Chapter 3: The new determination


    There was nothing great about me.


    I used to live an average life, the grades were barely enough to pass.


    Had no ambition.


    My life was just like that.I was barely survivin~


    My parents instilled the basic idea in my mind.


    Get enough grades, get a decent job, marry someone


    Then have children, continue your family line.


    Live your usual married life and pass in old age.


    And I did not have any rebellious thoughts regarding it.


    Sure, I had some fun moments where adrenaline would rush in my veins, but those moments can be counted on my fingers.


    I had some hobbies, and reading other-worldly books on inte was on top of that list.


    Perhaps, I did not have any motivation that''s why I didn''t feel any remorse or fear when I suddenly fell into a well.


    It was still vivid in my mind, how I visited an old vige for some research purpose.


    Just as I was examining the well, my foot slipped and I fell into it.


    After that I could only perceive myself falling and falling..


    Into a bottomless abyss~


    Just when I thought I lost my life, I opened my eyes in this strange world.


    Brushing off my drifting thoughts about my past life, I finally focused on the pamphlet that told about this world''s background.


    "I see."


    "So that''s how it is."


    "ording to the people who live here, this world is just like a tower.divided into various floors."


    "As you get stronger, you can climb to higher floors."


    "There are various races living on different floors."


    "Some floors are human-dominated while others have different races like elves, werewolves, vampires etc as masters."


    "There are 200 known floors which have been climbed up by living beings uptill now."


    "Above it, there''s no record if someone has ever climbed."


    "To climb to a higher floor, one must defeat the floor''s natural guardian."


    "Hmm, seemsplicated but with time I should get used to it."


    "Atleast, the cultivation is simr across all races."


    "I am currently on the second floor."


    "And, this sect is like the top 10 sect in the entire tower."


    "Lastly, this pretty woman, who calls herself sectmaster, is among the top 50 in rankings."


    I took a deep breath.


    I felt a sudden desire to be stronger.


    A new world, with brand new stuff managed to arouse my interest~


    Just like an adventurer, who is crazy to discover a new ce, my long lost heart suddenly found a reason to live on.


    "In myst life, I wanted to live happilyin this life I shall carry the same goal."


    "But I was always struck with fear that like all, when we die, everything including wealth, rtions will be left behind."


    "Since now I have the chance to pursue immortality, I will do my best."


    -The voice of the lone boy kept reverberating throughout the cave as with each passing second his determination became stronger and stronger.


    ....


    Just like that 2 years had passed, the resources that the sect master left with me, which were enough to even cross the foundation stagewere almost exhausted.


    "Shit! Maybe I should have taken gold and bought a decent sized vi in the countryside."


    "At Least, then I wouldn''t be this miserable."


    All my peers who joined along with me were already in the middle stage of foundation building but I was still stuck at Qi-gathering third stage.


    "Each realm has ten sub-stages. If this goes on, I don''t think I will ever reach Qi-gathering tenth stage."


    Just as I was immersed in cursing myself, I heard a shout from outside.


    "Brother!"


    "Senior brother,e out."


    -a melodious voice belonging to a beauty came inside.


    "Looks like I have to go out to see them", I opened the door and went out.


    There it was~


    2 beautiful girls were standing there along with a boy.


    The disdain on boy''s face was too vivid to ignore but I still kept quiet.


    "Xenia, Quanzhi, why are you two here?"


    "What''s the matter?"


    -I asked the two young maidens.


    Before they could speak the boy with disdainful eyes along with them spoke.


    "Is this the person you were talking about?"


    Tsk~


    "He is just at Qi-gathering third stage."


    -the boy spoke ridiculously.


    "Senior brother Leon, please don''t make fun of Shenshah."


    "Last time it was only because of his strategy that we managed to kill the wild beasts without any loss."


    Hearing them, the events of the past shed through my mind.


    These two girls too started their cultivationte and were almost simr to my age.


    When the task to kill some wild beasts was first issued, I was able to form a team with them. Thanks to the experience from my past life, I managed toplete the task efficiently.


    But both of them have now reached the Qi-gathering eight stage while I am still struck at the third stage.


    "Hmm, isn''t it killing some wild beasts?"


    "What sort of nning do you require toplete such an easy task?"


    -The boy refused to give in.


    Ignoring the boy I replied,


    "It''s okay, you both tell me how I can help you?"


    "Brother Shenshah, there is a foundation-level demonic-beast spreading menace in a nearby vige."


    "We n to kill him, the vigers are weak and innocent. Moreover, as a disciple of a great sect we must help the needy", Xenia spoke with a smile on her face.


    ''Foundation-level demon beast?''


    ''Nahhh, it''s way too risky!''


    ''I am not some protagonist that can escape with a fluke of luck.''


    -In my head, I had already denied the possibility of going with them.


    "Xenia, Quanzhi"


    With my right hand scratching my head, I replied with some shame.


    "My strength is too low for this mission."


    "I think you guys can do this task without me."


    "I don''t wanna risk my life for some vigers."


    "When I reach the foundation stage, only then will I take up such a task."


    -even though I was embarrassed, I was not a fool.


    I had always lived my life practically. Only do things which you are sure of~


    "I can''t believe our Immortal Paradise sect has such a cowardly disciple."


    "Didn''t I say earlier we don''t need toe here and waste our time."


    "Let''s leave."


    -Leon started walking away in big strides.


    Sighs~


    Both Xenia and Quanzhi looked at me with disappointed eyes.


    "Brother Shenshah, you should be a righteous person. We should do our best to help others even if we are not capable", Quanzhi said.


    "Yeah, if you kept hiding in a cave.then how will you break through?"


    "Only by actively taking sect tasks and fighting strong enemies can you gain experience", added Xenia.


    ''Nah, I don''t need such righteousness.''


    ''I joined the sect in the first ce as it was the safest ce in this dangerous world..How can I leave such a safe ce and risk my life fighting those ferocious demon beasts?''


    -I had long decided that I won''t easily leave this sect.


    "Okay, I have to prepare to break through Qi-gathering fourth stage in a couple of days."


    "If you two have nothing else, I will take my leave."


    "No it''s okay, we won''t waste your time. Since you already refused to go with us, we will too take our leave."


    "Let''s go Xenia", Quanzhi spoke slowly.


    I watched them as the two slowly disappeared from my vision.


    "Okay, it''s time to prepare for the breakthrough."


    "All my future life depends on it."


    "Toplete my dream to live forever happily, I must achieve sess."