Chapter 76: Dark Matter and Inspiration
The investment of 21,000 Soul Coins was worth it. Su Xiao could feel his mental energy had greatly strengthened, which would help him advance his Alchemy.
Mental damage reduction was crucial. The Feather God primarily used mental abilities, and he might encounter similar powerful enemies in the future.
Su Xiao's mana reached 37,167 points, not far from breaking through the 40,000 mark.
While Su Xiao spent quickly, Beini's sales were also fast. The three Immortal-grade gems were all in high demand, selling for a total of 18,850 Soul Coins. Among them, the [Infernal Eye] gem had a low price, with a rating of only 1,026 points.
Additionally, the Light Silver Ore sold to Lide brought in 15,666 Soul Coins. If miners didn't need to hand over their yields, their earnings per world would be astonishing.
After mining ore, miners had to submit a designated quota, then deduct the consumption during the mining process. While the profit wasn't too exaggerated, it was definitely not low.
With such a large influx of Soul Coins, Su Xiao continued to enhance himself.
[Yes/No to upgrade Technique Sublimation Lv.46. Upgrading this ability requires 3,000 Soul Coins.]
Su Xiao had accumulated this ability for a long time. He decided to raise it to Lv.50 first. After paying 12,000 Soul Coins, the upgrade began.
This upgrade's sensation wasn't too intense, as he had done it many times before. An invisible energy appeared around him, merging into his body to enhance some latent potential. Not only that, but he also felt as if countless blades were slashing past him. He tried to capture this feeling and succeeded without much effort.
Nearly an hour later, Su Xiao, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes.
[Technique Sublimation: Lv.50 (Technique Type · Passive)]
Skill Effect 1: Increases self-developed blade technique power by 103% (increase of 8%).
Skill Effect 2: Blade technique potential rank +6 (increase of 1 rank).
Skill Effect 3: Base · Neural Reflex Speed +10 points, Base · Dynamic Vision +10 points (newly added trait).
…
What is the power of accumulation? This is it. The new trait of Technique Sublimation was crucial for Su Xiao, and it also showed how powerful this ability was.
Previously, Su Xiao's stable ways to improve dual reaction speed were: increasing True Agility attribute, upgrading Blade Grandmaster, and upgrading Melee Grandmaster.
That was it. Now, Technique Sublimation could also improve dual reaction speed. This was useful not only for attacking and dodging but also for judgment, perception, and more.
Checking the remaining Soul Coins, Beini had more coming in. He decided to continue accumulating Technique Sublimation.
[Yes/No to upgrade Technique Sublimation Lv.50. Upgrading this ability requires 5,000 Soul Coins.]
Seeing this price, Su Xiao's emotions fluctuated greatly. The cost of upgrading this ability had clearly exceeded his current rank. This skill scroll was bought from Tuanzhang. Who knew in which rank's world Tuanzhang had obtained such a skill scroll.
To fight powerful enemies, such cross-rank upgrades were essential. The powerful enemies Su Xiao encountered all had stronger True Attributes than him. Why did he ultimately win? Luck? No. It was through this almost insane accumulation that he achieved his current strength.
If someone judged Su Xiao's strength based on his physical True Attributes, they would be crushed into a mental breakdown in no time.
After hesitating for a moment, Su Xiao chose to upgrade Technique Sublimation six consecutive times. As soon as he paid the Soul Coins, his vision went black.
In the darkness, a drop of water with a faint glow fell.
Drip~
The darkness below rippled in layers. Su Xiao looked ahead. In the darkness, a figure seemed to stand.
"My thought, is…"
The rest of the words were unclear, absorbed by the surrounding darkness.
Clang!
A slashing light struck. Su Xiao had no chance to dodge and was hit. The speed of this slash wasn't impossibly fast, but it was unstoppable. It was a blade that pierced through everything. When this blade was swung, everything froze, leaving only submission to its slaughter.
Inside the Skill Upgrade Pod, Su Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, pressing one hand to his chest. There was no wound, no soul damage. That slash wasn't meant to harm him but to impart something, letting him experience it firsthand.
[Technique Sublimation has been upgraded to Lv.56.]
[Technique Sublimation: Lv.56 (Technique Type · Passive)]
Skill Effect 1: Increases self-developed blade technique power by 121% (increase of 18%).
Skill Effect 2: Blade technique potential rank +7 (increase of 1 rank).
Skill Effect 3: Base · Neural Reflex Speed +34 points (increase of 24 points), Base · Dynamic Vision +34 points (increase of 24 points).
…
Originally, Technique Sublimation only increased blade technique potential rank by 1 every Lv.10. Now, it increased by 1 rank every Lv.5.
Besides this, Su Xiao noticed that everything around him was very slow. The flowing air brushed against his skin. A tiny light particle drifted past his eyes. Without releasing his perception, he saw natural elements with his naked eyes.
Su Xiao closed his eyes to meditate. After a moment, he opened them. The natural elements were still floating nearby. Seeing this, he continued meditating.
After a long time, Su Xiao looked around. This time, he couldn't see natural elements with his naked eyes. That earlier phenomenon wasn't good; it was the discomfort from the sudden surge in dual reaction speed. Perceiving natural elements was fine, but directly seeing these little things for a day or two was okay. Over time, it would drain mental energy.
Leaving the Skill Upgrade Hall, Su Xiao headed toward his Exclusive Room. Pushing open the door, he saw Bubu Wang still sleeping soundly on the bed. Amu and Baha were both out, having fun.
Sitting on the sofa, Su Xiao took out 200 Soul Crystals (Complete), preparing to upgrade Melee Grandmaster. Developing both Grandmasters made combat more exhilarating in the later stages.
[Yes/No to upgrade Melee Grandmaster Lv.51. Upgrading this ability requires Soul Crystal · Complete × 100 + 5,000,000 Paradise Coins.]
Su Xiao chose to upgrade Melee Grandmaster two consecutive times. His current goal was to raise Melee Grandmaster to Lv.59. To reach Lv.60, he needed Soul Crystal Cores. Upgrading Blade Grandmaster wasn't enough; he was short 2 Soul Crystal Cores to break through that barrier.
One by one, the Soul Crystals shattered, merging into Su Xiao's body. After a long time, the nearly boiling blood in his body calmed down.
[Melee Grandmaster has been upgraded to Lv.53.]
[Melee Grandmaster: Lv.53 (Passive Skill)]
Skill Effect: In melee combat, kick attack power increased by 688% (increase of 20%), Base · Neural Reflex Speed +14 points (increase of 6 points), Base · Dynamic Vision +14 points (increase of 6 points).
Initial Additional Ability: Physical defense and toughness increased by 30% (increase of 2%), immune to all physical control effects derived from attributes lower than own Strength and Agility (e.g., freezing or binding, can break free instantly).
Lv.10 Ultimate Ability · Power Penetration · Kick Technique Basic Enhancement (Passive)…
…
From Lv.10 to Lv.50, 'Power Penetration · Kick Technique Basic Enhancement' had all been improved. At first glance, it seemed minor, but after repeated accumulations, it would lead to a terrifying qualitative change. This was evident from the Feather God's reaction after being kicked directly.
Beini had sold all the items. Su Xiao now had 6,339 Soul Coins left. Opening the chests would have to wait a few hours until Fate Dominator finished upgrading.
Among all the chests, Su Xiao was most looking forward to the [Holy Spirit Chest · Black Nest (Set Chest)] and the [Immortal Chest (60%)]. The former might yield a Technique-type Holy Spirit Set, while the latter was dropped by Rongqi.
With nothing else to do, Su Xiao decided to use his remaining Soul Coins to attempt setting up the 'Eye Ritual,' of course, incorporating Alchemy. He planned to cultivate 1-2 eyes, then create a Devourer and implant them to test compatibility.
Just as Su Xiao was about to start cultivating the 'eyes,' Sha sent a message. It said that La Ha Ma, Bao Shu, and Dai Mao Wang had all returned to Reincarnation Paradise, waiting for him to help Dai Mao Wang remove the dark matter from her body.
Receiving this news, Su Xiao suddenly had an inspiration. Dark matter was a unique substance from a certain place in the Void. If he collected the dark matter removed from Dai Mao Wang and used it to cultivate 'eyes,' then implanted them into a dark-attribute Devourer, what would happen?
If so, should he extract more dark matter each time? Considering Dai Mao Wang's endurance… No, that wasn't an issue. Mental trauma could be slowly healed. Dai Mao Wang was an Arbiter now, no longer a former Plot Character. Her experience couldn't be compared, let alone her strength.
Mental aspects aside for now, as long as her body wasn't damaged, he could extract 2 portions of dark matter each time. Or maybe consider 3 portions? More experimental material was better.
Su Xiao's eyes grew brighter. Just then, Baha entered the lab.
"Boss, have you had dinner? I prepared… Holy crap, Boss, what's with that look? I'm getting creeped out."
"It's nothing. I just had a good idea."
Su Xiao's gaze returned to normal, and Baha breathed a sigh of relief.
After having dinner with Bubu Wang and Baha, Su Xiao lit a cigarette. Removing dark matter wasn't simple. He needed to rest for a while after the meal to recover his state, so he wouldn't accidentally kill Dai Mao Wang. After all, Bao Shu's reward was very high—a broken blade tip from a Law-Destroyer's weapon, specifically the blade of the most malicious female Law-Destroyer in history, Green Gillian.
After resting for a while, Su Xiao took Bubu Wang and Baha out, heading toward the Trial Grounds. Sha's Exclusive Room was nearby.
Arriving near the meeting point, Su Xiao saw Sha, wearing a black tight vest and a short ponytail.
"The people over there are already waiting."
Sha wiped the sweat from her chin, clearly just finishing training. Her strength had never lagged. When they first met, Sha's peak combat power was at Seventh Rank. So much time had passed, and her strength had never stopped progressing. Moreover, Su Xiao had helped her recover all her hidden ailments and restore her overdrawn potential.
Sha was the most obsessed female powerhouse Su Xiao had ever seen when it came to getting stronger. As for the reason, there was none. Sha simply loved power.
"Where's the location?"
"Bao Shu's Exclusive Room."
"Change the place."
"Then where?"
Sha was puzzled, not understanding why Su Xiao wanted to do this.
"Go to Altorlia's Exclusive Room. Have her set up a room large enough. The door must be sturdy, preferably a high-strength metal door. As for the specific setup…"
Su Xiao listed various equipment and materials that Sha couldn't understand.
"Go to Altorlia's Exclusive Room? Why?"
Even as she asked, Sha was already contacting the other side.
"In a familiar place, the mind is less likely to break down."
"This…"
Sha's cheek twitched. She recalled lying on an operating table in an underground room in the Black Abyss. Sometimes, when she had nightmares, she would dream of that scene and wake up in a cold sweat.