Chapter 11: Auxiliary Trait: Item Analysis

"Yang Le, and Li Qi’er, stay here. Lord Zhangsun will come to see you shortly."

"We are just to wait?"

"Rest assured, you will receive the rewards you are owed. As the first-place winner of the martial arts selection, your enrollment in the military is guaranteed."

Li Bing’s gaze toward Yang Le now carried a trace of impatience. After all, the task entrusted to him by Zhangsun Ji remained unfulfilled.

"To think that such a young eighth-grade martial artist could exist in a small, remote border town—if Lord Zhangsun Ji were to see this, he would surely be astonished."

Currently, Li Bing’s top priority was to report the events that had transpired in the martial hall to Zhangsun Ji. However, upon sensing the eighth-grade cultivation level within Yang Le, a flicker of shock appeared on his face. After standing stunned for a long moment, he offered some stiff words of praise before hurrying away.

*A young eighth-grade martial artist in the bitter, frozen land of Cangzhou?*

...

Inside the room, only Yang Le and Li Qi’er remained. A heavy silence hung between them.

Earlier, when the door had first opened, Li Bing’s murderous intent had been starkly apparent. Yang Le did not know if others had noticed it, but he had seen it at a glance. Initially, Yang Le had intended to act on opportunity; if Li Bing proved treacherous, using his blood to test his blade would not have been out of the question.

Yet, before Yang Le could strike, the murderous intent on Li Bing vanished instantly. After furrowing his brows for a moment, Li Bing had ordered his soldiers to bring out the surviving martial artists from the hall in batches.

As the top-ranked martial artist of Qinghe County, Yang Le was brought alone into the inner sanctum of the county office. According to Li Bing, he was being summoned separately by Zhangsun Ji to receive his prize. As for Li Qi’er, she had initially been taken outside with the others, but after Yang Le spoke up to keep her, Li Bing had pondered for a moment and agreed.

*Since entering the eighth grade, my perception has heightened. The thick stench of blood on Li Bing and these soldiers is almost overflowing. Is it due to their cultivation techniques, or…*

*Military status and the pills mentioned by Zhangsun Ji are like flavorless scraps to me. The intense blood-aura on Li Bing and Zhangsun Ji is highly suspicious; I must prepare a contingency plan.*

Brought to this place, Yang Le felt no nervousness. After considering the reasons behind the heavy blood-aura and killing intent he had sensed from Li Bing, he set his concerns aside and sat cross-legged, beginning his cultivation.

Yang Le’s plan was simple: if things went smoothly, he would sell the pills for travel funds to Ci Prefecture and choose a suitable longsword from the armory to replace his current one.

After all, the sword in his hand was merely made of crude iron. It might suffice as an accessory for a dissolute young master, but to use it to kill was pushing it. Looking at the blade, Yang Le had already spotted several notches after hacking down seventeen men. This was why, even knowing the Zhangsun lineage was suspicious, he had chosen to stay: because Zhangsun Ji had promised him his pick of any weapon.

And if things did not go smoothly?

Having entered the eighth grade, he might well be capable of killing the seventh-grade martial artist Zhangsun Ji.

Yang Le adjusted the longsword at his waist. It was almost time to act, and wiping the blade clean was only logical.

...

"Master..." Li Qi’er suddenly spoke after a long silence.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to say... be careful."

"Oh."

Li Qi’er seemed to have more to say, but seeing her master occupied with wiping his sword, she chose to remain silent and sat on a step. After a night of turmoil, it was time to apply medicine to her wounds. Her master, she realized, must have already sensed something.

...

*Interesting. Has she sensed that something is wrong? Qi’er... what kind of name is that for a girl?*

While cultivating, Yang Le cast a glance at the restless Li Qi’er, then ceased his musings and activated his "Entry System." Li Qi’er might have noticed something, but to Yang Le, as long as the sword in his hand was sharp, any conspiracy could be shattered with a single strike.

"Let’s see what I can refresh..."

Looking at the entry panel, Yang Le activated the refresh.

"Daily entries refreshed. Please make your selection..."

"Ding! Today’s refresh features a boost for Auxiliary Entries. Today's entries: Sword Cultivator (Boosted), Auxiliary Entries (Double Boosted)..."

"Today's entries: Sword-Forging Apprentice, Item Analysis, Heavy Sword Mastery."

[Sword-Forging Apprentice (White): A sword cultivator’s life is the sword in their hand. Are you willing to place your life in the hands of another? You will become a sword-forging apprentice, possessing the knowledge and experience to forge basic longswords.]

[Item Analysis (Cyan): Gain corresponding descriptions of extraordinary items. The higher the grade, the more concise the description.]

[Heavy Sword Mastery (Green): When using a heavy sword, the power of sword techniques increases by 20%, though attack speed decreases by 5%.]

*A good haul?*

The moment he refreshed, Yang Le heard the system's special prompt. His current situation did not require auxiliary entries, but seeing these three, he realized he had underestimated the system. It really was a good haul.

The Cyan-grade entry "Item Analysis" was, for Yang Le, practically life-saving. As a newcomer to the Great Qian martial world, what he lacked most was not techniques or weapons, but information. Being a rogue cultivator, his predecessor had possessed zero knowledge of martial arts lore. "Item Analysis" perfectly solved this pain point.

"Select entry: Item Analysis."

Without a moment’s hesitation, Yang Le made his choice. As for the other two—Sword-Forging Apprentice and Heavy Sword Mastery—he might have hesitated if not for Item Analysis, as they were quite useful. But before Item Analysis, any hesitation would be an insult to the entry itself.

[Qingyun Sword Manual (Fragmented): An introductory sword technique for the Thunder Spirit Sect. Upon obtaining the complete manual, one can cultivate to the Innate Realm. Once at the Innate Realm, one can transition to wind-attribute techniques like the Flowing Wind Sword or the Qingyun Flowing Sword Manual. Recommended sword type: Light sword.]

[Sword of Seven: A minimalist sword technique. Ethereal and agile, decisive in slaughter. Can be integrated into various sword styles. A necessary prerequisite for unlocking the Ten Thousand Sword Art.]

...

The moment he acquired "Item Analysis," two prompts flashed in his mind: one regarding the "Sword of Seven" obtained via his Sword Apprentice status, and the other regarding the "Qingyun Sword Manual."

*Are these the only things on me that satisfy the requirements for Item Analysis? No matter, this is enough. With this entry, I won't make the mistake of overlooking treasures in the future.*

Yang Le instantly realized that the value of "Item Analysis" was not inferior to any standard entry. In certain situations, its value could even surpass most combat-oriented entries.

*Hm? Has Zhangsun Ji arrived?*

Just as Yang Le closed the system interface, rapid footsteps echoed outside. Yang Le surmised that the person approaching the door must be Zhangsun Ji, coming to see him alone.