C13 Breakthrough! Desolate Body!
Falling Star Mountain Range.
Qin Buyi made his way directly to the Falling Star Mountain Range after parting with the Tang family. Given the spectacle he had caused, it seemed safer to blend in with the Demon Beasts of the mountains than to attract attention in Azure Sun City.
The thought of reducing the Tang family's stronghold to rubble made even Qin Buyi's stoic heart twitch involuntarily. Recalling his time at the Tang family, it felt like watching a movie—his body commandeered, unleashing power beyond his level.
A single punch had sent Tang Zhentian flying over a hundred meters. Employing the Killing Saber Technique, the first move, Slaughter, had effortlessly severed Tang Zhentian's limbs. The second move, Extermination, transformed into a colossal crescent, erasing the entire Tang family and their buildings from Azure Sun City.
Qin Buyi gazed at the Killing Saber in his hand, its blade now devoid of any black and red hues, with a mix of emotions. He reviewed the introductions to the Killing Saber and the Killing Saber Technique.
Killing Saber - Second Rank
Description: A blade forged for slaughter... The Killing Saber once made countless beings shudder. To unlock all its secrets, you need greater strength.
Killing Saber Technique - Second Rank
Description: A saber technique created alongside the Killing Saber that once reverberated through the heavens. When your cultivation is strong enough, the tale behind it will be revealed to you.
With a deeper insight after reading the descriptions, Qin Buyi held the Killing Saber before his eyes and whispered his gratitude, "Thank you for your aid tonight."
A night breeze swept by with a "Hu~," yet the Killing Saber remained unresponsive.
Qin Buyi wasn't surprised by this reaction. He vividly remembered the saber's previous tendency to devour its master. It had assisted him for reasons unknown, but clearly, he had yet to earn its full recognition.
Ultimately, it boiled down to his own insufficient strength and meager cultivation.
"The attribute points are sufficient; it's time for a breakthrough," Qin Buyi murmured to himself.
With the completion of the main quest, he had accrued eight attribute points, and the defeat of Tang Zhentian had netted him an additional five, totaling thirteen.
Qin Buyi initially allocated an attribute point to enhance his cultivation level.
Name: Qin Buyi
Cultivation: Second Rank - Golden Core Perfection (50/50, ready for breakthrough)
"Breakthrough!"
His body, already severely wounded, throbbed with pain as if countless tiny blades were slicing through his flesh. Upon initiating the breakthrough, the pain escalated sharply. Qin Buyi felt as though the blades had turned into saws, not just cutting through flesh but also sawing through bone.
He felt like a twisted doughnut, tormented by being wrenched left and right three times each in his dire state.
"Hiss~!"
The excruciating pain, exceeding his physiological limits, caused Qin Buyi to contort his face in agony and his eyes to roll back.
In the midst of this torment, he was reminded of that mocking voice, indistinguishable as male or female.
Biting down hard, he remained silent as sweat the size of soybeans poured from his forehead.
Time seemed to stand still...
Then, a crisp "crack!" echoed from within his body.
The intense pain vanished, replaced by waves of soothing coolness.
The wounds he had sustained in the clash with the Tang family began to mend rapidly under this refreshing sensation.
Now fully healed, Qin Buyi accessed his personal information panel.
Name: Qin Buyi
Cultivation: Third Rank - Nascent Infant Early Period (62/100)
Strength: 62
Speed: 62
Physical Strength: 62
Attack Power: 62
Defense: 62
Fortune: 62
...
Killing Saber, Third Rank (62/100)
Attack Power: 62
Killing Saber Technique, Second Rank (50/50, unable to advance due to missing follow-up)
Attack Power: 50
With his newfound breakthrough, Qin Buyi unsheathed the Killing Saber and practiced his swings, reveling in the Third Rank's strength.
"It's no wonder they say the chasm between the Golden Core Stage and the Nascent Infant Stage is vast. If I were to confront Tang Zhentian now, I could take him down in just a few moves," Qin Buyi mused, gripping the saber.
"And then there's the System Mall and the Primary Desolate Body."
Ding! Activating the System Mall for the first time...
Ding! The System Mall has been successfully activated.
Ding! Activating the Primary Desolate Body for the first time...
Ding! The Primary Desolate Body has been successfully activated.
As the Primary Desolate Body came online, Qin Buyi immediately sensed an increase in his strength, speed, defense, and attack capabilities.
He accessed the System Mall.
Within the mall, items ranged from First to Third Rank, including an array of tools, weapons, pills, cultivation techniques, and formations. The variety was overwhelming, and each item displayed the necessary Merchant Points for purchase.
Qin Buyi found nothing he needed at the moment.
Below the main interface were two options: recycle and attribute exchange.
Having reviewed the recycling feature, Qin Buyi grasped its purpose.
He could hand over any valuable items from his Storage Space for the System Mall to recycle, receiving Merchant Points in return based on their worth.
"What a great feature!"
Qin Buyi's eyes sparkled, previously pondering how to convert the contents of the Tang family's storage rings into resources.
This feature meant no more concerns about managing future treasures.
He submitted all the storage rings to the System Mall.
*Beep! Assessing value...*
Beep! The system calculated a total of 15 Merchant Points.
With the 20 points awarded from the war mission, he now had 35 Merchant Points.
He navigated to the attribute exchange.
A smile spread across Qin Buyi's face as he read the attribute exchange details.
"This feature is the perfect complement to the recycling system!"
He could exchange Merchant Points for attributes.
One point per attribute at First Rank.
Two points per attribute at Second Rank.
Five points per attribute at Third Rank.
The rates for Fourth Rank and above remained a mystery.
Without a second thought, Qin Buyi converted 35 Merchant Points into seven attribute points, bolstering his cultivation level.
Name: Qin Buyi
Cultivation: Third Rank, Nascent Infant Middle Period (69/100)
Strength: 69
Speed: 69
Physical Strength: 69
Attack Power: 69
Defense: 69
Fortune: 69
...
Killing Saber, Third Rank (69/100)
Attack Power: 69
Killing Saber Technique, Second Rank (50/50, unable to advance)
Attack Power: 50
His cultivation had just reached the Middle Period of the Nascent Infant Stage.
"With these two features working together, I can sustain my growth through combat," Qin Buyi mused.
Closing the System Mall, Qin Buyi turned his attention to the brief description of the Primary Desolate Body.
Desolate Body, Primary
All attributes increase by 5%.
The description was succinct, yet it captured the formidable essence of the Desolate Body in just a few words.
This 5% boost should not be taken lightly. While it may not seem significant in the early stages, as one's cultivation grows, the incremental increase in attributes becomes increasingly impactful. What's truly astounding is that it enhances all attributes—a crucial detail.
"Is the Primary Desolate Body really that powerful? What about the Intermediate and Advanced levels?" Qin Buyi pondered.
Now, having advanced beyond the Nascent Infant Stage, his strength had grown even further. Qin Buyi figured that if he were to face an adversary of Tang Zhentian's caliber now, a single strike would suffice to vanquish them.
"Also, reaching the Nascent Infant Stage grants me the rudimentary ability to fly."
A surge of insight flooded Qin Buyi's mind after his breakthrough, revealing the mechanics of flight.
Eager to test his new skill, he adjusted his stance and began to levitate.
One foot, two feet, three feet...
Ten feet, twenty feet, thirty feet...
One hundred meters, one thousand meters, ten thousand meters...
Initially wobbly, he soon steadied and became accustomed to the sensation.
Qin Buyi soared freely across the sky.
"Roar~"
He let out a mighty roar, expelling all the stale air from his lungs.
Ever since his childhood on Blue Star, Qin Buyi had been enchanted by the flying deities in novels. Now that he himself had taken flight, the joy he felt was indescribable.
Having grown up on Blue Star, Qin Buyi had flown on airplanes and experienced various advanced technologies for brief aerial adventures.
Yet, no technology could match the exhilaration of flying unaided at such heights, without any protective gear.
The sentient creatures within the Falling Star Mountain Range gazed up at Qin Buyi soaring above, their eyes filled with envy and aspiration.
For all beings naturally grounded, the desire to take to the skies is an instinct etched into their very DNA.
After his fill of aerial play, Qin Buyi gently descended back to earth.
*Clap* *Clap*
Applause echoed through the darkness. As Huang San emerged into view, Qin Buyi's expression turned cautious.
Seemingly oblivious to Qin's guard, Huang San's lips curled into a smile. "Congratulations, Mr. Qin, on your breakthrough to the Nascent Infant Stage!"
