Chapter 83: Unexpected Gains
[Eye of the Gods] had a much higher detection rank than [Apostle's Eye]. For the current stage, it was more than enough for Su Xiao.
He had never considered acquiring an Immortal-rank detection-type piece of equipment. Even if the Shadow Merchant Guild actually had one, he wouldn't buy it—it would be far too expensive.
Ultimately, detection-type equipment was just an auxiliary tool. Even if it could detect 100% of an enemy's information, it meant nothing if he couldn't defeat that enemy.
Or rather, even if Su Xiao used an Immortal-rank detection piece of equipment, it would be very difficult to detect 100% of a powerful enemy's information. Unless he acquired a Perception-type ability and invested resources into it.
Only Perception-type contractors could achieve detecting 100% of a powerful enemy's information; detection-type equipment could hardly accomplish this.
Su Xiao couldn't possibly develop Perception-type abilities. The investment wouldn't match the returns. So he chose to compensate for this with detection-type equipment. Being able to detect 60% to 70% of an enemy's information was enough for him. He could probe the enemy's remaining abilities during combat.
Putting down the Eye of the Gods, Su Xiao's expression didn't change much. He asked, "This equipment's detection ability is quite good, but it lacks an alert feature. I need the alert capability that comes with detection-type status effects."
In truth, Su Xiao was quite satisfied with the Eye of the Gods. As for alerts, Bubu Wang and Baha were both very skilled at that. But he wouldn't say so outright. No matter what, the Shadow Merchant Guild couldn't escape its nature as a merchant organization. If No. 6 Shadow detected that he was very satisfied with this equipment, the other party would significantly raise the price. After all, detection-type equipment was never hard to sell.
"We don't have any other Intelligence-type detection equipment in stock for now. Final offer, 5,000 Soul Coins."
No. 6 Shadow's quote wasn't an exorbitant price, but it was by no means low. An Origin Stone only cost 5,500 to 6,000 Soul Coins. For the Eye of the Gods, a Holy Spirit-rank piece of equipment, to cost 5,000 Soul Coins, that was equivalent to a mid-rated Immortal-rank piece of equipment.
Unfortunately, detection-type equipment was far too rare. No, it should be said that Intelligence-type detection equipment was far too rare.
Over 97% of detection-type equipment was all Charm-type, mostly brooches, earrings, gemstone rings, and the like. A Charm-type Holy Spirit-rank detection piece of equipment cost around 400 to 600 Soul Coins. Although it was a bit expensive, it wasn't as exaggerated as the Intelligence-type.
After some initial haggling, Su Xiao bought the [Eye of the Gods] for 4,700 Soul Coins.
"Mr. White Night, do you need anything else?"
"Basic Passive scrolls, Strongman's Remnant, Overlord Essence, World Core Fragment..."
Su Xiao listed several items one after another. He wanted to test the strength of the Shadow Merchant Guild.
"Basic Passive scrolls are very difficult to handle. We don't have much contact with low-rank contractors. Mr. White Night, you'd be better off contacting a powerful large-scale adventure group for that item. Among all groups, they have the most contact with low-rank contractors.
Overlord Essence is also very difficult to handle. Very few people are willing to sell this item. We have a way to get Strongman's Remnant, but it will take time. This item is both rare and hard to sell. We'd price it at 1,200 Soul Coins per piece. As for World Core Fragments, this item is even rarer. Its function is currently unknown. The market price is 300 Soul Coins per piece."
Hearing No. 6 Shadow's words, Su Xiao was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected World Core Fragments to be so cheap. This item helped the Black Maple Tree grow, so the more, the better.
"If Mr. White Night is interested in World Core Fragments, we'll keep an eye out for you. As for the price... 350 Soul Coins per piece? Don't get your hopes up too high. Although no one knows what this item is used for, most of these are obtained from opening World-class chests. Most people are willing to keep this item as a last resort, since its market price is only worth 300 Soul Coins."
No. 6 Shadow shook his head with a smile. A long time ago, their guild believed that World Core Fragments held a huge secret. They invested resources worth tens of thousands of Soul Coins to research it. The result was disappointing—they still didn't know the function of World Core Fragments.
In reality, Su Xiao also didn't know what function World Core Fragments had. For him, besides making the Black Maple Tree grow faster, it had no other use.
If he didn't have the Black Maple Tree, he would also keep this item as a last resort. Its prestige was extremely high, but its market price was extremely low.
After a bit more negotiation, Su Xiao's transaction with the Shadow Merchant Guild concluded. No. 6 Shadow needed three hours to contact a certain person. That person had three [Strongman's Remnants], and Su Xiao only needed two of them.
Money could make the world go round. As long as he had enough Soul Coins and a wide network, most of the items Su Xiao needed could be bought with Soul Coins.
He currently had one [Strongman's Remnant]. If he could gather three, he could use this item to activate the Land of All Beings: Sixth Layer. Developing and perfecting his Blade Dao techniques within the Sixth Layer was incomparable to doing so in the Fifth Layer.
After finishing the transaction with the Shadow Merchant Guild, Su Xiao returned to his Exclusive Room. As soon as he entered, he saw Baha spinning rapidly in mid-air, like a top running at full power. Bubu Wang, Amu, and Beini were looking up, almost clapping.
Baha suddenly stopped, raised a wing, and said, "Am I awesome or what?"
"Woof."
"Moo?"
"Meow (Idiot)."
Beini stepped aside, pretending not to know Baha.
The reason Baha was performing was that its bloodline enhancement was complete. Su Xiao checked Baha's information. After multiple potential activations and this bloodline activation, Baha's strength had become quite formidable.
Name: Sky-Hunting Demon Hawk · Baha
Type: Follower
Class: Sky Bloodline (Growth Activated)
Health: 100%
Mana: 9,500 points (Increased by 1,890 points)
Poison Energy Cap: 9,500 points (Convertible from Mana)
Strength: 136 (True Attribute, converted after multiple potential activations)
Agility: 197 (True Attribute)
Endurance: 147 (True Attribute)
Intelligence: 27
Charisma: 45
Skill 1, Steel Body Iron Feather (Passive, Lv.67): Health +7,500 points, Mana +5,500 points, Feather Armor +52 points.
Skill 2, Sky Demon Hawk (Bloodline Skill, Lv.72): Baha can perform spatial teleportation, consuming 30 to 400 Mana per use (depending on distance). This ability has no cooldown but incurs an Endurance consumption burden.
Note: Each time Baha performs spatial teleportation, his next attack will deal 750 points of Space-type damage that ignores physical defense.
Skill 3, Back Strike (Passive, Lv.65): If Baha ambushes an enemy from behind, he will deal Agility attribute × 2.8 True Damage (551 True Damage) + Base Damage + 530 points of True Poison Damage.
Skill 4, Ferocity (Passive, Lv.65): Baha's claws, through long-term tempering, have gained powerful penetration and tearing force. By leveraging the power of his flapping wings, his instantaneous burst force can greatly exceed his own Strength attribute cap.
Note: Each time Baha overloads to penetrate and tear an enemy's body, his flight speed will decrease by 20% for the following 10 seconds.
Skill 5, Poison Shadow (Ultimate Skill · Passive/Active, Lv.23): Due to the characteristics of his creator's abilities, Baha receives partial bonuses. His body contains a growing biological energy poison. Each attack can deal 530 points of True Poison damage to the enemy.
Note: Baha can inject all the poison into an enemy's body at once, dealing up to 6,800 points of True Poison damage. Baha will be weakened for 1 to 5 seconds...
Current additional characteristics of Poison Shadow: Lethal, Paralysis, True Damage.
Skill 6, Demon Hawk Domain (Ultimate Skill · Growth Type, Lv.42): Baha possesses six Spatial Feathers. When he fully "spreads" his wings, all six Spatial Feathers will shatter, interrupting/sealing all Eighth Rank spatial abilities within a 1,000-meter radius. The effect lasts for 5 minutes.
Note: After activating Demon Hawk Domain, if the enemy uses space-type items or equipment, the used items or equipment will immediately shatter. The released spatial force will be absorbed by Baha, enhancing the Sky Bloodline.
Note: After the Spatial Feathers shatter, they require 9 natural days to recover.
...
Multiple potential activations had already given Baha three True Attributes. As for Intelligence and Charisma attributes, the prospects weren't great. Baha's 27-point Intelligence attribute indicated that his growth wasn't in that area.
Don't be fooled by Baha's usual goofy demeanor. In battle, Baha was extremely vicious. Aside from Poison Shadow, he had no other active killing abilities. Each of his attacks carried several damage judgments. That pile of passives was very much in line with being Su Xiao's Follower.
Su Xiao then checked the information for Bubu Wang, Amu, and Beini. Because they underwent potential activation every time they returned to Reincarnation Paradise, and because Su Xiao was developing four True Attributes with high values, Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini had a chance during potential activation to convert their own Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Intelligence attributes into True Attributes, provided these attributes were above 80 points.
Su Xiao found that the [Triumph Emblem] had no use anymore. Selling it would be a better choice.
For a buyer for this item, Su Xiao immediately thought of two people: Chen and Solomon. One was an all-element Mage Lord, the other was a Mage Lord plus Necromancer. Although they were both a bit poor, that didn't mean they didn't have high-value items stashed away.
Su Xiao first contacted Chen. Chen replied that he couldn't afford it. If he could take a loan for a few worlds, he would be willing to buy this item, and he could use high-value items as collateral during that time.
Ignoring that, Su Xiao contacted Solomon. A dozen seconds later, Solomon replied. The content was that Solomon was developing four attributes and had no use for the [Triumph Emblem]. But for some reason, Solomon's wording was a bit unusual.
Solomon: "There's something... I want to discuss."
White Night: "At most 1,000. Next world progress, 10% interest repayment."
Solomon: "Thank you. I'll use this as collateral. (Attached: World Core Fragment × 2, Attached: Contract × 1)."
White Night: "No need to repay the Soul Coins."
Solomon: "?"
...
Su Xiao took out 2 World Core Fragments from the mail. The [Triumph Emblem] wasn't sold, but he had an unexpected gain.
Su Xiao walked towards the massive room where the Black Maple Tree was located. Before he could push open the door, another mail from Solomon arrived.
Solomon: "White Night, are you willing to buy World Core Fragments for 500 Soul Coins each?"
White Night: "Mm."
Solomon: "Deal. (Attached: World Core Fragment × 3)."
White Night: "... (Attached: 1,500 Soul Coins)."
...
Su Xiao took out another 3 World Core Fragments from the mail. Through these 5 World Core Fragments, Su Xiao could feel just how poor Solomon was.
That guy probably wouldn't sell his summons or equipment, but he would sell anything else. The reason he hadn't sold the World Core Fragments before was because of their high prestige, and each piece was only worth 300 Soul Coins.
As for World Core Fragments, Su Xiao would buy as many as he could get. This item could assist the Black Maple Tree's growth. The taller the Black Maple Tree, the greater its yield. When the Black Maple Tree grew to over ten meters tall, the current investment would be nothing.
The good news now was that not only was Solomon willing to sell World Core Fragments, but he also had a few Necromancer friends who were also willing to sell. The reason these Necromancers kept in touch was so that when one of them was so poor they were seeing stars, they could help each other out—at least with "meal money."
Please don't laugh. A Necromancer's meal money wasn't just about filling their own stomachs. Every Necromancer had a few permanent summons that had been following them for a long time. Feeding those Necromancer summons was no simple matter.
Solomon's meaning was that his few friends were also willing to sell World Core Fragments, but the price had to be 500 Soul Coins per piece. Not a single Soul Coin less. Solomon's few friends had emphasized this point.