My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world

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Before the conversation could continue, a ragged figure in the background let out a triumphant shout: "Grandpa Yang Li, beat them all! We're unstoppable!" The voice belonged to none other than Fatty Li, a portly underling who had somehow fallen in with Nima's chaotic entourage. Hearing him call Yang Li "Grandpa" again drew a collective stunned silence.

Kent thinks, "So, you are nexus Yang Li's grandson. This is how you are related."

Yang Li merely gave a noncommittal grunt, choosing not to scold him for now. He had a rule to never reveal your relationship at work. Instead, he turned to Kent. "Kid, if you're done with your family squabble, come help me gather the injured. We need to regroup, and quickly. The dark alliance could mount a counterattack any minute now."

Kent nodded vigorously, relieved to step away from Nima's wrath and the awkwardness of Fatty Li's outburst. But as he moved, Nima clutched his sleeve. "Listen," she hissed in a near-whisper, her earlier fury laced with genuine concern. "Don't you dare vanish on me again. I've had enough of your comedic routine. If you think leveling up to Level‑C is enough to keep me from scolding you next time, you're sorely mistaken."

"I promise, I won't vanish again," Kent said softly, meeting her gaze. He paused, searching her face for any sign of forgiveness. Instead, he found a swirl of tension, relief, and a grudging admiration at his newfound power. "And… sorry. Really. I'm just trying to do my part."

Nima nodded, letting go of his sleeve. "You need to give me some snacks money as an apology." Then, her tone hardened once more. "Now go. We'll talk about the amount later and about my beasts and your half-baked ideas, once the Ruin Core is fully under control. I'm not leaving these ruins without them, you understand?"

Kent shook his head but allowed a small, lopsided grin. "Understood, Big Boss Nima." With that final word, he darted off to aid Yang Li, weaving between the rubble and unconscious foes still sprawled across the floor.

Behind him, Nima turned to her enormous entourage of beasts and battered underlings, barking orders to search for survivors and gather all treasure they found. Auri flitted overhead, occasionally letting out a shrill chirp that signaled the all-clear or a point of interest. Fatty Li, for his part, kept a cautious distance from the larger creatures, though he cast anxious glances at Nima, no doubt worried about further scoldings or the threat of her savage menagerie.

As Kent crossed the chamber to help Yang Li, his mind was a tumult of conflicting emotions. The digital pop-ups of SP notifications still flashed in his peripheral vision, each one a silent testament to his comedic success in battle. Yet the new price of one Cultivation Fruit 100 million SP loomed like a dark cloud, inside his mind. He needed to find a method to farm SP at an even faster rate, or risk stagnating here at Level‑C.

But there was also a sense of warmth in his chest, a reassurance that he wasn't alone. Yes, Nima was furious, and yes, her scheme to maintain an army of beasts was insane, but she was still his little sister. Auri was still his pet bird. Even Yang Li, in his gruff, paternal manner, had shown a measure of acceptance. Perhaps, after all the comedic scuffles and wild gambles, he still had a place among them. He still had a shot at forging a path that balanced irreverent humor with genuine heroism.

"Focus, Kid," Yang Li's voice came, snapping him out of his reverie. The older cultivator was bent over one of the wounded fighters—an ally, fortunately—trying to hoist them to a safer spot away from the center of the ruin. "For now, see if any stragglers from the dark alliance remain in these side corridors. We can't afford an ambush." The request was straightforward, yet behind the words lingered an echo of trust. Yang Li was relying on him.

Kent nodded. "Got it." And for once, he managed to keep his comedic remarks to a minimum. He scanned the edges of the chamber, searching for any sign of movement among the broken statues or the collapsed arch ways. Every so often, he glimpsed a bruise-faced dark alliance fighter struggling to crawl away, or a disarmed foe who lay moaning in pain. Kent stepped in methodically, ensuring they were disarmed and no immediate threat to those still standing.

A hush slowly reclaimed the battlefield as the dust settled. In the center, Nima's retinue started setting up a temporary base, a staging area amid the battered columns, with the beasts maintaining a perimeter. The presence of so many monstrous creatures gave the entire scene an almost surreal air—like a warped menagerie placed in the heart of an ancient, sacred temple.

From that vantage, it became clear how drastically the dynamic had changed. The dark alliance had been driven back, at least for the moment, and in their stead, an alliance, fragile yet spirited—had formed among Nima, Kent, Yang Li, and the rest. Each had their own motives, their own brand of irreverent humor or fierce determination, but together, they stood a chance of fully cleansing the Ruin Core of enemies and discovering whatever hidden secrets it harbored.

In the midst of it all, Kent found himself stooping beside an unconscious dark alliance cultivator, half-smiling in the knowledge that just hours ago, he'd have been too weak to hold his ground here. Now, at Level‑C, the comedic style that once seemed trivial had proven effective in the real fight.

Yet a pinprick of worry remained embedded in his chest: how to level up further, how to reach the lofty heights of Level‑B. When each Cultivation Fruit now carried a 100-million SP price tag. He exhaled, forcibly brushing the worry aside.

A gentle chirp from above alerted him to Auri's presence. The small bird's eyes were glimmering with a mixture of relief and a silent question: "Are you okay?" Kent reached up to lightly stroke Auri's uninjured wing. "I'm fine," he said softly, "just… a little overwhelmed." The bird responded with a soft purr, as if encouraging him to keep going.

From across the chamber, Nima caught sight of Kent's interaction with Auri and let out a short, irritated sigh. She raised her arm, a hulking, snake-like beast came to her side. Without glancing at Kent, she called out in a brusque voice, "I'm taking these guys to scout the western corridor. Don't vanish, or I'll hunt you down myself. Understand?"

Kent offered a meek wave of acknowledgement. The swirl of leftover tension between them still stung, but it was overshadowed by the sense of relief that they had at least found each other again. He watched as Nima led her improbable menagerie deeper into the shadows, her presence as commanding as any general. A sense of irony tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Sigh! who would've guessed my little sister would become an unstoppable beast-taming tyrant?"

As the chamber continued to quiet, Kent realized that if the dark alliance mounted another offensive, they wouldn't do so soon. They'd retreated too far, and their morale had been shattered by the flamboyant synergy of comedic unpredictability and seasoned discipline that Yang Li and he had unleashed. For now, a precarious calm lay over the Ruin Core like a thin veil.

Yang Li approached Kent, sheathing his sword with a tired grunt. "Kid, you've done well, but this place is hardly safe. Keep your eyes open. The day isn't over. And if you see your sister about to do something reckless, try to talk sense into her. She is my future disciple, I need to make sure she stays safe." There was concern in his eyes, a paternal hint that made Kent almost snort with laughter at the memory of Fatty Li calling him "Grandpa."

"I'll do my best," Kent replied, acknowledging the near-fatherly vibe behind those words. "But Nima… well, she's got her own mind about everything, don't worry. I don't think she will ever agree to be your disciple. "

Yang Li gets shocked. "What!, don't joke with me. She will take me as her master."

Kent said nothing, his chest tight with a laugh and worry. He thinks about how Yang Li will react when Nima rejects him. "It will be a fun show to watch. But what if this old guy gets mad and forces her? I am not strong enough to protect her." But he knew that once Nima set her mind to something, No can change her mind. He'd have to find a compromise, or a plan so cunning that no one could force them.

Resting a hand gently on the hilt of his dagger, he nodded at Yang Li. "I'll put some good words for you. Good luck! In the meantime, let's salvage what we can from this area. If there's any hidden loot or leftover relics, we should gather them before the dark alliance tries to regroup."