145: Chapter 146 The Final Four

In this era where everyone transfers classes and power is paramount, the strength and rarity of Origin Skills are common knowledge. Their potential is limitless, with every level-up bringing a qualitative change—especially after unlocking special effects at level 20, which often possess strategic value to change the tide of battle. However, matching this power is an intimidating, almost torturous leveling difficulty.

For the vast majority of Class Transferees, cultivating an Origin Skill is a long and arduous path of asceticism. Offensive skills can gain experience by killing monsters, but their initial power is limited, often requiring the user to weaken the target to low health before delivering the final blow with the Origin Skill—a process that is tedious and inefficient. Not to mention the long cooldown times that often span hours or even days.

Without a stroke of luck or a fortuitous encounter, an ordinary person would need months of hard work to train an Origin Skill to level 20, even with decent resources. After level 20, the required experience grows exponentially. Most people choose to shift their focus to other skills or attributes because the effort required to push the same skill to level 40 is not worth the return in most eyes—in that time, training several more skills to level 20 would yield a more significant boost to combat power.

Even someone as strong as Sword Saint, whose world-shaking Origin Skill "One-Hit Slay" is currently level 44—one of the highest known Origin Skill levels globally—spent three full months of day and night cultivation and slaughter just to raise it from level 1 to level 20! That was already an earth-shattering speed, regarded as a myth by countless juniors.

Yet at this moment, on the arena of the Tianhai City Martial Arts Hall, a Nine-tailed Fox Maiden who had been summoned only a few days ago actually unleashed the Origin Skill "Ice Mountain Shatter" with power comparable to level 20 right before everyone's eyes! And it was an instant cast!

Three days! From obtaining the skill book to reaching level 20 and showcasing its qualitative change effect, it only took three days!

This had completely exceeded the scope of what "genius," "fortuitous encounters," or "piling up resources" could explain. It had stepped into the realm of the "impossible," "contrary to common sense," and "subverting cognition"!

On the stage, the residual power of the Ice Mountain Shatter had not yet fully dissipated. Fine ice crystals drifted down like blue dust, and a bone-chilling cold still permeated the air. The sturdy arena floor and the barrier were covered in a thick, shimmering layer of ice. The Nine-tailed Fox Maiden who caused all this had already put away her staff and obediently returned to her Summoner's side, as if that world-destroying strike had nothing to do with her.

Silence—a deathly silence still hung over the audience. But this time, the silence contained more than just pure shock and fanaticism; it was mixed with a nearly blank confusion and... a faint fear. Fear of the unknown, an instinctive resistance to something that subverts common sense.

In the organizers' seats, the three Nation-Guarding Level Experts, who were used to great storms and stood at the peak of human combat power, were now rarely speechless. Their faces were filled with unbelievable shock, looking like three exquisite statues.

After a long time, Sword Saint finally slowly released his fingers, which had turned white from gripping the armrest, and exhaled a long, extremely slow breath of turbid air. That breath turned into a clear white mist in the freezing air. He turned his head to look at Zhou Wenyuan and Xu Ruohan, who also looked solemn, and spoke with a dry voice, every word weighing a thousand pounds:

"Three days... level twenty... instant cast..."

He repeated those keywords, his brow furrowing deeper with each one. This Old Sword Saint, who had spent his life seeking the Way with his sword and whose will was as firm as a rock, actually felt a long-lost sense of powerlessness when facing something incomprehensible.

The fine electric arcs that had been faintly flowing around Zhou Wenyuan had now completely calmed down. It wasn't because he was in control, but because his mind was so shaken that he had temporarily lost fine control over his power. He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something funny to lighten the mood, but found his throat tight. Ultimately, he just vigorously rubbed his spiky short hair and forced a smile that looked worse than crying:

"Back then, to train 'Thunder Prison' to level fifteen, I soaked in the Thunderstorm Sea for a whole half-year! I almost got struck into charcoal! This girl did it in three days? What did she eat growing up? No, what did that kid Lin Muyang feed her?"

His gaze was fixed on Lin Muyang, who was gently comforting the Nine-tailed Fox Maiden in the players' area. His eyes were full of inquiry, shock, and a trace of jealousy he hadn't even noticed? No, it was the bewilderment of facing an existence that transcended understanding.

Xu Ruohan did not immediately respond. On her cold and beautiful face, her usual calm had long been shattered. Those eyes, which seemed able to see through all the mysteries of the world, were now trembling slightly at an alarming frequency, showing just how intense the thoughts and deductions were within her mind.

"Accelerated experience gain for Origin Skills... infinite shortening of casting wind-up... maybe even including cooldown reduction..." she whispered to herself, her voice still cold but carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling. "This is definitely not something a single talent or trait can explain. That Nine-Tailed Fox's talent might be extraordinary, but it's impossible for it to be this heaven-defying. Then, the only variable can only come from..."

Her gaze, like those of Sword Saint and Zhou Wenyuan, finally locked onto Lin Muyang.

"It's him," Xu Ruohan said slowly, her tone certain yet filled with deeper confusion. "It's the amplification he provides. It covers experience gain, casting speed, skill effects... even down to the deeper levels of rules. We previously thought he only amplified attributes, damage, and defense... Now it seems we have greatly underestimated him."

"Greatly underestimated?" Sword Saint gave a bitter smile. "It's more than just an underestimation. I even suspect now whether the upper limit of what we know as 'SSS-Rank Talent' is just a joke in front of him."

This guess was too bold, too terrifying. A talent beyond SSS-Rank? In the hundred-year history of human class transfers, it had never been confirmed or publicly acknowledged. SSS-Rank had long been regarded as the pinnacle of talent, the ultimate grace bestowed upon mortals by the gods.

Yet everything happening before their eyes was constantly impacting and tearing apart this common sense.

Zhou Wenyuan irritably scratched his hair. "Casting speed! Old Liu, Ruohan, did you notice? That 'Ice Mountain Shatter' was instant! That fox girl just raised her hand and there it was! This damn well can't be explained by equipment or ordinary acceleration skills! Unless her talent is 'all skills are instant cast,' but is that possible? Even if it is, how do you account for the accelerated experience gain? Lin Muyang can't possibly have every young lady he summons happen to have a talent that perfectly makes up for every shortcoming, right?"

"So, there is only one answer." Xu Ruohan closed her eyes and reopened them a moment later. Her eyes had regained their usual clarity and depth, but the shock was deeply etched within them. "The breadth and depth of Lin Muyang's amplification ability far exceed our imagination. It might be a 'Universal Buff Domain' that can self-adapt or even be specifically optimized. Within his domain, his summons can obtain whatever bonus they need most at the moment—when they need to level up skills quickly, they get a massive experience bonus; when they need an instant burst, they get extreme casting acceleration; when facing high-defense enemies, they get terrifying armor penetration and true damage; when facing spirits, their skills automatically add purification and annihilation effects..."

The more she spoke, the more solemn the expressions of Sword Saint and Zhou Wenyuan became. This speculation was more concrete and even more frightening than a simple "talent beyond SSS-Rank." A Summoner who could do as he pleased, and might even intelligently adjust the direction of his buffs based on the battle situation... This could no longer be described as a "genius"; he was practically a walking "Rule Modifier"!

"This boy must never fall into the hands of outsiders." Sword Saint said word by word, his tone decisive, a sharp edge flashing in his eyes like never before. "From today on, raise his security level to the highest. No, to 'Special Grade.' Send the word out to activate the 'Hidden Dragon' protocol."

Zhou Wenyuan nodded heavily, no longer joking in the slightest. The Hidden Dragon Protocol was the highest-level talent protection plan in Xia Country. It had been activated only a handful of times in history, and each time concerned the fate of the nation.

Just as the three Nation-Guarding experts were experiencing a surge of emotions and secretly making major decisions, an interlude quietly occurred on the stage.

After her initial daze, bewilderment, and frustration, Li Yiyao did not leave the stage in gloom. Instead, after the referee announced the result, a blush appeared on her face. With a bit of awkwardness and an irrepressible excitement, she walked toward the players' seats where Lin Muyang was.

Her steps were a bit light, her eyes darting away yet unable to stop glancing at Lin Muyang's face. Under the curious gaze of countless spectators, she arrived in front of Lin Muyang, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness:

"Lin... Lin Muyang... I, can I have your autograph?"

???

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Even with Lin Muyang's composed nature, he was taken aback by this sudden turn of events. They had just been fighting a life-and-death battle in the arena, and in the blink of an eye, his opponent had turned into a little fangirl and come over to ask for an autograph? Wasn't this shift in style a bit too fast?

However, looking at the female Summoner before him—who possessed both beauty and elegance, though her face was flushed red and her eyes held pure admiration and expectation—Lin Muyang didn't feel any aversion. Her attitude was sincere, her gaze clear, and she harbored no ulterior motives; it was more like a pure adoration for a strong individual.

"No problem." Lin Muyang quickly regained his composure and smiled slightly. "Where should I sign?"

Seeing Lin Muyang agree, a joyful smile instantly bloomed on Li Yiyao's face. She hurriedly took off an exquisite storage pendant from her neck and scrambled to find a fountain pen with an antique design, its body shimmering with a faint magical glow. She explained with some embarrassment, "This... this is a 'Shadow-Recording Pen' I usually use for my magic notes. The handwriting written with it cannot be wiped off by ordinary means..."

Holding the pen, she looked at the slightly grim, dark-colored mage robe she was wearing. After hesitating for a moment, she mustered up her courage and extended the sleeve of her left arm toward Lin Muyang, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum. "How about... sign, sign it on my clothes? It's more convenient here..."

Looking at the sleeve extended before him, Lin Muyang couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. This girl's way of thinking was truly unique. He didn't say much else, took the heavy magic fountain pen, and as the nib touched the fabric, he fluidly signed the three characters "Lin Muyang." The handwriting wasn't particularly good, but it had a certain carefree and unrestrained air. The magical ink glowed slightly, then dimmed, firmly imprinted on the sleeve.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Li Yiyao treated it like a precious treasure, clutching the signed sleeve tightly. Her flush deepened, and she became so excited she was incoherent. She bowed deeply to Lin Muyang, then ran off quickly with her head down like a startled little deer, as if afraid Lin Muyang might change his mind.

This scene was captured by many audience members and cameras, immediately causing a wave of good-natured laughter and discussion in the stands.

"Wow! The Summoner goddess instantly turned into a fangirl!"

"I understand, I understand. If I had the chance, I'd want an autograph too!"

"Lin Muyang has such a good temper; he actually signed it."

"This is a case of crushing his opponent and then giving out a treat..."

Sitting beside Lin Muyang, the Elf Princess Lilia tilted her little head, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity. She tugged at the corner of Lin Muyang's clothes. "Brother Muyang, why did she ask you for that autograph? Does it have any special use?"

Lin Muyang ruffled Lilia's golden hair, thought for a moment, and explained, "It's probably a form of memento. Proof that she once competed on the same stage as us and had close contact. For her, it might be a memory and a sense of achievement worth treasuring?"

He wasn't actually too sure himself. But in this era that worships the strong, the autograph of a peerless genius who has suddenly emerged might truly hold extraordinary significance for their admirers. After this battle, Lin Muyang's name and image would surely spread across the country with even greater momentum, gaining countless supporters. He didn't feel much about this, but he had no intention of stopping it; letting things take their natural course was fine.

"After this battle, I have advanced to the top eight of this Provincial Tournament in Jiangnan Province." Lin Muyang reined in his thoughts and checked the tournament schedule. "According to the rules, the top four receive tickets to the National Finals. In other words, I only need to win one more match..."

His original plan was to ensure qualification for the National Tournament and then consider whether to continue participating. After all, the level of the Provincial Tournament was limited, making it difficult to bring real pressure and improvement. But at this moment, he looked at the bald middle-aged man in the distance at the contestant seats—Shi Yongxin, who was resting with his eyes closed, his body faintly surrounded by a flowing Buddhist light—and then looked at the other side, at the Gu family's eldest young lady, Gu Shuanglin, who possessed a cold temperament and was whispering to a miniature, glowing "World Tree" sapling beside her.

"Shi Yongxin, sixth in the nation four years ago, Level 187, SS-Rank Talent 'Buddha Seal Amplification.' His combat style is steady and seasoned, combining both offense and defense. In particular, the monks he summons possess special armor-piercing and true damage abilities, which might pose a certain threat to Lilia and the others' defenses..." Lin Muyang evaluated in his heart.

"Gu Shuanglin, Level 124, SS-Rank Talent, Plant Affinity constitution. She can summon and control powerful plant-type summons. Especially that 'World Tree'; its defense is incredibly astonishing, her tactics are varied, and she has great potential..."

"Battling them might allow Lilia, Phoenix Heavenly Maiden, and Seraphina to gain some combat experience different from crushing weaklings, and test their growth during this period, especially their teamwork." Lin Muyang changed his mind. Since he was here, he might as well finish it. He also wanted to see for himself just how much weight these Summoners, hailed as the best in Jiangnan Province, truly carried. Especially Shi Yongxin; his experience and strength might be able to force out more of the young ladies' potential.

The subsequent matches continued. Although Lin Muyang's performance was a hard act to follow, making the other matches seem slightly less impressive, those who had made it this far were no slouches, and the battles remained intense and exciting. Especially when Gu Shuanglin took the stage, it once again sparked a considerable wave of attention.

The performance of this Gu family eldest young lady was also stunning. Facing the siege of three offensive-type summons from her opponent, she remained unhurried, her fair hand rising slightly. That seemingly fragile "World Tree" sapling, only as tall as a person, instantly surged in size. Its roots dug deep into the special arena floor, its trunk thickened to the point where several people would need to embrace it, and its canopy spread out like clouds, emitting a rich aura of life and a heavy natural pressure.

Countless thick vines emerged from the ground around the World Tree like giant pythons, weaving into an airtight defensive network that easily blocked the opponent's barrage. At the same time, various plant-type summons with special abilities—the "Sleepy Mushroom" that sprayed paralyzing spores, the "Dream-Mist Flower" that released hallucinogenic pollen, and the "Iron-Spike Earth Dragon" that could burrow underground for sneak attacks—cooperated under her exquisite control, combining offense and defense to wear down and defeat her opponent.

"To think Plant Affinity could be played to this level." Lin Muyang watched for a few extra moments and nodded inwardly. This Miss Gu indeed had her unique points; her understanding and control of plants had reached a realm of perfection. Her talent might not be as domineering as an SSS-Rank Talent, but the combat power she displayed in specific fields could not be underestimated.

Soon, the second round of the top-eight-to-top-four matches concluded. Lin Muyang took the stage again; his opponent was a Summoner from another city who primarily summoned elemental creatures. This time, he still only dispatched Su Daji.

The result was without suspense. Facing the three menacingly charging Fire Elemental Giant, Lightning Elemental Spirit, and Rock Elemental Puppet, Su Daji didn't even change her skill. She simply raised her hand, [Ice Mountain Shatter]! An extreme ice storm swept over. The Fire Elemental wailed and extinguished in the confrontation between ice and fire; the Lightning Elemental was frozen into an ice sculpture and then shattered; the Rock Elemental Puppet was frozen brittle by the terrifying low temperature, and subsequently turned into dust in the ice explosion.

It was another clean and swift one-versus-three victory, and Su Daji easily advanced to the top four.

The subsequently announced match-ups for the top four made countless audience members perk up, and also made a certain involved party unable to help but cover their forehead with their hand, letting out a helpless sigh.

"Top Four Tournament, Match One!"

"Contestants:"

"Zhongnan City, Lin Muyang (summon: TBD)"

"VS"

"Tianhai City, Gu Shuanglin (summon: TBD)"

Looking at the match information popping up on her terminal, Gu Shuanglin's stunning face first flashed with astonishment, which then transformed into deep helplessness and a bitter smile.

"This luck... is a bit too 'good,' isn't it?" She couldn't help but mutter to herself, rubbing her aching temples.

Originally, she was full of ambition, aiming straight for the Provincial Tournament championship, and even dreaming of competing against the veteran powerhouse Shi Yongxin in the top four to test the results of her four years of hard training. Who would have thought that Lin Muyang would appear halfway, sweeping everything with an indisputable, crushing posture. Now, instead of meeting Shi Yongxin, she had to face this "monster" first.

Thinking of the terrifying strength displayed by the young ladies under Lin Muyang's command—each one more outrageous than the last—Gu Shuanglin felt her scalp tingle. The Elf Priest's holy light was boundless, the Phoenix Heavenly Maiden burned everything to ash, the Night Elf's cutting ability was peerless, the Nine-tailed Fox Maiden froze the world... And those were just the ones who had already appeared. Heaven knows what shocking methods that short-haired girl with low presence beside him was hiding?