CHAPTER 496: CHAPTER 243: SHRINKING EARTH INTO INCHES (REQUESTING MONTHLY VOTES)

Name: Shen Changqing

Force: Great Qin’s Demon Suppression Division

Identity: Defender Envoy of South Nether Prefecture

Realm: Great Grandmaster

Divine Soul: Divine Soul (Seventh Stage)

Flesh: Divine Heaven Golden Body (Tenth Stage)

Martial Arts: Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger (Divine Skill First Layer, can be improved), Ascension Step (Fourth Layer, can be improved)

Slaughter Value: 1,320

Divine Ability Value: 476

After merging two Divine Skills, a new Divine Skill was created. Fortunately, this newly formed Divine Skill firmly stayed at the First Layer of the realm, without getting stuck at the threshold of initial mastery.

"Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger!"

Shen Changqing reviewed the memories in his mind and gained a great understanding of this Divine Skill. This Divine Skill was a complete fusion of the destructive features of Star Finger and the Demon Evil-restraining properties of Banishing Evil Great Palm Imprint. Moreover, on the original basis, both characteristics were amplified significantly. For example, when the Banishing Evil Great Palm Imprint was at Perfection, it had a 10-20% restraint against Demon Evils. But now, if the Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger were to reach Perfection, the restraint could directly achieve 50% against Demon Evils. A 50% restraint made a distinct difference in terms of strength. Besides that, there was a significant change in the Divine Skill’s inherent power.

Originally, whether it was Star Finger or Banishing Evil Great Palm Imprint, upon initial entry at Divine Skill First Layer, they could only allow him to exert 100% of his own power. However, the Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger allowed him to exert up to 180% of his original strength, approaching twice as much.

Don’t look at the comparison of Divine Skills as merely an 80% gap.

But—having reached Perfection of my Divine Heaven Golden Body, even a 10% enhancement wouldn’t be weaker than a newly promoted Great Grandmaster. Therefore, an additional 80% enhancement is already terrifying.

The Divine Skill mastered by Shimohe was probably around the same level as Star Finger, and at that time, I could only draw with him. Now that my Divine Heaven Golden Body is at Perfection, my strength is nearly twice that of before. With the addition of Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger, what could Shimohe use to contend with me!

Shen Changqing had a cold expression.

It’s in the bag! This time, it’s truly in the bag! I don’t believe Shimohe could grow to an astonishing level in a mere few months. Taking a step back, even if the opponent’s strength broke through further, reaching the level of a Great Demon, so what?

Shen Changqing was confident that even in the face of a Great Demon, he could still suppress it.

However—if I want to merge the Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger again to further improve it, there’s currently no possibility. There’s no need to hold onto the Divine Ability Value for too long; I might as well upgrade it now.

He looked at the Divine Ability Value on the panel. He hadn’t upgraded before because Star Finger wasn’t worth it; any further investment would have been a waste. But now it was different. Merging a Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger had used up around two to three thousand Slaughter Value points in total.

If I wanted to merge another Divine Skill of the same caliber later on and then merge it further, that consumption, Shen Changqing estimated, would probably need at least five thousand Slaughter Value points. Such a large amount of Slaughter Value isn’t something one can collect in a short time. The chance to get eight thousand Slaughter Value points all at once was purely because I took advantage of the breakthrough methods from Great Liang and Dayue. Getting another chance to fleece them won’t be that easy. Even if I break through the Great Grandmaster limit and advance to another level, both forces might not be willing to pay a hefty price for this breakthrough method. Quite simply, Great Liang and Dayue lack even Great Grandmasters, so what use would they have for a breakthrough method beyond that realm? It’s better to progress step by step.

Straightaway, Shen Changqing focused his mind and looked at the panel. His attention fell onto Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger, his thoughts barely stirring.

Upgrade!

Two hundred Divine Ability Value were consumed. Instantly, he was pulled into an Illusory Realm, a vast expanse where even stronger Great Demons rampaged.

「After a long while」

Shen Changqing exited the Illusory Realm. When he looked at the panel again, Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger had advanced from Divine Skill First Layer directly to Divine Skill Second Layer.

Divine Skill Second Layer. When used, the enhancement directly became double. The remaining Divine Ability Value was over two hundred points, but Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger could no longer be upgraded. It was evident that the consumption to go from Divine Skill Second Layer to Third Layer was not something that could be achieved with just two hundred Divine Ability Value points. The cost of each layer’s upgrade in a Divine Skill would increase.

Thus far, apart from Ascension Step, there were no other items on the panel that could be improved.

And as for Ascension Step—

Looking at that Martial Arts technique, Shen Changqing slightly shook his head.

There is no need to upgrade Ascension Step to the fifth layer for now; I’d better save it to merge into a new Divine Skill. Previously, Ascension Step was a powerful Martial Arts for me. But now, Ascension Step is merely a Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Arts, nothing too impressive. Especially having a powerful Divine Skill like Banishing Evil Silent Obliteration Finger, Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Arts seem even more insignificant. Now with over one thousand Slaughter Value points remaining on the panel, even if Ascension Step is merged into a Divine Skill later, it won’t be a problem. A Divine Skill-level Qinggong technique... it should play a significant role.

He suppressed the thought.

Shen Changqing looked at his surroundings. After being bombarded by Heavenly Thunder for several days, not a single living creature remained here.

That’s not quite right. Ever since the last time Heavenly Thunder had struck, there had already been no living creatures in this area. Indeed. The location of my tribulation was still the same as the last one. But what was different this time...

Shen Changqing looked at the deep pit filled with a dense Heavenly Thunder aura, his expression somewhat peculiar.

The Heavenly Thunder this time was too powerful, causing the aura to coalesce and not dissipate. I fear that even after many years, the aura of Heavenly Thunder might still linger here! Even possibly, this thunderous aura might attract Heavenly Thunder during regular thunderstorms...

He looked up at the clear Firmament. There was no thunder now, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be in the future. Two forces of the same essence naturally attract each other. If there were thunderstorms, Shen Changqing was certain the aura in the pit would surely draw down Heavenly Thunder. In that case, the aura in the pit could continuously replenish itself. Given time, it could turn into a mysterious forbidden ground.

Yes. A forbidden ground. A place where the aura of Heavenly Thunder exists at all times and may attract thunder at any moment—if not a forbidden ground, then what is it? However, danger often coexists with opportunity. In the pit, I broke through to the Divine Heaven Golden Body, which has left its Dao Rhythms deeply imprinted there. If someone were to enter here, they might gain some enlightenment, or even create their own Martial Arts. Perhaps in a few years, this place might become a Holy Land in the eyes of some Martial Artists!

Thinking of this, Shen Changqing couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.

It wasn’t arrogance. After all, the Divine Heaven Golden Body was an extremely powerful Martial Arts, and the Dao Rhythms left by the complete Divine Heaven Golden Body were, frankly, incomparable to those of any ordinary Great Grandmaster. Just those Dao Rhythms alone, for an ordinary Grandmaster, would possess infinite mysteries. Of course, to a Great Grandmaster-level powerhouse, this amount of Dao Rhythms might not be of much use.

After a couple of glances, Shen Changqing turned and left.

I won’t erase the pit’s existence. Its existence is justified. Having been in the South Nether Prefecture for so long without leaving much behind, allowing the traces of my tribulation to remain might benefit future generations. But as for whether anyone would find this place, that’s uncertain. One can only say that everything is up to fate.

「After returning to Mountain-Breaking City」

Shen Changqing didn’t seek out Ji Tianlu or Mu Qing, nor did he go to the Heavenly Inspection Guard to inquire about recent events; he plunged directly into the Scripture Pavilion. By the time he emerged again, he had obtained more than a dozen Qinggong techniques.

「Back at the courtyard」

Ignoring the prostrate Tiankui, Shen Changqing entered his room directly and then began to fuse Martial Arts. Expending 210 Slaughter Value, he fused the more than a dozen Martial Arts into three Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Arts. Together with the existing Ascension Step, there were now a total of four Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Arts on the panel. Immediately after, he spent another 200 Slaughter Value to fuse the four Lower Quality Grandmaster Martial Arts into two Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Arts. Then, he used 300 Slaughter Value to further fuse the two Superior Grade Grandmaster Martial Arts.

An anomaly in Heaven and Earth reappeared, capturing the attention of everyone in Great Qin’s Demon Suppression Division. But they were now somewhat accustomed to these anomalies, so it did not lead to any major commotion.

「Half a day later」

Shen Changqing had digested the newly emerged memories, and his panel now displayed a brand new Divine Skill. Upon seeing the name of the Divine Skill, his heart involuntarily trembled.

"Shrinking Earth into Inches!" Shen Changqing muttered to himself.

This name... I’m incredibly familiar with it. In the memories of my past life, this Divine Skill was recorded in many places. Now, the Divine Skill that emerged from the fusion of Ascension Step has turned out to be the legendary Shrinking Earth into Inches.

Shrinking Earth into Inches (Divine Skill First Layer, Upgradable)

Incidentally, I’ve confirmed one thing: whether a fused Divine Skill starts at the entry-stage or pre-entry stage is truly a matter of probability.

Recalling the information just received in his mind, he gained a very deep understanding of the Shrinking Earth into Inches Divine Skill.

Just as I knew from my memories, this Divine Skill is indeed an extremely powerful technique. Strictly speaking, Shrinking Earth into Inches has transcended the realm of Qinggong and reached a different level altogether.

Opening the door to his room, Shen Changqing stepped out, using the Shrinking Earth into Inches Divine Skill for the first time. Instantly, his body faded away like a phantom. That scene, witnessed by Tiankui, filled its large, bell-like eyes with shock. Even with the inherited memories from the Chixiao Clan, the Fierce Beast had never seen such a technique before.

「Elsewhere」

Shen Changqing had already appeared inside the Council Hall.

Shrinking Earth into Inches. Even at Divine Skill First Layer, it can make a hundred-zhang area seem like an inch underfoot, and when I take a step, it’s far more than just an inch.

Inside the hall, Mu Qing and Ji Tianlu, who had been discussing matters, stared in shocked disbelief at the man who had suddenly appeared. From beginning to end, they had not detected how he had arrived.