I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

CHAPTER 270: Patterns of Power: Gold vs. Silver and Beyond

Lu Ming absorbed the information, his mind working through the implications. “So, the [Foundation of Matter] gold pattern is of a higher level than the [Source of Mystic] silver patterns?” he asked.

Esek nodded thoughtfully. “Generally speaking, yes. However, there are exceptions. Some exceptionally powerful Source Silver Patterns, created through extraordinary Origin Power techniques, may rival or even surpass Gold Patterns in strength. It all depends on the individual’s cultivation and circumstances.”

Understanding this, Lu Ming inquired further, “Are these the only types of mystical patterns?”

“No,” Esek replied. “There’s another type called the Eye of Flesh and Blood.”

“The Eye of Flesh and Blood?” Lu Ming echoed, intrigued.

“Yes,” Esek continued, his tone carrying a note of reverence. “It’s the most formidable mystical pattern, born from breaking through the restrictions of the rules with sheer physical strength. The Eye of Flesh and Blood represents the pinnacle of physical prowess.”

Esek sighed slightly, adding, “However, obtaining the Eye of Flesh and Blood is nearly impossible for ordinary people. The physical strength required to create it is extraordinarily high. Until one reaches that level, the benefits of Body Forging techniques are overshadowed by those of Origin Power Skills. This is why few pursue this path.”

Previously, Flame Heart Yanxin had mentioned that from the Spirit Realm onward, practitioners focused less on physical strength and more on Origin power control. This was true for both the Origin Realm and the Ancient Realm.

The arduous conditions required to cultivate the [Eye of Flesh and Blood] made it clear why it was so rare. Even with Lu Ming’s considerable physical strength, the Eye had not manifested, underscoring the extreme difficulty of its creation.

Lu Ming pondered this, reflecting on the vast differences between the various mystical patterns and their implications for his own journey in the Ancient Realm.

In essence, it was more practical for Ancient Realm experts to focus on enhancing their physical attributes and using that strength to cultivate Origin Power skills. Although advancing an Origin Power skill to the Divine level was a lengthy process requiring extensive combat experience and battle insights, it was far more efficient than trying to achieve the [Eye of Flesh and Blood].

The time needed to cultivate a hundred [Source of Mystic] patterns might not even ensure the creation of a single [Eye of Flesh and Blood], and the disparity in power between the two was not as immense as a hundredfold.

Lu Ming absorbed this information, nodding in understanding. After a moment of contemplation, he posed another question. “Mr. Esek, I have one more query.”

“Go ahead,” Esek encouraged.

Lu Ming hesitated briefly before speaking. “If, hypothetically, someone were to cultivate a significant number of Origin Power Skills from the Mortal Realm and Physique Realm to the Divine level, could they potentially obtain the [Source of Mystic] silver patterns?”

Esek appeared taken aback, pondering the question seriously before responding. “It’s probably possible…” His tone reflected uncertainty.

He continued, “The key to obtaining the Source of Mystic silver patterns lies in deepening one's comprehension of a particular Origin Power skill. Origin Realm and Ancient Realm Origin Power skills touch upon the essence of Origin Power, which can lead to the acquisition of Source of Mystic patterns. However, Origin Power skills below the Spirit Realm lack knowledge of the Dao's, making it quite difficult to grasp the essence of Origin Power from them.”

The conversation revealed the complexities and nuances of mystical patterns in the Ancient Realm, highlighting the challenges and considerations that came with each level of cultivation.

“But it’s not impossible that a quantitative change could lead to a qualitative shift. After all, all Origin Power skills are interconnected, and ultimately, they all lead to the same source.”

Esek’s statement made sense, yet the practical application of this theory had never been tested. The time required for a normal person to cultivate 10 to 20 low-level Origin Power skills to the Divine level was impractically long. Even for someone exceptionally talented who could rapidly advance through these skills, why would they waste their efforts on lower-level skills when they could focus on more advanced ones?

After Esek’s explanation, Lu Ming pondered for a moment before asking, “If someone were to indeed obtain the Source of Mystic silver patterns through this method, but their strength was only at the Spirit Realm or even lower, could they still be considered an Ancient Realm expert?”

Esek’s brows furrowed at the question. He regarded Lu Ming with a puzzled expression and whispered, “Brother Lu, don’t tell me you…”

Lu Ming chuckled and quickly replied, “Of course, I’m not that kind of person. It’s merely a hypothetical scenario, understand?”

Esek shrugged, choosing not to delve further, and responded, “Yes, I understand.”

He continued, “Such individuals do exist, though they are not those who obtained Source of Mystic silver patterns by cultivating numerous low-level Origin Power skills. Instead, some exceptionally talented individuals learn advanced Origin Power skills from the Origin Realm or Ancient Realm experts, allowing them to ascend directly to the Ancient Realm.”

“There are even some exceedingly rare treasures capable of enabling ordinary people to obtain the Fundamental of Matter, allowing them to leap from being mere mortals to the Ancient Realm in a single step.”

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in his voice. “Then, what is the significance of the Spirit Realm and the Origin Realm? If there’s a direct path to the Ancient Realm, what purpose do the lower levels serve?”

Esek shook his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. “What significance does the Ancient Realm hold for the gods?”

He continued, “In essence, the Mortal realm, Physique realm, Spirit realm, Origin realm, and Ancient Realms represent a step-by-step progression through the Superpower System. The paths we’ve discussed are merely shortcuts. Both can lead to the Ancient Realm, but these shortcuts are difficult and inaccessible to most.”

Lu Ming nodded thoughtfully, understanding the distinction. “That makes sense. geniuses and fortunate individuals might follow a different path compared to ordinary people, and the two can’t be directly compared.”

“Exactly,” Esek agreed. “Now, as for assessing levels within the Ancient Realm…”

Esek explained, “Levels within the Ancient Realm are determined by the number of mystical patterns one possesses. 1-9 mystical patterns constitute Level One of the Ancient Realm. 10-19 mystical patterns make up Level Two. And so forth.

“There is no upper limit to the number of mystical patterns one can possess. Once an individual has more than 90 mystical patterns, they are considered to be at the quasi-Divine level.”

Esek paused, his expression serious. “However, this is just a general guideline. The true strength of an Ancient Realm expert cannot be fully evaluated by the number alone. The nature of the mystical patterns varies, and even patterns of the same type can differ in power.

“In fact, a Level Nine Ancient Realm expert may not necessarily be stronger than a Level One expert with unique circumstances.”

Esek let out a sigh, a hint of resignation in his voice. “Therefore, there's another saying. Regardless of the number of mystical patterns one possesses, if they can defeat the combined forces of three Level Nine Ancient Realm experts, they can be considered quasi-Divine level experts.”

He continued, “In essence, the Ancient Realm is the pinnacle of the Origin Power in the known Superpower System. The rules and regulations are far more complex than those below the Ancient Realm, and the gap in combat strength is significantly larger.”

Lu Ming nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the explanation.

After a brief pause, Lu Ming spoke up. “One last request.”

Esek’s expression shifted to a smile. “Please, go on.”

“I wish to test the strength of my mystical patterns.”

Esek was momentarily taken aback. As he noticed Lu Ming’s intense focus on his mystical patterns, he understood the request.

Esek hesitated for a moment before replying, “It’s possible, but be aware that the difference between gold and silver patterns is considerable. My foundational mystical patterns are akin to the poison of zombie beasts… Using me as a test subject could be dangerously unpredictable.”

Lu Ming remained silent. With a swift motion, he broke The Queen of Blade’s neck. He discarded her lifeless body aside and ignored the Golden Cicada that had begun to flutter away once more. He then stood, respectfully bowing to Esek.

“I will bear all consequences myself.”

Faced with Lu Ming’s unwavering determination, Esek nodded slightly.

“Very well.”

Esek opened his mouth, and as the golden pattern on the back of his hand shimmered, a wisp of purple mist emerged and enveloped Lu Ming’s body.

End of Chapter 270