Chapter 138: Become Stronger, Even Stronger, and Still Stronger

"Jian Shu Jing Tong" definitely needs 50,000 allocated to it; it's a major ability and can serve as a trump card in emergencies.

But I absolutely cannot upgrade it right now. Once I break through to Jian Zong, my situation would likely become extremely dangerous.

Su Qianqian is such a genius, and even she hasn't reached Jian Zong yet. I've only been in the inner courtyard for a few days... Hmm, essentially, I'm still an outer courtyard disciple, and I've already become Jian Zong?

That would be way too conspicuous!

Even with Sang Lao backing me, it's not secure.

Besides, whether this old man is reliable is up for debate. What if he has one of his eccentric episodes and decides to capture his own disciple for dissection and research?

Xu Xiaoshou figures that possibility is actually pretty high.

So, with the remaining 50,000, who should I assign it to?

He thought it over for a long time; the rest were all on the same level, each with their own benefits, and he couldn't make up his mind.

"Hu Xi Zhi Fa?"

The others were more or less the same, so Xu Xiaoshou turned back to this most basic passive skill, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

His cultivation wasn't all that tied to the level of "Hu Xi Zhi Fa". On the surface, it seemed like the higher the passive skill level, the faster he advanced.

But in reality, it wasn't the case; it mainly depended on cultivation resources.

Absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth was an option, but it required a bunch of miscellaneous stuff every day, like Lian Ling Dan, Lian Ling Ye, Chi Jin Dan, Jin Zhao Huo Zhong...

No matter if they aided cultivation or not, every item rich in spiritual energy that entered his body would convert a portion into progress.

This meant that even though "Hu Xi Zhi Fa" wasn't at a high level, Xu Xiaoshou's realm breakthroughs were incredibly fast—so fast it was shocking.

From Lian Ling San Jing to Xian Tian, it hadn't even been a month...

Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit uneasy; if anyone looked into it, they should have noticed something was off with him.

He wasn't the Ba Jian Xian; he didn't think he had what it takes to stand against all the malicious types out there.

"Since none of them need upgrading..." Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the mall, where the passive keys had been price-hiked.

"Give it a spin?"

After the system upgrade, the first try should bring some good luck, right? He still remembered that when he first played this wheel, two or three keys would yield a passive skill.

"Maybe the new passive keys have a better drop rate—ten could get five skills!" Xu Xiaoshou perked up.

"Passive value: 238,666."

"Passive value: 188,666."

He inserted ten keys into the red wheel, clasped his hands together, and said,

"Eu Huang, attach body!"

"Again!"

"Again!"

"Again!"

"Obtained extended passive skill: Min Jie!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes bulged, nearly popping out of their sockets.

It actually dropped something!

Min Jie?!

This was the dream skill he'd always wanted!

"Min Jie... should it boost movement speed, reaction speed, body techniques, and the like?"

"Or maybe all of them?"

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't a system newbie anymore; based on the system's tendencies, each passive skill should enhance a specific main area.

In other words, the chance of it boosting everything was higher!

With just this one skill, wouldn't it be equivalent to countless body technique spirit skills and combat training for others?

"Eu Huang! I really turned into a Eu Huang!"

Xu Xiaoshou was thrilled, secretly relieved he hadn't randomly assigned points earlier. Now, with this super passive skill that could rival "Qiang Zhuang", it was like adding wings to a tiger.

He threw in ten "first-tier skill points"!

"Min Jie."

His head felt like it had been doused in six gods floral water—cool and refreshing, as if his thoughts were racing faster.

After a shiver, Xu Xiaoshou used the remaining three keys, and sure enough, nothing came out.

"Passive value: 178,666."

He realized now wasn't the time for those fixed upgrades; right after the system upgrade, the chances of new things should be juiced up a bit.

"Jue Xing Chi!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes blazed as he looked at the "Jue Xing Shi" in the mall.

One stone for 10,000 passive values!

"Let's go for it!"

Passive values deducted, a deep blue irregular stone appeared, its surface gleaming and flowing. Upon closer inspection, it was covered in the names of his "extended passive skills".

With a thought, Xu Xiaoshou left only "Qiang Zhuang" on it.

Everything he had now was built on "Qiang Zhuang", so he couldn't forget his roots.

He tossed the "Jue Xing Shi" into the "Jue Xing Chi", sending up a splash.

Subconsciously, Xu Xiaoshou checked the information bar:

10,000 passive values just went down the drain!

He gritted his teeth; his expectation was to awaken at least one with 100,000. If it went over that, he'd have to wait until he had a million to try again.

Another one!

Xu Xiaoshou's eye twitched; no buffer at all!

Keep going!

Below Hei Luo Ya, the area was deserted, but the pool suddenly bubbled up.

Xu Xiaoshou was at the bottom of the deep pool, his face flushed from holding his breath—this was his seventh attempt, still a failure!

He'd tried all the spots he thought were feng shui treasures, only the black pool bottom left.

After praying devoutly for exactly a quarter of an hour, Xu Xiaoshou threw the awakening stone again.

"Damn!"

He hurled the other stone in his hand into the Jue Xing Chi in frustration, couldn't take it anymore, and was propelled out of the black pool.

A fresh breath of air hit his nose; seizing the chance, he refreshed the information bar?

"Awakening successful!"

"Qiang Zhuang!"

Xu Xiaoshou: "!!!"

Bang bang bang!

The ground instantly sprouted a dozen big pits; Xu Xiaoshou was like a man-ape on Tai Shan, his excitement beyond words, nearly pounding his chest.

"Violent Giant—what's this thing?" His face was red as he lay in the deep pit, gripping 'Zang Ku' tightly and bending it straight into a "U" shape.

"It's fine; for this lame-naming system to come up with something so intense, the awakening effect has to be solid!"

"Wouldn't it be that I turn into a giant when I get attacked?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened in disbelief—Attack on Titan...

No, he needed to get some custom clothes made, just in case.

"Huff"

He took a deep breath, then another. Damn, get my heartbeat under control!

Forcing himself to calm down, Xu Xiaoshou climbed out of the pit.

"Passive value: 88,666."

Awakening one skill cost 90,000 passive values—still okay, within his expected range.

Xu Xiaoshou had originally planned to save 50,000 for "Jian Shu Jing Tong", but not using it was annoying; he kept wanting to spend it all.

Since he was taking it slow, he'd just leave 10,000 for it, and in critical moments, rely on a massive knowledge search to turn things around.

He turned to "Min Jie"; no doubt, this new passive skill had potential on par with "Qiang Zhuang".

"Min Jie."

His body suddenly felt light, like he was floating to the heavens; Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

He looked ahead.

Several hundred meters away—in an instant.

"Holy crap, this is straight-up teleportation!"