Chapter 8: Black Maple Tree Yield (0.1 standard unit, this resource is only visible after Honor Shop reaches level 25)...
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There were dozens more pages, but they weren't very appealing to Su Xiao. His main purpose this time was to buy [Primordial Source Matter].
[You have paid 30 Reincarnation Tokens.]
[You have obtained Primordial Source Matter × 30 portions.]
...
Closing the Honor Shop, Su Xiao took out the [Endless Ring]. Beini had already contacted the seller of [Death Soul Source Matter] and was waiting for Su Xiao's signal.
The unactivated [Endless Ring] was several times larger than a gold coin, with darkness inside that seemed capable of devouring everything. Su Xiao went to an empty room. The floor was covered in array diagrams, prepared for transactions with Star Realm entities, and it happened to be useful now.
Bubu Wang, that cowardly but nosy fool, wobbled in tremblingly. Because he was a bit scared, he even dragged Amu along.
Su Xiao activated the [Endless Ring] in his hand. With a hum, the [Endless Ring] floated up and fixed itself in midair. After it faced Su Xiao, the ring expanded, and the darkness within spread out, forming something like a dark mirror.
In the darkness ahead were faint, indistinct glimmers.
Woo~!
Like the song of a whale in the deep sea, this sound, seemingly from an ancient era, made one feel panicked and fearful in their heart. No, not seemingly—it truly came from ancient times.
Tentacles covered in fine scales probed out from the darkness ahead, but wrapped in the darkness formed by the [Endless Ring], these tentacles did not pierce through.
Su Xiao took out a [Soul Crystal]. A crystal layer climbed onto his hand, sensing its aura. The spreading tentacles paused, and then one tentacle coiled around the [Soul Crystal], swallowing it into the other side of the darkness.
After a moment, that dark tentacle reached back over but brought nothing. This meant this [Ancient Abyss Existence] only intended to take, not to give.
Su Xiao took out a device and adjusted it with clicks. He was manually recording the aura traces of this [Ancient Abyss Existence]. Later, when he could delve into the Abyss and be qualified to slay [Ancient Abyss Existences], he would annihilate this one.
Su Xiao took out the [Book of Original Sin] and tossed it to this [Ancient Abyss Existence]. All the fine-scaled tentacles retracted, and the [Endless Ring] severed the sacrifice connection with this [Ancient Abyss Existence].
Reactivating the [Endless Ring], this time he waited for over ten minutes. A claw covered in fine scales probed through the dark thin layer. Seeing this, Su Xiao still handed over a [Soul Crystal].
The black-scaled claw retracted, then reached back out after a moment. The claw was empty.
Excellent. Another one that couldn't trade. Su Xiao still recorded its aura traces. Speaking of which, if he kept making sacrifices frequently, he might end up compiling a list of [Ancient Abyss Existences] to kill. However, that would probably require strength on the level of the Lord of the Abyss to accomplish.
Su Xiao directly interrupted the sacrifice this time. After the [Endless Ring] went silent, he activated it again. Soon, a scaly eyeball squeezed out from the dark twilight, forming a malformed claw.
Still one [Soul Crystal]. With his current wealth, this kind of trial and error was completely affordable. Moreover, as long as he found an [Ancient Abyss Existence] willing to trade in good faith, this loss would be negligible.
The malformed giant claw retracted, then reached out after a moment. Still nothing. This made Su Xiao confirm one thing through Abyss studies: [Ancient Abyss Existences] born with [War Scales] were generally warlike and aggressive. They obtained resources through devouring—commonly known as being used to plundering—so of course they were too lazy to trade.
Su Xiao tried to manipulate the dark twilight, directly blasting the [Ancient Abyss Existence] ahead back to the distant depths of the Abyss. It actually worked. It seemed that in Reincarnation Paradise's certification of the [Endless Ring], there was a counterattack attached to the [Endless Ring] if an [Ancient Abyss Existence] tried to get something for nothing.
A roar that seemed capable of shattering one's soul came from behind the dark twilight ahead. Su Xiao ended this sacrifice and started again.
After repeated sacrifices, Su Xiao further verified his conjecture. [Ancient Abyss Existences] born with [War Scales] were indeed unlikely to trade, but they were more eager to respond to the [Endless Ring]'s sacrifices. When Su Xiao made his ninth sacrifice, the marks of three-fingered hands appeared on the dark twilight.
These three arms were all very long, each averaging over three meters in length. This was not only due to the size of the small giant-like arms but also because these arms had two elbow joints. Since each hand only had three fingers, let's call them...
[Dark Hands] for now.
Alright, [Dark Hands] wasn't quite fitting. Let's call them [Three Fingers] for now.
Su Xiao handed over a [Soul Crystal]. One hand of [Three Fingers] lifted and grabbed the [Soul Crystal]. It seemed puzzled—why was this Star Realm creature giving it this kind of food? But it was only slightly puzzled before accepting it, since it hadn't eaten such pure soul power in a long time.
After a moment, one hand of [Three Fingers] reached out again. In these hands were various items. When Su Xiao saw that section of carbonized Black Maple Tree branch, he knew that [Three Fingers] was an [Ancient Abyss Existence] that could trade.
Su Xiao took out a [Primordial Core]. Across from him, all of [Three Fingers]'s arms retracted. Soon, dozens of arms reached out, each large hand holding a [Primordial Core]. Seeing this, Su Xiao took out a portion of [Death Soul Source Matter] and handed it to [Three Fingers].
After [Three Fingers] received the [Death Soul Source Matter], it handed over three [Primordial Cores]. Don't talk about value equivalence with these [Ancient Abyss Existences]; they traded entirely based on their own needs and preferences.
Seeing this, Su Xiao had Beini purchase 50 portions of [Death Soul Source Matter], 50 portions of [Resentment Source Matter], 50 portions of [Corrupted Source Matter], and 1 portion each of [Thunder Breath Source Matter], [Sacred Source Matter], [Fire Day Source Matter], and [Seeping Source Matter] from the source matter merchants in the Great Gathering Place.
Among all the basic source matters, [Death Soul Source Matter], [Resentment Source Matter], and [Corrupted Source Matter] were the cheapest. These 150 portions of source matter cost a total of only 35,550 ounces of Space-Time Power. As for [Thunder Breath Source Matter] and the others, they were a bit over 1,000 ounces of Space-Time Power per portion, totaling 4,560 ounces of Space-Time Power.
This transaction could only be described as an incredible profit. When Su Xiao bought discounted [Primordial Cores] in the Honor Shop, each cost 7,500 ounces of Space-Time Power. Moreover, [Primordial Cores] had zero public stock all year round; every time they refreshed, they were instantly bought out by Hunters.
Now, with just over 40,000 Space-Time Power, he obtained over 40 [Primordial Cores]. An absolute steal.
Su Xiao took out all the basic source matters from the team storage space. He released strands of Spirit Shadow Threads, which coiled around each portion of source matter sealed in crystalline containers, then handed them to [Three Fingers].
All of [Three Fingers]'s arms, which had been hanging limply, lifted slightly. This [Ancient Abyss Existence] clearly hadn't expected the traveler it encountered this time to be so generous. It stacked a total of 42 [Primordial Cores] into a pile, then each large hand grabbed some basic source matters.
After [Three Fingers] retracted the hands holding the source matters, it left only one hand, using its fingers to form a special symbol.
Su Xiao began to recall the Abyss studies he had mastered. The basic meaning of this symbol was "friend." He raised his right hand, palm facing forward, and Cyan Steel Shadow Energy formed a symbol in his palm. The meaning of this Abyss symbol was:
"Friendship"
[Three Fingers]'s hand clearly paused for an instant, then used its fingers to form the same symbol:
"Friendship"
Not only that, [Three Fingers] once again formed the "friend" symbol, then the "wait" symbol. Its arms retracted, but the sacrifice ritual was not interrupted.
After about an hour, over a dozen of [Three Fingers]'s arms pressed against the dark twilight again, pushing through it. Each hand held a [Primordial Core].
Su Xiao once again took out 154 portions of basic source matters—a total value of about 40,000 ounces of Space-Time Power—and completed this transaction.
The darkness ahead grew thicker. Flocculent darkness began to appear and cling in the air, like cobwebs in the corners of a wall, spreading across the floor, ceiling, and other places.
This meant that although [Three Fingers] seemed like a tradable [Ancient Abyss Existence], without the interval of the [Endless Ring]'s sacrifice ritual, facing it directly would cause one to be eroded by the darkness it unconsciously spread before the transaction even began. One's mind would become chaotic, the body would undergo dark mutation, and the soul would gradually turn into dark flocculence.
After accepting the 154 portions of basic source matters, a total of 16 [Primordial Cores] were stacked on the ground. [Three Fingers] once again formed the Abyss symbol:
"Wait"
Su Xiao had 10 days of stay time in Reincarnation Paradise this time. A crystal seat formed, and he sat down to wait. This time, after waiting for 2 hours, [Three Fingers] returned. Over a hundred arms pressed through the dark twilight.
A total of 119 [Primordial Cores] were stacked on the ground. Su Xiao still took out 154 portions of basic source matters. This was the benefit of keeping a fixed quantity of source matters each time: he didn't reduce the amount of source matters just because the other party offered fewer [Primordial Cores] in a single transaction. Now, [Three Fingers] also didn't demand an increase in the quantity of basic source matters just because it had offered more [Primordial Cores].
Ultimately, both sides were trading based on their respective needs. On Su Xiao's side, one [Primordial Core] was worth dozens of portions of basic source matters. But in the distant, unknown depths of the Abyss where [Three Fingers] resided, one portion of basic source matter was more precious than dozens of [Primordial Cores], because the power level there only had an extremely low probability of condensing basic source matters.
After three transactions, Su Xiao understood what [Three Fingers] had been doing earlier. The 45 [Primordial Cores] it first offered were probably its entire accumulated stock in that regard. The dozen or so from the second transaction were very likely obtained by [Three Fingers] drifting near other [Ancient Abyss Existences] and exchanging the basic source matters it had just acquired.
The 119 [Primordial Cores] from the third transaction were the same.
This Abyss sacrifice was very lucky. He had encountered [Three Fingers], an [Ancient Abyss Existence] willing to engage in a certain degree of thinking. In fact, powerful [Ancient Abyss Existences] were not without intelligence. Before reaching this level, they were also ferocious, cunning, or wise Abyss beings.
The problem was, when they reached the peak they could achieve, and since they had no natural enemies except their own kind, and in battles with their own kind, any schemes or calculations were meaningless, they gradually stopped thinking. When intelligence went unused for one era, it inevitably became dull. After two eras, it was as if it had rusted.
How many eras had passed since the ancient era until now? No one knew. It was like being in a dark environment for a long time causing the eyes to degenerate. Intelligence and thinking unused for several eras would naturally degenerate, or rather, evolve in another direction—using intelligence to store dark knowledge rather than to think.
This was also why, when one prayed to Abyss beings through sacrifice rituals for dark knowledge, there was a low probability of receiving a response, followed by the pollution of the mind by dark knowledge.
Moreover, abandoning thinking was a form of great wisdom. The distant lands of the Abyss, the unknown depths, were endless darkness and chaos. Drifting from the ancient era to the present in such a place, if one truly had the ability to think, one would fall into severe madness due to the long solitude, or enter a state of complete stillness. Conversely, by stopping thinking, one no longer had these weaknesses.
This was a choice made by [Ancient Abyss Existences] as high-dimensional life forms.
Transaction after transaction began. After the seventh one, [Three Fingers] formed an Abyss symbol:
"Suspend/Interrupt"
Su Xiao knew that [Three Fingers] had temporarily run out of other [Ancient Abyss Existences] to contact. Before ending this Abyss sacrifice, he recorded the [Sacrifice Ritual Pattern] representing [Three Fingers] onto the [Endless Ring].
[Equipment Effect 1: Abyss Sacrifice (Passive). Through this equipment, you can engage in sacrificial communication and item trading with random [Ancient Abyss Existences] far from the Star Realm.
Tip: When you randomly communicate or trade with an [Ancient Abyss Existence] after a sacrifice, you can choose to fix the sacrifice ritual pattern of the [Endless Ring], and subsequently only communicate and trade items with this [Ancient Abyss Existence].]
If he continued trying to find other [Ancient Abyss Existences] for sacrifices, there was certainly a chance of obtaining some [Primordial Cores], but the probability was very low. Especially since [Three Fingers] had already used itself as an intermediary channel to allow some tradable [Ancient Abyss Existences] to complete [Primordial Core] transactions with Su Xiao.
Moreover, if he didn't record [Three Fingers]'s [Sacrifice Ritual Pattern], trying to contact [Three Fingers] again later would be like looking for a needle in a haystack in the vast Abyss. And the nearly ten failed transactions earlier showed how rare [Three Fingers] was as an [Ancient Abyss Existence].
After seven transactions, Su Xiao had spent a total of 280,770 ounces of Space-Time Power to buy basic source matters. The harvest was a total of 370 [Primordial Cores]. However, this was not a stable acquisition channel.
He was probably the first person from the First Era to the Third Era to trade with an [Ancient Abyss Existence]. The first reward would naturally be exceptionally generous. Subsequent returns would continue to decrease, eventually settling into a stable but low-yield range.
He now had 424 [Primordial Cores]. This was already an astonishing number, but it still hadn't reached the amount needed to advance to [Supreme Peak].
Leaving the room filled with ritual array diagrams, Su Xiao came to the planting area and stopped in front of the Black Maple Tree. With the experience from last time, he began to release his current Space-Time Power. As the Space-Time Power was released, the [Devouring Ritual] under the Black Maple Tree was activated.
The roots of the Black Maple Tree, connected to the [Devouring Ritual], seemed to come alive, absorbing the Space-Time Power. This caused the leaves on the Black Maple Tree to quickly wither and fall off, turning into powder. But soon, new branches and leaves grew.
A total of 400,000 ounces of Space-Time Power were invested. The growth rate of the Black Maple Tree once again climbed to its historical peak. More precious was that this was not forced growth like pulling up seedlings to help them grow, but accelerated growth. The time force field near the Black Maple Tree even showed changes, proving this was no mere speculation.
The Black Maple Tree, originally 15 meters tall, surged toward the 20-meter level. After absorbing 400,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, it reached the 20-meter level, with a trunk diameter of 1.2 meters. At this point, the Black Maple Tree already had the bearing of the mother tree he had seen in the past.
Su Xiao took out the crystalline object sealing the [Black Tiger Bee]. This item had been revived in activity through the 1st member of the Phantom Troupe. He came to the door of the planting area leading to the Alchemy Laboratory. Entering the laboratory, he sat in front of the metal operating table of the Eye Ritual and began to construct an ultra-small time force field ritual through the Eye Ritual.
Within the time force field ritual, the crystalline object sealing the [Black Tiger Bee] gradually dissolved. The Black Tiger Bee Queen inside began to show signs of waking.
Seeing this, Su Xiao slowly took it out of the time force field. When the Black Tiger Bee Queen touched the current time, it showed some signs of aging. However, the aging traces gradually disappeared as it shed its shell.
After all, the Black Tiger Bee Queen was a fierce supernatural creature with relatively tenacious vitality. Su Xiao returned to the planting area. As soon as he opened the separation container, the Black Tiger Bee Queen, several times larger than a thumb, flew out with a buzz. The Black Tiger Bee Queen vibrated its wings, circled around a few times, then landed on a branch of the Black Maple Tree, its mandibles moving rapidly.
It seemed to be starving. It was devouring the resin secreted by the Black Maple Tree to replenish its weakened insect body.
[Tip: Your Black Maple Tree has entered the harvestable stage.]
The Black Maple Tree absorbed the Space-Time Power faster than last time. Su Xiao chose to harvest.
[You have obtained Black Maple Tree Yield × 6.1 standard units.]
Putting the packaged Black Maple Tree yield into the team storage space, over at the Great Gathering Place, the general manager of the Goblin Merchant Guild, Jinguwu, had long been waiting near Beini's stall.
This time there were 6.1 standard units. Su Xiao had Beini quote a price of 160 [Primordial Cores] and 10 portions of [Primordial Source Matter]. Unfortunately, even for the Goblin Merchant Guild, the stock of [Primordial Source Matter] was always critically low. Their highest offer was 180 [Primordial Cores].
General Manager Jinguwu was almost in tears. This Law Destroyer didn't consider any other resources at all; he just squeezed their Goblin Merchant Guild's [Primordial Cores] dry. Recently, the Goblin Merchant Guild had been desperately buying up all the [Primordial Cores] on the market, even driving up the price of this Supreme Rank resource, which had been stable for half an era.
The Goblin Merchant Guild didn't have any [Primordial Source Matter] in stock. This was within Su Xiao's expectations. Or rather, the Goblin Merchant Guild couldn't touch the resources in the [Main Vault]. That was the foundation of the Goblin Merchant Guild's prosperity to this day. The Goblin Merchant Guild would rather give up this Black Maple Tree business than touch any resources in the [Main Vault].
A total of 180 [Primordial Cores] were obtained. Su Xiao now had 604 [Primordial Cores].
Removing his clothes, Su Xiao came to the Sacred Spring and immersed himself in it. Feeling the spring water reaching his chest, the pure soul power and nourishment to the body brought by the Sacred Spring, he began to upgrade his [Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash] ability.
[To upgrade Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash, Lv.1, requires consuming 1,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, 10 [Primordial Cores], and 1 portion of [Primordial Source Matter].]
A total of 9,000 ounces of Space-Time Power plus 90 [Primordial Cores] and nine portions of [Primordial Source Matter]. The first upgrade of [Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash] began.
One by one, the [Primordial Cores] shattered. Under the mediation of 9,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, mixed with [Primordial Source Matter], they eventually transformed into a peculiar energy that merged into Su Xiao's body. He immediately fell into a meditative state. This was the first time he had been passively forced into meditation.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Xiao woke up. He felt himself. The upgrade of [Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash] gave him the most intuitive feeling: not only a further sublimation of his blade techniques, but also that his physique could now be enhanced to a higher level.
After checking the remaining 514 [Primordial Cores], he used 16 [Reincarnation Tokens] to exchange for 16 portions of [Primordial Source Matter] and chose to upgrade [Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash].
[To perform this upgrade, a total of 580,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, 510 [Primordial Cores], and 51 portions of [Primordial Source Matter] will be consumed.]
When all the [Primordial Cores] shattered, under the mediation of hundreds of thousands of ounces of Space-Time Power, they merged with over 50 portions of [Primordial Source Matter]. A large surge of energy, appearing as a pale gold color, rushed into Su Xiao's chest. The next instant.
A roar sounded in Su Xiao's ears. He seemed to arrive in a pitch-black domain. Then, with him as the center, the surrounding world gradually gained color. Grass and trees grew, streams flowed slowly, and above were blue skies and white clouds. The world seemed to be within his grasp. He could even feel the world's power slowly flowing and being absorbed in trace amounts by things along the way.
Su Xiao raised his hand, his fingers slashing diagonally upward. The world along the path was casually cut open by him, revealing the hidden mysteries beneath the world.
He suddenly opened his eyes. White hot air slowly rose. Su Xiao was still sitting cross-legged in the Sacred Spring. Everything that had just happened seemed to let him understand a bit of the essence of the Star Realm, but he couldn't quite comprehend what it was.
[Your [Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash] ability has been upgraded to Lv.61.]
[Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash, Lv.61 (Extreme Realm Technique · Passive)]
Basic Effect: All technique ability comprehensive intensity increased by 152% (includes Blade Grandmaster, Melee Grandmaster, Blood Spear Grandmaster) (this increase: 150.5%).
Skill Effect: Extreme Blade (Exclusive Passive). This characteristic is the [Move Foundation] of the current technique ability. All your technique move abilities used with the long blade in your hand will have their comprehensive power fixed based on this ability (comprehensive power includes proficiency, development level, move power, move range, move activation speed, etc., all characteristics related to technique moves).
Current Extreme Blade · Foundation Intensity: 108 points.
Extreme Realm Effect 1: Heavenly Edge Shadow Slash (Extreme Realm · Exclusive Passive). Your blade technique ability will no longer be constrained by past blade technique moves. You can execute blade technique moves highly suited to the current battle and environment based on different worlds, different environments, and different enemies.
Extreme Realm Effect 2: Selfless Realm (Extreme Realm · Exclusive Passive). Enter the [Selfless Realm], temporarily forget other blade technique moves, retaining only the one blade technique move currently being used, thereby elevating it to the extreme.
Current Selfless Realm Enhancement Limit: 3.2 times move power (this is the final settlement enhancement after including all bonuses).
Warning: After entering the [Selfless Realm], a large amount of your Stamina and Health Points will be consumed (estimated consumption of 65% of current Stamina and over 20,000,000 Health Points. If Stamina is insufficient, it will be forcibly overdrawn. If Health Points are insufficient, death will occur immediately).
Warning: Your Health Points have not reached 20,000,000. If you forcibly use this ability, there is a 60% probability of failure and a 40% probability of death as a result.
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About Today's Update Error
Today's update issue 1: Regarding the use of [Task Completion Voucher], I originally planned to use all three. But when I got this reward, I saw a comment in that chapter saying that a reader proposed a very tempting way to use them. So I changed the subsequent unpublished chapters. But I did something very stupid: I changed it but didn't change it all, leaving a section below. So readers were confused—was it used or not?
I was even more careless when checking. Subconsciously, I thought all three [Task Completion Vouchers] had been used, resulting in this blunder. It has now been corrected. My apologies.
Issue 2: Many readers reported that the price of Reincarnation Rank equipment wasn't high enough and was unreasonable. I have corrected it. Changed to: Unusable Reincarnation Rank equipment starts at over 6,000 ounces of Space-Time Power (equivalent to its material value). Usable Reincarnation Rank equipment, even the weakest, starts at 60,000 ounces of Space-Time Power. A full-score Reincarnation Rank equipment can reach millions, or even tens of millions of ounces of Space-Time Power.
I am not a self-indulgent writer. I am willing to write what the readers like to read.
I originally wanted to add an extra chapter to make up for today's mistake, but unfortunately, I don't have enough manuscript reserves. After resuming updates, the update time has been so stable thanks to the manuscript reserves. The small amount of remaining manuscript must be kept to ensure the update time doesn't flip back and forth between day and night like before.
Also, recently I only occasionally have anxiety attacks. Compared to before, when I would get severely dizzy just sitting in front of the computer, it's already much better. Now, when I feel a bit dizzy, I honestly rest.
Finally, I wish all readers good health. Obviously, this is something I also want very much and am working hard to achieve.
Screw it, I'll add an extra chapter anyway. Otherwise, I really don't have the sincerity to apologize.