Chapter 59: Abyss Store
Su Xiao quickly left the Forging Street. It wasn't that he was leaving without saying goodbye, but there was indeed an urgent matter he had forgotten and needed to return to his exclusive room immediately.
After returning to his exclusive room, Su Xiao headed straight for the alchemy lab. Sitting at the workbench, he took out the [Sun Blood Flower (Eternal Rank · Rare Material)] obtained in the Eternal Light World.
「Sun Blood Flower · Effect: Direct consumption permanently increases 10 points of True Stamina attribute, 50000～56000 Health Points, and heals 'Deep Damage'.」
Such a treasure would certainly not be eaten directly. In the eyes of an alchemist, that would be no different from wasting a precious resource. Su Xiao opened his title list and equipped the [Miracle Maker] title, which had just been upgraded to nine stars not long ago.
[Miracle Maker]
Origin: Void Tree
Quality: ★★★★★★★★★
Category: Rare · Title
Title Effect 1: Miracle (Passive) — When performing potion concoction, there is a higher probability of entering your most peak state, known as 'Absolute Focus', thereby concocting a 'Miracle' grade potion that surpasses the 'Perfect' grade.
Title Effect 2: Focus (Passive) — When wearing this title while concocting potions, 20 Mana Points are consumed per second, bringing a more focused mental state. During concoction, there is a higher probability of entering the 'Absolute Focus' state.
Introduction: Focus is the key to surpassing perfection and creating miracles.
Price: Unsellable.
…
If the seven-star [Miracle Maker] had a 2%～5% chance of concocting a 'Miracle' grade potion, then the current nine-star [Miracle Maker] raised that probability to at least 20%.
Of course, this was based on concocting high-tier potions like [Primordial Potion] or [Starry Sky Potion]. If concocting mid-to-low tier potions, Su Xiao had over 80% confidence in producing a 'Miracle' grade. Producing a 'Perfect' grade was considered average performance, while an 'Excellent' grade would be a mistake.
After equipping [Miracle Maker], Su Xiao began concocting a potion using [Sun Blood Flower] as the main material. Spending a total of 30,000 Soul Coins on auxiliary materials, he successfully concocted an unnamed potion.
[To Be Named (Perfect)]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise · Holy Flame Alchemist.
Quality: Eternal Rank.
Type: Permanent Enhancement Potion.
Effect: After consumption, permanently increases 13 points of True Stamina attribute, permanently increases 70000 Health Points, and heals 'Deep Damage'.
Perfect Grade Bonus: After consumption, permanently increases 2 points of True Stamina attribute, and all abnormal resistance permanently increases by 30 points.
Rating: 5980 points (Eternal Rank potion rating ranges from 3000 to 6000 points)
Introduction: To be determined.
Price: To be determined.
…
Although the feel of this concoction was decent, it lacked a sense of natural perfection. Still, the Perfect grade [To Be Named] potion was quite good. For a first-time concoction of such a high-tier potion, Su Xiao had at most a 50% chance of producing a Perfect grade.
After drinking the concocted potion, Su Xiao felt as if he had swallowed liquid fire. A burning numbness spread through his throat and tongue, but after a few seconds, the burning sensation faded, replaced by a gentle, nourishing warmth.
Leaving his exclusive room, Su Xiao headed toward the Attribute Enhancement Hall. However, when passing near the Forging Street, he didn't take the street he usually used but took a detour.
This caused Reid, who was sitting on the steps holding a blacksmith's hammer with his adopted daughter Wo Wo waiting there, to miss him. Reid had planned to block Su Xiao and extort a few bottles of Elemental Brew by threatening him with a long leather coat, but that plan fell through.
It wasn't that Su Xiao had precognition. Reid knew Su Xiao's habits: after leaving his equipment like Dragon-Slaying Flash and Black King Bracer for maintenance and repair, Su Xiao would go directly to the Attribute Enhancement Hall to enhance himself. So Reid was waiting for Su Xiao's return, facing the direction of the Attribute Enhancement Hall. As for why he didn't wait at the entrance of the Attribute Enhancement Hall, it wasn't like they were enemies. He was just taking advantage of a break while waiting for materials to sit on the steps near his shop entrance for a while.
Su Xiao had forgotten to concoct the potion earlier. Before using the Power Source Matter, he naturally wanted to enhance his attributes as much as possible. So, on his way to the Enhancement Hall again, he saw Reid sitting on the steps waiting with his back turned.
He didn't know who this old friend was waiting for, but since the other party was waiting for someone, Su Xiao decided not to disturb him and decisively took a detour.
Attribute Enhancement Hall. Su Xiao walked into an attribute enhancement pod, and the pod door closed behind him.
[Welcome to Attribute Enhancement Pod No. 1278.]
[Currently available True Attribute Points: 70 points.]
Su Xiao checked his own attributes. Due to the permanent enhancement potion he had just consumed, plus the bonus from 'Perfect Physique', his Stamina attribute was significantly higher than the other three main attributes. Therefore, he allocated the attribute points as follows: Strength +20 points, Agility +22 points, Stamina +8 points, Intelligence +20 points.
With that, the 70 True Attribute Points were all used up. He activated the attribute enhancement pod he was in.
Hum～
The attribute enhancement pod began to operate. Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the floor. Due to the substantial enhancement this time, he felt a faint stinging sensation across his body. However, back in the Eternal Light World, he had once increased all four main attributes by over 90 points each in a single session. So, although the current enhancement was significant, he quickly adapted.
When the attribute enhancement pod stopped, wisps of hot air rose from Su Xiao's body. He exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and took out a portion of Power Source Matter.
[Absolute Strength, x (Passive)]
Mystic Art Power: After absorbing Power Source Matter, current True Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence permanently increase by 5% (already enhanced twice through Power Source Matter)…
…
The [Power Source Matter] was sealed within translucent resin. Su Xiao crushed it with one hand, and a colorless energy spread out, first entering his hand, then traveling up his arm into his torso. This source energy flowed through his limbs and bones, gradually diminishing as it was absorbed by various parts of his body.
The enhancement sensation from [Power Source Matter] was very intense, requiring complete concentration. Unlike using True Attribute Points, which only required feeling one's own body, using [Power Source Matter] was dangerous — one slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.
When the translucent source energy throughout his body stabilized, it gradually transformed into a spring-like, vibrant energy that surged through Su Xiao's body, rapidly enhancing his physique.
This rapid enhancement sensation could easily make one lose themselves, but fortunately, Su Xiao's Heart Meditation ability was as high as lv.96, allowing him to quickly stabilize his mind.
After absorbing one portion of Power Source Matter, Su Xiao's True Strength attribute had reached 443 points. A surging power spread through his body, but this was not the end.
Su Xiao took out a second portion of [Power Source Matter], crushed it, and absorbed it. Half an hour later, very faint blood mist began to emanate from his entire body. This was the risk brought by using [Power Source Matter] to greatly enhance physical attributes.
Su Xiao did not stop. Instead, he took out a third portion of [Power Source Matter], crushed it, and absorbed it. This time, it took over two hours before he gradually stabilized his aura.
The reason he did this was twofold: he had sufficient [Primordial Fragments] on hand, and he would need to concoct [Primordial Potion] later. Even if he couldn't produce a Miracle grade [Primordial Potion], he would still have to drink it afterward, or it would be too late.
[Primordial Potion] does not enhance combat power in the slightest. Instead, it stabilizes the foundation, strengthening the cornerstone of one's abilities. Under such circumstances, Su Xiao naturally dared to greatly enhance his physical attributes. After drinking one bottle of [Primordial Potion], not only would the effects of using three portions of [Power Source Matter] be stabilized, but even more could be quickly secured.
Of course, the step of using [Primordial Fragments] to stabilize himself could not be skipped. Su Xiao had always been willing to pay any price when enhancing his own power.
Taking out 7 [Primordial Fragments], Su Xiao used them all. A large surge of Primordial Force emerged from them, entering his body, bringing a feeling of smoothness throughout. The sense of power loss caused by the 'massive' enhancement of physical qualities disappeared in a short time. After meditating for a while, his aura was completely stable. He checked his own data:
True Strength: 489 points
True Agility: 489 points
True Stamina: 489 points
True Intelligence: 485 points
Charm: -21 points
Luck: 80 points
Soul Strength: 860 points
True Willpower: 350 points
Elemental Affinity: 1152 points
Lightning Attribute Resistance: 618 points
Abyss Resistance: 53 points
…
The four main attributes were approaching 500 points, meaning he was close to the minimum standard for advancing to Supreme Strong. However, Su Xiao knew that he still had a considerable distance to go before reaching Supreme rank.
Su Xiao felt that everything around him was a bit slow, caused by the significant increase in his body's speed. After leaving the Attribute Enhancement Hall, he first went to the Trade Street, then through the teleportation tower at the end of the street to reach the Great Gathering Place.
Passing through various stalls, Su Xiao arrived at a stall area on the south side of the Great Gathering Place. There were fewer people here, and the dozen or so surrounding stalls all displayed skill scrolls.
Behind these dozen stalls, more than half had no one, indicating that the scrolls on the stalls were not negotiable. In fact, even if someone was behind these stalls, they were there to collect scrolls.
What these dozen stalls sold were high-tier passives. At the level of mastering such abilities, everyone knew the prices of these scrolls, so there was no need to haggle.
Su Xiao did not plan to buy [High-Tier Passive Skill Scroll Chest] from the Honor Shop for 300 ounces of Space-Time Power each. In the description of this item, it indeed stated, 'This chest will not contain high-tier passive types already mastered by the Hunter.' But one must not be misled by this description.
There are many types of high-tier passives. Even just technique-type high-tier passives have dozens of varieties, such as those corresponding to Blade Grandmaster, Sword Grandmaster, Melee Grandmaster, etc.
If Su Xiao opened a [High-Tier Passive Skill Scroll Chest], he indeed would not get a high-tier passive corresponding to Blade Grandmaster. The problem was that, aside from this one type, he had a probability of getting any other type of high-tier passive.
High-tier passives all default to maximum potential, so there's no need to obtain them specifically through [High-Tier Passive Skill Scroll Chest].
Therefore, the [High-Tier Passive Skill Scroll Chest] at 300 ounces of Space-Time Power each was more like gambling on luck. If lucky, getting a summoning-type high-tier passive would be a huge profit. Getting an undead-type high-tier passive would be a small profit. Getting a necromancy-type high-tier passive would be a huge loss.
Interestingly, the reason summoning-type high-tier passives were the most expensive was not because they were stronger. Assuming the strength of necromancy-type and technique-type high-tier passives was 100, the strength of summoning-type high-tier passives was only around 20. After all, the first two were late-game systems, so their high-tier passives were naturally stronger.
The reason summoning-type high-tier passives were expensive was that the entire system's ability users needed a specific basic passive, unlike technique-types which had dozens of varieties.
Su Xiao searched among the stalls and quickly found several high-tier passive scrolls he liked. This was much easier than obtaining basic passive scrolls before. As long as he had enough Soul Coins, he wouldn't have trouble finding suitable high-tier passive ability scrolls.
[You have paid 182,000 Soul Coins.]
[You have obtained Blood Sublimation · Life Soul (High-Tier Passive).]
[Blood Sublimation · Life Soul: lv.1 (Technique Class · Passive)]
Note: Only after mastering blood-type technique abilities and raising them to lv.80 can this ability be mastered.
Note: Only after mastering seven or more 'Basic Passive' abilities and raising them all to x, or a higher x, can this ability be mastered.
Note: After mastering this ability, it will align with your 'Blood Spear Grandmaster' ability.
Skill Effect 1: Blood-type attack power increased by 10%.
Note: Only after the Blood Spear Grandmaster ability reaches its maximum attack power bonus, granting you 'Grandmaster's Breath (Passive)', can you obtain this bonus.
Skill Effect 2: Maximum Primordial Life Force increased by 1%.
Note: The maximum Health Points for Absolute Strong rank can reach 3.5 million points. This enhancement will increase the upper limit of 3.5 million points.
Skill Effect 3: Blood-type potential rank +1.
Skill Effect 4: Blood Spear Grandmaster enhancement cost +50%, enhancement effect +50% (this characteristic cannot be enhanced by any means).
Note: This ability only takes effect for Blood Spear Grandmaster above lv.80.
…
Su Xiao was quite fond of 'Blood Sublimation · Life Soul'. Through the enhancement of Skill Effect 4 of this ability, each level enhancement of his Blood Spear Grandmaster would change from 'Blood attack rank +2, Blood intensity +10 points' to 'Blood attack rank +3, Blood intensity +15 points'.
Of course, the enhancement cost would also reach 15 Soul Crystals + 142,500 Soul Coins per level.
Besides enhancing blood-type damage, 'Blood Sublimation · Life Soul' also increased the maximum Primordial Life Force, which interested Su Xiao. The maximum Health Points barrier of 3.5 million for Absolute Strong rank seemed very distant, but his current Health Points had already reached 1.5 million. This upper limit suddenly didn't seem so far away.
Su Xiao was not a world-destroying existence nor an abyss-type, so his maximum Health Points would not exceed 100%. Since the upper limit couldn't be higher, he would improve the quality.
As for the boss skills that deal damage based on a percentage of maximum Health Points — for example, a boss's skill dealing 20% of maximum Health Points as damage might seem to deal up to 300,000 damage to Su Xiao with 1.5 million Health Points, but that wasn't the case.
Between attacker and defender, there must be an intensity judgment. Simply put, it's like a sharp blade cutting into a piece of fine steel. Whoever is harder has the advantage.
This judgment also applied. Such percentage-based maximum Health Point damage abilities seemed very strong, but in reality, any attack has its upper limit. This type of attack was the same. It might seem to deal 20% of maximum Health Points as damage, but if Su Xiao's Primordial Life Force was strong enough, after multiple reductions, this attack wouldn't deal 20% of maximum Health Points damage. This type of damage also couldn't bypass defense.
What was truly terrifying was dealing 20% of maximum Health Points as True Damage. That was the real threat. True Damage meant exactly what it said — dealing the stated amount of damage. The maximum damage judgment was not just for show.
Therefore, stacking Health Points heavily was very useful. For example, in the previous life-and-death battles with the Ancestor and the Scarlet Monarch, both powerful enemies had the same thought: why won't this enemy die?
Besides 'Blood Sublimation · Life Soul', Su Xiao also found another high-tier passive and immediately bought it.
[You have paid 185,000 Soul Coins.]
[You have obtained Body Sublimation · Ascension Force (High-Tier Passive).]
[Body Sublimation · Ascension Force: lv.1 (Technique Class · Passive)]
Note: Only after mastering melee-type technique abilities and raising them to lv.80 can this ability be mastered.
Note: Only after mastering seven or more 'Basic Passive' abilities and raising them all to x, or a higher x, can this ability be mastered.
Note: After mastering this ability, it will align with your 'Melee Grandmaster' ability.
Skill Effect 1: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 5%.
Skill Effect 2: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 8%.
Skill Effect 3: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 10%.
Note: The above three bonuses can only be obtained after the Melee Grandmaster ability reaches its maximum attack power bonus, granting you 'Grandmaster's Power (Passive)'.
Skill Effect 4: Melee Grandmaster enhancement cost +50%, enhancement effect +50% (this characteristic cannot be enhanced by any means).
Note: This ability only takes effect for Melee Grandmaster above lv.80.
…
'Body Sublimation · Ascension Force' had the style of a Melee Grandmaster. All three bonuses enhanced kick attack power, completely different from the other two high-tier passives.
Su Xiao used the two high-tier passive skill scrolls in his hand, and a prompt appeared.
[You have mastered Blood Sublimation · Life Soul: lv.1.]
[You have mastered Body Sublimation · Ascension Force: lv.1.]
After mastering the abilities, it was time to enhance them. Su Xiao returned to the teleportation tower, teleported back to Reincarnation Paradise, and headed straight for the Skill Upgrade Hall.
Half an hour later, inside the Skill Upgrade Hall, the pod door closed behind Su Xiao. He activated the skill upgrade pod he was in, checked his skill list, selected 'Technique Sublimation · Supreme Blade', and prepared to enhance it using the skill upgrade pod. Finally, he confirmed that he was wearing [Reincarnation · Glory Badge].
[Reincarnation · Glory Badge: When worn, the usage cost of skill upgrade pods is reduced by 20%.]
[Enhancing Technique Sublimation · Supreme Blade lv.21 requires consuming 24,000 Soul Coins.]
This was the price after the reduction from [Reincarnation · Glory Badge]. Su Xiao glanced at his existing 3 million plus Soul Coins and felt reassured. He chose to enhance Technique Sublimation · Supreme Blade by 9 levels.
The skill upgrade pod started. Su Xiao had enhanced abilities many times, so his aura was exceptionally calm. He could feel an invisible energy surging from the surroundings, entering his body, rapidly enhancing one of his abilities. This feeling was like using this ability tens of thousands of times, with ample corresponding energy, causing the ability to improve quickly.
[Technique Sublimation · Supreme Blade has been enhanced to lv.30. To continue enhancing this ability, each level requires consuming 34,000 Soul Coins.]
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao felt a sense of unease. The existing 3 million plus Soul Coins suddenly didn't seem as abundant as before. But even if the enhancement cost for this ability was very expensive, he still had to enhance it. The reason was that, aside from Blade Grandmaster, the only way to continue improving his blade combat power was through this ability.
What were high-tier passives? They were abilities that could continue to enhance beyond the limit when all types of passive skill scrolls on the trading market showed that 'this ability cannot bring improvement to your current comprehensive combat power.'
Su Xiao weighed his options and decided to enhance 'Technique Sublimation · Supreme Blade' to lv.50. This would cost a total of 780,000 Soul Coins. But there was no other way. Stacking passives became stronger in the later stages, and correspondingly, more expensive.
Two hours later, when the skill upgrade pod stopped operating, Su Xiao's aura gradually stabilized.
[Technique Sublimation · Supreme Blade: lv.50 (Technique Class · Passive)]
Skill Effect 1: Blade weapon attack power increased by +530%.
Skill Effect 2: Blade technique power increased by 530%.
Skill Effect 3: Blade potential rank +11 (increased by 6).
Skill Effect 4: Blade enhancement cost +50%, enhancement effect +50% (this characteristic cannot be enhanced by any means).
…
Next was enhancing 'Blood Sublimation · Life Soul'. Su Xiao checked his remaining Soul Coins and chose to enhance this ability to lv.30. A total of 416,000 Soul Coins were paid. One hour later, the enhancement was complete.
[Blood Sublimation · Life Soul: lv.30 (Technique Class · Passive)]
Skill Effect 1: Blood-type attack power increased by 280%.
Skill Effect 2: Maximum Primordial Life Force increased by 15%.
Note: The maximum Health Points for Absolute Strong rank can reach 3.5 million points. This enhancement will increase the upper limit of 3.5 million points.
Skill Effect 3: Blood-type potential rank +5 (increased by 4).
Skill Effect 4: Blood Spear Grandmaster enhancement cost +50%, enhancement effect +50% (this characteristic cannot be enhanced by any means).
…
After stabilizing his aura for a moment, Su Xiao continued enhancing abilities. This time it was 'Body Sublimation · Ascension Force', also enhanced to lv.30. The cost was the same as 'Blood Sublimation · Life Soul', totaling 416,000 Soul Coins.
The skill upgrade pod began operating. When it stopped, Su Xiao was covered in hot sweat, with steam slowly dissipating from his body.
[Body Sublimation · Ascension Force: lv.30 (Technique Class · Passive)]
Skill Effect 1: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 90%.
Skill Effect 2: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 150%.
Skill Effect 3: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 240%.
Skill Effect 4: Melee Grandmaster enhancement cost +50%, enhancement effect +50% (this characteristic cannot be enhanced by any means).
…
Opening the door of the skill upgrade pod, Su Xiao walked out of the upgrade hall. Now that he had mastered high-tier passives corresponding to blade, melee, and blood spear, the upper limits of all three technique-type abilities had each increased by 50%. Even if it meant paying 50% more resources, it was worth it.
Especially for Su Xiao's Blade Grandmaster ability. A Blade Grandmaster of the same level would definitely be beaten to the point of questioning their existence. His Blade Grandmaster not only had the support of high-tier passives but also had 6 Primordial Skill Points invested in it.
Su Xiao had only advanced to Absolute Strong in the previous world. How could he fight head-on against a world-destroying existence like the Ancestor? Of course, the powerful effect of the Realm Thunder played a part, but his Blade Grandmaster, which exceeded the current level, was also key.
Returning to his exclusive room, Su Xiao found that Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini were not there. Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha had gone to the Attribute Enhancement Hall to use the follower advancement qualification, while Beini was at the Great Gathering Place selling the items obtained this time.
The door closed automatically. Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the carpet beside the coffee table and took out the 235 Soul Crystals he had.
[To enhance Blade Grandmaster lv.82 requires consuming Soul Crystals × 15 + 142,500 Soul Coins.]
Su Xiao chose to enhance Blade Grandmaster by 5 levels. The surrounding 70 Soul Crystals shattered, and a massive amount of soul energy surged toward him. Soul Coins were quickly consumed, totaling 712,500. In the later stages, technique abilities consumed the most Soul Coins, even surpassing high-tier passives by a large margin.
A roar seemed to sound in Su Xiao's ears. The surrounding scenery drastically changed. First came a rapid falling sensation, then a sudden stop. He stood in a pitch-black void.
A long blade formed from soul energy hung in the distance. Seeing this long blade, Su Xiao felt a sense of familiarity and a deep desire from within. As long as he grasped this soul blade and absorbed the special energy within it, his Blade Grandmaster would undergo an unprecedented enhancement. So he stepped forward.
But for some reason, after Su Xiao stepped forward, it felt like stepping into a swamp, constantly sinking. After only a few steps, he could no longer continue, and was gradually swallowed by the darkness. However, because he had gotten closer to this soul blade, he absorbed some of the special energy emanating from it.
The surrounding darkness gradually dissipated and dissolved. Su Xiao's eyes opened. He was still in his exclusive room, but when he raised his hand, a small amount of black liquid on the back of his right hand floated upward, finally dissolving into the air.
Having enhanced several abilities in succession, Su Xiao needed to take a break before enhancing Melee Grandmaster and Blood Spear Grandmaster. Additionally, he didn't have many Soul Coins left. He would have to wait for Beini to sell some items before he could continue enhancing technique abilities.
Just then, Su Xiao suddenly received a message. Opening it, he saw it was from the Goblin Merchant Guild. A goblin merchant had contacted him through the Void Tree's notarization.
Goblin Merchant (Black Ear): "Mr. White Night, are you looking to sell Primordial Potion?"
White Night: "[Primordial Potion · Perfect (temporary viewing permission open)]. Only selling for Precipitated Glass. Name your price."
Goblin Merchant (Black Ear): "12,000 per bottle. Do you think this price is acceptable?"
White Night: "40,000."
Goblin Merchant (Black Ear): "Mr. White Night, this price is too high. I can offer at most 15,000. That's my limit."
White Night: "We'll talk later then."
Goblin Merchant (Black Ear): "Alright, Mr. White Night. I hope to cooperate with you in the future."
…
Su Xiao ended this text-based communication. He sat on a single sofa, brewed a cup of Maple Tea, and waited leisurely for over half an hour before another contact request appeared.
Goblin Merchant (Black Ear): "Mr. White Night, I can offer 36,000. This is truly the limit I can offer. You've indeed put me at a disadvantage in this transaction. I've truly never encountered a Primordial Potion of this quality before. So, for one bottle of this grade of Primordial Potion, 36,000 Precipitated Glass."
White Night: "Deal."
…
After closing the communication, Su Xiao opened the Abyss Store and checked [Primordial Fruit].
[Primordial Fruit]
Category: ???
Stock Quantity: ??? (Hunter's reputation too low, cannot view).
Exchange Price: 3840 Precipitated Glass (original price 7680 Precipitated Glass).
…
[Prompt: Because you simultaneously possess five Original Sin Objects, your 'Original Sin Guardian (Passive Authority)' has been enhanced. You have one chance to refresh the Abyss Store.]
[If you choose to refresh the Abyss Store, items in the top ten of the list, such as Primordial Fruit, Primordial Fragments, and Star Power, will not lose their exchange authority due to this refresh, nor will your current personal stock be reduced (and personal stock will accumulate). After completing this refresh, you can exchange for more types and higher quality items in the Abyss Store.]
[You have chosen to refresh the Abyss Store.]
[Abyss Store refreshing…]