Chapter 40: Extreme
Technique abilities are like this—when consuming resources, they are truly resource-devouring beasts, but after the enhancement is complete, the power they feedback is equally sweet.
As for the temporarily unusable "Selfless Realm," Su Xiao wasn't too concerned. His current health had reached 11.57 million points, and with the acquisition of the "Supreme Passive" skill scroll corresponding to his Endurance attribute, along with the massive boost to "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash," he could now increase his physical attributes on an unprecedented scale.
He rose from the sacred spring, dressed, opened the follower tab on his Reincarnation Mark, and checked on Baha. Although he couldn't see Baha's current situation, the follower avatar was still lit, meaning Baha wasn't dead. As for stopping Baha from going to the "Despair Trial," if he spoke up, Baha would definitely listen and not go—but that would also completely shatter Baha's pride.
Without inner pride, Baha wouldn't have much will to survive. He would feel like a burden to the Dawn Team, and in some future life-or-death battle, at the most critical moment, one would surely see Baha's figure dying together with the enemy.
No matter how strong an assassination-type contractor is in the mid-to-early stages, they become incredibly difficult in the late stages. Even Xiao, the strongest assassination-type in the Star Realm, failed to climb to the "Supreme Peak," which shows the predicament of assassination-types. To think, Xiao isn't just the strongest assassination-type now; from the First Era to the present, his current realm is the highest any assassination-type has ever achieved.
When Su Xiao arrived at the Attribute Enhancement Hall, it was packed with people. His earlier feeling was correct—there were even more new contractors in Reincarnation Paradise. The place newcomers inevitably come to is the Attribute Enhancement Hall.
Fortunately, the number of Attribute Enhancement Pods here had increased by nearly a third.
[Welcome to Attribute Enhancement Pod No. 1876.]
The hatch behind him closed. Inside the pod, where even microscopic dust particles were removed, Su Xiao took out three portions of "Power Source Matter," closed his eyes to sense his own physique, and chose to use them.
[Supreme Being, X (Passive)]
Arcane Effect: After absorbing one standard unit of "Power Source Matter" at the Supreme level, permanently increase current Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intelligence by 10%.
...
Using True Attribute Points to enhance the physique is a gradual accumulation, but once accumulated to a certain level where the physique can withstand the enhancement from "Power Source Matter," the faster the improvement becomes.
After a brief silence, the Attribute Enhancement Pod he was in began to rumble. A blood-red ф mark appeared on the metal wall ahead. He had gradually grown accustomed to this intense enhancement sensation.
Seven hours later, the Attribute Enhancement Pod stopped operating. Inside, Su Xiao's entire body emitted faint blood energy. He opened his eyes, pressed a hand to his chest, and felt his enhanced physique.
True Strength: 3420 points.
True Agility: 3420 points.
True Endurance: 3420 points.
True Intelligence: 3420 points.
Su Xiao had originally thought that 3000 points was the limit for True Attributes, but it seemed he had underestimated them. Now, at 3420 points, he could still continue to improve.
He was running low on "Primordial Cores," but he had a plan. He took out the "Supreme Passive" skill scrolls corresponding to the four physical attributes. What he wanted most was "Supreme Strength."
Taking a deep breath, and additionally paying Soul Coins to temporarily rent this Attribute Enhancement Pod on a paid basis, he chose to use the "Supreme Strength" skill scroll. The next second, he was sent into slumber.
Two hours later, Su Xiao opened his eyes, his vision level with the metal floor. He pushed himself up with one hand, confused for a few seconds. The surging power within his body made him open his skill list and flip to the Supreme level page:
[Supreme Strength. X (Supreme Level Passive).]
Skill Effect 1: Your physical combat power is your True Strength Attribute / Supreme Strength Attribute × 1.3 times.
Note: This bonus can break through the Strength limit.
Skill Effect 2: You have not yet promoted your True Strength Attribute to its final form, "Supreme Strength Attribute." This effect cannot be activated.
...
The bonus from the Strength attribute was simple and brutal. In the simplest terms, Su Xiao's current True Strength of 3420 points would manifest as a slashing force equivalent to 4446 points of True Strength.
This was exactly the bonus Su Xiao needed most—simple, brutal, and with an extreme sense of power.
He took out the "Supreme Endurance" skill scroll, chose to use it, and then his vision went dark.
An hour and a half later.
Familiar with the parallel view of the spotless metal floor, Su Xiao sat up. This time, he wasn't confused and directly opened his skill list to check.
[Supreme Endurance. X (Supreme Level Passive).]
Skill Effect 1: Permanently increase "Base Health" by 2 million points. After True Endurance exceeds 1000 points, the "Base Health Growth" from True Endurance is increased to 5000 points per point.
Skill Effect 2: You have not yet promoted your True Endurance Attribute to its final form, "Supreme Endurance Attribute." This effect cannot be activated.
...
Clearly, among the "Supreme Passives" corresponding to physical attributes, "Supreme Intelligence" had the richest effects. While the others weren't as varied, their focused bonuses were often extremely absurd.
A long time ago, Su Xiao had felt that increasing True Endurance by 1 point permanently adding "50 points of Base Health" was very unbalanced. Every time he increased his Endurance, he always felt that the bonus from True Endurance in this area hadn't been awakened.
Now, it seemed that was indeed the case. Fully awakened True Endurance was the absolute main driver of health growth, not the other, less stable methods.
Su Xiao's current True Endurance was 3420 points. Subtract 1000, leaving 2420 points. At 5000 points of Base Health growth per point, that meant an increase of 12.1 million health points.
This meant Su Xiao's current health had reached 25.71 million points. With health at this level, he had a clearer feeling—that before advancing to Supreme Peak, his maximum health would be around 30 million points.
Resting for a moment, he took out the "Supreme Agility" skill scroll. Having already mastered the "Supreme Passives" for three attributes, mastering this third one should be manageable. Surely, he wouldn't black out. He used the "Supreme Agility" skill scroll and immediately blacked out, entering slumber.
An hour later, again the familiar parallel view of the spotless metal floor. Su Xiao stood up, pressing a hand to the side of his head, thinking: Could it be that blacking out is a necessary process for mastering attribute-corresponding "Supreme Passives"?
[Supreme Agility. X (Supreme Level Passive).]
Skill Effect 1: Each point of True Agility adds 0.35 points of Base Attack Power to your main weapon.
Skill Effect 2: Permanently increase body speed by 5.2 times.
Skill Effect 3: You have not yet promoted your True Agility Attribute to its final form, "Supreme Agility Attribute." This effect cannot be activated.
...
Su Xiao currently had 3420 points of True Agility. This meant, while wielding Dragon-Slaying Flash, it would gain an additional 1197 points of Base Attack Power. To put it in perspective, the Eternal-level +17 Dragon-Slaying Flash only had a Base Attack Power of 1240–1455 points. This boost was quite astonishing.
After meditating cross-legged for half an hour, Su Xiao took out the last physical attribute-corresponding "Supreme Passive Skill Scroll," which was "Supreme Charm." He used it, and the next second, he was sent into slumber for the fourth time.
An hour later, Su Xiao opened his eyes. Although he had been sent into slumber this time, he was in a cross-legged, head-down posture. At least... he hadn't fallen over directly.
[Supreme Charm. X (Supreme Level Passive).]
Skill Effect 1: Permanently negate all debuffs caused by negative Charm Attribute.
Skill Effect 2: The suppression/invasion power of your released aura (blood energy) +1.
Skill Effect 3: You have not yet promoted your True Charm Attribute to its final form, "Supreme Charm Attribute." This effect cannot be activated.
...
The "Supreme Charm" skill's benefits were quite good, especially the enhancement to aura. In life-or-death battles against strong enemies, the first thing that happens is 90% aura confrontation. The side with stronger aura power has a higher chance of gaining the upper hand and suppressing the opponent.
Having successfully mastered the "Supreme Passives" for all four attributes, Su Xiao assessed his state and then took out the [Honor Promotion Supply Chest] and opened it. The more advanced his current core ability, "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash," the more "Primordial Cores" and "Primordial Source Matter" this chest would yield.
[You have obtained Primordial Cores × 98.]
[You have obtained Primordial Source Matter × 5 portions.]
...
Su Xiao remotely activated the Honor Shop and used five [Reincarnation Medals] to exchange for another 5 portions of "Primordial Source Matter." He chose to continue enhancing the "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash" ability.
[To enhance Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash, Lv.61, requires 30,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, Primordial Cores × 10, and one portion of Primordial Source Matter.]
A total of 300,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, 100 Primordial Cores, and ten portions of Primordial Source Matter. The enhancement began.
The pale golden energy refined from the three resources surged into his body. He felt his mastery of techniques steadily and resolutely improving. Unfortunately, this feeling only lasted a while. The experience of personally sensing oneself grow stronger was truly intoxicating, but the resources paid for it were heart-wrenching.
[Your "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash" ability has been enhanced to Lv.71.]
This wasn't the end of this enhancement session. Su Xiao assessed himself to ensure everything was fine, then took out the remaining portion of "Power Source Matter (Supreme Level, One Standard Unit)" and exchanged for another portion from the Honor Shop. He used both portions together.
If the level of the "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash" ability wasn't high enough, as a Technique-type contractor, unless using "Power Source Matter" to enhance physical attributes, rashly increasing them would inevitably break the balance of his own system. Fortunately, the Lv.71 "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash" ability was already somewhat beyond the boundary accessible below "Supreme Peak."
The Attribute Enhancement Pod he was in began to operate. The containers sealing the two portions of "Power Source Matter" shattered, and the enhancement began.
Fifteen hours later, Su Xiao opened his eyes. He felt as if the surging power within his body could blast all enemies apart with this irresistible force. Of course, this was just the illusion after a massive power increase. He had plenty of experience with this. He checked his four main attributes.
True Strength: 4138 points.
True Agility: 4138 points.
True Endurance: 4138 points.
True Intelligence: 4138 points.
Thinking this was it? Of course not. Su Xiao was very confident in his own fortune. If others would choose to advance to "Supreme Peak" with 80% certainty, he would definitely stack the success rate to 100%. Especially since, as his overall combat power increased, this success rate would genuinely rise.
Su Xiao took out his greatest gain from the Myriad Races Realm—a top-tier Curio, of which only a few appear in a Star Era.
[Absolute Flawless Soul Stone (Star Curio): After use, permanently increase current main attributes by 22%, core ability by Lv.15, and awaken a new exclusive physical attribute, "Grant."]
Holding this item in his hand, it was about the size of a fist. At its core, there was a faint blue cross-shaped light, as if the source of soul power was within, making one involuntarily fascinated.
Crack~
Su Xiao crushed the "Absolute Flawless Soul Stone." The liquid inside flowed out. As soon as it touched his skin, it seeped in. Crushing it with his bare hand was the most effective method, as advised by Reincarnation Paradise.
The next instant, Su Xiao seemed to see the soul flames of billions of beings in the Star Realm. Before he could appreciate this sight, a surge of enhancement, stronger than the combined effect of mastering the four attribute-corresponding "Supreme Passives," came rushing in. If not for the training from the Law-Destruction abilities, the impact of this enhancement on his body would have covered him in cracks.
Five hours later, Su Xiao, sitting cross-legged against the inner wall of the Attribute Enhancement Pod, opened his eyes. An unprecedented sense of power "flowed" through his body. Correspondingly, his physique had reached its limit.
If Su Xiao told other Supreme-level beings that True Attributes could be raised to 5000 points, no one would believe him. Back then, out of his 120,000 "Supreme Potential Points," the "You have obtained ??? Supreme Limit" accounted for roughly 75,000 points.
And part of that "You have obtained ??? Supreme Limit" was the upper limit of his physical True Attributes, raised to 5000 points. Normal Supreme-level beings probably have a True Attribute limit of around 2800–3200 points.
And 5000 points of True Attributes wasn't just Su Xiao's limit; it was the highest any individual powerhouse in the Star Realm's history had ever achieved. He checked his own information.
Name: Su Xiao (Hunter)
Level: LV.103 (Supreme).
Health: 100% (30 million points, this is the limit achievable before Supreme Peak).
Mana: 3,000,000 / 3,000,000 (this is the limit achievable before Supreme Peak).
True Strength: 5000 points.
True Agility: 5000 points.
True Endurance: 5000 points.
True Intelligence: 5000 points.
True Charm: -36 points.
Soul Strength: 2172 points.
Abyss Resistance: 213 points.
Fortune: -280,000 points.
Grant: 1 point (this is an exclusive physical attribute, maximum upgrade to 10 points).
...
Su Xiao's Base Health, Base Mana, and four main attributes had all reached the limit before advancing to "Supreme Peak." His Fortune was also maxed out, going from the previous -150,000 to -280,000. The reason for this was likely that his several physical attributes had reached their extreme.
[Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash, Lv.86 (Extreme Realm Technique Passive)]
Base Effect: Overall technique ability comprehensive intensity increased by 227%.
Skill Effect: Extreme Blade (Exclusive Passive)...
Current Extreme Blade Foundation Strength: 108 points.
Extreme Realm Effect 1: Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash (Extreme Realm Exclusive Passive)...
Extreme Realm Effect 2: Selfless Realm (Extreme Realm Exclusive Passive). Enter the "Selfless Realm," temporarily forget other blade techniques, only retain the one blade technique currently being used, thereby elevating it to the extreme.
Current Selfless Realm Enhancement Limit: 5.7 times technique power.
Warning: After entering the "Selfless Realm," it will consume a large amount of your Stamina and Health (estimated consumption of 65% current Stamina and over 20 million Health. If Stamina is insufficient, it will forcibly overdraw. If Health is insufficient, immediate death will occur).
...
The power of the "Selfless Realm" was even more formidable. If he used "Extreme Blade White Night" within the "Selfless Realm," the power would be...
Besides the enhancement of the "Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash" ability, Su Xiao had also obtained an exclusive physical attribute, "Grant." The characteristic of this ability was very mysterious (qí miào). He could select one of his four current main attributes and "grant" it to some other attributes besides the main ones.
For example, if he chose "True Strength Attribute" to grant to "Abyss Resistance," based on the current height of "True Strength Attribute," it would temporarily increase a certain amount of "Abyss Resistance."
In this, the height of the "Grant" attribute determined the bonus ratio.
For instance, with Su Xiao's current 5000 points of "True Intelligence Attribute," using the "Grant" attribute to boost "Abyss Resistance" would probably increase it by about 50 points.
But if he used "True Intelligence Attribute" to boost "Lightning Resistance," it could increase "Lightning Resistance" by over 2000 points.
Furthermore, "Grant" couldn't boost just any attribute; it could only boost: