Chapter 165 - 120: Magical Lion-headed Goose, A-Level Identification Skill, The Extraordinary Ascetic

Chapter 165: Chapter 120: Magical Lion-headed Goose, A-Level Identification Skill, The Extraordinary Ascetic

[Score: 199]

[Rating: A+]

[Reward: Ability Card · Identification Skill, Recruitment Card · Ascetic, Resource Card · Refined Breastplate]

[Notice: Excess score has been automatically converted into lower-grade Cards for you.]

Chen Chong was slightly taken aback.

In an environment like this Underground Cave, it was impossible to tell day from night.

The appearance of the daily settlement was the only thing that made him realize just how much time had passed.

"Has it... already been a day?"

"The battle with the Blood-tooth Python actually lasted an entire day..."

After a brief moment of reflection, Chen Chong’s gaze returned to the daily settlement message.

’The Lion-headed Goose ate a Vine Core again. Does that mean it can evolve once more?’

’199 points... A few more than I got for the Unihorn Catfish, but still not enough to break two hundred?’

’Does S-Class come after two hundred?’

’To reach that Rating, I’ll probably have to hunt an S-Class Extraordinary Creature. It seems an A-Level creature like the Blood-tooth Python can’t break that barrier...’

"Three Cards."

Chen Chong grinned as he looked at the two purple and one blue Cards in his hand.

Identification Skill...

Ascetic...

He could tell from the names alone that these two Cards were something special.

Especially the Ascetic, an A-Level Recruitment Card.

Looking at the image on the Card—a slender man with his hair tied up, dressed in simple cloth, sitting cross-legged on a mountaintop with his eyes closed—Chen Chong felt a flicker of anticipation.

’I haven’t gotten a character-type Recruitment Card in a long time.’

’Even Wang Biao, who’s top-tier among ordinary people, was only C-Class. Just how ridiculous will this A-Level recruit, two full grades higher, be?’

’Has he surpassed ordinary people and gained Extraordinary-Level power?’

[Card Type: Recruitment Card · Ascetic]

[Rating: A-Level]

[Description: An ascetic who trained relentlessly for thirty years since childhood, tempering his body day and night. He ultimately comprehended the power of heaven and earth, broke through the limits of the human body, and became one of the few ascetics in the Nanlai Dynasty to transcend mortality in centuries.]

[Evaluation: A body tempering practitioner of ultimate purity. In a feudal dynasty dominated by traditional martial arts, he broke through to the Extraordinary realm through ceaseless ascetic training, demonstrating terrifying talent. His physical fortitude is comparable to an A-Level Extraordinary Creature. Unfortunately, his environment was limiting; otherwise, his Extraordinary Level would be even higher.]

[Note: The recruited individual will not harm their master, but if their Loyalty drops below 20, they may flee.]

Chen Chong didn’t care about the Nanlai Dynasty mentioned in the description.

He figured it was just an ordinary dynasty from some special world, like Wang Biao and Jia Wen’s origins.

What truly shocked Chen Chong was the Ascetic’s perseverance.

’Just as I guessed. An A-Level recruit has already broken through the limits of an ordinary person and become a Transcendent with Extraordinary Power.’

It was clear that the Nanlai Dynasty, like most dynasties, was dominated by cold weapons and traditional martial arts.

To put it bluntly, it was a mortal dynasty with almost no concept of Extraordinary Power.

Yet under such conditions, he had set himself apart from everyone else, becoming a Transcendent through constant, arduous training.

The difficulty involved was no less than squeezing water from dry earth or growing a flower from ash...

’This man defied the heavens and broke all conventions.’

"A body as tough as an A-Level Extraordinary Creature?"

Chen Chong used the Recruitment Card without hesitation.

As the Card slowly faded, a figure appeared before him.

Just like in the picture on the Card, he was dressed in simple cloth with his hair tied up, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, perfectly still.

His cheeks were slightly sunken, and the sharp contours of his bones were visible on his gaunt face, making him appear quite frail.

If the Card’s description hadn’t mentioned he was a body tempering practitioner, no one would have ever associated his training with physical cultivation...

He opened his eyes.

In stark contrast to his gaunt face, his eyes were vibrant, brimming with a startling amount of Life Energy.

They held a multitude of emotions: resolve, vitality, excitement, and... desire.

It was as if the most vibrant of souls was housed within this haggard body.

"Mas...ter."

The Ascetic spoke, his voice hoarse and stiff, as if he hadn’t spoken in many years.

[Ascetic: Loyalty Value · 85]

Seeing the decent Loyalty Value, Chen Chong asked, "What’s your name?"

"Master, my name is..."

The Ascetic looked as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat. His expression shifted as he struggled to recall his own name.

Chen Chong frowned slightly. ’Did he forget, or did something go wrong with the recruitment process?’

’It’s impossible for someone to forget their own name, right?’

The Ascetic noticed Chen Chong’s confusion and quickly explained, "Master, your subordinate was taken into the mountains by my own master to train as a child. I had little contact with the outside world. For thirty years, I devoted myself to cultivation and comprehending the heavens and the earth, my mind free of distractions. I never thought of anything else. My name long ago became a useless thing, which is why I have some trouble remembering it."

"If your subordinate remembers correctly, it should be... Qi Zhen."

"Qi Zhen?" Chen Chong repeated.

"Yes, Master. That is your subordinate’s name," Qi Zhen said with a nod.

"Alright, Qi Zhen. Are you a Transcendent?"

"A... Transcendent? What is that?" Qi Zhen asked, looking confused.

Chen Chong froze for a second, then immediately realized that perhaps in Qi Zhen’s world, there was no such concept as ’Extraordinary’.

They probably had a different name for Extraordinary Power, just as a single type of food can have different names in different regions.

But regardless of the name, the transformation and power it brought were the same.

Instead of explaining, Chen Chong gave a demonstration.

He activated his Rock Body Transformation on his arm and then fiercely slashed at it with his sharp Tang Blade. Instead of tearing flesh and blood as one might expect, the strike produced a harsh screech and a brilliant shower of sparks, as if striking a block of iron.

"This is what a Transcendent is."

Qi Zhen’s eyes lit up. As a Transcendent himself, he naturally understood the significance of blocking that slash—physical toughness that surpassed even rock!

"So Master has also reached the pinnacle of cultivation! And you follow the same path of body tempering as your subordinate!"

Chen Chong just smiled and didn’t respond.

’The ’person who has reached the pinnacle of cultivation’ that Qi Zhen mentioned is probably what they call Transcendents in his world.’

’His understanding of Extraordinary Power is still too narrow.’

’Extraordinary Power isn’t just limited to the physical body; there are countless other abilities...’

’But that’s fine. I can correct him slowly over time.’

"Qi Zhen, show me your power."

"Alright!"

Without another word, Qi Zhen stood up and looked around.

He was visibly startled when he saw the massive corpse of the Blood-tooth Python lying in the darkness behind them, but he quickly composed himself.

He slowly walked over...

Without any warning, he drew one arm back and then punched forward.

BANG—

The Blood-tooth Python’s corpse actually jolted and moved a short distance.

Chen Chong’s brows shot up in surprise.

The Blood-tooth Python weighed no less than the Unihorn Catfish—it was almost like having a heavy-duty truck right in front of him. To move it with a single punch... he truly was a body tempering practitioner.

’That strength... is terrifying.’

’How can such a frail-looking body contain such explosive power?’

’How does he do it...?’

’At least, I can’t produce that kind of explosive force right now.’

However, when Qi Zhen turned around, revealing the spot on the Blood-tooth Python he had struck, Chen Chong’s pupils contracted again.

’The scales in the area hit by his fist... have visible cracks?’

They weren’t obvious, but faint cracks were clearly visible!

Another punch would surely shatter the scales in that spot completely.

Chen Chong knew exactly how tough the Blood-tooth Python’s scales were.

Even when he hacked at them with all his might, using the strength from his enhanced body, it was difficult to shatter them with his blade.

Yet Qi Zhen had achieved this armor-piercing effect with a single punch...

’He really is a walking, humanoid, A-Level Extraordinary Creature!’

’This physical strength and power are just too overwhelming.’

Along with his shock, Chen Chong also felt immense joy.

Qi Zhen’s arrival undoubtedly added an extremely powerful combatant to his team.

He would be much more confident when facing Extraordinary Creatures in the future.

If he had shown up a day earlier, killing the Blood-tooth Python wouldn’t have been so difficult; it would have been much, much easier.

Of course, that was impossible. If he hadn’t hunted the Blood-tooth Python, he never would have drawn a character like Qi Zhen.

With such explosive physical toughness, Chen Chong estimated that even among A-Level Recruitment Cards, Qi Zhen had to be one of the absolute best.

Any higher than this would have to be an S-Class character with even more terrifying Extraordinary Power...

The two of them talked for a while longer.

Chen Chong got a better understanding of Qi Zhen’s abilities.

Just as the Card’s information said, he was a pure body tempering practitioner who had honed his physical form to the absolute limit.

His own body was his greatest weapon; he didn’t know how to use swords, spears, staves, or any other weapon...

Chen Chong turned his attention to the other two Cards.

’Identification Skill... it’s probably the kind of ability I’m thinking of, right?’

...