The Devil's Cage

Since the drafts were all laid out, Kieran went on to level up his skills.

[Sword Skill, Myriad Viper, Musou to Transcendence cost 50,000 Points, 5 Golden Skill Points. Yes/No?]

"Yes!"

[Sword Skill Myriad Viper has reached Transcendence, extra Transcendence option: Ouroboros]

[Name: Sword Skill, Myriad Viper (Transcendence)]

[Related Attributes: Spirit]

[Skill Type Offense]

[Effect: Utilize your aura to pressure your opponents in a 35-meter diameter, the target will be forced to undergo a Spirit authentication. When target’s Spirit is lower than yours, the target will fall into the illusion of ten thousand snakes, allowing you to exert your will freely, consume 50 Stamina, 2-minute cooldown]

[Special Effect: Viper Venom (Target will have to go through another Spirit plus Intuition authentication of +1 and +4 respectively when target passed the first one. Target will only be freed after the passing the second authentication)]

[Transcendence Option: Ouroboros (Consume 3 times Stamina to recast another Myriad Viper regardless of cooldown. When Ouroboros has been successfully cast, Myriad Viper’s cooldown will be added on to the previous existing cooldown)]

[Consume: Stamina]

[Prerequisite: Spirit S+]

[Remark: Although it is categorized as a Sword Skill, in fact, it is really an illusory attack, no weapon limitations]

...

[Sword Skill Myriad Viper leveled up, related attributes increased...]

[Detected attribute has reached Character Model Template Limit, the increased attribute has been accumulated...]

...

Kieran looked at his Spirit attribute in surprise.

Although because of his Character Model Template Limit, extra Spirit levels has been accumulated, it didn’t mean it was gone but it actually existed.

Plus [Knights of Dawn Body Tempering Art]’s accumulation, the number has been increased to 3.

"Basic skills would surely level up attributes below B rank when they reach Transcendence, so does Advance, Rare and Legendary. Besides that, attribute limits kept on expanding and it seems like SSS+ is not the limit either!"

Kieran formed up a quick conclusion before moving forward with his next skill.

[Sword Skill, Tiger Stance, Pro to Grand Master, cost 20,000 Points, 2 Golden Skill Points. Yes/No?]

"Yes!"

[Name: Sword Skill, Tiger Stance (Grand Master)]

[Related Attributes: Strength, Constitution]

[Skill Type: Offense]

[Effect: Whenever you use a two-handed sword, battle mace, battle-ax and successfully block an enemy’s attack, counterattack +40% in Strength, +40% in Agility, consume extra Stamina when attacking]

[Special Effect: Power Focus (+10% Strength in counterattack)]

[Consume: Stamina]

[Prerequisite: Sharp Weapon, Heavy Arms (Grandmaster), Strength B+]

[Remark: This is one of the secret esoteric sword skills of the Tiger Sect, it’s the first step in mastering the two-handed sword.]

...

The familiar knowledge transfer and the synchronization process happened instantly, causing Kieran to soak into the feeling swiftly.

Then, he drew out [Arrogant Word] and performed a slash.

Roar!

A tiger roar echoed in the old broken garage but there was no mirage of a striped tiger.

"Still lacking a bit?" Kieran muttered.

Not only did he not perform the slash without counterattack, but the slash also didn’t bear the fierce aura that could pressure his opponent either.

Despite him mimicking the situation back then, a mimic was still a mimic, he couldn’t bring out the authentic battle scene during the fight with the Prairie King.

Kieran took in a deep breath and discarded the thoughts for the time being before looking towards his new skills.

[Living Rope Technique] and [Dormant Viper].

Since all his others skills were at the level where Golden Skill Points were required to level them up further, the two newly acquired skill were his only choice.

[Living Rope Technique] was a Magic rank skill, though it relied on [Mystical Knowledge] in bringing it to life, the cost was much lower than [Burning Hand].

Kieran could even directly level it up to Grand Master rank in one shot.

The total cost would be 20,000 Points and 20 Skill Points.

[Name: Living Rope Technique (Grand Master)]

[Related Attribute: None]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Attribute: Control a rope object not longer than 25 meters]

[Effect: Nimble (The controlled rope will be as nimble as your own fingers]

[Consume: Stamina]

[Prerequisite: Mystical Knowledge (Pro), Spirit A+]

[Remark: This is a basic technique that requires talents. Its incantation has only one note but you cannot neglect it!]

...

Though when it came to [Dormant Viper], the total cost shocked Kieran.

"Entry level would cost 100,000 Points and 10 Skill Points!?"

Kieran frowned.

Although he remembered the scroll of [Dormant Viper] didn’t glow in any color but judging from what he knew, [Dormant Viper] was an independent technique from outside the Viper Sect technique’s system and it should be categorized into Special rank.

Kieran knew Special rank skills would cost a lot more than Common rank, still, the cost shocked him.

Of course, when it was related to his own benefits, he wouldn’t be stingy about such a cost.

Given that the cost would be worth his while, Kieran wished that [Dormant Viper] would be much more expensive.

Aside from that, [Dormant Viper]’s remark stated that it was the entry level technique to the true Viper Sect ultimates. If Kieran wasn’t an idiot, he would know what he must do.

Entry level cost 100,000 Points, 10 Skill Points.

Master Level cost 200,000 Points, 20 Skill Points.

After trading in some points, Kieran leveled up [Dormant Viper] to Master level.

[Name: Dormant Viper (Master)]

[Related Attribute: None]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Attribute: A high ranking technique among the Viper Sect, uses a special way of breathing to send the wounded into a slumber and heal for 1.5 HP/minute]

[Effect: Snake Rest (Slightly decrease the cost of Stamina and increase 0.5 HP recovery rate per minute.]

[Consume: Stamina]

[Prerequisite: Spirit S+]

[Remark: It will consume your stamina but its roots are within Spirit, it is the entry level technique to the real Viper Sect ultimates!]

...

"With the speed of recovering 2 HP per minute, I need almost 650 minutes to fully recover my HP of 1300 with 250 from Body of Evil, which means I need to sleep for 10 hours plus... It might be useless in the ever-changing battlefield but it would be useful to recover after the battle!"

Kieran automatically analyzed the usage of [Dormant Viper].

He then took a peek at the next leveling cost which cost was a hefty 300,000 Points and 3 Golden Skill Points.

The amount was enough to suffocate Kieran.

Aside from the 3 Golden Skill Points, the fact that it cost even more than his dungeon clear rewards was shocking.

"How the hell is it different from other skills? When it reaches the level of requiring Golden Skill Points, the Points didn’t even decrease but increased normally. The requirements of Golden Skill Point starts from 3 as well. So what cost would the true Viper Sect ultimates cost?"

Kieran thought of it in silence.

He felt like he saw millions of points and dozens of Golden Skill Points leaving his side.

"But if it can bring me back from the dead... Every penny would be worth it!"

Kieran recalled the rumors he gathered about the Viper Sect’s highest ultimates, it might be something similar to a molting snake that would grant the user eternal youth and immortality.

Kieran couldn’t tell whether it was true or false at the moment but after triggering [Snake Molt] from [Ring of the Serpent King], the astonishment on the Prairie King’s face had made an impression on him.

The astonishment was not an act, there was a high chance that the rumors were true.

No one would dislike an extra life, Kieran was no exception as well.

It would be worth his effort regardless of how much he spent on that extra life.

After the upgrades, Kieran didn’t initiate the mission to limit break his Character Model Template Limits. He wanted to gather more information on the extra mission.

Despite Lawless not being able to provide him with more, Kieran wouldn’t mind getting more information from others.

The more valuable information he could get his hands on, the more advantages he could get on completing his limit break extra mission.

Another reason was that [Ring of the Serpent King]’s [Snake Molt] was still on cooldown.