25 Breakthrough (1/2)
'White Screen, how do I increase my mental energy?'
As usual, a white screen appeared in front of Shi Li's face, answering his question.
~~~~~~~~
Price needed to pay: Reach cultivation realm of D-2 (Second Stage of Skin Tempering)
Item in exchange: 50% increase in mental energy, 20% increased mental energy efficiency
~~~~~~~~
'Well, that's quite pretty straightforward. I wasn't really expecting to just reach the Second Stage of Skin Tempering as the price, I was expecting something along the lines of exchanging items for it. Or exchanging part of my lifespan for it. Or even a limb or two for it.'
Shi Li couldn't help but notice the truth. 'It seems I've become too reliant on the eye to progress.'
Before he obtained the eye, he met his bloodline's progenitor in a dream, explaining what it could do and so on.
'All those bestowed with the eye become amazing and powerful figures in the future, according to him. But all of that was possible probably because they became too reliant on the eye.'
Before Shi Li was killed in that dream, the progenitor specifically said to not let the eyes consume him.
'But it seems I was getting consumed anyway. With the functions it could give, how could one not becoming reliant on it?' Shi Li sighed inwardly.
'In the end, it is quite hard to not rely on the eye in certain situations. Or does the consume part mean something else?' This question was pushed to the back of his mind as he knew he might ask this question again in the future.
'Anyways, it seems that I finally have a short goal to reach, including the becoming a middle Ascended Mortal to crush the Huang clan.'
...
After an hour of rest, Shi Li felt that his mental energy was recovered to a sufficient level and sat up. Moddy saw this and asked, ”Are we going to hunt-nya?”
Shi Li nodded as he stood up and wiped off the dirt on his clothes. He then took out a ration from his bag and ate it. Not long after, he sipped a bit of water as well.
”We are. I'm going to have to polish my skills even more.”
Shi Li turned around and walked towards the barrier, letting Moddy follow him behind.
...
Huang clan, Huang Tiankong's room.
Just a few hours after Shi Xingwan obtained a refined grade pill, an attendant hurriedly ran towards Huang Tiankong's room and opened the door with the pill on its hand tightly gripped.
”Patriarch, patriarch! Great news! Great news!”
Huang Tiankong who was circulating his qi through his meridians, opened his eyes as he looked at the attendant.
”Oh? What's the great news?”
The attendant kneeled down and bowed his head as he extended his arms to reveal the beautiful yellow pill.
”Patriarch, we have successfully bought the exquisite grade Shackle Ascension Pill! But we had to pay 1000 more gold coins than the original price due to its high demand.”
Hearing that the exquisite grade pill was bought by the clan, Huang Tiankong stood up and laughed loudly. ”Hahaha! Great news! Great news indeed! The extra 1000 gold coins you used doesn't matter at all! As long as we have our hands on this pill, we shall become the strongest clan in Verdant Breeze Town!”
Tiankong grabbed the pill from the attendant's hands and used his qi to bring a jade box close to him. He placed the pill in the jade box and closed it shut, afraid of its medicinal energy lessening.
He then said to the attendant, ”Since you've given me this pill, go ahead and grab a High Human martial technique from the clan library, I'm feeling generous today!”
The attendant's eyes glistened with joy as he continuously bowed multiple times in front of Huang Tiankong.
”Many thanks to the Patriarch! Many thanks to the Patriarch!”
Huang Tiankong laughed as he waved his hand. ”Haha! Go on, go on. Go and leave me be.”
The attendant hurriedly stood up and bowed one more time before leaving Huang Tiankong's room.
Huang Tiankong let out a sigh of relief as he looked at the jade box with glee.
”The Shackle Ascension Pill...is now mine. I have a 45% chance to break through to the Ascended Mortal realm. Normally, with my qi focused onto one point, I would have a 20% chance to break through. So with both combined, I would have a 65% chance to break through!”
This notion made him laugh even louder than before, as this was possibly the highest chance he could get in this town. Of course, if he went to a city, his chances would be even higher but the cost would also be higher.
”I've decided. In two weeks time, I shall go through a secluded breakthrough and hope for the best.”