Chapter 4: Because His Compatibility with the [God Hunter] Title Was Too Low, the Title Was Not Causally Bound to Him.
After considering these factors, Su Xiao suddenly realized that he had cultivated a title that, for combat deities, could be considered a top-tier divine artifact. The key point was that [God Hunter] had low compatibility with him and, unlike [Peak Masterpiece], which reached "Limit Forge·2nd Time" and became deeply causally bound to him.
Currently, there were four Divine Souls within [God Hunter]. Su Xiao did not plan to extract them. These four "Primordial Divine Souls" were a top-tier temptation for any deity-level supreme powerhouse. After a moment of thought, he decided it would be more reliable to contact the Tuanzhang. He opened his contact list:
Bai Ye: "[God Hunter (Full Title Attribute Display)]."
Tuanzhang: "Did you forge this title?"
Bai Ye: "Yes."
Tuanzhang: "Did you originally plan to forge it and then sell it?"
Bai Ye: "No."
Tuanzhang: "What is your compatibility with this title? Since it's been upgraded to such a high rank, if it's above 30%, it's hard to sell, even with relevant permission items."
Bai Ye: "Compatibility is 9.12%."
Tuanzhang: "Interesting."
Bai Ye: "[God Hunter]'s previous attribute, 'God Slayer (Passive),' deals an additional 15% to 30% true damage against divine units."
Tuanzhang: "As a result, the divine true damage you needed most is gone, replaced by a god-level title ability for the Star Realm rule profession system."
Bai Ye: "What is the Star Realm rule profession system?"
Tuanzhang: "The 'Divine Profession Ability' of Divine Souls is a partial mastery of the Star Realm rules."
Bai Ye: "Can this title be sold?"
Tuanzhang: "There's an executioner from Holy Light Paradise who needs it. How much are you planning to ask for?"
Bai Ye: "[Soul Energy Crystal]."
Tuanzhang: "That thing... As far as I know, during the Second Era, the Star Realm's [Soul Energy Crystals] were almost entirely used up by the Law Destroyers. Unless someone dives deep to the bottom of the Abyss to find them. The good news is that there's an executioner in Holy Light Paradise who is a wandering hunter."
Of course, this couldn't be done for free. Su Xiao sent a sealed package of Black Maple Tea via mail.
An hour later, his communicator rang. The Tuanzhang, savoring the Black Maple Tea, told Su Xiao that the deal was basically settled. The other party would provide the permission item to make [God Hunter] tradable, but they needed one world progress to gather the [Soul Energy Crystals] Su Xiao required.
Also, if possible, Su Xiao should provide a sample of [Soul Energy Crystal]. This would increase the chances of the wandering hunter finding [Soul Energy Crystals] while deep-diving the "Bottom of the Abyss."
Of course, if the Bottom of the Abyss had no [Soul Energy Crystals], or very few, Su Xiao could renegotiate the price, but with a 10% discount.
Su Xiao was fairly confident about whether [Soul Energy Crystals] existed at the Bottom of the Abyss. During the Second Era, the Abyss was relatively stable, and deep-diving the "Bottom of the Abyss" was akin to suicide. But now, with the Abyss Cataclysm approaching, the Bottom of the Abyss actually posed fewer threats.
As for entrusting "Three Fingers" to search for [Soul Energy Crystals] in the Abyss, that was unrealistic. Communication with "Three Fingers" was limited to very simple exchanges, like what was needed and what was offered. Anything involving what was needed and where to find it was beyond that level of communication. Also, "Three Fingers" was located in a distant part of the Abyss.
With that settled, Su Xiao returned to the main room. The alchemy maid had made steamed Wugu fish today. After tasting it, it was very delicious. However, compared to Xia's steamed Wugu fish, it wasn't exactly inferior, but it was slightly lacking in... flavor depth?
After savoring the Wugu fish, Su Xiao prepared to offer some suggestions, but seeing the alchemy maid's unusually serious expression, he decided to just eat the roasted lamb chops instead.
After eating and drinking his fill, Su Xiao left the exclusive room with Bubu Wang. Bubu Wang, who hadn't been out to play for several days, disappeared shortly after leaving, and Su Xiao couldn't find the goofball.
Arriving at the Attribute Enhancement Hall, he went to the innermost area. After pressing his hand on the identification device, he felt a slight teleportation sensation and found himself in the deepest part of the hall.
This area was about a thousand square meters, with over a dozen heavy, dark red attribute enhancement pods bearing the ф mark. He approached one, and the pod opened. Compared to the ordinary enhancement pods outside, this one looked much older, but its dense, heavy feel made one wonder how many years this facility had existed.
He half-lay inside, and the pod gradually closed.
[You are using the Supreme Attribute Enhancement Pod.]
[Current Supreme Free Attribute Points: 100.]
[You must complete the allocation before proceeding with this body attribute enhancement.]
[Note: Each time you complete a Supreme Tier World Settlement, you automatically gain one use qualification for the "Supreme Attribute Enhancement Pod." For additional uses, you must pay sufficient Space-Time Power.]
Su Xiao initially wanted to play it safe, but upon discovering that multiple separate enhancements would cost Space-Time Power, he decisively chose: Strength +25, Agility +25, Stamina +25, Intelligence +25. The enhancement began.
Buzz!
The Supreme Attribute Enhancement Pod started operating. Lying inside, Su Xiao felt his physique improving across the board. A familiar energy nourished his body—this energy was... "Star Realm Primordial Power"?
The more Su Xiao felt it, the more certain he became. Upon realizing this, even he couldn't help but feel his heart race a few beats faster. The "Peak Level Exclusive Passive: Power Origin" enhanced by the three "Peak Abilities"—he had always been somewhat uncertain about it. Its effect was indeed too strong.
Although breaking through to the Supreme Peak would certainly require a sufficiently powerful growth system ability, his previous thought was to use "Power Origin" cautiously. But now, discovering the enhancement energy used by the Supreme Attribute Enhancement Pod, he clearly felt the value of his "Power Origin" ability skyrocket!
This was a method certified by Reincarnation Paradise, ensuring its enhancement stability and safety. So, in the future, he wouldn't need to worry unnecessarily about whether this ability was reliable. Instead, he would need to see if his wallet could withstand the fierce impact of "Power Origin."
With a burst of steam, the Supreme Attribute Enhancement Pod stopped operating and opened. Su Xiao stood up from the half-lying position. The feeling of enhancing his supreme body attributes was simply wonderful. There was no pain or discomfort from the tempering of the past; it was just a pure, beautiful experience of continuously growing stronger.
Su Xiao didn't enjoy the feeling for long before the 100 Supreme Free Attribute Points were used up.
Leaving the Attribute Enhancement Hall, Su Xiao saw Beini waiting there.
"Meow."
"Mm."
"Meow meow."
"Okay."
Su Xiao and Beini headed towards the Great Gathering Place. Along the way, he stopped at an ice cream shop and bought an ice cream. Beini's meows earlier meant she wanted ice cream.
Arriving at the Great Gathering Place, Su Xiao and Beini went straight to the southernmost area. Soon, the number of skill scrolls on the surrounding stalls increased. He stopped in front of a target stall, which was filled with Absolute Strong and Supreme level skill scrolls.
Su Xiao opened the stall list. Several hundred skill scrolls formed dozens of pages. He opened the filter function in the upper right corner, first blocking the "Absolute Strong Level Skill Scrolls," then blocking the active characteristic skill scrolls. What remained were mostly Supreme passives.
He selected Supreme passives without even looking at their attributes, because he would definitely use "Power Origin" to completely burn them out.
"Supreme Peak Effect: Ability Sacrifice: If you completely sacrifice the selected 'Passive Characteristic' skill, you will gain 15 times the corresponding amount of 'Star Realm Primordial Power.'"
The stall owner was a gloomy-looking, one-eyed old man who seemed stern and unsmiling.
Su Xiao selected nine "Supreme Passive Scrolls." In his vision, nine scrolls on the stall emitted a faint glow.
"Supreme passives, give me a discount."
Hearing this, the one-eyed old man sitting behind the stall looked at Beini, then at Su Xiao, and said:
"Recommended by Beini, I'll give you a discount."
"Meow meow meow."
Beini started to speak, then remembered this wasn't communicating with Su Xiao. She took out the cat language translator made by Bubu Wang, meowed twice, and a text projection appeared above her head, reading:
'This is my owner.'
Seeing this, the one-eyed old man was quite surprised. He nodded:
"No wonder you look familiar. Bai Ye of Reincarnation Paradise. Alright, I'll give you a discount of 100,000 Soul Coins. Beini knows, the prices of my scrolls are only slightly above market value."
"300,000."
"Impossible."
"I'm buying all nine of these Supreme scrolls. Reduce each by 300,000."
"Deal."
The one-eyed old man agreed without any hesitation. For a transaction of this magnitude, making 35,000 Soul Coins per Supreme passive scroll was acceptable to him.
Supreme passive scrolls generally cost between 2 million and 5 million Soul Coins each. The ones Su Xiao chose were typically priced at 2.4 million, with an actual selling price of around 2.1 million. They were among the lowest-tier Supreme passives, but that was exactly what he needed.
These Supreme passives all had one characteristic: although their bonuses were slightly inferior, they were all upgraded using Soul Coins. As long as he had enough Soul Coins, maxing them out was no problem.
The [Skill Upgrade Pod Free Use Permission] could completely replace the consumption of Soul Coins. Of course, if other resources besides Soul Coins were needed, the [Skill Upgrade Pod Free Use Permission] would not cover them; the user would need to pay extra.
Ultimately, the skill upgrade pod was powered by Soul Coins.
Su Xiao paid 8.8 million Soul Coins. The one-eyed old man across from him looked suspicious. A business deal worth 18.9 million Soul Coins, and he had paid less than half. Thinking of this person's notorious reputation, the old man's mood soured. He was about to say something.
"The remaining 10.1 million, I'll pay you 28,000 ounces of Space-Time Power."
The ratio Su Xiao offered was roughly 1:360. He expected the other party to haggle, but instead:
"Deal."
"..."
Su Xiao was momentarily silent. The reason was that he had already pushed the ratio far above 1:300, even exceeding the selling price of 1:350 from Space-Time Power merchants after they bought it, and added an extra premium. Yet, the stall owner agreed without hesitation.
This made Su Xiao think of two possibilities. First, those Space-Time Power merchants were colluding, deliberately keeping the buying price low, then making huge profits from the difference between buying and selling.
The problem was, if they did that, 90% of those affected would be Supreme powerhouses. Doing such a thing would be suicidal unless they were tired of living.
Aside from that, another possibility was that the ratio of Space-Time Power to Soul Coins was indeed around 1:350 before, but recently, the price of Space-Time Power had skyrocketed. The reason was that the Abyss Cataclysm was approaching, and over 90% of those consuming Space-Time Power were Supreme-tier individuals within the Paradise camps. They were all well aware of this.
What truly ignited this surge in Space-Time Power prices wasn't anyone else, but Su Xiao himself. By causing the Third Era to produce a Transcendent Primordial World, he had quietly changed many things.
"Has the price of Space-Time Power risen so much recently?"
Su Xiao's words made the one-eyed old man force a smile, but thinking of the notorious reputation of the person before him, he said:
"Yeah, those Space-Time Power merchants are still suppressing the buying price, but they won't dare to for long. At the latest, by tomorrow morning, they'll have to raise the buying ratio. Today, it's already 1:400 on the black market. I feel it might stabilize at this price for a while."
"I'll pay you 25,000 ounces, or I'll buy from another stall."
"No can do. At least 25,250 ounces. Space-Time Power, not a single ounce can be haggled, brother. Otherwise, our guild leader will skin me alive."
"..."
After paying 25,250 ounces of Space-Time Power, Su Xiao left with nine "Supreme Passive Scrolls."
Returning to his exclusive room, Su Xiao saw Bubu Wang and Baha furtively fiddling with something. Seeing him return, they immediately stopped and pretended nothing was happening.
"..."
Su Xiao stopped and just stared at Bubu Wang and Baha. After a moment, Baha gulped and said:
"His idea."
"Woof (His idea)!"
Baha and Bubu Wang pointed at each other simultaneously. Approaching them, he saw the electric toothbrush placed on the assembly board. After a moment, Baha had the electric toothbrush on his head, and Bubu Wang had various disassembly tools on his head, both facing the wall in punishment.
Arriving at the room housing the Awakening Stele, Su Xiao stopped in front of his exclusive skill upgrade pod. After completing the identification, he walked inside.
Su Xiao's current "Supreme Passive Skill Slots" were very abundant. Previously, "Power Origin" occupied five slots, then after its upgrade, it went from five to eight. Now, "Power Origin" had become a "Peak Ability" and had moved to the top tier of skills, above the Supreme level, alongside "Extreme Realm: Star Realm."
That meant, out of his 22 "Supreme Passive Skill Slots," 14 were still empty. He chose to use all nine obtained [Supreme Passive Skill Scrolls].
[You have mastered: Nether Barrier Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Soul Protection Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Lucky Morning Star Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Rebirth Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Endless Armor Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Wisdom's Guiding Wind Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Indomitable Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Deep Power Awakening Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
[You have mastered: Starry Sky Constitution Lv.21 (Supreme Passive).]
Mastering Supreme skills starting at Lv.21 was one of Su Xiao's advantages, a bonus from [Origin Stone: World].
Without hesitation, he activated [Skill Upgrade Pod Free Use Permission (Nine Times)] and chose to max out these nine "Supreme Passives." This level of enhancement was no longer a challenge for him.
He sat cross-legged inside the exclusive skill upgrade pod, feeling the various "Supreme Passives" beginning to improve. He closed his eyes and waited. Three hours later, he opened his eyes and checked the skill list. He saw that the nine newly mastered Supreme Passives had all been raised to X.
He still had 133 Golden Skill Points. He allocated 7 points to each ability, pushing all his Supreme Passives to X. This would maximize the effect of "Power Origin."
As the "Power Origin" ability activated, he felt his heart become scorching hot, as if it had turned into a flesh-and-blood power furnace, capable of absorbing all the abilities he currently possessed into this furnace.
In this state, he opened the skill list. He selected the nine newly mastered "Supreme Passives" and the now-invalid "Supreme Being" ability as targets for "Ability Sacrifice." The tempering of these abilities began.
Soon, these abilities disappeared from his skill list, leaving only a single crimson light point within his heart.
Reaching this critical point, "Power Origin" entered its second stage. This crimson light point formed a unique mark, resembling a vortex, which erupted with a unique suction force. A pale golden energy surged before Su Xiao. This was "Star Realm Primordial Power." As this energy was absorbed by the heart furnace, Su Xiao's four main attributes, technique potential cap, and Abyss resistance all began to increase.
This enhancement was incredibly intense. For a moment, Su Xiao felt his Primordial Life Force reach its limit, 50 million points. The overflowing "Primordial Life Force" began to condense, eventually forming a "Life Core."
When all the absorbed "Star Realm Primordial Power" was fully absorbed by Su Xiao, he opened his eyes.
[All your Supreme main attributes are permanently increased by 133 points.]
[Your technique potential cap is increased by 660.]
[Your Abyss resistance is increased by 55 points.]
[Note: Your Supreme Life Value has reached 50 million points.]
[This is the maximum Life Value achievable at the Supreme Peak. Overflowing Life Value will condense into a "Life Core" for you.]
[The first "Life Core" will be successfully condensed when your "Supreme Life Value" overflows by 50 million points. For every subsequent 50 million points of "Supreme Life Value" overflow, one "Life Core" will be condensed.]
[Current Supreme Life Value Overflow: 64 million points. One "Life Core" will be condensed.]
[Life Core Count: 1/1.]
[Life Core (Life Passive): The moment your Life Value reaches 0.1%, you will not die. The "Life Core" will immediately shatter, restoring 100% of your Primordial Life Force (i.e., fully restoring your current Life Value), removing "all negative statuses," and healing "any physical damage."]
[Note: Based on your Supreme Stamina attribute, when the "Life Core" shatters, it will reconstitute 25 hours after the end of this battle.]