382: Above Gold

December 2nd, 5:02 AM

Chen Du appeared in a secluded spot, a hint of hard-to-detect eagerness on his face.

This was the fifth day since he had obtained the water aversion pearl and devouring grass and left.

For the previous four days, besides traveling normally, Chen Du had also synthesized 9 red devouring grass into 1 golden devouring grass.

Now he had a total of 3 golden devouring grass in his hand.

The one Xiao Fan had was wild, while the other two were synthesized by Chen Du himself.

Today was the fifth day, and the golden shovel's 24-hour cooldown had passed, making synthesis possible again!

This synthesis was extraordinary; the golden quality was the limit of Chen Du's knowledge, and judging by the abilities and functions of the golden devouring grass, it should be at the very top.

After finding a suitable location, Chen Du neatly placed the 3 golden devouring grass from his Storage Ring on the Surface.

Looking at them now, Chen Du felt inexplicably excited.

At this moment, he felt as if he were witnessing a miracle.

Although Chen Du knew in his heart that even if it failed, it wouldn't be a big deal; it would just turn a big profit into a small one.

But he had always hoped for a quality above golden, and if it couldn't be achieved, he would be somewhat sad.

Chen Du took out the golden shovel. He didn't immediately proceed with the synthesis but instead vigilantly scanned his surroundings again, ensuring no one was nearby.

Chen Du understood that at times like these, he absolutely could not be careless!

After repeatedly confirming his safety, Chen Du aimed the golden shovel at the 3 golden devouring grass neatly arranged on the Surface and chanted like a spell:

“Synthesize!”

The 2 golden devouring grass on the side seemed to be pulled by some kind of gravity, slowly moving towards the one in the middle.

Chen Du watched this scene, feeling both excited and expectant.

One second later.

With a “clank,” 1 “lapis lazuli devouring grass” appeared before Chen Du.

This was the first time Chen Du had heard this sound during synthesis, but as the owner of the golden shovel, he instantly understood the meaning of this “clank.”

This was a sign of the limit.

It meant that the synthesis of devouring grass had reached its limit; even if Chen Du were to acquire 2 more lapis lazuli devouring grass later, he wouldn't be able to synthesize them.

lapis lazuli devouring grass was the ultimate quality of devouring grass.

Or rather... the limit of the golden shovel!

Chen Du picked up the lapis lazuli devouring grass from the Surface. Besides its color being different from previous devouring grass, its size was also halved.

It perfectly demonstrated the meaning of “concentration is essence”!

Looking at the lapis lazuli devouring grass in his hand, Chen Du felt an inexplicable impulse.

An impulse to eat it.

At this moment, Chen Du understood that this thing could definitely increase the upper limit of his Life Strength talent!

This was something that had not been evident with the golden quality devouring grass.

The previous method used to enhance his Life Strength talent, Life Goddesss Favor, had now almost reached its limit.

Even if he were to receive its light 100 more times, it wouldn't significantly improve Chen Du's Life Strength talent.

But this lapis lazuli devouring grass gave Chen Du a feeling that it could break through his current shackles!

This was an inexplicable, profound feeling, like how some people know at first sight that it's a connection for a thousand years.

Deep feelings, gulp it down!

Chen Du directly threw the lapis lazuli devouring grass in his hand into his mouth. This kind of pure natural wild resource didn't require any processing.

Five seconds later, a wave of heat swept through his body.

Immediately after, a tingling pleasure surged from the soles of his feet, rushing straight to the top of his head.

【Congratulations to the Host, Life Strength has increased from Rank 16 to Rank 16.1】

...【Congratulations to the Host, Life Strength has increased from Rank 16.4 to Rank 16.5】

...【Congratulations to the Host, Life Strength has increased from Rank 16.9 to Rank 17】

“Hoo...”

Chen Du took a deep breath.

He hadn't expected the medicinal effect of the lapis lazuli devouring grass to be so potent.

Chen Du could feel that the upper limit of his Life Strength talent had been raised again, and the feeling of the pool becoming wider reappeared.

But he hadn't expected his Life Strength to also increase by one Rank, which was a pleasant surprise.

Even a 0.1 Rank increase in Life Strength would make the body feel incredibly comfortable; now, with a direct 1 Rank increase, it felt incredibly exhilarating!

Then, Chen Du instinctively looked at the panel in his mind.

Name: Chen Du

Life Strength: Rank 17

Mental Energy: Rank 24.7

Basic Strength: 748,000 catties

Speed: 360 meters/second

Martial Skill: Crescent Moon Swordplay (Second Order) Entrance to the Microscopic 21%

Mental Martial Skill: War Stomp, Spirit Bell Shield, Mels Reflection (Enhanced)

Crystal Space Martial Skill: Void Immortal Contemplation Method, Life Goddesss Favor, Crystal Clone

Mystic Treasure Quantity: Eight Secret Chambers, Hand of God, Hand of Atim, Promotion, Alien

Defense Waves: 5/5 (Completed), 10/10 (Completed), 15/15 (Completed), 18/20 (Unfinished), 18/25 (Unfinished), 18/30 (Unfinished), 18/35 (Unfinished)

“Strength 748,000 catties.”

“The speed of sound is 340 meters/second. My current speed has already exceeded the speed of sound.”

“This value is roughly on par with a Sky Soaring Warrior.”

Chen Du looked at the information on the panel and muttered to himself.

This time, he looked at the panel not just to check his strength and speed, but mainly to see if he had gained any new abilities, as it was the unheard-of lapis lazuli devouring grass.

However, from the results, there were none.

But it was normal to think about it; the golden shovel only enhanced the efficacy and would not create new abilities. Being able to increase by 1 Rank was already very lucky.

A Rank 20 Sky Soaring Warrior, without considering Mystic Treasures and Star Mark, possesses a basic strength of 500,000 catties.

Calculated with 3 Mystic Treasures and 1 Star Mark.

The corresponding increase for 3 Mystic Treasures is 30%, which is 650,000.

Plus the 1,000,000 basic strength granted by 1 Star Mark.

Without considering Martial Skills, a Sky Soaring Warrior at Rank 20 typically possesses a strength of 1,650,000 catties.

The role of Mystic Treasures, besides augmenting strength and Awakening abilities corresponding to the number of Mystic Treasures, also includes the upper Rank limit of a Sky Soaring Warrior.

Each Mystic Treasure increases the upper Rank limit of a Sky Soaring Warrior by 1.

Without Mystic Treasures, the maximum Rank for a Sky Soaring Warrior is Rank 23. Of course, it's impossible not to have Mystic Treasures, so the upper Rank limit actually starts from Rank 24.

However, the upper limit is generally unattainable.

Normally, during the Martial Artist stage, a Martial Artist who awakens 5 Mystic Treasures has hope of reaching Rank 25 in their lifetime, which is an Advanced Aerial Warrior.

Those with 3 Mystic Treasures represent the largest group among Sky Soaring Warriors. Their talent or resources are limited, and their additional Mystic Treasures are usually awakened after Rank 19.

These Sky Soaring Warriors are also called ordinary Sky Soaring Warriors.

Chen Du now estimated his own strength.

After activating Promotion, his Rank would reach the limit of the Martial Artist stage, which is Rank 19.9.

Rank 19 corresponds to a strength of 250,000 catties, Rank 20 is 500,000 catties, and Rank 19.9 is 400,000 catties.

Although Rank 19.9 and Rank 20 differ by only 0.1 Rank, this 0.1 Rank is a leap in life essence, so the gap is naturally significant.

A basic strength of 400,000 catties, combined with the 340% strength increase from the Eight Secret Chambers, results in 1,760,000 catties of strength.

Although this strength exceeds the Sky Soaring Warrior strength Chen Du just estimated, one must not forget that a Martial Artist facing a Sky Soaring Warrior will have their strength suppressed by 30%.

This 1,760,000 catties of strength can only exert 1,232,000 catties in front of the opponent.

However, under normal circumstances, unless it's a truly Genius Sky Soaring Warrior, their Martial Skill level at Rank 20 would be far inferior to Chen Du's.

Especially for Sky Soaring Warriors from the Underground, reaching a Second Order Martial Skill is already considered an extraordinary Genius.

Although Martial Skills rely on practice, they also consume resources.

Chen Du's Martial Skill level is as high as Entrance to the Microscopic 21%!

This data is considered excellent even among Sky Soaring Warriors before Rank 25, and on Rank 17 Chen Du, it is Heaven-Defying.

In terms of Martial Skills, he can not only compensate for the strength gap but also for the 30% class suppression that Sky Soaring Warriors have over Advanced Martial Artists.

Of course, this refers to ordinary Sky Soaring Warriors.

Chen Du made a comprehensive calculation: his current strength could contend with a normal Sky Soaring Warrior, not an old and frail Sky Soaring Warrior like Chen Hean.

However, killing the opponent would be very difficult, as they could always run if they couldn't win, and they also had Mystic Treasure abilities and Star Mark abilities.

Chen Du glanced at his bracelet again. The time was now December 2nd, 5:05 AM. Synthesis and checking the panel had taken him two and a half minutes.

He had only covered a little over 40% of the originally estimated 10-day journey.

The increase in strength made Chen Du very happy, but he wouldn't become complacent because of it. He would continue as usual.

“Hmm?”

Just as Chen Du was about to leave, he suddenly spun around and looked up at the sky, where two rapidly approaching figures were visible.

One was Xiao Fan, who had served as his translator a few days ago, and the other Chen Du didn't recognize, but by appearance, he was also from the Dire Wolf Civilization. This person was currently flying towards him with Xiao Fan.

Undoubtedly, the other person was a Sky Soaring Warrior!