Chapter 163: I really am not an S-rank talent!

Shuxin City, Hunhuo Yan District.

Deep inside the Luxin Yanbi secret chamber.

As the final batch of third-rank elite materials was tempered and quenched, the box was closed.

"Huh..."

Ta Ke let out a long breath, straightened up, and stretched.

"This batch of goods is finally refined."

"Bajins wrote saying these precious refined materials sell exceptionally well, even causing quite a stir among nobles and merchants."

"He can't wait to tell me about it."

Thinking this, Ta Ke smiled.

Dwarves are naturally skilled at forging and tempering.

After those precious materials appeared, the noble merchants assumed they were the dwarves' masterpiece.

This point made Ta Ke quite satisfied.

Just as Bajins had said, dwarven-made goods rarely have their sources questioned.

"With this period's large amount of refined materials, those deep, delicate operations have become more proficient."

"My understanding and mastery of various supernatural traits have deepened considerably compared to before."

"Even if I encounter lord-rank materials, or even legendary lord-rank materials, I'll be able to handle them."

"According to Bajins, outside there are many top-tier materials, and just the refining labor fees are astonishingly high."

"Refiners are highly valued within the supernatural world."

"Just with my skill in refining materials, I can already get by in many city-states and towers of the supernatural world."

In his thoughts, Ta Ke looked toward the flowerpot on the nearby stone window.

It has been over a week since Ta Ke explored the underground blood clan castle together with Xiluoer.

Nowadays, the magical seed in the stone-window flowerpot has sprouted.

The vine is about as thick as a finger and half a meter tall.

At the tip, a magical flower bud can be faintly seen.

Ta Ke placed various materials around the flowerpot: small pieces of blood crystal, assorted small metal bits, and some tiny dragon scale fragments.

When the flower bud matures and naturally falls,

Even if Ta Ke is no longer here, the little creature will feed on these materials around it, rather than gnawing on the stones.

With careful feeding, the magical cottage will grow faster, and when initially formed, its internal space will also be larger.

"I don't know how many months until it matures and falls off."

Examining this magical seedling sapling before him, Ta Ke pondered.

He tidied himself up a bit.

Ta Ke phase-shifted to his rented living quarters.

A glance showed that the puppet strings at the house's hallway entrance had not been triggered.

Recently, many blood clan members have been active nearby.

Some mysterious organizations are also stirring in the shadows.

Ta Ke had to be cautious.

As usual, Ta Ke opened the door and went out.

Having just walked down the alley to the street,

Ta Ke saw a paperboy in a gray old loose shirt, wearing a dark felt cap, with a satchel full of newspapers, darting past.

The paperboy shouted while running.

"Extra! Extra! … God-defier Ta Ke invaded the blood clan castle, leaking his S-rank supernatural talent and S-rank steam talent."

"Extra! Extra! … God-defier Ta Ke's latest S-rank supernatural talent leaked."

God-defier, S-rank supernatural talent leaked.

Especially the words "S-rank supernatural talent" were particularly grating.

The paperboy's shout instantly drew the attention of many passersby.

Pedestrians at the intersection stopped, surrounding the paperboy.

A newspaper costs only two coppers, yet getting the news of God-defier Ta Ke's S-rank supernatural talent right away is truly rare.

Even Ta Ke was quite curious about it.

After the crowd thinned, Ta Ke finally obtained the extra-printed newspaper.

Even the smell of the fresh ink was still quite vivid.

Boarding the steam tram, Ta Ke saw many people holding newspapers to look at, and some even whispered discussions.

God-defier, Dark Sun Saint Son, blood clan, S-rank supernatural talent, steam talent.

Such terms came one after another.

After finding a seat at the back of the steam tram, Ta Ke spread out the newspaper and examined it carefully.

About ten minutes later,

Ta Ke closed the newspaper and rubbed his forehead.

Last time, deep in the underground world,

After Ta Ke's second encounter and brief clash with the Holy Son of the Dark Sun Church, Wendel Francis,

Ta Ke didn't mind, after all, he had demolished a blood clan castle and returned laden with spoils.

But… the impact on the blood clan side was obviously not that simple.

Not mentioning anything else, just the fact that Ta Ke could enter the Blood Clan Council's context is enough to let the Blood Clan internally carry out a minor purge.

From the first contact with Shenglande.

To Black River Valley, I once worked as a porter, destroying a certain strongling's promotion ritual.

And this time, unintentionally, I ended up entering the Blood Clan Upper Echelons' Mimic Council.

Especially this reckless intrusion, the harm is minor, but the insult is directly maxed out.

Ta Ke is very clear about all the things before and after.

This will make the Dark Sun Church hate me even more.

Fumbling with the newspaper, Ta Ke pondered slightly.

"I don't know whether it was the blood clan themselves or the Dark Sun Saint who ordered them to do it, but publishing my information in Shenglande's Steam Daily is outright provocation."

"Provocation is fine enough."

"Besides... can't you guys guess correctly about that?"

On this newspaper in Ta Ke's hands.

The two major S-rank Supernatural Talents of the blasphemer Ta Ke revealed above are:

S-rank Supernatural Talent, Precision Shooting (376%).

S-rank Steam Talent, Steam Phase (412%).

Without a doubt, this is what the Dark Sun Church analyzed from the abilities Ta Ke displayed, possibly even using divination and other mystical means.

If you say he's not accurate, that's indeed somewhat true.

If you say he's accurate, the mistakes are indeed somewhat outrageous.

"Or..."

Ta Ke rubbed his fingers.

"Also submit some exclusive news to Shenglande's Steam Press?"

"Say the Dark Sun Saint has three S-rank Supernatural Talents: Soul Phase, Spirit Realm Contract, Dark Heart; even I can roughly guess the numbers."

After thinking, Ta Ke shook his head, giving up this move that wasn't very meaningful and even carried hidden risks.

Tracking enemies through information also exists in mysticism.

Even through the state of large amounts of information gathering.

It can precisely locate the enemy.

If... Ta Ke submitted the information.

That information spread widely in Shenglande's ecology.

Then that divination ritual could fully utilize the power of that ecology's spread, thereby locating Ta Ke within the ecology.

Of course, this kind of information mysticism divination ritual also has a solution.

The solution is quite simple: just not be in that ecology.

With the passage of time, after the nature of the information flood eased and settled in the ecology, once the limelight passed, coming back would be safe.

"You want to use this method to probe me?"

Looking at the newspaper in his hand, Ta Ke lightly laughed.

"Too bad... I am not an S-rank Supernatural Talent."

"Even... soon I won't even be an SSS-rank Supernatural Talent."

I've been idling in Shenglande for a while.

Although the Five-Ring High Tower in Shenglande gives few Supernatural Talent fragments.

But with the passage of time, Ta Ke is already very close to the SSS-rank upper limit of 2000% for the Steam-Origin Spirit State.

Compared to Precision Correction.

The Steam-Origin Spirit State has a broader scope of effect.

Ta Ke plans to first raise the Steam-Origin Spirit State to the SSS-rank 2000% upper limit, then see what new, unimaginable traits appear after breaking through.

As the Steam Bus arrived at the stop.

Ta Ke's destination arrived.

This is the Geothermal Rock Area, Dwarven Street.

Wuu wuu wuu...

Surging Origin Energy Steam, low and lingering whistle.

Also coming from deep in Dwarven Street was the clanging of hammer strikes, the training sound.

That wonderful sound of the supernatural ecology made Ta Ke especially comfortable.

Ta Ke is now increasingly able to feel the wonderful sensation brought by the Steam Ecology.