These three cultivation methods actually have some hidden drawbacks.

  The body refinement technique requires consuming large amounts of food. In times of peace, obtaining large quantities of food would be a simple matter.

  But given the current situation, Dong Qi instinctively feels that Daxia, and perhaps even Blue Star, might descend into chaos in the future. When that happens, obtaining food stably and in large quantities as they do now might become somewhat difficult.

  Yet, if chaos truly erupts, it would actually be an opportune time to cultivate the demonic path technique, the Blood Coagulation Incantation.

  However, once chaos breaks out, the method of using animal blood for cultivation would likely be cut off, but obtaining large amounts of fresh blood would become easy.

  But if one uses large amounts of fresh blood for cultivation, they would certainly be discovered by others.

  And Blue Star's Daxia exists in the modern world; the Blood Coagulation Incantation in its early stages cannot withstand firearm injuries.

  Yet, if one cultivates discreetly, the cultivation speed would be significantly reduced, making it difficult to balance the two.

  There is even less to say about the heterodox Artifact Forging Mantra. Aside from its functional overlap with the newly acquired superpower, the resources consumed for cultivation are also massive.

  However, the cultivation environment required by the Artifact Forging Mantra is precisely the opposite of that needed by the Hundred Refinements Scripture. In times of peace, the materials required for cultivating the Artifact Forging Mantra must be purchased at great expense.

  But once the situation turns chaotic, food will become extremely precious, while many materials will instead become commonplace garbage. At that point, simply picking things up off the street will yield large amounts of materials.

  After careful consideration and comparing multiple aspects, Dong Qi ultimately chose the Artifact Forging Mantra as his primary cultivation technique.

  Although the Artifact Forging Mantra overlaps functionally with his newly acquired superpower, it can also, to some extent, conceal the fact that he can still grow stronger through cultivation.

  After determining his primary cultivation technique, the next step is to determine his lifebound artifact.

  In ancient times, most cultivators practicing the Artifact Forging Mantra would essentially choose their lifebound artifact from between offensive weapons or defensive equipment.

  The reason for choosing between these two was not because ancient people were foolish and only knew to select these types of lifebound artifacts, but precisely because they were very intelligent.

  First, it must be understood that compared to modern people, ancient people might have a significant gap in perspective, but there would not be much difference in intelligence.

  The reason ancient cultivators chose offensive weapons or defensive equipment as their lifebound artifacts when practicing the Artifact Forging Mantra was not because they were unaware that selecting special items as lifebound artifacts would grant special abilities after blood-forging.

  Rather, it was because if a cultivator of the Artifact Forging Mantra is killed, they are very likely to turn into a spirit artifact, and their consciousness would be directly erased by others.

  Therefore, compared to obtaining special abilities, most people would prioritize self-preservation, as staying alive is ultimately the most important.

  Mainstream choices are not necessarily the strongest, but they are the most stable; otherwise, they would not become the mainstream popular choice.

  However, times are different. What was mainstream in ancient times might not adapt well in the modern era.

  For example, ancient cold weapons have become crafts in the hands of collectors in modern times, their practical combat role having diminished significantly.

  Although in the modern era, whether in terms of materials or forging techniques, there has been a tremendous improvement compared to ancient times.

  The emergence of firearms has shifted the criteria for evaluating whether a weapon is excellent from sturdiness and sharpness to accuracy and effective killing range.

  Compared to firearms of the same grade, if a cold weapon cannot reach the opponent, it cannot cause any damage at all.

  There is even less to say about defensive equipment. In this era, whether shield-type equipment or various armors, when facing firearms of the same level, they cannot be said to be completely useless, but their significance is minimal.

  However, if one chooses firearms, unless they are electromagnetic or laser weapons, neither the Item Upgrade ability nor the Artifact Forging Mantra can enhance the ammunition in the slightest; they only improve the weapon itself.

  As for choosing ammunition as a lifebound artifact, no one would be foolish enough to refine a consumable item into their lifebound artifact.

  Based on Dong Qi's years of experience reading novels, the best choices for his Item Upgrade ability are movable vehicles or a building.

  Although novels are mere fantasy, after obtaining the Item Upgrade ability, much of the novel content can serve as a reference.

  After all, with the ability for unlimited upgrades, these two have the highest upgrade potential.

  Dong Qi did not spend much time comparing and choosing between vehicles and buildings. Compared to immovable buildings, vehicles that can change location have greater advantages.

  Initially, Dong Qi considered taking out a loan or long-term leasing an RV. This way, the lifebound artifact would have a good foundation, and whether using the superpower to upgrade or the Artifact Forging Mantra to enhance it, significant improvements could be made in the early stages.

  But after Dong Qi had even selected the vehicle model and was preparing to thoroughly understand the blood-forging method for lifebound artifacts before purchasing, he suddenly discovered that the amount of blood consumed when blood-forging a target into a lifebound artifact varies according to the target's volume and mass.

  First, it must be clarified that, unlike cultivating the Blood Coagulation Incantation where any blood can be used, the blood used in the blood-forging method to refine a lifebound artifact must be the cultivator's own blood.

  And most importantly, all blood must be fresh; it cannot be drawn and stored in advance.

  After clarifying this, Dong Qi immediately abandoned the previously chosen heavy-duty RV. To blood-forge that kind of vehicle into a lifebound artifact, even ten times the amount of blood in Dong Qi's body would probably be insufficient.

  After much deliberation, Dong Qi finally turned his attention to his own Iveco.

  Actually, if seeking relative safety, the safest choice would be a neighborhood electric vehicle. Needless to say, although small in size, it possesses all the basic functions of a car.

  Even if not choosing a neighborhood electric vehicle, the next best option would be a minivan. Compared to the neighborhood electric vehicle, the minivan's load capacity has significantly improved.

  But as is well known, for any upgradable item, the better the foundation, the more superior it is compared to other items at the same level.

  Therefore, since he lacks the capability to choose a heavy RV as his lifebound artifact, Dong Qi still wants to select a better vehicle model. After all, once chosen, there is no opportunity to change it.

  After defining his target, Dong Qi first moved all the items stored in the vehicle into the storage room, then cleaned the interior decorations and removed the seats in the rear compartment.

  The interior of an Iveco is actually quite similar to a minivan. Apart from the driver's and passenger's seats, all other seats in the compartment can be freely removed.

  Other than that, the Iveco simply has a higher chassis, a larger body, and stronger load-bearing capacity compared to a minivan. There is no fundamental difference, as the vehicle models are different, and you get what you pay for.

  Since the blood consumed in the blood-forging method depends on the chosen target's size and mass, and since the vehicle's volume can no longer be changed, Dong Qi could only reduce unnecessary items inside the vehicle to lower its mass.