NOVEL ONLINE FREE CHAPTER 254
Chapter 254: A New Rhythm
With Zhang Chengcheng and the others gone, a sense of quietude settled over Lu Ming's surroundings. The solitude suited him; the fewer distractions, the better.
Occasionally, memories of Zhang Chengcheng's tearful smile would flit through his mind. But he pushed them aside, focusing on his primary goal: cultivation.
Roda, as the City Lord, ensured Lu Ming's needs were met, his servants providing meals and attending to his daily needs.
And then there was Roxin...
The young Aeonian woman had been seeking him out more frequently, often engaging him in conversations that seemed to subtly probe for information about Zhang Chengcheng. Lu Ming suspected she had figured out their connection.
Roxin's presence added a touch of warmth to Lu Ming's otherwise solitary existence, but his priority remained unwavering.
Day 240 of the Black Mist Calendar
Deep within the Void Space, Lu Ming completed another cycle of the Flame Body Forging Technique. Heat coursed through his powerful body, and in the outside world, a fist-sized Flame Stone turned to dull gray.
"Finally, some progress," Lu Ming thought with a satisfied exhale. His Body Forging Technique had leveled up.
With the twenty-four-fold time dilation in the Void Space, he had managed to reach the next stage in just a few days.
"Now, with renewed focus and determination, it's time to push even further."
He opened his attribute panel, his eyes scanning the updated information.
Name: Lu Ming
Level: Physique Realm, Level 5
Strength: 84,300
Physique: 84,300
Agility: 84,300
Free Attribute Points: 52,300
Divine Origin Points: 44
[Flame Body Forging Technique (Master 0/10,000): Physique Realm Body Forging Technique. This secret technique requires the assistance of Flamestones during cultivation. Only when the power of flame enters the body can one temper the physique!]
[You have mastered the cultivation of the Flame Body Forging Technique. At the Master stage, each cycle will increase your three-dimensional attributes by 10 points and grant you 10 free attribute points. It also consumes one unit of Flame Stone.]
The attribute gains from mastery had doubled, from 2 to 5 points per cycle.
At the Master stage, each cycle of the Flame Body Forging Technique granted Lu Ming 10 points across all attributes, significantly boosting his efficiency in attribute farming.
Lu Ming emerged from the Void Space, stretching his limbs and savoring the newfound power coursing through him. After a quick meal and a refreshing wash, he instructed his servants to continue procuring Flame Stones, ensuring a steady supply for his cultivation.
"Any news from the city?" he inquired.
"All is quiet, Master Lu," one of the servants reported. "With Lord Roda, Uncle Lu, and Quan Chao overseeing things, Archean City remains stable. As for the rumors of war that Elder He Qing mentioned, there's still no sign of it."
"For now," Lu Ming thought, a hint of unease lingering beneath his satisfaction. "But for how long?"
"Still, I should have some decent time for development."
Muttering to himself, Lu Ming returned to the Void Space to continue his cultivation.
Day 243 of the Black Mist Calendar
Within the ethereal expanse of the Void Space, Lu Ming's body flickered with alternating red and blue light. The vibrant hues pulsed and danced across his form, creating an otherworldly spectacle. Gradually, the two-colored light dimmed, retracting into Lu Ming's body like wisps of smoke absorbed into the night sky.
"It's done..." Lu Ming opened his eyes, a long, satisfied breath escaping his lips.
He had mastered the Divine Fire Shield, a Physique Realm Body Protection Technique, to its highest level—Divine.
[Divine Fire Shield (Divine): Physique Realm Protective Technique. Its defense is slightly weak, but it can counter-injure the enemy. You have already cultivated the Divine Fire Shield to a near-perfect level, close to the Dao!]
[You have grasped the Divine Fire Shield of the Divine level. All your attributes +1,000, and your free attribute points +1,000!]
[Additional Special Effect: Defense Enhancement: Largely increases the defense of the Divine Fire Shield!]
The journey from Perfect to Micro level with the Divine Fire Shield had yielded a substantial 150 attribute points. Then, the leap to the Divine level granted another 800 points across all attributes. Coupled with the previous 50, Lu Ming had reaped a grand total of 1,000 attribute points and 1,000 free attribute points from cultivating a single Physique Realm Origin Skill to perfection!
A wave of satisfaction washed over him. He had pushed his limits and emerged stronger, his resolve fortified. This is just the beginning, he thought, a determined glint in his eyes. There are even greater heights to reach.
Of course, attributes weren't the only reward. The true prize lay in the additional effects unlocked by mastering an Origin Skill to the Divine level.
[You have unlocked the following benefits from the Divine Fire Shield:
- Your cultivation speed for the next level of the same type of Origin Skill (Physique Realm Protective Technique) will increase by tenfold!
- The Divine Fire Shield has become your divine power, your instinct! It will permanently provide an eternal effect of burning with flame energy for your body protection techniques!]
This was exactly what Lu Ming had been striving for.
"Increased cultivation speed, and the special effect of burning with flames..." he mused, a smile playing on his lips.
This meant that when he cultivated his next Body Protection technique, it would inherit both the Defense Enhancement and Flame Force Burning effects.
Lu Ming had already experienced the benefits of Defense Enhancement. He had no doubt that Flame Force Burning would be equally potent.
"As I continue to cultivate and master more Origin Skills to the Divine level, their power will grow exponentially!" Lu Ming realized with growing excitement. "Each one comes with an additional special effect. Soon, my Origin Skills will possess a multitude of special effects, and that alone will be enough to crush most enemies."
"Therefore," he concluded, "despite the lower attribute gains compared to Body Forging techniques, offensive Origin Skills possess immense cultivation value."
Strength was a combination of power and skill. Power was the raw attributes, while skills were the techniques that harnessed and refined that power. Li De and Flame Heart had both demonstrated to Lu Ming that possessing strength without skill would only make one a target.
Of course, Lu Ming could choose to focus solely on accumulating raw power, disregarding skills entirely. As someone with the system's aid, that was certainly an option.
But he knew better.
"It's better to have both hands strong," he mused. "Without weaknesses, I can handle any situation, any challenge."
With renewed determination, Lu Ming left the Void Space and returned to the physical world.
He stood up from his mat, walked to his bed, and retrieved the treasure chest hidden beneath it. He opened the lid, revealing a cascade of Origin Skill inheritance orbs.
"So, what should I choose for my third body protective technique?" he wondered aloud.
Initially, he considered a Spirit Realm Body Protection Technique. After all, higher-level Origin Skills meant greater combat effectiveness. And with the Divine Fire Shield already at the Divine level, the cultivation speed boost would make mastering a Spirit Realm technique a relatively quick process.
However, as he sifted through the orbs, a frown creased his brow.
"This isn't ideal..."
He had overlooked a crucial detail.
"Almost all Spirit Realm Origin Skills, not just protective techniques, require Spiritual Pressure to unleash their full potential. And I don't have Spiritual Pressure."
This didn't mean he couldn't cultivate and use high-level Origin Skills, but their effects would be significantly weaker. They might be slightly better than Physique Realm skills, but their superiority would be limited.
For most, pursuing higher-level Origin Skills would be the obvious choice. Stronger was always better. But Lu Ming thought differently.
"For me," he reasoned, "the efficiency of attribute acquisition is key. When I cultivated Physique Realm Origin Skills in the Mortal Realm, the attribute gains were far lower than when I cultivated them in the Physique Realm."
He suspected that upon advancing to the Spirit Realm, the system would update once again.
"So, for now, it's more beneficial to continue cultivating Physique Realm Origin Skills."
After careful deliberation, Lu Ming nodded decisively. "Physique Realm Origin Skills it is. It doesn't matter anyway. As long as I can gain attributes and unlock special effects, I'm on the right track."
He picked up an Origin Skill inheritance orb, and his consciousness plunged into the luminous depths within.
End of Chapter 254