Infinite Potential System

The Ultimate Tribulation ran out of energy a few hours later, but the Superior Tribulation activated next, striking with one Lightning after the other that he didn't even bother to defend against. Superior Tribulations couldn't even crack his skin, so what's the point of wasting Mana?

Speaking of Mana, his Reserves were almost completely empty, but four Tier 3 Mana Regeneration Pills were enough to solve that problem for the most part. While waiting for the Superior Tribulation to end, William used some Water Magic to splash Marcus' face, waking the old man up.

"Old man, are you going to give up the Soul Cultivation Technique now?" he asked.

Marcus was still trying to make sense of his surroundings when he heard William's voice. He frowned, "Not a chance in hell, you're asking me to die!"

"It's not that serious, just give us the Technique and we'll be on our way." William shrugged.

"Never!"

"Why are you being so difficult? It's just a Technique."

Marcus sighed, "It's the Soul Inheritance Technique. Have you heard of it?"

"Soul Inheritance Technique?"

-Request requires 100 Potential Points. Yes/No?

He's going to tell me anyway. Wait a moment.

Marcus nodded. "Riyald and I had just completed a difficult Trial in an Ancient Ruin from a very long time ago, and we were supposed to acquire our treasures at the same time, but I approached first and received the Soul Inheritance Technique directly.

The Soul Inheritance Technique absorbs the Soul Strength of its past users and can only be transferred from one person to the next through a mental connection. Afterwards, the user of the Technique can passively absorb Souls each day depending on how many Souls remain in the area.

If I give you my Soul Cultivation Technique, I'll lose all of my Soul Cultivation. You're asking me to give up thousands of years of Cultivation!" Marcus cried out as he explained everything.

"And why didn't you tell Riyald this?" William asked as he confirmed the man's words with the System.

"Well... I didn't have any Soul Strength back then, so it wouldn't have been a loss if he got the Technique at that point. He still would have taken it from me, and he was stronger at the time..." Marcus looked down in shame.

It all makes sense now. These old men are two peas in a pot. Loot Goblins, like me.

"If you know how he would react, you should know what his Disciple thinks. I don't care about your Soul Cultivation, give me the Technique or you die here anyway. You can still Ascend with your regular Cultivation; you don't need a powerful Soul to go with it."

But I do. I need everything! That's why this old fogey should just give up the Technique.

Marcus nodded. He really had no choice. "Do you want me to wait until your Tribulation is over?"

William looked up just in time for a Heavenly Lightning Bolt to bounce off his forehead and reflect back into the sky. "Nah, I don't want to wait. Just give it to me now."

"Okay. Let me get some medicine so I can move my arm and stand in front of me." Marcus asked.

William healed his arms with Life Magic instead of allowing him to use his Space Ring. Once the man was healed, Marcus placed his hand on Williams head, linking his soul with William's.

William felt a minor connection between himself and Marcus, which grew stronger and stronger as time passed. He was worried that the man was doing something shady, but the System didn't issue any alarms so he closed his eyes as well and used their connection to absorb Marcus's Soul Strength.

-Your Soul has improved: +10

-Your Soul has improved: +10 Soul Strength

-Your Soul has improved: +10 Soul Strength

-Your Soul has improved...

Waves of information filled the System Panel as William's Soul Strength progressed to an unbelievable level. At the same time, he felt bits and pieces of Marcus' memories, separated throughout his whole life.

The memories came and went just as fast, but William started to gain a picture of how this person had lived. Marcus wasn't a terrible person but had gone mad with power over time as his strength grew. He started to spend more time researching information on Ascensions, and his experiences over the last ten thousand years made him more and more fearful of what was above.

And so he sealed his own Cultivation inside his Artifacts, hoping to break through to the next Realm the moment he Ascended. At this point, he was incredibly close, but William had ruined those plans of course.

The same time that William was looking through Marcus' memories, the old man saw some of William's. The majority of William's life was spent in the other World, so Marcus first saw William's childhood.

He learned about movies and television, books and sports. He also learned about the weapons of war that the people of Reius manufactured and used against one another, and the scheming tactics one would use against the other to gain an advantage.

"You're not from here... You're..." Marcus started to speak but William sealed his mouth before the old man could say anything more. At this point the transfer of Soul Strength could not be stopped, so both closed their eyes and continued with the process silently.

The Superior Tribulation was still bearing down, but William protected Marcus for three days and three nights, until the Soul Inheritance Technique had been transferred.

-Soul Strength has reached ten thousand points: +1000 PP

-Soul Strength has reached fifty thousand points: +10000 PP

-Acquired a Mythic Soul Cultivation Technique: +500 PP

-Acquired your first Mythic Soul Cultivation Technique: +1000 PP

-Soul Strength: 98320

From 1249 Soul Strength to almost a hundred thousand, William couldn't believe his eyes. His mind felt clearer than ever before, and his body felt renewed as if he was purer than ever.

These were just euphoric aftereffects and didn't mean anything, but William couldn't help but smile. He switched his vision to Spirit Mode, peering at the vengeful spirits with derision. Even the Tribulation Transcendence souls in the distance wouldn't stand a chance against him with his current strength, and Soul Formation spirits were like chickens.

If I had to guess, one hundred thousand Soul Strength is enough for me to Ascend with my Soul. I'm very close already, so this Technique should be able to give me the rest before I finish the System Quest.

But...

What about this guy? He knows about you, System. What should we do?

-Kill him and absorb his Soul.

Kill him? After all that? Isn't there another way?

-Do what you want, but killing him and taking his Soul before his consciousness can reach hell is probably the only way to stop him from spreading the information.

Why didn't you tell me he would be able to see my memories?

-I didn't know. I'm not very familiar with the Soul Inheritance Technique. It came into existence during one of my dark periods.

Your dark periods? What do you mean?

-There was a period of time where I was not what I am now, or what I was before. I couldn't see what I can see now, or what I could see before. I was blind.

William didn't fully understand, but he didn't ask further. Waves of anguish reached William through his connection with the System, and he could tell from the context that the System must have gone through something horrible for a very long time.

For the first time since reaching Efretta, William realized he had more to protect than just himself.

Don't worry, System. I won't let anything happen to you.