When the little Zen tree handed the vine whip to Li Pu, he didn't quite understand what was going on.
Artifacts refer to the inscriptions and tools that summoned beasts can use.
Their acquisition mainly falls into two categories.
One is natural yield, and the other is artificial manufacture.
Natural yields include treasures from other worlds and outputs from magic beasts, accounting for a significant portion of acquisition.
Artificial manufacture involves processing some magic beast drops or materials from other worlds using specific techniques, although the overall effectiveness is not as good as natural yields.
The effects brought by different artifacts naturally vary.
Using an artifact that matches oneself can provide substantial assistance to the summoned beast.
In fact, when Li Pu first became a summoner, he didn't dare think about this sort of thing.
In his understanding, it typically takes seniors and juniors at least in their second or third year to have their summoned beasts equipped with artifacts, and even then, it's generally artificial ones.
After all, naturally produced artifacts are very rare.
So when a magic beast offers its companion artifact like this, it's imaginable how strange Li Pu's feelings would be.
"Principal, can he really take the artifact?"
In the shadows of the treetop above, the female assistant turned her gaze towards Principal Tea.
It's important to know that although the summoner cannot use the artifact personally, once bound, the artifact can only be used by that summoner's beast thereafter.
Unless one pays a significant cost to unbind it, which most wouldn't do.
"Just let him have it."
To Principal Tea, an artifact is not a big deal.
However, it is said that even among the same race of magic beasts, the effects of companion artifacts may vary completely.
So there's really no telling what effect Li Pu's artifact might have.
For now, it's unclear simply by appearance.
Looking at the principal's indifferent silhouette, the female assistant is secretly somewhat surprised.
She wonders what background this limping new student has to receive such care from the principal.
Yet below, Li Pu examined the artifact with an odd expression.
"What gadget is this..."
Reading the information, he's somewhat confused.
[Wisdom Root (B+)]
附带效果: When attacking the target, it causes them to enter the "Enlightenment" state
属性要求: 10 Wood/10 Water
类型要求: None
种族要求: None
This artifact has no type or race requirement, and the scarecrow can meet the 10 Wood or 10 Water attribute.
The key point is, what does "Enlightenment" mean?
It sounds like a positive effect.
Is it really okay to impose this state on an enemy?
From the previous [Zen Fragrance] to the current [Wisdom Root], Li Pu feels he's increasingly puzzled by this tree creature.
But unlike skills that haven't been acquired, this artifact is actually in his hands.
Thus, he doesn't mind trying out the effect of [Wisdom Root] directly.
As for the test subject, isn't it right in front of him?
[Rustling!]
The little prince tree definitely didn't expect that after surrendering its treasure, the other side would still focus on wanting to hit it seriously.
"Take it."
After completing the binding somewhat awkwardly, Li Pu handed the [Wisdom Root] to the scarecrow.
Seeing that "Enlightenment" seemed to be a positive effect, he felt it was perfectly okay to test it on the little prince tree.
[Caocao! Caocao!]
The scarecrow, receiving the order, appeared a bit excited, raising its whip to lash at the little prince tree.
Slam!
[Woo-hoo!]
The little prince tree's frame was weak, and it shuddered from the whipping.
[Rustle?]
But soon after, it showed confusion, followed by its eyes lighting up.
Something about itself seemed to have changed!
Though this was its companion artifact, the little prince tree had never used it.
Thus it had no idea what the actual effect was; moreover, whipping itself would not activate the effect.
[Caos!]
Slam!
[Woo-hoo!]
Another whip, and the little prince tree endured the pain without dodging.
As a specially raised magic beast, it was indeed fed with very adequate nutrients.
But like summoned beasts, these nutrients were stored internally and required a certain time or specific conditions for digestion.
The so-called "Enlightenment" state induced upon a target's body stimulates nutrient digestion, analogous to the aforementioned specific conditions.
Of course, merely judging by appearance, Li Pu couldn't discover this fact.
After whipping twice, the scarecrow stopped.
[Rustling!]
As soon as it stopped, the little prince tree began to shake its body discontentedly.
It could already feel the slight changes within itself. If it could be whipped a few hundred times every day, perhaps it could speed up exiting its juvenile stage and enter adulthood.
[Cao?!]
The scarecrow was alarmed by the other party's attitude but could only honestly convey the meaning.
Scarecrow: Summoner, it says it wants more!
"This aggressively determined?"
Li Pu didn't expect such a request.
Although still unclear about the effects of the [Wisdom Root] whip, judging by the little prince tree's current state, it seems quite positive; otherwise, it wouldn't chase the scarecrow to have itself whipped.
"Then... reward it with three more whips."
Looking at the little prince tree with two cracked trunks, Li Pu pondered for a second before instructing the scarecrow to continue.
[Caocao~]
The scarecrow happily indicated understanding, then raised the whip and began to strike again.
Slam! x3
[Woo-hoo!] x3
Though painful in body, the little prince tree felt joy within.
As a small magic beast, who wouldn't hope to grow stronger quickly?
But this scene made the female assistant in the tree no longer able to watch.
"Principal, can you really let this continue?"
"If this goes on, your heavily invested and cherished little prince tree might actually get whipped to death!"
She couldn't understand why the tea-loving Principal Tea would choose to stand by.
"Actually, no rush, we can continue observing."
However, Principal Tea could see the reason behind the situation.
"Principal, this time I really don't understand."
The female assistant couldn't grasp the reasoning.
"Have you heard that some artifacts can actually grant positive effects to the attack targets?"
"So, Principal is saying the scarecrow isn't abusing the little prince tree but helping it?"
"You could interpret it that way."
After this conversation, the female assistant finally understood.
(However…)
Her gaze returned to the little prince tree, seeing its bark already whipped to tatters in several spots. Could it really withstand this?
But just as the thought crossed her mind, she noticed Li Pu rolling up his sleeves below.
He then walked close and punched the little prince tree's face.
"Um, Principal, how do we explain this time?"
She asked incredulously, looking at Principal Tea.
Principal Tea: "... , ???"
He had to admit, even he was confused.
…
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