Chapter 89: Energy Blockade
Blue smoke drifted, and the Reborn Dragon Essence in Su Xiao's hand gradually turned gray-white, the life energy within it showing signs of drying up.
Last time, Su Xiao had absorbed roughly one-third of the energy from the Reborn Dragon Essence, raising his Azure Steel Shadow ability from Lv.30 to Lv.39. This time, he absorbed the remaining two-thirds of the energy. As his strength increased, the maximum amount of energy he could absorb in a single session had also noticeably risen.
However, even after draining all the energy from the Reborn Dragon Essence, the Azure Steel Shadow ability didn't see a massive leap in improvement. In fact, it only increased by one level.
The energy required to raise Azure Steel Shadow from Lv.39 to Lv.40 was astonishing, even exceeding the total energy needed from Lv.30 to Lv.39.
With a crisp crack, the Reborn Dragon Essence in Su Xiao's hand shattered, scattering into countless crystalline fragments that gradually disappeared into the air.
Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes tightly shut. The blue smoke on his arms dissipated, and the grinning skull that had swelled to the size of a basketball vanished.
Azure Steel Shadow energy surged through Su Xiao's body, leaving him with only 2 mana points. This happened because nearly all his mana had been converted into Azure Steel Shadow energy.
The nature of the Azure Steel Shadow energy within him hadn't changed, but it was continuously compressing. This wasn't a change in quantity but a change in quality.
Su Xiao didn't feel anything unusual in his body, so he chose to wait quietly for the Azure Steel Shadow energy to settle.
After a full hour, the Azure Steel Shadow energy in his body calmed down.
[Azure Steel Shadow ability has been raised to Lv.40.]
Having completely absorbed the Reborn Dragon Essence, the Azure Steel Shadow ability only increased by one level, but Su Xiao wasn't disappointed. He could feel that the ability had undergone significant changes.
[Azure Steel Shadow (Active Skill)]
Activation Condition: After activating (Azure Steel Shadow), the Hunter consumes 120 mana points per minute. Automatically deactivates when mana falls below 1%.
Skill Effect: After activating (Azure Steel Shadow), each melee attack burns 230 mana points from the enemy and deals true damage equal to 1.6 times the burned mana (368 true damage). The enemy will suffer intense pain from the mana burn. While enduring this pain, there is an 18% chance to trigger one of three abnormal statuses: Paralysis, Immobilization, or Stun. The abnormal status duration ranges from 0.2 to 3 seconds.
Defense Form: Aoge (Active) – Can generate energy shields of any shape to defend against enemy attacks. Shield strength is proportional to the mana consumed, with a maximum single-use mana consumption of 700 points (increased by 100 points).
Release Form: Energy Blockade (Active) – Insufficient Azure Steel Shadow energy intensity. This ability cannot be used yet.
Note: This ability can be awakened when Azure Steel Shadow reaches Lv.40. It can be used after being raised to Lv.50.
As Su Xiao had sensed earlier, the Azure Steel Shadow ability had undergone significant changes. Various values had increased, and he now had a better understanding of the ability.
First, the basic effects of Azure Steel Shadow were threefold: burning the enemy's mana, dealing true damage, and a chance to control the enemy.
As for the defensive form, the Aoge ability, this was another way to utilize Azure Steel Shadow energy, an advanced application method.
As for the newly appeared "Energy Blockade," Su Xiao wasn't yet sure of its effects. For now, this ability had only reached a preliminary awakening stage. To use it freely, he would need to raise Azure Steel Shadow to Lv.50.
Energy Blockade was an active ability, which was quite intriguing. From its name alone, it was clear that its main function was to block energy.
Blocking Su Xiao's own energy? That seemed unlikely. That left only the possibility of blocking the enemy's energy. Whether it was a melee or ranged ability remained unknown.
If it were a ranged ability, it would be incredibly powerful. Blocking an enemy's energy, especially for a mage, would be equivalent to a mana-sealing ability.
A mage whose mana was sealed—no, even a Mage Lord whose mana was sealed—Su Xiao could cut them down within seconds, unless their melee combat skills could withstand him.
But it was too early to dwell on these fantasies. Raising Azure Steel Shadow to Lv.50 would be extremely difficult. Given the energy requirements of Azure Steel Shadow now, even if Su Xiao had a dozen Reborn Dragon Essences, it might not be enough to raise it to Lv.50.
As the level gradually increased, the energy required by Azure Steel Shadow grew exponentially. The energy needed to go from Lv.40 to Lv.41 might even exceed the total energy required from Lv.1 to Lv.40. Yes, it was that exaggerated.
No wonder the Shadow of Law Destruction had developed such a dangerous ability as the "Devouring Core." It made sense—with such massive energy demands, relying solely on Soul Crystals for energy would be unaffordable for anyone.
The Devouring Core was different. In critical moments, it could not only absorb energy but also serve as a lethal weapon against enemies.
Su Xiao let out a long breath. Overall, his current strength was a notch higher than when he had first left the Primordial World. As for continuing to improve in the near future, that was unlikely. Most of the resources he had obtained had already been converted into strength. The remaining resources were either of unknown use or not easy to sell.
[Legendary Medal ×1]
[Moon God Silver Ring (Set 1/2)]
[???]
Three items remained. Su Xiao had no intention of selling the Legendary Medal. This item would be useful in the future, especially since he could now forge one piece of equipment for free each world he experienced (thanks to Brother Lide).
As for the [Moon God Silver Ring], he could just throw it into the Trade Market for consignment. As for the final [???], just looking at it gave Su Xiao a headache.
Su Xiao was a seasoned Hunter in Reincarnation Paradise, but from the moment he entered Reincarnation Paradise until now, he had never seen such a bizarre item.
This thing didn't even have a name. Its overall shape was an irregular crystal, filled with translucent smoke. This smoke would occasionally form the shape of a crown, and at other times, a throne, constantly shifting forms.
When he first returned to Reincarnation Paradise, Su Xiao had tried to identify this item. After all, there was the precedent of the [World Tree Ring], so he had high expectations for it.
The identification result was "Failed." It wasn't that Reincarnation Paradise couldn't identify it, but that Su Xiao couldn't afford the identification fee.
[To fully identify '???', requires: 600,000 Paradise Coins, Soul Crystal (Large) ×10, Throne Aura Source, Crown Water Crimson, Royal Power Cold Relic.]
Given Su Xiao's financial situation, 600,000 Paradise Coins plus ten Soul Crystals (Large) was something he could scrape together if he gritted his teeth. As for the Throne Aura Source, Crown Water Crimson, and Royal Power Cold Relic—no, these three items should be equipment—Su Xiao had no way to obtain them.
He had heard of these three pieces of equipment. They formed a gold-quality set known as the Ice King Set, with a reputation no less than the Demon Hunter Set. For ice-type Mage Lords, the value of the Ice King Set even exceeded three high-rated legendary equipment pieces.
Of course, this was only in the eyes of ice-type Mage Lords. In the eyes of skill-based ice mages, the Ice King Set was trash. Or rather, the set abilities of the Ice King Set were too high-end. Those skill-based ice mages couldn't even touch such high-end items. In the eyes of the ignorant, gold worth 100,000 was more valuable than rare minerals worth 10 million. That was the principle.