Chapter 70: An Early Opportunity to Learn Secret Techniques??
Let's continue with the example of the Divine Mountain Empire's spear technique.
Suppose Sterl masters this move. The three accompanying skills wouldn't matter much. He'd be able to use the spear to enhance his output and deflect enemy attacks purely with technique in close combat.
In fact, even if he doesn't use a spear, but other long weapons or even fights bare-handed, Sterl's combat skills would still see a significant improvement.
To illustrate, Sterl's previous fighting style relied heavily on using powerful skills, much like someone carrying a rocket launcher, launching a rocket with every attack, devoid of any finesse. Once he masters the ultimate technique, he can engage in close-quarters combat with skill and precision, countering moves effectively.
Sterl believed that mastering the [Ultimate Technique] was essential. Beyond everything else, it would improve his combat intelligence, making him more perceptive of the battle's dynamics—a crucial advantage.
As for which [Ultimate Technique] to choose, Sterl spent some time browsing through the contribution store.
Finally, he found one that he was quite satisfied with—
[Ultimate Technique: Master of All Weapons]
[Description: Through the practice of this ultimate technique, you will learn to fight using the methods of over twenty different close and ranged weapons from various countries.]
[Effect: After training and reaching proficiency, you will gain the following skill: [Instant Strike (After activating this skill, the power of your next attack/skill increases by 50%)]
[Skill proficiency level is the same as the ultimate technique proficiency level.]
[Learning Requirements: Basic Spear Techniques, Basic Footwork, Basic Fist Techniques, Basic Archery, Basic Swordsmanship... proficient level or above.]
[Training Difficulty: Extremely Difficult]
[Price: 2000 Contribution Points]
This ultimate technique would maximize Sterl's goals, enhancing his combat abilities and awareness. The accompanying skill was excellent, allowing the next move to deal extra damage unconditionally!
This was far more useful than any flashy blue or even purple skills.
With an SSS-class profession, Sterl needed skills that offered auxiliary support. His offensive abilities were already more than sufficient within the Star System.
The only issue was the high difficulty of training this ultimate technique, but Sterl wasn't worried at all—he already had a solution in mind.
"Redeem Ultimate Technique: Master of All Weapons." Sterl selected on the panel before him. His contribution points balance quickly decreased, leaving him with only 1000 points. A torrent of information flooded into his mind.
For a moment, he felt he could master any weapon in the world with ease. But once he conjured a long sword using the Star Blade and swung it a few times, he realized it was just an illusion.
Without meeting the learning requirements of the ultimate technique, he only had a memory of the Master of All Weapons.
With the remaining 1000 contribution points, Sterl decided to hold off on spending them immediately. He planned to earn more points in the upcoming Empire Trials and subsequent evaluations, aiming for a one-time redemption. He had set his sights on a highly promising piece of growth-oriented equipment that he could use well beyond level 100—definitely worth acquiring.
After closing the Contribution Points shop, Sterl finally had some time to review the information sent by his subordinates.
At first, he frowned slightly, but then he smiled.
Sterl finally understood what the arcane skills truly were.
He had known from the start that players, after their third class advancement, could ascend to the legendary realm at level 150.
However, Sterl had no idea how to ascend to the legendary status. The information gathered by his subordinates clarified this for him.
Unlike class advancements, second class advancements, or third class advancements, the process was different.
The initial class advancement required players to complete a ceremony, with no demand on the player's innate talent. Even a useless player could forcibly advance to an S-rank profession if backed by a powerful organization.
The second class advancement further developed the power from the first class advancement. Players needed to complete an enhanced ceremony. Though more difficult than the initial class advancement, it could still be achieved by pouring in resources.
The third class advancement meant that players had already pushed their profession to its limits, showcasing the upper echelons of their profession's power. At this point, players needed to complete the final ceremony of their profession. While it was challenging to brute-force through this with resources, some powerful organizations could still accomplish it.
But ascending to legendary status was a different story.
The essence of becoming a legend involved combining the fully-explored powers of the player's profession to forge a unique path—essentially, blazing a new trail!
Players first needed to use a secret technique to unlock the hidden potential of their talents, achieving a second awakening.
Next, they had to use at least one, and up to three, gold-quality skills to forge their legendary foundation. The higher the quality and quantity of skills used, the more Legendary Points required.
Because players need to inscribe their foundational powers into the world of [Transcendence]. Once this is done, the essence of the skills inscribed as foundational will fundamentally change, truly unleashing the power of golden-quality skills and harnessing the forces of heaven and earth!
After achieving the above two points, players must then complete their personal legendary-level ritual through self-perception in order to advance.
These concepts were quite distant for Sterl.
As for the specific functions of the arcane skills, the information from Sterl's subordinates explained them in detail.
First, arcane skills could replace meditation methods, helping players refine experience points, effectively providing an experience boost. This meant that 100 experience points could potentially be absorbed as 150 or even 200 experience points, greatly increasing leveling efficiency.
Secondly, arcane skills could help players unlock their inner potential, resulting in a second awakening and enhanced effects.
The higher the quality of the arcane skills, the greater the experience conversion bonus, and the stronger the effects after the second awakening.
High-quality arcane skills could also enhance attributes, giving corresponding attributes additional effects.
For example, each point of Spirit could increase the effect on skills by 50%, or Agility could increase the player's speed and skill casting speed by 50%...
In summary, mastering an arcane skill and achieving a second awakening would significantly boost attribute points, dramatically increasing a player's combat power!
The only issue was that higher-quality arcane skills demanded greater innate talent from the cultivator. Not only did they need to master the corresponding golden skills, but the player's own talent must also be high.
For many people, obtaining high-level arcane skills was almost meaningless unless they were willing to spend a significant amount of money on items that reduced the learning requirements for arcane skills.
Using the [Mountain] technique that Sterl just saw as an example, players could use earth element essence to temporarily lower the talent level requirements for learning. Similarly, energy essence could temporarily lower the level requirements for learning.
However, these essences were quite expensive and awkwardly positioned. Players without talent couldn't afford them, and talented players typically didn't need them to learn arcane skills.
After reviewing all the information, Sterl couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement. Setting everything else aside, his talent was already exceptional. If he could undergo a second awakening, he would surely soar to new heights!
Moreover, the attribute enhancement functionality was even more impressive. With his SSS-class profession, all his attributes were already explosive. Adding the enhancement effects would push his strength through the roof!
He quickly opened the gift from the Fourth Prince, although he knew it was wishful thinking, he still fantasized about the requirements being low.
[Secret Technique: Star Soul Rotation]
[Bonus: None]
[Effect: None, unlocks mental attributes.]
[Learning Requirements: Player Level 141]
[Training Difficulty: Easy]
[Description: An arcane skill from ancient times. Its effectiveness may not match the ingenuity of later generations, but it represented another stride towards strength for the myriad beings in [Transcendence].]
Sterl was dumbfounded.
The learning requirements for this arcane skill were too simple! No need to master any gold-quality skills; you just had to be level 141 to learn it.
But the problem was, Sterl was far from reaching level 141!
At least... it would take one or two, maybe two or three years! That's too long.
If other players knew what Sterl was thinking, they would surely spit blood in frustration. Who did he think he was? So arrogant that he believed he could reach level 140 in two or three years?
Did he had any idea that it might took us four or five, even up to ten years to go from level 30 to 40??
At this moment, Sterl couldn't help but stare at the information his subordinates had sent, which mentioned—
Consuming energy essence could lower the level requirements for learning secret techniques.
He was deeply tempted!
Sterl quickly tallied his assets. After accounting for the potion he bought yesterday, he still had 127 gold coins on him. With a little help from Teresa, reaching 200 gold coins shouldn't be a problem.
Sterl estimated, "If I spend all this money, I should be able to buy some energy essence, right?"
He didn't have high demands. A few low-quality ones would suffice!
Then, wouldn't he be able to learn the arcane skill ahead of time??
Sterl's heart couldn't stop racing with excitement.
He couldn't even imagine how much he would soar if this plan succeeded.
Because... his [Arcane skill: Star Soul Rotation] allowed him to allocate points!
Sterl could use energy essence to forcefully learn the arcane skill, then allocate points to Star Soul Rotation, obtaining a top-tier arcane skill.
He might be able to unlock multiple attributes, leveraging the high base stats of his SSS-class profession and the doubled attribute boost from his divine descent.
During combat—
Sterl was absolutely unbeatable!!