Converting Proficiency

Golden characters emerged from around Shen Bai.

The characters were like divinely created sacred texts, their form elusive.

Yet, they also resembled the murmurs of all beings, ancient and terrifying.

As the characters appeared, the brilliant righteousness of the longsword in Shen Bai's right hand surged like a mighty river.

The golden Buddha light in his left hand suddenly intensified, blazing like the sun.

The white light emanating from his body became as warm and pure as jade, intoxicatingly so.

"All abilities are amplified fourfold—this is amazing!"

Shen Bai felt an overwhelming, terrifying power fill his entire being; it was a qualitative leap compared to before.

"Though the consumption is quite intense."

In just this short time, one-tenth of the Qi in Shen Bai's body had already vanished.

Qi could be restored, and Shen Bai estimated that this full-power state could only last for half an hour.

"The duration is still too short," Shen Bai thought to himself.

If anyone knew Shen Bai's thoughts, they would surely draw their weapons and engage him in a life-or-death battle.

All divine abilities amplified fourfold, and he could sustain it for half an hour—was that still considered short?

In a life-or-death struggle, victory or defeat could be decided in an instant, let alone a full half an hour.

Half an hour was enough time for a nap.

Shen Bai retracted all the divine abilities on his body and fixed his gaze on the void not far away.

This qualitative change brought a significant increase in the Qi within Shen Bai's body once more.

The Qi in his kidneys was now one-third full, meaning Shen Bai was not far from completing the first treasure of the Three Treasures Realm.

Above the void, a line of text continued to change.

[Glowing Buddha Beads]

[Appraisal Progress: 0%]

[A wisp of malevolent energy can rapidly appraise]

"I still have one wisp of malevolent energy left. I'll use it!"

Shen Bai didn't hesitate and used his last wisp of malevolent energy.

The next moment, the malevolent energy vanished, and as smoke twisted and writhed, new text appeared.

[Appraisal Successful]

[Obtained Divine Ability: Great Compassion Palm]

[Great Compassion Palm lv.1 (Palm Technique +1): 1/100]

A figure suddenly appeared in Shen Bai's mind.

This time, the illusionary figure underwent a change.

A sense of Buddhanature emanated from the illusionary figure.

The illusionary figure continuously moved its palms, and exquisite palm techniques emerged from its hands.

Each palm strike seemed like a Buddha descending from the heavens, mercifully saving people.

Yet, each palm strike was also like a Vajra reincarnated, subduing demons and devils.

A moment later, as the illusionary figure disappeared, a line of text appeared before Shen Bai's eyes.

[Detecting similar divine ability, can be converted to proficiency]

[Convert to Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist proficiency?]

Shen Bai: "?"

This was unexpected.

Shen Bai had seen the Great Compassion Palm divine ability before; after all, Wuhua had used it too.

But Shen Bai hadn't expected that the same divine ability could be converted into experience points for another.

Shen Bai stroked his chin and thought to himself, "Too many cooks spoil the broth. Since that's the case, I might as well convert it directly."

As someone who understood the grind, Shen Bai knew how tedious it was to farm proficiency.

Now that there was a shortcut, Shen Bai was naturally willing to take it.

With that thought, Shen Bai's mind stirred.

The next moment, the text before Shen Bai's eyes changed.

[Converting…]

[Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist +1000]

Shen Bai took a sharp breath: "Good! This is truly good!"

A supportive ability of the same type directly gave him a thousand proficiency points, which was incredibly satisfying.

Only Shen Bai knew how difficult it was to gain proficiency once he reached Level 3.

Both the speed and efficiency had significantly decreased.

Now, he had a shortcut.

"If I get any more abilities of the same type in the future, it'll save me a lot of trouble," Shen Bai thought to himself.

One ability giving a thousand points would save too much time; it was well worth it.

"First, I'll eat, and after that, I'll grind Blood Sword Dance."

Shen Bai had made up his mind.

Among all his current Level 3 abilities, Blood Sword Dance had the highest proficiency. Shen Bai wanted to grind Blood Sword Dance to Level 4 first to gain new attributes.

With that thought, Shen Bai quickly washed up, left the Pawnshop, and walked towards the street outside.

The street was bustling, filled with a constant stream of people.

The cries of vendors, the sounds of haggling, and occasional conversations painted a vivid picture of daily market life.

Shen Bai went to his usual breakfast spot and had a simple meal.

Around him, many people were chatting, their voices drifting intermittently into Shen Bai's ears.

"Did you hear? Huaixi Village is gone."

"I heard that a while ago. The yamen didn't seem to say anything about it, so I don't know what Huaixi Village did wrong."

"You guys aren't as informed as I am. I heard a monk went to the county yamen..."

Shen Bai listened to the people's conversations and shook his head.

News always spreads, especially when an entire village like Huaixi Village is wiped out; such news is even harder to suppress.

"From the sound of it, Wuhua took full responsibility," Shen Bai mused.

Shen Bai paid and, having nothing else to do, headed to the medicine shop.

He had originally intended to go back and grind Blood Sword Dance, but Shen Bai realized he didn't have enough Qi-Blood Medicine at the Pawnshop.

To avoid wasting time, Shen Bai decided to buy some Qi-Blood Medicine first.

Of course, Shen Bai also wanted to inquire if there were any stronger Qi-Blood Medicines available.

After all, every ability consumed Qi and blood to some extent, especially Blood Sword Dance, which consumed even more.

At the medicine shop.

The resident doctor yawned, sitting idly.

The medicine shops in Ascending Cloud County were notorious for having few customers.

After all, for ordinary people, minor illnesses were usually endured on their own.

Every day, the medicine shop was busy doing nothing.

After Shen Bai entered the medicine shop, the yawning doctor reacted.

"Shopkeeper Shen, you're here to buy Qi-Blood Medicine again? Zhang Chaofeng still hasn't recovered?"

Shen Bai nodded and said, "Old Zhang has no self-control, there's nothing I can do. You know, he's getting old and worries he won't be able to enjoy himself for much longer, so he's becoming even more irrational."

The doctor chuckled, "Zhang Chaofeng is truly a formidable man; to be so vigorous at his age is impressive. Is it the usual prescription, Shopkeeper Shen?"

As he spoke, the doctor prepared to write a prescription for Shen Bai.

Shen Bai thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have anything stronger?"

The doctor's hand, holding the brush, paused slightly. "Shopkeeper Shen, please don't joke. All medicine has some toxicity. If the Qi-Blood Medicine is too potent, I'm afraid Zhang Chaofeng won't be able to handle it."

Shen Bai waved his hand and said, "It's fine, Old Zhang can handle it."

The doctor was just an employee; if a customer wanted a prescription, he couldn't refuse.

An incense stick's worth of time later, Shen Bai left the medicine shop with his new Qi-Blood Medicine and walked towards the Pawnshop.

It didn't take much time to get from the medicine shop to the Pawnshop.

Moreover, Shen Bai was eager to return and grind Blood Sword Dance, so he walked even faster.

At that moment, as Shen Bai was about to reach the Pawnshop, his steps slowed.

At the entrance of the Pawnshop, Zhou Qing, with a long saber at his waist, was anxiously looking around.

Shen Bai felt puzzled but still walked over. "Old Zhou, why are you here so early? Is something wrong?"

Zhou Qing's eyes lit up when he saw Shen Bai. "Let's go inside to talk. This is an order from the yamen, and it's not suitable for outsiders to know."