Chapter 23: Breakthrough
An 8:1 limit conversion ratio left no room for hesitation. Su Xiao immediately initiated the [Sacrifice Ritual].
[Sacrifice Ritual has been initiated. The sacrificed talent ability this time is: Blood Soul Eternal Night.]
[Evaluating the intensity of the sacrificed talent...]
[The total evaluation of Blood Soul Eternal Night is 37 (Extremely Excellent).]
[Sacrificing talent...]
As the prompt appeared, a pain twice as intense as when fusing talents surged through him. Su Xiao remained calm, but the next second, he realized something was wrong, because the agony doubled again, first from 2 to 4, then from 4 to 8, and now, conservatively estimated, it had reached 16.
Sensing this, Su Xiao formed a crystal spike in his hand, threw it to pierce the emergency measure of the warning device, stood up, and walked into the Lord's Train inside the room. As soon as he boarded the train, it entered full defense mode.
Su Xiao sat down in the train's exclusive seat. His vision went black, and he was sent into slumber.
An hour later, Su Xiao suddenly opened his eyes. His first reaction was to stand up, but his body was so weak that he nearly fell. He went to the purified water station, poured an extra-large cup—about 5 liters of the holy spring water usually used for brewing Maple Tea—and gulped it down.
After enduring the talent sacrifice and the subsequent barrier breakthrough, his body cells, which had felt withered, quickly became full and strong with the water intake. After drinking all the holy spring water from Amu's special cup, Su Xiao let out a long breath. The weakness in his body receded like a tide. He checked the series of prompts.
[The talent sacrifice ritual has been completed. Your supreme main attributes can now exceed 500 points. Current peak physique limit is 600 points.]
[Because you have successfully broken through the 500-point supreme attribute barrier, the upper limit of your [Life Cores] has increased from eight to ten.]
[Because you have successfully broken through the 500-point supreme attribute barrier, for every subsequent 100-point increase in all your main attributes, you will gain a crucial [Passive Trait] derived from your body attributes.]
[Important Note: This choice is extremely important. It will determine your combat style in the later stages of the Peak Realm. You must choose with the utmost caution.]
...
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao knew his chosen path was correct. Continuously improving his physique, once it reached a certain level, would always lead to a sublimation. Now, that sublimation had arrived. Every time he increased all supreme main attributes by 100 points, it would be a powerful and critical decision.
[Prompt: The total evaluation of the current Blood Soul Eternal Night talent is 37. You will receive 37 × 8 [Initial Body Energy].]
[You have received a total of 296 points of [Initial Body Energy]. Do you wish to use the current [Initial Body Energy] to increase the upper limit of your [Peak Physique]?]
...
The prompts ended here. Su Xiao went to the bedroom in the rear carriage, sat cross-legged, and meditated for only half an hour to recover his state somewhat. Then, he reopened the prompt list. This was to avoid any accident with the temporarily stored [Initial Body Energy] over time, which would be a huge loss.
[Initiating the increase of the [Peak Physique] upper limit. During this process, your [Initial Body Energy] will be continuously consumed.]
The semi-transparent energy dormant within his body was mobilized and began to spread throughout Su Xiao's body. He could clearly feel his body being invisibly strengthened. It wasn't a direct increase in power, but rather the original achievable limit was being further broken through.
Or rather, as a human race powerhouse, Su Xiao's limit had long been reached. Every step he now took forward in the upper limit of his body attributes was a process of creating something from nothing.
For other supreme peak powerhouses, improving their physique was extremely difficult. Let alone reaching the 300 to 500 point limit, every subsequent step forward required breaking through the upper limit first before continuing. Supreme attributes were already hard enough to improve, and the upper limit of supreme attributes was even harder than the attributes themselves.
Speaking of which, after Su Xiao was promoted to supreme peak, he initially had a 500-point supreme attribute upper limit. This was related to the prompt from his promotion to supreme:
[Prompt: Due to your ultra-limit specification supreme promotion, you have obtained ??? Supreme Upper Limit!]
Part of this [??? Supreme Upper Limit] included the [Initial possession of a 500-point supreme attribute upper limit]. Of course, this accounted for only a small portion of the [??? Supreme Upper Limit].
Now that he was at the supreme peak, his understanding of [Obtained ??? Supreme Upper Limit] was naturally much deeper.
One must not fall into a misconception: obtaining the [Heart of the Abyss] meant having the certainty to ascend to the [Supreme Realm]. In the end, it was just a qualification.
If someone dared to directly absorb the [Heart of the Abyss] with a 20% chance of successfully advancing to the [Supreme Realm], it would only mean that this person's strength at the peak realm had accumulated to an unprecedented level.
Yes, the probability was that low. The [Heart of the Abyss] was just a qualification. Its help in increasing the success rate of advancing to the [Supreme Realm] was minimal. More accurately, the [Heart of the Abyss] raised the success rate of advancing to the [Supreme Realm] from an absolute 0% to 1%.
Never underestimate this 1%. The jump from 0 to 1 was a qualitative leap. Only with this 1% could subsequent accumulation begin.
To date, Su Xiao had seen two [Void Tree Fruits]. One fell into the seventh-rank world, Canglong Continent. At that time, there were undercurrents, and many powerful beings had their eyes on this [Void Tree Fruit]. The problem was that any strength assessment higher than the seventh rank couldn't enter the [Seventh-Rank World: Canglong Continent].
Sending elite seventh-rank subordinates who could dominate their peers was something some powerful beings did. But the fatal point was that Su Xiao was developing a legion style in the [Seventh-Rank World: Canglong Continent]. Elite wolf cavalry boosted by hundreds of thousands of war lords, plus Su Xiao riding the Demon Flame Dragon, Barbatos—what seventh-rank strength wouldn't be intimidated by this combination? Fighting this guy for the [Void Tree Fruit] in this world? Were they crazy?
With a combat power cap and the interception of high-risk world-destroying ability items, the wolf cavalry legion developed locally in the [Seventh-Rank World: Canglong Continent] was invincible.
This also led to Su Xiao obtaining one [Void Tree Fruit]. The second was obtained by Tuanzhang. During that Empty Seat Banquet, three people went to compete: Tuanzhang, the Undying Old Man, and White Bull. Su Xiao strongly suspected that these three guys, who claimed to rely on their own abilities, were actually in cahoots. Tuanzhang was the main force. White Bull used his underworld world influence to provide Tuanzhang with various intelligence. The Undying Old Man, when encountering a sinister competitor, would taste their flavor.
The Undying Old Man had no purpose of becoming stronger. This old man, who had lost his past memories and most of his karma, either wanted to recover some memories or find the reason why he couldn't die no matter what, and then peacefully enter eternal slumber.
White Bull had even less reason to seize the [Void Tree Fruit]. Even during White Bull's most glorious period, he couldn't have used the [Void Tree Fruit]. The method he used to achieve the highlight of his life was too extreme, destined that he could never take another step forward. In fact, even if White Bull hadn't been severely injured by the Abyssal Dragon, his strength would have rapidly declined decades later. Sometimes, birth or upbringing determines character. White Bull was the type who could die, but he had to have been glorious.
The two [Void Tree Fruits] Su Xiao had seen were both concocted by him into [Tree's Grace] potions. One of them gave Tuanzhang the opportunity to recover to the Supreme Realm. Su Xiao hadn't asked exactly how Tuanzhang recovered, but it was definitely related to [Tree's Grace].
[Tree's Grace]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise / Void Tree
Quality: ???
Type: Permanent Enhancement Potion
Effect: This potion needs to be consumed in two parts. Drink one-third for the first time to enhance one's own potential and recover all permanent physical damage (this type of damage cannot be recovered through basic recovery functions). After 15 natural days, the second consumption can be made.
Second Consumption Effect: Drink the remaining two-thirds of the potion. Life force and body energy permanently increase by 20%, with a probability of breaking through the limit.
Prompt: The second consumption can be postponed. If the concocter seals it, this potion can be stored for 5840 natural days.
Rating: ???
Introduction: Miracles always happen, perhaps in the next instant.
Price: To be determined (Hunters can set their own price).
...
That's right. The [with a probability of breaking through the limit] in this potion's attributes referred to breaking through from the Peak Realm to the [Supreme Realm]. If reaching the peak of strength in the Peak Realm could raise the success rate of advancing to the [Supreme Realm] to 20%, then with this [Tree's Grace], it could further increase this success rate to 30% on that basis.
And, more importantly, the success rate of advancing to the [Supreme Realm] was accumulated in steps. For example, from 0% to 1%, one could only rely on the [Heart of the Abyss] or the [Elemental Eye].
From 1% to 20%, it relied on the accumulation of one's own strength in the Peak Realm.
From 20% to 50%, it was various enhancement items, such as [Tree's Grace].
As for reaching 50%, from 50% to 100%, one could only rely on one's own will, as well as one's own karmic mass, fortune mass, etc., all of which were indispensable.
As the holder of the [Book of Original Sin], Su Xiao had the Collector, the Necronomicon, the Scarlet Scepter, the Sun Mask, the Nether Bone Ring, the Soul Crown, and the Deep Sea Ancient Urn inside. Such karmic mass was quite terrifying.
In terms of fortune mass, a fortune of -13,000,000—it was hard to say if that counted as a large mass.
Therefore, the stage from 0% to 50% was the problem Su Xiao currently needed to solve.
Su Xiao closed his eyes and sat cross-legged on the carpet. The feeling of increasing the [Peak Physique] upper limit was quite good. As the 296 points of [Initial Body Energy] were absorbed, he received a prompt:
[All your supreme main attributes, current peak physique upper limit has reached 700 points.]
This was a pretty good start. Feeling the remaining [Initial Body Energy], his mood became even better. An hour later, another prompt appeared.
[All your supreme main attributes, current peak physique upper limit has reached 800 points.]
The enhancement continued. Only after his body absorbed an amount of [Initial Body Energy] equivalent to twice the previous amount did another prompt appear.
[All your supreme main attributes, current peak physique upper limit has reached 900 points.]
Feeling the remaining [Initial Body Energy], breaking through to 1000 points shouldn't be a problem. But continuing further seemed highly unlikely. Three hours later, another prompt appeared.
[All your supreme main attributes, current peak physique upper limit has reached 1000 points. You have entered the Peak Physique Barrier Period. You need to break through this barrier using a ??? method to continue improving.]
...
The [Initial Body Energy] in his body was exhausted. After successfully reaching the 1000-point supreme attribute upper limit, there was actually a little [Initial Body Energy] left. However, after his body absorbed this [Initial Body Energy], there was no further improvement. It seemed to be saved for the next time.
After completing this enhancement, Su Xiao took out a communicator and dialed. Because the other party was on a very leisurely long-term mission, it was connected in no time. Su Xiao asked:
"I have a question to ask for advice."
Hearing this, Tuanzhang on the other end yawned, sat up to wake himself up, and said:
"Do you have news about a top-tier talent fusion stone? That thing is worth about 120,000 ounces of space-time force. But because demand is low and production is also low, as long as the price is under 300,000, if you have the funds, you can take it. If it's not enough, I can lend you some."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. Tuanzhang on the other end chuckled: "This era still depends on you to fight hard. Who told you to get the Origin Stone: World? So don't be shy. Besides, you have to pay it back."
Su Xiao was silent for a few seconds, then asked: "How do I break through the peak physique barrier?"
As soon as Su Xiao said this, Tuanzhang, whose voice was usually lazy and casual, went silent for a moment. After a while, Tuanzhang said:
"If you absorb a large amount of space-time force and increase to 500 points, there's a risk. So you need to settle down."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He sent the newly mastered [Primordial Physique] ability to the other party in text form via the communicator.
[Primordial Physique: Can absorb [Star Realm Primordial Force] to enhance all main attributes, Abyss Resistance, and technique potential upper limit.]
Tuanzhang was silent for another moment, then chuckled to himself and said: "Wanting to break through the second peak physique barrier isn't actually that hard."
"How do I do it?"
"Ask me again when your supreme attributes reach 1000. You don't have the relevant authority now."
"Oh."
"By the way, Bai Ye, if I remember correctly, your Dragon-Slaying Flash needs to devour many legendary famous swords to grow, right?"
"Yes."
"Coincidentally, I know a way to get a few legendary famous swords."
"How?"
Su Xiao was very interested. The current Dragon-Slaying Flash indeed needed improvement, especially to face strong enemies like Soul Lord and Underworld God.
"Buy them with a heavy price."
After saying this, Tuanzhang hung up the communication. This time, it was Su Xiao's turn to be silent for a while. But within a few minutes, the communicator received a text message—a contact frequency. It was definitely the seller Tuanzhang mentioned who had a few legendary famous swords. Tuanzhang sometimes did joke around with Su Xiao, but there was always serious business afterward.
The worst Reincarnation-level equipment, as long as its usage requirements didn't include a need for [Recognition], would definitely be worth 60,000 ounces of space-time force.
What could be called a legendary famous sword would have a rating between 15,000 and 20,000 points. Su Xiao estimated that to raise Dragon-Slashing Flash's rating to 20,000 points, including the already devoured Law-Destroying Blade, he would need at least three more legendary famous swords. The reason was that this Law-Destroying Blade had been reforged twice, probably repaired, which greatly reduced its rating. Its peak must have been very strong.
Three legendary famous swords, around 100,000 ounces each, was acceptable. The truly expensive Reincarnation-level equipment was after the 20,000-point rating. That gradually started costing hundreds of thousands, millions.
For example, [Finality], if a suitable buyer was found, its value could be between 3,000,000 and 3,500,000 ounces. The Reincarnation-level second-place equipment should be valued between 4,000,000 and 6,000,000. The strongest Reincarnation-level equipment, the first-place one, would definitely be in the 10,000,000 range.
The strongest Overlord equipment was valued at 8,500,000 ounces. The strongest Reincarnation-level equipment, conservatively estimated, was at the 10,000,000 level, and should be higher. This showed the gap between the two, even if both had a rating of 30,000+ points.
The problem with [Finality] was that the probability of a summoning system advancing to the Peak Realm was, to say the least, extremely low. The undead system had once had a promotion to the peak, but they were poor. The stronger the undead system got, the poorer they became. How could they afford [Finality]? They could never save money. Sell at a discount? What discount? 80% or 90% off was meaningless. 70% or 60% off was heading towards 2,000,000. The more he thought about it, the more of a loss it seemed.
If, after Dragon-Slashing Flash reached a 30,000-point rating, devouring [Finality] caused a surge of 1000 points, or even optimistically 1500 points of attack power, this exaggerated attack power increase beyond the limit would, at that time, definitely yield higher returns than selling [Finality] at a discount.
Su Xiao suspected that the reason [Finality] had such high attack power was most likely due to some fortuitous encounter—like devouring or absorbing some rare treasure, causing this weapon, whose attack power should have been in the 2400-2600 range, to skyrocket to [Attack Power: 4210-4500 points].
If this guess was true, then selling [Finality] was even less of an option. If that was the case, after Dragon-Slashing Flash was promoted to the Reincarnation-level with a full 30,000-point rating and devoured [Finality], it would be almost equivalent to devouring a rare treasure. The increased attack power might be 1800 points, or even more.
He dialed the frequency Tuanzhang gave him, but after more than ten minutes, there was no response on the other end. Su Xiao hung up the communication and waited for the follow-up.
Having finally broken through the 500-point attribute barrier, Su Xiao opened his storage space and sold all the current Space-Time Stone fragments and Elemental Treasures to Reincarnation Paradise. This type of resource could be sold at any time.
He checked his current space-time force: a total of 1,228,000 ounces. This space-time force came quickly, but it was also consumed just as quickly. He contacted Beini on the team channel, asking her to acquire ten types of [Supreme Passives] and exchange a large amount of Soul Coins from the Goblin Merchant Guild. The current exchange rate was still 1:423.
Over an hour later, a total of ten [Supreme Passive] skill scrolls appeared in the team storage space. Su Xiao went to the Skill Upgrade Pod and entered it.
[You have mastered Starlight Protection, Lv.21.]
[You have chosen to upgrade [Supreme Passive: Starlight Protection] to X. Total cost: 32,900,000 Soul Coins. Yes/No to proceed with this upgrade?]
Fifteen hours later, Su Xiao opened his eyes inside the Skill Upgrade Pod. The ten newly mastered Supreme Passives had all been upgraded to X. After activating [Power Origin], he used [Power Origin] this time to devour all ten [Supreme Passives] at once.
When all ten [Supreme Passives] disappeared from the skill list, a large mass of [Star Realm Primordial Power] gathered in front of him. Its color had even shifted from the usual light gold to a slightly radiant gold.
Unlike before, Su Xiao felt that all his cells were emitting a craving for the [Star Realm Primordial Power] in front of him. This even gave him a feeling of hunger. He reached one hand into the large mass of [Star Realm Primordial Power] in front of him.
Like a whale drinking from a river, the mass of [Star Realm Primordial Power], nearly a meter in diameter, was instantly absorbed completely. After this [Star Realm Primordial Power] was absorbed into his body, various parts began to devour it—no, it was more like they had been hungry for a long time and finally had delicious food, so they started gobbling up the [Star Realm Primordial Power] quickly.
With this devouring and absorption speed, what sequelae of large-scale [Star Realm Primordial Power] absorption? This amount of [Star Realm Primordial Power] actually felt insufficient for his cells to absorb and digest.
[All your supreme main attributes permanently increased by 3 points.]
[Your technique potential upper limit +10.]
[Your Abyss Resistance +1 point.]
...
This was a different situation from before. Prompts appeared one after another, each time increasing the supreme main attributes by 3-5 points. This process was stable and natural. And, the feeling of constantly sensing his own improvement was very good. He simply began to meditate.
Time passed quietly. When Su Xiao woke up from his meditation, this enhancement was complete. He checked his current body attributes.
Supreme Strength: 645 points.
Supreme Agility: 645 points.
Supreme Stamina: 645 points.
Supreme Intelligence: 645 points.
If he were to fight Spider Empress with his current supreme physique, he would definitely win much more easily. And, compared to these enhancements, the main event hadn't arrived yet.
[Current supreme life force overflow amount can condense two [Life Cores].]
[Life Core count: 6/6.]
[Life Core (Life Passive): The moment your life value reaches 0.1%, you will not die. The [Life Core] will immediately shatter, instantly restoring 100% of your Primordial Life Force (i.e., restoring your current life value to full), and removing [all negative states] and recovering [any physical damage].]
...
[All your supreme attributes have reached 600 points. You can choose one of the following [Passive Traits].]
[Important Note: This choice is extremely important. It will determine your combat style in the later stages of the Peak Realm. You must choose with the utmost caution.]