Chapter 21: The Winner
A treasure chest appeared in Su Xiao's hand. This was the [Holy Spirit Chest: Black Nest]. Upon opening, it would randomly grant one of three Holy Spirit rank sets.
Charm type, melee type, or technique type. The specific type obtained was random. Su Xiao naturally hoped most for a technique-type Holy Spirit set, while he had little interest in the charm type.
As for the melee type, ever since the Dragon Hunter set was destroyed, Su Xiao had gained a new understanding of melee sets. While their effects were undeniably powerful, once the user encountered an exceptionally brutal battle, the probability of the melee set being destroyed was extremely high.
The characteristics of melee sets were all exceptionally stubborn. Many of them grew stronger as long as the user didn't die.
The enhancement from any equipment wasn't obtained out of thin air; it came from consuming the supernatural power within the equipment or consuming its durability.
The Demon Hunter set was also considered a melee set. The reason it hadn't been destroyed yet was that Su Xiao never activated the Demon Hunting Hour when fighting powerful enemies. Otherwise, the Demon Hunter set would have been destroyed long ago.
Su Xiao put away the [Holy Spirit Chest: Black Nest]. He couldn't open it now. A certain someone was still secretly watching. If he opened this chest now, Su Xiao estimated there was a seventy percent chance of getting a summon-type Holy Spirit set.
Su Xiao opened his title list and checked the two newly obtained six-star titles.
[Glory of the Insect]
Origin: Dark Star World: Underground Kingdom
Quality: ★★★★★★
Category: Title
Title Effect: Consume 15% of your own Health Points and Mana Points to summon three Leader-rank Insect Warriors: Mantis Species to assist you in battle.
Tip: Leader-rank Insect Warriors: Mantis Species persist for 1 to 5 natural days.
Tip: This title can only be used once per world progress.
Tip: The size and combat power of the Leader-rank Insect Warriors: Mantis Species will be determined based on the wearer's Intelligence Attribute and Charm Attribute (Intelligence Attribute bonus 15%, Charm Attribute bonus 85%).
Description: Even if the will has been corrupted, honor still resides in the heart.
Selling Price: Cannot be sold.
...
Seeing the attributes of [Glory of the Insect], Su Xiao decided to test this ability. He removed the [Deep Blue Shadow] title and equipped [Glory of the Insect].
As soon as he activated the title effect of [Glory of the Insect], Su Xiao felt some of his life force and mana points consumed. Three life auras converged in front of him.
After a moment, three Insect Warriors were successfully summoned. Su Xiao crouched down, looked at the three Insect Warriors for a moment, then expressionlessly dismissed the summon and switched back to the [Deep Blue Shadow] title.
As for [Glory of the Insect], it was thrown into a corner to collect dust. It could be used later for refining titles. The title couldn't be sold and could only be used by Su Xiao himself. This enhancement came from the Reincarnation Mark and was a different system from the equipment he wore.
[Battle Master]
Origin: Dark Star World: Underground Kingdom
Quality: ★★★★★★
Category: Title
Title Effect (Phase 1): During battle, every 60 seconds, increase base Nerve Reflex Speed by 1 point and base Dynamic Vision by 1 point, up to a maximum of 10 points.
Tip: When this effect is fully accumulated, Phase 2 effect will be triggered.
Title Effect (Phase 2): During battle, every 120 seconds, increase maximum Health Points by 1%, up to a maximum of 20% maximum Health Points.
Tip: When this effect is fully accumulated, Phase 3 effect will be triggered.
Title Effect (Phase 3): During battle, every 180 seconds, randomly increase 1 point of a physical attribute (Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Stamina, Charm), for a total increase of 35 physical attribute points.
Tip: The bonuses from this title will last until the battle ends.
Description: As a Battle Master, you must first ensure you remain standing.
Selling Price: Cannot be sold.
...
Seeing the effects of the [Battle Master] title, Su Xiao was momentarily at a loss for how to describe it. Was it trash? Double reaction speed +10 points, max Health Points increased by 20%, and 35 physical attribute points increased. No matter how you looked at it, this title's effects were extremely powerful.
Su Xiao did a rough calculation. From the start of the battle until the Battle Master's effects were fully stacked, it would take a total of 155 minutes, which was 2 hours and 35 minutes.
What kind of powerful enemy could Su Xiao fight for 2 hours and 35 minutes? He was a technique type. His blade techniques consumed stamina at an alarming rate. Fighting for about an hour was already considered a very long battle.
However, this title was very useful. If Su Xiao found himself in a chaotic battlefield, and he didn't have soldier-type units under his command, wearing [Battle Master] was the best choice. He would grow stronger the longer the fight lasted.
Titles had various effects. Not finding a title that suited you was normal. Besides, titles could still be refined.
Su Xiao walked towards the corridor ahead. Bubu Wang, Baha, and Yue Ling had recovered and were following behind. The multicolored moth was the final guardian of the Black Nest.
The corridor ahead seemed endless, with only a dim yellow light shining from the other side. After walking several dozen meters, Su Xiao felt himself pass through a thin film. The seemingly endless corridor suddenly shortened significantly.
The originally magnificent corridor instantly became dilapidated. The stone pillars half-buried in the walls on both sides were covered in cracks, and rubble was scattered everywhere.
Countless insect carcasses were either leaning against the walls or lying on the ground. All the carcasses were withered. Most of them wore exquisite golden armor.
Su Xiao continued forward, stepping over the carcasses. After walking a hundred meters, the feeling of passing through a thin film appeared again. Everything in front of him was forcibly pulled closer.
A giant metal door appeared ahead. This metal door was covered in scratch and slash marks. These marks were quite old, conservatively estimated to be a hundred years old, or even several hundred years old.
Arriving at the giant metal door, Su Xiao took out the Queen's Bedchamber Key and inserted it into the keyhole on the door. He turned it, but it wouldn't budge. The door hadn't been opened for too long. He twisted the key with force.
Crack~
The key broke.
Su Xiao looked at the broken key in his hand. He took a few steps back, and a crystal layer climbed up his right foot and calf.
Su Xiao lunged forward while delivering a straight kick.
Boom!!
A large hole appeared in the giant door. At the edge of the hole, the broken metal curled inward. As he walked forward, Su Xiao tossed the broken key aside. He had originally thought it would be very useful.
[Tip: You have entered the Wolf Spider Queen's Bedchamber.]
The bedchamber wasn't as large as imagined. Two-thirds of it had collapsed, leaving only the front third. Tangled spider webs covered the pile of rubble ahead, almost forming a wall of webs. Everything looked old and dilapidated.
Within these tangled webs was a large wolf spider. The rear half of its body was buried in the webs and rubble behind it. Su Xiao could only see its head and four spider legs.
On top of this giant wolf spider's head was a woman with her head drooping. The lower half of her body was submerged into the wolf spider's skull. This was the Wolf Spider Queen.
Although the Wolf Spider Queen was naked, it didn't evoke any thoughts. Her body was black and withered, her head full of grayish-white hair faintly tinged with purple. It could be imagined that her hair was originally deep purple, mysterious and proud.
"Even in the outermost layer of the seal, it's a thousand times more painful than I imagined."
The Wolf Spider Queen spoke in a low voice. She no longer had the strength to lift her head. What kept her going until today was the pride in her heart. She and the Light King were once mortal enemies. The Light King's soul chains were wrapped around the outside of the container, followed by the Great Sage, and finally the Wolf Spider Queen.
The Light King, wrapped in the innermost layer, was still holding on. The Wolf Spider Queen on the outermost layer naturally wouldn't give up. By now, the only thing keeping her going was obsession.
"We are... reaping what we sowed."
The Wolf Spider Queen seemed to want to lift her head, but failed after several attempts.
"I don't have the strength... to see your face. Whoever you are, having broken through the Black Nest, you are qualified to take everything I have. Beware of the Great Sage. Don't believe what he says."
Having said this, the Wolf Spider Queen was at her absolute limit, only murmuring things like 'reaping what we sowed'.
Unable to get more information, Su Xiao drew the Dragon-Slaying Flash from his waist and stabbed it through the Wolf Spider Queen's chest.
Translucent chains appeared behind the Wolf Spider Queen. Her black, withered skin regained its luster, her figure gradually became full, and her long, deep purple hair slowly floated. In an instant, she regained her former beauty, but this came at a cost.
The Wolf Spider Queen's eyes opened. They were a pair of purple vertical pupils, staring intently at Su Xiao.
With a sound like crystal shattering, the Wolf Spider Queen was torn to pieces by the soul chains all over her body. Black energy surged out and spread to the surroundings. This was the seal being broken, and the Ancient God's energy accumulated within the seal erupting.
At the same time, in a withered forest, a figure draped in coarse linen robes and holding a wooden staff paused. It looked in a certain direction.
"Whatever your choice was, you have worked hard these past few centuries, Spider Queen."
Leaving these words, the figure walked into the withered thicket. It had differing opinions with the Wolf Spider Queen, even contradictions, but regardless, an old friend known for centuries had passed away today.
...
At the center of the continent, deep within a stone forest, a crude stone building was located. Apart from being tall, this building had no other features. However, upon closer inspection, some carvings could be seen on the walls. It had been too long since anyone had repaired it, leading to its current state.
Inside this building, there was a large stone platform ten meters in diameter. This platform looked like a bed, surrounded by dirty bed curtains.
On this stone platform was a large mass of rotten flesh. As if sensing something, an eye opened on this mass of flesh. This was the Mother God.
"The one who dares to slay a god has appeared. Come to me now and take the worn-out vessel."
The Mother God emitted a mental wave. Almost simultaneously, in the Queen's Bedchamber of the Underground Kingdom, a large amount of Ancient God energy erupted. It didn't spread outward. Although the bedchamber had largely collapsed, it was originally built to prevent the spread of Ancient God energy.
Ripple~
Like ripples spreading through the air, several tendrils extended out, heading straight for Su Xiao.
The long blade slashed, cutting the tendrils extending towards Su Xiao. A mental wave carrying pain spread out.
Sensing this mental wave, Su Xiao raised an eyebrow. It contained a lot of mental information.
After pondering for a moment, Su Xiao raised his hand and touched the extending tendrils. In an instant, a large number of light and shadow flickered before his eyes. When his vision recovered, he was standing inside a crude stone building.
In front of him was a large stone platform with a long mass of rotten flesh on it. At the front of the flesh mass was an eye.
Su Xiao looked down at his body. His arms had become semi-transparent. His physical body hadn't come over; only part of his mental power had been 'projected' here.
"The one who dares to slay a god, prove it to me."
The Mother God on the stone platform spoke. It wasn't speaking in words, but by emitting sound through mental resonance, allowing intelligent beings to understand its meaning.
A pale skull floated towards Su Xiao. This skull was about the size of a walnut, pitch black inside, as if it could swallow everything.
Su Xiao grabbed the floating small skull, and a large number of prompts appeared.
[Tip: The Hunter has activated the Mother God faction reputation.]
[Initial Reputation: Neutral (This faction reputation cannot be increased by any means).]
[You have obtained the 'Worn-Out Vessel'. This item can contain Corrupted Power. After the Hunter kills a corrupted enemy, its Corrupted Power will be absorbed into the Worn-Out Vessel.]
[Tip: After killing an enemy, if the Corrupted Power is not collected into the Worn-Out Vessel, it will dissipate within a certain period.]
[Current Corrupted Power Collected: 0%.]
[The Mother God Faction Shop has been activated. The Hunter can consume Corrupted Power to exchange for items from the Mother God.]
[You can exchange for the following items.]