"Ding! Copying in progress!"
"Congratulations, Host! You have obtained 250 mid-grade Star Crystals, 5 high-grade Star Crystals, and 1 supreme-grade Star Crystal!"
"All Star Crystals have been stored in the System Space. The Host may access them at will!"
The System's voice echoed in Jiang Fan's mind, leaving him momentarily stunned before an overwhelming joy surged through him.
Holy crap!
The 250 mid-grade Star Crystals were within his expectations. But the 5 high-grade and 1 supreme-grade Star Crystals? That was a total shock!
In the current market, a single high-grade Star Crystal was worth over 2 million Star Coins, while a supreme-grade one could fetch 5 million! Just the high-grade and supreme-grade crystals alone were worth tens of millions of Star Coins—not to mention the 250 mid-grade ones!
This is a jackpot!
Jiang Fan trembled with excitement. As for his remaining 50 Copy Points? He didn't dwell on it. They weren't enough to replicate this haul anyway. Better to save them. With this wealth, he had more than enough resources for now!
Calming himself, Jiang Fan picked up a high-grade Star Crystal and began absorbing its energy.
Star Crystals were condensed forms of stellar energy, crafted by powerful martial artists. A low-grade Star Crystal contained energy equivalent to one cubic unit of pure stellar energy. But the high-grade crystal in his hand? It rivaled ten low-grade ones!
With his SSS-grade talent, Jiang Fan's absorption speed was nothing like his former E-grade self. If E-grade talent repelled stellar energy, SSS-grade was a black hole—irresistible!
Stellar energy poured into his body, scouring and refining every cell. Old cells died and sloughed off, while his bones hardened and muscles tightened. In mere minutes, he'd absorbed a high-grade crystal that would take days for an average talent to process. The spent crystal turned gray, and Jiang Fan tossed it aside, amazed.
"Just one high-grade crystal boosted my strength by 100 kg and speed by 10 m/s. Incredible!"
No wonder they say 'the poor study while the wealthy practice martial arts.' Even prodigies couldn't compete with those drowning in resources. Money could brute-force a high-tier warrior!
But Jiang Fan didn't linger. He grabbed dozens of mid-grade crystals, unleashing a torrent of stellar energy. His body devoured it like a void—240 kg... 280 kg... 300 kg! His power skyrocketed.
To outsiders, this would've been insanity. Most used Star Crystals sparingly, like delicacies. But Jiang Fan treated them as disposable stones. By dawn, 200 mid-grade crystals lay drained, and his strength had reached monstrous levels.
"System, open my status panel!"
[Host: Jiang Fan]
Realm: Reserve Warrior
Copy Points: 50
Talent: SSS
Strength: 1,500 kg
Speed: 150 m/s
Neural Response: SSS
Martial Skills: None
Weapons: None
Jiang Fan nearly spat blood. Logically, with 1,500 kg strength and 150 m/s speed, I should've broken into the Body Tempering Realm! Reserve Warriors needed 300 kg and 30 m/s; formal Warriors required 1,000 kg and 100 m/s. He'd shattered those thresholds—why no breakthrough?
Reluctantly, he gripped the deep-blue supreme-grade Star Crystal. The moment he absorbed it, tyrannical energy flooded his veins, battering the invisible shackles holding him back.
By midday, the crystal crumbled to dust. Jiang Fan's body cracked like thunder—he grew taller, his hair lengthened, and foul sludge oozed from his pores. When he opened his eyes, they gleamed like sharpened blades.
"Body Tempering Realm—Second Layer!"
[Host: Jiang Fan]
Realm: Body Tempering (2nd Layer)
Copy Points: 50
Talent: SSS
Strength: 3,300 kg
Speed: 330 m/s
Neural Response: SSS
Martial Skills: None
Weapons: None
"Finally..." Jiang Fan sighed. Breaking through had cost him 200 mid-grade, 1 high-grade, and 1 supreme-grade crystal—a fortune that would make the entire planet gasp at his extravagance. But the results?
A normal Body Tempering Second Layer warrior had 2,000 kg strength. Jiang Fan's 3,300 kg let him crush peers and rival Third Layer experts!
Absolute dominance.
Now, it was time for official Warrior certification. The perks—system rewards, federal benefits—were too good to ignore.