Chapter 3: Radiant Team Additional Boost of 5 True Stamina Points (Rare Reward)
...
Three choices. Previously, the Radiant Team's boost was 3060 Health Points and 1960 Mana Points. Su Xiao pondered for a few seconds before selecting the second reward: a level cap increase of Lv.15.
After making his choice, the Radiant Team's level was no longer maxed out. Since he intended to max it anyway, he might as well push it all the way to Lv.90.
[15 Team Skill Points have been consumed.]
[Radiant Team has been upgraded to Lv.90!]
...
[Team Skill 2: Radiant Team (Rare · Team Passive X), All team members gain +9700 Health Points and +4200 Mana Points.]
The Radiant Team ability's major rank had increased, from a standard team ability to a rare team ability. This wasn't surprising, given it was pushed to Lv.90.
However, based on Su Xiao's understanding, skill level was unrelated to rank; the two couldn't be converted. Only the brand rank and mission rank had a rank relationship, which was a conversion system.
What was simple, crude, yet exceptionally powerful? This was it. If someone formed a small team and slotted this ability into the team skill slot, as long as there wasn't direct hostility, most wild healers wouldn't be able to resist the temptation.
The increase in Mana Points held extraordinary significance for Su Xiao. His Mana Points broke through the 40,000 mark, reaching 41,682 points. Setting aside everything else, just based on the sheer volume of Mana Points, if Su Xiao didn't have the Reincarnation Paradise brand and was in an Eighth Rank Primordial World, any contractor who detected his data would definitely turn and flee, mistaking him for the world's final boss.
Molei the little angel wholeheartedly agreed with this. She had once seen Su Xiao fight the Blood God one-on-one. After watching for a while, Molei no longer felt like she was watching a contractor fighting a boss, or a weakling challenging a strong one. Her more intuitive feeling at the time was that this was simply two big bosses beating each other up. The only peculiar thing was that one of those big bosses actually had a Reincarnation Paradise brand. How strange.
Team Skill Points remaining: 54. Su Xiao used 3 points per level to upgrade the Vitality Awakening ability to Lv.18.
[Team Skill 3: Vitality Awakening (Rare · Team Passive Lv.18), When a team member's Health Points drop below 10%, this ability activates, restoring 630 Health Points + 20% of maximum Health Points within the subsequent 3 seconds.]
[Note: The cooldown for this ability is 19 hours (cooldown is calculated separately for each team member).]
[New Feature: This restoration effect is controllable. The restoration period can be extended by the recipient's control, but the total restored Health Points remain unchanged. If the recipient does not exert control, the restoration will complete normally within 3 seconds.]
Team Skill Points remaining: 2. As the level of the [Vitality Awakening] ability increased, its effect became increasingly satisfactory. At its current stage, this ability could save lives. If he could push it to Lv.50 or above, it would definitely be a life-saving divine skill.
For Su Xiao, this ability was particularly useful. He currently had a trump card: relying on the Black King Bracer's immunity to fatal wounds, combined with the Blood Spear Grandmaster's increased melee attack power when near death, he could fight head-on with enemies.
Now with this ability, not only was there no conflict, but being near death wasn't so precarious. The recovery was controllable, allowing for a delay over time, like having a [Slow Recovery] buff. This would stabilize Su Xiao's Health Points between 9% and 10%, maintaining a near-death state without being on the verge of kicking the bucket at any moment.
Su Xiao appreciated the power of an SSS-rank Adventure Group. The only ability he couldn't quite gauge was the Hunting Group ability. He just hoped that any attribute points he obtained in the future could be added to Luck or Willpower.
Adding them to Charm would be like throwing money down the drain. It wouldn't cause even a ripple in Su Xiao's -9 Charm attribute.
Su Xiao once had a title that boosted Charm by 30 points. When he wore that title and his Charm attribute still remained at 0.1 points unchanged, he realized the severity of the situation and abandoned any plans to salvage his Charm attribute. However, he later discovered that negative Charm was actually very powerful. When he held a blade to a plot character's neck, they would tell him everything, their attitude enthusiastic.
With high Charm, you had to be polite to plot characters. With a blade in Su Xiao's hand, plot characters had to be polite to him. Which was more comfortable was obvious.
Su Xiao took three [Solidified Sun Blood Crystal · Super Large Block] from his storage space. This item could enhance the reinforcement level of weapons (excluding Immortal-rank weapons and a few special Immortal-rank equipment) to +10.
He had three blocks total. [Fate Dominator] and [Divine Judgment] each got one. For the remaining block, [Wolf Blood · Moon Ornament (Immortal Rank · Accessory)] seemed like a decent choice, but this accessory's attribute was 'Damage rank of blade-type and sword-type weapons +1'.
Even if reinforced to +10, it was impossible to get a damage rank increase of +2. Su Xiao's Blade Grandmaster skill was at Lv.60, and his blade-type damage rank was only +1.
He would keep the remaining block for now. It could be used anytime, anywhere. His current preliminary choice was [Berg Heart (Immortal Rank)]. If there was no better option before this stay ended, he would use it on the Berg Heart.
Decision made, Su Xiao used the Sun Blood Crystals on [Fate Dominator] and [Divine Judgment]. The two fist-sized Sun Blood Crystals dissolved, enveloping a metal lighter and a ring. The Fate Dominator now bore the names of many powerful beings.
Si, Chi, An, Shan
Xi (Originally thought Xi was dead, but wasn't; now thoroughly dead, grave weeds have likely grown tall)
Qian, Jia, Ba, Zhao, Zui
Hei (Black King, the enemy who brought death closest to Su Xiao)
Yue (Ancient God · Moon God)
Tie (Sera Guardian · Iron Feather King)
Yi (Heterogeneous King)
Yuan (Source Keeper · Aidri · Dewin)
Xue (Blood God · Gehpuss)
Yin (Canglong Continent, Duoyin King)
Shi (Immortal · Rogesh)
Yu (Dark Star, Feather God · Hegra)
E (Demon Sea · Doom Number Third Captain · Nameless Captain)
Yin (Law Annihilation Ally · Yin, Moon Wolf)
Qi (World of Paintings · Old Knight)
...
Su Xiao put away both Fate Dominator and Divine Judgment. Getting these two pieces of equipment to +10 would take some time.
"My dear friend, the stuff on your stall is really good stuff. I miss that tree I saw last time."
Kaiser rubbed his hands together, greed practically shooting out of his eyes.
"Oh? You've seen the Black Maple Tree?"
"Of course I have, my dear friend. You underestimate Kaiser. I am a man who has seen great things."
Kaiser clasped his hands behind his back, feigning profundity.
"The one in the Black Abyss, or the one under the Abyssal Dragon?"
Su Xiao knew that there were three known Black Maple Trees in the outside world, all in the Void.
"It was the Black Maple Tree on Arcane Eternal Star. Those damnable spellcasters, their attitude towards guests was so rude. They hung me up and beat me."
Kaiser's voice choked up at the end.
"You tried to steal the Black Maple Tree's yield?"
Su Xiao had already guessed the gist of it.
"How is that possible! Am I that kind of person?!"
Kaiser was indignant. He wiped away a forcibly squeezed tear and said, "I had only heard of the Black Maple Tree before, never seen it. Last time, I went to Arcane Eternal Star as a Reincarnation Paradise Arbiter to find someone. I just wanted to visit the Black Maple Tree, and then I had to pee..."
Kaiser didn't actually pee under the Black Maple Tree; that was impossible. The tree's security was extremely tight. The bastard had to pee, looked everywhere for a toilet, and found a stone platform with a large iron lid on it. Unable to hold it any longer, he lifted the iron lid, heard the sound of running water below, and peed into it.
Kaiser indeed didn't pee under the Black Maple Tree. He peed into the underground well where people drew their water. Not killing him was thanks to their mercy.
"Bai Ye, which Arbiter are you talking about? I know quite a few Arbiters."
"Altria."
"The little cutie from Toad's side?"
"You have contact with that side?"
"Yeah, we were even called the Three Rascals of Arbiters."
Hearing Kaiser's words, Su Xiao understood. He had indeed heard of the Three Rascals of Arbiters. Apparently, during some World War, three Arbiters from their side formed a team. They first took care of the Arbiters from other Paradises, then disguised themselves as enemy Arbiters, pretending to cheat by providing information to the enemy contractors participating in the war.
At first, it was real information. But in the end, they delivered a fatal piece of false information. Having gained trust earlier, they gave a bunch of terrible commands. The contractor alliance from Apocalypse Paradise, Holy Light Paradise, and Watchful Paradise collapsed. Internal strife + ambush + suspected attacks on Arbiters. It was said to be a real tragedy.
Chapter 137: An Operation That Makes You Question Intelligence
After leaving the Trade Street, Su Xiao and Kaiser went to Lide's forge. When Kaiser learned that Su Xiao knew Lide and had a deep friendship with him, his eyes almost turned into flashlights. The 'longing' in his gaze scared Wowo so much that tears welled up in its eyes.
One good news, one bad news. The good news was that the [Wild Hunt Night] leather jacket was repaired. When he said this, Lide's expression was complicated, but as a forging master, he had pride in his forging and equipment repair skills. He wouldn't allow himself to deliberately damage equipment under repair, especially since he and Su Xiao had a deep friendship and cooperative relationship.
The bad news was that there were some problems with the fusion of the soul equipment. Lide wasn't sure if the soul equipment fusion could be completed before the new world progress began.
There was also news from Altria. When Su Xiao first contacted Altria, given her personality, she would have refused. However, due to the treatment she was receiving, Altria chose to refuse in a tactful way. Coming up with those tactful words was quite a challenge for her. She also offered to help Su Xiao find a [Rune Base], and once found, she would be willing to pay part of the purchase cost.
Since the other party said that, Su Xiao had no choice but to accept. However, he then mentioned that this treatment hadn't started yet, and asked Altria to prepare for the treatment. Altria fell into great hesitation.
Probably feeling guilty, Altria eventually agreed to the matter. They would meet in her exclusive room in one hour.
Taking advantage of the time, Su Xiao returned to his exclusive room. After having Beini go sell the alchemical potions he had prepared, he began deciphering the Alchemy Codex.
In the Alchemy Laboratory, Su Xiao lifted his index finger from the sixth page of the Alchemy Codex. This page had a total of 1,057 imprints, and he had just deciphered 473 of them.
To obtain alchemical knowledge from the Codex, he could decipher it once every 4 to 6 days. He wouldn't do that; eating more than one could chew was bad. It was like eating food. Eating quickly was fine, but if you kept eating without digesting, problems would arise. Su Xiao always 'digested' it first, and only when he felt hungry would he immerse himself in the ocean of alchemical knowledge for a feast.
[Alchemy has been upgraded to Lv.64 (Increased by Lv.2).]
It wasn't yet the agreed time. Su Xiao picked up a semi-finished device from the experimental table. It was an oval metal egg, about 30 centimeters tall, nearly half-formed. The number of parts inside was staggering. Just looking at it made one marvel at how it was assembled. The orderly arrangement of the internal parts clearly wasn't random.
Su Xiao put on a single-eye loupe, picked up a tool that looked like a screwdriver but had many tiny buckles at its tip, and continued assembling.
This was an alchemical device ordered by Tuanzhang, used as a stabilizer to maintain spatial stability. Its effective range was about the size of two Sand Worlds.
Tuanzhang didn't say what he was using it for, so Su Xiao naturally didn't ask. Besides this, Su Xiao also needed to prepare potions commissioned by White Bull, Undying Old Man, and Holy Maiden Seat. The reward was obtaining three ultra-high-grade formulas. Since it was the first time, it was free for the three of them. Next time, they would charge.
The potion preparation wasn't easy, but it was all done. The stabilizer ordered by Tuanzhang was truly a headache.
This thing was too precise. After deciphering the blueprints, Su Xiao found it consisted of 195,359 parts. Compared to a space shuttle with over 2 million parts, this number wasn't huge. The problem was the volume. Once successfully manufactured, it would shrink to the size of an ostrich egg.
[Note: Origin Stone adaptation complete.]
Receiving this notification, Su Xiao inserted the [Tweezers Needle Fusion Gun] into the cooling cotton. A small puff of blue smoke rose. He would continue working on this 'space egg' another time. There was still some time before the next Starry Sky Seat gathering. He took out a silvery-white Origin Stone. The newly acquired Origin Stone had completed its adaptive synchronization with him. He checked its attributes.
[Origin Stone · Silver Queen]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise
Type: Special Equipment
Durability: 7500/7500
Equipment Effect: Silver Seven Senses (Passive), Carrying this Origin Stone enhances perception, meditation efficiency, willpower, and mental strength.
Note: During meditation, the leveling speed of Heart Meditation increases by 4.7 times.
Note: The leveling speed of the Instinct ability increases by 27.5 times.
Note: Carrying this item for a long time will gradually increase Willpower attribute.
Note: Carrying this item for a long time will gradually increase mental strength.
Introduction: The Silver Queen, who caused the destruction of a world, was eventually absorbed by the [Devouring Annihilation Black Hole] formed when the star collapsed. Facing the high pressure and solitude inside the [Devouring Annihilation Black Hole], after several thousand years, the Silver Queen gave up thinking, and her consciousness completely ceased. Eventually, the [Devouring Annihilation Black Hole] compressed the world's remnants and the Silver Queen's consciousness together, forming this Origin Stone. Do not attempt to awaken the consciousness of this Origin Stone. The Silver Queen is an insect race mother queen. If her consciousness is not dead, there is a probability of awakening. The Silver Queen is an ultra-high-risk dangerous lifeform.
...
Although [Origin Stone · Silver Queen] wasn't as comprehensive as [Origin Stone · World (1/5)], its bonuses were higher. This was a complete Origin Stone with a suffix, naturally better than a single fragment of [Origin Stone · World].
Su Xiao had collected two fragments of [Origin Stone · World]. These two fragments couldn't be joined together. He had to wait until he collected them all, then fuse them at a great cost. This could only be done within Reincarnation Paradise and would consume authority level.
Su Xiao suddenly remembered the miner from Apocalypse Paradise who had set a complete [Origin Stone · World] into his mining shovel. The person who did this was very smart. Something that was destined to be lost might as well be used. Setting it into the mining shovel meant: 'I've already set this thing into Apocalypse Paradise's exclusive equipment, which is basically half-handed over to Apocalypse Paradise. Come on, hit me.'
Putting away [Origin Stone · Silver Queen], Su Xiao walked towards the exclusive room. Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha all followed. After selling the potions, returning home, and removing her disguise, Beini also followed from behind. The four of them were obviously going to eat melons and watch the excitement.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao passed through a long alley. A door suddenly opened in the air ahead. It was the door to Altria's exclusive room.
Entering the room, Su Xiao found it quite lively. Kaiser, Toad, and Violent Rat were sitting on the sofa in various poses.
Wearing sportswear, a tight hood, and earphones, Sha sat there with her eyes closed, swaying slightly, immersed in the powerful music. Beside her, Altria sat very upright, holding a cup of hot tea in both hands.
"Sha! Sha! Bai Ye is here!"
Violent Rat shouted, and Sha took off her earphones. After greeting Su Xiao, she, Violent Rat, and Toad all walked out of the exclusive room. The three of them knew clearly that this kind of business was best not to get involved in.
Seeing this, Altria's sitting posture stiffened a bit. At a critical moment, her teammates were too 'reliable'.
"Let's begin. I'll explain the process first. It's quite long. First, Bai Ye, you need to transfer the Random Draw Authority to Little Ke... cough, transfer it to Apotopia."
Hearing this, Baha was confused. "What did you say? Who is Adopipia?"
"It's Apitodoa! Not Adopipia!"
"I..."
Altria wanted to speak but stopped.
"No, damn it, you said the name three times, and none of them were the same."
Baha pointed a wing at Altria, meaning, 'You're talking about her?' Kaiser nodded.
"Bullshit! Her name is clearly Altria! What the hell is Adopipia?"
"Actually, you can call me Altria too."
Altria sighed. In such a short time, she had gained four names.
"Uh, sorry, I misremembered."
This topic was dropped with Baha's apology. Su Xiao transferred the [Random Draw Authority] to Altria. Altria immediately activated it, but neither Su Xiao nor Kaiser could see the spinning wheel.
Kaiser took out a somewhat faded POS machine and started pressing buttons on it. Soon, Altria received a flood of notifications.
[Note: You will participate in a "Tripartite Transaction." The three parties are: Arbiter herself, Hunter · Bai Ye, Arbiter · Kaiser.]
[The transaction item originates from Apocalypse Paradise and has been properly notarized. No further notarization is required.]
[Note: Nicholas Kaiser has challenged the [Random Draw Authority], requesting a re-notarization, designating Void Tree as the notarizing party.]
[Due to Nicholas Kaiser's Arbitration Credit being -??? points, this challenge is invalid.]
[Note: Arbiter herself, do you wish to challenge, thereby requesting a re-notarization of the [Random Draw Authority]?]
[The Arbiter's Arbitration Credit is 227 points. Your application has been approved. The [Random Draw Authority] will be re-notarized.]
[The re-notarization fee is 1000 Soul Coins. This fee has been paid by Hunter · Bai Ye.]
[Re-notarization of [Random Draw Authority] begins...]
[Note: Kaiser has challenged this notarization and, using your credit authority, has issued a secondary challenge.]
[Kaiser's authority challenge has been rejected. Your authority challenge is being adjudicated...]
[Warning (Reincarnation Paradise): Detected that Kaiser is attempting to use ??? equipment to steal your private assets during this transaction.]
[Note (Void Tree): [Random Draw Authority] has entered the notarization phase. Notarization will be completed in 5 seconds.]
[Warning (Reincarnation Paradise): To protect the Arbiter's interests, Reincarnation Paradise will forcibly terminate this transaction and notarization.]
[Warning (Void Tree): [Random Draw Authority] is being notarized. This transaction cannot be forcibly terminated.]
[Warning (Reincarnation Paradise): Forced termination initiated!]
...
Seeing this, Altria was confused. She realized something was wrong. Void Tree and Reincarnation Paradise were having a conflict in judgment and notarization? This...
Altria wanted to say something but didn't know what to say. She could only silently take a sip of tea. Notifications continued to appear before her eyes.
[Interference completed.]
[?μ??μ·??o??...]
[Judgment Chaos!]
[Note (Void Tree): Recalibrating.]
[Note (Reincarnation Paradise): Verification completed. Kaiser has been warned. The Arbiter's interests will not be harmed.]
[Nicholas Kaiser, to protect his own interests, has activated the Bully (Active, X) ability.]
[Note (Void Tree): Stabilizing.]
[Note (Reincarnation Paradise): Adjudicating.]
[Detected that Kaiser is a friendly Arbiter. This judgment chaos will result in punishment for Kaiser. Void Tree has stopped notarization and will no longer interfere with this transaction.]
[Re-adjudicating [Random Draw Authority]...]
[Due to multiple notarizations, Apocalypse Paradise's notarization of [Random Draw Authority] has been stripped.]
[Apocalypse Paradise attempts to interfere...]
[Reincarnation Paradise has prohibited this interference. Apocalypse Paradise interference failed.]
[[Random Draw Authority] has become a usable but un-notarized item. Checking...]
[Check complete. [Random Draw Authority] originates from Apocalypse Paradise. Any benefits generated by this item must be borne by Apocalypse Paradise.]
...
"Now!"
Kaiser tucked the POS machine into his lower back. Hearing the shout, Altria activated the [Random Draw Authority]. A large wheel appeared. This time, everyone could see it.
"Start the draw!"
Kaiser spat into his palm and rubbed his hands together. Soon, yellow smoke rose from his hands. Before the smoke dissipated, he went to the large wheel. He raised both hands and grabbed the rapidly spinning pointer.
Clack clack clack clack!
It was like forcibly reversing an old-fashioned clockwork tower clock. Kaiser's face turned red from strain. He actually pushed the wheel's pointer hard into the [Rune Base] section of the wheel. After confirming it was aligned, he held the pointer still. This trick was commonly known as: manual lottery draw.
Logically, anyone who dared to draw a lottery like this would either die or be severely injured. But the current [Random Draw Authority] was not notarized by either Void Tree or Reincarnation Paradise. The judgment was chaotic. There was no need to go into deeper adjudication for this thing. Initially, Kaiser had used Altria's credit to actively request a re-notarization.
This resulted in the [Random Draw Authority]'s notarization being chaotic. It wasn't a problem with the rules, but Kaiser reaping what he sowed. However, Kaiser wanted to reap what he sowed.
This also resulted in the [Random Draw Authority] being half-notarized by Reincarnation Paradise and Void Tree, then left there. On the other side, Apocalypse Paradise wanted to notarize this thing but couldn't, because the [Random Draw Authority] was in a half-notarized state, already in judgment chaos. Naturally, a third party wouldn't be allowed to notarize it.
Neither side cared, and the one that wanted to manage couldn't get involved. Thus, the notarization was stuck. The [Random Draw Authority] became an authority without a notarizing party. Some tricks could be played without anyone caring.
As for violations? How could a Hunter and two Arbiters possibly violate the rules? Absolutely impossible. The judgment wouldn't easily go in that direction.
The principle was similar to when Yueshitu tried to report Su Xiao, a Reincarnation Paradise Hunter, to Reincarnation Paradise. That time, it was 'Who dares to accuse an official in this court?' This time, it was 'I am sworn enemies with violations!'
A few seconds later, the draw ended. Su Xiao, as the transaction beneficiary, received a notification.
[Note: Random draw completed. You have obtained Rune Base (3 Rune Slots).]
[Due to special circumstances, this item has not received notarization. Do you wish to pay 3000 Soul Coins to notarize this item?]
[Note: You have been recorded by Apocalypse Paradise and marked as an Invader/Resource Plunderer/Space-Time Power Plunderer...]
[Note: This is the 12th time the Hunter has been recorded by Apocalypse Paradise. The Hunter need not worry about any substantial impact from this record. Such impacts have been protectively shielded by Reincarnation Paradise.]
PS: (Two chapters today, total 8000 words. After maintaining 10,000-word updates for ten days, this waste mosquito's small frame can't keep up anymore.)