Chapter 63: Advancing 1 Rank (Revised)

In actual fact, in terms of value alone, a mid-grade spirit stone and the Earth Dragon Sword are the same.

This can be seen from the exchange list at the Sword Affairs Hall.

But for a sword cultivator, a weapon is what truly matters.

With a weapon, one can hunt demon beasts faster and earn contribution points faster.

What spirit stones can't be had?

Therefore, the choice Senior Brother offered was really only one thing.

"Earth Dragon Sword, Model One"

"Hardness: 15"

"Sharpness: 6"

"Durability: 15"

"Damage Type: Slash/Pierce"

"Damage Range: 1d8+1"

"Effect: +2 damage when using earth-attribute attacks"

"Critical Hit Range: 18-20/×2"

"Weight: 10 kilograms"

"Type: One-handed use."

"Evaluation: Standard attribute sword of the Heavenly Sword Sect."

……

"Boom—!"

Inside the sword practice room, Fang Shi split the newly arrived training dummy clean in two with a single Force-Splitting-Hua-Shan strike.

The motion was so smooth he barely felt any resistance.

Like slicing through melons and vegetables.

One must understand that the training dummies in the sword practice room are no ordinary matter.

They are made of ironwood; an ordinary person swinging a blade at them would leave nothing more than a small dent.

Let alone splitting a dummy in half.

This is the Perfection-stage third-form Slashing Sword, carrying the ultimate power of earth-attribute spiritual energy.

Generally speaking, among all weapons, slashing attacks are the most powerful.

It's a very simple principle: arm length plus weapon length.

This causes the weapon's tip to accelerate dramatically when chopping.

Combined with the ability to harness gravitational potential energy, the power is even greater.

Fang Shi had assumed this most ferocious move would be paired with metal-attribute spiritual energy.

After all, metal-attribute spiritual energy governs sharpness, unmatched in slaughter.

Who would have thought the Sword Slash actually used earth-attribute spiritual energy.

Even so, the power of earth-attribute spiritual energy is absolutely not small.

The sword's blade, imbued with the weighty density of earth-attribute spiritual energy, directly amplified the kinetic energy of the blade itself.

Its power is in no way inferior to metal-attribute spiritual energy.

No wonder the weapon Senior Brother produced was earth-attribute.

It turns out he had long since picked out the weapon best suited to his own habits.

"It's time to break through to first rank," Fang Shi murmured to himself.

Four days had already passed since returning from Senior Brother's place.

During these four days, Fang Shi had been bitterly practicing the Sword Art.

Because the "Swordsmanship" Senior Brother gave him not only recorded the nine moves of swordsmanship, but also recorded the complete "Sword Art."

Drawing on others' experience, Fang Shi very easily practiced both the metal-attribute Slicing Sword and the earth-attribute Slashing Sword to Perfection.

The Breathing Method also reached its critical point over the course of these four days.

"You have cultivated the Shi Breathing Method IV; your attributes have been completed."

"Your Strength gains permanent growth: 17→18."

"Your Dexterity gains permanent growth: 17→18."

"Your Constitution gains permanent growth: 17→18."

"Your life form is about to undergo a change."

"Your total level has risen to level 6."

"You may choose from the following classes: Qi Refiner, Earth Sword Saint, Lei Ting Striker, Undying Fighter, Dragon-Catching Monk, Wild Stalker……"

Having spent six days within the Heavenly Sword Sect, Fang Shi chose Qi Refiner without the slightest hesitation.

Whether sword cultivators, pill cultivators, artifact cultivators, or body cultivators, all these cultivation practitioners belong to the Qi Refiner class.

They refine spiritual energy into their bodies, open up three dantians, and transform it into magic power.

Thus gaining strength beyond that of ordinary people.

"You have advanced to level 1 Qi Refiner."

"You gain 4 + Intelligence (14-10) / 2 = 6 skill points."

"Your HP increases by 8 + Constitution (18-10) / 2 + Robust 1 = 13 points.

"

"You gain one personal feat."

You have opened your Lower Dantian.

An anomaly appeared three inches below Fang Shi's navel.

At this place known as the Lower Dantian, a breath of spiritual energy spontaneously arose and gathered within.

After a series of condensation, compression, and transformation, five strands of chaotic, inexplicable energy spiraled above it.

Your magic power value is: 5/5.

You have gained the class expertise Magic Power Control I, Magic Power Transformation I, and Spiritual Energy Absorption I.

【Magic Power Control I】: Your control over magic power is exquisitely precise, allowing you to manipulate magic power with greater accuracy.

【Magic Power Transformation I】: You can convert magic power freely among the Five Elements; conversion beyond the Five Elements requires cultivation of corresponding Cultivation Techniques.

【Spiritual Energy Absorption I】: Your physique has been refined, enabling you to absorb spiritual energy faster and convert it into magic power.

Your life tier has risen to Tier One.

You have gained a Rank Trait.

【Qi Gathering】: Your life tier has been elevated, granting a +2 bonus to all identification checks related to any attribute.

You are the first player to reach a total level of 6.

You have received a Bronze Chest.

You are the first player to advance to Tier One.

You have received one free attribute point.

You are the first player to advance autonomously.

You have received one expertise point.

Name: Fang Shi

Race: Human

Attributes: Strength 19 (+1), Agility 19 (+1), Constitution 18, Intelligence 14, Perception 21, Charisma 15

Class: Level 5 Martial Master / Level 1 Qi Gatherer

Rank: Qi Gathering

Health Points: 75/75

Magic Power: 5/5

Experience: 6132/21000

Attribute Points: 3

Expertise Points: 1

Survival Points: 1613.2

Race Expertise: Versatile I

Life Skills: Focus 12…

Class Skills: Stealth 8…

Personal Trait: Extraordinary Perception

Personal Expertise: Iron Will II, Athlete I, Eidetic Memory I, Resilience I, True Dragon Armor III, Shi Breathing Method IV, Lightning Step I, Lightning Reflexes III, Weakness Insight I, Longsword Mastery I, Longsword Specialization I, Longsword Proficiency I, Longsword Lethality I, Robust I, Primal Resistance I

Class Expertise: Gale Combo I, Unarmed Attack I, Steel Bones I, Shatter Fist I, Reflexive Evasion I, Improved Initiative I, Cannon Fist I, Leap Step I, Immunity to Illness I, Magic Power Control I, Magic Power Transformation I, Spiritual Energy Absorption I

The sensation of such power is incredibly wonderful.

Fang Shi sighed inwardly.

This was the easiest upgrade yet—no need to kill monsters, only autonomous cultivation.

And it was not just that: the rewards were generous.

First to reach level 6, first to advance, first to advance autonomously.

One achievement yielded three rewards—pure bliss.

Especially the Rank Trait after advancing to Tier One.

Simple and brutal—it effectively grants +4 to all attributes.

Or put another way, to a Tier One being, 10 attribute points are worth 14.

This causes even low-base-attribute Tier One creatures to crush unranked humans.

Fang Shi's greatest satisfaction from this advancement was gaining his own energy source.

He could now freely wield supernatural power, no longer bound by environmental constraints.

Fang Shi estimated the total energy: 5 magic power points were enough for five full sword techniques.

Don't underestimate five uses—he couldn't cast even one before becoming a Qi Gatherer.

What he could cast before relied entirely on high-spiritual-environment bonuses; back on Blue Star, it was useless.

Of course, with Magic Power Control and Magic Power Transformation at work.

Fang Shi didn't need to expend full power each time.

He only needed to spend 0.1 magic power per attack, then perform attribute conversion.

This allowed him to infuse each strike with 1d6 attribute damage.

In high-spiritual environments like the Heaven Sword Sect, with Spiritual Energy Absorption aiding him,

He could release attacks indefinitely.

Moreover, as Fang Shi cultivated further, his total magic power would grow ever greater.

As for his Personal Expertise, Fang Shi considered his options and ultimately chose Clear Wind Qingfeng Yun Ti.

【Clear Wind Qingfeng Yun Ti I】: Your movement becomes erratic and elusive, making it difficult for enemies to target your position. (Dodge +1)

With Sword Techniques now in hand, he no longer lacked burst power—he lacked survivability.

Even a first-tier monster is this fierce, launching sonic attacks at the drop of a hat.

My own fragile little frame, even with the True Dragon Armor, still needs to be careful.

In the courtyard, the Eldest Senior Brother, who had been sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, opened his eyes.

He turned his head to look at the small courtyard where Fang Shi was, wondering what he was pondering.

"The two souls of Heaven and Earth often remain outside; only the Life Soul returns to the body alone."

"This child's three souls are complete. If you do not stop his breakthrough, there will surely be hidden dangers in the future."

A ethereal voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard, echoing in the Eldest Senior Brother's ears.

"Not needed. This is fate." The Eldest Senior Brother said indifferently.

"That is different. This child is from another world."

"The two souls of Heaven and Earth are suppressed by the Heavenly Dao; they will surely return in the future, and this will invite calamity."

The Eldest Senior Brother chuckled: "Are you afraid? If a Sword Cultivator fears even this, what is the point of practicing the sword? Might as well become an Artifact Cultivator."

"Perhaps you could refine a few more Immortal Swords to bolster your own defenses and strengthen your Ten Extremities Sword Array."

The ethereal voice spoke again: "Afraid? Of course I am not afraid. The Ten Immortal Sects, the Ten Demon Sects."

"Why is the Heavenly Sword Gate number one? Is it not entirely due to the sword in my hand?"

"But you must know, the calamity from beyond the heavens is different."

"Back then, that person pierced the Netherworld with a single sword strike, triggering the invasion of the Realm of No Rest into the human world."

"The earth sank, the stars shifted, and ten out of ten households in the human world were emptied."

"Had it not been for a mighty power intervening to manipulate creation, the human world might have been replaced long ago."

The Eldest Senior Brother said coldly: "This matter is past; do not mention it again. I will issue an order below for Fang Shi to make a trip to the Demon Valley."

The ethereal voice said angrily: "You still intend to deepen the karmic ties?"

"The two souls of Heaven and Earth are merely slightly fractured; there is still a way to mend them."

"The deeper the connection to this world, the worse it is for him. Do you understand?"

The Eldest Senior Brother said indifferently: "So you wish to stop me?"

"Me? I am old and cannot do this. Do as you please. Even if I disagree, can you not do it anyway?"

"That is why I say you cannot see fate clearly."