Chapter 119
Chapter 119
[Longquan Sword] (Intermediate National Artifact – Celestial Spirit Tier)
Attack: 15,000-16,500
Bonus: All Attributes +500
Trait: Attack +150%, Attack Speed +100%
Trait: Sharpness, attacks ignore 10% of the target’s Defense
Effect: Physical Lifesteal +10%
National Artifact Exclusive Effect: Sunder, the wielder’s attacks have a 30% chance to deal double damage, a 10% chance to deal triple damage, and a 1% chance to deal five times the damage
National Artifact Exclusive Special Skill: [Longquan]
Required Level: 75
Required Fame: 5,000
Description: Legend holds that this sword was forged jointly by the two master swordsmiths Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang. More than a weapon for the battlefield, it is a symbol of integrity and noble character, representing the ancient scholar’s devotion to virtue and faith.
—
[Longquan] (SS Rank): Increases the overall power of your next damage-dealing skill by 30%.
…
What a sword!
Zhou Ming held the Longquan Sword and could not bear to put it down.
Submit and Perish’s and Rule by Inaction’s maximum Panel Attack values were only about equal to the base value provided by the Longquan Sword, yet the Longquan Sword also increased Attack by 150%.
In other words, this single weapon gave Zhou Ming 41,250 maximum Attack. No wonder Qianying, who rarely commented on equipment, had been willing to praise it.
Its Physical Lifesteal also meant that the greater his damage output became, the stronger his ability to survive would be.
Zhou Ming then turned to his other items: a belt covered in exquisite patterns, a scroll intertwined with azure and red, and a pitch-black ore that gave off a faint black mist.
[Boundless Belt] (SS-Rank Cosmetic)
Description: Contains a special spatial array capable of storing a vast quantity of supplies. Extremely convenient.
Effect: Inventory Slots +200, greatly increases Carrying Capacity
Additional Effects: HP +100%, Movement Speed +20%
Required Fame: 5,000
Required Level: 75
[God-Gifted Scroll] (S Rank)
Description: In a moment of crisis, it may be able to help you.
Item Effect: All Attributes +50%
[Stone of Divine Condemnation] (God Tier)
Description: Legend tells of a Demon God in primordial times who slaughtered all living beings with the sword in his hand. His deeds brought down divine condemnation. When he perished, his blood, infused with the power of that condemnation, scattered across the world. Every object it touched became extraordinary, transforming into a supreme treasure fought over by all living beings.
…
The Boundless Belt had arrived at exactly the right time!
With every campaign, Zhou Ming acquired more items across the Destiny Continent, and his inventory had indeed become too small. He could have god-tier experts store things for him, but that was ultimately cumbersome and prevented him from immediately retrieving an item at a critical moment.
The God-Gifted Scroll could also provide a substantial boost right now.
As for the Stone of Divine Condemnation…
“Qianying, does this count as forging material?” Zhou Ming asked as he took it out.
“…It does!”
Qianying’s gaze sharpened slightly as she gave him a definite answer. “Judging by the description, however, the Stone of Divine Condemnation contains the blood of an ancient Demon God and the power of divine condemnation. Both forces are exceptionally violent and ferocious. They may very well influence whoever possesses it, so you must handle it with extreme caution.”
She paused, then continued, “At the very least, before you try using it to forge a divine weapon, you must ensure that you possess extremely high Mental Resistance.”
“I see!”
Zhou Ming understood.
He had suspected there was more to the Stone of Divine Condemnation’s description than met the eye, but he truly had not considered raising his own Mental Resistance.
Zhou Ming carefully put away the “God-Tier ore,” equipped the Boundless Belt, then opened both of his War Soul-Grade Equipment Selection Chests. There was no need to deliberate over which pieces to choose.
Anyone who was not an idiot would obviously choose one of the three rare equipment slots: rings, necklaces, or capes. They were simply far too difficult to obtain.
Even Zhou Ming had never imagined it would take him until now to finally fill his necklace slot.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have obtained [Skyflight Ring] from a [War Soul-Grade Equipment Selection Chest]!]
Ding!
[System Notification: You have obtained [Azurecloud Necklace] from a [War Soul-Grade Equipment Selection Chest]!]
Zhou Ming took out the two pieces of War Soul-grade equipment and shamelessly said, “Qianying, I’ll have to trouble you again.”
How could he not know, how could he possibly dare not know, that every achievement he had today was thanks to Qianying’s care?
Even the God-Demon Orb itself had come from Qianying.
He owed her far too much. There was no way he could ever repay it all!
“There’s no need to be so formal. Enhancing equipment is hardly difficult for me.”
Qianying gently shook her head. “I built up a deep foundation in Taoyuan Village. Even if you someday want to forge the Stone of Divine Condemnation into a divine weapon, I can help you raise that weapon another level. However…”
She seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.
“However what?”
Zhou Ming looked softly at the white-robed young woman before him. “Do the two of us still need to hide things from each other? I’ve never thought of you as an outsider. Even if you scold me for endlessly using your ability to enhance my equipment, or say I dragged you into the predicament we’re in today, I’ll accept it all and admit you’re right!”
With those words, he voiced the guilt he had been carrying.
Qianying remaining beside him was an incredible blessing for Zhou Ming. But for her, it offered nothing but danger and endless, mind-numbing stretches of waiting inside the God-Demon Orb.
He often tried to find topics that would let him have a deeper conversation with Qianying, but she was quiet by nature.
“I gave you the God-Demon Orb. If anyone dragged the other into trouble, wouldn’t that make it me?” Qianying did not know whether to laugh or cry. She pursed her lips, then spoke frankly. “By then, you should possess considerable strength. I hope you can take me home.”
Zhou Ming: “…”
Take you home?
That was no problem at all!
He would even bring two bags of fruit and two cases of drinks!
Seeming to realize her words could be misinterpreted, Qianying added, “I mean that I hope you can help me return to my homeland.”
“All right!”
Zhou Ming agreed solemnly. “When the time comes, we’ll go together. I’d like to see what Qianying’s homeland is like too.”
He still remembered Qianying telling him back in the novice village that her home was very, very far away.
Presumably, she did not belong to the Destiny Continent.
“Together?” Qianying asked in surprise.
Zhou Ming froze. “You want to go back alone?”
“What I mean is that once we go, we may not be able to return,” Qianying explained. “It took me countless years, including all the time I spent inside the God-Demon Orb, to finally locate my homeland. Getting there will not be easy. Returning will be harder than ascending to heaven.”
“I see…”
Zhou Ming thought for a moment. “Then I’ll need to find a way to return from your homeland to the Destiny Continent someday.”
“…”
Qianying gazed deeply at him without speaking.
“Of course!”
Zhou Ming made a small qualification. His heartbeat inexplicably accelerated, and he forced himself to sound casual as he asked, “It’s entirely up to you. Do you… want me to go with you?”
He was no fourteen- or fifteen-year-old child, but this was the first time he had asked a girl such a question, and it still left him flustered.
Even so, he decided to risk it.
Zhou Ming knew the old saying: if you never make a move, there can never be a story.
So…
He tentatively stepped forward, then waited to see whether Qianying would take a step toward him or retreat.
Two seconds… Five seconds…
Every second felt like a year. Zhou Ming grew so nervous and tormented that he could not resist opening the affinity panel.
Divine Ember Queen ยท Qianying: ???
What the hell!
Qianying must have deliberately hidden her affinity!
How devious!
About ten seconds later, Qianying’s figure dissipated as she returned to the God-Demon Orb.
Zhou Ming’s heart sank. He nearly lost his composure.
She doesn’t want me to?
“I’m sorry!”
“Hahaha…”
Zhou Ming scrubbed a hand hard over his face and laughed dryly. “No problem. No problem at all.”
“I hadn’t thought it through carefully enough,” Qianying added. “Once we find a way to travel back and forth, we’ll go there together, then return together.”
…