Chapter 35: Money Power, Maxed Out!

Inside Lin Mo's bedroom.

At this moment, the floor was covered with various mid-tier fire and earth skill books of immense value.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the carpet, holding a mid-tier fire skill book titled 【Blazing Fire Pillar】 in his hand.

"Directly learning a forbidden spell is impossible; forbidden spells simply don't have skill books, but learning some mid-tier skills isn't bad..."

"After all, one book costs five hundred thousand..."

Lin Mo was full of expectation.

【Blazing Fire Pillar】 was a good skill, capable of erupting a high-pressure fire pillar from a fixed point on the ground.

Paired with a terrain-altering skill like 【Earth Flow Wall】, one could completely surround monsters and turn them into baked chicken.

"Come, learn."

With a thought from Lin Mo, the skill book in his hand transformed into a crimson streak of light, shooting straight into his brow.

The 【Fireball】 spell, which had been dozing off, saw this streak of light like a starving wolf seeing fresh meat.

Without any hesitation, 【Fireball】 transformed into a starving wolf, lunged forward fiercely, and completely devoured the light sphere representing 【Blazing Fire Pillar】.

【Learning Failed!】

【Your skill "Fireball" devoured "Blazing Fire Pillar"!】

【Proficiency of "Fireball", "Multi-Explosive Fireball", and "Inferno Spiral Dragon Bullet" increased significantly!】

【Current Skill Levels: Fireball Lv. 17 (Reached Current Cap), Multi-Explosive Fireball Lv. 13, Inferno Spiral Dragon Bullet Lv. 5】

Looking at this string of notifications, Lin Mo froze for two seconds.

Wait, a mid-tier skill book costing five hundred thousand, and it only increased skill proficiency?

In this world, skill proficiency was a tormenting thing.

Ordinary practitioners needed to use a skill hundreds or even thousands of times repeatedly to increase it by even one level, and skill levels could not exceed the practitioner's own level.

So at this level, most people's skills were generally only around Lv. 5; those who reached Lv. 10 were all grind-heavy masters.

But now...

He had just eaten a skill book, and his skill levels shot up?

"Although this pay-to-win proficiency boost is indeed satisfying, an unexpected joy..."

The veins on Lin Mo's forehead throbbed violently:

"But I wanted to learn a new skill! You wasteful thing, a skill book costing five hundred thousand, and it only adds some proficiency?"

【"Fireball" let out a satisfied burp, looking innocent: Too... too delicious, couldn't help it.】

"Couldn't help it?"

Lin Mo sneered, "Fine, I declare, no more dragon liver tomorrow night, and no more Blazing Rhinoceros either; from now on, you'll just drink the northwest wind!"

【"Fireball" panicked instantly:... No! Dad, no! Give me another chance, next time I'll definitely hold back!】

Seeing this fellow admit defeat, Lin Mo finally suppressed his anger.

He picked up another skill book, 【Blazing Fire Ring】.

"If you dare eat again, you'll never eat meat in your life!"

Lin Mo clicked to learn again.

The streak of light entered his body once more.

On the skill bar, 【Fireball】 shivered and curled into a ball.

It was struggling to restrain itself, fighting desperately to endure.

However, the aura emitted by that light sphere held a fatal attraction for it.

【"Fireball" trembled all over: Can't eat... dragon liver is more delicious, hold back, must hold back!】

【"Fireball"'s eyes began to fill with blood, its sanity collapsing.】

【"Fireball" gradually went mad: But... it's provoking me! Only one Fire Lord is allowed in my domain; how can one allow others to sleep by one's bedside?!】

"Awooo—!"

It lasted only three seconds.

Instinct completely overcame reason.

【Learning Failed!】

【Your skill "Fireball" devoured "Blazing Fire Ring"!】

【Proficiency of "Fireball", "Multi-Explosive Fireball", and "Inferno Spiral Dragon Bullet" increased significantly!】

【Current Skill Levels: Fireball Lv. 17 (Reached Current Cap), Multi-Explosive Fireball Lv. 16, Inferno Spiral Dragon Bullet Lv. 10】

"..."

Lin Mo's eye twitched, and he laughed in extreme anger.

"Good, very good, you're done, you're done for the rest of your life."

【"Fireball" was somewhat emotionally collapsed; it was too afraid of having no dragon liver to eat in the future: I-I-I, I can't control myself... This isn't my fault!】

Just then, 【Earth Shield】, which had been silently watching, suddenly jumped out.

【"Earth Shield" was indignant: Master, it did it on purpose!】

【"Earth Shield" accused loudly: What "can't control"? That's just an excuse! It simply doesn't take Master's words to heart! Such an unloyal and unjust skill should starve to death!】

【"Earth Shield" looked obedient: Master, don't be angry, I am very well-behaved, absolutely not like that brute who eats things randomly.】

Lin Mo glanced at 【Earth Shield】's skill icon and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, Hearing Xiao Tu, you are the sensible one."

"Since you are so well-behaved, then set an example for your big brother."

"This is 【Earth Spike】, which can attack and defend; come, learn it, and show your big brother what obedience looks like."

【【Earth Shield Technique】confidently: No problem, Master! Guaranteed to complete the mission!】

Seeing this, 【Fireball Technique】began to feel uneasy.

It also couldn't be sure whether 【Earth Shield Technique】, that old sneak, could control itself.

If 【Earth Shield Technique】could control itself, wouldn't that mean no more Fire Dragon Liver to eat in the future?

After all, Master is about to learn new Lightning-element skills...

Lin Mo didn't waste words and learned it directly.

A yellow-brown streak of light drilled into his brow.

Just at that instant.

【Earth Shield Technique】, which had been so confident just a second ago, instantly bristled with fur the next!

It felt a kind of same-origin invasion, a threat of someone trying to establish new rules on its territory.

【Learning Failed!】

【Your skill 【Earth Shield Technique】has devoured 【Earth Spike Technique】!】

【Proficiency of 【Earth Shield Technique】, 【Earth Flow Wall】, and 【Earth Stealth】increased significantly!】

The air suddenly fell silent.

【Fireball Technique】, which had just been worried, paused for a moment, then burst into wild laughter.

【【Fireball Technique】rolled on the ground laughing: Hahahaha! Obedient? Showing an example? Go ahead and show me an example then.】

【【Fireball Technique】mercilessly mocked: You coward! You ate faster than me! And you still dare to talk about me?】

After devouring 【Earth Spike Technique】, 【Earth Shield Technique】looked utterly confused, its face full of disbelief.

It shrank into the corner, looking down at its own body as if it had committed some unforgivable sin.

Lin Mo watched this scene and fell into deep thought.

He didn't get angry again; instead, he asked calmly:

"Xiao Tu, you can't control it either?"

【【Earth Shield Technique】, with a crying voice: Master, I really can't control it...】

Hearing this answer, Lin Mo understood completely.

It seems that after anthropomorphization, the skills also possess exclusivity.

Within his body, only one monarch can exist for each element.

Any foreign skill book of the same element will trigger an instinctive territorial awareness in them.

But new skills of other elements are different.

For example, the Lightning-element basic skill 【Lightning Strike Technique】to be learned after level 20; since the Lightning element still lacks a monarch, it should theoretically be learnable normally.

Thinking of this, Lin Mo shook his head, feeling some regret in his heart.

"So... I am destined never to learn new skills of the same element through skill books in this lifetime."

However, he quickly accepted it.

After all, others have to endure day-and-night hard cultivation to raise their skill proficiency.

But he doesn't need to; he just needs to spend money.

Having figured this out, Lin Mo waved his hand and pushed the remaining pile of skill books on the ground in front of him.

"Then let's max out all skill levels first!"

Ten minutes later.

Lin Mo looked at the refreshed skill panel and nodded in satisfaction.

【Fireball Technique: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

【Multi-Burst Fireball: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

【Explosive Flame Spiral Dragon Bullet: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

【Earth Shield Technique: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

【Earth Flow Wall: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

【Earth Stealth: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

【Magma Battle Armor: Lv. 17 (Reached current limit)】

All skills were raised to Lv. 17, matching Lin Mo's own level!

If others knew this, they would probably be so envious their eyeballs would fall out.

They have to use skills repeatedly day and night to increase proficiency, but for Lin Mo, spending money instantly maxes them out.

Lin Mo took one last look at that 【Lightning Strike Technique】.

"Still three levels short to learn. Lightning element... the rarest spell element besides Light and Dark, known as the element with the strongest burst and fastest speed."

"I hope it gives me some surprises when the time comes."