Chapter 262: New Skill

Chapter 262: New Skill

At the Qionghua Tianlu Lake Training Hall, Lu Heng and Su Muyu returned and sent a message to Lin Zeyu, asking him to meet up.

On their way back, Chen Lianian called and promised to help.

Lu Heng didn't hesitate to ask for information on the Round Table Knight Mercenary Group and the Plant Family.

The Round Table Knights were a world-renowned mercenary organization with numerous metahuman mercenaries.

Such organizations wielded immense power, attracting the attention of nations worldwide.

The Daxia military was no exception, and they naturally collected information on the Round Table Knights.

It wasn't just the Round Table Knights; the Plant Family was also under surveillance.

The Plant Family was a thousand-year-old clan and a member of the ASE All-Knowing Eye Alliance.

The ASE All-Knowing Eye Alliance had a strict hierarchical system, with the highest rank being Level 33. Only 13 families had attained this level, and the Plant Family was one of them.

The family's history could be traced back to the 11th-century Plantanet Dynasty, which ruled the Lionheart Empire for over 400 years.

It wasn't until the 15th century that a 30-year-long Rose War ended the Plantanet Dynasty and ushered in the Tudor Dynasty.

The kingdom was destroyed, but the Plant Family survived and continued to this day.

Such a family with a profound heritage naturally had its records within the Ironblood Investigation Bureau.

Lu Heng knew a lot about the Round Table Knights and the Plant Family, but he was certain that the Ironblood's information was more comprehensive.

Upon returning to Qionghua Tianlu Lake, the requested information was sent over.

Lu Heng sat down and opened the files on his laptop, starting to read.

Su Muyu joined him, and as they read, she remarked, "I've seen this in the extracurricular readings for the Plantanet history class. It's medieval history. Looking at it this way, the Round Table Knights have a massive background."

In his previous life, he hadn't been exposed to matters of this magnitude, only knowing that Bluesphere's second tempering furnace was located in the Lionheart Empire.

Now it seemed that the true owner of this tempering furnace was likely the Plant Family.

Just as the two were talking, Lin Zeyu entered, complaining, "You two always go out and stir up trouble without me."

Lu Heng pointed at the laptop screen and said, "This time it's a big deal. We'll have to go abroad. Do you want to come along?"

Lin Zeyu's eyes widened at the scale of the operation, and he quickly sat down to examine the information. "Are we going to turn the world upside down? Are we really going against the Round Table Knights? This mercenary group has a lot of influence, and they're said to have already established a base in the Abyssal World."

Establishing a base in the Abyssal World had indeed begun in the second year of the Abyssal Descent.

It wasn't just the Round Table Knights; all metahuman organizations wanted a piece of the Abyssal World, but it depended on their capabilities.

The Abyssal invasion brought not only crisis but also opportunity.

Building a base in the Abyssal World wasn't as mysterious as it seemed. When teleporting to the Abyssal battlefield, one could occupy a base and gradually expand from there.

The fact that the Round Table Knights had the capability to establish a base in the Abyssal World at this point indicated their formidable strength.

Lu Heng's expression remained calm as he said, "We'll definitely have to go abroad this time. Muyu will come with me. If you don't want to go, you can stay in Binhai and watch over things."

"No way! How can you leave me out of something this interesting?" Lin Zeyu immediately protested, insisting on joining them.

"Alright, let's discuss the target and get ready to depart," Lu Heng agreed to Lin Zeyu's request to join them.

"What should we do?" Lin Zeyu showed keen interest in this matter.

"I'm thinking of directly wiping out one of the Round Table Knights' bases as a greeting," Lu Heng stated calmly, revealing a ruthless decision.

The Round Table Knights had multiple bases in the Lionheart Empire, and Lu Heng needed to decide which one to target.

After reading through the information, Lu Heng felt that the data on the Round Table Knights' bases was insufficient. He took out his phone and called Chen Lianian.

"I want detailed information on all the Round Table Knights' bases. Also, prepare three passports for me, and if possible, provide the contact information for the undercover agent in the Lionheart Empire."

After hearing Lu Heng's requests, Chen Lianian immediately guessed his intentions. He thought for a moment and replied, "I'll send you the information shortly. If you plan to target the Round Table Knights, I suggest the Thames Base.

"We previously identified a murderer of a tempering master, but the suspect has left the country and is hiding in the Thames Base."

Lu Heng considered his suggestion and responded, "That's a possibility. Send me detailed information about the Thames Base, preferably with detailed information on the metahuman warriors."

Chen Lianian agreed, "Sure, if you capture this murderer, it's best to keep them alive. Our people will handle the follow-up.

"The passports won't be a problem, but I can't give you the undercover agent's contact information. If you need anything, you can contact me directly, and I'll relay the message."

Not long after the call ended, the requested information was sent.

The Thames Base was one of the three most important bases of the Round Table Knight Mercenary Group.

Su Muyu pouted and complained, "Inspector Chen isn't holding back, asking us to target such a significant base."

Lu Heng shrugged, unconcerned, "Now that we're taking action, does the size matter?"

According to the data in the files, the Thames Base had three to four metahumans above level 30 and over a hundred above level 20.

The metahuman strength of this base alone could rival the military might of the past.

Additionally, the information included details about the Grand Knight of the Round Table Knight Mercenary Group.

The current Grand Knight of the Round Table Knights was named "Modred."

The data recorded Modred's strength, indicating a level 32 metahuman with known skills like Shadow Strike, Knight's Shield, and Commanding Will. His known rank was the Shadow Knight.

…

After reviewing the data, it was clear that the Grand Knight of the Round Table Knight Mercenary Group possessed formidable combat strength.

The listed skills were only a known portion of their abilities, and there were likely more hidden capabilities.

Furthermore, the data was last updated a month ago, and it was uncertain how much stronger this Mordred had become since then.

However, Mordred was not stationed at the Thames Base, so they wouldn't encounter him unless they actively sought him out.

Apart from Mordred, there was another formidable metahuman at the Round Table Knight's Thames Base, a sniper named Harris Bob.

Harris Bob was renowned among metahumans as the Lionheart Empire's top sniper. He had once, in the Abyssal World, taken down a Lord-class Greater Demon from a distance of three kilometers with a single shot.

Lord-class Greater Demons were undoubtedly level 30 or higher, and many even exceeded level 35.

Sniping a Lord-class Greater Demon from three kilometers away was an awe-inspiring feat.

At such a distance, a person would appear as small as a grain of rice to the naked eye.

Most snipers were considered exceptional if they could hit targets at a distance of one kilometer.

To hit a target at three kilometers was almost unimaginable, and one would need extraordinary skills to accomplish such a feat.

Moreover, a three-kilometer distance exceeded the reconnaissance range of most perception-based metahumans.

Even Su Muyun would struggle to detect targets beyond three kilometers without sending a Celestial Phoenix for reconnaissance.

However, without knowing the sniper's approximate location, it was impossible to monitor such a vast area continuously.

Consequently, Harris Bob's ability to snipe at such extreme distances made him a formidable opponent.

Especially in a sniper duel, having a range advantage meant a crushing edge.

Additionally, Harris Bob had the nickname "Phantom Sniper," known for his stealth and elusiveness.

The data suggested he possessed both concealment and disguise skills, but these were merely assumptions without verification.

After reading Harris Bob's profile, Lin Zeyu frowned and asked, "Is this data accurate? Sniping a Greater Demon from three kilometers away? That's a joke, right?"

As a top-tier sniper himself, with skills focused on enhancing his sniping abilities, he couldn't help but question the claim.

Currently, he could only guarantee accurate sniping at a distance of 1,000 meters. Beyond that, his accuracy would decline.

At 1,500 meters, with a calm and focused aim, he still had a relatively high hit rate.

But for a 3,000-meter shot, it would be a matter of luck.

Therefore, when he saw Harris Bob's profile claiming a sniping range of 3,000 meters, he found it hard to believe.

Deep down, he was reluctant to accept that someone could outrange him.

In truth, even before the Abyssal Descent, there were snipers capable of hitting targets at 1,500 meters.

However, these were considered the farthest sniping distances, and occasional hits didn't guarantee a consistent hit rate.

In the Abyssal Age, snipers had to maintain high accuracy in combat to ensure victory.

This was a stark contrast to the pre-Abyssal Descent era.

Before, snipers could often shoot from safe positions, targeting enemies from a kilometer away, and even if they missed, the opponents would struggle to retaliate.

The Abyssal Age was different; high-speed metahumans could easily cover distances of two to three kilometers.

For Lu Heng, a three-kilometer distance was a matter of seconds.

Consequently, snipers typically had only one shot, and missing could be dangerous.

…

After discussing, Lu Heng and his team decided on their departure time.

Given the challenging opponents they were about to face, it was best to enhance their combat strength as much as possible before setting out.

Su Muyun had acquired a new skill slot in her last Abyssal Battlefield mission, bringing her total skill slots to seven.

However, she hadn't used this new slot yet, so she still had six active skills.

The trio had been searching for suitable skill crystal cores, but none had met their requirements.

At Su Muyun's current level, ordinary skill crystal cores offered minimal improvement, and her existing skills already covered various abilities, making it challenging to find a suitable new skill.

Additionally, the major powers rarely sold high-level skill crystal cores they acquired.

With only a couple of days before their departure to the Lionheart Empire, it was crucial for Su Muyun to acquire her seventh skill before they left.

Since they couldn't find a suitable one on the market, they had to explore other options.

Lu Heng contacted the Dragon Might Mercenary Base and requested a list of high-level skill crystal cores.

As honorary commanders of the Dragon Might Mercenary Base, it was easy for them to obtain such a list.

Initially, they were just testing their luck, but to their surprise, they found a promising skill crystal core, Energy Fluctuation Perception.

[Energy Fluctuation Perception: Enhances the skill holder's perception of energy fluctuations, enabling them to acutely detect and differentiate energy levels within a certain range. Perception Range = 30 x Perception Attribute; Skill Grade: B-Grade.]



This skill was similar to danger perception, with an extensive perception range, allowing the user to anticipate energy fluctuations within the range.

Moreover, it was a passive perception skill, effective without activation.

Beyond sensing energy fluctuations, it could discern the energy levels, thereby inferring the opponent's strength.

Su Muyun's perception abilities were already formidable, but the Celestial Phoenix's perception excelled in detecting invisible targets.

If their opponents weren't in stealth, the Celestial Phoenix's reconnaissance capabilities were less impressive.

Su Muyu had recently discovered that relying solely on her ability to detect invisibility wasn't always effective against opponents with camouflage skills.

When Lu Heng showed her this skill, she quickly agreed, "This skill is great. I want it. Can I get it?"

The Energy Fluctuation Sensing crystal core was from the Dragon Might Mercenary Group's inventory, likely allocated by the military to cultivate Perception-type Metahuman warriors.

"We are, after all, the honorary commander of Dragon Might. Although I don't manage their daily affairs, acquiring a skill crystal core shouldn't be a problem. But to avoid any trouble, let's go through the internal purchase process. First, are you sure you want this?" Lu Heng confirmed.

Su Muyu nodded earnestly, "Yes, I want it. I think this skill's effect is excellent, and I really want it."

"Alright, we'll go through the internal purchase. Let's get this Energy Fluctuation Sensing crystal core," Lu Heng said, contacting the Dragon Might base to initiate the internal purchase procedure for the crystal core.

As the honorary commander of Dragon Might, no one dared to oppose this request.

The next day, Lu Heng and Su Muyu visited the Dragon Might Mercenary Headquarters, signed the paperwork, and obtained the crystal core.

After returning home, Su Muyu absorbed the crystal core, and in her seventh skill slot, an energy cluster formed, representing the Energy Fluctuation Sensing skill.

She then began testing the new skill. Although the crystal core's data panel described the skill's effects, it was necessary to test it to understand its full capabilities.

Lu Heng suggested, "Try to see if the Celestial Phoenix can benefit from this skill."

Su Muyu nodded in agreement, "Okay, I'll give it a try."

After testing, she exclaimed with joy, "It works! The Celestial Phoenix can sense energy fluctuations through my summoned creature's vision. Moreover, I've become very proficient in using my summoned creature's vision, and I can maintain this state at all times."

Su Muyu's current Mana level was 32, and her Perception had reached 83 points.

The sensing range of Energy Fluctuation Sensing was 30 times her Perception, which meant a distance of 2490 meters.

With the help of the Celestial Phoenix, this range could be significantly extended.

In essence, nothing within a 2.5-kilometer radius could escape her detection.

The 2.5-kilometer sensing range, while not as far as the sniper range of the Round Table Knight mercenary group's Phantom Sniper, Harris Bob, was still impressive.

By skillfully utilizing the Celestial Phoenix to extend the sensing range, Su Muyu could potentially counter Harris Bob.

After acquiring the new skill, Su Muyu quickly practiced to master its application.

During this time, Lin Zeyu also worked on mastering the Essence Energy Shock Bomb, and once he did, he eagerly sought out Lu Heng to upgrade the skill.

After consuming 600 Mana, Lin Zeyu upgraded the Essence Energy Shock Bomb to the Essence Energy Cloud Bomb.

Essence Energy Cloud Bomb

Skill Level: B-Grade

Skill Cost: 80 Mana

Effect 1: Consume Mana to release a cloud bomb that deals massive explosive damage. Damage coefficient = 3 x Spirit Power; the closer to the explosion's center, the higher the damage coefficient, with a maximum increase of 100%.

Effect 2: After the explosion, the cloud bomb agent rapidly expands to form a 20-meter radius circular area, creating a 2500-degree high-temperature burning zone that inflicts continuous scorching damage.

Effect 3: During the cloud bomb's burning period, the oxygen concentration in the area rapidly decreases, causing suffocation to enemies.

Upon hearing the name Essence Energy Cloud Bomb, Lu Heng couldn't help but smile.

Without needing to recite the skill data, he already knew its specific effects.

In fact, Lu Heng was probably the person who understood this skill the best.

In his previous life, Lu Heng had acquired this skill.

Unexpectedly, in this life, it was Lin Zeyu who had upgraded and obtained it, a twist of fate.

Lin Zeyu, eager to test the skill, said, "I can't wait to try this skill. The data looks incredible. I'm going to find a place to test it right now. Do you want to come along?"

Lu Heng, being very familiar with the skill, waved him off, "Take your time testing it. This skill should work well with a grenade launcher. Give it a try."

A grenade launcher is a lightweight weapon used to launch small grenades, also known as a launcher. It can launch grenades farther and more accurately than throwing by hand.

The maximum range of a grenade launcher is 600 meters, far exceeding the throwing distance of the arm.

With this skill, Lin Zeyu could indeed use it in conjunction with a grenade launcher.

This combination effectively extended the range of the Essence Energy Cloud Bomb to 600 meters, a qualitative change in the skill's capabilities.

Moreover, by applying the Abyssal Law Assimilation to the grenade launcher, it could be stored in the item inventory, ready for use whenever needed.

Lin Zeyu had seen grenade launchers before, and Lu Heng's suggestion sparked an idea. "Of course! I'll get one right away."

He had already decided to acquire a grenade launcher that had undergone Abyssal Law Assimilation.

He didn't plan to use his own Mana for this.

Since the Flame Seal had dominated the fields of Tempering, Forging, and Inscription, there were many ways to acquire Abyssal Law-assimilated firearms.

Additionally, he had a collection of firearms that had undergone Law Assimilation, mostly pistols.

During his trip to Japan, the Oni Warrior Mercenary Group's assassins each carried a Law-assimilated pistol, and he had brought them all back.

So, he could trade these guns for a grenade launcher, ensuring he wouldn't use his own Mana.

He had made up his mind to preserve his Mana for future skill upgrades, he set out to acquire the grenade launcher.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end