“Hmm, sure. Show me my rewards.” Shen Yuan nodded his head as the system screen manifested in front of him.
[Ding!]
[Quest Completed]
[Due to Host’s exceptional performance, the rewards have been increased.]
[Rewards:
1 – Second Section of the Primordial Vessel Cultivation Technique
2 – 200,000 Chaos Coins
Additional Rewards:
1 – 100,000 Chaos Coins
2 – Thunder God Codex]
Shen Yuan’s eyebrow arched up as he read the reward message, “Thunder God Codex?”
He softly muttered under his breath, “What is this?”
Yue Lan’s voice echoed in his mind.
[The Thunder God Codex is a Sovereign Grade cultivation technique specializing in lightning attributes. It allows the cultivator to harness the power of thunder and lightning, enhancing speed, strength, and offensive capabilities. It’s compatible with your current cultivation base and can be integrated with your Primordial Vessel Technique.]
Shen Yuan’s eyes lit up with interest. “A lightning-based cultivation technique, huh? This can be quite useful to me. And this grade….”
He pondered for a moment. “But I don’t have any lightning affinity. Will I be able to cultivate it?”
[Your Devouring Fiend Celestial Bloodline allows you to devour various elemental affinities. By absorbing a lightning-elemental resource or essence, you can awaken a lightning affinity within yourself,] Yue Lan explained.
He nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Perhaps it’s time to seek out a lightning-element treasure or beast. I just hope some unfortunate soul doesn’t deliver themselves to my door.”
Turning his attention back to the reward window in front of him, he smiled. “And the Second Section of the Primordial Vessel Cultivation Technique… With this, I can finally break through to the next realm.”
Shen Yuan felt excitement bubbling within him. With the second section of the Primordial Vessel Cultivation Art, he could advance to the next realm and use the Thunder God Codex to learn more abilities as well.
“Yue Lan, please integrate the Thunder God Codex into my Sea of Consciousness. I’ll study it after I’m done with Primordial Vessel Cultivation Art.”
[Sure. The Thunder God Codex is quite a good technique for you; it also has a lot of thunder abilities, so you won’t have to find thunder martial arts as well,] she replied.
He took a deep breath, “Time to make some plans.”
“There are about two weeks remaining in the sect competition, huh,” he thought, as he didn’t have much time for a breakthrough.
As he was about to delve further into his thoughts to make some plans, a familiar presence approached his mansion.
He curiously stood up from his chair and went to open the entrance gate.
Only to see Han Qingyu standing at the entrance, her graceful figure illuminated by the soft glow of twilight.
“Qingyu?” he called out.
She offered a gentle smile. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all,” Shen Yuan replied, gesturing for her to join him under the cherry blossom tree. “Come, have a seat.”
She walked over and sat beside him. “I heard about your successful weapon showcase. Congratulations. I didn’t know you became a blacksmith, and quite a masterful one at that.”
“Thank you,” he said calmly with a modest smile. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of Wan Ling and the others.”
Han Qingyu studied him for a moment. “No need to be humble. Your talent is undeniable; if your weapons weren’t so good they wouldn’t have caught the eyes of Inner Sect Elders.”
He chuckled lightly. “Perhaps. But there’s still much for me to learn.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the petals from the cherry blossom tree drifting gently around them.
After a while, Han Qingyu spoke again. “Brother Shen Yuan, the Sect Leader has requested your presence tomorrow morning.”
He raised an eyebrow. “The Sect Leader? Did she mention why?”
She shook her head. “No specifics, but it’s likely related to your blacksmith abilities. Being the only male disciple and showing such prowess in both cultivation and blacksmithing has certainly caught her attention.”
“I see, well not like I wasn’t already under her attention,” he mused. “Thank you for informing me.”
She nodded. “I also wanted to ask if you’d like to train together sometime. I’ve been working on some new techniques; I can use your help to find out my mistakes as well.”
Shen Yuan smiled warmly. “Sure, I want to see how much you have improved as well. Your physique really boosted your cultivation by a lot.”
Her eyes softened. “Hehe, it’s all due to you. If you hadn’t invited me to join this sect, I would still be an outer disciple of Saber Mountain Sect, and my physique would have remained dormant.”
As the evening wore on, they shared stories and discussed cultivation philosophies.
Their bond grew stronger as they spend more time together, each finding comfort in the other’s company.
Eventually, Han Qingyu stood up. “You should rest now. You will have a long day tomorrow.”
He rose as well and patted her head lightly. “Goodnight, Qingyu.”
“Goodnight, Brother Shen Yuan.”
After she left, Shen Yuan gazed up at the star-filled sky. “Meeting the Sect Leader, huh? I wonder what she wants.”
[It could be an opportunity,] Yue Lan suggested. [Perhaps she intends to offer you a position or resources. There are not many blacksmiths in the sect after all; she might want to groom you as the head blacksmith of the sect.]
“Maybe,” he agreed. “Either way, I need to be prepared. It won’t be easy to reject her.”
He decided to spend the rest of the night meditating, focusing on consolidating his cultivation and familiarizing himself with the new section of the Primordial Vessel Technique.
…
The next morning, Shen Yuan donned his disciple robes and made his way to the Radiant Lotus Peak through various spatial portals. He soon reached the Sect Leader’s hall.
The path was serene, lined with blooming lotus flowers and flowing streams that reflected the morning sun.
Upon arriving, two Inner Sect disciples greeted him with respectful bows. “Senior Brother Shen Yuan, the Sect Leader is expecting you.”
He nodded and entered the grand hall. The interior was adorned with exquisite paintings and artifacts, exuding an aura of wisdom and authority.
‘Oh? She changed the layout this time?’ he mused to himself while walking further in.
At the far end sat Sect Leader Mei Hua, a woman of striking beauty and immense presence.
Her light pink hair flowed like a river, and her pink eyes held immense knowledge yet slight playfulness.
“Disciple Shen Yuan greets Sect Leader Mei,” he said, bowing lightly to show his respect.
“Rise,” she said softly. “Come a little forward, why so shy all of a sudden.”
She commented playfully.
He shook his head and approached forward slowly but confidently.
“Shen Yuan, oh Shen Yuan, you really continue to surprise me,” she began, “First your rapid advancement in cultivation, and now your talent in blacksmithing and I believe in alchemy as well are certainly remarkable.”
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, “Alchemy? I have such a talent? Why do I not know myself?”
Mei Hua giggled softly, “You have quite the sense of humor, but no need to pretend in front of me. I sensed the presence of herbs on your body the first time you came here; from the looks of it, you haven’t practiced alchemy in quite a while.”