Chapter 5: Golden Arena Ticket ×1
The World Task rewards were substantial. Su Xiao first checked the attributes of the [Dawn Pass].
[Dawn Pass]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise
Category: Pass.
Effect: After using this item, you can enter Dawn Paradise (Dark Ruins state).
Warning: Hunters must not use this item before advancing to Absolute Strength rank. At the current stage, the Dawn Ruins are extremely dangerous. Only after advancing to Absolute Strength rank will you have the qualifications to explore.
Introduction: Go seek the treasures hidden in the darkness, or be buried in the endless darkness.
...
Seeing the attributes of the [Dawn Pass] and the note (This is the basic reward of this task) attached to it when obtained, Su Xiao thought of one thing: why Shenfu had actively gone to Wind Sea Continent to participate in this battle. Clearly, there was something in the Dawn Ruins that Shenfu wanted.
Normally speaking, Shenfu should have won this time. If any one of Su Xiao, the ruthless man, or the masked woman had been missing, Shenfu would have been victorious.
Regarding what Shenfu was plotting, Su Xiao began to think back on all their interactions in Wind Sea Continent, then eliminated possibilities one by one. Finally, he locked onto one thing: when in Wind Sea Continent, Shenfu had asked him whether he had opened Huishenshi's Scarlet Card.
At that time, whether Su Xiao answered yes or no, Shenfu wouldn't believe it. That question was essentially pointless, and the scene at that time was exactly that—Shenfu rarely suffered a setback. But now it seemed that Shenfu had deliberately created that atmosphere to maximize the chance of Su Xiao lowering his suspicion about this matter.
That old bastard Shenfu was planning something again. Su Xiao couldn't fully guess it yet, but it was definitely related to Huishenshi, Feng, and the Dawn Ruins.
Putting away the [Dawn Pass], Su Xiao checked the [Honor Shop Refresh Delay Permission (One Use)]. This permission was quite interesting. Although it wouldn't immediately refresh the Honor Shop, if used now, after the next world progress ended and world settlement occurred, the Honor Shop would undergo a major refresh, similar to the degree of refresh after winning a round of World Battle.
Su Xiao used this permission, then checked the [Star Stone Disc].
[Star Stone Disc]
Quality: Origin Level.
Type: Enhancement Item·Rare
Effect: Can upgrade an Origin Level +15 equipment to Enhancement +16 (100% success rate).
Introduction: A miraculous item that breaks through limits.
...
The enhancement limit for Origin Level was +15. Beyond that, no matter how rare the Origin Stone used, it would definitely fail, causing the equipment to shatter. This [Star Stone Disc] could break through that limit.
However, Dragon-Slaying Flash was only at Enhancement +13 now. To enhance it to +16, it was actually... not impossible, and could even be done soon. Checking his remaining 270,000 Soul Coins, he suddenly felt that Soul Coins were still insufficient.
Putting away the [Star Stone Disc], he picked up the [Intense Emblem (Special Item)].
[Intense Emblem]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise
Category: Special (No need to wear directly; store in team storage space to take effect)
Durability: 1/1.
Equipment Effect: After storing it in team storage space, when you or any team member suffers a high-intensity strong attack causing HP to suddenly drop to 1%, this emblem will activate, locking that unit's life force for 10 seconds, putting it into an absolute invincible state.
Tip: Only when HP drops by more than 70% in an extremely short time can this equipment's protection be triggered.
Tip: Activating this effect will permanently consume 1 point of this equipment's durability limit. When the durability limit reaches 0, this equipment is damaged.
Introduction: This is a rejection of death.
...
This item was very good, a tool to prevent being one-shot when ambushed. However, in regular combat, Su Xiao couldn't trigger it. An enemy strong enough to knock off 70% of his HP in an extremely short time simply couldn't be fought against.
But for Bubu Wang, Baha, and Beini, this was a life-saving artifact. Especially for Bubu Wang, sometimes the need to avoid being instantly killed by enemies prevented it, even with its ability to blend into the environment, from going to enemy lairs to scout.
Now with the [Intense Emblem], Bubu Wang could be reckless again. If discovered by enemies and attacked, Bubu Wang would immediately enter 10 seconds of absolute invincibility.
At that time, Bubu Wang could take out a specially made Soul Stone from Su Xiao, activate it to unfold the [Law-Destroying Teleportation Array], and with invincibility + teleportation, enemies could only watch helplessly as Bubu Wang escaped.
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang's eyes sparkled. At high ranks, it hadn't been able to be reckless for a long time, which was very uncomfortable. Its foolish nature hadn't been expressed in a long time.
Su Xiao examined the [Intense Emblem] in his hand, then took out the Eye of All Gods, peeled off the Mysterious Eye from it, and attached the enhanced Mysterious Eye to the [Intense Emblem]. Checking the [Intense Emblem]'s attributes again, the effect hadn't changed at all, but the durability had increased from 1 point to 3 points.
Seeing this, Bubu Wang's smile gradually became unrestrained. Its big tail wagged even more happily, creating a breeze. Beini, who was drinking fruit juice and playing on a terminal nearby, was hit by the tail and let out a "Mew~" sound, the straw spinning away as it flew. From Beini's dazed expression, it had been stunned.
"Mew meow!"
Beini pounced on Bubu Wang's head, claws extended, the tips seeming to flash with momentary light.
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang's joy turned to sorrow as it was chased up and down.
Ignoring the daily scuffles between Bubu Wang and Beini, Su Xiao picked up the [Golden Arena Ticket] to check. This item showed an unactivated state, but its origin was the Witch Realm, one of the three Transcendent Primordial Worlds, the territory of the Night Temptation Witches.
Su Xiao meditated for a moment. The stinging sensation throughout his body from mastering [Adaptation Force] gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of solidity brought by [Adaptation Force]. He stood up and went to the Alchemy Laboratory, exchanging Soul Coins for various materials. After processing the remaining six [Eternal Life Sources], he began catalyzing several semi-finished solutions.
This was a potion with a complex preparation process. The material catalysis would take at least a few hours. Taking advantage of this time, he dragged out a metal trough several meters in size and began preparing a new solution.
Soon, the solution in the metal trough began to bubble and boil. Su Xiao poured [Extreme Pure·Abyss Blood] into it, and the solution turned light red. He soaked himself in it.
He stayed until the solution cooled completely before getting out. This permanently increased his Abyss Resistance by 3 points. Checking the remaining solution, he found it still contained a considerable concentration of Abyss Blood. He reheated the solution and added over a dozen catalyzed materials.
Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini couldn't directly use [Extreme Pure·Abyss Blood], but after Su Xiao used it, the Abyss Blood content in the solution had reached a level they could withstand. Of course, the experience of soaking in it would be quite unforgettable, but it could increase their Abyss Resistance.
Su Xiao thought for a moment, pushed the metal trough back into the large catalysis device, then walked to the door and said, "Clean up."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini all walked toward the Alchemy Laboratory. Cleaning here was a meticulous task. Using permissions would be more trouble than it was worth; it was better to do it themselves.
With a click, the Alchemy Laboratory door locked. Bubu Wang and Baha exchanged glances and immediately tried to slip toward the emergency exit.
Ten seconds later, Su Xiao kicked Amu into the metal trough, grabbed Baha by the neck with his left hand and threw it into the solution, and grabbed Beini by the scruff with his right hand, also tossing it in. Strangely, Beini left a glistening tear in midair.
Su Xiao looked at Bubu Wang. Bubu's dog face was almost turning green. It let out a series of "Woofs" in frantic argument, almost speaking human language in its desperation, but was dragged by Su Xiao to the metal trough.
Soon, Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, and Beini were all obediently soaking inside. Seeing this, Su Xiao went to the workbench and began preparing a Life Source Potion. This was custom-made for White Bull. Presumably, at the next Empty Seat Banquet, White Bull would be willing to pay a high price for this Life Source Potion.
When the potion was ready, it was already noon. Su Xiao picked up a wooden box, left his Exclusive Room, and headed toward Lide's forge.
When he arrived at the forge door, it was wide open this time. Lide was leisurely drinking beer by the anvil, while O O, further inside at the workbench, was making some small gadget, with only the crisp and pleasant sound of gears and springs audible.
"Want one?"
Lide fished out a bottle of ice-cold beer from the coolant, a faint smile on his bearded face—the smile of someone who had persisted and won. Lide was certain that the detestable, damnable, should-be-chopped-into-a-thousand-pieces Immortal-level long leather coat couldn't advance to Origin Level. Even with an Origin-level Holy Spirit Miracle, it was impossible.
The only way to upgrade that Immortal-level long leather coat was through a dedicated item. Based on his understanding of that detestable long leather coat, it was made by a witch named Dark Crow, and that witch had long since died.
Plus, the long leather coat had been upgraded several times since. Even if Dark Crow's remains were found, the grade of those remains wouldn't reach the level needed to upgrade [Wild Hunt Night]. Therefore, it was unsolvable. Thinking of this, Lide smiled even more contentedly.
Lide probably never dreamed that there existed an equipment called the Chapter of Greed, which turned what he thought impossible into possible.
As for Su Xiao buying a new Origin-level long leather coat, Lide didn't care about that. Because repairing that kind of defense and repairing [Wild Hunt Night] were on completely different levels. The former's difficulty was around 50-80, while repairing [Wild Hunt Night] was at least 6000 or more. Lide often repaired it until his eyes were bloodshot and his expression intermittently ferocious.
Yes, it was that exaggerated. The characteristics of [Wild Hunt Night] were no longer those of an ordinary piece of equipment. This armor had experienced too many deadly battles and damages. Just the scattered embers floating when it was damaged showed it was not simple.
Su Xiao put down his sheathed longsword and the Black King Bracer. These all needed Lide's help with repair and maintenance. Finally, he placed down a wooden box, left a few bottles of Elemental Brew, and then walked away. After leaving the forge, his steps seemed to quicken slightly.
Inside the forge, Lide put away the few bottles of Elemental Brew. His gaze inadvertently swept to the wooden box on the anvil. Seeing this box, his heart trembled, but thinking that [Wild Hunt Night] could no longer keep up with Su Xiao's pace and couldn't advance to Origin Level, he relaxed again.
Nevertheless, Lide still opened the wooden box first. When he saw the familiar bundle of leather strips inside, blood vessels instantly burst in his eyes. He stood up and rushed to the forge door, but Su Xiao's figure had already disappeared without a trace.
"This is impossible!!"
Lide glared at the [Wild Hunt Night] inside the wooden box, speaking through gritted teeth. Clearly, his mental state had undergone a tremendous upheaval.