Chapter 8: The Ten Source Qualities, Cards of the Wind

Rod certainly did not intend to abandon the fat merchant; on the contrary, the reason for his departure was merely to inspect his spoils.

However, what frustrates Rod the most is his attributes. Until now, his strength, constitution, agility, willpower, and other attributes remain hidden, which makes Rod somewhat uneasy. Although this is his own body, the state exhibited by this body completely surpasses the normal level that Rod should possess. He has already determined that his attributes are certainly above that of a human, but the inability to have a detailed understanding of his physical condition feels quite unpleasant. You might think you are going to die, but in the end, you do not. This can be considered a beautiful misunderstanding. However, if you believe you will not die, and then you do, that is a damned nightmare. And since he cannot see, Rod can only rely on his experience to make educated guesses.

Rod couldn't help but smile, as the summoning spirit of the flying system was one of the essential spirits for summoning swordsmen in the early stages. Moreover, its wind elemental attribute allowed it to smoothly traverse items without magical properties, meaning that ordinary defenses were utterly meaningless in its presence. Coupled with an effective range of 30 meters and special effects, Rod could at least ensure that he would not encounter too much danger for now. Even if he accidentally came across those mutated BOSSes, he was confident in his ability to fight them.

Soon, on the back of Rod's right hand, the summoning array once again radiated a pure and flawless light. It flowed like water along his fingers, enveloping the soul core at the center of his palm. As the divine power penetrated, the strands of black mist that had been entwined around the soul core melted away rapidly, like snow under the sunlight, disappearing without a trace. With the vanishing of the black mist, the previously concealed soul core finally revealed its true form—transparent, emitting a deep blue glow, trembling slightly like an egg-shaped gem. It seemed to sense something, striving to break free from its shell.

Now, Lijie’s performance clearly demonstrates her lack of support, which makes the young girl extremely anxious. Rod can see that the loss of her companions has had a significant impact on her; it is not only because familiar faces have left her, but also due to a sense of uncertainty and fear regarding the future. During the previous battle, Rod took the opportunity to observe this young girl. At that time, everything she did was quite commendable. She was able to cast healing spells on her companions in the shortest time possible and quickly dispel the toxins affecting them. Moreover, the protective shield she cast on Rod was so precise that it could be calculated down to the second. Such ability is considered quite exceptional for a support role. Furthermore, she was filled with confidence at that time, with clear objectives; although faced with danger, she did not hesitate or show fear.

Sky Set Card Obtained 1 / 10, Soaring Soul Bird

I am truly fortunate

In fact, Rod also noticed Lijie's unusual behavior. Mace was able to discern her characteristics because, as a businessman who traveled extensively, he would have been sold out long ago without some perceptiveness. Rod's ability to see through her personality stemmed from his experience as the president of the largest guild in the Dragon Soul Continent game. It is important to understand that unlike reality, players are hidden behind their characters online, which makes their behavior more concealed than in real life. In this online world, to harness the collective power, one must be exceptionally perceptive, as most players come to the game for enjoyment rather than treating it as work. Expecting them to log in on time, participate in dungeons punctually, break records, and achieve accomplishments requires a delicate balance and understanding. Therefore, observing the emotions and inner thoughts of companions is particularly crucial for a guild leader like Rod.

Rod did not intend to reveal his abilities too much in front of others. Although the game had already introduced that the Summoner Swordsman is a player-exclusive class, which once existed in the distant ancient times of the continent, players are the sole inheritors of this class. They embark on their journey to seek and restore the glory of this once-heroic profession—of course, this is all nonsense from the game introduction. To put it more practically, through the expressions of Lijie and Meisi, Rod could ascertain that these individuals were at least completely unaware of the existence of such a class, and thus he found it inconvenient to elaborate further. Moreover, maintaining a certain level of mystery is not without its benefits for oneself.

At this moment, Rod was standing deep within the dense forest. He raised his right hand, revealing a soul core the size of a fruit pit, exuding a rich aura of darkness, quietly resting in the palm of his hand. Surrounding him was a tranquil and gentle jungle, with the midnight moonlight filtering through the leaves and branches, casting scattered spots of light upon the earth and shrubs. Subsequently, the summoning array on the back of Rod's hand shone once more, and the streamlined magical radiance swiftly extended outward. The gentle jungle, the midnight moonlight filtering through the leaves and branches, casting scattered spots of light upon the earth and shrubs. Then, the summoning array on the back of Rod's hand shone again, and the streamlined magical radiance quickly spread out. Following this, a line of system prompts appeared before Rod.

Although experience is valuable, for Rod, what he feels he has gained is something else entirely. It is the black raw stone he holds in his hand at this moment. According to the lore of the Dragon Soul Continent, this is the soul core formed from the powerful magical beings upon their death. Its characteristics are abundant; it can be used as a gem embedded in weapons, or melted down to forge soul weapons. For spellcasters, it is also an excellent material for crafting magical items. Furthermore, the drop rate of soul cores is very low, which has kept their prices consistently high in the world of the Dragon Soul Continent. For summoning swordsmen, they hold an irreplaceable role.

The core of the spiritual essence has been purified, should it be awakened

Ah... no, it's nothing, Mr. Rod.

In the previous battle, Rod gained a wealth of experience, but he did not acquire much in terms of loot. Although for players, the wrecked airship was filled with treasures, and with so many dead bodies, there was certainly a considerable amount of wealth on them. However, Rod ultimately dismissed this idea; after all, the other party had saved his life. It would be rather inappropriate to wait until they were dead to scavenge their belongings.

Awaken

There is only one reason

Lijie, is there something you need from me?

Purification

The Soaring Soul Bird (Wind Element Attribute): The flying type can merge with spirits, with a 10% chance to trigger paralysis effect during attacks, penetrating effect, and is ineffective against magical defenses—possesses the skill: Spirit Wind Mirage (A range skill of the wind dwellers soaring in the sky)

Discovering a polluted soul core, do you wish to purify it

For this is the essential treasure required to awaken and summon the spirit.

Just as Rod had turned around, he saw Lijie already walking out from the forest

As she spoke her voice grew softer, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her robe, at that moment she gave off an impression of immense fragility

Lijie shook her head, but her expression revealed some unease

Through the previous battle with the Wind Serpent Lord, Rod has gained some insights. After all, he had previously conducted detailed research on the data of the Wind Serpent Lord as a BOSS. Based on the earlier combat situation, his strength should be roughly on par with that of a standard legitimate swordsman, while his physique is quite robust. At least since arriving in this world, despite experiencing several crises, Rod's body seems to have withstood the tests, with the lowest indicator of his physical condition being merely at a warning level, never reaching an emergency state. In terms of speed, he is not much different from an average human. However, when it comes to willpower, Rod has no way to test it—he certainly cannot find a mage to cast mental spells on him just to see how much he can endure.

But now, this trembling girl has completely lost the confidence she once had

A wave of coolness and a comfortable sensation emanated from Rod's body, causing him to involuntarily shudder in his attire. At that moment, Rod also learned what kind of existence he had entered into a contract with. He picked up the card, which featured a turquoise spirit bird soaring in the sky on its front. In the upper right corner was a cyan-blue semicircle (representing the card's attributes), while the upper left corner bore the letter V. The lower corners displayed two small numbers—2. He turned the card over, and soon, lines of text shimmering with magical brilliance appeared on the back.

Accompanied by Rod's words, the trembling of the deep blue egg-shaped gem intensified. Then, with a soft "pop," the entire egg-shaped gem shattered instantly. Following this, streams of blue energy erupted forth, swirling rapidly before transforming into the form of a card, which finally lay quietly in Rod's hand.

That... I just wanted to ask, how is your injury? Is there anything I can do to help...

At that moment, a faint sound emerged from the bushes. Rod raised an eyebrow, lowered his right hand, and the brilliance of the summoning array on the back of his hand dimmed in an instant. The card he had been holding transformed into specks of magical light and immediately vanished. Once sealed as a card and confirming its relationship with the holder, the sealed card would no longer appear in physical form; it would quietly slumber within the summoning array on the back of the summoner's hand, in a ring known as the "Ten Source Qualities," waiting for the holder to awaken it for use. At this moment, the only cards sealed within were the two cards in the lowest layer of the outer six rings, the "Kingdom" ring—namely, the attribute-less "Star Mark" and the wind-elemental "Spirit Bird."