The carriage returned to the Su mansion. The two death soldiers quickly left to report the day's events to the family head, while Su Hao returned to his quarters alone. He was in no mood for brothels now.
He had intended to pay respects to Su Ping but instead encountered a grave robber. Although the demon vine had reduced the robber to bones, Su Hao's mood remained unsettled.
Lying on his bed, Su Hao examined the Blood-Devouring Demon Vine hidden in his hand.
"As expected of an item from a Golden Draw Card, its power is formidable," Su Hao thought.
The Blood-Devouring Demon Vine, still in its infancy, seemed to handle Earth Realm level five cultivators with ease. Su Hao wondered how it would fare against Sky Realm experts. With evolution, its power would surely increase, potentially threatening even Sky Realm masters in the future.
"This is definitely my trump card now," Su Hao mused.
Today's completed task had earned him 600 check-in points and 6 Bronze Draw Cards.
He checked his status:
[Name] Su Hao Check-in points: 3750 Skill points: 25 Inventory: 9 Bronze Draw Cards, 1 Lower-level Ninja Trio Card (13 days remaining), half bottle of Truth-Telling Water, 200,000 silver notes
"I'll exchange for one more Bronze Draw Card," Su Hao decided, planning to combine 10 Bronze cards for 1 Silver card.
[Consumed 100 check-in points, exchanged for 1 Bronze Draw Card. 10 Bronze Draw Cards collected. Synthesize into Silver Draw Card?]
[Synthesize!]
[1 Silver Draw Card synthesized and added to inventory]
Excited, Su Hao immediately used the Silver Draw Card.
[Consuming 1 Silver Draw Card, drawing...]
After a few seconds, text appeared before Su Hao's eyes.
[Congratulations, you've won 100,000 silver notes!]
Su Hao's mood instantly plummeted. He couldn't even find words to express his disappointment.
Drawing a mere 100,000 silver notes from a Silver Draw Card felt like a huge loss. Even 10 Bronze cards might have yielded better results. Extra silver notes weren't particularly useful.
"My luck's been poor lately. I should hold off on drawing for now," Su Hao decided, resolving to save his Bronze Draw Cards in the future instead of relying solely on Silver cards.
Drawing carried risks; synthesis required caution.
[Convert all remaining check-in points to skill points!]
Su Hao converted his remaining 3,650 check-in points into 365 skill points, bringing his total to 400 skill points.
He then examined his techniques:
[Techniques]: Golden Bell Shield: Level 2 (Upgradeable, 100 skill points to reach Level 3, increasing strength by 1000 jin and doubling physical toughness, able to withstand ordinary club attacks.) Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand: Level 2 (One palm strike with 1000 jin force, 50 skill points to upgrade to Level 3, increasing palm force to 2000 jin.) Brahma Raging Flame Technique: (Beginner) (Upgradeable, 20 skill points to reach Level 1) Consciousness Perception: 10-meter range (Upgradeable, 100 skill points to increase range to 50 meters.) Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic: Level 1 (Recovers 10% of consumed energy per minute, resists weak poisons, repairs damaged meridians. 100 skill points to deduce Level 2.) Turtle Breathing Technique: Level 1 (Upgradeable, 30 skill points to reach Level 2, concealing Human Realm cultivation and three levels of vitality and cultivation.)
Su Hao decided to upgrade the Turtle Breathing Technique first.
[Consumed 30 skill points, Turtle Breathing Technique upgraded to Level 2!]
Su Hao felt the unique energy in his body intensify and spread throughout his body. He also noticed a slight physical enhancement.
"It seems the Turtle Breathing Technique also has body-strengthening effects. Let's see the cost for Level 3."
The Turtle Breathing Technique had only five levels. Mastering the fifth level would allow perfect concealment of one's cultivation.
[Turtle Breathing Technique Level 3 requires 50 skill points. Upgrade?]
"50 skill points is quite high. Level 4 will likely cost even more. But I still have 370 skill points, so I can afford it!"
[Consumed 50 skill points, Turtle Breathing Technique upgraded to Level 3.]
Su Hao's body was further strengthened, and his Human Realm level five cultivation seemed close to breaking through to level six.
[Turtle Breathing Technique Level 4 requires 100 skill points. Generates turtle breath energy, able to withstand one attack from Earth Realm level three or lower cultivators, conceals Earth Realm cultivation.]
[Upgrade]
Su Hao upgraded the Turtle Breathing Technique to Level 4. A stream of energy formed in his dantian, creating a turtle shell-like pattern. His cultivation broke through to Human Realm level six.
"So this is turtle breath energy?" Su Hao sensed the defensive nature of this new energy.
After reaching Level 4, the Turtle Breathing Technique showed no further upgrade options.
With 220 skill points remaining, Su Hao upgraded the Golden Bell Shield.
He felt his body being strengthened by a mysterious force. Ordinary blades and swords likely couldn't harm him now, though energy-infused weapons could still pose a threat.
"No one below the Human Realm should be able to break through my defense now," Su Hao murmured.
Upgrading the Golden Bell Shield to Level 3 also advanced his cultivation to Human Realm level seven.
[Golden Bell Shield Level 4 generates a counterforce. Upgrade for 150 skill points?]
Su Hao only had 120 skill points left, not enough for the upgrade, but he was intrigued by the counterforce ability.
He decided to upgrade the Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand instead, spending 50 skill points to reach Level 3. Combined with the Golden Bell Shield, his palm force now reached 2000 jin, potentially allowing him to contend with early Earth Realm experts.
"The Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand only has four levels. Let's check the cost for Level 4."
[Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand Level 4 requires 70 skill points. Upgrade?]
"70 skill points? Let's do it!"
Su Hao spent his last 70 skill points to complete the Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand technique.
[Host has completed the Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand technique. Reward: 2 Bronze Draw Cards!]
The system unexpectedly issued a reward notification after Su Hao finished upgrading the technique.
He checked his updated status:
[Name] Su Hao [Realm] Human Realm Level 7
[Techniques]: Golden Bell Shield: Level 4 (Upgradeable, 150 skill points for Level 5.) Great Strength Stone-Breaking Hand (Combined with Golden Bell Shield, palm force reaches 3000 jin) Brahma Raging Flame Technique: (Beginner) (Upgradeable, 20 skill points to reach Level 1) Consciousness Perception: 10-meter range (Upgradeable, 100 skill points to increase range to 50 meters.) Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic: Level 1 (Recovers 10% of consumed energy per minute, resists weak poisons, repairs damaged meridians. 100 skill points to deduce Level 2.) Turtle Breathing Technique: Level 4 (Not upgradeable, conceals cultivation up to Earth Realm)
Inventory: 2 Bronze Draw Cards, 1 Lower-level Ninja Trio Card (13 days remaining), half bottle of Truth-Telling Water, 300,000 silver notes