The entrance hall of the Human Alliance building was vast and echoing, dwarfing Tasin as he stepped inside. Gleaming chrome surfaces reflected the bright internal lighting, and cultivators of various ages and apparent strengths moved with purpose across the polished floor. The air hummed faintly with contained energy.
Feeling a mix of awe and inadequacy, Tasin instinctively activated his Gaze of Providence, scanning the people nearby.
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Name: Jian Hao
Age: 29
Cultivation: Tier 2 Shape (Early Stage)
Talent: Bright
Skills: [Advanced Swordsmanship], [Energy Bolt Projection]... (5 more)
Luck Value: Medium-High (Stable)
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Name: Elara Vance
Age: 45
Cultivation: Tier 2 Astral (Mid Stage)
Talent: Radiant
Skills: [Psionic Shielding], [Mind Probe (Intermediate)]... (8 more)
Luck Value: High (Slightly Rising)
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Name: Gorok Stonefist
Age: 62
Cultivation: Tier 1 Core (Peak Stage)
Talent: Standard
Skills: [Heavy Fist Style], [Basic Earth Armor]
Luck Value: Medium (Stable)
Tasin sighed inwardly. Even the guy stuck at Core stage had Standard talent, lightyears ahead of his own 'Dim' rating. Bright, Radiant... These people were on completely different tracks. He felt like a snail watching starships warp past. The feeling of being the weakest intensified.
Shaking off the gloom, he followed the directional signs towards the 'Resource Exchange & Procurement' sector. He approached a reception desk staffed by a woman in a crisp Alliance uniform.
"Welcome to the Human Alliance Resource Exchange," she greeted with a professional smile. "Are you looking to buy or sell today, sir?"
"Buying," Tasin replied.
"Certainly. For general purchases, please proceed to the automated transaction kiosks to your right. Select an available room for a private and secure transaction." She gestured towards a row of identical doors.
Tasin nodded and walked over. He selected a door marked 'Available', which slid open silently. The room inside was small, bare, containing only a comfortable chair facing a large wall screen and a scanner slot. Definitely not the VIP lounge experience. The door slid shut behind him, bathing the room in soft light.
A calm, synthesized voice spoke from hidden speakers. «Welcome, valued customer. Please state your requirements or use the interface screen to browse available commodities.»
"Show me listings for low-grade energy crystals, basic healing potions, standard nutrient bars, and low-capacity spatial pouches," Tasin instructed.
The screen flickered, displaying images and data. Tasin focused his Gaze of Providence on each category.
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Item: Low-Grade Cosmic Energy Crystal (Grade F)
Purity: Standard (Minimal impurities)
Energy Content: Approx. 10 units standard cosmic energy
Use: Cultivation aid, basic device power source
Price: 100 Credits per unit
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Item: F-Grade Revitalization Draught
Potency: Weak
Effect: Minor stamina recovery, negligible wound healing
Side Effects: Mild nausea (15% chance)
Use: Emergency fatigue relief for Tier 1
Price: 50 Credits per dose
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Item: Alliance Standard Nutrient Paste Ration Bar (Synth-Beef Flavor)
Nutritional Value: Basic Survival Needs Met
Taste Profile: Tolerable
Shelf Life: 5 Standard Years
Price: 5 Credits per bar
[Target Scan Initiated...]
Item: Low-Capacity Spatial Pouch (0.5 Cubic Meter)
Grade: Common
Stability: Moderate (Avoid storing volatile items)
Durability: Average
Price: 2000 Credits
The spatial pouch was tempting but too expensive right now. The potions and food were cheap, but not his priority. His goal was points. Energy crystals seemed like the best bet – standardized, easily quantifiable energy.
He did the math quickly. He had 5120.63 Credits. Keeping around 50 for emergencies... that left him with just over 5000.
"Purchase fifty Low-Grade Cosmic Energy Crystals," Tasin confirmed.
«Processing transaction. 50 units of Low-Grade Cosmic Energy Crystal at 100 Credits each. Total: 5000 Credits. Deducting from linked account. Thank you for your purchase.»
A small compartment below the screen slid open, revealing fifty small, faintly glowing blue crystals neatly arranged in a tray. Tasin quickly scooped them into the cheap synth-fabric bag he carried. His communicator confirmed the deduction, leaving him with a meager 120.63 Credits.
He exited the transaction room and the Alliance building, blending back into the city crowds. He couldn't multiply the crystals today – he'd already used his daily charge upgrading the cultivation technique. He needed to wait until tomorrow. Patience, Tasin, patience.
Returning to his apartment, the familiar feeling of solitude wrapped around him. He carefully placed the bag of crystals on his small table, then sat on the edge of his bed.
[Host,] Iris's voice suddenly sounded in his mind, startling him slightly. [The 'Nebula Heart Sutra' is currently dormant in your storage. Learning it would be advisable if you intend to progress beyond your current laughable state.]
Right! The technique! "System, retrieve the Nebula Heart Sutra."
[Ding! Do you wish to learn the High-Grade Cultivation Technique: Nebula Heart Sutra?]
"Yes! Learn it!" Tasin confirmed eagerly.
Instantly, a torrent of complex information flooded his mind – intricate energy pathways, breathing rhythms, visualization patterns mimicking swirling nebulae. It wasn't painful like the eye implant, but it was overwhelming, like trying to download an entire library directly into his brain. He instinctively closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, allowing the knowledge to settle.
After a few minutes, the flow subsided, leaving behind a perfect understanding of the technique. He took a deep breath, attempting the first cycle according to the Sutra's instructions.
Immediately, he felt a difference. The faint wisps of cosmic energy he could usually sense in the air seemed... thicker, more eager. As he inhaled and circulated the energy according to the Nebula Heart Sutra, he felt it flow into him at a rate easily five or six times faster than his old Basic technique. The energy felt purer, smoother, nourishing his underdeveloped pathways.
"Wow..." he breathed out. Just one cycle felt more effective than an hour of his previous meditation. "This is just a High-Grade technique... Imagine what Profound, Celestial, or those mythical Genesis ones are like!" He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy for the true geniuses and powerhouses who likely cultivated such legendary methods from birth.
"Iris? Are you still integrating?" he asked hopefully. No reply. Just the cool, quiet presence remained. Shrugging, he picked up his wrist communicator, deciding to catch up on some local news while he waited for the energy from the practice cycle to settle.
He scrolled through headlines – political squabbles, new tech releases, monster sightings in the outer districts. He saw a feature on promising graduates from the city's main cultivation academy – a few names he vaguely recognized from his own college days were listed, already reaching Tier 2: Shape. Another pang of bitterness hit him.
He switched to a popular city-wide forum, browsing random discussions. Then, one title caught his eye: "Three Years Wasted! Jin Li dumps Scrap Talent Boyfriend for Rich Young Master!"
Intrigued, he clicked on it. The post, written with considerable vitriol by someone claiming to be the dumped boyfriend's friend, detailed a classic story. Boy (apparently named Fang Hao) and Girl (Jin Li) were childhood sweethearts, together for three years. Jin Li had 'Bright' talent and was considered a class beauty, steadily progressing. Fang Hao, however, had 'Dim' talent, even worse than Tasin's initial self-assessment for his age, and his cultivation stagnated deep in the 'Sense' stage despite hard work.
[Hard work?] Iris's voice suddenly chimed in his mind, dripping with sarcasm. [Compared to your own rigorous schedule of waiting tables and feeling sorry for yourself, perhaps. Though 'Dim' talent is indeed pathetic.]
Tasin ignored her, continuing to read. Jin Li, seeing no future potential in Fang Hao and apparently dazzled by the advances of a wealthy second-generation cultivator from a prominent family, had publicly dumped Fang Hao, humiliating him. Now she was constantly seen with the rich guy. The post was full of sympathy for Fang Hao and condemnation for the "gold-digging" Jin Li.
Many couples broke up over mismatched potential or financial status, it was common. But something about this story... Dim talent protagonist, beautiful girlfriend with higher talent, public breakup and humiliation, rich rival...
Wait a second... Tasin's eyes widened. Poor talent but hardworking? Public humiliation? Class beauty girlfriend leaving for a rich rival? This isn't just a forum post... this smells exactly like a protagonist template!
Could this Fang Hao be one of those 'Children of Luck' Iris mentioned? The timing felt too convenient.
"Hahaha!" A grin spread across Tasin's face. "No need to go searching! Looks like a potential Luck source just fell right into my lap!"
He immediately started searching the forum and the city network, cross-referencing names, looking for any information he could find on Fang Hao and Jin Li. He needed confirmation, and if this kid was a Child of Luck, Tasin needed to know everything about him before making his move.
This is the finish of chapter