Chapter 18: A Harsh Reminder

[Option 1: Take the Eclipse Orb and challenge Yang Lie to a life-and-death duel.

Reward: Beautiful Yellow Coffin (Rare Grade).]

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[Option 2: Take the Eclipse Orb and flee.

Reward: Phantom Blade Technique (Uncommon Grade).]

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[Option 3: Beg for their forgiveness and escape.

Reward: Fallen Star Saber (Uncommon Grade).]

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[Option 4: Beat them up and take the Eclipse Orb by force.

Reward: Eclipse Orb (Complete Version, Rare Grade).]

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Reon skimmed through the options the system presented, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement.

"Challenge Yang Lie... and the reward is a beautiful coffin?!" Reon muttered in disbelief. A Rare Grade item, sure, but it's literally asking me to die.

He scoffed, shaking his head. "No thanks, system. I'm not ready to pick out my grave decor just yet."

"Hmm, running away is doable, but the reward's not great. Just an Uncommon Grade sword technique? Meh, I've seen better. Feels like I'd be selling myself short here."

Reon wrinkled his nose at the thought. "Beg? Forgiveness? No way. There's absolutely no chance I'm going to grovel in front of these scumbags."

He paused, glancing at the reward. "And the prize is just a Uncommon Grade Saber? Are you kidding me? What kind of trash-tier reward is that?"

Finally, his gaze settled on the last option, his eyes lighting up.

"This... this is tempting," Reon thought, a grin slowly spreading across his face. Sure, it'll mean provoking Niu Ling ahead of schedule, but that confrontation was inevitable anyway. I swore I'd live for myself, not as someone else's pawn. His fists clenched in determination. "I might as well get it over with."

Besides, the reward was too good to ignore. In the original novel, Xue Taiyang had used the incomplete version of the Eclipse Orb to gain power equivalent to a Peak Stage Qi Solidification Realm cultivator, though it cost him his cultivation foundation.

Even crippled, he had become a temporary powerhouse, a force that left the outer sect in awe.

"And that was with the incomplete version. If I can complete it..." Reon's eyes gleamed with ambition. Who knows how strong I'll become?

He made his decision, straightening his posture with newfound confidence. "I'll take Option 4—beat them up, grab the Eclipse Orb, and rise above this mess. Time to show them I'm not the old Xue Taiyang anymore."

"This bastard is really begging for a beating," Xi Shen sneered, his eyes narrowing with cruel intent.

He glanced at the other disciples who stood by his side, cracking his knuckles as a malicious grin spread across his face. "Boys, get ready. We're going to teach him a lesson he won't forget today."

"Since it seems you can't grasp things through polite words, I guess I'll have to resort to a bit of violence," Reon said, his tone calm but laced with a hint of menace.

[Ding! The Host has selected the Fourth Option. Please proceed to complete the task in order to claim your reward.]

The system's voice echoed in Reon's mind, urging him forward as the tension in the air thickened.

"You're not walking away from this," Xi Shen growled, clenching his fists as his party prepared to strike.

Just as they were about to lunge, Reon's lips curled into a confident smile. Without hesitation, he summoned his trump card: the Mist Cloud Fox.

In an instant, a swirling mist enveloped the area, and the elegant, ethereal fox emerged from the haze, its silver fur shimmering.

Its glowing, intelligent eyes scanned the approaching enemies, a low growl escaping its throat as it stood protectively in front of Reon.

The group halted in their tracks, clearly unsettled by the sudden appearance of the beast. The Mist Cloud Fox's presence was enough to make them reconsider their reckless advance.

"Mist Cloud Fox, thrash them so badly they'll crawl back home!" Reon said with a smirk.

"What... What is this beast?" Xi Shen stammered, eyes wide in shock. "It's radiating such immense pressure!"

The Mist Cloud Fox darted forward, a blur of silver and mist, striking Xi Shen first. Its claws glowed faintly as they connected with his chest, sending him flying back with a pained gasp.

Before he could even hit the ground, the fox had already shifted its focus, its ethereal body twisting gracefully as it turned on the other disciples.

Two of them rushed forward in panic, but the Mist Cloud Fox effortlessly sidestepped their attacks, leaving a shimmering trail of mist in its wake. With a flick of its tail, the mist thickened, blinding the disciples momentarily.

Seizing the opportunity, the fox leapt into the air, crashing down on one disciple with its paws, slamming him into the ground with enough force to crack the earth beneath him.

Another disciple tried to flee, but the fox's sharp eyes caught his movement. It sent a swirling cloud of mist towards him, the vapor coiling around his legs like chains, yanking him back before delivering a swift kick that sent him sprawling.

Xi Shen, now struggling to stand, was met with the fox's gaze, its azure eyes glowing with intensity. As the Mist Cloud Fox advanced on him again, its form wreathed in mist, Xi Shen's face drained of color.

The disciples around him lay groaning in defeat, all brought low by the graceful yet terrifying beast. Each attack was swift, brutal, and precise, leaving no room for retaliation.