The Road Ahead Grows Clear

Time trickled by. Ning Chuan stood on the cold metal platform, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the surging joy brought by obtaining the Five Thunder Talisman.

"Enough to threaten a Title Douluo..."

That appraisal result echoed through his mind like a great bell. While it gave him an immense sense of security, it also brought an even deeper warning.

Though a trump card was powerful, the price and risks of using it had to be considered with utmost caution.

Tang Hao, the dispirited blacksmith who lived in seclusion in Holy Soul Village and spent his days in the company of alcohol, had once been the Clear Sky Douluo who shook the continent.

Even though his injuries had yet to heal and his Soul Power Level had plummeted, the foundation of a Title Douluo, his combat instincts, and his perception of danger were far beyond those of ordinary Soul Masters.

If he rashly used the Five Thunder Talisman, could a single strike truly severely injure or even kill him? If not, the consequences of enraging a Title Douluo would be devastating.

When that time came, he might be able to escape instantly through the Heavens Trash Station, but what about his parents and little sister? What about the entire Holy Soul Village?

Keep a low profile. Endure. Build up strength.

That remained the core strategy of his current stage.

After putting away his gains, Ning Chuan shouldered the Four-Meter Long Rake once more.

Although his points had risen to 20, he was still dirt poor. Continuing his work as a "Scavenger" was imperative.

Ning Chuan did not rush to explore the more distant garbage heaps. Instead, he turned his attention to the area where he had just found the Storage Ring.

"Generally speaking, valuable items do not appear in isolation. Since that area could 'give birth' to a Storage Ring containing such a rich inheritance, there might be other 'inheritances' scattered nearby, from the same source or a similar environment."

With that thought in mind, Ning Chuan carefully swung the rake and focused on clearing the refuse around that area.

Crack! Clang!

Fragments of shattered artifacts, charred ashes of talisman paper, jade chips that had lost their spiritual glow...

Large amounts of trash were raked out and broken down into insignificant points and basic materials. His points slowly ticked upward: 21... 25... 28...

The process was tedious, but Ning Chuan had more than enough patience.

His mental power remained highly focused, and he did not overlook even the slightest abnormal energy fluctuation.

Hard work paid off.

As he cleared away a heap of metal wreckage tangled in decayed threads, the rake's teeth touched something hard yet flexible, with a texture similar to the Storage Ring from before!

Ning Chuan's heart stirred. His movements became even gentler as he carefully pushed aside the covering debris.

An ancient-looking bracelet slowly emerged.

The bracelet was dark cyan. Its material was neither metal nor wood, and its surface was engraved with patterns even more intricate and dense than those on the ring. Those patterns were not completely still; they slowly flowed like living meridians, emitting a spatial fluctuation more obscure and profound than that of the Storage Ring.

"Another spatial artifact?!" Surprise flashed through Ning Chuan's eyes, but there was even more vigilance in them as he carefully raked the bracelet onto the platform.

"Station, scan this bracelet! Conduct a full assessment of its condition and risks!"

Scanning...

Target: Intact Inheritance Bracelet (Grade: top-grade spirit artifact)

Origin: High-level cultivation plane (same origin as the Storage Ring)

Status: Core restrictions intact, energy abundant, currently dormant. Multiple layers of information encryption and soul-binding traces detected (rendered invalid by the original owner's death). It is currently ownerless.

Risk Assessment: Low (the bracelet's functions focus on storage and inheritance and possess no active offensive capabilities).

Value Assessment: Extremely high! Massive streams of information detected within. Suspected to be a cultivation technique and scripture inheritance repository.

Inheritance Bracelet! A repository of cultivation techniques and scriptures!

Ning Chuan felt as though his real heart had begun pounding uncontrollably again.

He had just obtained a powerful offensive weapon and a huge amount of Spirit Stones, and now a treasure trove of knowledge had appeared? His luck was almost too good!

"Station, safely open the bracelet. Prioritize reading its catalog or summary information!"

Command confirmed. Beginning to crack the information encryption layers...

The silver light cast by the platform grew more condensed, like the finest carving blade, stripping away the bracelet's complex rune defenses thread by thread.

The process took far longer than opening the Storage Ring. Clearly, this bracelet's defenses were of a higher level.

A full quarter-hour passed before the notification sounded again: "Encryption layers cracked. Successfully connected to the core information repository."

Beginning transmission of summary information...

In an instant, a vast, orderly, systematic torrent flooded into Ning Chuan's mind!

This was not scattered knowledge, but a complete inheritance system divided into clear categories!

Basic Qi Refining Essentials (covering the foundational Five Elements cultivation techniques and guidance methods for common mutated spirit roots)

Hundred Solutions to Foundation Establishment (Foundation Establishment insights from different schools, analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and risk warnings)

Glimpse into the Golden Core Path (methods for forming a core, strategies for dealing with lightning tribulations, and classifications of Golden Core quality)

True Explanation of Nascent Soul Cultivation (nurturing the Nascent Soul, out-of-body journeys, and the beginnings of incarnation)

Introduction to Formations, True Transmission of Talismans, Essentials of Alchemy, Guide to Artifact Refining (the four major auxiliary professions, from beginner to mastery)

Miscellaneous Talks on the Six Arts of Cultivation (an encyclopedia of miscellaneous studies such as spirit plants, beast taming, puppetry, divination, music, escape techniques, and more)

Illustrated Guide to Common Races, Records of Strange Objects (general knowledge texts for broadening one's horizons)

Essentials of Practical Combat (combat techniques and insights from different schools, including sword cultivators, body cultivators, spell cultivators, soul cultivators, and more)

Collection of Life-Saving Escape Techniques, Complete Guide to Breath Concealment, Disguise and Camouflage Arts (survival-oriented skills)

It was a dazzling collection, encompassing everything!

From the most basic step of drawing qi into the body to the seemingly unreachable Nascent Soul Stage; from mainstream combat cultivation to obscure miscellaneous arts; there were even records of a broader world!

Although most of the high-level techniques were currently as incomprehensible as a heavenly tome to him, Ning Chuan felt that the completeness of this system and the depth and breadth of its knowledge far surpassed the collections of any sect on Douluo Continent, even Spirit Hall!

This was practically a mobile library of cultivation civilization!

More importantly, the foundational qi refining and Foundation Establishment techniques within it, along with its numerous miscellaneous studies and survival skills, held great reference value for his current stage.

The Soul Power system of Douluo Continent and the spiritual energy system of cultivators might share similarities in their fundamental nature.

The principles and techniques in these cultivation methods concerning energy circulation, body tempering, and mental refinement could be absorbed and used as references to optimize his Soul Power cultivation and Martial Soul usage!

Especially the Collection of Life-Saving Escape Techniques and Complete Guide to Breath Concealment—those were precisely the abilities he needed most right now!

"This is the true priceless treasure!" Ning Chuan exclaimed unconsciously.

Knowledge was power, and systematic knowledge was even more a ladder leading toward the path of the strong!

He did not rush to study the specific contents in depth. That would require a long time.

Instead, he first had the Station archive the entire catalog and summary, making it easier to search and study according to his needs later.

"Station, estimate the approximate time required to fully master the knowledge within this Inheritance Bracelet."

Based on the Station Master's current mental power and comprehension ability, preliminary estimates are as follows:

Mastering the foundational portion (qi refining, Foundation Establishment, and introductory auxiliary professions) will require approximately 1–2 years of real time with Station-assisted acceleration;

Mastering the core portion (up to the Golden Core Stage) will require 5–10 years;

Fully mastering and integrating everything (up to the Nascent Soul Stage and all miscellaneous studies) will require several decades or even longer.

Ning Chuan took a deep breath. Rather than being intimidated by that long span of time, he became even more excited.

That meant he would not need to worry about cultivation techniques or the direction of his development for a very long time.

As long as he proceeded step by step and absorbed this knowledge, his path of growth would be clear and solid.

"It seems that besides continuing to accumulate points and resources, my next priority will be spending a great deal of time in the Station studying this knowledge."

Before leaving the Station, Ning Chuan took one final look at his points. Some had been consumed to open the bracelet, leaving him with 15.

He was still broke enough to hear coins rattle, but his mindset had changed completely.

His consciousness returned to his body. Outside the window, dawn had yet to fully break.

Ning Chuan lay on his bed, countless thoughts running through his mind.

The deterrence of the Five Thunder Talisman and the hope brought by the Inheritance Bracelet had made his plans for the future clearer.

Tang Hao's threat still exists, but he is no longer a sword hanging over my head. He is a goal I need to surpass.

Little sister has already taken the Foundation Establishment Pill, and its effects are remarkable. Next, I need to guide her in building a solid foundation. Perhaps... I can choose some gentle body-tempering methods from the Inheritance Bracelet and incorporate them into the Spirit Rhino Bull Fist before teaching them to her?

As for me, I need to begin systematically studying cultivation knowledge, drawing on its strengths to optimize my Soul Power cultivation. Above all, I need to master one or two practical life-saving methods as soon as possible.

I need to maintain contact with Ning Yuan of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as a potential resource channel, but I must be extremely cautious.

As for Spirit Hall... Yu Xiaogang's theories can serve as a window into this world's mainstream understanding for now.

With his thoughts sorted out, Ning Chuan's heart finally settled completely.