Chapter 237: Instructor Designated: Divine Might Heavenly King

【You summoned Contract Object #1, Contract Object #2; this session consumed 1648 Park Points.】

【Contract Objects have responded.】

【Contract Object summoning cognitive rationalization update completed.】

——

【S-Rank Training Room: Summoning Mastery Lv.3, Summoning Art Mastery Lv.3, Dominion Mastery Lv.3, Cultivation Mastery Lv.3, Harmonization Mastery Lv.3, Spirit Control Mastery Lv.3】

【Permanent Summoned Items: Savage Beast · Son of the Cave (Wu Dabao), Nine-Headed White Serpent · Household Spirit (Liu Changying), Dragon Bone Heavenly Book · Tianwen Poem (Sacrifice)】

【Temporary Personnel: Shanhe Covenant · #1, Shanhe Covenant · #2】

【Knowledge Items: None】

【This training session: 15 days; actual consumption: 1 day; 1st-rank Acolyte’s remaining rest time not exceeded; generating S-Rank Dingxiang Summoning Instructor.】

【Acolyte selected S-Rank Dingxiang Summoning Instructor: Divine Might Heavenly King (Avatar)】

“We meet again,” said Divine Might Heavenly King, entering with a relaxed tone.

He understood—he now had a returning customer; at least until the man achieved an SS-Rank evaluation, he would keep choosing him.

Though he might not see him many more times.

After two consecutive S-Rank evaluations, unless something unexpected happened, the next session would likely be a Rank Advancement Trial.

“Your progress seems good,” Divine Might Heavenly King scanned the group; with their current state and prior data, he quickly assessed their status.

He then split off another avatar and began the lesson.

Seeing this, Chu Danqing finally spoke: “Senior, I have a question I’d like to ask.”

He pulled out the Tai Ping Ring, the Nine Sons Ghost Mother Scroll, the Thousand Faces Shadow Stone, and the Beasts’ War Chariot Token, then explained his request.

Divine Might Heavenly King stroked his chin. “That falls within the scope of Spirit Control Mastery.”

If it lay outside Chu Danqing’s chosen domain, Divine Might Heavenly King could not teach it—that was Park policy.

But since spiritual essence involved summoned equipment and skills, it was not a violation.

“You want to preserve their original identities while turning them into equipment to enhance their quality,” Divine Might Heavenly King repeated his request. “Summon them for me.”

Chu Danqing did not hesitate—he summoned them all at once.

Divine Might Heavenly King studied them carefully. “This is difficult.”

“Spiritual essence, ghostly entities, martial path, military path.”

“The first two originate from the same world—there’s room for manipulation. The latter two are entirely unrelated.”

He saw their roots at a glance; simply upgrading their quality would be easy.

But Chu Danqing demanded they retain their individuality and selfhood—conditions far more stringent.

“That’s why I’ve come to ask you if there’s a solution.” He sought Divine Might Heavenly King precisely because he couldn’t solve it himself.

Otherwise, why ask at all?

Besides, the fact that he said “difficult” meant a solution still existed.

“The martial shadow may be lost,” Divine Might Heavenly King said. “The others are living beings, but the martial shadow is merely a shadow.”

“Keeping it will be hard.”

“I cannot directly procure or identify suitable equipment for you unless you buy it first and return to me after your next trial.”

“But I know you won’t want to do that.”

“So I’ll be blunt: if you follow my advice, the probability of the martial shadow vanishing is ninety percent.”

“But its core traits will almost certainly be absorbed into the new equipment.” Divine Might Heavenly King would never play the villain.

He laid out the facts plainly.

Chu Danqing nodded. “Tell me.”

He would listen first; whether to act on it was his own decision.

“Find a palanquin-type equipment that requires accompanying or permanent personnel—must be one yin and one yang, with strongmen or soldiers.”

“It must be a Fine-grade True Spirit equipment, and the True Spirit must be fully awakened.”

“Then your spiritual essence, ghostly entity, and military path can all be integrated smoothly.”

“As for the martial shadow, it depends entirely on the equipment you acquire,” said Divine Might Heavenly King.

Chu Danqing paused, then asked: “If I add a martial or shadow-related element, could I preserve it more effectively?”

“It’s possible,” Divine Might Heavenly King replied, “but it will cause problems for the other three.”

“If the martial shadow were pure shadow or pure martial essence, it would be easier.”

“But it’s not pure—that’s what makes it complicated.”

“In your case, only sacrifice can maximize your gains. There’s no perfect solution.”

Here, Divine Might Heavenly King paused, then changed tone: “Still, you needn’t worry too much.”

“It’s only a shadow—it won’t gradually merge with the core like the other three do through spiritual affinity.”

“After all, its original form is merely your own shadow. It hasn’t left—it’s just reverted to being your shadow.”

“You can acquire another shadow-type summoning equipment, and it will reappear.”

Divine Might Heavenly King saw clearly: Chu Danqing wasn’t keeping it for strength—he kept it for emotion.

Chu Danqing recalled the summoning of Yue Lan’s martial shadow—it truly was just like that.

He fell silent, and did not press further.

Divine Might Heavenly King surely had a perfect solution—but if he asked, the man would tell him.

Then what? Divine Might Heavenly King had the method—but that didn’t mean Chu Danqing could execute it.

Divine Might Heavenly King was a veteran Park instructor—he followed Park regulations strictly.

“Then let’s begin the lesson.”

“Start with Spirit Control Mastery. You brought plenty of materials—let’s begin.” Divine Might Heavenly King smoothly transitioned into formal instruction.

Chu Danqing pulled out paper, pen, and a recording device and began learning.

Time was money. He had received the answer he needed—even if imperfect, at least there was a solution.

He knew how to prioritize—he wouldn’t let this delay his learning or growth.

Under Divine Might Heavenly King’s guidance and through his own practice, Chu Danqing’s knowledge began to coalesce.

Meanwhile, Dabao, Daibai, and Daguo’s stats steadily improved under Chu Danqing’s cultivation.

When the fifteen days neared their end, Chu Danqing had reached his target as planned.

“Senior, I don’t quite understand something,” Chu Danqing asked. “If equipment can be upgraded through other means, what advantage does growth equipment have?”

“That’s outside the scope of instruction,” Divine Might Heavenly King replied, not answering directly—but as a returning customer, he offered a hint: “You’re not a close-combat type. For you, it’s true.”

“Wait until you complete your Rank Advancement Trial at S-Rank difficulty and reach 2nd Rank—you’ll understand.”

“Time’s up. Until next time,” said Divine Might Heavenly King, timing his departure perfectly after his hint.

Chu Danqing, hearing this, had already suspected something.

He suspected it might be a material like the Ziwei Jade Seal.

To reach 1st Rank at A-Rank difficulty, besides passive stats, one must complete a Talent Awakening Quest.

So this S-Rank Rank Advancement Trial must follow the same pattern.

Chu Danqing reviewed his gains: his six Mastery skills reached Lv.4; the first half of their bonuses reached 8.

The second half remained unchanged—he’d need the next stage to see growth.

The efficiency of skill upgrades was slowing; previously, one session raised two levels—now only one.

To accelerate training in the room, he’d likely need knowledge items for bonuses.

Otherwise, he’d have to rely on Mastery Skill Crystals.

Fortunately, Dabao, Daibai, and Daguo’s stats progressed well.

【Dabao/Daibai/Daguo】

【Strength: 25/1/19】

【Agility: 25/1/19】

【Constitution: 25/1/19】

【Spirit: 1/28×2/19】

【Perception: 25/28×2/19】

【Spiritual Essence: 30】

Daibai’s stats surged to the highest—just two points shy of 1st Rank’s limit.

His rise from 14 to 28 came because he only needed to raise Spirit and Perception—resources were concentrated.

All three had 10,000 Park Points to spend, but Dabao needed to raise four stats, Daguo five—naturally, progress differed.

But the cost can’t be calculated this way.

Beyond material cost, you must account for Chu Danqing’s learning cost—resources alone don’t boost power.

It was Chu Danqing’s solid Summoning knowledge that allowed 10,000 Park Points to achieve such efficiency.

In other words, he didn’t factor in labor cost—he was cultivating at cost price.

If he turned these materials into cultivation resources and sold them, they’d fetch retail prices.

But no one would buy them.

Summoners make their own; non-Summoners have little demand.

The only regret: no improvement in skills or bloodline.

Skills could be honed—but bloodline, like stats, required resources.

Chu Danqing needed to check how many Paradise Points he had left; if there was any surplus, he would use it to buy materials to enhance the bloodlines of Da Bao and Da Gu.

As for keeping points, Chu Danqing would keep at most ten thousand Paradise Points, and spend every last one beyond that.

If not for the Shanhe Alliance’s requirement of Paradise Points, Chu Danqing would have none left—perhaps just enough to buy an identity and a language pack.

Who but a fool would hoard them instead of quickly converting them into real power? It’s likely the next trial will be the last.

Stronger power earns more Paradise Points, and spending large amounts of Paradise Points further strengthens one’s power.

This is inherently a virtuous cycle: saving money is a good habit, but only if one has a stable living environment.

For a Dimension Apostle, whose life hangs by a thread, spending points to grow stronger is the best way to mitigate risk—otherwise, death only enriches others.

(End of Chapter)