Attribute Farming System

'Hum, who cares about that bum anyway,' the drunken middle-aged man thought as he resumed his retelling of the events exactly as they happened. He explained the involvement of the Prodigal Children of the Water Deity Sect, using grand theatrics and falsities that were obviously exaggerated.

Even so, not a single morsel made a peep while the middle-aged man finished his storytelling. They had promised themselves not to lose themselves in the crazy codger's ramblings, but they couldn't resist the appeal of the off-chance that he actually was in the know about what happened six months ago—when the Fire and Lightning Nations first attacked.

Not much had been disclosed to the public concerning what occurred on that disastrous day. All anyone knew for sure was that the Fire and Lightning Nations might have attacked; beyond that, they weren't told anything.

Clearly, there were secrets surrounding the incident that the government didn't want them to know. And the people in the bar were well aware that the 2nd Stage Qi Condensation Realm middle-aged man was unlikely to have insight into something they didn't.

But as human nature dictated, none could forever dodge the temptations that extreme curiosity brought to the table.

Knox Falazar sat quietly in a corner, his dark hood pulled further down over his face. 'In my first lifetime, curiosity brought my people to the stars,' he mused, observing the middle-aged man. 'This guy is proficient in taking advantage of this aspect of innate human nature. Perhaps I should adopt something similar and try to farm Attribute Orbs as a storyteller.'

Then again, simply killing everyone he was trying to tell a story to would allot far more Attribute Points. Going for a more advanced clientele with high cultivation bases might work, but it seemed like too much of a hassle.

"Well, whatever," Knox whispered to himself, downing another cup of booze. "If my big sister was involved in that battle, then I suppose I have no choice but to go and verify that she's okay. Haiz… the woes of being an amazing younger brother…"

After chugging a couple more cups of booze, he pushed back his chair and wobbled toward the door. As soon as the door swung shut behind him, he vanished—his existence but a mere afterthought in the minds of the citizens who frequented the most popular bar in Cryfall City.

The city was very large and could be seen as one of the Top 20 Cities in the Water Kingdom. Within its walls resided hundreds of thousands of cultivators and tens of millions of mortals. And today—being more special than most days—was the day that a Child of the Water Deity Sect was supposed to grace the city with his visit.

[Tear-Drop Child] - [Ranked #104 among the Children of the Water Deity Sect] - [Ordinance Value: 9700 (Rank 280)]

[Age: 41]

[Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul Realm]

[Battle Power: Middle Nascent Soul Realm]

[Talent Level: Mid-Sky Grade]

[Main Technique: Ravenous Tear (Peak-Sky)]

The Prodigal Children of the Water Deity Sect were all top-notch geniuses found and adopted by the Founder of the Sect at or around birth. Each Child was rumored to possess cultivation talent of at least the Sky Grade. Furthermore, they were all typically extremely strong in terms of cultivation.

'And while in the process of leaving Cryfall City, I just so happen to encounter one of these very Prodigal Children of the Water Deity?' Knox thought as he matched the stare that the young-looking boy before him was focusing on him. 'How coincidental. A little bit too coincidental…'

He had just wanted to pick up a few barrels of the Crypeak Alcohol that he believed tasted divine. However, after carrying and walking away with the barrels, he was bewildered to find the Tear-drop Child waiting in the middle of the street.

It seemed as if the boy had been waiting there a long while.

A long, long while…

Without opening his eyes, Tear-drop Child began to speak. "I knew you'd be here, Fate-bearer."

Knox raised an eyebrow, forcing himself to sober up. "Fate-bearer? What do you mean by that? You some sort of cringy fortune-teller or something?"

Tear-Drop Child was not amused by his words. The tear tattoo under his left eye lit up slightly as the edges of his lips curved upward. His long blonde hair blew beneath the traveler's hat he wore, despite the absence of wind.

"Cool trick," Knox commented. "But if you keep on trying to show off, I'll show you the quickest way to the Underworld."

Tear-Drop Child's slight smile eased back into neutrality. His hair also stopped being wildly thrown around. "Knox Falazar," he began, his tone of voice not matching his youthful appearance. "A Fate-bearer is one with a higher-than-normal Fate Value. And though I can't discern exactly how high your Fate Value is with my limited cultivation, I know for certain that yours is higher than mine. And I'm a Child of the Water Deity—a Child of Fate."

"Woah, narcissistic much?" Knox asked, unimpressed. "Anyhoo, this Fate-bearer and Fate Value stuff is cool and all, but the only thing I wanna know is why the hell you're looking at me like that."

Tear-Drop Child touched his mouth, realizing that he had let his urges get the better of him.

Observing the wide, predatory smile, Knox curled his lips in disgust. "You being a middle-aged man in a ten-year-old's body is already bad enough, but looking at me like that? Man, I just wanna punch you so badly right now."

Tear-Drop Child calmed his emotions enough to indifferently say, "Since the Founder—our God—saved me from an inferior family of mortals, I have been taught in the Ways of Fate. I know how to see it, how to manipulate it, and how to… use the Fate of others for my own benefit."

"You're saying a whole lot of bullsh*t, dude," Knox said, a frown forming as his other personality resurfaced. "I don't have the time to deal with your nonsense. I don't care if you're a Master of Fate or the Sith Lord controller of the Force—if you keep staring at me like that, I'll kill you."