Chapter 8: Memories of Ascetic Cultivation
The one-eyed captain and his team launched a concentrated volley, blasting the Screaming Queen into a bloody pulp. Although her head was shattered and she was judged as having lost consciousness, her body still twitched. This was the origin of the name "Undying"—if the damage wasn't severe enough, the Undying wouldn't completely lose their mobility.
"Phew~"
Zosa let out a long breath. He glanced at the slash marks on the Screaming Queen's body before silently picking up the nearby scabbard.
"Are there any more Undying in the surrounding area?"
The one-eyed captain looked at Su Xiao. His attitude hadn't changed. At his age, and as a contractor, he had a clear understanding of social dynamics. Although the new teammate was strong, he wouldn't flatter him. Maintaining his previous attitude was the best way to handle things. They were all in the same team; if someone was strong, they got a bigger share of the benefits. It was that simple.
"Not for now."
Su Xiao spoke. Throughout the entire battle, he had been sitting on a pile of rocks. If it weren't for his usual caution in combat, he would have already taken out his tablet. It was honestly a bit boring.
"No Undying attacking the barrier either."
Doro deactivated the surrounding barrier. Maintaining the barrier consumed mana, and she needed to minimize her expenditure since they would be clearing out Undying later.
"Report your status."
The one-eyed captain was clearly experienced in this kind of coordinated combat.
"Good."
The little healer raised her hand. Throughout the whole fight, she had only healed once and applied three buffs.
"Mana at 92%."
Doro also spoke. The heavy gunner said nothing; he had only fired two shots. The young Zosa had also expended little energy.
The one-eyed captain stepped forward to the Screaming Queen's corpse. An Epic Chest lay beside it.
[Tip: Your temporary team 'Ranger Squad' has obtained an Epic Chest (21%).]
[You have gained 0.75% World Source (distributed based on combat contribution).]
...
Seeing that he had only gained 0.75% World Source, Su Xiao realized that obtaining over 20% World Source in this world would be difficult. The Screaming Queen was at least a minor boss, and during the fight with her, Su Xiao had contributed over 85% of the combat effort.
Even so, killing the Screaming Queen only yielded 0.75% World Source. If he killed ordinary Undying, he probably wouldn't gain any, or he would have to kill a certain number to get a very small amount.
Killing the Screaming Queen didn't increase Su Xiao's mana, since he wasn't the one who landed the killing blow.
In the previous battle with the contractor, Su Xiao had chosen to let the Soul Devourer consume the "spirit," permanently increasing his mana by up to 500 points per world. As for soul strength, he chose to increase it through Soul Crystals.
To others, the Screaming Queen's corpse was unremarkable, but in Su Xiao's eyes, a grayish-red crystal the size of a fist floated above it.
A faint blue light emanated from Su Xiao's hand. He hooked his finger, and the grayish-red crystal flew toward him.
While the others were discussing the Epic Chest, Su Xiao grabbed the grayish-red crystal. This was the solidified soul of the Screaming Queen. If not for the influence of the Soul Devourer's ability, her soul would have dissipated long ago.
Su Xiao clenched his hand. The grayish-red crystal shattered with a crackle, and two marble-sized orbs of light appeared in his palm.
[You have obtained 'Ascetic Memory: Unyielding Will (Incomplete)'.]
[You have obtained 'Technique Memory: Heart-Crushing Scream (Incomplete)'.]
[Tip: The Hunter may choose one to extract.]
...
This was the first time Su Xiao had activated the active effect of the Soul Devourer. The last time he killed an enemy, he hadn't seen a crystallized soul on the contractor's corpse. This meant the active effect of the Soul Devourer was ineffective against contractors, likely due to the contract mark.
After a moment of thought, Su Xiao chose to extract 'Ascetic Memory: Unyielding Will'. 'Killing Memory: Heart-Crushing Scream' was clearly a technique, and the Screaming Queen's technique wasn't suitable for him.
Three blue energy threads appeared in Su Xiao's hand. These threads were as fine as hair. Two of them wrapped around the red orb in his hand, while the last one pierced into it.
A loud bang echoed in Su Xiao's mind, and his eyes lost focus. A scene unfolded before him.
A transparent figure ran through a forest. Its movements were agile. Perhaps forgetting how long it had been running, it stopped. The transparent figure bore claw marks and scars from penetrating wounds on its body.
It ran aimlessly forward. Days, months, until six years later, a ruined city appeared ahead.
Su Xiao's eyes regained their focus. It felt like watching a few minutes of a movie. He looked at the red orb in his hand. He now had two choices: accept this soul memory or let it dissipate.
Through the extraction of the Soul Devourer's talent, these soul memories contained no visual memories or the consciousness of the Screaming Queen. All that remained was the purest soul will.
[Tip: You have devoured 'Ascetic Memory: Unyielding Will (Incomplete)'.]
[Your Willpower has been permanently increased by 1 point.]
...
Su Xiao felt a sense of physical and mental fatigue. It was as if he had been running tirelessly for a long time. Fortunately, there were no messy memories in his mind; those trivial visual memories had already been stripped away.
Soon, the physical and mental fatigue faded. His body returned to its previous state, but the mental fatigue hadn't fully recovered.
The increase in Willpower wasn't very noticeable to Su Xiao. This was actually normal. After obtaining the Black King set, his Willpower had increased significantly. Without strong Willpower, he wouldn't be able to use Dead Silence Descent.
With his first experience of extracting soul memories, Su Xiao now had a basic understanding of the Soul Devourer's active effect.
First, after killing an enemy, there was a high chance of obtaining a 'Technique Memory'. If it suited him, he would naturally choose that.
After shattering an enemy's crystallized soul, there was a certain chance of obtaining an 'Ascetic Memory' or other types of soul memories. What these soul memories could enhance was still unclear to Su Xiao, but one thing was certain: they couldn't directly improve his physical attributes, such as Strength, Agility, Endurance, or Intelligence.
As for Willpower, it was a hidden attribute related to the soul. Whether there were other types of permanent enhancements remained to be explored.
Just as Su Xiao finished devouring the soul memory, the one-eyed captain and the others approached.
"Kukulin, among us, your Luck attribute should be the highest. You open this chest."
The one-eyed captain tossed the chest obtained from killing the Screaming Queen to Su Xiao. After catching it, the group entered a ruined building behind them to avoid being attacked by enemies while dividing the spoils.
Inside the first floor of the ruined building, the six of them stood or sat, all looking at Su Xiao. Earlier, Su Xiao had demonstrated the Goddess's Favor ability, leading the one-eyed captain to conclude that Su Xiao's luck wouldn't be bad.
Under the expectant gazes of the six, Su Xiao opened the Epic Chest.
[You have opened an Epic Chest. Due to the distribution mechanism of the Ranger Squad, the obtained items will be added to the team list.]
[Obtained 50,000 Paradise Points.]
[Obtained 162,000 Paradise Points.]
[Obtained 18,000 Paradise Points.]
[Obtained Frenzied Hair (Legendary, One-Time Use Item).]
...
After the chest was opened, the one-eyed captain and the others fell silent.
"Uh... this should be an accident, right? Kukulin, I know this is a bit rude to ask, but it affects our future earnings. What is your Luck attribute at?"
Doro spoke tactfully.
"Below 6 points."
In most cases, Su Xiao wouldn't open chests without applying the Lucky King buff. Since there were outsiders present this time, he didn't use it. In reality, his Luck attribute was 9 points, but his luck fluctuated. When it was good, the chest would flash three times in a row.
"Then I'll do it from now on. My Luck is exactly 6 points."
Doro nodded seriously at Su Xiao. Su Xiao didn't say anything, effectively agreeing.