63: Chapter 63 The golden stone was swallowed by the tower soul! A mere 0.1% increase is incredibly stingy!

At nine in the evening, Lin Feng returned to his apartment.

He closed the door, locked it, drew the curtains, and flopped onto the bed.

"Phew..."

He let out a long breath.

Too much had happened today.

The shop had reopened, and business was booming.

Over at the Explorer Association, he had somehow ended up as an S-Rank Explorer and a Deacon, with a higher Rank than Zhao Tianhai.

He went to see his Master, met Vice President Chen Jiuding, the Vice President of the Pioneer Association, and received two gold-quality Talent skill stones.

"It feels like a dream..."

Lin Feng sat up on the bed and pulled out those two stones from the wanxiang ring.

One was golden, and the other was an earthy yellow.

Colorful light flowed in the dim room, casting a glow on his face.

[light talent skill stone (Gold)]

[Quality: Gold]

[Use: Comprehend special Talent skills]

[Effect: Chance to comprehend Light-type Talent skills; specific effect depends on the user's own potential]

[Description: An extremely rare treasure containing a sliver of the Law of Light]

[earth talent skill stone (Gold)]

[Quality: Gold]

[Use: Comprehend special Talent skills]

[Effect: Chance to comprehend Earth-type Talent skills; specific effect depends on the user's own potential]

[Description: An extremely rare treasure containing a sliver of the Law of Earth]

"Gold quality..."

Lin Feng swallowed hard.

Selling either of these stones would fetch at least ten million points.

And even then, they were hard to come by.

Being able to encounter treasures of this level was entirely thanks to his Master.

"Master said to place it against the brow and communicate with it using one's intent..."

Lin Feng picked up the golden Light stone and took a deep breath.

He pressed the stone against his forehead.

Cold.

Bone-chillingly cold.

Like pressing a block of thousand-year frost crystal against himself.

But immediately after, a surge of warm energy poured out from the stone, seeping through his brow into his mind.

Buzz—

Lin Feng felt his head vibrate.

Endless light appeared before his eyes.

That light was pure, scorching, warm, and sacred...

As if it were the core of the sun.

He subconsciously closed his eyes, focusing all his attention on feeling that power of light.

The stone began to glow.

It's getting brighter and brighter.

Golden light overflowed from the stone, flowing through Lin Feng's brow and into his entire body.

He could feel his Light Element Affinity being drawn, resonated, and sublimated by this power.

The 99% affinity began to tremble slightly.

Like a closed door being gently knocked on by something.

"It's working!"

Lin Feng felt a surge of joy and focused even harder.

However—

At this critical moment.

Buzz!!!

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, that small golden pagoda suddenly started vibrating.

The pagoda's body erupted with dazzling golden light!

A terrifying suction force burst forth from the pagoda!

"Holy crap?!"

Lin Feng hadn't even reacted yet.

The light talent skill stone pressed against his forehead was suddenly sucked in as if grabbed by an invisible giant hand!

"Wait—"

Before he could finish.

The stone had already vanished from his brow.

The next second.

In the Sea of Consciousness, the golden tower soul floated quietly.

A new golden pattern had appeared on the pagoda's surface.

That light talent skill stone had been... swallowed by it?!

Lin Feng was dumbfounded.

He sat on the bed in a daze, touching his forehead.

Nothing was there.

The stone was gone.

"My... where is my stone?!"

He quickly checked his Sea of Consciousness.

The golden tower soul was still there, rotating slowly.

The newly appeared golden pattern on the pagoda was emitting a faint glow.

[golden tower soul devoured "light talent skill stone"]

[Digesting...]

[Digestion complete]

[Light Element Affinity +0.1%]

[Current Light Element Affinity: 99.1%]

Lin Feng: "..."

He stared at the number on the attribute panel that had changed from 99% to 99.1%, speechless for a long time.

0.1%?

Just that little?!

His gold stone worth tens of millions only increased it by 0.1%?!

"I..."

Lin Feng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"It's fine, it's fine, there's still one more."

He picked up the earthy yellow earth talent skill stone.

This time he got smart.

"tower soul, don't eat it! Leave this one for me!"

He shouted in his heart.

But it was useless.

The moment the stone touched his forehead.

The golden tower soul moved again.

Buzz—

Another suction force.

Another stone disappeared into his brow.

Lin Feng: "..."

He looked at the attribute panel with tears in his eyes.

[golden tower soul devoured "earth talent skill stone"]

[Digesting...]

[Digestion complete]

[Earth Element Affinity +0.1%]

[Current Earth Element Affinity: 96.1%]

Another 0.1%.

Two priceless gold stones had been traded for two 0.1% increases.

Lin Feng lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

"Am I... being scammed?"

But soon, he noticed something was wrong.

Although the affinity only increased by 0.1%.

His perception of the elements was clearly different.

He raised his right hand, and with a thought.

A ball of golden light appeared in his palm.

That light was purer and more condensed than before.

It was as if every photon was under his control.

He raised his left hand.

A ball of earthy yellow sand appeared in his palm.

Those grains of sand were finer and more obedient than before.

He could even "see" the internal structure of every grain of sand.

"This..."

Lin Feng was stunned.

A 0.1% increase should technically be negligible.

But he could clearly feel that his control over the light element and Earth Element had moved up a level.

It was like writing with a brush before, and now writing with a pen.

Although he was writing the same words, the precision was completely different.

"Could it be... a precursor to a qualitative change?"

Lin Feng thought to himself.

He remembered his Master saying that 95% was a threshold, and crossing it meant a qualitative change.

Then what about 99%?

A 99% Light Element Affinity was already the limit for the Glorious Corona Physique.

Going higher, would it also be some kind of qualitative change?

"It's possible..."

He clenched his fist.

Although it hurt a bit to have two stones swallowed by the tower soul, if it could help the tower soul grow and allow his element affinity to break through the limit...

Then it was worth it!

"tower soul, oh tower soul, you've eaten so many good things, you'd better work hard."

Lin Feng muttered in his heart.

The golden tower soul didn't respond, only rotating slowly, the two new patterns on the pagoda's body glowing slightly.

...

After dealing with the stones, Lin Feng started on his actual business.

He began pulling things out of the wanxiang ring.

Clatter—

Various Materials, filled the entire living room.

[void bone spike (Purple) x5]

[void bone armor fragment (Blue) x23]

[void fangs (Purple) x12]

[void king beast essence blood (A-Rank) x50 units]

[flame essence (Blue) x8]

[frost crystal (Blue) x15]

[Scorpion King Carapace (Purple) x3]

[Sandman Priest Staff Fragment (Blue) x7]

There were also various snake skins, snake galls, scorpion shells, and Sandman bone spikes he had collected in the Desert Golden Sea...

A colorful pile like a small mountain.

"I plan to explore the Old City District tomorrow, so I need to stock up on equipment first."

Lin Feng rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

He picked up five void bone spikes.

Each of these spikes was as thick as an arm, two meters long, pitch black, with fine patterns on the surface.

[void bone spike (Purple Material)]

[Use: Weapon forging]

[Effect: Forged weapons carry a "Void Rift" effect (chance to tear space on attack, dealing extra damage)]

"Five bone spikes... let's try fusing them."

Lin Feng held his hands together, aiming at the five bone spikes.

"Talent—Fusion!"

Buzz—

A faint golden light enveloped the bone spikes.

The five bone spikes floated into the air, beginning to rotate, fuse, and transform.

The light grew brighter and brighter.

Ten seconds later.

Fusion complete.

A pitch-black war spear floated in the air.

The spear's body was three meters long, thick as a child's arm, with dark purple patterns flowing on the surface.

The spearhead was triangular, incredibly sharp, and glinting with a cold light.

[Void Ripper Spear (Purple)]

[Rank Requirement: Rank 20]

[attack power: 150-180]

[Effect 1: Strength +30]

[Effect 2: 30% chance to trigger "Void Rift" on attack (tears space, dealing an extra 200% damage)]

[Effect 3: Damage to Void creatures +50%]

[Description: A war spear fused from five void bone spikes, containing terrifying Void power]

"Purple war spear! attack power 150-180!"

Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

These attributes were stronger than any weapon he had seen before!

Unfortunately, it was a melee weapon; as a Mage, he couldn't use it.

"I'll keep it to sell, or exchange for equipment later."

Lin Feng stored the war spear in the wanxiang ring.

Next, he picked up the pile of void bone armor fragments.

Twenty-three fragments, each palm-sized with sharp edges.

[void bone armor fragment (Blue Material)]

[Use: Armor forging]

[Effect: Forged armor gains Defense +15% and "Void Resistance +10%"]

"Twenty-three fragments... fuse them into a complete bone armor!"

Lin Feng activated Fusion again.

The twenty-three fragments floated up, rotating, piecing together, and fusing in the golden light.

This Fusion took longer, a full half-minute.

The light faded.

A suit of pitch-black bone armor floated in the air.

The bone armor was in the style of a cuirass, covering the chest and back, with the surface made of countless tiny bone plates pieced together, each engraved with runes.

Wearing it would probably feel like ancient scale armor.

[Void Bone Armor (Purple)]

[Rank Requirement: Rank 18]

[Defense: 180]

[Effect 1: Physique +25]

[Effect 2: 30% chance to trigger "Void Shield" when attacked (absorbs 5,000 damage)]

[Effect 3: Void Resistance +30%]

[Description: A complete suit of bone armor fused from twenty-three void bone armor fragments, with amazing Defense]

"Purple armor!"

Lin Feng took off his war soul greatshield—that was a shield, this was a chest plate, they could be equipped at the same time.

He put on the Void Bone Armor.

It was cool, but not bone-chilling.

Instead, it gave him a sense of being wrapped in security.

[Defense: 180 (Chest Plate) + 80 (war soul greatshield) + 184 (Base Physique) = 444]

"444 points of Defense... not bad."

Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction.

He continued working.

He picked up those twelve void fangs.

Each of these fangs was as long as a finger, curved like a hook, with an incredibly sharp tip.

【void fangs (Purple Material)】

【Use: Special Item Crafting】

【Effect: Can be crafted into armor-piercing arrows or hidden weapons; incredible power】

“Twelve fangs... fused into a hidden weapon!”

Lin Feng brought his hands together.

The twelve fangs rotated within a golden light, gradually fusing into a... ring?

No, it wasn't a ring.

It was a finger claw.

A pitch-black metal finger claw. When worn on a finger, its surface featured three protruding fangs, resembling the claws of a wild beast.

【Void Tear Finger Claw (Purple)】

【Rank Requirement: Level 16】

【attack power: 80-100 (Melee Claw Attack)】

【Effect 1: Agility +20】

【Effect 2: 20% chance to trigger 'Lacerated Wound' upon attack (causes continuous bleeding damage)】

【Effect 3: Can fire three void fangs (one-time use, automatically replenishes daily)】

【Description: A melee weapon worn on the finger that can also be fired as a hidden weapon. A must-have for backstabbing.】

“This is interesting!”

Lin Feng put the finger claw on his right index finger.

The black finger claw fit snugly against his skin; he could barely feel its weight.

With a thought from him—

Swoosh!

Three fangs shot out simultaneously, pinning themselves into the opposite wall, sinking half an inch deep.

Then, they automatically retracted.

“They can even be recovered? Good stuff!”

Lin Feng happily continued his Fusion.

Next were those miscellaneous Materials.

flame essence + frost crystal + Scorpion King Carapace...

Fused into an 【Ice-Fire Twin Blades (Blue)】, attack power 80-100, with dual ice and fire damage.

Sandman Priest Staff Fragment + Snake Gallbladder + Scorpion Venom Glands...

Fused into a 【Sand Venom Sting Staff (Blue)】, Magic Attack +60, all Earth Element skill effects +20%, attacks carry toxin.

Snake Skin + Sandman Bone Spikes + Void Bone Armor Scraps...

Fused into three pieces of 【Shadow Leather Armor (Blue)】, Defense 60-80, with a stealth effect.

There were also various green-tier equipment pieces popping out as if they cost nothing.

Lin Feng became more and more proficient at Fusion.

As he fused, he tossed them to the side.

A pile of blue, a pile of green, and the purple ones were placed separately.

Time passed minute by minute.

The light in the living room turned from bright to dim.

The night sky outside the window turned from deep black to a pale white.

Four o'clock in the morning.

Lin Feng finally stopped.

He slumped onto the sofa, looking at the floor covered in equipment, and grinned.

【Purple Equipment × 8】

【Blue Equipment × 37】

【Green Equipment × 64】

This was the result of his entire night's work.

“Enough... this is enough to sell for a while...”

He downed a bottle of spirit recovery potion and felt his mind clear up a bit.

He picked up his phone to check the time.

4:15 AM.

“In a little over an hour, it'll be dawn...”

Lin Feng leaned back on the sofa and opened his chat with Chen Lin.

The last message sent was yesterday afternoon.

【Lin Feng: I'm back from Mount Dashu, everything went smoothly. How about you? How have you been lately?】

The message was sent, but there was no reply.

He sent another one.

【Lin Feng: Are you busy? Get back to me when you see this.】

He waited for five minutes.

No reply.

Lin Feng frowned.

In the past, although Chen Lin was slow to reply, it usually didn't take more than half a day.

It's been over a dozen hours now...

“Could something have happened?”

An ominous premonition surged in his heart.

But on second thought, Chen Lin was at Capital Academy, one of the best academies in the Federation; her safety should be guaranteed.

Moreover, she had been grinding levels lately, and her mentor was keeping a close eye on her, so she might not have time to check her phone.

“She should... be fine.”

Lin Feng comforted himself.

He put down his phone and closed his eyes.

But his mind was a mess.

Chen Lin's smiling face, Wang Hao's hideous expression before he died, the roar of the Void King Beast, his Master's weathered appearance, Vice President Chen Jiuding's unfathomable depth...

Various images flashed by in turns.

Finally, he sighed.

“Forget it, I'll go ask Master when it's light out.”

He forced himself not to think about it, circulated the Solar Saint Body Tempering Method, and began meditating to recover.

...

7:00 AM.

Lin Feng opened his eyes right on time.

He stretched his body and felt full of energy.

“Time to head out to the shop.”

He collected all the equipment from the floor into his wanxiang ring.

He washed up, changed his clothes, and headed out.

The streets were already lively in the early morning.

Breakfast stalls were steaming, office workers were hurrying along, and a few young people out for a morning run passed by him.

Lin Feng crossed two streets and arrived at the “Fusion Workshop”.

The shop was already open.

Pan Jingjing was standing at the entrance wiping the glass, her ponytail swaying back and forth.

“Boss!”

Her eyes lit up when she saw Lin Feng.

“You're here!”

Lin Feng nodded and walked into the shop.

Li Xiaoyu and Li Xiaoyu were organizing the shelves; seeing Lin Feng, they both stopped to greet him.

“Good morning, Boss!”

“Morning.”

Lin Feng walked behind the counter and started taking out equipment.

Clatter—

One by one, blue and purple equipment pieces filled the entire counter.

Pan Jingjing's eyes widened bit by bit.

Li Xiaoyu's mouth formed an O-shape again.

Li Xiaoyu covered her mouth, nearly crying out in surprise.

“B-Boss...” Pan Jingjing's voice trembled, “All of these... you made them last night?”

“Yeah.” Lin Feng nodded, “It should be enough to sell for a while.”

Pan Jingjing picked up a piece of 【Void Bone Armor (Purple)】, her hands shaking.

“Purple... Level 18 purple armor... Defense 180... Physique +25...”

The look she gave Lin Feng could no longer be described as mere shock.

It was... the look one gives a god.

“Boss, how exactly... did you do it?”

Lin Feng smiled. “Trade secret.”

Pan Jingjing took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

“Boss, what should the prices be for these equipment pieces?”

“Just follow the market price,” Lin Feng said. “The discount before was to attract people. Now that we have the popularity, return to the original prices.”

“Understood.”

Pan Jingjing's fingers moved rapidly—activating her 【Proper Way to Make Money】 Talent.

“Purple equipment, market price is 500,000 to 800,000. We'll take the median of 650,000. Eight pieces is 5.2 million.”

“Blue equipment, market price is 30,000 to 80,000, average of 55,000. Thirty-seven pieces is 2,035,000.”

“Green equipment, market price is 3,000 to 8,000, average of 5,000. Sixty-four pieces is 320,000.”

She looked up, her eyes sparkling.

“Boss, the total value of this batch of goods is... 7,555,000 points.”

Li Xiaoyu and Li Xiaoyu gasped simultaneously.

Over seven million!

They had never seen so much money in their lives!

Lin Feng didn't feel much.

He still had over four million in his account; adding this batch of goods, his assets surpassed ten million.

“Alright, you handle the sales.” He stood up. “I have some business to attend to, so I'm heading out.”

“Boss, you're leaving again?” Li Xiaoyu said anxiously, “You just got here...”

“I'm leaving the shop in your hands, I trust you.” Lin Feng smiled. “Call me anytime if something comes up.”

The three girls looked at each other and nodded in unison.

“Take care, Boss!”

...

Stepping out of the shop, the sunlight was just right.

Lin Feng stood by the street and took a deep breath.

“Next... to the mall to buy skill books.”

He took out his phone and checked the time.

7:40 AM.

The mall opens at nine.

Still over an hour left.

“I'll go grab something to eat first.”

He found a breakfast shop and ordered a bowl of soy milk and two sticks of fried dough.

While eating, he planned which skill books to buy next.

“I've already learned all the basic light element skills.”

“Same for the Earth Element.”

“Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, Ice, Dark... I've learned the basic skills for every element.”

“What I need now are... Advanced skills.”

“For example, ones with a larger range, higher damage, or stronger crowd control.”

“Also defensive and life-saving ones...”

The more he thought, the more he came up with, until he eventually laughed at himself.

“Forget it, I'll see when I get there.”

After breakfast, it was about time.

Lin Feng stood up and walked toward Donghai City's largest skill mall.

...

At exactly 9:00 AM, Lin Feng stood at the entrance of Donghai City's largest skill mall.

Looking up, a thirty-story glass-walled building stood before him, the sunlight reflecting off the glass with a piercing glare.

A massive sign hung above the main entrance—【Federation Skill General Exchange · Donghai Branch】.

People were coming and going at the entrance, with Explorers in various types of equipment moving in and out, as bustling as a wet market.

“This is the place.”

Lin Feng stepped inside.

Once through the main doors, his vision suddenly opened up.

The lobby was as large as half a football field, with a twenty-meter-high ceiling and crystal chandeliers hanging from the dome, casting a soft glow.

All around were circular counters, with staff members in uniform standing behind each one.

Electronic screens above the counters scrolled through various skill book categories and prices.

【Light Skill Zone · 1st Floor East Side】

【Fire Skill Zone · 1st Floor West Side】

【Water Skill Zone · 2nd Floor South Side】

【Earth Element Skill Zone · 2nd Floor North Side】

【Wind Skill Zone · 3rd Floor East Side】

【Lightning Skill Zone · 3rd Floor West Side】

【Ice Skill Zone · 4th Floor South Side】

【Dark Skill Zone · 4th Floor North Side】

【Special Skill Zone · 5th Floor】

【Forbidden Arts Zone · 6th Floor and Above (Authorization Required)】

Lin Feng looked at those signboards, his eyes growing dizzy.

“This place is way too big...”

Just as he was thinking about which zone to go to first, a young woman in professional attire approached him.

“Hello, sir, how can I help you?”

The girl was in her early twenties, wearing light makeup and a sweet smile; her name tag read “Shopping Guide · Zhou Tingting”.

Lin Feng thought for a moment. “I want to buy skill books, for all kinds of attributes.”

Zhou Tingting was taken aback. “All kinds of attributes?”

“Yes,” Lin Feng nodded. “Light, Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Ice, Dark... I'll buy some for every attribute.”

Zhou Tingting blinked, and the smile on her face became even more radiant.

A major client!

(Thank you everyone for the gifts!!! Thank you all, we're about to enter the next climax in the story!!!! It's going to be a total slaughter!!! Hahahahahaha!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!)