My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world-Chapter 118: The Azure Forest Ruin

---

A few minutes later everyone regrouped. In the crowd, Kent and Nima grasped each other's hands tightly, a wordless vow of protection. Auri, ever the wild child, perched on Kent's shoulder, his eyes aglow with anticipation.

As they stood before the yawning mouth of the ancient ruins, Kent shouted loudly and clearly: "When we enter the ruin we will be teleported to different locations, there is a chance we might be teleported to the same location. But the chance is very low. Listen Nima and Auri, If we get to different locations, I will find you both. Don't start a battle unless you are sure of victory."

The words, spoken with the gravity of an oath, harmonized with the groaning creak of ancient stones as the gateway creaked open, inviting them to step into a world beyond what they knew.

The ruins, veiled with secrets and graven with whispers of time, stood before them—a threshold to their world and the wasteland of magic and peril.

In that charged moment, as the fog swirled and the ancient stones whispered secrets, Harper's previous wounds began to mend. The biting recollections of shame and derision receded before the radiance of new purpose and the glow of steadfast friendship. His gift, odd and misunderstood though it was, had become a symbol of fortitude—a token of a destiny that only the brave might tolerate.

Kent's preceding words echoed in Harper's mind as he recalled the harsh taunts and the caustic laughter. But standing here at the gateway of the ruins, supported by friends who cared for him in all his peculiarities, he sensed a spark of courage revive within him once more. With the hope of redemption and the enticement of adventure beckoning him, Harper decided to shape his destiny in totality.

Thus, under the vigilant gaze of the moon and the choruses of ageless echoes, the group gathered together. They ventured to step into the ruins, leaving behind echoes of a cacophonous past and stepping into a future where even the most outlandish abilities could light the path to greatness.

With mounting tension and the sarcastic badinage of their banter—aided by the lingering SP points of Yang Li's emotional assault—the stage was now set for a quest fraught with peril and potential.

As they approached the intimidating portal, Kent took one last, robust glance at his family. "Wherever you're sent, I'll track you down," he vowed again.

"Let's go—together."

And so, with laughter interwoven with determination, with old scars mending in the starlight, and with the ancient ruins unfolding their secrets to anyone brave enough to search them out, the company moved forward.

It was in that moment of shifting scales that the bitter taste of the past gave way to the optimistic beat of their footsteps—a rhythm that would propel them into the uncharted, where a person's worth was not measured by where it began, but by how they dared to use it.

Kent's mind was shaken with a jerky spasm as the world around him was reduced to a haze of fog, sound and light. One instant, and he found himself somewhere entirely foreign—a realm that reeked of moistened soil and ancient magic, where echoes of ancient myths danced upon the air.

The smiling faces of Nima and Auri and the well-known comforts of his old comrades were gone; ahead of him was an endless forest that was not completely natural, but the remnants of a very long-abandoned past, the vast campsite and the huge ruin entrance gate now overtaken by the forces of nature.

The forest ahead of him was full of deep green and indigo hues, the remnants of grand stone buildings that were entwined in knotted, moss-covered vines and crystalline leaves. Massive pillars, their worn surfaces etched with runes and glyphs of a lost era, pushed through the foliage like the broken teeth of some titanic beast.

A dim light emanated from cracks in the weathered stone, casting eerie patterns across the forest floor. The trees themselves, black as obsidian trunks and leaves tinged with green, leaned in the wind to exchange their secrets—nature's symphony and magic mixed in the wreckage.

As Kent looked in wonder at the dreamworld-like loneliness and mystery of the location, he quickly realized that he was not by himself. A hard-ridden bunch of people, undoubtedly from lower cultivation levels—F and E—crept hesitantly through the broken columns and broken archways. Their faces were a mixture of apprehension and determination; they seemed to be lost in the haunted forest ruin, not knowing what lay ahead.

Before Kent could move again, a ringing sound reverberated in his head—an authoritative ethereal voice that he alone could hear. His system, ever vigilant and enigmatic, now presented him with a mission:

[Ding! System Mission: Clear the Azure Forest Ruin.

Two options were given on the mental interface:

Option One: wander off until the ruin is cleared.

Reward: 10 drops of blood.

Option Two: Find the core of the ruin and clear it.

Reward: Unknown.]

Kent frowned the words "10 drops of blood" echoing oddly in his mind. "Blood? I'm not a vampire!" he swore to himself, his disbelief mingling with irritation. "What's with the unknown reward?"

A detached, alien voice responded from his system, its tone as enigmatic as ever:

[Ding! "You will learn once you finish one of the missions."]

Kent gritted his teeth. The vague quality of the reward was only to fuel his suspicion, but no quarter was given—the task was set, and the promise of the ruined forest stretched out before him.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

Shifting away from the system's cryptic demands and to the people surrounding him, Kent observed the low-level cultivators congregating in a small circle in the centre of the ruins.

They were arguing with one another, voices raised in hot arguments over who should be their leader. It was clear that going out alone in such a dangerous place was out of the question, and they must band together to overcome the obstacles before them. Their argument, however, was tainted by inexperience and distrust.

Seeing an opening, Kent decided to capitalize on their vulnerability. He had mastered the art of blending in and, if necessary, playing on other people's emotions to his own advantage.

Though his true power was far greater than the modest rank he now assumed, he preferred the guise of a lowly, unassuming beggar—happy to let others fight while he quietly accumulated SP from every flare of emotion his stunts could provoke.

With a smirking grin, Kent approached the group. "Excuse me," he whispered softly in a humble, polite tone, "I couldn't help overhearing what you were saying. I am aware of the dangers of travelling alone here, and I am also seeking a friend in these ruins. May I join your group?"

The cultivators who were standing around looked at him suspiciously. "Who are you?" one of the E-level cultivators, a scrawny youth with suspicious eyes, barked.

I am just a low-level Cultivator, as are you,\\" Kent said, looking down, "I have very little to contribute in terms of strength, but I am practical and willing to learn from all of you".

Ding! +999 SP copied from xxx (anger).

The Level-E cultivator thinks, " you are calling me a low Level. I will teach you a lesson. I will let you join as cannon fodder."

The group stared at one another, their arguments momentarily silenced. In the end, they agreed to let Kent join them—if only because every extra pair of eyes could be helpful in an environment as treacherous as this. The issue of leadership, though, was by no means resolved. Hot whispers and hums persisted as every member fought for control, voices raised over past failures and hopes for the future.

Kent sat in quiet contemplation, watching with amazement how easily emotion bubbled amongst these new SP banks. An evil plan developed in his mind—a means to subtly accumulate SP, his game's most coveted asset, through eliciting reaction from his newfound acquaintances.

With a diabolical glint in his eye, he was going to be a meek, low-grade roamer in secret through covertly triggering reactions through crafty tricks. His weapon for this was his Architect of Creation skill and his mastery of the opposing aspects of Hellfire and Frostfire—a combination that could command awe and terror in equal measure.

The group proceeded deeper into the forest ruin, the path winding between the halls of weathered stone and twisted undergrowth. The air was charged with magic and mystery, and the ruins thrummed and vibrated like a living entity. Every so often, Kent would pause to admire some complicated carving on a pillar or the manner in which a beam of moonlight illuminated a clump of crystalline moss, but always with a calculating glint in his eye, noting the precise instant for his jokes.

On the first day of travel, when the party passed through a narrow canyon filled with shattered statues and collapsed arches, Kent had his chance. A boaster F-level cultivator, eager to dominate, began spinning a boastful tale of his own exploits. At the perfect moment, Kent silently employed his Architect of Creation ability.