Chapter 41: Power and Full Moon

Chapter 41: Power and Full Moon

What is simple and brutal power? The "Source of Strength" ability is exactly that. This ability causes a qualitative change in the bonuses of "Passive Skills." Regardless of any passive skill, based on its basic bonuses, it can greatly increase Su Xiao's four main attributes + soul strength + technique upper limit.

For Su Xiao, who has stacked a large number of "Passive Abilities," this is a qualitative change-level bonus. Moreover, having stacked passives to this point, he has gradually discovered a problem.

If equipment is an external bonus, then "Passive Skills" are internal bonuses. Ultimately, these are additional enhancements applied on top, which have a subtle difference from things like physical attributes that completely improve oneself.

If one mastered "Passive Skills" in a normal quantity, they would never notice this subtle difference. The problem is, Su Xiao has stacked too many passive skills, causing this originally subtle difference to gradually become a burden.

The "Exclusive Supreme Passive: Source of Strength" perfectly solves this problem. The principle of this ability is to devour "Passive Skills." Su Xiao's physique completely absorbs the effects of these passive skills. To put it more intuitively, it transforms post-natal mastery into pre-natal physique.

Of course, some functional "Passive Skills" still need to be retained, such as "Combat Prosthetic, X." If this were devoured into a physique ability, it would cause chaos in the physique ability. It's best to keep it in a passive ability state.

Conversely, those that purely enhance the body's comprehensive characteristics can be devoured, such as:

[Basic Passive: Awakening, X.]
Skill Effect 1: Perception +187 points.
Skill Effect 2: Physical perception potential upper limit +12.
Skill Effect 3: Efficiency of perception ability, meditation, comprehending nature, ability development, etc., increased by 600% (this is a 600% increase on top of the total of all existing bonuses).
...

Devouring this type puts no burden on one's own physique. Furthermore, Su Xiao feels that the truly powerful aspect of "Exclusive Supreme Passive: Source of Strength" is its ability to devour most "Supreme Passives."

Among the Supreme Passives he currently possesses, "Supreme: Intelligence," "Supreme Being," and "Perfect Block" cannot be devoured. However, the Supreme Passive "Spiritual Source" can be devoured.

If this Supreme Passive, which purely enhances mana points, is devoured, will its "Supreme Passive: Skill Slot" become vacant? If so, he could subsequently master various Supreme Passives, level them to max, and use "Source of Strength" to devour them, bypassing the "Supreme Passive: Skill Slot" limit to enhance himself.

But before that, Su Xiao needs to complete a ritual. He arrives at the ritual area of the Alchemy Laboratory. Upon arriving here, the atmosphere becomes cold, a result of the previously set up "Eye Ritual."

[Soul Nourishment Ritual]
Type: Ritual Carrier / Ritual Core Item.
Effect: Can be used to set up the Soul Nourishment Ritual as recorded on this scroll. If the holder does not possess the relevant basic soul system abilities, this scroll can be used as the core of the ritual to set it up. As a cost, this ritual scroll will be consumed.
Ritual Effect: Based on the current soul strength of the ritual beneficiary, permanently increases their health points. The increase amount is: for each current point of soul strength, permanently increase 850 points of "Base Health Points."
Warning: This ritual can only benefit a person once. If subjected to this ritual a second time, it will inevitably lead to soul distortion, causing irreversible severe consequences.
Introduction: The relationship between soul and body is far more wondrous than people imagine.
...

As the setup progresses, the outline of the ritual appears. Faint soul forms emerge from within the ritual array. Some are mini skeletons, some curious, but most look at Su Xiao with fear.

When the ritual setup is complete, there are hundreds of such mini soul forms. Any ritual has risks, and this is the risk of the [Soul Nourishment Ritual].

Su Xiao sits at the center of the ritual. At the right edge of the ritual are hundreds of soul forms. These mini skeleton soul forms huddle together, their tiny bone hands tightly clutching each other, their expressions as if saying they are extremely scared right now.

Normally, these soul forms are the threat of the ritual. One must suppress their greedy desire for the ritual performer's soul to proceed. Now, these soul forms have no greed at all, but they are too afraid of Su Xiao, trembling in fear, causing the ritual array to ripple like water.

Seeing this, Su Xiao frowns. As if sensing his displeasure, the ritual soul forms almost collectively start crying, making the ritual array even more unstable.

Su Xiao takes out a "Soul Crystal," crushes it into pieces, eats one piece himself, and tosses the rest to the ritual soul forms. Initially, the ritual soul forms are very scared and dare not approach the soul crystal fragments. But the pure soul energy makes them restless and eager.

Finally, one soul form bravely steps forward, bites off a small piece of the soul fragment, and happily chews it. This encourages the other ritual soul forms to also bravely step forward and start fighting over the soul crystal fragment.

Su Xiao feeds the ritual soul forms like feeding puppies for a while. Only then do these previously ferocious little creatures become less afraid of him, stabilizing the ritual.

With a hum, the ritual activates. All of Su Xiao's soul energy is mobilized, beginning to enhance his body. In the past, such a degree of life force enhancement would have been very risky. But now, his health points have reached 10.36 million.

[You have completed the Soul Nourishment Ritual]
[Your "Base Health Points" have been permanently increased by 1,718,700 points.]
...

Su Xiao's health points leap to 12.07 million. He no longer has to worry about taking two or three hits from a powerful enemy and triggering the "Blood Master" ability. Now, he can at least solidly withstand five... cough, just over four hits.

Is Su Xiao's survivability not strong enough? No, those Abyss systems can truly instantly kill opponents of the same rank.

At the Supreme rank, the powerful can be viewed on two levels: the surface and the deep.

Surface-level Supremes belong to family forces or are the top tier of native forces in various high-level worlds. For example, elders or former clan leaders of a family who rarely show their faces, or normal Supremes in major forces who are respected and admired by all transcendents in the world.

These Supremes generally have considerable fame and might not need to make a move for hundreds or even thousands of years. Such normal Supremes suppress one region and are lofty and aloof, but they can only be so on the surface level.

Over seventy percent of the truly terrifying powerful beings in the Star Realm are unknown to the public. When these surface-level lofty Supremes encounter these truly hidden deep-level terrors, they will immediately flee, or even have no chance to flee.

Dukain Ancestor Bain's fame is certainly less than that of an early-stage Supreme clan leader from a major force in an Absolute Strength tier world. The reason is that before stepping into Absolute Strength, when one learns the name "Dukain Ancestor Bain," dark worms will quietly grow in the knower's mind.

These dark worms will proliferate and evolve, gradually evolving into Abyss Worms. Although during the battle with Su Xiao, Abyss Worms died and shattered in large numbers, just one Abyss Worm appearing in an Absolute Strength tier world would, in no time, turn most of that world into bug nests.

This is the power of Abyss system powerhouses. Knowing their name can bring about the destruction of one's clan and even implicate other living beings in the same world.

Su Xiao leaves the ritual area and reseals it. He arrives at the room with the Awakening Stele, sits cross-legged before it, and begins attempting to activate the "Source of Strength" ability.

As the ability activates, he feels his heart become scorching hot, as if it has turned into a flesh-and-blood power furnace, capable of absorbing the abilities he currently possesses into this furnace.

Opening the skill list in this state, the appearance of the skill list changes. All skill names that appear in a light gray color cannot be devoured, while those with normal font colors can be devoured.

As this is the first time using this ability, Su Xiao first selects one to try devouring. He chooses the "Basic Passive: Awakening" corresponding to perception. As he makes his choice, the "Basic Passive: Awakening" ability in the skill list gradually fades.

The 'Heart Furnace' operates, and a gentle force is absorbed by Su Xiao's body. The bonuses belonging to "Basic Passive: Awakening" are now completely integrated into his body.

Just as the absorption of this ability is complete, the 'Heart Furnace' erupts with a unique suction force. A light golden energy emerges from ahead. This should be the "Star Realm Source Power." As this energy is absorbed by the Heart Furnace, Su Xiao's four main attributes and corresponding technique potential upper limit begin to increase.

[All your main attributes have been permanently increased by 20 points.]
[Your technique potential upper limit +1.]
...

Su Xiao experiences his own enhancement and frowns slightly. He discovers that the physical attributes enhanced by "Source of Strength" did not cause any fluctuation in the three Grandmaster abilities.

He had previously raised his four main attributes to 1700 points, which was the extreme value balanced by his current skill abilities. The max-level Blade Grandmaster ability corresponds to a balanced physical attribute of around 1600 points. Because he also has Melee Grandmaster, this balance point reached 1700 points.

If he also raises Blood Spear Grandmaster to max level, this balance point would reach 1800 points of main physical attributes corresponding to the three Grandmaster technique abilities. It's not that he can't raise his physical attributes higher; doing so would break the balance of power, causing technique abilities to not perform at their peak in battle, resulting in decreased combat power instead of an increase.

An intuitive metaphor is the "bone and flesh" of the human body. Technique abilities are the bone, physical attributes are the flesh. If the bone is too thick, it will tear the flesh. If the flesh is too large, it will burden the bone, becoming bloated and clumsy.

Only when "bone and flesh" are balanced can a single punch knock down the enemy.

But now, through the enhancement of "Source of Strength," the 'flesh' representing physical attributes has increased, but the 'bone' hasn't changed. Yet, there is no sense of imbalance like before.

Suddenly, Su Xiao thinks of a possibility. If "Source of Strength" uses "Star Realm Source Power" to strengthen oneself, then could this powerful force also subtly enhance the 'bone'? For example, making the bone denser?

Or, the physical attributes enhanced by "Star Realm Source Power" don't make the 'flesh' representing physical attributes more abundant or larger, but rather make it more robust, like the increase in muscle density obtained through exercise.

What is known now is that this enhancement only benefits oneself without harm. Can it be more intuitively understood as:

Even if Su Xiao uses this method to raise his physical attributes to 2000 or even 2500 points right now, it still won't break the balance between technique and physique. If so, his combat power would be extremely terrifying within the same tier.

Su Xiao finally understands why "Source of Strength" occupies five "Supreme Passive: Skill Slots" and why, from now on, this is his core ability for self-enhancement.

Furthermore, what "Source of Strength" can devour is not limited to "Passive Skills." The scope of passive skills this ability encompasses is very broad. Even the "Passive Abilities" that Su Xiao had previously separated out when enhancing his abilities are within the devouring and absorption range. Such abilities include:

"Shadow Devourer: Passive: After killing an enemy of the same rank, immediately recover 20% of max mana points."
"Swift Shadow: Passive: Your body speed is permanently increased by 1.5 times."
"Hunting Shadow: Passive: The intensity of Azure Steel Shadow energy is increased, and the true damage dealt is increased by 30%."
"Grandmaster's Heart (Passive): Blade-type weapon attack power increased by 1200%...
...

There are two full pages of such passive characteristic bonuses in Su Xiao's skill list. The above are just a part. Not only these, but several "Basic Passives" and "Technique Sublimation" and other abilities can also be devoured using "Source of Strength."

Su Xiao first selects all "Basic Passives" and "Technique Sublimation," then "High-level Passives," such as "Body Sublimation: Ascension Power," "Blood Sublimation: Life Soul," "Technique Sublimation: Supreme Blade." He selects them all. These enhance the intensity of technique abilities. In the data list of his own physique, there is a separate page for these types. Categorizing them together is the best choice.

As he activates the "Source of Strength" ability, the abilities he just selected gradually fade in the skill list. The Heart Furnace begins to operate. A large surge of gentle force is absorbed by Su Xiao's body, completely mastered, no, completely digested. The experience of consuming passive skills is quite wonderful.

If before it was like stacking blocks, with passive skills being blocks stacked one by one, accumulating to form a mountain, now this mountain begins to merge into one, becoming naturally formed and powerful.

After digesting the passive skills, the Heart Furnace erupts with a unique suction force. Compared to before, this time it is much stronger. A large amount of light golden energy emerges from ahead, all "Star Realm Source Power." As it is absorbed by the Heart Furnace, Su Xiao's four main attributes and technique potential upper limit begin to increase.

Five hours later.

[All your main attributes have been permanently increased by 410 points.]
[Your technique potential upper limit +20.]
...

Surging power brews within Su Xiao's body. His Strength, Agility, Physique, and Intelligence attributes immediately reach 2130 points!

Not only that, he has roughly estimated how much physical attribute each type of passive ability enhances.

First, the Basic Passive type. Completely digesting one of these and absorbing the corresponding amount of "Star Realm Source Power" can increase the four main attributes by about 20 points.

Ordinary passives are 5 points, but they must be max level and of sufficient intensity. High-level passives increase by about 40 points, also needing to be max level. He hasn't tried Supreme Passives, but estimates them to be 80+. Powerful Supreme Passives would certainly reach 100+.

For abilities like "Grandmaster's Heart (Passive)," which aren't even considered passive skills but just passive bonuses, it's harder to evaluate. The intensity gap of such bonuses is too large.

Feeling himself, it is still a balanced state between technique and physical attributes. He now fully understands what's happening. Because while "Source of Strength" enhances physical attributes, it also simultaneously raises the balance point of the current technique abilities corresponding to physical attributes.

Suppose the current technique ability corresponds to a balance point of 150 physical attributes. Then "Source of Strength," while increasing 10 physical attributes, also raises the upper limit of the balance point corresponding to the technique ability's physical attributes by 10 points.

This is extremely outrageous. If the technique level is the same, then the one with a stronger body will undoubtedly achieve a crushing victory. Because the foundation of technique abilities is "Body," "Mind," and "Intent." The body is ranked first, which already explains a lot.

Feeling the integrated sense of power within himself, and having initially mastered his "Source of Strength" ability, he opens the skill list again and selects a passive characteristic ability:

"Blood Soul Coagulation (Passive/Active): You can consume 20% of your max blood energy to form a 'Blood Soul' floating behind you. This 'Blood Soul' will be doubly enhanced by your blood energy intensity and soul strength. This Blood Soul has two effects in total: explosion and enhancement..."

With Su Xiao's current "Blood Spear Grandmaster" ability, an ability based on the structural principle of "Blood Soul Coagulation" can no longer bring any benefit. Using "Source of Strength" to absorb this useless ability into his own physique would undoubtedly be a burden.

Su Xiao wants to conduct a test. Using his 'Heart Furnace,' he continuously refines this ability to see what form it will take in the end.

Su Xiao mobilizes his "Source of Strength" ability. He feels the power belonging to "Blood Soul Coagulation" begin to be refined within his heart. After a while, this ability is refined to a state where it can be absorbed and digested by the body. He doesn't do this but continues refining.

One hour later, the "Blood Soul Coagulation" ability is completely refined into a tiny, rice-grain-sized, bright red light point. Upon reaching this critical point, the "Source of Strength" ability automatically enters its second stage. Using this bright red light point, along with the intensity of "Blood Soul Fusion," it begins to absorb "Star Realm Source Power," which is ultimately absorbed by Su Xiao.

[All your main attributes have been permanently increased by 15 points.]
[Your technique potential upper limit +1.]
...

Su Xiao estimates that the amount of "Star Realm Source Power" corresponding to the "Blood Soul Coagulation" ability would only increase the main attributes by about 10 points. Now it has increased by 15 points. This is undoubtedly because the choice to completely consume "Blood Soul Coagulation" allowed "Source of Strength" to be maximally activated.

To summarize, absorbing after normal refining draws "Star Realm Source Power" based on 100% of the ability's comprehensive intensity.

However, if it is extreme refining, to the point of completely refining away the ability's bonus effect, then it draws "Star Realm Source Power" based on 150% of the ability's comprehensive intensity.

In return, "Blood Soul Coagulation" completely disappears from Su Xiao's ability system. Exchanging a no-longer-beneficial ability for 15 points of Strength, Agility, Physique, and Intelligence attributes, plus +1 technique potential upper limit, is an absolute extreme profit.

Furthermore, Su Xiao also discovers a characteristic of "Source of Strength." Ultimately, this ability doesn't enhance one's main attributes for nothing; it draws upon "Star Realm Source Power" as its core enhancement.

So, is the "Star Realm Source Power" everywhere the same? Su Xiao is sure it is not. It should be because he is within Reincarnation Paradise that he can absorb such pure and rich "Star Realm Source Power."

To put it simply, if using "Source of Strength" to absorb a passive ability in Reincarnation Paradise increases main attributes by 20 points, absorbing the same basic passive outside might only increase them by 10 to 12 points. This is the difference in "Star Realm Source Power."

More importantly, the "Star Realm Source Power" within Reincarnation Paradise is pure, uncontaminated by any power. It is the initial state of "Star Realm Source Power." In contrast, various high-level worlds are either invaded by the Abyss or have rampant elemental power. Absorbing the "Star Realm Source Power" in such environments might cause problems.

Su Xiao decides that from now on, he will only activate the "Source of Strength" ability within Reincarnation Paradise. He continues browsing the skill list. After a while, his gaze locks onto "Soul Potential." He immediately completely refines this ability, whose bonuses have become ineffective.

When the bonuses of Soul Potential completely disappear.

[All your main attributes have been permanently increased by 7 points.]

This ability enhanced health points and mana points. But before, when he advanced to Supreme, his health points and mana points both advanced to "Base Mana Points." The bonuses brought by this skill were not like that, so he had been suppressing it.

Now, he doesn't need to consume body energy to suppress this ability, and it additionally increases some main attributes. This gives Su Xiao a good experience, after all, reducing burden + gaining benefits.

Besides "Soul Potential," Su Xiao has to face a more troublesome ability. This ability is:

[Soul Blade: Secondary Weapon (Passive, X).]
Skill Effect 1: The overall intensity of your Proud Song ability is increased by 80%.
Skill Effect 2: You can use the crystals generated by the Proud Song ability to form a self-adaptive weapon. The cutting power, blunt force, penetrating power, etc., of this weapon will be determined by your soul strength and body energy upper limit.
...

The ideal method is to absorb the bonus of "Overall intensity of Proud Song ability increased by 80%" from this ability and completely refine the rest to gain more main attributes.

This is quite difficult, which is why Su Xiao waited until he was sufficiently familiar with the "Source of Strength" ability before attempting this absorption.

Su Xiao arrives at the planting area and sits cross-legged under the Black Maple Tree. After the Black Maple Tree grew thicker than a bucket, he noticed that this supreme treasure provides a certain bonus to meditation ability. Now the Black Maple Tree is over a meter thick. Sitting under it to meditate feels almost profound.

Concentrating his mind, he activates the "Source of Strength" ability. His heartbeat becomes calmer. The Heart Furnace is just a metaphor; his heart hasn't undergone any organic change. As a Technique Grandmaster, having a non-human heart would undoubtedly be a detriment.

The environment here is no different from a natural one. Especially after Su Xiao advanced to Supreme and his Exclusive Room's permissions increased, seventy percent of the Exclusive Room's authority level is used in the planting area. A breeze blows, leaves rustle. Beside him, Bubu Wang lies down, lifts his head, and yawns.

Although Bubu wants to go out and play, he needs to keep an eye on his master. Whenever his master enhances his abilities, he is always calmly charging forward, unafraid of life or death. The various emergency facilities in the Exclusive Room, Amu and Baha can also use, but not as precisely as Bubu Wang. He modified all of these.

The light golden holy spring water flows down with a splash. In such a comfortable environment, Su Xiao's operation on "Soul Blade: Secondary Weapon" is, of course...

A failure.

[All your main attributes have been permanently increased by 15 points.]

The "Overall intensity of Proud Song ability increased by 80%" bonus from "Soul Blade: Secondary Weapon" couldn't be fully preserved. 70% of it was saved. This characteristic has been directly incorporated into the Azure Steel Shadow ability.

Not all characteristics need to be absorbed into one's own physique. Active skills can also have their corresponding characteristic bonuses absorbed. For example:

"Azure Steel Shadow: Defensive Form: Proud Song (Passive): Can generate crystals of any form to defend against enemy attacks. Crystal intensity is proportional to the mana points consumed. The upper limit of single mana point consumption is 31,900 points. Crystal layer defense rank +68 (increased by 28)."

The overall intensity of Proud Song corresponds to "Crystal layer defense rank." Now, this 70% is directly added to the Azure Steel Shadow skill list.

Furthermore, Su Xiao discovers an even more powerful situation. The original Proud Song intensity bonus was:

Base 40 + Soul Weapon 28 + Proud Song Ring 160 = 228.

Now it becomes:

Base 68 + Proud Song Ring 272 = 340.

The "Grandmaster's Heart" and "Grandmaster's Power" absorbed earlier were also not entirely added to himself, but rather to the Blade Grandmaster ability and Melee Grandmaster ability. However, the main skill data of these two skills hasn't changed. One must open their branch lists to see rows of bonuses.

Su Xiao was wondering earlier why devouring passive skills with "Source of Strength" was so easy. It turns out that only those bonuses that purely enhance the body, such as increasing mana points or health points, are absorbed into one's own physique. Others are absorbed into the main skills corresponding to their specific characteristics.

As he becomes more familiar with his "Source of Strength" ability, Su Xiao becomes bolder in devouring passive skills. Finally, he shifts his gaze to several "Law-Destruction Passives."

"Perfect Physique," "Indestructible Physique," "Technique Resonance: Swiftness," "Spirit Shadow Physique."

If these skills are absorbed, it will certainly be a huge increase in physical attributes. The problem is, is the risk of doing so very high? Law-Destruction abilities have never been gentle.

Just as Su Xiao is pondering this, Baha flies over and says urgently, "Boss, there's a problem with the enhancement of the Moon Wolf Set."

With that, Baha hands over the badge form [Silver. Moonlight]. After observing it, Su Xiao finds that this item has been severely eroded by [Old Wolf Moon Blood]. The two are clearly of the same origin, so why has this happened? After observing for a while, a possibility comes to mind.

This [Old Wolf Moon Blood] is more ancient than expected, even dating back to the late First Era. [Silver. Moonlight] was forged by the Slinntes Dwarves commissioned by the Moon Wolf faction in the Second Era. Later, through rituals and inheritance, it became representative.

Normally, [Silver. Moonlight] should devour this [Old Wolf Moon Blood] to complete the enhancement. The problem is that both have inheritance characteristics. This act of a descendant devouring an ancestor is a clear case of going against the natural order within inheritance characteristics.

The problem is that [Old Wolf Moon Blood] is just a power carrier, existing in the form of wolf blood. It has no main body and is destined to be unable to counter-devour [Silver. Moonlight]. The two are deadlocked, and now both have problems.

If this situation is left to continue, the only possibility is losing both [Silver. Moonlight] and [Old Wolf Moon Blood]. Although Su Xiao has already mastered "Perfect Block," and the importance of the [Silver. Moonlight] set has greatly decreased, if he can save it, he certainly wants to find a way.

After weighing the options, Su Xiao has an idea. Since the two are now deadlocked, he might as well find a troublemaker. Even if both are lost, he should take the opportunity to greatly enhance this troublemaker.

[Silver Moon Blade] appears in Su Xiao's hand. With a crack, he stabs this small knife into the semi-metallic blood ball formed by the fusion of [Silver. Moonlight] and [Old Wolf Moon Blood].

If using human personalities to describe these three, [Silver. Moonlight] is proud and domineering, [Old Wolf Moon Blood] is ancient and overbearing, then [Silver Moon Blade] is violent and extreme.

The reason is that when Su Xiao first obtained this growth-type "Overlord Equipment," its rating was only 1000 points. It grew to its current level only after Su Xiao paid respects to the wolf tombs of one Moon Wolf after another.

Therefore, it has no reverence for the Moon Wolf inheritance system. Yet, it coincidentally possesses the power of this system. So when this guy enters the scene, it's not to mediate. [Silver. Moonlight] and [Old Wolf Moon Blood] are visibly absorbed by this small knife.

In just half an hour, [Silver Moon Blade] 'mediates' the conflict between [Silver. Moonlight] and [Old Wolf Moon Blood] by devouring them both.

[Silver Moon Blade has completed this enhancement. You have obtained Full Moon Blade (Overlord Equipment: Growth Type: Rank 98).]

[Full Moon Blade]
Origin: Overlord Creature: Silver. Moon Wolf
Quality: Overlord Level: Growth Type.
Overlord Rank: 98.
Category: Secondary Equipment
Durability: 5/5 points.
Equipment Requirement: Silver, Moon Wolf, Shadow of Law Destruction.
Equipment Effect: Full Moon Power (Core: Active): Use this blade to cut across the palm. If the equipment requirements are met, no substantial damage will be taken, and "Full Moon Radiance" will be unleashed. During this period, you can use "Moon Wolf System Abilities" of corresponding intensity based on your "Azure Steel Shadow" ability level. This state lasts for 180 minutes.
Tip: Each use of "Full Moon Power" consumes 1 point of this equipment's durability. When this equipment's durability reaches zero, it will not shatter. After reflecting moonlight, the durability will gradually recover.
Introduction: We pass all our power to you, hoping you will be safe and sound.
Price: Cannot be sold.
...