Chapter 99
Chapter 99
“Ding!”
[You have consumed Heart-Cleansing Wine. Rewards: Permanent HP +1,000, Permanent Attack +80, Permanent Defense +50, Mental Attack Resistance +20%!]
“Ding!”
[You have obtained the Hidden Exclusive Quest Life on the Line!]
“Ding!”
[Server Announcement: Battle for the Summit is now underway! The generous gods have turned their attention toward skilled warriors. Gifted individuals who complete quests issued by the gods have a chance to receive a hidden-class reward! (Note: Existing hidden-class holders may not participate.)]
“Ding!”
[Register for Pinnacle Showdown (Eastern Region)?]
…
Zhou Ming: “…”
The rapid series of system chimes caught him completely off guard.
Especially the first one!
Heart-Cleansing Wine had to be the fine wine Ning Wushen gave him, yet Zhou Ming had drunk it in reality. For its power to feed back into the game was truly inconceivable.
“Power from the game can enter reality, and items in reality can take effect in the game…” Zhou Ming’s shock was beyond words.
Was this truly a game, or a real world existing elsewhere?
And if it was another world, why could monsters respawn? Why did everything operate exactly like a game?
There were too many mysteries and no answers!
Zhou Ming could only stop thinking about them and force himself to accept certain facts beyond his understanding. He focused on the immediate priority. “Ying’er, I have a scroll!”
As he spoke, he took out the mysterious scroll he had received among the siege rewards.
[Ancient Azure Covenant] (Rare SS Rank)
Description: An exceedingly ancient covenant that can bring tremendous benefits to its user.
Item Effect: After use, if the target accepts the Ancient Azure Covenant, the user may ignore all requirements and learn any one SS-Rank or lower skill from the target’s skill list. (Note: Exclusive skills cannot be learned.)
Use Cost: 800 Fame
…
“This is an exceptionally rare treasure!” Qianying appeared before Zhou Ming, her expression surprised. “You want to use it to learn one of my skills?”
Zhou Ming got straight to the point. “Do you have a way to protect someone over a long period, preferably without restricting the protected person’s freedom?”
“If protection is your sole concern, someone else’s skills might be more suitable than mine,” Qianying said after a moment’s thought.
Zhou Ming considered her words, then his eyes lit up. “You’re right!”
His concern had clouded his judgment!
He had nearly forgotten that, besides Qianying, he had a genuine defensive expert right beside him.
Not daring to delay, Zhou Ming left the courtyard of the City Lord’s Manor and headed to a side room. There, the girl born from a wondrous stone had shed her usual heavy armor and changed into a pale yellow dress. She was in the middle of a feast.
The unusual part was that she was not eating food, but a colorful assortment of stones.
“Why are you back so early today?” Renee asked in confusion when she saw Zhou Ming hurry inside.
Zhou Ming came straight to the point. “Can you teach me an especially powerful way to protect someone?”
“You want to learn from me?”
“Yes!”
“Well, well, well!”
Renee could not resist giving herself an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “Then you came to exactly the right person! I’m no expert at killing, but when it comes to protecting others, if I call myself second best, no one dares claim first. However…”
“However what?”
“Passing on knowledge takes more than a day. Would you be interested in calling me Teacher?”
“…Why don’t you demonstrate first?” Zhou Ming suggested instead of immediately producing the Ancient Azure Covenant. “If the skill impresses me, I’ll call you Master until I finish learning it!”
“Good. It’s a deal!”
Delighted by the promise, Renee immediately raised her hand. Earth-element energy condensed in her palm, connecting her to Zhou Ming.
“Ding!”
[Bedrock Sovereign · Renee has used Ancient Rock Guardian. When Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie takes damage, the other party will bear the damage in his place. The effect lasts until the skill is canceled or the transferred damage reaches 10% of the bearer’s maximum HP!]
Zhou Ming’s eyes lit up. “That’s a good skill. What rank is it?”
“S Rank!”
“…Let’s see another one.” Zhou Ming’s attitude changed instantly. “I would prefer an SS-Rank technique for my protection.”
“Think carefully. Even a once-in-a-century martial genius would need several months to perfectly master an S-Rank skill. An SS-Rank skill would take even longer.”
“I’m not afraid of taking too long. I’m afraid of learning something too weak!” Zhou Ming answered honestly.
“Good grief, no one does greed like you!”
Renee stared at him in astonishment. Then her expression turned solemn, taking on the bearing of a true master. “In that case, I shall show you your master’s true ability!”
As if determined to awe her overly ambitious disciple, she acted in earnest. A protective barrier formed around Zhou Ming, then gradually faded until it could no longer be seen with the naked eye.
“Ding!”
[Bedrock Sovereign · Renee has used Bedrock Shield. Before Flame Venerable · Zhouyou Shijie takes damage, he gains 50% of Bedrock Sovereign · Renee’s total Defense and immediately deals 600% Attack damage to the enemy unit. Duration: 20 minutes after the skill is triggered!]
“As expected of the Bedrock Sovereign. You possess genuine skill!”
Zhou Ming was completely tempted.
The essence of Bedrock Shield was that it protected the person he wanted to keep safe while counterattacking the enemy and eliminating the threat in the same motion.
After all, even if another adventurer could bring power into reality right now, they could never withstand Zhou Ming’s Attack, much less an attack with a staggering 600% multiplier.
“Well? Want to learn it?” Renee practically floated from his praise. “With my guidance, I guarantee you’ll achieve mastery within two years!”
“Xiaoyou!”
Zhou Ming pulled the scroll from his inventory and tossed it into the air.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
Xuanniao immediately understood. With one flap of its wings, it knocked the scroll back into Zhou Ming’s hands.
“Ding!”
[Under the effect of Celestial Spirit Beast · Xiaoyou’s Super Lucky Star, your item Ancient Azure Covenant (Rare SS Rank) has advanced to SSS Rank!]
Zhou Ming was lightning-fast!
With a smack, he unfurled the scroll.
Whoosh!
Golden light flowed across it as the scroll floated into the air by itself.
“Ding!”
[You have spent 800 Fame and used Ancient Azure Covenant (SSS Rank). After obtaining the target’s consent, you may ignore all requirements and learn any one SSS-Rank or lower skill from their skill list!]
Zhou Ming placed one hand on the scroll and looked at Renee. “Teacher Renee, could you put your hand on the scroll? Just for a moment!”
The smile gradually vanished from her face. “Have you considered that this isn’t called learning from a master? It’s called stealing one?”
Ignore every requirement and learn any one SSS-Rank or lower skill!
Where was the process?
There were no steps, no independent reasoning, just the answer handed over directly. What teacher could accept that kind of behavior?
“I don’t have another choice!”
Zhou Ming gave Renee a brief account of what had happened to him in reality.
“I see. Then I have nothing more to say.”
Renee understood and placed her hand on the scroll.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Renee’s skill list appeared before Zhou Ming.
“Ding!”
[Learn Bedrock Shield (SSS Rank)?]
“Yes!”
Zhou Ming’s heart raced.
Through Xuanniao and Ancient Azure Covenant, he had obtained an SSS-Rank skill with ridiculous ease.
He had hit the jackpot!
“Ding!”
[Congratulations! You have successfully learned Bedrock Shield (SSS Rank)!]
“Ding!”
[You are the first adventurer in Destiny to master an SSS-Rank skill. Rewards: Free Attribute Points +100, Luck +5!]
…