"Creation God Pen? Binding Spirit Pearl? What the hell are those?"
At the mention of the Mythical-Tier Treasure Box, Ling Feng's eyes lit up, but what followed left him dumbfounded.
A Mythical-Tier Treasure Box, and all it held was a pen? A pearl?
Ling Feng could hardly believe it. Still, remembering that this was a Mythical-Tier Treasure Box, he blinked and decided to ask the system. If he didn't understand, he would just ask.
"System, what exactly are this Creation God Pen and Spirit-Gifting Pearl?"
[Ding~] [The Creation God Pen uses heaven and earth as its canvas. Its divine strokes bring paintings to life, creating through replication. The universe and the firmament all lie beneath its tip; all things can be created. Worlds within paintings, paintings within worlds-each stroke is divine, each creation lifelike. Anything in existence that can be seen can be painted and replicated. Upon reaching a certain realm, it can even paint the firmament and create worlds...]
"Holy shit, this Creation God Pen is that fucking awesome?!"
Listening to the system's explanation, Ling Feng was stunned and couldn't help blurting out that classic line.
"It can replicate anything and bring it out of a painting? Isn't this Ma Liang's magic brush?"
Remembering the story he had read at school in his previous life, Ling Feng felt excitement stirring inside him. "System, can it draw gold coins? Can those gold coins be used in reality?"
[Ding! All items painted and replicated with the Creation God Pen are real and functional. Moreover, it is not limited to gold coins. Pills, people, and so on can all be replicated.]
Ling Feng's eyes lit up, and he asked.
"People can be replicated too?"
[Yes. Not just people, but magical beasts and other living creatures can also be painted and replicated.]
"Holy shit, that's even more badass than cloning technology!"
At the system's reply, Ling Feng slapped his thigh excitedly. "If that's really true, I'm going to strike it rich! I could just draw a Ninth-Rank Magical Beast, and then I could swagger around the Dou Qi Continent however I pleased."
"There are restrictions?"
When the system spoke again, Ling Feng calmed down a little. "So you're saying I can currently only replicate things about two ranks stronger than me?"
[Correct. There are exceptions, however. Medicinal ingredients, for instance, can be replicated without rank restrictions. A Thousand-Year Spirit Herb can be obtained as long as the host can draw and replicate it. Once a spirit herb becomes a sentient being and assumes another form, however, restrictions apply. It still cannot exceed the host's strength by more than two ranks...]
After listening to the system's explanation, Ling Feng had a basic understanding of the Creation God Pen. Although it had restrictions, he wasn't disappointed.
After all, the Creation God Pen's potential was enormous. Upon reaching a certain realm, it could even create worlds. It was only natural for such a powerful treasure to have restrictions.
The more Ling Feng learned about the Creation God Pen, the more excited he became. This treasure was truly incredible. As far as he was concerned, he hadn't read enough books to describe it with anything beyond "holy shit" and "fucking badass."
"Then what does this Spirit-Gifting Pearl do?"
Looking at the pearl beside him, which shimmered with a soft blue glow like a night-shining pearl, Ling Feng couldn't resist taking it in his hand and asking the system again.
[The Spirit-Gifting Pearl can bestow upon the host all the abilities of a replicated creature. For example, the host is currently a Dou Zhe and can replicate a Da Dou Shi. Through the Spirit-Gifting Pearl, the host can then obtain all that Da Dou Shi's abilities. To put it simply, with the Spirit-Gifting Pearl, you can possess the strength of a Da Dou Shi while still a Dou Zhe.]
"Holy shit!"
The system's explanation sent Ling Feng leaping to his feet in excitement, and he repeatedly kissed the glowing blue pearl in his hand.
"System, I fucking love you!"
[Sorry, host. This system isn't into guys.]
"..."
The system's response instantly sent Ling Feng's excitement plunging from its peak to freezing point. His mouth twitched, and only after a long while did he manage to say, "System, you're such a cheeky bastard."
[...]
When the system fell silent, Ling Feng decided his words had struck it right in the soul. He stopped paying it any attention and left it to fly solo.
"I'll give it a try first."
On a sudden impulse, Ling Feng took out a gold coin, held the Creation God Pen the system had given him, and began drawing a copy.
"Creation God Pen, use heaven and earth as your canvas! Create through replication!"
Holding the gold coin in his left hand, Ling Feng readied his right hand to draw its likeness in midair.
"Good thing I dated an art student before. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to draw, and that would be a freaking disaster."
As he drew, Ling Feng inwardly rejoiced that his girlfriend from his previous life, an art graduate, had nurtured his artistic side.
As the saying went, unless you pushed yourself, you would never know how much potential you had.
Under his ex-girlfriend's loving supervision, Ling Feng had learned to sketch. And, to be fair, his work had looked pretty convincing. His very first drawing had been of her.
With his girlfriend's approval and the "encouragement" he had passively received, Ling Feng had ventured further and further down the road of sketching.
There was no helping it. Ling Feng really did have a talent for sketching.
In the end, his sketches had been too realistic. Ling Feng had drawn a nude portrait of a beautiful woman from Douyin, so lifelike that his girlfriend had misunderstood and thought he had devoted his body to art. He had successfully drawn his girlfriend right out of his life.
That had brought their romance to an end.
After that painful lesson, Ling Feng had reflected deeply on his suffering. To commemorate his girlfriend, he had drawn plenty of nude portraits of her. Whenever he woke from dreams at midnight, he couldn't resist taking them out to reminisce, spending a night of passion with her and spilling himself across the battlefield.
One day, Ling Feng had suddenly discovered a way to make money. He had become an online artist catering exclusively to horny bastards. His *** had sold like hotcakes, making him a "well-known" comic artist.
Once he had money, he had started fooling around.
He had planned to keep a girl from Douyin, only for everything to fall apart when they met in person. He had instantly suffered social death, and his soul had crossed over to the Dou Qi Continent.
The moment he raised his pen, Ling Feng couldn't help reliving that painful past.
The next instant, however, he was like a man possessed by Ma Liang. His pen moved as though guided by a god, bringing his drawing vividly to life.
"Done."
With the gold coin copied, Ling Feng let out a sigh of relief. Then he waved the Creation God Pen in his hand, and a gold coin suddenly dropped to the ground with a series of clinks.
"Damn, it really works!"
Looking at the gold coin on the ground, Ling Feng picked it up and bit it. Its tangible reality instantly made his eyes widen, gleaming with the brilliance of gold coins.
"I'm rich! I'm rich! I'll never have to worry about gold coins again!"
Overjoyed, Ling Feng lavished it with praise. "I knew it! If the system makes it, it's guaranteed quality! Hahaha..."
[Ding!] [Now that's what I like to hear, host!]
The system's sudden scene-stealing interruption made Ling Feng pause, before he doubled over laughing. This system was such a cheeky bastard. But I like it.
"Right, it can replicate people too. Let me try..."
After laughing, Ling Feng acted on another impulse and began thinking of people he could draw.
"According to the system, my current ability lets me replicate someone at the Da Dou Shi level, so I'll make a Da Dou Shi. But I've only been here for a month, and I've spent every day immersed in cultivation. I don't even know any Da Dou Shi... Wait, I wonder if he'll work."
Remembering his previous life, Ling Feng came up with an idea and immediately set pen to work.
"I really can draw him!"
Looking at the stroke hanging in midair, Ling Feng's face filled with excitement. According to the system's explanation, if the Creation God Pen could produce a painting, that meant the subject was within his abilities and could be replicated.
Ling Feng immediately let out a deep breath and immersed himself in drawing. Before long, his sketch was complete.
Looking at the figure in the painting suspended in midair, Ling Feng grinned. Then he waved the Creation God Pen, and the floating painting abruptly trembled. An inky shadow drifted out of it.
The next instant, the inky shadow gathered into a human form, followed by a line in Cantonese that Ling Feng knew all too well, one deeply etched in his memory-
"Emotion is an Assassin's greatest taboo. If you weren't burdened by your feelings, no one could defeat you."