The other item was that anomalous energy stone. In truth, it was the same substance as Zhang Luan’s Ultimate Anomalous Energy Stone—only vastly inferior in quality. Compared to the Ultimate variant, it was like a priceless jade disc versus worthless pebbles.
Moreover, the [Scorching Black Smoke] ability overlapped with Stellar Flame. Absorbing it would be pointless, so he simply tossed it into his system inventory to gather dust.
After Elder Muhong’s death, the [Counter-Encirclement] quest notification kept flashing insistently. Its original bronze text had shifted to molten gold.
He submitted the quest. The system’s voice chimed again.
[Quest [Counter-Encirclement] Completed. Rating: MAX
Rewards:
Choose one skill manual from Elder Muhong
×1 Random Advanced Skill Manual Chest
×20 Advanced Mana Potions
×10 Advanced HP Potions]
These rewards were exceptionally generous. For players, a random Advanced Skill Manual was a dream come true.
The reason was simple: skill manuals were rare. Ordinary players could only gradually learn skills from their own class trees. To acquire skills outside their path required manuals—but drop rates were abysmal. Even swarms of weak monsters, like the seven thousand goblins Zhang Luan had wiped out earlier, never yielded a single manual.
This alone proved how precious skill manuals were. Advanced ones? Nearly impossible to obtain.
Yet Zhang Luan possessed skills beyond "Advanced" tier: Stellar Flame, Fearless Adventurer, and the newly awakened Force of Creation. In his past life, only one known player had ever held such abilities—a true overpowered MC. After the world’s fusion, that man transformed from a nobody into a revered legend surrounded by admirers.
Sadly, even the most overpowered story didn’t make him the protagonist. He met a tragic end at the hands of the woman he loved.
Zhang Luan opened the selection panel for Elder Muhong’s three skill manuals. Three floating tomes appeared before him, and he hesitated briefly.
[Smoke Veil]: Reduces detection chance by 20%. Successful Luck-based check grants 10 seconds of invisibility.
[Smoke Wolves]: Summons wolves of condensed smoke to fight. Quantity scales with energy consumed. Each wolf deals 5% of your Intelligence as damage.
[Roulette Command]: For 1 second after activation, 1% chance to deal 100% bonus damage and inflict 5% vulnerability.
Ignoring the second option, he coveted both the first and third skills. Both relied heavily on luck—but Zhang Luan’s EX-ranked Luck made that irrelevant.
Still, if forced to choose? The first skill won.
The third would only boost his burst damage. Did he lack burst?
Not at all.
Stellar Flame, his bow skills, and the Force of Creation already let him unleash devastating bursts. But after such explosions came vulnerability. Invisibility would nullify counterattacks, letting him reset into a fresh opening strike—a two-for-one advantage.
*Why hadn’t Elder Muhong used this skill?*
Perhaps he had—and his rotten luck simply failed the check.
Zhang Luan opened the remaining skill chest without hesitation, ignoring Nan Fenghua’s curious gaze. He lifted the lid.
Violet light erupted. A slim skill manual floated into view.
[Congratulations! Obtained Advanced Skill Manual: [Wind-Sweeping Remnant Cloud Sword]]
[Wind-Sweeping Remnant Cloud Sword] (All-Class Advanced Skill)
Description: A sword art practiced by a legendary celestial deity in their youth, inherited from an even older being. Though merely an introductory technique, the deity’s relentless refinements made it immensely powerful. Its force strains weapons severely—best reserved as a trump card.
Effect 1 [Wind-Riding Sword Art]: Telekinetically control your blade in combat.
+30% to max Attribute values
+50% potency to Wind-attribute skills
10% chance to inflict Suppression
Effect 2 [Remnant Cloud Sword]: Next attack reduces target’s all resistances and defense by 50%. 1% chance to multiply this attack’s damage by 1000%.
*Severely degrades weapon durability after use.*
Cooldown: 10 hours
Zhang Luan chuckled wryly. He’d just passed on a burst skill—only to receive an even stronger one.
Telekinetic swords held nostalgic appeal for someone from his homeland. What boy didn’t dream of wielding a flying sword? And the +50% Wind-skill bonus synergized perfectly with the Wind-attribute [Storm] manual he’d looted from Elder Muhong. He’d always liked that anomalous ability; a manual version worked just as well.
Effect 2 was absurd. A 1000% damage multiplier? Combined with his current power, activating it would be glorious. He could one-shot several Elders like Muhong.
He could already shoot swords from his bow. Paired with Wind-Riding and Remnant Cloud? More terrifying than an intercontinental missile.
The 1% trigger chance was tricky—but with EX-ranked Luck, his odds wouldn’t stay at 1%.
Most importantly, this was a skill refined by a celestial deity.
Zhang Luan was thoroughly satisfied with Elder Muhong’s spoils. Every skill felt tailor-made for him—zero waste. That was the power of EX Luck. A low-Luck player would’ve gotten garbage from that chest.
He opened the last Rare Equipment Chest. Inside lay a slender longsword: the [Azure Righteous Sword]. Its two effects—Advanced Sharpness and Advanced Durability—perfectly complemented [Wind-Sweeping Remnant Cloud Sword].
Nan Fenghua, who’d been peeking curiously from under her pot lid for minutes, finally lifted it fully. Seeing Zhang Luan’s delighted expression, her cheeks flushed crimson. She timidly poked his wrist.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Um… the Mighty Thunder Sect members will return soon… so… so does Brother Zhang Luan still need me to replenish your mana?”
Zhang Luan smiled at her hopeful, blushing face. He reached out, cupping her cheek, and gave it a firm, playful pinch.
