Prologue
My eyes open suddenly to a blue sky. Mind swirling, as I groggily look from one side to the other within a fog of blurriness. As my eyes focus, unfamiliar buildings surround as I feel the cold, rocky ground on my back. A thought appears.
Oh, no. Please dont tell this is what I think it is?
Rising to my feet, I glance around quickly, seeing only buildings reminding of Chinese architecture. Looking back at the clear blue sky.
Fuck. This must be one of those transferred to another world situations.
The last thing I rember was a massive earthquake while sitting at my computer and the floor opening to a black pit. However, I live on the third floor of my apartnt and no one else in the apartnt seed to notice the shaking.
A hole, unnatural in its depth. Dark beyond all reason floated beneath my feet.
and then I dropped.
So, either this is the last breaths of my mind or another world. Why is the first thing that cos to mind, that this is another world transfer instead of a dream? Well, mainly because Im a nerd that reads fantasy isekai novels in my free ti. Id much rather believe its that situation rather than the alternative.
As I continue to look out at my surroundings, I can see a flying blur suddenly stop, high in the air. Straining to see what it could be, I can barely recognize the shape and form of the object. Is that an old lady flying on a sword? I unconsciously mutter. For a second after I say that, I feel a slight shiver, as I could have sworn. She looked down at . However, just as quickly as she had stopped, she continued moving at top speeds across the sky.
Ah, shoot. Please dont tell this is a cultivation world. Please, please no.
Right then, I can hear the won from the street gossiping Oh! That was Senior Gu from the Heavenly Skies Sword Clan. Shes so amazing, I hear that shes the youngest Senior in their group in 50 generations of disciples!
Yeah, I heard that too, Ive also heard that she has a rampaging feud with Senior Song in their shared Revolving Heavenly Light sect. So people wonder if its not just a feud, but sothing more. Though, I bet if she gets serious, it would be as easy as turning over her hand. Too bad her fight wit
I tune out because of the shock of the situation. Ah dammit. If that didnt prove it, then nothing else will. Looks like I will need to keep low and learn more about this cultivation world. I really wish I transferred to a fantasy world instead. Cultivation worlds always seed brutal to .
A sudden thought cos to about the comnt I made earlier and the feeling of being watched. With a shiver, I can only hope that I was wrong about that. If Im not, I must pay proper respect when I see her again.
Unfortunately, before I can continue analyzing my situation, I can see so people gathering on the other side of the alley. It might be ti for to get out of here. There appears to be a stream of people on the street next to , so I quickly rge with the flow of the groups. While so people look strangely at , I try to act as natural as possible.
One of the first things I notice as I walk with these people, is that everyone is Asian or Caucasian! In fact, Im the only black guy around.
One good thing that I picked up, is that while people look at as a curiosity at first, they seem to recognize that Im from sowhere and lose interest. This tells that there are black people in this world, but they might just be a rare sight. I must look into this more, covering my bases.
While I continue to walk with the crowd, I check my pockets to see if I still have what was on . I seem to still be wearing all the clothes I had prior and items. My phone, wallet, and keys are still on . The phone has a full charge and seems to still be working, however there is no signal (obviously). Luckily this is a sowhat new phone, so it likely will keep the charge for a while.
To save power for when I might really need it, I turn on battery saving and turn it off. Just in case. Checking my wallet, it has all of my identification information and $51. Not sure how much this will help , though.
Physically, I seem to be fine, but have a slight headache. It could be from the transfer or hitting the ground, but I cant really be sure. Putting away the stuff, I just avoid a kid bumping into in the opposite direction. As I avoid him, I hear a humph as he continues barreling through people. Realizing that tactic from my world, I check my pockets. Looks like everything is still on , nothing stolen. I must be careful out here.
It is at this point, that I get to the market. Open stalls with food, trinkets, and other materials are everywhere! Vendors yelling out about what they offer, people bargaining for deals. This is a crazy thing to experience. It doesnt look very sanitary.
However, this is exciting. There are so many foods and items Ive never seen before from this unfamiliar world, that Id like to learn more about. Separating from the crowd, I take a quick look at sothing that appears to be like a potato. However, sothing even more surprising than an extra food cos into mind. Once I looked at the potato, automatically I felt information pour into my head about this simple root.
Feeling that it was too much at once or to even rember, I tried to stop the flow and change how I perceived it. Familiar with the concept of scanning abilities from isekai fantasy novels, I tried to make it turn into a familiar form. Sohow, I did so before my headache turned worse. Transparently and sohow not impeding my vision, the below text box ca up before my eyes.
Rogoda
Plant RootFood Ingredient
Quality Extrely Poor
Value 1 copper coin.
Inferior version fard incorrectly
After a mont of shock, I step back and deeply contemplate what I saw.
YESSSSSS, I have a scanning ability! Just what I needed to succeed in this world. Here I was wondering whether Id be able to survive day to day, but this should at least let have an advantage in this world. Imdiately using this, I scan everything around . Which mostly provides more of the sa information. However, a strange idea cos to I try to use the power on.
Staring down into the distance, I ntally try to have my scan affect the city, instead of a specific concept.
Monchon City
City Small-dium
Founded 523 years ago by Monchon Yu
Excellent. I wonder how far I can go with this. I use it on more and more concepts, like a planet, solar system, and even the air. What Ive found (that is useful), is that the solar system is the Stilled Void. The Planet is the Revolving ExpansePrivilon. It appears most people just call it Privilon.
As I tested the air, I tried to draw comparisons between this world and my previous one. It brought up more information and a side-by-side comparison.
What this tells is that I can draw relationships with this ability to get access to information outside of the object Im viewing.
This. Is. Amazing.
However, almost as if to stem my excitent, I feel dripping from my nose and the slight increase in headache. Ah, the age old Ive surpassed my limits and gone too far blood drip. Well. I can handle having so limits on this ability. I dont know the consequences of pushing this too far.
From what I can gather on this ability, there is a limitation on how deep I can dive into analysis. At least, before my body has issues with information overload. It is likely that it is because there are background processes happening which are assembling/reorganizing the information. If I try to absorb all the information without the table, not only do I get a headache, but I cant seem to rember it well. Its almost as if I am seeing hundreds of screens at once and can only catch a glimpse.
Before I go further though, there is sothing I need to check, to see if I can get a clearer idea on this ability. Looking down at myself, I attempt to see if I can scan myself.
Jas Delinion
Mana: 20/20
Transferred Gifts:
Passive Scan: Max
Active Scan: Max
Healing Aura: Level 1 Exp: 0/10
Beneficial Taming: Level 1Exp: 0/10
Healing Constitution
Proficient Languages: Common Speech (English)
Literate Languages: Common Speech
Well. Thats a lot more than I thought there would be. I wonder why Strength, Intelligence, etc., isnt showing up, but after a quick check it seems since my stats are at the norm, they did not show up. Cultivation increases show up, though. Diving into my abilities, I try to see what each of them can do.
Mana:
Mana is a source of energy that is both external and internal, existing in people, places and objects, and are transmuted by the user into magical powers. Only usable by a negligible amount of people. On Privilon, there are no mana users. Increased internal capacity and regeneration of this source of energy can be increased by regular and strenuous usage.
Transferred Gifts:
Gifts from the omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient being to allow the transferee to survive and thrive in this dinsion.
Passive Scan:
Blanket scan of the phenona and so nouna around the user. The user can compile the data into usable information with so strain.
Active Scan:
Comprehensive scan of the phenona and nouna compiled from the passive scan. Allows comprehension, with enough data points. Warning: overuse will lead to brain damage. This form of brain damage can be reversed over ti by healing constitution or healing aura. Minor overuse increases capacity.
Healing Aura:
Healing Aura is an ability to heal all conditions, correct negative changes, and optimize/purify the target. Can be used externally, internally, or as an area of effect. More effective at close distances. Cost to use scales according to level and level of severity.
Beneficial Taming:
Beneficial taming allows for the taming and dostication of non-human lineage creatures (Demi-humans are counted as human lineage, even if they arent treated as such by most humans.). When in use, allow both the user and affected creature to receive customized benefits. Benefits scale with the level of this ability. Dostication requires at least 1 previous generation to be tad to occur. Dosticated creatures receive permanent increases to abilities, based on customized benefits.
Healing Constitution:
Healing Constitution is a unique constitution that allows the user to heal from any negative conditions, while retaining positive conditions. When learning healing-based cultivation thods, cultivation is 100x quicker than normal. When using healing abilities, cultivation is 100x quicker. This effect is stackable.
Based on this information, an omnipotent being has transferred here. Which one? Well, I have a decent guess to who it could be. With the number and quality of the abilities I have, I can only give thanks regarding these benefits. I should view this as a chance to start over in a fresh world. Back on Earth, while I was in a comfortable office job, I didnt have anyone left for there. Really, I was just going day by day, trying to make it through. Here and with these abilities, I will make sothing of myself! Now what should I do next?
While I am extrely excited about the potential of taming and cultivating healing abilities, I need to focus on the near term. Looking around, I decide the first thing I can do is try to see if I can see anything in this market that is underpriced and try to sell it for its actual or increased price (with the scanning ability).
And so, I went from stall to stall to stall. What I found was that they underprice many of the items. It is likely because of the market we are in, so I added a line in the table to allow comparisons between true value, market value, and perceived value for this situation. This massively helped to determine what is worth what.
However. I ca up against a big, obvious problem. I have no money. While exploring I could get an approximate value of money by looking at other people handling it. While compiling, I had it compared to the value of the Arican dollar:
Tiny Copper Coin: 1 centpoor quality ingredients1/100 of dollar
Copper Coin: 10 centcost of 2 poor als1/10 of dollar
Big Copper Coin: 1 dollar5 of these is the normal pay for the average worker every day - 1 dollar
Half-Silver: 50 dollars5 days stay in an average inn with nutritious als, upper end of poor dicinal items, inferior quality mortal luxury goods
Silver Coin: 100 dollarCost of a weapon, average dicinal items, average mortal luxury goods, weakest spirit stone
Big Silver Coin: 1,000 dollars - Cost of a poor ho, cost of armor, poor cultivation ingredients, high quality mortal dicinal items, high quality mortal luxury goods
Half-Gold: 50,000
Gold Coin: 100,000 dollars
Big gold coin: 1,000,000 dollars
Half-Jade: 50,000,000
Jade Coin: 100,000,000
Big Jade Coin: 1,000,000,000
The comparison of the items ca from what I could see around. The higher value coins (starting at Half-Gold), I wasnt able to see an example of. I could only get the currency system from the query. Once again, after pushing for the currency system, I seed to get a headache. It might be ti to stop pushing it so much. With this in mind, I will need to find so way to get money, so I can buy it.
Coming up with an idea, I pull out a dollar and attempt to figure out how I can use this. Maybe I can sell this as a luxury item or sothing. Ive perused through most of this entire market, with only a few to go. I think it would be better to go to soone who doesnt seem as busy. Walking over to one stall I havent been to; I can see that it is a dicinal seller.
A quick perusal of his wares shows typical pills for healing mundane illnesses and wait a second. What is that? A closer look at the pill reveals:
Body Refinent Pill
GradeHigh
True Value/Market Value/Perceived Value: 25 Big Silvers/1 Half-Silver/30 Big Silvers
Helps a non-cultivator prepare their body to undergo cultivation. Ingesting this pill helps refine the body by removing impurities, which can help with a breakthrough into cultivation and strengthens their cultivation base. Qi Condensation Cultivators can benefit from this pill to clear their bodies further of impurities, but has reduced effects. The higher the grade of the pill, the more impurities removed and the higher their starting cultivation base.
This is a bit of a conundrum. Based on this information, the person in front of knows the true value of this pill. However, they are still selling it for a single silver. This reeks of trouble. As I attempt to walk away, I hear a whisper almost like it is in my ear.
Wait.
My body freezes, almost out of my control. Turning back around carefully, I take a better look at the man. Wearing a conical hat covering his face, his arms folded under long sleeves, the only visible part of the older mans skin, is his mouth.
Did you see sothing you like, among my wares? his voice whispers, yet seems to be loud enough to be easily heard above markets hum. Sohow, I feel as if every aspect of myself is being watched. Even down to my cells, I feel a slight prickle.
For a mont, I consider scanning him to see what Im dealing with, but decide it isnt worth the risk. This might be that divine sense Ive heard of in cultivation novels, and if it is, that ans he is a cultivator who can easily kill . In fact, if I had to say, it feels purposeful that I can feel this.
I say the truth, Um, I saw that pill there. It seems different from the others. If you dont mind my asking, but why are you selling it for that price?
The rchants mouth twitches, but he remains silent for a small ti, pondering his response. With a grin, he decides. Humph. Well, I wasnt expecting you to just co out and ask. Well, I guess thats a strategy of its own it looks like you determined the worth of this pill. Unfortunately, this pill isnt for you. Now, normally I would just wipe your mory and be done with it. However, I have an errand that needs doing, and it seems to match with sothing that could be helpful for you.
He motions to my back pocket. You seem to have no money and do not understand what you are doing.
Cautiously, I nod.
Great. You could sell those pieces of paper in your leather casing for a decent amount. If you head to the luxury seller near the center of town, you can get a decent price for it. Drop this package off to him and you should be good. Note that it is valuable. So, dont get lost.
He lowers his hand slowly. You could decline and have your mory wiped instead. Thats always an option. Quickly, I shake my head in stark denial of that option.
Excellent, at least you have common sense. Heres the package.
Handing a fist-sized orb wrapped in a velvet cloth, his hat raises enough to et my eyes. Good luck on your journey, kid. Oh, and just so advice and a warning. He says offhandedly.
Not all people are as nice as . So people would just as easily kill you for your clothes and items as look at you. Not only that, but make sure you treat people accordingly when you learn of their status when compared with yourself.
Being too honest and open with your intentions, leaves yourself open to being removed. You would do well to understand this culture and quickly, if you want to survive.
I will say there are so benefits to being the way you are. With that said, the old man shakes his hand and lowers his hat again, dismissing .
As I turn away, he stops one last ti. Oh, and Im not sure how you would do it, but really consider where and when you use that ability to read people. Not all things are as hidden as you might think.
I freeze, with one of my abilities laid bare. Slowly, turning back to him, I realize what I must do. I pull from my knowledge of Chinese culture and bow to him as low as I can.
The advice and insights he gave to are sothing that I needed to realize. Ive been treating this subconsciously like an adventure. This is not that. This is survival. Until Im able to defend myself and understand the rules of this world, I need to be more aware of my actions. I cant assu my abilities are hidden. I must take this slowly and watch what I do.
After holding the bow for a few seconds, I rise to complete the mission he gave to .
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