Chapter 59: Potential
The strength of the Nightmare Blood Shadow was clearly far beyond initial estimates. Su Xiao attempted to activate the next Soul Image battle and found it was against a Sun Warrior. Back on the path to kingship in the Holy Land of Chilia, there were hundreds of armored Sun Warriors. Among them, a tall leader clad in golden armor was the boss-level unit among the Sun Warriors—the Sun Warrior.
Su Xiao used a mental command to send the Nightmare Blood Shadow into the battle scene, then took out a timer and started it. When the time reached 2 minutes and 35 seconds, a notification appeared again.
...
Seeing this notification, Su Xiao frowned slightly. This time, there was no reward corresponding to the Soul Image's characteristics. Perhaps it was a drawback of continuously using the "substitute fighter"?
Still, this was better than not being able to win. The Golden Skill Points gained from defeating Soul Images followed an incremental pattern: 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10 = 55 Golden Skill Points.
Su Xiao tried to activate another Soul Image. After sensing for a moment, he found this Soul Image was the Eternal One, Xi Wu. Following the same process, he sent the Nightmare Blood Shadow into the battle scene.
The timer started. When it reached just over five minutes, another notification appeared.
...
He won again. This time, there was a reward corresponding to the enemy's characteristics. This made Su Xiao wonder if the reward was probability-based, like whether defeating an enemy dropped a treasure chest. Thinking of this, he frowned. Anything involving luck felt extremely unreliable to him.
Su Xiao didn't rush to use a Soul Crystal Core to activate the next Soul Image. He was weighing whether to use the ancient battlefield blood energy within the [Greed Chapter] to strengthen the Nightmare Blood Shadow.
Considering the danger and multiple unknown characteristics of the Nightmare Blood Shadow, Su Xiao decided to play it safe. He always felt that the Nightmare Blood Shadow's ultimate development would either become a powerful ability of his or something that could take his life.
This thing was too much like a blood-energy version of the Blade Demon Spirit. Compared to the Blade Demon Spirit, which was bound by the Dragon-Slaying Flash, the Nightmare Blood Shadow was bound by the Greed Chapter.
Su Xiao had experienced too many times how unreliable the Greed Chapter was as equipment. Therefore, he needed to explore and gradually enhance the Nightmare Blood Shadow's combat power.
Su Xiao had an idea: after the Nightmare Blood Shadow defeated the last Soul Image within the Greed Chapter, he would let his Blade Demon Spirit enter the Greed Chapter and absorb and merge with the Nightmare Blood Shadow. This way, his Blade Demon Spirit would gain some blood-energy characteristics and greatly increase in power.
Thinking of this, Su Xiao took out a Soul Crystal Core and activated the fifth Soul Image. He found this Soul Image was called: Prayer Hall Nun.
Back in the royal city of the Holy Land of Chilia, Su Xiao had passed by the Prayer Hall but never entered. The big boss there was the Royal City Nun.
During his exploration of the Holy Land of Chilia, Su Xiao had missed quite a few powerful enemies, but there was no helping it. The Sun Warriors in the royal city were simply absurd. A squad of over 25 Sun Warriors was harder to deal with than the world's ultimate boss, Rogesh.
From the first rank to the ninth rank, three types of elite enemies—commonly called elite mobs—left the deepest impression on Su Xiao: the Tianba Clan, the Sun Warriors, and the Dead People, especially the latter. They were practically all Dead Silence City Blade Saints, Sword Saints, and Axe Saints. If you hadn't been hunted by the Dead People, you hadn't truly been to Dead Silence City.
Su Xiao activated the Greed Chapter and sent the Nightmare Blood Shadow into the battle scene. Time ticked by. After a full ten minutes with no resolution, he was about to check the situation inside the Greed Chapter when the battle ended.
The Nightmare Blood Shadow had actually lost. Considering its Agility Soul had reached S+++++, one could imagine how strong the fifth Soul Image, the Nun, was.
Su Xiao gripped the Greed Chapter with one hand. Closing his eyes, his spirit entered it. The thin mist gradually dispersed, revealing a hall covered in a bit of frost.
On the innermost wall of this hall was a vivid relief of suffering. Figures bound together by iron thorns reached upward, blood flowing from them and spreading across the ground before the wall. A nun in a gorgeous black clerical outfit with a silver crown stood gracefully on the bloodstained ground.
Clang~
A 1.2-meter-long ancient blade was pulled from the wall behind her by the nun. Bloodstains and faint flames climbed up the blade. The nun casually swung, leaving a sharp whistling cut in the air along with some blood flames.
The next instant, the nun slashed off her own head. Almost simultaneously, Su Xiao felt a chill at his neck, and his vision went black. He knew why the Nightmare Blood Shadow had lost. Or rather, the fact that it could fight the Nun for ten minutes was already astonishing.
Su Xiao opened his eyes. He tried to reshape the Nightmare Blood Shadow but found it had entered a dormant phase. It would take at least 5 to 10 natural days before it could be reshaped. Conversely, he faintly sensed that he seemed to have slightly more control over the Nightmare Blood Shadow. It seemed letting it be dispersed a few times had significant benefits.
Being able to fight to this extent, Su Xiao was already satisfied. Putting away the [Greed Chapter], he checked his current Golden Skill Points—they had reached 25.
With his condition fairly well recovered, Su Xiao decided to use these Golden Skill Points to raise all his [Basic Passives] to X rank. At this stage, using Golden Skill Points this way would maximize his combat power improvement, while also greatly enhancing his physique, allowing him to master [Law-Destroying Passive: Time: Dominator].
As Su Xiao allocated the points, Golden Skill Points were consumed rapidly. He felt a small but terrifyingly high-quality golden energy flow into his body, beginning to enhance him. After a moment, notifications appeared one after another.
Su Xiao checked the upgraded [Basic Passive: Recovery] and found that after reaching X, its biggest improvement was [Skill Effect 4: Mental Damage Reduction 25 (Increased by 7).]
Other aspects had also improved, but only in mental strength and mental toughness. Looking at a single ability's upgrade from X to X, it might not seem worth it, but Su Xiao's purpose wasn't just for the bonus of one Basic Passive.
This time, Su Xiao had successively mastered five [Law-Destroying Passives], and his three Grandmaster abilities had also improved significantly. He urgently needed to use [Basic Passives] to enhance his physique and stabilize his increased combat power. That was the nature of Basic Passives—even if some brought seemingly small improvements, they were like the foundation of a building. With a solid foundation, even mastering several [Law-Destroying Passives] in succession would remain stable.
He still had plenty of Golden Skill Points left. Su Xiao continued to upgrade his Basic Passive abilities.
Checking the corresponding improvement, the biggest boost this time was: [Skill Effect 2: Physical Perception Potential Limit +12.]
...
Now, all the Basic Passives he had mastered had reached X. This gave Su Xiao, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, a sense of solidity. His strength had surged too fiercely this time, like stepping on clouds to reach a height—standing higher, but lacking the steady footing of stepping on solid ground.
After spending a total of 23 Golden Skill Points to upgrade the Basic Passives, he once again felt stable and solid ground beneath his feet. This gave him the feeling that even if he mastered a few more Law-Destroying Passives, he would still be steady.
However, for the sake of his own life's safety and because he didn't have that many Law-Destroying Skill Points, Su Xiao obviously wouldn't and couldn't do that.
Su Xiao checked the subsequent abilities upgraded to X. For [Basic Passive: Spirit Toughness], the biggest improvement was definitely [Soul Energy Rank (10)].
He estimated that there shouldn't be any soul equipment he couldn't use, unless it required not only soul strength but also Charm Attribute. And with his negative Charm, forcibly wearing such equipment—his negative Charm trait could easily handle Charm-based equipment, but if it encountered equipment with soul as the main trait, who knew what would happen after forcibly wearing it.
That little elf who smoked, wore earrings and nose rings, could go toe-to-toe with Baha in mutual "greetings," and whose first words were "Are you my master?" had truly left a deep impression.
[Basic Passive: Blood Awakening] reaching X gave Su Xiao a Blood Energy Potential Rank +12.
Don't underestimate this seemingly useless "Potential" bonus. The maximum level of technique abilities was determined by this. Someone's Blade Grandmaster might reach Lv.70 and that was the end. As for Su Xiao's Blade Grandmaster maximum level, he didn't know either. But one thing was certain: [Technique Passive: Technique Sublimation] provided him with the astonishing potential bonus of [Self Blade Technique Potential Rank +15].
This was the wonder of [Basic Passives]. Their greatest improvement was definitely not how much mental strength they increased or how many health points they raised, but rather the increase in "Potential."
The reason Su Xiao now had 720,000 health points was because he had previously raised [Basic Passive: Body Soul] to X, granting him the permanent bonus of [Physical Potential Limit Rank +15].
It wasn't just stacking health bonuses that could push health to 720,000. If the human body was compared to a container, no matter how hard you poured water in, it was useless if the capacity wasn't large enough. "Potential" was that capacity.
With 2 Golden Skill Points remaining, Su Xiao checked his skill list. All [Basic Passives] were in a separate branch. Looking at this branch, Su Xiao saw six basic abilities flowing with golden light, arranged in a row. The first skill slot was empty, showing gray, indicating that Su Xiao hadn't yet mastered the Basic Passive corresponding to the Strength Attribute.
After raising the six Basic Passives to X, not only did they look consistent and pleasing, but golden lines like tree roots extended from above the six Basic Passives, converging at the top to form a golden skill frame. Under the resonance of the six Basic Passives, the [Ultimate Basic Passive] showed signs of awakening. As long as he mastered the Basic Passive corresponding to Strength and raised it to X, this topmost [Ultimate Basic Passive] would be fully awakened.
Su Xiao tried to probe this ability. Unexpectedly, he succeeded. The characteristics of this ability weren't yet fixed. Only after all seven of his Basic Passives reached X could he make the final choice. The choices for this [Ultimate Basic Passive] were:
All-Powerful Force: ???
Sacred Force: ???
World-Destroying Force: ???
Overlord Force: ???
These four [Ultimate Basic Passives] corresponded to different ability characteristics and enhancement directions. Su Xiao estimated that [All-Powerful Force] should be the most balanced and the most commonly chosen. [Sacred Force] leaned toward healing, self-recovery, faith-based, divine system, and light attribute development characteristics.
[World-Destroying Force] was harder to judge. It was estimated to enhance large-scale abilities or increase the range of such abilities by dozens or even a hundred times.
The last one, [Overlord Force], was very familiar. No need to think—it was definitely the strongest among the four [Ultimate Basic Passives] for one-on-one combat.
Su Xiao looked forward even more to mastering the Basic Passive corresponding to the Strength Attribute.
Just as Su Xiao took out three [items] to upgrade his Azure Steel Shadow ability, a message arrived. It was from Solomon. The content of the message was just a single symbol, probably randomly chosen by Solomon. The attachment was the key. Opening it, several items appeared.
...
Priced at 40,000 Soul Coins. Ordinary Origin Stones cost over 5,000 Soul Coins each. This rare Origin Stone at 40,000 was naturally not expensive. Thus, by the end of the next world progression, Solomon would need to pay Su Xiao 390,000 Soul Coins.
Su Xiao drafted a message and attached the [items] to send back to Solomon.
After doing this, he took out the Soul Crystal Cores he had obtained this time, totaling 150. Using 100 of them plus 6,300 Soul Coins, he raised his Melee Grandmaster to Lv.74. Thus, both Blade Grandmaster and Melee Grandmaster reached Lv.74.
Su Xiao manipulated the three [items] to float before him, then they shattered. The three transformed into a stream of pure light blue energy that merged into his torso. The next second, he was sent into the "dreamland."
When Su Xiao woke up, over an hour had passed. He got up from the bed. Since obtaining the Awakening Stele, he couldn't determine how much his combat power had increased without actual combat, but his sleep quality had been forced to skyrocket.
...
Usage Condition: After activating Azure Steel Shadow ability, consumes 340 Mana Points per minute.
Active Effect: Each melee attack burns 1,560 Mana Points from the enemy (increased by 60), and deals 1.8 times the burned Mana Points as True Damage (base 2,808 True Damage + Dragon-Slaying Flash increase 30 + Azure Shadow King increase 30 + Shadow Speed increase 30 = 5,335 True Damage). The enemy will suffer intense pain from the Mana burn.
Defense Form: Proud Song (Active)...
Battle Form: Shock Burst (Active)...
...
For other abilities, leveling up meant the level increased. Only the Azure Steel Shadow ability, the more it was upgraded, the lower the level became. Now it was absurdly raised to Lv.20. If any hostile contractor detected the current Azure Steel Shadow ability, they would be shocked, their eyes gradually widening, thinking: "What kind of skill is this? At level 20, it can deal 5,335 True Damage?!"
Su Xiao contacted Xia. After a moment, Xia's somewhat lazy voice came through the communicator: "What's wrong? It's past midnight. Aren't you sleeping?"
"..."
Su Xiao checked the time. It was indeed past midnight. In the past two days, his sleep quality had been forcibly enhanced, and he had forgotten about this.
"Hmm~, what do you want to eat? I'll get up and make it. I'm groggy, so if it's not good, I'm not responsible."
"Make some things that Bubu, Amu, Baha, and Beini like to eat."
"Hmm? Hearing you say that, something's about to happen?"
"..."
"Alright, after I make it, I'll have my friend deliver it to you."
Hearing this, Su Xiao hung up the communication. Xia didn't keep Su Xiao waiting long. In less than an hour, her friend delivered over a dozen meal boxes. It was the bespectacled girl he had met a few times, often addicted to games. As thanks, besides paying for the meal, Su Xiao also gave Xia's friend a delivery fee.
When the table was filled with delicious dishes, Su Xiao contacted Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini through the team channel, telling them to come back and eat.
After doing this, he walked into the Alchemy Laboratory, took out the huge alloy tank he had used to soak wolf blood last time, poured five portions of the [obtained substance] into it, then added various auxiliary materials in proportion. Finally, he injected boiling diluted solution. Everything was ready, just waiting for Bubu Wang and the other three to return.
Amu, the most enthusiastic about eating, came back first, followed by Bubu Wang, then Baha. Beini came last. When Beini saw the table full of delicious food, her eyes sparkled with "joy," occasionally glancing toward the Alchemy Laboratory.
After eating and drinking their fill, Su Xiao stood up and said, "You four, help me adjust the ritual array."
"Meow~"
Beini shrank back. A dozen seconds later, Su Xiao grabbed Beini by the scruff of her neck with one hand and led Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha into the Alchemy Laboratory. When Amu saw the huge alloy tank filled with dark red viscous liquid, his forward pace slowed more and more. If the terrible experience of major repairs was a 5, then soaking in Abyss Blood was over 60.
Amu was kicked in. Bubu Wang was grabbed by the leg and thrown in. Baha clung desperately to the doorframe, trying to use today's upset stomach as an excuse to postpone for a day and mentally prepare, but was grabbed by the neck and thrown in.
Beini, with tears in her eyes, looked pitifully at Su Xiao. The next second, she was thrown into the dark red liquid in the huge alloy tank.
After doing this, Su Xiao stood on the steps beside the huge alloy tank, took a few deep breaths, and stepped in. He took a deep breath, first pushed Bubu Wang's dog head, which had surfaced from the dark red liquid, back under, then submerged himself completely. The sourness was unforgettable.
The dark red liquid in the huge alloy tank began to evaporate until it was nearly transparent. Only then did Su Xiao rise. He grabbed Beini by the scruff with one hand and Bubu Wang with the other. Without exception, both Bubu Wang and Beini had fainted.
Su Xiao obtained the maximum bonus he could get. This was only natural. As a master alchemist, if he couldn't fully utilize the effects of [the substance], then all his knowledge in this area would be wasted. Knowledge was both wealth and power.
After taking a shower in the planting area, Su Xiao felt refreshed. Except for [Law-Destroying Passive: Time: Dominator], which he hadn't yet mastered, his self-improvement was basically complete. As for what level his combat power was at, it was hard to estimate. But one thing was certain: he hadn't yet reached the level of [Absolute Strong]. He estimated that to reach the [Absolute Strong] level, he needed to meet the following conditions: