[You defeated Mo Bai of the Lanshu Sect: Strength +10, Constitution +20.]
[You defeated Qin Wen of the Yinquan Sect: Mana +20.]
[You defeated...]
[You defeated Zhuang Yan of the Wanjian Sect: Sword Qi +50, Sword Intent +50, Sword Dao Comprehension +50.]
Night had already fallen.
Although Xu Ming wanted to hurry to the nearest town and find a safe place to recuperate, the surrounding area was teeming with magical beasts. Moreover, before the collapse of the Lava Heart Cavern, quite a few beasts had likely escaped into the area.
In his current condition, even a random fifth-rank magical beast could easily kill him with a single blow. Traveling now was far too risky.
So Xu Ming decided to rest in a cave with Shen Shengsheng and set out again in the morning.
Sitting on the ground, Xu Ming gnawed on a piece of roasted wild boar while listening to a series of notifications ringing in his head.
These were the attribute points awarded by the system after his earlier battles. The system hadn't given them during the fight, as rewards were only distributed once he was out of combat.
[You endured the Nine Heavens Lightning Tribulation: Lightning Affinity +1000, Constitution +500, Dao Comprehension +200. Acquired: Nine Heavens Cloud Thunder Sword (Second-Tier Magical Artifact).]
[Nine Heavens Cloud Thunder Sword: With a deafening roar of thunder, you enter the scene, sword in hand. It can't slash the heavens or the earth, but it can certainly cut down your enemies. Wield this sword, and you'll be the flashiest guy on the block.]
[You obtained the Baiwa Secret Realm and became its master, receiving: "Dao Rain Talisman (Blueprint)," 5 Dao Rain Talismans, 1000 catties of Purple Dew Spirit Rice seeds, and 5 portions of Ancient Divine Beast Bloodlines (usable only by native inhabitants of Baiwa Secret Realm).]
[Dao Rain Talisman: Each use summons a Dao rain over the Baiwa Secret Realm, enhancing its spiritual energy and increasing its Dao fortune.]
[Purple Dew Spirit Rice: Boosts the spiritual energy of demon clans in the Baiwa Secret Realm and aids in their cultivation.]
[Ancient Divine Beast Bloodlines: Includes Shengyu, Qilin, Tengshe, Xuanwu, and Chenghuang bloodlines. When used by demon clan cultivators, it purifies their bloodline, aiding in atavism. Note: This only assists in atavism and does not guarantee it. Ultimately, the greatest factor is the cultivator's own effort.]
[You battled Qi Hui of the Black God Sect in a hard-fought duel: Physical Limit +50, Fist Qi +50, Warrior's True Qi +100, Body Strength +100. Rewarded: Yin-Blood Hairpin.]
[Yin-Blood Hairpin: Placed on the forehead, it conceals the presence of a magical beast bloodline. Detected that the host is traveling with Shen Shengsheng, which may attract trouble; therefore, this reward is provided.]
[You clashed with Bi Fang and Yan Huo of the Jade Purity Realm: Endurance +100, Fire Resistance +300. Rewarded: Small Qiankun Pouch.]
[Small Qiankun Pouch: Market value of 500 mid-grade spirit stones. Though small, it offers a decent 100 cubic meters of storage. This pouch can be sold.]
[All rewards have been distributed. A friendly reminder from the system: The gap in cultivation realms is too vast. No matter how talented you are, it's useless. Please stop risking your life unnecessarily.]
As the system's voice faded from his mind, Xu Ming felt his body growing stronger.
Though his injuries hadn't healed much, the improvements in his physical attributes made the pain seem insignificant. It was as if he previously had 1,000 HP and had lost 500 in battle. Now, with his HP increased to 10,000, the same 500 damage felt like a mere scratch.
Of course, this was just a metaphor. In reality, Xu Ming estimated his maximum vitality had only increased by about 50%.
"Sizzle, sizzle..."
The wild boar meat dripped with oil onto the campfire, producing an enticing crackling sound.
Xu Ming sprinkled the meat with salt, cumin, and chili powder. While hunting earlier, he'd also discovered a beehive and harvested some honey, which he now brushed over the roasting meat.
The sweet and savory aroma filled the cave, making Shen Shengsheng gulp in anticipation.
From birth until now, Shen Shengsheng had never encountered food as fragrant as this.
Xu Ming used the Nine Heavens Cloud Thunder Sword to slice the roasted meat, placing it neatly onto lotus leaves.
The sword itself might never have imagined that its first task after being forged wasn't to slay enemies but to serve as a kitchen knife.
Speaking of which, the Nine Heavens Cloud Thunder Sword certainly had a grand name and a striking appearance. Its blade shimmered in a deep blue hue, its long and slender body etched with intricate lightning patterns. Yet, despite its impressive looks, it was merely a second-tier magical artifact.
Magical artifacts were categorized into nine grades, separated into three tiers. Grades nine to one formed the first tier, above which were Celestial Weapons, and beyond those, Imperial Weapons.
It's worth noting that "Imperial Weapons" didn't refer to the weapons of mortal emperors but rather those wielded by Immortal Emperors. In truth, the so-called "national treasures" of mortal empires typically fell into the category of Celestial Weapons.
"Just based on looks alone, this Nine Heavens Cloud Thunder Sword could easily pass for a Celestial Weapon, right? Why does it feel like it's all style and no substance?"
Xu Ming held the sword horizontally, muttering to himself.
Still, a second-tier magical artifact wasn't too bad. After all, even the core disciple of the Wanjian Sect only used a second-tier flying sword.
Consoling himself, Xu Ming continued slicing the roasted meat.
"Here, eat up."
He handed a lotus leaf piled with about five pounds of roasted meat to Shen Shengsheng.
She immediately grabbed the meat with her hands, eating with no thought of elegance or restraint.
"Slow down, there's plenty more if you're still hungry." Watching Shen Shengsheng devour the meat with oil glistening around her mouth, Xu Ming cut another half-leg of the wild boar and placed it in front of her. Thoughtfully, he also prepared a bamboo tube filled with water, just in case she choked.
While Shen Shengsheng feasted, Xu Ming decided to test some of the other rewards he had received from the system.
Just like the talismans he had previously been rewarded with, the Dao Rain Talisman's blueprint was etched clearly into his mind.
However, creating this Dao Rain Talisman gave Xu Ming a headache. The materials required were extraordinarily high-grade—the ink alone had to be made from the essence blood of a flood dragon! The cost of such a requirement was nearly unbearable.
It became clear to him just how precious the system's reward of five single-use Dao Rain Talismans truly was.
Xu Ming decided to use one as an experiment.
Even though the Bai Wa Scroll was not currently in his possession, the system's rewards could be used directly through his connection to the Bai Wa Secret Realm.
With just a thought, one of the talismans vanished.
[You have used a Dao Rain Talisman on the Baiwa Secret Realm. The resulting Dao Rain will last for three days and three nights.]
A system notification appeared in his mind.
Xu Ming closed his eyes, and his awareness extended into the Baiwa Secret Realm. He could clearly sense a torrential rain falling within the realm, enriching its spiritual energy with every drop.
Many cultivators within the secret realm quickly realized this rain was extraordinary. Some rushed to collect it in basins, while others stood out in the fields, welcoming the downpour to cleanse their bodies and souls.
Most of the realm's inhabitants knelt on the ground, offering their gratitude to the Master of the Realm for such a divine blessing.
Drawing his consciousness back from the secret realm, Xu Ming turned his attention to the five portions of Ancient Divine Beast Bloodlines stored in his spatial pouch.
Now came the real question: Who in the secret realm should receive these bloodlines?