The video explained the details in detail, and Bai Xuan watched, listened, and studied diligently.
(Please remember the Taiwanese novel website → 𝖙𝖜𝖐𝖆𝖓.𝖈𝖔𝖒 for the fastest chapter updates.)
Although his right hand was injured, the Longquan sword was a lightweight for Bai Xuan right now.
It didn't require much effort, and it wouldn't affect his recovery.
With Bai Xuan's current four-dimensional attributes, he could easily perform the standard moves of Wudang Swordsmanship.
After just one practice, [Wudang Swordsmanship Level 1] appeared on his skill list.
"This [Wudang Swordsmanship] is quite interesting."
"A blend of hardness and softness, a harmonious transition between beginning and end, flowing like clouds and water, a sword dance like a dragon."
"Point, collapse, lift, hang, cloud, wipe, sweep, pierce, block, circle, lead, chop, and carry."
Bai Xuan pondered and practiced with his sword, experiencing the exquisiteness of [Wudang Swordsmanship].
In the process, his proficiency in [Wudang Swordsmanship] rapidly improved.
And proficiency doesn't just increase by a single point after each practice.
As Bai Xuan repeatedly watched instructional videos and deeply grasped the theories, techniques, and subtleties of Wudang Swordsmanship through practice, his proficiency increased by five, ten, and even twenty points in one instance.
It was precisely because of this that
Wudang Swordsmanship rapidly advanced. [
Wudang Swordsmanship LV1 → LV2]
[The skill "Wudang Swordsmanship" receives comprehensive improvements, and the player can choose one of the following three enhancement options:]
[Swift Sword: Increases attack speed by 5%]
[Sharp Sword: Increases explosive power during swordplay by 5%]
[Sword Control: Increases control of sword weapons by 5%]
Upon seeing these three enhancement options, Bai Xuan's eyes flickered with thought.
"If I choose Sword Control for all the upgrades for Wudang Swordsmanship, my control over sword weapons will be greatly improved."
"Then, if I learn other swordsmanship techniques, won't I be able to master them faster and reach the maximum level?"
"With the player template, if I master hundreds of swordsmanship techniques at the maximum level... I'll naturally gain incredibly formidable bonuses... Then, wielding a sharp sword... how formidable will my combat power be?"
"That's true..."
"With the player template, even without the game world, I can continue to grow stronger and possess incredibly terrifying power."
"Resources in the game world are resources, and resources in the real world are resources too."
"Any resource that can help me become stronger must not be wasted; it must be utilized."
Thinking of this, Bai Xuan had no hesitation and simply chose Sword Control.
Resting when tired and ordering takeout when hungry, Bai Xuan was obsessed with sword practice.
As the night deepened, Wudang Swordsmanship was upgraded again, and naturally, for this upgrade, Bai Xuan once again chose Sword Control.
After showering and sleeping, Bai Xuan woke up the next day to find his right hand fully healed.
Before hunting, Bai Xuan gazed at the platinum-colored Longquan sword in his hand, his eyes flickering as he gazed at the unsharpened blade.
"I don't know how to sharpen it professionally."
"But I figured... something like a whetstone should be readily available..."
"I'm strong enough now, so it's not impossible to sharpen the blade directly with a whetstone."
With this thought, Bai Xuan pulled out his phone.
As expected, whetstones were readily available and very affordable: 7.6 yuan, 9.9 yuan, 13.2 yuan... Besides whetstones, there were also knife-sharpening tools available online.
Bai Xuan selected and purchased a knife-sharpening tool and a whetstone.
After placing his orders, he entered the game world.
Before encountering powerful monsters, Bai Xuan's bow and arrow alone were sufficient for efficient hunting.
"Swoosh! Swoosh!! Swoosh!!!"
"..."
"One, two, three... Wow, I saw a [Intermediate Infected]."
"Great, a drop of [Evolution Blood] earned."
For Bai Xuan right now, [Low-Level Infected] and [Low-Level Mutants] posed no threat at all; they were mere scum that could be instantly dispatched with a single arrow, ultimately becoming his [Attribute Points] and [Skill Points].
While [Intermediate Infected] weren't exactly scum, they were easily dispatched as long as he kept his distance, posing little threat.
Only [Intermediate Mutants] posed a significant threat. If Bai Xuan let his guard down, he could easily be injured or even killed.
However, Bai Xuan possessed [Agility], and every time he leveled up, he chose [Perception] to minimize sneak attacks.
For example, right now, [Agility] was performing a crucial role.
There was an [Intermediate Mutant] at the corner of the intersection ahead.
It was a hundred meters away.
If Bai Xuan approached within fifty meters...
Furthermore, this [Intermediate Mutant] also possessed a skill similar to [Assault].
If it launched a sneak attack, Bai Xuan would naturally find it difficult to dodge.
However…
this [Intermediate Mutant] was clearly different from the previous one.
Its right arm was thicker and longer… approximately two meters long, like a giant machete.
Skin, flesh, bone… a misshapen blade woven from white, gray, and red.
Its speed was far inferior to the previous one.
It was precisely because of this that Bai Xuan raised the corner of his mouth.
"The bow and arrow are the perfect weapon against enemies like you, with high attack, low defense, and slow speed."
Raise the bow, aim, draw the string, and release the arrow!
"Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!"
A hundred meters away, Bai Xuan was more than enough for a leisurely and steady flow of fire.
Two arrows per second, hitting the enemy's vital points with precision and grace.
"Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!"
Four gray flowers of blood bloomed, and the [Intermediate Mutant] died without a trace of surprise.
A grayish-white ball of light emerged, and Bai Xuan reached out to touch it, and a prompt appeared.
[Skill Acquired: Heavy Slash]
[Skill: Heavy Slash LV1 (0/100)]
[Effect: Active Skill, Consumes 20% of Stamina and enables a single slash with +70% explosive power]
A familiar feeling surfaced in Bai Xuan's mind. He narrowed his eyes and muttered,
"This skill... while not as good as [Assault], it's still pretty good. It significantly boosts my melee ability."
"Hmm... on the surface I'm an archer, but once the enemy gets close... I find my melee abilities are even stronger... quite interesting."
"Let's continue hunting."
And so, Bai Xuan continued hunting until sunset.
Of course,
today's harvest was quite good.
[Attribute Points +7.17]
[Skill Points +7]
[Evolved Blood +2] [
Archery LV6 → LV7] [Agility LV5
→ LV6] [
Brutal Force LV5 → LV6]
[Toughness LV4 → LV5]
Adding the two skill points he already had, Bai Xuan now had a total of nine skill points, just enough to upgrade [Assault] to LV6.
So, Bai Xuan upgraded directly.
[Assault LV4 → LV5]
[Assault LV5 → LV6]
...
I chose [Speed] for both upgrades, so the effect of [Assault] became:
[Skill: Assault LV6 (0/600)]
[Effect: Active skill, consumes 25% of your Stamina, gains 125% Movement Speed for one second, and can launch an attack with 75% Explosive Power]
"Another fruitful day. [Quit] the game, shower, and bed."
[Jiang Yuqian: Hey brother, check out the video I sent you.]
[Jiang Yuqian: I never thought someone in Lehan City would open a shop like this.]
Below is the video Jiang Yuqian sent.
Clicking play, Bai Xuan saw a delicate and elegant shop lined with rows of women dressed in emerald green, light-weight Hanfu.
The women ranged in age, young and old, but not old, ranging from twenty to thirty.
Most had ordinary looks, but none were ugly, and there were even one or two who were quite good-looking.
"Ancient Charm Ear Cleaning Shop Opens..."
[Jiang Yuqian: Hey brother, would you like to try ear cleaning? I hear it's very comfortable!]
[Jiang Yuqian: And the technicians in this shop all wear Hanfu, which looks quite impressive. Do you want to check it out?]
Bai Xuan looked at the message Jiang Yuqian sent him, and at the technicians in Hanfu in the video, a hint of something shimmered in his eyes.
Modern population density far exceeds that of ancient times, and education rates are also increasing, which means there are more intelligent people in society.
Although Bai Xuan didn't understand economics or business, he knew that this kind of ear cleaning shop might hold significant business potential in a small town like Lehan.
Forty-nine yuan per session, it was affordable for most people.
Add to that the "Hanfu beauties" gimmick, and it might become a hit.
He just wanted to try it himself.
"Think about it, this society is truly wonderful."
"As long as you have a certain economic foundation."
"Ordinary people can enjoy fine dining, massages, travel..."
"And as society develops, entertainment will become increasingly advanced."
"In fact, it's already very advanced. Music, novels, anime, TV dramas, movies, live broadcasts, short videos..."
"These online entertainment options are even cheaper than fine dining, massages, travel..."
"I live in this era, and I have such extraordinary opportunities as the gaming world. It would be a waste not to enjoy life."
"And I've been imagining that the entertainment I can enjoy now is accessible to ordinary people."
"And the gaming world can make me extraordinary."
"So what kind of life will I be able to lead in the future, what kind of enjoyment can I expect?"
"A life comparable to that of an emperor? Or even more extravagant?"
"That's truly exciting."
These thoughts flashed through Bai Xuan's mind, and he quickly typed a reply.
[Bai Xuan: You can go and have a look.]
[Bai Xuan: But I'm worried that the new store opening will be too crowded and we'll have to queue.]
[Bai Xuan: I hate queuing, so let's go when it's less crowded. Jiang
Yuqian: They open at 9:00 AM, why don't we check it out?
Jiang Yuqian: After trying a few more options, we can go straight to lunch.
Bai Xuan: Sure.
Bai Xuan: Let's spend the afternoon discussing what to have for lunch. Any ideas, bro?
Jiang Yuqian: How about crayfish and barbecue?
Bai Xuan: Sure.
Jiang Yuqian: Okay, that's settled. See you tomorrow morning.
Bai Xuan: Okay.
After putting his phone down, Bai Xuan prepared to shower and go to bed.
But after his shower, Bai Xuan walked to the mirror and took in his current self.
His already perfect muscles were now even more perfect, chiseled and strong, every line, every muscle... so perfect.
It seemed as if it perfectly adhered to the golden ratio, incomparably harmonious, perfectly coordinated, brimming with beauty and visual impact. Masculine, majestic, and heroic...
This might sound like nonsense, but Bai Xuan ultimately didn't understand art, the human body, or fitness... so this was the only way to describe his transformation.
Well,
to put it simply,
he'd become handsome again.
"I'm so handsome, I'm really giving other handsome guys a run for their money."
"And that's without makeup... just without makeup. I think I can instantly outshine all the top handsome men in the entertainment industry."
"Do they deserve to be called male gods?"
"I believe I can easily seduce a fair number of beautiful women with just a flick of my finger."
"But for me right now, exploring the game world is more fun."
"I can feel it... my body, my soul... both yearning for strength, for power."
"This yearning far surpasses all my other desires."
"Beauty... pales in comparison to the extraordinary,"
Bai Xuan muttered softly before leaving the bathroom.
Sleep.
The next day, Bai Xuan washed up, had breakfast, and rested for a short while before entering the game world.
He and his best friend had agreed to go to the ear-cleaning shop at nine o'clock. Since it was only seven o'clock, he could easily spend a hundred minutes hunting before leaving.
"A hundred minutes... Let's test how many monsters I can kill in a hundred minutes."
"Bang, bang, bang, bang!!!"
"…"
He first smashed all the glass windows, then used the speakers to attract the monsters.
Soon, monster after monster appeared in Bai Xuan's sight and came within his range.
"The hunt begins..."
"Swish, swish, swish, swish!!!"
"..."
Neither the [Low-Level Infected] nor the [Low-Level Mutants] could withstand Bai Xuan's arrows.
After being instantly killed with a single arrow, they transformed into balls of light, becoming Bai Xuan's [Attribute Points] and [Skill Points].
Both [Intermediate-Level Infected] and [Intermediate-Level Mutants] were relatively rare.
However, [Intermediate-Level Infected] posed little threat to Bai Xuan. While they couldn't be killed instantly with a single arrow, three arrows would usually take them out.
Only the [Intermediate-Level Mutants] possessed distinct abilities, posing a certain threat to Bai Xuan. Take
this one, for example!
It was a deformed monster, its left arm a thick, hollow cylinder, like a cannon barrel, but not a true cannon barrel. Inside it was a spear, or rather, a giant arrow, fashioned from bones.
Aiming at Bai Xuan, the two-meter-long bone spear suddenly shot out.
"Whoosh!"
The terrifying sound of breaking wind was like a howling gale, so fast it resembled a pale shadow.
Bai Xuan's pupils constricted, his brain flashing with lightning, reacting almost instantly.
[Assault]! Activate!
Level 6 [Assault], after consuming 25% of Stamina, grants a 125% increase in Movement Speed for one second and a single attack with 75% Explosive Power.
What did this mean?
It meant Bai Xuan could easily dodge the bone spear of this [Intermediate Mutant].
Quickly approaching it, he raised his bow, aimed, drew the string, and released his arrow!
During this process, Bai Xuan watched the bone spear grow. Its speed was remarkable; in just one second, it had grown by one-third.
It seemed that this [Intermediate Mutant] only needed three seconds to generate a bone spear.
However, those three seconds were more than enough for Bai Xuan to leisurely shoot it down.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!! Whoosh!!!"
Ten meters apart, so close, it was enough for all three arrows to strike the same spot.
"Puff! Puff! Puff!!"
For example, between the monster's eyebrows.
Gray-white blood splattered, and the monster died.
"This is Level 6 [Assault]! It's incredibly fast and powerful... And those three arrows are more than enough; just two would have killed this [Intermediate Mutant]."
"Especially the first arrow. With the power of [Assault], it actually pierced its skull."
"So, if [Assault] is upgraded to one more level, it'll probably have the lethality to instantly kill [Intermediate Infected] and [Intermediate Mutants]."
"It's just that the instantaneous loss of 25% of your stamina isn't very pleasant. It feels like a serious shortfall."
"But it's not impossible to adapt to."
Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, then took a few steps forward and reached out to touch it.
[Achieved the skill "Piercing Arrow"]
[Skill: Piercing Arrow Level 1 (0/100)]
[Effect: Active skill, consumes 20% of your stamina, granting your next arrow +70% penetration]"
Seeing this new skill, Bai Xuan's eyes lit up.
"It's actually a skill related to [Archery]."
"Great... This will greatly improve my ranged attack capabilities."
A smile curled his lips, and Bai Xuan's gaze shifted to the recurve bow in his hand, a faint light emanating from it.
He checked the time: twenty minutes left, so he continued hunting. Arrow
after arrow fired, steadily adding [Attribute Points] and [Skill Points].
"Hmm? It's an [Intermediate Infected], another bit of [Evolution Blood]. Great, looks like I'm lucky today."
"I'm one step closer to collecting ten drops of [Evolution Blood] and breaking the limit of an attribute."
After killing this [Intermediate Infected], the time was up, and he [Quit] the game.
Fifteen minutes later.
"Come at nine, there's surprisingly quite a few people."
"Yeah."
Bai Xuan looked at the people in line ahead of him, his eyes flickering with surprise.
"Ask how long the wait is."
"Yes."
The cashier, also a young woman, dressed in a light, emerald green Hanfu, was serving water.
Soon, a glass of water was placed in front of Bai Xuan.
When she saw Bai Xuan, she was stunned. Oh
my god, he's so handsome!
"Excuse me, how long do we have to wait?"
She was stunned by Bai Xuan's words.
It was mainly because of how handsome he was. The visual impact was too great.
She was stunned.
She really hadn't expected such a handsome man to exist in the tiny city of Lehan.
But after a few seconds, she realized what was happening and quickly replied,
"It will be quick. About ten minutes."
"Handsome man, beautiful woman, please sit down and have a glass of water."
"Okay, thank you."
Bai Xuan politely took the water and thanked him.
As for the cashier, seeing Bai Xuan reaching out, her fingers moved, as if trying to touch it.
But Bai Xuan was so fast that she couldn't even reach him.
Bai Xuan noticed this, and his eyes deepened.
It seemed that he really needed to protect himself.
Because he was so handsome, there were always women trying to take advantage of him.
Jiang Yuqian, standing nearby, also noticed this subtle gesture. Her eyes, already tainted with malice, were fixed on Bai Xuan.
"My good brother is getting more and more handsome."
"Good things should be kept within the family; those who are close to water get the moon first."
"Guess I have to act soon. If my good brother gets snatched away by some bad woman out there, I'll regret it to death."
Looking down at the muscular, white arms, at the slender, white fingers... Jiang Yuqian couldn't help but swallow.
With the four attributes reaching five, Bai Xuan's physique had reached the human limit. His five senses had long been significantly enhanced, not to mention the passive skill [Agility].
Jiang Yuqian's swallowing wasn't loud, but Bai Xuan could hear it clearly.
This made Bai Xuan sigh inwardly.
Friendship had soured. My good brother was plotting against me. Being
a handsome guy is so hard.
Bai Xuan had few friends, so of course he cherished his friendship with Jiang Yuqian.
While it had been a less-than-pure friendship to begin with, it was becoming less so.
"Forget it, it doesn't matter, just let it be."
On the surface, Bai Xuan looked relaxed, chatting with Jiang Yuqian.
Although there were more male customers in the store, there were also female customers.
Naturally, these people couldn't help but look at Bai Xuan, and Jiang Yuqian couldn't help but lead the topic to this aspect.
"My good brother, you have changed a lot recently."
"When you work out, it's like you've been reborn."
"Your mortal body has been transformed into an immortal body. This skin, this figure, these facial features... It's really hard to describe."
"As your good brother, I am really getting more and more worried."
"What are you worried about me?"
Bai Xuan asked casually.
"I'm worried that you will be targeted by a bad woman."
"They say you're not afraid of thieves stealing, but you're afraid of thieves thinking about it."
"Don't be too confident, my dear brother. You think you won't be deceived, but you just haven't met a bad woman smart enough and resourceful enough yet."
"My dear brother, I think you're a little too concerned about my personal life."
"Why?"
"I treat you like a brother, and you still have feelings for me?"
Bai Xuan looked at Jiang Yuqian with a half-smile.
This expression on Bai Xuan's face held an indescribable charm.
Mysterious, powerful, cool, and alluring.
"You..."
Jiang Yuqian almost couldn't hold back.
But she also knew she couldn't reveal herself. What would happen if she did?
"We're good brothers. Is there anything wrong with showing some concern for you?"
"You're so ungrateful."
"Alright."
Bai Xuan softened his expression, ending the conversation.
Soon,
it was Bai Xuan and Jiang Yuqian's turn.
"Handsome guy, what project are you working on?"
The technician working on Bai Xuan's project was so fascinated by his handsomeness that his eyes almost shone with joy.
"Ear cleaning."
"Yeah."
"Handsome, lie down."
When the technician started to clean the ears, the soft feathers brushed across the face and ears.
This tingling and numb feeling is really enjoyable.
Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly and felt that it was indeed comfortable.
And when various tools were inserted into the ear canal, scratching, scraping, turning... the whole person relaxed.
Ear cleaning is indeed comfortable. For Bai Xuan, ear cleaning is more comfortable than massage.
Well, it may be that Bai Xuan has not experienced the master's massage technique.
But it doesn't matter.
The important thing is to enjoy the present.
This forty-nine yuan ear cleaning is really worth it.
"Handsome, do you want to experience other projects in the store?"
"Washing your face and washing your eyes are very comfortable."
"How do you wash your face?"
"Just massage first, then wash with facial cleanser, and finally apply a facial mask."
"Any other projects you recommend?"
After some inquiries, Bai Xuan finally experienced ear cleaning, face washing, and a hair massage, all for under two hundred yuan.
As for the experience, they were all quite pleasant, but the ear cleaning was the most enjoyable.
Afterward, Bai Xuan and Jiang Yuqian went to dinner.
They had barbecued crayfish and a can of iced Coke.
Spicy, numb, fresh, fragrant, and refreshing!
They chatted as they ate.
"Hey bro, what are we doing this afternoon?"
"A movie? There's a new comedy out, it's got some great reviews. Wanna go see it?"
"Sure." "
Then let's go to a movie."
After confirming their afternoon plans, the two continued their small talk.
The conversation turned to a class reunion.
"Hey bro, you probably don't want to go, do you?"
"We all know each other, and I know you don't want to go either."
"So let's just ignore it."
A class reunion is all about eating and karaoke.
But Bai Xuan and Jiang Yuqian are both tone-deaf.
As for the meal, do so many people need to eat? Can't just two people share?
Besides, Bai Xuan and Jiang Yuqian weren't particularly familiar with those classmates.
After eating and drinking, they went to the movies.
It's a truly enjoyable comedy, packed with laughs. The two watched and laughed.
Afterward, they found a milk tea shop, drank and chatted, and then had hot pot in the evening before returning home.
After returning home, Bai Xuan rested for a moment before entering the game world.
"Hunting a bit, just to digest the food after dinner."
He raised his bow and arrow, narrowed his eyes, a ray of cold light emanating from it, and fired.
...…
...…
For the next two days, Bai Xuan spent his time hunting.
Of course,
his gains were also substantial.
First, his skills.
[Archery LV9 → LV10]
[The skill "Archery" has been upgraded to LV10, reaching its maximum level. Its effects are comprehensively enhanced, and the player can choose one of the following three max-level enhancements:]
[Sniper Arrow: Increases shooting range by 25%]
[Speed Arrow: Increases shooting speed by 25%]
[Absolute Archery: Increases shooting accuracy by 25%]
"Wow!"
"So reaching the max level gives you a choice of three max-level enhancements."
"And the effects of these max-level enhancements are surprisingly astonishing."
"The effect is five times greater than a normal upgrade."
"It's truly terrifying!"
After exclaiming in admiration, Bai Xuan chose [Absolute Archery] without hesitation.
[Archery LV10 (Maximum Level): Shooting Accuracy +70%]
In addition to maxing out [Archery], [Assault] also reached its maximum level.
The max-level enhancement for [Assault] is equally astonishing.
[Assault LV9→LV10]
[The skill "Assault" has been upgraded to LV10, reaching the maximum level, and the effects are comprehensively improved. Players can choose one of the following three full-level enhancement options:]
[Multiple Assaults: Physical consumption is reduced by 10%, and you can perform multiple assaults more smoothly]
[Rapid Assault: Movement speed is increased by 50%, and you can move at high altitudes more flexibly]
[Violent Assault: Attack burst power is increased by 50%, and you can release a violent momentum]
Since the enhancement route has been determined from the beginning, there is no need to hesitate, just choose [Rapid Assault].
[Assault LV10 (Maximum Level): Active Skill, consumes 21% of Stamina, gains Movement Speed +235% for one second, allowing you to move more flexibly at high speed and unleash a single attack with +95% explosive power.]
In addition,
[Agility LV8 → LV9]
[Brutal Force LV8 → LV9]
[Firmness LV7 → LV8]
"[Agility] and [Brutal Force] are almost maxed out. [Firmness] is a bit slower, but it won't take much longer."
"As for [Heavy Slash] and [Piercing Arrow]... I'll prioritize [Piercing Arrow] with the next [Skill Points] I earn."
All my [Skill Points] were spent.
I already had thirty [Attribute Points] accumulated, but unfortunately, I couldn't use them.
But I'd be able to use them soon.
Bai Xuan had already collected nine drops of [Evolutionary Blood], and only needed one more to break through the limit of one attribute.
As for now,
"The sharpening artifact and whetstone have arrived."
"Next, let me sharpen the Platinum Dragon Spring Sword."
"Since [Archery] has reached the maximum level."
"Then, I can use the sword for hunting, which will also help me improve my proficiency in [Wudang Swordsmanship]."
[Exit] the game world.
Bai Xuan went to get the quick stuff, then returned home to sharpen the sword.
An hour later.
With the sharpened Platinum Dragon Spring Sword, Bai Xuan [entered] the game world again.
Let's kill!
Because Bai Xuan's attributes were sufficiently high, his movements were not only swift but also incredibly agile when he unleashed his Wudang Swordsmanship.
"Body and sword unite, sword and spirit unite..."
"Swordsmanship moves like a dragon, head and tail in sync, strength and softness blended, spirit flowing with ease..."
"Swordsmanship moves like a dragon!"
Bai Xuan's killing was exhilarating, feeling not only the exhilaration of mowing monsters like grass, but also the exhilaration of wielding a sword like a dragon.
"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!!!"
Piercing, decapitation, piercing eyes...
every move was enough to easily dispatch monsters.
His proficiency in Wudang Swordsmanship rapidly improved,
quickly reaching Level 3.
Then,
Bai Xuan encountered a Intermediate Mutant.
This Intermediate Mutant was no ordinary creature.
Standing roughly two meters three inches tall, its muscles as strong as rock, and more importantly, its pale bones formed a rugged, heavy bone armor.
Its immense defensive power was evident at a glance.
Of course,
Bai Xuan showed no fear, merely casting his gaze upon the Platinum Dragon Spring Sword in his hand.
"I wonder... if this Platinum Dragon Spring Sword can cut through the bone armor of this [Intermediate Mutant]."
"Let's try."
"I have a maxed-out [Assault], so it shouldn't be a problem."
Bai Xuan had already fought several [Intermediate Mutants].
While this one looked more imposing, even if its combat power surpassed the previous [Intermediate Mutants], the difference wouldn't be that significant.
So Bai Xuan launched his [Assault] attack.
The full-level [Assault] instantly consumed a significant amount of his stamina. With a single step, Bai Xuan felt as light as a swallow, his speed astonishing, breaking the world record.
"I wonder if my current speed can rival a cheetah."
Just as this thought crossed Bai Xuan's mind, he was already in front of the [Intermediate Mutant].
The muscles in his arms bulged, veins bulging, as if unbridled power was boiling within his flesh.
Slash!!!
"Dang—"
a crisp sound of expanding metal echoed.
The Platinum Dragon Spring Sword shattered along with the skeleton armor of the [Intermediate Mutant].
"Crack! Crack! Crack!!!"
"What a shame..."
Bai Xuan muttered to himself, then thrust back.
The broken sword pierced the [Intermediate Mutant's] brain directly through the neck.
Then, with a gentle twist,
the monster died.
A sticky, off-white liquid fell onto his hand, making Bai Xuan feel a little nauseous.
"I'll get used to it... someday."
"Huh..."
After a long sigh, Bai Xuan reached out to touch the off-white ball of light.
Who knew what loot this [Intermediate Mutant] would reveal?
[Obtain the skill "Iron Bones"]
[Skill: Iron Bones LV1 (0/100)]
[Effect: Passive skill, increases bone hardness by 30%]
The new skill's effect is simple and brutal.
Bai Xuan also felt a dramatic change in his own bones.
It was as if a flame emerged from his bones, treating his entire skeleton as ore and smelting it.
[Remember this website's domain name: Taiwan Novel Network → 𝘁𝘄𝗸𝗮𝗻.𝗰𝗼𝗺]
"Crack! Crack!"
His body trembled uncontrollably, his muscles acting as hammers, hammering his bones, making them even harder.
The pain was intense.
It felt like every bone in his body was being roasted and shattered one by one.
It was extremely hot and painful.
However, as his bones rapidly hardened, the pain also rapidly subsided.
Soon,
all the pain disappeared.
Bai Xuan felt as if his bones had been melted and hammered into a skeleton of iron.
Hard and heavy.
"Is this an illusion?"
"It's both an illusion and not an illusion."
"Level 1 [Iron Bone] naturally can't make my bones as hard as steel."
"But at the maximum level, [Iron Bone] will definitely make my bones as hard as steel, or even harder than steel."
"By then... how strong will my defense be?" His
four-dimensional attributes have reached the limits of the human body, though not yet beyond.
However, with the added power of his numerous skills, Bai Xuan has long transcended the mundane, possessing inhuman strength.
He clenched his fists, feeling the power surge within him, his gaze growing increasingly fiery.
"This feeling of constantly growing stronger is simply too intoxicating."
"And... how do I gain proficiency in [Iron Bone]?"
"By taking a beating?"
At this thought, Bai Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he stomped hard on the ground.
Force acts in a reciprocal manner.
When his foot steps on the ground, the ground is fine, but his foot is damaged, like the ground stepping on his foot.
His right foot went numb, and the power was transmitted, flowing into his bones.
[Proficiency +1]
"You really have to take a beating to gain proficiency... So if I don't want to get beaten, I can only use [Skill Points] to upgrade [Iron Bones]... It's not impossible."
"Anyway, I think this passive skill that enhances physical strength is, in a sense, more valuable than an active skill."
After all, active skills are useless if not used, while the bonus of passive skills lasts forever.
With this thought, Bai Xuan also looked at his [Character] page.
[Skill Points: 7]
Nothing much to say, just upgrade directly.
[Skill Points -1]
[Proficiency +100]
[Iron Bones LV1→LV2]
[The skill "Iron Bones" gains comprehensive improvements, and the player can choose one of the following three enhancement options:]
[Smelting: Increases bone resistance to high temperatures by 5%]
[Hammer Chain: Increases bone resistance to blows by 5%]
[Bone Healing: Increases bone's self-healing ability by 5%]
"These three enhancement options... are quite interesting..."
Seeing [Smelting], Bai Xuan suddenly thought of something.
Suppose, for the upgrade and enhancement of [Iron Bones], I choose [Smelting] for all options, continuously improving my bones' resistance to high temperatures.
Would a fully upgraded Iron Bones make it harder for my bones to be reduced to ash by flames?
If I died and my body was cremated, would my bones not be reduced to ash?
"Hmm..."
"Actually, that's not the point. The point is that I think increasing bones' resistance to high temperatures is a relatively rare enhancement, while bones' resistance to damage and self-healing abilities are perhaps easier to improve."
With this in mind, Bai Xuan no longer hesitated and made his choice.
He chose [Smelting]!
After making the choice, flames seemed to rise from his bones again, melting his skeleton.
However, this feeling faded as quickly as it came.
It did not affect Bai Xuan's continued upgrade of [Iron Bones].
[Skill Points -2]
[Proficiency +200]
[Iron Bone LV2→LV3]
…
[Skill Points -3]
[Proficiency +300]
[Iron Bone LV3→LV4]
…
[Iron Bone LV4 (1/400): Passive skill, increases bone hardness by 45%, bone resistance to heat by 15%]
After upgrading [Iron Bone], Bai Xuan continued hunting.
However, because the Platinum Dragon Spring Sword was broken,
Bai Xuan took out his bow and arrows again.
"Oh, right."
"The reason I can only shoot five arrows in two seconds is because my bones are not hard enough and can only withstand a limited amount of force."
"Now that I have the passive skill [Iron Bones], it significantly increases bone hardness... Does that mean I can shoot even faster?"
"Hmm... let's try."
With a slight narrowing of his eyes, Bai Xuan locked onto his prey.
And then...
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Two seconds, six arrows.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Faster, more powerful, six arrows blasted their heads, instantly killing six [Low-Level Infected].
A smile curved his lips.
"As expected... I've gotten stronger again."
The hunt continued.
As time passed, Bai Xuan's gains grew.
[Attribute Points] were self-explanatory.
Three more [Skill Points] were added, allowing him to upgrade [Iron Bones].
[Skill Points -4]
[Proficiency +400]
[Iron Bones LV4 → LV5]
For the upgrade and enhancement, he still chose [Smelting].
Furthermore,
[Agility] also received its final upgrade today.
[Agility LV9 → LV10]
[The skill "Agility" has been upgraded to LV10, reaching its maximum level. Its effects are comprehensively enhanced, and the player can choose one of the following three max-level enhancement options:]
[Psychic Perception: Your perception increases by 25%, and your awareness of extraordinary beings becomes even sharper.]
[Instinct Reaction: Reaction speed increases by 25%, boosting your instincts and enabling faster reactions.]
[Agility Build: Agility increases by 25%, and your anatomy undergoes targeted transformation, making you even more agile.]
Without hesitation, choose "Psychic Perception" for the max-level enhancement of [Agility].
As Bai Xuan made his choice, his brain suddenly felt numb and he couldn't help but shudder, as if an electric current were raging through his brain.
His perceptions were significantly enhanced: vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch... and even a mysterious sixth sense... The world seemed to have suddenly transformed.
"What a wonderful feeling..."
Closing his eyes, Bai Xuan sensed the monsters' extraordinary aura.
[Low-level infected], [Low-level infected], [Low-level infected], [Low-level mutant]…
[Low-level infected], [Low-level infected], [Low-level mutant]… [Intermediate infected]!
"Excellent."
"Now I can sense prey of higher value!"
"The passive skill [Agility] has become even more useful!"
"I'm only two drops short of [Evolutionary Blood]. I'll have ten drops, and I can break the limit of one attribute."
"After killing this [Intermediate Infected], I only need one more."