[Rift mutation level decreased by 3%, currently at 9%]
[All monsters slain: You didn't spare any monster in the rift, reward +20%
Victory against the odds: As a Spiritual Power awakener, you dared to come here alone, reward +20%
Quick battle: You're really fast, reward +20%
Boss kill: Even when full, it couldn't defeat you, reward +40%]
[Settlement complete, overall rating S, a perfect run through the Blade Phase.
Received a Skill Card Chest and a Chef Transcendent Occupation Card.]
With the prompt, a red card fell into his hand.
On the front of the card was a chef with a smile on his face, cooking a shark.
Transcendent Occupation Card, Chef, acquired!
Chen Qi happily pocketed it and looked at the prompt in front of him.
[Would you like to draw from the Skill Card Chest? (16% chance for rare Blade, 44% chance for common Blade, 10% chance for rare Cup, 30% chance for common Cup)]
Apart from the black market, the main way to acquire occupation skill cards was through rift rewards.
Common skill cards moderately increased knowledge, most of which could be learned with time.
Rare occupation cards either increased knowledge to a moderate degree or granted Transcendent skills!
Normally, an E-level rift could only produce rare occupation cards under a perfect rating.
A 16% chance for a rare Blade Phase card, a 10% chance for a rare Cup Phase card...
His luck was relatively low, so even with a perfect run, the odds of drawing a rare occupation card were still slim.
Now was undoubtedly a critical moment to test his luck!
The Cup Phase skill card might be overridden by the Transcendent Chef's skills.
If possible, he wanted a rare Blade Phase skill card to enhance his combat power further.
Chen Qi rubbed his hands together, excitedly thinking to himself:
"Draw the card!"
The moment to test his luck had arrived!
Accompanied by the sound of wind, a bright red skill card materialized in the air!
Rare!
Wait, Cup Phase?
Chen Qi frowned. On the back of the card was the image of a blood-filled cup.
But something seemed a bit off.
Within the blood of the Holy Grail was a sharp, crimson blade.
A rare Cup-Blade Phase skill card!
Chen Qi was startled.
This could count as drawing a rare Blade Phase skill card.
[Blade Body Forging Skill - Early Stage
Nature Form: Cup, Blade
Description: There exists an insurmountable wall between wielding tools and bare-handed combat. Therefore, if one trains their body to be like a blade, I am the wall!
Function: Practicing this skill can enhance strength and constitution and grants the active skill "Burst."
Burst: Consumes Spiritual Power, drastically enhancing body resistance and strength for a brief period. (This skill scales with constitution and strength; the higher the attributes, the stronger the skill)]
A skill card that increases constitution and strength!
Chen Qi was overjoyed.
He initially thought he would draw something like a "Swallow Return," "Flowing Water Punch," or "Enchanting Palm" Transcendent martial skill, but he unexpectedly drew a body forging technique.
Body forging techniques, akin to breathing techniques, were considered practical foundational skills and were one of the best skill card types for early constitution enhancement.
"More attribute increases again..."
As a strategy guide creator, Chen Qi had always favored operational routes, specializing in "outplaying" opponents.
Of course, every cool "outplay" performance was behind at least ten failed attempts.
But now, he was getting further along the path of high stats.
This was really—
Awesome!
High stats also meant his margin for error increased.
Chen Qi excitedly gripped the skill card, thinking to himself:
'Use!'
The skill card dissolved into a blood-red ink that dissipated in the air.
[You have learned Blade Body Forging Skill - Early Stage.]
In an instant, Chen Qi felt an influx of knowledge.
In that moment, countless scenes flashed in his mind: training muscles, catching blades bare-handed, punching steel until it yielded...
It felt like a long dream.
As the dream ended, Chen Qi took a deep breath and felt some subtle changes in his body.
[Your constitution +1, your strength +1, your body is digesting the Blade Body Forging Skill.]
[Your constitution meets the requirement, you have mastered the "Burst" skill.]
"Hoo..."
Chen Qi stretched his muscles.
Skills like body forging needed to be digested through training and diet.
In the end, it should provide at least a 5-point increase in both constitution and strength, which was quite a substantial bonus.
Chen Qi stretched his muscles again.
Amidst the crackling sounds, a gash appeared on the restaurant wall before him, slowly opening into a jagged maw.
[Rift ended, please leave within thirty minutes, and you cannot re-enter the rift for two weeks.]
[Rift resetting...]
Many rifts presented additional exits upon completion.
Furthermore, as long as the mutation wasn't zero, the rift would refresh.
Chen Qi looked at the prompt and glanced around once more.
Though he had acquired the Transcendent Occupation Card and a rare body forging skill card,
he still hadn't done the most important thing.
Loot!
The items in the rift were valuable, and he could make a considerable profit if he could take them out.
Chen Qi found a bag and began scouring the rift.
The chef's uniform was just ordinary ragged cloth, the weapons were regular iron tools, and the food on the cutting board was all rotten fish...
Nothing valuable at all.
Chen Qi shook his head, squatted down, and looked under the kitchen counter.
At that moment, he noticed a half-opened cabinet.
Bang!
Chen Qi used his blade to pry the cabinet open.
Inside were four bulging sacks.
At the same time, he smelled a strong aroma.
Chen Qi's eyes lit up:
"This is... spices!"