Alex wheezed for breath, desperate just for a few moments to focus and concentrate on his Eternal Fox technique enough to bring succor to his agonized flesh. “Yes, master.”
“Good. Follow me and don’t dawdle.”
Lai Leng snorted, chuckling coldly. “Perhaps this is for the best. Show this fool no mercy, Panheu.”
Panheu shrugged. “He will learn what he must, or he will fall to the wayside as all others do,” the cultivator said with a cold glare sent Alex’s way.
Alex caught Lai Leng’s darkly satisfied smile as the man prepared to take his leave.
“Oh, and Lai Leng? One final thing,” said Panheu.
The alchemist spun around, brow furrowing at the sudden strange tone in Panheu’s voice. Alex himself felt a numbing cold so terrible his skin froze as if bathed in ice.
“Should you break your oath to me, should you ever again raise your hand against my servant, I will know it. And I will extract the balance owed in full.”
Lai Leng hissed, eyes widening with something close to horror. “No. You fool! Do you know what you’re saying?”
Panheu’s frosty smile never touched his brilliant blue eyes. “You have been permitted your satisfaction. You have accepted my gift, and your whip is now covered with Alex’s blood.” He gazed at the alchemist’s pale hands, spattered with a patina of darkest crimson. “Oaths have been given and accepted. Oaths now forged in blood. As any servant I claim is, by ancient precedent, to be considered an extension of myself, it is as if you swore a blood oath to me as well. Remember that, Lai Leng, when next you gaze upon this boy.”
Lai Leng swallowed a snarl, eyes an odd mixture of horror and fury both. His mouth opened and closed several times, but he said not a word, finally spinning about and storming off, dropping the whip and holding his hand away from his body as if it were tainted with poison in truth.
“You tricked him,” an awed Alex whispered once the alchemist had left. “You let him whip me to trap him.” He shook his head in rueful admiration. “You played him like a master from the very beginning.”
Panheu flashed Alex a wry smile. “And you have ears the equal of any kitsune. How remarkable.”
Alex winced, realizing he had slipped up and revealed a bit of his hand there. But before he could dwell upon it, his flickering gaze caught sight of Hao Chan staring down at him from the balcony seats. And he was grateful beyond words to find her gaze free of all judgement or any trace of disgust, despite the killing wrath he had been forced to embrace that day.
If anything, her eyes were filled tenderest sympathy and something more that he couldn’t quite put into words.
Alex flashed a reassuring smile. He was about to call out to her when none other than Lady Jidihu made an appearance, gently ushering his friend away.
Alex rubbed his eyes, strangely chilled. It was as if she had appeared out of thin air.
Then Alex swallowed when the kitsune noble’s gaze suddenly caught his own. Sensual, elegant, deadly. Those words fit her perfectly, Alex thought, even as he shivered under her piercing regard, then winced as his torn flesh rubbed against the changshan shirt he wore, now so lightly draped over his shoulders.
“Come, aspirant. No time to dawdle,” his new master and hopefully mentor said quietly, and Alex did his best to hide the surge of relief he felt, the cold disdain of moments before replaced with a voice that almost sounded concerned. He said nothing else, and Alex wondered if he had imagined his new mentor’s gentle concern as they entered the arching tunnel leading to the school proper.
Then all other concerns fled his mind as he got his first good look at the academy beyond the walls of what was to have been his doom, mouth agape at the sight of temples, domes, and pagodas, massive structures of stone and architectural marvels of exquisite grace, all blending together in a marvelous collage of open grassy fields and architecture that left Alex breathless with wonder.
It didn’t matter that he was at the edge of absolute exhaustion. It didn’t even matter that his massive fortune earned in the arena had been snatched from his hands, or that his flesh was throbbing with numerous lacerations and wounds.
All that mattered was that he had actually managed to enter Dragon Academy proper. Even if he had to start as the lowliest of servants, he would learn and grow in every way he possibly could, so that one day he could achieve his dreams.
No matter what trials he had to go through when he finally broke through to Bronze, no matter that less than one in a million citizens ever saw Silver, he would forge a cultivation path that would see him head and shoulders above friends and foes alike. For he had taken the first steps along the Dual Path of Light and Shadow, Order and Chaos, Creation and Destruction, and he had every intention of embracing this path for as long as he could, even if it meant challenging the edicts of Fate and the Heavens above.
--- End of Book Two ---
The adventure will continue in Silver Fox & The Western Hero, Book Three: Warrior Redeemed, soon to be released!
In the meantime, if you’re interested in checking out a LitRPG series about a young former soldier making his way in a world filled with blades, blasters, spells, spaceships, and level-ups, here is a link to Endless Online: Oblivion’s Blade. Five books out so far, more to come!
And because free is good, here is a link to my novel First Blood, a story about a girl with a talking cat and a knack for killing who ends up facing down dark gods by the end of the eight book series. It’s not Wuxia or LitRPG, but it is a fun high action fantasy series. Check it out and tell me what you think!
If you would like to sign up for my mailing list, I’ll let you know when my next book comes out. And if you have any feedback you’d like to share with me, you can always reach me at [email protected]
Character Sheet
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Alex Hammer
Class – Cultivator: Disciple of the Dual Path (Unlimited potential. This is a Divine path.)
Rank 6 Basic Cultivation Achieved
Physical Characteristics
Strength 15 (Exceeds 95% of Population)
Vitality 16 (Exceeds 98% of Population)
Quickness 15 (Exceeds 95% of Population)
Finesse 15 (Exceeds 95% of Population)
Spiritual Characteristics
Scholarship 11 (Exceeds 62% of Population)
Perception 13 (Exceeds 83% of Population)
Willpower 14 (Exceeds 90% of Population)
Qi pool 14 (6 Meridian Gateways Open)
Health Points: 225
Perks
Insightful – Rank 2
Charismatic – Rank 2
Martial Disciplines
Golden Realms Kung Fu – Rank 5: Adept status achieved! (This is a Tier 1 Basic martial art.)
Weapon forms incorporating Golden Realms Kung Fu:
Fangtian Ji – Rank 4 / Short Spear – Rank 4 / Long Spear – Rank 4 / Gladius – Rank 4 / Dao – Rank 3
Silver Swan Kung Fu – Rank 2 (This is Tier 3 Silver Ranked martial art.)
Weapon Forms incorporating Silver Swan Kung Fu:
Fangtian Ji – Rank 4 / Short Spear – Rank 4 / Dao – Rank 3
Qi Disciplines
Adderstrike – Rank 6 (Expanded Comprehension / Impact Invulnerability / Efficient Strike.)
Bullrush – Rank 4 (6) (Instantly move 5-50 feet in any direction / Lightness / Maneuverability.)
Piercing Strike – Rank 0 (You have yet to fully comprehend this art.)
Qi Deflection – Rank 0 (You have yet to fully comprehend this art.)
Qi Absorption – Rank 2 (Rank 3 vs. Fire-aspected Qi. Breakthrough made! Synergistic use with Biochemical Mastery reduces all Poison-aspected Qi attacks by an additional 5 points.)
Qi Flood – Rank 1 (Flood a grappled target (or artifact) with Dark Qi!)
Qi Perception-linked Disciplines. (Note: all of these abilities are Qi Perception-based. Their rank may not exceed Qi Per
ception rank. Note: all specialization points invested in Qi Perception will boost all underlying skills.)
Qi Perception – Rank 4 (Sense all physical and Qi manifestations around you within 40 feet with concentration. Sense Spirit Beasts and their flow of Qi. +4 to Perception checks.)
Artificer – Rank 3 (Understand, manipulate, or destroy treasures and artifacts!)
Find Weakness – Rank 2 (Works on Artifacts, Constructs, Demons, Spirit Beasts, and Cultivators! Note: basic check with Qi Perception lets you sense the weakest points in any opponent’s physical body and technique. Advanced skill rank and successful use of Soul Sight is needed to actually pierce a cultivator’s Qi defenses.)
Soul Sight – Rank 2 (Sense the flow of Qi through any Spirit Beast (effortless) or Cultivator (difficult). If this skill is not successfully used, Find Weakness can only sense surface weaknesses.)
Spiritual Teacher – Rank 4 (You may now directly impart the knowledge of any and all cultivation disciplines upon suitable students with a skill check! Diligent focus is required over a period of days, weeks, or months. This skill allows suitable students to enjoy multiple breakthroughs up to Spiritual Teacher rank, or half of master’s rank in underlying skill. Note: mystic Heaven and Earth carriage ride transcended all normal limitations.)
Qi Purification Techniques Learned:
Dual Path Purification Technique (95.6% Efficiency)
Cleansing Breath Purification Technique (3.25% Efficiency)
Qi Restoration Techniques Learned:
Golden Realms Meridian Restoration Technique (100% Efficiency)
Qi Cycling Techniques Learned:
Dual Path Dark Qi Cycling Technique. (1% Efficiency – You will be able to use it upon advancing to Bronze, in conjunction with an eight-element Light Qi cycling technique you have not discovered yet!)
Body Cultivation Techniques Learned:
The Eternal Fox Body Restoration Technique – Rank 6
- Multiple Breakthroughs! This is a Divine technique. Each breakthrough requires an additional Rank.
- Incorporates Golden Realms Meridian Restoration Technique at 100% efficacy and works with all elemental affinities at all levels of cultivation.
- Every 1000 hours of cultivation will fully regenerate one pound of lost or damaged flesh per rank in Eternal Fox for even a basic cultivator. Scrapes can be healed in minutes! Even damaged organs and spinal cord injuries can be healed if cultivator is able to focus upon them.
- Saintly Aura can heal curses and infernal wounds. (This is a Divine technique.)
- Aspirants can use Dark Qi to speed their own healing.
- Perfect Dark/Light Qi synergism. Dark Qi is so well-channeled that cells no longer age with successful skill checks!
- Power Healing (Requires Beast Cores, Spirit Pearls, or Qi stored in a divine storage artifact.) Healing Rate will temporarily increase one-hundred-fold until meditative trance broken or Qi source fully used up. Can safely be used for any length of time, cultivator remains aware of environment!
A Path Cloaked in Mist
Thanks to your constant training and use of body cultivation techniques, you have permanently gained 1 point of Impact Resistance!
- You have taken your first step in forging a new body cultivation technique. Details: unknown.
Biochemical Mastery – Rank 5 (Now includes Alchemy – usable in Divine Artifact only.)
You may now synthesize or cure any poison or formulae mastered. Limitations apply.
Botanical Formulae mastered: 28
Botanical Poisons mastered: 8 Ancient / 6 Modern
Bio Contaminants mastered: Tetanus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
You have 60% Immunity to the effects of all caustic compounds or inhaled irritants.
You have full immunity to the caustic and toxic effects of all poisons mastered and all alchemical reagents used.
You have 30% Immunity to Ethanol intoxication.
You have full Immunity to Opioid intoxication.
You have full Immunity to Tainted Spirit Beast Blood.
You have full Immunity to Poison Toadwort.
You have full Immunity to Painfire poison.
You have 20% Immunity to Infernal Taint.
You have full Immunity to Black Poppy Poison Technique. You are now immune to all secondary effects from all Qi attacks used by Purple Path cultivators.
You have 50% Immunity to Dragon Viper Venom Qi attacks.
Biochemical Mastery & Qi Absorption synergism! You now enjoy an additional automatic 5-point reduction from all Poison-aspected Qi attacks, including Purple Path or Alchemical Venom Cultivation techniques.
Arcane Formulae witnessed:
- Enhanced Cycling Pill. 95% comprehension achieved.
Arcane Formulae mastered:
- Meridian Rejuvenation Elixirs for all known combinations of Fire, Metal, Water, Wood, & Earth Affinities.
- Unorthodox Shadow Meridian Rejuvenation Elixir (Fire/Earth/Metal/Shadow)
- Meridian Purification Elixir (Will cleanse 1 clogged meridian channel. Use no more than 1 per month.)
Note: divine artifact is needed to facilitate all alchemical elixirs. Silverbells are needed for all known Cultivation Elixirs. Shadow blossoms are needed for all Shadow Meridian Rejuvenation Elixirs. All elixirs must be diluted to 1/12 potency for safety. Only elixirs that restore meridian channels or heal the body can benefit the creator.
Full Regenerative Capacity (Heal rate based on Vitality. Injuries will be free of scarring. Missing limbs will require one week per pound of biomaterial lost to regenerate fully.)
Thank You
Thanks again for checking out my series. Without the interest and support of readers like yourself, there’s no way I could do what I do, and I’m grateful for each day that I have the opportunity to write for you. That being said, I know finding the next great novel is a passion for many of us, and I thought I’d share a few of my favorite authors, assuring you plenty of great cultivation stories to enjoy!
Curious to see just how deadly a cultivator you can become with the aid of a magic brush? Then I highly recommend Painting the Mists by Patrick Laplante. Packed with adventure, intrigue, strong friendships, and plenty of character advancement and skill progression, it’s a wonderful series with six books out so far!
Riluo City by Tinalynge is the start of an epic 8 book series about a young man who sacrifices his life to save his best friend, but instead of oblivion, he finds himself reborn in a world where cultivation is real, and the opportunities for young cultivators who are able to refine and distill their Qi is virtually unlimited! This series has a great school arc and doesn’t stint on character development. If you enjoy series devoted to character progression, then I highly recommend giving it a shot!
Tao Wong, in addition to writing some wonderful LitRPG with his System Apocalypse series, has also written the first few novels of an epic cultivation series filled with challenging adversaries, solid character progression, exciting breakthroughs, and some epic fight scenes! If you like visceral combat, well written sword duels, and earning every step of your growth, then check out A Thousand Li: The First Step.
Cultivating Chaos by William D Arand is another favorite of mine. It’s a novel about a young would-be cultivator with his memories of Earth intact, struggling to find his place in a ruthless world. When good fortune comes his way, he’s savvy enough to take advantage of the opportunities before him and take the first steps along a cultivation path that may one day set him head and shoulders above all those that would see him fall. If you enjoy great combat scenes, heroic power progression, and a healthy dose of passion, then I recommend giving this series a try.
Finally, for fans of LitRPG / Cultivation hybrid novels who enjoy fast-paced character progression, unique abilities, and high intensity battle scenes, I highly recommend checking out Darren Hultberg’s Edge of Eons!
If you’re interested in chatting with other fans of Cultivation novels, you might want t
o check out the Facebook group Cultivation novels where you can meet fellow fans and get some great Wuxia and Xianxia recommendations.
Another great option for finding your next cultivation read would be the Facebook group Western Cultivation Stories.
And for those of you interested in connecting with other GameLit readers and writers, I’d like to recommend the Facebook group GameLit Society where I pop by regularly.
Several additional LitRPG Facebook groups I also like to hang out in include:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books
https://www.facebook.com/groups/litrpgforum
Additional Links
To learn more about LitRPG, talk to authors including myself, and just have an awesome time, please join the LitRPG Group at www.facebook.com
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior Reforged: A LitRPG/Wuxia Novel - Book 2 Page 51
