System Upgrade and New Skills
After obtaining the Spirit Source Crystal, Lin Li could not wait to return to his room, preparing to use it to level up the system. He placed the Spirit Source Crystal in the palm of his hand and circulated his energy according to the system's prompts. The Spirit Source Crystal suddenly flared with brilliant light, transforming into torrents of energy that surged into Lin Li's body, fusing seamlessly with the system.
"Ding! System upgrade successful, current level has rocketed to Level 3. New function unlocked: Skill Fusion. The host now possesses the magical ability to turn stone into gold, allowing you to fuse two skills together to create an even more powerful technique." The system prompt sounded in Lin Li's mind like a grand bell.
Elated and overjoyed, Lin Li eagerly checked the system panel. Aside from the skill fusion function, a fresh batch of new skill options had sprouted up. Among them, a skill called Phantom Traceless Step caught his attention instantly, shining like the brightest star in the night sky. This skill resembled a divine movement technique, allowing him to teleport short distances like a ghost while leaving behind phantom images to confuse enemies.
Lin Li chuckled smugly to himself, "With this new skill, plus skill fusion, who can possibly stand in my way like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot? Shadow Council, you are nothing but lambs to the slaughter, just wait for your misfortune." Without hesitation, he spent his System Points to redeem the Phantom Traceless Step like a prized treasure, and immediately set to work attempting to fuse it with his existing Stellar Illuminating the World Formula. After painstaking exploration, he successfully fused them into the Astral Phantom Formula. When unleashed, it not only erupted with immense Astral Power like a volcanic explosion, but also utilized phantom images to bewilder enemies like a magician, making his attacks unpredictable and catch opponents off guard.
After careful deliberation, Lin Li and Yexiao decided to launch a probing strike against the Shadow Council to test the waters. They learned that the Shadow Council had a heavily fortified secret stronghold on the outskirts of Jiangcheng, specially used for conducting shady, illicit transactions.
In the dead of night, Lin Li and Yexiao led the elites of the Starry Alliance as they quietly infiltrated the vicinity of the stronghold like ghosts. Looking at the heavily guarded stronghold, Lin Li's lips curled into a demonic sneer. "Hmph, watch how I turn you upside down just like the Monkey King wreaking havoc in heaven."
His figure flashed like lightning as he executed the Astral Phantom Formula, instantly teleporting to the entrance of the stronghold. Before the guards could react like startled birds, Lin Li sent them flying with a punch carrying the force of a thunderbolt. "Alarm! We are under attack!" Sirens instantly blared throughout the stronghold, and blood-curdling screams pierced the night sky.
Swaggering into the stronghold and watching the panicked figures, Lin Li shouted arrogantly, "Scum of the Shadow Council, today is your doomsday!"
A group of men in black rushed forward wielding weapons. Unfazed, Lin Li radiated starlight across his body and engaged the men in black in combat. He shuttled through the crowd like a ghost, every strike accompanied by a miserable scream. Yexiao and the members of the Starry Alliance charged in shortly after, engaging the men in black in a chaotic melee.
After a fierce battle, Lin Li and his companions successfully destroyed the stronghold, but this also drew the attention of the higher-ups of the Shadow Council. Lin Li knew that the real trouble was only just beginning, but instead of caring, he eagerly anticipated the battles to come.