CHAPTER 170 - SKY PALACE’S EIGHTH FLOOR

Having concluded his business at the shop, Han Wu made his way back to the third floor of the Sky Palace. He paid no mind to the Light Spirit Reaper title, instead focusing his attention on combining the materials he had gathered with the Planeswalker title scroll.

Upon absorbing the prepared materials, the title scroll shimmered with an intense, bright light before seamlessly merging into Han Wu’s body. Without delay, he accessed his interface and, to his satisfaction, saw the newly acquired Platinum Planeswalker title now prominently displayed.

Equipping it immediately, he began to scan through its full list of effects.

[Effect 1: Grants user access to a personal space that ignores all restrictions. Can be accessed at all times.]

[Effect 2: Point Teleportation. Can be used to teleport the user to any previously explored location. Energy consumed is proportional to distance.]

[Effect 3: Switch. Can be used to switch locations with any object in sight.]

The effects of the Planeswalker title are quite powerful! he thought.

Eager to experiment with the newly acquired Platinum title, Han Wu soon spotted a cluster of light spirits. cluster of ethereal light spirits. Aware that a careless approach would inevitably send them scattering, he activated his new ability, Switch, instead.

According to the Platinum Planeswalker title’s effect, Han Wu simply needed to lock onto a target and then clap his hands to instantly switch locations with it. He selected a random light spirit from the cluster, clapped, and in a blink, found himself instantly transported to the exact spot where the light spirit had been moments before.

Disoriented and alarmed, the light spirit suddenly found itself in Han Wu’s previous location. It looked around, its confusion quickly turning to horror—a horrifying demon had silently appeared behind the friends it had just been playing with! It desperately tried to warn them, but its cries were in vain; it was already too late. The vile demon unhesitatingly swung his massive Genocider greatsword, annihilating them all in one fell swoop!

Gripped by overwhelming terror, the light spirit attempted a desperate escape. Yet, it had barely managed to move when its surroundings abruptly warped. Han Wu had used Switch to exchange the light spirit’s location with the corpse of another. Before the bewildered spirit could react, Han Wu thrust his greatsword deep into its body, ending its fleeting attempt at freedom.

Han Wu actively sought out additional light spirits, eager to practice and become proficient with his newly acquired skill. His practice quickly transformed him into an unstoppable assassin, materializing and vanishing without a trace after eliminating his targets. Within the span of just one day, he successfully managed to upgrade his Light Spirit Reaper title to the Diamond rank, which he promptly fed to his Platinum Genocider title.

With the absorption complete, the Genocider title surged in power, also ascending to the Diamond rank. Han Wu experienced a deep satisfaction, much like a parent witnessing their children grow. Indeed, the Genocider title had finally ascended to the Diamond rank after successfully absorbing five similarly ranked titles.

After its upgrade, Genocider had not only reinforced its original skill, but had also obtained a new one:

[Effect 1: Genocider Weapon. Can be transformed into any weapon. After killing its victim, it absorbs a thousandth of its Life Energy to increase the user’s strength. Currently has +5% spiritual damage and +10% light attribute damage.]

[Effect 2: Genocider Afterimage. Can copy the user’s attack to deal an additional blow equal to half the damage.]

Han Wu was absolutely overjoyed the moment he saw the new effect. The ability to deal an extra 50% damage on each strike, without any limitations, was a truly significant enhancement. While he already possessed the raw strength of a Diamond adventurer when his Black Dragon King Transformation was active, this new, unrestricted 50% damage increase meant he could now effortlessly defeat regular Diamond adventurers without even needing to transform.

Han Wu now felt an even greater surge of confidence in his capabilities to obtain more information regarding the Title Civilization. Having flawlessly cleared the entirety of the third floor, he then proceeded to the fourth floor. The days blurred into weeks, and before he knew it, another month had swiftly slipped away.

Han Wu had now been in this mysterious civilization for half a year, and in that time, he had achieved the remarkable feat of perfectly clearing the Sky Palace all the way up to its seventh floor. During this period, his mastery of Gene Recombination allowed him to obtain seven Diamond titles, each derived from a different race. Throughout his series of battles, his Genocider title had also undergone substantial improvements, becoming even more powerful.

While the title’s second effect remained unaltered, its first effect had undergone massive changes. In addition to its original 5% spiritual damage and 10% light attribute damage, it could now deal 10% poison damage, 10% fire attribute damage, 10% lightning damage, and 20% holy damage.

The Genocider Weapon could be considered as a top-tier weapon of destruction at this point. The newly acquired additional damage significantly amplified its destructive potential. Furthermore, the 50% damage boost from the second effect made it even more monstrous. It was this overwhelming power that instilled Han Wu with unwavering confidence as he prepared to confront his next challenge.

After perfectly clearing all seven floors of the Sky Palace, Han Wu discovered that an eighth floor actually existed. He had previously heard whispers that this was the very floor where the true owner of the Sky Palace resided. Furthermore, Bakir, the half-dragon who guarded the first floor, had once mentioned that this place was, in some sense, alive. Fully prepared for whatever lay ahead, Han Wu then stepped confidently into the eighth floor.

Upon arrival, Han Wu was instantly transported to a towering mountain, its entire form forged from solid black stones. These stones, under the sun’s gaze, radiated a heat more intense than glowing charcoal. Enduring the burning sensation gripping his feet, he forced himself to scan the desolate landscape around him.

There was nothing hiding here—everything was laid bare and exposed. Nothing struck him as particularly strange or out of place, save for a statue standing approximately twenty meters ahead. With a clap, he instantly switched locations with a random pebble on the ground, bringing him much closer to closely inspect the mysterious statue.

The statue before him was of a disheveled man with a long, messy beard. Due to the harsh sunlight beating down, half of the sculpted figure was dramatically shrouded in deep shadow.

“Who is this guy?”

The words had barely left Han Wu’s lips when the statue’s surface dramatically began to crack. Shards of black stone flaked away, revealing the flesh that had been concealed beneath. Within moments, the stony exterior of the statue completely peeled off, leaving behind a colossal ten-meter-tall giant.

At the sudden sight of the towering giant, Han Wu instinctively raised his guard. Despite the fact that the colossal figure remained motionless and didn’t exude any discernible energy, Han Wu had an undeniable feeling of its strength, a conclusion he drew purely from the sheer density of its muscles.

The giant appeared to be rousing from a very long slumber, letting out a huge yawn and stretching its massive hands high into the air. At the deafening sound, Han Wu felt an intense ringing in his ears and instinctively clapped his hands over them, desperately trying to prevent any permanent hearing damage.

After yawning, the giant’s eyes snapped open, blinking with unexpected surprise, and its voice, booming with a resonant, ringing quality as it addressed Han Wu filled the air.

“You were the one who managed to pass through all seven floors perfectly, weren’t you?”

Han Wu simply nodded in confirmation.

The giant then let out a booming laugh, its voice echoing across the mountain. “Haha! To think that you, at such a tender age, would possess the capability to perfectly clear all seven floors! Without a doubt, you are destined to become the supreme ruler of a vast kingdom one day.”

Han Wu, however, had never even entertained such grand ambitions. The giant’s words were irrelevant, as he had no intention of remaining in this place for long anyway.

“Just tell me what you are going to give me as my reward,” he stated, cutting straight to the chase. He was already aware that those who cleared all seven floors would receive a Diamond title known as the Sky Palace’s Finisher. However, having perfectly cleared every single floor, he was expecting to receive an even greater reward.

Han Wu’s bluntness didn’t seem to bother the colossal being in the slightest. Without a flicker of hesitation, it opened its massive palm, revealing a gleaming medal crafted from pure diamond. “This is for you.”

The moment Han Wu grasped the medal, a stream of data instantly materialized before his eyes from the medal itself.

[Diamond Title: Sky Palace’s Pioneer]

[Effect 1: Independent Title. Does not take up a slot.]

[Effect 2: Can be used to transport the user to any location within the Sky Palace.]

[Effect 3: The user obtains a miniature Sky Palace. Can be used to capture and imprison anyone threatening the civilization.]

[Effect 4: ...]

The medal had a total of seven effects, and Han Wu’s excitement surged with each one he read. However, just as he was about to put the medal and claim full ownership, an unexpected, burning sensation erupted on his neck.

Han Wu’s hand instinctively went to his neck, where he felt the familiar presence of the necklace he had claimed from the monster on the second floor. He recalled that the necklace’s sole effect was to provide resistance against mental corruption.

A sudden, chilling realization jolted Han Wu to full alertness. Without hesitation, he immediately released the diamond medal from his grasp. The instant it struck the hard ground, it violently exploded into a swirling cloud of sinister black smoke.

The giant sighed. “You found out? What a shame. You would’ve been such a perfect substitute.”

Looking up, Han Wu gasped in utter disbelief. The giant, before his very eyes, had transformed into a massive, grotesque black octopus, its surface covered in repulsive pustules. The terrifying realization then dawned on him: the mountain he stood upon was, in truth, the creature’s immense body!

The colossal octopus, no longer bothering with its disguise, dropped all pretenses. “Since you’ve already discovered my true form, you should just remain here to manage the Sky Palace. You will take my place in this prison and become its most wretched inmate!”