Chapter 104: Acquiring the Perfect Grade Aptitude
At present, Jiang Chen reckoned that attaining invisibility at the Heavenly Origin realm was more than adequate.
'Next.'
'Time to uncover the treasures within!'
With a sweep of his divine sense, Jiang Chen delved into the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring, the repository for the additional rewards of the big gift package.
One after another, items hovered weightlessly within the ring's space.
In comparison to the expansive storage capacity of the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring, these items seemed astonishingly minute.
Nonetheless, their worth was far from trifling!
The spiritual plant alone, of the Dao Palace realm caliber, could greatly boost the recovery of the Burning World Red Lotus!
Additionally, the stash comprised pills, cultivation methods, and a plethora of various natural treasures. Any single item could incite a violent frenzy if unveiled.
'It's regrettable that it's imprudent to linger here for too long.'
'Otherwise, I would surely assimilate all the benefits here before departing.'
Jiang Chen grinned, gave a dismissive shake of his head, then withdrew his divine sense. His focus reverted to the interface of the System Mall.
The System Mall had now advanced to level 2.
The maximum tier of treasures that could be traded had been escalated from the Heavenly Origin realm to the Dao Palace realm!
Naturally, the requisite costs to exchange for various treasures had surged dramatically!
Jiang Chen cast a fleeting glance at the prices of the spiritual plants.
For the spiritual plants of the Inquiring Journey realm, the median cost for ordinary varieties hovered around three thousand points of Villain Value.
The less expensive ones were roughly equivalent to the 'Heavenly Star Crossing Calamity Precious Ginseng', while the pricier ones could range from four to five thousand Villain Value points.
As for the spiritual plants of the Dao Comprehension realm, the baseline price kicked off at ten thousand points of Villain Value.
When it came to the Dao Palace realm, the initial price was a staggering fifty thousand Villain Value pointsan almost exponential curve growth relative to the Dao Comprehension realm.
In comparison to spiritual plants, the prices of fully concocted pills were even more exorbitant.
The same applied to cultivation method manuals and various artifacts.
'Now, it seems I can barely afford many of these items!'
Jiang Chen eyed these treasures with immense yearning, practically salivating at the sight.
Ultimately, he resolved to hold off on spending his Villain Value points for the moment.
Straight away, he accessed his personal attribute panel.
[Host: Jiang Chen
Aptitude: Perfect Grade
Innate Talent: Eternal Boundless Body
Realm: Early-stage Heavenly Origin
True Battle Power: Early-stage Heavenly Origin
Cultivation Methods: Starry Abyss Heavenly Scripture (Heavenly Origin, main cultivation), Wind Void Steps (Heavenly Origin, entry-level), Cold Sky Frost Brilliance Secrets (Heavenly Origin, great accomplishment-level), Void Rainbow Sword Technique (Heavenly Origin, great accomplishment-level)...
some omitted
Main Equipments: Shadowblade Sword (Heavenly Origin, lower-grade), Carefree Heavenly Extreme Robe (Heavenly Origin, lower-grade), Black Crystal Sky Piercing Shuttle (Mysterious Platform, top-grade)...
Villain Value: 25,900 points
Black Heavenly Fate Value: 15,848
Heaven-Defying Fate Changer: Villain's Eye, Burning World Red Lotus, Eternal Vows Binding Ring, Wordless Heavenly Jade
System Mall: Level 2]
'Ah!'
'My panel information has become more intricate!'
'Could this be a result of the System Mall upgrade?'
Jiang Chen expressed slight surprise and delight, then proceeded to peruse his personal data.
Just one look sufficed to swell his heart with heightened elation.
'Great heavens!'
'Has my aptitude escalated to the Perfect Grade!?'
'Does this surpass the Top Grade!? Could this be the amalgamated outcome of the Wordless Heavenly Jade and the Burning World Red Lotus?'
Jiang Chen's eyes bulged, the sparkle within them intensifying!
After a significant pause.
"Hahaha!"
He abruptly slapped his thigh, roaring with three triumphant guffaws toward the heavens!
Given his current aptitude, even in his villainous role, he ought to be considered a high-ranking villain, far superior to his prior status as a mere elite boss-level minor villain.
'Hehe.'
'I'm quite intrigued to find out what sort of villainous identity I'll acquire next.'
Jiang Chen licked his lips, a smirk playing on his face.
Without delay, he started categorizing the opportunities he had garnered from this Cave Heaven secret realm.
The cultivation methods, jade slips, and manuals were objects he had earlier watched Ye Fan carefully stash away, so there was no necessity to inspect them again.
The mysterious giant egg didn't warrant another examination either.
With a casual flick of Jiang Chen's hand, a transparent miniature bottle housing a golden liquid materialized.
Suddenly!
A peculiar aura assailed him.
The aura mirrored the energy of qi and blood, but it was of a purer kind and exuded a sense of cryptic, pulsating strength.
'Bloodline power!'
'One of the three inheritances bequeathed by the master of the Cave Heaven secret realm!'
'My Eternal Boundless Body possesses the extraordinary ability to assimilate and incorporate other innate constitutions. It's undoubtedly more than capable of absorbing this bloodline power.'
'However, I should discern what this bloodline power represents before utilizing it.'
'After all, it would spell disaster if I absorbed it, only to discover that it's an exceptionally peculiar and difficult-to-accept bloodline power.'
'...'
Carrying these thoughts, Jiang Chen tucked away the miniature bottle.
Just at that moment, Duan Ziming and the others surfaced within the scope of his divine sense.
'Have they finally caught up?'
A subtle smile unfurled across Jiang Chen's face as he nonchalantly observed Duan Ziming and his group.
He harbored no intention to veil his current strength; therefore, he didn't engage the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring to suppress his aura.
After all, his cultivation base, in the Early stages Heavenly Origin realm, had already been unveiled before everyone.
He could, of course, command them to remain silent, but should they encounter the protagonist, it was plausible they wouldn't manage to maintain secrecy.
As for the rest, it was inconsequential if they were privy to this information.
Indeed, divulging his profound cultivation base could potentially accord him more favorable treatment.
Just as when Jiang Chen had previously exposed his Late-stage Spiritual Awakening realm status, he promptly received a treasured gift from Feng Jun.
Returning with the might of the Heavenly Origin realm, he was bound to garner a substantial allocation of resources from the entirety of the Starry Abyss Sect!
Even more notably, assuming direct control over the Starry Abyss Sect wouldn't pose much of a challenge.
To counter the protagonist, he couldn't deploy his underlings as sacrificial pawns, but he certainly needed subordinates. They were his eyes and ears, his antennae!
Just like when dealing with Lin Feng, without the subordinates of the Jiang Clan serving as his informants, it would prove much more challenging for Jiang Chen to keep tabs on him.
If he could command the Starry Abyss Sect, he would preside over a formidable power.
Of course, this was a double-edged sword.
However, Jiang Chen was of the belief that, at present, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. When the situation reversed, he could simply depart.
Returning to the matter at hand.
Within a short span.
"Lord Jiang Chen!"
"Senior Jiang Chen!"
"..."
Duan Ziming and the others converged before Jiang Chen, each person dipping in obeisance and offering a salute!
As for how they addressed Jiang Chen, it varied, but all carried a tone of respect.
"Everyone, please rise."
"Before we embark."
"I would like to propose a barter to all of you."
"These are some spiritual plants of the Heavenly Origin realm that I've gathered."
"I have a particular interest in the inner cores of those monsters. If any of you possess them, we can trade them for spiritual plants."
Jiang Chen articulated, his face adorned with a subtle smile.
For him, the Heavenly Origin rank spiritual plants held rather minimal significance. It would be more advantageous to trade them for the inner cores of the blood-hued monsters.
"Heavenly Origin rank spiritual plants! Excellent, I'll trade!"
Miao Xiaorui was the first to concur, likely intending to reciprocate Jiang Chen for rescuing her.
With Miao Xiaorui taking the initiative, the rest of the assembly proceeded to voice their agreement one by one.
"I'll also trade!"
"Lord Jiang Chen, I'll make the trade!"
"Jiang Chen, I don't require the spiritual plants, you can directly take the monsters' inner cores!"
Everyone began to respond in succession, swapping spiritual plants with Jiang Chen, while Duan Ziming and his group straightforwardly passed the monsters' inner cores over to Jiang Chen.
In no time at all, the exchange was completed.
Jiang Chen had bartered away the spiritual plants, which were of scant use to him, and in return, he procured over twenty inner cores of blood-colored monsters.
Each core was spherical and roughly the size of a thumb.
These cores harbored a massive quantity of qi and blood energy.
Once devoured by the Wordless Heavenly Jade, they were bound to render substantial aid in mastering various cultivation methods.
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