CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER 71: METAMORPHOSIS

After hours of waiting, the [Prince of the Ice Region’s Token (Blue)] finally sold.

This item was surprisingly hard to sell. The buyer, a contractor, looked destitute, suggesting that summoners are not very powerful in Reincarnation Paradise.

That summoner girl was too poor, selling her pots and pans to scrape together 26,000 Paradise coins. She even seemed to be considering debt at the end.

The [Prince of the Ice Region’s Token (Blue)] was too difficult to sell, so Su Xiao decisively made the purchase.

That girl thanked Su Xiao profusely. Actually, Su Xiao was also quite relieved to sell the [Prince of the Ice Region’s Token]. He was waiting so long that he was almost falling asleep, while Bubute Ni, the silly dog, was sleeping, waking, and then sleeping again through several rounds, with a look of grievance as if saying, ’Master, I’m so hungry, when are we going to eat?’

Su Xiao had 72,947 Paradise coins in his pocket, which was enough to buy a top-level blue-quality long knife.

After strolling around the trading market, there were indeed knife-type weapons with blue quality available, but their attached skills were mediocre.

The best one had a skill called ’Full Moon Slash’, which had decent damage but a long cooldown, and required payment in Paradise coins to use.

Ultimately, Su Xiao decided to contact the black merchants of the Black Sail Merchant Group, fearing them might after the Phantom Troupe attack, which he could capitalize on.

Contacting the black merchant, it wasn’t long before a black-hooded merchant emerged from the crowd. He happened to be at the trading market.

"Guest, we meet again."

This black merchant was the same one who sold a blue weapon to Su Xiao last time.

"Still purchasing blue knife-type weapons this time? The rating requirements are quite high, there are three good ones within the merchant group."

The black merchant didn’t ask Su Xiao’s purpose for buying the blue weapon, as that was considered personal privacy.

"Three? Let me take a look."

Su Xiao was a bit surprised. The financial strength of the Black Flag Trading Company was indeed impressive, with three top-level blue-quality knife-type weapons alone; the total amount of equipment must be enormous.

"Please wait a moment, guest, about the previous matter..."

The black merchant was inquiring about the Phantom Troupe affairs.

Although Su Xiao killed Carl, he didn’t intend to make it public. The Phantom Troupe was indeed a very loose organization, but no one knew if Carl had friends within the Troupe.

"I’m still considering it; the Troupe sent another invitation."

Killing Carl and earning a number could be considered an invitation, and given the relationship between the Black Sail Merchant Group and the Phantom Troupe, these black merchants couldn’t confirm it.

The black merchant urgently asked, "Did the guest decide to accept?"

"I’m still considering it. If I join, I’ll decide on your matter based on the situation."

"Alright then, these are the three blue weapons. Please choose one, guest."

The black merchant was clearly disappointed but said no more; being invited by the Troupe already indicated strength.

Three long knives of various designs were placed in front of Su Xiao, and he only checked their attached attributes.

Seeing the attached attributes of one of the knives, Su Xiao made up his mind to strive to buy this knife.

[Solomon’s Decapitation Blade]

Origin: Sword Art Online

Quality: Blue

Category: Weapon

Durability: 61/61

Attack power: 11~29

Equipment requirements: Strength 18, Agility 13.

Equipment effect: Beheading (Active): Swing vigorously with one slash, adding extra damage when cleaving the enemy’s neck.

Additional attribute: Bathing in Blood and Fighting (Passive): When Life Value is below 50%, Stamina Value +3; when Life Value is below 30%, Stamina +5; when Life Value is below 20%, Stamina +10. (The stamina bonus effect takes the highest value, does not stack, effect lasts 5 minutes.)

Rating: 70 (Note: Blue Equipment ratings range from 31 to 70, equipment with a rating of 70 has additional special attributes.)

Description: A fierce weapon for claiming heads.

Price: 15,600 Paradise coins.

...

The knife’s basic attributes were average, but the 70-point rating provided an exceptional ability, with the effect triggered when Life Value is below 20% being a lifesaver.

Previously, when enhancing attributes, Su Xiao considered appropriately increasing some stamina, as he was a Lone Ranger, being too frail wouldn’t work.

If he wasn’t aiming to quickly raise three main attributes above 30 to unlock Shadow of Annihilation Law’s new skill, he would have increased stamina earlier.

This skill solved that problem, greatly reducing the danger in the next Derivative World.

Su Xiao already vaguely sensed that only increasing three main attributes was unwise; without strong bodily support, destruction awaited at the end.

Fortunately, his current stamina attribute wasn’t low, and improving the main attribute hadn’t shown any side effects.

After the next Derivative World ends, Su Xiao would consider appropriately increasing stamina attributes.

Picking up [Solomon’s Decapitation Blade], Su Xiao looked at the black merchant.

"Price."

"This knife is 70,000 Paradise coins."

Su Xiao’s brows furrowed; this price was somewhat high, suggesting that the black merchant saw he wouldn’t join the Troupe soon.

"I’ll pay no more than 50,000."

The negotiation began; previous favorable treatment was gone. This was just the nature of businessmen.

"Surely you’re joking, guest. The weapon’s attributes are evidently outstanding..."

"This knife’s been stuck with you for a long time, hasn’t it?"

"What."

The black merchant was momentarily stunned, but inwardly thought it was not good.

"I’m in close combat, so I know close combat weapons well. The most important thing for a close combat weapon is sharpness, and this knife isn’t particularly sharp. Its attack power isn’t even as good as some green weapons; it’s more suitable for main tanks, but main tanks usually use shields in both hands. No main tank would be extravagant enough to temporarily stack stamina attributes with this item. Resources in adventure groups are limited and couldn’t be so massively tilted toward main tanks.

Tasteless to eat, a pity to discard."

Su Xiao gazed at the black merchant with a smile.

The black merchant was silent until he solemnly said, "At least 60,000 Paradise coins."

"In that case, forget it."

Su Xiao turned to leave. He was just using this knife’s attributes for transition, Dragon Slash still required sharpness as the main focus. But blue-quality weapons did not enhance sharpness; such powerful attributes only appeared in purple weapons, and they were very scarce.

"Don’t go, guest. It’s negotiable, 55,000 Paradise coins, that’s my final offer."

Su Xiao paused. The black merchant’s words were usually unreliable; any ’final offer’ was nonsense.

"50,000 Paradise coins, not a penny more, or you can keep it as a collectible."

The black merchant didn’t speak, weighing his options.

"Never mind, then."

Su Xiao turned and walked away — one step, two steps, three steps.

"Damn this 70-rating weapon. Take it for 50,000 Paradise coins."

The black merchant closed his eyes in despair, selling it at a loss — a loss of about 1,000 Paradise coins, which hurt him more than cutting flesh.

This item had been stuck with him for five Derivative Worlds; it was something he acquired when he first joined the Black Sail Merchant Group back when he was a novice merchant.

The black merchant had tried setting up a stall and auctioning, but those who liked the knife couldn’t afford it, and those who could afford it didn’t like it.

If it weren’t for the ’Bathing in Blood and Fighting’ attribute, this knife would be worth at most 20,000 Paradise coins.

The transaction was successfully completed, and after Su Xiao paid 50,000 Paradise coins, he acquired [Solomon’s Decapitation Blade].

The near-death experience in the World of Crimson was something that remained vivid in his memory. In a brink of death state, Su Xiao had to put all his effort just to raise his arm, and the knife’s attribute served as insurance to prevent him from suddenly falling into a brink of death state again.

Returning to his exclusive room, Su Xiao placed [Solomon’s Decapitation Blade] alongside [Dragon Slash].

Utilizing the Supreme Blade Skill, a dark iron-colored glow appeared on Su Xiao’s hand, quickly swirling like a vortex. With his arm extended, the dark iron-colored glow enveloped [Solomon’s Decapitation Blade].

Kaka～.

The ear-piercing sound of friction came, and a radiantly blue crystal shard floated out, merging into the body of Dragon Slash.

The surface of Dragon Slash burst into brilliance, a deep blue light enveloping the blade.

Unlike before, this time Dragon Slash took a long time to devour these crystal shards.

The deep blue light illuminated Su Xiao’s cheeks, as he focused intently on observing Dragon Slash’s transformation.

The deep blue light grew increasingly dazzling, with faint purple hints emerging from the blue glow. Dragon Slash was evolving from a blue weapon to a purple weapon.