Though his eyes remained empty, the effect of the Basic Insight Talisman now allowed Luo Ren to see clearer than any ordinary person. He could clearly discern every minute detail around him, even tiny ants on the ground were no exception. Luo Ren began to assess his body. Gaunt was his first impression, yet having lived within the Eighth-rank cultivation force of the Luo Clan, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was of superior quality on the Ice Heaven Continent, Luo Ren's skin remained fair. His body, having performed countless heavy tasks since childhood, was incredibly sturdy, and at sixteen, he was already nearing 1.8 meters tall. This was perhaps the most valuable thing the former "Luo Ren" had left him.
Luo Ren now appraised his surroundings. It was a small wooden room, containing nothing but a pile of straw on the ground, which served as his bed. Beside it was a half-eaten bowl of rice and a cup of bland water.
With a thought, Luo Ren could now see through objects within a 300-meter radius; his vision had expanded significantly. Luo Ren discovered he was in the servants' quarters of the Luo Clan. There were countless rooms here, though his was likely the most dilapidated, as even regular servants had beds to sleep on.
Luo Ren felt no strong emotions. Compared to what this body had endured, this was nothing. He also detected two male figures lurking in the shadows about 200 meters away, staring intently at his small room. Thanks to the Basic Insight Talisman, Luo Ren discerned their cultivation levels: they were clearly two cultivators at the middle-stage of the Qi Condensation realm.
"Hmph, they must be Luo Lei's hounds," Luo Ren sneered. With Luo Lei's current power, he was still uneasy about a waste like himself, even assigning two mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivators to monitor him. It showed how narrow-minded that brat was.
Qi Condensation was the initial stage for cultivators. Individuals in this realm could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to temper their bodies and souls, thereby increasing their strength. Someone who reached the early-stage of Qi Condensation could effortlessly lift objects a hundred times their own weight.
The previous Luo Ren had died from continuous torment by the Luo Clan's recently Qi Condensation-trained youngsters. Though they hadn't used their full strength, merely enjoying his suffering, he still bore the patriarch's bloodline. As long as Luo Thunderbreak hadn't given the word, no one dared truly kill him, which was also why Luo Lei had spared him.
According to Luo Ren's memories, the cultivation realms on the Ice Heaven Continent were divided into eight levels: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, and Tribulation Transcendence. Each realm was further divided into: Early-stage, Mid-stage, Late-stage, and Complete.
Luo Ren's cold-blooded father was a late-stage Void Refinement realm expert. Across the entire Ice Heaven Continent, those who could rival him were all formidable lords ruling over their own domains. As for Luo Ren's convenient younger brother, Luo Lei, at only 15 years old, his cultivation had already reached the early-stage of the Core Formation realm. Possessing dual-attribute spirit roots, he was recognized as the Luo Clan's foremost genius, admired by all.
"It's time to begin summoning. Let's see what can help me embark on the path of an Overlord," Luo Ren thought. He had initially planned to use the Minor Teleportation Talisman to leave the Luo Clan first and then proceed with the summoning, but the Teleportation Talisman only offered random teleportation. For a mere mortal like him, such an action was extremely dangerous. If he were to be randomly teleported into a perilous forbidden land or a desolate forest, he surely wouldn't survive the fangs of wild beasts, let alone beings more ruthless than humans.
"After all, the most dangerous place is also the safest. Though there are two monitors, as long as I don't leave the room, they won't know what I'm doing," Luo Ren decided to proceed with the summoning right in his small room.
"Master, I advise against summoning a Forbidden-grade cultivation technique first," Kim Nhi hovered beside him, looking extremely serious as she spoke gravely to Luo Ren.
"Why?" Luo Ren knew Kim Nhi meant well, but couldn't help but ask.
Kim Nhi took a deep breath, opening her mouth with utmost solemnity:
"Each Forbidden-grade cultivation technique is a unique existence in the entire universe. They stand proudly above the nine heavens, suppressing all of eternity. From the primordial era until now, any news of a Forbidden-grade appearance would lead to countless bloody storms, billions of lives lost in their pursuit. For this reason, Forbidden-grade techniques are not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao. Whenever one appears, it will trigger a Heavenly Tribulation, and the owner of such a technique will also be sought by the Heavenly Dao for eradication."
Luo Ren secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Luckily, he hadn't rushed to summon such a terrifying existence. However, Luo Ren knew that since the System had granted him this opportunity, there must be a solution.
Indeed, Kim Nhi continued:
"Forbidden-grade techniques have spirits. With Young Master's current state, even with System support, you cannot fully suppress it. Therefore, after summoning, the System will seal the Forbidden-grade technique in a separate dimension, allowing the Host to absorb small portions over time to gradually solidify your strength. This also avoids the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny."
Luo Ren nodded. This was probably the best solution. He didn't want to become someone scrutinized by a terrifying existence like the Heavenly Dao.
"I understand. Then, let's begin by summoning a Profound-grade martial skill," Luo Ren commanded.
Martial skills were techniques cultivators practiced for attacking enemies, defending, or providing support. Martial skills came in many types with various uses, but the most favored type was one with powerful offensive capabilities.
"Host, confirm summoning a random Profound-grade martial skill?" The System's mechanical voice inquired.
"Yes," Luo Ren confirmed without hesitation.
"Ding! Commencing random Profound-grade martial skill summoning: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
"Ding! Host has received the Profound-grade Peak-tier martial skill <
"Good!" Luo Ren was delighted. He hadn't expected to get a Peak-tier grade right away. It seemed his luck wasn't too bad.
Luo Ren couldn't wait. With a thought, a four-colored jade pendant appeared in his hand. The jade pendant was carved with four intertwining mythical beasts, so lifelike they seemed to possess true souls: the majestic Tiger, the steady Turtle like a mountain, the resilient Bear with its imposing aura, and the peerlessly noble Phoenix.
"How do I cultivate it?" Luo Ren couldn't wait, immediately asking Kim Nhi.
"For System martial skills in jade pendant form, Young Master needs to drip blood to acknowledge ownership," Kim Nhi calmly replied. From her perspective, even a Heaven-grade martial skill wasn't very significant.
Luo Ren bit his fingertip, and a drop of blood fell onto the jade pendant. Very quickly, the blood was completely absorbed. At the same time, four streams of light from within the jade pendant swiftly entered Luo Ren's glabella, and a vast amount of information began to transfer into his memory. The jade pendant quickly dimmed and faded, finally turning into dust. Clearly, the martial skill could only be transmitted once.
"Four Spirit Soul Guard Art Rank: Profound-grade Peak-tier martial skill Origin: The famous youthful martial skill of the Beast Martial Heavenly Venerate. Effect: Condenses the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to form soul beasts. Each soul beast corresponds to a type of spirit root: Tiger corresponds to Metal, Turtle corresponds to Wood, Bear corresponds to Earth, and Phoenix corresponds to Fire. One with all four spirit roots gains the protection of the four souls, achieving victory wherever they fight, with few rivals at the same cultivation level…"
The pain caused by the influx of information did not discomfort Luo Ren; on the contrary, his expression was not very pleasant due to the demanding requirements of the technique:
"It requires all four spirit roots to unleash its strongest power. This requirement is even more demanding than some Heaven-grade martial skills I've heard of."
"Of course! With the full power of all four soul beasts unleashed, its might would surely surpass some ordinary Heaven-grade martial skills. It's just that the cultivation conditions are too difficult, which is why each soul beast's individual rank is only considered Profound-grade Peak-tier. This time, Young Master can consider it a great gain," Kim Nhi explained playfully.
"So that's how it is. However, I currently have no spirit roots, so I can't cultivate it for now. Let's continue by summoning an Earth-grade magical artifact," Luo Ren wasn't in a hurry. He trusted the System wouldn't disappoint him.
"Ding! Host, confirm random Earth-grade magical artifact summoning?"
"Yes."
"Commencing Earth-grade magical artifact summoning: 8, 7, 6, 5…"
"It's taking longer, three seconds more?" Luo Ren asked Kim Nhi.
"Yes, the higher the summoning rank, the longer the time," Kim Nhi nodded in confirmation.
"Ding! Summoning successful. Host has received the Earth-grade Mid-tier magical artifact, the Minor Spirit Realm Pearl, temporarily stored in the System's spatial dimension." The system's voice announced the completion of the summoning.
"It's Earth-grade Mid-tier?" Luo Ren mumbled. A lemon-sized pearl appeared in his hand. The pearl was emerald green, smooth and lustrous enough to reflect like a mirror, emanating a faint glow. What was strange was that Luo Ren also caught a faint, fragrant scent of a woman, which made his expression a little odd, and his 'little brother' below also reacted.
"It doesn't look very powerful," Luo Ren awkwardly deflected, looking at Kim Nhi, waiting for her explanation. This girl's knowledge was incredibly vast.
"Young Master should not be disappointed. This is likely a magical artifact capable of aiding cultivation," Kim Nhi, not letting Luo Ren down, immediately made her judgment.
"Alright, acknowledging ownership will reveal all," Luo Ren had experience. He once again dripped his blood onto the pearl.
A miraculous sense of bloodline connection with the Minor Spirit Realm Pearl arose within Luo Ren. The pearl now felt like a part of his body, responding to his command. Thanks to the System's presence, otherwise, for a mortal body like Luo Ren, acknowledging ownership of an Earth-grade magical artifact would be an illusion; not exploding to death would already be considered lucky.
"Spirit Realm Pearl: Earth-grade Mid-tier magical artifact Origin: One of the personal magical artifacts of the Empress of Time when she was young. Effect: Automatically forms a private space capable of holding living beings, increasing the speed of absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy for those who enter by threefold compared to the outside world."
Information about the Spirit Realm Pearl automatically transmitted to Luo Ren.
"Holy cow, Earth-grade is truly different!"
Luo Ren grinned happily. Clearly, the pearl's function completely exceeded his expectations. One must know that in an Eighth-rank force like the Luo Clan, the younger generation of the clan often cultivated on Spirit Gathering Arrays that could gather spiritual energy three times faster than normal conditions. However, Spirit Gathering Arrays were incredibly expensive and fixed in one location. This Spirit Realm Pearl of his, however, had a function no less effective than a Spirit Gathering Array, and moreover, it could be carried with him. This treatment was something even Luo Lei didn't have, not to mention its ability to contain living beings.
Without waiting, with a thought, Luo Ren's figure instantly vanished. The pearl, in a flash, shrunk countless times, becoming even smaller than a speck of dust, falling onto the floor of Luo Ren's room. Even if Luo Thunderbreak himself came here, he wouldn't hope to discover it without intentionally exerting himself to search.
…
After stabilizing his body, Luo Ren began to assess the space within the Spirit Realm Pearl. He saw that it was like a room about five hundred square meters wide, with a ground and sky no different from the outside world, just without a sun.
"What a miraculous magical artifact, but I can't cultivate yet, so I can't feel the spiritual energy here," Luo Ren exclaimed.
"The space is too small. The Empress of Time was too stingy when she was young," Kim Nhi also appeared beside him, pouting her small lips in disdain.
"It's only Earth-grade Mid-tier. Being like this is already very good," Luo Ren said with a wry smile. This girl's expectations were too high.
Thinking of the alluring scent emanating from the pearl, he pretended to ask Kim Nhi, "Who are the Beast Martial Heavenly Venerate and the Empress of Time? Their names sound like powerful figures."
Kim Nhi, with an air of unimportance, pouted and replied, "They are a hundred thousand times more powerful than Luo Thunderbreak, anyway. But they don't belong to this continent. Whether Young Master can meet them depends on your destiny. Of course, it's also possible they are already dead. No one can say for sure."
"You're right," Luo Ren said with a bitter laugh, shaking his head and dismissing the alluring feminine scent. He had no time to ponder such things now. The most important task was to quickly increase his strength.
Taking a deep, resolute breath, his eyes filled with determination, Luo Ren solemnly commanded, "Begin summoning the Forbidden-grade cultivation technique."