CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194: WHO SAID THEIR LUCK IS BAD!!!_1

"The feeling of cultivation improvement while using Hang Up is really awesome," Wang Linchi couldn’t help but exclaim.

He didn’t have to focus, only needing to select a good target for Hang Up. The Dragon Soul Saint Main would then assist, with its semi-transparent Dragon Soul, visible in the Book of Records, perching on the Coiling Dragon statue to help Wang Linchi operate the Soul Forging Method.

He had already maxed out the Black Iron Level of both Soul Resemblance and Body Forging, the two secret techniques, by Charging Money. Now, there was no need for him to use Hang Up for those, leaving only the Soul Forging Method.

"At this speed, it would have originally taken three and a half months to achieve Fulfillment of the Nine Revolutions Golden Core, but now it can be done in a month at most."

Previously, even if he had been practicing diligently, it wasn’t possible to do so 24 hours straight. Over time, he would inevitably make mistakes, as it was impossible to maintain such high concentration for extended periods.

Now, the Dragon Soul Saint Main’s Hang Up function, while rigid, operated in a predetermined way and never made mistakes. If any data mismatch was detected during operation, it would immediately stop, ensuring no problems would arise. Furthermore, it didn’t affect Wang Linchi’s other work, completely freeing him from the active process of Cultivation.

There were disadvantages, though. Wang Linchi needed to consume a large number of Natural Treasures; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to sustain the progress of his Cultivation.

Did one really think they could become stronger just by practicing Cultivation Techniques? Becoming stronger definitely requires corresponding consumption; one can’t just become stronger out of nowhere. If resources couldn’t keep up, training quickly would only lead to physical breakdown and exhaustion.

I’ll wait another month, and then leave this Secret Realm.

Wang Linchi had no plans to stay in this Secret Realm for too long because he had already converted its greatest value into the Dragon Soul Saint Main. The zombies didn’t offer much benefit either. Very few could condense Excellent Level Soul Kinds, and most zombies could only form Ordinary Level Soul Kinds at best. Even if the drop rate were high, it wouldn’t be very useful.

"Next, I can collect some things. It’s rare to come to a modern-style Secret Realm," Wang Linchi decided.

Since he had resolved his Cultivation issues and temporarily had no other projects to increase his strength, it was natural to scrounge for more. Perhaps if he ended up living alone in the Great Ruins in the future, he would need things to pass the time.

After packing his things, he left Base No. 7.

Not long after he walked out the door, he saw a dark shadow flit across the sky. It looked like a person. Through his Soul Vision, he instantly discerned the other party’s situation.

Baylong Religion?

I’ve run into them again. Wang Linchi’s mood soured.

However, the other person departed quickly, so he didn’t pursue them. This was mainly because their power was considerable, akin to the former, former, former dean of Qinghe Academy. They were a half-step Morning Star. Of course, this was a euphemistic way of saying they were a failed Elite Gold Level Awakener.

It’s not a big threat. Elite Gold Level is still Elite Gold Level. Even if they’ve mastered a portion of Morning Star power, they’re still Elite Gold Level. Wang Linchi made a mental comparison. They were indeed somewhat more special than a typical Elite Gold Level, but this special aspect wasn’t enough to constitute a qualitative change. Thus, they still hadn’t truly ascended to the Morning Star realm.

I’ll spare your life this time. If I see you again, I’ll take your life.

Wang Linchi was in an excellent mood, having succeeded with his Hang Up Cultivation, so naturally, he felt no need to get entangled with the other party. But while he had no such interest, the other person apparently did.

He hadn’t taken more than a few steps when the Baylong Religion member turned back. The man looked Wang Linchi up and down, then asked, "Have you seen any other Elite Gold Level Awakeners?"

"No," Wang Linchi shook his head.

"No?" The man frowned, but his expression quickly smoothed. "Well, I see."

"But consider yourself unlucky for running into me... UGH!"

The man hadn’t finished speaking when an attack suddenly exploded in his mind, making his thoughts chaotic. He hadn’t expected an insignificant Black Iron Level individual to dare attack an Elite Gold Level expert like him, let alone actually cause him harm—which should have been impossible!

Fortunately, the sliver of Morning Star essence he possessed allowed him to quickly dispel the mental chaos and forcibly suppress the eight negative status effects that had emerged. Just as he was about to react, he saw a giant monster charging at him. His body had also become Weak after being attacked. In addition to the physical attack, he suffered four additional types of attacks and five types of Toxin attacks, all while his life force was being drained.

He was utterly shocked. Although he had blocked the initial assault, his own power had plummeted by more than half. This, in turn, made it impossible for him to suppress the eight negative status effects, which promptly re-emerged.

"Damn it, who the hell are you?!" The enemy’s eyes blazed with fury, his tone laced with resentment. He not only had to fend off the Saint Master’s attacks but also remain constantly vigilant against the dual attacks originating from the Saint Master’s Dragon and Pig Talismans.

The combination of physical and fire-based attacks was driving him to the brink. If he weren’t a half-step Morning Star, Wang Linchi’s surprise attack, coupled with the Saint Master’s assault, would have killed him long ago.

Wang Linchi didn’t reply, instead casting another Fanciful and Fickle at him. He found this man’s resistance to be quite formidable, much tougher than an average Elite Gold Level, preventing an instant kill. Against other Elite Gold Level cultivators, he wouldn’t even need to use Fanciful and Fickle; his spiritual power alone would have been enough to crush them. From this, he understood that Morning Star cultivators were indeed powerful. This level of resistance alone clearly demarcated the difference in tiers.

"PFFT!" The Black Dragon Envoy coughed up a mouthful of blood and said, "This is a misunderstanding! I was looking for someone, I didn’t intend to..."

Before he could finish, the Saint Master’s attack struck again.

When Wang Linchi heard him claim it was a misunderstanding, he couldn’t help but sigh internally. Does he think I’m that gullible? This man didn’t look like someone plagued by bad Luck at all. Could someone with genuinely bad Luck possess such abilities?

CRACK! The Saint Master shattered the man’s breastbone, causing it to cave inward.

"Damn it, I don’t believe you can..." As the Black Dragon Envoy spoke, he reached into his Storage Soul Device for a Soul Device. However, before he could finish his sentence, the Saint Master fractured his reaching hand.

Oh no, it seems my Blessing and Luck are starting to affect the enemy... Wang Linchi thought after hitting the Black Dragon Envoy with another Fanciful and Fickle. Otherwise, this makes no sense. How could he still have the composure to talk so much during a battle? Isn’t the usual routine to kill the enemy first and then engage in idle chatter? Is this what it feels like to be under an Intelligence Reduction Aura? Oh, wait, this isn’t an Intelligence Reduction Aura. I’m not that formidable. It’s simply my good Luck causing the enemy to be distracted.

As he mused, he continued to hit the enemy with Fanciful and Fickle. With physical attacks, fire-based attacks, various negative status effects, and assaults on his Soul and Spirit, the Black Dragon Envoy was clearly on his last legs.

You’re incredibly tough! Still not dead! Wang Linchi was shocked. He could never have imagined that the Black Dragon Envoy, battered almost beyond recognition, could still be clinging to life. This was just an Elite Gold Level individual with a fraction of Morning Star characteristics. How much tougher would a full Morning Star cultivator be?

"Cough... The Dragon God will avenge me..." The enemy’s voice was extremely faint, like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Ah, this..." Wang Linchi was momentarily unsure what to say, so he simply had the Saint Master finish him off. What else could he do? He couldn’t exactly chat with the man further, could he? Wang Linchi might have been willing, but this Black Dragon Envoy was likely beyond conversation.

The Saint Master used the Dragon Talisman to give him the "complete dragon service." Other places offering a "complete service" weren’t authentic. The one provided by the Saint Master was the most genuine "dragon service" imaginable. Not only did the Saint Master itself resemble a dragon, but it also used the Dragon Talisman. Furthermore, the Coiling Dragon empowered this Dragon Talisman. This wasn’t just a "one dragon" service; it was a "several dragons" service!

As the Black Dragon Envoy turned to ash in the flames, a Black Dragon phantom emerged from his remains.

"You ant! How dare you kill my servant! Today... AARGH!"

The Black Dragon phantom had only just emerged when it collided head-on with the Saint Master’s Dragon Talisman and a massive dose of Fanciful and Fickle that Wang Linchi, startled, had instinctively thrown. All the spiritual power in his two Golden Core Illusions was drained, unleashing a 40,000-point Fanciful and Fickle that instantly obliterated the Black Dragon phantom.

That scared the hell out of me! Wang Linchi had long since developed an instinctive reaction. When others were startled, they might scream or instinctively dodge. If he was startled, his first reaction was to summon the Saint Master while simultaneously unleashing Fanciful and Fickle. Sometimes he couldn’t quite control the amount of Fanciful and Fickle, having to empty at least two Golden Core Illusions’ worth of spiritual power each time. Today, however, he had actually restrained himself somewhat.

"Sigh, my mental fortitude is still lacking." Wang Linchi sighed, looking at the dissipating Black Dragon phantom with some helplessness. "I wonder if I can work on this in the future, to stop reacting with lethal force every time I’m startled."

"Forget it. Instead of just practicing to control it, it’s better to address the root flaw."

The flaw, naturally, was that he wasn’t strong enough. If he were truly powerful, who would dare to startle him? And even if someone did manage to startle him, a casual Fanciful and Fickle would be enough to send them on their way.