Volume 1, Chapter 32: God-Tier Skill, Soul Chain!

“Damn, someone actually cleared the hidden dungeon? And in Abyss mode? This is terrifying!”
“The rewards for the hidden dungeon in Abyss mode must be off the charts! Quick, log off and post this on the forum—this will definitely break a billion views!”
“Xiao Xiaoran? The one ranked second on the leaderboard? No wonder it’s so terrifying!”

As the server-wide announcement echoed through the game, every player was instantly stirred into excitement.
Even ordinary dungeons were exceedingly rare in the early days of the game.
By now, fewer than three had even been triggered, let alone hidden dungeons.
What was most astonishing was that Xiao Xiaoran not only cleared a hidden dungeon but did so on the highest difficulty—Abyss mode!
The entire game erupted in a frenzy, with players speculating wildly about the rewards behind such a feat.
Especially among the great clans, where undercurrents of tension simmered.

——

Level One Main City, Dark Moon City,
A scenic plain stretched out under the open sky.

Xiahou Qingqing, commanding her summoned explosive flying bear to clear monsters, furrowed her brow as the server announcement rang in her ears.
She understood all too well what a hidden dungeon signified.

“Xiao Xiaoran, huh? Didn’t expect her to clear even the Abyss mode hidden dungeon.”

Her crimson lips parted slightly, a cold battle fire flickering across her exquisitely beautiful face.
Unlike ordinary players, as a scion of one of the Ten Great Families of Huaguo, she knew exactly what the Divine Demon Continent represented.
And now, with Xiao Xiaoran’s rise, an undeniable obstacle stood in her way.

With that, she lightly tapped her staff.
The massive explosive flying bear, over three meters tall, sprang up in an instant, smashing a level 15 elite wild monster into a bloody pulp with a single blow.

Anyone witnessing this would surely be shaken to their core.
A level 15 elite wild monster—a formidable foe for most players—was crushed so effortlessly.

After finishing, Xiahou Qingqing gazed into the distance, murmuring, “Looks like the clan needs to accelerate the search for hidden dungeons.”

Having awakened a god-level summoning technique, she had maintained a steady lead through her summoned pets.
But as the game progressed, other players would also find opportunities, just like Xiao Xiaoran today.
If she relied solely on this god-level summoning art without other advantages, leading her clan to prominence would not be easy.

——

At the same time,
Huaguo, the Sikong Family.

As the undisputed head of the Ten Great Families of Huaguo, their intelligence network stretched across the nation and much of Blue Star.
Barely moments after the server announcement, the news had already reached the ears of the current family head, Sikong Zhen.

“I didn’t expect that girl from the Xiao family to have such an opportunity. Truly enviable.”

Sikong Zhen tapped his fingers on the table, a rare ripple of emotion stirring his usually stoic, square-jawed face.
As one of Huaguo’s core figures, he fully understood what this implied.

After a brief pause, he glanced sideways at the suited man standing rigidly before his desk and said softly,
“From today onward, have someone keep a close eye on that Xiao girl. If they can uncover what rewards she received, that would be ideal.”

“Yes, I’ll handle it immediately!”

The suited man responded quickly and exited the room.
Once alone, Sikong Zhen stood and gazed out at the night, whispering,
“A while ago, that Xiahou girl obtained a god-level summoning technique, and now this Xiao girl clears a hidden dungeon. Our Sikong family cannot fall behind.”

——

Moreover, as news of Xiao Xiao’s victory in the Abyss-level hidden dungeon spread, Huaguo was stirred by ripples of unrest.

Among those most thrilled were the siblings Xiao Xiao and Xiao Zhan.

At Newbie Village No. 331, upon hearing the server announcement, their expressions instantly brightened with excitement.

“Sis, Yu Ge really cleared the dungeon!”

Rubbing his ear to confirm he hadn’t misheard, Xiao Zhan looked toward his sister with excitement.
Now that Lin Yu had succeeded, it meant they might have a chance to become a hidden profession.
How could he not be thrilled?

“He really did it.”

Compared to Xiao Zhan’s obvious joy, Xiao Xiao appeared more composed, though the excitement in her eyes was unmistakable.
She had indeed seen correctly—Lin Yu had done it!

——

Unaware of the storm his clearance had caused, Lin Yu waited for the dungeon rewards.

[ Ding! Congratulations on your first clearance of the Abyss mode Abyss trial dungeon. Rewards: Experience +100, Gold +100, Free Attribute Points +100, SS-rank Hidden Profession Transfer Book: Night Assassin ×1, SS-rank Hidden Profession Transfer Book: Flame Archer ×1. ]
[ Ding! Congratulations on reaching Level 9, Free Attribute Points +10. ]

With the rewards granted, Lin Yu rose from level 8 to level 9.

“Damn, two SS-rank hidden profession transfer books, and neither suits me?”

Hearing the system’s announcement, Lin Yu was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected such bad luck—two transfer books, yet none fit him.
Had all his effort been for nothing?

This was frustrating.
Though Lin Yu, reborn twice, aimed for a god-level hidden profession and disregarded SS-rank, this was still a painful blow.

However, just as Lin Yu was sulking, another system prompt sounded in his ear.

[ Ding! As the sole survivor of the dungeon with over 80% contribution, you have received a special reward: God-level Skill Soul Chain +1 (non-transferable). ]

Startled, Lin Yu’s eyes gleamed with unrestrained joy.
He hadn’t expected an extra reward for clearing the dungeon—especially a god-level skill!

Without hesitation, Lin Yu opened the Soul Chain skill details.

[ Soul Chain (Passive Skill, God-level): LV1
Effect 1: Form a soul contract with a target, sharing attributes.
Host benefits: Gain 10% of the target’s base three-dimensional attributes, stackable. (Excludes equipment and buff effects.)
Contractor benefits: Gain 2% of the host’s maximum base three-dimensional attributes. (Excludes equipment and buff effects.)
Effect 2: Contractors bound by the soul contract cannot betray the host!
Current contract capacity: 0/1.
Proficiency: 0/100 (Skill upgrades require skill books). ]

“Hiss, this Soul Chain skill is ridiculously overpowered—directly sharing attributes?”

Reading the description, Lin Yu took a sharp breath.
Not only did it share attributes, but the host could also stack the contractors’ attribute bonuses?
Meaning the more people he contracted with, the more absurd his stats would become.
And this was only level one—who knew how terrifying it would be at max level.

This skill immediately resolved his lack of attack power!
Most importantly, Effect 2 ensured contractors could never betray the host—absolutely invincible.
Lin Yu could now cultivate his personal death servants through the Soul Chain!
Considering his defense could stack infinitely, even a 2% gain by contractors made them formidable.

With this thought, Lin Yu’s earlier frustration over missing the SS-rank transfer books vanished instantly.
Frankly, even if given ten SS-rank transfer books, he wouldn’t trade them for this Soul Chain skill!

“Whoosh!”

Yet, just as Lin Yu indulged in fantasies about the Soul Chain, something strange happened.
The gray crown left by the undead assassin he had slain suddenly burrowed into his brain!