NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 155
Stepping into the gathering place, Lu Ming made a beeline for his dwelling. He was exhausted, both mentally and physically. The constant stream of interactions, from youngsters to elders, had taken a toll, compounded by the sheer physical exertion of maintaining his Desperate State.
The mystery factor depletion could be replenished with breathing techniques, but the physical strain was immense. Even with his robust constitution, Lu Ming estimated he could only sustain the Desperate State for ten minutes at most.
It was well past midnight when he finally settled into bed, only for a sudden thought to jolt him awake. The more he pondered, the more insistent it became. With a determined sigh, Lu Ming rose and went outside.
In the distance, Velo and Fala were still buzzing about Lu Ming's earlier display. When they noticed his return, Velo let out a weary sigh. His plans had gone awry yet again.
He had envisioned a grand entrance, swooping in as the savior of the injured tribulation transcenders and earning their favor. But Lu Ming's actions had thrown a wrench in those plans... twice.
Moreover, Velo couldn't help but face a grim reality—his opportunities to play the hero were dwindling. Lu Ming had surpassed him in strength, and any foes Lu Ming couldn't handle were certainly beyond Velo's reach. What was there left to save?
"I need a new strategy," Velo muttered to himself, just as Lu Ming emerged from his dwelling and assumed the starting posture of the Knight Body Forging Technique in a nearby clearing.
"He's still practicing? At this hour?!" Velo exclaimed, incredulous. The man was a madman!
Lu Ming, oblivious to Velo's observation, focused on testing a newfound theory, a potential exploit in the system.
He began by cultivating the Knight Body Forging Technique in his Conventional State, the "normal" form of his Body Self-Limitation ability. As he trained, he experimented with subtle bodily deformations. It was possible, but limited compared to his other states. He could adjust his height, but not manifest extra limbs or organs.
After thirty minutes, the technique's proficiency increased by 1, boosting all his attributes by 2. Then, Lu Ming shifted into his Explosive State, doubling his physical prowess.
In this enhanced form, Lu Ming's three-dimensional attributes soared:
- Strength: 30138.8
- Physique: 30138.4
- Agility: 30174.8
The five-meter-tall giant continued practicing the Knight Body Forging Technique in his Explosive State. However, Lu Ming's attempts to manifest extra limbs in this form proved fruitless. It seemed the Four-eyed Six-armed state was indeed exclusive to the Desperate State.
Undeterred, he completed another half-hour of training in the Explosive State, further boosting his attributes:
- Strength: 30140.8
- Physique: 30140.4
- Agility: 30176.8
Taking a deep breath, Lu Ming deactivated the Explosive State and returned to his Conventional form. He glanced at his attribute panel, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
- Strength: 15070.4
- Physique: 15070.2
- Agility: 15088.4
- Free Attribute Points: 4
The Knight Body Forging Technique had only yielded a 1-point increase to each attribute and 2 free points in this state. While the free points remained consistent, the gain in base attributes had halved compared to his training in the Explosive State.
Despite this, Lu Ming wasn't discouraged. He had a hunch that this peculiar discrepancy held the key to unlocking his theory.
Instead, a surge of excitement coursed through Lu Ming. "Body Self-Limitation," he murmured, "I wondered why the system named it that! So this is the true purpose of this power!"
With a newfound understanding, Lu Ming activated another form—the seemingly pointless Self-Limitation State. His bones cracked and popped as his body shrank, settling at a height of around 1.8 meters.
After a brief adjustment, Lu Ming found himself quite content in this diminished state. "My strength is significantly reduced," he mused, "but my height is manageable." In fact, this physique mirrored his pre-apocalypse form.
With a few warm-up exercises, Lu Ming resumed his cultivation of the Knight Body Forging Technique. He kept a close eye on his attribute panel as he trained.
- Strength: 7535.2
- Physique: 7535.1
- Agility: 7544.2
- Free Attribute Points: 4
After thirty minutes, the technique's proficiency increased once more. In his Self-Limitation State, Lu Ming's attributes now stood at:
- Strength: 7537.2
- Physique: 7537.1
- Agility: 7546.2
- Free Attribute Points: 6
"Now, for the grand finale!" Lu Ming declared, shifting back into his Conventional State. His physique returned to its normal proportions, and his attributes once again transformed:
- Strength: 15074.4
- Physique: 15074.2
- Agility: 15092.4
"Just as I suspected!" Lu Ming exclaimed. "The Self-Limitation State is a farming paradise for attributes!"
In this diminished form, all his attributes were indeed halved. However, any gains from training or skills weren't halved—they were acquired at their full value. This meant Lu Ming effectively doubled his attribute gains while in the Self-Limitation State!
Whether this was a system bug or a hidden feature, Lu Ming didn't care. He had stumbled upon a powerful tool, allowing him to accelerate his growth exponentially.
With a satisfied grin, Lu Ming returned to his dwelling for a well-deserved rest. His mind buzzed with the possibilities this newfound knowledge presented.
The next morning arrived, and Lu Ming awoke with a renewed sense of purpose.
Over breakfast, Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan were surprised to find Brother Lu had shrunk. Now standing at 1.8 meters with pleasant, if unremarkable, features, he was a far cry from the towering, three-meter-tall figure they were accustomed to. This Lu Ming was less imposing, but more approachable—though Lu Ming knew this mainly stemmed from his own cheerful mood.
The system's 'glitch' was working in his favor, and he was ecstatic! After a quick meal, Lu Ming launched into his daily exercise routine. An hour later, his attributes in the Self-Limitation State had increased by 43, the equivalent of a whopping 86 points in his Conventional State!
This confirmed his decision: the Self-Limitation State would be his primary mode for attribute farming. Since his daily routine revolved around maximizing his stats, this state would become his new normal.
After a brief rest, Lu Ming began practicing the Knight Body Forging Technique, deep in thought.
"It seems I haven't lost out too much," he mused. "Yesterday's level up from Mortal Realm Level 1 to Level 2 granted me the Body Self-Limitation ability. Its Self-Limitation State halves my attributes, but I can still gain points through exercise, and with the system's 'bug,' it's like I'm back to gaining the equivalent of 2 points per level. I've restored the balance, so to speak."
However, a lingering frustration gnawed at him. "The Black Feather Tribe has disrupted my peaceful life, and their future revenge is a looming threat!"
Channeling his anger into his training, Lu Ming redoubled his efforts. "Just wait," he gritted out, "When my attributes exceed 100,000 in this state, I'll pluck every last feather from your bodies!"