Chapter 499: What Should We Do Now?

A new idea flashed in Jiang Chen's mind, and he felt extremely excited.

He brandished his sharp axe and engaged in a fierce battle with the Bloodfang Roaring Ape King.

Relying on attributes far surpassing his opponent's, Jiang Chen struck the Bloodfang Roaring Ape King so that it could not retaliate.

Although the Frenzied Devastation was only a single‑hit power, Jiang Chen's normal attacks were also enough to cause the Bloodfang Roaring Ape King great pain.

Three minutes later, the Bloodfang Roaring Ape King was already riddled with wounds, and its life force had noticeably weakened.

If it were not for being a BOSS with extraordinary vitality, it would probably have died many times under Jiang Chen's attacks.

Jiang Chen's attributes were so strong that a single axe swing could slay same‑level minions, and against a BOSS like the Bloodfang Roaring Ape King, although he could not instantly kill it, he could still leave it in a miserable state.

In the end, the Bloodfang Roaring Ape King fled the battlefield with a roar of anger and resentment.

Jiang Chen did not give chase, because he knew the Gathering Power Skill's duration was about to end.

"Considering it helped me train, I'll spare it," Jiang Chen thought to himself.

For him, killing ten or a hundred such BOSSes yielded far less profit than challenging a higher‑level World BOSS.

After returning to the ancient city, Jiang Chen began to ponder his recent idea carefully and tried to verify its feasibility.

"The Gathering Power Skill only appears to boost attributes, and it even has a cap," he muttered to himself.

But Jiang Chen believed that the skill must have deeper functions and uses, he just hadn't discovered them yet.

He resolved to continue delving until he fully mastered the skill's mysteries.

"Although using the Gather

Power Skill, my attributes can match those of a Level 70 World-Class BOSS, appearing strong, but lacking corresponding skill support, the actual combat power is not outstanding."

"Moreover, the Gathering Power Skill only lasts five minutes, and compared with the Strong Soldier skill, its practical use is indeed limited."

"But the true value of the Gathering Power Skill does not lie in the present, but in the future," Jiang Chen muttered, gradually clarifying his sudden idea.

As his contemplation deepened, his idea gradually refined, and he increasingly felt his speculation could become reality.

"First, at the critical moment of the Third Transcendence, I can use the Gathering Power Skill to break through the cap of base attributes, thereby greatly increasing the success probability of Profession Ascension."

"Second, as my level rises, perhaps I can use the Gathering Power Skill to push base attributes up to the ten‑million mark."

"Then, I might be able to reach the Divine Level realm."

Jiang Chen recalled Li Xueru once mentioning that ten‑million attributes are the threshold to enter the Divine Level.

Regardless of the method, as long as one can reach this attribute standard, one can to some extent display Divine Level power.

Of course, this power still differs from true Divine Level power and is called Pseudo‑God power.

All Level 90 Pseudo‑Gods have their attributes precisely fixed at ten million, no more, no less.

These Pseudo‑Gods achieved that boost through special methods, but such enhancement means forfeiting future growth space; their attributes will remain forever at ten million, with no further increase.

Jiang Chen naturally would not choose a method that sacrifices the future, but now he sees another possibility—experiencing Divine Level power without affecting future

potential, while still retaining future potential, to experience Divine Level power.

This possibility caused the value of the Gathering Power Skill to skyrocket instantly. Just the first possibility alone makes the skill exceedingly precious.

"Finally, the Gathering Power Skill might even lend me a hand, allowing me to become that legendary Super‑Divine!" Jiang Chen clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with resolute light.

At that moment, the idea suddenly surged into Jiang Chen's mind, startling even himself.

However, after calming down and thinking carefully, he felt that this possibility indeed existed.

According to Antares's description, upon reaching Level 98, if one can raise a single base attribute to the ten‑million level, one can become a Super‑Divine.

This refers to a single base attribute, not the total attributes.

Jiang Chen fully understood the difficulty of this, and he did not have complete confidence in it.

But now, with the Gathering Power Skill, he saw a glimmer of hope.

Jiang Chen had already organized his thoughts clearly, and he felt this possibility was fairly high, the chance not far out of reach.

Confidence flashed in his eyes, yet a hint of worry remained: "However, the premise of all this is that I can retain this skill."

"Regarding the Yuan Shi Secret Realm, how should I preserve this skill?"

"Primordial Rune" is both a skill and the key to the Yuan Shi Secret Realm.

Everyone who obtains the Primordial Rune must enter the Yuan Shi Secret Realm before becoming Divine Level; otherwise, once they reach Divine Level, the Primordial Rune and its attached skill will disappear.

To permanently retain this skill, one must enter the Yuan Shi Secret Realm.

However, this does not mean that merely entering the Yuan Shi Secret Realm guarantees retention

of the skill.

Many people, after entering the Yuan Shi Secret Realm, still lost the skill.

Some even lost the skill prematurely.

Someone obtained the Primordial Rune in their early fifties, but after entering the Yuan Shi Secret Realm in their early sixties, the skill no longer existed.

A powerful skill that could have been retained until before Divine Level thus disappeared prematurely.

Therefore, when to enter the Yuan Shi Secret Realm, and whether to enter at all, became a troubling choice.

Some people choose to enter the Yuan Shi Secret Realm at Level 89, hoping to keep hope until the last moment.

However, information about the Yuan Shi Secret Realm is extremely scarce.

Those qualified to enter were few to begin with, only a handful every century, and after emerging they all avoided speaking of the Yuan Shi Secret Realm.

This makes the Yuan Shi Secret Realm shrouded in mystery and the unknown.

Only a scant few pieces of information have been passed down.

Jiang Chen also hesitated, wondering exactly when he should step into the Yuan Shi Secret Realm.

The Yuan Shi Secret Realm is hidden within the Lower Space, and he is currently wandering the Lower Space; once he decides, he can always find the Entrance.

After some careful deliberation, Jiang Chen took out Antares's Dragon Pearl.

He focused his spirit and softly called, "Antares."

He called out several times, but there was no response.

But Jiang Chen knows that Antares can certainly hear his voice.

The Dragon Pearl has a mysterious link with Antares, allowing long‑distance communication through it.

After calling out several times in succession, Antares's slightly lazy voice finally sounded.

The voice carried a hint of displeasure: "Disturbing my rest, do you know how terrible

it is?"

Jiang Chen paid no mind to its mood and asked directly, "Do you know about the Yuan Shi Secret Realm?"

Antares snorted coldly and proudly said, "Of course I know; there is nothing in this world that I don't know........."

Jiang Chen followed up, "Then can you tell me some things about the Yuan Shi Secret Realm?"

"No!" Antares replied resolutely, without any hesitation.

Such a blunt answer gave Jiang Chen a certain suspicion.

He recalled the extremely limited records in Human Race history about the Yuan Shi Secret Realm, and the reactions of those who had entered the realm.

He began to wonder whether Antares simply didn't want to speak, or was unable to.

Jiang Chen let out a soft sigh, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness: "It seems you, like others, have a taboo about this."

"What taboo?" Antares seemed not to grasp the deeper meaning of Jiang Chen's words.

Jiang Chen explained, "The great masters in history kept their mouths shut about matters in the Yuan Shi Secret Realm, unwilling to speak. I originally thought that, given your status and position, you would have no such concerns. Now it seems you, like them, have a taboo regarding the Yuan Shi Secret Realm and dare not reveal it lightly."

"How dare you question me!" Antares roared in anger, clearly displeased with Jiang Chen's doubt.

Antares, with a hint of fury, said, "The Yuan Shi Secret Realm is just a test set by that guy, according to……"

He stopped mid‑sentence, then shouted angrily, "You brat, daring to test me!"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, speaking lightly

and said, "You are overthinking it."

He could never readily admit such a thing.

Antares snorted, "Kid, if you dare test me again, watch out—I'll burn you to ash with my Dragon Breath!"

Jiang Chen's lips curled slightly; he had already gleaned some information from Antares's words.

Who exactly is that "guy"? To be mentioned by Antares like that, he cannot be an ordinary person.

Jiang Chen thought briefly, then brazenly asked, "I have obtained another Primordial Rune; do you think I should go in now or later?"

"You obtained another Primordial Rune?" Antares seemed surprised; there are few things in this world that move it.

However, Antares quickly regained composure, "It's not uncommon for someone to obtain two Primordial Runes, but correspondingly, the Difficulty of retaining the Skill will increase."

Jiang Chen gleaned new information from Antares's words, "Then should I go now or later?"

Antares chuckled, "Of course go later; what would you do by going now?"

Jiang Chen pressed on, "Then when would be the right time to go?"

Antares smiled, "When to go… when you bring good items for a trade next time, I'll tell you."

After speaking, the light on the Dragon Pearl faded again, and Antares cut off the communication.

Clearly, it was deliberately teasing Jiang Chen's appetite; to get the answer, he must first complete the current trade.

From the recent dialogue, Jiang Chen captured two key pieces of information.

First, the Yuan Shi Secret Realm contains some sort of assessment, a man‑made test.

To retain the Skill, one must pass this assessment.

Second, after obtaining two Primordial Runes, the assessment difficulty in the Yuan Shi Secret Realm will increase, and the increase is considerable.

From this, one can infer that acquiring another Primordial Rune would further intensify the assessment's difficulty.

However, Jiang Chen never considered obtaining three Primordial Runes, as no one in history has ever managed it.