A system voice announced: Animal No. 230001 — Obtain Evolution Opportunity — Talent Advancement — Detecting — Detection Complete — Please choose the talent to advance.
Options appeared:
Dragon BonesDragon BreathDragonificationPropagation
Chen Xiao exhaled sharply when he realized the round was over — relief flooding him at the thought that he might not be trapped there forever. The relief lasted only a moment before the new dilemma hit: he had to choose which talent to upgrade himself.
He glanced at Jiang YunHan. The other man wasn't hesitating; he was practically ecstatic, his eyes brighter than usual. Wait — they only had one talent each? Then there was nothing to stall over. This was a fortunate problem.
And, according to the rules, the offered talents were all innate. So talents produced by Propagation couldn't be advanced — right? It certainly looked that way.
Chen weighed his options and decided to advance his growth talent: Propagation — the SSSS-rank growth talent.
Dragon Bones was his core talent, but it was impractical to prioritize: most of the time Chen didn't reach its cap. Each physique boost from Propagation, combined with the Black Goat bloodline's 50% strength bonus, had already pushed his power well past the first-stage cap — it was barreling toward the second stage. Dragon Breath was only a support talent: he used it often, but it ultimately offered limited help. Dragonification had been his trump card and had just saved his life — yet Chen hesitated to promote it. The permanent animalization cost was simply too high; that kind of price he would only pay as a last resort.
In contrast, Propagation itself was SSSS rank and absurdly potent — being able to upgrade it could be a windfall. If conditions relaxed later, or if he gained even stronger talents, his potential would truly become limitless. Potential didn't mean much in the apocalypse when there were so few true rivals — but there were still beings like Ma Mian watching like gods. Chen needed to be stronger than Ma Mian before the fifth Blood Moon; otherwise Ma Mian's arrival could spell him as the first to be eliminated. He had to fortify his potential — his foundation — now.
"Advance Propagation," he decided, and made the choice without hesitation.
A system voice replied: Animal 230001 — Talent Advancement.Obtain Talent — Propagation (SSSSS-rank Growth Talent).
Description: The reproductive ability of the tyrant dragon is extreme; a single male will monopolize many females.Effect: Enter Propagation state intermittently.Note 1: While in this state, dual-cultivation with an opposite-sex partner permanently increases physical strength and power, with a chance to obtain the partner's talent and simultaneously strengthen that talent.Note 2: The opposite sex must have a favorable impression of the talent holder; without sufficient favorability, no talent will be acquired (the higher the favorability, the greater the increases in strength and power and the higher the probability of obtaining a talent).Note 3: No attributes or talents will be obtained after exceeding the daily time limit.
Chen Xiao snatched in a breath. Five S's — unheard of. Even without the flowery description, the effects were obscene. Comparing this with previous descriptions revealed two concrete changes after advancement: first, Propagation's bonus had expanded from "physical strength" to "physical strength and power"; second, Propagation now not only had a chance to acquire an opposite-sex talent — it could also reinforce that talent.
"Strengthen a talent… what does that mean?" Chen muttered.
As if answering him, the system continued: Detecting Propagation Talent — Water Source — Strengthening — Obtain Talent — All Things Water (SS-rank Creation Talent).
Description: One begets two, two beget three, three beget all things — embody the way of all things through water's formlessness.Effect: The bearer of this talent can create water from nothing, command the world's flows, condense water into weapons, transmute liquids into tools — with a flick of a finger, anything related to water is possible.
Chen blinked. SS rank? Creation type? That was the rarest category. No wonder it felt outrageously strong. He was impatient. Before Jiang YunHan could react, Chen condensed a slender water longsword in front of him.
"Huh? How many talents do you have?" Jiang YunHan flinched — he'd never seen Chen use water before.
Chen didn't answer. Instead he swung the sword at Jiang YunHan to test its strength.
"Hey — you're testing your talent on me?" Jiang YunHan snapped, but he was ready. A green light flared in his palm — Black Turtle Vitality (SSS-rank magic talent). He used it to test the new power too.
The Water Longsword smashed into the green barrier. Chen hadn't added much force; he merely wanted a feel for the weapon. Then, on a whim, he set the stagnant water of the blade into motion. The flow accelerated. Faster and faster. The liquid began to splash outward. The longsword had become a self-propelling water weapon.
Chen slashed diagonally.
This time the sword's motion was ferocious — powerful enough to shatter Jiang YunHan's defense. The blade tore through and a sting of pain flared across Jiang YunHan's palm.
Chen hurriedly collapsed the water into a puddle. "Brother-in-law, you okay? My bad — I didn't mean—"
Jiang YunHan scowled, but a green light already began to mend the wound. In less than a second the cut sealed. Healing. Chen's eyes widened in recognition — this talent was a treasure. In the capital, someone with this ability would be guarded by a dozen S-rank heavies.
"You're strong, but we follow different paths," Jiang YunHan said, a little proud at being recognized. Chen sneered. "If it weren't for your sister being entrusted to me, I'd tear you limb from limb and see how fast you heal."
Jiang YunHan's palm flared brighter. "I'll say it once more: don't mess with my sister's ideas."
Chen was about to fire back when a sudden dizziness washed over him. A sharp flash split the arena's quiet. A familiar white curtain of light descended like a veil, filling the space. The next instant, Chen's figure reappeared on the summit of Mount Tuo Luo.
What kind of overpowered teleportation was that?
Rules. Ma Mian. These were terrifying entities. Appearing with him were Jiang YunHan and, off in the distance, Liu Chang'an. The four of them gathered slowly.
Liu Chang'an looked at Chen with gratitude. "You saved my life too," he said.
"It's nothing," Chen replied, and then, casually, "Just curious — when are you planning to kill me?"
The question made Liu Chang'an sweat. He had never abandoned the idea of killing Chen; he'd only lacked the opportunity. Chen had been careless and loose-lipped before, and now Liu knew too much. Only the dead could keep secrets. Ideally, Jiang YunHan should be eliminated too — eliminate the loose ends once and for all.
"Why would I kill you?" Liu asked, feigning confusion.
"Hahaha, just kidding," Chen laughed twice and turned, walking down the mountain with his back exposed to Liu Chang'an.
A bait calmly set. Let the willing take it.
In that moment Liu Chang'an's mind was full of murder. He had forgotten that Chen had already broken the game's rules. How could he make such a rookie apocalypse error? He forced himself to believe it — the longer he hesitated, the fewer chances he would have. Others might not know, but he did: Chen must have paid a terrible price to fight him. The way Chen had suddenly knelt earlier was not simple; the man was likely still weakened. The corner of Liu Chang'an's mouth curled. This was a one-hit-kill opportunity — he had to seize it.