Chapter 21: Divination Technique: New Feature!

"Finally broke through! It really wasn't easy!"

Xiao Zhangqing felt the surging magical power within his body, a look of joy on his face.

Because moving from the third level of Qi Refining to the fourth level of Qi Refining is a breakthrough from early to middle stage, a slight qualitative change, the increase in his cultivation strength this time is far greater than the previous breakthrough.

If his magical power before was a trickle of water, now it can barely be called a small stream, several times larger.

Yet precisely because of this, Xiao Zhangqing's breakthrough this time was stuck at a bottleneck for a long while!

About a month ago, Xiao Zhangqing felt he could break through at any moment, but he remained stuck, as if an invisible membrane blocked him.

With the advantage of the Great Achievement level Longevity Technique, he tirelessly spent a month, repeatedly striking hundreds of times, before shattering it.

That's absurd! One must know this is only from early to middle stage of Qi Refining, and it's already this hard.

If he later breaks through to the later stage, how much harder will it be?

Not to mention Foundation Establishment, a barrier that is a sky chasm for countless Scattered Cultivators.

He can't even imagine it.

"No wonder there's a common knowledge in the Cultivation World, universally acknowledged. High‑grade spirit root cultivators who smoothly refine to Qi Refining Great Perfection, with thorough preparation and the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills and other spiritual items, have a relatively objective success rate for Foundation Establishment—nearly fifty percent."

"If one has a mid‑grade spirit root, unless they have a great destiny and flourishing luck, even if they refine to Qi Refining Great Perfection before age sixty, the success probability for Foundation Establishment is less than twenty percent!"

"As for low‑grade spirit roots, don't even think about it; there's no hope at all! In the Da Yu Cultivation World, the last cultivator with a low‑grade spirit root who achieved Foundation Establishment dates back over four hundred years. In other words, among the hundreds of millions of cultivators in Da Yu, a low‑grade spirit root achieving Foundation Establishment occurs only once every five hundred years!"

Thinking of this, Xiao Zhangqing's joy after the breakthrough was largely scattered, his heart feeling uneasy.

This mortal body's talent is truly poor; without a golden finger, he shouldn't have ventured into the Cultivation World!

Just like most ordinary college graduates in his previous life, taking the civil service exam in a small county town was the best choice; working in a big city would only make one a beast of burden.

"Fortunately I have a golden finger!"

"In the future there will definitely be a way to improve spirit root quality!"

Xiao Zhangqing pondered in his mind.

He immediately, excitedly opened the inventory to check the situation.

According to his earlier speculation, as cultivation improves, the inventory should also expand, related to the strength of his magical power and spiritual awareness.

"It really is!"

Xiao Zhangqing looked at the inventory changes, overjoyed.

He saw that behind the original three slots, three more slots appeared directly! In other words, the inventory now has six equipment slots! This is far more useful than a cultivation breakthrough!

Before this, Xiao Zhangqing had been fretting over the insufficient inventory slots.

One equipment slot can hold only one piece of gear; although it can be unequipped, it cannot hold another item.

Now he has received several months' salary, his dwelling receives support from the Mu Family each month, he doesn't have to pay rent, and he has saved many Spirit Stones, allowing him to purchase many attribute‑boosting pieces of equipment.

"From early to middle stage of Qi Refining, three slots were added directly. Will there be more when reaching the later stage of Qi Refining?"

Xiao Zhangqing guessed in his mind.

But he doesn't need to worry about future matters for now; he just needs to know he no longer has to reserve a slot for the Twin‑winged Tiger Hair Pen, and can boldly activate new equipment! Right now, Xiao Zhangqing holds, besides the Twin‑winged Tiger Hair Pen, two other items that can be equipped.

One of them is a turtle shell missing a corner, but its surface runes remain intact, full of Dao resonance, giving an impression of elegance.

According to the stall owner, this is a relic once used by a famous first‑tier peak Divination Master from Nanshan Fang decades ago.

A Divination Master, unlike Pill Masters, Symbol Masters, or Formation Masters, does not have such widespread strategic significance, and their ability to earn Spirit Stones is far lower.

Therefore, a Divination Master is considered a niche "profession" in the Cultivation World.

Very few practice it, and even fewer achieve mastery.

Yet at certain crucial moments, a Divination Master is far more useful than Symbol Masters or Pill Masters.

For example, in treasure hunting, exploration, war, vengeance duels, etc., seeking auspiciousness and avoiding disaster, knowing danger in advance, the importance of a Divination Master is irreplaceable.

So back then, even though the stall owner opened his mouth wide like a lion, Xiao Zhangqing bargained for half a day and still bit down, refusing to let go of at least six Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

After leaving, Xiao Zhangqing turned back and bought it…

【Divination Turtle Shell】

【A relic once used by a second‑tier Divination Master, witnessing that master's growth journey, possessing some spirituality. It originally had the prospect of advancing to a second‑tier artifact, but was accidentally damaged, causing its spirituality to dissipate…】

【Equip condition: None】

【Equip effect: First‑tier Divination Technique (Great Achievement)】

Xiao Zhangqing, after reading the inventory's description of the turtle shell and feeling unhurried about the empty equipment slot, equipped it without hesitation.

What's most important in the Cultivation World? Of course, safety!

Equipped with this turtle shell, Xiao Zhangqing instantly gains a first‑tier Great Achievement level Divination Technique, which can be called truly overpowered.

A first‑tier Great Achievement Divination Technique is almost entirely sufficient within the Qi Refining Realm.

Even if Xiao Zhangqing later advances to the later stage of Qi Refining, a divination in danger will allow him to more clearly sense his own fortune and know the safest course of action.

So when he first saw this turtle shell, Xiao Zhangqing bought it without hesitation.

"Six Low‑grade Spirit Stones, well spent! That stall owner probably thinks he made a hefty profit, not knowing I'm the one who really profited."

"After all, no one could have imagined that the Divination Master from Nanshan Fang had already secretly advanced to the second tier!"

Xiao Zhangqing sighed.

The artifact most prized by a second‑tier Divination Master should be even more precious than the Twin‑winged Tiger Hair Pen that Bi Lu Symbol Master gave to himself.

But because it's damaged, it only retains a single 'entry' effect, unlike the Twin‑winged Tiger Hair Pen which has two major effects.

After equipping the turtle shell, Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help but cast a divination for himself.

He found his recent fortune stable, no calamities, a minor auspicious sign.

Stable and improving.

This is only natural, within reason.

With a stable job and income, plus a golden finger at his side, his strength will continuously improve.

So for the long time ahead, Xiao Zhangqing plans to cultivate and draw talismans step by step, and does not need to go out seeking opportunities like other Scattered Cultivators.

Not going out also means there will be no danger.

"Eh… damn!!"

Just as Xiao Zhangqing was about to replace the turtle shell and equip another item.

He suddenly realized something was off.

He hurriedly opened the item inventory.

To his astonishment, the turtle shell was now flashing in the list, indicating its equipment effect was active.

At the same time, the previously equipped Transmission Jade Tablet was not dimmed, still shining!

He immediately activated the Longevity Technique.

Buzz! The surrounding spiritual energy was instantly stirred, rushing from all directions toward Xiao Zhangqing's body, wildly being drawn into his meridians.

This efficiency is only found in a Great Achievement-level Longevity Technique!

"So… I can equip two items at the same time now?"

Xiao Zhangqing trembled all over, his heart raced, his eyes lit up.

This new item‑inventory feature is revolutionary! The current equipment effects are already very strong, enough for Xiao Zhangqing to solidify his foundation and become strong.

But if you can equip simultaneously, it's not "strong" but "abnormal"! Equipping two items at once means Xiao Zhangqing can have multiple "attribute" effects.

More importantly, they can stack!

(End of chapter)