Chapter 6: Soul Energy Source
Effect: Recovers 1% of soul energy per second.
Grade: High-level soul ability.
Sustained Combat Power: ★★★★★★★★★★
Required Skill Slots: 6.
...
[Tip: You may choose freely from the above abilities until your soul skill slots are fully occupied.]
[Based on your soul strength, corresponding skill points will be granted. These skill points can be used to improve temporarily mastered soul abilities.]
[Your soul strength is 859 points. Due to greatly exceeding the soul strength achievable at the same rank, you will receive 460 skill points (Improving low-level soul abilities costs 1 point per level, mid-level costs 5 points per level, high-level costs 0 points per level. High-level soul abilities can be upgraded to a maximum of Lv.10).]
[This challenge consists of three rounds total. Winning each round allows you to reset all temporarily mastered soul abilities.]
...
Last time in the Soul Arena, Su Xiao used "Repulse" + "Soul Crystal Spear" against his enemies. This time, he planned to try a different approach.
Su Xiao weighed his options, then chose to master three abilities: "Soul Missile" + "Mid-Level Enhancement" + "Soul Energy Source." Using Soul Missile as his primary combat ability, after raising its level sufficiently high, both the number of missiles he could condense at once and their power would reach a very impressive level.
Su Xiao attempted to gather a Soul Missile. A translucent blue soul sphere appeared above him, about the size of a marble. Because the Soul Missile ability was only Lv.1, this missile was not only small but also had a very limited tracking range.
However, one thing was certain: soul abilities with such a weak foundation generally had very high upper limits.
Across from him, the Soul Guard, Thorn Maiden, Phantom Soul Hunter, Soul Mage, Black Steel Knight, and Soul Master watched Su Xiao condense the Soul Missile. They exchanged glances, appearing calm on the surface, but excitement lurked in their eyes.
The Soul Master's eyes narrowed slightly. Based on his analysis, not much time had actually passed since their last encounter in the Soul Arena. Back then, Su Xiao's soul strength was 590 points. By this calculation, reaching 650 points now would be the absolute limit.
Thinking this way, with the temporary skill slots and temporary skill points that 650 points could provide, there was basically no way for the Soul Missile ability to unleash its truly terrifying power. Plus, only soul abilities could be used here.
After considering these points, the Soul Master suddenly felt that this time, they might actually win. If they won, not only would they receive exceptionally generous rewards for guarding the floor, but they could also reclaim the face they had lost from being beaten before. Thinking of this, the painful expression on the Soul Master's face gradually faded, and his former arrogance returned somewhat.
The Soul Six exchanged glances, seeing the same two words in each other's eyes: 'Beat him!'
Su Xiao, of course, had no idea about the Soul Six's mental activities. After mastering Soul Missile, he also mastered "Mid-Level Enhancement," which greatly increased the single-cast quantity limit and power of Soul Missile, at the cost of multiplied soul energy consumption.
To compensate for this issue, Su Xiao chose the high-level soul ability "Soul Energy Source."
[Soul Missile has been upgraded to Lv.95 (Maximum Level).]
[Mid-Level Enhancement has been upgraded to Lv.0 (Maximum Level).]
[Soul Energy Source has been upgraded to Lv.10 (Maximum Level).]
...
A total of 445 soul skill points were consumed. For Su Xiao, whose soul strength was as high as 859 points, this was not a problem at all. He started with 460 soul skill points.
Su Xiao was fully prepared. He looked ahead at the Soul Master and noticed that not only were these six people's fighting spirit strong, but their gazes were different from before. It seemed they had regained some of their initial arrogance?
The ten-minute preparation time passed. The transparent barrier in front disappeared, and the Soul Master spoke:
"Law Destroyer, don't call us despicable for fighting six against one. Boys, get him..."
The Soul Master shouted loudly. The giant-like Black Steel Knight took the lead. In his left hand, he held a tower shield nearly 5 meters tall, and in his right hand, a long-handled warhammer. His charge was exceptionally terrifying, but in the next second, he slammed on the brakes, nearly falling on his rear.
One by one, Soul Missiles appeared above Su Xiao. Each of these Soul Missiles was the size of a millstone, and a single release produced several hundred of them.
This wasn't the end. As Su Xiao's hand made a grasping motion in the air, these several hundred Soul Missiles all compressed, shrinking down to the size of marbles, emitting a chilling hum.
A single black soul sphere shot out. Due to the skill's own level and the full-level Enhancement bonus, this black soul sphere flew at an incredible speed. In an instant, it reached the Black Steel Knight and slammed into his tower shield.
Boom!!
The center of the Black Steel Knight's tower shield caved inward. His entire body flew backward, crashing into the wall. Then, several more Soul Missiles followed closely. After a few deafening roars, large pieces of shattered armor flew out.
The surrounding hall walls collapsed, and the combat terrain expanded, transforming into a ruined relic. One could vaguely see the Black Steel Knight limping away into the distance.
Seeing this, the Soul Master's eye twitched violently. He turned to look at Su Xiao, his gaze exceptionally solemn. He, the Soul Master, would absolutely not flee today!
Su Xiao, of course, didn't know the Soul Master's thoughts. He just wanted to try out these temporarily mastered soul abilities. He glanced at his remaining 90% soul energy. Since he had "Soul Energy Source" to quickly recover soul energy, he might as well use Soul Missile a few more times.
Su Xiao's soul energy was consumed rapidly. Soon, several thousand black soul spheres appeared. The compressed humming sound was exceptionally terrifying.
Su Xiao held a single black soul sphere in his hand, floating. Under his control, all the black soul spheres shot towards the Soul Guard, Thorn Maiden, Phantom Soul Hunter, Soul Mage, Black Steel Knight, and Soul Master.
The Soul Master, who had just resolved not to flee, cast enhancement and speed buffs on himself and his nearby subordinates, then soared into the air and flew away into the distance.
Su Xiao leaped onto a towering stone pillar. After watching the few people fleeing into the distance, he took out the Mysterious Eye and, like twisting a Rubik's Cube, adjusted it with a click-clack sound.
As for the battle with the Soul Six, he just had to wait. After the Soul Missile was upgraded to its limit, its tracking ability was simply monstrous. Once it locked onto a target, it would either hit them or continuously chase them for over an hour.
Su Xiao waited for nearly half an hour. The surrounding scene changed. The ruined relic gradually turned into smoke, and the scene transformed back into the initial hall. The bruised and battered Soul Six were lying or sprawled on the ground.
Su Xiao had long anticipated being able to defeat the Soul Six. However, to be safe, he chose Soul Missile. After all, it was one against six. Not giving the enemy any chance was the best choice.
[Tip: You have defeated the Soul Master.]
[You have obtained the Soul Candy Recipe.]
[Your temporary soul skill slot +1.]
[You have obtained one temporary soul skill reset permission.]
...
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao knew that the original content of this challenge was only to defeat the Soul Master, not necessarily to defeat all members of the Soul Six.
A stone platform rose in front. Su Xiao placed his hand on the Book of Granting. First, using the reset permission, he reset "Soul Missile" and "Mid-Level Enhancement." He had mastered these two abilities mainly to test the recovery limit of "Soul Energy Source" when upgraded to max level.
The result was that "Soul Energy Source" could recover 10% soul energy per second. The strength of this temporarily granted soul ability was simply unreasonable. Normally, there wouldn't be such a monstrous recovery ability. Even if there was, it would come at the cost of consuming physical energy or health points, not like this, where nothing was consumed, and soul energy was continuously restored.
Knowing the upper limit of "Soul Energy Source's" strength, Su Xiao was confident he could win the next two rounds. He scrolled down the skill list and finally, using 19 soul skill slots, mastered an ability called "Death Embrace."
[Death Embrace]
Effect: Uses soul power to control any single enemy target within 100 meters. Consumes 5% soul energy per second until your own soul energy is depleted.
Grade: High-level soul ability.
Lethality: ★ ~ ★★★★★★★★ (Power continuously increases with the duration of control).
Control Duration: --
Control Strength: Determined by the user's soul strength.
Required Skill Slots: 19.
...
After mastering this high-level soul ability, Su Xiao used his existing soul skill points to max it out. Upon learning that the opponents in the next two rounds were both single individuals, this ability became even more reliable.
Checking the consumption of the max-level "Death Embrace" ability, it consumed 9.3% soul energy per second. Under normal circumstances, one could control an enemy for just over ten seconds. But with the monstrous recovery ability of "Soul Energy Source," Su Xiao could control an enemy until they died.
Su Xiao raised his right hand, palm facing up. Dozens of meters away, the Black Steel Knight's bent tower shield flew up on its own. As Su Xiao's right hand gradually made a grasping motion, the metal tower shield emitted a crunching, squeezing sound, eventually being compressed to the size of an apple.
Su Xiao released the control. The apple-sized metal ball slammed into the ground with a bang. Due to its astonishing density, the sound was exceptionally loud.
Seeing this, the Soul Master suddenly felt that, as an old acquaintance, this Law Destroyer had clearly been going easy on them before.
After this misunderstanding arose, the arrogance and resentment in the Soul Master's eyes subsided somewhat. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Law Destroyer, the next two are much stronger than us."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He was somewhat curious as to why the Soul Master and his group, who all looked big and burly, had developed the Soul Candy recipe. When asked about this, Thorn Maiden directly replied that it wasn't because they liked eating Soul Candy themselves, but because they had a steady customer base that frequently ordered Soul Candy from them.
Upon learning this, Su Xiao didn't inquire further. He didn't plan to compete with the Soul Arena for customers in this regard. He was more interested in knowing who the guardians of the subsequent two levels were.
Regarding this, the Soul Master, bound by the rules of fairness, didn't reveal it. He only vaguely indicated that those two were very strong. However, compared to the obstacles on this third floor, most challengers who came to the Watcher's Tower were defeated on the seventh floor by the Apostle Game.
Su Xiao walked towards the door leading to the second challenge of the third floor. Pushing open the giant door, the surrounding scene changed. This was an area resembling an underground space. Countless soul tendrils hung from the ceiling, which was dozens of meters high, with the ends of the tendrils about a few meters from the ground.
Ahead, a figure clad in a soul-feather robe floated about three meters above the ground. It was humanoid in shape, but its eyes seemed to contain vast, starry galaxies. This was the Star Spirit guarding this place.
The Star Spirit's eyes, seemingly holding countless stars, looked down upon Su Xiao. The feather robe on its body scattered colorful light particles. The battle had clearly already begun, yet it still just floated there, as if disdainful of taking the initiative.
Seeing this, Su Xiao made a grasping motion with his hand. The crushing force of "Death Embrace" sealed the Star Spirit, dozens of meters away, in mid-air, gradually increasing the pressure.
"'Death Embrace,' how long can it trap me?"
The Star Spirit still looked down at Su Xiao. Soon, over ten seconds passed. The restraint of Death Embrace didn't disappear; instead, the crushing force grew fiercer.
Various colorful lights erupted from the Star Spirit's center, but they only caused the bound area of "Death Embrace" to swell slightly. Soon, "Death Embrace" shrank again, beginning to crush the Star Spirit's body.
"Wait... wait! We should fight one-on-one, face-to-face. Doing this won't train your control over soul energy."
Su Xiao didn't know if the Star Spirit's physical defense was tough, but its mouth was certainly tough. He increased the force of his grasping hand, and "Death Embrace" began to unleash its most terrifying crushing power. The Star Spirit's entire body emitted cracking sounds.
"This Law Destroyer lord, spare me!"
The words had just fallen when a crisp crack sounded. The Star Spirit inside the restraint stopped moving. Seeing this, Su Xiao used his soul power to toss it aside. Glancing at the prompt, he found that the rewards were all temporary soul skill points and temporary skill slots. He was slightly disappointed; he needed something he could take out of this place.
Pushing open the last door on the third floor, this place was also a great hall. A black shadow stood behind a soul mist. The guardian of this level was called the Immortal Elder. Strangely, the battle was about to begin, but the soul mist didn't dissipate.
"Alas, the former Elemental Guardian is now alone. It's truly lamentable. How can these old bones stop a Law Destroyer from ascending this tower?"
After saying this, the Immortal Elder within the soul mist chose to forfeit. One could only say that the older, the wiser. Having discreetly witnessed the Star Spirit almost getting crushed to death, he decisively chose to let them pass. Not only would he avoid a beating, but he might also curry some favor.
As the Immortal Elder forfeited, Su Xiao felt a teleportation sensation. The next second, he appeared at the innermost part of the third floor. Zuiyasi, Wude, and the others were also teleported here. Ahead was the metal spiral staircase leading to the fourth floor.
[Tip: Your team has passed the Soul Victor Challenge. Yes/No to settle challenge rewards.]
[Chose cumulative reward settlement. Each completed round increases this reward by 1.7 times.]
Upon reaching the fourth floor, Su Xiao found it very dark. Only a faint light from above prevented them from being completely shrouded in darkness, but the surrounding darkness blocked perception.
Just then, the faint light from above suddenly disappeared.
[High Tower Challenge, Fourth Floor has begun.]
[This challenge content: Darkness Descends.]
[Tip: Hit the enemy in the darkness a total of three times to pass this trial.]
...
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao placed his hand on his sword hilt, waiting only for the enemy to appear to unleash a single 'Extreme Blade: World.'
After waiting for over ten seconds, the enemy in the darkness didn't appear, but a prompt did.
[Tip: Your team has passed the Darkness Descends challenge. Yes/No to settle challenge rewards.]
[Chose cumulative reward settlement. Each completed round increases this reward by 1.8 times.]
The darkness within the fourth floor quickly dissipated. The sounds of tearing and chewing came. Su Xiao looked towards the source and found the half-beastified Shadow Eater pinning a monster made of dark matter to the ground, tearing and swallowing large mouthfuls. This was much more satisfying than the endless food challenge on the second floor.
As for the monster on the fourth floor, it had stopped moving. After the Shadow Eater took another large bite, it was completely still.
Clearly, this level was passed. Although they hadn't attacked the dark creature three times, the Shadow Eater had simply devoured it.
The center of the ceiling opened, and a metal spiral staircase descended with a clatter. Su Xiao walked towards the fifth floor.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, he entered a long corridor. This corridor was several meters wide and dozens of meters high, seemingly endless. He walked all the way until he reached the end of the corridor, where the metal spiral staircase to the sixth floor was ahead.
In front of the spiral staircase, a figure draped in a black robe with a tattered hood and a gaunt, skeletal frame stood before a balance scale. This balance scale was very low, with one end extending into a pale golden mist, as if foretelling everyone's unknown fate.
[High Tower Challenge, Fifth Floor has begun.]
[This challenge content: Fate's Counterweight.]
...
The condition for passing this level was simple: step onto the balance scale, and if the scale didn't tip up, you passed. However, if your own luck wasn't heavy enough and the platform you stood on rose, you would be swallowed by the mist on the other end of the scale, forever lost within it.
"Knowing when to retreat is sometimes the wisest decision."
The old man beside the Fate Scale grinned, revealing his few remaining teeth.
Wude stepped forward and onto one platform of the Fate Scale. Seeing this, the black-robed old man smiled even more eerily. This Fate Scale wasn't meant to be stepped on like that. Stepping on it that way, even the Law Destroyer carrying the Law Destruction's fortune would at most balance it. No one else could possibly pass; they would all be swallowed by the Fate Mist.
Crack!!
With a harsh, grinding sound, the Fate Scale was crushed by Wude, breaking in two from the middle. The Fate Mist immediately went berserk, pulling the broken Fate Scale and the black-robed old man towards it. This caused the black-robed old man to reveal his true, ferocious form, with eyes appearing all over his body.
Seeing the old man show his true colors, Wude rolled up his sleeve, peeled a burning contract from his arm, and tossed it towards the black-robed old man. Just before the latter was sucked into the mist, Wude said, "Don't think you're the only one who can be a Contract Master."
Countless eyes stared fixedly at Wude as he was reluctantly sucked into the Fate Mist.
[Tip: Your team has passed the Fate's Counterweight challenge. Yes/No to settle challenge rewards.]
[Chose cumulative reward settlement. Each completed round increases this reward by 1.9 times.]
Following the metal spiral staircase to the sixth floor, the scene that met their eyes was various types of coins floating around, including Reincarnation Paradise's Paradise Coins and Soul Coins. Going deeper, an old, square wooden table appeared ahead. A figure with a small build, a monocle set in his right eye, and a large bundle beside his chair was sleeping soundly behind the wooden table.
The large bundle beside this person was filled with scrolls, so many that they seemed about to burst the bundle.
[High Tower Challenge, Sixth Floor has begun.]
[This challenge content: Trade.]
[Obtain profit from a trade with the Big Bundle Merchant (Even a profit of 0.01 Soul Coins is enough to pass this challenge).]
...
Everyone looked at Kaisa. Kaisa took out the Abyssal Jar and put it on his head, then took out the three divine artifacts [Endless Greed], [Filthy Foot Wraps], and [Deceiver's Head Wrap], and only then walked towards the Big Bundle Merchant.
The Big Bundle Merchant, who had been sleeping soundly behind the square table, suddenly woke up with a shiver. Seeing Kaisa approaching, he blinked. After confirming he wasn't mistaken, an astonishing hatred erupted in his eyes. This was clearly because he had been scammed by Kaisa before.
A wall of gray mist appeared in front, blocking Su Xiao and the others' view. A full hour later, the gray mist wall disappeared, and a prompt appeared.
[Tip: Team member Nicholas Kaisa has been disqualified from the challenge and teleported back to the bottom of the Watcher's Tower.]
Looking at the Big Bundle Merchant now, the large bundle beside him that was almost bursting was completely deflated, lying limply on the floor. As for the Big Bundle Merchant himself, he was left with only an old pair of shorts.
The Big Bundle Merchant stood there somewhat dazed. When he came to his senses, he let out a torrent of curses in an unknown language, then ran towards the metal spiral staircase leading to the lower floors. His expression clearly showed he was going to fight Kaisa to the death.
Was Kaisa eliminated? No, Kaisa had tricked his opponent until he was left with only his underwear and had already made his getaway.
[Tip: Your team has passed the Trade challenge. Yes/No to settle challenge rewards.]
[Chose cumulative reward settlement. Each completed round increases this reward by 2.0 times.]
Arriving at the seventh floor via the spiral staircase, as soon as he entered, Su Xiao heard soothing music. This was an art gallery. The paintings on the walls on both sides mostly depicted various rare and exotic beasts. The realism of these paintings was so high that it was as if the bodies of these rare beasts had been two-dimensionalized and printed onto them.
[High Tower Challenge, Seventh Floor has begun.]
[This challenge content: Apostle Game.]
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao paused in his steps. The difficulty of the Watcher's Tower wasn't entirely determined by the floor number. According to the Soul Master, the Watcher's Tower had two floors with the hardest challenges to pass. One was the twelfth floor, and the other was the current seventh floor, the Apostle Game.
Not only that, but one of Su Xiao's current "Hunt List: Blood Pact" bounties should correspond to this Apostle Game.
"Bounty 4, The Apostle's Game: Become the victor in the game against the Eyeless Apostle (100 ounces of Space-Time Power have been paid to activate this bounty. Completing this bounty will reward 6000 ounces of Space-Time Power)." (To be continued)