Chapter 1686: Fire of Hope

However, seeing that this fifth-stage possessed soul fire and microwave two rules, Lin An instead thought of another matter.

"One rule is so bizarre, another rule is so uselessly simple. Neither rule has a clear means of attack..."

"If nothing unexpected, this guy was forced to promote when he was at fourth stage in life. The soul rule likely comes from a skill or equipment."

Lowering his head to look at the minced meat on the ground, Lin An could imagine this fifth-stage's entire life.

Unable to comprehend a good rule, he therefore chose the strongest skill he could find as his rule.

After studying, he found he could not find a matching soul rule ability, and could only learn another defensive rule with attack effect to compensate.

After painstakingly struggling to reach fifth stage, due to his weak strength, upon entering the battlefield he was treated as cannon fodder.

Of course, it's also possible this fifth-stage actually had extraordinary talent, independently comprehended the soul rule, but under the immense pressure of the apocalypse, he had no choice but to forcefully promote.

After arduously journeying thus far, ultimately due to a poor "foundation", he was forced to become cannon fodder.

One misstep, steps all wrong; even reaching fifth stage, his fate was already sealed on the day he became fourth stage.

Upon this thought, Lin An couldn't help feeling fortunate, fortunate that he initially did not choose the most ordinary rule for swift promotion.

His electromagnetic rule and eternal body both have great potential.

No longer indulging in such useless sentiment, Lin An slightly nodded at the minced meat on the ground, decisively converting the microwave rule into a prop.

As a burst of blood mist suddenly drifted out and condensed from Cain's Blade, the next second a skeleton brand instantly flew into Lin An's brow.

"Two brands..."

Looking at the two rule brands within his mental space, Lin An actually felt like a hamster hoarding food.

If he could fill the space, gathering hundreds or thousands of rules, he would dare to fight a star-destroying level! Even if the rules are weak, exploding hundreds of rules would blast even a Hei Di Chimera to death!

Having gained a bit more confidence, Lin An did not waste any time, instead took a deep breath and pointed again at the soul fire.

The eternal body absorbing soul fire, he wanted to see what effect would appear!

Soon.

Almost at the moment he confirmed the absorption, Lin An only felt an invisible flame suddenly ignite him.

Crackle, as if the soul's burning, for a moment Lin An only felt his vision go dark again, his entire consciousness seeming to be swallowed by endless flames.

Pain, too painful!

Even though he had previously experienced the effect of a fusion once, facing this pain from soul burning, Lin An still instantly lost the ability to think, couldn't help letting out a painful groan.

Hard to imagine, his soul seemed to be twisting and wailing.

Fortunately, perhaps the pain reaching extremes would cause total loss of consciousness.

Just as before the fusion, when he opened his eyes again, Lin An felt his whole body like being fished out of water, drenched in sweat, collapsing limp on the ground as he woke.

Damn..

So painful...

Arms trembling as he propped himself up to stand, Lin An's face pallid, he couldn't help cursing quietly.

Whatever the fusion, it's just too painful.

He didn't know if it was because the soul fire was more special, but this fusion was more terrifying than the previous repulsion!

If not for his will being strong enough, he would doubt whether he could wake up!

Likewise, he quickly glanced at the time, and after seeing that one minute had passed, Lin An then nervously looked at the fusion explanation.

Fortunately, he hadn't been unconscious for long.

He didn't demand how extraordinary this fusion's effect be, only hoping it could be like the repulsion!

"Beep, fusion successful."

"Current rule: Eternal Body changed."

"Rule total increased: 48%"

"New rule abilities: Time Flame, Samsara Eye"

"Time Flame: You can envelop yourself in the flames of time; in that state, you will rapidly burn your own time. Burning past time, you will lose memory; burning future time, you will lose vitality. When all time is burned through, you will die completely, unable to revive, unable to reconstitute, unable to reverse, and all traces will be erased."

"Burning past time, you will gain % energy resistance; burning future time, you will gain % rule resistance. Simultaneously burning, you will gain % of all resistances."

"This effect can combine with time flow speed, maximum stack effect: 3x! You can at most gain % resistance!"

"At maximum resistance, all damage you receive will be reduced to one-thousandth!"

"Warning: Under accelerated state, your burning speed will exceed imagination."

"Samsara Eye: After using this ability, you will be able to see the soul fire of all life, as well as brief past and future. In that state, you can attack the target's past and future."

"Current viewable range: ± seconds."

Dense information brushed out.

Looking at the newly added ability before him, Lin An froze on the spot, his heartbeat also stalled.

Looking at these two heaven-defying abilities, he actually for a moment felt at a loss, only sensing that this completely exceeded his expectations.

Time Flame!? Burning time, exchanging for near-invulnerable resistance!?

Samsara Eye, attacking the target's past and future!?

How could this be!?

Cannot understand.

In Lin An's imagination, he estimated that after the soul fire merges into the eternal body, it would likely just increase willpower amplification a bit, plus an effect to see souls.

But he never imagined the post-fusion effect would be so heaven-defying as to be unimaginable.

"Not... not just a rule that can see souls? How could... how could..."

Like being hit by a jackpot.

All along, Lin An felt his luck wasn't good, even could be said to be unlucky.

Endless death trials, as if enemies could never be killed off. Each difficulty he faced far exceeded his own level.

But this time, he suddenly wondered if it was the ultimate peace and prosperity?

After suppressing the shock in his heart, Lin An took several deep breaths before calming himself.

Even though he hadn't used these two abilities yet, just from the description he could imagine how strong they were.

"Is it because my Eternal Body itself is the time rule? After enhancement, the effect becomes especially good, and also because the soul rule itself is quite extraordinary?"

Realizing this fusion was centered on the Eternal Body, Lin An immediately thought of a certain possibility.

The grade of the Eternal Body is probably far stronger than he imagined.

He may have always underestimated this rule of his, or rather, always neglected to improve it.

His gaze was complex.

Actually, it's not really Lin An's fault.

Against weak enemies he doesn't need the Eternal Body; physical defense alone suffices. Against strong enemies he can't use it either—no matter how the damage is distributed, if he's supposed to be instantly killed, he will be.

Accelerated recovery, weakening damage, freezing state—these three abilities he truly cannot use. The former relies on system points, the latter is too suppressed when facing the Fifth Stage.

Thus, subconsciously, he Lin An hasn't really used the Eternal Body much.

"Eternal Body, essentially it's my own talent..."

"Actually, this rule is the most suitable for me, and perhaps it's innate?"

Recalling the power enhancement he got when he first awakened, the Heavenly Human Form, then the Uninterrupted, and now the Eternal Body, Lin An gave a bitter laugh, feeling an inexplicable sadness.

He has relied on this talent to survive since his weakest childhood, yet after reaching the Fourth Stage he hardly uses it.

"Accelerated Burning, % resistance reduction. So... is this infinitely close to invincibility?"

"Is the cost of burning extremely high? It doesn't matter... nothing is without cost."

Lin An silently watched the Eternal Body flickering on the panel.

He knew that this power, which has accompanied his growth until now, might save him once again here.

Such a coincidence, abrupt.

It's as if, destined.