Chapter 37: A Miracle from a Single Draw

Ning Xiu opened the system and found, as expected, that a new recycling interface had appeared. At the moment, only the martial arts recycling section was active. When he learned the "Three Deadly Blades" technique from Zhang Heng, he'd already considered this possibility, but the system interface had never been activated until now. It seemed that once he'd learned a technique, he could no longer sell it back to the system. It made sense; in mobile games, once you mastered a skill, it disappeared entirely.

"Item: 'Blood-Devouring Grand Technique.'"
"Type: Martial arts."
"Level: Three-star, first-rate inferior martial arts."
"Annotation: This is an extremely sinister technique. Practitioners must be prepared to become blood demons."
"Annotation 2: Human hearts are evil, ghosts are poisonous, blood-devouring leaves ten thousand bones wasted."
"The host is recycling a three-star item. Confirm?"
"Confirm."

Without hesitation, Ning Xiu clicked confirm. The side effects of this technique were far too severe—he had no desire to become a monster like that middle-aged man, neither human nor ghost. Besides, in terms of quality, this technique was only comparable to the Nine Yang Divine Art.

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained five universal three-star martial arts fragments. Please check your inventory."

He opened his inventory and found five blank fragments, whose content changed according to his intent. A three-star martial arts required fifty fragments—a ten-to-one exchange rate, certainly a scam, but still within Ning Xiu's tolerance. All first-rate martial arts were categorized as three-star items, which meant he could exploit this system.

The middle-aged man Ning Xiu had killed was named Zhao Xicai. He'd originally been an ordinary man, but by chance obtained this martial arts manual, and his ambition quickly grew. Knowing he wasn't strong enough yet, Zhao Xicai never stayed in one place too long; whenever he attracted the attention of powerful figures, he'd disappear. The various factions often mistook his killings for the work of Black Disaster.

Just a few days ago, Zhao Xicai realized the people from the Bamboo Grove Society were investigating nearby, and knew it was time to leave. That was why he'd been so alert earlier—he understood that if the Bamboo Grove Society sent more people, they'd at least be elders, true experts. Yet his departure had still been too late.

After killing Zhao Xicai, Ning Xiu saw that his blood crystal count had reached over 11,300—enough for a tenfold draw. He'd originally thought only the monstrous beings of this world could threaten him; now he realized how naive he'd been. If not for the countering effect of his martial arts, he'd likely have been wounded tonight. Now, Ning Xiu wouldn't miss any opportunity to grow stronger.

He opened the system's treasure draw interface and resolutely chose the tenfold draw. But the moment he clicked confirm, a sense of foreboding washed over him. The first tenfold draw, as a beginner's pull, guaranteed a three-star martial arts thanks to the system's protection. Now, with that safeguard gone, and given the system's ruthless monetization, he doubted he'd get another three-star technique.

Once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back.

It was too late for regrets. The familiar scene appeared: a row of indistinct treasure chests, their quality unreadable, arranged in two lines, opened sequentially from top to bottom, left to right.

No golden light.
No silver light.
Nothing—absolutely nothing...

Ning Xiu muttered curses, his face full of resentment. He'd been so hopeful, but seeing the results of ten draws, he felt like cursing the heavens.

Penguin Games really are outrageous!
Damn it, my ten thousand blood crystals! I'd staked everything I owned, and this is what I get?

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained Emei Water Division Dagger."
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained Hero's Bamboo Hat."
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained Shaolin Great Restoration Pill."
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained Advanced Golden Wound Medicine."
"Congratulations, host. You have obtained two fragments of the Wind-Sweeping Willow Sword Art."
...

Congratulations, congratulations—congratulate your own damn self! Ning Xiu looked utterly devastated.

Ten consecutive draws and not a single complete martial arts technique. The only worthwhile item was the Shaolin Great Restoration Pill. He'd expected the game to be a scam, but not to this extent.

Back when he was a planner in the WeChat gaming circle, players would routinely curse the developers, but he'd never felt this soul-crushing pain himself—until now.

He recalled a popular post: in this game, everyone is unlucky; the only difference is how much you spend.

Suddenly, a phrase came to mind: everyone has their own sorrow. Perhaps one person's happiness is built on another's suffering—or the suffering of many. But the seeds of misfortune you sow will one day come back to haunt you.

Ning Xiu stared at the system interface, the number beside his blood crystals burning in his eyes.

Still over a thousand left—enough for one more draw.

He remembered another famous saying in the gaming world: miracles come from single draws.

With that thought, Ning Xiu's right hand moved almost involuntarily, opening the treasure draw interface and clicking confirm.

At the instant the chest opened, a silvery light flashed, nearly blinding him.

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained a silver treasure chest, which will randomly grant a two-star to four-star item."

Silver—my god, a silver chest!

But now was not the time to celebrate.

Ning Xiu watched the chest open, eyes fixed and unblinking.

"Congratulations, host. You have obtained a three-star item. Please check your inventory."

"I'm rich—ha! Truly rich!"

Unable to contain his excitement, Ning Xiu laughed aloud. A single draw had yielded a three-star item—such luck, perhaps he truly was the protagonist of legend.

He hurriedly opened his inventory. The moment he saw the item, his expression froze.

"Item: 'Sunflower Manual.'"
"Type: Martial arts."
"Level: Three-star, first-rate intermediate martial arts."
"Annotation: This is the supreme manual coveted by all martial artists, yet also a ruinous classic that destroys lives without end."
"Annotation 2: To master this technique, you must first castrate yourself. Young hero, are you prepared?"

If 'Blood-Devouring Grand Technique' was sinister, 'Sunflower Manual' was a hundred times more cruel. With the former, at least you remained a man; with the latter...

"System prompt: Host does not meet the prerequisites to practice 'Sunflower Manual.' Unable to cultivate."

Thankfully, it couldn't be practiced.

Ning Xiu stubbornly opened the first page—there, the opening lines read: "To master divine skill, draw the blade and self-castrate; refine pills and medicine, harmonize inside and out."

"Harmonize inside and out..."

Staring at the manual in his hands, Ning Xiu felt as if ten thousand wild horses were stampeding through his heart.