Chapter 974: Attribute Rewards

As Su Xiao was pondering, the Paradise of Reincarnation's prompt appeared.

【Detected four primary attributes of the Hunter: Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence. All four have reached 80 points. Please select one 80-point primary attribute reward.】

【True Strength is the Hunter’s primary attribute. Your True Strength, without gear, has already reached 80 points. The Hunter may choose one of the following rewards.】

a. Madman: True Strength +3

b. Power Shock: During close-quarters melee combat, inflict shock damage—each shock deals 2% of the enemy’s maximum HP as true damage and has a chance to stun.

c. Muscle Defense: Greatly increase physical defense, enhancing resistance to slashing, blunt, and piercing damage.

d. Crimson Shadow (Rare Reward): When injured, for every 10% HP lost, your attack speed +8%, movement speed +8%, and dynamic vision +3%. This effect stacks up to four times. When HP recovers above 95%, the bonuses expire and enter a 20-minute cooldown.

……

Of the four options, a and c were highly tempting—one boosted True Strength by 3, the other enhanced physical defense.

Option b was also strong, but unsuitable for Su Xiao—it only triggered during bare-handed melee, not when wielding weapons.

Yet compared to option d, none of a, b, or c warranted consideration—Su Xiao hadn’t expected the 80-point Strength reward to be this powerful.

Option d wasn’t merely an attribute bonus—it resembled a passive ability forged through prolonged, heavy investment.

For every 10% HP lost, gain +8% attack speed, +8% movement speed, +3% dynamic vision, stacking up to four times. At 60% HP, Su Xiao would gain +32% attack speed, +32% movement speed, and +12% dynamic vision—a near-third increase in speed, and a significant boost to dynamic vision, which in close combat ranks second only to neural reflex speed and enhances intuitive perception.

More valuable still, this bonus had no duration—it persisted as long as Su Xiao’s HP remained below 95%.

It was the very definition of “fighting stronger the more you’re wounded.”

Su Xiao chose option d without hesitation. The moment he selected it, a crimson energy materialized out of thin air and sank into his body, finally settling in his heart, merging with it.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump…

Su Xiao’s heartbeat surged abruptly, then gradually calmed after a long while.

Immediately after selecting the Strength attribute reward, the Agility attribute reward appeared.

【True Agility is the Hunter’s primary attribute. Your True Agility, without gear, has already reached 80 points. The Hunter may choose one of the following rewards.】

a. Shadow Dancer: While in shadows, gain massive bonuses to stealth-related skills.

b. Heart Hunter: Upon piercing an enemy’s heart, this attack has a chance to trigger an instant-kill judgment.

c. Soul Slice: During close-range attacks, if you successfully breach the enemy’s outer defense and strike their flesh, add “True Agility × 3” as armor-piercing damage.

……

This time no rare reward appeared, yet the three options left Su Xiao torn—option a was immediately discarded, as it was an assassin’s ability he had no use for; b and c, however, were tailor-made for him.

One granted instant-kill potential, the other added armor-piercing damage in melee—both with high values, comparable to Qinggangyingsuo’s damage, and crucially, this armor-piercing damage scaled with Agility growth.

After much hesitation, Su Xiao chose option c: Soul Slice.

The moment he selected it, a change occurred within him—two unknown forces sank into his arms, then settled. This wasn’t an energy—it was a permanent buff.

Su Xiao gripped his blade’s hilt; the new buff activated instantly, leaving him satisfied.

Before he could catch his breath, the Stamina attribute reward appeared—his first-ever Stamina-related reward.

【True Stamina is the Hunter’s primary attribute. Your True Stamina, without gear, has already reached 80 points. The Hunter may choose one of the following rewards.】

a. Steel Bones: Permanent +26 physical defense.

b. Vitality: Permanent +20% HP regeneration per minute.

c. Giant Physique: Permanent +18% resistance to abnormal effects.

d. Unyielding Mountain: After taking damage, blood loss rate reduced by 30%.

e. Tyrant (Rare Reward): Permanent +600 HP.

f. Death Baron (Rare Reward): When wielding a shield-type weapon…

……

Su Xiao ignored option f outright—he’d never wield a shield in his life. Real men didn’t carry shields. Shield users were just targets who couldn’t retaliate—pathetic. After obtaining the gold-quality shield, his first thought was to sell it.

No deliberation needed for Stamina rewards—Su Xiao chose option e: Tyrant. Now his HP total became terrifying, transforming him into a true close-combat warrior: hard-hitting, tanky, and devastatingly offensive.

A sensation of vitality surged through him—his breathing grew smoother, his organs pulsing with renewed vigor.

Undeniably, the 80-point attribute rewards were astonishing. With only three rewards acquired, Su Xiao’s combat power had already multiplied several times over—yes, several times.

Not even counting the Crimson Shadow from Strength, just Soul Slice from Agility had massively boosted his offense—240 armor-piercing damage was, in many situations, nearly as potent as true damage. Recall that Qinggangyingsuo dealt exactly 240 true damage—its only advantage was higher tier.

Now, with a single slash, if the enemy was frail, Su Xiao could cut them down outright.

The +600 HP from Stamina reward greatly enhanced Su Xiao’s survivability—600 HP equated to the HP gain from over 50 points of Stamina.

The 80-point attribute rewards had not disappointed him. Only Intelligence remained.

【True Intelligence is the Hunter’s primary attribute. Your True Intelligence, without gear, has already reached 80 points. The Hunter may choose one of the following rewards.】

a. Eye of Law: Upon selection, your eyes are transformed into the “Eye of Law,” granting massive bonuses to spellcasting abilities.

b. Serenity: Enter a state of serenity, shutting down all senses, restoring 1% mana per minute.

c. Mana Surge: +500 maximum mana.

d. Heart of Nature: Enhance perception ability—greatly boosts meditation and insight-related skills.

……

Option a was instantly discarded—Su Xiao had no use for the Eye of Law; he couldn’t even learn spell-based skills. Options b, c, and d, however, left him conflicted again.

Mana regeneration, maximum mana increase, and enhanced perception—all were valuable to him.

The first two offered immediate benefits; the latter concerned his future growth. Su Xiao suspected the Heart of Nature might enhance his understanding of sword techniques.

Su Xiao consulted the Paradise of Reincarnation, asking whether the Heart of Nature enhanced insight into sword techniques. The Paradise of Reincarnation’s reply was unnervingly “thoughtful.”

【To inquire about this information, pay 100,000 Park Coins…】

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow. The exorbitant fee confirmed his suspicion—he chose option d, reluctantly forsaking b and c.

Admittedly, Su Xiao’s sword technique was formidable, but its rapid growth had left gaps in his deeper understanding. The Heart of Nature filled that void—an invisible advantage, yet one that genuinely strengthened him.