RPG Cultivator

The first wolf lunged, its large jaws aimed for Lin Tian's throat. The young cultivator moved like flowing water, his sword moving in a perfect arc that caught the beast across its shoulder. But where a normal blade would have cleaved flesh, his sword barely drew blood. The wolf's hide was far tougher than ordinary steel.

Seeing how even a strike by a protagonist barely did any damage, Zhao Lingfeng knew he could no longer hesitate. "Fellow Daoist Lin, would you like to form a Party with me?!"

"Party? What nonsense are you bringing up in such a situation?" Lin Tian's voice carried disbelief as he shifted into a defensive stance and bounced back.

"What I mean is to form like a temporary alliance!"

"An alliance? Had I misunderstood that we were not working together?" Lin Tian frowned.

"Argh! Just say Yes to forming a Party with me."

Lin Tian could not help but look back, confused with what he has been babbling about.

He saw Zhao Lingfeng with his left arm raised. In his left arm, there was a token in his hands. The odd jade disk seemed to resonate with the chamber's dense spiritual energy, its surface beginning to glow with an inner light. Only now did Lin Tian understood that his partner had something planned.

"Yes, I will form a Party with you!"

Ding!

[Lin Tian has accepted your request to join the Party.]

[Lin Tian (Son of Destiny) has joined the Party!]

Zhao Lingfeng's fingers quickly flew through the motions, activating the Party Formation Token. Golden light erupted from the disk, forming complex patterns in the air between him and Lin Tian.

The wolves hesitated for a moment, startled by the sudden illumination.

[Party Formation initiated. Confirming compatibility...]

[Compatibility confirmed. Establishing link...]

"What is this—" Lin Tian started to ask, but his words cut off as the golden light enveloped both cultivators. Zhao Lingfeng felt it immediately: a surge of shared power, their spiritual energies resonating in perfect harmony.

[Party Formation complete.

Shared buffs activated:

Experience gain increased by 30%.

Strength increased by 25%.

Endurance increased by 25%

Dexterity increased by 25%

Perception increased by 25%

Spiritual Power increased by 25%

Health and Spiritual Energy (Qi) regeneration increased by 20%

This is… overpowered! What happened to Nightmare Difficulty?

Zhao Lingfeng was utterly shocked by the lines of text he was reading, but he spoke way too soon.

DING!!

[Special conditions met: Transcendent Resonance!]

(Transmigrator & Son of Destiny Duo Buff)

Effects:

Shared Insight: Critical Chance and Critical Damage is increased by 20% Their combined insight enhances combat efficiency.

Destined Plot Armor: A chance to endure a fatal blow (once per battle) and immediately retaliate with a powerful counterattack with no cost, symbolizing their ability to overcome adversity.

Synchronized Strike: There is a 15% chance by either member to deal bonus damage equal to 50% of the other member's attack power.

Protagonists' Resolve: When one member is at critically low health (below 10%), the other gains a temporary buff (Once per person and battle):Increase all stats by 150%Regenerate Health and Qi up to 50% of their maximum over 10 seconds.Buff duration 15 seconds.

Unyielding Pact: When within 20 meters of each other, spiritual energy consumption is reduced by 15%. 

Fusion of Fate: Unlocked only at critical moments (once per battle) when both members are in perfect sync. Temporarily combines their spiritual energies to unleash a devastating joint attack, scaling with both users' cultivation levels and dealing massive Area of effect (AoE) damage.

"Broken broken broken broken broken broken…." Zhao Lingfeng could not stop mumbling to himself.

His mumbling was cut short as the wolves charged forward, their large forms blurring with supernatural speed. The chamber erupted into chaos as Lin Tian met their assault with fluid grace, his sword tracing silver arcs through the air as he parried lunging fangs and slashing claws.

"Move!" Lin Tian called out as he parried a [LV11 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf]'s strike, His blade, previously struggling against their spiritual-enhanced hides, now sang with newfound power. As the beast's momentum carried it past him, his sword found the softer flesh beneath its jaw.

SLASH!

The strike, empowered by the Party Formation's buffs, cut deep.

[Damage: 157]

AWOOOOOO!

The wolf's howl of pain shook the chamber as it stumbled, dark blood streaming from the serious wound. Its movements became noticeably labored, blood leaking from the gash. Even its companions seemed momentarily startled by the sudden display of power.

"This is..." Lin Tian's eyes widened slightly, clearly sensing the change in his strength. His next series of strikes carried devastating force, each blow leaving deep gashes where before they had barely cut.

Zhao Lingfeng retreated between two pillars, his mind racing. The Party Formation's effects were incredible. He could feel enhanced strength flowing through his limbs and a heightened awareness of his surroundings. He could somehow sense Lin Tian's position without looking. There was even a green Health Bar above Lin Tian, and a green indicator to mark him as both a Party Member and friendly.

One of the [LV10 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf] lunged at him from the shadows. His enhanced perception allowed him to see its attack coming: the ripple of muscles, the trajectory of its leap. His body moved with unprecedented smoothness as he ducked under the attack while drawing his newbie sword.

His blade caught the wolf's flank as it passed, drawing more than just a line of blood. The wound, while not as devastating as Lin Tian's strikes, cut surprisingly deep.

[Critical Hit! Damage: 75]

In this brief respite, Zhao Lingfeng checked his combat status window:

Name: Zhao Lingfeng

Level 4: Qi Refining Realm (3rd Level)

Title: Liuyun Sect's Outer Court Disciple

Attributes (with Party Buffs):

Strength: 11 (+2)

Dexterity: 15 (+3)

Endurance: 10 (+2)

Spiritual Power: 13 (+2)

Perception: 16 (+3)

Equipment Bonuses:

Newbie Beginner's Sword (Unique): +10 Attack Damage

Newbie Amulet Armor (Unique): + 12 Defense

Combat Stats:

Attack Power: 21 (Base 9 + Party Formation 2 + Sword Bonus 10)

Defense: 22 (Base 8 + Party Formation + 2 + Armor Bonus 12)

Critical Chance: 20%

Critical Damage: 20%

Spiritual Power: 11 (Efficiency Bonus: 15% reduction in spiritual energy consumption.)

Health and Qi Regeneration: +20%

Because of his low level and meager stats, the stats buffs at least did not do much for him. The numbers also rounded down or up.

But for a certain someone else…

He quickly tapped the screen and viewed the new visible menu.

Name: Lin Tian

Level 10: Qi Refining Realm (6th Level)

Title: Azure River Sect Disciple

Hidden Title: [REDACTED]

Attributes (with Party Buffs):

Strength: 31 (+6)

Dexterity: 35 (+7)

Endurance: 29 (+6)

Spiritual Power: 34 (+7)

Perception: 33 (+7)

"Heavens," Zhao Lingfeng muttered, avoiding another wolf's claws. The stats explained how Lin Tian had survived that young master's attack, and those stats that did not look ordinary. Unfortunately, Zhao Lingfeng was unable to view further details about him. He wondered if Lin Tian had been holding back before?

The wolf pack moved with frightening coordination, but Lin Tian's enhanced abilities were changing the flow of battle. His sword struck like lightning, each blow carrying force that belied his cultivation level. When [LV11 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf] lunged at his flank, his enhanced dexterity let him pivot impossibly fast, his blade opening a deep gash along its shoulder that sent blood spraying like mist.

[Fatal Strike! Damage: 210]

[LV11 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf has been slain!]

[Experience gained:

Lin Tian: 650 (100% contribution)

[No Party Bonus Granted]

The [BOSS] [LV13 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf Leader]'s eyes narrowed, its massive form tensing as it watched one of its pack members fall. The beast's spiritual pressure intensified, making the glowing herbs around them tremble.

Two [LV10 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf] rushed Zhao Lingfeng simultaneously, their coordinated attack speaking of trained hunting tactics. But the Party Formation's effects weren't just numerical, he could feel an almost instinctive understanding of combat flowing into him, as if Lin Tian's experience was bleeding through their connection.

Was this a hidden effect of [Shared Insight]?

Zhao Lingfeng sidestepped the first wolf's lunge, his plain iron sword catching moonlight from the spirit herbs as he struck. To his surprise, the blade bit deep into the beast's haunch, drawing a pained yelp. The second wolf's claws raked toward his chest, but his enhanced perception let him twist away, the attack missing by a hair's breadth.

"Don't let them surround you!" Lin Tian called out, his voice carrying over the chaos.

He demonstrated his point by charging straight through the triangle formation three wolves had tried to establish around him. His sword flashed in a complex pattern that Zhao Lingfeng's eyes could barely follow, leaving one wolf reeling with a deep cut across its face while forcing the others to break their coordinated positioning.

[Combined Damage: 463]

The wounded wolf facing Zhao Lingfeng tried to retreat, but its injured leg slowed its movement. Zhao Lingfeng pressed his advantage.

"You aren't getting away!"

SLASH!

[Fatal Strike! Damage: 250]

[LV10 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf has been slain!]

 [Experience gained:

Zhao Lingfeng: 150 (25% contribution)

Lin Tian: 450 (75% contribution)]

[Party Bonus: +180 experience each]

[Total Experience: Lin Tian: 600 Zhao Lingfeng: 330]

[You have obtained +10 Achievement Points.]

AWOOOOOO!!!

The Leader's growl resonated through the chamber, carrying spiritual energy that made Zhao Lingfeng's teeth rattle. It was finally moving, its massive form rippling with power as it advanced. The remaining wolves regrouped, their tactics shifting from coordinated assault to defensive positions around their alpha.

"Together," Lin Tian said, falling back to stand beside Zhao Lingfeng. "The Leader's noticed we're actually a threat now. It won't hold back anymore."

The [BOSS] [LV13 Tiger-Eyed Spirit Wolf Leader]'s eyes gleamed with cold intelligence as it assessed them. Its spiritual pressure was incredible, making the air thick and heavy. The two remaining lesser wolves flanked it, their movements now more cautious after seeing their pack mate fall.

"You know," Zhao Lingfeng said, adjusting his grip on his sword, "I'm starting to think we might have accidentally triggered a mid-boss fight before we were ready."

Lin Tian shot him an odd look but didn't respond.

The Leader's muscles bunched, spiritual energy beginning to coalesce around its form like living smoke. The air itself seemed to grow heavy with killing intent.