Ch 8: First Equipment

As Feng Chen stood over the lifeless body of the first beast he had slain, a wave of exhilaration washed over him. The thrill of the kill sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Finally," he murmured to himself, crouching down to inspect the beast's corpse. It was a wolf-like creature with sharp fangs and glowing eyes, its fur matted with blood from the fatal blow he had delivered.

"Let's see if this works," Feng Chen said, his tone half-expectant as he focused his thoughts on the mysterious inventory system that had become his constant companion. With a simple mental command, the beast's body began to shimmer, and then, as if sucked into a vortex, it vanished.

He blinked, momentarily startled.

"Did… did it actually work?" he muttered, quickly opening his inventory screen. What he saw made his jaw drop.

The inventory was vast... an endless, three dimensional void that seemed to stretch out infinitely in every direction. Items were neatly arranged in rows, each one glowing faintly in the darkness.

The beast's body floated among them, perfectly preserved. Feng Chen's eyes widened as he took in the sheer scope of the space.

"This… this is like an infinite 3D pocket!" he exclaimed, his mind racing with the possibilities.

His imagination ran wild, conjuring the image of a small, blue raccoon-like figure with a mischievous grin, holding up a finger as if to say, "You got that right!"

Feng Chen quickly shook his head, laughing at the absurd thought.

"Ahem, ahem," he coughed, trying to clear the silly image from his mind.

"Let's not dwell on that…"

With renewed excitement, he continued his journey through the vast forest. Every step brought him face to face with new and formidable beasts, each one seemingly more dangerous than the last. But to Feng Chen, they were nothing more than stepping stones on his path to power.

"System, identify," he commanded as he approached a particularly fierce-looking tiger-like beast. The system diligently displayed a detailed report on the creature.

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System Notification:-

Beast Information:-

- Name: Thunderstrike Tiger

- Realm: Foundation Realm (Late Stage)

- Attributes: Lightning, Physical Strength

- Description: The Thunderstrike Tiger is known for its incredible speed and powerful lightning-based attacks. Its fur is naturally resistant to electricity, and its claws can generate sparks capable of paralyzing its prey. Despite its fierce appearance, the Thunderstrike Tiger has a predictable attack pattern, often relying on brute strength to overwhelm its opponents.

Weaknesses: The Thunderstrike Tiger's reliance on its lightning attribute makes it vulnerable to earth-based attacks, which can neutralize its electrical charge. Additionally, its thick fur, while resistant to electricity, provides little protection against piercing attacks.

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Feng Chen barely glanced at the information, already confident in his abilities.

"I don't need any of that," he muttered confidently.

"One strike is all it'll take."

And just like that, he was off. With a burst of speed, Feng Chen closed the distance between him and the tiger. His fist connected with the creature's skull in a devastating blow, and before the tiger could even react, it was dead, its body crumpling to the ground.

"Another one down!" Feng Chen declared, a wide grin stretching across his face. He felt invincible, his confidence soaring with every victory. The system was there to catalog each beast he defeated, but Feng Chen didn't need the information it provided. He was too strong, too fast, too skilled for these creatures to pose any real challenge.

As Feng Chen ventured deeper into the forest, the beasts he encountered grew increasingly varied. One afternoon, he spotted a large, bear-like creature lumbering through a clearing. Its hulking form was covered in thick, dark fur, and its eyes gleamed with a predatory light. The moment it caught sight of Feng Chen, it let out a deafening roar, shaking the very ground beneath them.

"System, identify," Feng Chen ordered calmly, though he was already sizing up the beast.

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System Notification:-

Beast Information:-

- Name: Ironhide Bear

- Realm: Foundation Realm (Middle Stage)

- Attributes: Earth, Physical Defense

- Description: The Ironhide Bear is a formidable beast known for its nearly impenetrable hide. Its body is covered in dense, iron-like fur that can deflect most physical attacks. Despite its size, the Ironhide Bear is surprisingly agile, capable of delivering powerful blows with its massive paws. It is a territorial creature, often found guarding the entrances to caves or other secluded areas.

Weaknesses: The Ironhide Bear's heavy defense comes at the cost of speed. Its slow movement and predictable attacks make it vulnerable to swift and agile opponents who can exploit openings in its defense.

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Feng Chen grinned as he read the description.

"So, you're tough, huh? Let's see just how tough you really are." With a quick dash, he closed the gap between them, launching a flurry of punches at the bear's head. The Ironhide Bear growled in frustration, swiping its massive paw at Feng Chen, but he effortlessly dodged the blow, countering with a powerful strike to its exposed neck.

The bear staggered, its iron-like hide doing little to protect its vulnerable spots. Feng Chen continued his assault, each blow driving the bear further back until it finally collapsed with a thunderous crash.

"That's what I thought," Feng Chen said, panting slightly from the effort.

"Even the toughest beasts have their weaknesses."

He stood triumphantly over the beast's body, taking a moment to catch his breath before storing the corpse in his inventory. The forest seemed to grow quieter as he continued his journey, the beasts becoming more elusive as if sensing the danger that Feng Chen posed.

As the day wore on, Feng Chen's confidence grew to the point where he was strutting through the forest with his chest puffed out and his nose in the air.

"Who's the greatest cultivator in the world? That's right, it's me, Feng Chen!" he boasted, his voice echoing through the trees.

"I slay beasts with a single blow! I'm basically a living legend!"

The system, however, was not impressed.

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System Notification:-

The host's combat prowess is commendable… against foundation realm beasts.

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Feng Chen's smug expression faltered as he read the message.

"Oh, come on!" he groaned, his shoulders slumping.

"Can't you just let me have this one? Is it so wrong to feel proud after single-handedly taking down all these beasts?"

The system remained silent, its subtle jab delivered with the cold precision of a master swordsman. Feng Chen sighed, feeling his ego deflate like a balloon with a slow leak.

"Fine, fine," he muttered.

"I get it. No need to rain on my parade…"

Despite the system's humbling reminder, Feng Chen pressed on, determined to complete his mission. He fought each beast with renewed vigor, relying solely on his physical strength and combat skills.

By the time the final beast fell, Feng Chen stood victorious, his body drenched in sweat and dirt, but his spirit was soaring.

"Mission complete!" he shouted, thrusting his fist into the air.

"Now, let's see what kind of rewards I've earned this time."

As if on cue, the familiar system window appeared before him, revealing a list of rewards that made Feng Chen's eyes widen in delight.

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System Notification:-

Mission Rewards:

- Spirit Hunter Robe: A lower-grade armor with extraordinary effects, designed to enhance agility and qi flow while providing significant protection.

- Iron Bark Armor (Chest Piece): A sturdy yet lightweight armor piece crafted from the wood of the Iron Bark Tree, known for its durability and resistance to damage.

- Advanced Qi Gathering Array (7 Days): An upgraded array designed to increase qi absorption rates for a full week.

- Thunderstrike Talisman (Enhanced): A talisman imbued with the power of a thunderstorm, capable of unleashing a powerful strike upon activation.

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Feng Chen's eyes practically sparkled as he took in the details of his new gear. The Spirit Hunter Robe immediately caught his attention.

"A robe? And armor too? Not bad, system, not bad at all!" he exclaimed, already imagining how much more powerful he would be with these items.

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- Spirit Hunter Robe:-

This robe is crafted from lightweight, durable material that enhances the wearer's agility and qi flow. The robe's design allows for increased mobility during combat while providing significant protection against physical and elemental attacks. Additionally, the robe has a built-in qi-conducting array, which enhances the user's qi absorption during battle.

Effects: +15% Agility, +10% Qi Flow, +20% Elemental Resistance.

- Iron Bark Armor (Chest Piece):-

Crafted from the wood of the Iron Bark Tree, this armor piece is both lightweight and incredibly durable. It offers substantial protection against physical damage while allowing for unrestricted movement. The armor's unique properties also provide resistance to qi-based attacks.

Effects: +25% Physical Defense, +10% Qi Resistance, +5% Movement Speed.

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Feng Chen marveled at the descriptions.

"These effects are amazing! Who knew a lower-grade robe could be so OP?" He could hardly contain his excitement as he imagined how much faster, stronger, and more resilient he would become with this equipment.

"With this, I'll be able to move like the wind, absorb qi like a sponge, and shrug off attacks like they're nothing!"

But just as Feng Chen was about to revel in his newfound power, another system notification appeared, the text flashing across his screen with a tone that was almost smug.

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System Notification:-

Reminder: The system does not share romantic interests with the host. Please refrain from inappropriate displays of affection.

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(Author whispering XD -> System be like - I ain't no gay.)

Feng Chen froze, the robe halfway over his head. For a moment, he was too stunned to react, but then a laugh burst from his lips.

"Alright, alright, system, I get it! No need to worry, I wasn't actually going to kiss you or anything." He finished pulling the robe on, admiring how it fit snugly against his body.

"But you've got to admit, you're pretty awesome for giving me all this stuff."

Feeling more powerful than ever, Feng Chen opened his inventory to check out the rest of his spoils. The moment the inventory screen filled his vision, his jaw dropped. The sheer amount of items he had accumulated was staggering. He scrolled through the list, trying to take it all in.

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Inventory:-

- Minor Spirit Beast Cores** (x15)

- Intermediate Spirit Beast Cores (x8)

- Advanced Qi Manipulation Technique (Scroll)

- Swift Strike Technique Scroll

- Reinforced Bones Pill (x2)

- Qi Restoration Elixir (x3)

- Improved Lightfoot Talisman (x2)

- Thunderstrike Talisman (Enhanced)

- Essence of Speed Elixir

- Muscle-Enhancing Elixir (x2)

- Advanced Qi Gathering Array (7 Days)

- Iron Bark Armor (Chest Piece)

- Spirit Hunter Robe

- Foundation Realm Beast's Corpses (x100)

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Feng Chen stared at the list in awe.

"This… this is insane! Look at all this stuff! I've got enough gear to outfit an entire army!" He quickly flipped through the various items, marveling at their power and potential.

"Cores, elixirs, talismans, techniques... I don't even know where to start!"

As he continued to scroll through his inventory, Feng Chen's eyes landed on the massive pile of Spirit Beast Cores. The sight of the glowing orbs sparked an idea, and his mind began to race.

"Wait a second… I've got all these cores just sitting here. I could use them to…"

Before he could even finish the thought, a new system notification popped up, interrupting him with an almost knowing tone.

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System Notification:-

New Mission: Strengthen Your Physique!

Objective: Use the Spirit Beast Cores to create a medicinal bath and enhance your physical attributes. This process will significantly improve your strength, endurance, and qi capacity.

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Feng Chen blinked in surprise, a smile slowly creeping across his face. "System… you really do know how to read my mind, huh?"

The idea of creating a medicinal bath out of the Spirit Beast Cores was brilliant... using the potent energy within the cores to further refine and strengthen his body. Feng Chen could already imagine the results: his muscles growing even stronger, his qi capacity expanding, his body becoming a fortress of power.

"Alright, system," Feng Chen said, his voice filled with excitement as he began gathering the necessary cores from his inventory.

"Let's get this medicinal bath going. I'm ready to take my strength to the next level!"