Chapter 326: Chapter 273: I’d Like to Pay in Installments

Liou Wenxin typed Su Ze’s skill upgrade plan into her computer, her fingers tapping away at the keyboard as she spoke:

"For these skills that you can’t find a superior skill to overwrite for an upgrade, you can try a different approach. ’Break’ them down and strengthen them piece by piece. Once all aspects of the skill have been enhanced, it will naturally complete an upgrade."

"What do you mean?" Su Ze didn’t quite understand.

’What does she mean by ’breaking’ down a skill?’

Liou Wenxin explained, "Let’s take a simple example: your Flying Skill, ’Celestial Sea Wings.’ The effect of this skill is to ’grant you the ability to fly in the air and swim in the water.’ When you can’t find a superior skill that perfectly covers it, you can split the skill into two parts: ’flight in the air’ and ’swimming in the water.’ Then, you can strengthen them separately.

"Once both of these aspects have been strengthened to a certain degree, the skill can be upgraded to a Tier-4 skill."

Su Ze understood. ’So that’s another way to do it!’

He could use multiple, targeted enhancements to substitute for a single, comprehensive upgrade.

This gave him a lot of new ideas.

Take his ’Furious Waves’ skill, for example. It had multiple effects and could be ’broken’ into three parts: an area-of-effect attack, Dizziness control, and area-of-effect perception.

The "bonus damage to ground targets" he had enhanced before could actually be considered a strengthening of the area-of-effect attack aspect.

Later, Su Ze could consider enhancing the skill’s control and perception abilities to upgrade it.

"It’s done. I’m sending you the skill upgrade plan." Liou Wenxin took her hands off the keyboard and stretched lazily, further accentuating her stunning figure.

DING DONG!

Su Ze received the document from Liou Wenxin on his phone. He opened it to see that she had listed every extract that might contain a superior version of his eight skills, and had also compiled a list of all the evolution materials that could potentially help him strengthen or upgrade them.

This would save Su Ze a lot of trouble when upgrading and strengthening his skills later on; his search for materials and extracts would be more focused and efficient.

"I’ll be going, then." Su Ze waved goodbye to Liou Wenxin and left the laboratory.

Next, he needed to make a trip to the Dongli National Treasury. He had already spoken to Gu Chengguang about it that morning.

That would be his first stop for collecting materials and upgrading his skills.

...

"Zhang!"

At the main entrance of the Limin Association Headquarters, Zhang Tai was walking along just fine when a sudden shout from behind made him unconsciously stop in his tracks.

’Was that for me...?’ Zhang Tai wasn’t sure.

As Gu Chengguang’s most trusted secretary, and a Butterfly Stage expert with the potential to reach Saint-level, there were very few people in all of Dongli who would address him so casually.

’Probably for someone else...’ Zhang Tai started walking again, but then the voice suddenly struck him as familiar.

He instantly thought of the one person he wanted to see the least right now!

’Dammit, why did I have to run into him!’

Ever since Zhang Tai had learned yesterday that Su Ze had advanced to Saint-level, he had made up his mind not to leave his house until he reached Saint-level himself.

He had been on leave at home recently, preparing for his fourth evolution, and hadn’t been to the office in a long time.

But unexpectedly, Gu Chengguang had suddenly summoned him this morning. Not knowing what it was about, Zhang Tai had gotten ready and rushed over.

What he expected even less was to run into Su Ze right at the entrance.

Zhang Tai stiffly turned his head, unsure for a moment how to address Su Ze.

Su Ze was now the esteemed Guardian God of Dongli, and his rank was higher than his own. In every respect, Su Ze was his superior.

"M-Mr. Su," Zhang Tai stammered.

He remembered that Su Ze and Mr. Ya both seemed to hold honorary positions as deputy ministers in some sort of Ministry of National Security.

"Not bad. Keep up the good work." Su Ze gave him an encouraging look.

Zhang Tai gritted his teeth. ’The first time we met, Su Ze was all "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang," and now he’s just calling me "Zhang"?’

’I’m going to go back and push for Saint-level right now! I can’t take this bullshit!’

Zhang Tai resolved silently.

"Su Ze... I mean, Mr. Su!"

"Hello, Mr. Su."

"Wow! Mr. Su!"

As Su Ze entered the Limin Association Headquarters, everyone he passed greeted him and bowed, their attitudes a mixture of respect and adoration.

Watching this made Zhang Tai’s heart ache with bitterness; he was so envious he wished he could evolve on the spot.

Su Ze headed straight for Gu Chengguang’s office, but he was surprised to find Zhang Tai walking the same way. He couldn’t help but ask, "You’re here to see Mr. Gu, too?"

"Mr. Gu asked me to come," Zhang Tai said.

Su Ze grew thoughtful, having likely guessed Gu Chengguang’s reason for calling Zhang Tai over.

In the past, whenever Su Ze had come to see Gu Chengguang, he had to be announced by a secretary. This time, he walked straight in, right up to the door of Gu Chengguang’s office.

Out of courtesy, he knocked. When he heard a voice say "Come in," he pushed the door open and went inside, with Zhang Tai in tow.

"You two arrived together. Perfect timing." Gu Chengguang stood up and smiled. "Zhang Tai, take Mr. Su to the National Treasury."

As Gu Chengguang spoke, he tossed Zhang Tai something that looked like a USB drive.

The two didn’t stay long. They exchanged a few words and left Gu Chengguang’s office.

The Dongli National Treasury was built within the Limin Association Headquarters, so the two of them just had to turn a corner after leaving the office to head straight there.

Zhang Tai held up the USB drive-like object and explained, "This is the key to the National Treasury. It is only ever held by the successive chairmen of the Li Min Association. Entry requires the presence of at least two of Dongli’s Guardian Gods, plus this key to open the door."

Su Ze nodded slightly. Now he understood why Gu Chengguang had sent for Zhang Tai.