Chapter 34: One Year Later

As the morning sun passed over the horizon, Xiao Tianyang sat cross-legged on the roof, exhaling deeply, his breath rolling out like a dragon's. Following his technique, he inhaled sharply, drawing the energy back into his nasal cavity.

At that moment, he felt as though a veil had been lifted from the world around him. His gaze swept effortlessly across a hundred-meter radius, taking in every detail with perfect clarity.

"All this effort has finally paid off. This is truly incredible!" Xiao Tianyang muttered to himself, raising a hand and shaking it gently. The air rippled with a muffled sound, a testament to his newfound strength. "I've finally reached Level 20!"

Over the past few months, Xiao Tianyang had been on a relentless journey of self-improvement, unburdened by the pressures of his previous life.

His routine was simple but effective: study at the college in the morning, hone his skills in the Soul Hunting Forest in the afternoon, and train until sunrise each night. 

The mundane worries of school life no longer occupied his mind. Occasionally, he would treat himself to a meal with familiar faces: Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the ever-reliable Bubu, who never missed a meal.

When boredom struck, Xiao Tianyang would dip into his accumulated lottery points for entertainment, though the rewards were often unimpressive.

Most items he acquired were novelties or mildly useful tools. Recently, he'd drawn a pair of shoes from the pile of rewards.

Magic Weapon: God-Walking Boots

Function: Ever-changing / Increase speed by 10%

The "ever-changing" part simply meant the boots could mimic the appearance of any other shoes—not particularly useful, but amusing enough.

At best, they allowed Xiao Tianyang to indulge in his nostalgia for the trendy limited-edition sneakers he'd admired but never owned in his previous life. 

As for the 10% speed boost? It wasn't game-changing, but it was better than nothing. Considering these were the result of a mere 100-point gamble, he didn't feel too bad about it.

He had learned to take the lottery's fickle nature in stride. Winning or losing was just part of the game.

With his gaze fixed on the system page displayed in his mind, Xiao Tianyang took stock of his progress:

Host: Xiao Tianyang

Physique: Pseudo-Pure Body [Kills without karmic burden, harmony

with all things], Three thousand star constitution 

Strength Level: Level 20 [Spirit Master]

Soul Skills: Myriad Transformations Fire

Soul Bone: None

Martial Spirits: Scythe of Judgment [Symbol of life, destination of the dead], Ancient God Eyes [Discerns loyalty from betrayal, good from evil, and truth from lies], Red Lotus Karma Fire [Burns away karmic ties, purifies sins], Flame of Life [The fire of vitality, nurturer of all things], Three Thousand Flames [Undying body]

Expertise: Cooking Master, Firearms Master

Draw Points: 3617

Xiao Tianyang was unsurprised by the additional entries on his system page. They had appeared months ago after he completed a difficult task, and he had grown accustomed to their presence.

His thoughts wandered to recent accomplishments. "In the past few months, I've defeated many thousand-year-old soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest, and some of them more than once." 

He smirked, recalling how effortlessly he had subdued many most formidable creatures. "But the diminishing returns are obvious. I earned over a thousand points in the first month alone, yet the gains in the following months barely added up to half that."

Clenching his fists, Xiao Tianyang felt a renewed determination. Returning to his room on the third floor, he closed his eyes and focused on the system interface. "Let's do a Level Two Lottery—three spins!"

He had resisted the urge to try the second-level lottery for a long time, wary of wasting valuable points. But with three opportunities now, Xiao Tianyang couldn't help but feel optimistic.

As the roulette appeared in his mind and began spinning, Xiao Tianyang noticed that many of the prizes were blurred and indistinct. He shrugged, deciding to let fate take its course. All he could do now was wait for the results.

Ding!

Congratulations to the host Xiao Tianyang, for receiving the weapons Ebony Wood and White Ivory [Improved Version]!

Congratulations to the host Xiao Tianyang, for receiving the 3-year-old soul bone [Abyssal Ox Ghost Right Arm Bone]!

Congratulations to the host Xiao Tianyang, for receiving the Galloping Harley [Collector's Edition]!

Xiao Tianyang, who had been holding his breath in anticipation, let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the results. "It's not too bad. I can live with this."

Before him lay three items: a pair of black-and-white guns, a right-arm bone that resembled black crystal, and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that looked like a Softail Slim model.

He accessed the system page to examine the details of these new acquisitions.

Weapons: Ebony and White Ivory

Improved Effect: Requires no ammunition. Injecting soul power transforms it into bullets. The effective range is within one kilometer.

Soul Bone: The Right Arm Bone of the Abyssal Ox Ghost

Additional Skill: Abyss Claw [A claw extends from the enemy's feet, trapping them while dealing damage.]

Means of Transportation: Galloping Harley [Collector's Edition]

Improved Effect: Self-charges in any environment. Capable of traveling thousands of miles by day, and 800 miles at night. Ideal for long-distance travel.

Xiao Tianyang couldn't help but laugh at the last item. "The first two are decent, but this one... Is it an advertisement?"

He raised his hand and placed the Galloping Harley into his Youhai Nai Ring. While undoubtedly impressive, it wasn't something he needed right now, and certainly too flashy for his current lifestyle.

Next, he retrieved a long sandalwood box and carefully stored the Abyssal Ox Ghost's Right Arm Bone inside, adding it to the Youhai Nai Ring as well.

"Though it seems a bit forced, my first soul ring was 7,000 years old. No matter how I acquire my soul's bones, they must be at least ten thousand years old. It's a matter of my pride," Xiao Tianyang mused silently.

Finally, his attention turned to the Ebony and White Ivory guns, which he had been eagerly awaiting.

"I'm a firearms master, but I haven't had a weapon in hand until now. These guns will fill that gap perfectly."

He smiled, feeling the familiar weight of the guns in his hands. "Besides, Xiao San has his hidden weapons, and I have a pistol. It's not too excessive, right?"

As he held the black-and-white guns, a surge of excitement hit him. He was overcome by an intense urge to shoot!

Xiao Tianyang immediately recognized this sensation as the influence of his weapons mastery—an instinctive response to holding a firearm.

Despite this, he resisted the impulse. There was no telling if Miao Zhenshan was watching. If he were caught firing them, although Xiao Tianyang wouldn't be suspected, it would still require an explanation. One word: trouble.

After some time, Xiao Tianyang reluctantly put the guns away, his thoughts already drifting. "I'll need to sketch a design for a belt and holster. It'll make carrying these much more convenient."

Driven by inspiration, Xiao Tianyang rummaged around his home for pen and paper and began drawing his idea. It wasn't difficult; after all, he'd watched plenty of movies.

If he couldn't remember how to design a holster, it would be a real failure. He also made sure to use high-quality materials, considering his age and the importance of a durable design.

"Now that I've reached Level 20 and am preparing for my second soul ring, it's the perfect time to put this idea into action."

He bit the end of his pen in thought. "This will be worth the effort."

Half an hour later, six or seven rough drafts were discarded in the trash.

Xiao Tianyang picked up the one he was most satisfied with and nodded.

"This is the one. It's a shame I didn't apply to design school."

Rolling up the design, he placed it in his Youhai Nai Ring. Looking up, he realized how much time had passed.

"Oops, I'm going to be late!"

In a hurry, Xiao Tianyang washed his face, rushed out of his room, and headed for the door. But as he stepped downstairs, something soft and furry brushed against his foot.

"Ow!"

Not long after Xiao Tianyang left, a ghostly cry and a wolf-like howl echoed from within the house.

...

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