# Chapter 2: Various Passive Skills
These two highest-ceiling enhancement channels ultimately converge on the same goal—enhancing the "self." Improving physical attributes is precisely for stronger comprehensive combat power, making strength and speed more formidable, vitality more vigorous, and life cores more numerous.
In contrast, accumulating various passives—some veteran supreme powerhouses accumulate hundreds or even thousands of different powerful passive abilities over long periods of time.
Essentially, this is no different from improving supreme attributes. Various passives basically enhance one's own physical strength, defense, ability lethality, movement speed, unique movement methods, and the damage intensity of one's core abilities.
To put it more simply, not all peak powerhouses possess the outrageous ability of "Power Origin." The effect of this ability made even the previous complete-form Chosen One envious and speechless for quite a while.
Since supreme attributes are slow to improve, one might as well settle for the next best thing—accumulating passives to enhance oneself. These passives have another name, one that Su Xiao himself coined. That's right, they are called Peak Passives. Whether it's Spider Empress's [Toxic Demon Heart (Skill Stone)] or Night Mother's [Eternal Night Starlight (Skill Stone)], both are the strongest among their numerous "Peak Passives."
Su Xiao estimated that the [Origin Constitution] he possessed had a high probability of being the "Peak Passive" of the former Abyssal Shadow, Shiman Achid. After he killed Shiman Achid, this Peak Passive was naturally recorded by Reincarnation Paradise, forming a "Skill Stone."
But whether it's improving "Supreme Attributes" or accumulating "Peak Passives," both are used to enhance the "self."
Su Xiao didn't have that much time to use slow, meticulous effort to develop "Peak Passives." Meanwhile, improving supreme attributes brought power no weaker than improving "Peak Passives." Moreover, in terms of "Peak Passives," he could select the best from the best—this enhancement path was undoubtedly very bright.
In fact, "Peak Passives" could be classified as T0 to T2, with smaller numbers being stronger.
T0-level "Peak Passives" were clearly things like [Origin Constitution] and [Extreme Realm Grandmaster Power], while T1 enhanced the lethality, functionality, control, and range of core abilities. T2 enhanced the body's physical strength, speed, vitality, and so on.
Unfortunately, it was impossible to detect the supreme attributes of other peak powerhouses. In the early, middle, and late stages, Su Xiao, as a Technique Type, had always been suppressed by powerful enemies in terms of physical attributes. Now, he could finally hold his head high. Yet peak powerhouses couldn't detect supreme attributes—of course, essentially, this was Void Tree's protection mechanism.
It wasn't protecting enemies; it was protecting contractors who had just advanced to the peak realm. If such equipment were truly certified, the accuracy during detection would be a major problem. If accuracy were forcibly improved, each detection cost would be at the "Certification Level," and relevant judgment procedures would need to be carried out. Before that, the enemy who detected the detection would have already attacked.
Not only could it mislead, but it would also detect nothing useful. Void Tree wouldn't harm peak contractors like this. Or rather, after reaching the Absolute Strong, Supreme, and Peak levels, one could clearly feel that Void Tree didn't want any contractors of this tier from any paradise to die. Among paradise factions, unless it was something completely irreconcilable like Reincarnation Paradise and Dawn Paradise, paradise war would occur.
It seemed that Void Tree was accumulating the strength of all major paradises, only waiting for the day of the Abyss/Elemental Cataclysm.
Su Xiao suddenly understood what the ultimate purpose of Void Tree, the highest existence, was. This purpose was simple yet concerned everyone. Void Tree's ultimate purpose was to maintain the existence of the Star Realm. If the Star Realm could operate stably, that would be even better, but no matter what, it must exist.
Su Xiao even suspected that the Elemental Cataclysm at the end of the ancient era had caused 99% of the Star Realm's life to go extinct. The reason the first era of this epoch could arrive so quickly was that some ancient era groups had hidden within Void Tree's certified areas.
And this was also the main reason the Merchant Alliance was so emboldened. Knowing this secret, they were preparing to do exactly that.
The problem was that the Goblin Merchant Guild, which had used this to survive the Elemental Cataclysm, was now desperately investing in the Ten Thousand Races Realm, wanting to resist the Abyss rather than hide in Void Tree's certified areas.
Did this mean that the ancestors of the Goblin Merchant Guild, before dying of old age, told them that Void Tree's certified area would only open once under the certification of the Initial Regulations after a very, very long time? This time, less than three epochs had passed, so it wouldn't open. Even if Void Tree wanted to preserve groups, it could only store cells and embryos.
The currently damaged certified shelter area was slowly being repaired. It would at least be the fifth to sixth epoch before it could open again.
And the Abyss was clearly not within Void Tree's certification scope. Moreover, with the Initial Regulations in place, Void Tree couldn't directly forcibly erase the "Lord of the Abyss." This also greatly conflicted with Void Tree's concept of existence.
Suddenly, Su Xiao recalled something—that the Tuanzhang had created a world and had been building it for a very, very long time, continuously reinforcing it. This world wasn't large, but what exactly was it for? And to avoid bearing additional causal burdens that might affect the small world's solidity, the Tuanzhang hadn't reserved a place for himself in this world.
Additionally, the Tuanzhang often traveled to various worlds, collecting animals from those worlds and putting them into that small world. Nominally, it was a collection, but was it really? And observing various intelligent groups in each world, leaving hard-to-detect spatial marks on some kind individuals—was this also a hobby?
The purpose the Tuanzhang had previously stated for this small world was probably all nonsense. Although he was very powerful, being more cautious was better. Why take risks? Just spouting some nonsense would minimize others' curiosity about this small world—why not do it?
Because this small world was not only the final shelter but also the seed that would gradually sprout in the broken Star Realm after the darkness receded, allowing the Star Realm to regain vitality faster. Of course, this small world would only be activated if the worst possible scenario occurred.
If others did this, it might seem pessimistic, but the Tuanzhang—he had once charged into the Abyss with an old friend and fought a desperate battle alone against the previous Lord of the Abyss.
The two paths of becoming stronger ultimately converged. Of course, if Su Xiao truly reached the Supreme Realm, he would also have to "repay debts" by mastering various "Peak Passives." After all, supreme attributes would eventually reach their limit. Nothing was truly infinite, and physical constitution was no exception.
It was still too early to consider these things now. Su Xiao took out his communicator and contacted Kaisa.
"My dear friend, what good news brings you to Kaisa?"
"I want to go to the Land of All Beings."
"Kaisa has laundry to hang up. Talk later!"
"Tenth layer."
"Hmm?"
Kaisa let out a surprised sound, scratched his head, thought for a moment, and asked, "My dear friend, do you mean that the Land of All Beings·Tenth Layer is not an advanced derivative facility of the Trial Grounds?"
"No."
"That won't work either. It's certified by Reincarnation Paradise, my dear friend!"
One of Kaisa's principles was not to manipulate anything related to Reincarnation Paradise's certification. This was similar to not provoking powerful beings who could reach out and punch you.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He just sent over the message: [The Land of All Beings (Tenth Layer) has been opened to you. You have obtained permanent free usage rights.] Kaisa on the other end scratched his ears and cheeks, very conflicted.
"5000 ounces."
Su Xiao made an offer.
"Even without the risk of Reincarnation Paradise certification, it's at least ten thousand!"
"Deal."
Su Xiao's "deal" actually threw Kaisa off. With Kaisa's cunning, he couldn't figure out for a moment why his old friend suddenly stopped bargaining. His psychological expected price was 8000 ounces. This matter seemed somewhat crazy, but in actual execution, as long as it didn't involve some "mind-blowing" operations, it was more about regular permission item usage.
"My dear friend."
Kaisa suddenly appeared behind Su Xiao. Su Xiao almost instinctively reached for his sword handle. It wasn't that he couldn't perceive Kaisa, but Kaisa's appearance was out of thin air, with no possibility of advance perception.
"Give me... three hours. I'll go set up on the fourth layer."
"No, go to the Barren Stone Mountain Range."
"Oh? Oh~"
Kaisa understood instantly. Carrying a tattered sack, he disappeared the next second, without spatial fluctuation or any ability activation aura.
Just then, the communicator beside him rang. After answering, Su Xiao didn't speak, and the other side was also silent. After a moment, the other side broke the silence:
"Earlier, you tried to contact me. What did you want?"
Hearing this voice, Su Xiao immediately remembered the white-robed old man he had met in the unknown spiritual space before.
The reason the impression was so deep was that the other party was named Tulin·Black Tower, a master of Sealcraft, and he was sealing a Big Daddy-level Original Sin Object.
Su Xiao gave Baha a look. Baha quietly landed on his shoulder and spoke: "I heard you have some legendary swords. My ability requires at least six swords to maximize its potential, so name your price."
"I need a large number of divine items."
"I don't have those, but I can buy them from the Goblin Merchant Guild. Give me a number."
"The Goblin Merchant Guild, huh. Fine."
Tulin·Black Tower on the other side started naming his price, while Baha bargained. After some back and forth, both sides reached an agreement. Three legendary swords, and the divine items the other party demanded were estimated to be worth 280,000 to 290,000 ounces of Space-Time Power. The Goblin Merchant Guild certainly didn't have that many divine items, but for this type of easily backlogged inventory, the Goblin Merchant Guild had many fast acquisition channels.
"How do we trade?"
Baha spoke. Tulin·Black Tower on the other side pondered for a moment: "Let's meet in person. Where are you?"
"Doom Star."
"No good. I won't be going there for a long time."
"Why?"
Baha spoke with confusion and dissatisfaction. Tulin·Black Tower really needed these divine items urgently, or his life would be in danger. He said:
"I have a colleague... well, let's call him a colleague for now. He's on Doom Star. His strength surpasses mine, and I suspect he really wants to 'share' one of his 'treasures' with me."
Hearing this, Su Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn't that the idea of sharing the [Deep Sea Ancient Urn] had been seen through by this old fellow, but rather that he seemed to have guessed what Big Daddy-level Original Sin Object this old fellow possessed. In the illustrations of the Soul Library, there was this thing.
A malevolent object that devoured countless deities—Original Sin Object·Old Era Eye.
If this thing reached Doom Star, the Underworld God's unknown plan would obviously be broken.
"Want to break free from Old Era Eye? Come find me."
Su Xiao calmly said this and hung up the communication. On the other end, Tulin·Black Tower, upon hearing Su Xiao's voice, felt his scalp tingle. Last time he spoke with this person in the spiritual secret realm, he learned that the other party possessed six Big Daddy-level Original Sin Objects.
Su Xiao tossed the communicator onto the table beside him. He had saved nearly 300,000 ounces of Space-Time Power. Now he only had 420,000 ounces of Space-Time Power left. To significantly enhance himself once, he would need over 800,000 ounces of Space-Time Power. Space-Time Power accumulated slowly but was spent quickly.
Opening the title list, Su Xiao checked the Old Hunter title:
[Old Hunter]
Limit Burn Refinement: Five times.
Title Effect: Hunter Honor (Passive). When killing enemies/completing main missions, you can obtain honor experience corresponding to their comprehensive combat power/danger level. When honor experience reaches 100%, you can use this to upgrade the current Honor Shop level.
Current Honor Experience: 1000%/1000%.
Current Honor Shop Level: Level 30 (Conventional maximum level is 15. The highest level record achieved by a Hunter is Level 48).
Hint: Due to the particularity of this title, you only need to possess this title without equipping it to activate the "Old Hunter" effect.
Introduction: The one with the highest personal Honor Shop level in Reincarnation Paradise can obtain a precious personal reward.
After killing Spider Empress and Night Mother, the honor experience was full. Moreover, after Su Xiao's Honor Shop level reached Lv.30, he could also open the Honor Shop within mission worlds, but only in specific safe zones.
Up until now, Su Xiao hadn't found where those few limited safe zones certified by Void Tree were. Could it be that he had blocked such safe zones before, causing related permissions to be everywhere, and only when he was very close to a safe zone would there be a related prompt?
Although he couldn't open the Honor Shop for now, upgrading it was still no problem. The Level 30 Honor Shop permission wasn't just for show.
[You have chosen to consume all honor experience to upgrade your current Honor Shop level.]
[Your Honor Shop has been upgraded to Lv.40.]
[It has been verified that your Honor Shop has reached Lv.40. Related permissions activated. Permission 1: You can temporarily summon the Honor Shop through the following two methods.]