Achievement System, Arena Shop, Principal's Generosity!

It took Jiang Liu over half an hour to fight his way from 10,000th place to 1st in the Arena, his paper figure's sword getting completely worn out in the process.

Fortunately, the system didn't throw any powerful NPCs at him to stop his ascent. The NPC who was originally in first place was only at Qi Refining Layer 9, so he was easily defeated.

If they had sent a Foundation Establishment Stage NPC to annoy him, he would have had to complain.

[Congratulations on reaching 1st place in this server's Arena and obtaining the achievement 'Ascend to the Peak'.]

"It even gave me an achievement?"

Jiang Liu was a bit surprised. He had been playing for so many days and this was his first achievement. Did the game really make achievements this hard to get, only rewarding the top spot in the Arena?

And where was the achievement system anyway?

He first exited the Arena and looked around the game interface for a bit before noticing a red dot lighting up near his avatar in the top left corner.

After clicking on his avatar, he saw the achievement system tucked away in a corner. It was clear it wasn't considered important game content.

Clicking on the [Achievements] tab, he saw that all the numerous achievements were grayed out. Even the requirements and names of the achievements were not displayed.

"This achievement system is probably some kind of collectible easter egg, right?"

Jiang Liu guessed, scrolling down. He finally found the only achievement that was lit up.

[Ascend to the Peak]: Obtained upon reaching 1st place in this server's Arena. Grants +5% All Attribute Increase.

"Holy crap!"

When he saw the bonus stats for this achievement, his eyes widened, and he instinctively cursed in his native tongue.

This, this, this. This achievement system is too awesome!

All Attribute Increase, now that's important game content. Why aren't the programmers rushing to put the achievement system on the main interface? Stuffing it in a sub-menu of the avatar? Who are they looking down on!

"No, wait. My being 1st on the level leaderboard is way more prestigious than being 1st in the Arena. Why didn't the 1st place on the level leaderboard get an achievement?"

Jiang Liu grumbled. Seeing the boost from a single achievement made him itchy. From today on, I'm a collector! I have a collecting obsession! I want the full achievement gallery!

Closing the achievement interface, he returned to the Arena. Now that he was in first place, his name had replaced the previous occupant in the top challenge slot in the center of the Arena interface.

Below his paper figure, the daily rewards were displayed. First place earned 2000 Arena Coins per day.

What could Arena Coins be exchanged for?

Jiang Liu opened the Arena Shop in the bottom left corner. After a quick scan, he was filled with disdain.

Random Top-grade Spirit Root Fragment: 10,000 Arena Coins, limited to 1 per week.

Regular Gacha Ticket: 1000 Arena Coins, limited to 3 per week.

Limited Gacha Ticket: 1200 Arena Coins, limited to 3 per week.

Mysterious Stone from Beyond the Heavens: Xuan-tier Artifact Refining material, 50 Arena Coins, limited to 100 pieces per week.

Thousand-year Spirit Grass: Xuan-tier Alchemy material, 50 Arena Coins, limited to 100 stalks per week.

Mysterious Black Stone, Hundred-year Spirit Grass. There were a bunch of other random materials listed after that, all things that could be bought with money.

The most expensive grand prize was just a Top-grade Spirit Root Fragment, and it was random!

Damn it, they can even break and sell Spirit Roots?

The developers are truly geniuses.

"This Arena Shop is basically just for free-to-play players to get Top-grade Spirit Root Fragments. It's really useless for paying players."

Jiang Liu sighed, the joy of reaching first place significantly diminished. While most games' free shops are filled with trash, you should at least throw in a few items that paying players might find useful!

Stuffing in a pile of junk, what's the point of me playing in the Arena?

Is it just for showing off?

Actually, yes. Isn't the Arena just for showing off?

"Alright, I won't need to collect materials for Alchemy or Artifact Refining anymore. I'll just sweep the Arena Shop."

Jiang Liu shook his head. He could get 14,000 Arena Coins a week. Materials for Fa-tier Artifact Refining and Alchemy cost 10 Arena Coins each, and Xuan-tier materials cost 50 Arena Coins each. That would be enough for him to splurge.

After reaching first place in the Arena and glancing at the Arena Shop, he suddenly felt a sense of boring emptiness. Looking at the NPCs in the challenge slots, he felt lost.

The game content unlocked at Qi Refining Layer 9 was finished.

One leaderboard and one Arena, this game isn't that engaging.

Give me some opponents to fight!

Where are the God-Tier Players? Hurry up and buy spirit stones to level up! Can't the players in the four servers support you whales?

Where are the free-to-play players? Hurry up and sell your spirit stones to improve your lives! Earning five or six spirit stones a day, what kind of immortal cultivation is this? Might as well eat and drink well for a few decades!

"Pah, pah, pah! I can't have thoughts like that, it's too indulgent! Jiang Liu, Jiang Liu, you can't get carried away!"

Jiang Liu shook his head, closed the Arena, and opened the Social function.

Instead of overthinking, might as well do some Gacha. Is Uncle here? The Parkour King has arrived.

[Jiang Liu]: Principal, I have fulfilled my mission. The Parkour King was obtained without any major incidents.

[Zheng Weiguo]: Good! I knew I wasn't wrong about you!

[Zheng Weiguo]: Student Jiang, you are the pride of our Third Middle School! We'll give you an award at the school-wide morning assembly on Monday. Prepare your acceptance speech.

[Jiang Liu]: Emmmm, that's not necessary. Let's keep it low-key, low-key. I'm not the type to show off.

[Jiang Liu]: So, about those fifty draws?

An award ceremony speech at the school-wide morning assembly?

The mere thought sent goosebumps all over Jiang Liu's body. "Uncle, please don't mess around like that. I get stage fright. You wouldn't want me to be a no-show at the assembly, would you?"

Two seconds later, a trade request popped up. Now that was more like it.

Jiang Liu accepted the trade. The dazzling 600 spirit stones nearly blinded him.

600 spirit stones! A 60,000 consumption quota!

I'm going to drain the permanent pool!

[Jiang Liu]: Thank you, Principal. I encountered Edward, the top student from First Middle School, during the parkour event and took him down. I didn't bring shame to our school.

[Zheng Weiguo]: Really?

[Jiang Liu]: Really. You can verify it.

One second later, another trade request appeared. The Principal sent him another 120 spirit stones.

[Zheng Weiguo]: Well done! On behalf of the school, I'll sponsor you another ten draws.

[Jiang Liu]: My Grandpa is over seventy this year. He has a top-grade Wood Spirit Root Aptitude. Do you think he could be specially recruited? I personally think the school could also support him.

[Zheng Weiguo]: ?????

[Jiang Liu]: It's okay if you don't recruit him. How about you two become sworn brothers? Otherwise, these spirit stones feel like they're burning a hole in my hand.

[Zheng Weiguo]: A natural top-grade Wood Spirit Root? He's recommended by a friend. It's a bit difficult for him to be a student at his age, but he could be listed as a director at the school and receive a salary.

Having secured over seven hundred spirit stones from the Principal and found a job for his Grandpa, Jiang Liu felt his relationship with the school had deepened. He felt like he'd hit the jackpot and happily rushed into the Gacha interface.

With over seven hundred spirit stones in hand and a consumption quota of over seventy thousand, he was determined to drain the permanent pool today!

A Five Elements Top-grade Spirit Root, with all Five Elements complete, would be his today!

Jiang Liu's eyes were fixed on the five colorful pillars on the permanent pool interface. He took a deep breath and silently chanted, "Amitabha, reincarnated as the Emperor of Luck, Golden Cicada."

Golden light emerged!

Please beg for follow-up reads and monthly votes on Tuesday! Today is the most crucial day! Please, big brothers, pity your little brother!