3 Chapter 3

Wingtar region is located in the middle of the four kingdoms, bordering them. It can be considered a neutral territory or the magical beast kingdom since almost all of them live there. The region is divided into four circular layers (that means that it is all a big circumference, with a radius of 40 miles, while the innermost forest is a circunference with a radius of 10 miles), the first layer is a desert, the second layer is the outermost part of the forest, the third layer is the middlemost part of the forest and the fourth layer is the innermost part of the forest. The futher in one goes the stronger the magical beasts, the plants, the poisons and the miasma. The Wingtar region is unique and dangerous even without all of those, because that is where the vast majority of cultivators are, either in other to look for spiritual plants/ herbs, to hunt magical beasts, to fight and kill others or because they need to go to another world. Since, all throughout the Wingtar region portals are regularly opened randomly, connecting in total 7 worlds (including Laimyra), and in each world they have their respective region where the same happens. The portals differ from each other by their color, each color is designated to a single world.

The 7 worls are divided in three tiers that determines their strength: Low-tier world (Laimyra, Azgal and Kriton) Middle-tier world (Venia and Elhora) and Upper-tier world (Sathir and Dralthor). The Sathir and Dralthor worlds are the only ones that have cultivators that were able to reach the last stage of cultivation known.

****

Almost 6 days later

"Finally...I reached it..." said Scarlet panting and gasping for air, she had jut literally finished running a marathon.

She observed the desert in front of her as she tried to regaing her breathing, until she was interrupted by the now familiar sound of the System in her head.

Ding!

[Part 1 of the quest accomplished with sucess. Processing Host's reward.]

Scarlet watched as a bright light appeared in front of her and a small box started materializing, she extended her hand and the box was deposited on her hand. Scar analysed the small black box on her hand before she opened it, and inside the box laid a single pill.

"So, System, how is this going to work?" asked Scar as she picked up the pill holding it between her fingers

[All you have to do is ingest the pill and you will give off an aura that will ward off, all the magical beasts, as well as cultivators, present in a 600 meters radius. Since all they will be able to sense is a dangerous lethal existence from you. Though, it won't be able to protect you from residue poisons and miasma, if there are any, where you pass through. Be sure to remember that the pill's effects will wear off in a day and that you can't enter any portals.]

"That's just wonderful!" Scar exclaimed sarcastically. "And I really want to know what exactly you think of me, after all, why would I enter any portals knowing how dangerous these worlds all are, how I wish I could cultivate. And you still won't tell me why I have to go there, without even having a way to return safely! Seriously, if I didn't have to escape from that scumbag of a family there is no way I would agree to do something like this, where I know practically nothing. I never thought that they would actually send people after me, though it was probably because of the poison." complained Scarlet

[After you finish the quest the Host will be able to know everything.]

Scar sat down on a shade, took ou some food and water and began to think while eating, she needed to rest and regain her strength. An average person is able to cover around 15 miles while running nonstop, before they are physically halted. It will take around 3 hours to cover 15 miles if I chose to run nonstop, while if I choose to walk for 15 miles it will take a little more than 6 hours but at least I won't need to stop. It will take around 35 miles for me to reach the innermost part of the forest, so even if I choose to walk I will still have time to spare and it won't be as tiring. Since I have the aura pill I won't have to worry about being attacked, so it will be just like an endurance test.

After she finished resting and eating, she got up, took out the pill and ate it.

"Ok, I have one entire day of walking ahead of me, let's start." said Scar trying to motivate herself

****

10 hours later

In the third layer of the Wingtar region, the middlemost part of the forest, a girl was leaning against a tree trunk with purple blue lips and paralysed legs.

"I still can't believe I got poisoned, and I don't even know how it happened. I was so close to reaching, there was only more 5 miles. Hey, System, can't you...I don't know...detoxify me or something?" Scarlet asked

[The Host was warned. You were poisoned by the residue poison of a Deathstalker Scorpion in the Qi condensation realm. It wasn't designed to kill, but to be used to paralyse its preys while the Scorpion stalks them, until they are unable to move, before killing them. Host is advised to make do with what you have and reach your destination. You have 14 hours before the effects of the pill wear off.]

"Considering it was only a residue and the pill is still working that beast can't be stalking me, it probably doesn't even know that someone got poisoned. System do you know how long this poison stays in my circulation or what is it made of? Though if you could tell me how to make an antidote it would be much better." Scar negotiated

[The system can't give free knowledge, but taking into account recent developments, the System will allow the Host to pay later. Please choose one of the followings: Information about the duration of the poison's effects (10 points). Information about the composition of the poison (20 points). Information about the antidote's recipe (40 points).]

"Points? What is that? How do I even get them? What can I use them for?" a string of questions left Scarlet's mouth before she could even think

[Please make your choice.]

"...And like always you never answer me. Fine! I want to know the duration of the poison's effects. After all, it is the cheapest and I won't even have to do anything if it leaves my circulation before the time the pill wears off." answered Scar

[Analysing answer. Host's current debt: 10 points. The Deathstalker Scorpion's poison has a duration period of 8 hours.]

"Fantastic! That is one of the best things you have said to me system. That means that I will still have 6 hours to cover only 5 miles! I am going to sleep during this time, well let's eat first before I am unable to move anything." said Scar, "System, you can wake me up in 8 hours right?" she asked

[Yes.]

****

11 hours later

"I am sure that this is already part of the fourth layer, so why aren't you saying anything System? I want this to end." said Scarlet

[You are correct in this being the fourth layer, but for you to complete the quest you have to establish yourself, so please find a space where you would like to live. Preferably a quiet place near the water and on flat ground.]

"You have definitely gone crazy to say that I will live here. Me!! I can't even cultivate, you should remember saying that right? I still want to live, it hasn't even been a month." she said

[And Host should remember that you still have a reward to receive.]

"Fine, let's get this over with." she said as she started looking around the first layer

After an hour she found a flat place with green grass and a small waterfall.

[Quest completed.]

[Reward for reaching the fourth layer of the Wingtar region and establish yourself: Heaven Courtyard.]

As soon as the System finished speaking, a bright light stronger and bigger than the one Scarlet witnessed appeared and a building started materializing as she had closed her eyes. When Scar opened them again she gasped at the amazing sight before her.

A golden building stood before her, there was 2 doors to enter, above one was written Medicine Hall and the other one was Cooking Hall. As she entered the Cooking Hall, what greeted her seemed to be a mix of a bar and a restaurant, there were tables with chairs, a counter with stolls and behind it was shelfs. What surprised her was that there was a modern kitchen behind this restaurant/ bar. As she continued with her tour, she came upon another door, and above it, was written Knowledge Hall, she entered it and came upon what seemed to be a library with numerous shelfs and books that were divided into five categories: Medicine/ Herbs, Magical Beasts, Cultivation, Cooking and Worldly Information. But the shelfs of this last category was empty and the vast majority of the books from the others were blurry. Beside this library was the Rest Hall, which was one bedroom and a bathroom. Whilst the last one, the Medicine Hall, there was a terrain to plant herbs and a consultation room.

So in total it was 4 big rooms, in the front were the Medicine and Cooking Hall, while behind them were the Knowledge and Rest Hall.

"I take it that now is the time where you will explain everything to me, right System?" Scarlet asked

[Like the System said in the beginning, you will survive by using your medical skills, cooking skills and information trade. In the Knowledge Hall there is books about everything known in the 7 worlds about four of the categories, though you don't have acess to all of them, you need points to unlock the books that are blurred, it is the same amount for every book no matter the information inside. Whereas for the last category, Worldly Information, that is where the information that you will aquire about the happenings of the 7 worlds will be put. All this knowledge will help your medical and cooking skill, as well as your information trade. You can also acquire the food to be used on your restaurant through the use of points, since the system will provide you with magical beast meat. As for how the Host can get points, that is through successful information trades, customers from the Cooking Hall asking to eat and drink your creations, and from people you cure and save from the Medicine Hall. The more important the information traded, the more complicated the cooking recipe and the more complex the medical operations, the more points the Host will receive. You will interact and attract people from all the 7 worlds, trade information to know about everything that happens, save/ cure different types of people and cook delicacy food and beverage that will gather all of them. Some of the basic books of each of the four categories are free for you to read.]

"That's great and l would really love it, but it will all be for nothing if I die, since it seems that you want me to live in one of this world's most dangerous zones, while having nothing to defend myself. The cultivators and magical beasts that can travel through this fourth layer are the strongest." said Scar

[Oh, it seems I forgot to mention that around 100 meters of the Heaven Courtyard no hostile beings can enter. The building will not let any individuals with ill intentions towards the Host to enter its premises, so the Host is warned to stay within the safety perimeter.]

"Isn't that just like a golden cage?!" Scar asked while almost screaming