89: A tremendous increase in strength, a shocking leak

Chen Yang was very excited.

If the experiment succeeded, the impact would be far-reaching.

If it didn't succeed...

All martial arts in reality require arduous cultivation day and night.

Not to mention the time and effort it consumes.

Can one successfully advance? How long will it take to advance?

These are all big question marks.

"Detect the current level of Star Plucking Hand."

Ding!

"Host detected, a new combat skill has been learned: Star Plucking Hand."

"Current level: Not yet initiated."

Chen Yang's heart settled.

"Not yet initiated" was certainly true.

Star Plucking Hand and Heaven-Treading Steps.

For now, he had only learned the incantations and methods.

The specific cultivation had not officially begun yet!

The key was that detecting this new skill was good news!

If the system couldn't detect it, then it definitely couldn't be upgraded.

Since it was detected, there might be hope.

"Can Star Plucking Hand be upgraded?"

Chen Yang asked tentatively.

At this moment, his spirit was extremely tense.

He kept rubbing his hands, anxiously awaiting the system's reply.

Ding!

"Can be upgraded!"

Chen Yang was overjoyed!

"Yeah!"

He swung his arms and jumped up excitedly.

Being able to upgrade with points was too significant for him!

From now on, all skills learned in reality could be forcibly upgraded with points, increasing proficiency and combat power.

Completely disregarding comprehension and aptitude.

How much of a boost was this?

It was definitely like cheating, crushing everything in his path!

Ding!

"Upgrade conditions are as follows: ..."

Chen Yang's current point balance: 690 points.

According to the conditions given by the system, he chose to upgrade "Empty Hand Skill" to the 4th level: Perfected state, Master Level, reaching the second realm: Formless and Invisible.

A total of 100 points were consumed.

Remaining 590 points.

In an instant, Chen Yang's entire body, especially his hands, underwent a transformative change.

Flexibility, suppleness, reaction speed, etc., all had a qualitative leap.

He felt his fingers were incredibly nimble, with a mysterious sensation of sprites dancing.

If he were to perform magic, stealing cards, switching cards, changing cards... he could definitely do it without anyone noticing.

The Formless and Invisible "Empty Hand Skill," combined with "Golden Eyes," was like a God of Gamblers possessing him.

He would surely dominate.

Unfortunately, Chen Yang's ambition was not in gambling, wasting his excellent talent.

Ding!

"Consumed 150 points, 'Heart-Shattering Life-Taking' upgraded to Level 2, Minor Accomplishment state."

"Reached the first realm: Stone-Piercing Palm!"

"Current points remaining: 440 points."

Chen Yang was very emotional.

The upgrade conditions for the Heart-Shattering Life-Taking direction were much more difficult than for Empty Hand Skill.

After all, Empty Hand Skill leaned towards support, while Heart-Shattering Life-Taking leaned towards combat.

Having learned Stone-Piercing Palm, Chen Yang couldn't help but want to try its power.

He stealthily went outside the villa.

In the dead of night, he aimed at a 10-centimeter thick stone on the rockery.

Chen Yang circulated Star Plucking Hand and unleashed "Stone-Piercing Palm."

"Puff!"

The sound was extremely subtle.

His palm passed through the stone.

Chen Yang was stunned!

He withdrew his palm and looked at it; there was no abnormality.

On the large stone, however, a palm-shaped hole was left.

The incredibly hard stone was actually directly penetrated by a bare palm.

The stone remained unbroken, and the hand shape was clear.

This power was simply astonishing!

To avoid exposure, Chen Yang lifted the large stone and quietly slid it into the fish pond.

He returned to his room.

Ding!

"Consumed 100 points, 'Star Plucking and Moon Grasping' upgraded to Level 1, Initiated state."

"Reached the first realm: Dragon Capturing and Tiger Binding!"

"Current points remaining: 340 points."

The third direction, Star Plucking and Moon Grasping, had even more terrifying upgrade conditions than Heart-Shattering Life-Taking.

Just to get initiated required 100 points.

Upgrading to Minor Accomplishment required 1000 points.

Chen Yang simply didn't have that many.

Fortunately, Star Plucking and Moon Grasping was truly advanced.

This was also the most core and mysterious essence of Star Plucking Hand.

Even at the initial stage of Dragon Capturing and Tiger Binding, it was already ten times more profound than the grappling techniques in Combat Technique.

As his palms moved, there was a subtle sense of control.

It truly lived up to its name as the most profound grappling art.

After this series of operations, Chen Yang's points were only 340 points left.

He felt very reluctant.

However, thinking of the Star Plucking Elder's demonstration of the Grass-Skimming skill, his heart yearned again.

"Upgrade Heaven-Treading Steps."

Ding!

"Consumed 150 points, 'Heaven-Treading Steps' upgraded to Level 2, Minor Accomplishment state."

"Reached the first realm: Grass-Skimming!"

"Current points remaining: 190 points."

A tingling sensation spread throughout his body, especially his legs.

It felt as if electricity flowed through them, making them more powerful, lighter, and faster.

Chen Yang was excited.

Lightness skill was a coveted ability for every novel enthusiast.

He couldn't wait to slip out of the villa.

In a nearby park, he found a dense forest.

He performed Grass-Skimming.

With a push of his foot, his figure was like lightning.

He shot up over ten meters, using the tree trunks for leverage.

He rose another seven or eight meters, stepping onto the top of a large tree.

Then he stepped and leaped, jumping from one branch to another.

The farthest distance he could reach was 30 meters.

Although his posture wasn't graceful, he at least didn't fall down.

He stumbled and flailed forward chaotically.

This scene was like the experts chasing and flying in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Chen Yang didn't dare to play for too long.

After testing the effects, he hurried back to the villa.

That night, having learned Star Plucking Hand and Heaven-Treading Steps, his strength underwent earth-shattering changes.

"View personal information panel."

... [host name] Chen Yang

[host age] 22 years old

[theoretical lifespan] 120 years

[system level] Level 2 (3 pieces of intelligence triggered yesterday + 1 piece of intelligence triggered today)

[life skills] Soul-Captivating Hand (Level 4 - Perfected), God-Level Driving (Level 3 - Proficient)

[special skills] Portable Space (Level 2 - 3 cubic meters)

Golden Eyes (Level 1 - Scan range: 1 meter)

Secret Sound Transmission (Level 4 - Transmission range: 30 meters)

[combat skills] Combat Technique (Level 4 - Master Level)

Empty Hand Skill (Level 4 - Master, Formless and Invisible)

Heart-Shattering Life-Taking (Level 2 - Minor Accomplishment, Stone-Piercing Palm)

Star Plucking and Moon Grasping (Level 1 - Initiated, Dragon Capturing and Tiger Binding)

Heaven-Treading Steps (Level 2 - Minor Accomplishment, Grass-Skimming)

[cultivation secret methods] None

[combat power level] Intermediate Soldier King (after taking great strength pill)

[strength evaluation] With Star Plucking Hand and Heaven-Treading Steps, capable of fighting above his rank, possessing "Intermediate War General" strength

... Seeing the strength evaluation of an Intermediate War General, Chen Yang showed a satisfied smile.

Black Tiger, as the Group Three leader of the Military Intelligence Bureau Special Operations Division, only had the strength of a High-Ranked Soldier King.

Even if he hid some methods, his true strength would at most be a Junior War General.

As a consultant for Group Three, Chen Yang's strength already surpassed that of the leader.

His confidence in protecting himself on his trip to Caiyun City was even stronger.

A dreamless night.

The first thing he did upon opening his eyes in the morning was to check today's intelligence.

Ding!

"Today's intelligence refreshed!"

"Intelligence 1: In Caiyun City's underground stone gambling market, there is an unheeded raw jade material (full gamble) that is the biggest hidden gem. Its true value will soar 1000 times..."