```


    Shattered World''s Heart?


    What is that? I''ve never even heard of it!


    I apologize, as Tao Yu, a simple peasant from the outskirts, is unfamiliar with such things...


    However, Tao Yu quickly remembered some stories he had heard from his parents. Indeed, there had always been rumors of talent changes among themon folk.


    The rumors even suggested the possibility of second or third talents, and it was said that some major figures in the Floating City were born with two or three talents.


    But, these had nothing to do with the Outsiders, not one bit!


    So, they remained merely rumors.


    Even Tao Yu never really thought about such things in the short term. After all, he already had a dual talent, so what more could he want? A third talent?


    That certainly wasn''t something to consider at the moment, too far-fetched.


    Learning more skills, continually undergoing Deification, and then saving up for a second Deification of talents was the tangible goal.


    He had his own path, and he was also aware that his current strength was not enough to encounter such things.


    Who would have thought that an unintentional act would bring unexpected sess?


    A fragment of the Shattered World''s Heart?


    Is this the channel for talent enhancement and new talents?!


    Tao Yu pondered continuously. The meteorite itself surely wasn''t the Heart of the World.


    But, this world indeed revolved around that meteorite.


    So, was the Heart of the World the representation of the most important and core aspect of a World Fragment?


    Then why wasn''t the Blood Orchid considered as such?


    Or is it that not every world is capable of nurturing a Heart of the World?


    Tao Yu thought of the world barrier that kept the Aliens at bay, and of Jack, the "Chosen One".


    "Indeed, this isn''t something I should be thinking about right now, nor something I can inquire about! The moment I seek out information about it, I would expose the issue. It''s better to use it first and talkter."


    This was something you could encounter but not seek, and Tao Yu had no reason to sell it.


    Although he didn''t have much demand for enhancing his talents, as he already had a path to heaven, he was quite interested in acquiring a third talent.


    Talents and skills are vastly different.


    Talents might not be able to increase one''s upper limit by much, nor offer immediatebat power, but they are a long-term effective auxiliary ability, whose usefulness does not diminish with the increase in one''s strength.


    Moreover, they could also reduce the difficulty of the corresponding series of skills and increase the efficiency of Yuan Force eleration!


    The most noticeable effect Tao Yu felt was with [Basic Shooting - Modified]''s proficiency practice.


    Even with a shortage of bullets, back in the rainforest, he fired a few shots every few days and easily advanced to lv2.


    Also, during his practice at the Myriad Streams Dojo, although Zhang Wei was just an [Endurance] at D+, his Yuan Force eleration efficiency after getting started was quite decent due to the talent in his body.


    It was only because Tao Yu himself could enhance skills, making his body improvement much stronger, that it seemed better. If it were purely a matter of Stance Skill level, Zhang Wei would definitely reach lv3 faster with the same amount of Yuan Force points spent!


    That''s the power of talents!


    [Bullet Time] originated from [Dynamic Vision], though it''s abat talent, its strength lies in shooting, which could also elerate Pupil Skills in the future, but its effect on physical abilities is quite ordinary.


    "If I could choose the category of the new talent, even just likely obtaining it would be worth a shot."


    Tao Yu held the box and nced back at the group of people behind him with calm indifference, ultimately suppressing some of the more nefarious thoughts in his heart.


    Even Jack, a ''Chosen One'', could only passively use Yuan Force to strengthen himself, and they didn''t know what the Heart of the World was.


    "Alright, this turns out to be a pretty decent skill."


    Tao Yu went straight to swallowing the meteorite. After all, once it was absorbed, it would be his, and no one could ask him to regurgitate it.


    "Ah? You figured it out already? That special ability of yours?"


    Jack said with a hint of envy on his face.


    Although Jack could also strengthen himself, it felt different from those so-called ''Pioneers'', too passive.


    "Yep, I''ve absorbed it directly. No objections, right?"


    "Hey, it''s no big deal. Just remember to teach me that Myriad Streams Five Forms, uh, once I get the hang of the Stance Skill."


    ```


    Jack was not particr, as he was simply hired by Tao Yu.


    Thus far, he felt that their rapport was quite good.


    Having learned about the Abyss and the World Fragments, Jack knew he had to n for the future.


    Anyway, judging by the obstructive behavior of the female Lizardman they had encountered, those Pioneers were not so approachable...


    Tao Yu didn''t rush to absorb it all at once; he made some simple exnations, asked someone to move over some more canned goods, and then went to an experimentationb alone to begin the absorption.


    Knowing that Tao Yu had "superpowers" and was the strongest among them, plus with Jack helping to stand guard, no one felt ufortable or tried to sneak a peek.


    As Tao Yu absorbed the force from the Meteorite, which was different from the Yuan Force, he once again sensed the use of the Heart of the World in a profound way.


    Concentrating will on a talent would attempt to strengthen it, and because it was a Shattered World''s Heart, the enhancement had a limit. The stronger the talent, the weaker the enhancement, and the effects of improvement were lower.


    Alternatively, focusing will on a Skill could attempt to open up new talents.


    New talent acquisition wasn''t simply a case of stronger anchored Skills leading to stronger talents; it was merely choosing a direction. Even divine skills would just follow that same vector, and nothing more.


    "Can every talent be slightly improved?"


    Tao Yu first directed this force towards his Divinity, but before it got close, it met with a strong repulsion, unable to even make a connection.


    "Is that it?"


    Tao Yu curled his lip disapprovingly, though the oue was both unexpected and reasonable.


    What could be done with the "Shattered" prefix?


    He didn''t dwell on it any longer but started anchoring Skills to try!


    He had three preliminary choices. The first was Stealth - Modified, as this Skill could bring the Shadow Force, a kind of transcendental ability.


    The second was Five Forms as One - Modified; the emergence of Fist Intention and the potential in his physical attributes—if activated sessfully—would likely grant a physical talent, which was the safest bet.


    Then Crane Form - Modified was also an option, as it was currently the only Skill that could enhance Spirit Perception.


    Finally, of course, was Corpse Refinement that he had just acquired, but since the power derived from Corpse Refinement was external and considering his own body''s limitations and energy consumption issues,


    Tao Yu still chose to anchor Five Forms as One - Modified.


    "I hope it''s sessful."


    Tao Yu was somewhat nervous; the more talents one possessed, the harder to acquire new ones, and he already had two!


    However, if he failed, it would umte towards the next attempt, so it wouldn''t be a waste.


    While Tao Yu wasforting himself that failure was eptable, a new Talent sphere had alreadye into being.


    Sturdy Body C-: Can lock down one''s Qi-Blood, reducing the loss of Qi-Blood and vital energy, marginally increasing the speed of physical-sided Skills.


    Good news, the new talent had emerged! He was quite lucky!


    Bad news, the new talent was somewhatckluster.


    To others, Sturdy Body wasn''t trash; it was certainly not inferior tomonbat talents like Dynamic Vision or Endurance.


    But the issue was that Tao Yu''s divine attribute, [One Proof Forever Proof], instantly nullified Sturdy Body''s advantage—it only slightly improved the speed of his physical skills.


    "Better than nothing, I guess. It can be deified, and although it may notpare to Bullet Time, it will still increase my training efficiency."


    To deify it would cost a thousand, confirming that its original level was not below that of Dynamic Vision.


    Sturdy Body??: Consolidates spirit and Qi-Blood, transforming spirit into willpower to infuse into various moves, significantly increasing the training speed of physical skills and slightly boosting the training speed of mental-sided Skills.


    Wow!


    I knew it, Deification never disappoints!


    This was aplete metamorphosis!


    "The efficiency of deifying talents far surpasses that of enhancing Skills..."


    Tao Yu considered his Bullet Time, realizing that Five Forms as One was more expensive than enhancing a talent, but indeed, its effect couldn''tpare.


    Yet, Skill improvement provided instant capability enhancement, and some even had the characteristic of increasing limits. They allowed continuous practice to stimte [One Proof Forever Proof],plementing each other and being indispensable...


    "This isn''t quite ''Sturdy Body'' anymore, ''Fist Intent'' should be quite good."


    The next moment, Tao Yu''s talent underwent a change: Fist Intent S-!


    —