Chapter 23: Mastery of All Laws... Wait, What Kind of God Are You Mastering?

In an instant, Lu Wenwu’s [Physique] attribute soared from 53.4, reaching a staggering 260.94 in the blink of an eye!

His massive fortune of over 105,000 points rapidly dwindled, leaving only about 25,000 behind.

Lu Wenwu’s already formidable, robust frame grew even larger, stretching toward nearly two meters in height. The terrifying, bulging muscles across his body turned a deep crimson, with a faint, scorching blood mist evaporating from his skin.

At this moment, Lu Wenwu felt as though his body were a piece of steel being forged, his entire being searingly hot. Subconsciously, he began to circulate the "Body Refinement Technique of Persuasion Through Virtue."

Terrifying power was continuously tempered, radiating an intense heat from within him. Were he an ordinary D-rank transcendent, such internal heat would have already posed a mortal threat. Yet, Lu Wenwu was not only unharmed; his vitality and blood energy grew increasingly potent.

The rising crimson vapor on his skin condensed, transforming into dark red, fluid ripples that pulsed across his body like something tangible. These ripples converged, resembling winding, serpentine blood-colored dragons, all flowing toward his most vital organ: the heart.

After a long while, all discomfort faded, and Lu Wenwu opened his eyes. He clenched his fist, and his skin instantly turned a deep, dark red, as if forged from blood. Upon closer inspection, the metallic, shimmering skin was covered in neatly arranged patterns—layer upon layer of scales, much like those of a true dragon.

"Blood energy like a dragon; one can channel blood energy and combine it with one's own internal energy to form a type of 'internal armor.' Wherever it covers, it provides an all-around boost and a massive surge in attack power."

Lu Wenwu matched his current state to the levels described in the "Body Refinement Technique of Persuasion Through Virtue." This armor-like manifestation was known as Blood-Qi Dragon Scales, and it could only be condensed once one’s physical condition and blood energy reached a certain threshold.

"Unfortunately, I can currently only cover my fists and wrists, or perhaps a single forearm. If I could cover my entire body, the boost would be comprehensive," Lu Wenwu muttered to himself.

Once the [Physique] attribute exceeds two hundred points, it is by no means a simple threefold increase in numerical value. Even with only his fists covered in Blood-Qi Dragon Scales, Lu Wenwu’s attack power had still undergone a violent surge.

Feeling the surging power within, Lu Wenwu took out a twenty-fold speed cultivation card—a reward from a dungeon—and chose to use it.

In an instant, he felt himself enter a profound and unique state. Not only were his senses sharpened, but his understanding of all things deepened; it felt as though he could master anything with just a simple study.

"Excellent, stat allocation complete!"

Lu Wenwu stretched his body, a fanatical smile on his face. "Now then... let the training begin!"

...

Nearly a month later.

The twenty ten-fold cultivation cards he had exchanged for and the five twenty-fold cultivation cards gifted by the dungeon had all been consumed nearly a month ago. He wasn't sure how others felt about such lonely training, but he found it incredibly satisfying. Under the influence of the speed-up cards, his strength had soared at a rate visible to the naked eye—a truly gratifying experience.

[ID]: Invincible Tyrannosaurus Warlord
[Level]: lv10 (D+)
[Physique]: 260.94
[HP]: 26094
[Talent]: Bane of Evil, Eye of Insight
[Cultivation Method]: Body Refinement Technique of Persuasion Through Virtue
[Divine Ability]: Heaven-Swallowing Earth-Devouring
[Skills]: Egg Pancake Cooking [Peak of Perfection], Military Dao Killing Fist [Handy], Military Combat Arts [Handy], Shadow Step [Handy], Firearms Mastery [Superficial Knowledge]
[Equipment]: Battle Armor [Rare], Heavy Artillery Gauntlets [Rare]
[Free Attribute Points]: 0
[Spirit Coins]: 5136

"Hah!"

Lu Wenwu threw a punch, and a visible, transparent ripple erupted from his dark red iron fist. Before his fist even touched the training target, a slight, concave imprint of a fist appeared on its surface.

Punch energy released!

This was a special effect that only appeared after training an active offensive skill to the [Handy] level. Or rather, one could only advance to that level by comprehending this method of energy utilization while practicing such skills. For instance, if one were practicing swordsmanship, one would need to cultivate sword energy. Since Lu Wenwu practiced fist techniques, what manifested was punch energy.

With punch energy released, injuring someone from a distance became effortless. Who said fist techniques had to be close-quarters combat?

After twenty-five days of high-speed, arduous training, he had seen significant improvements in three of his skills, excluding firearms. Shadow Step had barely advanced, and his Military Combat Arts were steady. His Military Dao Killing Fist, however, was just a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the [Masterful] level.

He had sufficient proficiency; he just lacked that final spark of insight. This last push required a portion of pure killing intent as fuel. There was no point in grinding endlessly; Lu Wenwu couldn't conjure that up right now.

He couldn't just go out and start killing people on the street, could he?

Just as the [Handy] level required the cultivation of punch energy, reaching the [Masterful] level required the cultivation of "Punch Aura." This method of energy application shared some similarities with the Blood-Qi Dragon Scales.

The reason Lu Wenwu could comprehend this so quickly, besides his top-tier talent for fist techniques, had much to do with the mutual verification provided by the "Body Refinement Technique of Persuasion Through Virtue."

"Now, it is time to use this thing."

Lu Wenwu sat cross-legged in the training room and pulled a small, pitch-black card from his inventory.

[Name: Random Skill Level Advancement Card]
[Type: Item]
[Description: Upon use, increases the proficiency level of a random skill by one tier.]
[Note: This item has a chance of failure under specific circumstances; there are no side effects upon failure.]
[Use?]

"Use it, hurry up!"

Lu Wenwu rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

Black light swirled. In an instant, Lu Wenwu felt as though countless versions of himself were deducing and evolving in his mind. One ability after another flashed by, finally settling on a specific image. That refreshing sensation of gaining countless knowledge and insights from nothingness was as exhilarating as an epiphany under a Bodhi tree.

[Congratulations, your Egg Pancake Cooking has been promoted to — Divine Mastery!]

[Everything in the world, when cultivated to the extreme, produces incredible effects, possessing the power to turn decay into magic, even if it is just making egg pancakes.]

[Now, the egg pancakes you meticulously prepare are enough to make any sentient life praise them as the supreme delicacy; even true immortals and gods cannot resist this ultimate temptation.]

"Holy sh—, amazing!"

Lu Wenwu exclaimed in his native tongue.

Is this Divine Mastery? Are you sure this isn't some kind of conceptual divinity?

As a fanatical egg pancake lover, Lu Wenwu immediately ran upstairs to the kitchen and began kneading dough and frying pancakes.

An hour later, a man, a cat, and a dog were guarding the stove in the kitchen, munching away with loud "crunch, crunch" sounds, heads bowed in total concentration.