Chapter 3975: Respective Chips

There is no doubt that the "Supreme Life Source" brings an exaggerated boost, but its cost is equally immense; it is actually death, and a "permanent death" that cannot be exempted by death-avoidance items.

One problem is, if this were a Reincarnation Paradise notarization, Su Xiao would have no way out, but this "permanent death" is a characteristic of this exotic treasure, the "Supreme Life Source." As such, there is room for maneuvering.

As for the permanent -3500 luck, Su Xiao's lowest point of luck was -42000. A mere 3000-plus could not possibly take effect. If this Supreme Life Source's luck penalty dared to act on Su Xiao, one side would immediately be slapped away by the "Law-Breaker Luck" and "Original Sin Luck."

And the permanent 50% deduction of one physical attribute—upon seeing that Charisma was among the selectable categories, everything was already understood. His Charisma attribute, already at -30, would likely not even reach -40 even with a 50% permanent deduction. After all, his Charisma was so negative that it had already reached the level of earning a unique Void Tree title reward.

Su Xiao pondered for a moment. He estimated that if he operated through Alchemy Biology + Sealing Arts + Book of Original Sin, the success rate would be high, but he would still have to face risks.

Picking up the communicator at his side, Su Xiao dialed. A moment later, a hissing signal interference sound came from the communicator.

"My dear friend, what is the matter?"

Caesar's voice, filled with a mix of wretchedness and craftiness, came through the communicator. Su Xiao said nothing, simply sending over the "permanent" death cost of the "Supreme Life Source."

"My dear friend, this is the cost of absorbing the 'Supreme Source.' This matter is very difficult to handle."

Hearing this, Su Xiao had a measure in his heart. According to the Caesar Formula, "difficult to handle" = "can be handled" = "must pay more."

"20 ounces of Spacetime Power."

"My dear friend, you make Caesar too sad. How could such a thorny matter be settled for 20 ounces? At the very least, it must be 500,000 ounces."

"30."

"350,000, not a bit less..."

After some haggling between Su Xiao and Caesar, the deal was finally settled at the price of 500 ounces of Spacetime Power.

Sharing the entry permission for the rest area, Su Xiao took out a seal box while waiting for the guy to arrive. He opened the layers of sealing formations on it, took out a communicator, and chose to dial.

After a moment of silence, Father's voice came through the communicator.

"It is truly surprising that you would contact me at this time."

"..."

Su Xiao opened the communicator's image editing function and sent over the "permanent" death cost of the "Supreme Life Source."

Su Xiao was not entirely sure what "Initial Death" was, but he estimated that the "death power" others feared might be a rare nourishment for Father.

"It seems you have encountered trouble, Bai Ye."

"..."

"I can indeed help you solve this trouble, but you must pay an equivalent chip..."

Before Father could finish his sentence, Su Xiao hung up the communicator and continued his meditation.

Time ticked away second by second. Half an hour later, the communicator rang. After connecting, Father's voice came from the other side:

"Name your price."

"1000 ounces of Spacetime Power."

This asking price caused silence on Father's side. With this old fox's profit-making methods, this was naturally not an especially high price, but the old guy felt that something even more uncomfortable was waiting for him later.

"And."

This "and" from Su Xiao made Father on the other side sigh.

"A treasure you are unwilling to sell."

Su Xiao did not specify what kind of treasure. Taking himself as an example, there were two things he would not easily part with: 【Ultimate Sublimation (Soul Secret Technique Scroll)】 and 【Power Devour (Supreme-tier Passive Skill Scroll)】.

If the former fell into the hands of his mortal enemy, Soul Lord of the Arcane Eternal Star, it would be a huge joke. If the latter were obtained by Gao Ang, who already possessed the core abilities of the Beast God, one could imagine how outrageous that would be.

Su Xiao was not sure if Father had such abilities corresponding to his own, but his purpose this time was not necessarily to complete the trade, but more to try his luck. Because for Father, the death power contained in "permanent death" was no less beneficial than Gao Ang obtaining the "Power Devour" scroll.

Both sides remained silent, playing a game of remote chess, but a kind smile gradually appeared on Su Xiao's face, while Father became expressionless.

This silent, tense confrontation allowed Su Xiao to gather a lot of intelligence. First, Father was more desperate to improve his strength than anticipated. This did not fit the old fox's style; he always stayed out of the spotlight, seemingly suffering losses throughout, but in the end, he was always among the beneficiaries.

Thinking about it this way, Father's unusual behavior could only be due to greater interests. Considering that they were about to enter the Dawn Paradise ruins, for an outlaw like Father, there might be something in those ruins that was vital to him.

Su Xiao took out the 【Dawn Pass】, which he had obtained in the Wind Sea Continent after completing a world mission. Father had also gone to the Wind Sea Continent at that time, and his goal was this 【Dawn Pass】. This confirmed that as early as three world progressions ago, Father had been particularly eager to enter the Dawn ruins.

Father's willingness to enter as a participant for the Sanctuary Paradise this time already explained many problems.

First, Gao Ang, Ye Geer, and Yue Wu did not want Father to take advantage of this Paradise Contest to enter the Dawn ruins. Otherwise, Father would have been on Gao Ang's team or the Gentleman's team, and he might even have been the captain.

Second, after discovering Father's entry, Ye Geer, while seemingly remaining an ally, quietly provided clues that allowed Su Xiao to obtain 【Filthy Fate Blood】.

【Filthy Fate Blood】

Origin: Lord Continent.

Quality: World-class.

Category: Filthy Object.

Usage Effect: This filthy object can permanently erode and pollute all sacred characteristics. When this Fate Blood is activated, it will automatically track the specific sacred entity it intends to pollute.

Rating: 5999 points (World-class items are rated 10–6000 points).

Introduction: Twisted, deformed fate.

It had already been roughly confirmed that the sacred entity whose blood could restrain Father was the very thing this object was meant to pollute.

Ye Geer's move was too ruthless. Letting anyone else obtain the 【Filthy Fate Blood】 would not have been as uncomfortable for Father as letting Su Xiao obtain it.

Assuming that the blood of that sacred entity restrained Father, if someone else obtained it, they would at most gain a portion of "Sacred Blood" to keep Father in check.

But if Su Xiao and Caesar, these two scoundrels, obtained it... Heaven knows what operations they would perform, perhaps even cloning more "Sacred Blood."

This was not even the worst part. As an alchemist, Kukulin Bai Ye might cultivate something resembling Hei A or Boiling Red using a portion of the "Sacred Blood," upgrading it through fate power. Just thinking about it was enough to give Father a headache.

Continuing to speculate based on the relationship between Ye Geer and Father, the dead end created by the Abyss Guard Captain in the previous round might not have been targeting Su Xiao at all, but Father.

The importance of what Father was plotting in the Dawn ruins was likely no less than the preparations Su Xiao was making to ascend to the Supreme level. In that case, if Father did not bleed, this deal would not be made.

In this brief game of chess, Father had fallen into such a disadvantage. Su Xiao estimated that there was both helplessness and intentionality involved. This old fox might already have a chip that would make him willing to offer "permanent death."

In the end, it was Father who broke the silence: "Let's meet and talk."

"Good."

Su Xiao shared the entry permission for the rest room. A few minutes later, the door was knocked; Caesar had arrived, and not long after, Father arrived as well.

"Give me a reason I cannot refuse."

Su Xiao spoke. Hearing this, Father sighed and took out a semicircular metal object. It looked like a metal disk, perfectly split in half. Father displayed the information of this object to Su Xiao.

【Above Master · Left】

Origin: Void Tree.

Quality:???

Type: Consumable/Key (1/2).

Effect: Requires both "Above Master · Left" and "Above Master · Right" to complete the synthesis. With this item, one can be teleported to the unique area facility "Master Hall" of the corresponding World Tree to activate the "Master Ascension Ceremony" by paying 20,000 ounces of Spacetime Power.

Hint: The Master Ascension Ceremony has three levels.

1. Basic Level: Pay 20,000 ounces of Spacetime Power to activate the "Ascension Ceremony," which can transform one "Master-level Technique," increasing its maximum strength by 25%–30%.

2. Ascension Level: Pay 50,000 ounces of Spacetime Power to activate the "Ascension Ceremony," which can synthesize two existing "Master-level Technique abilities" that have reached Lv. 90, resulting in a stronger "Master-level Technique ability." This ascension can increase the maximum strength of the technique ability by 40%–60%.

3. Ultimate Level: Pay 120,000 ounces of Spacetime Power to activate the "Ascension Ceremony," which can perform a fusion transformation on three existing "Master-level Technique abilities" that have reached Lv. 95, obtaining a "Technique-type" ability that exceeds the "Master-level" and belongs exclusively to you. The initial strength of this Technique-type ability is 280%–300% of the combined combat power of the original three master skills.

Introduction: Pursue the Ultimate Realm to your heart's content.

There is no doubt that Su Xiao could not refuse such a trading chip.

His three-master combat style was very powerful at the Ninth and Supreme levels, but at the Supreme level, it was about pursuing the ultimate, concentrating all past accumulations to form that pure, powerful feeling unique to oneself. Otherwise, one would at most reach the upper echelon of the Supreme level and would not be qualified to reach the peak of the Supreme level.

Moreover, the three masters had been developing for so long, just waiting for a moment to bloom. Su Xiao was certain that if this "Ultimate Technique" could truly bloom, it would inevitably be of the Blade Technique characteristic.

After the deal was settled, although the three did not say it, a three-person team was naturally formed. They would advance and retreat together in the Dawn ruins because Caesar also had things he was plotting there.

The three left the rest room and arrived at the public area. Su Xiao summoned the Lord Train. After boarding, he controlled the train to close all windows, and the lights inside turned on one by one. Walking into the bedroom, Su Xiao sat at the alchemy test bench, and the three began to discuss what to do next.

An hour later, the three were busy. By evening, a figure made of dark blue fluid sat in a chair. This was a clone Su Xiao had cultivated through Alchemy Biology, using his own cells as a blueprint.

Whether in terms of materials used or time spent, this clone was not refined. Moreover, Su Xiao's Alchemy Biology level was actually quite average; he was primarily strong in Pharmacy.

This was not a problem. Su Xiao maximized the incompleteness of this clone through three methods. First, he used the Blade Spirit as the temporary soul of this clone, and then, through Caesar's miraculous operations, gave the clone an independent individual causal layer.

A Spirit Shadow Thread formed at Su Xiao's fingertip, the other end sinking into the back of the clone's head.

Su Xiao took out the 【Supreme Life Source · Unique】. Without hesitation, he used it on the clone. The next second, a dark red source power sank into the clone's chest.

With a boom, a scarlet energy impact spread out. The clone, which had not been granted mobility, suddenly stood up. A moment later, it slumped back into the chair. Strong, viscous death energy gradually spread from its heart, and when it covered its whole body, it actually had a trend of spreading to Su Xiao along the Spirit Shadow Thread.

Father stepped forward and placed a hand on the clone's shoulder. The death energy that had just been dense suddenly stalled, and then, like a spring, it spread to Father's hand and was devoured by him.

When all the gray-white death energy was devoured, Father slowly lifted his hand, though not without reluctance. He had to lift it; Su Xiao's hand was already on his sword hilt—if he didn't lift it, he would be cut down.

Su Xiao pulled the Spirit Shadow Thread, stripping the Blade Spirit from within the clone. Caesar, who was maintaining the ritual, interrupted it, causing the clone's "independent individual" causality to collapse.

With a snap, the clone shattered under Su Xiao's control, revealing a figure made of scarlet energy. These scarlet energies immediately sought the clone's homologous aura, which was naturally Su Xiao. All the scarlet energy rushed toward Su Xiao, turning into a vortex and sinking into his heart.

"It is done."

Su Xiao spoke in a calm tone, the implication being to send the guests away. Father and Caesar were both shrewd and naturally understood the situation, so they left the train.

Seeing Father leave, Su Xiao walked toward the bed, but he didn't even take a step before collapsing to the ground. This improvement was too intense—a full 2 million points of life limit and 2 million points of life value. If he hadn't had 5.61 million points of life value, this improvement alone would have been enough to kill him.

A familiar feeling struck, and Su Xiao immediately fell into a dream. In a dreamlike state, Su Xiao seemed to sink into darkness.

In the darkness, he suddenly stalled. The darkness ahead was even denser, but he could feel a behemoth ahead, and more than a dozen scarlet eyes arranged in a V-shape opened in the darkness ahead.

"!"

Su Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and sat up from the bed, breathing heavily. A few seconds later, his aura began to stabilize.

"We meet again."

Su Xiao pressed a hand to his forehead, muttering to himself. He pressed his thumb against his temple, letting the headache gradually disappear. When he took a deep breath again, he felt his body was stronger than ever. This was the feeling of vitality surging in his blood. His life value jumped to an astonishing 7.61 million points—a level that would make a Tank-class envious to the point of disintegration.

Su Xiao opened his personal data, skipping other attributes and looking at the Charisma attribute location.

Charisma: -25 points.

This surprised Su Xiao for a moment. How long had it been? His Charisma attribute seemed to have had an increase back in the low tiers. Now, it finally had a leap forward, actually changing from -30 to -25. This was truly a good...

Su Xiao had just thought this when he suddenly discovered that the Charisma attribute suddenly slid from -25 to -26. A very ominous feeling appeared.

27-

28.

29.

Under Su Xiao's gaze, the falling speed of the Charisma attribute was faster than his heartbeat. The good news was that it finally stabilized after reaching -29, but before he could relax in his heart.

30.

31.

32.

The corner of Su Xiao's eye twitched imperceptibly. He really hadn't expected that this Charisma attribute could rebound after being improved. After observing for a moment and confirming that the Charisma attribute stabilized at -32, he closed the attribute list.

The significant increase in vitality made Su Xiao feel a bit more at ease about this trip to the Dawn ruins. After all, as a Hunter, he was heading to the enemy's base camp, and now he had to maximize his combat power.

In terms of attack ability, Su Xiao was temporarily sufficient at the Supreme level. Moreover, there would only be an opportunity to significantly improve this aspect after ascending to the Supreme level. Since that was the case, starting from the defense aspect was also a very good choice.

But having high life value was not enough; Su Xiao also needed high physical defense and damage reduction. In terms of physical defense, there was the bonus from the Indestructible Physique. When his life value was below 70%, he could get an outrageous bonus of 950 points. Counting his own physical defense, breaking 1000 was no problem. Although the higher the physical defense, the better, damage immunity was a deeper layer of defense.

All "damage reduction" was not a notarized bonus from the Paradise, nor was it an illusory bonus like a game buff. It was a derivative of "body energy," but it would not appear naturally and had to be stimulated acquiredly.

Nine out of ten contractors who first came into contact with this kind of protective energy did so because of the basic attributes of Eternal-tier main armor, such as Su Xiao's 【Night of the Wild Hunt】, which had this basic attribute.

"Eternal-tier leather armor basic bonus: 15% physical/energy damage reduction."

Under normal circumstances, cloth armor is 5%, leather armor is 10%, and heavy armor can reach 15%. It can only be said, thank you to Reed for his continuous efforts. Of course, this cannot be said to his face, or it would be easy to get a hammer from Reed.

Su Xiao had long awakened this kind of protective energy, which was one of the bonuses from the Blade Master:

"Blade Master · Lv. 70 Ultimate Ability: Blade Domain (Ultimate-tier · Passive), you gain 10% total damage reduction."

In fact, the classification of "damage reduction" is very strict and detailed. The "damage reduction" brought by the abilities mastered by oneself is "Basic · Damage Reduction," while the bonuses brought by external objects such as equipment and titles are "Bonus · Damage Reduction."

The two have no difference in effect, but the stacking methods are different. "Basic · Damage Reduction" is addition. Taking Su Xiao as an example, his "Basic · Damage Reduction" has:

1. Blade Domain: Immunity to 10% of all damage.

2. Soul Severing Shadow · Dark Devour Soul Core: Immunity to 30% of all damage.

3. Hegemon Power: Immunity to 25% physical damage, immunity to 25% energy damage.

If fighting against a physical type, Su Xiao would have 65% damage immunity. Counting the bonus of "Night of the Wild Hunt," damage immunity could reach about 70%. This is the diminishing returns that appear in "Bonus · Damage Reduction."

Among them, the "Dark Devour Soul Core" is naturally the strongest. However, "Hegemon Power" seems to have potential. If it could be upgraded to "Immunity to 25% of all damage," then this ability would be extremely powerful.

Su Xiao also discovered that "Absolute Magic Physique (Passive): Immunity to 70% magic-type damage" works in a way that is different from the protective energy of "damage immunity." Absolute Magic Physique is an advancement of one's own physique. In more common terms, it is "True Magic Resistance." Because it is not in the same system as protective energy, it naturally cannot be stacked.

A more intuitive understanding is, assuming Su Xiao receives 3000 points of Arcane Eternal Star magic energy damage, "Absolute Magic Physique" would immunize 2100 points. The remaining 900 points of magic energy damage would face Su Xiao's 40% "Total Damage Immunity." As for why it is not about 70% energy attack immunity, the magic energy of Arcane Eternal Star and ordinary magic are two different things.

To put it bluntly, magic energy and abyss power are of the same tier. Magic energy is "qualitative" elemental power.

After 900 points of magic energy damage go through damage immunity, it becomes 540 points, and then facing Su Xiao's physical defense of over 1000, there is probably only about 220–225 points left. In other words, not even one-tenth of the damage can be dealt.

And, with Su Xiao's speed and various abilities to avoid attacks, ten spells might not even hit once, and most are aftermath damage.

Thinking this is the end? Not at all. In fact, before the magic energy attack hits Su Xiao, the first thing it has to face is not "Absolute Magic Physique," but the Aoge Crystal.

A scene that makes spellcasters hate to the bone appears: 3000 points of magic energy damage hit, and it might only be 80–120 points of magic energy damage.

Su Xiao still has over 130,000 Hunter Coins, which can buy a large number of nine-star titles in the Title Shop. He used to think that nine-star titles were the end, but later discovered that reaching nine stars is just the beginning, and the subsequent five "Title Refinings" are the qualitative changes to the titles.

【Title Box (★★★)】

Usage Effect: After opening, you can obtain 1 nine-star title with a specified characteristic.

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

Exchange Price: 300 Hunter Coins.

Su Xiao bought one hundred 【Title Box (★★★)】. The ideal situation is to open a defensive title with a "damage reduction" characteristic.

If the entire title only has this one attribute, it is the best of the best. After all, the title energy within a title is limited.

The worst is a title with six attribute bonuses. Even if it is a powerful title with 100% title potential, each bonus can only account for less than 17%. It is really not as good as a title with 50% title potential but only one title attribute.

A title with five attributes belongs to the relatively good ones, four attributes are especially good, three belong to the best, two are the great best, and one is the super best.

For example, "Abyss Shadow," "God Hunter," and "Original Sin Scholar" are all top-tier titles with three bonuses, while Old Hunter is a great top-tier title. Of course, this has a premise: the title must be upgraded to nine stars to distinguish the titles. Even if a low-tier title has only one bonus, it is because the title has not yet grown.

The intuitive way to judge the quality of a title is Title Potential ÷ Number of Title Bonuses. The larger the number, the better the title. Of course, the first thing is to look at the type of title.

Su Xiao has two great top-tier titles with two bonuses, "Old Hunter" and "Peak Work," among which "Peak Work" has 100% title potential.

【Peak Work】

Extreme Refining: Once.

Title Effect 1: Peak Craftsmanship (Passive), when performing pharmacy blending, your state can exceed the limit, with a 100% probability of blending "Perfect" grade potions, a 55% probability of blending "Miracle" grade potions, and a 10% probability of blending "Peak" grade potions.

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

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

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

Title Effect 2: Transcend Self (Passive), if you successfully blend an Eternal-tier "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.

Hint: Every time you successfully blend an Eternal-tier "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 pharmacy circumstances).

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

A full-potential title with two bonuses is already this outrageous. If he is lucky enough to get a full-potential, single-attribute title that improves "Total Damage Immunity," then...

Su Xiao gave up this fantasy. He pondered and felt that exchanging for 50 【Title Box (★★★)】 should be enough to open a good defensive title. Well, to be safe, let's make it one hundred.

【You have paid 30,000 Hunter Coins.】

【You have obtained Title Box (★★★) × 100.】

Su Xiao opened all the boxes he had just exchanged for, chose the defensive characteristic, and began to flip through the title acquisition records. He skipped those with six to three bonuses and only looked for titles with two or single attributes. As he flipped through them, the situation became less optimistic.

Out of a total of 100 defensive titles, the best were 2 titles with five attributes. Let alone single attributes, he didn't even see one with four attributes.

After a few seconds of silence, Su Xiao exchanged for another 100 【Title Box (★★★)】, opened them all, and continued to examine the titles.

A moment later, Su Xiao collected the 200 nine-star titles he had just obtained into his title list, keeping them for subsequent main title upgrades.

As the saying goes, bad luck happens once or twice, it shouldn't happen three or four times. He exchanged for another 100 title boxes and opened them all.

These title boxes didn't make a sound when opened. Su Xiao silently collected the 100 nine-star titles he had just obtained and looked at the remaining 45,800 Hunter Coins.

After pondering, he exchanged for title boxes one by one and opened them one by one. After opening 10 title boxes in succession, he couldn't even open five-attribute ones this time; they were all garbage six-attribute titles. This made him change his method: exchange for 10 title boxes at a time and then open them simultaneously.

However, it was of no use; they were all six-attribute titles.

With 39,000 Hunter Coins left, Su Xiao simply exchanged for another 100 title boxes, selected the characteristic, and opened them all. The next second.

A deep dark golden brilliance bloomed, which made Su Xiao feel a bit suspicious. He had flashed when opening treasure chests many times, but he had never heard of flashing when opening title boxes, and it was such a unique dark golden brilliance.

Su Xiao flipped through the title acquisition records. Without needing to observe as carefully as before, a line of dark golden characters stood out among the many title acquisition messages.

【You have obtained Soul of Protection.】