Chapter 175: Returns Granted [2]
Chapter 175: Returns Granted [2]
Accelerated Regeneration reached A-Rank and evolved into Hyper-Recovery.
The upgrade drastically accelerated his cellular mending speed, allowing ordinary injuries to heal almost instantly, while more severe internal strain and deep cuts closed up at a noticeably faster rate. Additionally, it provided a constant, high-speed replenishment factor to his mana pools and significantly improved his stamina recovery.
He then looked at how his body had changed.
The Golden Body Constitution had changed into the Everfrost Tyrant Body, likely because of what he had endured. His muscles and bones felt much denser, and his durability had jumped. He was pretty sure he could take down a 3rd circle monster with his bare hands now. His internal pathways were also much stronger. Circulating mana now felt as easy as breathing, and he no longer had to worry about them getting damaged during tough fights.
The active effect changed to match the new constitution. When activated, it covered his body in a layer of thick frost armor, absorbing and reflecting both physical and magical attacks.
Next was Adrenaline Burst, which had risen to A-Rank. The skill’s active duration and performance effects were significantly increased, while the severe physical crash that usually left him immobile afterward became much less intense. On the other hand, Life Force Resonance has now become B-Rank. It boosted his vitality and endurance, but he planned to give it to Ethea since he didn’t need it.
’...Finally, the new ability.’
[Core Purge (A-Rank)]
This ability allowed him to forcibly cleanse his internal system, expelling external impurities, poisons, or residual negative energy directly from his mana core. Having this on hand meant he finally had a reliable, immediate countermeasure against debilitating debuffs and underhanded status ailments like that curse effect.
’With these, I won’t be caught completely helpless next time.’ Soren tightened his fist, a subtle feeling of determination taking hold of him.
For the first time since this nightmare started, he felt a genuine flicker of hope against the enemies looming in the dark. If he continued to grow stronger at this pace, or even faster, he might actually be able to fulfill his promise to cure and protect Ethea.
Of course, to truly pull that off, he needed to reach at least the 7th circle.
Fortunately, with the complete version of the Ice Emperor’s Legacy now engraved into his mind, his path forward was clear. He no longer had to worry about how to advance his cultivation; as long as he stayed diligent and pushed his limits, reaching that peak was entirely within his grasp.
The only real catch was that the legacy stopped at the 7th circle, meaning its original creator had likely capped out at that rank. If Soren wanted to surpass that boundary down the line, he would have to forge his own path. But right now, the 8th or 9th circles were distant concepts he knew nothing about. There was no point in stressing over them yet; in fact, just thinking about them felt like a distraction from the immediate goals he needed to hit.
’Right, first things first...’
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he turned his attention back to his remaining rewards.
The first was the Sovereign Vitality Elixir. It was described as a legendary restorative capable of breathing life back into a decaying physical frame. Yet, looking at the sheer scale of Ethea’s injuries, a seed of doubt lingered in Soren’s mind. He knew it wouldn’t magically cure her completely, but he still intended to use it on her. Even if a full recovery was out of the question for now, he hoped the elixir would be potent enough to target her damaged nerves, alleviate her paralysis, and suppress the chronic pain that constantly drained her spirit.
His only real fear was the curse.
If administering such a powerful medicine accidentally triggered the dormant affliction again, things would turn ugly fast. While he could always repeat his previous method, absorbing the active corruption into his own mind and body to fight it off, there was no guarantee he would succeed a second time. The effect itself might change, or the toll might simply be too high next time.
Shaking off the grim thought, he turned his focus to the remaining two items.
The next item was the Seven-Star Soul-Nourishing Concoction, another legendary-grade reward. This one focused entirely on the mind, designed to mend and expand a person’s consciousness. If he gave this to Ethea, it would give a massive boost to her mental cultivation while building up her mental defenses, making her mind far more resilient against any future psychic attacks.
Finally, there was the Myriad Pathway Nutrient Fluid, a perfect solution formulated to treat severe pathway injuries. Without a doubt, this was also meant for Ethea. Administering it to her would act like a cooling balm on her torn mana channels, helping stop them from getting any worse and slowly restoring some basic functionality. Best of all, it could be mixed into her meals, letting her take it safely without straining her body.
Seeing how perfectly these rewards addressed her condition brought a wave of relief. He finally had a way to target the worst issues on her status sheet. However, he couldn’t rush it; feeding her everything at once would completely overwhelm her weak system. He needed to be smart about this and space the doses out carefully, giving her body and mind enough time to fully absorb each medicine before moving on to the next.
’Alright, now...’
With the rewards sorted out, Soren closed the glowing windows, leaving the room dark again. He then closed his eyes, preparing to finally begin cultivating and testing his new gains.
But before he could even start, a sharp chime rang in his mind, forcing him to reopen his eyes.
A new message had popped up in his vision.
[Investment Authority has met the requirements for an upgrade.]
Soren stared at the text, his breath catching.
His Investment Authority was the main reason he had gotten this far, turning his risky bets on others into massive returns. Up until now, it had operated on strict rules. He hadn’t expected that the authority itself could actually evolve, though. But then again, recalling those insufficient Authority warnings, it somehow made sense.
’Let’s see...’
Curious and slightly tense, he focused on the blinking notification to open the details.