Apollo opened his eyes after cultivating through the night, feeling more refreshed and energized than ever. However, when he looked at his burns, he couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. Besides cultivating the Revised Simple Breathing Technique, he had also used the surrounding Qi to heal and alleviate his injuries.
But no matter what he did, he couldn't make the Qi enter his organs, only healing the minor injuries, especially his skin.
It seemed like he would really need to buy a couple more Health Potions to completely heal all of his injuries.
Status Screen, Apollo thought, and an interface materialized before him.
Spirit Cultivation: None
Physique Cultivation: 4th-Step Foundation Building
Attributes: Lightning
Staring at his remaining Alm Points, he knew he couldn't afford to spend more of them. This world was dangerous, and he realized just how important these points were. They could save his life in perilous situations and also make him stronger.
However, buying from the System? Just thinking about it made him sick. Besides, he believed his Techniques were more than enough, so there was no need for him to buy an item to increase his strength unless absolutely necessary.
As he was about to close his Status Screen, his eyes caught sight of the Attributes section, and seeing the new addition, he couldn't help but be surprised.
I have Lightning Attributes? But how? Apollo couldn't think of a reason how he got this Attribute, and the System was the only one he could turn to.
"Hey System, why is there an update to my Attributes? How come I have Lightning?" Apollo asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
An interface appeared, words materializing as the emotionless voice of the System echoed in his mind.
"The residue from the Lightning Tribulation entered your body, effectively changing your cells to handle and adapt to the electrical discharge. This allowed the Host's body to attune perfectly to Lightning Attributes," the System explained.
"This… this is cool!" Apollo clenched his fist, his eyes radiating with excitement. "So that means I can generate lightning?!"
With this in mind, he raised his right hand, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes, his whole body tensed up, shivering from the effort of his concentration!
But only the sound of a fart echoed in his Beggar Spot. No lightning, not even a spark, appeared on his hand.
The silence lingered for a while before Apollo slowly lowered his hand, embarrassment covering his face as he turned to the System.
"I can't generate lightning?" Apollo asked, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Fortunately, the System responded like a typical system. "The Host cannot generate lightning without any medium or techniques, unless mastered."
"So basically, this Attribute is useless? I could just find a Lightning Technique and generate lightning, right?" Apollo asked, his eyes turning cold.
"Attributes help the user attune with Nature, communicate with it, and use its power to strengthen oneself. If the user learns a Lightning-related Technique, he will instantly master it and use the Technique's full potential, and even beyond. The Attribute can also be used without Techniques and Qi once fully understood. Mastering your Attribute fully depends on your Talent."
It was a simple explanation, and Apollo immediately understood. In simple terms, he could use lightning without any Technique or even Qi once fully mastered. It was like drawing power from the main source—a more potent and stronger force.
This Attribute would also help him learn Lightning-related Techniques as easily as drinking water.
But how was he going to master his Attribute? He asked the System, and it simply repeated its last sentence.
"The understanding of your Attributes fully depends on your Talent."
Apollo repeated the words as the interface disappeared in particles of light.
"Understanding?" Apollo recalled all of his knowledge about lightning from his previous life. He hadn't specifically studied lightning, but he knew some basics.
He tried to think about it while raising his hand again, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do it.
Sighing, he decided to think about the matter later. There wasn't much information he could use to figure out a direction on how to develop his Lightning Attribute.
Closing his eyes, he went back to cultivating since it was still early in the morning. That guy Ned would only be out 2 or 3 hours later.
As his mind entered the black void of cultivation, with only him and the surrounding Qi, he started gathering the energy. Following the pattern he created for the revised version of the Simple Breathing Technique, the Qi circulated within him.
His mind relaxed, allowing him to think more clearly.
And that's when he suddenly realized something.
Nature? Communicate with it? Apollo quickly grasped how he might come to fully understand his Attribute, though he still needed to test this theory.
It would probably take time, but it was better than having no direction at all.
Ned stepped out of the Filly Restaurant with a relieved smile on his face. Just last night, Mr. Beggar had returned and eaten the food he had left in the corner.
He didn't ask where the beggar had been but was glad that his efforts wouldn't go to waste anymore. After a few days of leaving food untouched, he had been disappointed that such delicious meals would be left uneaten.
With a basket in his hand, he walked to the corner, placed the food on the ground, and turned to head back inside.
But just as he was about to open the door, he heard a carriage stop in front of the store.
Seeing the insignia on the side of the chariot, his eyes lit up, and sure enough, when the door opened, two women stepped out.
"Miss Filly! Miss Gail!" Ned shouted before bowing his head.
Gail nodded, while Filly glanced at the basket in Ned's hands. "Has he come back yet?"
"He did, just last night," Ned said, smiling. "I was about to give this to him."
"I see," Filly nodded. "Then go ahead."
"I will," Ned bowed again before heading back to the corner.
Filly didn't want to bother the beggar beside her restaurant for now—there was too much on her mind. Bel's fate was still unknown, whether she would live or not, and the small masked man she had befriended during the Examination had died from the Tribulation. Absentmindedly, she opened the door, but when she saw her restaurant, she almost didn't recognize it.
"At least we have some good news," Gail muttered, peeking out from behind her.