My skills have mutated again!

Chapter 364 Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land, Family Skills, Donald's Kindness
Inside the hotel suite, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Xia Lin went to the window and looked down at the bustling street outside.

Men, women, young and old, humans and demons lived together, and all races gathered.

It is not chaotic, and there are few conflicts, giving people a sense of order.

"After all, this is the direct territory of the Six Pillars, so who would dare to cause trouble here?"

Xia Lin muttered as she took a sip of her drink.

Let alone getting angry, being in the Demon Palace naturally means facing enormous restrictions.

Just like right now, even though he doesn't have any debuffs on him, Xia Lin has no desire to make a move.

It was as if some unknown force had blocked his fighting will and even suppressed his temper, making him appear listless.

The senses were projected outwards, but only extended for less than a meter before naturally retracting back into the body, unable to extend too far.

The Demon Palace forbids violence, and everyone there is no different from ordinary mortals.

These are the rules of the Demon Palace, and also the rules of the Six Pillars.

Information about the Demon Palace surfaced in his mind.

The Demon Palace is the direct territory of the Demon Emperor of Soul Control.

It is not only the Demon Emperor's palace, but also one of the top three treasures in the current main universe.

The Demon Palace is oval in shape and has 1998 floors in total, with 999 floors above and 999 floors below.

Legend has it that the Lord of the Demon Palace, the Soul-Controlling Demon Emperor, sits high on the top floor of the Demon Palace, overlooking all living beings.

Each level below has a different function, but no one knows what functions all the levels of the Demon Palace have or what secrets they hold.

The only floor open to the public is the 57th floor.

After a brief moment of thought, Xia Lin shook his head and stopped pondering the matter of the Demon Palace.

This makes absolutely no sense to him.

On the contrary, the meeting with the Demon Emperor two days later, and the subsequent events, were of greater significance to Xia Lin.

"Regardless of the outcome of the meeting with the Demon Emperor, this trip has been profitable."

Just based on the fact that this place can isolate various permission cards, Xia Lin felt that the trip was worthwhile.

I was wondering about the development time, but I never expected the solution would be right here.

Lost in thought, I suddenly heard a knock on the door behind me.

Xia Lin turned to look at the door and saw the door being pushed open, and three familiar figures walked in from behind it.

The person in charge surprised Xia Lin.

“I told you guys before that Brother Lin and I are definitely brothers who would risk our lives for each other, but you just wouldn’t believe me.”

"Hey, let's see what's really going on now. I'm not going to pretend anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table."

"My relationship with Brother Lin is absolutely top-notch!"

Gu Hua, whom Xia Lin hadn't seen for a long time, strode into the room from the doorway, muttering to the clown and Xing Fanwu behind him as he turned to look at Xia Lin.

Their eyes met, Gu Hua grinned, and Xia Lin slapped him across the face.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

The slap made Gu Hua shudder.

Then he approached Xia Lin with a grin.

"It was a coincidence, a coincidence."

"What? Can't I even have a little bit of luck of my own?"

After scrutinizing Gu Hua from head to toe for a long time, Xia Lin finally kept all her doubts to herself.

He simply pinched Gu Hua's arm and laughed, "You've gotten stronger."

Those three simple words made Gu Hua put away his playful and unserious expression.

He gave Xia Lin a wry smile.

"What limit-breaker isn't strong?"

But beneath the smile lay a deeper sense of helplessness.

……

The problems with the Breaker class are now clear.

Xia Lin understood, and so did Gu Hua.

Xia Lin originally thought that this matter was a lifelong pain for Gu Hua, so she was unwilling to bring it up herself. However, she did not expect that Gu Hua would break the ice first.

Then there's no need to hide it anymore.

After greeting his two old friends, Clown Star and Fan Wu, Xia Lin invited everyone to sit down and then asked the hotel to prepare a sumptuous meal.

After a few bites, Gu Hua couldn't hold it in any longer.

It can only be said that Gu Hua, as always, can't keep a secret when it comes to his mouth.

"Actually, you guys should understand that my situation is a philosophical problem."

Okay, now they're even bringing up philosophy...

"Think about it, would you rather live an ordinary life, or a short but brilliant one?"

You know what, this is actually a philosophical question.

Different personalities lead to different choices.

Gu Hua chose the latter – which was also the starting point for his job change to become a Limit Breaker.

—The six pillars are directly affiliated with a profession. Regardless of whether there are any pitfalls or not, their strength is definitely on point.

After taking a swig of baijiu, Gu Hua shook his head and swayed like a storyteller.

"I was really stunned by Chaoyue's dying words at the time."

"I was completely out of sorts in the subsequent Ember Zones, feeling very anxious and uncertain."

Unwilling to settle for mediocrity, they want to become stronger, but becoming stronger will lead them into an abyss.

I'd rather switch to a professional role, but I'm reluctant to give up the power of a character who has broken limits.

This perfectly illustrates the saying: indecisiveness is the behavior of a clown.

At this point, Gu Hua smiled and turned to Xia Lin: "Fortunately, I ran into Hun Yi in one of the Ash Zones... He gave me a way out."

"Switch allegiance to the Demon Emperor."

Human race, sequence five, Soul one.

And, they pledged allegiance to the Demon Emperor.

This surprised Xia Lin.

He racked his brains but still couldn't understand how the profession of a Limit Breaker was related to the Demon Emperor.

This question didn't need Gu Hua's explanation; the clown beside him had already spoken.

"The relationship between the Demon Emperor, the Creator of Heaven, and the Ancient Ruler is very complicated."

"But one thing that cannot be denied is that the Demon Emperor's research on those who break limits is very deep, perhaps even deeper than that of the Creator of Heaven and the Ancient Rulers."

Having said that, the clown said no more, gave Xia Lin a look, indicating that the rest was best left unsaid.

Xia Lin didn't ask any more questions, but turned to look at Gu Hua, who continued to speak.

"Brother, this suggestion from Soul One is like a lifeline for me; I have no choice but to take it..."

Of course they have to be arrested.

They want the power of those who break limits, but they don't want to bear the price of that power.

If you want both, you have to take an unconventional approach.

After saying that, Gu Hua stretched.

"The rest was simple. I entered the Wasteland of the Dead and came to the Demon Palace through a spatial rift within it..."

Xia Lin: "Wait, is there a spatial passage leading to the Demon Palace in the Wasteland of the Dead?"

That would be a real problem.

Shining Blue Star is Xia Lin's lifeline; how can things be allowed to continue like this?!
Gu Hua waved his hand: "It's not a direct route; it requires a very complicated process."

Xia Lin was finally relieved.

"After arriving at the Demon Palace, I was considered to have joined the Demon Emperor's side. When the mission deadline was over, I would return to Flash Blue Star to drill in the Ash Zone. Otherwise, I would stay here, using the power of the Demon Palace to isolate the power at the cost of doing so, while cooperating with the Demon Emperor's research."

This statement contains a great deal of information.

Xia Lin hadn't expected that the Demon Palace could isolate the effects of the access card, and that this place could also isolate the cost of power!

But it's normal to think about it.

The essence of the price of power lies in the influence of one of the six pillars, the Old Ones, on the consciousness and personality of those who break limits.

The nature of this interference is extremely high, reaching as high as six pillars.

But when faced with the Demon Emperor, who was also one of the Six Pillars, the former ruler was completely helpless.

And the word "research" also applies.

Xia Lin looked at Gu Hua, who then smiled and said, "Yes, brother, you're right, my job at the research institute is to be studied..."

Xia Lin was shocked: "You're actually quite proud of being studied?!"

Gu Hua: "Just tell me if you feel involved or not."

The sense of participation is definitely at its peak.

But when Xia Lin asked what the research was about, Gu Hua stammered and couldn't give a clear answer.

Perhaps he didn't know either, or perhaps he knew something but didn't want to explain it to Xia Lin.

Seeing that Xia Lin seemed hesitant to speak, Gu Hua smiled and concluded the matter: "Brother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Adults make choices and then take responsibility for them.

Whether the result is good or bad.

Xia Lin sighed sincerely.

Combining with the Six Pillars of Destiny has both advantages and disadvantages.

Not being involved, Xia Lin was unaware of the full picture and couldn't offer any commentary or advice.

He simply opened his hand, and a wisp of soul light slowly appeared in Xia Lin's hand, which he then handed to Gu Hua.

"This is for you."

Use the light of the soul to sever the will of the six pillars of heaven.

But the power of the soul is not omnipotent.

Especially looking at Gu Hua now, it's clear that he joined the Demon Emperor's side because he needed something from him, rather than the Demon Emperor setting a trap for him.

Therefore, whether this wisp of soul light is useful, and if so, how effective it is, is highly debatable.

……

Putting aside all other matters, it's still worth celebrating to reunite with an old friend.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Huang Tao arrived and happily joined the dinner party.

The meal lasted for more than two hours. Just as it was getting dark outside, Huang Tao waved his hand, indicating that he wanted to show some hospitality as the host. Xia Lin and the other three naturally had no reason to refuse.

However, he also knew that while fulfilling his duties as a host was one aspect, his main purpose was to introduce Xia Lin to the higher-ranking Ash District Walkers on the Demon Emperor's side.

57th floor, Dream Street, Starry Maze.

A super-large vault that integrates eating, drinking, and entertainment.

In a dreamlike, hazy room adorned with stars, resembling a settlement space in the Ashes Zone, Xia Lin met the person Huang Tao wanted to introduce her to.

"This is human race sequence number 26, Jiao Lengyan."

"This is Human Sequence 11, a Yordle."

"This is Human Race Sequence 5, Soul One."

Three human race members, but that's all the human race members on the Demon Emperor's side—limited to humans only.

Humanity is not the Demon Emperor's domain, hence the small number of humans on his side; only three make up the top thirty, making them appear rather pitiful and isolated. However!

"This one doesn't need an introduction. You two have a connection. He's the seventh human in the sequence, number 259. Of course, you can't call him number 259 right now; you have to call him Xin Zhan."

Xia Lin was a little confused when she saw that NO.259 was also there.

On the contrary, it was No. 259, no, Xin Zhan, who smiled at Xia Lin when he saw her, his smile full of goodwill.

The two had crossed paths in the Legend of the Immortal Swordsman. Xia Lin, together with the Clown and Xing Fanwu, used the Soul-Swapping Circus to awaken the main personality of NO.259, Xin Zhan.

Later, Xu Haonan transformed into a fun-loving person, and out of a desire to have fun, he helped Xin Zhan solidify his personality.

Then, after leaving the Ember Zone, Xin Zhan's abnormal personality was noticed by the Giant Race Sequence One, Ocres. This strongest Limit Breaker in the Ember Zone then took the place of the Old Ruler to clean house and hunt down Xin Zhan.

Xia Lin didn't inquire about what happened next and didn't know anything about it, but unexpectedly, Xin Zhan appeared in the Demon Palace at the drinking party organized by Huang Tao.

But upon closer examination, the reasoning is clear and thorough.

The Demon Temple is probably one of the few places in the main universe where the cost of power can be contained.

Where else could a Limit Breaker like Xin Zhan, whose main personality has awakened, go if not here?

Looking at Xia Lin and then at Xin Zhan with a thoughtful expression, Huang Tao smiled and tugged at Xia Lin's sleeve, pointing to the last person present.

"And this one, Demon Race Sequence One, Donald."

The name Donald made Xia Lin gather her thoughts and look at the man.

I thought that as a demon, Donald would have three heads and six arms, a blue face and fangs, but unexpectedly, this demon of the first order looked fair and clean, just like a human.

I thought the name Donald meant he would have a Western appearance, but he turned out to be black-haired, yellow-skinned, and with features that were distinctly Eastern.

Perhaps sensing Xia Lin's confusion, Donald stood up and took the initiative to speak.

"My surname is Tang, and my given name is Nader."

“Na comes from my family genealogy, and De comes from the hope that my elders would make me a virtuous person.”

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Xia Lin."

As he spoke, he extended his hand, and Xia Lin followed suit.

Donald touched his hands and smiled kindly: "I've heard so much about you, and seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

"As expected of someone who has mastered the art of life and death battles."

Xia Lin's hand trembled, somewhat taken aback.

Huang Tao, standing to the side, shrugged and laughed.

"He also has a life-or-death battle technique... and it should be a higher level of life-or-death battle technique than yours."

Donald released Xia Lin's hand and said slowly, "In a sense, the life-or-death battle is also a family skill of my Tang family... Our ancestor used the life-or-death battle as the foundation of his power."

After saying that, he chuckled and pointed at Xia Lin: "You know how to fight to the death, so fundamentally, we're on the same side. I've decided to be your brother!"

……

Xia Lin never imagined that skills could be inherited...

But after a moment of confusion, Xia Lin realized that the so-called family heirloom was probably just a joke.

But Donald's control over the life-or-death battle was no joke.

The power of the "Life or Death Showdown" skill is undeniable... but it's not the only one.

Now that Xia Lin knows that Donald also possesses the Life and Death Battle Technique, and possibly a more powerful version of it than his own, Xia Lin is surprised, but upon closer examination, he finds it reasonable.

"Alright, alright, you two can discuss the life-or-death battle yourselves in a bit. Everyone, please have a seat."

Huang Tao gestured for everyone to take their places.

Xia Lin had just sat down when Donald looked at him again and said, "Brother, don't complain about the small group. Originally, Brother Tao's idea was to introduce you to more people, but many of the demon race's sequences don't like human forms. They look weird and have different habits, so they wouldn't get along with you. I sent them away beforehand."

The Demon Emperor's home turf is in the Demon Realm.

The Demon Emperor's control over the demon race far surpasses that of the Heavenly Creator over the human race!
Of the top ten in the entire demon race, eight are the Demon Emperor's people!

But Donald is right.

Xia Lin's current activities are still confined to the human race and have not yet come into contact with the myriad races of the universe. It is enough to make friends with Donald, a demon race sequence in advance. There is no point in getting to know more demon race sequences.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Lin gave a bitter smile.

"This treatment is already a bit beyond what's expected..."

He looked at Soul One.

This was a tall, thin young man with a somewhat gloomy expression.

Noticing Xia Lin's gaze, Hun Yi nodded slightly to Xia Lin, seemingly because he was not one to smile easily.

Looking at Jiao Lengyan and Yodl, one a woman and the other a man, they seemed somewhat reserved at the table—a sense of inferiority stemming from their strength.

He looked at Clown Star Fanwu and Gu Hua.

The three of them sat upright, like well-behaved children.

Looking at Xin Zhan, I saw that Xin Zhan was sitting next to Donald, and his expression showed that Donald was in charge.

Finally, look at Donald.

Only Donald, Xia Lin, and Huang Tao appeared normal at the dinner table.

That should be normal.

Demon race sequence one.

He is also currently recognized as the second strongest Ember Walker in the Ember Zone, second only to Wuxin.

Xia Lin had been wondering just how strong this person was, and what kind of trump card he had used to achieve such a formidable reputation.

Xia Lin understood everything from those few words.

It was a life-or-death battle.

"That's right, Brother Tang, I'm really flattered that you've come to entertain me..."

Before knowing that Donald possessed the Life-or-Death Battle Technique, Xia Lin was confident that she could catch up with Donald and even Wu Xin.

However, when Xia Lin learned that Donald possessed a stronger life-or-death combat ability than himself, his ambitions immediately vanished.

It is precisely because of the life-or-death battle that one knows how terrifying this skill is!
What's even more terrifying is that Donald has had the enhanced version of the Life and Death Showdown (inferior) for who knows how long... Xia Lin has no idea how high his attributes have been.

What's most terrifying is that Donald, who possesses the power of life and death, is still suppressed by Wuxin, the closed-door disciple of the Creator of Heaven.

With his mind racing, Donald smiled and raised his glass.

"People of the bright side don't speak secretly."

"You have the ability to fight to the death, which gives you the potential to become my friend... You and I both know the strength of this ability, and the person who possesses it must be extraordinary."

"Secondly, you and the Creator of Heaven are still mortal enemies... I think the enemy of my enemy can become a friend."

The glass was brought close to Xia Lin's eyes, and Xia Lin raised his glass in return. They clinked glasses, and then Donald continued, "You have a stance, you have potential, and you naturally have the qualities to stand by my side and fight against the great enemy together. Even if Brother Tao hadn't organized this gathering, we would have met sooner or later."

With a "ding," the wine in the glass rippled.

The two drank it down in one gulp, and Donald changed the subject.

Thirdly, without intention.

"That is the formidable enemy I was referring to."

The name "Human Race Sequence One" made Xia Lin raise an eyebrow, and he saw Donald's smile fade and his expression become solemn.

"Don't blame me for being blunt."

"You've offended the old thief Tiandao, which is equivalent to being on Wuxin's kill list. Wuxin is the old thief's fanatical and die-hard follower, and he can't tolerate even the slightest imperfection."

"But this guy's abilities are somewhat unsolvable and difficult to explain."

"You and he will inevitably clash in the human race's sequence of battles. The stronger you are, the more cards Wuxin can be forced out, and the more confident I will be in defeating Wuxin."

Xia Lin laughed and said, "So I've become the trailblazer?"

Donald laughed along: "You chose it yourself, bro."

There's nothing wrong with that.

Xia Lin thought for a moment and said with a grin, "Then Brother Tang, shouldn't you give me some support and benefits? The stronger I am, the more I can force Wu Xin to reveal more of his trump cards."

Huang Tao coughed and sighed, remarking that Xia Lin was still the same Xia Lin, always willing to take advantage of any opportunity.

Donald didn't care that he was being squeezed out.

Perhaps his visit today was motivated by this consideration.

"what do you want?"

"The complete version of the life-or-death battle."

Donald's face twitched: "You're overthinking it. Under the new universe rules, the Life and Death Battle Technique no longer possesses its original power... In essence, the Life and Death Battle Technique (inferior) you have is the complete version under the new universe rules. The reason I say my Life and Death Battle Technique is more advanced than yours is because I've had this skill for a longer time, and the Demon Emperor personally helped me optimize and build the relevant skill set..."

"If you want to take the skill 'Life and Death Battle (Inferior)' to the next level, it's no use coming to me. You need to find the Six Pillars to tailor a solution for you."

Six pillars, tailor-made...

Xia Lin pondered the meaning behind this for a moment, and then gasped in shock.

—Six pillars customized? Is this even possible?!
I thought I was being open enough, but you guys are even more open, one or two of you have stopped acting altogether.

Hun Yi interjected softly, "Tang Ge is one, and Wu Xin is another. Apart from these two, no other traveler in this generation of Ash District can receive such treatment."

The Six Pillars are above the professional system.

They make the rules, modify the rules, and even manipulate the rules!

Huang Tao added: "Wuxin, the last disciple of the Creator of Heaven, I guess he might also be the Creator of Heaven's illegitimate son... As for Donald, his ancestor was the Demon Emperor's best friend, the kind of best friend who would share life and death with him."

"So they get this kind of treatment, but others don't."

Donald didn't care if people said he relied entirely on his ancestors' influence...

Because he himself admitted that he relied on the legacy of his ancestors, and there was nothing shameful about that.

Xia Lin lamented the injustice of the universe, yet he also knew that there was no such thing as absolute fairness in this world.

Donald continued, "You want the full version of the life-or-death battle? I can't help you with that."

"But I can do you a small favor."

Xia Lin turned his head and asked.

"What's the deal?"

Donald: "You may use my training ground."

At first glance, Xia Lin found it strange.

There seems to be no need for a training ground.

A life-or-death battle doesn't require choosing a location.

Until Donald said with a smile.

"Dream Tower of Time"

"A faster flow of time... Of course, this is not very meaningful, as entering the Ash Zone with an access card can produce the same effect."

"The key is that this training ground, which was built for me by the Dream Master and Sister Lolo, can create illusory but hostile enemies to meet the requirements for the life-or-death battle and greatly reduce the duration of the debuff after being resurrected."

This effect is roughly equivalent to Xia Lin's Deception: Life and Ultimate Digestion, except that it does not require the consumption of resources.

Or, to put it another way, the resources consumed were transferred to others.

Judging from Donald's expression, he knows that Xia Lin possesses the Life and Death Battle Technique (inferior), but he seems unaware that Xia Lin's incredible brush combo is nearing completion, with all components in place.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Lin nodded, feigning surprise.

"Then I'll be disrespectful!"

Helping Donald find out about Wuxin's background was just a small favor.

In theory, even if Donald doesn't pay anything, Charlene will still have to get through this.

Donald's willingness to provide some assistance is a sign of goodwill, and Xia Lin has no reason not to accept it.

Xia Lin repeated.

"Besides that, I also want to test your strength, and I need Wuxin's information."

Donald laughed and said, "No problem."

(End of this chapter)