Infinite Gods Reign Supreme

Chapter 82: Sword Control Techniques and External Imagery

—【Soul Gem Advanced Enhancement—Originating from 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' its effect is to comprehensively amplify the utility of the original Soul Gem. Magic reserves, self-purification efficiency, inherent magic, and magical girl weaponry will all be improved. Simultaneously, a certain degree of witch form development will be granted.】

—[To redeem this enhancement, you need to complete 2 B-rank side quests and earn 8000 reward points. You will also need a Primal Soul Gem for enhancement.]

—【The Alchemist Faust Robe—derived from 'Battle Princess's Lament,' a special combat armor created based on alchemical techniques. It can manifest as external armor to protect the user, or it can enhance existing magical armor. If the user possesses musical talent, the robe's effects will be further enhanced.】

—[To exchange for this item, you need to complete 2 C-rank side quests and earn 4000 reward points. This item is only available to individuals with a female biological sex. It also requires at least 300 points of muscle strength and cell activity.]

The data was presented to the eyes of the reincarnators.

Strictly speaking, this enhancement strategy isn't bad—it provides comprehensive attribute improvements and enhances defensive capabilities. For a pillar of the team, it's indeed a fairly reasonable combination. However, the current Almaria is no longer a captain who needs to carry the burden alone.

The difference between A-level enhancement and BB-level enhancement is ultimately enormous—aside from Si Ming, whose only known achievement is how he managed to elevate battle qi to A-level, everyone present knew just how significant this seemingly minor numerical change truly was.

"Hmm..." Yu Zhiwei had returned to her seat at some point, twisting her waist and straightening her bones, a crisp cracking sound coming from her joints. "I still have quite a bit of resources on hand, you know. A simple C-rank side quest isn't really necessary right now. How about we go all out? Buy an A-rank weapon to enhance another magical girl-type skill, or maybe with a little effort, get a three-stage transformation. That's a pretty good strategy, isn't it?"

She was quite generous.

Among the Celestial Team, she was the first to offer to share her resources. And just as the Reincarnators had become accustomed to her daily erratic behavior, no one thought she was joking when she offered to help.

Si Ming turned his head slightly, while Almalia only pondered for a moment.

"Thank you." She quickly waved her hand. "I still prefer this style. Hmm... it suits my aesthetic better. I also prefer to take things one step at a time."

"Really?" Yu Zhiwei shrugged. "You're the type who's more inclined to role-play. Whatever you want."

She didn't insist, and Si Ming didn't interfere. Because he remembered Almaria's self-narration and knew that this veteran magical girl fan from the North Sea team... had a considerable amount of rebellious desires.

That is her freedom.

And in the Celestial Team...

"It's alright, we are the strongest team. We don't need to plan each enhancement too pragmatically. After all, what suits us best is the best. It's better for us to take a long-term view."

Si Ming concluded the discussion, his decision aligning with the team's needs—the Celestial Team differed from other squads; it didn't need cogs in the machine, only elites. Everyone should be capable of standing alone, of solving problems when fighting alone, or of seizing opportunities.

Almaria averted her gaze, and Yu Zhiwei merely adjusted her languid posture slightly. The next moment, enhanced light descended, giving the seasoned magical girl a visual boost.

Her performance outfit became more exquisite, adorned with more lace, and she wore a small top hat. The guitar, with its seven jeweled buds, also became more magnificent and elegant, its brilliant light surging forth before quickly fading, making this exquisite instrument appear even more luxurious.

The strength had increased by an unknown amount, but its appearance had certainly improved dramatically. Almaria strummed her new guitar with satisfaction, and an elegant melody immediately filled the square.

"I plan to upgrade my sword," Song Tian said in a deep voice. He stretched out his hand, and the enhanced beam of light immediately descended—many divine weapons, like bloodlines, have the characteristic of multiple upgrade stages. And the Snow Drink in his hand was naturally the same.

The B-grade longsword transformed into an A-grade sword amidst the radiance. It was as if the new had devoured the old, or as if the new had been born from the old. And when the radiance faded, the sharp sword aura flowed out in all directions. Until Song Tian gripped the hilt again, that invisible and intangible sharpness made the hairs on the faces of the reincarnators present stand on end.

Si Ming glanced at the knife.

A-grade weaponry was no longer a force he could easily subdue with his bare hands—Song Tian, ​​wielding the Snow Drink, now posed a certain threat to him objectively. It was no longer as easily suppressed as before.

His gaze thus met Song Tian's.

However, the surging fighting spirit between Song Tian's brows remained dormant.

It wasn't the right time yet. He wasn't planning on fighting Si Ming to the bitter end. And that only meant he missed the window of opportunity where he could have most likely gained an advantage over Si Ming.

"A fine blade." Luo Yinglong, unsurprisingly, failed to notice Song Tian's barely concealed fighting spirit. His eyes were fixed solely on Song Tian, ​​his nemesis and comrade-in-arms, nothing else. His gaze constantly shifted between Xue Yin and Song Tian himself.

"I'm almost tempted to buy a good sword myself, but well, I still have some other plans." "If you need a side quest, I can lend you one," Song Tian replied, pressing down on the gently trembling Xueyin.

However, Luo Yinglong simply shook his head.

"Lacking? No, I don't lack anything. Before I joined the Celestial Team, I had actually saved up some resources... Heh, I originally thought that my original level was enough to handle the Celestial Team's combat intensity. But I didn't expect that I had underestimated the heroes of the world."

He paused.

"I plan to exchange for this - Shushan Sword Control Technique".

—【Shushan Sword Control Technique—originating from 'The Legend of Sword and Fairy', it's a combat skill that allows the user to wield swords and control them for agile attacks. After mastering this technique, all sword-shaped objects can be forcibly refined into flying swords. Furthermore, with the enhancement of the Sword Control Technique, the strength and speed of the flying sword will increase based on the user's own 'Qi' reserves. If the user possesses True Yuan Power or innate True Qi, the effectiveness of this technique will be further amplified.】

—[To exchange for this skill, you need one A-level side quest, 20000 reward points, and at least a B-level 'Qi' attribute enhancement. Furthermore, this enhancement is a composite systemic knowledge enhancement. Depending on the user's abilities, they can learn 'Sword Qi Slash,' 'Ten Thousand Swords Technique,' and even 'Heavenly Sword,' branches of sword control combat techniques.]

So that's how it is. It includes the inheritance of combat skills, no wonder it's worth an A-level enhancement. And the characteristics of this enhanced 'flying sword' are sufficient to meet Luo Yinglong's weapon strength requirements.

He was different from Song Tian, ​​who focused solely on the way of the sword and was devoted to it with utmost sincerity. Song Tian even chose to cultivate on his own rather than using composite enhancements to undermine his own abilities. But for Luo Yinglong, as long as it allowed him to unleash his talents, he would gladly accept any enhancement as long as he had the resources.

and so……

A beam of light descended. Knowledge and power caused golden light to shine from Luo Yinglong's eyes.

He closed his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead. And the next moment, Zhanlu, which had been placed to the side, was drawn from its sheath with a clang!
"disease--!"

The sword flashed.

The eight-colored energy no longer intertwined with the sword, but instead merged seamlessly into it. A series of sonic booms resounded, but the next moment, this high-speed flying sword, which had clearly broken the sound barrier, stopped generating air currents as it sped along!
The sword light was sharp and narrow.

All its power was contained, and Zhanlu, enhanced by the Sword Control Technique, even showed signs of being 'massless'. Siming raised his hand, and an unenhanced steel colossus appeared on the platform surrounding the table. The next moment, the swiftly moving flying sword easily pierced through it!
From chest to back, several meters of steel and rock shattered with a deafening roar. The scattered sword energy sliced ​​in all directions, expanding what should have been a palm-width piercing wound into a massive gash with a radius of nearly a meter. The sword light that had pierced through suddenly flowed back, unleashing a fierce sword slash that swept down towards the pierced steel behemoth.

Sword Control Technique - Sword Qi Slash.

Luo Yinglong mastered it within seconds of completing the exchange.

His true form merely assumed a casual sword gesture, and a massive sword aura, several meters long, crashed down. Powerful and imposing, yet incomparably sharp, the next instant was marked by the sharp, grating sound of metal being sliced. And just like that, the steel behemoth, towering over ten meters tall, was easily cleaved in two, losing its vitality and disintegrating as it crashed to the ground!
"Hoo..." A murky breath slowly escaped from Luo Yinglong's chest. Zhanlu returned to its sheath, and his chin lifted slightly.

"How was it?" His tone carried a hint of pride. His gaze was fixed on Song Tian, ​​and an itchy fighting spirit immediately arose within him.

"Go practice over there?" There was a hint of provocation in his eyes.

Song Tian simply stood up, expressing himself through actions rather than words.

A series of collisions rang out, quickly transforming into a deafening explosion and the howling of a fierce wind. The escaping sword energy and blade light were already approaching the maximum strength of the combined psychic wall of the Headhunter Four. However, they wouldn't be able to dismantle the Celestial Team's ring table with the aftershocks just yet.

So……

Those still seated turned their gaze toward Jacob and Valentina.

“There’s nothing special about my side. The Discipline Tablet has already been filled with Hastur’s divine power. So I can just use the enhanced A-rank blasphemous priest technique from now on… Hmm, that way I can use eighth to ninth-rank divine spells… I just don’t know if there are any suitable spells among this sealed divine power.”

Jacob shrugged, while Valentina had clearly decided on her course as well.

"Hmm... I will exchange for an A-level energy boost. I hope that this time, my external manifestation ability can be effectively developed."

(End of this chapter)