Qin Gou’s Spiritual Tool Prototype

A Few Days Later.

“Ding. Congratulations, Host, for reaching 20 familiarity points with the ‘Mysterious Technique’ and successfully mastering it. The ‘Mysterious Technique’ has been added to the system.”

“Use 1000 merit points to empower the ‘Mysterious Technique,'” Qin Gou murmured to himself, curious to test the potential of this technique that even the system store hadn’t cataloged.

“Empowerment successful.”

The notification rang in Qin Gou’s ears as he felt his cultivation stabilize and even advance slightly. However, unlike *Illusory Sea Tides*, this so-called “Mysterious Technique” didn’t seem to grant him any special abilities.

“Was I scammed? Is this just a generic, run-of-the-mill technique? If it’s only for cultivation improvement, how is it any different from the widely known Body Refinement Technique?” Qin Gou frowned, confused.

If it were truly a worthless technique, why had Yuan Zhen, the Second Elder of the Seed Demon Holy Sect, hyped it up so much? Why go to the trouble of recruiting someone with the Enlightened Dao Body?

Feeling uncertain, Qin Gou asked the system to display his current stats.

Host: Qin Gou
Bloodline: Human
Talent: Four-element Mid-grade (Refined by Enlightened Dao Body)
Special Physique: Enlightened Dao Body
Merit Points: 1030

Techniques:
– Illusory Sea Tides (Second Layer Peak)
– Mysterious Technique (First Layer)
– Mad Demon Staff Technique (Mastery)
Cultivation Level: Late Weapon Refining Realm

Life-Bound Spiritual Tools:
– Dreamwalker (Yellow Rank, Growth Potential)
– ??? (Spiritual Tool Prototype)
Available Options: Lottery, Shop, Empowerment

***

“What is this?” Qin Gou was shocked. Focusing his spiritual energy inward, he formed a sword gesture, and a pea-sized, translucent green droplet hovered above his fingertip.

“What the hell? I just empowered the first layer of the technique, and it naturally gave rise to a spiritual tool prototype? This is unheard of!” Qin Gou stared at the semi-transparent green droplet, his heart pounding.

To his knowledge, even his prized Heavenly Path Technique required reaching the mid-Weapon Refining Realm and mastering the third layer before forming a spiritual tool prototype. If someone had told him a technique could create a prototype at the first layer, he’d have thought they were insane.

Suddenly, the green droplet shot forward with incredible speed, piercing through the sturdy wall like paper before returning to Qin Gou’s fingertip in an instant.

Its speed and sharpness left Qin Gou in awe. Used strategically in combat, it could easily turn the tide of battle.

“But why does it look so strange?” Qin Gou wondered, both delighted and puzzled.

For example, the spiritual tool prototype of the late Weapon Refining Realm cultivator Wei Yuanzhong, whom Qin Gou had defeated, manifested as black mist enveloping his hands, destined to evolve into a pair of gloves at the Hidden Artifact Realm.

But Qin Gou’s? It looked like a tiny, translucent water droplet, yet it was razor-sharp and lightning-fast.

***

“Help, help me!”

A familiar voice rang out from outside. The green droplet sank back into Qin Gou’s palm as he heard a knock at the door.

Opening it, he found a chubby young man in a tattered gray servant’s robe, tears streaming down his face. “Brother Qin, you’re really here! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

“Ah, it’s Keshai. How have you been?” Qin Gou asked, patting his shoulder.

It was none other than his best partner, the chubby Chen Keshai.

“Not good, not good at all. I’m almost dead,” Chen Keshai wailed. “Brother Qin, the spirit stones and pills you gave me were all stolen! I’m miserable!”

“What happened?” Qin Gou’s eyes turned cold, his voice sharp. “Who took your spirit stones?”

“I was dragged into the Seed Demon Holy Sect and, because of my low cultivation, forced to serve as a servant disciple, attending to an older disciple’s every need. Until I reach the Weapon Refining Realm, I can’t escape this status. But that senior doesn’t treat me like a person. He stole all my spirit stones and pills, beats me constantly, and even said no one would care if he killed me.”

Chen Keshai clenched his fists, his knuckles white. “The beatings I can endure, but he took all my resources and even interrogated me about where I got so many spirit stones. He’s trying to ruin my cultivation path forever! Brother Qin, I barely escaped, but he might come after me soon. I can’t stay here. If you ever become an inner disciple, please save me.”

A chilling smile spread across Qin Gou’s face. He patted Chen Keshai’s shoulder again. “Why wait? I’ll help you now.”

“No, Brother Qin, that guy’s an old disciple who’s been here for years. I can’t drag you into this. I have to leave.”

“Stop.”

Qin Gou grabbed Chen Keshai’s arm, his tone calm. “Don’t be afraid. When have I ever let you down? I already have a plan to free you from his grasp.”

“Really?” Chen Keshai’s eyes lit up with hope.

Qin Gou nodded. “I’ll challenge him to a duel. If I win, you’ll become my servant disciple and train under my protection.”

Chen Keshai was incredulous. “Brother Qin, are you joking? That guy’s been here for years, with countless tricks up his sleeve. He’s almost at the Hidden Artifact Realm! I can’t let you risk yourself!”

“Don’t you trust me?” Qin Gou asked, hands behind his back, smiling. “A mere late Weapon Refining Realm cultivator is nothing. Besides, I’ll challenge him in the sect’s official dueling arena, with at least two stewards overseeing the fight. Even if I lose, it won’t be dangerous.”

“But—”

“No buts. Honestly, even if you hadn’t come to me, I was planning to visit the dueling arena today,” Qin Gou said with a meaningful smile.

According to Mu Man’er’s intel, Gu Yan’er visited the dueling arena once a month—not to fight but to observe, evaluate her subordinates, and scout talented individuals.