Chapter 166
Chapter 166
Ding!
[System Notification: You have received the blessing of an unknown power. Due to their exceptional compatibility, [Ruin Sword Venerable] and [Abyssal Sword Demon] have automatically fused!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Your class [Ruin Sword Venerable] has advanced into the Exclusive SSSS-Rank Class [Sword Demon Emperor]. Base HP Growth permanently increases by 3★, Base Attack Growth permanently increases by 6★, Base Defense Growth permanently increases by 3★, and Base Speed Growth permanently increases by 3★!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have learned the Abyssal Sword Demon’s exclusive skills [Abyssal Sword Qi] and [Bloodburst Art]!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Your skills [Edge-Shattering Sword Art] and [Abyssal Sword Qi] have fused and advanced into the Exclusive S-Rank Skill [Divine Abyss Sword Qi]!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Your skills [Ruin Combo] and [Bloodburst Art] have fused and advanced into the Exclusive S-Rank Skill [Ten-Direction Shadowkill]!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have learned the Sword Demon Emperor’s exclusive skill [Heavenly Meridian Sword Art] (SSS-Rank)!]
…
System chimes rang one after another.
In short, Ruin Sword Venerable and Abyssal Sword Demon had fused, and their skills had fused along with them. Zhou Ming’s base growth had increased yet again, and he had even obtained an exclusive skill.
“Whew…”
Zhou Ming slowly exhaled and opened his eyes, brimming with energy.
His strength had increased once again!
Better yet, this improvement had come without any change to his level. It had strengthened his very foundation, something that losing levels could never erase.
He then opened his class panel and examined the details.
[Flame Demon Emperor] (Exclusive SSSS-Rank Hidden Class)
[Sword Demon Emperor] (Exclusive SSSS-Rank Hidden Class)
Description: ???
HP Growth: 60★
Attack Growth: 112★
Defense Growth: 60★
Speed Growth: 60★
…
Those growth values were utterly heaven-defying!
The growth gained from fusing the two classes was part of his base values. Now that Zhou Ming had returned to above Level 80, he was back at the third class advancement stage.
His original base growth stars had to be multiplied eightfold, which naturally magnified his advantages eightfold as well!
“One level gives me 112 Attack…”
Zhou Ming was so delighted that he could not stop grinning.
Even without equipping a single item, his Base Attack would reach 11,200 at Level 100, directly surpassing that of average and lower-ranked Level 100 players.
“Now you’re truly invincible among your peers!” Ye Zhibei marveled.
“Thank you, brothers!”
Zhou Ming cupped his fists, overflowing with gratitude. “I will not betray the trust you’ve placed in me. In the future, I want the Hope Faction to represent the hopes of everyone under heaven!”
“Good!”
A sharp light flashed through Cangxuan’s eyes. “You said it yourself. You must remember those words. The Hope Faction will represent the hopes of everyone under heaven, not a handful of the privileged who divide people into ranks without ever saying so aloud!”
“You have my word!” Zhou Ming nodded solemnly.
Later, while resting in Snowflake City, Zhou Ming took out Ask the Heavens and handed it to Qianying. “Qianying, can this Sacred Weapon be strengthened again?”
“My strength is limited. I can enhance the Sacred Weapon, but I probably can’t raise its grade,” Qianying said honestly as she accepted Ask the Heavens. “However, if I expend everything I’ve accumulated over the past ten thousand years, I can guarantee it will reach the pinnacle of Sacred grade!”
“Then please do it, Qianying!”
Zhou Ming’s voice trembled. He could not suppress his excitement at all.
This time around, he felt as though he were truly about to take off!
After changing into a second SSSS-Rank class and receiving an enhanced Sacred Weapon, any so-called top player who could last three moves against him would have earned the right to brag.
Qianying dipped her head in a graceful nod. “Give me some time. This enhancement won’t be completed immediately.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Qianying.”
Zhou Ming wanted nothing more than to give her an enormous hug in encouragement. “I seriously love you so much!”
Qianying did not know whether to laugh or cry. “There’s no need to get this excited. Hurry up and calm down.”
“…”
Zhou Ming grinned foolishly for a while without answering.
Their relationship had not reached that point yet, and he did not dare express his feelings with complete seriousness.
Steady!
As Sun Tzu once said, do not act unless victory is assured; once you act, victory must be certain!
For the next two days, Zhou Ming remained in Snowflake City and studied the skills granted by Sword Demon Emperor.
[Heavenly Meridian Sword Art] (Exclusive SSS-Rank)
Description: A sword art never before passed down in the world, inherited from the Sword Demon Emperor.
Passive Effect: Base Attack +2,000, Attack +50%
Passive Effect: All sword-related skills are forcibly granted growth potential.
Active Effect: The next sword-related skill gains 1 rank when cast.
[Ten-Direction Shadowkill] (Exclusive S-Rank)
Description: Sword intent that follows like a shadow will eventually become the enemy’s nightmare.
Skill Effect: Condenses sword intent to unleash an ultra-fast combo against an enemy. Each strike deals 100% damage based on your Attack and is treated as a basic attack.
Additional Effect: The faster your Attack Speed, the more strikes the combo unleashes. Currently limited to a maximum of 10 strikes.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
(Can Grow)
[Divine Abyss Sword Qi] (Exclusive S-Rank)
Description: Only when it severs heaven and earth does Divine Abyss Sword Qi reveal its true power.
Skill: Deals 1,200% damage to enemy units within a 20 x 100 area ahead, with a very high chance of inflicting Knockback, Launch, and other effects. Damage decreases by 20% for each enemy pierced, to a minimum of 300% damage.
Cooldown: 5 minutes
(Can Grow)
…
Powerful!
Heavenly Meridian Sword Art in particular raised the Sword Demon Emperor’s ceiling to astonishing heights.
Of course, Zhou Ming knew where he stood.
Just as Ye Zhibei and Cangxuan had said, a class was only a class. He needed to control the class, not be controlled by it.
He spent those two days practicing his various skills, ensuring that he would not fumble at a critical moment and make some elementary mistake.
…
On the third day.
Hum!
At a certain moment, the ringing of a sword reached his ears.
Bound to Ask the Heavens and connected to it, Zhou Ming could clearly sense that the sword’s power had risen another level.
“It’s done!”
Qianying’s lovely face was slightly pale as she handed the enhanced Sacred Weapon back to Zhou Ming.
“My Weakened state has ended too!” Cangxuan announced, looking full of vigor.
At that moment, one of the Dwarves arrived from outside the city.
Zhou Ming put Ask the Heavens away and suppressed his urgent desire to inspect its attributes, choosing to greet the visitor first.
“Chieftain Rob said everything went smoothly and Yun An did not take offense.” The Dwarf took a complete set of equipment from his inventory. “He asked me to deliver this equipment to you.”
“Please thank the Dwarves for me.”
Zhou Ming accepted the set and said, “If you ever face any trouble, I, Zhou Ming, will certainly lend a hand!”
“All right. I’ll pass that along.”
…
After watching the Dwarf sent by Rob leave, Zhou Ming saw that Qianying intended to enhance the equipment for him again. He immediately put the set away and shook his head. “You need to rest.”
This was no longer the time when they had been isolated and helpless, forced to hide wherever they could. He could not rely on Qianying every time he obtained a piece of equipment.
Her power had to be saved for more important situations.
“…All right.”
Qianying smiled. “This equipment set has decent attributes, but it wasn’t meticulously forged from a selection of different ores. With your current strength, you won’t use it for long.”
Afterward, Zhou Ming left Snowflake City for the villagers to manage and departed for the Sakura Region with the others.
“Wh-Wh-What… What happened here?!”
The returning villagers stared at the city that had risen from the ground, dumbfounded.
Only a few days had passed, yet their tiny village had somehow become a city!
…
Ding!
[System Notification: You have entered the [Sakura Region]!]
With god-tier powerhouses helping him, the still-closed national borders could not stop Zhou Ming at all. He easily entered the Sakura Region and was about to head for its super main city to borrow the Yasakani no Magatama when his expression suddenly changed.
“What’s wrong?” The others immediately sensed the fluctuation in Zhou Ming’s emotions.
…