Chapter 89: Permanent Damage
After finalizing the cooperation matters with White Bull, Su Xiao exited through the mist wall, left the Starry Sky Seat, and prepared to return to Reincarnation Paradise.
Su Xiao crushed the spatial card in his hand. This time, the teleportation location would be correct, as he was using his own Reincarnation Mark as the coordinate medium for the teleportation.
When the spatial fluctuations subsided, Su Xiao was already inside his Exclusive Room.
Overall, this Starry Sky Seat Banquet had been quite fruitful. Su Xiao reviewed his gains, totaling: 500 Soul Crystals (Complete), 3 Soul Crystal Cores, one Blade of Law Annihilation, one Alchemy Device blueprint, three potion formulas, and the promise of the Ancestral Law Destroyer's remains from White Bull, along with an established potion business deal with White Bull's faction.
He still hadn't interacted with Daomo, which was normal. Su Xiao wasn't lacking in Black Maple Tree yield. Through two meetings with Daomo at the Starry Sky Seat, Su Xiao had discovered some of Daomo's characteristics.
To determine if Daomo was maintaining rationality, one could look at the color emanating from his pupils. If a faint blue light shone from Daomo's eyes, he wasn't too dangerous, but still a threat. If Daomo's eyes showed a blood-red hue, one should flee as far as possible; rash contact would mean certain death.
When Daomo was rational, his communication with others was also very sparse. In this state, if you didn't actively engage him, he would completely ignore you.
Su Xiao speculated that maintaining rationality was likely very difficult for Daomo. In this state, the other party was suppressing the energy within his body, basically ignoring external information unless necessary. However, at the same time, anyone interacting with Daomo bore a tremendous risk.
Daomo could attend the Starry Sky Seat Banquet for trading entirely because Tuanzhang, White Bull, and the Undying Old Man were present. During one banquet, Daomo suddenly drew his blade mid-transaction, pinning Saintess Seat to her chair, which led to a chaotic battle.
Although Saintess Seat dared to take a bite out of a rational Daomo, if she encountered a normal-state Daomo, she would turn and run. She had been taught lessons by Daomo not just once or twice; she had nearly died at his hands twice and suffered six severe injuries.
In reality, a Daomo capable of brief rationality was far more terrifying than a mindless killing machine. During his rational periods, he acquired a large amount of resources through the Starry Sky Seat. Coupled with his ability to devour most forms of energy to strengthen himself, Daomo was also gradually growing stronger during these rational intervals.
If it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad. The key point was that Daomo spent over 98% of his time in an irrational, murderous state. A killer who is irrational most of the time and constantly growing stronger—the danger level is unimaginable. What's worse, he possessed a Black Maple Tree.
Su Xiao put aside Daomo's situation for now. In any case, he would absolutely not approach Daomo in his irrational state.
He still had 12,688 Soul Coins remaining, 1,430 of which came from selling potions. Given Su Xiao's level of Alchemy, this Soul Coin income wasn't particularly high. First, because the exchange quota for materials was limited each time he returned to Reincarnation Paradise. Second, because the potions were sold at a "Fatherly Price."
The identity of Holy Flame Alchemist had already gained fame within Reincarnation Paradise. Coupled with the established potion sales channel with White Bull's faction, Su Xiao began to hesitate about whether to continue the Fatherly Price for potions sold within Reincarnation Paradise.
After weighing the options, Su Xiao decided to maintain the Fatherly Price. However, from now on, high-grade potions would only be sold in bundles. For example, [Ancient Secret Medicine], a potion that could increase 200 True Attributes, would be brewed in batches of five, and all five would be sold together at the Fatherly Price. There was a reason for this.
To purchase these bundled potions, buyers would have to provide an additional 3 to 5 mid-to-low-grade Alchemy potion formulas.
In the past, it would have been difficult for buyers to gather these formulas. Now, things were different. There were already many buyers for the potions. Moreover, some buyers had even formed alliances to resell the potions.
During the time Su Xiao sold potions at the Fatherly Price, these people had made a fortune. Now it was time for them to pay up. Eat and wipe their mouths clean and walk away? Impossible.
These people bought potions from Beini, then launched widespread promotions, hoarding the potions as rare commodities, blackmailing many small groups and lone wolves to the point of despair.
Since the selling price on the potion's attributes couldn't be changed, and the Holy Flame Alchemist's marked price was clearly displayed, the end buyers were gnashing their teeth in hatred. Damn it, the Holy Flame Alchemist sold at such a low price, but by the time it reached these potion dealers, the price had multiplied over ten times.
This made the end buyers both desperate to contact the Holy Flame Alchemist directly and deeply resentful of these potion dealers.
With Beini's deliberate indulgence, a third of the potions it sold ended up in the hands of these dealers. They had been too greedy. Now, it was impossible for them to back out. If they couldn't continue supplying potions, those they had offended would surely come knocking, killing them within the mission worlds.
Now, Su Xiao was about to start skinning these potion dealers alive. When the end buyers found out, it would be immensely satisfying.
Once the potion dealers were dealt with, Beini would sell potions directly to the end buyers at about 5% below market price. For those who had been buying at high prices, this would also be a Fatherly Price.
With good management, Su Xiao could not only boost the reputation of Holy Flame Alchemist but also acquire a large number of potion formulas to enhance his own Alchemy foundation. He could also greatly increase the goodwill of the end buyers towards the Holy Flame Alchemist identity, since it wasn't the Holy Flame Alchemist who cheated them, but the potion dealers. Holy Flame Alchemist = Fatherly Price = Real Dad!
Ultimately, Su Xiao could also earn a substantial amount of Soul Coins through Alchemy. This was the result of long-term management.
The reason Su Xiao needed a large number of mid-to-low-grade potion formulas was to accumulate his own Alchemy foundation. Once the foundation was sufficient, he could even attempt to develop high-grade potion formulas on his own.
The ideas in his mind gradually became clear. Su Xiao already had a plan in this regard. Completing this plan would take some time, but one thing was certain: managing the Holy Flame Alchemist identity required strong strength as support.
Su Xiao took out 500 Soul Crystals (Complete) from his storage space and chose to upgrade Melee Grandmaster.
With a crackling sound, all the Soul Crystals shattered and merged into Su Xiao's body. A warm sensation spread throughout his body as streams of translucent energy surged within him, eventually being absorbed by various parts of his body.
This sensation lasted nearly two hours before ending. He checked his skill list.
[Melee Grandmaster has been upgraded to Lv.58.]
[Melee Grandmaster: Lv.58 (Passive Skill)]
Skill Effect: During melee combat, kick attack power increased by 738% (increase of 50%), Base Nerve Reflex Speed +29 points, Base Dynamic Vision +29 points.
Initial Additional Ability: Physical Defense and Toughness increased by 40% (increase of 10%, this characteristic has reached its limit...)
Lv.10 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration Kick Basic Enhancement (Passive): ...
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Lv.50 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration Kick Quadruple Enhancement (Passive): Consumes 2000 points of Cyan Steel Shadow Energy, channeled into the lower leg and foot. The next kick used will instantly 'dispel' 3700 points of Mana or other types of bodily energy from the enemy. The kick causes severe internal organ damage while also applying the True Power Penetration effect.
True Power Penetration Effect: This organ damage is permanent, permanently reducing the enemy's True Stamina attribute and health recovery effect (based on the enemy's physical constitution, permanently reducing 1 to 4 points of True Stamina).
Warning: If allied 1st to 7th Rank Contractors have not provoked or actively attacked the Hunter, the Hunter must not use this ability to harm allied 1st to 7th Rank Contractors. 1st to 7th Rank Contractors who sustain this kick have a 99.976% probability of death. Even if they survive through 'protective-type items,' their Stamina attribute will be permanently reduced by over 70% to 85%.