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*****
Feng Yu wore an expression of pure intrigue.
This was the first time he had seen Old Man Huyan "bleeding" like this. One had to understand that while Huyan Aobo was a high-level Consolidation Master and certainly didn't lack money, he was as stingy as an iron rooster—not a single feather could be plucked from him. Not only was he a miser, but his temper was also foul beyond belief.
Today was likely one of those rare, forced moments where the old man had no choice but to pay up.
"I've recently completed the crafting of some Consolidation Scrolls. There are five in total, but they consist of these three types."
The three sheets of paper Huyan Aobo produced were actually three detailed illustrations, each depicting a different piece of equipment. On the far left was a drawing of a round shield, its surface covered in patterns resembling a tortoise shell. It was labeled the Black Tortoise Shield, restricted to Heavenly Jewel Masters with Strength, Endurance, or Hardness attributes; capable of socketing Elemental Jewels.
The fact that it was restricted to Heavenly Jewel Masters alone spoke volumes about the quality of this equipment. As for the "capable of socketing Elemental Jewels" part, it was literal: the equipment could be linked to corresponding Elemental Jewels during use, allowing the master to unleash their snatched skills directly through the shield.
The middle sheet depicted a pair of boots labeled the Wind-Riding Boots, restricted to Heavenly Jewel Masters with the Agility attribute; capable of socketing Elemental Jewels.
The sheet on the far right showed a longbow with an ancient, simple style. It had no string, and a single groove ran from the top of the bow's body to the very bottom, exuding a powerful, fierce aura—much like the blood groove on a sharp blade. The annotation read: Overlord Bow, restricted to Heavenly Jewel Masters with the Strength attribute; capable of socketing Elemental Jewels. Note: Heavenly Jewel Masters with a High-Level Elemental attribute receive a 10% discount.
All three Consolidation Scrolls were exclusively for Heavenly Jewel Masters, which showed Huyan Aobo's personal yearning for that rank. Restricting use to Heavenly Jewel Masters naturally meant the requirements for Heavenly Energy were higher. After all, the difference between a Heavenly Jewel Master and a standard Physical Jewel Master was that each Physical Jewel required four stages of Heavenly Energy to obtain, resulting in higher jewel quality.
This higher quality, in turn, meant the consolidated equipment would be significantly more powerful.
As for the note on the Overlord Bow regarding a discount for High-Level attributes, it was a rarity for the penny-pinching Huyan Aobo. Clearly, he had been trying to find a way to lure a Space-attribute Heavenly Jewel Master into his orbit. There are only four High-Level attributes; as long as someone revealed one, there was a chance they might possess Space. Anyone willing to reveal their Elemental Jewels for a 10% discount was exactly the type of person Huyan Aobo felt he could comfortably take as a disciple.
Today, Zhou Weiqing was an exception—he had revealed his talent upfront. Under the weight of Su Wen's deterrence and knowing there was no reason for them to lie, Huyan Aobo had simply gone with the flow and accepted him.
Su Wen's gaze lingered on the scroll for the Overlord Bow on the right. Zhou Weiqing, meanwhile, was staring intently at the shield scroll.
Seeing this, Su Wen wordlessly rapped Zhou Weiqing on the head. "Using your talent on a shield is a waste. This Overlord Bow is far more suited for you."
"Master Wen, what does 'capable of socketing Elemental Jewels' mean on these scrolls?" Zhou Weiqing asked, rubbing his head.
Huyan Aobo watched this with a sigh and stepped in to explain to his new disciple before Su Wen could speak.
"Once the consolidation is successful, a Physical Jewel Master—or in your case, a Heavenly Jewel Master—can use their Physical Jewel to manifest the consolidated equipment. Take this Overlord Bow; it has slots where Elemental Jewels can be embedded. Once your Elemental Jewels have snatched specific skills, you can socket a jewel into the bow. This allows you to channel those skills directly through the Overlord Bow itself."
"Perhaps you don't grasp the clarity of it yet," the old man continued. "Let's put it this way: some Heavenly Beast skills aren't necessarily easy to use even after they are snatched. For example, some skills have extremely harsh requirements for the physical body that an average master can't withstand. In such cases, you can use consolidated equipment to execute them."
"Of course, that isn't the most common use. The most widespread application is attribute attachment. For instance, with this Overlord Bow, if you obtain a Wind-attribute skill and socket the jewel, you can imbue your arrows with the speed of Wind. If you have a Lightning skill, you can add explosive Lightning power to your shots. You possess at least four attributes, and one Elemental Jewel can represent four skills; thus, the socketing positions become incredibly vital."
Zhou Weiqing came to a sudden realization.
"Choose the Overlord Bow," Su Wen said. "Compared to the shield, your abilities are a much better match for the bow. With Wind and Lightning plus Space and Darkness, you are a born sharpshooter."
Wind for speed, Lightning for explosive damage, Space for additional lethality, and Darkness to make the arrows more elusive. It was a perfect synergy for a marksman.
Of course, Su Wen knew more—he knew about the existence of Consolidation Suites. He didn't choose the shield because it might interfere with the choice of a main weapon later. In the original story, Zhou Weiqing's "Hate Earth Without Handles" suite featured twin massive hammers as main weapons, which would have clashed with a shield.
Huyan Aobo added, "This Senior is correct. Although the Black Tortoise Shield lists the Strength attribute as a requirement, I wouldn't recommend it. Strength-type masters are better off following an offensive path."
Under the guidance of the two, Zhou Weiqing eventually chose to consolidate the Overlord Bow.
"This is your first time, isn't it? Let Feng Yu take you and teach you how to begin the process." Huyan Aobo was still feeling the sting of his loss—giving away such a valuable apprenticeship gift. It was bad enough giving it away; there was no way he was going to watch his precious Overlord Bow being used up in person!
Feng Yu led Zhou Weiqing to a room. It was situated in a remote corner of the courtyard, ensuring total silence and zero distractions. Su Wen accompanied them inside.
When they opened the box containing the Overlord Bow scrolls, they found a thick stack inside—one hundred sheets in total.
"The success rate for consolidation is very low," Feng Yu said calmly. "Even at Old Man Huyan's Master-rank level, it's only about one percent. One of the criteria for being judged a Master-rank is the ability to guarantee at least one success out of a hundred scrolls."
Feng Yu had no complaints about this reality. He had lived through it. In his early years, when he couldn't afford a Master-rank's work, it had taken him thousands of attempts to complete a single consolidation. It was an immense drain on time and energy; completing a successful consolidation within a few days was considered highly efficient.
Zhou Weiqing was amazed. The path of a Heavenly Jewel Master was revealing itself piece by piece, and he was starting to understand the major hurdles: the core cultivation of Heavenly Energy, the time-consuming and expensive Skill Snatching, and the equally grueling Consolidation. None of these blocked the others, but each took a massive toll on one's spirit and schedule.
"Physical Jewel consolidation can only be attempted once a day," Feng Yu warned. "You must ensure you are completely focused in a moment."
(End of Chapter)