MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC147: Ancient Ice Region
Chapter 147: Ancient Ice Region
When everyone who had followed Richard returned to the capital, they naturally spread the news.
They talked about Duke Ethan Holystar sending his beast slave into the kingdom to roam freely — even carrying an item that contained the power of a Grand Sovereign — so no one should have dared to provoke him.
Yet unfortunately for him, that item was taken by Richard. Even his beast slave was captured by Richard.
The main point of every story was the same: Duke Ethan Holystar was unpredictable — but Richard had overcome the trouble he caused.
People began to fear Ethan somewhat, but Richard's reputation grew even larger.
Rumors even spread that he possessed the legendary Void Element.
If the news had already reached the capital, then it would naturally spread across the entire kingdom — and beyond, to other regions of the Eastern Territory of the Land of Humans.
The Eastern Territory was only one among many regions inhabited by civilized human societies — home to the Holy Star Kingdom, the Holy Light Kingdom, the Order of the Crimson Veil, several other nations, and many powerful Magus Clans.
And to the east of it lay the Ancient Ice Region.
In fact, the Ancient Ice Region was even larger than the Eastern Territory, but because of its harsh environment, fewer humans lived there. Only those born with high natural talent for magic could survive its freezing lands.
However, due to the brutality of that region, they were unable to build a true civilization — developing instead a barbaric nature that lived only for battle.
They often slaughtered one another, but their glory grew when they invaded the Eastern Territory.
Because of frequent invasions, the kingdoms bordering the Ancient Ice Region were forced to station elite warriors along their frontiers.
Many adventurers were also sent to eliminate those barbarians — both for the treasures of the Ancient Ice Region and for the rewards given by the kingdoms.
Snow Sky City was one of the cities along that border.
The city technically belonged to the Seventieth Star Province, but it wasn't considered part of that province's administration.
And from the Seventieth to the Seventy-Seventh Star Provinces, all of that land belonged to the Duke of the Ice Mountain.
He practically ruled eight provinces — a vast territory he had earned through countless contributions.
Bordering the Ancient Ice Region, all of the Duke's lands were frozen wastelands perpetually covered in snow.
The cold pierced to the bone. Richard hadn't expected that even with his current power — and his 90% affinity with the Fire Element — he would still feel chilled.
If he were an ordinary human, who knew how frozen he would have been?
Reluctantly, he, Gray, and Laura had to wear several layers of clothing — except for Sister Lisa, who didn't seem to feel cold thanks to her armor.
Below them, Richard noticed that almost everyone wore thick fur clothing.
Compared to people from warmer lands, those in the icy region had larger builds.
It wasn't uncommon for the men to look like giants.
Richard already had a map of Snow Sky City, and soon he spotted it — a massive city standing beside a river nearly a kilometer wide, most of which was frozen solid.
The city was vast, with buildings seemingly made of ice.
It was surrounded by tall walls guarded by large, muscular soldiers.
"Stop!"
A loud shout echoed from within the city just as Richard's flying vessel approached its gates.
Then, a Sky Armor Soldier — his armor equipped with metallic wings — soared into the sky.
In an instant, he was already before Richard's vessel.
His speed, Richard thought, was only slightly slower than Athena's.
Of course, Athena specialized in speed while this soldier didn't, so it was likely that he was of a higher Tier — perhaps 43 to 45.
A formidable figure by Magus World standards.
The man's helmet lifted, revealing a long-haired face marked by sword scars.
"Who are you?" he asked, surprised to see a group of young people — one of them just a boy — arriving in a flying magical vessel.
"I'm Richard," Richard stepped forward and answered.
The man's eyes widened in shock upon hearing the name.
Then, placing a hand on his chest, he bowed slightly.
"I am Arthur, Commander of the Sky Armor Legion of Snow Sky City, paying respects to the city's new ruler," he declared.
Richard was slightly surprised to hear that. His formal greeting made Richard realize the truth behind what the head butler had said — that the soldiers here were strictly trained to obey royal commands, including serving him as their new lord.
Naturally, Richard was pleased with his attitude.
He had expected a bit of political resistance, but if the city's commander was already submissive to him, then there should be no problem. After all, this commander was likely the strongest among the royal troops stationed here.
"My Lord, please follow me to the City Lord's residence," said Arthur.
"Please," Richard gestured for him to lead the way.
The man then flapped his armor's wings and flew toward the massive castle at the city's center.
Even its courtyard was made entirely of ice.
Richard couldn't say he liked a city like this.
When they arrived, Arthur suddenly shouted, "Everyone, come and pay respects to the new City Lord!"
His voice didn't just echo around the castle — it spread across nearly the entire city, causing a commotion among the residents.
Most of the city's population were fighters. They rushed quickly to the castle to see the new City Lord.
Of course, only the soldiers were allowed into the courtyard.
Richard landed his flying vessel in front of the castle, receiving the curious but respectful gazes of the soldiers.
"My Lord, this is your residence. If you need servants, I'll find them for you," said Arthur.
"By the way, where is the previous City Lord?" Richard asked, surprised that he hadn't seen him.
Shouldn't the former Lord still be living here with his attendants? Why would new servants be needed?
Richard sensed something was wrong.
"The previous City Lord was captured by a barbarian tribe two days ago and killed by them. We failed to save him because, at that time, we were also distracted by their diversionary attacks," Arthur explained calmly, as if it were a common occurrence.
Richard couldn't help showing a strange expression before asking again, "Do they often kidnap City Lords?"
"Yes. City Lords along the border are prime targets for the barbarians from the Ancient Ice Region. It's said that any of them who kills a City Lord earns the right to marry any woman he desires. Since I've been stationed in Snow Sky City, four City Lords have already been slain. We're quite short on manpower, so we often fail to protect them."
Richard: "..."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC148: Mail
Chapter 148: Mail
'That butler didn't tell me about this,' Richard thought.
If the previous City Lord had been kidnapped from his own castle, it wasn't strange if his servants had also been killed — leaving none behind.
Those who survived were probably too afraid to ever serve again.
"Richard, it seems this city is too dangerous..." Sister Lisa commented.
If the risk meant death, she was clearly hesitant to stay in such a place.
"Sister Lisa, the whole world would laugh at me if I left right after arriving," Richard replied with a wry smile.
Of course, he couldn't leave. His position here wasn't just some royal assignment — he was the rightful owner of the entire city.
Even if he wanted to leave, the next City Lord would still have to be appointed by him.
"My Lord, there's no need to worry too much. We've already planted several spies among the barbarian tribes. If they plan to target the City Lord again, we'll definitely know in advance," Arthur said.
Richard nodded at that.
He was fully confident he could survive.
"By the way, is there any Spirit of Nature collected from taxes?" Richard asked.
He wasn't shy to ask — it was rightfully his.
"The Spirit of Nature we collected last time has already been sent to the capital, so we currently have no stock left," Arthur replied.
Richard rolled his eyes at that.
If he had known, he wouldn't have asked.
"Ehmmm!" He cleared his throat.
"In that case, can you give me all the information you've gathered about the Ancient Ice Region?" he asked again.
Of course, it was impossible for them to have no information — whether about treasures or the barbarian tribes themselves.
"My Lord, all the information we've gathered has been recorded by our scholars and stored in your castle's library," Arthur replied.
"I see. Then, show me the way to that library. And there's no need to find servants for me — I prefer to live alone," Richard said.
"Please follow me, my Lord," Arthur replied, stepping forward.
So far, Richard found him more like a machine than a man, even though he had flesh.
But that was exactly the kind of subordinate he liked.
He didn't trouble him with unnecessary matters.
Entering the City Lord's castle, Richard found that the main hall was rather plain.
It was spacious but lacked proper furnishings.
Even the tea table was missing one sofa — whether lost or simply never existed, he didn't know.
The only remarkable feature was the staircase, seemingly carved entirely out of ice.
Arthur walked to a door beneath the stairs and opened it, revealing a large library filled with books.
"My Lord, that cabinet is where we store all the information we've gathered," Arthur said, pointing at a shelf filled mostly with papers instead of books.
"Alright, I'll read for a while. Wait outside," Richard replied.
Arthur nodded and immediately left, leaving Richard and the other three who had followed him.
For Sister Lisa, the library clearly held no interest — she couldn't even read.
"Richard, I'll go look around the castle," she said.
Richard nodded in response, allowing her to explore freely.
Assets like this castle were hers as much as his, after all.
"By the way, you two are not allowed to enter this library," Richard said to Gray and Laura before stepping inside and closing the door — locking it too — leaving the two of them dumbfounded, clearly not expecting him to be that stingy.
Richard was slightly worried that there might be information about priceless treasures here. If they knew, they might act on their own to seize them.
He walked over to the cabinet containing the gathered reports. Of course, he didn't bother reading sheet by sheet. He didn't even touch a single paper — he simply released his Sixth Sense, enveloping the entire cabinet.
That way, he could read every piece of information at once.
Some of what he read changed his expression — a few even surprised him.
There were plenty of records about valuable treasures, but most were either too difficult to obtain or located deep within the Ancient Ice Region.
The deeper one ventured, the stronger the barbarian tribes became.
More astonishingly, some tribes were said to have their own Rulers.
The weaker tribes lived near the outskirts, but even the weakest among them were led by a high-tier Magus World Realm warrior.
Ironically, those same barbarian tribes were the ones guarding most of the valuable treasures.
Of course, Richard didn't find anything that could help him unite with the world.
But for increasing his Aether in a short time, there were several possibilities.
Richard spent a long time reading, but even longer thinking.
He had originally come up with a plan — to extort the barbarians of the Ancient Ice Region by threatening them with the power of a Grand Sovereign.
However, as he read through the information, he realized something:
This method had already been tried many times by others before him. The barbarians never surrendered — they would rather die than yield. And if one tribe were massacred unjustly, it could trigger a massive retaliatory war from the others.
Though they often fought among themselves, when one of their own was oppressed unfairly, the rest would unite to avenge them.
After thinking for a long while, Richard still hadn't made a decision.
Knock! Knock!
"My Lord! My Lord!" Suddenly, there was a knock at the library door — Arthur's voice sounding urgent.
Startled, Richard quickly opened the door, wondering what had happened.
"What is it?" he asked, his eyes falling on the paper Arthur held — it looked like a letter.
"My Lord, someone from the capital sent you a message," Arthur said, handing it to him.
Richard quickly read it.
(Richard, I am Luca Holystar. Forgive me for disturbing you. I'm sending this letter to deliver a message from my younger uncle. He is willing to pay you in exchange for returning Sterling, his beast slave!)
"Ohhh..." Richard certainly hadn't expected such a message.
Though it was sent by Luca, it was clearly from Ethan Holystar himself.
'What could he possibly offer me?' Richard wondered.
Sterling wasn't that important to him. He couldn't command him anyway since Sterling was bound as another's slave.
And it wasn't as if Richard truly needed a beast's abilities.
Rather than relying on Sterling, it would be better for him to find an Arcane Art that granted similar powers.
Therefore, if he could gain a huge benefit by releasing Sterling, he naturally wouldn't mind doing so.
That was Sterling's only real value in his eyes.
But if the offer wasn't worth it, he might as well keep him. Who knew — maybe Ethan would die somehow, and Sterling would become free again. At that point, he could enslave him himself.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC149: Bounty
Chapter 149: Bounty
Richard thought for a moment about what he should ask for, then took out a sheet of paper.
(Tell Ethan that I want an Arcane Art similar to the ability of his beast slave!)
He wrote that down and handed the paper to Arthur, saying,
"Send this to the one who delivered the letter!"
That was the only thing he wanted—Ethan might have it, or at least be able to purchase it.
In theory, owning such an Arcane Art meant that one wouldn't need the Bloody Devourer Beast anymore, but it was also possible that they simply couldn't master it.
After all, strong Arcane Arts were already hard to control, let alone one with such a special ability.
The difficulty level could be extremely high.
Arthur nodded and quickly left.
"Richard, come on, I cooked for you!" Sister Lisa suddenly called out from the kitchen.
Richard immediately headed there without hesitation.
He really wanted to eat.
The kitchen was connected to a spacious dining room.
At least the dining table looked decent and had a full set of chairs.
It was already filled with all sorts of dishes—roasted meat, fried chicken, and more.
"Sister, how did you manage to cook so much?" Richard asked.
It wasn't that he couldn't eat that much, but it must've been exhausting for Sister Lisa to prepare it all herself.
Richard had decided not to hire any servants because he didn't want interference from others and didn't plan to stay long in this city anyway.
As for food, he could always ask the soldiers to buy some from outside.
"They had a lot of ingredients. It'd be a waste not to cook them. Come, eat!" Sister Lisa replied.
Richard couldn't say anything else and eventually sat down at one of the chairs, starting to eat.
He stuffed a huge piece of meat straight into his mouth—something not even a fat man could easily do.
What could he say? He had forgotten the last time he ate properly.
Up until now, he had been surviving purely on his power.
Naturally, his tongue and stomach were suffering—they craved real food.
Gray and Laura had probably left the castle already, but Richard didn't care where they went.
He was still lost in his own thoughts.
After finishing his meal, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps.
"City Lord! City Lord! This is bad..." Arthur's voice echoed from outside before he rushed into the dining room.
"What happened?" Richard asked, standing up instinctively, even though his full stomach protested.
"I'm not sure what's going on, but there's suddenly news spreading across the kingdom—and even in the Ancient Ice Territory—that anyone who can kill you will receive a Tier 7 Weapon as a reward!" Arthur said, his usually emotionless face now filled with panic.
Richard was utterly shocked.
A Tier 7 Weapon?
That was the strongest weapon below a Grand Weapon—crafted by Ancient Sovereigns using the most extraordinary materials.
For most people, using a Grand Weapon would drain their energy, even shorten their lifespan, and required at least Ruler-level strength just to wield it.
Therefore, Tier 7 Weapons were often the more practical choice for combat.
No matter who you were, such a weapon held immense value.
Even Rulers would fight to the death to obtain one.
To think someone would offer it as a bounty for his death...
What did that mean?
It meant there would be countless people trying to kill him.
If the bounty had been only a Tier 4 Weapon, maybe just some Magus World Realm individuals would come.
But for a Tier 7 Weapon, even Rulers might make a move.
Besides, even Magi in the Lord or Grimoire Realm were already too dangerous.
There would likely be a flood of weaker Magi coming for him as well.
He could survive with his various protections, but peace would be impossible—
a Tier 7 Weapon was enough to make anyone disregard the consequences.
"Which lunatic issued this bounty?" Richard asked.
"We still don't know. The one behind it remains hidden," Arthur replied.
"Could it be a hoax from someone?" Sister Lisa interjected.
When Richard heard that, his eyes lit up.
"Yes, this must be a hoax."
He turned toward Arthur.
"Spread the news that this is just a rumor started by Prince Charles, who's trying to use others to kill me. In this world, there's no way someone would actually pay with a Tier 7 Weapon just to kill a mere boy," Richard said.
Receiving the order, Arthur nodded.
"I'll spread the word right away."
"No, that's not enough..." Richard took out a Storage Artifact containing two million Spirit Essences.
"Pay people—especially the persuasive ones—to spread the story!"
He tossed the Storage Artifact to Arthur.
The man caught it and immediately left.
"Is it really a hoax?" Sister Lisa asked.
"Maybe yes, maybe no," Richard replied.
As long as the one who issued the bounty didn't reveal themselves, he could treat it as a false rumor.
Of course, it could still be real—considering how his growing fame and his control over both World Magic Aether and the Void Element had made him a threat to many powerful factions.
Still, Richard couldn't calm down.
He went to the largest bedroom in the castle, meant for the city lord, located on the second floor.
Though it lacked many amenities, he didn't care.
He sat on the bed and began absorbing Aether.
At least here in the city, going to the Dragon Hall for cultivation wasn't ideal—he wouldn't be able to react quickly if something happened.
So, he chose to train in the real world instead. Though it was slower, his Aether absorption rate was already extremely fast.
By nightfall, he had gathered 250 Aether.
[Aether: 13,530 / 20,000
[Aether Accumulation: 28,530
DING!
(Your Heavenly Water points have increased from 52 to 65!)
Incomplete Heavenly Water (65 Points)
Richard received the notification just as he decided to stop training.
In truth, his cultivation was nothing more than a way to calm his mind.
At least it made him feel better.
He walked leisurely out of the castle and asked some soldiers to summon Arthur.
The man arrived shortly after.
"City Lord," he greeted respectfully.
"Any reply letter?" Richard asked.
"None so far," Arthur replied.
"What about the rumor?"
"We've spread it as you ordered. The news has reached the entire kingdom. People seem to believe that this was all a scheme by Prince Charles. By the way, City Lord, a barbarian tribe has come to request aid."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC150: Not Important
Chapter 150: Not Important
"The barbarian tribe is asking for help?" Richard felt like he'd misheard something.
"City Lord, they occasionally ask for assistance—such as requesting antidotes or help in crafting artifacts or weapons. These are things they can't do themselves. This time, the barbarian chief is seeking a rare antidote for his wife and is willing to pay any price," Arthur explained.
"What's the name of their tribe?" Richard asked.
"The Red Bear Tribe," Arthur replied.
"Alright, tell their chief to come here with his wife. I'll help remove the poison from her," Richard ordered.
Arthur was slightly startled by that.
"City Lord, the antidote is extremely rare and can only be purchased in the capital. It's also very expensive," he said.
"No need. My power can handle it," Richard replied, waving his hand, signaling Arthur to go inform the tribe.
Richard thought this wouldn't be too difficult with his Sacred Flame.
The reason he was interested was because the tribe supposedly possessed an artifact capable of gathering Aether—a kind of Star Wheel.
They usually sold a portion of the Aether they collected in exchange for items they lacked.
Richard waited inside his castle, unsure when they would arrive.
But before long, he suddenly saw Master Alex appear before the castle, wearing a bright smile.
"Master Alex..." Richard greeted him first, wondering what he had obtained from the Goldwood Clan.
When the old man reached him, he suddenly pulled out a pair of silver gloves.
"Each of us gets one," he said, handing the left one to Richard.
"What's this?" Richard asked instinctively as he accepted it, confused.
He could sense a faint power from the gloves but wasn't sure of their purpose.
He figured they weren't meant to enhance one's physical strength.
If they were, he didn't need them. His Dragon Fist was already more than powerful enough—it was so strong that he didn't need an artifact to boost it.
"This isn't something that'll enhance your strength. You could say its purpose isn't about power at all," Master Alex said.
"Then what is it for?"
Richard wasn't obsessed only with strength—if something was useful, he naturally liked it.
"Here, look..." Master Alex put the glove on his hand.
Right before Richard's eyes, he then touched one of the castle's pillars.
The result surprised Richard greatly.
The gloved hand actually passed through the pillar—or more precisely, it phased into it, as if the solid structure were made of mist, smoke, or light.
"That's its ability—it can penetrate anything. It conceals a trace of spatial power. At least for me, I need it for certain tasks," Master Alex explained.
Richard didn't know what to say.
To him, his Void Element already did something far superior.
It could envelop his entire body, not just his hands.
"Sister Lisa, this is for you!" Richard said, handing the glove to Sister Lisa, who wasn't far behind him. She had followed him ever since he went to meet Master Alex.
"You...?" Master Alex was taken aback by Richard's decision.
But clearly, he couldn't find words to comment.
"By the way, Master Alex, earlier today I received a letter from Ethan..." Richard changed the topic, explaining about the letter and his reply, then asked the old man to tell him more about Ethan.
As for the bounty on his head, Richard was too lazy to discuss it with someone he didn't fully trust yet.
Besides, he had already spread the rumor that it was just a hoax made up by Prince Charles.
"Richard, I need to tell you—Ethan isn't someone easy to deal with. He may not have been born with a top-tier talent, but his development truly resembles that of one. It's something very rare. I haven't seen him in a long time, but from what I know, within the Order of the Crimson Veil, his influence is extremely strong. If he really needs Sterling, then he'll probably grant your request," Master Alex said.
"However, you must realize—he probably sees you as a thorn in his side. I know very well how much he hates situations like this, but a brat like you trying to extort him? Isn't that quite the ridiculous joke to him?" Master Alex laughed.
"The only reason he's holding back is because of the woman who helped you fight the Lord of Crimson Veil. He's probably trying to figure out just how strong she really is..."
As he said that, Master Alex gave Richard a curious look.
He was clearly intrigued by the strength of the Queen of the Fire Spirits.
People only knew that she had easily rendered the Lord of Crimson Veil helpless—forcing him to cut off his own arm just to keep his body from burning to ashes.
But no one had been able to determine her exact level of power.
Richard only smiled without saying anything.
"Well then, boy, I'll take my leave," Master Alex said when he saw that Richard wasn't going to reply.
With that, he flew into the sky at high speed.
Richard returned to the castle.
"Richard, is this really for me?" Sister Lisa asked in disbelief as she held the glove.
Indeed, it could still be used by ordinary humans—as long as it was supplied with Spirit Energy.
Of course, as a Sky Armor Knight, Sister Lisa could channel energy from her armor instead.
"Just keep it. I don't need it. If I hold onto it, I'll probably forget about it anyway," Richard replied with a smile.
Sister Lisa finally nodded, examining the glove with curiosity.
"I'll head to my room first," she said before leaving.
Richard stayed in the living room, waiting for the Red Bear Tribe to arrive.
They would probably need a long journey, so it might take a while.
Occasionally, he walked around the castle out of boredom.
Meanwhile, far from the Holy Star Kingdom, atop a massive red mountain radiating an unending oppressive aura—yet filled with countless luxurious castles and beautiful gardens—Prince Charles and several men his age were gathered in one of the gardens, drinking and enjoying the sight of young maidens dancing.
All of those men possessed extraordinary status.
They were either young masters from powerful clans or sons of high-ranking members of the Order of the Crimson Veil, but Prince Charles still stood above them all.
His background wasn't the only reason. After all, within the Order of the Crimson Veil, there were many powerful factions. The reason he was recognized as number one among the younger generation was because of his unmatched talent and overwhelming strength.
Here, their conversations mostly revolved around cultivation or famous figures from outside the Eastern Territory—beautiful women from other regions or even other continents.
No one mentioned Lilith, though it wasn't because she wasn't exceptional. In fact, even across the Land of Humans, Lilith was among the most outstanding of her age.
However, everyone knew that Prince Charles was still burning with humiliation over her engagement—to an eight-year-old boy.
It was a massive disgrace for him.
As everyone chatted away, an eagle suddenly landed on one of the men's arms, carrying a letter.
No one paid much attention—it was common for members of the Order to receive messages from afar due to their vast influence.
But the man's expression changed drastically as he read the letter, drawing everyone's curiosity.
"Leo, what news did you get?" someone asked.
When questioned, Leo turned to look at Charles with an odd expression, causing the latter to furrow his brows.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC151: Red Bear Tribe
Chapter 151: Red Bear Tribe
"What's wrong?" Charles asked in confusion.
"Charles, you have to read it yourself. It's from the Holy Star Kingdom," Leo replied, handing the letter to him.
Charles quickly took it and began to read.
At first, his expression showed mild interest as he went through the first few lines. But as his eyes moved to the second half of the letter, his face twisted in rage. He abruptly stood up and hurled the cup in his hand to the ground.
BANG!
The cup shattered into countless pieces.
"That damned brat—he actually turned me into his enemy!" he roared furiously.
BANG!
He kicked his own chair, sending it flying. The letter slipped from his hand and fell to the floor, allowing the others to grab and read it.
In an instant, they understood the reason behind Charles's sudden outburst.
A boy who looked no older than fourteen, still somewhat naïve, asked, "Charles, did you really make this bounty? But the reward is a Tier 7 Weapon! Even for you, you'd have to step into the Grimoire Realm first before being granted one. There's no way you'd actually use something like that as a reward for killing that kid, right?"
The others froze at the boy's words, while Charles's eyes widened with barely restrained fury.
Yet, despite how insulting those words were, he didn't dare lash out—because that boy happened to be the youngest grandson of one of the Great Ancestors of the Order of the Crimson Veil.
For now, his anger was entirely focused on Richard.
"Charles, you need to deny this rumor immediately," someone warned. "Otherwise, your reputation will be ruined."
---
Richard, of course, had no idea about Charles's reaction—and he didn't care.
To him, blaming Charles was only natural, since the latter was his enemy.
Who else would he accuse if not his own enemy?
He continued waiting. After what felt like two hours past midnight, he finally saw Arthur return—accompanied by a group of towering, muscular men.
Even among the people of the Duke of the Frozen Mountain's Territory, who were known for their large builds, these men were extraordinary.
Their average height easily surpassed three meters, with pale reddish skin and thick body hair. Despite the cold, they wore only thin garments, as though the freezing air didn't bother them at all.
They pulled along a massive wagon—by hand, without horses.
Richard's eyes naturally went to the largest among them, a bearded man standing at least three and a half meters tall.
In Richard's view, the man looked more like a bear than a human.
He must be the Chief of the Red Bear Tribe.
"City lord, these are the ones..." Arthur said respectfully, while the barbarian men stared down at Richard with intense gazes.
Because of the size difference, they had to tilt their heads downward just to meet his eyes.
"Arthur, is this boy truly your city's new lord?" the chieftain asked.
His voice rumbled like thunder, and Richard could feel the very air tremble from the sound.
That was pure voice—no power infused in it at all.
"Chief of the Red Bear Tribe," Arthur replied. "He is indeed our new City Lord. Don't underestimate his age—he's already capable of defeating a World Realm Magus. He's a miracle in the history of our Holy Star Kingdom, perhaps even the entire world. You need not worry, our City Lord possesses methods beyond your comprehension."
Richard blinked in mild surprise. He hadn't expected someone as stiff as Arthur to speak so highly of him.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Despite the immense pressure radiating from the barbarian chief, Richard remained calm.
"Chief," Richard began evenly, "removing the poison from your wife's body is a simple matter. But first, we need to discuss the payment."
The chieftain frowned at the sudden mention of payment.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice still booming like thunder.
He didn't sound friendly in the slightest—perhaps because being polite was never his habit, even when asking for help.
"I heard your tribe possesses an artifact that can gather Aether, much like the Star Wheels used in the Holy Star Kingdom," Richard said without hesitation. "I want that artifact."
"What?"
The barbarians around him froze in disbelief.
"What an outrageous demand! Does he think our artifact's value equals a mere antidote?"
"Right! At most, he can ask for the Aether we've gathered."
"Let's just seize him and force him to cure the Lady!"
"Yes, let's do that!"
They were already bracing themselves for battle.
"Stop!" Arthur shouted sharply, drawing his sword in the process.
He glared at the chieftain. "Chief, didn't you promise not to cause trouble within our city?"
Judging from his expression, even the chieftain was angry at Richard's demand—but he didn't speak like the others.
When Arthur intervened, the chief raised a massive hand, signaling his men to stand down. They instantly obeyed, clearly too afraid to defy him.
"Boy," the chieftain said at last, his voice rumbling low.
"That artifact will not be given to you. I'd rather see my wife die than hand over our tribe's sacred relic. If it's something else, whatever you ask of us, I'll give it."
Richard: "..."
Are these people insane? he thought to himself.
He wanted the artifact, but apparently, this chieftain would rather lose his wife than lose it.
There was no point insisting. He had to compromise.
"I need 6,500 Tier-3 Aether. Can you provide that?" Richard asked.
"What? That much?" one of the barbarians blurted out. "Our artifact can only gather 3,000 Tier-3 Aether—and that already takes time!"
"If I recall correctly, we only have about 2,000 left," another added.
"6,500 Tier-3 Aether—and there's something else I want," Richard cut them off loudly, shocking them yet again.
He knew that each barbarian tribe maintained small alliances with others, many of which possessed similar artifacts. The Red Bear Tribe could easily borrow Aether from them.
Since he couldn't obtain the artifact itself, Richard naturally had to demand more compensation.
"What else do you want?" the chieftain asked before anyone else could speak again.
"I want your tribe," Richard said calmly, "to assist me in attacking another tribe."
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC152: Meet
Chapter 152: Meet
"What tribe?" the chieftain asked, frowning.
If it was to attack another tribe, especially one not allied with them, that wasn't a problem for the chieftain.
After all, war was part of their routine. They would go mad and stressed if they didn't fight.
"The Ice Gorilla Tribe," Richard replied.
Something about that tribe piqued his interest, but he felt it wasn't enough to attack them with just the city soldiers' help. If another tribe joined, it could be done.
Of course, there was another reason he targeted them — they had been attacking Snow Sky City far too often.
He felt he needed to strike first, so they'd understand that the new ruler of the city wasn't someone to be trifled with.
"Alright!" The Red Bear Chieftain didn't object.
"I'll only treat your wife after I receive all my Aether, and I want it done here," Richard added.
The Red Bear Chieftain frowned slightly upon hearing that, but eventually nodded.
"Just call me once everything's ready..."
Richard turned around and went back to his castle, closing the gate behind him.
Here, he was the noble, and everyone else were his subjects. Naturally, he didn't need to act overly polite.
For now, he decided to get some sleep first.
He returned to his room, lay down, and immediately fell asleep.
Far away in Night Valley City, both Rebecca and her father, Leonardo Moonshadow—who was also Richard's grandfather—were each in their own residences, watching Richard's battle in the Monster World.
That fight astonished them, because Richard had displayed their clan's Arcane Arts, even the two strongest ones that had been guarded most carefully.
They wondered how he could've obtained those two Arcane Arts, since there should've been no leaks at all.
Leonardo, however, was more contemplative. He didn't mind Richard possessing them—after all, the boy was his grandson.
It was only natural for him to wield the Moonshadow Clan's Arcane Arts.
But Rebecca, who still harbored resentment toward Richard, was clearly unhappy.
Still, she knew she couldn't act against him as she pleased.
That boy had dangerous backers—she'd met one of them before, along with the red-haired woman who had helped him repel the Lord of Crimson Veil.
As someone who had no faction besides her clan—and whose strength was only on par with other powerful clans—Rebecca knew she couldn't oppose Richard.
Even though she had a romantic relationship with the young master of the Skylight Clan, that clan didn't support her either.
Of course, she was far too proud to beg for their aid.
She preferred to fight on her own. That was why she never joined any faction.
In truth, she had been invited by nearly every organization in the Land of Humans.
Yet she refused them all, believing she could carve her own path.
After all, she wasn't without luck. She had inherited more than one legacy from solitary Grand Sovereigns.
"But just what is the origin of that boy?" Rebecca wondered.
Unfortunately, she had never met Richard in person—only seen his image or battle recordings.
"Mm..." She suddenly turned toward the window.
A moment later, her figure vanished.
In an instant, she appeared in the sky, facing a man with light gray hair and an extraordinarily handsome face capable of captivating women—young or old alike.
When he stood beside a beautiful woman, almost all of them seemed to lose their radiance, unable to match his charm.
That, however, didn't apply to Rebecca.
With her jet-black hair, pale skin, and indescribable grace, it was nearly impossible to find a man who could truly match her looks.
Before the gray-haired man—Edward Skylight—she was a perfect match.
"Why are you here?" Rebecca asked coldly.
Their relationship had more ups and downs than any other, but it had never truly ended.
Though a proud and solitary woman, Rebecca had ultimately accepted a relationship with Edward.
The latter had done far too much for her, and her heart had been touched.
She was still a woman, after all. When a charming man constantly sacrificed for her, affection and warmth inevitably bloomed.
But dating someone like Rebecca meant Edward was destined to face more drama than romance.
Unfortunately for him, Edward was still more than happy to do anything to maintain their relationship, even though they rarely met. That was why the Skylight Clan considered him insane.
After all, they could easily arrange for him to marry a woman equal in beauty and talent—yet virtuous in temperament.
If not in the Land of Humans, they could find one on another continent.
Their reputation echoed across the world, and their connections reached far beyond their homeland.
"Honey, I haven't seen you in so long. If I go a few more days without seeing you, I'll die from longing," Edward said with an easy smile.
Sweet words like that, if spoken to someone like Sophia, would probably make her swoon on the spot.
But Edward would never say such things to anyone but Rebecca—and the latter didn't react at all.
"I originally came because I obtained a Titan Skeleton and planned to give it to you," Edward continued. "But it was stolen by the White Ancestor and handed to that boy who's been going viral across the kingdom lately. I truly regret it and wanted to apologize. Of course, I'll still give you something of similar value."
As he said that, Edward tossed a blue necklace adorned with a pale blue diamond pendant.
It landed gently in Rebecca's hand.
"The Deep Sea Pearl," she murmured, surprised as she examined the item.
At least that much softened her gaze toward Edward.
When affection and love already exist, no matter how much drama unfolds, one priceless gift from the man can resolve it all.
Still, Rebecca couldn't help but knit her brows upon hearing Edward's story.
"Let's find somewhere to talk," she said before turning around and walking away.
Edward quickly followed behind her, smiling brightly.
Others thought he was mad, but in his eyes, Rebecca was incomparable—no woman or thing in the world could match her.
Only he himself understood his feelings, the emotions born from blind love.
If someone asked what that love felt like, he would say he felt happiness every time he made Rebecca happy—a feeling he'd never experienced with any other woman.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC153: Remember
Chapter 153: Remember
Rebecca landed on the edge of a cliff not far from her castle, her expression thoughtful as she pondered about Richard.
Her biggest speculation was that his talent had attracted the attention of many factions, and he had accepted their support.
This was something Rebecca considered a crisis—because it meant that, without a doubt, Richard would become a formidable rival for her in the future.
"You!" Her eyes, which were previously narrowed, widened suddenly.
Edward, who had followed her, suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Honey, why don't we talk in your room instead?" the man said, resting his chin on her shoulder so that their faces were side by side.
Rebecca frowned, but this man had just given her something incredibly precious.
Whether he had risked his life or spent a great fortune to obtain it, her heart at least felt at ease with him for now.
In the end, she allowed him to continue holding her.
"Don't you know why the White Ancestor helped that boy?" Rebecca asked.
She was far more focused on Richard and only wanted to talk about him.
"I really don't know... But for the White Ancestor to help him, I suspect he might be a member of the Skylight Clan. You know, our clan tends to appear out of nowhere. Even in this kingdom, there's the daughter of my older brother."
"Your niece is the one who poisoned my Beast with Imperial Bloodline and stole my Slave Seal," Rebecca replied sharply, surprising Edward.
"That little girl, how dare she."
"Don't talk about her yet... The boy named Richard—he even used two Arcane Arts from the Moonshadow Clan, which shouldn't have leaked to anyone."
"What? Who gave them to him?"
"Don't ask me..." Rebecca answered firmly.
Then, she narrowed her eyes.
Time and focus had made her forget certain things—like the fact that she had once given birth to a child.
However, this situation somehow caused old memories to resurface in her mind.
She was shocked when she remembered that the name she had chosen for her son was also Richard.
That little boy, though still young, had black hair and a mesmerizing face—so beautiful that one could hardly imagine how stunning he would become when he grew older. Rebecca had only seen Richard's image so far, not truly observed him.
But as a powerful Magus, the image was crystal clear in her mind—she could study it without even looking.
Her gaze instinctively shifted to the man's face beside her own, finding a striking resemblance between his features and those of the boy.
If there was any difference, such as the soft, delicate charm on the boy's face, it seemed to have come from her own beautiful features.
"What's wrong, honey?" Edward asked, noticing the sudden turmoil in Rebecca's expression.
But the woman remained silent, as though she couldn't utter a single word.
This was no longer mere speculation for Rebecca—she was certain of it. She didn't even feel the need to confirm it with anyone.
Regret?
No, she wasn't the type to ever feel regret.
Anger? Of course—she was clearly angry.
It felt like a slap to her face. If she were capable of regret, that slap would have felt even harder.
Still, she wasn't entirely consumed by rage either.
It was something complicated—and feeling conflicted was simply inevitable for her.
---
On the other hand, Richard wasn't sleeping soundly, eagerly anticipating the next day with a cheerful mood.
He woke up in the morning but went back to sleep since no one called for him.
After all, he had gone to bed late, so it was only natural he needed more rest.
If possible, he would've preferred to sleep all day.
Unexpectedly, even by afternoon, no one had come to summon him.
He figured it must be taking longer because, in the end, the Red Bear Clan had to negotiate with other clans to borrow their artifacts—especially to bring them to Snow Sky City.
That couldn't be done in just one day.
Of course, Richard was no longer sleepy, but he was feeling too lazy to move, so he stayed in bed, doing absolutely nothing.
When night finally came, all he wanted was dinner. He planned to find the finest restaurant, so he went to the bathroom to clean himself up.
DING!
(Your Heavenly Water Points have increased from 65 to 78 Points!)
Incomplete Heavenly Water (78 Points)
He received a notification from the System while showering.
Since it was just an increase in Heavenly Water, his reaction was rather calm.
He thought he'd only be truly amazed once it reached 100 points.
After bathing, he put on a fresh outfit. Instead of wearing the fur-lined clothes typical of this region, he preferred layering his garments to keep warm—he simply didn't feel comfortable in the locals' style.
From his room, he went down to the first floor and opened the castle's front door, finding two guards on duty.
Richard didn't see any members of the Red Bear Tribe around—they were probably staying at an inn.
"My Lord," the two guards greeted Richard.
"Call a few more soldiers and escort me to the best restaurant in this city," Richard ordered them.
"My Lord, would you like me to call the commander as well?" one of the guards asked.
"No need," Richard replied.
Arthur, the commander, had plenty of responsibilities—Richard couldn't bother him over something as trivial as dinner.
The two guards nodded and quickly went to gather more soldiers.
Meanwhile, Richard climbed onto Athena's back.
Around ten fully armored soldiers soon arrived to accompany him.
One of them held Athena's reins so Richard could simply sit back and relax.
They exited the castle gate and entered the bustling city streets, which remained lively despite the cold night winds that blew through constantly.
He saw countless bars, and the drinks sold there must have been incredibly strong, as each bar emitted a thick, pungent scent of alcohol.
Perhaps everyone in this city was a heavy drinker—but all Richard wanted was dinner.
He let the soldiers escort him to the best restaurant in town.
Naturally, it wasn't far from his castle.
They brought him to a large three-story restaurant with wide windows.
Even its courtyard was spacious, and from its rooftop rose fragrant smoke scented with spices.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC154: Murderer
Chapter 154: Murderer
"Hey, you—go call your boss. Tell him the City Lord wants to have dinner in his restaurant," said one of Richard's soldiers to a waiter who happened to be stepping outside.
Hearing the soldier's words, the waiter immediately rushed back inside to fetch his boss.
A moment later, a plump man wearing a hat hurried out, approaching Richard in a fluster.
From the looks of it, he was just a weak Magus. Richard assumed he was merely the restaurant's manager, not the actual owner.
"City Lord, what an honor to have you visit our restaurant. Please, come in—I've already prepared a private room for you," the man said respectfully.
Richard dismounted his horse and replied, "No need for a private room. Just serve me all your best food and drinks."
With that, he strode into the restaurant first, followed by his soldiers.
Most of the patrons weren't locals but noble adventurers passing through.
Richard climbed the stairs to the second floor, which was slightly more exclusive, with larger tables, and chose a seat by the window that happened to be empty.
From there, he had a clear view of the cityscape.
While waiting for his meal, he naturally glanced around, occasionally looking at some of the restaurant's patrons.
Everything seemed peaceful.
He didn't have to wait long either—the waiters soon arrived, carrying dishes of steaming food.
Roasted meat was the main course, accompanied by a variety of spiced soups and a chili sauce that looked incredibly hot.
Its aroma was rich and savory, making Richard's stomach growl with hunger.
He began to eat, but since he was in public, he maintained a noble's dining etiquette—graceful and composed.
Many eyes were on him, full of curiosity.
They clearly recognized him but were only now seeing him in person.
(Boy!)
A sudden voice echoed in his mind, startling him.
How could it not? It was the voice of the Fire Spirit Queen.
Instinctively, he looked around—but she wasn't there.
(My Queen, are you here?) Richard asked, sensing a faint connection through his Sixth Sense linked to the Fire Spirit Queen.
(Yes. I came because you were nearly killed by a Ruler.)
Richard: "..."
So someone really did come for me, he thought.
(I've already captured him, so you don't need to worry.)
(Who was he?)
(I don't know. I already killed him. You can see for yourself—I threw his corpse into your castle. I'll be returning now.)
(Don't go back yet. Help me investigate who put that bounty on me—with a Tier 7 weapon as the reward.) Richard ordered.
(Boy, that bounty's been spreading everywhere. Even in your tiny village! Where do you expect me to find its source?) The Fire Spirit Queen sounded annoyed by his demand.
(Come on, my Queen, I know you're capable of many things.)
(Hmph!) The Fire Spirit Queen scoffed coldly before cutting off the connection.
She seemed to have left immediately.
Richard preferred asking for her help since her loyalty to him was absolute.
If she weren't so far away, he would've relied on her from the beginning.
But who was that Ruler? Richard wondered, eager to see the body—but his appetite hadn't left him yet.
Because of that, he finished his meal a bit faster.
Once he felt full, he stopped eating.
"How much is it?" he asked, standing up and turning to the plump manager.
"City Lord, it's an honor for us to have you dine here. There's no need to pay," the manager said with a wide smile.
"Alright..." Richard didn't refuse.
"But don't expect any tax exemption," he added before walking away, leaving the manager with his mouth agape.
Richard quickly returned to his castle.
When he arrived in the living hall, he saw Sister Lisa standing beside a corpse lying on the floor, looking both uneasy and disgusted.
Richard's eyes shifted to the body—it was an old man, dead with his eyes and mouth wide open.
One of his legs was missing, and his heart had been pierced clean through by a long blade.
"Richard, this suddenly appeared here," said Sister Lisa.
"I know," Richard replied with a light nod.
He couldn't identify who the old man was, but at least he remembered his face—he could ask someone well-connected, perhaps the Empress or Sophia.
He then stored the corpse inside his Storage Artifact.
He couldn't tell Sister Lisa that this man had been a Ruler sent to assassinate him. If she knew, she might never feel safe again.
"Sister, everything's fine," Richard said calmly.
Sister Lisa still looked unsure, but since Richard had said so, she kept silent.
Some time later, Arthur arrived, informing him that the Red Bear Tribe had prepared everything he requested. However, they asked him to come to their inn instead.
It seemed they didn't want to bring several valuable artifacts into the castle—perhaps fearing Richard had set a trap.
Since he wanted to fill his Aether anyway, Richard didn't refuse.
Together with Arthur, he set out for their inn, which turned out to be on the outskirts of the city.
Of course, inns on the outskirts were rather shabby—but perhaps the tribes felt more comfortable there.
They had rented out the entire building.
Inside, Richard saw not only members of the Red Bear Tribe, but also several from other bear-related tribes—the Blue Bear, Black Bear, and Brown Bear tribes.
The oddity of their tribe names wasn't something Richard bothered to dwell on.
He was invited into a room where he found several elders from other tribes along with the Red Bear Chieftain.
All of them stared at Richard intensely, as if they wanted to devour him alive.
"Chieftain, how is it?" Richard asked.
He didn't see any artifacts lying around.
Of course, he was sure they weren't trying to deceive him.
"You can sit here and absorb the Aether," the chieftain said.
Richard slightly furrowed his brows at that, but then nodded and sat down.
He suspected they were unwilling to reveal their artifacts directly. However, it was possible that while he absorbed Aether, they would channel it to him from those artifacts.
Once seated, Richard closed his eyes.
With Arthur standing right behind him, he felt no unease absorbing Aether in front of those wild tribesmen.
Sure enough, his guess was correct—massive streams of Tier 3 Aether began flowing into his body, immediately bringing a smile to his face.
At this rate, his Aether would soon be completely full.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC155: Problem
Chapter 155: Problem
Richard felt as if he were a hollow vessel, and torrents of water were rushing violently into him.
It was an absolutely exhilarating feeling.
He could even sense his power rapidly rising — so much that it felt like he was already as strong as a World Realm Magus with a combat power above Tier 35.
He didn't know how many hours had passed, but it clearly wasn't that long before he suddenly lost the ability to absorb Aether.
Of course, this wasn't a problem — it simply meant he'd reached his limit.
His eyes opened, glancing at the data displayed by the System.
[Aether: 20,000/20,000
[Aether Accumulation: 35,000
It was completely filled.
Naturally, he wouldn't be able to increase his Aether any further — unless he somehow obtained a rare, priceless item that could expand his Aether Accumulation limit.
Otherwise, it was utterly impossible to enhance his Aether through normal means.
And his Realm could not advance either.
He lacked one crucial thing — to become one with the world.
Without that, he would never evolve into a stronger being.
Still, Richard remained patient. After all, it hadn't been long since he reached the Life Aether Realm. In fact, it hadn't even been that long since he officially became a Magus.
He stood up with a satisfied smile. On the other hand, the barbarians around him gave him looks of discontent.
But he only turned to the Red Bear Tribe Chief.
"Chief, where is your wife?" Richard asked.
"Follow me," the chief replied.
He led Richard to one of the inn's rooms, guarded by five massive barbarians.
Up to this point, Richard still didn't know what kind of poison had entered the chief's wife's body, but with his Sacred Flame, he knew burning it away would be easy.
The tribe chief opened the door and entered first, gesturing for Richard to come in as well.
Inside, Richard saw a middle-aged woman who was actually quite beautiful, tall, and fair-skinned with a faint reddish tone.
She lay on the bed with her eyes closed, breathing rapidly, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Richard noticed that along her body — or rather, her veins — there was a milky-white light glowing faintly.
It was a sight that made him frown slightly, wondering what kind of poison it was.
If that was the poison, since when did a toxin shine with white light?
Richard had a feeling this wasn't an ordinary poison.
"My wife was afflicted with the Holy Lily Poison," the Red Bear Tribe Chief said. "It's a venom created from the experiment of the Holy Light Grand Sovereign — he combined his sacred light power with the Armageddon Lily Flower. As a result, this poison possesses an incredibly pure holy nature, making it impossible to remove by normal means. It requires a special antidote. In truth, this poison is something sacred — but in reality, it's extremely lethal. Fortunately, this was an experiment conducted before he became a Grand Sovereign. Otherwise, no one could have survived it. Even then, he was already immensely powerful."
Richard, whose brows were already furrowed slightly, tightened them even more.
Something sacred — but in fact, poison.
'What the hell is this?' he thought.
If that was the case, could his Sacred Flame even burn it?
After all, the Sacred Flame only burned what was evil.
If something wasn't evil — if the poison had been altered into something holy, to the point it no longer felt like poison — then the Sacred Flame might not affect it at all.
Richard fell silent in thought, causing the tribe chief to frown.
"Boy..." The chief called him sharply, his tone cold and his voice louder than usual.
Seeing the boy fall silent gave him a bad feeling.
The thought of being deceived naturally crossed his mind.
"Ehem..." Richard cleared his throat.
He didn't allow his emotions to control him.
That would be risky — not just the risk of failure. The worst-case scenario would be if this "holy poison" could actually absorb the power of his Sacred Flame. If that happened, his reputation could be completely ruined.
Even though the barbarians were enemies of the Holy Star Kingdom — and the citizens might enjoy seeing them being deceived — Richard himself didn't want to be publicly known as a fraud, especially since many neutral observers across the Land of Humans were watching the conflict between the two territories.
"Chief, this is rather tricky," Richard finally said, "so I'll have to ask for someone's help."
"What? Boy!?" the chief roared, startling the others, who immediately rushed over.
"What's going on?" an elder from another bear tribe asked.
Even Arthur looked confused.
Richard, on the other hand, spoke just as loudly, though his tone remained calm.
"Chief, don't think I'd be afraid of deceiving you if I wanted to."
"You!?" The chief nearly stumbled backward.
"Even if I deceived you, there's nothing you could do to me. But I'll tell you this — I'm not going to deceive you, and your wife will recover from her poison. If I wanted, I could even have the Kingdom deliver the antidote right here."
His voice carried an air of authority — almost as if he were scolding the chief.
When he saw the chief about to snap again, Richard added coldly,
"If you keep talking, I'll throw you out myself."
He was confident now that his strength had increased.
With the added power of his Black Heart and Mind Attack, it was far from certain who would win in a direct fight.
His final words made the chief's — and every barbarian's — face twitch in rage to the point of distortion.
They clearly hadn't expected such insolence from a boy who looked so small in their eyes.
When had anyone ever dared treat them like this?
Though they stayed silent, their fists were clenched tight.
Richard, however, acted indifferent.
He wanted to contact the Fire Spirit Queen, but realized she hadn't returned to Purple Rose Village. She was likely still out carrying out his order — investigating whoever had placed a bounty on his head with a Tier 7 weapon as the reward.
'She shouldn't take too long. She'll probably return soon to report,' Richard thought.
It was only his assumption, but a reasonable one.
Of course, he couldn't be sure.
He looked at the tribe chief, sensing the man's growing urge to attack him.
"Chief! Chief!"
Suddenly, a Red Bear tribesman came rushing in, shouting loudly.
"There's a man outside saying he has the antidote for the Holy Lily Poison — and he's willing to give it to you for free!"
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC156: Identity
Chapter 156: Identity
"Really?" The Red Bear Tribe Chief's face lit up with joy.
"Hurry, hurry, invite him in," he ordered.
The man who brought the news nodded and rushed back out.
Richard could only stare in disbelief.
Moments later, the barbarian returned with a young man — perhaps around seventeen years old — with black hair, a somewhat slim build, and a bright, striking face.
Richard didn't recognize him, but his aura was extraordinary — vast and oppressive — revealing that he was extremely powerful.
Richard could sense that his strength was at least on par with Luca's.
"Who are you? Do you truly have the antidote for the Holy Lily Poison?" asked the Red Bear Tribe Chief.
"Indeed. Take a look — I'm giving it away for free. I received it from my teacher," the young man said, pulling out a small bottle filled with a boiling blue liquid.
He casually tossed the bottle toward the Red Bear Chief.
The moment the chief caught it, his expression brightened.
He clearly recognized it as the genuine antidote.
Without a second thought, he rushed to his wife's side and poured the liquid into her mouth.
The effect was immediate — the white glow pulsing through her veins flickered, then vanished.
Her breathing slowly steadied, though she remained unconscious, likely needing time to restore her vitality.
"It worked!" The Red Bear Chief looked elated.
He turned again toward the young man.
"Young Master, thank you for your help. Are you truly asking for nothing in return?" he asked, his tone suddenly courteous — a stark contrast to his usual roughness.
"As I said, I'm giving it freely," the young man replied with a faint smile.
"Who... who are you, really?" The Red Bear Chief asked, curiosity burning in his eyes.
Everyone else was equally intrigued. The antidote was rare and priceless — the fact that he'd just handed it out freely was almost unbelievable.
"You probably don't know me. I'm just an ordinary member of the Order of the Crimson Veil — Liam Hemsworth. I'm a disciple of Duke Ethan Holystar," the young man said, introducing himself.
Upon hearing that, Richard finally understood what was going on.
He was probably sent by Ethan — to retrieve his slave.
And to think he had used this opportunity to disrupt Richard's plans.
Now that the Red Bear Chief's wife was cured, there was no longer any reason for them to seek Richard's help.
But Richard had already taken their Aether.
What would happen next?
"Alright then, Chief, I'll be taking my leave," Liam said.
As he turned to go, his sharp eyes locked onto Richard.
"Boy, we'll meet again soon," he said coldly.
Richard couldn't be bothered with him right now — not when the barbarians were staring at him with bloodthirsty intent.
"Chief, this was your own choice," Richard said calmly.
He could have helped cure the poison — if the Fire Spirit Queen had acted — but the chief had chosen to accept Liam's antidote instead.
It was a logical choice, but Richard couldn't be blamed either; he had already been compensated.
At that moment, Arthur gripped his sword's hilt.
It seemed he had secretly called for reinforcements — soldiers were now gathered just outside the door.
A conflict was about to erupt, and they were unafraid to fight.
The Red Bear Chief furrowed his brows as he saw the soldiers appear.
If a battle broke out here, he knew his people were at a disadvantage — they were deep in enemy territory.
After a moment of silent thought, the chief finally made his decision.
"We'll leave. Give us some time to prepare," he said.
Hearing that, Richard gave a faint smile.
"Of course. You're free to go," he said, turning to leave, followed closely by Arthur and his soldiers.
Richard felt the situation was unfortunate, but since things had turned out this way, he could only face whatever came next.
With his newfound power, fear was no longer something he felt.
'But that man...'
Richard couldn't forget how he had been humiliated.
That had to be repaid.
'For him to know what was happening inside the inn, there must be a powerful Magus following him,' he thought.
---
When Richard returned to his castle, he told Arthur, "If Liam comes, tell him to wait until I allow it."
He was certain Liam would show up, and he planned to wait for the Fire Spirit Queen to deal with the person backing him.
Once that person was dead, he could do whatever he pleased to Liam.
Richard then went to his room, sitting calmly, forgetting everything else as he focused on his power — trying to find his own way to become one with the world.
It was said this process always took a long time, but who knew — perhaps he could achieve it faster.
With his eyes closed, his concentration deepened.
He could feel everything around him, trying to connect his body with the world itself.
He didn't know how much time passed before he suddenly caught the scent of a refreshing, fragrant aroma.
His eyes opened instinctively — and before him stood a beautiful woman with straight crimson hair.
Who else could it be but the Fire Spirit Queen?
Richard was slightly surprised that she had come directly to his chamber.
But he had no improper thoughts — the Queen clearly saw him only as a child.
"Did you find anything, Your Majesty?" Richard asked.
"The news was spread through a powerful Sixth Sense to many loose-tongued individuals," the Fire Spirit Queen replied.
"I couldn't trace who started it, but it was clearly a strong Magus — at least a Peak Ruler Magus. Boy, as someone with an extraordinary talent, it's natural that such things happen to you. You don't need to know who wants you dead."
"People die because they don't know who their enemies are," Richard replied evenly. "If I knew who it was, couldn't I just send you to kill them and eliminate one future threat?"
The Queen frowned, her brows knitting tightly — she seemed to recall something from her past, a mistake born of pride and idealism.
"Your Majesty," Richard said again, "do you sense any powerful presence nearby?"
"Yes..." she replied. "But only a Ruler — nothing worth mentioning."
"I see... Then stay here. I want you to help me deal with that Ruler," Richard said with a faint smile.
It seemed the Order of the Crimson Veil had concluded that the red-haired woman aiding Richard was only a Ruler. Or perhaps that was Ethan's personal assumption.
But it made sense — even for Ethan, he could likely only send a Ruler-level Magus to guard his disciple.
Being influential within the Order didn't mean he could easily command those stronger than himself.
Every Ruler was a respected senior. To have the authority to give them orders, one needed truly immense achievements.
Ethan had probably paid a heavy price for it.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC157: I'm a Fraud
Chapter 157: I'm a Fraud
Richard stepped out of the castle and met Arthur.
"Has Liam arrived?" Richard asked.
"Yes, he said he wanted to meet you. He's waiting at the city park," Arthur replied.
"I see, let's go," Richard said.
He mounted Athena's back and set off. Arthur and several knights followed on their own horses.
The city had only one large park.
However, what people called a park here hardly deserved the name — there were no trees, only mounds of snow and many benches.
It was eerily quiet, perhaps because it was night and the air was far too cold.
Richard could barely see anyone except a few Magi training their bodies.
He looked around, searching for Liam, and found him sitting cross-legged in the middle of the park, puffing on a cigar with a confident look.
Richard approached him, unable to hide his irritation.
"Boy, you're late," the young man said as Richard stopped before him.
He stood up and tossed a small book toward him.
"That's what you wanted. Now return my teacher's slave," he said again.
Richard glanced at the book, its cover a deep crimson.
(Blood Devourer Arcane Art!)
He casually flipped it open, but before he could turn a second page, Liam called out again.
"Boy," he said.
Richard lifted his eyes.
"Leave. You're not taking anything back," Richard replied.
If he didn't teach him a lesson after what happened earlier, that man might really think he could toy with him.
"You?" Liam looked genuinely surprised by his response.
"What? You have a problem with that?" Richard smirked.
"Boy!" Suddenly, another voice echoed from above.
But only for a moment.
"Ahhh—" The voice turned into a short scream as crimson flames burst in the sky — not large, but intense enough to reduce the target to ash. The scream ended too quickly to even be called a scream.
Liam stood frozen in disbelief.
Before he could turn his gaze back to Richard, the latter's foot shot forward.
Richard's physical strength was overwhelming thanks to his Titan Skeleton.
As the kick connected, Liam's nose shattered instantly, and he was flung away like a mere insect.
He flew across the park and vanished into the distance, no one knowing where he landed.
Equal to Luca despite being young?
Unfortunately, even Luca would be no match for him.
"City Lord, you...?" Arthur looked shocked by Richard's action.
"I'm a fraud," Richard said calmly before turning and walking away.
Soon, the barbarians would be shouting that he was a fraud anyway — he might as well follow the flow.
After deceiving the Red Bear Tribe, now he had deceived Duke Ethan Holystar.
On the way back, Richard read through the contents of the Blood Devourer Arcane Art, which described the immense difficulty of mastering it — so great that even geniuses with strong Blood Element affinity often failed.
The main requirement to use it was 15% mastery. Any progress below 50% meant little — it merely made using it easier.
But once above 50%, one could start merging various Bloodlines into a single whole.
At 100%, it was said to even allow the user to absorb and inherit the abilities of others.
Of course, even achieving 15% mastery was beyond most.
Otherwise, there would be no need for the Blood Devourer Beasts to exist.
These beasts naturally possessed the ability to devour bloodlines — yet even they couldn't merge more than ten, and their mastery level was only around 15% of the true art.
To go beyond that, they had to train on their own or fully refine their innate bloodline — both incredibly difficult.
DING!
(You have obtained Blood Devourer Arcane Art!)
(Your mastery of Blood Devourer Arcane Art has increased from 0% to 15%!)
Blood Devourer (15%)
Richard smiled faintly when the notification appeared. With 15% mastery, he instantly understood how to use this Arcane Art.
Then a new idea crossed his mind — stealing Sterling's ability.
Abilities could be sold, after all. Their value depended on the type.
And Blood Devourer was an extraordinary one, capable of generating immense wealth if the stolen bloodlines were sold.
In the end, humans could only merge one or two bloodlines — unless their affinity with the Blood Element exceeded 90%.
Only the Bloodman Ancient Sovereign had ever reached that level.
Upon returning to his castle, Richard went straight to his room.
To his surprise, the Fire Spirit Queen was still there — she hadn't left yet.
Apparently, she didn't even need to move to destroy the Ruler who guarded Liam.
"Queen, help me for a moment. Make this man unable to resist at all," Richard said calmly, issuing the command without hesitation as he released Sterling from his Storage Artifact.
The Fire Spirit Queen furrowed her brows briefly.
Sterling looked startled, but before he could react, a tremendous power struck him, freezing him completely. He couldn't even blink.
"Watch, Queen," Richard said, extending his hand toward Sterling.
Blood began to flow from his fingertips — pure, bright crimson, yet strangely clear.
Even the Fire Spirit Queen's eyes widened in surprise.
The blood gathered in the air, forming the head of a monstrous creature — its mouth looked made for devouring, toothless but resembling a black hole that consumed everything.
Seeing that, the Queen froze.
Her insight was vast — even if she hadn't seen every Arcane Art in existence, she had at least studied the depictions of many.
Of course, she recognized this: the Blood Devourer Arcane Art.
Naturally, she also knew that Richard had just received this from Liam.
Yet the time between receiving it and fully manifesting it was merely the duration of his trip back from the park.
How could he have mastered it already?
Sterling, frozen in place, seemed equally terrified — beads of sweat rolled down his motionless face.
Showing off like this didn't matter. After all, only Sterling, whom he would soon kill, and the Fire Spirit Queen, who would never betray him — not even to Aldric, who had enslaved her — were present.
In truth, he simply wanted to shake the Queen's heart — to make her see something awe-inspiring from him.
Perhaps, if she became more amazed by him, she would start to resent her fate as his slave a little less.
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MY SYSTEM INCREASES MY POWER EVERY DAY WITHOUT MISSIONS AND LEVELLINGC158: Buyer
Chapter 158: Buyer
Richard didn't know whether it affected her emotions or not, but at the very least, she was clearly very surprised.
"Eat," said Richard.
Whoosh!
The mouth made of blood widened and swallowed Sterling.
Of course, it wasn't something meant to destroy. Sterling was merely engulfed by the mouth and appeared fine inside.
However, blood—special blood seemingly tinged with gold—began to flow out of him in the form of small glowing dots, converging at the throat of the bloody mouth, right in front of Richard's palm.
He knew that was the Bloodline Core, just like Athena's before.
It seemed Sterling's Bloodline Core would be golden in color.
But Richard noticed a slight problem.
Sterling was stronger than him.
Even though Sterling had been rendered powerless, it was still somewhat difficult for Richard to absorb his bloodline.
BANG!
Black lines appeared all over Richard's body as he activated the hidden power of his Black Heart.
There was no other choice—he needed additional strength.
Only after channeling the hidden force from his Black Heart did everything become easier.
The golden Blood Core quickly formed.
Sterling visibly weakened until his skin turned pale.
BANG!
A loud explosion echoed as the golden Blood Core was completed.
The head of the blood monster shattered.
After that, Richard couldn't help but glance toward the Fire Spirit Queen.
Her gaze at the Bloodline Core seemed deeply impressed, as if she was hoping to possess it.
Richard didn't know whether she truly desired it.
After all, as a slave, what was the use of having such an ability?
It would be far better if she asked for Richard's help to extract the abilities of certain beasts that could actually strengthen her.
The power of the Blood Devourer Beast didn't really enhance her strength—it merely gave her the ability to steal other beasts' powers. That, in fact, reduced the number of Bloodline Cores her body could hold, since two was the limit for humans whose Blood Element Affinity didn't exceed 90%.
"Someone out there would definitely buy it for a high price," said the Fire Spirit Queen.
"Oh? Who? And what would they pay with?" Richard couldn't help but be surprised by her words.
It was likely that the reason she seemed interested in the Bloodline Core was to sell it to that person.
"A powerful figure from the Land of Spirit. As for what he would use to pay, you can ask for something you need," the Fire Spirit Queen replied.
"So far away," Richard muttered. He hadn't expected it to be someone from beyond the Land of Humans.
"But are you sure I can get something I need?" he asked.
Though distant, such an exchange was still possible. There were many ways to make it happen. The safest, for example, was to have the Fire Spirit Queen send a message and invite the person to come.
"Trust me. That person is very powerful and possesses many valuable things. If he doesn't have what you want, he can trade for it with someone who does. But don't even think about asking for something that could help you merge with the world. Even he can't grant you that," she said calmly.
Richard nodded several times before asking again, "Then, Queen, what do you think I should ask for?"
He honestly didn't know what he truly wanted, since he couldn't request something to help him achieve oneness with the world.
He could only seek the Fire Spirit Queen's advice, as she had far greater knowledge and experience.
If that person truly desired the Bloodline Core from the Blood Devourer Arcane Art, Richard might even be able to ask for a Grand Weapon.
But he didn't really want that—he already had one, and he couldn't even use it yet, not even just to observe it.
Hearing his question, the Fire Spirit Queen fell into thought.
"You possess an Ignis Volt Core, right?" she said after a moment.
"Yes... I do. Why?" Richard nodded and asked.
"What you have is a Low-Tier Ignis Volt Core. Above that, there's a High-Tier version. You can ask that person to upgrade your Core to High-Tier. You'll realize it's a fair trade once you understand how terrifying a High-Tier Volt Core is—but as I said, it requires your Low-Tier Ignis Volt Core as the main material. The rest, that person will provide," she explained.
"How terrifying is it?" Richard asked again.
"It can merge with your body and even use Nature Spirits as an additional energy source, allowing you to unleash attacks beyond your level as long as you have enough Spirit Energy. The fusion of fire and lightning becomes much more perfect, and its blast can shatter space and time. As long as you can maintain its energy, its power can even surpass that of Grand Weapons wielded by High-Class Magi like me. In the past, someone once used it to wound a Grand Sovereign."
"Seriously?" Richard found it hard to believe.
After a moment, he nodded several times.
"Alright, that can be done," he said.
"But I want that person to come here, so just send him a message," he added.
"Hmph, are you afraid I'll abandon you after tricking you so many times?" the Fire Spirit Queen said before vanishing, leaving Richard frowning at her teasing remark.
He did prefer her protection—but even without her, he could still protect himself. It wasn't fear.
Once she was gone, Sterling was finally released from suppression.
However, he was in the same state as Athena before—limp and powerless.
He stared at Richard with extreme fear.
And Richard looked back coldly.
"As a beast, you've truly been arrogant," Richard said.
"Now your life is worthless, while your death will at least give me one Slave Seal, so your death is clearly more valuable," he added with a sinister grin.
He reached out his hand toward the man.
"Ahhh..." Sterling's scream echoed shortly after, and moments later, nothing remained but a spotless floor.
Alone again, Richard finally sat on his bed and lay down, trying once more to find a way to merge with the world.
There were no results at all, but it was something that had to be attempted over and over—no matter how many thousands of times.
After an unknown amount of time, Richard eventually fell asleep.
"Richard! Richard!"
He didn't know how long he'd been asleep, but his door was suddenly pounded loudly by Sister Lisa, who called out to him nonstop.
Richard didn't just open his eyes—he instinctively stood up, even leaping to the door and opening it.
"Sister, what's wrong?" he asked, finding Sister Lisa in a state of panic.
"Richard, it's bad! Arthur sent me word that many barbarian tribes have decided to unite and plan an attack on Snow Sky City. The Bear Tribe, the Ice Gorilla Tribe, and many others," she said quickly.
"Ohh..." Richard's reaction was calm when he heard that.
He had already expected things to turn out this way.
"Richard, the news has spread, and many citizens have begun leaving the city early. They think this place will be destroyed by the assault of so many barbarian tribes," Sister Lisa continued, and Richard simply nodded slightly.
For a large-scale invasion like this, he already had plans.
He didn't need to ask the Fire Spirit Queen for help. After all, the attacking forces would likely consist only of Life Aether, World Realm, and Grimoire Realm warriors.
Even Lord Realm experts usually only appeared in much larger wars.
If a powerhouse like the Fire Spirit Queen got involved, there was a chance that other mighty figures from the Ancient Ice Region would also appear.
This didn't mean there were no Grand Sovereigns in the Ancient Ice Region—if there weren't, that territory wouldn't have survived this long.
Richard didn't want a Grand Sovereign-level battle to happen. It would be far too dangerous for everyone—the destructive aftermath of such fights was too great.
Those kinds of battles only occurred when World Magic Aether appeared.
Because of that, Richard would use his own plan—one that didn't involve forces as overwhelming as the Fire Spirit Queen.
'While they prepare, I'll prepare too,' he thought.
"Sister Lisa, don't worry too much. I'll handle this," Richard said before stepping out of his room. Sister Lisa hurriedly followed him, curious about his plan.
In his castle, there was a staircase leading down to a basement.
Richard had never been there before.
The basement was even larger than the castle itself.
It extended beneath the entire courtyard.
A massive object floated in the center—spherical in shape, but actually made of interlocking metal plates forming a hollow ball.
Each plate had small gaps, leaving countless openings along the sphere.
Further away, four long steel pipes were connected to the sphere, stretching out in four directions, piercing through the basement walls and deep into the ground beneath the city.
This was the City Defense Formation Core.
As a city often involved in conflict, the kingdom had naturally prepared one defensive formation here.
However, it required Nature Spirits as its energy source.
Its defensive power could even withstand attacks from a Lord Realm Magus—but that also meant it needed a constant supply of energy to stay active.
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