Chapter 403: Chapter 401: Perfection Back on Sunset Mountain in Wangjiang County, Lou Yi killed the spirit beast White Ape and obtained his first talent, Petrification. This greatly enhanced his defense and survival abilities, helping him turn danger into safety in various perilous situations thereafter. And now, this veteran talent of Petrification is about to reach the Realm of Perfection. In the ’Yan Bo’ cave mansion, inside a secret room. Lou Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, holding a pale, semi-transparent stone in the palm of his left hand. The size of an apricot, resembling an ice cube, shaped like a near-spherical irregular polyhedron, emitting a dense coldness from its center outwards. The air was filled with a visible white mist. Lou Yi’s arm, even his whole body, and the wooden bed on which he sat, were gradually covered by a layer of frost, making it clear that this was the extraordinary Ice Soul he had been searching for. According to Bi Yaoyao, the Ice Soul was acquired by her father at great cost from the secret warehouse of the Corpse-Driving Sect, far more precious than the Bone Decay Grass and Cyan Sky Feather he had before. Lou Yi looked at the faint plus sign appearing after the Petrification talent, imagining a force pressing onto it: Petrification (Major Achievement 0/10000+1 Ice Soul) → Petrification (Perfection) Familiar yet foreign memories suddenly emerged in his mind. Continuing from the previous memory, the Monkey King’s prowess had reached its pinnacle, becoming invincible in the present age. In the end, it sought to challenge the heavens and earth, thus heading to the peak of Celestial Pearl Mountain to face the challenge of lightning, being penetrated by countless volts of powerful voltage. But the Monkey King did not die completely; its body was broken down and rebuilt, new cells generated and grew wildly, its charred body gradually regaining vitality. Several years later, the Monkey King awoke to feel stronger than ever, having ascended to an unprecedented realm of power. It challenged the lightning again, and this time, though severely injured, it recovered in barely a month. The third time it challenged the lightning, it was lightly injured. The fourth time, the fifth time... until finally, the greatest force in heaven and earth, the lightning, could no longer harm it. Needless to say, even the fiercest beasts and birds in the mortal world, or the human race’s heavy crossbows, could hardly scratch its skin. ’Invincible, what a lonely thing.’ the Monkey King couldn’t help but think. Thus, it entered a second youthful fervor, frantically marrying and taking concubines, forming a large monkey community after over a hundred years. Due to their ancestor’s strength, there were no natural enemies, and they expanded rapidly, creating a monkey kingdom within three hundred years. Later, due to resource competition, a world-engulfing war broke out. With the support of their invincible ancestor, the monkey kingdom defeated the previously strongest humans, driving them to a remote area and becoming the world’s new rulers. Every corner of the world bore their footprints. Several hundred years passed until dazzling auroras occasionally appeared in the depths of the Eastern Sea. These were reported to the ancient Monkey King by the people of the monkey kingdom, who went to investigate and discovered it was the legendary space rift. The space rift’s destructive power was extremely formidable, easily slicing the Monkey King’s body and drawing blood. But rather than withdrawing, it became even more excited, for it had found hope for further advancement... Under the grind of the space rift, the Monkey King’s body finally underwent another transformation... In reality, Lou Yi opened his eyes. An immense, invisible force entered his body. ’Pop pop pop!’ It seemed like every part of his body was experiencing the Monkey King’s memories, easily destroyed by the space rift, blood splattering everywhere. Meanwhile, mysterious energy factors entered his body, quickly restoring cells, allowing for indescribable transformation. Whether a long time or a moment had passed, the transformation completed. A wondrous feeling surged in Lou Yi’s heart, as if his body had gained a true rebirth, bestowing him with a different aura from within. Lou Yi looked at the Attribute Panel: [Name: Lou Yi] [Age: 24/172] [Realm: Martial Master Peak (158/?), Martial Artist Peak (133/?), Mid-tier Anomaly (180/600), Three-star Body Cultivator (104/600), Qi Cultivation Level Four (122/600)] [Cultivation Technique: Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique (Stage Two, Perfection)... Demon Summoning Scripture (Mastery 0/2000+1 Dragon Saliva Grass), Mysterious Yin-Yang Mutual Response Secret Record (Not Started)] [Skills: Lou’s Axe Skill (Perfection)...] [Magic: Corpse Control Technique (Perfection), Yin Qi Arrow (Perfection), Wind Walking Technique (Minor Achievement 0/20000), Yin Wind Technique (Minor Achievement 0/15000), Blood Feeding Spirit Transformation Technique (Minor Achievement 0/30000)...] [Talent: Petrification (Perfection), Swift (Minor Achievement 0/5000+1 Wind Walking Pill)... Wind Stabilization (Proficient 0/150+1 Sun Wind Stone)... Earth Escape (Entry 0/30+1 Earth Spirit Sand)] [Energy: 6882] His Petrification talent advanced to the Realm of Perfection, extending his stagnant lifespan by twelve years. And this was the only talent among Lou Yi’s that bestowed such life-extending benefits. "Petrification." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞 In the next moment, Lou Yi’s entire body turned red-silver. Simultaneously, the Astral Body Refinement Technique spontaneously activated. Lou Yi appeared as if bathed in brilliant starlight, akin to a heavenly being descending, majestic and imposing. Lou Yi took out the axe, a mixture of gray and white, swung it fiercely at his right arm! ’Clang!’ Sparks flew, and a faint dent appeared on the skin of his right arm. This axe was made of Mystic Iron Essence and Gengjin, and Lou Yi used thirty percent of his basic strength, yet its attack power was higher than a typical Middle Grade Magical Artifact. This meant that now, even if a Qi Cultivator wielding a Middle Grade Magical Artifact attacked Lou Yi recklessly, they would likely fail to break his skin. The initial change in Petrification offered the widest coverage without dead angles, but presented the relatively lowest defense. Lou Yi initiated the second transformation. During this transformation, his upper body turned light gold, capable of withstanding sixty to seventy percent of his own strength. This implied that Magical Artifacts relying purely on physical attack power could hardly break Lou Yi’s defense. The third transformation saw the petrified area reduced further, covering only his right arm, now gleaming metallic-like a thick coat of gold paint. Even with his full basic strength wielding the axe, the defense remained unyielding. He estimated that the body strength after the third transformation surpassed Upper Grade Defensive Magical Artifacts, even approaching the legendary Top Grade Defensive Artifacts. The fourth and final transformation, however, covered only one palm. The skin surface’s color returned to flesh tones, adhering to the principle of returning to nature. Lou Yi grasped a Flying Sword of Upper Grade Magical Artifact level, easily crumpling it into a ball. ’Such defense power...’ Lou Yi felt that even without reaching the level of a Lower Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact, it was probably not far off. The Perfection Level of the Petrification talent was immensely terrifying, granting an immense boost to his defensive capabilities! The defense capability of the Petrification talent alone surpassed the combination of True Strength release, Golden Armor talent, and Black Skin Refining Technique. Therefore, should he elevate the Golden Armor talent to Perfection in the future, and perfect the Black Skin Refining Technique, what an alarming state would they achieve when combined? Lou Yi anticipated, imagining he wasn’t far from matching those ancient ancestors who attained sainthood in the flesh, as described in the classics. The Perfection Level Petrification talent’s prowess wasn’t merely limited to defense, its description had shifted to include: Petrification (Passive): The body’s durability slowly increases over time. Petrification (Active One): Choose any part of the body surface for brief petrification, with duration and area increasing alongside talent enhancement. Petrification (Active Two): When using Active One, this can also be initiated, endowing the body with an icy aura, reducing nearby enemies’ speed by 20%-50%, but slightly shortening the petrification duration. Petrification (Active Three): When using Active One, this option can be chosen. Before breaking through the physical defense limit, it can reflect 50% of all physical damage dealt by the enemy within three breaths, usable once in a short period. ...