There was one day left until the enrollment assessment.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the achievement "The Emperor Shall Not Attend The Morning Court." Attribute Points +20, Skill Points +20, Store Points +20.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the achievement "Getting Head." Attribute Points +30, Skill Points +30, Store Points +30.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the achievement "48 Styles." Attribute Points +20, Skill Points +20, Store Points +20.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the achievement "Lotus Flower." Attribute Points +30, Skill Points +30, Store Points +30.]
[...]
Row after row of achievements, all the results of Arden's diligent 'exploration' over the past few days.
One had to admit, he played quite... creatively.
And now, Arden was converting these results into immediate combat power.
Alright!
"Phew... another one done!" Arden placed the drawn talisman to the side, where hundreds of talismans were already piled up.
Through the [System Store], Arden had exchanged for a talisman-based manual—[Celestial Talisman Arts]!
He felt that talisman arts were more suitable for Yunkui Summit than the [Torrent Swordsmanship] and [Arhat Fist] he had already mastered. After all, there was a big difference between 'cultivating immortality,''cultivating the Dao,' and learning martial arts.
According to the system's evaluation, the skills Arden mastered were divided into five levels: Novice, Veteran, Elite, Master, and Grandmaster. Since he hadn't broken through, Arden could only cultivate them up to the Master level at most.
With the system's support, as long as he kept practicing a skill, it would level up. There were no bottlenecks in between.
And right now, Arden was training his skill.
The experience bar for 'Master' had already risen to 90%. Before the official assessment tomorrow, he could definitely level his [Celestial Talisman Arts] to Master.
Of course, Arden didn't just focus on himself. He also exchanged good things for Ju Fufu.
A weapon and a secret manual.
The weapon was the [Multi-Functional Blazing Pot—Hu Wei]!
Along with its matching accessory, the [Roaring Fur-nace]!
It resembled a round metal rice cooker. Besides being a weapon, it could also pop Ju Fufu's favorite popcorn, Bang-Bang Chicken, and more. Also, when Ju Fufu was bored, she could use it as a cat... tiger scratching post.
That way, Ju Fufu wouldn't have to scratch Arden anymore!
Moreover, when attacking while carrying Hu Wei, for some reason, the patterns on Ju Fufu's hair and tail would light up, looking very beautiful.
By the way, all weapons from the system store came with a function: they could change size for easy carrying. Arden's long sword and Ju Fufu's blazing pot were the same. Otherwise, it would be neither aesthetic nor convenient for Ju Fufu to carry a large metal pot every time she went out.
The secret manual was the [Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am the Tiger Sovereign Technique]!
Judging by the name, the technique was similar to the 'Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone Am The Honored One' technique practiced by the Heavenly Matriarch in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, possessing longevity effects. Moreover, when cultivated to great completion, one could freely change age and body shape.
Just imagine, ten or twenty years later, after Ju Fufu's body has developed, she could still transform back to her current big-loli appearance.
Arden admitted that he had his own selfish reasons for choosing this technique for Ju Fufu.
"Hmm..." Drawing talismans was a bit tiring. Arden decided to wash his face to refresh himself.
For some reason, over the past few days, his body felt somewhat weak, and his stamina seemed a bit lacking.
Splash, splash, splash~!
"!!"
After washing his face, Arden looked at himself in the mirror and suddenly froze.
In the mirror was a pale-faced young man with heavy dark circles under his eyes. Was this still the sunny, handsome, and energetic him?
"Could it be because of... excessive indulgence?"
As the saying goes, only the ox dies from exhaustion; the field never gets ruined from plowing! Arden recalled the past few days. Indeed, it had been somewhat... no! It was indeed very excessive!
"This won't do! I need to think of a way."
In theory, the [One Dragon, Nine Phoenixes Art] Arden cultivated shouldn't cause physical depletion in the practitioner. But this technique belonged to the type that grows stronger with stronger partners. In other words, by increasing the number of 'Phoenixes', the 'Dragon' could become vigorous and lively.
But obviously, Arden currently didn't have the conditions for that.
So, he browsed through the [System Store] to see if there were any suitable tonics or supplementary techniques.
Soon, he found pills to replenish the body. But as for techniques...
"Wu Song's Tiger Beating Staff Technique?"
A strange expression appeared on Arden's face. He knew about Wu Song beating the man-eating tiger, and everyone knew the Beggar Clan's staff technique. But with the Wu Song's Tiger Beating Staff Technique... he pleaded ignorance.
"Speaking of which... should I give it a try?"
"Brother Arden, food's ready!"
Just as Arden was struggling with the decision, Ju Fufu's voice came from outside.
"Mm, coming!"
.....
At the Dining Room.
"....."
Looking at a table full of super-tonic foods—either bull penis or rocky mountain oysters—Arden's eyelids twitched uncontrollably!
And that wasn't all.
Ju Fufu brought over a large bowl of soup and placed it in front of Arden.
"Freshly stewed black chicken ginseng soup. Drink it while it's hot!"
It was covered with a thick layer of goji berries on top.
"....."
Arden couldn't suppress the twitching at the corner of his mouth. Feeling the trace of worry in Ju Fufu's expectant gaze, Arden steeled his heart and exchanged for the [Wu Song's Tiger Beating Staff Technique].
Just you wait, tonight! I'm going to put on a show of beating the tigress with my staff!
.....
With the combined support of the tonic meal, tonic soup, tonic pills, and the [Wu Song's Tiger Beating Staff Technique], Arden's nighttime of 'beating the tigress' operation was very successful. Not only did he gain new achievements, but also Ju Fufu's happiness and admiration.
Brother Arden is just too amazing!
Early the next morning, a spirited and supremely satisfied Arden drove his sidecar motorcycle, carrying Ju Fufu straight to the location of the enrollment assessment.
Although it was a joint enrollment, because Yunkui Summit had the most strength and the greatest reputation, and most candidates came for Yunkui Summit, the assessment location was set at Yunkui Summit's mountain gate.
Although Yunkui Summit wasn't located on the Waifei Peninsula, it wasn't far—on a mountain near the peninsula.
"Wow~ so many people!" Ju Fufu exclaimed after jumping off the sidecar. She had never seen so many people gathered together.
When Arden and Ju Fufu arrived at the foot of the mountain where Yunkui Summit was located, a huge crowd had already gathered. It was truly a sea of people.
Not only were there many people, but also many luxury cars. After all, ordinary people couldn't afford the one million Dennies registration fee.
Of course, this didn't mean Yunkui Summit favored the rich and despised the poor. Quite the opposite.
Most of Yunkui Summit's disciples were people of hardship and loneliness. This public enrollment with a hefty registration fee was actually the first of its kind.
"..."
Arden raised his head, looking towards the mountain gate at the summit, obscured by forest and mist.
"Truly worthy of its namesake."
In the post-apocalyptic world where New Eridu was located, such naturally harmonious places were rare. In the usual city or outskirts, even green trees were few. But here, it was lush with greenery, shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland.
"Brother Arden, the cable car isn't running. Are we going to climb up?" Ju Fufu asked, holding Arden's arm with one hand and pointing at the cable car location with the other.
Some candidates had gathered near the out-of-service cable car, seemingly complaining about something. More candidates, however, chose to set off immediately, relying on their own physical strength to ascend to the mountain gate at the peak.