Killing Two Birds With One Stone—Also Bees

Putting aside mysteries that could not yet be solved, Edrick had also obtained several items. Although the system often gave him weapons and objects of all sorts, only a small portion of those were actually noteworthy and given special names…

High-Chieftain's Wooden Pipe - A Smoking Pipe, Which Content Is Consumed At A Slower Rate Than Normal. The User Of This Item Can Choose To Reinforce, Weaken, Or Nullify The Effects Of What They Are Smoking. Also allows the user to Imbue The Expelled Smoke With Effects Comparable To Directly Smoking From It

Anoteros had begun using this one nearly immediately after acquiring it. It was simply a net positive. Any smokable substance could see its effects improved, which included healing herbs and the like. The fact that the smoke he breathed out could also be imbued with the effects was tremendous, not just to share good effects, but also to spread negative effects when used in conjunction with the ability to nullify what substances did for him.

As per usual, Edrick had several ideas to put this to good use. He just needed occasions to put them into effect.

Drunken Lord's Hyotan - A Gourd-Shaped Flash, Which Content Is Consumed At A Slower Rate Than Normal. The User Of This Item Can Choose To Reinforce, Weaken, Or Nullify The Effects Of What They Are Drinking

The effects of this one were similar, but for substances that were drunk instead of smoked. A Hyotan was a sort of flask with the shape of a gourd. Typically, it was filled with alcohol but could store any kind of liquid… For some reason, every special item came with dark colours, so both the flask and the wooden pipe were of a dark colouration, decorated with golden patterns.

And lastly, Edrick had also received a third item. One that he hadn’t expected.

Arm Of Depravity - The Weapon Acquired From Shattering Xiao's Script

The description was… Lacking... But it was because Anoteros learned everything he needed to know by merely holding it. It was basically the scion’s very own version of Xiao’s weapon artefact.

It was a powerful weapon that could change form according to its user’s whims, and was compatible with any and all weapon cultivation techniques. It would even self-repair when not summoned, regardless of whether or not the user had any technique for such a purpose.

This basically eliminated the need to carry any weapons and allowed for a very different fighting style, whilst also providing a weapon that was simply incredible. It would even increase in strength as Edrick grew more powerful.

This was why the original sword artefact had been granted to Xiaolie. Edrick simply had no need for it and knew that it would best be used by her.

Certain forms seemed harder to pull off than others, and Edrick could not yet manage things like a proper bow or any weapon that required ammunition without bringing his own arrows or alike, but he could feel that it would be possible to turn the Arm Of Depravity into a bow and just shoot endless arrows eventually.

It was just not within his reach just yet...

To go along with it, Edrick had also been granted a new weapon cultivation technique.

Twisted Weapon Encyclopedia - Culmination Of All Weapon Cultivation Techniques, And Even Beyond...

It was Weapon Encyclopedia, but seemingly with an unknown twist to it. But that mystery was one that would reveal itself by simply cultivating the technique.

This ultimate weapon cultivation technique was actually rather simple to cultivate. It was merely a lengthy process, and one that would require looking at other weapon cultivation techniques throughout the process.

It allowed one to basically learn other weapon cultivation manuals without actually having to cultivate them. It would just let the scion absorb the knowledge and integrate it seamlessly into Twisted Weapon Encyclopedia.

Therefore, his other techniques of the same category had basically been rendered obsolete. So while this newcomer was hard to cultivate, it made up for it by kicking several other techniques out of the training loop. In the long term, it was obviously vastly superior.

Lastly… Edrick had received an unexpected reward.

The Chen bloodline.

At any time, Anoteros could claim the reward, granting himself the benefits, constitution, natural talents, and everything innate to the Chen clan.

Not only that, but he would be able to basically create offspring that were superior to pure-blooded Chen descendants with Xiaolie… It was tempting to claim this reward immediately, but Edrick worried about a few things.

While Xiaolie was well hidden inside his residence and did not go out, he did... And several members of the Elt clan could clearly sense bloodlines. It would be rather difficult to explain how he had acquired the pure and full bloodline of a clan that was supposed to have been exterminated long ago.

Furthermore, Anoteros wanted to get an ability from sleeping with Xiaolie before claiming the bloodline. He hoped that Xiaolie would provide an ability that might synergise well with it–Though whether before or after, it probably wouldn't really matter anyway.

But really, it was mostly about the potential risks of suddenly acquiring this bloodline.

It was doubtlessly an incredible boon, though. Once he consumed it, his talent with weapons, cultivating Twisted Weapon Encyclopedia, and his overall physique would see a major boost.

And if he managed to properly explain to his family how he got the bloodline, and ‘acquired’ Xiaolie... Then he would instantly shoot up in their estimation. After all, this was akin to the Elt clan absorbing the remnants of the Chen clan and claiming its legacy.

Not to mention that Xiaolie knew the script still. She could be of great aid in discovering opportunities, and pretty much predicting the future… Although it was uncertain how much of the narrative would remain intact now that the script had been broken.

In any case, it was time for Edrick to dedicate most of his days toward training and growing stronger, whilst his maids focused on preparing his future business ventures. Of course, in his case, it didn’t just involve cultivation.

It also involved acquiring abilities from some of the residence members using Five-Legged Devil Goat Physique, as well as a few other candidates… Not to mention that it was through coitus that he stocked up on excess energy that he could dedicate toward training.

So, although he was going to put a big focus on training, it didn’t mean that his properties would be ignored… If anything, they might be needed more often than ever…

‘While I am at it, I might as well kill two birds with one stone…’

He called Fanqia over to the bedchambers.

It was high time to honour his first wife and make her a mother.