111: Chapter 111 All Attributes Increased Explosively

In an instant, a cool sensation like an electric current surged through his mind, making Chu Xuan shiver involuntarily. This pleasure was indescribable, even carrying a dizzying sense of intoxication.

Chu Xuan knew this was likely because he had upgraded too much in a short period, but it was manageable and within his threshold of endurance.

—With 10 attribute points remaining, he put 8 points into stamina and 2 points into strength.

[Your stamina +4]

[Current stamina: 14]

[Your strength +1]

[Current strength: 12]

A sensation even more pleasurable than the spirit attribute upgrade spread throughout his body, as if every cell in his limbs and bones was cheering.

Chu Xuan's muscles bulged, stretching his slightly loose clothes tight. A numbing sensation washed over his entire body, and the dizzying intoxication from moments ago vanished.

"Big brother... are we safe now?"

Wang Ruozi's trembling voice sounded from the side. Her attention was entirely on the Great Buddha's corpse, and she hadn't noticed the subtle changes in Chu Xuan's body.

"I suppose so."

Chu Xuan was non-committal.

He glanced at his current spirituality value, which stood at 281. It was no longer exceeding the limit, and the ten-minute countdown had disappeared.

Chu Xuan didn't dally any longer and stepped forward quickly to pick up the demon-subduing pestle, which was emitting a dark glow on the ground.

He had long since guessed that this magical object, which could manifest into a massive Buddhist staff in the hands of the Great Buddha, might be the kind of 'Curio' Future Tang Zheng had mentioned—items formed by chance when the overflow from rule collisions settles on them.

In the next second, a System prompt confirmed his suspicion.

[Curio detected. Spend 50 spirituality value to view related information?]

Chu Xuan thought about it but still chose "No." The reason was the same as before: now was not the time to spend spirituality value recklessly.

Seeing that Wang Ruozi wanted to say something more, Chu Xuan waved his hand and said, "Wait for me a moment."

He remembered that the Bald Man seemed to have escaped and wasn't killed by the Great Buddha. Now that the Rank suppression had vanished, the man was highly likely to become a threat.

He had to increase his strength as quickly as possible within a short time to gain more capital to deal with unknown risks.

With this thought...

—System, exchange 22 attribute points for me.

Chu Xuan thought to himself. He planned to keep some spirituality value for emergencies and use the rest to boost his basic attributes.

[Current Rank is insufficient to carry 22 attribute points.]

Chu Xuan was slightly stunned, then suddenly realized.

—Is the limit for attribute points equivalent to ten times my Rank?

[Spend 100 spirituality value to unlock Q&A permissions?]

—No need, I already understand!

The corners of Chu Xuan's mouth curled up. This feeling of saving spirituality value by figuring out the information himself through small details was quite nice, like making a small profit.

Next, Chu Xuan exchanged another 20 attribute points.

Ten attribute points went into Strength, adding +5 to reach 17, while the remaining ten points were used to increase his agility to 15.

Pain and numbness swept through his entire body. Chu Xuan felt as if he were undergoing some form of torture, with his muscles and fascia being tempered and hammered.

Fortunately, this sensation lasted for less than a minute. Even so, Chu Xuan was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through.

Looking at Chu Xuan now, his recently bulged muscles had unknowingly receded and become well-proportioned, appearing unassuming.

Only when a muscle was used inadvertently would its lines become as sharp and defined as if carved by a chisel.

"Phew—"

Chu Xuan let out a long breath.

Unlike increasing stamina and spirit, the process of increasing strength and agility attributes was absolute torture.

But as he relaxed and his breathing stabilized, the pain and numbness vanished. Chu Xuan felt as if he had broken free from a swamp; his whole being felt brand new.

His entire body felt incredibly light, yet possessed a bursting sense of power. This feeling of a massive increase in strength was truly exhilarating.

Just then, dense footsteps echoed from afar. Chu Xuan looked back and saw that the "Villagers" who had been surrounding the Mountain Gate Hall were now rushing in. They all looked like monsters, letting out terrifying, blood-curdling howls.

"Big brother..." Wang Ruozi cried out in alarm.

"Let's go!"

Chu Xuan put the demon-subduing pestle into his backpack and pulled Wang Ruozi toward the mountain.

There were too many monsters rushing in, and with the Bald Man as a potential threat, even though he intended to kill these monsters for spirituality value, he wouldn't be brainlessly reckless.

He headed up the corridor along the side of the Mahavira Hall. At the end, to the left was the way to the Scripture Pavilion, and to the right, past a Small Vegetable Garden, was the Small Courtyard surrounded by low mud walls where the Old Woman lived.

The key items for killing the Great Buddha, the Flower Cotton Jacket and the Copper Mirror, had been obtained from here.

When Chu Xuan and Wang Ruozi arrived, a monster was pouncing on a mangled corpse in the courtyard, tearing it apart. The shredded, tattered clothes on the ground were identical to what the Old Woman had been wearing.

"So they really were human..."

Chu Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling how the Great Buddha had transformed into an Old Monk with a white beard and eyebrows, murmuring "Mom" when facing Wang Ruozi.

"Ugh—!!"

The monster in the courtyard noticed the two of them. It lunged up and sprinted over on all fours, only to have its head lopped off by Chu Xuan's blade.

[You killed Specter: Parasite. Your spirituality value +11]

[Current spirituality value: 92]

Previously, when facing a monster that had completely specterized like this, Chu Xuan would have needed to be fully focused and might even have needed to use a Transcendent Skill to ensure a clean kill.

But now, with his strength and agility greatly increased, he easily killed the opponent with a single casual strike.

By then, a few scattered "Villagers" had already caught up.

"Go up the mountain first!"

Chu Xuan gave the command, letting Wang Ruozi go ahead.

Even though this was just a dream, the girl hadn't caused any trouble and had been a great help in killing the Great Buddha. Chu Xuan wouldn't abandon her like a disposable pawn after she had served her purpose.

[You killed Specter: Parasite. Your spirituality value +10.]

...

...

[Current spirituality value: 122]

In less than ten seconds, he had gained another 30 spirituality value. Chu Xuan felt refreshed. Looking down, he could clearly see over a dozen "Villagers" pouncing on the Great Buddha's body, biting and devouring it.

Even more Villagers were chasing fiercely along the path Chu Xuan had taken up the mountain.

Chu Xuan's heart sank. From this vantage point, he could clearly identify that there were between 120 and 150 Villagers.

He absolutely could not let them surround him!

With his mind racing, Chu Xuan immediately turned to catch up with Wang Ruozi, only to find that although she appeared to be running upward with all her might, her position hadn't changed. She wasn't advancing an inch, as if she were running in place.

"Big brother, something's wrong here. I can't go up!" Wang Ruozi looked back, her eyes full of terror and panic.

Chu Xuan frowned and rushed up, indeed discovering an anomaly.