Chapter 3954: Exploration and Death

The Lord Train traveled across the wilderness. Su Xiao did not continue to stay in Muyu City; the closer one gets to the final moments that seem safe, the more hidden dangers often lurk. This time, his opponents were the Priest, the Platinum Apostle, and others, so he ought to be extra cautious.

Su Xiao closed a series of notifications and opened the "Hunting List: Blood Covenant" menu. Two of the five bounties had been completed. The "Perfectionist" bounty, which he originally thought had little hope, actually seemed possible now. The next round would be the key to fulfilling it.

【Notification: The corresponding gains for "Lord Continent Affiliation Authority" have been settled. These gains will be provided by Samsara Paradise and Apocalypse Paradise. As this task is notarized by the Tree of the Void, the gains have been integrated and notarized by the Tree of the Void.】

【You have obtained the following gains.】

Apocalypse: Source Essence Treasure Chest (You may choose the source essence type and branch characteristics within a limited scope).

Samsara: World Badge (After use, you can immediately obtain 200 points of real attribute points. This item is tradable).

Notification: This item can only be used within the Paradise faction.

Title Reforging: Authority Boost (After using this authority badge, your current "Authority: Title Reforging" will receive an upgrade).

Exemption Badge (: (After using this badge, you can waive the negative effects brought about by having Charm, Willpower, or Luck attributes below 0 points; effective within -100 points).

Notification: This is a custom-made item; therefore, the generation of this item has retained the relevant design blueprints, notarization sequences, etc.

This world has been ravaged by the Lords to such an extent that its resources are nearly exhausted. It is unknown how many years it will take to recover, and during this period, the Paradise faction will even have to subsidize resources.

If Su Xiao truly owned this world, he would only have two choices: abandon ownership or be dragged down by the world consuming his resources. Conversely, transferring it to the Paradise faction would yield gains that are not only generous but also extremely practical.

The 【Apocalypse: Source Essence Treasure Chest】 was very useful. Su Xiao had seen the "Complete Source Essence Illustrated Handbook" in the Soul Library last time, but the handbook was too expensive, so he hadn't spent library silver coins to borrow it.

If he could return to Samsara Paradise alive this time, he would definitely have to borrow it to find a source essence that could significantly increase his maximum health, and then extract it from the 【Apocalypse: Source Essence Treasure Chest】. In this way, he would have hope of raising his vitality to 8 million points before advancing to the Supreme level.

As for the 【Samsara: World Badge】, this was the only item Su Xiao had ever seen that could be exchanged for real attribute points and sold.

Su Xiao held the 【Exemption Badge (】 between his fingers. This thing was very important to him. He had to admit that the "waive negative effects brought about by Charm attribute within -50 points" obtained from using the five-star "Exemption Badge" last time was now barely holding up.

Glancing at his -30 Charm attribute, Su Xiao used the 【Exemption Badge】. He had indeed killed too ruthlessly on the Lord Continent this time. The blood energy he had originally suppressed with "Heart Meditation" had been difficult to keep down recently.

As the "Exemption Badge" in his hand shattered, Su Xiao felt his blood energy stabilize somewhat. He activated the "Title Reforging: Authority Boost" he had just obtained, and the relevant notification appeared.

【Your "Title Reforging" authority has been upgraded, and the following characteristics have been added.】

1. Because your luck volume is too massive, this will cause your title reforging success rate to be extremely low. However, in contrast, the title reforging you perform is of the highest specification. Once successful, you will definitely obtain a precious title with 100% "Title Potential."

Each time you perform title reforging, you will accumulate 10% of this characteristic's "Exclusive Luck." When "Exclusive Luck" reaches 100%, it will take effect on the next title reforging, thereby increasing the success rate of that reforging.

Notification: Because your base success rate for title reforging is too low (it is a negative number after verification), this bonus cannot guarantee that your title reforging will likely succeed; in fact, the success rate after the upgrade remains worrying.

Su Xiao finally knew why he had performed so many title reforgings and shattered a title every single time—the success rate was a negative number.

He pondered for a few seconds and then appealed to Samsara Paradise for compensation, arguing that while the success rate was clearly negative, the "Title Reforging" authority's attributes labeled it as "extremely low."

As a result, the appeal for compensation failed.

The reply notification stated that the "Title Reforging" authority's attributes did not contain a negative success rate judgment sequence. Contractors who could "Limit-Burn 5 times" a title and successfully obtain the strongest title really weren't this unlucky, so the judgment sequence wouldn't extend in that direction on its own.

It wasn't that Samsara Paradise had a loophole in this notarization; it was like not recommending a wooden comb to a bald man—it was a matter of logic.

Su Xiao's appeal for compensation wasn't in vain. Although he didn't get compensation, he successfully filled in the extension of this judgment sequence. From now on, the "Title Reforging" authority's attributes would include the judgment attribute of a negative success rate.

And the current situation after upgrading "Title Reforging" was:

Good news: Title reforging now has a safety net.

Bad news: Because the base success rate is too low, the safety net only turns the success rate into a positive number.

Su Xiao opened the Title Shop. He currently had 852 Hunter Coins. He exchanged 200 of them for 【Title Treasure Chest (★)】 and opened all of these treasure chests.

【To open 200 Title Treasure Chests (★), you must select the type of title to be obtained.】

Su Xiao chose the Buff-type: Potion branch. One-star titles were opened one by one. He activated the Burning Disk and began "Title Reforging."

Boom!

The reforging hammer fell, the one-star title on it shattered, and the next title appeared on top. After setting the 200 one-star titles to reforge automatically, he opened his equipment list and activated 【Monarch of Life Source】 in the ring slot.

【Monarch of Life Source】

Equipment Effect 1: Life Hunting (Nourish, Passive): After killing a strong enemy, this equipment can absorb the enemy's "Life Source" to store, filter, and transform it. When enough Life Source is absorbed, it will form a "Life Source Essence."

Notification: Each "Life Source Essence" absorbed will permanently increase health by 200,000 points.

Notification: You can absorb a maximum of 1~5 "Life Source Essences," depending on the sum of your main attributes.

Your main attributes are: Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intelligence.

The sum of your main attributes is: 3,200 points.

Notification: You can absorb a maximum of 5 "Life Source Essences"!

The "Life Source" accumulated by 【Monarch of Life Source】 had reached 100% and successfully formed a "Life Source Essence." Su Xiao attempted to release it.

【You have obtained Life Source Essence (Permanent Buff-type item).】

Su Xiao attempted to absorb the 【Life Source Essence】 in his hand. His original vitality merged into it, causing the 【Life Source Essence】 to gradually dissolve, first merging into his palm, then flowing to all parts of his body.

Arriving at the train's bedroom, Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the carpet to meditate. Time passed second by second. The antique clock tuned by Amu emitted a light mechanical "click-clack" sound. Not only was there no feeling of irritation, but it actually made one's heart calm, as if one could feel the passage of time. It was no wonder Amu liked antique clocks so much; when tuned well, the mechanical sound they emitted not only helped with sleep but was also like a prelude to time.

A few hours later, Su Xiao opened his eyes and slowly exhaled. The 【Life Source Essence】 did not immediately increase his health by 200,000 points; it would gradually increase over the next few days.

Once this increase was completed, Su Xiao's health would reach 4.33 million points. There was still a distance to 5.5 million points, but it wasn't far off.

【Notification: Title reforging successful. You have obtained the Bud of Enlightenment (★) title.】

【Bud of Enlightenment】

Origin: Tree of the Void.

Quality:

Category: Title.

Title Potential: 100% (Extremely rare).

Title Effect: When performing potion blending, the success rate is slightly increased. 2

Introduction: The peak is within it.

Price: Cannot be sold.

Seeing this notification, Su Xiao felt surprised. For a moment, he even felt there was a trick involved and began to ponder if his own luck had been sabotaged by the Priest or the Platinum Apostle. After thinking for a moment and feeling that this was impossible, he became convinced that he had just been lucky for once.

【Title Treasure Chest】

Use Effect: After opening, you can obtain 1 one-star title with a specified characteristic (this is a full-potential title).

Inventory Quantity: 8 (No limit on exchange quantity).

Exchange Price: 500,000 Hunter Coins.

This was the method to obtain a full-potential one-star title by hard-saving Hunter Coins. Su Xiao had indeed encountered this situation of earning a massive profit of 499,800 Hunter Coins for the first time, and he was actually a bit unaccustomed to it.

Xiang Bubu Wang's dog head leaned over, drilling out from under Su Xiao's right armpit, looking at the title floating in front. Bahar landed on Su Xiao's shoulder, and Benny lay on her exclusive top-tier seat—Su Xiao's head—also looking at the 【Bud of Enlightenment】 title.

"It's just a one-star title, no need for everyone to stare at it."

Fanny, who had blended a fruit drink for herself, saw the star level of 【Bud of Enlightenment】 at a glance.

"A full-potential title, isn't that common?"

Bahar grabbed the 【Bud of Enlightenment】 and observed its details, discovering that this title felt heavier in the hand.

"Is there really a full-potential title? I've obtained at least several thousand various titles, and I haven't seen a single one with full potential."

Fanny also leaned over to observe the 【Bud of Enlightenment】 together. She even asked: "How did you do it?"

Bahar didn't speak, seeking Su Xiao's permission. Seeing Su Xiao's tacit approval, it said: "Authority, Title Reforging." "What kind of authority is that?"

"After limit-burning a title 5 times, you can unlock this authority."

"Excuse me~, by the way, Bai Ye, how high is your Charm attribute? You actually have so many titles that you can achieve limit-burning 5 times? I think this is a rumor." "This..."

Bahar didn't dare to speak this time. Obviously, the question of how high his Charm was couldn't be answered.

"Negative 30."

Su Xiao didn't mind; his Charm attribute was known to the healer in the team.

"What?"

Fanny didn't understand for a moment.

"Charm, negative 30."

"?"

Fanny looked at Su Xiao in great shock, the fruit juice in the straw even flowing backward. She swallowed the juice in her mouth and asked: "If I didn't misunderstand, you said your Charm attribute is -30 points."

"..."

"Strange knowledge has increased again."

"..."!

Ignoring Fanny, Su Xiao opened the Title Shop and exchanged for a 【Title Treasure Chest (★★★)】.

【To open a Title Treasure Chest (★), you must select the type of title to be obtained.】

【Devour-type title selected.】

【You have obtained Nourisher.】

【Nourisher】

Origin: Tree of the Void

Quality:

Category: Title

Title Effect: Devour/Nourish (Passive): Devour a title to nurture it. The nurtured title will gradually increase in quality until it reaches the same star level as this title.

Notification: After completing this title nurturing, this title will shatter.

Introduction: Devour, nourish, grow, mature, break the cocoon.

Price: Cannot be traded.

Su Xiao had obtained this type of devour-type title before, namely 【Holy Meal】 and 【Dream Chaser】. He activated the ability of 【Nourisher】, and this title turned into a gelatinous mass, using it to wrap the 【Bud of Enlightenment】.

This upgrade was faster than expected. After about two hours, when the stay time in this world was about to be reached, the upgrade was completed. But this was not the final product. He opened the Burning Disk, embedded 5 nine-star non-attribute titles around it, and then embedded the upgraded main title in the center to impact "Limit-Burning - 1 time."

After doing all this, Su Xiao felt a sense of teleportation, and the next second, he was in darkness.

【Notification: This round of the battle for supremacy has ended. The third round of the battle for supremacy is expected to begin in 3 minutes and 29 seconds.】

【Location of this round of the battle for supremacy: Cursed Land.】

【Content of the battle for supremacy: Exploration, contention, survival, death, accumulation.】

【Due to the particularity of this world (Cursed Land), a settlement will be conducted when this world ends. The settlement gains will be Space-Time Power corresponding to the "Comprehensive Evaluation" grade. Your longest single survival time in this round, number of deaths, accumulated combat strength, quantity of "Broken Origin" obtained, number of Cursed Ones killed, number of strong enemies killed, number of times the Eternal Bell was rung, etc., will all determine the final score.】

【Among the above elements, the longest single survival time, number of deaths, and quantity of "Broken Origin" obtained are key judgment contents. An increase in the number of deaths will lead to a significant decrease in the comprehensive score.】

【Notification: The total settlement gain for this round of the battle for supremacy is 50,000 ounces of Space-Time Power (20% each provided by Apocalypse Paradise, Death Paradise, Sanctuary Paradise, Holy Light Paradise, and Watcher Paradise). This is the gain that participants should receive as the Supreme-level World Battle for Supremacy reaches its mid-stage.】

【A total of eight teams, expected to be 40 members, will receive this 50,000 ounces of Space-Time Power based on their respective settlement scores in this round. The comprehensive score ranges from E- to S+. The higher the score, the more Space-Time Power will be allocated.】

【This time, allocation is prioritized for participants with high scores. After the participant with the top score is allocated first, the remaining Space-Time Power from the previous allocation is distributed sequentially according to the score ranking.】

This scoring mechanism was particularly ruthless. For example, if someone obtained the highest score of S+ and became the first, they might get 40% of the 50,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, which is 20,000 ounces.

As for the second place, even if they obtained an S score and could get 30%, that would be 30,000 ounces * 30% = 9,000 ounces. If the third place obtained an S- score, it would be 21,000 ounces * 20% = 4,200 ounces. After the top ten, the distribution would be even less.

However, this scoring mechanism was puzzling. The quantity of "Broken Origin" obtained was easy to understand, but what about "longest single survival time" and "number of deaths"? It seemed that dying in this world was quite normal, and it was rare to survive until the end with one life.

The fluctuation of teleportation appeared again. Su Xiao felt extreme fatigue and fell into a deep sleep when the teleportation ended. He didn't know how much time had passed when he got up from the bed. The spring bed beneath him made a creaking sound. Although it was a bit old, it was still okay to sleep on. The bedding was washed to a grayish-white but clean. The light in the room was a bit dim, and the dark yellow light bulb seemed to be lacking electricity.

The curtains of the two windows were tightly closed. This room looked like a combination of a bedroom and a studio. The ceiling was higher than that of an ordinary residential house, reaching 4.5 meters, and the area was about 60 square meters, more than half of which was occupied by a huge machine. This machine leaned against the opposite wall, covered with various cables and pipes as thick as arms, with a style that was both old and full of black technology.

The front of the black technology machine was a valve that could be opened, with a palm print recognition device on the side. Above it was a row of glow lamps like transistors, emitting an orange-yellow light, forming a string of numbers, which was exactly Su Xiao's brand number.

Stepping up to this huge machine, which had both a sense of black technology and a unique beauty of mechanical punk, Su Xiao raised his hand and pressed it on the palm print recognition. Inside came the sound of gears clicking and meshing.

【Control terminal activating...】

【Identification completed, activation successful.】

【User: Hunter Su Xiao.】

【Remaining usable time: 12 natural days.】

【Mental carrier cannot be formed temporarily, it will take 1 hour and 06 minutes to complete this matching...】

The notification stopped there. The double metal valve in front opened, revealing a space of about four square meters. It was a metal recliner, with dense conduction wires connected to the bottom and back. Su Xiao stepped forward and lay on the recliner. As the device activated, he felt subtle nerve sensations on his body; this was the adaptation process.

Taking this opportunity, Su Xiao opened the notification list. He had received a notification just as he entered this world, and only now did he have time to check it.

【Bud of Enlightenment has completed its upgrade.】

【You have obtained Peak Work.】

【Peak Work】

Origin: Tree of the Void

Quality:.

Limit-Burning: Once.

Category: Rare Title

Title Effect 1: Peak Craftsmanship (Passive): When performing potion blending, your state can exceed the limit. There is a 100% probability of blending a "Perfect" grade potion, a 55% probability of blending a "Miracle" grade potion, and a 10% probability of blending a "Peak" grade potion.

Perfect Grade: Based on the potion's original best, additionally increase the effect by 20%.

Miracle Grade: Based on the potion's original best, additionally increase the effect by 40%.

Peak Grade: Based on the potion's original best, additionally increase the effect by 95%.

Notification: The above judgment is constant based on the highest quality (Eternal-grade potion). If blending lower-quality potions, the above three tiers will bring higher percentage increases.

Title Effect 2: Transcend Self (Passive): If you successfully blend an Eternal-grade "Peak" grade potion, you will have a deeper understanding and feeling of the pharmacy you have mastered, allowing you to exceed the limit level of pharmacy.

Notification: Each time you successfully blend an Eternal-grade "Peak" grade potion, your pharmacy has a 5% probability of permanently increasing by Lv. 1.

Current Pharmacy Level: Lv. 95 (This is the full level under normal circumstances for pharmacy).

Notification: This ability can increase pharmacy up to Lv. 100.

Introduction: There are people beyond people. For a true master of pharmacy, reaching the full level of pharmacy is just the beginning. The true secret is actually how high one can climb in the extreme field.

Price: Cannot be sold.

It can only be said that it is worthy of being a full-potential title. If he collects some more nine-star non-attribute titles later and upgrades this 【Peak Work】 title to "Limit-Burning - 2 times" or even "Limit-Burning - 3 times," the effect on the improvement of pharmacy will be immeasurable.

As for upgrading it to the top level, that's not necessary. Upgrading this type of title to "Limit-Burning - 3 times" is a good choice.

Su Xiao closed the title list and checked other notifications. These notifications were more like an introduction to this world.

This world is called the Cursed Land. As the name suggests, there are endless Cursed Ones here, as well as infinite unknowns that require participants to explore. But the problem is that participants cannot leave the safe zone they are in: Ash Town. This town seems dark, but in this land where curses spread, it is the only place where one can feel a glimmer of light and the warmth of fire.

【You have arrived at Cursed Land: Ash Town. You must abide by the following rules.】

You cannot leave Ash Town (safe zone).

It is forbidden to use force or any other means that can harm others within the town; otherwise, it will be deemed as giving up this round of the battle for supremacy.

Do not go out at night when there is a full moon.

Su Xiao sensed the surroundings. He was in a four-story building. He was on the third floor, Amu and Bahar were on the fourth floor, and Xiang Bubu Wang, Benny, and Fanny were on the second floor. It is worth mentioning that Fanny's room had a 【Control Terminal】, while Xiang Bubu Wang, Amu, Bahar, and Benny had two in total.

According to the information provided by the notification, the 【Control Terminal】 was the only possibility to leave this town. That is to say, his side had three spots to leave the town. For this kind of exploration, he would definitely take Xiang Bubu Wang and Bahar out, while Amu and Benny would stay to guard the house.

【Mental link matching completed. You can control the mental carrier through the control terminal later.】

【A "Combat Avatar" used to carry your mental control is about to be cultivated. You can leave the town range by controlling the "Combat Avatar" to explore, fight, etc.】

【Warning: If your "Combat Avatar" dies, your Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intelligence, Charm, and Luck attributes will have one randomly permanently deducted by 1% of the current value. And with the increase in the number of dead "Combat Avatars," this penalty will gradually increase.】

【The "Combat Avatar" has ultra-high curse resistance and can enter some high-concentration curse areas. There are a total of five "Broken Origins" in this round. Participants need to control their respective "Combat Avatars" to explore, and after successful exploration and victory in battle, the comprehensive ability of the "Combat Avatar" will be improved.】

【Warning: If the "Combat Avatar" dies, the newly cultivated "Combat Avatar" will return to the initial value.】

【Your "Combat Avatar" is about to be cultivated. You need to choose one of your own attributes. The higher the chosen attribute, the higher the initial value of your "Combat Avatar," and the 2~4 initial abilities it possesses will have more potential for improvement.】

Seeing this notification, Su Xiao opened his personal data list and checked it downward step by step. Soon, his Soul Strength, which was as high as 1,360 points, came into view.

Since he basically didn't do anything human in the second round just now, he shouldn't be subtle in the third round either.

【You have chosen your own attribute: Soul Strength.】

【Your Soul Strength is too high, which will cause the initial value of your "Combat Avatar" to exceed the predetermined range. This overflow value has been transferred to the four initial abilities of the "Combat Avatar."】

【The characteristic selection of your "Combat Avatar" has been completed. The professional characteristic is: Soul Master.】

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Since he didn't really do anything human in the second round just now, there's no need to be subtle in the third.

【You have selected your own attribute: Soul Strength.】

【Your Soul Strength is too high, which will cause the initial value of your "Combat Avatar" to exceed the predetermined range. This overflow value has been transferred to the four initial abilities of the "Combat Avatar".】

【Your "Combat Avatar" has completed its trait selection; the profession trait is: Soul Master.】

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