Han Xiao was slightly taken aback when he saw the five abilities that Gorutan had drawn.
"Extreme Path Style?"
There are countless martial arts styles in the universe, and most of the martial arts skills of the Extreme Path Style are explosive abilities, reflecting the terrible security environment of that era... Of course, it is also possible that the founder of the Extreme Path Style fond of a fighting style that would hurt the enemy a thousand while also hurting himself eight hundred.
Advanced martial artists are all masters who have drawn on the strengths of many schools of thought, so it's not surprising that they understand the techniques of Extreme Path Style.
The former Tyrant character card's ability was [Extreme Path Style: Cellular Super Limit], while what was extracted from Gorutan was Blood Berserk. The two have similar effects, but the former exchanges potential for combat power, while the latter burns current life points.
Compared to ordinary people, the burst of cellular over-limitation damages potential, but it has no immediate negative effects and only enhances current combat power without weakening it.
However, Blood Berserk requires continuous burning of life points. If the recovery ability cannot keep up, prolonged use will result in serious injury, making it unsuitable for prolonged battles. It may also allow the enemy to detect the weakness and deliberately delay the fight.
Han Xiao guessed that this was the reason why Gorutan didn't use this trick on him, since this new type of mechanic was known for his endurance.
"However, this ability is exactly what suits me best."
Han Xiao's eyes lit up.
His regenerative ability is comparable to a perpetual motion machine, even surpassing that of the Beast Ancestor. Burning life points is a piece of cake for him, and if used properly, it can be a stable burst of power in his hands.
In comparison, while [Microscopic Molting] and [Block Penetration] are also good, they cannot compare to the value of Blood Berserk.
"I've lost the one-time use character card with its cellular overdrive, but in return I have a long-term, stable burst of power. Tsk tsk, that's great..." Han Xiao clicked his tongue, overjoyed.
Even if the burst effect of Blood Berserk is slightly lower than that of Cellular Super Resolution, he can accept it; it's practically a huge win.
At this moment, Han Xiao only wanted to raise his hands and praise Fording.
Oh, and Nero too.
[You have obtained [Extreme Path Style: Blood Berserk]!]
The new abilities extracted from the five Beyond Grade A individuals immediately took effect on Han Xiao's body, altering every cell in his body.
Call!
A sharp, intense pain swept through my body, and it took quite a while for it to subside.
Han Xiao had already adapted to the pain of this rapid evolution. He exhaled and felt the changes in his body.
Hmm, his energy was noticeably more abundant, a result of Wormur's [Cell Activity Expansion]. His physique was much stronger, as if he had shed an invisible burden, likely due to Tolain's [Super Load]. His willpower had subtly increased, thanks to Hedis' [Mental Barrier Enhancement]. The Mechanical Force within his body was more acute, and his control was more precise, thanks to Jack Gonitz's [Mechanical Control Master]... Han Xiao reviewed the changes in his body and felt refreshed.
A new notification popped up on the panel: [Hila Rescue Battle] has generated a new instance. Han Xiao didn't even need to look to know that the challenge level of this thing was probably even higher than the Battle of Lighthouse Star, and it was something that players could only admire from afar and not attempt.
After reading the prompt, Han Xiao looked at the task list. At this moment, the [Hila Rescue Battle] task had disappeared, indicating that the rewards had been calculated.
Han Xiao curiously tested the effect of [Extreme Path Style: Blood Berserk]. This ability allows users to customize the amount of blood burned. The upper limit is not displayed, but it cannot be less than 0.1% of maximum health per second. So he activated the skill at the minimum limit.
Bang!
A blood-red halo suddenly bloomed on Han Xiao's chest, near his heart, and spread out like ripples.
The next moment, he felt as if his blood was suddenly boiling!
Bright red blood vapor burst forth from his body, reacting violently and resembling burning blood flames that coiled around his body. At first glance, someone unfamiliar with the subject might mistake it for red martial arts aura.
This crimson steam is the blood energy obtained from burning life force. Han Xiao perceives it as an extension of his own arm, and streams of new power are constantly generated within his body with the explosion of blood energy.
He summoned a mirror and glanced at himself. He saw that his appearance was completely different from his usual calm and masculine demeanor. Under the glow of the blood-red steam, he exuded a fierce aura, appearing sinister and Berserk. However, his emotions remained unaffected.
After glancing at the panel feedback, Han Xiao pondered silently:
"The burst bonus from Blood Berserk primarily focuses on attack power and ability strength, leaning towards offense, and is somewhat different from the comprehensive bonus from Cellular Overdrive."
After shutting down the Berserk blood energy, a feeling of weakness immediately arose, but it disappeared after a while.
To gain a better understanding of his own combat capabilities, Han Xiao tested his various new abilities from different angles before stopping and nodding in satisfaction.
"A huge wave of experience, four random rewards, one Blank Character Card, four powerful character cards, and five good abilities obtained through draws. This is amazing!"
Han Xiao was in a good mood.
The mission was extremely difficult, but the rewards were plentiful. My combat strength was significantly improved, and I gained several new trump cards.
Suppressing his excitement, Han Xiao put away his smile and pondered the actual impact of the matter.
The change in the major powers' views on him was simply due to their increased attention and fear. During the time he had been on his way back, more powers had shown their goodwill, and some forces that had been secretly causing trouble had stopped their underhanded actions. The Infinite Financial Group was one such example.
Overall, the establishment of authority was very effective. The Black Star Army's position in the entire universe was consolidated, dominating headlines and gaining unparalleled prestige, thus achieving Han Xiao's envisioned goal.
More people, including players, have submitted applications to join the Black Star Army. The officers in charge of this area have been working day and night to handle recruitment matters. It is foreseeable that the legion's size will experience a peak in growth in the near future.
"I reckon Glory and Arcane are considering exchanging prisoners, and they'll be able to get a lot of resources back soon," Han Xiao nodded to himself.
He naturally had no intention of keeping those four Beyond Grade A allies from cosmic-level civilizations. They were useless and a hot potato; exchanging them for profit was the best solution. However, this time, he wouldn't hand them over easily. He needed to put them in a difficult position, making Glory and the Arcane embarrassed and publicly apologize. Otherwise, they wouldn't be allowed to leave.
"Speaking of which, Kasuyi's suggestion isn't entirely out of the question. Selling the Glory people to the Arcane and letting the two sides fight it out..." Han Xiao scratched his chin, his eyes darting around.
Gorutan didn't receive this treatment; Han Xiao planned to keep him as a pet.
He also paid attention to the Beast Ancestor's power. After the leader fell, the power unsurprisingly fell into chaos, splitting into several factions that planned to separate. The internal strife was intense, and many forces outside were also eyeing the "legacy" left by the Beast Ancestor, ready to carve up this piece of fat meat at any time.
"Should I get involved? After all, I was the one who defeated the Beast Ancestor; there's no reason for me to slaughter the pig and let others eat the meat."
Han Xiao pondered deeply.
The possible reactions from various forces flashed through his mind, which he quickly analyzed using his strategic thinking. Then, a flash of inspiration struck him, and an idea suddenly formed. The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Han Xiao's eyes slowly brightened, and a mysterious smile appeared on his lips.
"If the Crimson Dynasty's reaction is really as I expect, then after a while, I might be able to go and find Sorokin and rip him off..."
Han Xiao previously announced to the outside world that he would be going into seclusion to recuperate, partly to make his claim of "burning his potential" more credible, and partly to give himself free time to do other things.
There are several things that need to be done. The first is to deal with the aftermath of this matter, including dealing with prisoners, dealing with the Empire, and dividing up the legacy of the Beast Ancestor.
Secondly, during the recuperation period, we will repair the mechanical legion that was damaged in this battle. This is a considerable undertaking. We will also need to forge the Great Emperor's Robe and optimize the carrier of the Mysterious Energy Envoy.
Thirdly, in response to the goodwill shown by Manison and Kasuyi, and with the help of the Black Star Army's immense power in the Shattered World, they began to establish a communication platform for Beyond Grade A united front.
The last thing was to take Ames to Secondary Dimension to capture the Holy Light Particle, the old buddy of Chaos Mysterious Energy.
"Looks like I'll have a lot to do," Han Xiao thought to himself. "But after this battle, I won't need to worry about the Black Star Army's development for a long time, so I'll have plenty of time to do my own things."
After making a mental plan, Han Xiao composed himself and walked out of the room with the book.
After returning to Moding, he went straight to the training ground to settle the rewards. Before he could even exchange pleasantries with the many cadres, he went directly to his office and asked Phillip to gather the core cadres.
Han Xiao walked into the office, where everyone was already waiting, including Ames.
Logically, this was an internal matter of the legion, and unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter. However, Ames's relationship with the legion was unusual, and no one present dared to stop her from observing.
"You've finally come back? You're quite the boss." Ames leaned against the wall, tilting her head to look at Han Xiao with a half-smile.
"Ahem, I've got something to do." Han Xiao said helplessly.
He invited Ames to the Black Star Palace just as a precaution, but it turned out to be very useful, driving back the Traveler.
"Don't forget what you promised me." Ames raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Once I've finished what I'm doing, we'll go on a trip together." Han Xiao nodded.
"Okay, then I won't bother you any longer."
Ames glanced at Hila one last time, then turned and left the room. Although no one chased her away, she knew better than to linger there and listen to the Black Star Army's internal affairs.
Han Xiao returned to his seat and first looked at Hila, "After a while, you will continue to be in charge of frontline exploration. I will build you something new, which is the mech that brought you back this time. With it, you won't have to worry about being besieged again."
"Okay." Hila had no objection.
Has the Empire contacted you recently?
Hila shook her head. "No."
"Let me give you a heads-up: if they use me as an excuse to get you to join the Empire, come and discuss it with me first. Don't agree rashly."
"Don't worry, I know."
Han Xiao hummed in agreement and asked curiously, "By the way, how's your connection with Aurora going?"
"It's stabilized now." Hila paused, then said, "However, I can still sense the existence of that special Secondary Dimension... Could you take me on a trip through that Secondary Dimension this time? I'd like to take a look."
"I'm afraid that won't work this time. After I go out, someone needs to stay in the legion to oversee things." Han Xiao shook his head and added, "I'll go with you next time."
Upon hearing this, Hila nodded to indicate that she understood, a slight smile playing on her lips, seemingly in a good mood.
After chatting for a bit, Han Xiao turned to the other cadres, glancing at Fording with an admiring look that made him uncomfortable. Only then did Han Xiao stop smiling and let everyone report on their work.
Sylvia, Melos, Reynold, and others summarized their work over the past period. During the report, many of the Calamity Grade cadres couldn't help but secretly glance at Han Xiao. This wave of achievements also surprised many cadres, and many people's admiration, awe, and loyalty towards Han Xiao deepened even further.
After listening to everyone's reports, Han Xiao nodded and said, "The situation is now far superior. After this incident, the Black Star Army will have a much smoother time in the Shattered World. No one will dare to test us so easily anymore. Next, you should expand your recruitment. In a while, the legion may encounter some huge business opportunities. Be prepared..."
Han Xiao gave some instructions on the precautions for the development of the legion, and seeing everyone nodding repeatedly, he suddenly thought of Evans.
Evans also returned on the spaceship that transported the Throne. Han Xiao had Phillip arrange accommodations for him and then kept him hidden away.
Han Xiao wouldn't expose Evans, this secret weapon, to others until he had developed to a certain level.
Putting that thought aside, Han Xiao leaned back in his chair and asked, "That's all for the details. If you have no further questions, you may return."
Sylvia began, "By the way, there's something I need your help with. A famous director wants to meet with you."
Han Xiao was taken aback.
A big director? Who is it? Manison?
Seeing Han Xiao's puzzled expression, Sylvia explained, "He is Benny Travolta, a renowned master director from the Crimson Dynasty. He wants your permission to make a documentary about you."
"... That's quite novel."
Han Xiao became interested.
In interstellar societies where resources are plentiful, the entertainment industry wields considerable influence. A well-known interstellar star can be adored by trillions of people across countless civilizations; Fording was once a regional star.
Benny Travolta, a director of interstellar films, has extremely high profile and influence, enjoys an extraordinary status in the industry, and is considered a prominent figure in the entire universe.
However, the entertainment industry (hetushu. com) and a warlord like myself are from completely different worlds, with no connection whatsoever. I have no idea why this person suddenly decided to ask me to make a film. Could it be the effect of Universe Legend Points?
Han Xiao thought for a moment and replied, "Okay, let's arrange a time to meet."
"Okay, I'll contact him myself." Sylvia nodded.
Han Xiao hummed in agreement, glanced at everyone, and seeing that no one spoke, said, "Is there anything else? If not, let's adjourn the meeting."
Just then, Hila suddenly remembered something, took out a small box from her bosom, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Han Xiao with two slender, fair fingers.
Han Xiao looked down and saw a red box tied with a ribbon, like a gift. He looked up at Hila with a puzzled expression.
"What are you doing...?"
"Today is your birthday. This is a birthday present for you, a talisman. Remember to wear it close to your body," Hila said softly.
Han Xiao was taken aback.
It's only February now, my birthday isn't today, it's October... Oh, I get it, this must be the original owner's birthday. Back on Planet Aquamarine, Germinal must have investigated me, Hila probably saw the original owner's birth file.
Having figured this out, Han Xiao swallowed the words he was about to say, put away the gift, and smiled, "Thanks, I didn't expect you to remember."
"I remember everything about you."
Hila lowered her eyes, and after saying this, she left the room without waiting for Han Xiao's reply.
The surrounding cadres glanced back and forth between the two men, each giving them meaningful looks, and then they all took their leave.
Han Xiao was left alone in the room. He stared blankly at the gift box for a while before gently opening it to reveal its contents.
A small, dark gold coin lay quietly in the box, a thin silver chain threaded through it, forming a necklace.
Han Xiao picked up the coin and suddenly sensed a special energy on it, which had the aura of Hila 'Power of the Dead and also contained the flavor of Aurora's life force.
Han Xiao had a sudden inspiration, opened the panel, and glanced at Hila's character card.
"If I'm not mistaken, this coin is a vessel for some kind of power, and that power is probably Hila's newly awakened resurrection skill... No wonder it's called a talisman; did she give me a resurrection coin?"
The character card doesn't show the limitations and costs of Hila using this ability, but Han Xiao estimates that Hila wouldn't just casually grant the chance to revive someone else; it must have been very taxing.
Han Xiao put the amulet around his neck, stood up and walked to the window, gazing absently at the view of the Black Star Palace outside.
If Hila hadn't suddenly brought it up, he wouldn't have even considered it. In all his years in Galaxy, this seemed to be the first time someone had celebrated his birthday...
Although the original owner's birthday was not on the same day as his own, Han Xiao still felt a strange sense of melancholy and resignation.
Once the floodgates of memory are opened, they cannot be stopped; past scenes come rushing back, as if from another world.
"Is it your birthday...?"
A soft sigh echoed in the room.