Chapter 99: Abyss, Oath
The power of [Jaunty·Demon +11] was formidable. In Su Xiao's view, this gun had four major flaws: 1. It required Charm to use, 2. The bullets were expensive, 3. It had no aiming device.
Su Xiao was not an iron-sight expert. A sniper rifle without an optical aiming device or a high-tech aiming device was just a close-combat cannon for him.
Of the three flaws, two could possibly be overcome, but the bullet cost was unavoidable.
Su Xiao took [Jaunty·Demon +11] and left his Exclusive Room, heading toward Machinery Street. Half an hour later, he arrived at a dirty, cluttered alley and stopped in front of a rusty, massive iron door.
*Thump, thump, thump.*
Su Xiao knocked on the iron door. From inside came the sound of metal clattering to the ground.
"Who is it?"
"Bai Ye."
With a creak, the iron door was pulled open. A girl with a messy mop of golden hair, wearing a white shirt with not a single button fastened, stood inside. She looked drowsy, her perpetual dark circles a unique trademark of hers.
"You haven't been here in a long time. I thought you'd abandoned our 'Technology Divine Cult.'"
The Machinery Girl sat on the head of a robot, pulled out two cigarettes, lit them, and tossed one to Su Xiao. She smoked her wake-up cigarette and gradually realized her shirt was unbuttoned, having been on display for a while. She casually grabbed a nearby shotgun and fired a shot in Su Xiao's direction, blasting a metal wall full of dents.
"Stop peeking."
The Machinery Girl made a move to button up her white shirt, but after sniffing her sleeve, she grimaced in disgust. She tossed the shirt into the trash, slung the shotgun over her shoulder, and walked to a cabinet to rummage for clothes.
"What do you want this time?"
The Machinery Girl yawned. Despite her appearance, she was highly skilled in firearms, mechs, and energy conduits.
"Modify a gun."
"Let me see it."
Hearing this, Su Xiao placed the metal case containing [Jaunty·Demon +11] in front of the Machinery Girl.
"This is... J·Demon? An original from Skyman Factory? Not a Holy Spirit rank counterfeit?"
The Machinery Girl knew her stuff. Without touching or opening the metal case, she identified the weapon's origin.
"Correct."
"Iron-sight sniper? Bai Ye, you really have dreams."
"..."
"I roughly understand the situation. Install an aiming device you're used to. Oh, right, and kill the evil spirit inside. The 5-point Charm requirement is too harsh for you. The cost this time isn't high, but the failure rate~"
The Machinery Girl smiled knowingly, looking like she wouldn't take responsibility if the modification failed.
Su Xiao didn't intend to make her pay for damages either. He just handed her a list. If it was ruined, she could directly dismantle the materials and offer a buyout price.
"OK, pick it up before entering the world this time. We're old friends. Same as always, I'll give you a 40% discount. Hey, wait, I recently developed a sleep pod. Want to try it? It improves sleep quality. If you can't sleep, there's a strong sleep mode. Don't leave! 100 Soul Coins for the experience, and I'll pay you. Hey, stop walking! Or I'll cut ties! 150 Soul Coins. Damn it, you didn't even pause. Where's our friendship boat? Thief!"
The Machinery Girl stomped her foot in anger. She glanced at her self-developed sleep pod. Sleeping inside was very comfortable, but waking up gave her a headache.
When Su Xiao returned to his Exclusive Room, [Red Eye] had finished cultivation. He immediately began manufacturing the second-generation Devourer.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao closed a glass column, feeling his energy was still sufficient. He walked to the experiment table and placed the Alchemy Codex in front of him.
He flipped to the fifth page of the Alchemy Codex. On this metal page, only the last engraving remained to be filled with mental energy. Su Xiao pressed his finger onto it.
An hour later, Su Xiao's head grew groggy. The last engraving on the fifth page was finally deciphered. The difficulty of deciphering this single engraving was equivalent to half a page from before.
As soon as Su Xiao finished deciphering the last engraving on the fifth page, it slowly turned, revealing the knowledge recorded on its back.
[You have unlocked a new life blueprint: Silent Servant.]
[Silent Servant: This is a low-combat unit. The Silent Servant has a relatively short lifespan. It is a size-seven creature (height between 3.9 to 4.2 meters, weight between 4560 to 4680 kilograms). It possesses strong adaptability and survivability, along with a high-density body structure. However, this is not the main point. It can use its unique sound waves to survey underground conditions. It can identify over 90.553% of ores, rare soils, etc., with high precision, and accurately describe the depth and location of underground resources. The prerequisite is that you understand its simple language.]
[Tip: This is an Alchemical Creature created by the Second Era: Alchemical Civilization. It was a necessity for alchemists of that era. The 'Silent Servant' combined with the 'Tunnel Digging Servant' brought immense benefits to alchemists. Both the 'Silent Servant' and the 'Tunnel Digging Servant' are the most loyal servants of alchemists.]
...
This unlocked a type of alchemical creature named [Silent Servant]. It had no combat power, was very durable, and had a high manufacturing cost. For contractors from Apocalypse Paradise, this thing was like a supreme treasure.
Su Xiao's first thought was to manufacture [Silent Servant] and sell it on the auction platform. Sales wouldn't be a problem, and the price was beyond question.
After carefully reviewing the data, Su Xiao realized his initial idea was too idealistic. This item could be sold, but very few would buy it. Most potential buyers were in the Void, and whether they could make the Silent Servant obey was unknown.
The Silent Servant only obeyed alchemists. This was an absolute command embedded in its core from the moment of its creation. Without this command, the Silent Servant's core was just a lump of crystal that couldn't be activated.
This was an alchemical creature created by alchemists for their own benefit. Or rather, there was no other choice. The previous two generations of Silent Servants and Tunnel Digging Servants—this simple-minded duo—would be kidnapped just days after being released.
Such incidents were frequent, so alchemists modified the Silent Servant and Tunnel Digging Servant three times, making them only compatible with the unique mental fluctuations of alchemists. From the start, alchemists never intended to sell these things. For this simple-minded duo, just release them into an uninhabited area, and within half a month at most, you could harvest underground resources. Rare ores, gems, and more were common, with occasional surprises.
Of this duo, one explored underground resources, and the other mined them. Selling them would be a huge loss. You'd want to keep as many as you could for yourself. The problem was, Su Xiao only had the life blueprint for the Silent Servant, not the other simpleton, the Tunnel Digging Servant.
Su Xiao eagerly anticipated that the back of the sixth page of the Alchemy Codex contained the life blueprint for the Tunnel Digging Servant. If he had this simple-minded duo, his income from entering mission worlds in the future would see a significant boost.
Checking his Alchemy level, it was still Lv.62. Su Xiao was already very tired. He left the Alchemy Laboratory, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep immediately.
When Su Xiao woke up, he felt like he couldn't breathe. He removed the cat from his face, and breathing became smooth again.
After washing up, Su Xiao felt refreshed. It had been 48 hours since he last opened the treasure chests. He took out three chests, activated Fate Dominator, and gained the Lucky King status.
He first picked up [Soul Box]. Opening this chest-type item had a chance to yield soul-type equipment.
[You have opened the Soul Box.]
[You have obtained 875 Soul Coins.]
[You have obtained Frenzied Spirit (This is a soul fusion item. It can be used on an empty-shell high-level soul equipment to make it complete).]
...
A clump of orange-red light appeared in Su Xiao's hand. The information on this item was very brief, with no other characteristics known. Not even a rating was displayed.
He put it away and picked up [Immortal Chest: Insect Abyss]. This was the main event.
[You have opened the Immortal Chest: Insect Abyss.]
[You have obtained Supreme Insect Brain Fluid (This item has no value for the Hunter. The Hunter can use this item to complete a transaction with the Void Existence: Frenzied Growth, Candle Woman, or Old Lord).]
[Tip: Completing a transaction with Frenzied Growth has a high chance of obtaining 'Hellfire'.]
[Tip: Completing a transaction with Candle Woman has a high chance of obtaining 'Wailing Misfortune', or being gazed upon by Candle Woman. In the following 3 to 5 world progressions, Candle Woman will occasionally seek you out, attempting to turn you into a candle.]
[Tip: Completing a transaction with Old Lord has a high chance of obtaining 'Abyss Stone'. This is an extremely rare item!]
...
Su Xiao looked at the small bottle in his hand. The brain fluid of the Supreme Insect had been certified. It seemed like a very good item. This transaction could wait for now. He picked up the last chest.
[You have opened the Immortal Chest: Silver Moonlight.]
[You have obtained Wolf Blood: Moon Ornament (Immortal Rank: Pendant).]
[Wolf Blood: Moon Ornament (Immortal Rank: Pendant)]
Durability: 50/50
Equipment Prerequisite: Blade Grandmaster Lv.55 or Sword Grandmaster Lv.55, Non-Magic Type (Only one pendant equipment can be worn at a time).
Equipment Effect (Unique): Increases the damage tier of blade-type or sword-type weapons by +1.
Rating: 1500 points (Immortal rank equipment has a rating range of 1000 to 1500 points).
Introduction: Moonlight! Guide our direction.
Selling Price: This item cannot be sold after being worn.
...
All chests were opened. Su Xiao tallied the gains. It was very good, with [Wolf Blood: Moon Ornament (Immortal Rank: Pendant)] being the strongest.
Don't underestimate just a +1 damage tier for blade and sword weapons. Su Xiao's Blade Grandmaster Lv.60 only gave a +1 damage tier for blade weapons. Now it was +2. The increase in damage tier had an exaggerated effect on reducing an enemy's external armor and body defense.
With a higher damage tier for blade weapons, light armor was like a sheet of paper, heavy armor was paper folded, and plate armor was paper folded again.
Putting away the gains, Su Xiao stood up and headed to the Honor Shop. Upon checking, he found it hadn't refreshed yet.
[Welcome, Hunter, to the Honor Shop.]
[Number of Diamond Honor Medals held: 252]
[The Hunter may exchange for the following.]
[Nightmare's Beginning]
Category: Eighth Rank Enhancement/Debuff Authority...
...
[Holy Angel: Fake]
Category: Eighth Rank Item...
...
[Eberath's White Dragon Maiden]
Effect: Holding this certificate allows immediate arrival at Eberath and the establishment of an oath with the White Dragon Maiden, obtaining [Oath Emblem: White Dragon].
Price: 98 Diamond Honor Medals.
Stock: 1
...
Su Xiao noticed that [Eberath's White Dragon Maiden] had dropped in price again, from 110 Diamond Honor Medals to 98 Diamond Honor Medals.
Back then, [Eberath's White Dragon Maiden] cost 240 Diamond Honor Medals, then dropped to 130, then 110, and now to 98 Diamond Honor Medals.
This made Su Xiao hesitate. Should he wait a bit longer? Wait until it dropped to 58? But he felt that was unlikely.
It was already 98. [Eberath's White Dragon Maiden] probably had some pride too. Su Xiao chose to exchange for it.