Heavenly Dipper Bloodthirsty Saber

This system usually did nothing besides letting him collect lifespan and burn it to cultivate; the rest of the time, it was practically a decoration.

But just as he thought the system was going to play dead again, an illusory light screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Ding! A need has been detected from the host. This system can open one opportunity for the host to bind a natal weapon.]

[Lifespan consumed: 50 years]

"What?! Fifty years?"

Qin Bo's eyes widened, his heart filled with shock.

Fifty years of lifespan was no small number. It would have been enough for him to burn his lifespan and cultivate several times, greatly increasing his strength.

But when he thought of the strange entities he was about to face, the butcher's knife in his hand truly seemed incapable of handling more powerful crises.

Possessing a natal divine weapon might save his life at a critical moment.

It could also make collecting lifespan and facing the assessment much easier.

Gritting his teeth, Qin Bo hardened his heart and said, "To hell with it. Open the opportunity to bind a natal weapon!"

[The host may freely bind a natal weapon. Once selected, the weapon will bind to the host's soul, evolve as the host's strength increases, and possess unique skills and attributes.]

"Then I'll bind this butcher's knife!"

Qin Bo made his decision. Although this butcher's knife was merely an ordinary object,

it had accompanied him through countless trials, and they had long since developed a special bond.

Besides, binding a natal weapon based on it might bring some unexpected surprises.

As Qin Bo's voice fell, a gentle radiance shot out from the illusory light screen and enveloped the ordinary butcher's knife.

As the light flowed around it, the butcher's knife began to undergo a strange transformation.

Mysterious patterns gradually surfaced across its originally plain blade, appearing and disappearing like the veins of mountains and rivers, or the paths of the stars.

The blade grew even sharper, flashing with a biting cold gleam, as if it could easily tear space apart.

A simple, ancient rune appeared on the hilt as well, radiating a faint yet impossible-to-ignore power fluctuation.

[Congratulations, host. You have successfully bound the natal weapon—Heavenly Dipper Bloodthirsty Saber.]

[Because of the host's special choice, this saber has inherited the original butcher's knife's traits and further fused with mysterious Heavenly Gang Power.]

[It comes with the skill "Heavenly Dipper Evil-Slaying Slash." By consuming the host's own blood and qi, it can unleash a powerful slash containing Heavenly Gang Power, inflicting massive damage on strange entities and carrying an evil-purging effect.]

[Weapon attributes: Bloodthirsty, Spirit Gathering. When attacking strange entities, it can absorb part of their power to restore itself and accelerate the gathering of the surrounding blood-and-qi energy, assisting the host's cultivation.]

Feeling the tremendous power transmitted by the Heavenly Gang Evil-Slaying Blade, as well as the increasingly close connection between it and his soul,

Qin Bo was so excited that he swung it several times. The blade wind roared, and the crisp, pleasing sound of air being sliced apart rang out.

"What a good saber—the Heavenly Dipper Bloodthirsty Saber?"

"Tsk, tsk. I knew it! The butcher's knife really did have hidden traits."

"And it comes with the skill 'Heavenly Dipper Evil-Slaying Slash.' At the very least, I won't have to risk my life against Evil-grade strange entities anymore. Once this slash comes out, I'll stand supreme!"

"System, open the panel."

[Host: Qin Bo]

[Physique: Bronze Tendons Iron Bones]

[Cultivation: Body Tempering Realm (Perfection)]

[Skills: Ancient Desolation Body Tempering Technique (Perfection), Butcher's Knife Technique (Return to simplicity), Heavenly Dipper Evil-Slaying Slash (Initial glimpse)]

[Natal Weapon: Heavenly Dipper Bloodthirsty Saber (Spirit Grade Low Rank) (Upgradeable)]

[Remaining Lifespan: 108 years]

"Spirit Grade Low Rank?! Upgradeable?"

"Looks like the butcher's knife was just an ordinary weapon before. Maybe after killing so many pigs, it absorbed Blood Fiend Power, which made it somewhat stronger than ordinary knives."

"Lifespan—108 years?! That's way too little. It's nowhere near enough."

"I hope I can gain something from tonight's practical assessment!"

By evening, Qin Bo arrived at the assembly point with the transformed Heavenly Gang Evil-Slaying Blade.

The Black Robe Elder swept his gaze over everyone and said solemnly,

"The time has come. Set out. May you all complete the assessment smoothly and return safely."

The others were soon taken away.

Qin Bo was preparing to leave with them when the elder held him back.

"Qin Bo, wait a moment."

"Elder, is something wrong?"

"Your assessment is different from the others'. I've arranged a separate one for you."

"Oh?! A different assessment?"

"Yes. Your strength is leagues beyond the others. Their assessment grounds can no longer accommodate you."

Qin Bo's heart tightened, while a trace of anticipation rose within him.

Since the elder was treating him specially, this assessment would surely be extraordinary.

It might also be the opportunity for his strength to rise another level.

"Elder, please tell me. No matter what the assessment is, I, Qin Bo, will not retreat."

Qin Bo looked firmly at the Black Robe Elder.

The Black Robe Elder nodded slightly, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Good. You certainly have courage.

"For this assessment, you will be sent to a mysterious place sealed by the Demon Suppressing Division."

"That place contains all kinds of captured strange entities, ranging from low-level to high-level. Moreover, because they have been sealed away for so long, these strange entities harbor extremely deep resentment. It is far more dangerous than an ordinary assessment ground."

"However, if you can survive there for three days and bring back useful information, not only will you pass this assessment with full marks, the Demon Suppressing Division will also grant you a generous reward. It may even fulfill one reasonable request."

The Black Robe Elder continued,

Qin Bo mulled it over in silence.

The reward was indeed extremely enticing, but the danger was equally obvious.

However, he had always yearned for powerful strength. To him, a challenge was not necessarily a bad thing.

"Elder, I accept this assessment."

Qin Bo agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing how decisively Qin Bo responded, the Black Robe Elder revealed a gratified smile.

"Good. Since that's the case, there's no time to lose. I'll arrange for someone to send you to that mysterious place right away. Remember, be careful in everything you do. If you encounter a danger you cannot resist, preserve yourself as much as possible."

"Understood. Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

After Qin Bo left, the Deputy Director emerged from the shadows.

"Elder Sun, aren't you overestimating this kid?"

"No. I feel we've still underestimated him."

"However, that strange place contains Evil-level strange entities. Who knows? After all these years, it might even have given birth to a Malignant-level strange entity."

"It's fine. I'll go over and keep watch. Nothing major will happen."

With that, the Black Robe Elder turned and left.

Soon, Qin Bo was brought to a mysterious entrance hidden within a mountain valley.

The entrance was shrouded in a faint light screen. Runes flickered across it, radiating powerful sealing force.

"This is the entrance. After you go in, everything will depend on you."

The member of the Demon Suppressing Division who had brought Qin Bo there spoke.

He found himself in a narrow passageway paved with black stones that shimmered with a ghostly light.

The surfaces of the stones seemed to hold countless twisted faces struggling within, as if they wanted to break free of their restraints.

On both sides of the passage, at regular intervals, crystals radiating a faint red glow were embedded in the walls, bathing the passage in a field of blood-red light.