[Cool down, Host. This is a lucky draw reward. Sometimes you get normal rewards. Sometimes you will get valuable rewards.]

"Cool down my ass. I wish I could beat you to pulp." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The system didn’t reply as if it were intimidated by Leon’s rage or maybe it didn’t bother at all.

Leon slowly got up. "At least I got some monster cores."

The corpses started to vanish, leaving behind their beast cores. Leon collected all the cores and then began tossing them one by one into his mouth.

[You have absorbed Qi.]

[Qi: 1,008,600/2,560,000]

[Qi: 1,013,600/2,560,000]

....

....

....

[Qi: 1,103,600/2,560,000]

"Wish there were some more. Leveling up has now become too difficult. And by the looks of it, I know it’s gonna be worse."

Leon walked back to the cave. He peeked inside and found everything was normal. He again stood outside the cave. "Should I cultivate here?" He paused for a bit. "No. While cultivating, I can’t sense or see what’s happening around me. I can’t be careless in a place like this."

Leon continued to stand guard after that. Once his time was up, he walked back to the cave. He found Sol was sleeping beside Emily. He went to nudge Sol, wanting to wake him up, but suddenly his heart skipped a beat.

Emily was sleeping, her body facing the ceiling above. Her chest rose and fell steadily. Even while she was sleeping, she looked intimidating as if she were a sleeping lioness. Leon felt everything blurring around him. Only that face remained. Graceful and flawless, like a masterpiece carved by the hands of a divine sculptor.

But just when he was too lost in his thought, the sleeping lioness’s hand moved. A blade touched Leon’s throat, its cold edge sending a chill down his spine. Just one more push and he would be done for.

"What the hell were you doing? Trying to ambush us when we are asleep?" Emily’s cold voice rang out.

"Y-you got it wrong. I was just waking up Sol. It’s his turn now." Leon said. ’Damn it, damn it, damn it! Now she must think I am a creep. What was I even thinking?’ Leon cursed himself inwardly.

Emily looked at Sol once then back at Leon.

"Go ahead." She said like a queen.

Leon didn’t waste a single second. He grabbed Sol’s shoulder and shook him. "Wake up. It’s your turn."

Sol leisurely opened his eyes. "Already? Didn’t I just finish my duty a minute ago?" Sol slowly sat up, still rubbing his eyes.

"Minute ago? It’s already four hours. You can go now. I am going to take rest." Saying that Leon quickly turned and walked beside Noah as if he were trying to flee.

Sol didn’t notice his sister’s expression and walked outside. Emily noticed Leon’s movement. Then she lay on the floor again. But this time not facing the ceiling anymore. Rather, she lay on her side facing Leon as if she wanted to keep an eye on him.

Leon sat beside Noah, his back facing Emily. ’It was so embarrassing.’ Leon shut his eyes tight and thought helplessly. ’Whatever. I can’t waste time.’ He soon composed himself and sat in lotus position again. Then without wasting time, he started cultivation.

Meanwhile, somewhere else at the same time...

Alex finally arrived before a tower with that mysterious person. "Is this it? The safe location?" Alex asked.

"Yes." The person said.

"It feels like we had been walking for eternity." Alex collapsed on his knees. His breathing was ragged due to exhaustion.

"It wouldn’t have taken this long if we didn’t have to save them in the way." The person looked at Meridith and Willow. They both were on their feet again.

"I am sorry I was useless back there." Meridith said.

Willow bowed her head too.

"It’s alright you two. It’s not your fault. But I wish Noah was...." His voice trailed off.

A silence fell for a moment and nobody said anything. Then Willow broke it.

"We shouldn’t lose hope. After resting for a while, we will head back to that area. I believe Noah is still alive."

"Yes. I believe it too." Meridith added.

Alex didn’t say anything, his head looking down. ’I wish he really is.’

"Like you will have the chance to go back." Suddenly the mysterious person spoke in a low hoarse voice.

"What do you mean?" Meridith looked at him narrowing her eyes.

The person didn’t say anything. Instead... Low growls came from the shadows.

Their body tensed up immediately. Alex, Meridith, and Willow sprang into action and stood close together.

From the shadows of the frost-covered trees, monsters started to walk out. Razor wolves, humanoid boars, high orc and many more.

Their faces paled instantly. Meridith raised her staff. Willow unsheathed her daggers. Alex focused as his whole body turned into silver.

"How did it come to this? Why are there so many monsters?" Meridith asked nervously.

Suddenly Alex’s eyes snapped toward the mysterious person. "Y-you. You brought us here intentionally to trap us, didn’t you?"

The person’s lips curved into a small, cold smile. "You aren’t that dumb. At least I don’t have to explain why you shouldn’t do something stupid and follow my instructions without any hesitation. If you all want to live that is."

Despair crept into all their hearts. ’It’s over for us too. We all are going to die.’ Alex thought.

Back at the cave.

The sun rose at the horizon. Streaks of golden light entered the cave. Leon had been sitting in his position for the last four hours.

Emily entered the cave again and saw Leon.

’What’s he doing? He was sitting just like that when I went for my shift.’

Leon didn’t move. Only the slow rise and fall of his chest. And the stream of cold air leaking out from his nostrils with each breath.

Emily didn’t disturb him and sat beside Sol. ’It’s already morning. Let’s see what he is doing.’

Leon sat like that. Seconds passed. Then minutes. Sol also woke up. He started helping his sister prepare the food.

Finally when the smell of food drifted through the air and reached Leon’s nose, he opened his eyes.

[You have absorbed Qi.]

[Qi: 1,697,600/2,560,000]