Chapter 78: Enhancement Has Risks
The increase was substantial—no, this was the greatest improvement Dragon-Slaying Flash had ever seen.
The enhancement wasn't over yet. Su Xiao still carried a fortune of 137,250 Paradise Coins.
"Bubu, let's go."
Su Xiao took a deep breath. He was preparing to head to the Equipment Enhancement Hall.
Every time he went to the Equipment Enhancement Hall, he felt like he was heading to the execution ground. The term "anxious" was an understatement.
Arriving at the Equipment Enhancement Hall, standing at the entrance for a while revealed the full spectrum of human emotions.
Some contractors wore joyful expressions, while others looked as if they had lost their souls, shuffling forward mechanically. A few even slapped themselves at the door, muttering things like "never enhancing equipment again."
Although the risk of enhancing equipment was extremely high, the rewards were equally great.
Stepping into the Equipment Enhancement Hall, Su Xiao tried his best to ignore the messages left at the entrance—they were too unsettling.
Despite the high risk, this was the most crowded place for contractors outside the Trade Market.
Spanning several thousand square meters, the Equipment Enhancement Hall attracted a large number of contractors after each derivative world.
With such a massive gathering of contractors, some workers caught the scent of Paradise Coins, leading to all sorts of peculiar businesses springing up.
Some sold enhancement techniques, while others offered to enhance equipment for a fee.
Su Xiao approached an equipment enhancement machine. There were few contractors nearby, making it relatively quiet.
"I'll kill you!"
Bang, bang, bang...
The sound of kicking echoed. A contractor, looking deranged, held some iron slag in his hand and was furiously kicking an equipment enhancement machine.
Seeing the dark purple glow of the iron slag in the man's hand, Su Xiao guessed why he was so upset. A dark purple equipment exploding during enhancement would definitely shatter anyone's composure.
Shaking his head, Su Xiao was also here to enhance equipment, but he wouldn't risk the equipment breaking. Without the [Phantom Demon Stone], he wouldn't have come to enhance Dragon-Slaying Flash.
[Phantom Demon Stone]
Quality: Dark Purple
Type: Rare Material
Effect: Can negate one enhancement failure penalty. If the enhancement succeeds, the Phantom Demon Stone will not be consumed.
Rating: 260
Introduction: A magical crystal from the Void, often used to protect weapon enhancements or for socketing.
...
Su Xiao placed his hand on the sensor of the equipment enhancement machine.
[Welcome to Equipment Enhancement Machine No. 426. User holds 137,250 Paradise Coins. Please place the equipment to be enhanced.]
He placed Dragon-Slaying Flash and the Phantom Demon Stone into the machine.
[Equipment verification in progress... Verification complete. Each enhancement costs 23,000 Paradise Coins.]
Su Xiao winced. 23,000 Paradise Coins per attempt—he might end up broke.
Behind him, Bubu Wang sighed. 23,000 Paradise Coins could buy a whole lot of meaty bones.
"Enhance."
[Enhancement begins. Please wait five minutes.]
Rumble...
The enhancement machine roared to life with an impressive noise, beginning its complex operations. Occasionally, the crackling sound of electricity could be heard.
Five minutes passed quickly, and the machine gradually stopped.
Pssshh.
A burst of hot steam sprayed out, and a prompt appeared.
[Dragon-Slashing Flash +8 successful. Continue enhancement?]
The +8 enhancement's additional ability was restored. Su Xiao pondered for a moment. The Phantom Demon Stone was still there. Even if the enhancement failed, he would only lose some Paradise Coins and a stone. Why not take the gamble?
He chose to continue.
The enhancement machine rumbled into operation again.
The five-minute wait began to feel long. If the +9 enhancement succeeded, there was a chance for +10.
Su Xiao had once seen a +10 green equipment—it was incredibly powerful. But for now, +9 wasn't even achieved yet; +10 was too far off.
Pssshh.
Hot steam sprayed out. Su Xiao waited for the result, and Bubu Wang beside him was also a bit nervous.
[Dragon-Slashing Flash +9 successful. Continue enhancement?]
It actually succeeded. Su Xiao took a deep breath. No need to think—he had to go for +10.
"Hey, come look! Someone's going for +10!"
A loud shout came from behind Su Xiao. He frowned and turned around.
It was a chubby, round-faced kid with a booming voice. His shout could be heard across most of the Enhancement Hall.
A few contractors quickly approached, while others didn't bother. Someone else's enhancement was none of their business.
Ignoring the chubby kid, Su Xiao chose to enhance to +10.
The enhancement machine roared. This time, the process was different from before—louder, with more complex operations.
A full ten minutes passed, and the machine was still running. Some nearby contractors grew impatient and walked away.
Twenty minutes went by, and the machine continued. Su Xiao felt uneasy—could this thing be broken?
"Woof!"
Bubu Wang barked loudly, and the enhancement machine suddenly stopped, startling him.
Pssshh!
A thick cloud of steam burst out. Through the white mist, Su Xiao vaguely saw a deep, dark purple glow.
[Dragon-Slashing Flash +10 successful. Continue enhancement?]
It succeeded. It really succeeded.
Su Xiao, who was usually unlucky, had actually managed to enhance a dark purple weapon to +10. How rare was that?
A slightly crazy thought crossed his mind: should he continue?
'I can do this.'
The thought lingered in his mind, but after a moment of hesitation, Su Xiao shook his head.
The [Phantom Demon Stone] hadn't shattered. He could take it out of the machine and use it for future enhancements.
Besides, once Dragon-Slashing Flash was upgraded to a higher quality, its enhancement level would drop, and he would need to enhance it again.
+10 was enough for most situations. The success rate for +11 dropped exponentially to only 6%, and for +12, it was a mere 1%.
He retrieved Dragon-Slashing Flash and the [Phantom Demon Stone], carefully storing the stone away.
Holding Dragon-Slashing Flash in his hand, he noticed a dark gleam occasionally flickering along its edge.
He made a swift slash. A sharp sound of air being cut rang out, leaving faint purple traces in the air—the most notable feature of a +10 enhancement.
Checking Dragon-Slashing Flash's attributes, Su Xiao's pupils slightly contracted.
Dragon-Slashing Flash +10 (Blade Value 0%)
Origin: Shadow of Law Destruction
Quality: Dark Purple
Durability/Attack Power: 84–134 (Increased by 10–12 points)
Equipment Requirement: Inheritor of the Shadow of Law Destruction
Supreme Blade Effect 1: Sharpness +10
Equipment Effect: Shadow Dance Break (Passive): Ignores 25% of enemy defense. After wounding an enemy, reduces their healing effect by 40% for five minutes. (Reduced healing effects include: using recovery items, healing skills, etc.)
+5 Additional Effect: Armor Penetration Increased
+8 Additional Effect: Sharpness +2
+10 Additional Effect: Penetration Increased, Sharpness +4
Rating: 210 (Increased by 30 points)
Introduction: Loss, encounter, battle together, rebirth, growth, legend.
Price: Untradeable.
...
After reaching +10, Dragon-Slashing Flash's sharpness had increased, but more importantly, the Shadow Dance Break ability had undergone a qualitative change.
Ignoring defense and significantly reducing healing effects.
Although the ability description was simpler than before, its effectiveness was several tiers higher.
Su Xiao sheathed Dragon-Slashing Flash and headed straight for the Arena. He wanted to test how powerful his weapon was now.
Over ten minutes later, Su Xiao arrived at the Arena.
[You have entered the Arena. Please select a mode.]
[Combat Mode / Spectator Mode.]
Annotations appeared below.
Spectator Mode: Watch other contractors compete. Costs 5 Paradise Coins per hour. You can choose which matches to watch.
Current ongoing matches: 8,354.
To watch the top 100 in the Arena: 30 Paradise Coins per hour.
To watch the top 10 in the Arena: 100 Paradise Coins per hour.
To watch the top 3 in the Arena: 300 Paradise Coins per hour.
...
"Select Combat Mode."
[Combat Mode is divided into [Solo Battle] and [Team Battle].]
Solo Battle is a 1v1 mode, while Team Battle is a 10v10 mode. Rankings for both modes are calculated separately.
Su Xiao chose Solo Battle, and the matchmaking began.
[Assigning rank for the Hunter. Current rank: 49,506 (Second Rank). (This rank is unrelated to the Hunter's strength; it is based on the number of Arena participations and win/loss record.)]
[Please actively participate in the Arena. The top 10 will receive special rewards (different from First Rank rewards).]
Since his rank was relatively low, Su Xiao didn't have to wait long.
[Match found!]
Su Xiao vanished from the rest chamber. When his vision cleared, he was standing on an arena platform. The platform was over a hundred meters in diameter, surrounded by tiered seating that encircled it. Thousands of spectators filled the seats.
The Second Rank Arena was indeed different from the First. Even around rank 50,000, there were this many spectators.
Ignoring the crowd's shouts and chatter, Su Xiao drew Dragon-Slashing Flash from his waist and looked at his opponent—a female mage. From the violent fire elements swirling around her, he guessed she was a fire mage.
"You've got to be kidding me. A +10 dark purple weapon?"
The female mage's mouth twitched as she recognized the quality and enhancement level of Su Xiao's weapon.
"Shave."
Su Xiao instantly appeared before the female mage, a fierce blade aura slashing down.