Chen Tian's figure slowly appeared within the Infinite Valley in the Chronos Era. He looked around and then spoke, "As expected, recovering the origin to ninety percent allows entry into the game."
A mailbox then materialized before Chen Tian. He quickly opened it, finding both a message and an announcement. After reading through them, he nodded, "It seems they've handled things well."
Chen Tian then proceeded to claim the items from the mailbox. He brought up his own status panel, which had undergone significant changes. He paid it no mind and instead went into his backpack, selecting an item. It was a nine-colored orb of light, a compensatory reward.
The official website of Chronos Era had discovered that the thirteenth floor was inaccessible. Compensation was issued because Chen Tian had locked down the time and entry permissions for the thirteenth floor's world. Access would only be restored once Chen Tian entered it. Consequently, players who met the level requirements could only grind in higher or lower-level worlds for the time being, causing a significant impact. Chen Tian had initially believed this would diminish Chronos Era's reputation, but the game developers had provided compensation.
World Compensation: Due to the inaccessibility of the world, preventing players from reaching higher floors and leveling up, the official Chronos Era website announced compensation: one Starfall Ability Shard for all players.
Chen Tian gazed at the nine-colored orb of light before him. This reward was akin to opening a surprise egg; what kind of ability one received depended entirely on luck. Furthermore, these abilities had no class restrictions, meaning players wouldn't need specific conditions to activate them like class skills.
Chen Tian wiped his hands. What ability would he get?
One could only say that Chronos Era's official compensation this time was truly a huge expense! However, Chen Tian then thought of something and spoke, "This reminds me of that game from four years ago. I wonder how the current competition is going? Never mind, I've already retired from the professional scene."
Following this, Chen Tian directly clicked on the nine-colored orb of light via his panel. Instantly, the orb split open, and an electronic screen slowly appeared before him.
A robotic voice echoed in his mind, "Ding! Congratulations, player, for obtaining a God-Slaying level ability: Equilibrium!"
Chen Tian then looked at the information for the Equilibrium ability. The interface stated: "Equilibrium Ability: Can equalize the opponent's strength, power, attributes, and skill damage to match the player's own stats."
"Hiss!"
Chen Tian stared at the Equilibrium ability, finding it incredibly overpowered. This meant that no matter how much stronger the opponent was than him, or how many levels they surpassed him by, as soon as Equilibrium was activated, their levels, attributes, and damage would become identical to his.
For example, if Chen Tian had ten thousand HP, the opponent would be forcibly reduced to the same HP. Their attributes and skill damage would be calculated based on Chen Tian's standards. This ability truly lived up to its name of Equilibrium, balancing the power of both sides.
After all, Chen Tian was invincible at the same level. As for skill damage, it was merely a matter of skill mastery. However, the skill damage Chen Tian dealt surpassed the skill mastery values. The reason was simple: Chen Tian's origin was from the Divine Realm and the Cultivation Realm.
Techniques from both worlds could be utilized in the game world. For an ability that solely focused on data balance, the damage Chen Tian dealt would exceed the numerical values. Especially since techniques from other worlds were essentially devastating weapons here.
Chen Tian nodded with satisfaction. This Equilibrium ability was simply too monstrous. He then looked at the stone statue before him, an idea forming. As he intended to test it, an interface slowly emerged.
It was a warning interface that read: "Final Trial, Equilibrium Ability Invalid!"
Chen Tian took a deep breath. This meant the boss of the Final Trial was out of the question. He would have to wait until he grew stronger before returning to accept this mission.
Chen Tian then left the Infinite Valley, opened his map, and began searching for his next leveling spot. He checked the time; the Wind Thunder Secret Realm had been open for several months and had not yet closed. Chen Tian had no idea what the creator's intended duration for this secret realm was. As for Ge Zi and the others, they were still suffering from amnesia, so asking them would be futile.
He then walked through the Wind Thunder Secret Realm, spotting a map he fancied. It was a good place to level up, and his attribute panel was now unlocked, allowing him to grind on his own.
Bloodhand Thorn Forest. This was the leveling map Chen Tian chose. It was a grinding area for players from level 99 to White Blaze level 30. Yet, Chen Tian, only at level seventy, had appeared here. It was evident that Chen Tian was desperately eager to level up.
Chen Tian didn't want to waste any more time and rushed to level up. Once his level reached ninety, he would take on that Guardian Hall mission. Chen Tian had a strange feeling about that mission, but the rewards for completing it were truly enticing.
Chen Tian entered the Bloodhand Thorn Forest alone. The entire forest was, as its name suggested, filled with blood-red trees and thorny ground. The thorns on the ground were covered in sharp spikes. Chen Tian's feet were encased in a cyan protective film as he walked.
According to the setting, the ground thorns possessed potent poison and other negative status effects. Chen Tian could only use wind elemental energy to form a protective film around his feet; otherwise, it would be impossible to navigate the Bloodhand Thorn Forest.
Normally, players would use fixed items or skills to clear these thorns. However, for Chen Tian, it was unnecessary. He continued to walk through the thorn forest, then dodged to the left. A vine instantly brushed past his sleeve.
Chen Tian looked around. The surrounding blood-red trees slowly shifted and merged, instantly forming a blood-red tree before him.
The blood-red tree was entwined with blood-red patterns, and its branches had numerous forks. The entire tree was covered in small red bulges, resembling mushrooms. In the center of the tree, a pair of blood-red eyes slowly looked at Chen Tian. The tree opened its wood-formed teeth, grinning broadly.
Chen Tian activated his Divine Eyes, and information instantly appeared in his mind.
Elite Boss: Bloodhand Withered Wood
Abilities: Immortality
Traits: Blood-Wither Power
Level: Ninety-nine
Health: 9898527/9898527
Strength: 998785
Speed: 985741
Constitution: 999999
Luck: 0
Intelligence: 98000
Weapon Mastery: 987521
Skill Mastery: 975632
Weapons: Withered Wood, Vines, Tree Body
Skills: Withered Blood Kill, Withered Vine Annihilation, Withered Laugh Red Slash, Withered Vine Demon Slaying Kill.
Chen Tian was stunned after reviewing the stats. Good heavens, both its abilities and traits were monstrously designed, and all its skills were ultimate-level techniques. If Chen Tian hadn't acquired the Equilibrium ability, he wouldn't have dared to confront such a boss.
Chen Tian then looked at the Bloodhand Withered Wood before him. The tree's side branches instantly transformed into hands. With a gentle wave, countless wooden spikes shot out from its body, rushing towards Chen Tian like a sky full of drills.
Seeing this, Chen Tian immediately activated his Equilibrium ability. Instantly, a profound light barrier appeared in the sky, enveloping both Chen Tian and the Bloodhand Withered Wood. Then, in Chen Tian's eyes, all of the Bloodhand Withered Wood's stats became identical to his own.
The opponent's strength was also suppressed to match Chen Tian's. Simultaneously, the opponent seemed unaware of anything amiss. This meant the Equilibrium ability could not be detected.
Chen Tian was delighted. This was an ability that allowed him to control the entire battle! It would be best if the opponent couldn't detect it.
Countless wooden spikes hurtled towards Chen Tian, as if intending to pierce him through. The Bloodhand Withered Wood already envisioned Chen Tian being impaled by its attacks, his body riddled with countless bloody holes, his lifeblood flowing out onto the ground.
The Bloodhand Withered Wood craved blood. It enjoyed turning enemies into mush, their bodies spewing blood, thus providing it with sustenance.
"Sizzle sizzle!"
The Bloodhand Withered Wood let out a sinister laugh, its eerie sound echoing throughout the surroundings.