Cheng Xiao, however, shook his head. "No, you forgot I used a D-grade side plot? I still have two C-grade side plots and two D-grade side plots remaining, so there aren't any spare C-grade side plots right now to exchange for protective gear. Tell me about a C-grade side plot weapon instead."

Zheng Zha looked at him strangely. After thinking for a moment, he realized Cheng Xiao was referring to the neighborly girl he had created. So, he didn't press the issue, merely nodding. "If it's for mid-to-long-range melee, then I recommend you choose the Zaku Lightning Axe. It's forged from Gonidium alloy and comes with a gravity chain about ten meters long. When you throw the axe before it strikes the target..."

The axe's built-in micro-film tracks your distance.

Exceeding five meters triggers an electric explosion, said to be immensely powerful. A weapon that serves for both melee and ranged combat like this is quite suited for close-to-mid-range fighting.

Cheng Xiao pointed to himself and said cryptically, "You mean, you want a handsome man like me to use an axe? And you're mentioning an axe from an animated cartoon! Do you know how ugly the robot that used that axe in the cartoon was? I refuse! I'd rather use a Gundam's beam saber than a Zaku's Lightning Axe!" Zheng Zha chuckled. "Ah, but you don't know the current trend. Being handsome isn't popular anymore; being fierce is. Since you're so handsome, you can't pull off the 'fierce' look convincingly anyway. So, instead of feigning fierceness, it's better to just use a fierce weapon. It actually complements your handsomeness. Think about it: a person so handsome wielding a Lightning Axe, just standing there projects an image of pure savagery."

Cheng Xiao paused, awkwardly touching the back of his head. "Hahaha, you flatter me, you flatter me. I'm not that handsome, just a bit good-looking, hahahas. Fine then, the Zaku Lightning Axe it is. Hahaha." Zheng Zha secretly let out a breath. He truly admired Cheng Xiao; giving up protective gear meant forfeiting an extra measure of hope for survival. Although Xiao Honglu would certainly craft a shield for him, its defensive capabilities surely wouldn't match legendary magical protective items like that Buddha Wheel. In terms of defense, the Wheel could withstand a direct strike from an evolved Alien without issue. Yet, Cheng Xiao gave up protection for the Immortal Power Golden Needles—this was, in fact, a sacrifice made entirely for the team's benefit.

Zheng Zha pondered again. "Initially, I only considered these three exchange directions, but since he converted one C-grade side plot into two D-grade ones, I think you'd be better off keeping those two D-grade side plots, Fei Ku told me. That way, you can use them later in some critical situation. Take the last horror movie, for instance; if Xiao Honglu and I had extra side plots, we wouldn't have been so passive in that installment."

Cheng Xiao nodded. He also stood beneath the 'Main God' and closed his eyes, following the others' example. When he opened his eyes again, a simple, ancient jade box rested in his hand. Inside, twenty golden needles lay arranged. As his fingers touched the needles, a faint, cool sensation emanated, not sharp or biting, but like touching a piece of cold jade. Each fine golden needle carried this aura, and upon closer inspection, they even emitted a faint luminescence.

"Excellent items! Truly worthy of the Immortal Power Golden Needles!" Cheng Xiao exclaimed immediately. An expert sees the substance, while an amateur sees the show. His mastery of Chinese medicine was his expertise, and merely picking up one needle, he instantly recognized its immense value. It was a shame it was only worth one C-grade plot because it wasn't a weapon. However, placed in the hands of someone who could utilize it, its value would surely be no less than an A-grade side plot—at least, that was Cheng Xiao's assessment.

Contrasting the small jade box, a massive, snow-white battle axe lay at Cheng Xiao's feet. It looked exaggeratedly large, but its actual weight was only about twenty catties, perhaps due to the Chun Metal. When Cheng Xiao gripped the handle, a flash of electric light coursed over the axe, and he felt an invisible chain connected to the haft—this must be the gravity chain.

Cheng Xiao hoisted the axe, turned around, and roared with laughter, "How about that? Isn't this look incredibly cool?" Everyone immediately saw a reasonably handsome youth standing there, laughing madly while brandishing a fire-flashing axe. The sight instantly sent everyone into fits of laughter. After a long moment, they finally subsided, mirroring Cheng Xiao's own mirth. Then, Cheng Xiao gripped the invisible chain and hurled the Zaku Lightning Axe into the distance. It was only about twenty catties, yet this single throw covered nearly ten meters before a boom explosion erupted, scattering dust clouds everywhere. When the dust settled, a meter-wide crater marked the spot.

This 'Main God' plaza was strange; the ground was paved with granite, and no matter what damage was inflicted, the surface would be perfectly restored by the next morning. So, no one commented further, instead marveling at the axe's destructive power, especially the electric sparks mixed with the blast—it looked undeniably cool.

Zheng Zha smiled and beckoned Cheng Xiao over. He then addressed the others. "Now, only my enhancement plan remains. It has two aspects. First, enhancing my High-Level Internal Strength, bringing that attribute up to B-grade. However, I don't know if the corrosive nature of the internal energy will persist if I do this. Furthermore, since I don't really have skills that demand the use of internal energy—only a basic movement technique—I'm not entirely reliant on it. The second enhancement direction is to improve skills. I'd prefer a melee martial art skill, preferably weapon-based—a sword, saber, or perhaps an axe—I have no strong preference in this area."

Xiao Honglu pondered for a moment. "I think you should enhance the first attribute. Because once the internal energy is enhanced, your physical fitness and movement technique can also advance another level. Conversely, if you enhance martial arts without a solid internal energy foundation, you might not even be able to utilize them. If the corrosiveness disappears, so be it; you'll have to enhance eventually anyway, so if it vanishes, it will vanish sooner rather than later."

Zhang Heng nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Actually, you don't necessarily have to enhance something with offensive power. Look at me; I enhanced Mental Focus, which is more useful to me than anything else. I also think enhancing the internal energy is better."

The others nodded in agreement. Enhancing the high-level internal energy would significantly increase Zheng Zha's chances of survival, whereas enhancing a martial skill would only make him slightly stronger during a desperate fight, possibly resulting in mutual destruction.

Zheng Zha nodded. "Understood. Then I'll enhance the high-level internal energy. Heh, actually, there are many martial skills available, many rated B-grade or above. There's even a Double A-grade martial art called 'Ten Steps, One Kill,' which is a weapon technique. Its description is bizarrely concise: 'Kill one man in ten steps.' It sounds quite cool, and since it’s Double A-grade, the power of this move must be extraordinary."

Despite his musings, Zheng Zha resignedly walked under the 'Main God' platform to begin enhancing his high-level internal energy.

High-Level Qigong Enhancement. Rating: 87 points. Applicable in horror movies requiring melee combat. Skill: Advanced Internal Energy Circulation Route. Can greatly fortify one's internal energy and rapidly boost physical fitness for short periods. Requires one C-grade horror movie side plot and 2,500 reward points. Enhancement to Intermediate Qigong.

When Zheng Zha selected this enhancement, just like in previous upgrades, he slowly rose from the ground. Then, countless tiny light particles descended from the 'Main God,' integrating continuously into Zheng Zha's body. Once the enhancement was complete, he violently opened his eyes, and the first sight one received was a feeling akin to a divine light flashing past. Not only that, but Zheng Zha felt his entire body swelling with pressure.

The internal energy, which had previously rested quietly in his Dantian, now flowed like a stream through his meridians, making every place it passed feel warm and comfortable, like being soaked in warm water. This wasn't all; the more this internal energy circulated through his meridians, the fuller its volume became. After a long while, the energy slowly returned to his Dantian, and Zheng Zha instantly felt the Dantian expand and become powerful. This sensation caused him to let out an involuntary, long roar.

"Good! High-Level Internal Energy!" After roaring, Zheng Zha used his movement technique to leap. The skill that previously only allowed him to jump over two meters high now effortlessly carried him to a height of four meters. And this was merely the introductory exercise named 'Movement Technique.' If it were a true, named movement art, how agile would he be? And what about those martial skills? Thinking this, Zheng Zha continued to leap until...