Corrupt Creations

Chapter 20 - Progressing

After waiting for 10 or so minutes, Meiyi arrived at the Central plaza and after meeting with Seth, they directly headed to the Weapon Pavillion. When they had passed the exam, they were given some different tokens. One would let you draw a weapon from the Weapon Pavillion. The second would let them get a skill from the library, and the third one would award them resources.

Their first stop was at the Weapon Pavillion. This building was divided into two sections, the first floor allowed inner and core disciples to choose a weapon of their liking. These weapons would be traded with a red token that had a formation that proved its integrity. These tokens would be earned doing some merit deeds, quests and such. Rising to the inner sect would award you one.

The second floor though, it was only for core members and elders. It would contain the best magic weapons. Seth asked Lexi to check if any of these weapons had birthed a spirit, but they were only normal magic fortified weapons. They could cut through metal as if it was tofu, but such weapon would not have any incredible skill.

Although Seth was expecting this outcome, Meiyi on the other side was excited. These weapons were not cheap to come by. They sure were a level below weapons that had a spirit, but the sheer price and rarity of the materials used to craft them, was enough to live a normal life without worries.

Meiyi searched through the entire first floor, trying to find a suitable weapon, until she came across a silver sword that had a magic light blue hue on it. But before she could grab the sword, Seth slapped her hand.

"I like this one." He quickly took the sword with a nonchalant expression.

Meiyi stare almost killed him on the spot.

"First come first served." He avoided any kind of retaliation she threw at him and went to the person in charge of the first floor, registering his acquisition.

The pitiful girl could only go with her second option. A red sword with a weak flame aura on it.

Their next stop was the Flame Stone Library.

This place was a bit special. It was where one would redeem a "skillbook". These skillbooks were actually some shinning red colored stones. When one poured some Qi inside them, they would be able to absorb the knowledge inside their mind, training and mastering it after. It would generate images and texts inside your head to help you on refining the skill until reaching expertise.

These stones contained a high amount of information, most of them were flame techniques or some other battle techniques. They were all fire-based though, some were non-elemental, but there were no other element skillbooks here.

Yet again the same scene played. Meiyi fancied a skillbook that would enhance her sword arts, but just as she was about to get it, Seth slapped her hand and stole it from her.

"You!!! Shameless! Hmph!"

She got mad and went to grab her second option, it was called Evasive Dash, a skillbook with a footwork technique inside, a great choice for survivability.

After reporting to the person in charge and trading the skillbook with their tokens, they left to the third destination. The mood between them was sour. Meiyi was walking behind Seth, and the latter could feel that if he laid his guard down, he would be pierced to death by her stare alone.

When they reached the Resources Management Building, Seth was drenched in sweat.

He went ahead and took his share from the person in charge. He was given some cultivation resources. It contained some herbs that had some mild advantages to the cultivator. Some would relieve your body of stress when applied on the bath, allowing a person's body to regenerate a lot faster and getting stronger on the process. Other herbs would help you with your absorbing rate of Qi and many others with similar proprieties.

There was some currency. Skystones. Transparent bluish stones that stored some Qi. People thought they were gifts from heaven, so they name it Skystone. The disciples could either trade them for goodies or absorb the energy within. The ones Seth and Meiyi received were lower grade Skystones. They were given ten Skystones each, enough for a month of abundance.

Last but not least, they received some fire-resistant robes for inner-sect disciples and other everyday-life things ranging from simple food until hygiene.

After getting their loot, Meiyi prepared to head back home and lock Seth outside, giving him a taste of how it is to sleep on the street. But before she could do so, Seth stopped her, took out the sword and the skillbook he stole from her and all the resources he got, only keeping the male robes.

"My princess, please accept this gift, it comes from my heart!" After taking out all the loot, and keeling in one knee he presented it all to her.

"Ah..." She was at a loss of word.

It turned out that he was actually getting what she wanted before she could grab it, to present it as a gift after.

After feeling lost, came the warm feeling and the she was at a loss again.

"What about you then..." She asked worriedly.

"I don't need anything." Seth was actually telling the truth. Everything he got here was not what he needed or wanted.

Alas, she understood it wrongly, she took it as him being humble.

"No, I can't accept it!"

Seth then with a dejected expression, took the items, went to the nearest trash bin and was about to throw everything away.

"Stop! I get it, I'll accept your gift..." She was dumbfounded by his actions.

Seth then went and gave her everything. He took this opportunity to advance their relationship. It has been almost four months that he met her. Through all the time they spent together he started to develop some real interest in her.

Advancing one step, he hugged her and slowly approaching, kissed her on the lips, mildly.

"Meiyi, I want you to be my girlfriend." He said while looking her in the eyes.

"I..." She wanted to say yes, but felt unprepared. She had already passed the blushing state, trying to comprehend the entire picture.

Seth saw that she was a bit uncertain so he added: "Meiyi, we don't need to rush anything, you can take your time, just grant me the chance to be together with you."

She looked back at those black and profound eyes that were deeper than the night. She didn't know what part of her attracted him. There were much more things on him that attracted her than the other way. Finally, she felt like she was the one that could offer less, but even so, he was the one asking her out.

So, she steeled her resolve and happily gave her response.

"Okay."