Not long after leaving the Attribute Enhancement Chamber, Mu Bei received 30,000 paradise coins and a skill scroll sent by A Ling.
These paradise coins and the skill scroll were exchanged by A Ling using the 32 attribute crystals Mu Bei had provided earlier.
Furthermore, upon learning that Mu Bei needed a Contractor with high luck to help with opening boxes, a representative from that large merchant guild proactively told A Ling:
Their merchant guild had many Contractors known for their luck, and the box-opening service they provided would definitely satisfy Mu Bei.
This representative also specifically asked A Ling to send Mu Bei his regards and hoped to schedule a time to meet.
Mu Bei agreed to meet the other party and set the time for three days later.
...
Skill Name: Ground Shatter
Skill Source: Elden Ring, The Badlands
Skill Quality: Gold
Skill Type: Active Skill
Skill Effect: Consumes 100 Mana, stomps the ground, dealing (200 + Strength × 2) shock-type physical damage to all targets within a 11m radius, 121° fan-shaped area in front. Ignores damage blocking from target's armor, dealing damage directly to the target's body, and includes a Constitution attribute check. Targets that fail the check will enter a stunned state for 1~3 seconds.
Cooldown Time: 5 seconds
Learning Requirements: Strength attribute reaches 100 points, Constitution attribute reaches 100 points.
Learning Method: After tearing the skill scroll, obtain 【Active Skill: Ground Shatter, LV.1】.
Evaluation: Strength, that is why I am a king.
Rating: 600
Price: 56,000 paradise coins
...
This was the scroll Mu Bei bought for 200,000 paradise coins.
Don't think that because the information on the scroll lists the price as 56,000 paradise coins, Mu Bei was taken for a fool and ripped off.
56,000 paradise coins is actually the Paradise's recovery price for this scroll, equivalent to the cost price.
If no Contractor is willing to purchase this skill scroll, the owner of this scroll can also sell the scroll to the Paradise at the cost price.
The market price for this scroll fluctuates between 200,000 and 220,000. The 200,000 Mu Bei spent wasn't really being ripped off; on the contrary, it was a slight gain.
Mu Bei chose this scroll because he urgently needed an AOE skill to clear out mobs.
In the Derivative World - Apocalypse Frenzy, Mu Bei was once surrounded by tens of thousands of Zombies. If not for the crushing Constitution attribute that made the Zombies' attacks almost unable to break through his defense, he might have been slowly worn down and died.
However, Mu Bei's next mission World will include an attribute barrier breakthrough assessment, with an additional increase in World difficulty. The mobs there will definitely not be a disorganized rabble like the Zombies, and facing groups of enemies without a powerful AOE skill will be very tricky.
However, after obtaining this scroll, just as Mu Bei was about to tear it open to learn the skill, the Paradise sent a prompt:
【You can learn this skill, but due to your skill 'Entropy Increase Power' destroying 'Order', this skill scroll cannot form a stable energy circuit for 'Active Skill: Ground Shatter' within your body.】
【This causes you to permanently lose this skill within 60~70 seconds after obtaining 'Active Skill: Ground Shatter'.】
“This, there must be a solution, right?”
【Solutions are as follows: ...】
...
Through the Paradise's solutions, Mu Bei learned that there are two different ways to master skills:
The first method - Direct Engraving
This method is the simplest; just tear the scroll. Contractors do not need to understand the principles behind the skill; the scroll will directly engrave the skill's energy circuit within the Contractor's body.
Once the skill needs to be used, simply consume Mana to activate the energy circuit. However, if the energy circuit is activated frequently in a short period, its stability will decrease, or the skill may even be permanently damaged.
Therefore, active skills learned this way will have a CD (Cooldown), which is essentially a cooling time to protect the energy circuit.
Pros: Low learning cost, easy to get started;
Cons: Low skill cap, limited by CD.
The second method - Deep Mastery
This method is more costly. Contractors need to go to the Skill Upgrade Chamber and pay Soul Crystal · Small and a large amount of paradise coins to truly understand the skill's principles and grasp its essence.
Through this method, Contractors do not need to engrave an energy circuit within their bodies, so the skill is no longer limited by CD. As long as the body can withstand it and the Mana is sufficient, the skill can be used as desired.
Pros: High skill cap, allows for free innovation and modification, no cooldown time;
Cons: High learning cost.
After understanding the above information, Mu Bei unhesitatingly chose the second method.
...
Upon entering the Skill Enhancement Hall, Mu Bei's vision blurred again.
After each Contractor enters the Skill Enhancement Hall, they are randomly teleported into an independent Skill Enhancement Chamber and can only use it after paying the activation fee. This is similar to the Attribute Enhancement Hall.
When Mu Bei recovered, he found himself in a square metal compartment of about 25 square meters. The surrounding walls were iron-gray, thick and solid, giving off a sense of sturdiness and reliability.
There were no chairs in the chamber, only a suspended screen displaying information:
【Please pay 100 paradise coins as the activation fee for the Skill Enhancement Chamber first.】
Mu Bei paid 100 paradise coins according to the prompt on the screen, and then heard clicking sounds of mechanical operation from all around.
【Contractors can upgrade/advance/master skills in the Skill Upgrade Chamber.】
【Currently available skills for upgrade/advancement are as follows:】
Skill 1: Entropy Increase Power, LV.1
Skill 2: Elementary Undying Trait, LV.MAX
Skill 4: Melee Combat Proficiency, LV.5
Skill 5: Basic Firearms, LV.8
Skill 6: Source of Body, LV.1
...
Mu Bei took out the 【Ground Shatter】 skill scroll from his storage space, and the screen immediately updated the information:
【If the Contractor wants to obtain the active skill 'Ground Shatter', just tear the scroll.】
【If the Contractor wants to learn 'Ground Shatter', they need to pay Soul Crystal · Small × 6, paradise coins × 60000.】
The Paradise recovery price for Soul Crystal · Small is only 400 paradise coins.
However, due to its rarity, Soul Crystal · Small is often snapped up by Contractors even when the price is tenfold in the market, making it a commodity with price but no market.
Mu Bei chose "Learn", and the scroll in his hand instantly disappeared when he made the choice.
The next moment, spatial fluctuations came, and Mu Bei's vision blurred again.
After recovering, he found himself in an environment with endless yellow sand and almost no vegetation on the ground.
Through the Contractor's Mark, Mu Bei knew that he was currently in the Paradise Trial Ground, and the current environment was simulated.
Just as Mu Bei was feeling puzzled, a small object flew out from his storage space, then shattered in the air, releasing extremely pure soul energy.
Under the great power of the Paradise, the soul energy from the small object quickly formed a tall and sturdy humanoid phantom.
The humanoid phantom was extremely tall, estimated by Mu Bei to be close to 2.8m, with wild long hair and a thick beard. The upper body was not wearing any clothes, revealing bulging muscles and crisscrossing scars. The lower body was wearing clothes and shoes made of the skin of some unknown ferocious beast.
The next second, the humanoid phantom opened its eyes and met Mu Bei's gaze.
An extremely wild aura rushed towards him, and Mu Bei subconsciously took a step back.
A nearly tangible sense of oppression came over him, as if what he was looking at wasn't a person, but a ferocious beast, a ferocious beast that could take his life at any moment!
【Hollier Rowe's soul phantom has been generated. The phantom will last for 12 seconds.】
“Order Paradise... is it the greater will? Forget it, I can't keep this memory anyway.”
“My name is, Hollier Rowe, a warrior!”
After the phantom of Hollier Rowe finished speaking, he rushed towards Mu Bei, who subconsciously blocked with his arm.
But it was useless; the soul of Hollier Rowe entered Mu Bei's body.
At the same time, countless metal puppets suddenly emerged from the barren sandy ground around them, holding various cold weapons, and rushed towards Mu Bei.
Mu Bei instantly lost control of his body, which was completely taken over by the soul phantom of Hollier Rowe;
But at the same time, Mu Bei's perception of the outside world and his own body was enhanced by who knows how many times.
“Kid, feel the true 'Ground Shatter'!”
Under the control of Hollier Rowe, Mu Bei's body slowly lifted his right leg, and then brought it down violently.
The moment Mu Bei's right foot touched the ground, an invisible shockwave spread rapidly outwards from Mu Bei as the center.
The ground could not withstand this extremely savage force, and huge cracks appeared, starting from Mu Bei;
On the ground, countless metal puppets rushing towards Mu Bei instantly shattered into pieces, turning into piles of parts and scrap metal, when they were affected by this enormous force.
“Goodbye, kid.”
The duration of the soul phantom was over, and Hollier Rowe said goodbye to Mu Bei, but the latter was still immersed in the lingering aftereffects of that single 'Ground Shatter' strike, unable to extricate himself:
This... is this really a move that can be performed with my body?
It was simply, too wonderful.
After the soul phantom of Hollier Rowe completely dissipated, Mu Bei returned to the Skill Upgrade Chamber.
【Passive Skill 'Melee Combat Proficiency, LV5' has been advanced to 'Close Combat Mastery, LV.1'.】
【'Ground Shatter' has become an auxiliary skill of 'Close Combat Mastery, LV.1'.】
...
Skill 4, Close Combat Mastery, LV.1:
Skill Effect (Passive): Melee damage increased by 22%, Melee Combat Proficiency greatly increased.
Auxiliary Skill 1, Ground Shatter, LV.7:
Skill Effect (Active): Consumes at least 30 Mana, stomps the ground, dealing (Mana consumed × 2.7 + Distortion - Force × 3) shock-type physical damage to all targets within a 17m radius, 121° fan-shaped area in front. Ignores damage blocking from target's armor, dealing damage directly to the target's body, and includes a Constitution attribute check. Targets that fail the check will enter a stunned state for 1~3 seconds.
(Note! Please control the amount of Mana consumed when casting 'Ground Shatter'. Consuming too much Mana in a single instance will cause damage to the body.)
...