Chapter 175 - 173: Green-Grade Traits
After confirming the reward options, Song Changming’s painstakingly accumulated lifespan of around one hundred and thirty years was directly reduced to less than one hundred and twenty years.
Song Changming only hoped that this year’s reward would not disappoint him.
To him, exchanging lifespan for enhancement in personal talent and aptitude is worthwhile.
This not only enhances his immediate combat abilities but also elevates the upper limit of the martial arts Tao he would be able to reach in the future.
Next, it depends on the effect.
Soon, a new green-grade physical trait appeared on Song Changming’s panel.
The next moment, he felt his legs, muscles, and bones all becoming incredibly hot, even his blood seemed to be flowing like magma, constantly being tempered and transformed.
This heat gradually spread to his waist and belly and even his whole body.
About the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the heat finally subsided.
His body was drenched in sweat, his clothes were soaked as if they had been dipped in water.
Song Changming took a deep breath, thinking to himself, "It seems that the higher the trait grade, the more intense and obvious the initial transformation process is..."
He remembered when he gained the ’Sword Practitioner’ and ’Strong,’ there was no such fierce reaction.
And when obtaining the blue-grade Dragon Body, the transformation lasted nearly a day and night, much longer than now.
Light as Wind: Born with nimble legs, a graceful posture, and an extremely high speed development limit!
With eager anticipation to test the effects of this new trait, Song Changming gathered his energy and suddenly leapt into the air.
The next instant, he seemed to soar through the clouds, reaching above the roof in one breath, with a momentary hover in mid-air.
Feeling the evening breeze flowing around him, he seemed capable of grasping these winds.
Landing silently on the rooftop, under his deliberate control, not a single sound was heard.
As the trait description mentioned, his posture was agile and light.
He then flipped and gracefully landed on the ground, increasing his speed.
Swoosh!
The ground beneath him seemed to move with the wind, and in an instant, he landed on the wall on the other side of the courtyard.
The manifestation of speed was even more direct, at least three times faster than before he acquired this new trait!
And this was just the immediate effect upon obtaining the new trait.
Further development and exploration will increase its benefits even more.
Currently, he is at the eighth level of Body Refining Cultivation, but he estimates that adding this new green-grade trait, and combining the comprehensive enhancement of the Dragon Body’s ’Strong Physique’.
His agility in speed might even surpass that of Extreme Realm Martial Artists who specialize in the Cleansing Marrow direction!
This is the improvement brought by a green-grade talent trait, and after various tests and adaptation, Song Changming is overall quite satisfied.
Subsequent upgrade reward options are specified by the panel, between Sword Practitioner and Strong traits.
His Dragon Body trait was perhaps already too high in grade to be upgraded any further.
Or perhaps the Dragon Body acquired from the Dragon Transformation Pearl, is not a reward from the panel itself, hence the panel cannot upgrade it.
Between Sword Practitioner and Strong traits, Song Changming chose the latter.
Hoping to further strengthen the intensity of his physique, enhancing his already formidable strength attribute!
He couldn’t resist experiencing the feeling of overwhelming power, crushing all beings, so he couldn’t abandon this choice to upgrade the Sword Practitioner trait.
He thought that if there was an opportunity in the future, he would consider upgrading Sword Practitioner.
Currently, upgrading Sword Practitioner is also beneficial to him.
After all, his sword techniques are just beginning, also influenced by the Sword Practitioner trait enhancement.
Yet, comparatively, he prefers to strengthen his physique.
Upon confirming the upgrade, the panel’s original white-grade ’Strong’ trait immediately changed.
Strong and Mighty (Green): Born with impressive power and a very high development limit for strength!
The heat sensation that had just subsided erupted throughout his body again, causing Song Changming to feel like heat rushed to his head.
His muscles felt sore, numb, and itchy, while bones and meridians underwent subtle transformations.
From the outside, Song Changming now had skin that appeared red all over, with pores fully open, continuously emitting heat.
Water vapor rose from his head, arms, and spine, making him seem like he was transforming.
Another incense-burning duration passed, ending the influence of the upgraded trait.
Song Changming didn’t undergo much outward change, just becoming slightly sturdier.
But internally, every muscle, every tendon, even every drop of blood seemed to have undergone transformation tonight!
An aura distinct from before emerged naturally from him.
Majestic and domineering, instilling awe in those who see him!
He stood there like an indomitable warrior, an unstoppable overlord!
This is one of the changes brought by physical traits.
An innate heroic presence seemed to radiate from him!
With clenched fists, waves of immense power surged, far surpassing any prior state.
Typically, the ultimate display of strength by an Extreme Realm Martial Artist who trains in Bone Forging with Muscle Training is of Ten Thousand Pounds of Strength!
Song Changming’s Bull Demon Skill achieved Perfection, equating to Nine Bull Power with roughly twelve thousand pounds of force, slightly surpassing ordinary Extreme Realm Martial Artists.
Yet, that is far from his current strength limit.
With multiple Body Refining skills, his strength added up to nearly twenty thousand pounds.
Further enhanced by obtaining Strong along with the Dragon Body, as these related traits continued to be developed and explored, his physical power consistently grew stronger, surpassing twenty thousand pounds long ago.
Currently, having developed the Dragon Body trait for over half a year, and the Strong trait upgraded, his strength reached thirty thousand pounds, embodying the might to move mountains, with the courage to face a thousand foes!
From the corner of the wall, Song Changming suddenly punched out, the speed accelerating, followed by a booming explosion!
The airwaves rolled and surged like tides, seemingly distorting the space.
Then, Song Changming, without pausing to catch his breath, threw another punch.
This time, he struck an iron stake.
The iron stake instantly crumpled, almost bent in half under force.
Yet, Song Changming’s fist remained unharmed!
The powerful physique trait of the Dragon Body, working in his body, fortified not only his strength but significantly enhanced his striking endurance.
Every inch of his skin seemed to be covered by an invisible Dragon Scale Armor, harder than steel, impregnable!
Song Changming exhaled, withdrawing his fist, with a smile on his face.
He was quite satisfied with the annual reward he received, his comprehensive strength had undeniably risen to a new height.
If he were to face Xue Boyan now, perhaps he’d not need to overdraw his energy, using Secret Technique: Blood Burst.
The next day, Song Ping’an looked at the iron stake in the corner of the courtyard that was nearly broken, gasping in shock, naturally knowing who caused it.
He felt truly impressed.
If he were to punch it once, setting aside whether his fist would get injured, just leaving a noticeable punch mark might already be quite challenging.
July.
Discussions about the Earth List continued to rise, with almost all Martial Artists in Jianghu talking about it.
Compared to the inaccessible, lofty Celestial List, the Earth List seemed more grounded, providing a chance for even those previously unknown to become listed overnight.
The Earth List has thus become a goal more people strive for.
Equally allows building fame and fortune, equally substantial, and closely related to the Celestial List, serving as an extension supplement.
Many, unable to reach the Celestial List, yet faced with the Earth List, felt indignant, wondering why they weren’t chosen.
Thus, Jianghu soon stirred with a trend of challenging experts on the Earth List.
Numerous powerful Martial Artists started acting, attempting to bring down those unknown Earth List experts and replace them.
Being low-ranked on the list, Song Changming naturally became the target as an apparent underdog everyone wanted to challenge.
Before making the list, he belonged to those obscure characters.
Past achievements viewed globally, he saved Donglai County City alone, a feat still respected, but nothing else really stood out, not enough to scare people.
Hence, starting this month, challenge letters were as common as paper, nearly daily someone visited with war summons.
This made Song Changming finally feel like a renowned figure, far more attention than before.
Yet, he also found it troublesome, with letters piled enough to be burned as firewood.
Reputable figures burdened by fame, visited daily with letters, might probably feel the same way.
"Brother Song, this isn’t a solution, why not simply accept the challenge, and make them respect you, lest everyone thinks you’re an easy target..." Song Ping’an spoke as he placed yet another challenge letter on the stone table.
Song Changming looked, the large characters on the challenge letter with flair.
Yellow Springs Sword, Gu Sangao!