The "Sea Heart" property is primarily about tolerance — it allows the weapon to accommodate the strength of its wielder, regardless of inner breath or true qi, and can channel other types of energy as well.

  It also tolerates the enemy's force, causing attacks to fall as if upon the ocean, creating no ripples or effects.

  The "Storm Surge" trait, on the other hand, is a defensive technique that converts defense into offense — essentially, it reflects damage back at the attacker in successive waves.

  "Assimilation" is a feature that absorbs the enemy's power and turns it into one's own, a trait granted by the raw stone.

  Of course, each weapon's traits have limits.

  The "Sky Bow" has two traits, while the "Sea Heart Armor" has three. While it's not always true that more traits make a better weapon, it's clear that the Sea Heart Armor possesses superior traits, highlighting its high quality.

  Han was very pleased with this Sea Heart Armor and immediately put it on. It almost seemed to carry a hint of the ocean's scent.

  "Now, I have two weapons: one bow and one armor, both offense and defense in hand," Han thought, content.

  No one in Black Cloud Town, not even the three great families or martial arts schools, could match Han’s wealth in the realm of Meridian. Most cultivators would only be given weapons once they reach the Organs Realm, where weapons could truly unleash their full potential.

  The children of family heads or martial arts masters might receive weapons earlier, but for the wandering cultivators, even those in the Organs Realm would often only have inferior weapons forged through intense refinement.

  If someone could steal Han's items, they would become instantaneously rich.

  Thanks to the time card, Han’s stamina quickly refreshed, and he took another four strikes.

  [Rare Item: Guiding Herb]

  [A heavenly item, it can leave behind a leaf pointing in a specific direction, regardless of distance, forever pointing to where the leaf was placed.]

  This was an interesting item — no more getting lost.

  [Rare Item: Concealment Leaf]

  [A leaf from a celestial tree, capable of hiding one’s aura and masking their life force.]

  Perfect for ambushes or playing the role of a wolf in sheep’s clothing — very useful.

  [Rare Item: Ganges Water]

  [An ancient liquid from the Ganges, rich with countless phenomena and poisons. Drinking it gives a 50% chance of acquiring toxin resistance, or a 50% chance of infusing poison into one’s essence, weakening their foundation.]

  "...What is this?" Han frowned as he looked at the murky yellow liquid. He had no intention of drinking it, so he simply put it away as a collectible.

  [Magical Item: Poison Immunity Pearl (Fragment)]

  [A fragment of the Poison Immunity Pearl, granting some of its power to resist toxins of various degrees.]

  Another piece of the "Poison" series magical items — definitely useful. No matter how strong you are, a single poison could take you down.

  Despite his growing collection, Han didn’t hold out much hope for fully assembling the Poison Immunity Pearl. After all, the Water Immunity Pearl had never shown up.

  [Martial Skill Seed: Star Point Finger]

  [With true qi flowing through, one strikes the stars with a single finger, darkening the heavens.]

  Interesting! This time, it wasn’t another weapon-related martial art — Han had received a finger technique instead. He found the note about it amusing but didn’t take it too seriously. How could a Meridian Realm cultivator break stars with a mere finger?

  The Great Immortal Tree was just pulling his leg.

  [Daoist Symbol: Spirit Communication Symbol]

  [Allows communication with beasts, understanding their language.]

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  [Daoist Symbol: Star Summoning Symbol]

  [Can draw upon the power of stars to strengthen the user.]

  [Miscellaneous Pill: Explosive Flame Pill]

  [A failed alchemical attempt, this pill is deadly but also a form of success.]

  Along with two additional cultivation pills and four spiritual herbs, these were Han’s rewards for the eight consecutive strikes. As he packed away his treasures, a sense of urgency stirred within him.

  The Great Immortal Tree would refresh soon, and the next cheat could be completely unknown — it could be useful, or it could be a bust.

  There were so many different kinds of cheats. The Great Immortal Tree itself was a cheat, but even a single pill, a martial technique, or even a firm resolve could be considered a cheat.

  Even if a great cheat appeared in the next refresh, it might not be of the same caliber as the Great Immortal Tree.

  Resources for cultivation would not always be so plentiful. Soon, Han would need to search for them himself.

  Though this was the true way of cultivation…

  "I hope I get something useful in the last few days…" Han sighed.

  For better quality rewards, he needed to raise his realm. Everything still came back to strength.

  Effort! Struggle!

  In the courtyard, An Lang was absorbing moonlight. She was no longer just instinctively drawing in the essence of the Moon, but had begun practicing a technique Han had initially learned — the "Moon Absorption Technique."

  Since the contract with An Lang, Han had been continuously teaching her Daoist techniques. Learning the Moon Absorption Technique was their first big achievement.

  The superior cultivation method Han had received from Lu Qingmo, the "Lunar God Refining Technique," wasn’t being kept from An Lang, but Lu Qingmo had allowed Han to teach it, and it was not a secret technique of the Xuandu Sect.

  However, it was a more advanced method, and An Lang did not yet have the required foundational knowledge.

  With the technique, An Lang appeared as if a fairy bathed in moonlight, radiating a certain holy purity.

  Han then moved to the shadowed side of the courtyard, where the moonlight wouldn’t affect him, and began his own cultivation.

  The next morning, after teaching An Lang, Lu Qingmo also guided Han in practicing the "Great Righteous Hand Seal" and the "Thousand Mile Shadow Leap."

  Before leaving, Han obtained Lu Qingmo’s approval and left An Lang behind to continue researching incense-making techniques.

  The martial school had many students with abundant energy, so An Lang wasn’t suitable for training there.

  Yunjiang.

  Looking at the flowing river, Han plunged in with a splash.

  He hadn’t been in the water for several days, and now it felt like freedom, like a fish swimming through the current.

  With his current strength, Han could move freely through the river, unimpeded by any beast.

  The Yunjiang belonged to the Dragon King of Yunjiang, but it was also "his" in a way.

  With the Water Immunity Pearl, Han could sense the environment more easily, finding both beast and spiritual herb alike.

  Thanks to his spatial bags and rings, Han didn’t have to waste time transporting his spoils.

  "Time to fly!"

  Before long, Han had found three spiritual herbs, but for the beasts guarding them, he only killed one. He spared the other two water beasts.

  The blood of these lower-level beasts was no longer beneficial to Han or to the Taibai Martial School, and without any personal vendetta, he spared their lives. Given their low intelligence, they wouldn't come back for revenge.

  However, if they did persist, Han wouldn’t hesitate.

  After all, he had never promised anyone that he wouldn’t kill wild beasts… or was it "savage beasts"?

  "Wonder if the shrimp and crab soldiers are still around… Has the Dragon King of Yunjiang turned out like the Mountain God of Black Mountain?"

  While submerged, Han pondered these questions.

  He still had a token of the shrimp and crab soldiers, which he could use underwater to summon them.

  But Han hadn’t used it yet.

  Suddenly, the water around him surged, and a powerful presence approached — a massive beast resembling a shark opened its giant jaws and charged toward Han.

  Its eyes were blood red, and its teeth sharp as knives.

  Han was stunned. Sharks? In the river?

  In this world, anything was possible. He couldn't judge creatures based on past experience.

  "Meridian Realm... a big one, huh? But I love fighting big guys like you," Han grinned, ready to face it.

  As soon as he engaged, a massive force surged toward him, the beast’s enormous size granting it unmatched power, an inherent advantage no human could possess.

  But Han wasn’t weak, and his agility far outstripped the beast's.

  "Wind God Kick!" he shouted, closing the distance.

  The two warriors, expecting a repeat of the Wind God Kick, were caught off guard as Han’s fists slammed into their faces instead.

  Taibai Fist Style!

  The force of the strike sent the two warriors reeling, their hands drenched in blood, each with several deep puncture wounds.

  "Fist-sized spikes!" Han grinned, revealing his Jungle Fist Gauntlets, a semi-weapon-grade piece of equipment.

  “You may be stronger, but I’ve got the gear to back me up!”

  Despite Han’s use of his equipment, the Organs Realm warriors were still formidable, and he could feel his internal injuries from the exchange. Blood surged, and his palms stung with pain. The foreign energy from their attacks twisted within him, but he used the Sea Heart Armor’s power to neutralize it.

  If it were anyone else in the Meridian Realm, they would be crippled, if not dead, from such a blow.

  "What’s that in your hand?!" one of the warriors shouted.

  "What the hell is that Wind God Kick?!" the other demanded.

  "Do you believe everything I say?" Han taunted them.

  "Two dumb pigs!"

  "Sharp tongues, but no brains!" Han mocked.

  They charged again, their fury evident in their every step.

  Han popped a pill and activated a talisman. He felt an overwhelming surge of power, and a golden light flickered around his body.

  "Huo Family Fist!" he roared.

  The two warriors sneered, recognizing his technique, but Han was already in motion. He struck with the Huo Family Fist, a martial arts style known for its flexibility and unpredictability.

  With a blast of air, Han’s fists slammed into the two Organs Realm warriors, sending them flying.

  “How can your strength have increased so much?!”

  “Why didn’t you use your legs this time?”

  "Same move, twice? You think I’m that predictable?" Han scoffed. "You idiots, I even told you the name of my technique!"

  "Despicable!"

  "Crafty villain!"

  Han sneered and advanced, unleashing a flurry of rapid punches.

  "The Huo Family Fist is not restricted by form!"