Only I Am A Reader

"Yeon! Ah… I'm back here again."

Looking at the familiar emptiness around him, Leo quickly realized that his time had run out. He was just with her a moment ago, but he was already missing Yeon.

'I need to stay strong.'

However, while he surely wouldn't forget about his promise, he planned to bury aside his only regret for the time being. After all, constantly thinking about it wasn't just something that would give him agony, if his dark thoughts grabbed hold of his weakness once more, he might not be able to pull himself back once more.

At the very least, there was consolation in knowing that Yeon shared his belief in himself and Baekho being one and the same.

He wasn't exactly sure about it back as Arthur, but someone like Yeon would have noticed if the core of Baekho's thoughts had truly changed.

In conclusion, it seemed like he had lived 2 more separate lives before awakening his memories of his third life, and if this pattern continued, there was no knowing what the final number would be.

'Just what is the true identity of my Reading?'

Was he chosen as a reader because his other 'lives' consisted of people who were vital to other worlds' fates? Did he already die once in these worlds before his future memory was sent back to the past?

Or could it actually be that his reality was nothing but a simulation created to make it easy for him to read about his many futures before being sent to correct them?

Countless thoughts and possibilities flashed in Leo's head, but before he could contemplate any more deeply about it, the reason he was dragged here ran off in his ears.

[ 'True Reading' has concluded. Finalizing experience summary… ]

'Let's just hope I will be able to get some answers from the meeting that I was magically invited to…'

[ Character Synchronization Assessment: 100% ]

[ Personal Skills will be completely inherited. ]

[ 15% of basic Personal Statistics will be transferred. ]

[ Reading Points deposit ratio set to 100% ]

[ Main Quest reward granting in process… ]

[ 'True Reading' - First Stage - has advanced to the next stage! ]

[ The First Reader Characteristic, 'Reader's Appraisal', has been invoked! ]

'Did it level up?'

Unlike the first time when the words seemed to acknowledge his success in a supposed 'Trial', Leo could tell that things were getting more serious now.

After faithfully completing his mission this time around, Leo's true core ability which made all of his other abilities possible had actually leveled up!

Just like the time he was allowed to stay after had increased, it seemed that just as things got progressively harder or required more effort, the benefits and leeway that he could gain became comparatively better.

'I still need to check how this new ability works, but first…'

[ Reading Attribute, 'Reality Reading', has been activated! ]

[ Processing Acquired 'Reality'... ]

[ Processing complete. Please select your preferred 'Reality' from the following list within the limit of your deposit. ]

The advancement of his ability had ignited Leo's heart to quickly check what he could now add to his shopping cart, perhaps…

[ Murim Supremacy - Acquired Reality List ]

Abilities:

- 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - 3rd-Rate Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 120 - (999)

- 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - 2nd-Rate Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 240 - (1999)

- 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - 1st-Rate Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 360 - (2999)

- 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - Peak Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 720 - (4999)

- 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - Transcendence Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 1440 - (9999)

- 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - Non-Restraint Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 1920 - (19999)

- Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 248 - (1240) [Acquirable only after acquiring 'Expanded Dantian']

Talents: [Acquirable only after acquiring an Internal Energy Ability]

- 'Cleared Energy Channels' - 200

- 'Body of Accelerated Recovery' - 300

- 'Eternal Flame Enhancement' - 405

- 'Spatial Affinity' - 150

- 'Expanded Dantian' - 6/10 - 500

Items:

- 'White Tiger Sword' - 660

- 'Black Dragon Spear' - 700

- 'Emerald Calamity Bow' - 400

- 'Mountain Splitter Halberd' - 200

- 'Black Dragon Inner Scale Armor' - 200

- 'Heavenly Demon Ring' - 200

- 'Gold-lined Robes' - 20

- 'Spice-filled Pouch' - 1

- 'Wyvern Skin Shoes' - 25

- '7 Mutated Phoenix Feathers' - 224

- 'Frozen Plum Core' - 1000

- '875 Golden Taels' - 125

- 'Silk Bag' - 1

- 'Weapon box' - 10

- '10 Blood Rose Pills' - 50

- '5 Scarlet Snake Pills' - 75

- '3 Crimson Cloud Pills' - 180

- '21 Grain P…

- …

'As expected, is it too much to ask for?'

For a long second there, Lep wholeheartedly believed that True Reading's advancement could provide him with a more advanced list. For example… exchanging an entire character using points!

Of course, that didn't make a drop of sense once he gave it proper thought. However, even in the case something like that would be possible, it didn't seem like his current point wallet would be able to cover something like that.

'I should pipe down my delusions.'

Leo's ridiculous desire might not have been granted, but that didn't make choosing the winning items any easier.

Although he had almost made 10 times the points he had made in the first books, neither the prices nor the quantities of the items made that feel like an achievement.

'Let's see, I have… 11554 Reading Points.'

Compared to the simple list that appeared last time, the current list was simply far too cluttered. Thanks to his previous experience, Leo made sure to pack quite the luggage along with him in preparation for his departure.

'It wasn't too hard to take a dozen pill bottles as battle rations.'

In addition, since the Murim Martial Art power system was more complicated, the book even added notes dictating exchange restrictions.

'I can't clear shop as I hoped to, but I should still be able to sweep off the necessities.'

Leo had grand ambitions considering he had over 10 'grands', but even that amount fell short due to the difference in price.

Thankfully, there was no need to compromise the main shopping list, Leo just had to cut corners on the additives.

'First of all…'

[ Ability - 'Scarlet Sky Breathing' - Peak - has been acquired! ]

After a few seconds of contemplating, Leo made the most logical decision he could think of. He couldn't be cheap when it came to the core of his second power system, but he couldn't be a spendthrift either.

Even if it took almost half of his points, there was simply no better way to invest 5 thousand points. However, Although he longed for Transcendence, buying it would almost be equal to giving up on getting any items!

'It might take a whole, but as long as I have the Core, gradually advancing would be much more worth it.'

Time and energy could be produced but the items that were exclusive to Murim couldn't be replicated. With that thought in mind, Leo went out of order and directly exchanged the core item of his advancement plan.

[ Item - 'Frozen Plum Core' has been acquired! ]

'I also can't give up those talents.'

Considering that he already spent a sizable sum on setting up the foundation, the prices of his Internal Energy-related talents were too cheap for their outstanding performance.

[ Talent - 'Cleared Energy Channels' has been acquired! ]

[ Talent - 'Body of Accelerated Recovery' has been acquired! ]

[ Talent - 'Eternal Flame Enhancement' has been acquired! ]

He couldn't pass on them! Especially the expanded Dantian that seemed to defy common sense!

[ Talent - 'Expanded Dantian' has been acquired! ]

[ Talent - 'Spatial Affinity' has been acquired! ]

'Spatial Affinity' was still as ambiguous as the day he got it, but Leo still decided to keep it thanks to its possible connection to actual Spatial abilities.

'Does it also recognize the emotional value?'

The first item that Leo's eyes went to after the Core was none other than the Ring Yeon had made him. Not only did it have a grandiose name, but it was also overpriced for a rock picked up from the ground.

'A promise is a promise.'

[ Item - 'Heavenly Demon Ring' has been acquired! ]

As for what held the priority following that…

[ Item - 'White Tiger Sword' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - 'Black Dragon Spear' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - 'Emerald Calamity Bow' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - 'Mountain Splitter Halberd' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - 'Black Dragon Inner Scale Armor' has been acquired! ]

Naturally, it was his weapon set as well as his inner armor!

'Might as well.'

[ Item - 'Weapon Box' has been acquired! ]

Since it was an extremely sturdy box that almost didn't cost anything despite having nostalgic value, Leo quickly snatched it.

Besides, something with mystical decorations like this could be extremely useful in hiding the storage ability of Leo's Reading Space!

'1630 points left, since I already bought 'Dantian Expansion' should I also buy this?'

After throwing a glance at the variety of pills on the items list, Leo's eyes moved back to the upper part of the last.

Leo didn't expect that the surplus Internal Energy that he accumulated as an Unrestrained Martial Artist could be sold individually like this, but he welcomed this idea very much.

It was only because he was worried he would mess up his calculations and end up losing something important that he held on till now. Naturally, it took priority over undigested pills!

[ Ability(Energy) - Internal Energy(Scarlet Sky): 248 has been acquired! ]

Having filled down his main shopping list, Leo didn't dilly-dally any longer as he quickly filtered through the remnants of the Item List.

He didn't have to buy the item in the quantity that it was presented at, so he split them to suit his limited budget.

'That should do it.'

[ Item - 'Gold-lined Robes' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - 'Wyvern Skin Shoes' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - '5 Mutated Phoenix Feathers' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - '2 Crimson Cloud Pills' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - 'Scarlet Snake Pill' has been acquired! ]

[ Item - '10 Blood Rose Pills' has been acquired! ]

'Let's hope this won't be as jarring this time…'