The Gains and Techniques (2)

"Damn...

"Why do you like saying that word...Lara asked while passing her hands through Rasoul's hair. 

"Things keep getting wild around me. Your technique and Crown aren't as simple as I imagined. The Crown can speed up learning the techniques. Plus, the techniques from the generals are just the starting point of a broader skill set."

As per the System, the four we got ranked in the top 100 strongest techniques in the universe.

"Damn... She also said the magic word. They got something empires and worlds would go to war for. It's a valuable technique, yet they got it for free. Rasoul understood that relying solely on abilities wouldn't cut it; he needed his unique style, and now he's got it."

Armed with Akido Dual Swordsmanship and the Darkness technique, he could swiftly reach the top if she succeeds in learning and mastering it. Little did Rasoul know, the techniques they got will throw them into the ring with some formidable beings they'll soon encounter.

These techniques are sought after by many, so if Rasoul and his pals flaunt them openly, they'll draw the interest of some unsavory characters.

Rasoul then goes back to check other messages.

[Congratulations to the Host for rebuilding your meridians.]

[Congratulations to the Host for acquiring a nine-array celestial Meridian.]

[Congratulations to the Host for unlocking a new ability.]

[All locks have been lifted.]

'Nine Array Celestial Meridian, what is that?

[The Nine Array Celestial Meridian is the most exceptional of all meridians. Its applications are broad; apart from purifying various materials injected into the body, it also boosts the agility of the body. Practitioners of Body cultivation, like yourself, develop stronger bodies and bones. Additionally, it accelerates the rate at which you grasp the laws and elements.]

[In brief, this Meridian is special but challenging to cultivate. However, thanks to your cultivation style, 'Maximization,' you won't encounter many issues if you maximize before leveling up to the next Rank and, subsequently, the follow-up Realms..]

'That is a relief, then. I can't imagine being scared of cultivation because I have an ultra-rare Meridian.

[Not so fast, Host. Because your meridians and Physique are unique, you will have to spend double the Attribute and EXP to advance in Ranks.]

'Oh, come on. That's not fair at all.

[Nothing is fair and just in this world, Host.]

'Thank you, Master of Eternity.' He expressed gratitude to the Celestial for bestowing upon him such a unique and powerful meridian.

[Congratulations to the Host for unlocking a new ability.]

[New Ability]

[Zephyr Glide]

[Whirlwind Dash]

>>When activated, the user dashes forward in a swirling gust of wind, passing through enemies and obstacles. It leaves a brief trail of disorienting wind currents, impairing the vision of nearby foes.

[Aero Boost]

>>While gliding, the user gains a temporary burst of acceleration, allowing them to cover large distances swiftly. This effect enhances overall mobility and enables strategic positioning during combat.

[Cyclone Evasion:]

>>With a swift spin, the user creates a protective cyclone shield around themselves, deflecting incoming projectiles and providing a brief invulnerability window. This maneuver is especially effective for dodging ranged attacks.

[Gale Updraft]

>>Upon landing from a jump or fall, the user triggers a powerful updraft that propels them skyward. This allows for quick escapes and provides a strategic advantage by granting an elevated vantage point for ranged attacks or surveying the battlefield.

[This ability will unlock when the Host's Wind element is unlocked.]

'This is a good ability; too bad I can't use it now. By the way, System, why is my wind element locked?'

[The wind element isn't as straightforward as the others. It's more like a law. Grasping it requires access to both cosmic energy and Mana. It doesn't follow the typical understanding steps of the other elements. Normally, a cultivator only needs Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind as primary elements.

Ice, Lightning, Light, and Darkness fall into a similar category as wind, but they have a more user-friendly nature, making them easier to access than wind.]

[Tell me, can you see the wind?]

'No.'

[That's correct. The wind is more complex due to its nature. Earth, Water, Fire, Ice, Light, Darkness, and Lightning all have a physical nature, but not wind. Wind lacks a distinct nature, so understanding it requires Cosmic Energy.

Having Cosmic Energy is crucial mainly because of its dual nature. It seems visible yet invincible. Therefore, thanks to its characteristics and behaviors, it can be used to grasp how the wind feels, appears, and moves.]

'So, I must become a Saint before I can use it...

[Exactly. It's crucial to have a deep understanding of Cosmic Energy before delving into the study of the wind. Make no mistake; the wind is mightier than you imagine. If you attain Master's level Mastery over it, you will grasp its true nature.]

'Thanks, System.'

He felt grateful for the System's detailed explanation of the wind element's workings. He understood that reaching the Saint stage would grant him access to the coveted Cosmic Energy. Yet, a lingering feeling urged him to proceed with caution. Overdoing it will result in catastrophic outcomes.

Comprehending Cosmic energy to a certain level would determine the extent of his ascension. He anticipated facing numerous challenges in the future, yet a persistent intuition hinted at an even more significant obstacle awaiting him at the Saint stage.

Advancing beyond the Saint stage requires building a sturdy and secure foundation, achievable through a deep understanding and mastery of cosmic energy. In other words, the Saint level is when real cultivation begins. It's where you construct the foundation that will determine how far you can ascend in the subsequent realms.

'I will put a pin in it for now,' Rasoul thought as he continued delving into the messages.

Ding...

[Quest Completed]

[First Quest: Kill all 1000 Dark Beasts and the Guardian - Successfully Completed]

[Rewards:]

>>200,000 Fire Points - Received

>>1000 Attribute points - Received

>>Hidden Reward - Unlocked

[Hidden Reward]

[Ability Upgrade Pass]

>>This pass can upgrade any upgradeable ability to the next tier utterly free without any added cost.

'Alright then, System, use the Pass to upgrade the slave seal to Tier 3.'

[Slave Seal Upgrade initiated...]

[Upgrade will take 5 minutes]

After five minutes, Rasoul heard a ding, so he checked...

[Slave Seal Upgrade Successful]

[The Host can now enslave those in the Saint Realm]

[Congratulations, Host, a new function has been unlocked]

[New Function]

>>Privilage: The Host can now share the slave seal ability with his subordinates, allowing them to use it for 8 hours daily.

'Worth it. Now I can go after the seven families without resorting to killing, and I can even share the slave seal ability with my subordinates. This is just too good. Soon, I'll have 27 subordinates enslaving the bad guys for me. Venera Powerhouse and the criminal underworld won't know what hit them,' Rasoul thought inwardly, a wicked smile on his face.

Noticing his mood, Lara asked, "What happened? Why the mischievous smile?"

"Nothing much, just that the slave seal ability can now be shared with my subordinates for 8 hours daily."

"Really?... This will make things great for us. We can go around and enslave the whole Earth empire," Lara said with a smile. The System chimed in, noticing her enthusiasm,

[Stop influencing her badly. She is innocent.]

'It's not my fault my sweetheart shares the same ideas as me. Maybe you should start supporting me instead of trying to punish me for absolutely no reason. You could have given me the cure to rebuild my Maridiens, yet you decided to sell it for a whopping 900 billion.'

[Oh, stop being a crybaby. There is no way I would have allowed you to become a dummy; I just wanted to show you what desperation looks like.]

'That was evil.'

[Whatever. Just make sure you create your minions fast. I don't want you going against some crazy, strong individuals in the future without robust subordinates supporting you. In case you forget, you are the Supreme One, so start acting like it.]

'Awww, is that concern I sense? I never knew you cared that much,' he teased, sensing the system wanted what was best for him.

[Shameless Bastard.]

After his banter with the System that lasted just a second, he asked Lara, "Do you think I should also create my own 27 generals?"

"You don't have to ask me; you wanted something like that, so go for it. Just make sure you don't create only males but also females. I can't be the only female running around among boys... I seriously need sisters."

"Who said I will only create male subordinates? I am a feminist, you know," Rasoul replied with a mischievous smile.

"I don't understand the word, but I am going to trust it's something good," Lara replied as she continued to run her fingers through Rasoul's head.

He then moved on with his messages. He wanted to finish this message before going back to the outside world.

[Quest: Kill all 1000 Alpha Beasts and the Great Beast Guardian - Completed successfully]

[Rewards:]

>>1,000,000 Fire Points - Received

>>1000 Attribute points - Received

>>Array Formation Book - Received

>>Hidden Reward - Received

[Hidden Reward:]

[The engineering section is now accessible in the system store. The Host has the privilege of choosing one item from it at absolutely no cost.]

"Hold on a minute. Isn't this a world focused on cultivation? Why would engineering be necessary here?

[That's the benefit of having an awesome system as your Master.]

'Who said you are my Master? You're more like my assistant.

[Keep telling yourself that]

"This is just great. Using guns in the Cultivation world would sure have its perks. I can now incorporate Earth-based weapons into the cultivation world."

Having access to earth-based weapons will surely give him an edge over other cultivators, especially in large-scale battles. Being an engineer, building things will become easy for him. With the system's help, he could become an engineer that transcends common sense.

While it's beneficial for him, he's aware that it won't be a walk in the park. Now, he's got Runesmiting and Alchemy on his plate to deal with.

'Perhaps I should make a subordinate with an engineering class,' he pondered. He realized that was the key to tapping into the engineering part of the shop.

He then took out the array book and then put it away 'I'll tackle the Array book later.

Rasoul hasn't been keeping up with his sub-classes. He recognizes the importance of fixing that, but carving out time for RuneSmithing and Alchemy has been a struggle for him.

Ding...

[Quest: Kill the 5,000 Alpha Beast - Completed Successfully]

[Rewards:]

>>1,000,000 Fire Points - Received

>>1000 Attribute points - Received

>>Two empty Scroll - Received

>>Hidden Reward - Received

[Hidden Reward]

[Infernal Eclipse Fig Spirit Fruit - Gold]

--Empowers the cultivator to harness the potency of solar eclipses, enhancing fire attacks and creating temporary zones of pitch-black darkness for strategic advantages.

Rasoul swiftly extracted the fruit from his inventory—a fig with a fiery core encased in a dark, eclipse-like skin materialized in his palm. Given his heightened affinity with darkness and fire elements, the fruit held a more potent allure for him. However, Lara found the fruit less enticing.

"This fruit exudes a rather sinister aura and a strong scent of death," she remarked. Due to her profound connection with the element of light, darkness reacts unfavorably to her affinity with light; hence, she detests anything derived from darkness.

Seeing her reaction, Rasoul promptly produced the two empty scrolls and extended them towards Lara.

"Lara, my dear, why not utilize these to incorporate new abilities into your arsenal...