My Luck stats are MAXED out!!

He took a few steps forward, and as if sensing his presence, the bubble burst open, causing the objects within it to slowly float down.

The first thing he reached for was a black token, its surface smooth yet ancient, with the word "Shenhao" engraved on the back.

This was the main item he had come for—a token Senior Xiang had acquired during his travels beyond this land.

It was said that the Shenhao Sect often distributed these tokens to the outside world. If a person was fortunate enough to obtain one and possessed a spiritual root, they would be given a chance to join the sect. If not, the Shenhao Sect promised to grant them a peaceful, worry-free mortal life in one of its affiliated cities.

As a first-grade sect, Shenhao Sect stood above Blaze Empire, boasting ancestors in the Crystallization Realm—just one step below the legendary Super Sects, which had Enlightening Stage powerhouses.

For second-grade forces like Blaze Empire, and especially for third-grade forces (having Extraordinary Rank) and below(those below third grade are all in one catagory), Shenhao Sect was an untouchable existence—a true behemoth.

For Xiao Yao, joining such a sect was his best option. All he needed to do was inject some qi into the token, and a cultivator from Shenhao Sect would come to retrieve him. It was as simple as that.

As for why he needed to join a sect—one word: resources.

Although he was now the successor of Senior Xiang, most of Xiang Feng's resources had already been consumed in his final, desperate attempt to break into the Creation Realm. The few remaining resources were scattered across various hidden locations, and there was no guarantee they hadn't already been discovered by others.

Now, the only resource specially placed here was the one meant for his successor—likely all he could get from this place.

Placing the token inside his clothes, Xiao Yao turned his attention to the remaining items.

The first was a bronze ring, plain and unassuming—most likely a storage tool.

The second was a sword, with only its dark blue handle visible, its blade concealed within a sheath.

The last item was a jade slip, which he immediately recognized as a one-time transmission slip—a tool used to pass down spells, techniques, or knowledge. He had seen similar slips in Wanhao City's City Lord Mansion.

He first picked up the storage ring, slipping it onto his finger. The moment it touched his skin, a sharp sting followed, and a tiny wound appeared as a drop of his blood was automatically absorbed by the ring.

A second later, the ring vanished from sight, becoming completely transparent—but he could still sense it, along with the vast space contained within.

Curious, he willed it to work, and with a swish, the sword in front of him disappeared, instantly stored inside the ring. With another thought, the sword reappeared in his hand.

After testing it a few more times, he nodded in satisfaction and placed the sword inside.

Now, only the jade slip remained.

Holding it in one hand, he calmly pressed it against his forehead. A faint tingling sensation spread through his mind as new knowledge surfaced in his consciousness.

It was a technique—"Water Sword Technique."

Although its name sounded like that of a basic sword technique, "Water Sword Technique" was actually one of the most powerful techniques in Senior Xiang's collection.

This technique focused primarily on cutting, mimicking how highly concentrated water under immense pressure could easily slice through even the toughest materials.

This technique is basically divided into four levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Perfect, each step enhancing its power and control to the next level.

And with the help of the jade slip, he had almost reached the first stage—Basic level—and only needed to enter the first rank of cultivation to display even a fraction of its power.

As he thought this, he removed the slip from his forehead. Now, the jade slip was covered in cracks, showing signs that it had been used and was now nothing more than waste.

As he had finished all his preparations, the next step was to enter the first stage of cultivation—the Qi Refining Realm.

And this place was the most hidden and secure location in the entire forest, where no one could detect or disturb him.

With this in mind, he sat down cross-legged, his hands facing upward.

Slowly, his breathing became calmer and steadier.

As he followed the basics of the Sea Serpent Visualization Technique, an invisible force seemed to be drawn toward him, swiftly drilling into his body.

His body instinctively absorbed it with a ravenous hunger—Xiao Yao knew this was Qi, the energy present almost everywhere in the world.

As he continued to absorb the Qi, something deep within him began to stir. Then, after a few moments, a faint click echoed within his body—like unseen shackles breaking apart.

He had stepped into the 1st Stage of Qi Refining.

Now, he could live for up to 100 years without worrying about common illnesses or the frailty of mortal life.

He slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath as a faint mist escaped from his mouth.

He could feel the surge of strength within him—his physical power had increased, allowing him to exert about 100 kg of force per hand.

But what truly caught his attention was the newfound ability to control a small portion of supernatural power.

As he focused his thoughts, a small ball of water appeared in front of him. It trembled slightly before slowly reshaping itself into a vague serpent-like form.

This was also one of the advantages of top-tier cultivation techniques. In addition to their fast cultivation speed, they also possessed inherent combat abilities. For example, this serpent-like form was a manifestation of the Sea Serpent Visualization Art itself.

Although it was not very lethal at this stage, if performed by a powerful cultivator, it could become a sentient monster capable of easily obliterating entire cities.

Next, he took out the sword from the ring.

Pulling it out, he saw a shiny blade adorned with intricate purple inscriptions, radiating a noble aura.

As if sensing its wielder, the sword let out a faint vibration, causing its body to tremble slightly—though not enough to draw Xiao Yao's attention.

Closing his eyes, he repeatedly practiced the Basic level of the Water Sword Technique in his mind. Then, in an instant, his eyes snapped open, a faint blue light flickering within them as he slashed downward with the sword.

As the blade descended, a blue hue emerged along its edge, forming a swift and sharp attack that struck the ground, leaving behind a small crack.

Exhaling slowly, Xiao Yao put away the sword. His arms and body felt weak—he had nearly exhausted all of his meager Qi in that single strike.

But there was a small smile on his face after this attack. Although it caused only a negligible impact, there was no denying that he was merely at the Basic Qi Refining 1st Stage. At this level, apart from his superior physical strength, he couldn't yet defeat mortals using just spells.

And for now, this level of power was enough. If aimed at the neck or other vital parts, it could still be a deadly move, giving him more than a little attack power.