Chapter 88 [Skill Points]

Chen Gu had many targets to chase, so he was always full of motivation. However, the training methods among professionals were completely different. Chen Gu learned from the memories of two professionals that there were two conditions for professional advancement. The first was a quantitative indicator that professionals called "skill points." Every time a professional skill was used, one "skill point" would accumulate, meaning the more often skills were used, the more skill points were accumulated. This number might not seem large, but professionals had their own limits; it wasn’t about grinding skill usage indefinitely. To advance from the first Energy Level to the Second Energy Level as a Star Battle Instructor, one needed 130 skill points. The Nuclear Explosion Nun and Radiation Missionary needed 160. The higher the professional level, the more skill points were required for promotion. For example, Chen Gu was a first Energy Level Radiation Missionary, just like Milna Katerina, possessing four skills: "Biological Nuclear Explosion," "Mind Belief," "Radiation Scouring," and "Atomic Life." However, at the first Energy Level, Chen Gu could only consecutively release three skills, or four at his absolute limit. Even if Chen Gu always pushed himself to this limit, he would still need to do so forty times to earn enough skill points. But when one pushed to the limit, recovery would be very slow. Even releasing only three skills at a time would require several days to recover. Therefore, the most optimistic estimate to accumulate enough skill points for advancement to the Second Energy Level was half a year. Such an optimistic estimate, however, was actually impossible to achieve because professionals were not like ordinary people who could just go to martial arts gyms or training halls to practice. For instance, where could Chen Gu release his "Biological Nuclear Explosion" to rack up skill points? The sub-bureau did have places specifically for professionals to practice their skills, which Silver Eagle frequented. Even Silver Eagle, with his "Star Wind Marshal" profession, didn’t always need to go to the training ground; female colleagues would often approach him, saying, "Charles, my packed lunch has gone cold. Could you heat it up for me?" Charles would raise his hand, and a stream of particles would emerge, producing a steaming hot lunch box. In Chen Gu’s eyes, this guy’s ability is just like a giant microwave! he thought. Look at him, pleasing the ladies and accumulating skill points all at once. But Chen Gu was a Radiation Missionary; what kind of training ground could withstand the ravages of a "Biological Nuclear Explosion"? The sub-bureau might as well hang a sign at the entrance of the training ground: "No Nuclear Explosion Professionals or Dogs Allowed." This category of profession possessed immense destructive power and granted formidable combat ability early on. This was also why Chen Gu had been able to turn the tide of battle multiple times and accumulate so many merit points that it made everyone in his group drool. However, there were pros and cons; advancement was extremely difficult. Chen Gu touched his chin. It looks like if I want to advance quickly, I need to participate in as many missions as possible. Those optional missions, like the one from Gold Tooth Cowboy Rabbit, I’ll have to actively join them now. Trying to play it safe and develop quietly... no way. I have to gamble on the future. The second indicator was the professional’s mental state, for which there was no fixed standard. Before deciding to advance, one had to ensure their mental state was "safe." This was because every time a professional advanced, they would directly face the Endless Realm. If their mental state was unstable, they couldn’t break through that barrier and would be tempted into downfall, becoming a Mutant. The mental state was the most difficult to confirm; even a Brain Domain Hacker couldn’t be sure if they were in a safe state. Fortunately, over the years, professionals had found a method they called the "ultimate state." It involved trying to keep one’s mind in an extreme condition to observe whether it was safe. In total, there were several methods: The Manifestation Method: Show off in front of others—to put it bluntly, flaunt strength, treasures, and so on, accepting everyone’s envy and observing one’s mental state in that situation. The Ups and Downs Method: Experience great rises and falls, observing one’s mental state in the midst of such extreme contrasts. The Indulgence Method: Historically, some renowned playboys, who were utterly profligate and luxurious, were actually professionals. They used this method of completely unleashing their desires to observe their mental states. Besides these, there were also some less popular methods, not widely used. Chen Gu had yet to decide which one to use. Forget it, I’ll try the training ground tomorrow, he decided. 「The next day was the weekend.」 There were no classes, so Chen Gu headed straight for the sub-bureau early in the morning, displaying a diligence uncharacteristic of a special agent. Since he arrived early, the training ground was deserted. The entire sub-bureau had five special agent teams. Including those already in high positions, there were more than thirty professionals in total—who would come to train on an early weekend morning? The spacious hall was located twenty-four floors beneath the sub-bureau building—it was the deepest level. Surrounded by thick nano-armor, it could withstand the skills of most professionals below the Third Energy Level. Of course, this "most" excluded the likes of the Radiation Missionary... and the "Alchemical Mage." Yes, Team Leader Marcus was a professional in just as tough a spot as Chen Gu. If "Biological Nuclear Explosion" won’t work, I’ll try "Mind Belief" and "Radiation Scouring," Chen Gu thought. As for "Atomic Life," it’s a healing ability and can’t be trained without an injury. Chen Gu activated "Mind Belief" first. It was indeed very easy. This skill has little destructive power and only increases perceptive abilities! he thought, a surge of joy washing over him. But I can’t keep a skill active all the time; the consumption is too great. Chen Gu deactivated "Mind Belief," pleased to gain a skill point... and then he encountered a problem. This skill actually has a ’cooldown period’! It wasn’t really a cooldown period. Rather, because professionals were biological beings, "Mind Belief" consumed a great deal of mental energy. After activating it once, if Chen Gu immediately tried to activate it a second time, he would become extremely exhausted. If he deactivated it and then tried for a third time, he wouldn’t be able to muster the strength. Conversely, if he activated "Mind Belief" and simply maintained the skill, it wouldn’t consume much energy. In simple terms, it was a skill that had a huge activation cost but was easy to maintain. Chen Gu’s plan to farm skill points with "Mind Belief" had failed. In future training sessions, I can only use "Mind Belief" once each time, Chen Gu decided after some serious thought. As a member of the special agent team, I might receive urgent missions and have to deploy at any moment. I need to reserve some energy, as this ability is very useful in combat. If I receive a mission and can’t use this skill, and then die on the battlefield because I couldn’t sense the danger, that would be a true tragedy. With a resigned twist of his lips, Chen Gu began to test the second skill, "Radiation Scouring."