Chapter 55: Just a Small Problem
Su Xiao had many items to sell this time, including the [Mother of White Goats], a Holy Spirit-grade healing staff that he needed to offload quickly.
The Strongest Warrior Tournament was approaching, and Su Xiao had to enhance his strength as much as possible to secure a top-three finish.
Su Xiao checked the 26 Soul Crystals (Complete) in his storage space. Currently, each level of Blade Grandmaster required 15 Soul Crystals (Complete) and 500,000 Paradise Coins.
In other words, Su Xiao could only raise his Blade Grandmaster by one level. Compared to that single level, he had another way to boost his longsword's cutting power.
That's right—he could strengthen Dragon-Slaying Flash. After it advanced to Holy Spirit grade, Su Xiao had visited the Equipment Enhancement Hall, but the cost was too high, forcing him to give up temporarily.
Strengthening a Holy Spirit-grade Dragon-Slaying Flash didn't require Paradise Coins; instead, it consumed Soul Crystals (Complete). This made Su Xiao feel that no matter what rank he reached, Soul Crystals were always in short supply.
Leaving his Exclusive Room, Su Xiao headed straight for the Enhancement Hall. He had another method to improve his Blade Grandmaster this time, so he decided to use all the Soul Crystals (Complete) he'd obtained to strengthen Dragon-Slaying Flash.
Although each time Dragon-Slaying Flash advanced, its enhancement level reset, the enhancement effects didn't disappear. Thus, strengthening a weapon that could be upgraded was essentially another form of permanent improvement.
For this reason, no matter what grade Dragon-Slaying Flash reached, Su Xiao always tried his best to raise its enhancement level.
In less than half an hour, Su Xiao arrived at the Equipment Enhancement Hall. Seeing the message on the stone slab at the entrance, he paused. Every time he came here, he had a different experience—he wondered if this time would be lucky or the worst possible.
Pushing through the crowd at the entrance, Su Xiao entered the Equipment Enhancement Hall, where a peculiar atmosphere prevailed. Some Contractors standing before the enhancement machines had tense expressions—clearly newcomers.
Others looked relaxed, veterans of Reincarnation Paradise. These were the ones who had earned the reputation of the "Madman's Paradise." Aside from higher-ranked Contractors from their own Paradise, they feared little.
One of the recognized rules of World Wars: Contractors from Reincarnation Paradise and Death Paradise who survived to high ranks were not to be trifled with.
Another recognized rule: If you cornered a Contractor from Reincarnation Paradise, it was best to keep your distance—the madman would likely use a self-destruct item or ability.
A third recognized rule: Contractors from Apocalypse Paradise were very wealthy.
Su Xiao waited over ten minutes before an equipment enhancement machine became available. Just as he activated Machine No. 1270, a petite figure hurried over.
Their eyes met. The newcomer crunched down on a candy in her mouth with a sharp crack.
"It's you."
Gulu, wearing a red dress, snorted softly but didn't say anything provocative—she'd been taught a lesson by Su Xiao several times before.
[Welcome to Equipment Enhancement Machine No. 1270. Paradise Coins held: 224,800.]
With Su Xiao's operation, a burst of white steam shot out from the machine, and a metal tray popped out.
"Enhancement failed, failed, failed..."
A muttering voice came from behind Su Xiao. He paused, holding Dragon-Slaying Flash, and turned his head slightly.
"What is it?"
Gulu had a candy in her mouth, a smile on her face.
"Shut up."
"Watching the fun—I'm never worried about things getting out of hand."
Gulu shrugged, still grinning.
Su Xiao ignored her, and Gulu resumed her muttering.
Dragon-Slaying Flash was drawn from its sheath. Su Xiao placed it on the metal tray, which retracted into the machine.
[Equipment verification in progress... Verification complete. Dragon-Slaying Flash (Holy Spirit grade) has no enhancement level. To enhance this equipment, each attempt requires 1 Soul Crystal (Complete).]
One Soul Crystal (Complete) per attempt. Su Xiao had 26 chances—how far he could push Dragon-Slaying Flash was unknown.
Su Xiao activated the machine. It roared to life, sparks occasionally shooting from the gaps, a spectacular sight.
The first enhancement was faster than expected.
Pfft～
Hot steam burst out, and the enhancement notification appeared.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +1 failed.]
Seeing this, Su Xiao was momentarily stunned. He pondered a question: could even +1 fail?
"Don't take it too hard. Just a failed enhancement—the weapon didn't break. Someone who can beat me wouldn't be unable to handle something like this, right?"
Gulu popped another candy into her mouth.
"As long as something as unlucky as a +1 failure doesn't happen, everything else is just a small problem."
"..."
Noticing Su Xiao's silence, Gulu looked puzzled, then realized something. Her mouth fell open slightly as she tilted her head at him.
"Honestly, Bai Ye, is your Luck Attribute negative?"
"..."
"Hahaha, I'm suddenly not in a hurry. I'll stay and watch you enhance. For you, this is just a small problem, Bai Ye."
Gulu laughed out loud. Her words "just a small problem" were especially cutting.
Ignoring Gulu, Su Xiao took out ten Soul Crystals and chose to enhance Dragon-Slaying Flash continuously. He refused to believe he couldn't even get past +1.
The machine started again. Every ten minutes or so, a notification appeared.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +1 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +2 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +3 failed. Dropped to +1.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +2 failed. Enhancement level reset to zero.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +1 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +2 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +3 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +4 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +5 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +6 succeeded.]
Ten Soul Crystals were consumed. Su Xiao added another ten—luck had arrived, and he continued.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +7 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +8 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +9 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +10 succeeded.]
At +10, Su Xiao chose to stop. Continuing risked weapon destruction, but fortunately, Dragon-Slaying Flash had a Requiem Gem. Even if enhancement above +10 failed, the gem could sacrifice itself to prevent the weapon from breaking.
Su Xiao took a deep breath and chose to continue.
Over ten minutes later.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +11 succeeded.]
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +12 succeeded.]
Su Xiao knew the principle of quitting while ahead. Reaching +12 was already incredibly lucky. How sharp a Holy Spirit-grade +12 Dragon-Slaying Flash would be made him look forward to it.
Just as Su Xiao retrieved Dragon-Slaying Flash from the machine, Gulu stepped forward. She took out a pile of crystals from her storage space and tossed them into the machine like feeding fish.
Gulu threw at least a dozen crystals of various colors. She planted one foot on the machine, pulled out a dagger strapped to her thigh, and took a deep breath. Even with her crazy personality, this showed how high her dagger's enhancement level was.
"A 10% failure rate—just a small problem."
Gulu slapped the machine with one hand, and the enhancement began.
Boom!
A loud bang came from inside the machine. Steam burst out, blowing Gulu's hair back. Her eyes seemed to turn pure white.
What did it mean to explode instantly? This was it.
"My +14 Epic-grade dagger! Give it back!"
Gulu, fierce as ever, bit down on the machine with a crack.
"Just a small problem."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Gulu's body stiffened. Those words sounded familiar—very familiar. Hadn't she just said that?
"Whenever I run into you, nothing good happens!"
At that moment, Gulu realized one thing: Su Xiao was practically her nemesis.