Chapter 176: Mission Accomplished

"No way, is my base attribute still considered low?" Song Qi asked in surprise.

"Judging by my current attribute values, across the entire human race, there are barely a few who can surpass me at the same level!"

During these days in the Third Continent, except for the past two days spent frantically grinding monsters, Song Qi had never missed a single day of consuming the Source Water.

His base mental attribute had already broken through a thousand!

"Not enough, not nearly enough!"

"Way too far off!"

The Great Sage shook his head, looking extremely dissatisfied.

"With your current meager amount of spiritual power, it's questionable whether it's even higher than mine when I first burst out of the stone."

"Your spiritual power at least needs to double before I can untie one percent of my seal without a single reservation."

"Quadruple it, and I can untie two percent."

"Octuple it, and I can untie three percent."

At this, he twitched his nose and hesitated for a moment.

"However... I suppose this really can't be blamed entirely on you."

"This world is far too barren; it's already quite impressive that you've managed to grow to this extent."

"Oh well, whatever."

The Great Sage stood up, put away the lotus platform and the kasaya, and changed into a relatively ordinary attire.

"Work hard. Whenever you reach a point where you can let me untie two percent of my seal, I will directly shatter the world barrier for you."

"By then, you can pick a better world to cultivate in for a period of time."

Cultivate in other worlds?

Song Qi was momentarily stunned, but he wasn't particularly resistant to the idea.

After all, apart from being targeted by the Demon race, his current world had now also been targeted by the Church of the God of Light.

Regardless of which one it was, both of these factions were behemoths spanning across the heavens and myriad realms!

If he didn't put in some effort, he wouldn't even be able to guard his own home.

As a summoner, the best way to enhance his strength was to summon even more powerful summoning spirits.

However, the existence of summoning spirits consumed a summoner's spiritual power, which was calculated based on their base spiritual power.

It was just that Song Qi's growth had been exceptionally smooth prior to this.

The resources he obtained were all top-tier human resources, and coupled with his commendable talent and potential, he had never paid attention to this issue.

It wasn't until Elder Monkey emerged that he finally realized his own shortcoming.

Right now, he couldn't even bear the burden of maintaining Monkey King at one percent of his true strength.

If he were to acquire summoning scrolls for other even more powerful figures in the future, judging by his current mental attributes, wouldn't it mean that even if the other party was sealed, he still wouldn't be able to shoulder the consumption required to summon them into battle simply because his mental attributes weren't high enough?

"Indeed, the growth rate of my spiritual power is a bit too slow," Song Qi reflected.

"I've slackened quite a bit by only drinking one bottle of Source Water a day. If I have time in the future, I should drink as many bottles as possible."

"Anyway, after all these days, I've pretty much gotten used to that kind of agony."

"If time permits, I'll down three to five bottles a day!"

With this thought, Song Qi cupped his fists in salute.

"Many thanks, Brother Monkey."

"Sigh, this child is truly teachable."

The Great Sage nodded with satisfaction.

"Very well, what do you plan to do next?"

"Let's go search for the spoils of war first."

Song Qi stood up and replied.

That angel's level was definitely not low!

It might even surpass those monsters that had mastered laws.

The gear dropped would most likely be of Epic quality or even higher.

Just in time, Optional Quest 3 still lacked one final piece of Epic-grade equipment for completion.

"Then let's go."

The Great Sage nodded. A cluster of white clouds floated up beneath his feet, and he made a motion to fly off.

Seeing this, Song Qi paused in surprise.

"Wait a minute, Brother Monkey, you're coming too?"

"Aren't you going back?"

"Back? What would old Sun go back for?"

The Great Sage seemed to intensely dislike the words "go back."

"Going back just means sitting in meditation and daydreaming all day long. If I try to find a little amusement, those bald donkeys will lecture me for half a day."

"At least here, no one is watching me, and occasionally there might even be a fight. Old Sun is quite happy staying here."

"Don't you worry about it."

Song Qi scratched his head, sweating inwardly.

Brother Monkey, you're already the Victorious Fighting Buddha, how do you still have this temper?

"This... well, alright then."

Anyway, Monkey King in his normal state didn't consume an overwhelming amount of energy.

If he was unwilling to go back, then so be it.

...

A dozen minutes later...

In a barren wasteland, Song Qi found the relics left behind by that angel.

This was a suit of armor radiating holy light!

Although it was armor, it felt exceptionally warm to the touch.

[Upper Armor: Armor of Absolute Glory]
[Quality: Mythic]
[Applicable Level: None]
[Required Attributes: None]
[Applicable Class: None]
[Strength: +400]
[Agility: +200]
[Constitution: +800]
[Spirit: +1600]
[Effect 1: The wearer's healing, buffing, and holy-light-type skill effects are increased by 100%!]
[Effect 2: The wearer recovers 0.05% of their spiritual power and vitality every second.]
[Effect 3: Depending on the wearer's degree of devotion to the Church of the God of Light, 2-winged, 4-winged, or even 6-winged angels can be summoned!]
[Appraisal: Entrust everything to the great deity! He shall bestow upon you the power to rule the world!]

...

Upon reading the stats, Song Qi couldn't help but marvel in wonder.

"As expected of Mythic-grade armor, the effects are truly formidable!"

"To think it can even summon the likes of a 6-winged angel?"

"It's just a pity that for me, this strongest effect is precisely the most useless one."

"Still, it doesn't matter; as long as the quest is completed."

With that, Song Qi clicked on the equipment and put it on.

[Ding!]
[Detected that you have equipped more than 5 pieces of Epic-grade or higher equipment. Optional Quest 3 is completed!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained 5 lucky draw chances!]
[Your current remaining lucky draw chances are... 5 times!]

"The equipment has been collected, so next, I'll start investing in the Source."

Song Qi sat cross-legged directly on the ground.

In the past, he would have looked for another safe location before investing points.

But now?

In this world, was there any place safer than being by Brother Monkey's side?

He brought up the system interface...

[World Source: 16]
[Invest points, Qimen Dunjia!]

Hum! ~

Amidst a wave of disorientation, Song Qi's vision entered that miraculous state once more.

The world before his eyes transformed into an exotic realm woven from countless intersecting lines.

This time, he didn't rush to integrate the Source. Instead, he naturally constructed the Source and then sensed the World Source with his own spiritual power!

Experiences from the previous few times had made him realize something.

The state the system helped him enter actually allowed him to sense the Source much more clearly than when he had touched the prayer mat in the First District back then!

If he sensed it a few more times, perhaps he would be able to successfully draw in the Source without relying on external forces.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, his mind and body already beginning to immerse themselves in it entirely...

Half an hour later...

Song Qi slowly opened his eyes.

A trace of boundless regret filled his gaze.

"Just a little bit more!"

"I almost sensed it. Maybe two or three more times, and I would have successfully triggered the Source!"

"To interrupt it right now is truly a pity."

He desperately wanted to continue, but alas, his Source points were completely exhausted.

"What a shame. If only a few monsters that have mastered laws were to suddenly show up right now."

Just as the words fell, Song Qi suddenly felt a scorching, blinding light ignite at the edge of the horizon!

A blazing sun surged forth from the distance, shrouded in an endless sea of fire, galloping toward them!

"Screeech!!"

A three-legged Golden Crow let out a long, resonant cry to the skies!

The piercing bird screech carried an unmasked rage and killing intent!

"Human!!!!"

"I've found you!!!!"