Chapter 85: Compensation for Losses
A bird egg and a black pottery shard appeared in Su Xiao's hands. The bird egg had no value. Back in the Nightmare World, Su Xiao, Wood, and Zuiyasi had encountered the Administrator, Zakava.
That fellow had made quite an entrance, with a pair of black wings, and then Wood stuffed him into a jar. When released, he had turned into a bald bird, half-dead.
The [Foolish Bird Egg · Zakava] that was now opened was an item related to that. Su Xiao's only consolation was that this time he had opened a Holy Spirit Chest, not an Immortal Chest; otherwise, the loss would have been enormous.
This was a time to test 'friendship.' Su Xiao planned to give [Foolish Bird Egg · Zakava] to Wood. He didn't want to have any direct karmic connection with the Abyssal Jar.
As for the newly obtained Abyssal Jar fragment, did that even need asking? Of course, it would be returned to Wood, returning the item to its rightful owner. Su Xiao was someone who had received nine years of compulsory education; he understood this virtue.
Setting the ostrich-egg-sized bird egg and the black pottery shard aside, Su Xiao picked up the [Nightmare Chest]. This was obtained after killing the Nightmare King. Bubu Wang and Amu watched intently from the side.
The chest opened. This time, it wasn't a flash of golden light, but a flash of green light. Still, it was a flash.
[Tip: You have opened the Nightmare Chest.]
[You have obtained: End of Oblivion (Immortal Rank Weapon).]
[End of Oblivion]
Origin: World of Paintings
Quality: Immortal Rank
Category: Long-Handled War Hammer
Durability: 117/230
Attack Power: 407～440
Equipment Requirements: True Strength 230 points, True Stamina 230 points, mastery of body energy systems such as Nether, Nightmare, Dark Space, etc.
Equipment Effect 1: Heavy Hammer (Passive): Attacks will deal damage equal to (own Strength attribute × 1.75) that ignores defense.
Equipment Effect 2: Despair Cage (Core · Active): Immediately consume 10% of your maximum mana (or other body energy) to create a cylindrical independent space with a diameter of 20 meters, engaging in a decisive battle with the enemy for 5 minutes.
Tip: After dragging the enemy into this independent space, your Health Points increase by 10%, Body Defense +17 points, True Strength +1 point, True Agility +1 point, True Stamina +2 points, and control effect duration reduced by 35%.
Tip: This ability has a cooldown of 3 natural days.
Rating: 1499 points (Immortal Rank equipment rating is 1000～1500 points)
Introduction: This weapon is very ancient, but it underwent a reforging half a year ago. A certain Forging Grandmaster reforged it, completely changing all the abilities of this weapon. The characteristic of this item is its 'Despair Cage' ability. It either makes the enemy despair, or... makes oneself despair? Use it cautiously. After dragging an enemy into the independent space, not being able to defeat the enemy is a serious problem; you will have nowhere to escape.
Tip: The Hunter is the 195th owner of this weapon.
Price: 2030 Soul Coins.
...
Seeing the attributes of [End of Oblivion], Su Xiao wondered if this Forging Grandmaster was from Reincarnation Paradise? The ability looked very familiar.
Su Xiao couldn't use [End of Oblivion]; he didn't have body energy systems like Nether, Nightmare, or Dark Space.
Given the characteristics of the [End of Oblivion] weapon, it was suitable for heavy-armored warrior-type Contractors. Such Contractors were both strong and weak in one-on-one combat. The weakness was that they were easily kited; the strength was that if they could catch an opponent, they rarely lost.
[End of Oblivion] perfectly solved the problem. Those who could use this weapon were mostly burly men. If a burly man used this weapon to lock in a Perception-type or Healing-type youth, the scene would be simply 'Oh yeah,' full of philosophical flavor.
Su Xiao stored [End of Oblivion] in his storage space. If this item met the right person, it could sell for a high price.
There were three chests left. Su Xiao opened the chest dropped by the Blazing Sun Lord.
[You have opened Immortal Chest (81%).]
[You have obtained: Immortal Soul (Rare · 1457 Rating).]
[You have obtained: Blazing Sun Inscription (Immortal Rank).]
[Blazing Sun Inscription]
Origin: World of Paintings
Quality: Immortal Rank
Type: Inscription Class
Effect: Inserting this inscription into an Inscription Base type equipment grants the 'Sun' characteristic to the Spirit Inscription Base type equipment.
Tip: Inscription Base type equipment can insert 3～5 inscription pieces (the specific number depends on the quality of the Inscription Base type equipment).
Tip: The smaller the Inscription Base type equipment, the more precious it is. Rare Inscription Base type equipment can even be worn as a pendant on the waist.
Tip: Inscription Base type equipment has no initial attributes; it gains bonuses based on the inserted inscription pieces.
Tip: Inscription Base type equipment has no active ability bonuses; all are passive bonuses.
Rating: 1500 points (Immortal Rank equipment rating is 1000～1500 points)
Introduction: A rare item.
Price: 2100 Soul Coins.
...
Su Xiao felt his luck had turned. This time, his luck wasn't just good; it was truly blessed by the Goddess of Fortune.
Su Xiao now had five [Immortal Souls]. After returning to Reincarnation Paradise, he could synthesize the [Immortal Souls], obtaining a full-rating [Immortal Soul] to upgrade Dragon-Slaying Flash.
As for [Blazing Sun Inscription], this was a full-rating inscription piece. If he could get a five-slot Inscription Base pendant, that would be...
Su Xiao didn't dwell on it. It wasn't that he had no dreams; he had never seen a five-slot pendant-type Inscription Base.
Su Xiao suspected that with such an item, after inserting five full-rating inscription pieces, it would be no different from carrying half a Healing-type Contractor around 24/7, at least in terms of buff-type states.
A single guy once said a very classic line: 'If I had an Inscription Base fully loaded with inscriptions, would I still pay to find you?'
There were two chests left: [Secret Art Chest] and [Immortal Chest · Dark Demon Shadow]. No matter how he looked at it, opening these two chests wouldn't yield items related to dealing with the Nightmare.
Su Xiao's luck was a bit too good this time. According to the law of luck conservation he had figured out over time, if these two chests yielded normal-level rewards, he might be overdrawing his fortune. If his fortune was overdrawn, he shouldn't think about exploring the Nightmare · Ancient Castle Ward.
Su Xiao checked the tip records and quickly found two tips. The content was:
[Tip: You have completed the exploration of the Sand World.]
[Tip: You can rest for 24 hours in the Main Painting World. After 24 hours, all participants will enter the third Inner Painting World.]
Time was still relatively ample. Su Xiao put away the remaining two chests and left with Bubu Wang and Baha.
"Guest, how long will you be away?"
The Maid, Anas, drifted over. She asked this mainly about when to serve the meal.
"Back soon."
"Very well."
The Maid, Anas, drifted away ethereally. Bubu Wang suddenly shuddered. It had a shadow over this maid. Last time, when Bubu Wang returned, it was woken up by a full bladder in the pitch dark. When it opened its eyes, the sleepless ghost maid, Anas, was staring at Bubu, less than 10 centimeters from its dog face, and smiling.
Bubu Wang almost ascended to heaven on the spot, letting out a howl.
After going out, Su Xiao arrived at the door with the Demon Tribe pattern. He knocked. When Wood opened the door, probably hearing the knock, the doors of Zuiyasi and Lilim also opened. The two watched intently.
"What's up?"
Wood's eye flames condensed; he had a bad feeling.
"Your dad is looking for you again."
"I..."
Wood made a move to slam the plate of meat chops in his hand, not targeting Su Xiao, but guarding against Su Xiao taking out the black pottery shard. Unfortunately, he was too slow. Su Xiao had already taken out the black pottery shard.
Bang.
Wood, as if shot in the forehead, fell backward. The Abyssal Jar seemed to indicate: 'You unfilial demon, dare to hit your dad?'
A few minutes later, Wood returned to his usual demeanor. In fact, he knew in his heart that the scattered fragments of the Abyssal Jar would eventually return to him in various forms.
"Just this one piece."
"Mm."
"Then I'll sleep first."
"Wait, there's also your cousin."
"?"
Wood was dumbfounded for a moment. Su Xiao took out [Foolish Bird Egg · Zakava] from his storage space and tossed it to Wood.
Lilim, at the nearby door, was already laughing uncontrollably. She and Wood were of the same generation. She had never seen this Demon Tribe look like this. In the past, they were the ones arranged by Wood; who dared to play chess with Wood?
"Nothing else?"
Wood examined the bird egg in his hand, already guessing the gist.
"Nothing for now."
"For now..."
Wood savored the word 'for now.' Su Xiao walked towards his room. Just then, two people came up the stairs and pushed the door into the Sanctuary Hall.
As soon as they saw Su Xiao, they immediately tried to slip into the room with the brand.
"Stop!"
Baha roared. Molei and Yueshitu immediately stopped. Normally, they wouldn't listen to Baha, but now they felt guilty.
"You two had a smooth trip?"
"Fair... fairly smooth."
"Smooth, smooth, haha, thanks to you guys."
When Yueshitu said this, her conscience felt like it was being twisted by a knife, especially painful.
"About the Sun Head Barrels we lent you?"
"Uh~"
"Well~"
Molei and Yueshitu both smiled sweetly. Su Xiao looked at the two expressionlessly.
"Ahem~, we lost them. Listen, it really wasn't our fault. I don't know how they got lost. They were hanging on us the whole time, and then, whoosh, they were gone."
When Molei said this, she felt even more guilty.
Su Xiao still didn't speak. He just showed the four-piece set of the Sun Church to Molei and Yueshitu, only missing the Sun Head Barrel. In reality, the original head barrel of the set was, of course, still there.
Seeing the Sun Church set and missing one piece, Molei and Yueshitu felt even guiltier. Baha took the opportunity to ask, "Even if one is left, that's fine. Did you lose both head barrels?"
"Uh~, seems... so?"
Molei smiled and scratched the back of her pink short hair. Seeing this, Baha 'sighed.'
Baha knew what was going on. Had Molei and Yueshitu lost their head barrels? Of course. Su Xiao only had the right to possess those two head barrels, not the right to own them. In this situation, Molei and Yueshitu, who didn't even have the right to possess, only temporary usage rights, couldn't check the attributes of those two head barrels.
Overall, those two head barrels couldn't be brought out of the Sand World. Not losing them would have been strange.
Having finally encountered these two little rich girls, Su Xiao naturally wanted to squeeze them hard and squeeze out some good stuff.
After pondering, Baha said in a regretful tone, "Since they're already lost, let's talk about compensation. Kaiser, we have business."
"Business? What business?"
Kaiser creaked open the door of Room 7 and walked out with a sly grin.
Seeing Kaiser appear, Molei and Yueshitu stood frozen in place. Their heads were now buzzing.