Chapter 138: Become Stronger and Stronger

"Swordsmanship Mastery" would definitely need 50,000 passive points. It was a major skill and could even serve as a trump card when necessary.

However, he absolutely couldn't activate it now. If he were to break through to the Sword Master realm, his situation would likely become very dangerous. Even a genius like Su Qianqian hadn't yet reached the Sword Master realm. He had only been in the inner courtyard for a few days—well, he was essentially still an outer courtyard disciple. How could he become a Sword Master already? It would be too conspicuous! Even with Elder Sang backing him, it wasn't safe enough. What's more, there was no guarantee that the old man was stable. What if he went crazy and decided to dissect his own disciple for research? Xu Xiaoshou felt this possibility was rather high.

So, with another 50,000 points remaining, who should he give them to? He pondered for a long time. The remaining skills were all equally useful in their own ways, leaving him indecisive.

"Breathing Technique?" Since the others were all similar, Xu Xiaoshou could only return to this most fundamental passive skill, but he quickly dismissed it. His cultivation actually had little to do with the level of "Breathing Technique." On the surface, it seemed that the higher the passive skill level, the faster he leveled up. But in reality, this wasn't the case; it mainly depended on cultivation resources. Absorbing spiritual energy alone was fine, but he also needed various miscellaneous items every day, such as Spirit Refining Pills, Spirit Refining Liquid, Scarlet Gold Pills, Emberlight Fire Seeds... Regardless of whether they aided cultivation, a portion of every spirit-rich item absorbed into his body was converted into cultivation. This meant that even though his "Breathing Technique" level wasn't high, Xu Xiaoshou's realm breakthroughs were incredibly fast, almost astonishingly so.

From the third stage of Spirit Refining to Xiantian (Innate), it hadn't even been a month, had it...? Xu Xiaoshou felt a little uneasy. If someone really thought about it, they'd realize something was off about him. He wasn't the Eighth Sword Immortal; he didn't believe he had the capital to contend with everyone harboring malicious intentions.

"Since none of them need upgrading..." Xu Xiaoshou looked at the shop, where passive keys were now more expensive. "Want to play a round?" After the system upgrade, the first try would surely bring some good luck. He remembered that when he first played this roulette, he could get a passive skill with just two or three keys. "Perhaps the new passive keys have increased the drop rate; maybe ten keys can yield five skills!" Xu Xiaoshou's spirits lifted.

"Passive points: 238,666.""Passive points: 188,666."

Ten keys were inserted into the red roulette. Xu Xiaoshou clasped his hands together and muttered, "Lucky Emperor, possess me!""Another key!""Another key!""Another key!""Obtained extended passive skill: Agility!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes bulged, almost popping out of their sockets. It actually dropped! Agility?! This was a dream divine skill! "For Agility... it should increase movement speed, reaction speed, movement techniques, and such?" "Or does it increase everything?" Xu Xiaoshou was no longer new to the system. Given its usual behavior, each passive skill should enhance a specific broad aspect. In other words, it was more likely to enhance everything! So, wouldn't this single skill of his be equivalent to countless movement spiritual techniques and combat awareness training for others? "Lucky Emperor! I've truly become a Lucky Emperor!" Xu Xiaoshou was filled with excitement, secretly glad that he hadn't recklessly allocated points earlier. Now, he had a super passive skill that could almost rival "Strengthening," truly adding wings to a tiger.

Ten "Tier 1 Skill Points" charged!"Agility."

His head felt as if it had been doused with Florida Water, completely cool, and his thoughts seemed to race much faster. After a shiver, Xu Xiaoshou used the remaining three keys, and as expected, nothing was gained.

"Passive points: 178,666."

He finally understood that he shouldn't focus on fixed point allocations now. The system had just been upgraded, so the probability of new items appearing would definitely be higher.

"Awakening Pool!" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes blazed like fireworks as he looked at the "Awakening Stone" in the shop. One stone, 10,000 passive points! "Let's do it!"

After the passive points were deducted, an irregular azure stone appeared, its surface shimmering. Upon closer inspection, it was covered with the names of all the "extended passive skills" he possessed. With a thought, only "Strengthening" remained on it. Everything he had now was achieved thanks to "Strengthening"; of course, he couldn't forget his roots. He threw the "Awakening Stone" into the "Awakening Pool," causing water to splash. Xu Xiaoshou subconsciously looked at the information bar: 10,000 passive points just went down the drain! He endured. His mental expectation was at least one awakening per 100,000 points. If it exceeded that limit, he'd have to wait until he had a million passive points before trying again.

Another stone! Xu Xiaoshou's eye twitched; it gave no room for cushioning at all! Continue!

Below Blackfall Cliff, there was no one left, but a few bubbles suddenly appeared in the pond. Xu Xiaoshou was at the bottom of the deep pool, his face red from holding his breath. It was his seventh attempt, and it still failed! He had tried every place he considered a good geomantic spot, with only the bottom of the black pool remaining. After precisely a quarter-hour of devout prayer, Xu Xiaoshou threw the Awakening Stone again.

"Damn!" He furiously threw another stone from his hand into the Awakening Pool, unable to endure it anymore, and was repelled out of the black pool. A breath of fresh air filled his nostrils. Taking this opportunity, he checked the information bar.

"Awakening successful!""Strengthening!"

Xu Xiaoshou: "!!!"

Bang, bang, bang! The ground instantly gained a dozen large pits. Xu Xiaoshou was like an ape from Mount Tai, his excitement indescribable, only lacking the act of beating his chest and stomping his feet.

"Furious Giant, what in the world is that?" His face was red as he lay in the deep pit, desperately bending 'Hidden Suffering', directly molding it into a "U" shape. "No matter. For this naming-challenged system to come up with such a violent name, the awakening effect definitely won't be bad!" "Could it be that once I'm attacked, I might turn into a giant?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes widened in disbelief. Attack on Titan... No, it's necessary to custom-make some clothes, just in case.

"Whoosh." Deep breath, another one. Oh my, calm down, heartbeat! After forcing himself to calm down, Xu Xiaoshou climbed out of the pit.

"Passive points: 88,666."

One skill awakening cost 90,000 passive points, which was acceptable, within his expected range. Xu Xiaoshou originally intended to save 50,000 for "Swordsmanship Mastery," but not using it was truly annoying; he always wanted to spend it. Since he planned to take it slow, he'd leave 10,000 for it. At critical moments, he could rely on extensive knowledge searches to find a way out of difficult situations. He looked at "Agility." Undoubtedly, this new passive skill had the potential to rival "Strengthening."

"Agility."

His body suddenly felt light, as if floating, and Xu Xiaoshou was shocked. He looked ahead. A few hundred meters away, reached in an instant. "Holy crap, this is teleportation!"