Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps!

The sun rose in the east. Its fiery light brought a new day, and the many-colored dawn held fresh hope. Trees and mountains brimmed with new life, while a new generation greeted the morning light and set out to strive anew.

On the Back Mountain of Holy Soul Village, a bare-chested little boy with a boulder strapped to his back did push-up after push-up. Sweat dripped from his cheeks and body onto the grass, but his face showed no hint of giving up—only resolve and determination.

"My Soul Power Level and body have both reached the standard, but that still isn't enough to crush Xiao San in a fight. What else do I need to work on?" Yang Que's young face was full of thought.

"That's it! I can look at Xiao San!" Yang Que slapped his forehead, annoyed with himself.

"What strengths does Xiao San have? He has the Mysterious Heaven Skill and abundant inner strength. His Purple Demon Eye lets him notice the smallest details. He seems to have Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track too, so he's incredibly fast. Then there's his combat experience from his previous life and all those Hidden Weapons... What do I have? Other than a stronger body and a higher Soul Power Level, I seem to fall short of him in everything! No, wait. I'm more handsome..." Yang Que stroked his chin, looking deeply contemplative. At six years old, he looked ridiculous.

"What I lack right now is speed and combat experience. That's where I should focus my training. The combat experience can wait—once I'm faster, I can hunt Soul Beasts! But how do I train my speed? Right, there's the system..." Yang Que deftly opened the System Shop.

When he opened the movement-technique section, an information page popped up. Techniques: (As before, grades are divided into white [unranked], green [average], yellow [ordinary], blue [rare], red [peerless], and gold [legendary]. Each grade has low, middle, and high tiers! Prices also vary widely! Host, please choose carefully...)

So that's how it works. I never expected my Jade-Suppressing Nether King Body to be such a high grade. Haven't I struck it rich?

Never mind that. Let's look at the movement techniques first. After closing the notice, he found himself staring at a dazzling array of goods:

[Dog-Chasing Steps] White grade, low tier (Price: 1,000 Gold Coins). Description: Created by an elder of the Beggar's Sect while watching dogs chase one another and fight over food...

[Snow-Drifting Steps] Yellow grade, low tier (Price: 10,000 Gold Coins). Description: Legend says Daoist Piaomiao was strolling through the snow when inspiration suddenly struck. He rose into the wind and snow, experienced a moment of enlightenment, and created the Snow-Drifting Steps movement technique...

[True Spirit Movement Technique] Blue grade, low tier (Price: 100,000 Gold Coins). Description: Said to have been left behind by an enlightened master after his ascension. Rumor has it that the secret to becoming an immortal lies within...

[Heavenly Journey Steps] Red grade, middle tier (Price: 30 million Gold Coins). Description: A top-tier movement technique from an unknown plane. Master it, and you can stride unrivaled beneath heaven, beyond the Five Elements...

"Damn it, why is everything so expensive? With what I've got, even the trashiest white-grade technique would wipe me out. And that one was created by watching dogs fight over food. Whoever invented it was a real talent..." Yang Que slapped his forehead. This really shows how important it is to be born into a good family!

"I remember there's a technique lottery wheel, isn't there? Maybe I should try my luck. My luck should be pretty good, right? With this little money, I can only buy a white-grade technique anyway. Might as well take a gamble! Yeah, that's what I'll do..."

Given how poor he was, Yang Que could only pin his hopes on the lottery.

It was time for another nerve-racking draw. With trembling hands, Yang Que opened the lottery system and brought up the wheel.

Heaven protect me, Buddha protect me, Daddy Ma, lend me your power!

"Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn [Azure Yang Art], yellow grade, middle tier (ordinary). Description: A technique created by Daoist Qingyang. Once mastered, it converts the power within the body into pure yang energy, giving attacks a burning effect!"

"Yes! Hell yeah! What a great start! Looks like I'm lucky today. Again, again!"

"Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn Thank You for Your Patronage!"

One miss doesn't mean anything... Keep going!

"Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn Thank You for Your Patronage!"

"Uh... I refuse to believe this! Again!"

He drew five times in a row, and every result was Thank You for Your Patronage. Yang Que began to question his life. Had Daddy Ma's tricks from his previous life followed him into this world?

No way! Heaven, please grant me strength!

"Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn Thank You for Your Patronage!"

Yang Que's face darkened. "I # % & @ $!"

He launched into a tirade, though whether he was cursing Daddy Ma or the system was anyone's guess.

Seven tries left. Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic!

He started another draw. "Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn [Dragon-Tiger Roaring Heaven Art], blue grade, high tier (rare). Description: A technique created by the Body Sect of another world. Once mastered, a single roar shakes the mind and makes ten thousand beasts prostrate themselves."

"Hahahahaha! Another win! Another win! This seems to be a technique that attacks the mind! Again, again!"

He selected the lottery once more!

"Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn one mysterious Golden Egg!" Because your heaven-defying luck has won you a pet egg, the system has unlocked a new feature: the Pet System!

Pet System: A space where pets can live and cultivate. You can summon or send them back at will!

"What's this? A pet egg? It couldn't be some super divine beast, could it? Will it eat me when it hatches? System, come out and explain! Otherwise, I really won't dare hatch it!"

"System announcement: Pets provided by the system enter into a master-servant contract with their owner at birth, so the host need not worry! Hatching a pet requires a large amount of Soul Power, and the host's current strength cannot meet that requirement. There is even less reason to worry!"

Yang Que's face darkened. Did it just look down on me? So what if I can't hatch it? Can't I worry about my own safety? Seriously, I strongly suspect this system comes with a discrimination feature.

The system ignored Yang Que.

Yang Que had no desire to waste time bickering with it, either.

He selected the lottery again. The pointer spun wildly around the wheel... "I need a movement technique! Heaven, Jade Emperor, Daddy Ma, please give me a movement technique!"

Yang Que's prayer seemed to work. "Ding! Congratulations, you have drawn [Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps], ungraded (extremely rare). Description: None!"

"Uh! What???? Ungraded? And extremely rare? Damn it, it doesn't even have a description? System, come out and explain what's going on!"

"Ding! In light of the host's heaven-defying luck in drawing an extremely rare, ungraded martial technique, this system will explain. 'Extremely rare' means this technique is exceedingly scarce. 'Ungraded' means its power depends on the host's comprehension and level of mastery. With sufficient comprehension and mastery, it can rival a Golden Legend movement technique..."

"That powerful? Doesn't that mean my luck is through the roof? But if I don't learn it well, could it end up worse than a white-grade technique?" Yang Que asked in astonishment.

"In theory, the host is correct," the system said.

"If it's that powerful, how many Gold Coins is it worth?" Yang Que asked, his eyes practically filled with Gold Coins.

The system fell silent for a moment. "One Gold Coin!"

"Are you messing with me, system?" Yang Que demanded, furious.

"Because the value of this movement technique depends on who cultivates it, it has little market value. Furthermore, it is not sold in the System Shop," the system said.

Fine. Yang Que was speechless. Still, he had come out far ahead in this round of draws.

That vexing movement technique aside, the haul was excellent: Azure Yang Art, Dragon-Tiger Roaring Heaven Art, and a mysterious Golden Egg. He had even unlocked the Pet System. Together, they looked to be worth over a hundred thousand!

I've made a fortune!

"Whatever happens, I'll cultivate them first. Strength only becomes mine once I've mastered it."

With that, Yang Que sat cross-legged and selected Azure Yang Art to learn it!

A vast flood of text suddenly surged into his mind!

"Yang is light! The blazing sun gathers in the dantian..."

"Yang fire arises in three forms: Human Flame, Earth Flame, and Heavenly Flame... Burning, conflagration, destruction..."

Once he finished learning the Azure Yang Art, Yang Que felt as though he had been hauled out of water. Hot sweat drenched his whole body. Even so, exhilaration swept through him as warm currents flowed within. He knew this was the technique taking effect...

He raised a finger, and a tiny flame appeared at its tip. "So this is Human Flame? According to the technique, clashing with Soul Power will give my attacks a burning effect. The instructions also say it's best to cultivate under the sun, absorbing its power and gathering it bit by bit until the flame advances."

"So this is the Azure Yang Art? It's only yellow grade, middle tier, and it's already this strong? Won't the other two techniques defy heaven?" Yang Que murmured.

"Next, I'll learn the Dragon-Tiger Roaring Heaven Art!" Yang Que selected its learning option.

All at once, dragon cries and Tiger's Roars rang out inside Yang Que's mind. Dizziness washed over him, followed by pain that felt as though his head were splitting open! For nearly an hour, he rolled on the ground clutching his head, roaring at the sky now like a dragon, now like a tiger. Cracks even appeared across his body!

When the inheritance finally ended, Yang Que felt the cold sweat on his back and shuddered at the memory!

"I never imagined this technique would be so brutal. Just inheriting it hurt that much. It really deserves to be called rare. Good thing I came here from another world and have a stronger soul than most people, or I'd definitely have become an idiot. Good thing I've reached level seventeen, too, or my body would've burst. If I'd known, I would've waited until my soul was stronger before accepting the inheritance!"

"And after all that pain, I still can't use it. What a load of crap! Where am I supposed to find true dragon blood and tiger king blood?" Powerful as the technique was, and though its inheritance had entered his mind, he needed both kinds of blood to cultivate and use it!

Argh, this hurts! My poor little heart!

Looking miserable, Yang Que brought up his status panel:

[Infinite Upgrade System]

[Host: Yang Que]

[Level: LV17]

[Title: Soul Master]

[Soul Power: 5000/17000]

[Gold Coins: 0]

[Martial Souls: Nine-Headed Demon Lion, Soul-Slaying Sword]

[Techniques: Jade-Suppressing Hades Body Art, Azure Yang Art, Dragon-Tiger Roaring Heaven Art (unusable)]

[Weapon: Clearwind Sword]

"Huh! I didn't expect inheriting a technique to raise my Soul Power too! Too bad my body can't take any more. I'll inherit Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps tomorrow!"

And so Yang Que headed back to the village, excited yet exhausted. Sunlight stretched his small shadow long behind him...