CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 59: TALENT (PART 1)

It’s just that.

His face was full of rough flesh, with a fierce look in his eyes, plus the rather conspicuous machete at his waist, making the originally concerned words seem a bit strange.

"Boss, with us around, we’ll take good care of the Fourth Boss, no need for you to trouble yourself." Lou Yi’s new subordinate Lu Yang quickly stepped out.

Trying to stop Xu Xi, who was quickly approaching.

Lu Yang, as a butcher, naturally had a strong physique. But standing in front of Xu Xi, a second-level Blood Warrior, he seemed somewhat slender.

"Hmm?" Xu Xi’s footsteps slowed down involuntarily, frowning.

"Impudent! Does the Boss need your guidance in doing things?"

The next moment, a strong man equally as robust as Lu Yang stepped forward and rudely pushed Lu Yang aside.

Liu Yuan saw this and also tried to stand between Xu Xi and Lou Yi.

But was forcibly separated by another bandit.

The bandits brought by Xu Xi were all elites from Sunset Mountain, each capable of taking on ten.

Besides blocking Lu Yang and Liu Yuan, the rest couldn’t help but reach for their swords and bows, making the atmosphere immediately tense.

The somewhat straightforward Zhu Darui also sensed something was off.

He stepped forward with a silly smile and said, "Big Brother, old Fourth is covered in blood, it’s so dirty, let me help him."

"What are you fussing about, Third Brother?" The old Daoist rudely blocked Zhu Darui, preventing him from getting closer.

Thus, there was no further obstacle between Xu Xi and Lou Yi.

Lou Yi, covered in blood, slumped on the ground, his face pale.

And the broad-shouldered Xu Xi, a stalwart figure like a bear, stepped on the muddy ground, constantly approaching Lou Yi.

Each step seemed to tread on everyone’s hearts.

Causing Lu Yang and Liu Yuan’s faces to change drastically, and making the old Daoist smile smugly.

Seeing that in a few more moments, the two would be face to face.

It was at this moment that Lou Yi smiled.

"Would such minor injuries make Big Brother worry?"

Then, he spread his five fingers, palm outward, and quickly struck a tree trunk behind him that was difficult for one person to embrace with his left hand!

’Pa!’

Instantly, a palm print an inch deep appeared on the trunk.

"Big Brother, how do you see my strength? This Stone Ape was fierce but only caused me some superficial injuries." Lou Yi said with a smile.

"Oh?" Xu Xi looked deeply at the palm print and then smiled too, "It seems that Fourth Brother indeed isn’t in serious trouble, so I’m reassured.

Can Fourth Brother get up on his own, do you need my hand?"

"Big Brother’s too polite." Lou Yi slowly stood up from the ground, his speed slow, but his momentum full.

Xu Xi watched, his eyes mysterious.

He stopped his continued approach and called to the old Daoist and others: "Since Fourth Brother is fine, come with me to prepare a feast, and let’s give him a good treat!"

The old Daoist Wu Yiping’s face changed several times, wanting to say something.

But seeing Xu Xi’s stern eyes, he swallowed all his words back into his stomach.

"Okay, Big Brother, Fourth Brother, take a good rest and mind your health."

"Thank you for your concern, Second Brother." Lou Yi said expressionlessly.

"Why so formal between brothers?" Wu Yiping laughed dryly.

Soon, Xu Xi and Wu Yiping left with their subordinates.

Leaving only Lou Yi, Zhu Darui, and a few others at the scene.

"Fourth Boss, can you attend the feast tonight?" Lu Yang asked worriedly.

"I’m fine." Lou Yi laughed heartily and turned to walk towards the deceased White Ape.

Upon death, the White Ape reverted to the appearance of an ordinary gray monkey, except its head was deformed, bleeding from seven orifices, looking quite horrifying.

Lou Yi crouched down, and as soon as his hand touched the White Ape’s fur, a line of familiar semi-transparent small text appeared:

’Energy +2, absorb?’

"Yes." Lou Yi rejoiced in his heart.

It seems that monsters like people can provide him energy.

Moreover, the White Ape provides two points of energy, twice as much as a normal person, equivalent to a walking corpse, martial artist, etc., suggesting the supply of energy should be proportional to the strength.

However, the changes didn’t end there.

Another line of text appeared immediately:

’Consume ten points of energy to acquire talent: Petrification. Consume?’

"Talent? What’s that?"

Lou Yi hesitated for only a second before answering in his heart: "Yes."

Energy decreased by ten points, and a new category appeared in the Attribute Panel:

[Name: Lou Yi]

[Age: 19/55]

[Realm: None]

[Skills: Lou’s Axe Skill (Proficiency 0/30), Stone Throwing (Mastery 0/30), Basic Boxing Technique (Mastery 0/30), Basic Spear Technique (Beginner 0/6), Secret Skill: Dragon Piercing Technique - Fragment (I)]

[Talent: Petrification (Not Entry-Level 0/5)]

[Energy: 5]

Lou Yi’s gaze fell on Petrification, the first talent acquired in his life, with several lines of small explanatory text appearing above it.

Petrification (Passive): The strength of the body slowly increases over time.

Petrification (Active): You can choose to petrify a certain area of the body surface for a short time. The duration and area of petrification will increase as the talent improves.

Lou Yi noticed a faint "+" sign appearing after Petrification.

Lou Yi resisted the urge to immediately enhance it in front of everyone.

After leaving the rear mountain and returning to his room, he spent the remaining five points of energy to upgrade it.

A strange memory appeared in his mind.

In the memory, Lou Yi had transformed into an ordinary monkey.

When hungry, it would pick fruits; when thirsty, it would drink by the river. Bored, it would play with its peers, living a simple and ignorant life.

Suddenly one day, a wild leopard broke into the monkey group, wantonly killing, scaring it into a desperate escape.

It fled into the depths of an unfamiliar dense forest, where a giant stone stood, about ten feet tall, with a natural hollow in the center, smooth as a mirror.

The monkey hid in the hollow and unknowingly fell asleep.

Time swiftly passed to night, with the bright moonlight shining on the stone, forming a luminescent moonspot at the bottom of the hollow, now resting on the monkey.

The monkey felt warm all over, and all the fatigue and hunger of the day vanished.

A creature’s instinct is to seek advantage and avoid harm.

The monkey instinctively recognized the benefits of the stone and came to the hollow every night to sleep and receive the moonspot’s blessing.

From then on, its body began to rapidly develop, becoming increasingly strong, and eventually became the new Monkey King.

Day by day, year after year.

The monkeys in the group gradually aged, but it remained vigorous and more energetic than before.

Some younger monkeys trying to challenge its position as Monkey King were easily defeated by it.

One night, another wild leopard broke into the group.

This leopard was larger and more fierce than the previous one, almost like a tiger, scattering the monkeys in fear.

The Monkey King, however, approached the leopard fearlessly to fight.

The Monkey King, with unleashed ferocity, had its fur turn gray-white, and its muscles swelled as if inflated.

The leopard could barely break through its skin.

With a casual swipe, the Monkey King tore a hole in the leopard’s belly, causing blood to flow endlessly.

Ultimately, the leopard died miserably under the Monkey King’s claws.

The Monkey King bellowed at the full moon, pounding its chest in defiance.

The image abruptly stopped there.

Next, a warm energy, distinct from before, inexplicably appeared in Lou Yi’s body.

He felt that every piece of meat, bone, and organ within him seemed to be bathing in moonlight — comfortable, light, and free.

The effects weren’t as immediate as before, but Lou Yi knew his body was developing positively.

The energy didn’t disappear immediately like it had before but hid deep within, silently transforming every part of his body.

This transformation wouldn’t show results in the short term, but after accumulating over time, it would lead to substantial change.

Lou Yi looked towards the Attribute Panel, and the talent section shimmered, immediately changing to: Petrification[Entry-Level 0/20+1 Stone Spirit].

"Huh, it requires a physical object to continue ascending? What is Stone Spirit? How large is one piece?"

Lou Yi immediately noticed the difficulty of the talent’s ascension, which was much greater than skills.

The energy cost was considerably higher, and it even required an additional material piece.

Then, Lou Yi began to focus on studying the newly developed talent, especially the active skill.

"Petrification."

Lou Yi silently recited in his heart.

Soon after, he felt a cool sensation on the palm of his right hand.

A thin layer of gray instantly covered it, as if from having grasped soil.

Elasticity didn’t change much, but hardness certainly improved considerably, Lou Yi could sense it.

But how hard it was specifically would require some testing.

...