Chapter 20: The Beginning
Using "Primordial Skill Points" to enhance abilities only increases the intensity of the skill, not its level. Moreover, even abilities raised to X with Golden Skill Points can be enhanced with these "Primordial Skill Points," making them incredibly formidable.
The number of "Primordial Cores" is limited, which is inevitable. This is a resource of fixed quantity. When a strong individual uses a "Primordial Core" to enhance themselves and then dies, their power scatters while the individual energy transformed from those "Primordial Cores" undergoes a regression. Catalyzed by World Force, it re-transforms into energy with the characteristics of a "Primordial Core."
Afterward, this energy drifts back to the apex of the Star Realm, a region that doesn't belong to the material plane and lacks even the concept of space. There, it begins to reconstitute the "Primordial Force" of the Star Realm's apex. However, because the "Primordial Force" has long been incomplete, the gathered energy of the "Primordial Cores," after crystallizing to a certain degree, will once again violently shatter and randomly fall into various worlds.
This is the wondrous cycle of "Primordial Cores" within the Star Realm. Their upper limit is fixed, but they can circulate. As for killing all powerful beings to let all "Primordial Core" energy drift back to the Star Realm's apex and form a complete "Primordial Force," that is essentially meaningless. The shattering and scattering of the "Primordial Force" is a natural process, just like the life and death of all things in the world, the withering and revival of plants. The gathering and shattering of the "Primordial Force" follows the same principle.
As for "Initial Skill Points," they are highly concentrated "Primordial Skill Points" that have even reached a qualitative change. Other Supreme beings obviously wouldn't have such absurd gains as "Initial Skill Points." Of course, the promotion standards for other Supremes aren't this ridiculous either.
Regarding the effect of "Initial Skill Points," it's similar to "Primordial Skill Points." It can enhance an ability without raising its level, and even X-level abilities can be enhanced. The difference is that "Initial Skill Points" nourish the enhanced ability more deeply, causing it to develop characteristics that suit the current ability user.
Furthermore, it makes that ability unique and powerful among its category.
Su Xiao was contemplating something. He had always tried to minimize his weaknesses, so his abilities had developed fairly comprehensively. But now that he had reached the Supreme level, should he continue this additive approach?
Su Xiao felt it was time to start subtracting. Only by having no flaws could one reach the "Supreme Peak." However, this might not represent omnipotence, but rather a single ability reaching a level sufficient to compensate for deficiencies.
With this in mind, Su Xiao had a bold idea. He planned to dump all 120 "Initial Skill Points" into Blade Grandmaster.
Spreading them evenly might lead to comprehensive strength, but extreme specialization would inevitably result in something incredibly absurd.
However, using "Initial Skill Points" to enhance the "Supreme Being" ability was still very tempting.
"Supreme Being (Passive): After absorbing one standard unit of 'Power Source Matter' at the Supreme level, your current Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence are permanently increased by 10%."
Su Xiao estimated that the probability of dying on the spot from enhancing this ability was too high, so he rationally gave up.
The only thing stopping Su Xiao from making this choice was his consideration of whether using "Initial Skill Points" on a single ability would cause him to kick the bucket on the spot. However, his history of enhancing Law-Destruction abilities gave him the confidence that since he hadn't died from mastering Law-Destruction abilities before, he certainly wouldn't this time.
[Yes/No to use 120 "Initial Skill Points" to enhance Blade Grandmaster Lv.95.]
[Warning: This enhancement carries certain risks. You need to consider carefully.]
……
Su Xiao chose to enhance. The next second, streams of energy belonging to the "Initial Skill Points" entered his body, causing a roar in his ears.
In an instant, Su Xiao felt his surroundings become quiet. He was still sitting cross-legged, but beneath him was no longer the black beast-skin carpet, but a calm water surface.
If the view gradually rose, Su Xiao would be seen sitting alone on a calm lake. But if it continued to rise to a certain height, until Su Xiao's figure was too small to be seen, it would be discovered that this was a huge metal round vessel filled with liquid, with liquid constantly overflowing from the edges. As the perspective continued to rise, the falling liquid disappeared into the darkness.
A large hand with dozens of fingers fiercely descended from above. This hand was semi-transparent, entirely composed of Soul Crystal material. It was only a dozen meters away from Su Xiao.
Clang!
A slash mark appeared. The descending Soul Crystal giant hand suddenly stopped, then collapsed.
Su Xiao abruptly opened his eyes. He was certain that the place he had just visited was the "Grandmaster Hall" certified by the Void Tree. However, it wasn't the area for the "Ascension Ceremony," which required an [Above Grandmaster] to enter.
But being able to briefly enter the "Grandmaster Hall" showed how crucial this use of "Initial Skill Points" to enhance Blade Grandmaster was. He felt that his strength had skyrocketed significantly. He checked the enhanced Blade Grandmaster ability:
[Blade Grandmaster: Lv.95 (Technique Core · Passive)]
Skill Effect: Blade weapon damage rank +760 (increased by 600), Blade weapon slashing force judgment rank +760 (increased by 600), Blade weapon armor-breaking judgment rank +760 (new characteristic).
Soul Severing Strength: 48 points (increased by 30 points).
Blade Heart: 8/8 (increased by 5) (Each Blade Heart can negate one instant death or execution judgment. This characteristic has high priority. One Blade Heart is restored every 24 hours until full).
Lv.95 Ultimate Ability: Extreme Blade · White Night (Supreme Level · Passive), increases melee slashing damage by 500%.
……
Good news: Blade Grandmaster had been enhanced to an incredibly absurd level. Su Xiao estimated that just the "Skill Effect" alone was far stronger than raising Blade Grandmaster to X through conventional means.
And this wasn't a choice, but an addition. Reaching this level now, combined with the subsequent enhancement range from Lv.95 to X, the potential ceiling of Blade Grandmaster had reached an extremely terrifying level.
Bad news: Because of the massive enhancement to Blade Grandmaster, "Extreme Blade · White Night" had directly changed from an active ability to a passive effect, meaning it had quintupled at the current magnitude.
The most abnormal aspect of "Extreme Blade · White Night" was this. If described using game data, it wasn't additive damage increase, nor multiplicative damage increase. This thing was an "independent multiplicative damage increase." After all bonuses to blade techniques were applied, it would ultimately increase the total by 500%.
The newly appeared "Blade weapon armor-breaking judgment rank +760" could be simply understood as: in melee combat, the destructive power of Dragon-Slaying Flash against an enemy's weapon. If the battle against the Beast Lord had this bonus from Blade Grandmaster, halfway through the fight, the Beast Lord's "Abyss Weapon · Chi Sha" would have shattered into pieces scattered everywhere.
The current problem was: when Su Xiao slashed out, could his own physique withstand it?
Currently, his Strength, Agility, and Stamina attributes had all reached 1056 points, with 8.11 million HP. What was truly gratifying was the permanent 60% "Damage Reduction." He really hadn't expected that this characteristic would first become an aid to his offensive capabilities, rather than a protection against powerful enemies trying to kill him.
It seemed that in this world, Su Xiao's "Soul Severing Shadow" would be locked into "Devouring Darkness · Soul Core." The 30% "Damage Reduction" was too crucial.
Clang~
Su Xiao drew Dragon-Slaying Flash. He raised his right arm, making as if to slash out.
Hum~!
Golden light appeared on the blade of Dragon-Slaying Flash. Compared to the previous active mode of "Extreme Blade · White Night," the golden light of the technique at this moment was more restrained, only clinging to the blade. This wasn't a weakening, but a deep condensation of power. Combined with the surging blue arcs of electricity on the blade, it gave the impression that Dragon-Slaying Flash had transformed into a gold-blue longsword.
Su Xiao only raised the longsword, without any intention of actually slashing.
Crack!
The space centered on him split open, with fine cracks spreading. The window suddenly shattered. It was Afia, who thought it was an enemy attack. The moment she saw Su Xiao, she felt her heart almost stop and instinctively said:
"Friendly fire, what are you doing?"
It wasn't that Afia was losing her composure, but Su Xiao casually raising his sword to slash had already spread an incredibly terrifying technique aura to the surroundings.
The longsword returned to its sheath. Afia breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What's this about?"
"Abilities slightly improved."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Afia was speechless and frustrated. However, Su Xiao's next question made her forget this moment of inner speechlessness.
"Is there a place here that's dark and dangerous enough?"
"Here? Where isn't it dark and dangerous?"
"For me."
"Uh~, well, let me think..."
Afia recalled for a moment, then mentioned several places: "Raging Sea," "Toxic Highlands," "Corruption Lake," and "Extreme Dark Forest."
Among these four places, "Raging Sea" had been visited and wasn't what Su Xiao was looking for. "Toxic Highlands" wasn't suitable either; it was near the Queen's City. "Corruption Lake" was acceptable, but the problem was that beyond "Corruption Lake" was the Twin Kings' territory, "Corruption King City." Currently, the Dukain family was gathering at "Corruption King City."
It could only be said that the Dukain family was both arrogant and rational. Usually arrogant to the extreme, but when facing a Law Destroyer, and discovering that this Law Destroyer was strong enough to defeat the Beast Lord, they immediately gathered all their forces, presenting a stance of either retreat or be besieged by the entire clan.
From another perspective, it was evident that the Dukain family had been severely beaten by the ancestral Law Destroyers.
"Extreme Dark Forest" wasn't a good choice either. The environment there was eerie, not because it had a large number of Abyssal creatures.
Su Xiao's strength had just undergone a massive increase. He wouldn't immediately go to "Corruption King City" to fight to the death with enemies right after the enhancement. Instead, he planned to first find a place to fully master his current power before heading straight to "Corruption King City."
As for the previously conceived plans and such, they were no longer needed. Su Xiao had a more cunning and faster plan, and this cunning was called by three words: Dragon-Slashing Flash.
This might also be the reason why Shenfu always found Su Xiao particularly difficult to deal with. When it was time to charge in headfirst, he never hesitated.
Afia seemed to think of something and clapped her hands, saying:
"There is a place. Quite a few Abyssal creatures, but none are particularly strong, unless you can lure out the ones in the depths. I know your Abyss resistance is especially high, but the depths there are almost connected to the Abyss. It's said that the first Abyss Passage in this world was at the deepest point there."
"Where?"
"Tch, I said a whole bunch, and you only give one word. Come on, I'll take you."
Afia walked out of the room. She wouldn't say directly that the reason she didn't give the address but led the way was because on the Lord's Train, that big dog made a drink called milk tea that was very tasty.
The train traveled across the dark wilderness. Inside the carriage, Su Xiao learned about the place Afia mentioned. It was called the "Absolute Darkness Zone." Compared to the dim wilderness outside, it was completely dark. According to Afia, if the Abyss's spread in this world wasn't curbed, when the only remaining "Frigid Belt" in the sky was also eroded, this world would become as dark as the "Absolute Darkness Zone."
Knowing this intelligence gave Su Xiao a further plan. He walked into the rear conductor's room, sat in front of the test bench, and began to concoct a solvent. He glanced at Amu, who was still sleeping soundly, apparently digesting the 32 portions of "Abyss Source Matter." Overall, his aura had stabilized. Whether he could survive this ordeal could only depend on Amu himself.
As an Lv.99 Alchemy Grandmaster with mastery of "Top-Tier Abyssology," it didn't take long for a black liquid to be successfully concocted. Su Xiao poured it into a special high-efficiency atomization device made by Bubu Wang, activated it briefly, and black particles scattered out. He immediately shut it off.
Three hours later, the train stopped. After getting off, a sky wall came into view. Su Xiao had seen this black rock sky wall once on Blazing Sun Star. It was built by Blazing Sun Star in an attempt to isolate the "Abyss Zone."
It seemed that this world had also resisted at the beginning of the Abyss's spread. Unfortunately, those Abyss Descendants just watched. After the two black sky walls sealing the "Absolute Darkness Zone" were constructed, the Dukain family members easily opened dozens of Abyss Passages in this world.
Consequently, at the entrance of the sky wall in the "Absolute Darkness Zone," there was no "Vanguard Fortress" like on Blazing Sun Star. After stepping off the train, Su Xiao hesitated for a moment, then still took off the "Wild Hunt Night." If a certain blacksmith were present, he might have gritted his teeth and thanked Su Xiao's eight generations of ancestors.
He looked at the metal combat boots on his feet. This temporary substitute clearly seemed about to give out. He took them off and tossed them aside as well. Baha, flying behind, picked them up and brought them back to the train.
The sheathed Dragon-Slashing Flash was inserted into the sword belt at his waist. Bare-chested, Su Xiao walked alone toward the entrance of the "Absolute Darkness Zone." A gentle breeze brushed past his face, and a fresh scent after rain drifted into his nostrils. The spread of the Abyss was never accompanied by a stench or rotten smell; it depended on the different beings being eroded.
His feet stepped on slightly cool but soft soil. His bare upper body could feel the hot dark wind blowing from the entrance of the black sky wall as he approached. His vision gradually darkened.
Su Xiao quietly walked into the "Absolute Darkness Zone." His vision was no longer pitch black, but dark to the point of nothingness. Correspondingly, the equipment effect of [Devourer] was activated to the extreme.
"Hunting Heart · Perception Activation (Core · Passive): When you fight in the 'specific environment' corresponding to this equipment, the equipment effect will be 'super massively' enhanced, and there is a probability of immediately increasing your current perception ability by 5 levels. This bonus will no longer trigger until your perception ability reaches X."
This place was where "Hunting Heart" could be maximized. Or rather, back in the "Ancient Dragon Kingdom · Extreme Dark Forest · Wild Hunt Workshop," that craftsman had forged this equipment named "Hunting Heart" specifically to delve into the "Absolute Darkness Zone."
Barefoot, Su Xiao walked forward with a calm stride. Normally, he should have been surrounded by Abyssal creatures long ago, but the surroundings were very quiet. Although Abyssal creatures were violent and cruel, they weren't stupid.
Su Xiao had long prepared for this. After delving deep into the central area of the "Absolute Darkness Zone," he took out the special high-efficiency atomization device made by Bubu Wang, fixed this metal device, which had a base the size of a millstone, to the ground, and activated it.
Thump~!
A wave of darkness spread, and the aura of "Abyss Source Matter" radiated outward. Of course, this wasn't actually "Abyss Source Matter." Only the core of the solution contained a few drops of "Abyss Source Matter," but the emitted aura was as if the entire container of the atomization device was filled with "Abyss Source Matter."
"Roar!"
A roar came from the darkness in the depths. Su Xiao grasped the hilt of Dragon-Slashing Flash and drew the longsword.
One by one, blood-red eyes surrounded him from the darkness. Their forms varied. Some were beast-like, some were fluid, some were composed of thread-like darkness, and some were in a black mist state.
Among these Abyss Spawn, those in the form of dark beasts were mostly "Aberrant Species," a few were "Mutant Species," while those like black threads were "Parasitic Species." This type of Abyss Spawn was the most eerie. As for the undying and immortal Abyss Spawn, they also appeared, but they didn't immediately surround him.
Surging power gradually awakened within Su Xiao.
[Azure Shadow King: X (Ultimate Level · Skill)]
Skill Effect (Passive): When you are surrounded and the number of enemies within 1000 meters exceeds 10 (needs combat power above a certain level), your Azure Shadow King ability will activate, granting you the following bonuses sequentially.
Azure Shadow King · Phase 1: When enemies around you exceed 10, all your main attributes increase by 45%.
Azure Shadow King · Phase 2: When enemies around you exceed 100, your total HP increases by 99%, total Mana increases by 99%, and physical defense increases by 96%.
Azure Shadow King · Phase 3: When enemies around you exceed 1000, you can activate the Devouring Core through the unique energy of Azure Shadow King. For each enemy killed, by absorbing the enemy's "Primordial Life Force" and converting/filtering it through "Azure Shadow King · Devouring Core," you recover 20% of your maximum HP, 20% of your maximum Mana, and 20% of your maximum Stamina.
Azure Shadow King · Phase 4: When enemies around you exceed 3000, your Demon Blade ability will always be in the awakened stage. All your blade attacks will carry an execution effect (executing enemies with HP below one-third), and each time you execute an enemy, you will stack one layer of "Demon Spirit Armor."
Demon Spirit Armor: The damage you receive within 1 second will not exceed 25% of your maximum HP. The portion exceeding this will be resolved by consuming one layer of "Demon Spirit Armor" (if the attack intensity required to be resolved is too high, more layers of "Demon Spirit Armor" will be consumed).
Tip: All the above bonuses can be stacked.
……
Su Xiao's Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence attributes all reached 1531 points in a short time. His HP skyrocketed to 16.13 million, and his Mana reached 1.04 million points. This was why he came here to adapt to the enhanced Blade Grandmaster. With such a physical state, even if "Extreme Blade · White Night" was in a passive state, it was stable enough.
The surrounding Abyss Spawn didn't retreat because of Su Xiao's strengthened aura. On the contrary, they gradually surrounded him.
Boom!
An Abyss Spawn, a hundred meters long, covered in hair-like bone spikes, and shaped like a hippopotamus, pounced forward.
Su Xiao slashed diagonally upward.
Boom!
It wasn't the sound of a cut, but a deafening explosion. The front third of the hippopotamus-like Abyss Spawn violently shattered, turning into countless sugar-cube-sized slashing pieces that scattered to the ground like rain.
The splashing dark blood stimulated all the surrounding Abyss Spawn. The next second, Su Xiao was submerged.
Ten hours later, at the third entrance of the "Absolute Darkness Zone," three figures walked in.
Among them, the Abyss Princess was the most conspicuous because she was in the best mood. Surprisingly, the silver-haired, black-dressed Delona and the black-haired, white-dressed, black-eyed Ayesha had split into two people. Upon closer inspection, Ayesha's body was somewhat translucent.
The Abyss Princess and Delona, being the clever and lively types, walked in front, while Ayesha quietly followed not far behind.
"Sister, do you really remember me?"
The Abyss Princess smiled happily.
"Mm."
Delona firmly grasped the Abyss Princess's hand, her little tiger teeth showing as she smiled.
"Great, as long as we pass through the Abyss Passage ahead, we can go home and find Mother. Mother will surely be pleased that we can be together..."
The Abyss Princess's words stopped abruptly. She sensed a strong aura of darkness and blood spreading from ahead. This made her immediately activate her Abyss vision, which she shouldn't have opened here to avoid offending the master of this place.
The image ahead appeared. What met her eyes were countless severed limbs and claws. Some half-dead Aberrant Species were still struggling in pain. Looking further ahead, a mountain of corpses composed of Abyss Spawn appeared in front. Although there were no Abyss beings inside, only Abyss Spawn, those dozen or so undying and immortal Abyss Spawn were now completely dead.
That thousand-meter-high mountain of remains was too shocking. This had caused the surrounding area to become a shallow pool of dark blood reaching the ankles. At the peak of that towering mountain of remains, with his back to the direction of the Abyss Princess, stood a bare-chested figure. The longsword in his hand hung naturally at an angle, with drops of dark blood falling from the tip.
Looking at this shocking scene before her, the Abyss Princess only had one feeling: powerful, pure, and incomparably powerful.