Bai Yunfei was surprisingly straightforward this time. He stretched out his hand and demanded, "Hand it over."
The old man's lips twitched. Black lines seemed to streak down his forehead as he rummaged through his robe and pulled out a black ring. He passed it to Bai Yunfei, explaining, "This is a Spatial Ring. It contains a pocket dimension for storing items. Once your soul power fully awakens, channel it into the ring to retrieve the soul cultivation manual inside. Follow its methods to refine your soul and elevate your strength."
Bai Yunfei examined the ring, clenched it in his palm, and stared at the old man, hesitating to speak.
"What's wrong? More questions?" the old man chuckled.
"Do you have money? Give me some..."
"......"
The old man tossed him a coin pouch. Bai Yunfei opened it—a full bag of gold coins. He took only two, then bowed deeply.
"Senior, your kindness today will be repaid tenfold when the chance arises!"
As Bai Yunfei walked away, the old man's smile faded. After a long silence, he sighed.
"Sigh… He's the fourth one… Will he be the one to break the Heavenly Fate Sect's calamity? That boy is unique… Pity I cannot interfere too much in his growth…"
"Little one… Do not disappoint me…"
......
Back in the city, Bai Yunfei indulged for the first time in his life—renting a room at an inn.
"I've achieved nothing yet owe two life debts…" He clutched the ring, lying on the bed, murmuring to himself.
Exhaustion—physical and mental—overwhelmed him. He sank into sleep. The day's upheavals and the weight of his resolve were too much for an eighteen-year-old who'd lived in obscurity. Tonight, he needed rest.
The next day, hidden in shadows, Bai Yunfei watched Old Wu's family bury him. Then, in a secluded alley in the southern district, he rented a ramshackle room.
Two gold coins from the old man—one gold equaled a hundred silver; one silver, a hundred copper. To Bai Yunfei, who once earned twenty copper coins a day, this was a fortune. Enough to survive.
The room held only a bed by the window and a small cabinet. Bai Yunfei sat on the bed, gripping that peculiar brick.
Equipment Tier: Common
Enhancement Level: +10
Attack Power: 9
Bonus Attack: 16
+10 Effect: 1% chance to stun target for up to 3 seconds (increases to 5% if striking the head)
Enhancement Cost: 12 Soul Points
The information flashed in his mind. After a pause, he whispered, "Enhance."
Instantly, something vital drained from his body. He nearly collapsed.
"So… I fainted last time from exhausting my Soul Points."
Enhancement Failed.
Equipment Destroyed.
Shock jolted him. "Destroyed? How—"
The brick turned to sand in his palm, trickling to the floor.
"This…" Bai Yunfei stared blankly, muttering, "Destroyed…? Failed enhancements only downgraded before. Why now?"
He gazed at the crimson sand for a long while before calming down.
"I barely understand this Enhancement Technique…" Deep in thought, he left the room.
An hour later, he sat on the bed again, holding another brick. Nearby, a cabinet held daggers half a foot long and a stack of a dozen red bricks. A pile of red sand already littered the floor.
"Beyond +8, failure means destruction. Three bricks shattered before I could reach +9. That night's +10 was pure luck." As the brick in his hand crumbled, he grabbed a dagger. "Let's test this."
Much later…
Enhancement Succeeded.
Equipment Tier: Common
Enhancement Level: +8
Attack Power: 21
Bonus Attack: 18
Enhancement Cost: 10 Soul Points
His vision blurred. "Reached my limit? Time for the next experiment…"
He slashed his finger with the dagger.
"Enhance…"
Then he collapsed onto a pillow, unconscious.
......
Warm sunlight streamed through the window the next morning. Bai Yunfei stretched and sat up.
"Soul Points exhaustion causes coma, but recovery heals bodily injuries too. That's why my wounds from the beast arena vanished."
"And I feel… stronger. Not physically—something deeper. My Soul Points must have increased during recovery."
"Soul Points… Soul Power… Could it be…?"
He picked up the dagger under the bed.
Equipment Tier: Common
Enhancement Level: +9
Attack Power: 21
Bonus Attack: 23
Enhancement Cost: 12 Soul Points
Bai Yunfei grabbed a brick and swung the dagger.
Crack!
Half the brick thudded to the floor—sliced like tofu.
"+9 is this terrifying?" He inhaled sharply. "No stun effect… Does that only appear at +10?"
He enhanced another dagger and brick to +8, slower this time. After each enhancement, he paused, sensing the subtle flow of Soul Points. Fatigue set in—his reserves were halved.
"Should I exhaust them again?"
"No. Haste makes waste. Better limit it to once a day…"
After storing the weapons, he pulled out the Spatial Ring.
"A Spatial Ring… Why does it feel familiar? I've never even heard of such a thing… Awaken my soul power to become a Soul Apprentice… When will that happen? What are Soul Masters, truly?"
A thought struck him. He focused on the ring.
Equipment Tier: Advanced
Enhancement Requirement: 5 Soul Points
"Advanced? No attack power… and 5 points just to start?"
He decided to enhance it once…
Enhancement Succeeded.
Equipment Tier: Advanced
Enhancement Level: +1
Bonus Attribute: Strength +2
Enhancement Cost: 6 Soul Points
"Strength +1? Boosts the user's physical power? But how much is '+1'?"
He slipped the ring onto his right index finger. Flexing his fist, he felt nothing. He enhanced it repeatedly until dizziness forced him to stop.
Equipment Tier: Advanced
Enhancement Level: +5
Bonus Attribute: Strength +15
Enhancement Cost: 10 Soul Points
Re-donning the ring, raw power surged through him—as if he could shatter stone.
But his mind felt battered, like hauling rice sacks all day. He lay down, desperate for rest.
Hours drifted in a half-sleep haze. When he rose, fatigue lingered, but clarity returned.
The ring's power was undeniable. He snapped a common brick in half barehanded. A +8 brick, however, resisted his strength.
"My strength truly grew… and enhanced items are far more durable."
He glanced outside—dusk already. The entire day was gone.
One urgent thought surfaced: "I'm starving…"
......
That night, Bai Yunfei carried wine and offerings to Old Wu's grave.
He arranged the items, then kowtowed three times.
"Old Wu… Yunfei is here. Forgive me for missing your burial…"
"You saved my life. I won't let your sacrifice be wasted. I swear—Zhang Yang will pay for your death… and your granddaughter's."
Memories flooded him: Old Wu's fatherly gaze… the spray of blood as he shoved Bai Yunfei aside… his dying words…
Tears blurred Bai Yunfei's vision. He tilted his head back, fighting them, but fury and grief raged unchecked.
He snatched the wine jug and gulped. Fire seared his throat, burning through his chest.
Another swig. His face flushed crimson; his eyes bloodshot.
Rage roared inside him like oil dousing flames.
"Old Wu! I will kill Zhang Yang myself!"
He drained the jug in one tilt.
"I, Bai Yunfei, vow by my soul: No one will control my fate again! I will endure no more humiliation! Those who wrong me will be crushed! ALL WILL PAY!"
Crack!
Something shattered within him. Power detonated through his veins. His right hand swelled—muscles coiling like steel cables.
Bang!
The ceramic jug exploded in his grip. His fingers tightened, pulverizing the shards into dust that scattered like blood-red snow.