Attribute Farming System

— After a couple of seconds —

The young man tipped the hat he had stolen from a guard who had been blown up in the Nascent Soul Realm self-explosion. This subtle action was enough for him to discreetly walk past the guards who were all running in the opposite direction. He assumed they had just been recalled to the 2nd Floor—the Low Ward. 

Moreover, from the looks of it, even the more powerful guards—who were typically stationed in the High Ward—had been requested to gauge the situation in the Low Ward as well.

Of course, all of this worked very well to Knox's advantage.

After all, even with his current strength, dealing with so many Golden Core Realm guards would likely wind up with his head being spiked on a pike and set to rot at the front of the fortress. A shining example set in place for any daring enough to attack one of the most fortified fortresses in the Water Kingdom—that's all he would become.

Fortunately, that was not his destiny this day. Hopefully not the next day as well, but time would tell…

"Doo, doo, doo~" Knox quietly sang while moving in a way that made it look as if he were teleporting between inmates and chopping off their heads.

Having obtained quite a bit of practice at killing more efficiently while massacring in the Low Ward, disposing of the inmates in the High Ward became a breeze. He killed them so well that they weren't even able to let out a peep and alert the guards of his presence.

In and out, in and out, in and out. That's what Knox had his sword do with the tender, unprotected skin of the Golden Core Realm prisoners.

And after nearly a quarter of a minute of doing the Lord's work, he finally reached the section of the High Ward that held the Nascent Soul Realm inmates. They were all in the Early stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, but even that was far more than enough to make his body tremble in instinctual fear.

Yet…

"Ha!" Knox laughed in the face of these prisoners. "That old, gloomy guy was far more terrifying than you wusses! Are you sure you didn't purely rely on external means to improve your cultivation to this point!? Actually, how old are you all??"

After observing their System Interfaces, he laughed even more gratingly. "A few hundred years old? Just a bunch of babies!"

The Nascent Soul Realm prisoners—who were more securely bound in their own isolated cells—felt their blood pressure rise. He purposefully made sure they were able to hear every word that came out of his mouth.

Why, one might ask?

DING! DING! DING!

[A Medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs dropped after angering dozens of Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators!]

[Strength +17,800] 

[Agility +22,500] 

[Endurance +31,100] 

[Strength +40,000]

x89 more…

'Damn!' Knox thought. 'This is far more lucrative than I was expecting!'

Without wasting a single moment, he pulled upon all the multi-colored Attribute Orbs. They flew toward him at the speed of light before seeping into his being and assimilating with his existence.

[Strength increased by 17,800!] 

[Agility increased by 22,500!] 

[Endurance increased by 31,100!] 

[Strength increased by 40,000!]

X89 more…

OOOM!

Knox's Attributes skyrocketed! Passing over the 1 million mark for several of them!

*Ding!*

[Basic Battle Power has improved from 'Late Core Formation Realm' → 'Half-step Golden Core Realm']

Just like that, he touched upon the Golden Core Realm—a realm that would make one the City Lord of a small city in the Water Kingdom!

But…

"I'm not done," Knox stated while shifting his evil glare across all of the isolated cells. "That was merely the appetizer."

"!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

Looking at his predatory gaze and sensing his stifling killing intent, the Nascent Soul Realm prisoners uncontrollably shivered. They were going to cry out for help, not caring about their illustrious cultivation or statuses.

However, in the very moment their throats hummed with vocal vibrations, a Sword Intent Manifestation pierced through their heads—killing them on the spot.

*Whooom—!*

The shockwaves produced by the speed at which Knox's Sword Intent Sword moved created rolling waves of Innate Energy and wind. His raven-black hair blew wildly as he impassively watched the damage dealt to the Isolation Cells register. They were shredded into small chunks, with the same thing happening to the corpses of the Nascent Soul Realm prisoners.

*Ding!*

[You have slain 31 Early Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators and erased their Nascent Souls with your Level 3 Sword Intent!]

'Oh?' Knox raised his brows. 'So my Sword Intent is capable of erasing even Nascent Souls? A benefit of it being at Level 3, perhaps?'

Well, whatever the case may be, there were still Attribute Orbs to absorb!

DING! DING! DING!

[A Medium-sized pile of Attribute Orbs has dropped!]

[Affinity +950] 

[Strength +103,000] 

[Agility +108,500] 

[Affinity +2,700]

x227 more…

Excluding the Affinity Attribute Orbs—which could be lower even for stronger cultivators—almost every other Attribute Orb was in the six-digit range. The more he absorbed, the lower the value shown on them became, but that didn't change the fact that this was one hell of a loot pile!

Absorbing them naturally brought his Basic Battle Power to new heights!

[Basic Battle Power has improved from 'Half-step Golden Core Realm' → 'Early Golden Core Realm']

WAAA!!

The improvement that came to Knox's power was enough to make him feel like he had just ascended. It was a heavenly experience, one that signified at least a thirtyfold increase in power.

"Ha…" he deeply exhaled as he controlled his newfound strength as best as he could. It was tough when he was merely in the 9th Stage Qi Condensation Realm, but he managed to get the hang of it after a few moments.

Yet, it was roughly at this time that the loud thudding of rushed footsteps rang out.

That was when they appeared—whole squadrons of Golden Core Realm guards!

"Well, look who has come just a tad bit too late," Knox said with a wide smile as he stretched out his arms, showing off the destruction he had created. "Behold, peasants! This right here is the epitome of humanity! Greed!"

Knox wasn't going to lie in front of such a generous audience. He had killed these villainous folk because he himself was a villain—a greedy, greedy villain.

"Well?" he asked. "How do you like my cleanup of some trash??"

"You!!!" The guards instantly erupted in rage as fire shot out of their eyes. "Do you have any idea what you've just done, you scoundrel!?"

"Cleanup duty?"