Chapter 35: Cash Power, Maxed Out!

In Lin Mo’s bedroom.

The floor was now covered with expensive fire- and earth-element skill books.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the carpet, holding a mid-tier fire-element skill book: [Flame Pillar].

“Learning a forbidden spell directly is impossible—forbidden spells don’t even have skill books—but picking up a few mid-tier skills isn’t bad…”

“After all, each one costs five hundred thousand…”

Lin Mo looked forward to it.

[Flame Pillar] was a good skill—it could erupt a high-pressure column of fire from a fixed point on the ground.

Combined with a terrain-altering skill like [Earth Flow Wall], it could easily trap monsters and turn them into beggar’s chicken.

“Alright, learn.”

Lin Mo focused his mind—the skill book dissolved into a crimson stream of light and shot straight into his brow.

The previously dozing [Fireball] saw the stream of light and reacted like a wolf spotting fresh meat.

Without hesitation, [Fireball] transformed into the wolf itself and lunged, devouring the glowing orb representing [Flame Pillar] whole.

[Learning Failed!]

[Your skill “Fireball” has devoured “Flame Pillar”!]

[Skill proficiency of “Fireball,” “Multiple Exploding Fireballs,” and “Infernal Spiral Dragon Bullet” has increased dramatically!]

[Current skill levels: Fireball Lv.17 (maxed), Multiple Exploding Fireballs Lv.13, Infernal Spiral Dragon Bullet Lv.5]

Lin Mo stared at the series of prompts for two seconds.

Wait, a mid-tier skill book worth five hundred thousand just boosted skill proficiency?

In this world, skill proficiency was a grueling thing.

Ordinary cultivators needed hundreds or even thousands of repetitions to raise a skill by even one level, and skill levels could never exceed the cultivator’s own level.

So most people at this stage had skills around Lv.5; those who reached Lv.10 were true grindmasters.

But now…

He’d just eaten one skill book—and his skill levels shot up?

“Although this pay-to-win proficiency boost is satisfying—an unexpected bonus…”

Lin Mo’s temple twitched:

“But I wanted to learn NEW skills! This wastrel—five hundred thousand for a skill book, just to boost proficiency?!”

[“Fireball” burped, looking innocent: T-too delicious… couldn’t help it.]

“Couldn’t help it?”

Lin Mo sneered, “Fine. I declare: tomorrow night’s dragon liver is canceled, flame rhino is canceled—you’ll drink northwest wind from now on!”

[“Fireball” panicked instantly: …No! Dad, no! Give me another chance—I’ll hold back next time!]

Seeing the thing submit, Lin Mo calmed down.

He picked up another skill book: [Flame Ring].

“If you dare eat again, you’ll never taste meat again in your life!”

Lin Mo clicked to learn again.

The stream of light entered his body once more.

On the skill bar, [Fireball] shrank into a trembling ball.

It struggled to restrain itself. It fought desperately to hold back.

Yet the aura radiating from the light held a fatal allure for it.

[“Fireball” trembled: Don’t eat… dragon liver is more delicious… hold on, hold on!]

[“Fireball”’s eyes began to bloodshot—reason was crumbling.]

[“Fireball” grew increasingly insane: But… it’s taunting me! My domain allows only one Flame Lord—how dare another sleep in my bed?!]

“Aaaagh—!”

It held out for only three seconds.

Instinct utterly overpowered reason.

[Learning Failed!]

[Your skill “Fireball” has devoured “Flame Ring”!]

[Skill proficiency of “Fireball,” “Multiple Exploding Fireballs,” and “Infernal Spiral Dragon Bullet” has increased dramatically!]

[Current skill levels: Fireball Lv.17 (maxed), Multiple Exploding Fireballs Lv.16, Infernal Spiral Dragon Bullet Lv.10]

“….”

Lin Mo’s eye twitched—he laughed bitterly.

“Good, very good. You’re done. Your life is over.”

[“Fireball” was emotionally shattered, terrified of never eating dragon liver again: I—I can’t control myself… it’s not my fault!]

At that moment, [Earth Shield], which had been silently watching, suddenly jumped out.

[“Earth Shield” indignantly: Master, it did this on purpose!]

[“Earth Shield” shouted: “Can’t control myself”? That’s an excuse! It completely ignores your orders! Such a disloyal skill deserves to starve!]

[“Earth Shield” looked obedient: Master, don’t be angry—I’m well-behaved, nothing like that brute who eats everything.]

Lin Mo glanced at [Earth Shield]’s skill icon and raised an eyebrow.

“Alright, little Earth—you’re the sensible one.”

“Since you’re so well-behaved, set an example for your big brother.”

“This is [Earth Spike]—useful for offense and defense. Learn it, and let your brother see what obedience looks like.”

[“Earth Shield” confidently: No problem, Master! I’ll get it done!]

Seeing this, [Fireball] grew uneasy.

It couldn’t tell if [Earth Shield] could control itself.

What if [Earth Shield] actually held back—would that mean no more dragon liver ever again?

After all, Master was about to learn new lightning-element skills…

Lin Mo didn’t waste time—he activated learning immediately.

A yellow-brown stream of light pierced his brow.

In that instant—

One second ago, [Earth Shield] had sworn confidently; the next, it exploded in fur!

It sensed a homologous invasion—a threat to establish new rules within its territory.

[Learning Failed!]

[Your skill “Earth Shield” has devoured “Earth Spike”!]

[Skill proficiency of “Earth Shield,” “Earth Flow Wall,” and “Earth Submersion” has increased dramatically!]

The air fell silent.

[Fireball], moments ago worried, froze—then burst into wild laughter.

[“Fireball” rolled on the floor laughing: Hahaha! Obedient? Set an example? Show me how you do it!]

[“Fireball” mocked mercilessly: Coward! You ate even faster than me! And you dare criticize me?]

After devouring [Earth Spike], [Earth Shield] stared blankly, utterly stunned.

It cowered in the corner, staring at its own body as if it had committed a grave sin.

Lin Mo watched the scene, sinking into deep thought.

He didn’t get angry. Instead, he asked calmly:

“Little Earth—you couldn’t control yourself either?”

[“Earth Shield” sobbed: Master… I really couldn’t control myself…]

Hearing this, Lin Mo understood completely.

It seemed that personified skills also possessed exclusivity.

Within him, only one monarch could exist per elemental type.

Any incoming same-element skill book would trigger an instinctive territorial awareness.

But new skills from other elements were different.

For example, the level-20 lightning-element basic skill [Lightning Strike]—since lightning had no monarch yet, it could theoretically be learned normally.

Realizing this, Lin Mo shook his head, feeling a pang of regret.

“So… I’m doomed to never learn new same-element skills through skill books.”

But he quickly let it go.

After all, others had to grind day and night to raise skill proficiency.

He didn’t—he just had to spend money.

With this realization, Lin Mo swept his hand, pushing all remaining skill books before him.

“Then let’s max out every skill level first!”

Ten minutes later.

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

[Fireball: Lv.17 (maxed)]

[Multiple Exploding Fireballs: Lv.17 (maxed)]

【Blast Yan Spiral Dragon Bullet: Lv.17 (Maxed at Current Cap)】

【Earth Shield Spell: Lv.17 (Maxed at Current Cap)】

【Earth Flow Wall: Lv.17 (Maxed at Current Cap)】

【Earth Submersion: Lv.17 (Maxed at Current Cap)】

【Lava Battle Armor: Lv.17 (Maxed at Current Cap)】

All skills had been raised to Lin Mo’s own level, Lv.17!

If anyone else found out, they’d probably envy him so much their eyes would pop out.

Others had to use their skills day and night to raise proficiency, but for Lin Mo, spending gold instantly maxed them out.

Lin Mo cast one final glance at the 【Lightning Strike Spell】.

“Still three levels short before I can learn it—Lightning element… the rarest magic element after Light and Dark, famed for the strongest burst and fastest speed.”

“Hope it brings me a nice surprise when I can finally learn it.”