Ancient One wanted to observe, then Bi Xiao could certainly wait.
Realizing this, Bi Xiao still sighed inwardly; his personality was still too rational and cautious. Otherwise, he could have planned to make contact with Ancient One earlier.
It was a risky act. The consequences of failure could lead to accidents, but success would bring greater rewards, like acquiring magical knowledge and making his future path smoother.
However, caution was also good. With a second chance at life, there were more possibilities. How could he not treasure all of this?
Time was on his side, and with the "golden finger" at his disposal, his future path would surely not be bumpy.
Magical knowledge was also a huge cake, making his path smoother.
Clear thinking led Bi Xiao to abandon Ancient One and Karma-Taj, and instead continue experimenting with developing magic power. The MAX mode was indefinitely far off; he could well develop another path.
Energy compression.
He tried releasing magic in his palm, turning it into a sphere of light, then compressing it continuously until he felt his palm might get scorched from the intense compression energy.
So, he decisively dispersed the magic power, stimulating his cells to heal quickly as he covered his palm with magic.
This hypothesis was not feasible, so he tried another.
Focusing the energy on his fingertips, then compressing it to the point where his fingers could bear it, he shot it out like a laser beam.
In an instant, a terrifying golden energy beam shot from his fingers towards an open space about two hundred meters away.
Boom!!
A violent explosion followed, and the golden glow covered the area, sweeping everything around with its formidable blast, shaking the ground and engulfing everything in a violent surge, reducing all obstacles to dust.
Bi Xiao stood firm, his coat fluttering in the blast.
He squinted his eyes slightly and waited until the terrifying noise gradually subsided before he took a few steps forward to see a huge crater in front of him, about a hundred meters in diameter, with the ground deeply indented and the soil crystallized from the intense heat.
There were even traces of the soil turning to magma, bubbling up.
"The power reached three times that of the original laser beam, with the same magic output having such an effect, my guess was indeed correct. But the problem is, my body's structural strength is not yet sufficient to handle greater compressed magic output; I need a medium."
Standing at the edge of the crater, Bi Xiao immediately realized what he was missing.
A weapon, he needed a weapon that could bear the release of his compressed magical energy.
It could be a sword or a gun, but finding a material that could bear the magic was not easy. Adamantium, known for its great density and being indestructible, was tough and durable but not as much as another metal, Vibranium.
Vibranium, produced in Wakanda, can absorb sound waves and other vibrations, even kinetic energy. This absorption makes the metal more durable and robust, though it cannot absorb energy indefinitely. A powerful enough force can shatter Vibranium.
Nevertheless, it is known as the most durable and robust metal on Earth, also possessing growth potential.
Bi Xiao believed that a weapon made from this metal could handle part of his compressed energy, though keeping up with his growth rate was also an issue.
Fortunately, Asgard also had plenty of Uru metal, the material used in artifacts like Odin's eternal spear Gungnir, the Destroyer armor, and the Stormbreaker axe.
Siphoning resources, Bi Xiao had plans, and not just for Uru metal. The craftsmanship knowledge of the dwarf race, Asgard's runes, were also valuable assets. Asgard's heritage could only be described as terrifyingly rich, truly a treasure trove.
But to siphon resources would have to wait.
He had to solve his current problems.
"Maybe I should take a trip to Wakanda? Before that, maybe find Stryker, I remember his base should still have some Adamantium. If not, I'll have to find Adamantium elsewhere, but it should be in the hands of the military."
"Stryker's base should still have many mutant children?"
Regarding Stryker's twisted nature, Bi Xiao's usual stance was that upon sighting him, he would kill, aiming to exterminate mutants which seemed to have been through hatred, but actually, the guy just wanted more power.
He wanted to control mutants to serve him, not just that, he also wanted to create his own mutant army, capturing mutants indiscriminately, regardless of gender or age, all sent to the experimental table, dissected in the most cruel ways.
Over the years, numerous mutants have died because of this executioner.
Bi Xiao did not ostracize the mutant community. Ordinary people might despise and hate mutants, mostly due to mainstream media propaganda, fearing that mutants would indeed do as Magneto said, that mutants are the evolution of humanity, and that mutants should lead humanity forward.
The statement was radical, similarly stirring the vigilance and rejection of those in power and the wealthy.
After all, those high officials and tycoons in power, Magneto's propaganda meant the usurpation of their rights and positions.
Similarly, they also longed for powerful abilities; who wouldn't want to manipulate metal like Magneto or possess mental powers like Professor X? It's just that they couldn't get these powers.
Otherwise, people like Stryker wouldn't have been able to capture mutants and conduct human experiments without consequences.
To say that the military and government were unaware, Bi Xiao didn't believe it; surely there were those unaware, but many must have tacitly allowed it, as Stryker was not the only one; there must be similar experimental institutions around the world.
They feared mutants, Bi Xiao did not, being one of the top combatants on Earth himself; he had no reason to fear or ostracize mutants.
Whether human or mutant, in his eyes, they were the same; if guilty, they deserved the same fate.
As for Stryker, if Bi Xiao hadn't thought of it, it would have been fine, but having thought about it, he had already made up his mind to kill.