Chapter 109 - 100: Magical Artifact Advancement

Chapter 109: Chapter 100: Magical Artifact Advancement

「That night, in the bedroom.」

Zhao Zuo took out the master token for his Communication Jade, placed the two advancement materials—Top Grade Spiritual Fat White Jades—next to it, then sat up straight and regulated his breathing.

"Advance."

A gray light gradually materialized from the void. It flowed like a liquid, enveloping the advancement materials and the Communication Jade. A golden light shot from between Zhao Zuo’s eyebrows and into the Communication Jade. The gray light, like nimble fingers, delved deep inside the jade... continuously picking out its impurities.

Time seemed to stand still in that moment. Even the wind outside the room became eerily quiet.

Zhao Zuo watched the advancement with rapt attention, his brow furrowed. It was as if he were trying to learn the secrets of Magical Artifact advancement, while simultaneously searing the scene before him deep into his mind.

Every collision between the gray light and the Communication Jade seemed to stir a mysterious power. As this power took effect, impurities were removed, and the essence of the two Spiritual Fat White Jades was absorbed.

As the Spirit Pattern Paths inside the Communication Jade were gradually refined, it began to emit a faint glow, similar in color to moonlight—soft and cool.

Zhao Zuo could feel the Communication Jade transforming, and joy bloomed in his heart. He eagerly anticipated the potential effects after the advancement... it was as if he could already sense the convenience and help the upgraded Communication Jade would bring.

After more than half an hour, the advancement of the Communication Jade was finally complete.

As the gray light faded, two Communication Jade tokens floated in the air above the desk.

[Advancement Description: Communication range increased to 300 kilometers. One additional sub-token created.]

Zhao Zuo was very satisfied with this range. Even if Shen Yunjiao entered the Yunlan Mountain Range to hunt Demon Beasts in the future, he could still use the Communication Jade to contact her and check on her safety. The only problem was... doing so would inevitably reveal that the Communication Jade was actually a Middle Grade Magical Artifact.

Zhao Zuo took the Communication Jades from mid-air and easily identified his master token.

As for the other Communication Jade sub-token, Zhao Zuo hadn’t yet figured out who to give it to—who would be the person he used to farm experience points.

Zhao Zuo suddenly slapped his forehead. ’Of course! If I get experience just by using it, then I can talk to myself between the master and sub-tokens to get experience points!’

’This’ll work. A new little trick for the daily EXP grind.’

[Level: Middle Grade Magical Artifact: Communication Jade]

[EXP: 3904/2000]

[Status: Upgradable]

Zhao Zuo rolled the advanced Communication Jade between his fingers, finding its texture had become warmer and smoother. The Spirit Pattern Paths once carved on its surface had shifted to the interior, growing more complex, and faint golden patterns were now hidden deep within its core.

"Upgrade."

The familiar gray light spread out and finally dissipated after about a quarter of an hour.

[Upgrade Description: Increases usage range by 100 kilometers.]

Zhao Zuo was very satisfied with this effect.

Having finished the advancement and upgrade of the Communication Jade, Zhao Zuo turned his attention to the Breath Concealment Ring. Its advancement material was an ore called Shadow Stone, which possessed the ability to absorb the auras and fluctuations naturally emitted by Cultivators. As such, it was often the primary material used to craft Concealing Breath Magical Artifacts.

Two pieces of Shadow Stone had cost Zhao Zuo a full 300 Spirit Stones.

Zhao Zuo slipped the Breath Concealment Ring off his finger, feeling the pulse of its faint Spiritual Light. He placed the two pieces of Shadow Stone next to the ring and gently tapped the "advance" option.

The familiar gray light spread, enveloping the entire metal ring. Gradually, it lost its metallic properties and became more like jade, its surface turning smooth and crystalline.

’If I succeed in joining the Moyun Sect, the Breath-Concealing Ring will be extremely important for suppressing my aura and Spiritual Power fluctuations. It must hide the secret of how fast my Cultivation is progressing. Only then can I cultivate freely. That’s why I need to focus on upgrading it right now.’

The two Shadow Stones provided new energy for the Breath-Concealing Ring’s upgrade. It floated silently in mid-air as the gray light darted into every corner of the ring, removing impurities and integrating the new essence. A faint fluctuation emanated from within the ring, a pulse that was slowly growing stronger.

The upgrade process continued for some time, and Zhao Zuo’s anticipation for the coming transformation grew. Finally, the Breath-Concealing Ring began to emit a faint halo, as if its power had been greatly enhanced.

After another moment, the gray light finally dissipated.

[Advancement Description: Enhanced the ability to conceal Mana and Spiritual Power fluctuations. By consuming Mana, you can reduce your presence and the sounds you make while moving.]

’This is basically... a Divine Skill for stealth and sneak attacks. Perfect for stabbing people in the back.’

Immediately after... a transparent panel appeared.

[Level: Breath-Concealing Ring]

[EXP: 12650/2000]

[Status: Upgradable]

Without hesitation, Zhao Zuo tapped "Upgrade" three times in a row.

[EXP: -12000]

[Upgrade Description: Greatly increases the Magical Artifact’s effect of concealing Mana fluctuations.]

[Upgrade Description: Greatly increases the Magical Artifact’s effect of concealing Spiritual Power fluctuations.]

[Upgrade Description: Greatly increases the Magical Artifact’s effect of reducing presence.]

Zhao Zuo waited a moment before putting the Breath Concealment Ring on his hand and circulating a bit of Mana through it. Originally, the ring could only lower his apparent cultivation by one layer—for example, from the Qi Refining Fifth Layer to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Now, however, it could adjust it by three layers.

In other words, he could lower his appearance from the Qi Refining Fifth Layer to the Qi Refining Second Layer.

Additionally, the effect of concealing Spiritual Power fluctuations was targeted at the Magical Artifacts on Zhao Zuo’s person; it could mask the fluctuations of the artifacts themselves.

For example, while activating the Breath Concealment Ring, if he were to use a Middle Grade Magical Artifact, an observer would only sense the fluctuations of a Lower Grade Magical Artifact. Of course, this concealment effect was only effective for artifacts within a two-meter radius of him.

If the Sky-Breaking Saber left this two-meter-diameter circle, its fluctuations would once again register at the Middle Grade Magical Artifact level.

Furthermore, the Breath Concealment Ring could also mask the Spiritual Power fluctuations of Spiritual Objects.

As for the final effect, reducing his presence, Zhao Zuo intended to test it as well. Obviously, he couldn’t reduce his own perception of himself, but he knew that at the very least, the sound of his footsteps and the air currents he disturbed while walking would be smoothed over by the Breath Concealment Ring.

The range of this ability... was also only about two meters.

With the advancement of both Magical Artifacts complete, Zhao Zuo breathed a sigh of relief and put away the Communication Jade with a satisfied smile. These two items had become even more crucial to him. He was especially pleased with the idea of pairing the Breath Concealment Ring with the Hundred-Change Mask; their synergy would surely make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

’This also diversifies my combat methods. For example... I could find out an enemy’s location during the day, then change my face and aura at night, sneak into their house, and send them on their way.’

’Then, I could use the two Magical Artifacts to make a clean getaway.’

Although Zhao Zuo had prioritized the advancement of the Breath-Concealing Ring, that didn’t mean he was going to pull all-nighters forging Magical Artifacts to earn Spirit Stones.

As for grinding EXP, that was something best left for times when he wasn’t in peak condition.

For now, Zhao Zuo planned to absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power and cultivate.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and soon entered a state of deep meditation. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power began to gather around him. For some reason... Zhao Zuo felt the concentration of Spiritual Power in his vicinity had dropped significantly, as if a Taotie Giant Beast had devoured most of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the area.

But then a thought struck him, and he guessed it was because of Shen Yunjiao, who was in closed-door cultivation. ’Since that Foundation Establishment inheritance is named after the Taotie, it must naturally possess the Evil Beast’s ability to devour all things.’

...

PS: Thanks for subscribing, everyone. Please vote with your monthly tickets!