Chapter 16: Each Showing Their Skills
At the Lord's Manor, beside the swimming pool.
The afternoon sun was still quite bright. Xina, clad in a swimsuit, lay back on a lounge chair. A glass of juice sat on the small table beside her hand. After fighting for her life against others, she enjoyed resting quietly like this for a while, feeling that she was still alive.
Bare-chested, wearing only shorts, with a thick mat of chest hair, the Little Giant Mordo supported himself with both hands on the edge of the pool, lowered his head, and drank water from the pool like a horse.
"Don't drink the pool water."
"Woof."
The Little Giant Mordo dripped water from his chin and scratched his head. Although he wasn't very smart, he usually listened to Xina. He came to the fountain pool, plunged his head into the water, and the water level in the fountain pool visibly dropped. Seeing this, Xina sighed helplessly and said nothing more. After all, the water in the fountain pool was much cleaner than the pool water. Besides, what they used to drink was slightly toxic groundwater.
Just then, a cacophony of barking dogs made Xina frown slightly. After all the dogs fell silent, she knew the Lord had returned.
She had just sat up when she saw the Lord approaching with One-Eyed Snake and the Administrator, Mel Torrey. Mel Torrey was chattering on about something, seemingly reporting how much steel the water supply system would need, along with the corresponding factories, equipment, workers, etc. The related equipment could be traded for food in the great city of Molten Iron City. In this world, residents' food was a universal resource, more useful than various miscellaneous currencies.
Passing by the pool, Su Xiao stopped. This made Xina feel a bit nervous inside, though she didn't know why herself.
"Injured?"
Su Xiao looked at the bandage wrapped around Xina's right forearm, which made Xina quickly explain:
"Sir, it's just a minor wound. The operation went smoothly."
Xina didn't want to leave an impression of incompetence on Lord Bai Ye because of such a superficial injury.
"I had a friend who died from a severe wound infection."
"I... I see."
"Coincidentally, I have time now. I can treat you."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Amu, who was already heading to the backyard, quickened his pace. Baha said he had urgent business and spread his wings to fly away. Bubu Wang ran towards the mansion, meaning he was hungry and going to find the head maid for some food.
"This little injury of mine is nothing..."
Before Xina could finish, she found Su Xiao staring directly at her, which forced her to change her words: "Then I'll trouble the City Lord."
And so, Xina followed Su Xiao into the mansion. After going up to the fourth floor, they entered the treatment room. Initially, lying on the healing bed, Xina looked around curiously. But after being fitted with an oxygen mask and taking a breath of 'oxygen', there was no 'then'. She woke up again from the pain, and it left her with memories that would haunt her nightmares for a long time to come.
Leaving aside Xina's psychological state, physically, after this treatment, all the hidden ailments and chronic diseases accumulated over the past were cured. Her overly violent bodily energy, after strengthening her heart, systemic blood circulation, and immune system, no longer eroded her own body.
As for Xina's unique personality, that was beyond the scope of the 'Solar Healing Secret Art'.
Such comprehensive recovery and a body reborn as new did not bring a smile to Xina's face. She sat slumped there, her eyes losing their luster as two streams of tears flowed down her cheeks. Look how happy she was, crying tears of joy.
Going down to the study on the third floor, Su Xiao sat down, quite satisfied with the combination of 'Solar Healing Secret Art' + 'Solar Secret Art Professional Treatment Tools'. Assuming that before, it could handle tricky problems of level 8, it must now have risen to level 9.5. As for the treatment experience, the 'Solar Healing Secret Art' focuses on efficacy; the rest is the work of a mental healer.
Speaking of which, a friend of the Saintess Seat was a mental healer. Cooperation could be considered later. If, before evening today, Xina still had that look in her eyes devoid of light, then contacting the Saintess Seat's friend to discuss cooperation matters could be considered.
Only then did Su Xiao have time to carefully examine the various gains. First was looting the chip exchange office in the VIP area of the Platinum Gambling City. He checked the relevant prompts.
[Your Golden Faction Hatred +58630 points.]
[Current Golden Faction Hatred: 433892/500000 points.]
[You have obtained 528,300 Soul Coins.]
……
Over 500,000 Soul Coins was no small amount, and this wasn't the entire day's takings of the gambling city, only the VIP area. This also confirmed for Su Xiao that High Lord Gurbak alone couldn't support such a large business. Even with the Scarlet Lord behind him, it was still impossible. This business was too enviable.
Half of the Platinum Gambling City's clientele came from major Void factions, while the rest came from high-level worlds or Transcendent Worlds.
The bigger this business got, the more it was hated or envied. Su Xiao could only think of one force qualified to protect this business: Arcane Eternal Star. Given Arcane Eternal Star's appetite, unless they got seventy percent of the Platinum Gambling City's net profit, would they secretly put aside their arrogance and touch this disgraceful but extremely profitable business.
Seventy percent for Arcane Eternal Star, twenty percent for the local overlord Scarlet Lord, and ten percent for High Lord Gurbak. That would be very reasonable.
Speaking of which, High Lord Gurbak was incredibly unlucky this time. With Arcane Eternal Star as his powerful backer, there really weren't many people in the Void who would actively provoke the Platinum Gambling City. Even if a powerhouse did do so, the backer would step in at the critical moment.
The problem was, because this world was undergoing an Absolute Strength level World Domination War, those above Absolute Strength level couldn't enter this world for now. For Absolute Strength level spellcasters, fighting Su Xiao was unwise. This resulted in High Lord Gurbak, who paid seventy percent protection fees, now being helpless.
What made High Lord Gurbak so depressed he almost spat out old blood was that others would fear or be wary of Arcane Eternal Star. Su Xiao, as a Law Destroyer, not only wouldn't be wary, but would hit even harder after the other party claimed Arcane Eternal Star as their backer.
High Lord Gurbak wanted to roar out a sentence: 'You bastard, were you sent down by heaven specifically to target me?'
According to the law of enemy-friend mood conservation, when the enemy's mood is terrible, one's own mood is very good. For example, Su Xiao now. He checked the gains from looting the Golden City's No. 1 Vault. The total was as follows:
[Your Golden Faction Hatred +89630 points.]
[Current Golden Faction Hatred: 500000/500000 points.]
[The Golden Faction now holds permanent hatred for you.]
[You have obtained Dark Gold Badge (Souvenir issued by Void Tree, no attributes, no bonuses, etc.).]
……
A dark gold badge appeared in front of Su Xiao. He caught it as it fell. The badge was about 10 centimeters in diameter, metallic, with a blood-red Golden Faction emblem on it. It would look good on the collection shelf in the bedroom of the Lord's Train.
[You have obtained 3,200,000 Soul Coins.]
[You have obtained Soul Crystal x295.]
[You have obtained Primordial Source Matter x1 portion.]
[You have obtained Primordial Core x3.]
[You have obtained Travel Pass (Special Item).]
……
The Soul Coins obtained from this looting were fewer than expected. But considering that Bubu Wang saw a vault on the top floor of the gambling city, more Soul Coins should be stored there. This way, not all eggs were in one basket, and it was convenient for offering Soul Coins to Arcane Eternal Star each time.
Although the Soul Coins didn't meet expectations, the other gains were excellent. Keep in mind, this was his share after he got 46%, Kaiser 46%, and Fenni 8%. They could have not given Fenni anything, and Fenni wouldn't dare say anything. But this was cooperation, and cooperation meant everyone involved got a share. Eating alone was satisfying for a moment, but once you fell into trouble, you would pay back a hundred or a thousand times over.
Su Xiao took out the [Travel Pass] he obtained and checked its attributes.
[Travel Pass]
Origin: Void Tree.
Type: One-time special item.
Effect: After using this item, a space channel lasting 24 to 36 hours will be opened. The Traveling Merchant will rush over as soon as possible and wait for you here for 72 hours, leaving only when the time limit is reached or after completing one transaction with you.
Warning: Attacking/harming the neutral unit, Traveling Merchant, by any means is prohibited.
Description: An honest and punctual merchant of the myriad worlds.
……
Su Xiao had certainly heard of the Traveling Merchant. Among the neutral units certified by the Void Tree, there were three highest-level merchants: the Traveling Merchant, the Mysterious Merchant, and the Divine Merchant.
The Traveling Merchant had the most complete stock, and it was said that Source Matter transactions could be conducted with him. The Mysterious Merchant's goods were either peculiar, strange, or had strong effects with heavy costs. Among the three highest-level merchants, the Mysterious Merchant was a complete profiteer.
As for the last one, the Divine Merchant, this one was harder to encounter. Unless someone like Su Xiao, who had slain a large number of Ancient Gods and Evil Gods, could have a way to contact the Divine Merchant.
Having nothing to trade for now, Su Xiao temporarily put away the [Travel Pass]. He continued scrolling up to find the prompt content that appeared after completing Bounty 2: Hidden Sanctuary.
[You have completed Bounty 2: Hidden: Find the Hidden Sanctuary.]
[Due to the multiple bounty + bounty correction of the 'Hunt List: Blood Pact', you will receive a bounty worth a total of 6500 ounces of Space-Time Power.]
[You have obtained Space-Time Stone Fragment x350 (This is an equivalent item, can be sold to Reincarnation Paradise at any time for 3500 ounces of Space-Time Power).]
[You have obtained Absolute Strength Level Passive Skill Scroll Chest (This item is valued at 2500 ounces of Space-Time Power in this judgment).]
[You have obtained Secret Treasure Box x1 (This item is valued at 500 ounces of Space-Time Power in this judgment).]
……
Among these gains, the value of the [Absolute Strength Level Passive Skill Scroll Chest] was quite surprising. Because in the Honor Shop, the situation was:
[Absolute Strength Level Passive Skill Scroll Chest]
Effect: Upon opening, obtain an Absolute Strength Level Passive Skill Scroll.
Price: 500 ounces of Space-Time Power.
Total Stock: 0.
Note: This material stock will refresh after each World Domination War victory.
……
No wonder the stock was always 0. The price given by the bounty was generally lower than the regular price. In the Honor Shop, it was simply several times cheaper.
Closing the prompt list, Su Xiao checked his perception ability, Instinct. This ability, which couldn't be upgraded in the Skill Upgrade Pod, had been trained to Lv.86.
In dangerous environments, Instinct improved relatively quickly. Being besieged by enemy legions twice recently was indeed perilous. Without the crowd-clearing method of World Thunder, being surrounded by the Troll Legion would have left Su Xiao with only two outcomes: retreating via the Lord's Train, or being killed. The Lord system was indeed formidable, worthy of being one of the three overlords of the First Era.
The reason Instinct improved so quickly was largely due to the belt-type equipment bought from the Goblin Merchant Guild for 2800 ounces of Space-Time Power.
[Hunting Heart]
Origin: Ancient Dragon Kingdom · Extreme Dark Forest · Wild Hunt Workshop.
Quality: Immortal Rank.
Category: Hunting Belt.
Durability: 420/420 points.
Equipment Requirement: 800 True Agility.
Equipment Effect: Perception Stimulation (Core Passive). This equipment's compatibility with your Instinct ability reaches 96.5%, triggering a 100% bonus effect. Instinct ability improvement speed increases by 20 to 210 times (210 times during combat, 95 times in dangerous environments, 20 times in safe environments).
Note: When you fight in the unique 'Specific Environment' corresponding to this equipment, the equipment's effect will receive a 'Super-Massive' increase, and there is a probability of immediately increasing your current perception ability by 1 level. This bonus will no longer trigger once the perception ability reaches X.
Note: If you use this equipment to raise your 'Instinct' ability to X, your 'Instinct' ability will receive a qualitative transformation. At the same time, this equipment will also receive a qualitative transformation and become your exclusive perception bonus equipment.
Rating: 6000 points (Immortal Rank equipment rating is 3000-6000 points).
Description: Under the cover of darkness, we are very small. In this barren sanctuary town, for our wives, children, elders, and the continuation of our clan, we must don the hunter's gear and step into the darkness that has never receded outside the town. Facing this absolute darkness that even light and flame cannot dispel, do not be afraid. All fear of darkness does not come from the unknown darkness ahead; it breeds from within your heart. Even if the darkness ahead cannot be dispelled, bravely step forward. In the darkness, your heart is your eyes, your courage is your torch, your will is your weapon. Behind you are your already emaciated clansmen and your critically ill loved ones. We can only move forward!
Price: 11,800 Soul Coins.
……
This was a hunting belt with a lot of story. Su Xiao felt that to raise the 'Instinct' ability to X in the future and achieve a qualitative transformation under conditions perfectly suited to him, he would rely on this equipment named [Hunting Heart].
Opening the city list of Rainwood City, he checked the existing food reserves and prepared to upgrade the Lord Core. Just then, a ring in his storage space emitted a slight fluctuation. He took it out. It was the 'Ring of Fate' previously entrusted to him by the Goddess of Fate via Crow.
The reason the 'Ring of Fate' stirred was that the ring's spatial ability had been activated. With Su Xiao's permission, the holder of the other ring could teleport over. As he triggered the fluctuation of the 'Ring of Fate', with a *pop*, a golden-red mark appeared in front of him.
……
Great Swamp Region, Ashbone City.
This was a medium-sized city, controlled by an experienced Lord. Looking at the entire Great Swamp region, besides the great city of Sin City, Ashbone City was the most powerful.
But at this moment, Ashbone City was deathly silent. Legion-type units, resembling half-blood elves in outline and composed of pitch-black fluid, were roaming within Ashbone City. Sometimes, these half-blood Dark Spirits would merge with each other, forming a large mass, extending tentacles to drag out enemies hiding in narrow spaces.
What was even more terrifying was that even when these half-blood Dark Spirits merged, they were still individual units of their original number, receiving the bonus from the 'SSS-level Lord Aura'. This meant the more legion-type units there were, the greater the bonus.
Furthermore, these half-blood Dark Spirits had completely broken free from the constraints of the 'Lord Core'. They were spawned by devouring sufficiently strong lifeforms. Even the weakest half-orc could meet the minimum devouring value. The endless sea of half-blood Dark Spirits within Ashbone City gave a glimpse of the current situation in the Great Swamp region.
On the city wall, Shenfu closed the 'Book of Mercy' in his hand, his gaze fixed on the only great city in this region, Sin City. That was his next target.
At this moment, several dozen kilometers from Ashbone City, a giant toad was immersed in the mud. It was the Swamp King, who had fled overnight from the Plant Kingdom of Yagova to the Lord Continent. Right now, it was panicked, feeling unprecedented malice from fate.
The Swamp King in the muddy water secretly decided that if it survived this calamity, it would immediately head to the territory of the Corrupted Beast Horde in the western part of the Lord Continent. The new Beast King there was an old friend. If it weren't for the comfort of staying in the swamp, that would have been its first stop upon arriving on the Lord Continent.
Besides that, the Swamp King could also take revenge along the way. A few years ago, when it went to visit the new Beast King, it passed by a steel town called Rainwood City. Feeling hungry, it wanted to jump in and devour some humans. But it was shot by a human, right in its left eye. It took a long time to recover. This time, it was just right to go and kill that female human. It had roughly calculated that, given her violent bodily energy back then, her combat power would have diminished by four or five tenths by now. It could easily defeat her.
Thinking of this, the Swamp King couldn't contain itself. It quietly surfaced from the mud, preparing to distance itself from the occupied Ashbone City. In the time it took to turn its head, a benevolent-looking Shenfu, dressed in clerical robes and holding a book, stood before it, looking at it with a kind smile.
"Gulp."
The Swamp King swallowed a large mouthful of saliva. At this moment, it felt the malice of fate even more strongly. If possible, it wanted to curse the Goddess of Fate thoroughly, even though this matter had nothing to do with her.
"Ah-choo~"
In the study, the Goddess of Fate sneezed. A hint of confusion flickered in her beautiful golden-red pupils. Her usual loose, milky-white hair was tied into a fishtail braid. Coupled with the very faint, light-golden imprint on the back of her fair right hand, her aura was no longer as fragile as before.
That's right, the Goddess of Fate had made a firm decision to improve herself and become a powerful Goddess of Fate. The path she chose for improvement was to challenge Evil Gods, accumulate a certain amount of Divine Blood, and then come to Su Xiao to have this Divine Blood purified into 'Characteristic-less Divine Blood'.
Afterwards, the Goddess of Fate would convert this 'Characteristic-less Pure Divine Blood' into 'Fate Divine Blood'. For the equipment [Fate Dominator], absorbing 'Lucky Divine Blood' and 'Fate Divine Blood' brought similar improvements. Although the former was slightly better than the latter, it was only a minor difference between an increase of 10 points and an increase of 9.9985 points.
"Although I almost died a few times, the harvest is good."
The Goddess of Fate took out a crystal container. As she raised her hand, her sleeve slipped slightly, revealing her bandaged forearm. There were bloodstains on the bandage, showing that she had truly strived to improve.
Would the Goddess of Luck be stimulated by her close friend to become equally hardworking? The definite answer was no. The Goddess of Luck wasn't actually lazy; she had been particularly hardworking in the past, until she realized how poor her combat talent was. After a period of struggle, she turned into a happy slacker.
Don't be fooled by the Goddess of Luck traveling, eating delicious food, and sightseeing every day. This was the best way for her to improve herself, bar none. It wasn't that she wasn't hardworking; it was that her method of improving herself was truly enviable.
The Goddess of Fate put down the Divine Blood container. Su Xiao picked it up and estimated it to be 25 ounces of Divine Blood. The Goddess of Fate's level of effort was surprising.
Su Xiao formed a temporary Devouring Core. With his current Devouring Core level, after absorbing all the Divine Blood into it and going through cycles of filtration, purification, and refinement, the resulting Divine Blood turned into a pleasing light gold color. In contrast, the 25 ounces of impure Divine Blood became 13.5 ounces of 'Pure Divine Blood'.
The Goddess of Fate took a deep breath. All the 'Pure Divine Blood' floated towards her. Her eyes became brighter. It took a full hour before the Goddess of Fate descended from her floating state, showing some signs of fatigue.
After conversion, the 13.5 ounces of 'Pure Divine Blood' yielded 2.7 ounces of 'Fate Divine Blood'. According to the 50% sharing ratio, the Goddess of Fate ultimately obtained 1.35 ounces of 'Fate Divine Blood', which was 487 drops of 'Fate Divine Blood'.
Seeing the 487 drops of 'Fate Divine Blood' floating before her, the Goddess of Fate's raised hands trembled slightly. From the time she became the Goddess of Fate until now, she had only accumulated a little over 40 drops of 'Fate Divine Blood'.
In truth, when she barely survived defeating her first Evil God, the Goddess of Fate had thought about giving up. Why bother? She was a friendly deity, a causal deity system not skilled in combat. Why die fighting Evil Gods just because of a momentary impulse? But when she landed somewhat weakly in the town below, facing the Spirit Hunter Clan members who willingly knelt, raising their arms as if embracing her, the Goddess of Fate's pupils contracted slightly.
She had certainly heard about Evil Gods enslaving, dominating, and trampling upon life. But the numbers in the stories were nothing compared to the endless sea of suffering she saw with her own eyes.
Because of this, the Goddess of Fate went on to defeat several subsequent Evil Gods. Now, her purpose for defeating Evil Gods had gained another point. This time, she obtained 487 drops of 'Fate Divine Blood'. This meant that by absorbing this 'Fate Divine Blood', she could become stronger, and thus qualify to challenge stronger Evil Gods, obtain more Divine Blood, and snowball.
Filled with fighting spirit, the Goddess of Fate swiped a cup of Maple Tea and left. Su Xiao opened the city list:
[Current Identity: Lord of Rainwood City.]
Lord Aura: E level (E ~ SSS level).
Lord Core: E level (E ~ SSS level).
Food: 1,685,000 units (used to unlock/upgrade the Lord Core, and as biological energy for the Lord Core).
Living Resources: 5,650 units (includes regular food, beverages, various seasonings, etc.).
Other Resources: 1,430 units (includes resident medical supplies, daily necessities, entertainment items, etc.).
Soldier-type Units: 0.
Civilians: 68,250 (increase of 15,570).
Artisans: 6,850 (increase of 5,870).
……
The 'Infinite Gold Coin Upgrade' plan that Su Xiao had created was certainly not for show. According to his calculations, upgrading the Lord Core from E level to SSS level would require a total of 1,053,640 units of food. This meant he could max out the Lord Core right now.
He issued a mental command to all the Worker Scorpions in the Mother Nest to transport the 'Food' from the stockpile to the Lord's Maw one after another.
While waiting for the 'Lord Core' to upgrade, Su Xiao left the study, took the elevator down to the underground Hidden Sanctuary, and entered the Skill Upgrade Pod.
[Verification: Your current area is not an internal Paradise environment. Activating Paradise facilities in this environment... consumes 216 ounces of Space-Time Power per hour.]
Last time, entering the dream state cost 864 ounces of Space-Time Power. This time, Su Xiao could certainly withstand it. He used his existing 80 Law-Destroying Skill Points to upgrade the 'Azure Shadow King' ability. The next second, he successfully entered the dream state.
Thump, thump, thump~
Su Xiao woke up again from this knocking sound. After getting up, he still ignored the stinging pain all over his body and exited the Skill Upgrade Pod. Or rather, as a poor Technique Grandmaster of three schools, consuming 216 ounces of Space-Time Power without any gain was indeed hard to accept.
Going up to the inner hall on the third floor, Fenni arrived shortly after. Sensing Su Xiao's aura, Fenni frowned and asked, "Did you upgrade your inherited profession ability again?"
"..."
"What kind of ability is this of yours? Upgrading it is too brutal."
Despite her complaints, Fenni had already activated her pseudo-deep healing ability. This gradually eased the stinging pain throughout Su Xiao's body. He leaned back on a single sofa and rested for a moment before opening his skill list.
[Azure Shadow King: Lv.76 (Ultimate Level Skill)]
Skill Effect (Passive): When you are surrounded, and the number of enemies within 1000 meters exceeds 10 (requires combat power above a certain threshold), your Azure Shadow King ability will activate, granting you the following bonuses sequentially.
Note: The following stage bonuses are coverage-type bonuses and cannot be cumulatively stacked (this is an absolute priority characteristic).
Azure Shadow King Stage 1: When the number of enemies around you exceeds 10, all your main attributes increase by 31.5%.
Note: Main attributes are Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intelligence.
Azure Shadow King Stage 2: When the number of enemies around you exceeds 300, all your main attributes increase by 31.5%, total Health Points increase by 72.3%, total Mana Points increase by 72.3%, and body defense increases by 70.88%.
Azure Shadow King Stage 3: When the number of enemies around you exceeds 1000, all your main attributes increase by 31.5%, total Health Points increase by 72.3%, total Mana Points increase by 72.3%, and body defense increases by 70.88%. Additionally, the unique energy of Azure Shadow King activates the Devouring Core, allowing you to, for each subsequent enemy you kill, absorb their Primordial Life Force, which is then converted and filtered through the Azure Shadow King Devouring Core, restoring 14.53% of your maximum Health Points, 14.53% of your maximum Mana Points, and 14.53% of your maximum Stamina Points.
……
If Lv.1 Azure Shadow King had great potential but low bonuses, now was the time to show its power. When the Azure Shadow King ability reaches X, and Su Xiao breaks through Absolute Strength level to advance to Supreme level, that will be the peak of Azure Shadow King.
[Prompt: Your Lord Core has been upgraded to SSS. You need to complete the corresponding gains obtained after each Lord Core upgrade as soon as possible. You can choose one of the following two income modes.]