Free Web NovelChapter 191: Chapter 128: Rock Completed, Elite Level
He was eager to familiarize himself with his new strength.
But soon...
GRUMBLE GRUMBLE GRUMBLE!
A strange noise suddenly rumbled from his stomach. Lu Chao staggered, nearly falling over.
His face rapidly turned pale. He felt an immense hunger, as if every last bit of energy in his body had been depleted during the breakthrough.
His once-active muscles and bones felt like dry kindling, and every single cell screamed with a greedy, desperate hunger.
’This is... an energy and vitality deficit.’
All his excitement was replaced by a cold calm as Lu Chao quickly understood the reason.
Achieving a breakthrough in both the Rock Martial Skill and his Fighting Skill was a good thing, but it came at a price.
All the energy in his body had been used up, leaving him with a significant deficit.
It was as if he had entered a weakened state similar to the aftermath of the Frenzy State.
In the short term, it might be fine, only affecting his ability to display his full strength.
But if this state continued for too long, it would damage his internal organs, muscles, and meridians, shaking his very foundation. It could even lead to a decrease in Life Energy and a drop in his cultivation level.
’Good thing I was prepared.’
With a flash in his eyes, Lu Chao rushed out of the bathroom and headed straight for his bedroom, which made Zhao Yuanqing, who was tidying up the living room, secretly wonder what was going on.
Before he could ask...
Lu Chao was already back in his room, opening his storage cabinet.
Aside from the Magic book and the metal sphere that slowly absorbed Martial Arts Power...
Eight different intermediate-grade potions were placed inside: two intermediate Nutritional Potions, three Cyan Jade Crystals, and three tubes of Bone-Strengthening and Qi-Replenishing Ointment.
These were resources given to him by Luo Shi and Brother Hao, which he hadn’t used yet.
The reason was precisely to deal with a situation like this.
GLUG! GLUG!
In a flurry of motion...
Lu Chao downed the two intermediate Nutrient Liquids one after the other.
The hunger inside him eased slightly. Without any delay, he quickly consumed the Cyan Jade Crystals and the Bone-Strengthening and Qi-Replenishing Ointment.
The violent medicinal power surged into his body, nearly bursting his meridians and causing a backlash against his organs.
Any other Professional-level martial artist wouldn’t dare to consume such a large amount of potions in one go.
And yet...
HUMMM!
[Plunder and Grow] activated instantly, running like a high-efficiency engine inside Lu Chao’s body.
All the savage medicinal power was rapidly sorted and broken down into streams of optimal, warm nutrients that flowed to every part of his body.
Gradually...
Every cell received nourishment. His energy-depleted, shriveled muscles and bones were revitalized, regaining their activity and brimming with life.
Everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Lu Chao had already assumed a horse stance, following the cultivation method for the Iron Bone State, guiding all the medicinal power to gradually replenish his body’s deficit.
This continued for more than ten minutes.
Lu Chao’s complexion gradually became rosy, and his breathing grew steady.
He wasn’t just digesting the medicinal power; he was also progressively adapting to his post-breakthrough body.
Perfect Control hadn’t vanished; his Spiritual Power had also been enhanced by this breakthrough.
As he carefully felt the changes...
Lu Chao gradually came to understand the changes of the Elite Level.
’My Martial Arts Power has doubled, and my base strength exceeds one ton.’
’My explosive speed, nerve reactions, and all other physical aspects have improved by a significant margin. The same goes for my stamina, endurance, and so on.’
He carefully compared his current self to his previous self. It was a world of difference.
The increase in his raw power in every aspect led to a corresponding enhancement of his various Martial Skills and talents.
When he unleashed his Martial Arts Power, his fists, covered in Rock Hide, were truly worthy of the name "iron fists."
’If I used a Secondary Overlapping Force with my Stacked Force Fist, plus the Bronze Flesh state, my explosive power could instantly reach two tons. This is already the theoretical limit for the Elite Level Peak.’
Furthermore, with the one-time boost from [Adrenaline Rush], that would be a four-ton burst of power.
This already surpassed the Elite Level.
’It’s rumored that after the hundred-point threshold, a casual strike has four to five tons of power. At full burst, their speed can reach fifty to sixty meters per second, and they can ignore all damage from ordinary firearms and small-caliber bullets...’
A glimmer of eagerness appeared in his eyes. Lu Chao suspected that if he unleashed all of his abilities, he would probably be standing at the very peak of the Elite Level.
He might even be able to contend with a true Superpower Level Martial Artist.
’Not only that, my stamina has also increased by a large margin. Correspondingly, my Frenzy State can be extended by at least another two or three minutes, for a total duration of at least six minutes.’
’And with the Flow State talent, my Spiritual Power has become much stronger, so I can maintain it for longer too.’
As he continued to adapt to the changes from his breakthrough, Lu Chao knew that his current self could probably severely injure his pre-breakthrough self in a single move.
In a daze, he realized he was now one of the top powerhouses in the Iron Ring District.
In a small or medium-sized security company, he could easily serve as the top security consultant. He could even take over as the master of a small martial arts gym.
Even in the Patrol Department, he was fully qualified to compete for the position of captain.
"Hoo!"
The thought flashed through his mind as the last trace of medicinal power was absorbed. Lu Chao exhaled a puff of white air.
The breath was scorching hot, like a white arrow that shot several meters through the air before dissipating.
[Life Energy: 70]
[Potential Progress: 20%]
He glanced at his status panel.
He had consumed all the intermediate nutrients, and the deficit in his body was completely replenished.
’Perhaps even Luo Shi didn’t expect me to break through to the Elite Level so quickly.’
With a glint in his eye, Lu Chao knew.
It was because he had achieved success in cultivating the Rock Martial Skill, causing his physique to undergo a transformation, that he was able to break through in one go.
Because of this, he was actually a little curious about the effects of the Rock.
He immediately looked down at his body.
Lu Chao felt that while there was no change on the surface of his skin and muscles, they were actually denser and firmer.
He then picked up a military dagger from the table.
He gripped the hilt and dragged the blade across his forearm.
It left no mark, not even a single white scratch.
Even when he gradually increased the force, it remained the same under a ton of pressure.
What’s more...
He even swung the dagger down hard, aiming for his own palm.
CLANG!!
The sound of metal on metal rang out, startlingly.
It was as if his body had become iron itself, its density and hardness no less than that of the dagger’s steel.
’A Body of Rock?’
His eyes bright and full of spirit, Lu Chao recalled what Luo Shi had mentioned.
Once this hard-style Martial Skill reached Minor Achievement, one would gain a passive Body of Rock.
Even without breaking through to the Elite Level, just the physical transformation from the Martial Skill alone would allow one to ignore ordinary bladed weapons and easily deflect the impact of nearly a thousand kilograms of force.
Even more so...
HUMMM!
Martial Arts Power flowed out and covered his arms.
A deep, grayish-white color gave them an exceptionally solid feel. His arms looked as if they were carved from real stone.
Then, Lu Chao reached out and gripped the dagger’s blade.
With a sudden clench...
CRACK!
The sturdy military dagger shattered in his hand, but apart from a faint white mark, his hand was unscathed.
’As expected.’
His eyes lit up, and Lu Chao nodded to himself.
If the Body of Rock was stacked with the finishing moves of the Golden Stone Fighting Skill, the effect would be amplified even further.
It wasn’t just Rock Hide.
He quickly redirected his power, circulating it through his muscles and bones.
The Elite Level also had its corresponding Fighting Skill specialty, the so-called Iron Bone State.
HUMMM!
CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK!
As if his bones were growing, Lu Chao forcibly grew two centimeters taller, appearing even more imposing.
The increase in strength wasn’t that obvious.
But, in terms of defense...
’Thirty percent!’
A compelling light shone in Lu Chao’s eyes, and he felt a powerful sense of confidence welling up from within.
After entering the Iron Bone State, he had gained at least a thirty percent boost in defense.
It was no exaggeration to say he was now a walking piece of steel.
Even if he were hit by small-caliber bullets, they wouldn’t be able to break his defense unless they struck his weak spots—his eyes or the perineal area—or unless every shot was perfectly accurate, hitting the exact same spot six or seven times in a row.
Otherwise, they would be completely unable to break his defense.
’Perhaps I was being too modest just now.’
CRACK!
Feeling the power that came from the Iron Bone State and the Minor Achievement of the Rock...
Lu Chao slowly clenched his fist, a sharp crack echoing from his palm.
He felt that if he went all out, used all his abilities, and entered the Frenzy State...
He wouldn’t just be able to contend with a Superpower Level Martial Artist who had passed the hundred-point threshold.
It might even be possible to face them head-on and determine who was stronger.
