The System's First Chime? Novice Crate Opening Art

The System's First Chime? Novice Crate Opening Art (Lin Che Opens the Novice Crate and Obtains Azure Water Sword Art)

Gu Rong's footsteps struck dull echoes against the bluestone path. Wrapped in the chill of early winter, he kept Lin Che behind him in the shadows. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's West Courtyard lay hidden deep within a grove of old bamboo. When the snow pellets had first fallen, they had carried a delicate softness, but now the wind swept them into their collars. Lin Che shrank his neck and unconsciously rubbed his sleeve cuff. The scorching sensation from his Martial Soul Awakening still lingered there, as though the sharpness of the Azure Water Sword and the weight of the Universe Cauldron were still lightly pulsing through his meridians.

With a creak, Gu Rong pushed open the wooden door to the side room, and a wave of warmth carrying the scent of pine washed over them. The furnishings inside were simple: a rosewood table, two rattan chairs, and a half-worn bookshelf standing in the corner, its shelves holding several yellowed Soul Master Handbooks. Most eye-catching was the pot of green bamboo beneath the window. Snow clung to its leaves, yet they remained vividly green, subtly echoing the phantom of the Azure Water Sword floating in Lin Che's dantian.

"Sit." Gu Rong walked to the table and lightly tapped its surface with his thin, withered fingers. A celadon teacup floated up on its own, filled itself with warm spirit herb tea, and settled steadily before Lin Che. "The Sect Master told me about your Dual Martial Souls this morning—Innate Soul Power of level twenty, the Azure Water Sword paired with the Universe Cauldron. Such talent might not appear even once in a hundred years across the entire Douluo Continent."

Lin Che held the teacup, and the warmth reaching his fingertips loosened his tense shoulders slightly. He lowered his head to watch the tea leaves drift at the bottom of the cup and said softly, "Grandpa Gu, I... I still don't really know how to use these two Martial Souls." The scorching surge of Soul Power from his awakening was still fresh in his memory, but the phantoms of the Azure Water Sword and Universe Cauldron in his dantian now resembled two shy children, only daring to rise and fall faintly in place. Even drawing upon a thread of Soul Power felt difficult.

When Gu Rong heard this, understanding flashed through his eyes. He sat across from Lin Che, gathering a wisp of pale golden Soul Power at his fingertips. It fell gently upon Lin Che's brow center like a strand of silk. "Don't rush. Most soul masters who have just awakened Dual Martial Souls encounter unstable Soul Power. This is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Basic Soul Power Guidance Method. Follow my Soul Power and first stabilize the chaotic energy inside your body."

The moment that strand of golden Soul Power entered Lin Che's meridians, it became like a gentle stream, flowing down from his neck and slowly toward his dantian. Lin Che instinctively focused, adjusting his breathing along the path of that Soul Power. But just as the golden Soul Power was about to touch the phantom of the Universe Cauldron, a sudden change occurred—

Buzz!

The phantom of the Universe Cauldron in his dantian suddenly trembled violently. The previously dim patterns on its body lit up at once, glowing with a faint bronze sheen. Immediately afterward, a light blue screen appeared out of nowhere within Lin Che's consciousness. It was palm-sized, with tiny motes of light decorating its edges. At its center floated the phantom of a translucent bronze jar. It looked ancient, its surface etched with blurred cloud patterns, while a faint wisp of green energy drifted from its can mouth. Beneath it, a line of glowing white text slowly flickered:

[Novice Welfare Crate: Unlocked upon successful Martial Soul Awakening. Consume 1 point of Innate Soul Power to open. Opening it grants novice assistance suited to the Martial Soul.]

Lin Che's eyes widened, and his body recoiled uncontrollably, making the rattan chair creak as he bumped into it. The light blue screen seemed embedded in his mind, visible only to him, but the faint Energy Fluctuation it emitted caused even the teacup on the table to tremble slightly.

"What is it? Is your Soul Power unstable again?" Gu Rong's voice instantly turned grave. The golden Soul Power at his fingertips immediately tightened as he tried to suppress the disturbance within Lin Che's body. Yet the moment it touched Lin Che's meridians, an invisible force knocked it back. That force came from the phantom of the Universe Cauldron and carried an inviolable heaviness that made even a Titled Douluo like Gu Rong slightly furrow his brow.

Lin Che swallowed hard, his fingers tightly gripping the hem of his clothes. Panic colored his voice. "Grandpa Gu, I... I saw something! It's in my head—a blue screen, and a bronze jar. It says 'Novice Welfare Crate'..." As he spoke, he gestured out the size of the screen and the jar, carefully describing even the cloud patterns on its body and that line of text, afraid of missing a single detail.

After listening, Gu Rong's expression grew increasingly complicated. He rose and circled Lin Che once, flicking out wisps of Soul Power from time to time to probe toward Lin Che's dantian. Yet every attempt was blocked by the Universe Cauldron's barrier. "Something like this actually exists..." After pondering for a moment, realization flashed through his eyes. "I once saw records in ancient texts. Some special Martial Souls are accompanied by unusual phenomena—an innate domain, perhaps, or a special ability. Your Universe Cauldron may have awakened an even rarer companion system."

"A system?" Lin Che froze. He had never heard that word before.

"It is a special existence that can provide you with assistance." Gu Rong walked to the bookshelf, pulled out a yellowed handbook, and flipped to a certain page before handing it to Lin Che. "Look. It records an ancient soul master whose Martial Soul was a Treasure Gathering Basin. He was accompanied by a Spirit Seeking System that could sense mineral veins, and he eventually became a renowned artifact-forging master of the continent. Since your system can produce a 'Novice Crate,' it should be capable of providing cultivation resources."

Lin Che accepted the handbook, his fingers brushing over the yellowed pages. The writing was somewhat blurred, but words like "Treasure Gathering Basin" and "Spirit Seeking System" remained legible. He looked up at Gu Rong, uncertainty filling his eyes. "Then... how do I open this 'Novice Crate'? It says it needs to consume 1 point of Innate Soul Power."

Gu Rong pondered for a moment, then walked to Lin Che's side and gently pressed his palm against Lin Che's back heart. "Innate Soul Power is the foundation you were born with. Consuming 1 point will not affect you much. Listen to my instructions. First, focus and find that screen, then guide a strand of Innate Soul Power toward it. Remember, don't panic. I'll help stabilize your Soul Power."

Lin Che took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and sank his consciousness into his dantian once more. The light blue screen was still floating there, while the phantom bronze jar slowly revolved at its center as if waiting to be opened. Following Gu Rong's guidance, he mobilized the Innate Soul Power in his dantian. It was purer than ordinary Soul Power and carried a faint golden hue. The instant it touched the screen, the bronze jar absorbed it.

Crack.

A faint shattering sound rang out within Lin Che's consciousness. A thin fissure appeared on the bronze jar, and pale green light overflowed from the crack. It grew brighter and brighter, soon dyeing the entire screen green. Then the light condensed into a beam and poured from Lin Che's brow center, falling into his palm. When the glow faded, a palm-sized ancient sword manual had appeared in his hand.

The sword manual's cover was dark green, made from some rare beast hide that felt as warm and smooth as jade. Four large seal script characters were engraved upon it: "Azure Water Sword Art." The strokes were vigorous and powerful, glowing faintly as if Sword Qi flowed between them. Lin Che carefully opened the first page. The words inside were written in green ink, clear as though newly penned, and the first page bore a line of small text:

[Basic Sword Technique Manual. Exclusively suited to the Azure Water Sword Martial Soul. After learning it, Sword Martial Soul Soul Power infusion efficiency increases by 30%. Unlocks the basic sword move "Azure Edge Draw," allowing the user to condense Sword Qi for basic attacks.]

"It can directly adapt to your Azure Water Sword!" Gu Rong leaned closer, staring at the words in the manual with surprise in his eyes. He reached out and lightly touched the seal script characters on the cover. A faint trace of Sword Attribute Soul Power immediately reached his fingertips. "This sword art is not simple. Ordinary beginner sword manuals only contain moves, but this one can resonate with your Martial Soul and increase Soul Power infusion efficiency. A soul master who has just awakened a Sword Martial Soul normally needs at least three months to become proficient in infusing Soul Power. With this sword art, you will grasp the basics in less than ten days."

Holding the sword manual, Lin Che's heart began to race. Following the instructions on its first page, he attempted to infuse Soul Power into the phantom of the Azure Water Sword in his palm. Every time he had mobilized Soul Power before, his meridians had felt sluggish, as though something was obstructing them. This time, however, the Soul Power flowed along the route recorded in the manual as smoothly as a stream entering a channel.

He could clearly feel the Soul Power flow from his dantian, pass through the meridians in his arm, and finally enter the phantom of the Azure Water Sword. The sword phantom had originally been translucent, but now, nourished by Soul Power, it gradually became more solid. The patterns on its blade also grew clearer, giving off a faint green glow. In just three breaths, the Azure Water Sword phantom grew from three inches to five. His fingertips could even sense a trace of sharp Sword Qi, as though with a little more force, it could split the air before him.

"Grandpa Gu, I think... I can really use my Sword Martial Soul now!" Lin Che opened his eyes in delight and gently swung his palm according to the Azure Edge Draw move from the manual. A pale green sword phantom flew out with his motion. It was not fast, but it carried distinct Sword Qi. As it swept past the green bamboo beneath the window, it left a shallow mark on the stalk with a swish. The mark was about half an inch deep, its edges smooth—clearly the work of Sword Qi.

Gu Rong looked at that mark, and a trace of gratification flashed through his eyes. He walked forward, touched the mark on the green bamboo, then looked at the sword manual in Lin Che's palm. Stroking his beard, he gave a light laugh. "Good kid, this Novice Crate really gave you a great opportunity. This Azure Edge Draw may look simple, but it is the foundational sword move of the Azure Water Sword. Once you master this sword art and later absorb soul rings, the power of your soul skills will increase considerably as well."

His tone shifted, and his eyes turned solemn. "But remember this: for now, you cannot tell anyone about this system or the Universe Cauldron, including the Sect Master." He pointed outside the window. Snow pellets were still falling, and the shadows of sect guards patrolling in the distance could faintly be seen. "Spirit Hall has always coveted special Martial Souls and special abilities. Back then, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Dragon Thunder System was discovered by Spirit Hall, and that soul master was ultimately hunted to death. You are still weak. You must hide this opportunity first. Only when you have grown strong can you truly protect it."

Lin Che tightened his grip on the sword manual. Its warmth traveled through his fingertips and into his heart, gradually calming his excited mind. He knew Gu Rong was right. Spirit Hall's influence spread throughout the continent. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had to face it carefully. He was only a child who had just awakened his Martial Soul. If the system were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"I understand, Grandpa Gu. I won't tell anyone else." Lin Che nodded seriously and carefully tucked the sword manual into his clothes, pressing it close to his chest as if that could protect this opportunity.

Warmth flashed through Gu Rong's eyes as he watched Lin Che's solemn expression. He returned to the table and poured him another cup of spirit herb tea. "From now on, practice swordsmanship in this courtyard every morning. I will come teach you the finer points of the sword art. Your Azure Water Sword needs to be nourished by sword intent. The green bamboo in this courtyard makes an excellent target. It will help you familiarize yourself with the sword moves without hurting yourself."

Lin Che accepted the teacup and looked at his reflection in the tea. There was now a little more determination in his eyes. He recalled the scorching heat of his Martial Soul Awakening, the smoothness of using Azure Edge Draw just now, and the warmth of the sword manual against his chest. He knew that from this day onward, his life would be different. With the Dual Martial Souls of the Azure Water Sword and Universe Cauldron, Gu Rong's guidance, and this sudden aid from the system, he would surely forge a path of his own across the Douluo Continent. He would no longer be the orphan who could only wander through wind and snow.

The snow outside was still falling, though it had lessened. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering a few faint rays over the green bamboo in the courtyard and across Lin Che's face. He held the teacup and took small sips of spirit herb tea, his gaze falling on the sword manual tucked against his chest. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. That Azure Water Sword Art was like a ray of light, illuminating his path as a soul master and the life that lay ahead.