Chapter 85: Mishap
[Notification: This upgrade will cost thirty Creation Points.]
Before Zhao Zuo could react, the change began.
Inside the bedroom, a gray light materialized from thin air, enveloping the Soul-Shaking Bell. The transformation began at that very moment. A dense network of cracks, like those on an eggshell, appeared on the thick layer of bronze rust covering its surface. The rust immediately began to flake off and fall to the ground.
The moment the rust broke away from the Soul-Shaking Bell, a mysterious power began to circulate and gestate within. The gray light danced across the bell’s surface as if injecting it with Vitality.
Gradually, the Soul-Shaking Bell revealed its true appearance. Its color was not bronze, but crimson... like a burning flame. However, its surface was severely damaged, not only riddled with holes but also with several breaks in its Spirit Patterns.
Finally, the last piece of rust fell from the Soul-Shaking Bell, and the upgrade proceeded to its second phase. The gray light began to travel across the bell’s surface as if reversing time. Crimson fragments materialized in the Void Space and slowly drifted downward, like pieces of pudding, filling the damaged spots on the bell’s body.
These fragments resembled leaping flames, brimming with Vitality.
It was all like a miracle—creation from nothing, something from thin air.
Zhao Zuo held his breath nervously, quietly observing the upgrade process. The bedroom was so silent that the only sound was his own heartbeat.
During the restoration process, tiny sparks would occasionally burst forth, momentarily illuminating the surrounding Space, but they vanished as quickly as they appeared, like little fireflies.
Subtler changes also began to appear. The broken Spirit Pattern Paths on the bell’s body, along with what could only be described as flaws, were all repaired and mended.
The new Spirit Pattern Paths formed intricate and exquisite designs, resembling a masterfully crafted work of art.
A Golden Light emerged from between Zhao Zuo’s eyebrows and sank into the Soul-Shaking Bell, as if planting a seed. A vast number of golden patterns spread outward, growing and extending like tree roots into every inch of the bell’s internal structure. It was a baptism, from the inside out.
But the golden patterns were incomplete, missing about one-fifth of their design.
At that moment, Zhao Zuo finally understood why the upgrade cost thirty Creation Points. A single upgrade for the Soul-Shaking Bell was equivalent to several transformations for the Clear Heart Jade Pendant—the difference between making installment payments and a one-time buyout.
’A pity... it’s also incomplete.’
He looked forward to the day the golden patterns would extend to completion, and to the power they would unleash.
Once the growth of the golden patterns ceased, the upgrade was mostly complete. The gray light gradually receded, and the Soul-Shaking Bell fell back into Zhao Zuo’s hand. Only then did he notice that the Magical Artifact was not pure crimson; it also carried a faint golden luster.
Zhao Zuo turned the Soul-Shaking Bell over and saw that inside its body, there were still three thin silver threads connecting three gray metal spheres. That part hadn’t changed at all.
In the dark room, the Soul-Shaking Bell emitted a gilded glint that vanished in a flash.
Seeing the upgrade was complete, Zhao Zuo breathed a sigh of relief. A few seconds later, a transparent panel appeared.
First, the Soul-Shaking Bell was fully repaired, its damaged status removed. A "+1" had also been added as a suffix.
[Upgrade Description: Greatly increases the soul-shaking effect when activated.]
"So it really is a Magical Artifact that attacks the Soul."
Zhao Zuo began by infusing his Mana into the Soul-Shaking Bell to complete the ownership bond. His previous method of simply shaking it was just a clever trick, not a true bonding. Besides, the Spirit Pattern Paths had been so severely damaged back then that the bonding process was impossible anyway.
After about three minutes, a faint connection was successfully established between them. Zhao Zuo’s Mana could now flow freely within the Soul-Calming Bell, and the engraved Spirit Patterns were ready to be activated at any moment.
Fully activating the Spirit Patterns meant using the Magical Artifact to attack.
Zhao Zuo gently shook the Soul-Shaking Bell, but this time, it didn’t produce that piercing sound. The gray spheres inside seemed to be locked in place.
He was a little surprised. He slowly infused some Mana into it and shook it again.
"SKREEE... CHIII!"
The familiar sound returned. For a moment, Zhao Zuo was speechless. After being repaired, activating it now required Mana every single time. He could no longer grind for experience so easily and cheerfully.
Furthermore, Zhao Zuo discovered that the piercing sound no longer affected him. This was likely the effect of the ownership bond; only then could one use it freely in battle without fear of backlash.
’Why not test its power?’
Zhao Zuo began to pour a large amount of Mana into the Soul-Shaking Bell. The Spirit Patterns on its surface activated rapidly and began to emit a Spiritual Light. When nearly a fifth of his Mana was gone, the body of the Soul-Shaking Bell flared with a brilliant light, fully activated.
Immediately after, the three gray metal spheres collided at an extremely high speed.
"CLANG!!"
A tremendous noise erupted like a clap of thunder on a clear day. The sound was incredibly soul-shaking, seeming to pierce through any barrier and causing the entire world to tremble slightly, like a heavy blow striking deep within one’s mind.
Zhao Zuo instinctively covered his ears. He could feel a certain wave spreading out along with the massive sound. Because of the ownership bond, this wave did not harm or affect him.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of a target, this experiment failed to test its true power.
Zhao Zuo tucked the Soul-Shaking Bell into a hidden clasp on his belt, placing it next to his Sky-Breaking Saber. Only then did he assume his posture and close his eyes to begin his Cultivation, quickly entering a meditative state.
A small vortex of dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power faintly formed around him, and the Spiritual Power within it was so thick it was visible to the naked eye.
「The next morning.」
Zhao Zuo was in the middle of his Cultivation when he felt a disturbance from his Array being triggered. The visitor was extremely impatient, setting off the Array’s alarm three times in a row. After withdrawing all his Mana back into his Dantian, he got up, somewhat annoyed, and opened the courtyard gate.
He had already guessed who would come calling at this hour. If Xue Liang couldn’t offer a reasonable explanation, he would use this as an opportunity to cut ties for good.
’Xue Liang’s path forward is blocked, so he no longer meditates or cultivates and has plenty of time on his hands. But I’m different!’
’I have to stay away from this old salted fish.’
Zhao Zuo pulled open the gate. Xue Liang was standing outside, his long face etched with frustration, as if he had suffered a massive blow. His entire demeanor had become utterly dejected. His eyes were bloodshot, and they held a hint of the madness and despair that comes from shattered hope.
Zhao Zuo immediately suppressed his resentment and spoke with concern.
"What happened? Brother, why do you look like this?"
Xue Liang stared at Zhao Zuo with a hollow gaze, only speaking after a full ten seconds.
"The Wang Family’s lost core inheritance has been recovered!"
Now, Zhao Zuo somewhat understood Xue Liang’s despair, as if a light inside him had been extinguished. Xue Liang had been hoping to obtain that inheritance for himself, but now that hope was completely crushed.
Zhao Zuo felt nothing inside and stepped aside to let him in.
"Please, come in, Brother. Tell me all about it!"
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