me, and I assure you they are all of the highest quality! Please have a look!" Clonney opened the chest and revealed the contents of the highest qualities of materials and ingredients.

"These are all rare and exquisite ingredients, for the auction house to gather them so quickly is impressive. You may deduct the money from the card." Lao's voice spoke from Yan's lips, believing as an older man. He accepted the card while using gloves.

Ya Fei smiled. "Mister, you honor us by getting your ingredients here, we would be embarrassed if we made you pay as well. Think of it as a way of showing gratitude. We look forward to working with you in the future." She stated in a business-like manner.

Yan respectfully greeted in thanks. "Your sincerity is appreciated. I will remember this. I have things to see to, so I shall leave now." He turned away from the Mitre members.

"Thank you for your support. Goodbye!" The both farewelled at Yan, who went to leave the room with a nod. As Yan begun to leave the room hurriedly, he noticed his father and Jia Lie Bi went beside him and stopped.

He gulped and steeled himself into act. He faced to the three Clan Leaders.

"Miss Ya Fei and Master Clonney, it's rare to see the both of you together." Xiao Zhan replied to the two members of the Mitre Auction House.

"Haha... We are only sending off our distinguished guest." Ya Fei told him, causing Xiao Zhan to glance at the dark cloaked figure who was actually Yan, in a curious manner.

Xiao Zhan was in thought as who the cloaked figure's identity, and how Ya Fei and Clonney would show respect to the mysterious man.

"You are the Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan from the Xiao Family Sect?" Lao's voice suddenly spoke out from Yan's mouth, suprising and shocking Yan.

'Master, what are you doing?!' Yan thought in panic, as it would danger their hidden identity as his father would immediately recognise him.

Xiao Zhan blinked and smiled and greeted respectfully at the cloaked man. "I am. And you are?..." He asked back.

"I foresee a chance we will work together in the future... Farewell, until then!" Lao stated and left the scene. Ya Fei's and Clonney's eyes gleamed in realisation of the knowledge.

"Haha! Congratulations, Clan Leader!" Ya Fei praised at the confused Xiao Zhan.

"Oh...? What for?" He asked, curious about the identity of the cloaked man.

"As you know, all the Elixirs of the Foundation Spirits we had, were made by that master! If he were to work with the Xiao Family, their future would be promising!" She explained the importance of the mysterious cloaked man.

The three Clan Leaders became shocked, as Xiao Zhan became delightful, Jia Lie Bi becoming disbelief and deeply shocked, and Ao Ba Pa narrowing his eyes in interest.

Ya Fei smiled. "We look forward to your continued suport in the future!" She replied, eager to work with the Xiao Sect. Meanwhile, Jia Lie Bi was shaking in fury and hatred as he popped a vein from his temples.

"Enjoy it while it lasts! Don't think you're the only one who knows a receptarier!" He vowed as he grit his teeth in seething rage.

...

As 5 days passed in the Xiao Family Mountains, Yan mediated on the river while siting on a rock as Lao focused his own Dou-Qi into Yan's body.

"Concentrate, focus all of your energy on condensing your Dou-Qi circulation!" Lao told Yan as he did what he told to do. Suddenly, Yan's body brightened with energy as he focused all of his energy on to the Dou-Qi circulation.

He had now advanced to the Dou Practitioner.

I sensed Yan was later grasping for air as he sweated heavily from the exhaustion. I continued to meditate. "Sucess! I broke through to Practitioner! The 'Qi Accumulating Pill' that Master made is extraordinary!" He managed to speak out.

"Of course, when it comes to my 'Qi Accumulating Pill', Gu He is still a greenhorn in comparison!" Lao stated. However, I sensed something odd about Lao's Dou-Qi signature. Like it was going lower and weaker.

I wasn't the only one to notice this. "Uuh... Why do you look more transparent?" Yan asked as Lao was a bit see-through.

"Heh... I had to use a lot of spiritual energy to help you breakthrough." Lao explained. Yan smiled as his master would even sacrifice his-

"I'll be fine after absorbing some of your own Dou-Qi to replenish my spirit energy. After all, wool can be always found on sheep." Lao broke the screen as he casually commented about absorbing Yan's energy.

"CAN YOU AT LEAST TRY TO MAINTAIN A PROPER IMAGE FOR A WHILE LONGER?!" Yan shouted, annoyed at his Master's lack of 'inspiring role model' type.

"We've gone passed that, Yan. Honor and Respect doesn't really matter to us." I casually replied in response as Yan groaned wore his jacket.

"You know, I worked very hard to advance into a Dou Practitioner. Shouldn't you be at least be more 'respectful' for my hard work?" Yan called back with a glare. I cracked open my one eye and glanced at him.

"That's because you use Pills and Elixirs and I don't." I said back in response. Lao choked on his breath at the burn. Yan winced and later frowned.

"Says the guy who spends his time in a dark room like a hobo." Ooh, that was a good one. Got to give him a point for that...

Yan: 1, Mark: 1

But I wasn't backing down. "I'm not the one who wants to go inside their sister-in-law's pants. I'm not THAT low to resort to incest." I responded with a visible smirk. At this point, Lao cupped his hand on his mouth at the severe burn.

Yan: 1, Mark: 2

Yan's eyes twitched furiously and his face reddened. "... I do love Xun-Er, but..." He trailed off and faced away from me.

"Hoh? I lied about that part, but I didn't actually think you would~ In fact, this is your second life. Wouldn't that count you as older than Xun-Er? Not only you resort to Incest, but Pedofilism? Wow... You've gone WAY passed to the dark..." I motioned my eyes to widened them in mock surprise and shock. To Yan, it looked like I was giving him a 'sucks to be you' look.

Yan: 1, Mark: 3

Yan choked on his spit while Lao put a hand on his mouth to 'admire' the burn. Yan coughed at the roast and emptied his throat. Yan glared at me and later smirked.

"At least I'm not the one who has a bad fashion sense! Seriously, who wears a blazer everyday? Even guys who wear monkey suits know when to take it off!" Yan say wha- OH HE DID NOT JUST PULLED THAT CARD.

Yan: 2, Mark: 3

My head snapped into his face in genuine disbelief and anger. "You bitch! You did not just insulted my fashion sense!" I cried out in infuriation.

"Not my fault you smell like a rat's corpse. Do you even try to sanitise your clothes? Disgusten!" He smirked harder as he pointed at my blazer. I looked down in check and looked back to him.

'Shit, he's right! Damnit!' I hate to admit it, I didn't clean my clothes because I was too busy modifying my lightsaber into tactical purposes, and I indeed smell like shit. Fuck!

Yan: 3, Mark: 3

"Also, Xun-Er and I aren't blood-related. So it doesn't count as incest! I'm also 15! And that doesn't count as pedofilism!" Yan exclaimed back. Got him.

"That's what every youthful-looking pedofiles say! Also, physical age doesn't matter when you're mentally two-lifetimes old! So that counts as pedofilism!" I called back in response. Yan gaped his mouth in shock.

Yan: 3, Mark: 4

"This coming from the dude who is literally billions of years old! You act more like a little teenager than an ancient fossil!" Yan shouted back. That... well, it's because of the F's system that he installed allows me to act like a teenager rather than a really billion year old person.

So that doesn't count!

Yan: 4 (actually 3, whatever), Mark: 4

"This 'ancient fossil' is still owning your ass in training! So what does that make you, then? Why don't you go own to your 'lightsaber swinging sounds' where you go 'vrroom, zrroom, shooooommmm', ya weeb!" I flipped a bird in front of Yan, who clutched his chest in mental pain.

Yan: 4, Mark: 5

Time to strike the final nail to the coffin. "Incest, Pedofilism, and Weebism: 3 in 1! I'll add another one for being a dumbass who couldn't compare the difference of hot and cold water! You're more stupid than fuckin' donkeys!"

Yan choked and heavily coughed at the roast. Lao was crying in awe and cheering as he witnessed the power of 'roasting' for the first time. This wasn't a roasting, more like a mild burn. Roasting was WAY more...

Lao regained his composure and coughed to his attention. "ANYWAYS, I have two scrolls here. Which do you want?" He introduced the two different Skills to the coughing Yan.

"In the Red Scroll, there is a Fire Element Di Rank Lower Tier Skill. In the Black Scroll, is the Skill that has the abilities to evolve! It's called Terminal Blaze!" Lao showed the two scrolls to Yan, who later regained his composure and glared at me.

"Why is there two? Of course it would be the Black one." Yan asked in confusion as he paused his hand from touching the Black scroll. Lao smirked.

"Are you sure? Terminal Blaze is a Huang (Yellow) Rank Lower Tier Skill!" Lao replied as Yan raised his eyes in confusion.

"Yeah? Because whatever ability or Skill you use, depending on how you use it, it can evolve into a stronger skill." Yan explained the possibilities of weak Skills can powerful attacks. Lao smirked as Yan was correct.

"Correct! This Skill can evolve into the Tian (Heaven) Rank, but in order to evolve each time, it has to absorb an Essence Flame!" Lao explained the abilities of Terminal Blaze.

"Wait, there's more than one Essence Flame?!" Yan asked in shock. I rolled my eyes as I already knew there would be some goddamn reason there would be MORE of them.

"Of course! The receptariers have even created an Essence Flame list of all these little known Essence Flames! Currently there are twenty-three types, each equally wild and explosive..." Lao explained as he used his Bone Chilling Flames as a demonstration.

"This Chilling Bone Flame of mine is ranked Eleventh... When I think back of what I had to do to obtain it..." Lao trailed off and started to explain his own flashback events.

This was a first. Normally I was the one beginning flashback in this stor-

#Flashback Starts#

In the icy and windy snowy mountains of the Dou Continent, there held two figures with flaming intent. A receptarier saint, and a Dou Emperor.

"In this Dark and Cold place, where day and night become one, Ice and Fire in a single body, it truly is the Bone Chilling Flame!" The Dou Emperor remarked the icy blue flames.

"Receptarier Saint, move aside!" The emperor warned. Lao grit his teeth.

"I have stayed in this dark and ungodly place. Where the sun doesn't shine, for eight years I've been looking after it. I am the one who first discovered this 'Bone Chilling Flame'!" Lao exclaimed. The emperor, enraged, flared his heavy Dou Qi.

"Receptarier Saint, you are merely a King, you dare challenge me, an Emperor? KNOW YOUR PLACE!" The emperor shouted.

[AN: If anyone's confused about power rankings in the Dou Continent, here is this to lowest to highest:

Dou Disciple

Dou Pracititioner (Yan and Mark)

Dou Master

Dou Grandmaster

Dou Spirit

Dou King (Past Lao)

Dou Emperor (That bad guy)

Dou Ancestor

Dou Venerate

Half-Saint

Dou Saint

Dou God]

The emperor absorbs the Bone Chilling Flame into himself. "Black Emperor, you...!" Lao said, shocked at the naiveness and recklessness of the Dou Emperor.

The emperor began laughing as he absorbed the Essence Flame into his body. However, the power was too much for him as his body burned with icy blue flames.

"Ah.. Wh... What?! ARRRRAAAAHHHH!" The Dou Emperor's body was incinerated from the overload in process, killing him by fire. Lao 'tch'-ed himself.

"When absorbing the Essence Flame, even one wrong step will result in death!" He stated as he consumed Pills into his body for maintaining the overload. He later began absorbing the raging Essence Flame into his own Dou-Qi.

As he began absorbing the Essence Flame, Lao screamed in pain from the heat and coldness from the flames as he pushed on.

Everything went in flames.

#Flashback Ends#

"Wait. Master, you DIED?!" Yan exclaimed in disbelief. Lao's face darkened in shame.

"Sadly yes... BUT I LIVED!" Lao exclaimed in the most imposing way possible. I whacked his head. I shouldn't have let him watch the Ice Age series...

"Owowowow... Jokes aside, I didn't die yet. I wouldn't die that easily. If I had died that way, I wouldn't be here as an vengeful spirit." Lao rubbed his head as he revealed that he did survive the event. Yan put his hand on his chin in thought.

"Eh... Then for Terminal Blaze to have to absorb the Essence Flame to evolve, wouldn't it be dangerous? Based on Master's opinion, what are my chances of successfully cultivating Terminal Blaze?" Yan asked. Lao's face turned serious as he faced his student.

"At least... Twenty Percent." Lao did not sugar-coat the truth. Yan widened his eyes in shock. I guess his chances of advancing quickly had a risky price to pay...

"That low?..." Yan spoke out in shock. Lao nodded in his statement and later smiled in reasurance. Tapped my hand on his shoulders.

"Risk or Reward. Life's a gamble, Yan. Even in every lives." I encouraged Yan in sympathy. I had to make a lot of difficult choices... Yan narrowed his lips in thought and sighed.

"Whatever your choice is, I'm not the judge of it. However, be wary of the lass..." Lao warned to Yan, who raised an eyebrow in confusion as to why it involves Xun-Er.

"Xun-Er? Why?" Yan asked in confusion. Lao narrowed his eyes. Xun-Er was a mystery to be sure as she was leagues away from the Xiao Sect...

"That girl's background can be considered frightening, and I advise you to consider carefully before doing anything..." Lao explained as Yan was shocked.

"Xun-Er... Has a frightening background? Master, why would you say that?" Yan replied in confusion. I knew Yan's thoughts about Xun-Er's mysterious talent and secrets didn't matter to him, as he knew Xun-Er was his friend (and possibly future-wife). Lao's eyes narrowed more as he turned his face away from Yan.

"You wouldn't need to know that right now... But you need to understand that there is an immense gap between you and her. Even that lass likes you, the people behind her may not accept you!" Lao warned loudly and in seriousness. Lao's red eyes went to Yan's.

I'm not going to question and research Xun-Er's past and background. In some ways, the MC will just move pass it like it was just a normal tuesday...

"Remember! On this land, whoever has strength, has dignity! Without strength, you are nothing!" Lao stated the rule of the strong and the weak. Yan's head went down and darkened.

"I understand... You're saying I should choose Terminal Blaze..." Yan realised Lao's intent to teach him Terminal Blaze. Lao smirked.

"Exactly. Kiddo, you should know that I'm currently existing in a spiritual form. By normal logic (if it exists), I should've died! But my spiritual energy was many times stronger than normal people, thus I was able to survive in this state." Lao explained as he revealed that his spiritual energy was stronger than most people.

"But there are some things left uncompleted that I must do with my hands. If I have them, of course... So I must get out of this spiritual state!" Lao stated.

"Wait, you're saying... To be resurrected from the dead?!" Yan exclaimed in shock. A raised eyebrow formed on my face.

"There shouldn't be anything that could resurrect a dead person in this world!" Yan asked to his Master. Lao formed his lips in a 'so-so' gesture. "In normal circumstances, it shouldn't..."

I deadpanned at them both. "Guys, it's the cultivation world. Logic doesn't apply to anywhere. For all I know, firearms and laser swords might've existed..." I pulled away my blazer to reveal the proto-saber dangling under my belt. Yan and Lao stared at the proto-saber with blank, flat eyes for a solid moment.

They soon looked at me with a deadpan. "... Sure, why not? Resurrection. What's next? Planet-" Yan's mouth was closed by my palm before he could speak.

"Shut. Up. Murphy's Law could activate for all I care, but I don't want to die. Don't jinx us into exploding into millions of particles..." I seethed angrily in warning to Yan, who nodded in agreement and sweated furiously at the warning.

I sighed and released my palm from his mouth. "What is... This 'Murphy's Law"...?" Lao asked, curious about the new Earth term. I rolled my eyes in displeasure.

"Basically, anything that can go wrong, WILL go wrong. You basically predict your downfall and ultimately screw yourself..." I explained as the Law of Murph' is one of my most hated laws in the multiverse...

Lao raised an eyebrow. "Why? Even you say this law predicts the future, but it doesn't mean it will happen." He replied. I flung my arms in disagreement.

"IT WILL HAPPEN. It doesn't matter what you do, or when you'll do, it just happens for no reason! Just that!" I exclaimed very loudly. Lao looked at me as if I was weird and later shrugged.

"Anyways... Based on what was recorded in the scroll of Terminal Blaze, if it is cultivated to the Highest Level, it can create a body that is able to host a spirit... And thus, using that body, I will be resurrected!" Lao stated loudly.

Silence.

"A bit too much?" Lao asked to me. I nodded and deadpanned in obviousness at the act. Lao groaned. Yan put a hand on his chin in thought.

"It's bit of a coincidence that we both met... You needed someone with a strong spiritual energy to be awakened, and I was that person. If I didn't meet you at the start, I wouldn't be taught Terminal Blaze..." Yan replied in visible interest.

"Yeah. A bit of a coincidence..." I suspiciously turned my head around at the moon. Cultivation novel beginnings, I guess.

Lao showed the two scrolls again to Yan. "Cultivating Terminal Blaze depends on the person's talent and determination, even you give up, I wouldn't blame you. Which one will you choose?" Lao gave the two scrolls in front of Yan.

Yan smiled and moved his hand to grab the black scroll. "Of course, I would choose Terminal Blaze. Without strength, there is no dignity, right? But..." He stopped and pulled away the hand.

"Three years... I've got three years until I meet Na-Lan Yan Ran.... Without sufficient strength, I would become a laughing stock again... But..." Yan trailed off.

He went silent as he rested his hand.

No words were spoken as Yan suddenly went silent.

"You're afraid." I answered Yan's conflict inside of him. Yan nodded sheeplessly.

"I'm just... scared that I would become a laughing stock again. Let everyone down, including Master, you, Xun-Er, my Father and my whole family... Just let everyone down, like a trash I am..." Yan sat on a nearby rock.

"Ever since I came to this world, I wanted to be... Alive. Living in a fantasy world where everyone's happy. After the downfall incident, I vowed myself to be the strongest so I wouldn't be tramped like trash." Yan glanced the Crescent Moon.

"After you came, you changed me. Changed my whole life, beating the shit of me to grow stronger. You got some of my arrogance erased, but that was enough to question myself..." His eyes went to mine.

"Why do I want to grow stronger? To be respected? To be feared? To be on top of everyone because they deserve it?... That's my arrogance talking. You soon made me realised that I want to be stronger because I want to protect... My friends, family, and my closest ones..." He explained as I crossed my arms.

"Yeah, no shit. What's with the holdup?" I asked as I raised my eyebrow.

"... I'm not sure if I can do it." Yan replied out. I blinked.

"... Can't do what? You can't protect your 'loved ones'? I thought you wanted to be stronger in order to-... You don't think that you can protect them..." I said.

The silence was deafening as the three of us stood in the night.

"I'm just... I was moving on because of my arrogance and vengence for what I've dealt with. I wanted to become the strongest so I wouldn't be feared and trampled with. Now... that doesn't matter, what if I'm doing it wrong? Even if I become the strongest to protect everyone, I would just danger them instead because I was just so strong. I just... am I doing the right choice to protect everyone?...." Yan whispered hopelessly.

"What if... I fail at defeating Na Lan Yan Ran? What if I fail at even becoming stronger? What if all of this, doesn't matter? I can't... I can't make the choice. I don't want to hurt my friends... I just don't know if I should become stronger anymore..." Yan smiled sadly.

BRRRRRRrrrrrhrhrrrhrhrh!

I activated the proto-saber from my belt, feeling the energy cord zipping inside the blazer into the proto-saber as the energy source providing it.

"Mark, NO!" Lao screamed. But that didn't matter. I willed the Force to grip Yan's legs like a metal cuff.

I swung the raw plasma green blade into Yan's body.

...

The lightsaber was crackling with raw energy that was one inch away from my face. I felt the heat of the green plasma blade, daring to burn my skin.

"... Why?" I asked softly to Mark.

"Who are you?..." I blinked at the question that my executioner gave me.

"Who. Are. You." I didn't... had an answer. Some dude reincarnated into this world? A son? A friend? A student?... I wasn't all of the above....

"I don't know..." My lips barely spat out the cold truth. Mark scoffed.

"Good. Because it doesn't really matter." Those harsh cold words hit him hard. He wasn't even a person anymore, in Mark's standards.

"You want to become stronger because you want to protect everyone you hold dear, blah blah blah... Now you're saying that you can't do it 'cause you're afraid." Mark explained. I somberly nodded in confirmation.

"After all of this training... all for nothing. This wasn't a first. Do you know what I did to these guys? Same thing that's going to happen to you." I swallowed into steeling myself. He was going to die, no matter what...

"You let me down. You let everyone down because you gave up." Those harsh cold words hit him like a smack from a sledgehammer. The green plasma blade turned into crimson blood red.

"After I kill you, I am going to erase your existence, to even those who know of you." His heart froze at the shockingly distressing words coming out of Mark's mouth.

"No one, will know you. Let's just get this over wit-"

He didn't finish his sentence as I slammed my clenching fist to the bastard's face.

"YOU-" I punched the bastard's face again. This time I heard a cracking sound from him. He dropped the lightsaber out of his hands.

Words couldn't describe what I was feeling right now. I was angry. I was very pissed.

I was livid to the point I would kill Mark.

The bastard backed away as he held his nose. He checked his bloody hand and scowled. But I didn't care, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO KILL HIM!

"You're pissed about killing your whole family? I thought you didn't care!" The bastard spat out the blood. I grit my teeth harder.

"You can kill me, but I won't let you kill my-" I was suddenly punched to my jaw. I was sent flying from force as I landed with a painful crash.

My jaw hurt to the point I thought it was broken. The bastard cracked his knuckles.

"You talk too much. Even with that fucking whining bitchy voice of yours." He ran towards me. I pulled away my body from the ground and stood.

Here comes the shit.

I blocked the strike from Mark in which he kicked my gut instead. I held it in and struck his face hard.

"Bitch!" He lept his whole body at mine as he charged in advance. I fell down to the ground again as I was repeatly punched to the face again.

I knew it was inevitable. I couldn't win against Mark.

I knew I was going to die, and I was absolutely terrified of death.

But I couldn't do anything.

I was in rock-bottom....

I was going to die...

Soon as the pain subsided as the blackness and darkness overtook me, it was over.

The pain and suffering was over. The punches that Mark gave were gone now.

I was done.

And it was death.

"You are pathetic, Xiao Yan!" Was that Na Lan's voice?...

"You are trash!" He was.

"You are not worthy of her!" He wasn't.

"You are no son of mine." Father, don't leave me.

"..." Wait, don't leave me!

"You are mere lower than me." Fuck you, arrogant bastard!

"I was foolish to accept you." He froze at the voice. Master... I-

"I have no student who is trash! YOU ARE NOT MY STUDENT!" Master, not you too! I'm sorry, please come back! Come back!

"Xiao Yan Ge-Ge..." Xun-Er... Don't leave me...

"I'm sorry." No... No... no... no...

Everyone is leaving me... They're walking away from me...

I'm sorry....

Please...

Come...

Back...

BRRRRRRrrrrrhrhrrrhrhrh!

I froze as the world dyed itself with red crimson. There, it held Mark holding a red lightsaber alone. Fear took my heart as I watched Mark's yellow sulfur eyes burning in hatred.

"No one, will remember you." I saw as he raised his lightsaber to finish the final strike, as I realised now that Xun-Er was in her knees, crying tears from her eyes.

"Xiao Yan... I love-"

BRRRRRRrrrrrhrhrrrhrhrh!

"NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" He howled in defiance as hatred overtook me and charge at Mark before it could hurt Xun-Er.

"NEVER!!!!" I plunged my fist inside Mark's body.

Everything went white.

...

I just killed the MC of the cultivation novel. Not my best option, since karma exists and would bite me back in the ass... I'm going to hell, aren't I?

"YOU-" I sealed Lao into his ring with the Force by clenching my fist. If the MC's lost on his growth to power, there would be no plot. No plot, meaning no good ending.

I ended the plot of the cultivation novel by murdering Yan. When the plot ends, I go back to my original world, and my job is done. That's how its supposed to work.

And it has been ever since.

As for why I didn't do this in the first place and save some time to my original world, there are multiple reasons:

1. It's horrible. Killing a person for my own benefit might've sounded... Morbid and necessary, but I would've done it anyways. Why? Because I'm in a state where making 'friends' is only logical for supporting help, not for 'love or friendship' bullshit.

Besides, I'm convinced that I continue on "living" until this damn fanfiction ends. Since of my immortal state, everyone that is mortal eventually dies of old age or time.

When ever I make 'friends', they die anyways and I continue on living for the rest of my life thinking that I didn't do anything more to save them from their death. It's the guilt of surviving when they die instead, believing it's your fault they died.

Thankfully, I've gone passed that. If I say to a person that they're my friend, I would be very convincingly lie to them. I have no friends. I have only allies and supporting people that are just called "friends".

I still have the option to choose how they live and die, but I have no right to choose how they live or die. If I did, that would be unfair. Believe me, I know. I've lived in a unfair life, and do not like to be reminded of the same experience again, especially when I'm the one holding the beating stick.

2. Karma exists. Killing a life is basically taking their chances and choices away from them. If I kill Yan, I'm the one deciding his future and death myself, instead of him. That sounds unfairly bullshit.

Someone decides your future and your life instead of yourself. Karma sees this a sin or wrongdoing, and curses me into more unfairness to myself and eventually send me to hell.

Unless they want to be chosen from someone else. See if Yan wants to die, because all of his loved ones died in front of him and couldn't stop it. I would just kill him because it would end his eternal suffering as a mercy kill.

Karma would've seen this a slight sin, because I did technically killed him, but I ended his suffering and counts as a help. The sin and the help cancel each other out, leaving me no consequences and a sad mood.

Now, I forgot to mention Hell exists. Of course it exists. It's basically the rightful paradise of suffering and pain for sinners and arrogant stupid people that killed a hundred babies for no reason.

Hell is much worse than Death. Each and every experience from that painful place isn't going to convince me that there is something worse than Hell itself. What's worse than Hell? Two Hells.

I wouldn't be too eager to return back to Hell again. So I don't kill in unfair choices, but in necessary affairs. Then why did I kill Yan?

3. The 'Forged by Fire' Character Development. Basically, it's a gamble where either Yan gets resurrected out of sheer will and determination is out to kill me because I stated that I was going to kill all of his loved ones (although I bluffed) and encourage him to be mentally and morally stronger and dare him to kick my ass.

If he dies, he dies. As I quote Emiya Shirou: "People die if they are killed..." This is coming from a person who've been stabbed in the heart by Cu Chulainn's Gae Bolg and survives. Logically, he should've died straight away! But Anime said: "No, fuck you, and let my Shirou-chan live!" or something.

This is an example of Anime Logic, people! Since I can't explain it now, I'll have to explain it the near future. Reminder to all of us. Need to explain how frustrating of the concept of Anime Logic and how I hate it so much...

Anyways, I really doubt that Yan would stay dead for any longer. Because A: He is the Main Character and MC's have a feature of not staying dead WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. B: Plot Armor. A plot needs an MC to complete it. And C: He just got up, very pissed and livid that he just fucking resurected himself and leaped to my general direction and-

I was slammed to the face with a overtoned amount of force filled with anger and hatred and might've shattered my whole skull- wait, it did. I can't feel my head right now. And I was sent flying through multiple trees.

Everything went bla- No, I'm still alive. For some reason, my head doesn't feel like it should be staring at my back. My head's twisted.

With a mental groan, I readjusted my head to my right side (as in right and wrong) with a sickening sckeltch (don't know if that word exists or not).

"Ow." I replied with visible displeasure at the head snap. I did not expect Yan to be THIS powerful- no, I lied. I did expect him to be this powerful, but I didn't expect it like this. My use of careful words has expanded to my uttermost-

Fist.

*And it was at this moment, he knew: He'd fucked up.*

"Aw, shi-" Time began to release as the stopped fist moved to my face. I blocked the strike with my arms. Again I was sent flying through trees in pain.

My feet tried to catch the friction between the slippery muddy floor, but ultimately stopped when I landed on tree bark. Let's see how pissed Yan afar-

"..." Holy shit, he must be REALLY pissed if he's making that expression. Uh... What have I done?...

"RRRRUUUUAAARRRGHHHH!!!!!!" A blur of torquoise figure slammed into me as I was forced to block again, this time more balanced.

I was sent flying to a nearby river and crashed on the shallow water bank, causing the water to deeply wet my clothes. I grit my teeth in seriousness as I saw the oncoming blur of death I was going to face.

I cracked my neck. I pulled away my arm to my body in a certain stance that a certain Street Fighter developed. As the blur's fist was an inch close to my face, but mine had already contacted his.

"SHORYUKEN!" I uppercutted the jaw of his face and sent him flying skywards. Before his body fell down to the ground, I heavy kicked him in mid-air, sending him flying through the river.

When he got up, he was still pissed. I had no intention of killing his loved ones, but however I acted out so perfectly, it successfully made him believe I was geniunely was going to kill his friends although I wasn't.

Words weren't going to stop him. But how about a sword?

I pushed out a hand as Yan charged for me like a savage beast for the kill. He struck repeadily fast and powerful blows and hooks, as I maintained on using my left hand to parry and block the strikes while the righty gets the lightsaber.

I can tell it was hard trying to block and parry blows from a rage-filled cultivation MC, WHILE USING MY FUCKING LEFT HAND!

I counter-attacked the next blow that Yan gave and went in for the strike. Unfortunately, Yan knew exactly what I was going to do and used the chance to drop kick my gut, and I fell down like a sack of bricks onto the waters.

My right hand was still holding out for the lightsaber, but I lost concentration as Yan kicked my arm as I cried out in pain. He pulled his goddamn fist and flung it onto my face if it wasn't for my fast reflexes.

I grasped the fist that was going to my head and tightly held it. He used his own weight to push his hand to my face as I struggled to keep it away to prevent choking hazard. He pulled his revolver from his holster and aimed it to my face.

Widening my eyes, I grabbed the revolver barrel with my right hand and pushed it away from my head. He shot the revolver, missing my head from an inch close.

We both struggled as I struck my knee to his back and I used this to flip him away from my body. With a grunt, he stomped his leg onto where I was. That is, when I spun myself with the Force while still lying down away from the stomp.

I quickly got back up and stanced myself. I finally pulled the lightsaber on my palms and ignited it, revealing the raw green plasma blade. Until Yan pulled it out of my grasp and crushed into pieces.

Uh.

"FUCK!" That was my only main weapon to survive against the Dou Continent! YOU PIECE OF SHIT!

"UUURRRAAAAAGHHH!!!" I shouted out in anger as I charged to Yan and dropped kicked him in the face. I cried out in pain as I felt my back contacting the stone waters again.

"Huang Rank, Low Tier! Flame Blowing Palm!" I was pushed from an invisible force from Yan as he pushed me to a nearby tree. I was pushed against a tree when Yan used the Flame Blowing Palm skill to put me in stationary.

I struggled to escape from Yan's grasp, but I was too late, Yan was already charging his Octadic Smash in out to kill me.

"How about you get a taste of Sith Lightning, BIATCH!" I stretched my fingers out to Yan and blasted Red Lightning square in the face. He screamed in agony as I strengthened the lightning into a more Crimson colour. I focused the Force on my left hand and thrusted Yan away from me.

His body fell to the river again as the red hot lightning crackled in the surface of the waters. For unknown reasons that I couldn't have known. He glared at me and got up from his knees.

We stood there in silence, waiting for the other person to move.

"I'm not going to let you kill my family, friends, or my precious people!" Yan flared his body with immense amounts of Dou-Qi.

"You do realise I was acting, right?" I spoke casually. Yan actually stopped and dimished his Dou-Qi. Well, I hadn't expected that...

"... You're joking." Yan spoke out in all honesty. I shrugged.

"Nah, I wouldn't kill all of your family, friends, and even your loved ones either... But I still know that... You're still pissed for me showing that, right?" I asked with a deadpan as Yan flared his Dou-Qi more powerfully.

"Yep." He replied with a scowl, as there was no turning back now. I rolled my eyes and did the hand seals of a certain Uchiha.

"Chidori." Red lightning formed into one spot on my palm as it crackled like it was a thousand birds chirping together.

"Welcome to stage two of my daily life! Chaos and Bullshittery! AHHHH!" I screamed and charged at Yan.

"AND I HATE IT SO MUCH! RRRRAAARRGGGG!!!!!!!" He charged his fist with Dou-Qi and ran towards me.

Yeah, we both died. Again.

...

We both laid on the ground next to the river banks, where the sounds waterfalls filled our ears. We were both exhausted and tired from the attack, that even F and the Author ACTUALLY moved away from the area because they were too lazy describing the attack.

I didn't care though.

"First time?" I asked Yan, who had experienced Death for the first time.

"Death sucks." Yan replied and I deadpanned in agreement.

"Yep. Death suks." I replied in agreement.

[AN: Please review- wait, what's dis?]

[AN: The omake addon?... FUCKING HELL YEAH. INSTALL THAT SHIT.]

Omake: Mark's consequence for killing Yan

"I can't fucking believe you actually killed me..." Yan groaned in displeasure.

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if you had killed me. Death is an old friend of mine..." I muttered and Yan looked at me in a disturbing manner.

"How many times have you been killed to say that Death is just another average thing to you?..." Yan asked, shocked to know that I wasn't joking when I died multiple times. I shrugged.

"Way more than I can count. Can't remember it, won't remember it, shouldn't remember it..." I sighed as I lost count over the years of my death count.

"Well, good to know that resurrection exists..." Yan said, remembering when he actually resurrected himself from the dead by sheer willpower alone.

"What else is new?" He asked rhetorically and scoffed. I wouldn't even think about it...

POP

"Mark? Mark?" Yan said, waving his head around to search Mark, but he was knowhere to be seen.

...

"I'm beginning to think that Omakes are the bane of my existence..." I crossed my arms and my legs in a sitting position while I was deadpanning and falling mid-air. Omakes are the worst...

My feet landed on the floor harmlessly as I felt something on my belt. I pushed away the sides of my blazer to reveal the destroyed proto-saber parts dropping on the floor.

I frowned as I went down to pick up my parts and put them inside the pockets of my blazer. After I was done, I scanned the place to where I was.

I licked and smelled the air by using taste and smell alone to reveal where I was.

sniff "Naboo..." sniff "Current time is unknown, seems like an AU..." I bit my lips in thought. I was in a Star Wars AU. When was I? The Old Republic Era? The Clone Wars? The Galactic Civil War?

Naboo isn't what it's supposed to be, either. The skies are dark and clouded with dark black smokes crackling lightning from the sky, the air smells like shit, and there's no population on the area nearby.

Not a thing was living inside where I was.

I was somewhere in the Theed Royal Palace, of course. But there was something odd about the... Statues...

They were Gungans. Huge Gungan Statues instead of Naboo Humans.

'Is this an AU where the gungans won a civil war between the Naboines?' I thought as I was disturbed as to why there were so many gungan statues that reminded me of a certain individual...

"Yousa lost?" I turned my face around to a black cloaked figure speaking in Basic. I knew who it was.

"Jar Jar Binks?..." I asked carefully. The figure grinned disturbingly and revealed the red and black skins of Jar Jar-

Shit.

"Not Jar Jar Binks. No no no, meesa not Jar Jar..." It widened the grin and pulled a lightsaber from it's sleaves. I stepped back and sweated.

"Call meesa... Darth BINKS!"

FUCK MY LIFE.

[AN: Please review.]