How Did the Reborn Empress Become My Bootlicker? - Chapter 19:

Chapter 19: Three Subtle-Grade Combat Skills, Enough to Crush Su Yuan

The combat skill list sent by Madam Shangguan included brief descriptions of each technique. Su Yuan had carefully compared them and selected the three that suited him best.

Moreover, in the system space, there was still an [A-grade Combat Skill Insight Card] lying idle! It could unconditionally elevate any A-grade combat skill to the [Perfect] level!

He couldn’t wait any longer!

Showing off in front of others wasn’t his real goal. What truly mattered was using these [Perfect-level] combat skills to shock people and earn Emotion Points!

I’m really not showing off on purpose—it’s just that the system won’t stop giving me opportunities.

—Su “Lowkey” Yuan.

After sending his selected combat skills to Madam Shangguan, Su Yuan put down his phone. While digesting the ferocious beast blood nutrient solution, he patiently awaited the ‘feeding’ from his rich patron.

…

In the room next door, Xu Anyan was practicing a special technique. Her Shadow Attendant was sitting cross-legged on the bed, holding a Source Crystal in each hand, continuously absorbing Source Energy and feeding it back into her body.

If the standard absorption speed of an ordinary cultivator was 1, then a genius would be at 3, while a monster could reach even higher. Right now, Xu Anyan’s absorption speed was only about three times that of an ordinary cultivator, which meant she could be considered a genius.

But Xu Anyan didn’t react negatively to this, because talent was something that could be improved later. Her physical aptitude wasn’t particularly outstanding at the moment, but that didn’t matter—she planned to use various natural treasures to improve her body over time.

Besides—

She had a Shadow Attendant!

Its Source Energy absorption speed exceeded that of an average person by more than tenfold! A single Level-1 Source Crystal, which took a normal person two hours to absorb, took the Shadow Attendant less than 10 minutes!

That’s why she didn’t waste time absorbing Source Energy herself, and instead focused on training ‘Force Stacking.’

This wasn’t a combat skill, but a special Source Energy control technique. By layering waves of Source Energy, it could unleash immense power.

Many combat skills were built upon this principle. For example, the widely spread [Triple Force] in the Great Xia Empire. As the name suggested, it emphasized the stacking of force.

As the saying goes: Great truth lies in simplicity; true skill appears effortless.

This seemingly ordinary technique was, in reality, an incredibly powerful ability.

Three layers of force stacking might not sound impressive. Six layers, nine layers—not that rare either.

But—

Do you know how terrifying it becomes when the stacking reaches 100 times? Or even 200?

Xu Anyan knew.

In her previous life, she shattered a continent using 130 layers of stacked force.

With 220 layers of stacked force, she destroyed an entire planet.

“With this current body, it’s too fragile. Even stacking just three layers of force is already near the limit…”

Xu Anyan paused, her eyes calmly staring at her right hand. The palm had turned red from repeated training of Force Stacking.

And this seemingly simple Triple Force technique could only be executed after reaching the [Proficient] level in the B-grade combat skill [Triple Force].

Which meant, in just a short period, she had already cultivated a B-grade combat skill to [Proficient] level.

If this were made public, it would be absolutely shocking.

…

At that moment, her Shadow Attendant reported that it had finished absorbing the 10 Level-1 Source Crystals.

Xu Anyan did the same thing as Su Yuan—she contacted Madam Shangguan to request more cultivation resources.

“What? You also used up all the Source Crystals from today’s resource pack?” Madam Shangguan’s shocked voice came through the phone.

Back in the imperial capital, she had met many SSS-grade talent holders—not too many, but not too few either.

Even among those who possessed the highest-tier Innate Talents like Su Yuan and Xu Anyan, very few could match their cultivation aptitude.

This speed of resource consumption was downright monstrous.

Xu Anyan wasn’t surprised by her reaction. What she paid attention to was the word “also.”

It meant Su Yuan had not only absorbed all his Source Crystals but had done so faster than her—enough to have already called Madam Shangguan earlier.

“By the way, Su Yuan already chose his combat skills. Do you want to take a look too?”

“Okay.” Xu Anyan didn’t refuse.

Although she didn’t lack powerful combat skills, revealing unfamiliar skills too easily could attract unnecessary trouble.

So, she planned to pick a few techniques to serve as a cover.

A few minutes later, she made her selections.

[A-grade: Nine-Slaying Spear]

[A-grade: Singularity Source Shield]

[A-grade: Shadow Flash]

After sending her choices to Madam Shangguan, she received a response with a crying-laugh emoji.

[Madam Shangguan: You two… are you telepathic, or did you discuss this beforehand? There were plenty of options for A-grade combat skills, and yet both of you chose the exact same three.]

Xu Anyan stayed silent.

She had her own reasons for choosing those three.

[Nine-Slaying Spear] had the strongest power and highest destructive force. It incorporated the principle of Force Stacking, allowing the first strike to be enhanced up to ninefold, perfectly aligning with her current training focus.

[Singularity Source Shield] could condense Source Energy into a single point, and when triggered, release immense impact to resist attacks—achieving a unique form of defense.

The only challenge was the high level of precision required for Source Energy control. But for her, that was no problem at all.

As for [Shadow Flash], all movement techniques were fairly similar, but since this one included the word “Shadow,” she picked it.

Matching Su Yuan’s choices… was purely a coincidence.

[Madam Shangguan: Whatever. If both of you picked the same skills, it might actually help—you can spar and exchange ideas. It could even deepen your understanding and mastery of the techniques.]

[Xu Anyan: Unnecessary.]

For her, it really was unnecessary.

In her past life, although she hadn’t trained in these exact three skills, her experience and comprehension allowed her to master them up to the [Subtle] level with ease.

[Madam Shangguan: …Alright then.]

…

After putting her phone down, Xu Anyan glanced casually toward the wall.

A single wall separated them, so she couldn’t see what Su Yuan was doing in the next room.

She just found it a little suspicious.

Had Su Yuan really absorbed all the Source Crystals?

Though both of them had SSS-grade Talents, SSS-grade was merely the upper limit measured by Blue Star’s Talent-Testing Stone—it wasn’t the actual limit of her abilities.

Her speed came from the unique properties of the Shadow Attendant, which allowed such rapid absorption.

Yet Su Yuan had somehow absorbed even faster than her?

It seemed his physical talent might be specialized for Source Energy absorption.

Talents like that were fairly common in the universe. They developed quickly in the early stages but would become relatively weaker later on.

At that thought, a slight sense of urgency stirred in Xu Anyan’s heart.

The system’s first comparison would happen in 9 days.

If Su Yuan maintained this kind of Source Energy absorption speed, and with his physique-focused talent that granted higher combat power at lower stages…

Could it be possible that she might lose the first comparison?

No.

Impossible.

Xu Anyan shook her head, casting that ridiculous idea aside.

The system’s comparison wasn’t purely about cultivation stage—it judged total combat power.

Even if her stage might slightly lag behind Su Yuan’s, she had absolute confidence in her strength.

If nothing else, just her three [Subtle]-level combat skills alone were enough to crush Su Yuan.