"Level Three Sanctuary!"
"Yes, Level Three Sanctuary. My Event Sanctuary has also been upgraded to Level Three."
Wu Piwu, Yamadai, and Xu Shilan sat in the opulent hall, watching a group of eunuchs and palace maids continuously transport silk, fabrics, gold, silver, fruits, and paintings into the room...
The experiences of yesterday left the three of them still reeling.
It was only from noon to evening, not even twelve hours, yet the richness of the experiences made them feel as if several days had passed.
Wu Piwu sipped tea while holding fruits and said, "Has Chu Minghao always been this impressive?"
Xu Shilan, with a complex expression, replied, "That's right, he's been this... impressive since he was young. Ugh, I mean, he's been radiant since childhood."
Yamadai added, "And he's very powerful!"
Xu Shilan's expression remained complex as she said, "Yeah, very powerful, but... too powerful. He and 'he' are both too powerful, to the point where we seem like entirely different forms of life compared to them..."
Wu Piwu knew that Xu Shilan must have some history with Chu Minghao, but that was someone else's private matter, and he wasn't interested in such gossip.
He asked, "So, have you decided how to choose?"
Both Yamadai and Xu Shilan nodded.
After Chu Minghao left yesterday, Emperor Zhao Ji of the Song Dynasty immediately conferred the title of National Master upon the three of them, recognizing them as disciples of immortals, granting them luxurious mansions, a hundred palace maids and eunuchs each, and an uncountable amount of gold, silver, and fabrics.
Moreover, it was publicly announced, recorded in history, that in the sixth year of the Xuanhe era, Zhao Ji and the ministers witnessed a true immortal and established a five-year agreement with the immortal, marking a vow between immortals and mortals.
Because of this historic record, Wu Piwu's Event Sanctuary was upgraded to Level Three, while Yamadai and Xu Shilan each established their own Level Three Special Sanctuaries.
However, their Special Sanctuaries were different from Wu Piwu's established during the late Qing Dynasty.
They only achieved the construction and historical event criteria, but did not meet the goal of forming a power, so the rewards they received were also different from Wu Piwu's Special Sanctuary that met all three criteria.
Wu Piwu's Special Sanctuary rewards were divided into two types: either receiving the regular rewards of an ordinary sanctuary or choosing to retain one regular reward and then receiving the upgraded Level Sanctuary reward.
From then on, every time the sanctuary level increased, they could obtain the next level's reward in advance.
At that time, Wu Piwu chose the latter, which allowed him to obtain a personal information data interface when he was at the Level Two Special Sanctuary.
However, Yamadai and Xu Shilan's Special Level Three Sanctuary did not have the option to retain one regular reward.
In other words, they could either receive all the regular rewards of the Level Three Sanctuary or choose to forgo all the rewards of the first three levels but could obtain the Level Four Sanctuary reward in advance.
"This is really not much of a choice."
Xu Shilan said, "If this weren't our first sanctuary, we would definitely choose the special reward. The option to obtain a reward one level higher in advance is just too amazing. Getting the Level Four reward at Level Three, getting a title draw at Level Four, and obtaining the authority to communicate with the dead at Level Five...
Unfortunately, this is our first sanctuary. If we lose the rewards from the first three levels, that would truly be a loss for us. So, I choose to forgo the special reward and receive all the regular rewards of the Level Three Sanctuary."
Yamadai, while eating fruits, said, "I feel the same way."
Wu Piwu nodded.
This was indeed the most reasonable choice.
The Level One Sanctuary reward was a random draw of items from the dream world, and during the first draw, due to the mainframe's interference, one would generally receive a complete set of extraordinary cultivation methods, which were the most important items for survival.
The Level Two Sanctuary reward allowed one to choose any personal attribute for enhancement, and even the title at the mainframe could be upgraded.
These two rewards alone were the core for survival and establishing oneself for a new maintainer.
Xu Shilan and Yamadai decisively chose to retain their original rewards instead of being envious of obtaining the Level Four Sanctuary rewards in advance.
"Wise."
Wu Piwu sighed inwardly and then asked, "Then I advise you to conduct the reward draw now. The mainframe's rewards do not necessarily require returning to Gaia to use; they can also be used in the dream world. However, in the past dream worlds, dangers abound. First, there’s no time to think about how to plan the rewards, and second, only in Gaia will the mainframe provide a semi-data interface. That's why it’s necessary to return to Gaia to draw rewards, but you don’t have to."
The Level Three Sanctuary rewards would manifest a personal information data interface in the current world, while also designating another world to display the personal information data interface.
Moreover, they had obtained a legitimate official identity in this world.
Not to mention anything else, just the fifty Imperial Guards outside the mansion provided a level of security, whether it was for monitoring or genuine protection, at least there was a guarantee of regular safety.
As for the fear of nightmares attacking, this was Bianliang after all.
When Chu Minghao left, he had stuffed some information into their minds, mostly about exploration information regarding this world, and it was unclear how he had obtained it.
This baseline reality, World 0.7, possessed a power known as the National Fortune Golden Dragon.
This National Fortune Golden Dragon had little effect on physical power, but it exerted tremendous suppression on non-physical entities such as ghosts, monsters, terrors, nightmares, and illusions.
As long as one was within Bianliang, the closer one was to the palace, the less likely they were to be attacked by nightmares, and their mansion was situated right next to the palace, making it the most precious location in all of Bianliang.
Yamadai chuckled, "I already drew my reward this morning and just upgraded it to the Entry Level."
"So fast!?" Wu Piwu and Xu Shilan both asked in surprise.
Yamadai put down the fruits, glanced upward, and then a virtual screen displayed by the mainframe suddenly appeared, clear enough for Wu Piwu and Xu Shilan to see.
Other information remained unchanged, but a new item appeared in the cultivation method section.
"Iron Refining Record: Entry Level."
Wu Piwu and Xu Shilan carefully looked at the name of the cultivation method.
Wu Piwu asked, "What kind of cultivation method is it? Does it have any special effects?"
Yamadai extended his hand, and before Wu Piwu and Xu Shilan's eyes, a silvery-white fluid emerged from his sleeve and gathered into a sphere in his palm.
"Just like this," Yamadai said.
"I can manipulate metals. At the first stage of the cultivation method, I can control about fifty grams of metal, and a part of my flesh can be replaced by metal at a ratio of one in ten thousand."
"At the Entry Level, I can control about three hundred grams of metal, and a part of my flesh can be replaced by metal at a ratio of one in twenty thousand. By the time I reach the Supreme Manifestation stage, I can control ten thousand kilograms of metal, which is ten tons, and seventy percent of my flesh can be replaced by metal, and this replacement does not affect the original organ functions."
Wu Piwu and Xu Shilan fell into contemplation.
A few seconds later, Wu Piwu asked, "Can the metal be separated from the body? In other words, can it be manipulated from a distance?"
Yamadai shook his head, "No, the metal must be in contact with my body. Of course, it could also be because my cultivation method level is still low."
Wu Piwu felt a bit regretful; he had thought he could gain a teammate like Magneto.
Xu Shilan also asked, "Does this cultivation method have any other effects besides manipulating metal? For example, does it increase your strength or physical attributes?"
Yamadai laughed heartily, "Of course! Now that I’m at the Entry Level, depending on the type of metal I absorb, I can significantly enhance my physical attributes and strength. I lifted a cauldron in the hall earlier; my current arm strength is about one point five tons. Specific testing will have to wait until I return to Gaia. As for other physical attributes, the increase is not significant, but there is one key enhancement that makes me very happy!"
Without waiting for the two to ask, Yamadai directly said, "Copper Skin and Iron Bones! My physical defense has greatly increased. Now, as long as it’s not an extremely sharp blade, it can't even cut my skin. According to the description in the cultivation method, when my cultivation method advances to the Pinnacle stage, my body will be able to claim to have copper skin, and when I reach the Supreme Manifestation stage, it will be Copper Skin and Iron Bones, impervious to blades and spears. The most crucial part is..."
"The cultivation method is all about iron, gold, copper, and such. It’s too outdated. I can completely absorb various alloys from Gaia, and their strength is probably much greater than what is described in the cultivation method!"
Wu Piwu and Xu Shilan were stunned upon hearing this, then both were overjoyed.
According to this description, Yamadai would definitely become an invincible meat shield in the team!
Yamadai continued, "This doesn’t even account for some auxiliary abilities of this cultivation method. For example, I can decompose individual metals from alloys, separate impurities from certain metals, and fuse alloys without high temperatures to forge certain parts, even handcraft modern weapons. Unfortunately, as the baseline reality level decreases, technological weapons will become distorted and lose power."
This was also a piece of information left to them by Chu Minghao: the lower the baseline reality level, the more the power of technological weapons would decline, and they might even become distorted or self-destruct.
Seeing Yamadai becoming more and more pleased with himself, Xu Shilan interrupted him, "Alright, then I’ll draw my reward now."
Wu Piwu and Yamadai both looked at her, watching her close her eyes, both eagerly anticipating.
A few seconds later, Xu Shilan opened her eyes, and for a moment, her expression was somewhat dazed.
Wu Piwu and Yamadai thought she hadn’t drawn a cultivation method, and both became anxious.
Yamadai shouted, "Old woman, could it be that you didn’t draw a cultivation method!?"
Xu Shilan immediately shot him an angry glare, but then suddenly smiled sweetly, blowing a breath towards Yamadai.
While Yamadai was still puzzled, he suddenly realized that his position was wrong; why was his head pressed against the ground while his body was upside down?
Only Wu Piwu could see clearly; he witnessed Yamadai’s dazed expression as he flipped over, with his head pressed against the ground and his feet pointing skyward.
Xu Shilan remained silent as she summoned the mainframe and revealed her personal information data interface.
"Shadow Play: Entry Level."
Once both of them finished looking at the name of the cultivation method, Xu Shilan immediately said seriously, "This cultivation method not only records how to cultivate but also describes the names and summaries of several other cultivation methods that share the same fame. One of the cultivation methods, I think, is related to Guo Jing!"
Both of them were taken aback and looked at Xu Shilan seriously.
Xu Shilan said, "The Shadow Play cultivation method is said to be one of the three evils of the world, the other two evils being Witchcraft and..."
"Life Harvesting Technique!"
(End of Chapter)