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HUFF! HUFF!
"Wake up! This is just a dream!"
Zhao Zuo slapped his cheeks hard, hoping for a miracle that would send him back to his own world. But all he got were red palm prints on his face and the stubborn tears welling up in his eyes.
Waking up to find he had transmigrated... that seemed perfectly reasonable.
After all, Zhao Zuo had read his fair share of masterpiece web novels. Transmigration was nothing new to him; he could come up with several viable strategies without even thinking.
But! But!
He'd transmigrated, but without a cheat system. Now that was a huge problem.
'Was this some mysterious, powerful being's fault?'
'Obviously not!'
'It's because I'm not devout enough!'
In his heart, Zhao Zuo prayed fervently to all the gods he could think of, hoping to gain their favor.
Unfortunately, the divine beings did not answer the prayers of an ant.
Despairing, Zhao Zuo gave up and flopped onto the crude wooden bed, which reeked of sweat. At this point, even that couldn't stir any emotion in him.
He was like a salted fish that had lost all its dreams, his eyes staring blankly.
The only thing that moved was another stubborn tear, trickling from the corner of his eye.
It had been less than an hour since he'd arrived, and he was already missing ice-cold Coke, his comfortable soft bed, the climate-controlled bliss of his air conditioner, and the girlfriend he'd been dating online for half a month and was about to meet in person...
"This really sucks," Zhao Zuo sighed.
'Transmigrating without a cheat system... how is that any different from murder?'
In his past life, he was just an ordinary, even timid, person. How could he possibly survive in a dog-eat-dog world like this?
If he could choose, Zhao Zuo would much rather be back in his own world. He wouldn't care even if this world offered the chance to attain the Great Path and live as long as the heavens. He was just an ant struggling to survive.
Of course, it wasn't all bad news.
Zhao Zuo had transmigrated by soul, and the transfer had been perfect. He had inherited all of the original owner's memories.
This was the Moyun Sect's Market, located in the Yunlan Mountain Range of the Great Yue Country.
Ten years ago, the original owner of this body, then a fifteen-year-old wanderer, had been taken in by a passing Moyun Sect Cultivator to participate in the sect's entrance examination for Outer Sect disciples.
The original owner possessed Three Spirit Roots—Fire, Wood, and Gold—with the Fire Attribute being the strongest. His Spiritual Roots even had a natural synergy where Wood fed Fire, making his talent a cut above that of an ordinary person with Three Spirit Roots. Logically, becoming an Outer Sect disciple should have been a simple matter.
However, during the comprehension and temperament trials, the original owner's scores were abysmal.
So, the original owner could only take the basic Qi Cultivation spell provided by the Moyun Sect and head to the Market to become a Loose Cultivator.
In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed. His Cultivation had reached the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, and he worked by Quenching Spirit Iron.
The Qi Cultivation Stage is divided into nine layers. The first three are the Early Stage, the fourth to sixth are the Middle Period, and the seventh to ninth are the Late Period. The Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation is also known as Qi Cultivation Great Perfection.
At the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, the original owner held a mid-tier status within the Market. He wasn't exploited, but his income was very limited. He earned about six Spirit Stones a month, leaving him with only two after paying rent.
The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in this world was incredibly volatile and couldn't be absorbed for long periods without damaging one's Meridians. In ancient times, a powerful being developed a Purification Array that could convert the violent Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into a docile state, making it easy to absorb.
The monthly rent was, in fact, the maintenance fee for this Purification Array.
Anyone who couldn't pay rent would be expelled from the Moyun Workshop.
However, the Moyun Sect's sphere of influence only extended for a hundred li. Beyond that was the domain of Demon Beasts. For Zhao Zuo, at only the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, trying to cross the Yunlan Mountain Range to return to human lands would be like a toddler trying to fight a tiger—utterly suicidal.
'First, I have to survive!'
Zhao Zuo scrambled off the wooden bed and began to take stock of the original owner's belongings. The most important item was a Magical Artifact purchased for a hefty price.
As his right hand subconsciously brushed against the small dagger at his waist, a transparent screen materialized before his eyes.
"!!!"
[Level: Lower Grade Magical Artifact - Sky-Breaking Saber]
[Experience: 350/200]
[Status: Upgradable]
[Creation Points: 0]
Zhao Zuo's eyes instantly lit up and his breathing grew heavy. A surge of exhilaration washed over him, though it looked somewhat comical paired with his red, swollen cheeks.
"I have a cheat!"
According to his memories, this Lower Grade Magical Artifact had been with the original owner for a full six years. It had cost fifteen Spirit Stones from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, which was more than two years of the original owner's savings.
After all, he also had to buy Spirit Rice on a regular basis to speed up his Cultivation.
Over six years, it had seen dozens of battles, large and small. Even with careful use, the Magical Artifact was now covered in nicks and chips. Even the internal runes that channeled Mana were partially damaged, leaving it on the verge of being useless.
Although called a saber, the Sky-Breaking Saber was actually quite small—about four inches long and less than an inch wide, shaped like a willow leaf. This was because Cultivators in the early periods of the Qi Cultivation stage had limited Mana and couldn't power larger Magical Artifacts.
Furthermore, such small Magical Artifacts were perfect for ambushes and backstabbing. It could be called the must-have weapon for murder and robbery among Early-period Qi Cultivation Cultivators.
When activated with Mana, it could inflict piercing damage on enemies within a thirty-meter range.
Zhao Zuo placed the Sky-Breaking Saber on the table. He gently ran his right hand over its surface, and the cold touch of metal on his fingertips did much to calm his panicked heart.
'Alright then, let's upgrade.'
With a flicker of his thoughts, Zhao Zuo summoned the transparent panel and tapped the "Upgrade" option.
A gray light enveloped the Sky-Breaking Saber, yet it didn't obscure Zhao Zuo's vision in the slightest.
He could even feel the surrounding Spiritual Qi converging on the Sky-Breaking Saber. He watched as the gray light rapidly repaired the nicks on the saber's surface.
This transformation, creating something from nothing, was nothing short of a divine miracle.
About ten minutes later, the gray light dissipated. A brand-new Sky-Breaking Saber now lay silently on the table, radiating an aura of sharpness, as if it had returned to its prime from old age.
Zhao Zuo tentatively tapped the surface of the Sky-Breaking Saber.
[Upgrade Details: Original damage repaired. Sharpness slightly enhanced.]
Zhao Zuo could no longer contain his excitement. The words on the screen represented a golden opportunity, a path to earning so many Spirit Stones his hands would go soft from counting them. Repairing a damaged Magical Artifact to a brand-new state was equivalent to doubling his profit!
A severely damaged Sky-Breaking Saber was worth only seven or eight Spirit Stones, but a brand-new one was worth fifteen.
With this ability alone, he could earn countless Spirit Stones.
The text lingered for a few seconds before fading away.
New text appeared on the transparent panel.
[Level: Lower Grade Magical Artifact +1 - Sky-Breaking Saber]
[Experience: 150/400]
[Status: Not Upgradable]
[Creation Points: 0]
Zhao Zuo picked up the Sky-Breaking Saber, sensing the channels within it that resonated with his own Mana. He knew that as long as he infused it with Mana, the saber would display the might befitting a Magical Artifact.
The initial thrill began to fade, and he calmed down.
'So far, I know the Golden Hand can repair Magical Artifacts.'
'The question is... how do I get more experience points?'
....
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