Chapter 1672: with translation of chapter title

He suppressed the urge to go out and test right now.

Lin An exhaled lightly and began to consider other problems.

It wasn't that he was indecisive, wary of the warning.

But rather, he suddenly realized a problem.

He didn't have that many points to exchange.

"60 points.."

"Killing those Fifth Stage outside, I could actually gather enough."

"But if I kill them before exchanging, how will I test later?"

"With my current combat power, I want to capture a Fifth Stage, inject then kill—almost impossible. For a Fourth Stage, I could do it, but it's not easy to act on."

It's like being trapped in a dead loop.

For Lin An, the points he can currently use are just twenty.

Killing the outside captives would leave him no test subject; not killing, he has no points to exchange.

It's like starting a business without startup capital—he's stuck tight.

"Kill first, then exchange, later look for a chance to kill a Fifth Stage... too many variables..."

He let out a quiet sigh.

Lin An gave a bitter smile; for him, he must gain greater strength before the restriction ends.

It seems that later finding Fifth Stages to kill and gradually strengthening isn't a problem.

But Lin An doesn't think Hei Di and the others, including those Fifth Stages outside, will give him that chance. With his current strength, just stepping out of the fortress for a moment would likely expose him.

Leaving other things aside, as a Star-Destroying Level, Lin An should at least go out to hunt those Fifth Stages.

Not to mention displaying any power, even the spatial rules used while rushing, he can't employ.

Lin An dare not even imagine.

When Hei Di and the others respectfully tear open a spatial rift to go hunt people, he can only rush on foot... that scene is simply unbearable.

At the very least, he needs to fly fast enough!

Moreover.

"According to the system's information, the reward I get for killing those outside Fifth Stages seems off?"

He carefully studied the strange point explanation in the plan.

Looking at the numbers 36 and 68, Lin An furrowed his brows.

The outside captives are five Fifth Stages, plus sixteen Fourth Stage Peaks.

According to his earlier calculation, killing those people should net him at least 116 points.

One Fifth Stage is 20 points, one Fourth Stage Peak is 1 point.

But according to the system's calculation, he can get at minimum 36, at most only 68.

This is wrong.

Unless.

"Because others participated in the fight, it doesn't count as me killing them alone. So the point reward is low?"

"36... that means a Fifth Stage gives two points, a Fourth Stage one point. Since one point is the minimum, it can't be reduced further."

"68 means... in the system's assessment, I can at most solo-kill one Fifth Stage, plus a bunch of Fourth Stage Peaks?"

Knowing the system's plan, all data are calculated based on his current combat power.

Lin An, upon reaching this result, felt his heart sink instantly.

Actually, thinking about it, it's normal.

He had already thought about the killing reward matter.

In his system prompt, the reward he received was a full twentyfold!

A Fifth Stage is worth 1 point, killing above his rank counts as 10 points, and some unknown 'overlimit kill' doubles that 10-point base.

With such an exaggerated reward, he doesn't believe those veteran Fifth Stages haven't noticed the 'loophole'.

Theoretically, as long as he captures a Fifth Stage and lets his subordinate Fourth Stages kill it, he can easily farm points.

No need for much trouble, he could rack up hundreds or thousands of points in minutes! Even more ruthlessly, all Star-Destroying Levels could sell their subordinates, exchanging Fifth Stage kills!

Now it seems, this loophole simply doesn't exist.

"If that's really the case, then tricking Hei Di and the others into helping me farm points probably won't work..."

"If they act, the reward will be split, or perhaps none at all."

"Even if I hide in the Rear and slowly develop, I can't manage it."

His expression looked somewhat grim.

After suddenly realizing this, Lin An bitterly discovered he still couldn't break the situation.

His strength is too weak, and the trump cards in his hand are few and far between.

No matter how he twists and turns, struggling hard...

He too is like an ant in a jar, unable to play any tricks.

As for the second branch of the plan, exchanging for Cataclysmic Power.

Looking at the blood-red warning.

Lin An could roughly guess why the system warned him.

After the information on exchanging for Cataclysmic Power, he could manage to crack the Black Lock. Destroying the Black Lock would naturally be an unpredictable disaster.

Lin An even felt that if it weren't for the permission-exchange plan being generated as the optimal solution based on himself, the system probably wouldn't have offered this method.

The good news is, the system essentially helped him verify this idea.

Disaster Power can really serve as the final trump card to break the situation.

The bad news is, he has no 'money'.

"100 points..."

"I killed those captives, plus the 20 points on me, plus selling my own rules... killing a few Fourth Stage would actually be enough to make up."

"According to the system's calculations, that's how it should be calculated."

"Or rather, this is the limit I can achieve within the system's calculations."

Give everything, destroy the Black Lock.

In the system's absolutely rational calculation, there's naturally no need to consider combat power issues. Therefore, in the predicted combat power increase, the system directly gave???.

"Indeed, it's also the optimal solution..."

He gave a self-mocking laugh.

Lin An, with a complex expression, turned off the system light curtain before him, his heart filled with turmoil.

Now there are three paths before him.

First, choose Plan One, increase combat power a bit, then rely on luck.

If all Fifth Stages are brainless, and Hei Di and the others are so timid they wouldn't dare attack him even after the mission ends, then Lin An could survive.

Second, choose Plan Three: first kill the captives, exchange for the syringe, then look for a chance to hunt Fifth Stages, gradually growing stronger.

Dragging it out, he might have a sliver of hope to start a snowball and kill everyone.

Third, sell his own rules now, regardless of cost, to exchange for the information of Disaster Power, then gamble.

"Choosing the third option to sell the rules... I wouldn't have any hope of survival left, purely relying on luck."

"Triggering Disaster is originally a gamble with life. Without the rules, my combat power greatly reduced, my chance of survival only gets lower..."

No one can understand Lin An's current pressure.

He only feels that he himself is like someone holding explosives, walking a tightrope above the Abyss; one misstep and he'll be smashed to pieces.

"Disaster Power... must be the last resort."

"Even if I gamble now, I could still be killed by Hei Di and the others before triggering Disaster!"

Taking a deep breath, Lin An's brain raced, desperately seeking possibility within impossibility.

Among all his simulated possibilities, the best would be if he found a way to grow stronger before the limit ends, then barely maintain the current situation, using Hei Di and others to drag things out!

As long as he drags it out, as long as he's given time and a chance to maneuver, his hope of survival grows!

His kill rewards are high enough! With just a few more points, he could hope to exchange for something else to break the situation!

But all of this is stuck on those damn points!

"If I could exchange for the syringe now, if I could devour the power of those Fifth Stages now..."

He suddenly raised his head.

In the silent Exchange Core, Lin An's heart suddenly sprang a crazy idea.

He now has 20 points; he only lacks 40 points.

These 40 points, he might not be unable to obtain.