5: Chapter 5 Mental Burden

The Appraisal Technique could identify people or items up to two major realms above one's own strength, which meant the old man before him was at least a Second Realm Cultivator.

In his fragmented memories, most teachers were only First Realm Cultivators, and even the principal had only barely reached the peak of the First Realm.

Of course, this was also related to his location; this was a relatively safe area, far from high-level dimensional spaces, and the only dimensional space nearby was only of the Yellow Grade.

Therefore, there were basically no cultivators with very high cultivation levels in this region.

Chi Anlin looked at the master with anticipation. This might be a legendary fortuitous encounter; he truly was someone with the protagonist's template.

Of course, this template wasn't solid enough. If his parents were dead, and he had a sister and a house... Pfft.

This wasn't some orphanage setting from his previous life, but at any rate, he did fit the "trash" template.

"A child worth teaching." The old man stroked his long beard, though he didn't know why the kid in front of him had changed his tune so quickly.

"I see your constitution is weak, yet there's a surge of energy within you that exceeds your current strength. You must have contracted a demon beast that surpasses your own power," the old Daoist continued. Chi Anlin sat down obediently, nodding as he listened.

The Queen Ant's strength was indeed greater than his own. Although he didn't feel any physical discomfort, with his current strength, he probably wouldn't be able to detect any issues even if they existed. Could it be...

"A demon beast's power can indeed cause your constitution to grow rapidly. I don't know how you managed to contract it, but your mental strength is indeed too weak. For now, the beast hasn't backlashed, which is good. But if you contract another demon beast, your sea of consciousness will quickly collapse. At that point, not even a Great Golden Immortal could save you." Chi Anlin's face turned pale; he had been planning to use the system to contract a large number of demon beasts.

"In reality, the mental load from a demon beast is only part of it. The main issue is that the sea of consciousness can only hold a limited number of spiritual cores. Your mental strength is too weak, making your sea of consciousness relatively fragile, so you can't contract a second demon beast..."

After listening for over ten minutes, Chi Anlin roughly understood what the old Daoist meant.

Actually, through those fragmented memories, Chi Anlin did possess some knowledge on the subject.

However, he was different from others. The demon beasts he contracted would never backlash, and the mental energy required was minimal, so the old Daoist's concerns were unnecessary.

This was a convenience provided by the system, but this kind of "cheating" wouldn't break the game's balance too much, as it just meant he could accommodate a few more spiritual cores than others.

For example, at the Mortal Rank, an ordinary Beast Tamer could only contract two demon beasts, whereas he could contract three.

If his mental strength improved, he should be able to contract four.

Mortal Rank cultivators were in a "newbie perk" period, allowing them to contract two demon beasts. But upon breaking through to the First Realm, they could only contract one more, and so on.

Thus, choosing a demon beast was a lifelong decision for a Beast Tamer, as replacing one came at a heavy price.

"Master, do you have a solution?" Chi Anlin looked at the old Daoist expectantly. Knowing the old man's strength, he now saw him as having an air of transcendent grace.

"The solution is simple: you just need to increase your mental strength. However, in your current state, you probably don't have much time. Your talent is too poor; as your contracted beast's realm increases, it might even cause your body to explode."

There was no need to worry about that. Chi Anlin didn't feel like his body was going to explode at all. Every bit of spiritual energy coming from the Queen Ant was perfectly absorbed by his body.

The Old Daoist Priest looked at Chi Anlin's expectant face and stroked his beard again. "I indeed have a solution."

With that, he flipped his hand, and a massive glass bottle appeared in his grasp.

Holy crap, where the hell were you hiding something that big?

Chi Anlin's eyes widened as he stared at the glass bottle in disbelief. It was like a 1.5-liter soda bottle; even if the old Daoist's sleeves were twice as long, it wouldn't fit!

Inside the glass bottle were pills.

[Name]: spirit tempering pill

[Quality]: Mortal Rank, Low Grade

[Description]: Has the effect of increasing mental strength.

A pill to increase mental strength!

Chi Anlin's eyes lit up. Although it was only a Mortal Rank, Low Grade medicine, mental-type drugs were extremely rare and often in short supply, monopolized by great families to the point that even his father couldn't buy them.

Wait, this bottle of pills was far too expensive; he had nothing to trade for it.

Sensing Chi Anlin's hesitation, the old Daoist smiled slightly. "Don't worry, little brother. We are fated. I'll give this bottle of pills to you. I hope your strength reaches the next level and you escape your current predicament soon."

Chi Anlin was stunned. They weren't related or even acquaintances, yet he was just giving him this bottle of pills?

An image flashed through his mind.

"Look at this Binbin, getting drunk after just a few cans. He's so lame."

"This Binbin is just lame."

...Terrifying.

At that moment, the old Daoist gently patted Chi Anlin's shoulder and placed the pills in his hand. "I have already obtained what I wanted."

"To know what is unavoidable and accept it as fate... Everything is destiny, and not a bit of it is up to man. I have established a karmic bond with you. Young friend, we shall meet again."

After saying that, the old Daoist strolled forward slowly.

Chi Anlin was still dazed, pondering the meaning of those words, when in the blink of an eye, the old Daoist's figure vanished at the intersection.

"Master! Do I take these before or after meals?" Chi Anlin shouted, finally coming to his senses.

"Eat them as meals..." The old Daoist's voice drifted over, sounding as if it were right next to Chi Anlin's ear, while the pedestrians on the street went about their business, completely oblivious to the large bottle of pills in his hand.

There really are a lot of good people...

Although he didn't know what the old Daoist had gained, based on novels and what the man said, establishing a karmic bond with him should be beneficial to the old man as well.

Chi Anlin put the glass bottle into a bag. This old Daoist was clearly an enlightened master traveling the world; seeing his extraordinary potential, he wanted to form a good connection.

He wondered how long the magic treasures on him would have lasted if that person had tried to attack him just now.

Chi Anlin instinctively reached for his neck. The magic treasures his father gave him were all decorative, like this necklace... Wait, where the hell is my necklace?

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his back as Chi Anlin hurriedly checked his other magic treasures.

Empty.

Chi Anlin's expression changed drastically. His face turned pale, as if he had swallowed a fly.

Dammit, what kind of cultivation level is that? Stealing from a junior!