Jack opened his status screen. The space monster cores heâd absorbed so far had given him a bunch of levels.
Name: Jack Rust
Species: Human, Earth-387
Faction: Bare Fist Brotherhood (B)
Grade: B
Class: Paragon of Cultivation (Legendary)
Level: 432
Strength: 8680 (+)
Dexterity: 8680 (+)
Constitution: 8680 (+)
Mental: 1200
Will: 1200 frŃeÏebÉłovel.com
Free points: 1400
Free sub-points: 1
Dao Skills: Meteor Punch IV, Iron Fist Style III, Brutalizing Aura III, Neutron Star Body III, Supernova III, Space Mastery III, Fist of Mortality III, Death Mastery III, Titan Taunt III, Immortal Commune I
Inner World size: 10,000 miles
Matter Condensation: 64%
Titles: Planetary Frontrunner (10), Planetary Torchbearer (1), Ninth Ring Conqueror, Planetary Leader (1), Grade Defier, Planet Destroyer, Challenger
From Level 404, heâd risen all the way to 432. The energy density of his inner world had increased significantly, crossing the halfway mark to the middle B-Grade. Most importantly, leveling up gave him a crazy amount of stats thanks to his Legendary Class. Every level gave fifty. After twenty-eight levels, he now had one thousand four hundred points to distribute. That was massive.
Of course, rising through the levels wasnât always such an easy process. The only reason heâd advanced this fast was because he was eating high-level space monster cores like candy. The Church had invested greatly in him, but theyâd made it clear this was all they could provide. After this sack was empty, their assistance would be limited.
He hoped these cores would be enough to push him to the middle B-Grade. After that, maybe heâd go hunting for space monster cores himself. Heâd heard many times that this galaxy was unnaturally choke-full of space monsters.
For now, however, he had a ton of stat points to distribute.
1400⊠he thought with disbelief. Thatâs so muchâŠ
Once upon a time, every level gave him two points, and those two had been enough to seriously push his strength forward. Now, he needed over a thousand to achieve the same effect.
His Physical substats were balanced, all at 8680. He could invest everything into them to push them over ten thousand. However, that would leave his Mental and Will too far behind. All the strength in the world would matter little if he was trapped in an illusion.
Back when he was an F-Grade cultivator, Shol had told him to adopt an 8-1-1 distribution between his stats. As he climbed, nobody had anything to say against that strategy, so it remained the one he followedâwith the sole exception that, when possible, he enjoyed round numbers.
Jack hardened his heart, investing almost half of his stat points into Mental and Will. Three hundred went into each, raising them both to a round 1500. That was a twenty percent increase. Instantly, he felt his mind sharpen, his understanding deepen, his purpose be filled with utter clarity. He could watch the rain and calculate the path of every individual droplet. He grinned.
But this wasnât what he liked most.
Eight hundred points remained, and he gleefully poured them all into Physical. His body seized. Tremors and cramps spread through him as the System struggled to enhance him further. After all, it wasnât omnipotent, and his body was already extremely powerful. Every step forward was a hurdle. The once enjoyable sensation of increasing stat points had turned highly unpleasant.
Jack convulsed on the floor, gritting his teeth through the burning pain. His entire body was on fire. The life particles making it up, which were already densely clustered, were forced to make room for more. It was a slow and difficult process.
When the initial shock passed, Jack struggled to his feet. He could sense that the enhancement wasnât over; it had become a constant stream of Life Dao particles into his body, lowering the pain to a threshold he could barely ignore. Jack clenched his fist, easily telling heâd grown a bit stronger, but not too much. From what he estimated, this process would take several weeks to complete. He could sense himself approaching the limits of body tempering.
In fact, he had the sneaking suspicion that the System points he inserted into his Physical were beginning to lose their efficiency. It wasnât indicated anywhere on his status screen, but he couldnât shake off the thought.
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Regardless, every increase was a good one. The tempering process would continue for weeks, but the System already indicated all his points as invested.
Strength: 9480 (+)
Dexterity: 9480 (+)
Constitution: 9480 (+)
Mental: 1500
Will: 1500
Free sub-points: 1
It was decent. Pretty good, actually. Jack was flying!
He couldnât help thinking about Brock. His brorilla brother didnât have the benefit of the System, so his own stats were rising at a slower pace. Compared to Jack, however, he did have another advantage: a smaller inner world, which could fill up with energy much faster.
Brock had also been given a sack of space monster cores compatible to his Dao. And, just yesterday, heâd broken into the middle B-Grade.
Jack decided to take a break, pacing out of his room to find Brock sprawled on an inflatable couch, reading the Bro Code. There were many couches in their mansion. There were many of everything, actually. The Church had given them real luxury.
Of course, the entire mansion was worth nothing compared to a single space monster core.
âSup, bro,â Jack said, walking into the sunlit garden. A long wall surrounded the entire place. There was a bar, multiple lounges, and a large pool. The couch Brock was currently lounging on was in the middle of the pool, a bright yellow floatie. The brorilla himself wore a pair of pink swim shorts, chilling with one foot in the water. He raised his gaze as Jack walked close.
âHey bro,â he said. âAll good. Meditating. You?â
Jack laughed. Brock wasnât kidding. He had his Bro Code outâhe really was meditating on his Dao, except he was doing it on a floatie in a pool in the sun. That was the life. Jack himself needed more peace and quiet, so he had to retreat into his dark office to cultivate. He was a little bit jealous, but more so, he was happy for his little brother.
âEnjoy the good life, bro,â he said. âYou deserve it.â
Right as Jack was about to jump into the pool, however, a new voice called out. âHold it,â it said. âWhat do you think youâre doing?â
Jack paused, annoyed. âWhat do you think youâre doing, Starhair?â
The man walked in from the garden entrance, taking in both Jack and Brock with distaste. âI am charged with assisting you,â he said. âWhat youâre doing now is a waste of time. Weâre at war. Our army is dying, and you think youâre on vacations?â
Jack reined in his anger. âRelaxing is an important part of cultivation,â he explained patiently. âIâve cultivated non-stop for two weeks. I just achieved a major power-up. If I donât celebrate a little, Iâll be tense, and my efficiency will drop.â
âBullshit. Youâre just spoiled by all the praise youâre receiving.â
âYouâre out of line, Ass-Kisser Bro,â Brock warned him from the pool. Starhair ignored him.
âI donât care how powerful you are or what youâve been through, Jack. I donât care about your potential. Youâre just a weakling right now, so act with respect.â
Jack smirked. âRespect to whom? You donât deserve it. Not only is your mind severely untempered, but even on the topic of power, you are weaker than us while at a higher cultivation level. The only thing you have going for you is your age, and thatâs only if we count it in years instead of wisdom. If anybody should be showing respect here, itâs you.â
Starhairâs eyes flashed, like heâd heard exactly what he wanted. âDo you seriously think youâre stronger than me?â he asked, laughing. âI acknowledge your future potential, but right now, youâre just an early B-Grade. You, defeating me? Thatâs such a load of crap!â
âReally?â Jack asked back. âThen how about we find out?â
Starhairâs laughter died down. Suspicion entered his eyes, like this was too easy. âAre you challenging me?â he said.
âYou are the challenger, but yes. I donât mind. Then perhaps youâll stop your silly little games, like coming here to taunt me and try to steal some of my spotlight by beating me in a public duel. Which is not a bad idea, mind you, just a little simple for your level. Also, highly miscalculated, because you canât beat me.â
Starhair narrowed his eyes. Jack could see the cogs turning in his head. As for Jack himself, his initial anger was long gone, and he was now calm. This was a simple situation to him. After everything heâd been through, Starhairâs elementary machinations were almost cute.
âOne moment, Ass-Kisser Bro,â a voice called out. Brock. He still lay on the floatie couch, reclining casually, but his eyes held a hint of hard amusement. âYou donât deserve to challenge Big Bro,â he continued. âYou fight me instead. I will teach you your place.â
Starhair looked between Jack and Brock. âYou want me to fight the sidekick?â he asked.
âThere is no sidekick here,â Jack said. âBrock is my brother on equal footing. If he says you fight him, then you fight him.â Starhair was getting riled up, but Jack held up a hand to stop whatever lame words were coming next. âIf you can defeat Brock, then Iâll fight you next,â he said. âWouldnât that work better for you? You get to steal not one spotlight, but two.â
Starhair considered it for a second. Finally, he grinned. âI donât know whatâs gotten into you, but fine. Iâll defeat you both.â
âHmm,â Brock said. âWeird. The Bro Code disagrees.â He flipped his Bro Code to a certain page and turned it outward. It showed a brorilla spanking a blushing man with long hair. Jack laughed. Starhair frowned in anger.
âState your terms,â he said.
âTerms?â Jack asked.
âTime, place, and stakes.â He raised his head. âLet nobody say that I, Starhair, bullied you.â
Jack and Brock looked at him as if he was a joke. âThe location can be anywhere safe nearby,â Brock said. âTime is now. Oh, in a few hours, actually. TV Bro will want to record this. Stakes⊠If you win, I become your little bro. If I win, you shut up and accept your place.â
âDo you agree with that?â Starhair asked Jack. It was obvious heâd expected them to set a date a few months into the future, so Jack and Brock could try to make more breakthroughs. He hadnât thought Brock would dare fight him right now.
âSure,â Jack replied. âThe sooner weâre done with this, the better.â
âDeal!â Starhair laughed. âYouâll pay dearly for underestimating me. Summon your manager and letâs go.â
âHow about you go on ahead and find a suitable place?â Jack asked. Starhair snorted, still smirking, and took off like a starry rocket.
Only Jack and Brock remained, and they sighed.
âHeâs lucky heâs so harmless,â said Jack. âOtherwise, we might have had to kill him.â
âMm.â Brock agreed. âHeâs not bad, just arrogant. As I said; Ass-Kisser Bro needs a good ass-kicking to become a proper person.â
âThat falls to you, bro. Show him what you got.â
Brock grinned. âOkay.â