Chapter 744

That dark-colored coin purse is indeed a "Traveler's Bag," containing three items:

One is a brownish piece of parchment, one is a transparent, almost invisible triangular dagger, and the last is a black revolver with complex parts and a strong sense of mechanical aesthetics.

Lu Mian didn't rush to take out the rewards, turning instead to unfold the letter paper that had been folded into a square:

"Reward Description:

"'Iron-Blooded Knight' potion formula: See for yourself.

"'Traveler's Bag': No need for me to introduce this again, right?

"'Cold Blade': A magical artifact crafted from the dust of ancient vengeful spirits and residual spirituality.

"Any creature pierced by it, even if no wound appears, will fall into a frozen state of rigidity and uncontrollable thoughts, just as if possessed by a 'Vengeful Spirit.'

"At the same time, as the battle continues, the target of the 'Cold Blade's' attacks will gradually experience slowed thought processes and stiff, sluggish movements, even without direct contact with it.

"The negative effect is that it causes the wielder's body to gradually lose temperature and transform toward an undead state; once the necessary time limit is exceeded, this process becomes irreversible.

"Placing it in the 'Traveler's Bag' can effectively avoid the negative effects generated by carrying it. You only need to ensure the battle does not exceed three hours. Of course, as a Sequence 5 'Hunter' pathway, a scorching 'Reaper,' even without other methods to counter the negative effects, you can at least hold out for four hours."

Seeing this, Lu Mian immediately associated it with the golden mask of the Aigris family.

That mask could also transform the wearer into an undead, providing protection for the spirit and consciousness to keep them alive. Once the wearer removed the mask, they could very easily return to their original state.

"If I wear the golden mask crafted by 'Death,' can I use the 'Cold Blade' without any influence? I am already an undead creature, so naturally, there is no negative effect of gradually turning into an undead... No, if that golden mask is worn for too long, the body will truly die, and once the mask is removed, I will die on the spot..." Lu Mian couldn't find a loophole to exploit and let out a sigh of disappointment.

He continued reading the final part of the letter:

"'Winter is Coming': This revolver was discovered by us while investigating the 'Rose School of Thought' at the site of a secret but failed ritual. It was originally supposed to be a collectible firearm art piece, but it was contaminated by something during the ritual, turning it into an extraordinary weapon with a limited number of uses.

"The bullets it fires can carry that contamination, which produces two effects respectively:

"First is inevitable hit; even Saints, if they don't use special abilities to evade, will be hit. For Beyonders below demigod level, unless they replaced their true body with a substitute before the shot was fired, or placed the shooter in an illusion so they couldn't aim at all, they will definitely be hit. Simply put, the moment the shot is fired, if it's aimed at the true body, it will hit the true body, and the substitute will be ineffective;

"Second is inevitable death; even Saints, without corresponding traits and abilities, will suffer massive trauma if hit, and will subsequently gradually head toward death. For Beyonders below demigod level, unless they have substitute-type abilities, being hit equals death.

"These two effects cannot be possessed simultaneously; you must choose one each time.

"Currently, there are four uses remaining that can carry these two effects. Once exhausted, 'Winter is Coming' will revert to an ordinary revolver that begins to rust and deteriorate. Before they are exhausted, normal shots from 'Winter is Coming' will transmit diseases while creating wounds; there is no pattern to the specific disease.

"Every time 'Winter is Coming' is used, you must find an 'Apothecary' or 'Physician' within the next week to provide corresponding treatment, even if no symptoms appear on the surface.

"If you do not seek medical attention in time, you will inevitably contract a terminal illness—a terminal illness with mystical factors that low-to-mid Sequence 'Apothecaries' and 'Physicians' cannot cure."

This is a weapon that can harm demigods... After the incident with the 'Painted Person' from the 'Overseer' Perle, are Ms. 'Magician' and the others consciously giving us items that can influence demigods, with negative effects that are barely tolerable? "Physician"... Lu Mian turned his body halfway and cast his gaze outside the door.

Lu Jianuo had already gotten up and was preparing the first meal of the morning for Ludwig.

After confirming the rewards, Lu Mian reached his hand into the "Traveler's Bag" and took out the brownish parchment, on which was written in dark red ink:

"Potion Name: Iron-Blooded Knight;

"Sequence: 4;

"Main Ingredients: Core of a Magma Giant, Disaster Stone;

"Supplementary Ingredients: 80ml of scalding magma, 20g of plant powder contaminated by a Disaster Stone, 20g of soil permeated with soldiers' blood from a large battlefield, one oak fruit;

"Ritual: Assemble a team of at least thirty people, cultivate deep camaraderie with them, let them become strong one after another, and coordinate with tacit understanding, able to grasp the leader's intentions based on eye contact and movements, becoming nearly one with each other, and then have them form the ritual (the higher the team's strength and level of tacit understanding, the better the ritual's effect)."

While reading, Lu Mian looked at the words composed of dark red ink, which gradually gave him a strong burning sensation, and his nose seemed to smell the scent of rust and fresh blood.

Whew... Lu Mian hurriedly placed the "Iron-Blooded Knight" potion formula on the table as soon as he finished reading it; otherwise, he felt he would fall into a hell composed of fire and blood.

"To think it could have such strong mental influence...

"Is it that the Sequence 4 potion formula itself has similar traits, or is it because this was written personally by an Angel, or a combination of both reasons?"

"Scalding magma... This is drinking magma directly; does it mean if you can't advance, you die?"

Lu Mian memorized the "Iron-Blooded Knight" potion formula in his mind, and from time to time, he would open the parchment to take a look, ensuring there were no mistakes.

…………

In the morning, at 9 Sijie, Apartment 702.

Lu Mian placed the new "Traveler's Bag" and the two weapons on the coffee table and introduced the latter two in detail.

"Only three items?" Fu Lanke looked puzzled.

Lu Mian laughed:

"There is also the 'Iron-Blooded Knight' potion formula for the 'Hunter' pathway, but this has no meaning for you."

"Who says? Once reaching Sequence 4, a 'Witch' can switch to the 'Hunter' pathway!" Fu Lanke retorted with bright eyes.

She was just short of saying that before joining the Witch Sect, her dream was to obtain the "Iron-Blooded Knight" potion formula to turn herself back into a male.

Without waiting for Lu Mian to respond, Fu Lanke pleaded eagerly:

"Can you let me take a look?

"You won't lose anything."

In this way, once I become a 'Despair Witch,' if an accident really happens and I'm forced to leave the Witch Sect, I can still consider advancing to 'Iron-Blooded Knight'!

"Sure." Lu Mian replied without caring at all.

He knew what Fu Lanke was craving in her heart.

He then took out the brownish parchment from his "Traveler's Bag."

Seeing this, Yu Jianna asked with a mix of curiosity and anticipation:

"Can I take a look too?"

This is the potion formula that can open the Gate of Divinity!

"Uh..." Fu Lanke turned her head to look at Yu Jianna, wanting to stop her but unable to find a suitable reason.

Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you, a female Witch, to look at the "Iron-Blooded Knight" potion formula?

Lu Mian didn't help Fu Lanke persuade Yu Jianna; he unfolded the brown parchment generously, placed it on the surface of the coffee table, and gave a simple reminder:

"Read a section, close your eyes and rest for two or three seconds; this has a very strong mental influence."

After a while, Fu Lanke, Yu Jianna, and Ma Ding were wiping sweat as if they had been roasting by a fire all night, but the sweat had long since been baked dry.

"Need a team of at least thirty people... This is a bit difficult." Fu Lanke felt it was tricky for Lu Mian.

Lu Mian laughed:

"The stronger the team members, the better the effect, and if there are team members with divinity, the quantity requirement can be significantly reduced."

Fu Lanke and Yu Jianna thought of a name at the same time and said in unison:

"Ludwig?"

"I am trying to teach him." Lu Mian revealed the smile of a godfather.

Fu Lanke didn't say anything more and cast her gaze toward the three items: "Cold Blade," "Winter is Coming," and the "Traveler's Bag."

She laughed generously:

"Yu Jianna, Ma Ding, you pick first; just don't leave the 'Traveler's Bag' for me, I already have one."

She was just worrying about lacking an item with strong attack power or special effects. Whether it was "Cold Blade" or "Winter is Coming," both perfectly met her requirements; picking either was fine—as an "Assassin," her sleeve daggers were ordinary weapons, only able to carry black fire by relying on "Witch" abilities, while the "Bombardment Gun" was equivalent to a mobile small cannon, with nothing else special.

Ma Ding immediately looked at Yu Jianna, signaling her to pick first.

This wasn't being polite; he wanted the "Traveler's Bag," and he also wanted the other two items.

Yu Jianna looked at the "Hypnotist" who lacked direct attack capabilities, then at Fu Lanke, whose gaze was moving back and forth between "Cold Blade" and "Winter is Coming," picked up the dark coin purse, and said with a smile:

"I have always wanted a 'Traveler's Bag'."

This wasn't a lie; many black magic spells of a "Witch" require casting materials, and some items have negative effects even just by carrying them; placing them in the "Traveler's Bag" can barely avoid them, for example, the "Dream Stealer" Beyonder characteristic.

Once Yu Jianna took away the "Traveler's Bag," Ma Ding quickly made a decision:

"I want 'Winter is Coming'."

Without the "Traveler's Bag," carrying "Cold Blade" would be a huge burden.

Fu Lanke looked at the nearly transparent triangular dagger and smiled with her eyes relaxed:

"I'll see if I can modify it into a sleeve dagger."

These are all rewards suitable for us; Ms. 'Judgment' and the others have put in the effort... Lu Mian watched his companions distribute the rewards and nodded thoughtfully.

A few dozen minutes later, he returned to his rented apartment and saw Ms. 'Magician' again.

This holder of a Major Arcana card said straightforwardly:

"Go to the 'Blue Avenger' now."

(End of chapter)