Chapter 23: The First Recharge Gift Pack

"Recharge."

As soon as Ning Xiu finished speaking, a pleasant chime rang out.

"Congratulations, host, you have successfully recharged one hundred ingots and upgraded to VIP user status."

"Host, you have a gift pack awaiting collection. Would you like to receive it?"

"A gift pack?"

Ning Xiu paused, suddenly recalling the first recharge gift pack in the game. This was the grand starter pack awarded to any player who invested even the smallest sum of money, supposedly worth 1888 ingots. Of course, as the game’s planner, he knew its contents intimately—just a ploy to tempt players with discounts and value, enticing them to spend more.

He coughed twice, feeling his health worsen over the past days. Lifting his gaze, he saw a dazzling golden chest suspended on the system interface.

Without hesitation, he chose to collect it.

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained the Newcomer Hero Gift Pack."

A bundle appeared out of thin air before Ning Xiu. He opened it to find a trove of items.

"Name: Azure Edge Sword."

"Type: Weapon."

"Grade: Low-tier Mortal Artifact."

"Description: A sword commonly used by martial artists; slender blade, sharp edge."

"Note: Fresh robes and spirited steeds, a sword at your side—the journey through the world begins with an Azure Edge Sword."

It was, in appearance, a most ordinary longsword, corresponding to the lowest one-star equipment. Most crucially, Ning Xiu had no skill with swords.

He curled his lip and continued to inspect the rest.

"Name: High-grade Golden Wound Medicine."

"Type: Pill."

"Grade: One star."

"Description: For all injuries caused by blades or axes, apply for instant pain relief and bleeding stoppage."

"Note: Out in the world, one cannot be without the holy medicine for wounds."

"Name: Clearwind Detox Pill."

"Type: Pill."

"Grade: Two stars."

"Description: The legendary universal antidote, capable of neutralizing most toxins."

"Note: Traveling through the martial world, wounds are inevitable. No, poisoning is inevitable."

"Name: Five hundred taels of silver."

"Note: Some say money can move the gods; some say it is the root of all evil. Whatever the case, no one can do without it."

Aside from these, there was a random one-star martial skill manual, a bottle of Minor Rejuvenation Pills to boost cultivation, and five skill fragments.

These made up the entire Newcomer Hero Gift Pack—an ostentatious bundle advertised as worth 1888 ingots. Worthless to ordinary players, but for Ning Xiu now, it was nothing short of salvation.

His gaze settled on the Clearwind Detox Pill, said to neutralize most toxins. Would it work against corpse poison?

He opened the small porcelain bottle, tipped a jade-green pill into his palm, fragrant with the scent of ancient wood, and swallowed it without a second thought.

A delicate aroma spread in his mouth—not overpowering, but subtle. If not for the sudden surge of medicinal energy coursing through his body, he might have suspected it was a counterfeit.

Ning Xiu wasted no time. He activated the Nine Yang Skill, guiding and absorbing the pill’s power.

Soon, the wound on his right arm began to heal. Rotten flesh sloughed away, revealing fresh, crimson tissue beneath.

Ha! It seems fate has not abandoned him.

Ning Xiu opened his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips—not only delighted to regain his vitality, but also relieved the Martial God System’s products could counter such supernatural afflictions.

Only then did Ning Xiu inspect the other items. The random one-star martial skill turned out to be "Thirteen Cloud Mist Techniques of Mount Heng," the famed signature move of Master Mo Da from "Smiling Proud Wanderer." The name was grand, but at its core, it remained a one-star skill.

For Ning Xiu, it was better than nothing. He learned it at once, along with the five skill fragments.

"Seven Great Limits of Devouring Heaven and Earth!"

The moment he saw the skill, Ning Xiu’s eyelid twitched.

A divine-grade skill!

He hurriedly entered his backpack interface and checked the skill fragments. Sure enough, the first slot held an ancient fragment, its images shifting among heaven, earth, fire, ice, wind, mountain, and sea. On the right, a "×5" indicated the number of fragments.

Indeed, it was the Seven Great Limits.

In ancient times, the great deity Chiyou, witnessing the devastation of disasters, was inspired to create a world-shaking blade technique—outshining all the gods, undefeated, the supreme master.

That blade technique was the "Seven Great Limits of Devouring Heaven and Earth," each of its seven forms—heaven, earth, fire, ice, wind, mountain, sea—embodying the boundless power of nature, awe-inspiring and unmatched. Used alongside the divine weapon Tiger Soul, it was as if disaster descended, life extinguished, and gods and Buddhas trembled.

Yet, all of this was next to useless. To synthesize a five-star divine skill required a full 180 fragments.

When designing the game, the first recharge also awarded a five-star skill fragment; each VIP level granted a few more. If memory served, one would accumulate enough at VIP level ten.

A typical consumption trap—just a ploy to lure you into spending more.

Martial arts powered by spending—the reputation is well earned.

If you wish to grow stronger, just keep paying.

He understood these tricks all too well, yet now, experiencing them firsthand, Ning Xiu felt deeply frustrated.

To see the goal within reach, yet not be able to grasp it, was unbearably stifling.

Compared to this, the fifty fragments needed for Lingxi Finger were much easier to collect.

Ning Xiu closed his backpack and switched the system to the skills interface. Opening the Nine Yang Divine Skill screen, he saw the option to upgrade.

The Nine Yang Divine Skill was divided into four levels; he was still at the first level (Beginner).

"Would the host like to upgrade this skill? This will cost thirty ingots."

Ning Xiu silently confirmed, and saw the status indicator jump—the skill advanced to the second level.

"Would the host like to upgrade again? This will cost fifty ingots."

He confirmed once more, and the skill jumped to the third level.

At this point, the upgrade option dimmed—the remaining ingots were insufficient for another upgrade.

As Ning Xiu closed the Martial God System, his mind suddenly buzzed; a surge of powerful Nine Yang energy poured from his dantian.

His long-ailing body revived instantly, all signs of illness vanished.

He smiled, and suddenly his bones contracted, the gaps between them narrowing until he was only a third of his original size.

With the Nine Yang Divine Skill upgraded to the third level, he had mastered Bone Shrinking as well.

Had he upgraded Nine Yang first, corpse poison might have been cured immediately, saving the antidote pill.

His fevered mind had overlooked this, and Ning Xiu could not help but feel a pang of regret.