20: Chapter 20 Binding to the Chosen One

"Dual path cultivation has had no lack of practitioners throughout history, but how many can reach the Peak?"

Elder Fu Gao, however, remained unmoved; he was convinced of his own reasoning.

"A person's energy is limited after all; biting off more than one can chew leads to indigestion!"

"The path of the sword involves too much killing and slaughter, which harms one's Heart-Nature and leads to a turbulent future ahead."

"As for the Dao of Artifact Refining, it is a magnificent and Righteous Path. The further one goes, the more revered their status becomes, earning the respect of tens of thousands!"

"Which is superior and which is inferior? Does this old man need to say more?"

Duan He was completely speechless.

He realized he simply couldn't talk sense into this old man who had already lost his head over it.

In the eyes of an Artifact Refiner like you, a Sword Cultivator apparently isn't anything good.

If Grandmaster Yun were to hear these words, she/he would probably flatten the entire Tianhuo Peak with a single sword strike.

"Elder, please calm down. This matter... should be discussed at length, discussed at length."

Duan He could only offer dry words of persuasion, already plotting in his heart whether he should find an opportunity to tip off Qinghan Peak.

The argument in the courtyard did not spread into the Artifact Refining Room.

Zhao Ruoan was completely oblivious to the brainstorming session of the two old fellows outside.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his Dantian.

After refining artifacts twice, although the spiritual power within his body had recovered, he had gained a new realization.

Cultivation Realm was truly the hard requirement.

The Spiritual Qi of the Body Refining Realm was far too low in both quality and quantity; it was like using a small water pipe to irrigate a large orchard—not only was the efficiency low, but the pipe itself was prone to bursting.

Wanting to manipulate those high-tier Materials at will was nothing more than empty talk without mighty Spiritual Qi to support it.

"It is time."

Zhao Ruoan adjusted his breathing.

The Great Dao Scripture within his body circulated on its own, and under the perception of his mind, the Realm barrier that had long since become loose emitted a faint cracking sound.

He did not rush to break through in one go.

Instead, he chose the safest and most extravagant method.

A process of gradual refinement.

He impacted the barrier with Spiritual Qi time and time again, not to smash it open, but to polish it, familiarize himself with it, and take control of it.

Days passed by one by one.

Elder Fu Gao and Duan He did not leave either, guarding right in the courtyard.

Elder Fu Gao was dead set on waiting for Zhao Ruoan to come out, and then using both emotion and reason to "trick" him into Tianhuo Peak.

Duan He was too scared to leave, fearing that the Elder would act on impulse and do something irreversible.

The two of them stared at each other with wide eyes; from their initial argument to their later speechless silence, the atmosphere became awkward to the extreme.

On the fifth day, late at night.

Inside the Artifact Refining Room, the previously calm Spiritual Qi environment suddenly changed.

A suction force, several times larger than when he was previously recovering his spiritual power, emanated from within Zhao Ruoan's body.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within a radius of several miles transformed into streams of white airflow visible to the naked eye, rushing madly into the small Artifact Refining Room like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

Elder Fu Gao and Duan He were startled by this commotion and stood up simultaneously.

"This is... about to make a Breakthrough?"

Elder Fu Gao muttered to himself.

Before his voice faded, that suction force abruptly retracted.

As if a person who had eaten their fill, letting out a satisfied burp.

Everything returned to peace.

Inside the room, Zhao Ruoan slowly opened his eyes.

A streak of pure spiritual light flashed across the surface of his body and disappeared.

Spirit Gathering Realm, early stage.

Success.

He could feel that the sea of Spiritual Qi within his Dantian had expanded more than tenfold compared to before, and the condensation level of the Spiritual Qi had undergone a qualitative leap.

If his Spiritual Qi before was mist, then now it was flowing stream water.

This step was taken with utmost solidity and stability.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully breaking through to the Spirit Gathering Realm, unlocking the Realm Big Gift Package!]

[Detected that the host has achieved the "First Independent Breakthrough" achievement, obtaining a chance to choose one of three rare titles!]

The System panel unfolded before his eyes.

Zhao Ruoan first looked at those three titles.

[Title One: Child of Destiny (Special Luck Class)]

[Effect: Wearing this title will greatly enhance the host's Luck. Going out makes it easy to pick up treasures, the probability of fortuitous encounters increases, danger early-warning capabilities improve, and making friends with others makes it easier to gain favor. In short, you are the most dazzling child of the heavens.]

[Title Two: Ingenious Craftsmanship (Special Skill Class)]

[Effect: Wearing this title increases the success rate by 30% when the host performs the Hundred Arts operations such as Artifact Refining, Alchemy, talisman making, and Formations, and the probability of producing "perfect" quality increases by 10%.]

[Title Three: Sword Dao Prodigy (Special Comprehension Class)]

[Effect: Wearing this title increases the comprehension speed by 50% when the host comprehends Sword Dao and learns sword techniques.]

The three titles each radiated an alluring glow.

Zhao Ruoan analyzed them one by one.

The second one, "Ingenious Craftsmanship", looked very wonderful, but to him, it was a bit like chicken ribs.

What he lacked in Artifact Refining right now was not success rate and quality, but cultivation Realm as the hard requirement.

Once his cultivation Realm went up, relying on his techniques, refining perfect quality was standard operation, so the bonus meaning of this title wasn't significant.

The third one, "Sword Dao Prodigy", was equally strong.

But his Sword Dao talent already started at Fifth-Order Sword Intent, plus he had such a lethal weapon as the Extraordinary Comprehension Card, so comprehension speed was already not a problem.

Only the first one, "Child of Destiny".

This title exuded a whiff of metaphysics.

Things like Luck were invisible and untouchable, yet they truly affected every aspect of a Cultivator.

Some people had mediocre talent, yet they always encountered benefactors, picked up Secret Manuals, and eventually achieved a grand career.

Some people had supreme talent, yet they got struck by lightning when going out, choked to death while drinking water, and suffered a bumpy life.

This was the difference in Luck.

For a Transmigration practitioner determined to develop steadily, what could be more important than becoming "the heavens' own child"?

This was simply an officially certified Protagonist Halo!

"I choose the first one, Child of Destiny."

Zhao Ruoan made his decision.

[Ding! Title "Child of Destiny" equipped! Wishing you continuous good Luck and endless fortuitous encounters!]

An inexplicable warm current spread throughout his whole body, as if gently embraced by something, feeling very comfortable.

Zhao Ruoan nodded in satisfaction, then turned his attention to the golden "Realm Big Gift Package".

"Open!"

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the following rewards:]

[1. Extraordinary Comprehension Card x1]

[2. Heaven Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique 《 Twin Spirits Formula 》 x1]

[3. Thousand-Mile Escaping Talisman x1]

[4. Mid-Grade Spirit Stone x50000]

Looking at the reward list, Zhao Ruoan's heartbeat skipped half a beat.

This time's rewards were somewhat excessively generous.

Extraordinary Comprehension Card, an old friend, with many uses.

Fifty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stone pieces, for him right now, counted as a huge sum of money, enough for him to squander for a long time.

Thousand-Mile Escaping Talisman, a one-time life-saving trump card, which could be randomly teleported anywhere a thousand miles away after being crushed, capable of saving a life at a critical moment.

And what made his heart flutter the most was that Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, 《 Twin Spirits Formula 》.

He hurriedly checked the introduction of the Cultivation Technique.

[《 Twin Spirits Formula 》: Heaven Rank Low Grade special Cultivation Technique. Cultivating this method allows one to condense a second Spiritual Qi core within the body. When casting any Spiritual Qi attack, there is a certain probability to trigger the resonance of the second Spiritual Qi core, launching an identical attack without generating additional consumption. After the Cultivation Technique reaches Major Achievement, the trigger probability is 100%ل]

Zhao Ruoan gasped.

One hundred percent trigger?

Isn't this just buy one get one free, double the happiness?

Any Spiritual Qi attack becomes doubled and returned!

The overbearing and unreasonable degree of this Cultivation Technique was simply outrageous.

A Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, truly terrifying.

This Breakthrough not only caused his strength to skyrocket, but he also harvested so many supreme treasures, and his foundation instantly became thick.

This wave was a god-tier starting hand.

He put everything into the System space, calming down his excited mood.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, when Zhao Ruoan pushed open the doors of the Artifact Refining Room in high spirits.

What he saw were two figures in the courtyard with dark circles under their eyes and haggard expressions.

Elder Fu Gao and Duan He.