First Entry into Ixialia

Chapter 2: 2 Entry into Ixialia

After finishing the dance, feeling the power of the Water Element flowing around him, Yuan Chen felt the joy from the element more clearly than ever before...

'Your dance has formed a closer connection with the Water Element. Axiom of Water · Elementalist level UP, increased to LV2!'

'You have deepened your resonance with the spirits of all things. Dancer level UP, increased to LV6!'

'Your Joy has been replenished. Oshirresh cast a look of approval, but it was fleeting. Your sense of emptiness has been dispelled, and your mood has been elevated.'

'You have unlocked regional reputation in Ixialia, level UP! Increased to LV1!'

Hearing the notification sounds in his mind, Yuan Chen exhaled a deep breath of turbid air. Then, his gaze swept towards the distant coastline, his eyes narrowing, and he vaguely sensed something was amiss.

One of the reasons Yuan Chen could survive tenaciously in this world was the golden finger he awakened at the age of three... It was similar to a system, but different from ordinary systems. This system was a piece of game software he had created in his previous life, capable of visualizing hidden data.

With his transmigration, this golden finger also allowed Yuan Chen to accurately grasp the progress of his cultivation and determine if he was going down the wrong path based on that progress. By saving time on detours, Yuan Chen's growth speed was extremely rapid compared to his peers.

However, Yuan Chen also knew that this was only a temporary advantage. Because in this hellhole called Runeterra, to obtain truly top-tier power, like Aurelion Sol, Bard, or even those only mentioned in fragments of lore...

To achieve such power, one could no longer rely solely on avoiding detours.

Comprehension, luck, and willpower were all indispensable... and luck accounted for more than eighty percent.

Judging from the system's prompts, he should have drifted to the minor region of Ixialia... Damn it, compared to Ionia, Ixialia was on the other side of the world of Runeterra, a distant continent!

It was called a minor region because the heroes of Ixialia were favorites among many game boosters, such as Nidalee and Gnar. Along with Ekko from Zaun and the spider from the Shadow Isles, they were collectively known as the "Four Heavenly Kings of Minor Regions."

More importantly, the increase in regional reputation meant he had definitely been discovered.

Because regional reputation at level one represented being unknown, with only a few people having seen or heard of him. Even so, Yuan Chen still felt a bit surprised... because level one at least represented a degree of favorability.

Unlike the city-states on Ionia and the Valoran Continent, Ixialia, located on the continent of Shurima, was pedantic and conservative. For these tribal empires living in primeval forests, all outsiders could only bring disease and war.

This extreme xenophobia was prevalent from the king down to the common people. Under such circumstances, upon discovering an outsider like himself, the regional reputation should have been rejection at level -1. Yet now, he had received positive recognition?

As he thought this, Yuan Chen's brow furrowed slightly in contemplation. But rather than pondering this, Yuan Chen felt it was better to confirm his own condition first.

With that thought, Yuan Chen quickly opened the system's personal data panel. Immediately, the attributes and skill levels of his body appeared before his eyes.

Name: Yuan Chen.

Status: Slightly fatigued, Demon's Curse.

Profession: Dancer LV6 / Elementalist LV2 / Demon Agent LV1.

Equipment: Worn Ionian Tunic (No Grade) / Worn Ionian Shorts (No Grade) / Spiritwood Bracer (Exquisite).

Skills: Ethereal Echo (Exquisite):

The equipment skill from the Spiritwood Bracer. When equipped, the Dancer class will emit harmonious rhythms according to the beat while dancing, increasing resonance with the spirits of all things. It is a symbol of the Great Dancers of Prestation.

Trait: Joyful Blessing (Epic):

A demon's curse/blessing from the Lord of Joy, Oshirresh. Your emotions will forever be uplifted and joyful. Increases the level of the Elemental Axiom of Water by +1. After reaching LV7, the level bonus will convert into Oshirresh's experience and knowledge of the Axiom of Water.

After confirming his condition, Yuan Chen breathed a sigh of relief--

Thanks to Oshirresh's Demon's Blessing, his understanding of the Axiom of Water was greatly strengthened, and he could directly manipulate water sources, bypassing the limitations of the Elemental Axiom.

Otherwise, relying solely on the dilapidated small boat beneath him, his status bar would likely have accumulated negative statuses like "dehydrated," "hungry," and "exhausted."

As he was thinking, through his perception of the sea currents, Yuan Chen clearly noticed a small boat emerging from the bay in the distance.

It flew the flag of Ixialia, and a group of young people stood on the boat, holding harpoons and looking vigilantly at Yuan Chen's small vessel. Although it was just a small fishing boat, the underwater currents within its path all fluctuated and changed simultaneously.

These changes were not strong, but they were all beneficial to the fishing boat's navigation.

At the same time, around Yuan Chen's small boat, young people emerged from the water one after another, their eyes filled with curiosity, wariness, and surprise as they looked at the strangely dressed foreigner.

These young people wore clothes with a distinct Ixialian style. Their upper bodies were bare, covered from the collarbones up to the neck with leather armor. The lower half was similar, wearing leather skirts and waistbands of the same style, with their chests completely exposed to the air.

The material for this leather armor likely came from some large deep-sea fish. Yuan Chen was so sure because he had eaten plenty of fresh deep-sea catches during his past time...

Ixialia had no army, so they should just be ordinary fishermen. This could be seen from the harpoons in their hands--not made of steel, but with bone handles and sharp shells.

A leader-like figure stood at the bow of the fishing boat, gazing at Yuan Chen.

He was not tall or old, likely only around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, similar in age to Yuan Chen. He had a sturdy build, perhaps due to Ixialia's tropical rainforest climate, or perhaps due to a life of fishing and hunting by the sea, which made the youth's skin appear somewhat dark under the sun.

"Who are you? Where are you from? Why have you come here!"

The young leader on the fishing boat looked at Yuan Chen vigilantly. Although he said "vigilantly," his eyes surprisingly lacked much fear; instead, there was a hint of curiosity in them... This quickly made Yuan Chen realize something.

That is, Ixialia might be generally xenophobic, but that didn't mean everyone was. The pursuit of knowledge is human nature.

At least, Yuan Chen didn't feel any hostility from these young people... but if the object were the elders and superiors of this country, that would be another matter.

As people grow old, they tend to become conservative and resistant to change.

"I suffered a shipwreck! I'm from Ionia, and I hope for your help!"

Yuan Chen said with a helpless expression, "I am a... uh, scholar from Ionia. I was originally heading to Sudaraya Island to study, but I was unexpectedly attacked by a sea beast. I barely escaped with my life after great hardship, only to encounter a damned shipwreck.

A pitch-black, dense fog swept across the sea, filled with hungry undead! Fortunately, I was at the edge of the fog and had mastered the Axiom of Water, otherwise, I might have been torn to shreds by those undead!"

"Ha, then you're truly unlucky."

At first, the young fisherman leader had a hint of vigilance in his eyes, but after hearing that Yuan Chen had also mastered the Axiom of Water, the vigilance quickly dissipated, replaced by curiosity, and he said with a teasing smile:

"This period is Fuguang Island... no, it should be called the Shadow Isles' Soul Devour Night now. Soul Devour Night attacks human settlements around the Shadow Isles, devouring souls.

We were also attacked here, but the elders of Yuentar protected us! You weren't lucky, you must have drifted to Bilgewater Bay in a shipwreck, and the current Soul Devour Night attacks Bilgewater every year!"

As he spoke, the young fishing leader coughed a few times and said:

"My name is Audan! Although I am willing to take you in, the elders in the village might not agree. As you know, old people tend to be incredibly stubborn. So if you really want to stay on land, you must gain their approval. Otherwise, I can only drive you away or throw you into the Miasma Jungle."

As he spoke, a troubled expression appeared on Audan's face. It was clear that as the fishing leader, he had also received his fair share of frustration from the elders. But there was no other way. On the secluded Ixialia, the social system still maintained its original form from thousands of years ago.

The reason Audan could maintain such an open and enlightened attitude might be due to his identity as an Elementalist—this could be seen from the decoration on Audan's shoulder woven from magic threads.

This kind of magical entity was a unique creation of Ixialia, a material entity woven from magic power. Trainees and apprentices could at most receive a piece of decoration to indicate their identity, while only the Elementalists of Yuentar could obtain a complete set of clothing woven by the Magic Loom.

In response, Yuan Chen shrugged: "No problem, I'm happy to accept the trial."

"Ha! That's good!" Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Audan smiled and said: "But I advise you not to hold out too much hope, because even if you pass the elders' trial, they might not let you stay here."

Saying that, Audan invited Yuan Chen onto the fishing boat. After Yuan Chen left his original small boat, it silently sank to the bottom of the sea not long after.

It was only at this moment that Audan saw that the bottom of the small boat was still full of damage and cracks, and even the keel was broken. Before, it must have been kept afloat by controlling the Axiom of Water and Water Element...

Realizing this, a look of surprise appeared on Audan's face.

You must know that according to Yuan Chen, he might have drifted at sea for one, or even more than two months. In this situation, maintaining the operation of the Axiom of Water for a long time to carry such a damaged small boat to sail normally... this level of skill would be more than enough to serve as an Elemental Tutor in Yishuaoken!

Thinking this, Audan couldn't help but glance twice at Yuan Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him...

Although this Elementalist from Ionia seemed strong, Audan wasn't overly worried. This was because Audan knew very well that Grandma Lupe in the village was a true former elder of the Elder Council of Yuentar.

Although she was exiled here to become an ordinary villager due to some crimes he didn't quite understand, Grandma Lupe was a true Elementalist, capable of engaging in direct combat even against an Elemental Drake.

Rather, it was precisely because of his trust and faith in Grandma Lupe that Audan brought Yuan Chen into the village without any psychological burden.

Upon arriving on shore, although it was called the shore, not far from the sea, Yuan Chen saw a dense forest. And within this dense forest, a small path was maintained.

Shrubs and wild grass parted to the sides, the ground was flat and smooth, without a single pebble. Even though it had just rained and raindrops still clung to the leaves, there weren't many water stains on the ground. Even the branches of the trees grew outwards, away from the path, to prevent them from disturbing pedestrians walking on the path...

"Follow me, the village is a bit far. If you don't keep up, you might get lost."

Saying that, as if thinking of something, Audan added: "You'd better stick close to me and don't try to sneak away alone. Because there are Mane Beasts and Elemental Drakes inhabiting these dense forests, even we can only walk in areas covered by the Elemental Axiom, otherwise we will also be attacked!"

Hearing Audan's words, Yuan Chen nodded simply.

The so-called Mane Beast was a large carnivorous beast unique to Ixialia. Even so, Yuan Chen didn't have a detailed understanding, and hadn't even seen an Original Painting. The reason he knew was because they often appeared in the background stories of heroes from the Ixialia region as cannon fodder to be slain by the heroes.

But the fact that Mane Beasts could be cannon fodder slain in hero background stories proved their extraordinary nature. Even agile hunters like the Lion Dog would need to go through a Blood War to subdue them. And this was his first time in Ixialia, unfamiliar with the place, and being ambushed on enemy territory, it was hard to say who would win...

Moreover, how long could he hide? Sooner or later, he would have to interact with the village here. It was better to be proactive and rest earlier.

While contemplating, following Audan's footsteps, Yuan Chen soon arrived at a village located in the dense forest.

Yuan Chen didn't know whether to call this place primitive or advanced. Although the villagers didn't have sophisticated machinery, they were all skilled in using relatively simple Elemental Axioms in their daily lives.

And...

'Influenced by the traditional conservative and xenophobic atmosphere of the Ixialia region, your regional reputation level has been reduced to -1.'