Chapter 57: Return and Preparation
The arm's recovery proceeded without complications. The moment the recovery ended, Su Xiao suddenly sensed that his right arm's soul, existence, causality, and even deeper aspects had undergone Abyss transformation. The good news was that this arm wasn't being eroded by Abyss power; instead, it had absorbed and fused with it. Therefore, there was no issue of Abyss power continuing to erode Su Xiao through the arm.
In short, this top-tier Abyss power mistakenly believed the right arm was a complete entity. Even though it was the highest-order power in the Void of Ten Thousand Realms, this power lacked intelligence. After occupying the entire right arm, it began Abyss transformation until it was completely consumed.
The truly remarkable aspect was that this Abyss energy had no will of its own and was pure to the extreme. In fact, it resembled a kind of Abyss Primordial Source Power.
Tainted Abyss power was called erosion, but if this was truly pure to the extreme Abyss Primordial Source Power, then it might be an opportunity and enhancement.
First, the source of this Abyss power. During the life-and-death battle with the Abyss Honor Guard Leader, Su Xiao chose to throw out [Dark Writhing], which was part of the previous Abyss Lord's brain matter.
When the Abyss Honor Guard Leader swallowed this piece of the previous Abyss Lord's brain matter, the high-ranking Abyss power within the Honor Guard Leader triggered the Abyss power within the brain matter. This Abyss power was a strand of [Abyss Primordial Source Power].
Even more remarkable was that, due to the unknown state of the previous Abyss Lord, this [Abyss Primordial Source Power] was in an unconscious state, which was why it was so purely concentrated.
The Abyss Honor Guard Leader absorbed most of this [Abyss Primordial Source Power], while the remaining small portion was absorbed by Su Xiao's right arm, which had been swallowed into the Honor Guard Leader's stomach. In other words, this strand of [Abyss Primordial Source Power], driven by energy instinct, invaded the right arm.
As for why the Abyss Honor Guard Leader exploded and died on the spot after absorbing this [Abyss Primordial Source Power], it was because his subsequent actions involved subjectively using this power to advance, which naturally caused problems.
However, Su Xiao's right arm was swallowed into the Abyss Honor Guard Leader's stomach at the time and later sealed in a life-support device. It had no awareness of advancement whatsoever.
Thus, the unconscious [Abyss Primordial Source Power] and the unconscious [Su Xiao's Right Arm] began to slowly fuse.
Under normal circumstances, this [Abyss Primordial Source Power] would have completely eroded the right arm. The problem was that when the arm was severed, Su Xiao's maximum health was 5.61 million points. Based on the proportion of the arm to the entire body, the arm's health was at least several hundred thousand points.
The [Abyss Primordial Source Power] was indeed eroding the arm, but the arm had too much health and an Abyss Resistance of 96 points. It was both tanky and highly resistant. The [Abyss Primordial Source Power] couldn't erode the right arm.
This resulted in the [Abyss Primordial Source Power] naturally and dangerously nourishing the right arm, ultimately achieving the current state of the arm.
Su Xiao took out the sealed box containing [Dark Writhing] from his storage space. Opening it, the brain matter inside had dried up, becoming a wood-like crystalline object. After observing it, he found it had lost its effect.
He moved his right arm. There was no discomfort. The skin color was the same as before. No strange abilities appeared, and none of his resistances had increased.
He drew Dragon-Slaying Flash and cut his right hand. It still bled. After a moment, the wound gradually healed. He wasn't a Life-type contractor. Even with strong vitality, his healing properties weren't exceptional. He then cut his left arm and found the healing speed was the same.
This puzzled Su Xiao. His right arm had absorbed [Abyss Primordial Source Power] but gained no benefits. After pondering, he went to the alchemy laboratory and entered the Abyss characteristic item testing area. He took out a solution bottle, poured out some black liquid, and touched it with his right fingertip on the test reaction table. No sensation at all.
He tried with his left hand. His left fingertip immediately went numb, and black lines appeared. At this concentration of liquid Abyss energy invasion, even with his 96-point Abyss Resistance, he could only keep his distance. But his right hand showed no signs of erosion.
He switched to a different type of liquid Abyss energy and began testing the limits of his right hand and arm. After a while, he felt a stinging sensation in his right hand. Strangely, the high-concentration filthy liquid Abyss energy did injure his right hand, but there was no trace of invasion.
It felt like his right hand and arm weren't immune to Abyss-type damage—after all, Abyss power could spawn too many branch systems—but they could basically ignore Abyss power erosion.
At first glance, this ability seemed limited. But Su Xiao quickly realized something. He touched the high-concentration liquid Abyss energy with his left hand. A few minutes later, his left hand was covered in black erosion marks. Abyss invasion had begun.
Su Xiao sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and meditated. Using his own Cyan Steel Shadow Energy, he fought against the invading Abyss power. Although Cyan Steel Shadow Energy was very high-ranking, it wasn't enough to devour Abyss power. However, since Cyan Steel Shadow Energy was endless and inexhaustible, the two reached a stalemate.
He couldn't use Cyan Steel Shadow Energy to devour this Abyss power, but he could wrap around it and move it to other parts of his body.
First, he moved it from his left arm to his torso, avoiding the heart and going around the abdomen, then to his right arm. Once this Abyss power reached his right arm, he released the wrapped Cyan Steel Shadow Energy.
Black smoke gradually evaporated from his right hand. In just over ten seconds, the Abyss power that had invaded his body was expelled by the right arm's characteristics.
This put Su Xiao in a good mood. The Law Destruction Faction had one universally acknowledged fact: they were inevitably eroded by Abyss power. Even top Law Destroyers like Green Gillian, Mawen Hua'erzi, and Ximan Aqide had this problem. In fact, Ximan Aqide was eroded into an Abyssal Shadow in his later years.
It wasn't that Law Destroyers had weak resistance to the Abyss. On the contrary, the problem was that the Law Destruction Faction was too often in contact with the Abyss, being mortal enemies with the Abyss Descendants.
[Prompt: Due to the method of participation in this World Domination War, you cannot settle this war's results.]
[Prompt: Due to the Hunter's outstanding performance in this Paradise Domination War and the inability to settle the war's results, after Reincarnation Paradise's verification, your debt of 85,000 ounces of Space-Time Power to Reincarnation Paradise has been forgiven.]
This was good news. Su Xiao had been wondering how to repay that 85,000 ounces of Space-Time Power.
[Prompt: You have received income from the Eternal Light World·Demon Insect Race.]
[You have received Abyss Weapon Fragments ×13.]
...
This was income from Jila. Now, Jila's Demon Insect Race was the absolute overlord of Eternal Light World. Looking across the Void of Ten Thousand Realms, there were many forces that fought against the Abyss, but only a few could kill the Immortal Undying·Abyss Spawn: Law Destroyers, Demon Scythes, and Wandering Hunters.
Other forces that fought against Abyss Spawn couldn't kill them but could seal and exile them. Eternal Light World was undoubtedly an excellent exile location.
Abyss Spawn exiled to Eternal Light World could be eliminated. Moreover, when Jila's Demon Insect Race killed Abyss Spawn exiled to Eternal Light World, after Void Tree's income assessment for followers, Su Xiao would receive [Abyss Weapon Fragments].
[Verification: You are a Shadow of Law Destruction and cannot hold [Abyss Weapons].]
[Related balance mechanism activated.]
[Formulation complete. Since you cannot hold [Abyss Weapons], you can submit [Abyss Weapons] or [Abyss Weapon Fragments] to Reincarnation Paradise to obtain an equivalent amount of [Demon Spirit Energy].]
[You have received 130.5% Demon Spirit Energy.]
...
Su Xiao previously had 85.9% Demon Spirit Energy. Now, the total was 216.4%. If he let the Demon Spirit devour it, he could gain +2 [All Potential Limit Ranks] and 2 points of Abyss Resistance. However, in return, the Blade Demon Spirit's Demon Spirit Strength would increase by 60 points, reaching 910.
Based on the correspondence between Soul Strength and Demon Spirit Strength, 910 points of Demon Spirit Strength required 1,250 points of Soul Strength to suppress. That wasn't a big problem. His current Soul Strength was 1,500 points. He subconsciously placed one hand on Dragon-Slaying Flash's hilt. Suddenly, he felt his suppression of the Blade Demon Spirit skyrocket.
It felt like, even if the Blade Demon Spirit had 8,500 or even 10,000 points of Demon Spirit Strength, he could still suppress it steadily.
He raised his right arm and looked at his right hand. He never believed in free lunches. Although this was the reward for his life-and-death battle with the Abyss Honor Guard Leader, he had a vague premonition that this right arm might have some side effects related to the Abyss.
Then again, Su Xiao decided not to dwell on it. Law Destroyers and the Abyss were bound by fate. He couldn't avoid Abyss-related matters. Instead of being apprehensive, it was better to move forward boldly.
He took out two sealed bottles filled with [Demon Spirit Energy] and opened them. The Blade Demon Spirit absorbed the emanating Demon Spirit Energy. Since the Blade Demon Spirit's Demon Spirit Strength had reached 850 points, this devouring was very fast.
After a moment, fluctuations appeared within Dragon-Slaying Flash. He was very familiar with this fluctuation. He activated the [Demon Devouring Constitution] ability, seizing 50% of the Demon Spirit Energy converted by the Blade Demon Spirit. Through the dual filtration and conversion of [Demon Devouring Constitution] + [Devouring Core], he obtained a type of [Permanent Enhancement Energy].
Various parts of his body began to absorb this [Permanent Enhancement Energy] like starving wolves. But Su Xiao felt that this absorption was different from before. It seemed... that Life Force was occupying more of the [Permanent Enhancement Energy]?
[Prompt: Since your [All Potential Limit Ranks] has reached +48, this is the limit intensity of this characteristic. It cannot be further enhanced by any means.]
[Verification: Your Life Force is absorbing ultra-high-ranking power. This behavior is about to be forcibly interrupted.]
[Verifying...]
[Your current total Life Force is estimated at 7.61 million points. The standard judgment for normal Contractors and Hunters does not apply to your current situation.]
[Verification complete. Due to your excessively powerful Life Force, there is a very high probability that your Life Force will successfully devour this high-ranking energy.]
[Enhancement complete.]
[Your Abyss Resistance +2 (Ultra-High-Ranking Resistance).]
[Your Health Points permanently increased by 50,000 points.]
...
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao's eyes brightened a bit. Demon Spirit Energy was really good stuff. But this was also due to a solid foundation. The combination of [All Potential Limit Ranks] +48 and 7.61 million Health Points had achieved this step of Demon Spirit Energy enhancing Health Points.
From now on, there was a stable channel for increasing Health Points.
Defeat an Immortal Undying·Abyss Spawn or Abyss Descendant, use the Blade Demon Spirit to devour its [Abyss Spawn Primordial Source Energy], wait for the Demon Spirit to complete conversion, then use [Demon Devouring Constitution] to seize 50% of the Demon Spirit Energy from this harvest. Finally, combine [Demon Devouring Constitution] + [Devouring Core] to convert it into absorbable [Permanent Enhancement Energy]. Hmm, the Law Destroyer predecessors had developed a very strong routine.
However, was this really developed by the Ancestral Law Destroyers? No. Even top-tier Demon Devouring Shadows like Mawen Hua'erzi would exclaim "Holy shit" in their hearts upon seeing such an operation.
But one thing: the mining team's income hadn't appeared yet. Su Xiao had already anticipated this. In fact, even if the mining team didn't have problems, the new World of Paintings would have problems sooner or later. The ink in that painted world still hid madness. A world based on dark ink would inevitably spread madness sooner or later.
[Prompt: You have a commission mail from Wind Sea Continent. Accept/Decline.]
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao was slightly puzzled. Opening the details, he understood what was going on. This was a mail sent by a neutral character from Wind Sea Continent·Twilight City, acting on behalf of the Beast Tribe Knight Commander.
He had a general understanding of the situation there. The Sea Tribe had been annihilated. The Beast Tribe should be gone too. The Beast Tribe Knight Commander had sent this [Vault Key] not as a gift, but as a transaction.
If Su Xiao signed this contract notarized by Reincarnation Paradise, promising to fulfill the commitment to kill Spider Empress upon reaching Supreme Peak, with a generous time limit of within 150 years of reaching Supreme Peak, then this entire vault of secret treasures stored at [Giant Bank] would immediately belong to Su Xiao.
Su Xiao didn't have many informants across the Void of Ten Thousand Realms. The most capable was the Irritable Little Elf·Diagu. According to Diagu, Spider Empress had joined the Abyss Descendants. That Abyss Descendant's surname was [Azguk].
The five major Abyss Descendants: Azguk, Rune, Dukain, Bronze, and Collective.
That Azguk occupied Wind Sea Continent wasn't surprising. This surname was a transliteration of Abyss language, meaning Deep Sea Dominator. Its Abyss characteristics were: reproduction, aquatic, and deep abyss.
Su Xiao temporarily put away this contract. There were more important things to do. He brought Bubu Wang, Baha, and Beini. As for Amu, he was raiding the refrigerator. This iron-blooded bull was starving.
Leaving the Exclusive Room, Su Xiao arrived near the Guild Hall. There was a special train here, one way to reach Reincarnation Paradise from the outside.
Checking the time, there were still ten minutes until the next train. Su Xiao took out a Soul Crystal, bit off a piece, and crunched it. A cold female voice came:
"Only vicious people eat souls like that."
A figure in a gray-white feather coat, wearing a feather hood and a bone mask on her face, spoke. She sat on the platform bench with her arms crossed. Those cold eyes belonged to none other than the strongest assassin in the Ten Thousand Realms, Xiao.
"The item."
Su Xiao's expression was calm, although he was slightly uneasy inside. That was the [Law Destroyer Exclusive Secret Art].
"The secret medicine for my daughter's second course of treatment."
Xiao rarely showed a hint of amusement in her eyes. It seemed her daughter's gradual recovery had put her in a good mood.
"..."
Su Xiao took out a bottle of light red potion. Seeing this, Xiao frowned slightly: "Only one bottle this time?"
The first course of treatment had a whole box of potions. The second course was just one bottle. The difference was indeed large.
"Hmm."
Su Xiao threw the potion. At the same time, the opposite side threw an ancient-looking leather scroll. The scroll was about half a meter long when rolled up, with fine damage marks visible on the edges.
Both sides got what they wanted. Xiao turned around, took two steps, then slightly turned her head and said: "Assassination Grandmaster·Ge. Roman is a strange old fellow. He's only willing to let qualified people see this notebook. Obviously, you're not qualified."
Xiao wasn't belittling Su Xiao. She was talking about assassination talent qualifications. In this regard, Su Xiao vaguely remembered that the last time he went to assassinate a target, he seemed to have kicked open the front door of the enemy's base camp and then completed the assassination. Ah, no, that was the time before last. The last time, he drove a Lord's Train and charged into the enemy's main city.
"I owe you one."
Leaving this sentence, Xiao walked away.
Su Xiao headed toward the Exclusive Room. When he returned, he went to the alchemy laboratory, carefully opened the nearly broken leather scroll, and slowly soaked it in special purified water to prevent the scroll's technique from becoming unstable and suddenly shattering into fragments.
The entire scroll unfolded, revealing a circular technique. Su Xiao activated the test table's image and energy wave recording functions, then placed it in the special purified water. He lightly touched the [Secret Art Scroll], and a small amount of Cyan Steel Shadow Energy spread out, activating the [Secret Art Scroll]'s technique with the gentlest amplitude.
As the Law Destroyer's unique energy flowed into it, the entire technique began to unfold. The scene before Su Xiao changed. A formation diagram resembling a starry sky appeared before his eyes. This was the outer ring formation of the [Secret Art Technique]. What was recorded on the [Secret Art Scroll] was the inner ring formation.
Seeing the scale of this formation, Su Xiao felt a sense of foreboding. How many... [Primordial Cores] and [Primordial Source Matters] would this require?
Some soul memories surfaced. Su Xiao gradually understood the prerequisites for this [Law Destroyer Exclusive Secret Art]. They were: