Ashen God

November 2nd, Monday, the first day after Halloween, and also the first day Zhang Yanhang left the Ashen World, at 6:41 AM, Qin Island City, Xingfuli District, Unit 505, bedroom.

[Do you wish to consume 4 points of Legendary Essence and 10 points of Ash Source to upgrade your profession level to Fifth Tier LV.41?]

"Yes, upgrade the profession level to Fifth Tier LV.41."

Zhang Yanhang originally had thirteen points of Ash Source left, but earlier when opening the Ashen Treasure Box, he gained another fifteen points of Ash Source. Therefore, he now has a total of twenty-eight points of Ash Source in his possession, and even if he uses ten points for tier promotion, he will still have eighteen points left, so he is not lacking Ash Source at all.

As for the Legendary Essence, Zhang Yanhang is also not lacking it. He previously obtained fifteen points of Legendary Essence from the Lord's Treasure Chest and hasn't used any yet. So even if he uses 4 points now, he will still have eleven points left, keeping his resources well above double digits.

Thus, with such abundant Legendary Essence and Ash Source, Zhang Yanhang naturally chose to immediately proceed with tier promotion.

Since this was already the fourth tier promotion, Zhang Yanhang, upon confirming the promotion, immediately lay on the bed and waited for the promotion to complete.

As the tier promotion began, Zhang Yanhang's palms and soles immediately shone with a vast expanse of dazzling golden light. But he wondered if it was a figment of his imagination, as he felt this golden light seemed to carry a mysterious aura more than before.

He thought it might be due to the greater difficulty of promoting to the Fifth Tier, thus requiring higher quality and intensity of golden energy.

What remained unchanged was the exceptionally gentle feeling carried by the dazzling golden light, which made it impossible to refuse its transformative presence either psychologically or physically.

This incredibly gentle yet hidden energy-rich golden light extended upwards from the extremities of Zhang Yanhang, quickly meeting at the torso and melding together. Almost instantly, this dazzling golden light spread like a tide across the entire torso and began advancing towards the cervical spine.

As this golden light traversed the cervical spine and head towards the brain, the light blue Talent Light, symbolizing 'Multiple Choice', surrounding the brain suddenly shone like an absolute dominator, rapidly expanded, and immediately blocked the golden light with a tendency to continue expanding outward.

The golden light that accompanied the tier promotion was instantly repelled by this Talent Light, retreating from the cervical spine and swiftly returning to the extremities, disappearing without a trace.

"Why does this situation feel completely different from previous instances? Before, the golden light would dodge the Talent Light, but each time it would flee upon encounter. This time, for some unknown reason, 'Multiple Choice' actively countered. Is it because the golden light's intensity has increased?

So, the question arises, why does 'Multiple Choice' reject the golden light transformation?"

Zhang Yanhang pondered and couldn't figure it out, and he believed nobody could answer this question for him. Even if he asked 'Multiple Choice', he probably wouldn't get an answer. Therefore, this would likely become an unresolved mystery.

However, as long as it doesn't affect his tier promotion, it doesn't matter. There's no choice but to make peace with it, as it's beyond his control and up to 'Multiple Choice's voluntary action.

Moreover, compared to this unresolved mystery, Zhang Yanhang felt the tier promotion notifications that had been continuously appearing since earlier were more significant.

At times, he wanted to think, but these notifications distracted him from contemplating, as tier promotion always concerns him the most.

[Profession level successfully upgraded to LV.41, free attribute points +6.]

[Heavenly Destiny Master has successfully promoted to the Fifth Tier, attribute value limit open to 125 points.]

[Heavenly Destiny Master has successfully promoted to the Fifth Tier, 'Multiple Choice' talent enhanced.]

[Congratulations, you have gained the skill 'Heavenly Mastery Dominator Body'.]

[Congratulations, you have gained the skill 'Eternal Demon Body'.]

"Although I don't really want to think about the 'Multiple Choice' issue now, every tier promotion golden light fails to transform 'Multiple Choice', yet 'Multiple Choice' somehow manages to enhance its strength mysteriously. It indeed stands out."

But although very much concerned, due to a lack of reasonable explanations, Zhang Yanhang could only deduce that perhaps the 'Multiple Choice' awakening talent enhancement is unrelated to the transformations and simply enhances its power automatically with tier elevation.

After all, the awakening talent is a fundamental aspect for every Awakener; being somewhat special is understandable.

Honestly, aside from this, Zhang Yanhang couldn't think of any more logical reasons.

Moreover, although he had now promoted four tiers, his theoretical foundation was still at an understanding level, as his tier promotion was so rapid and naturally couldn't compare to those with 'Deep Roots' who take months for each tier promotion for their erudition.

While Zhang Yanhang might completely surpass the community leader in terms of combat power, he admitted he'd likely be surpassed by the leader in terms of knowledge.

"The skills obtained this time seem quite powerful just from their names, carrying intense mystical traits. Is it because I'm finally reaching the High Martial Realm soon?"

No matter what, just from the names 'Heavenly Mastery Dominator Body' and 'Eternal Demon Body', Zhang Yanhang felt an overwhelming sense of anticipation that they would surely bring substantial strength enhancement, as it's widely known that skill names consistently match well with their specific effects compared to mostly exaggerated talent names.

Unfortunately, due to the continuous emergence of more tier promotion improvement messages before him, now clearly isn't a good time to check skill effects.

[Heavenly Destiny Master Maximum Life Value Conversion Coefficient enhanced.]

[Heavenly Destiny Master Maximum Energy Value Conversion Coefficient enhanced.]

[Heavenly Destiny Master Life Value Recovery Speed enhanced.]

[Heavenly Destiny Master Energy Value Recovery Speed enhanced.]

"It's time for the familiar tier rewards again. In the past, when I ascended ranks, I always neglected the increase in energy value recovery speed, thinking it wasn't of much use. But now, after acquiring the Swallowing Heaven and Earth Skill, the energy value recovery speed is gradually becoming something that's a bit beyond my reach."

Although Zhang Yanhang has recently gained a considerable boost to energy value recovery speed, those are just bonuses, and he hasn't had the chance to enhance the most basic energy value recovery speed, thus maintaining it in its original state. Now, however, he can finally increase it a bit through rank promotion.

After all, only increasing the bonus to energy value recovery speed without enhancing the base recovery speed is like walking with one leg; you can hop along but it's not as comfortable as walking on two legs. To fulfill Zhang Yanhang's vision of unlimited energy, he'd need to improve both fronts in tandem for a healthier development.

However, before Zhang Yanhang could think more on it, more prompt information surfaced in front of him, accompanied by the familiar Time Pause activation.

With the arrival of Time Pause, the equally familiar text option box appeared before Zhang Yanhang, waiting silently for him to make his final choice.

[Detection of main attribute 'Strength' of 'Heavenly Destiny Master' profession reaching 100 attribute value limit during rank ascent, main attribute reward obtained...]

[Would you like to draw the Strength attribute reward?]

[Option One: Shock Horror (A chance to inflict a 'Shock Horror' effect on nearby enemies after consecutively killing ten enemies without taking any damage. If the enemies fail a related will test, their combat spirit and attack power will decrease, with a probability of falling into a 'Fear' status.)]

[Option Two: Armor Shattering (Armor penetration effect +28%)]

[Option Three: Power of Nine Oxen and Two Tigers (Strength +6)]

"This time, Option One is Shock Horror? I remember there was an option called Shock last time. This Shock Horror seems like an evolved version of Shock."

Although both require defeating ten enemies without taking damage to trigger, Zhang Yanhang recalls that after triggering last time, it caused the enemy to flee in panic, colloquially known as running away with tails tucked.

But this time is obviously different, as it causes enemies to fall into a state of fear.

Zhang Yanhang briefly checked the fear status effect and found that it was pretty much like the proper 'Shock' he imagined last time. It could make enemies collapse to the ground or wet themselves in fear with just a glare, which is much better than the bootleg Shock from last time.

In terms of killing monsters, this Shock Horror is undoubtedly superior to Shock, as Shock makes enemies flee, reducing Zhang Yanhang's hunting efficiency without any benefit to him. Shock Horror keeps the enemies stationary and reduces their mobility, which can increase Zhang Yanhang's hunting efficiency to some extent.

So, this Shock Horror does make Zhang Yanhang somewhat tempted.

"Besides Shock Horror from Option One, Option Three's Power of Nine Oxen and Two Tigers is a familiar attribute value boost option. I remember it was a five-point boost last time, and this time it's a six-point boost in Strength, one point more than before."

Zhang Yanhang thought that if he always chose this attribute value option, he'd certainly reach the tier limit more easily, but since he doesn't particularly lack in attribute values at the moment, he'll pass on it this time.

Of course, Zhang Yanhang isn't entirely free of the need for attribute values, especially in Charm. If breaking through in Charm could also yield a reward, Zhang Yanhang would prioritize increasing Charm attribute value. Unfortunately, Charm is a sub-attribute, and even surpassing 100 without any equipment doesn't trigger a reward.

"But the most crucial option is Option Two, Armor Shattering. It enhances the armor penetration effect? Such a bonus effect is indeed quite rare..."

Zhang Yanhang recalls that previous Strength main attribute rewards generally provided a strength effect bonus, but this time it's armor penetration, perhaps because it's understood that Zhang Yanhang has been lacking an armor penetration effect recently.

"I must say, this time the armor penetration effect is plenty, giving straight up 28%..."

It's important to know that the armor penetration effect is a percentage-based bonus. A 28% armor penetration means directly ignoring 28% of an enemy's defense. If the armor penetration effect reaches 100%, one could completely ignore enemy defense.

"Before now, I had a 37.6% armor penetration effect, and adding this 28%, wouldn't that mean I'd surpass sixty percent in armor penetration?"

Zhang Yanhang remembers his Dark Gold Quality fully rated Crimson Marrow Hell Finger +5 only gave a 10% armor penetration effect, so theoretically, this 28% armor penetration bonus is nearly equivalent to three pieces of Crimson Marrow Hell Finger +5.

However, sadly, he only has two pieces of Crimson Marrow Hell Finger +5 on him, with the other two still being Crimson Marrow Hell Finger +4.

Therefore, from any perspective, the 28% armor penetration bonus this time is hard for Zhang Yanhang to refuse.

Even though Option One's Shock Horror is quite good too, Zhang Yanhang currently feels a greater need for Option Two's Armor Shattering armor penetration effect.

"So, I choose Option Two, Armor Shattering, armor penetration effect +28%."

After reviewing the three options, Zhang Yanhang quickly made his choice, and with his decision, the Time Pause instantly vanished.

However, as the Time Pause disappeared, a new prompt message flashed before him, followed immediately by a new Time Pause, and a large array of new text option boxes appeared before Zhang Yanhang.

[Detection of main attribute 'Agility' of 'Heavenly Destiny Master' profession reaching 100 attribute value limit during rank ascent, main attribute reward obtained...]

[Would you like to draw the Agility attribute reward?]

[Option One: First Strike (Attack speed +140%)]

[Option Two: Wind and Lightning (In non-combat state, gain 'Wind and Lightning' status, movement speed increased by 160%, moderately reducing stamina consumption when moving.)]

[Option Three: Flying Speed (Agility +6)]