OBS Chapter 41 Surprise! The Body's Self-Enhancement!
Chapter 41 Surprise! The Body's Self-Enhancement!
Inside the pilgrimage church.
Xia Tong and Melina sat facing each other across the blessing.
As agreed beforehand, Xia Tong extracted a portion of the runes from her body and transferred them into Melina's body.
This was to replenish the spiritual energy she had expended when she attacked the ruins of the Demi-human Queen.
With the infusion of runes, Melina's previously somewhat ethereal body became solid once again.
After she recovered, Xia Tong began to use the remaining runes to smelt and upgrade them.
This time, he once again firmly chose to upgrade his "concentration".
More than ten minutes later, the intensified heat dissipated.
Xia Tong opened her attribute panel again to check:
Rating: 23
Holds 498 Runes
Vitality: 17
Concentration: 25
Stamina: 10
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 14
Intelligence: 18
Faith: 2
Sensing: 10
Xia Tong was stunned for a moment when she saw the numbers on the panel.
"Wait, wasn't my focus supposed to be upgraded this time? How come my dexterity and strength also increased by 1 point each?"
Xia Tong had some doubts, so she asked Melina:
"Melina, I feel that my strength and dexterity have increased compared to before, but it's not through runes that I've been enhanced; it seems to have increased on its own."
Melina slightly raised her eyes, thought for a moment, and answered softly:
"Agility and strength were most likely not increased in this upgrade, but rather increased before this."
"But I'm sure I didn't upgrade agility during the last upgrade, right?"
Xia Tong was even more puzzled.
Melina looked at him and slowly explained:
"Using blessings to become stronger is not the only way to become stronger in this world."
"If one can only become strong through blessings, then what about those who haven't been blessed or recognized, or those who were once recognized but no longer see the blessings?"
Xia Tong fell silent upon hearing this.
This was indeed a question he had never thought about deeply.
Melina continued:
"Every time you dodge or roll during a fight, it will subtly enhance your physical coordination, that is, your dexterity."
"However, this kind of enhancement is very slow and difficult to detect in normal times."
"And ever since you took up that heavy King's Greatsword, every swing, every slash, has honed your muscles."
"To make you stronger and stronger, and to give you more and more control over your body."
Xia Tong frowned and pressed for an answer:
"Why didn't we notice it when we upgraded a few days ago?"
It should be noted that his last upgrade in front of the city walls of Moen City was only four or five days ago.
The intensity of the battles over those days was not low, but there was no change in attributes.
Melina looked into Xia Tong's eyes and gave her answer:
"Because of that battle, your fight with the demi-human queen brought you to the brink of death."
"Every near-death experience will wildly stimulate the body's potential."
"It will force your body to evolve and strengthen itself in the direction you need most."
"However, achieving this kind of self-enhancement is extremely difficult. It requires daily accumulation and, even more so, the extreme test of life and death."
"So that's how it is."
Xia Tong nodded, indicating that she understood; to put it bluntly, it still came down to risking her life.
……
"Lord Xia Tong, please be careful on your journey."
Miss Irena crossed her arms and placed them lightly on her chest, her eyes slightly closed as she spoke to Xia Tong.
Xia Tong, mounted on his horse, waved to Irena and Melina, who had materialized at the church entrance.
He lightly kicked Toret's horse's belly and slowly moved forward.
The pilgrimage church is the highest point on the entire Weeping Peninsula, and Xia Tong is currently traveling from south to north, from top to bottom.
Torret ran extremely fast.
Looking down from Xia Tong's perspective, the entire Lingmiao Plain is shrouded in a thin veil of rain.
From a distance, muffled clanging sounds could be heard from time to time.
That was the sound of the huge stone bell striking as the people walked through the mausoleum.
At the same time, from Xia Tong's position, he could even feel a slight vibration from the ground.
"That turtle is huge."
Xia Tong couldn't help but grumble to herself.
After walking for about an hour, we avoided some lingering dignitaries.
Just then, through the rain, a very tall golden tree could be seen not far away.
If nothing unexpected happens, there should be a small golden tree incarnate below.
"Now is not the time to attack it."
Xia Tong squinted at the tall golden tree in the distance, thinking to herself.
After crossing another stretch of rocky beach, Xia Tong was finally getting closer and closer to her goal.
Finally, he saw the massive, collapsed stone pillar in the distance, the landmark of the Mausoleum Plains catacombs.
"We've arrived, Toret!"
Upon hearing Xia Tong's words, Torret cheered and let out two loud shouts of joy.
It hasn't had an easy week at all.
Every day, carrying huge packs on their backs, and often with two people on their shoulders, they are really exhausted.
Today's short solo ride, lasting only a few hours, made Toret feel like he was on vacation.
Xia Tong blew the spirit horse whistle to summon Torret back.
Before us appeared the iconic double wrought iron wooden gate of the cemetery.
Beside the wooden door was a blessing, like golden flames.
Xia Tong stepped forward and gently touched Cifu.
The empty blue dewdrop chalice was refilled in the light.
After replenishing supplies, Xia Tong rang the Soul-Summoning Bell, summoning all the ashes to prepare for battle.
"open!"
Xia Tong braced her arms on either side of the wrought iron wooden door, her legs slightly bent, and slowly exerted force.
"Squeak—"
The heavy door finally opened slowly.
Xia Tong was about to peek out to see if anything was wrong.
But then, a cold wind swept over!
It was clearly a long sword.
The moment Xia Tong opened the door, the long sword shot out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Xia Tong's face.
"Oh shit!"
Xia Tong immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
He instinctively arched his entire upper body backward as far as he could, almost forming an exaggerated U-shape.
While bending over at the extreme, Xia Tong didn't forget to brace herself with both palms and deliver a powerful flying kick towards the dark figure in front of her.
"Kara!"
As the sound of the skeleton hitting the ground rang out, Xia Tong finally saw that it was a skeleton soldier.
The three lone wolves and two fanged imps behind them had already swarmed forward.
They suddenly attacked and tore at the fallen skeleton soldiers.
In just a few breaths, the sneaking skeleton soldier was torn to shreds.
Xia Tong naturally didn't need to do the finishing blow.
Xia Tong stood up and tidied up her equipment.
He held the Sinner's Shield in his left hand and the King's Army Straight Sword in his right.
This time he did not use the King's Army Greatsword.
Because in places like cemeteries, the passageways are narrow, and heavy greatswords cannot be used effectively, making it easy to bump into walls and deflect the blade.
It's more convenient to parry and dodge with the King's Army straight sword.
"If only hunting dogs had teeth."
Xia Tong couldn't help but think of it.
In such confined spaces, the hunting skills of the hound with long teeth are incredibly convenient, both elegant and agile.
After walking down the damp passage for a short while, a white fog gate seal appeared ahead.
Beside the fog gate stood a statue of a demon.
"The stone sword key?"
Xia Tong currently only has two stone sword keys.
One was obtained from Stormhill, and the other was purchased from a wandering merchant in front of the walls of Moen City.
He took out a stone sword key that he had prepared beforehand and slowly inserted it into the groove on the forehead of the demon statue.
A uniquely rhythmic humming sound rang out.
The white fog gate seal finally dissipated slowly.
Xia Tong waved his hand, directing the three stray wolves to rush in and scout ahead.