Chapter 47: Return
When Su Xiao arrived at the foot of the Molten Mountain, the mountain behind him had completely collapsed, falling into the abyss, with faint ox roars still audible.
Before long, Baha dragged Amu as they flew over, landing at the edge of the abyss.
Su Xiao took the Drowning Soul from his storage space and used it directly.
[You have used the Drowning Soul.]
[You have gained 10% World Source, now totaling 155.15% World Source.]
[World Source has reached 150%. If you achieve an S+ rating at the end of this world, the Hunter will receive a World-Class Chest.]
[Note: World-Class Chests are a special grade and can only be obtained through specific methods.]
...
Su Xiao had previously thought that reaching 150% World Source would guarantee a World-Class Chest, but it now seemed that an S+ overall evaluation was also required.
Su Xiao looked at the [Source] in his hand. As long as he handled this properly, an S+ rating was secure. As for the life of the First King, Edri Dewen, he wouldn't casually judge another's life. He had encountered the First King atop the Molten Mountain, fought fiercely, and narrowly won. The First King was strong, nothing more.
The only thing that left a deep impression on Su Xiao was the First King's greatsword. Each swing was incredibly hard to withstand. Even now, his right arm was sore and swollen, likely by a full circle.
"You won?"
Ryu ran over from a distance, followed by the Giant King striding behind her. Perhaps due to excitement, Ryu suddenly tripped on flat ground. The Giant King behind her stumbled a step to avoid stepping on her.
"No shit. If we'd lost, we'd be chopped into pancakes. But that trip of yours was quite impressive."
Although Baha was severely injured, he still had the energy for snide remarks. It could only be said that when dealing with Baha, you had to shut his mouth first—that was the most effective attack method.
"Ryu."
Baha suddenly turned serious.
"What's wrong?"
Ryu looked at Baha with confusion.
"Open your mouth."
"Huh?"
Ryu was surprised but hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
"Looks about right."
Baha examined her.
"Woof (barely)."
"Probably, it'll work."
Su Xiao tossed the [Source] in his hand to Ryu. If anyone could become the second Source Guardian, he couldn't think of anyone other than Ryu. Even the current King of Talin, Ted, wasn't qualified—he only inherited the royal blood, while Ryu was the seed.
"I'm supposed to... swallow this?"
Ryu looked at the [Source] in her hand, her smile frozen.
"Girl, your comprehension isn't bad. The burden of guarding this world is now yours."
"Uh..."
Ryu seemed a bit broken. Compared to guarding the world, she was more concerned about whether she could swallow this walnut-sized crystal.
Half a minute later, Ryu tilted her head back, her eyes already rolling.
Gulp~
Ryu successfully swallowed the [Source]. She was almost the closest person to the First King's bloodline. If she couldn't do it, no one could.
"Ryu, how do you feel? Any sense of power surging out?"
Baha's gaze was 'concerned.' He often 'teased' Ryu, and if her power suddenly skyrocketed, he'd consider retreating first.
"As for the feeling..."
Ryu's eyes narrowed, a fiery red glow appearing in them, and her hair slowly floated up.
"I feel... stuck, right here."
Ryu pointed to the upper part of her abdomen. Hearing this, Baha's mouth twitched.
Bang~
Su Xiao slapped her back, and Ryu felt relieved, but still had no special sensation. This wasn't a bad thing—it meant she could indeed inherit the [Source].
The fire-attribute [Source] couldn't be taken away, but the water-attribute [Source] could. It was now his possession. As for what to use it for, he hadn't thought of that yet.
Su Xiao had completed everything he needed to do. There was no reason to stay longer. He led Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha toward the distant wilderness.
Ryu didn't follow. She sat by the abyss, with the Giant King behind her, already asleep from exhaustion.
If other contractors entered the Source World soon, exploring outside would be fine. The strongest boss they'd encounter would be Ted, burning with royal blood—specifically, the death-attribute royal blood.
But if contractors tried every means to enter Source: Divine Realm, hoping to reap huge benefits there...
Then congratulations to these seventh-rank contractors—they would face the seventh-rank boss, Source Maiden: Ryu, and the eighth-rank boss, the Giant King. In short, the Divine Realm was no longer a place for seventh-rank contractors to explore. As for stronger eighth-rank contractors, even if they entered the Source World, they'd be restricted and ultimately get beaten to the point of questioning life by the two big bosses of the Divine Realm.
If someone still refused to accept this and used high-intensity dangerous items to deal with the Divine Realm, the Blind Old Man would find them and make them understand whose territory this world really was.
...
[Teleportation Complete.]
[Hunter has returned to Exclusive Room. Beginning world reward settlement.]
Primordial World: Source World
World Difficulty: Lv.50～Lv.68
World Source: 155.15%
Number of Tasks Completed: 3 (Main Tasks ×2, Hidden Task ×1)
Overall Evaluation: S+
Beginning World Source collection...
World Source collection complete. Rewards are being tallied.
Rewards obtained: 36 True Attribute Points (including those gained in the world), 173,000 Paradise Coins, World-Class Chest ×1.
True Power: Plunder ability activated. You will receive 1～3 Golden Skill Points.
Note: You have received 3 Golden Skill Points.
Overall evaluation is S+. Hunter's current level is Lv.63. Hunter level +7 (Primordial World rank × number of tasks completed + overall evaluation - task completion time).
Note: During seventh-rank world settlement, the single increase limit for brand level is Lv.3. Hunter level has been raised to Lv.66.
Note: Unraised brand levels have been converted to authority rewards. Your authority level has increased by Lv.4.
Settlement complete. Rewards have been deposited into the Hunter's brand.
...
Inside the Exclusive Room, Su Xiao sat on the plush carpet. Seeing the last few lines of the world settlement, he felt relieved. If the brand level had really increased by Lv.7, that would have been a huge joke—he'd be promoted to eighth rank in the next world.
Su Xiao knew his weakness: his brand level was rising too fast. Although this yielded more resources, it wasn't without drawbacks.
If he jumped straight to eighth rank in the next world, his physical attributes would become his greatest weakness. At that point, he might find any random eighth-rank contractor with higher single attributes than his.
Su Xiao exchanged 10 Soul Coins for Paradise Coins, opened the life support device, and chose to recover from his injuries.
The severed arm and leg inside the life support device floated up, the blood at the wounds still warm—this was the benefit of placing them in the device.
The torn muscles at the wounds floated up. With Reincarnation Paradise's recovery function, Su Xiao soon felt his left arm, then his left calf. The nervous system recovered first, followed by bones, muscles, and skin.
After a full hour, Su Xiao's injuries were healed. He moved his left arm—it was no different from before.
Including the recovery costs for Baha and Amu, the total expense was 1,670,000 Paradise Coins. This was normal. As his body grew stronger, the cost of healing injuries also increased.
Su Xiao temporarily didn't tally the items he had obtained or go to enhance his attributes. He was waiting for a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise. When he left the Shadi Empire World last time, he had found that world's World Core.
Due to the Shadi Empire World's characteristics, there would be no World War there, but a Resource War, with participants: Reincarnation Paradise, Apocalypse Paradise, Holy Light Paradise, and Death Paradise.
If they won, Su Xiao could get a share. Unfortunately, he couldn't participate in this Resource War.
Calculating the time, that Resource War should have ended by now. But Su Xiao hadn't received any reward-sharing prompt, which likely meant that in this Resource War, Reincarnation Paradise's side had lost.