Chapter 42: A Difficult Choice
Among the two Holy Spirit grade equipment pieces, [Watchman's Scabbard] was unsuitable for Su Xiao; it was tank-type equipment requiring a corresponding defense mastery to use.
As for [Withered Misfortune], this piece of equipment was extremely polarizing.
[Withered Misfortune]
Origin: Canglong Continent · Blazing Fire Hell
Quality: Holy Spirit Grade
Category: Special Accessory
Durability: 20/20
Equipment Effect 1: Wither (Active), can apply a withering effect to one's own limbs. When attacking a target, the enemy will suffer the withering effect. When the enemy's body is over 30% withered, the enemy will ignite, taking 1% of their maximum health as true burning damage per second.
Tip: The burning effect after withering will persist until the enemy dies or is dispelled, and no healing effects can be received during this time.
Tip: Both the Wither and Burning effects have priority.
Tip: When applying the withering effect to one's own limbs, the limbs will also gradually wither.
Equipment Effect 2: Misfortune (Passive), after equipping, the user's Luck attribute is temporarily reduced by 35 points.
Tip: If the user's Luck attribute is below 0 points, the withering effect attached to attacks will increase, causing the enemy's body to wither faster and reducing the withering speed of the user's own limbs.
Tip: If the user's Luck attribute reaches -15 points or lower, the user will not be affected by the withering effect.
Rating: 1000+ (Holy Spirit grade equipment rating is 700~1000 points).
Introduction: Look, that withered person is coming again. It's best to stay far away from him.
Price: Cannot be sold after equipping.
...
[Withered Misfortune] was very strong. After activating its Equipment Effect 1, every attack with a limb would cause the enemy's body to wither. Once the body withered over 30%, the enemy would immediately ignite.
This burning was difficult to dispel. Without a trump card, health would drain like flowing water, eventually leading to death.
Compared to the powerful effect of this equipment, its side effects were also astonishing. However, if one's Luck reached -15 points, they could ignore the withering effect themselves.
In other paradises, [Withered Misfortune] would be hard to sell, but within Reincarnation Paradise, there were all sorts of strange and formidable individuals. Therefore, this item could fetch a high price, starting at 2000 Soul Coins. If encountering someone like Black Demon · Little Fatty, it might even sell for over 3500 Soul Coins.
The harvest was quite good. After storing all the equipment, Su Xiao's gaze fell on the Elf Queen.
"Sign it."
Su Xiao took out a quill pen and, along with a piece of parchment, tossed them onto the table in front of the Elf Queen. He wanted to try whether he could sign a Reincarnation Paradise contract with a native of the mission world.
"This is..."
The Elf Queen picked up the quill pen. She vaguely sensed the uniqueness of this parchment, but she had no choice. Even if it meant signing her name on it, or even warming his bed tonight, she couldn't refuse. Not losing the Aier Great Forest after being defeated was already a good outcome.
The Elf Queen picked up the pen and signed '??????' on the parchment. The moment she signed her name, large patterns emerged on the parchment.
Su Xiao picked up the parchment, glanced at it, and then stored it away. The contract had failed. It turned out that contracts couldn't be signed with natives of the mission world.
The reason was that contracts took effect between 'brands' and 'brands'. To bypass this medium, a different type of contract would likely be needed. Needless to say, such contracts were very precious.
Su Xiao was just experimenting; failure was no big deal. He was proficient in Alchemy and had many ways to make the Elf Queen comply.
"Duoyin and the North simultaneously tried to recruit me. Tell me, which side should I temporarily cooperate with?"
Su Xiao asked seemingly casually, but if the Elf Queen's answer was wrong, she would die immediately. The reason was that her answer determined whether the information she provided about the Void Tree fruit was true or false.
"If I suggest you side with the North, I'll die now. If I suggest you side with Duoyin, I'll probably die tomorrow morning."
"Of course not. It's just a binary choice."
Hearing this, the Elf Queen pondered for a moment before speaking:
"Siding with either side is unwise. But what if you assist Duoyin on a mercenary basis? Before attacking a fortress, have Duoyin pay a deposit. After capturing the fortress, have Duoyin pay the full reward. Not just for capturing fortresses, but for all large-scale battles, this form can be used."
Having said this, the Elf Queen paused, as if trying to gauge Su Xiao's reaction through sensing his aura. Unfortunately, she sensed nothing.
"Duoyin has been at war with the Chaos Legion for years. If you truly cooperate with Duoyin, your Wolf Cavalry will harbor resentment. Even if they don't say it, they will question your authority in their hearts. But on a mercenary basis, the Wolf Cavalry will have a different combat attitude.
If you are generous enough, you can even reward the Wolf Cavalry with part of the payment, letting them know that Duoyin can't hire them without bleeding resources. They are not Duoyin's partners or subordinates. Even if they are just marching, Duoyin has to pay a hefty sum of money and resources."
Having said this, the Elf Queen placed three gems on the table.
"You cannot remain on the sidelines. Duoyin and the North have indeed fallen out. But if you watch from the sidelines, they will first unite against you. When two people duel, they won't allow a third person holding a knife to watch from the side. So, you can only help one, first knock down the other, and then stab the back..."
The Elf Queen couldn't continue her words because she found Su Xiao looking at her with a smile.
"Good suggestion. Then I won't kill you."
"I knew it."
The Elf Queen sighed softly. For some reason, she was almost getting used to it.
Su Xiao certainly wouldn't just watch the war between Duoyin and the North from the sidelines. The Elf Queen's suggestion seemed good on the surface, but she had forgotten a key point.
The Elf Queen's thinking was still stuck in the Elf race's perspective. If the Elf race were being recruited, this form of cooperation would be fine. But the Chaos Legion was different.
No matter which side he cooperated with, Su Xiao had to thoroughly offend the other side first, and offend them to the death. Only then would a common enemy emerge.
Moreover, there was one thing the Elf Queen could never consider: Su Xiao's core purpose in entering this world was to obtain resources and enhance his own strength.
As for the Wolf Cavalry Legion, once they left this world, no matter how strong they were, they would be of no help to Su Xiao.
In Primordial Worlds, Derived Worlds, Transcendent Primordial Worlds, and the Void, one's own strength was the most reliable.
Su Xiao followed the stairs on the side of the Elf Hall to the upper floor. This place was filled with various flowers and plants. He sat cross-legged on a circular stone platform. Meditating here increased meditation efficiency by at least 20%.
The full equipment for 600,000 Wolf Cavalry was being forged. Moreover, starting this afternoon, the Chimney Mountain side had to prepare for a large-scale migration.
That godforsaken place covered in volcanic ash was completely unsuitable for long-term habitation. The central areas of the South or West were good places, with distinct seasons and fertile land.
He didn't know how long he had meditated when, outside the window of the Elf Hall, a silver moon hung high. A fresh breeze blew in from the window. Su Xiao took a deep breath, feeling completely refreshed.
Light particles emitted by plants floated up from various parts of Ailanyel City, like firefly light. The Wolf Cavalry stationed on the city walls were all captivated by this beautiful scene. At Chimney Mountain, they could only see a sky full of volcanic ash.
When the morning sun climbed back to the horizon, two guests arrived at Ailanyel City. At this moment, both seemed to be questioning their life choices. Things were completely different from what they had imagined. In just one day, the Elf race had been thoroughly defeated.
These two envoys were Diplomat · Difudun and Ice Descendant · Simon. They had arrived as promised.
The way they looked at each other had lost the hostility of yesterday. Instead, there was mutual respect. They both respected the responsibilities the other bore and the courage to come here.
"Simon, you go first."
Diplomat · Difudun displayed gentlemanly manners. Seeing this, Simon strode into the city gate.
The two traveled swiftly and soon arrived inside the Elf Hall. Both sides of the hall were lined with Wolf Cavalry. On the innermost throne sat Su Xiao, draped in a black feathered cloak. His left hand, wrapped in the Black King Bracer, rested on the armrest.
"Respected High Lord."
"Simon, representing the North."
"Difudun, representing the Duoyin Empire."
"We have come to fulfill yesterday's promise."
Difudun and Simon held a long wooden box and a pitch-black crown respectively. The crown had flowing flame patterns on it; it was the crown of Dark Lord · Agamemnon.
Simon opened the wooden box in his hand. Cold air emanated. Inside the long wooden box lay a sword with a metal hilt and guard, its blade forged from ice.
These were the sincerity offerings from Duoyin and the North: Agamemnon's crown and a sword of unknown origin.
Difudun and Simon both knew one thing: one of them would die here. This was inevitable. They were trying to ally with the Chaos Legion.
"Wobol, execute the envoy from the North."
Su Xiao spoke. Under the current circumstances, this was the best choice. He planned to ally with Duoyin. Under this premise, he had to thoroughly offend the North first. A common enemy was the foundation of an alliance. Duoyin was not stupid and would not allow the Wolf Cavalry Legion to play both sides.
The Elf Queen's suggestion was worth referencing. For every battle fought, benefits could be extracted from Duoyin: Soul Crystals, various rare items, food, Duoyin's gold coins, and so on. All of these were acceptable.
Hearing Su Xiao's command, Wobol strode over to Simon and, very rarely, made a 'please' gesture.
"Choosing Duoyin, huh. You don't know what you're facing. The freezing cold is the true destination of the Canglong Continent. Only our North can seal the fate of blazing fire. If we lose, the entire sky will burn! Everything will wither, everything will burn, until it turns to ashes! This continent can only belong to our North!"
Outside the hall, Ice Descendant · Simon fell to the ground with a thud, dead from arrow-tip poison. Having the courage to come here to die, he deserved an honorable death.
At that moment, Su Xiao received a large number of prompts.
[Prompt: Your reputation with the North has decreased by 237,000 points.]
[Current North Reputation: -300,000 points (Eternal Blood Feud, this reputation has reached its minimum).]
[Prompt: Detected that the Contractor has achieved Eternal Blood Feud with two factions in this world (Elf race, North).]
[You have triggered the Achievement Mission: Supreme Enemy. Accept/Reject this mission.]
[Achievement Mission: Supreme Enemy.]
Difficulty Level: Lv.70
Mission Information: Achieve Eternal Blood Feud reputation with three large or medium-sized factions.
Currently Completed: 2/3.
Mission Deadline: Before leaving this world.
Mission Reward: Tempering Scroll (Can enhance Holy Spirit grade or below equipment to Reinforcement +14.)
Mission Penalty: Luck attribute -3 points, Charm attribute -5 points.
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