There were still many other ways to increase one's energy.
Some ways might give so much energy that one could breakthrough several times in a roll if they had correctly grasped the comprehension and modification beforehand.
However, with the world's equivalent exchange, what came easy always posed a risk in the future. Using such a method could spell a lifetime of regret if they made one slight mistake.
And, of course, even the reincarnated Feng Luotian would not escape this principle.
Although the cultivation's bottleneck was now non-existent to him and all he needed was energy, the required amount per cultivation level was not at all matched with the world's standard.
He was given a large number of monster cores by many people who adored and respected his father, including Peacock Lord. Regardless of the cultivation's bottleneck, those monster cores alone could increase one's cultivation until one reached Talon Realm. Yet, he could only raise his cultivation to Four Fangs with all those energies.
And as everyone could guess, the energies required for the higher level of cultivation would obviously be larger than the lower. He needed roughly a hundred times more energy than other people.
Feng Luotian quickly realized this as well and could only sigh in his heart: "It seems I need to find a way to acquire a lot of monster cores and money, or else this incredible ability would become useless."
He rechecked his abilities.
///// [Last Dance Curse] Level 4: Increase the user's power level by 1 for 8 minutes. However, the user has to collect 10 souls within 8 minutes. Otherwise, the user's level will be decreased by 2.
///// [Momentum Eyes] Level 4: The user can see the momentum and projectile of every object within 35 meters.
"Even becoming a Four Fangs Fighter, the inherited abilities' powers only increased by this much? I would have to become at least a late-stage Fighter for these abilities to be effective in battle. Oh! That's right. I forgot to check if I've got any innate skills."
He searched his bloodline again, then …
///// [Pinnacle Flash Lightning] Level 1: Wrap the user's body in lightning. Speed +200%. Lightning Resistance +2%.
"Pinnacle Flash Lightning? A Speed Type Skill, huh? Let's try it outside."
Feng Luotian walked out of his house and up the base of Winterrock Peak. He paused when he saw two huge boulders separating about a hundred meters. He then stood in front of one boulder, ready to charge towards another.
He activated his Theríon normally without using the skill and dashed out. It took about six seconds to reach his goal.
Feng Luotian nodded at the result that he clearly became much faster than when he was a commoner.
"Next, let's try using this Pinnacle Flash Lightning."
[Skills] were special moves which cultivators used in battle, similar to [Abilities]. For example, Mei Yue'er's Aurora Treading Step was a skill, while Sun Wuji's Stone Transformation was an ability. No one would be able to tell the difference just from looking at it.
The difference between skills and abilities was their origin and the way to improve them.
While cultivators "acquired" abilities when they awakened their bloodlines, they had to "learn" skills to use them.
Abilities would get stronger as their cultivation levels increased. Skills, however, would get stronger as one trained those skills.
However, there were exceptions to everything.
What Feng Luotian got was an Innate Skill.
It was a skill that, similar to an ability, accompanied cultivators ever since their awakening and could be trained and upgraded like a skill to improve its efficiency and power.
Thud.
A low thump sounded as Feng Luotian dropped his left foot forward, ready his stance before he focused his mind on activating Pinnacle Flash Lightning.
Lightning surged and enveloped his entire body as his speed tripled. After he dashed out, within two seconds, he returned to his original position, then he deactivated his skill.
He let out a little gasp for breath: "This skill required Theríon much more than I expected. And the activation costed much more than maintaining the skill. Although I can turn the table with that kind of speed, it uses too much Theríon. I have to think more carefully about when to use it in the first stage of cultivation until I gain enough Theríon to spend."
He felt that he could only activate the skill and maintain it for roughly twenty seconds. Afterward, he would be running out of gas.
The skill might be very useful in battle, but it could hardly be used to travel a long distance.
///// Skill Proficiency +1
///// [Pinnacle Flash Lightning] Level 1 (1/500)
A couple of notifications flowed into his mind. The communication with his new bloodline had become clearer and clearer as he spent his Theríon.
"1/500? The skill level will be upgraded after using it five hundred times? So high!! This skill could very well be considered a Legendary skill."
Feng Luotian was surprised by the number.
As one utilized the skill for a certain number of times, the skill they used would become stronger.
Depending on the skill's potential and proficiency requirement, they were classified into five ranks: Normal, Special, Rare, Unique, and Legendary.
The lower rank the skills were, the weaker power they could unleash but the less one needed to train to raise the skill's level. The higher rank would, of course, unleash a stronger force, but one needed to train more to improve it.
At the first level of Normal skills, one would only need to activate the skill about twenty to forty times to achieve the skill's second level, while Special skills needed forty to one hundred times, and so on.
Although Feng Luotian did not know how strong Pinnacle Flash Lightning would become in the future, needing five hundred times to achieve the second level, he could tell right away that this skill belonged to the Legendary rank.
Even though he needed to train much harder to upgrade this skill, Feng Luotian became delighted after knowing this fact as he actually obtained a Legendary innate skill along with his new bloodline.
"What about the skills that I already know from my past life? If I can use every skill I've learned, then … hehe. Well, let's try the simplest skill." Feng Luotian wondered.
"One-Fold Fist Force!!" He howled the skill's name and thrusted his fist at the boulder in front of him.
…
However, the only sound after the attack was his skill name's echo, followed by a complete silence.
"What?! I cannot even activate the freaking easiest skill in the universe? The how-to of the skill is just to activate Theríon and thrust out a fist!!"
"It seems I cannot use any skills I learned in the previous life. So much for being a reincarnator. I know that life is fair, but why do I have to get nerfed on the very first day without a chance to be OP."
"Wait! Doesn't it mean that I will be able to perform one skill and two trash abilities for the rest of my life? Although I can cultivate without a bottleneck in cultivation, with only one skill, this is not cool at all."
His complaints seemed to be endless at this point.
And even with all the earth-shaking traits he got, he was complaining about coolness.
There was really no limit to humans' desire.
It took a while before Feng Luotian let out a huge sigh and comforted himself: "Alright. Never mind that for now. Maybe there will be other cool things after advancing to another realm. Or maybe I can learn new skills by actually learning them in this life and not using the ones I have in my memory. And there are still a lot of things to try about KRONOS."
When Feng Luotian was about to explore new things about his new bloodline ability, he heard a commotion coming from the main road, which was leading from the city to his house: "Oh no!! The lightning I shot up after fusing bloodlines must have raised a lot of attention in the city."
Not wanting anyone to know what he was doing, Feng Luotian quickly returned to his home and entered his obliterated training room before lying down on the floor while the rain was pouring down on him.
With his charred clothes, it was undeniable evidence that he was present when the lightning struck. And who would be fine after being struck by lightning?
Feng Luotian had no choice but to pretend to be unconscious after being hit by lightning and let the others think that he could survive somehow. Otherwise, he would have to suffer a long interrogation from various people.
That would be too troublesome, and he would very much like to avoid that. The simplest way of all was to feign ignorant by becoming unconscious.
As such, he used his Theríon to cut off his consciousness and became asleep before someone rushed into the room: "Tian'er!! Tian'er!! Not good. Bring him to Alchemy Center and have someone look at him!!"
"Father, is he alright?" Another female voice sounded in anxiety after an order was issued.
"I don't know. But we must have him treated right away."