2: Chapter 2 Five-Star Myth, Comprehending the Cultivation Technique

[Name]: ruyi jingu bang (Seal)

[Quality]: Mythic Five-Star

[Trait One]: Ruyi — Can be activated when using staff-type weapons. It allows the weapon's size to change at will and its weight to be as desired. The specific range of variation and duration depend on the user's Realm.

[Trait Two]: Immortal — Can be activated when using staff-type weapons. It greatly increases the weapon's durability. The specific enhancement effect and duration depend on the user's Realm.

[Trait Three]: Heaven-Battling — Can be activated when using staff-type weapons. The user will receive an all-around combat power boost and possess extremely high resistance to negative mental and willpower-based effects. The specific boost effect and duration depend on the user's Realm.

[Trait Four]: Not Unlocked

...

[Trait Nine]: Not Unlocked

"Hiss~~"

Lin Ye couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

What did he just see?

ruyi jingu bang?!

Is this right?

It was hard to imagine this thing appearing on the same screen as the Dragon-Gallant Bright Silver Spear and the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd; their styles were completely different.

Although it had a "Seal" suffix, the five words "ruyi jingu bang" alone were enough to sweep everything aside.

Dragon-Gallant Bright Silver Spear?

It was indeed very strong.

Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd?

It was indeed awesome!

But compared to the ruyi jingu bang... they all had to stand aside.

After all, no matter how strong the Dragon-Gallant Bright Silver Spear and the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd were, they still belonged to the Realm of mortal weapons. In contrast, the ruyi jingu bang was a true divine weapon; there was simply no comparison.

Besides, this was that person's weapon—who could possibly refuse it?

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Ye stepped forward and grabbed the unimpressive-looking iron staff.

"Ding! You have selected your Life-Bound Weapon: ruyi jingu bang (Seal)."

The moment the System notification finished, Lin Ye felt a heat in his palm. Some of the rust on the iron staff actually peeled off, and a faint golden luster seeped out from within.

Although most of it remained dull, the heavy texture and the feeling of being connected by Bloodline made him certain—

From now on, this ruyi jingu bang belonged to him!

The dark space dissipated, and Lin Ye's consciousness returned once more.

With a thought, a staff-shaped phantom only the size of a chopstick appeared in his palm.

This wasn't because the ruyi jingu bang was special.

A Life-Bound Weapon cannot be used directly as a weapon against enemies; one still needs to find a vessel for it.

Of course, as the Life-Bound Weapon's traits are continuously unlocked, its true form will surely manifest.

It was just that for the current Lin Ye, that day was still too far away.

After all, as a five-star mythic-rank Life-Bound Weapon, the ruyi jingu bang had a total of nine traits.

He didn't know how long it would take to unlock them all.

Dispelling the phantom of the ruyi jingu bang, Lin Ye was about to learn more about this world when the System notification rang in his mind again:

"Ding! Detected that the player has completed all Awakenings. The novice quest is now officially open."

"Quest Requirement: Please find a Human Race settlement within 24 hours and successfully join it to obtain a legal identity."

"Quest Reward: Cultivation Technique Selection Chest (White) * 1"

A Cultivation Technique!

Seeing the quest reward, Lin Ye couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

This was truly like someone handing him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.

Although he had both a Divine-Grade talent and a mythic-rank Life-Bound Weapon, neither could be converted into immediate combat power.

In a strict sense, he probably wasn't even a "scum with five combat power" right now.

"Find a Human Race settlement within 24 hours..." Lin Ye looked around, feeling for a moment like he was drawing his sword and looking around in a daze.

In this middle of nowhere, let alone finding a settlement, it was uncertain if he'd even run into another living person.

So the priority was to leave this mountain forest first.

Lin Ye looked up at the sky, trying to discern the direction via the sun, but the dense foliage covered the sky so tightly that he couldn't see a thing.

"How about... I try throwing a branch?" Lin Ye picked up a withered branch, prepared to decide his next direction using a metaphysical method.

However, just then—

"Awoo—"

A long wolf howl echoed from the distant mountain forest.

Lin Ye's hand jerked in fright, and the branch fell to the ground.

Before he could react, a second and third howl rang out in succession, one after another, making his skin crawl.

Immediately after, rustling sounds came from the forest, and gray figures appeared intermittently within.

"Run!"

Without a word, Lin Ye took off running.

The wind whistled in his ears, and withered branches and leaves crunched underfoot; Lin Ye never knew he could run so fast.

Yet even though Lin Ye was putting in every ounce of effort, the wolf howls behind him continued to get closer.

Unable to resist looking back, Lin Ye's scalp tingled with fear.

He saw five huge gray wolves sprinting in his direction, with the leader being a size larger than the others.

Its body length definitely exceeded two meters, its muscles were knotted, and its crimson beastly eyes emitted the ferocity unique to top-tier predators.

These gray wolves ran very fast, covering over ten meters with every leap. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before they caught up to him.

Lin Ye darted frantically left and right through the woods, trying to use the dense trees to evade the pack's pursuit.

However, facts proved that he was overthinking it.

Despite their large size, these gray wolves weren't lacking in agility at all.

No matter how Lin Ye maneuvered through the trees, they could change direction in time, completely unaffected.

What was even more deadly was that these beasts actually knew how to coordinate.

Two gray wolves, under the leader's command, flanked him from the sides, while the rest pursued closely behind him.

"Damn, these beasts have practically become spirits!"

Lin Ye couldn't help but curse at the sight.

After sprinting for over another minute, he was completely out of breath, and his legs felt as heavy as lead; his speed inevitably slowed down.

I'm finished.

A sense of despair rose in Lin Ye's heart.

But just then, a System notification suddenly rang in his mind.

"Ding! After running for a long time, you have successfully comprehended Basic Qinggong. Current Realm: Novice (0/100)."

Lin Ye was stunned.

In an instant, a warm current surged into his legs.

He could feel his footsteps suddenly becoming lighter.

His control over the force of each step became more precise, and he could even vaguely sense where to step next to save the most energy.

This was the effect of Heaven Rewards Diligence?

Before Lin Ye could think further, a gray wolf suddenly pounced from behind.

This time, Lin Ye's body reacted instinctively.

Instead of rolling clumsily like before, he shifted his feet and slightly tilted his body. He slid under the wolf's claws at an almost impossible angle, using the momentum to dash forward a distance.

Lin Ye himself was shocked.

That move just now... was that an action he was capable of?

At this moment, Lin Ye truly felt the terror of his Divine-Grade talent for the first time!

Others learning Qinggong needed Cultivation Technique manuals, guidance from a Master, and day after day of arduous practice.

But he...

Only needed to run!

Only needed to run for his life while being hunted by a wolf pack!

His talent would automatically help him summarize, refine, and deduce, then forcefully "grind" out a Cultivation Technique for him from actual combat!

Although it was only a basic technique, for him at this stage, it could certainly be called a life-saving divine skill!

"Hahahaha!"

Having survived the crisis, a surge of heroic pride welled up in Lin Ye's heart.

Heaven Rewards Diligence might not make him the kind of peerless Prodigy who had Epiphanies at every turn, but it gave him a much higher ceiling than those so-called Prodigies.

After all, an Epiphany was something that could be sought but not guaranteed, whereas he only needed to Cultivate step-by-step to progress bit by bit without encountering any Bottlenecks.

Who could withstand this?

Shua!

However, just as Lin Ye was feeling complacent, another gust of wind came from behind.

It was the Wolf Leader!