Beggar Cultivation System-Chapter 339: Something is Wrong

Apollo nodded his head, seeing that the Slumstreet people had finally settled and begun resting.

"I will go out for a bit," the beggar said, turning to his new disciple, who was standing straight beside him. "And you don't have to be so tense. You don't need to stand beside me all the time."

As he said that, he glanced behind him and noticed his other disciples following Rachel's example, probably because she was the oldest or because they really wanted to show their respect to their master.

"Rest," Apollo said to them. "I will go out and take care of the food."

"We can help, Master!" one of his disciples shouted.

"You lot aren't going to be able to help. You guys are still too weak," the beggar said truthfully, and his words caused the kids to look disappointed. "But don't worry, with me here, it won't be long before you achieve the strength you always wished for."

The disciples' eyes lit up.

Apollo still didn't know some of their names because they needed to get back to the city as soon as possible, so he decided to get to know them better once they arrived in Belthias. In the meantime, he needed the Slum settlement to have the strength to continue their journey.

"Master, be careful," Rachel said with evident concern in her voice.

"They should be the ones to be careful of me," Apollo smirked. "I will be back. How about this—why don't you guys prepare a bonfire in the middle?"

The beggar pointed to the center of their resting spot, where the slum people could gather around.

Hearing the command, Rachel and the others' eyes widened in excitement as they finally had a way to serve their Master. "We will do it!"

Apollo could only shake his head at their enthusiasm. After watching them begin gathering dry desert wood and weeds, the beggar disappeared from his spot, leaving only a small gust of wind.

…

A blur appeared as Apollo arrived on top of one of the tree-like mesas.

"Hmm, what monster would be good to eat?" Apollo muttered, placing a hand under his chin. Having read numerous books back in the library of the Great Serpent Cultivation School, the beggar recalled all his knowledge about monsters and beasts.

Usually, in desert terrain, it was hard to find animals that could be eaten, especially in a world like this where beasts lurked everywhere. However, when he scoured through the information regarding monsters in this vast desert, he found a few beasts that could be eaten if cleaned properly.

Like the Desert Snake Beast he had encountered along the way—there were many of their kind in this desert, both black and sand-colored. The black ones were hard to clean since their insides were full of venom, but the light brown ones, while still venomous, were not as deadly.

There were also the Sand Jackal Rabbits, rabbit-like monsters that behaved more like moles than actual rabbits. They could burrow through the sand and travel from one place to another without raising suspicion.

Apollo recalled a few more beasts that could be eaten in this area before deciding to just roam around and deal with whatever came his way. As long as it could fill the stomachs of the Slum people, it was all good.

With this in mind, he activated his Simple Movement Technique, and his body became a blur.

At the same time, he couldn't help but bring up his Status Screen to check how his Alm Points were doing.

STATUS SCREEN

"Name: Apollo Leone.

Race: Human.

Alm Points: 171.4

Spirit Cultivation: None. frёeωebɳovel.com

Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Qi Condensation Stage.

Attributes: Lightning, Water

Companions: Bubba (Monkey)

Beggar Disciples: Don Blanc"

"171?" Apollo muttered, neither satisfied nor disappointed. Without Don Blanc begging in the Beggar Spot, his Alm Points had stagnated. Fortunately, he had the Automatic Alm Points Producer, which constantly gave him 0.4 Alm Points every hour. It was slow, but it was making progress.

He landed on a giant rock and jumped again, his body lifting off hundreds of meters into the air as his senses tried to locate monsters in the area.

His eyes, on the other hand, remained focused on his Status Screen.

"Why are they not listed?" Apollo muttered in confusion upon seeing that only Don's name was written as his disciple.

Hey System, why are my new disciples not listed on my Status Screen? Apollo asked the System. There were a few reasons in his mind as to why, but he needed confirmation. Although he didn't talk much with the System, if it was the System's problem, he had to bring it up.

"The Host must accept disciples inside the Beggar Spot or around its perimeter. Only then will the System acknowledge them as the Host's disciples," the System answered in its emotionless voice.

"Oh," Apollo nodded as one of his thoughts was confirmed. "I'm surprised you didn't try to sales talk me again."

"If you want to know the full capabilities and rules of this System, you can buy the Premium Manual of All Systems in the System Store," the System said just as the beggar finished talking.

"Why did I even bother saying that?" The beggar was left speechless. "Alright, you got my curiosity. Let me see the price."

A translucent screen materialized in front of him with only one item on it. After reading everything, Apollo waved his hand, and the hologram disappeared into particles of light that followed the wind.

"A hundred thousand Alm Points?" Apollo snickered. "You really are a black-hearted businessman."

The System didn't answer, as usual, and Apollo was already used to it. The System only cared about its products—nothing else. Or rather, it only cared about ripping off its customers.

As Apollo closed his mouth and focused on finding food, he suddenly stopped upon landing on a sand dune. "System, what do you mean Premium Manual of All Systems? Are there any other Systems besides you?"

He wasn't expecting an answer, as he was merely voicing his doubts, but surprisingly, the System's voice echoed inside his mind.

"The universe is a vast ocean—an ocean with land and sky. And beyond the sky lies another space, another universe. Beyond the universe is another darkness. There comes the birth of another universe, another galaxy, another star."

The System spoke in a cryptic tone, and somehow, there was a hint of melancholy in its emotionless voice—so subtle that even Apollo missed it.

"So basically, your answer is yes," Apollo nodded. "Got it. In another universe, there's another System. And you're the only System in this universe?"

"Correct," the System answered.

Hearing this, Apollo let out a sigh of relief. It was one of the doubts lingering in his heart. He feared that another person with the same abilities as him existed on this planet. It would be troublesome if he had to deal with an overpowered individual. Who knew? Maybe he wouldn't even be able to achieve his goal in this lifetime—to stand at the very top of this Cultivation World.

The beggar smiled, then began jumping from one high place to another, only to stop for the second time.

"Something is wrong."