Chapter 20: Unveiling the Black-Iron Treasure Chest

As the sun's warm rays gently filtered through the dense foliage, the forest came alive with flickers of light. Towering trees stood tall and proud, their branches reaching out to touch one another, creating a natural canopy that dimmed the surroundings with a soft, diffused glow.

(From now on we will refer the particles that act like sun spreading light in the heavenly pit as 'sun')

The interlocking branches formed a verdant tapestry, allowing only scattered patches of sunlight to find their way through the leafy maze. In these illuminated spots, the forest floor seemed to come alive, painted with patterns of dancing light and shadows.

The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of earth and greenery. The forest exuded a sense of mystery and tranquility, inviting wanderers to immerse themselves in its embrace.

Di Tian found solace in the comforting stillness of the woods. With each breath, he felt the energy of the forest infusing his being, soothing his weary soul after the arduous battle with the lion pack. The tranquility of the surroundings brought a renewed sense of clarity.

Perched gracefully on the sturdy tree branch, Di Tian basked in the healing embrace of the forest. The passing days had worked wonders on his battered body, evident by the rapid recovery of his injuries. His innate vitality, a trait of True Dragons, had accelerated the healing process, leaving him renewed and revitalized.

As he examined his scales, he marveled at the remarkable regeneration. The once-missing scales had grown back, shimmering with an otherworldly luster.

A peculiar discovery caught his attention: the fallen scales, once a part of him, had transformed into mere mundane metal-like objects. The energy and unique properties they once possessed were now wholly assimilated by his own being. Di Tian couldn't help but feel a deeper connection to the very essence of his existence.

Eagerly, Di Tian spoke to himself, "Now that I have almost healed, let's check the rewards given by the system." His anticipation grew as he opened his status, curious to see the bounties bestowed upon him after the challenging quest he had triumphed over. The past few days had been devoted solely to resting on the tree branch, harnessing the remarkable recovery ability inherent in True Dragons.

As a True Dragon, his recovery ability was nothing short of exceptional, unrivaled even without the world's spiritual energy. The innate healing prowess passed down through his dragon lineage was truly extraordinary. Among the methods he had explored, Di Tian discovered that sleep was one of the most efficient ways to quicken his recovery, a sacred wisdom etched into his very being.

With anticipation, he examined his status interface.

<Ding! Host's Current Status>

[Name: Long Di Tian]

[Species: True Dragon]

[Spirit Coins: 500]

[Missions: None]

[Inventory: (Expand)]

[Shop: Available Items for Purchase]

[Enhancement Points: 60]

[Level: 2]

[Stats:

Vitality: 600

Stamina: 550

Agility: 420

Attack Power: 400

Strength: 400 (+50)

Defense: 500 (+50)]

[Skills:

- Enhanced Senses (1)

- Bite (1)

- Dragon Tail (1)

- Slash (1)]

[Initiate Abilities:

- Flight (1)

- Dragon Scales (1)

- Dragon Claw (1)

- Dragon Breath (1)

- Super Strength (1)]

[Unique Skills:

- Wise One (Unknown)

- Son of the Dragon Emperor (Unknown)

- Inherited Memory (Unknown)]

[Remarks: A True Dragon, that was unexpected. Who would have thought a cry-baby weakling who resorted to hiding before anything would become a dragon.]

Despite not leveling up from the previous encounter with the lion pack, Di Tian noticed significant changes in his status. The experience points might not have been enough to propel him to a new level, but other rewards spoke of his accomplishments. His keen eyes observed the following alterations:

[Spirit Coins: 500]

- The previously barren entry now displayed a substantial amount of spirit coins. It was a welcomed addition to his arsenal, granting him access to valuable items and resources that would aid him in his future endeavors.

[Enhancement Points: 60]

- Another noteworthy change was the surge in his enhancement points. His tenacity in battle and determination to grow stronger had been rewarded. Now armed with sixty enhancement points, he could further refine his abilities and skills, honing them to perfection.

[Inventory: (Expand)]

- Di Tian's heart quickened with excitement as he discovered a newfound inventory. What was once empty was now brimming with mysterious objects and treasures. Although he had yet to examine their properties in detail, the very notion of possessing items that could potentially aid him brought a sense of anticipation.

As Di Tian eagerly called out to the system, the inventory window materialized before him, displaying the items he had obtained from his recent battles. The inventory was neatly organized into different tabs, providing a clear overview of his possessions. Excitement filled him as he observed the rewards he had earned.

---

[System Inventory]

[Consumables Tab]

- Name: Dragon Blood Elixir.

- Quantity: x1.

- Description: A potent elixir crafted from rare dragon herbs. When consumed, it temporarily boosts all your stats and grants increased resistance to status effects for a short duration.

- Duration: 30 minutes.

- Effects: Strength Boost | Defense Boost | Agility Boost | Vitality Boost | Stamina Regeneration | Enhanced Senses | Status Effect Immunity.

[Equipment Tab]

- Empty

[Materials Tab]

- Name: Lionheart Mane.

- Quantity: x1.

- Description: Majestic mane of the Makhulu Lion, can be crafted into equipment.

- Source: Small chance to be dropped after killing Makhulu Lion.

[Quest Items Tab]

- Empty

[Treasure Chest Tab]

- Name: Black-Iron Treasure Chest.

- Quantity: x1.

- Description: Black-Iron grade Treasure Chest, its contents remain a mystery.

[Miscellaneous Tab]

- Empty

---

"Good, now that I have spirit coins, I can finally explore the system shop. The enhancement points can also be used to further increase skill levels or enhance them instead, but..." Di Tian paused as his gaze fell upon a particular item in his INVENTORY. "I should first open this little beauty," he said with anticipation, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he gazed at the black-colored treasure chest.

With a simple thought, the treasure chest appeared before him, hovering in the air.

"Darn, no matter which one I look at, every one of them looks awesome!" Di Tian exclaimed, his excitement palpable as he hastily began to appraise the array of items.

His eyes scanned over the treasures before him, each holding a unique allure that stirred his curiosity and desire for growth.

A total of five items popped out of the Black-Iron treasure chest, a strange, shaped stone, and four small baby sized boxes.

"Hey partner, can you tell me about these items?" Di Tian inquired; his eyes fixed on the strange, shaped stone in his hands.

[Sure thing,] <Wise One> promptly responded, as if it had been anticipating the question. [The stone in your hands is called the Experience Crystal. This small stone contains a certain amount of experience points within it, this particular experience crystal contains 2000xp. If you simply crush it, all the experience will be absorbed by you.]

As Di Tian opened one of the four small boxes, he was greeted by the sight of an emerald-colored pill resting on a cushion inside. The pill seemed to emit a mesmerizing glow, giving off an otherworldly aura.

Intrigued, he began to examine it closely. <Wise One> chimed in once again, providing him with the necessary information about the pill's properties.

[This pill is known as the Elixir of Vitality,] <Wise One> explained. [When ingested, it instantly restores a significant amount of HP and Stamina, revitalizing the user.]

Di Tian's eyes widened with realization as he comprehended the pill's incredible potential. Such a powerful restorative item would undoubtedly prove to be invaluable in his future battles and endeavors. With newfound appreciation for the treasure he had obtained, he carefully closed the box, eager to explore the other pills and their unique benefits.

As Di Tian opened the second box, he was met with the sight of a sky-blue colored pill resting on the cushion. The pill had a serene and calming hue, evoking a sense of tranquility.

Curious to learn more about this pill, Di Tian once again sought the wisdom of <Wise One>. "What can you tell me about this pill?" he inquired.

[This pill is called the Pill of Resilience,] <Wise One> responded. [When ingested, it temporarily enhances the user's endurance, increasing their resistance to physical and magical attacks for a limited time.]

He carefully observed the pill, contemplating the benefits it could provide in challenging situations. With a sense of anticipation, he closed the box, eager to explore the remaining pills and their potential advantages.

As Di Tian opened the third box, he found a slightly brown-colored pill resting atop the cushion. The pill had an earthy and natural appearance, giving off a sense of vitality and strength.

Curious about its properties, Di Tian turned to <Wise One> once more and inquired, "What does this pill do?"

<The Wise One> responded, "This pill is known as the Pill of Endurance. When taken, it grants a temporary boost to the user's stamina, enabling them to perform physically demanding tasks without exhaustion."

Di Tian's eyes sparkled with interest. The idea of increasing his stamina, being able to use his initiate abilities and skills more freely, was certainly appealing. He carefully closed the box, eager to discover the final item in the treasure chest and the potential benefits it held.

As Di Tian opened the final box, he was greeted by a white pill with a hint of cyan color. The pill exuded a cool and refreshing aura, giving off a calming and soothing sensation.

"What does this pill do?" Di Tian asked <Wise One> once more, intrigued by the unique appearance of the pill.

<The Wise One> replied, [This pill is the Pill of Regeneration. When ingested, it slowly and steadily regenerates the user's HP and Stamina over a period of time. It proves especially beneficial during battles and other strenuous activities, aiding in a swifter recovery.]

Di Tian nodded, the ability to recover health and stamina over time without the need for immediate rest could be a valuable advantage in prolonged battles or dangerous situations.

With a sense of satisfaction, Di Tian closed the final box and placed them all back into his inventory. Every item had impressive effects, especially the four pills. The benefits they provided would prove invaluable in aiding his recovery after intense battles, and even during ongoing combat.

He knew he had to save these pills, as each one was a lifesaving treasure for his current state of strength.

<Ding! It has been detected that the host has acquired new items. The items have been added to the default store.>

As the system notification chimed in his mind, Di Tian realized that not only had he acquired these powerful items, but they had also unlocked new possibilities within the system store. Curiosity piqued; he accessed the system store for the first time to see what options were now available to him.

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