Ch 12: Foundational Technique -1

Feng Chen sat in the cave, his gaze fixed on the demonic sword resting across his lap. He couldn't help but marvel at its potential.

"A growth-type weapon…" he whispered, turning the blade over in his hands. The power this weapon might wield once fully unsealed... he could barely imagine it. Mountains split, seas parted, enemies kneeling before him... all scenarios played out vividly in his mind. He couldn't help but chuckle.

Then, out of nowhere, a memory from deep within his thoughts surfaced. His grin slowly faded as a nagging thought pushed its way to the front of his mind.

"Wait a minute…" Feng Chen muttered, a frown forming.

"I need to check something first."

He sat up straight, his senses on high alert. "System!" he barked. "Show me the description of this sword... now!"

The familiar blue window materialized before his eyes, and as he read the text, his breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded like a war drum, and he almost fainted from happiness.

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Demon's Veil (Sealed State):-

- Type: Growth-Type Weapon

- Current Rank: Sealed

- Potential Rank: Supreme

- Nature: Demonic

- Unique Trait: Once fully unsealed, the weapon will transcend its current rank and awaken its true power.

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"I knew it!" Feng Chen leaped to his feet, brandishing the sword like a madman. His laughter filled the cave, bouncing off the stone walls.

"It's sealed! And not just that... it can transcend its rank once unsealed!" He spun the sword in his hand, feeling the weight and balance of it.

"A demonic weapon of supreme nature… and it chose me as its master!"

His chest swelled with pride, and he couldn't stop grinning.

"This baby… once it's unsealed…" His voice lowered, eyes gleaming.

"Gods only know what kind of power it'll unleash!"

But just as he was about to imagine himself carving through legions of enemies, another thought hit him like a slap to the face.

"Wait…" he whispered, his brows furrowing.

"To fully wield a demonic weapon… I need demonic qi."

He paused, feeling a creeping unease settle in.

"But none of the techniques I've learned so far are compatible with demonic qi... they're all… orthodox."

A heavy silence fell over him as he realized the enormity of the problem. His clan had rigidly followed the orthodox path of cultivation. Anything involving demonic qi was taboo, forbidden to the core. Yet here he was, holding a demonic weapon of supreme nature with no way to properly harness its power.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Feng Chen muttered. He sat back down, rubbing his temple in frustration. His mind raced in circles as he tried to find a solution, but no clear answers came to him. He thought so hard that, before he knew it, he had dozed off, his head slumping to the side.

Three hours later, he jolted awake, blinking in confusion. "I… I fell asleep?" He scoffed, shaking his head.

"How the hell am I going to fix this?"

With a sigh of defeat, Feng Chen reluctantly stowed his sword back into his inventory.

"I'll figure out the demonic qi issue later," he muttered.

"For now, let's focus on something else."

He took a deep breath and called out,

"System!"

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System Notification:

Yes?

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Feng Chen crossed his arms.

"Alright, system. Tell me more about this sign-in feature. I've been hearing about it for a while now. Give me the full breakdown."

The system displayed another window, providing the detailed explanation he'd been waiting for.

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System Notification:-

Sign-In System Overview

- Daily Sign-In: Host can sign in once per day to receive random rewards, which may include items, techniques, cultivation resources, or other unique treasures.

- Cumulative Rewards: The more consecutive days the host signs in, the better the rewards become.

- Special Milestone Rewards: At certain sign-in milestones, special or rare rewards will be given to the host.

- Limited Time Bonuses: Periodically, sign-in events will occur, offering the host enhanced or one-time rewards for limited periods.

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Feng Chen nodded as he read through the explanation.

"Not bad. Daily rewards… cumulative bonuses… special events… Sounds like a good deal. I could definitely use this," he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Alright then, system," Feng Chen said, snapping his fingers.

"Let's get this started! I'll start signing in from today!"

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, another wooden box materialized in front of him, identical to the one that had contained his sword. Feng Chen reached down and picked it up, his curiosity piqued.

"What's this one?"

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System Notification:-

Item Received: Technique Selection Box

- Description: Upon opening, a spin wheel will appear. Each tier of cultivation technique will occupy a percentage of the wheel. There is a small chance for a special tier: ??? Grade. Once the wheel lands on a tier, a selection of techniques will be shown, and the host may choose one.

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"A spin wheel, huh?" Feng Chen chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

"Now it's really starting to feel like a game show." He noticed the tiny sliver on the wheel marked "??? Grade," which was barely even visible.

"Well, well, jackpot reward," he mused.

"This should be fun."

But despite the playful tone, Feng Chen knew the importance of foundational techniques. "This is no joke," he said to himself, his expression turning serious.

"A good technique can control the entire fate of a cultivator. The stronger the technique, the smoother the cultivation path."

He clapped his hands together and looked up toward the ceiling of the cave.

"Alright, gods, deities, spirits, whatever's out there... don't fail me now!"

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and spun the wheel. His heart thudded in his chest as he watched the colors blur together.

"C'mon, at least give me Earth-Grade!" he muttered, eyes locked on the spinning wheel.

The wheel slowed, teetering near Earth-Grade, before... click... it landed on ??? Grade.

For a moment, Feng Chen and the system froze. Then, everything went dark as both of them fainted in complete disbelief.

When Feng Chen finally woke up, he was lying flat on his back, staring up at the stone ceiling of the cave with a dazed smile plastered on his face. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and the peaceful smile widened as he stretched his arms lazily.

"Thank you… every single god I prayed to… thank you…" Feng Chen murmured, basking in the afterglow of what could only be described as divine intervention.

"I feel like I'm floating on a cloud… I might just become a Buddha at this rate."

Meanwhile, the system wasn't quite so serene.

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System Notification:-

[coughing blood repeatedly]

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Feng Chen burst out laughing when he saw the notification.

"Haha! Even the system's coughing blood! I must have broken its programming with my absurd luck!" He wiped away a tear of joy, still grinning from ear to ear.

"I guess I'm not the only one struggling to believe what just happened!"

After what seemed like an eternity of struggle, the system finally displayed the technique Feng Chen had won.

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System Notification:-

Technique Received: Yin and Yang's Divine Ascension

- Description: A supreme technique of unknown origin, balancing the forces of Yin and Yang. The user can master the harmonization of opposing energies... yin qi (demonic qi) and yang qi (heavenly qi)... and ascend beyond mortal limitations.

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Feng Chen's jaw dropped as he read the description. His mind raced as he processed what he was looking at.

"Yin and Yang… balancing demonic qi and heavenly qi? What is this?!" His grin widened into something almost manic.

"This technique… it's perfect for me! It even includes demonic qi!"

Wasting no time, Feng Chen claimed the technique.

Suddenly, the very air inside the cave seemed to vibrate with an almost tangible force. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the ground began to shake as an ancient tome materialized before Feng Chen, descending from the heavens.

The very elements responded to its presence, creating a violent storm within the cave. Wind howled, lightning arced across the skies, and the power of the vortex enveloped everything around him.

The book hovered before Feng Chen, radiating an aura of such immense power that it left him speechless. Two distinct energies... one dark and one light... swirled around the tome in perfect harmony. Yin qi and yang qi, the balance was awe-inspiring, and it felt like the energies were alive.

With trembling hands, Feng Chen reached out to touch the ancient tome. But the moment his fingers brushed against its surface, the energies lashed out at him. The aura repelled his touch with a searing pain, leaving cuts and bruises along his skin, imbued with corrosive yin qi.

"AHHHH!" Feng Chen yelped, jerking his hand back in agony. His fingers burned as though they were being torn apart by invisible blades.

"Damn it!" he cursed, clutching his hand. The dark energy of yin qi pulsed through the wounds, making it feel like his hand was being shredded from the inside out.

The pain was intense... almost unbearable... but Feng Chen's eyes remained fixed on the book. He wasn't one to back down so easily.

"No way I'm giving up now," he growled, his voice hoarse from the pain.

"This technique… it's the key. It's the key to surpassing everyone."

Feng Chen clenched his teeth, his gaze hardening with determination. He wasn't about to let a little pain stop him from obtaining a supreme technique like Yin and Yang's Divine Ascension. No one had ever achieved greatness by backing down from a challenge. Gritting his teeth, he reached out again, this time with his other hand. His fingers trembled as they moved closer to the ancient tome, but he steeled himself, prepared for whatever backlash would come.

As his fingertips made contact with the book, the energies flared once more. The pain was even worse this time, the yin qi cutting deeper into his skin, and the yang qi burning like fire. But Feng Chen refused to back down.

He pushed through the excruciating pain, his mind screaming for him to stop, but his willpower was stronger than the agony. His vision blurred from the overwhelming sensations, but he held on, determined to gain control of the book.

Just as the pain reached its peak, the world around Feng Chen suddenly turned white and silent. The roaring winds, the crackling lightning, the destructive energy... it all vanished in an instant. The pain faded away, replaced by a strange numbness that spread throughout his body.

Feng Chen blinked, realizing that he was no longer inside the cave. He stood in a vast, blank expanse of white, the space around him seemingly endless. His breath came in ragged gasps, and he clutched his chest, still recovering from the intense agony he had endured.

"What… what is this place?" he muttered, looking around in confusion. There was nothing here... no sky, no ground, just an infinite sea of white stretching out in all directions.