The interface shifted once more.
Instead of the familiar status panel, an entirely new screen unfolded before me.
There were no attributes.
No realm.
No body statistics.
Only the selected skill remained as lines of information slowly appeared beneath it, analyzing every aspect of its existence.
[Black Carapace Guard]
Grade: Growth-Type Skill
Mastery: 50%
Status: Stable
Current Effects:
• Continuously circulates Water Qi to strengthen and harden the host's shell.
• Greatly increases defensive capability.
New Characteristic Unlocked:
• Shell Coat
Shell Coat:
• Forms a complete layer of condensed Water Qi over the host's shell.
• While Shell Coat is active, a portion of the impact received is redirected back toward the attacker.
• The redirected impact is amplified twofold before being reflected.
Analysis:
• A balanced defensive skill with both protection and counterattack capabilities.
• Passive shell hardening consumes minimal Water Qi.
• Activating Shell Coat requires additional Water Qi.
• Further mastery will improve durability, Qi efficiency, and impact reflection.
• High growth potential. New characteristics may awaken through future comprehension.
"...So this is the Skill Module." My eyes quickly scanned across the panel. It wasn't simply displaying my skills anymore. It showed their current state, effects, characteristics, growth potential, and even a complete analysis.
"Damn..." A faint grin appeared on my face. "This is actually useful."
But before I could look any further, three entries immediately caught my attention.
"Growth-Type..." So this skill could continue evolving instead of reaching its limit. That alone was enough to surprise me. Then I looked at the newly unlocked characteristic.
"Shell Coat..." Without wasting another second, I quickly read through its effects.
"...Now that's interesting."
This was far stronger than I had expected.
Until now, Black Carapace Guard had simply used Beast Qi to reinforce my shell from within, making it tougher against incoming attacks.
Now...
It had gained an entirely new characteristic.
Shell Coat.
Instead of merely strengthening my shell, it allowed Water Qi to completely envelop it.
"...An active characteristic..."
From the analysis alone, I could already tell the difference.
Shell Hardening remained active at all times with only a small amount of Beast Qi.
Shell Coat, however, required me to activate it consciously.
In exchange...
My defensive capability would increase even further, while a portion of the impact I received would be redirected back toward the attacker before being amplified twofold.
"...Not bad at all."
A defensive skill with its own counterattack...
That alone was enough to make this breakthrough worthwhile.
And if the words Growth-Type meant what I thought they did...
Then this wouldn't be its final form.
As my mastery and comprehension continued to improve, Black Carapace Guard could awaken even more characteristics in the future.
"...Looks like I've underestimated this Skill Module."
Taking a slow breath, I calmed myself and looked at the panel once again.
If Black Carapace Guard had changed this much, then there was no way Qi Veil Art remained the same.
"...But how do I switch to another skill?"
The panel only displayed Black Carapace Guard's analysis.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the names listed within the Skill Module faintly glowed.
"...So I just have to select it?"
Without hesitation, I focused my attention on Qi Veil Art.
The interface rippled.
The entire panel dissolved before countless lines of information rapidly reorganized themselves into a completely new analysis screen.
[Qi Veil Art]
Grade: Growth-Type Foundation Art
Mastery: Perfection
Comprehension: 0%
Status: Stable
Current Effects:
• Refines and circulates Qi throughout the body.
• Increases cultivation speed.
• Greatly improves Qi control and precision.
• Stabilizes conflicting or unstable Qi.
• Reduces unnecessary Qi consumption and leakage.
• Accelerates Qi recovery during cultivation.
• Improves compatibility with different Qi attributes.
• Serves as the foundation for all Qi-based skills.
New Characteristic:
• Qi Manifestation (Locked)
Progress: 0%
Unlock Condition:
• Increase Comprehension.
Analysis:
• A rare Foundation Art that governs both cultivation and Qi manipulation.
• The host's cultivation speed and efficiency are directly influenced by this art.
• Higher mastery and comprehension will strengthen every Qi-based skill while unlocking new methods of Qi manipulation.
My mind went completely blank.
"...What?"
I read the panel once, then again, making sure I hadn't misunderstood a single word. A Growth-Type Foundation Art... So it could grow too? The realization alone sent a chill down my spine. Until now, I had always treated Qi Veil Art as nothing more than the cultivation technique that refined my Qi, controlled its circulation, concealed my aura, accelerated my recovery, and guided every strand of Qi within my body. It was already an incredible skill, but I had never imagined it possessed the potential to evolve.
Before I could calm myself, another line caught my attention.
Comprehension: 0%.
"...Comprehension?" I frowned. I knew what the word meant—to truly understand and grasp the essence of something—but why was it displayed here? Hadn't Mastery already reached Perfection? Then what exactly did this represent? The System gave me no answer, leaving only another mystery behind.
My excitement hadn't even settled when I noticed the next section.
Qi Manifestation (Locked).
A new characteristic... and it was tied to Comprehension. Whatever it was, it clearly wasn't something I could obtain right now.
I continued reading the remaining effects, and the more I read, the faster my heartbeat became. Increased cultivation speed, greater Qi control, improved recovery, reduced Qi consumption, better compatibility with different Qi attributes... and, above all, serving as the foundation for every Qi-based skill.
"...Damn..." I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face. "This isn't just an upgrade anymore... Qi Veil Art has become the foundation of my entire cultivation."
"Calm down... one skill at a time."
Qi Veil Art alone had nearly blown my mind apart. If I kept staring at it, I'd probably spend the whole day trying to figure it out.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself and focused on the remaining skills. Their panels were noticeably smaller than the previous two.
"...Earth Sense Domain."
The next panel appeared.
[Earth Sense Domain]
Grade: Normal Skill
Mastery: 25%
Status: Stable
Current Effects:
• Detects movements and Qi fluctuations through the earth.
• Senses changes in the surrounding environment.
• Detection range increased from 250 meters to 350 meters.
New Characteristic: • Water Sense
Water Sense:
• Allows the host to perceive disturbances carried through water.
• Even small ripples, changes in water flow, and hidden movements within water can be detected.
• Improves perception in water-based environments.
Analysis:
• Due to the influence of Water Qi, Earth Sense Domain has awakened a compatible characteristic.
• The skill possesses hidden potential, but the required conditions for further change have not been fulfilled.
My eyes paused at the final line.
"...Hidden potential?"
I read it again.
So this skill wasn't a Growth-Type skill like Black Carapace Guard or Qi Veil Art, but it still had something waiting to be revealed.
My attention had been drawn to the obvious changes first—the increased range and the newly gained Water Sense.
Only after reading the analysis again did I notice what the System was actually hinting at.This skill still had another path hidden within it.
"...Looks like not every skill grows in the same way."
I couldn't help but become more curious.
Compared to the changes in Black Carapace Guard and Qi Veil Art, this was only a small improvement.
Still, Water Sense was a useful addition.
The ability to detect disturbances through water would definitely become valuable in the future.
Without hesitation, I moved to the next skill.
[Mountain Crushing Bite]
Grade: Normal Skill
Mastery: 20%
Status: Stable
Current Effects:
• Strengthens the power of the host's bite.
• Increases the destructive force of jaw attacks.
• Water Qi can be infused into the bite, increasing its force.
Analysis: • Due to improved Qi control from Qi Veil Art, the skill's efficiency and destructive power have increased.
I nodded slightly.
"...So this one too."
Mountain Crushing Bite wasn't a Growth-Type skill either, nor did it possess any hidden potential like Earth Sense Domain. It was simply a normal skill. The only difference was that, with Qi Veil Art refining and controlling my Beast Qi more efficiently, Water Qi could now reinforce my jaws and teeth, making every bite considerably stronger.
"...Simple, but effective."
For a tortoise, stronger jaws were more than enough.
With that, I closed the Skill Module.
The glowing interface slowly faded from my vision, leaving only the silent cave before me.
"...Time to move."
My gaze shifted deeper into the cave before I slowly continued forward.