The surge of power from reaching the fifth layer of Qi Refinement hummed within Lin Fan's Dantian. His senses were sharper, his Qi flowed more smoothly and powerfully through the pathways of the Nine Cycles Refining Art, and his connection to the Flowing Shadow Sword felt more profound. He stood in his small hut, a cultivator reborn, worlds away from the desperate disciple he was just days ago.
And he had points to spend. 4225 points, burning brightly on the system interface.
The locked Spirit-Sealed Ironwood Box was a tantalizing promise for the future, but Lin Fan craved tangible power now. Skills, tools, resources – the lottery was the fastest way.
"System," Lin Fan commanded, a thrill running through him, "Perform forty standard Lottery Draws. Execute them consecutively."
[Acknowledged. 40x Qi Refinement Lottery Draws initiated. Deducting 4000 System Points.][Current System Points: 4225 - 4000 = 225]
The dazzling wheel of light reappeared, spinning with blinding speed. Unlike the previous single draws, this time it didn't stop after each one. Instead, a constant stream of notifications began flooding Lin Fan's vision as items simultaneously materialized around him, piling up rapidly on the floor, bed, and single rickety table.
DING!
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Bottle of 5x Body Tempering Pills' (Mid-Grade)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Iron Skin Art' (Low-Grade Defensive Skill - Auto Mastered)][Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Pack of 3x Minor Healing Pills']
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Chunk of Black Iron Ore' (Common Forging Material)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Wind Blade Technique' (Low-Grade Offensive Qi Skill - Auto Mastered)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Sack of Lumina Rice' (High-Quality Mundane Food)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Set of 5x Fireball Talismans' (Low-Grade Offensive Talismans)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Map Fragment showing Herb Location' (Common Spirit Grass)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Mid-Grade Storage Ring' (10 Cubic Meter Capacity)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Bottle of 10x Enhanced Qi Gathering Pills']
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Night Owl Drops' (Improves Night Vision temporarily)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Basic Poison Antidote Pill' (x2)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Silent Step Insoles' (Minor Stealth Enhancement Gear)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Spirit Warding Jade Pendant' (Minor Protection vs Ghosts/Spirits)]
...
The notifications flashed past almost too quickly to read, accompanied by the constant soft thump or clink of items appearing out of thin air. Pills in bottles, rough ores, stacks of talismans, scrolls containing instantly absorbed techniques, oddly shaped gadgets, even mundane items – the sheer volume was overwhelming.
After what felt like only a minute, the light wheel vanished. The notifications stopped. Silence descended, broken only by Lin Fan's slightly ragged breath.
His hut, already small, was now crammed with stuff. Bottles of pills lay scattered everywhere. A small pile of metallic ores sat in one corner. Talismans were stacked neatly by the system. A simple-looking ring lay on the table. Scrolls containing the techniques he'd won had vanished after he'd instantly absorbed the knowledge.
Lin Fan let out a low whistle. Forty draws yielded... a lot.
He immediately felt the presence of two new techniques integrated into his being. The Iron Skin Art was a simple but effective method of circulating Qi just beneath the skin to drastically increase resistance to physical blows. The Wind Blade Technique allowed him to condense Qi and launch sharp, crescent-shaped projectiles of wind from his hands or sword – his first real ranged offensive skill.
His eyes scanned the incredible mess. He needed to organize. His gaze fell upon the Mid-Grade Storage Ring resting on the table. It looked like a simple silver band, unadorned. He picked it up and channeled a wisp of his Qi into it.
FWOOSH!
His consciousness connected to a space within the ring – a stable, empty void roughly ten cubic meters in size. It was vastly larger than the standard Outer Sect disciple pouch, which could barely hold a few dozen items. This was a game-changer for carrying capacity and convenience.
With newfound enthusiasm, Lin Fan began sorting his winnings, feeding his Qi into the storage ring and mentally commanding items to fly inside.
Pills: Numerous bottles. Body Tempering Pills (Mid-Grade, good for strengthening his physique), Minor Healing Pills, Enhanced Qi Gathering Pills (better than standard), basic Antidotes, even some temporary buff pills like the Night Owl Drops. A veritable pharmacy.
Techniques/Skills: Iron Skin Art (Defense), Wind Blade Technique (Offense). Both instantly mastered.
Weapons/Gear: No new primary weapon, but the Silent Step Insoles and the Spirit Warding Jade Pendant offered minor utility. The Mid-Grade Storage Ring was the crown jewel here.
Talismans: Five Fireball Talismans (solid offensive option), plus a few minor Light Barrier Talismans and Sharp Edge Talismans he'd also apparently drawn. Good for conserving Qi in combat.
Materials: Black Iron Ore, a few stalks of Sunpetal Herbs, a vial of Beast Repellent Powder. Useful for potential future crafting or trading, but not immediately relevant.
Miscellaneous: Map fragments, high-quality rice (a luxury, but mundane), a slightly better whetstone for swords. The 'junk' prizes, comparatively speaking.
After several minutes of sorting, his hut was blessedly clear again, with almost everything neatly stored within the Mid-Grade Storage Ring now worn securely on his finger. He kept out the pack of Fireball Talismans, tucking them into his robe for easy access.
He stood up, stretching. Fifth layer cultivation. Wind Step for movement. Wind Blade for ranged attacks. Iron Skin for defense. Flowing Shadow Sword for close combat. A storage ring filled with pills, talismans, and backup resources. Infinite Spirit Stones on call.
Lin Fan felt a surge of confidence unlike anything he'd ever experienced. He was no longer just relying on infinite money; he now had a rapidly growing arsenal of actual cultivation power and tools.
He briefly tested the Iron Skin Art, channeling Qi just beneath his skin. It felt tough, resilient, like wearing invisible armor. Then, he conjured a small Wind Blade, a shimmering crescent of Qi appearing in his palm before dissipating. It felt natural, potent.
His gaze drifted towards the door. He had the power, the resources. Staying cooped up in his hut felt like a waste. The Outer Sect Market was yesterday's news. What now?
He could go to the Contribution Hall and see what sect tasks were available. Completing tasks earned Contribution Points, which were necessary for accessing certain sect resources or even attempting the Inner Sect assessment later. With his current strength, many tasks previously impossible for him would now be manageable, perhaps even easy. Completing tasks, especially difficult ones, could also be a form of showing off, potentially earning system points.
Alternatively, he could visit one of the dedicated Outer Sect Training Grounds. Sparring with other disciples (or puppets), testing his limits against training arrays – it would allow him to truly gauge his combat prowess and master his new skills in a controlled environment.
DING!
[New System Mission Issued!]
[Mission Type: Side Mission]
[Mission Name: Make Your Mark]
[Description: Your recent advancements and displays have garnered attention, but whispers fade. Demonstrate your current combat capability in a recognized sect environment. Complete a sect task rated for at least the sixth layer of Qi Refinement OR achieve a 'High' rating in a standard combat assessment at an Outer Sect Training Ground.]
[Reward: 500 System Points, 1x Enhancement Token (Low - Applicable to Qi Refinement skills/gear).]
Lin Fan's eyes lit up. A new mission, perfectly aligned with his thoughts! And the reward – System Points were always welcome, but an 'Enhancement Token'? That sounded intriguing.
The choice was clear. While the Contribution Hall offered tasks, the Training Ground allowed for direct assessment and perhaps more immediate recognition (or shock).
Decision made. Lin Fan adjusted the Flowing Shadow Sword on his back, touched the storage ring on his finger, and pushed open his hut door. He stepped out into the afternoon sun, his fifth-layer aura subtly radiating confidence. Several disciples nearby instinctively flinched back.
Lin Fan ignored them, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Outer Sect Training Grounds. It was time to see what his newfound power, funded by infinite wealth and delivered by the system's lottery, could really do.