Chapter 605: Legend Grade Staff

"Elder Sorim." Lei En bowed slightly and stated his purpose directly, "I wish to exchange for that Endless Storm Staff."

Sorim was greatly surprised and said joyfully, "Do you have that many source crystals?"

He has traders in the Prime Material Plane and many other planes, but none as big‑spending as Lei En.

Today is Lei En's fourth visit to the Storm Holy Soul; apart from the first time, each visit he has offered several thousand pounds of source crystals to trade away large quantities of items.

Thanks to the deal with Lei En, the Storm Temple will not worry about source crystal supply for the next hundred years; there will even be surplus crystals for repairing the damaged temple, expanding the nurturing hall, and in the past two years several young giants have been born, increasing the tribe's population.

In nearly a thousand years, Elder Titan has never been this comfortable, so his mood is especially good.

The Endless Storm is a Legend Grade staff, priced at fifteen thousand pounds of source crystals; less than two years have passed since the last trade, and Lei En somehow obtained that many crystals again?

"Yes." Lei En smiled.

Since he took over the Politosi Mine in the Dragon Forest, he immediately had the Mechanical Guild dispatch a huge batch of machinery to Dragon Ridge Fortress, spared no cost to bring it into the Dragon Forest, tripled the number of miners, hired mechanics for professional management, and the mining efficiency rose severalfold.

It is a mithril mine, currently yielding over four hundred thousand pounds of mithril and one hundred fifty thousand pounds of source crystal ore each year.

Mithril alone brings nearly ten million Gold Shields of revenue annually; after costs, net profit exceeds two million Gold Shields.

The most important source crystal ore has a purity of about 25:1; combined with ore bought from the Empire and Kangjiatuo, after three years he has amassed over twenty thousand pounds of source crystals. Subtracting the two Nebula Rings and some scraps exchanged last time, he still holds more than sixteen thousand pounds, more than enough to trade for the Endless Storm.

However, such frantic mining means the Politosi Mine's reserves cannot last many years.

According to the Mechanical Guild's prospecting, production can sustain for at most five or six years; after seven or eight years, revenue will no longer cover costs.

Within three years, a new source crystal mine must be found.

Lei En produced half a cubic of refined source crystal, slammed it with a bang onto Elder Titan's desk, and said, "Please count it, Elder."

【7】 Sorim's eyes lit up.

Suolim's eyes lit up.

He touched it a few times, then weighed it repeatedly on a massive scale, confirming it was exactly fifteen thousand pounds of refined source crystal—no more, no less. After several trades, he noticed Lei En's crystal purity is always spot‑on, ninety percent plus a trace, the margin negligible.

The source crystal refining method taught to Lei En could hardly achieve this result.

Clearly, Lei En must be using another method to refine.

But Sorim doesn't care at all; this batch of crystals is enough to expand the Storm Holy Soul's activation area considerably, or to cultivate over twenty Storm giants.

The purity is already acceptable.

"Here you go." Elder Titan raised his hand, and a peculiar staff materialized in his palm, which he handed to Lei En without hesitation, smiling, "It now belongs to you."

Lei En took the staff.

The staff feels light in the hand, weighing no more than five pounds, about 1.7 meters long, with a straight shaft, no head, essentially like a rod.

The staff is divided into three sections; the middle segment is cast from a red‑gold dual‑color magical alloy, primarily a kind of mithril alloy, sturdy yet light, fitting one hand, its surface etched with dense runes resembling dragon scales, very aesthetic.

The two ends are the most striking parts.

These two sections are entirely made of blue‑purple crystal, within which nine mysterious runes about half a fist in size are set, neatly arranged; together the two ends hold eighteen runes, each radiating an uncanny magical glow, dazzlingly colorful.

At first glance, the staff looks like a splendid light tube, unforgettable at a glance.

It is the Endless Storm Staff!

When Lei En first saw the Endless Storm on the exchange list, he had never heard of this Legend Grade equipment; after returning and researching, he learned its power and reputation are great, not inferior to his master's Akus Holy Staff, perhaps even surpassing it.

"Endless Storm" is an abbreviation; its full name is "Magic Storm, Endless Caster."

Its creator was a legendary elven Grand Mage who served his master and earned countless battle honors, once one of the world's most famous staffs. Yet during the Abyss invasion at the end of the Third Epoch, that Grand Mage perished, the Endless Storm vanished, and its fame gradually sank into the ages, unknown to most. It has now existed for three thousand eight hundred years, almost matching Elder Titan's age.

The runes set in the crystal ends are elven magical runes.

Lei En can barely recognize a few.

He grasped the middle shaft, infused a slight soul force, and instantly the crystal ends burst into dazzling colors, visible strands of magical energy coursing through the runes, traveling the middle shaft to form a complete loop, activating the hidden rune array within the mithril alloy core.

"That's way too much like a light tube."

Lei En muttered inwardly.

At the same time, a wave of information about the staff entered his mind, revealing the enchantments of this Legend Grade staff. He had previously consulted many sources and had a rough idea, but nothing as clear as holding it.

"Magic Storm, Endless Caster": the "storm" in the name refers to tempestuous spells, unrelated to the wind element.

When a caster grips it, they gain a super casting acceleration effect.

Ring‑1 to Ring‑3 spells have casting time reduced by three seconds and gain triple casting;

Ring‑4 to Ring‑6 spells have casting time reduced by two seconds and gain double casting;

Ring‑7 to Ring‑9 spells have casting time reduced by one second and gain extreme casting;

Although Lei En had long known the Endless Storm's enchantments, actually holding it still shocked him.

With Reslin's current casting ability, Ring‑1 to Ring‑3 low‑level spells rarely take more than three seconds; holding the Endless Storm reduces casting time by three seconds, meaning all low‑level spells become instant and triple‑cast, turning a single fireball into three.

Ring‑4 to Ring‑6 mid‑level spells already cast within about two seconds, now all can be instant.

Ring‑7 and above high‑level spells only shave off one second, which seems minor but actually yields the greatest boost to power.

The stronger the spell, the longer it takes, and accelerating it becomes harder. Each second shaved off a high‑level spell demands years of deep study and mastery. Cutting a second from a Ring‑9 spell is as hard as scaling a mountain.

Not to mention, the Endless Storm also grants extreme casting.

This means that as long as the staff is in hand, every high‑level spell released—whether Ring‑7 or Ring‑9—reaches peak technique, unleashing the strongest power the caster can muster, saving countless hours of study.

Even just the super casting acceleration alone makes the Endless Storm worthy of legend status!

Yet it also carries another enchantment.

Ten-ring Spell—True Mirror Image Spell!

This spell creates a Mirror Image identical to the caster, possessing all the caster's knowledge, thoughts, spells, body, and equipment, as if a perfect duplicate, with no difference at all.

The True Mirror Image persists for one hour.

During that time, the True Mirror Image can go anywhere, do anything, and swap positions with the caster at will, the same effect as a king‑rook castling between Lei En and Reslin.

If the True Mirror Image is wounded, killed, or dissipates, it causes no harm to the caster.

However, the True Mirror Image Spell can be used only once every seven days, takes one minute to cast, and consumes mana or soul force equivalent to three Nine-ring Techniques. In other words, only a Legendary High-rank caster can trigger it.

Moreover, when the caster wields the Endless Storm to cast the Mirror Image Spell, the spell gains one ring, and each summoned image comes equipped with the Ring‑7 spell "True Obstruction," making the image appear indistinguishable from the caster, confusing observers.

Sss…

Even though Lei En had seen plenty of legendary equipment and owned the Thunder God's Hammer, he was still startled.

A look of realization crossed his face; he understood the true use of the Endless Storm.

The key lies in the Real Mirror Image technique!

First duplicate a real mirror image, then the original and the real mirror image both cast Mirror Image, effectively doubling the number of mirrors.

Take Reslin as an example: he has mastered the Eight‑Ring Mirror Image technique, which is also the ring limit for Mirror Image. However, the Endless Storm raised it by one ring, breaking the limit to nine rings, allowing him in a single breath to summon twelve mirrors. Adding the real mirror images, which can also summon twelve mirrors, within a minute Reslin turns from one person into twenty‑six people!

One person becomes a legion of casters—that is the true meaning of "Endless Caster".

Then the original and all mirrors receive a super casting acceleration effect; selecting a few suitable spells, they are all instantly unleashed, forming a "Magic Storm"!

"Too strong!"

Lei En couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

The power of the Endless Storm cannot compare to Time's End, but it certainly ranks among the top of all Legend Grade staffs in the world, and it is the strongest casting weapon I could obtain.

It can boost Reslin's strength severalfold, and it's also excellent for personal use; with two originals plus twenty mirrors that have half his power and defense, even when facing Thirty-level-or-below Holy Soul Wizards, he would dare to confront them head‑on.

Fifteen thousand pounds of source crystal bought this staff; it's truly worth it!

Suo Lim heard Lei En's words, tucked away the source crystal, and shook his head: "The Endless Storm is something I accidentally acquired during the Dark Millennium; it's been in my hands for over two thousand years, and I occasionally take it out for maintenance to prevent decay over time. I'm not proficient in Arcane, nor do I wish to study Mirror Image; otherwise I would use it myself."

Lei En nodded.

The Endless Storm must be combined with Mirror Image to unleash its full might; in the hands of a caster who cannot use Mirror Image, it is merely a relatively mediocre Legend Grade staff.

"Thank you for the elder's generosity," Lei En knew he had gotten the better end of the bargain.

Although the price was clearly listed, if Elder Suo Lim was reluctant, refused to trade, or hiked the price, I would have no choice but to accept.

"It's nothing; as long as you like it, Lei En."

The Titan Elder waved his hand nonchalantly, saying, "After all, it's a Legend Grade staff; keeping it here would be wasteful, better to sell it to you so it can shine anew. Of course, if you bring more source crystal in the future, I'd be even happier."

"I will," Lei En said with a smile.

Suo Lim has many fine items here; everything on the list is worth swapping. That "Annam's Dragon‑slaying Sword" priced at fifty thousand pounds of source crystal ranks second only to my Thunder God's Hammer in fame and power among melee Legend Grade weapons, and if I have excess source crystal later I could trade for it to have some fun.

As for the Titan Furnace priced at five hundred thousand pounds of source crystal, forget it.

I can forge this thing myself.

Just as Lei En was about to stow the Endless Storm, a rapid yet steady series of footsteps came from outside the palace gates, and a clear, bright voice called, "Elder, is Lei En here?"

Four chapters still owed.

(End of chapter)