The weapon refiner is not doing her job properly

Chapter 153 Star Eclipse
Therefore, the significance of the portable detector that Master Su suddenly took out, which can monitor the soul's sanity value in real time, goes far beyond being a novel sacred artifact.

It was like a powerful bomb, unexpectedly thrown into the turbulent depths of the spiritual realm.

It is foreseeable that once this detector is proven effective and begins to enter the market, it will trigger an unprecedented frenzy of competition.

Its value lies in its irreplaceable practicality. It is not only a lifesaver for elite spiritual practitioners who venture into dangerous situations, but more importantly, it gives spiritual practitioners from ordinary families with limited resources, as well as logistics personnel who work on the edge of contaminated areas, the possibility of early warning of aberrations and striving for a glimmer of hope for the first time.

This demand, which covers a wide range of people and is related to their basic survival needs, will give rise to a market that is larger than anyone can imagine.

Those with the keenest sense of smell are undoubtedly the top billionaires and aristocratic families who wield enormous wealth and power.

They understood the strategic significance of this sacred artifact better than anyone else. It was not only a guarantee of personal safety, but could also become a key bargaining chip that influenced the rise and fall of a family and the division of power.

In order to be the first to possess it and monopolize it, they will spare no expense and use all their overt and covert power to unleash a bloody storm that will sweep across the entire field.

"What kind of looks are those?" Su Ninglong felt uncomfortable under their intense gazes, which seemed to have tangible claws, as if they wanted to tear her into pieces so that each of them could take a piece home to keep as a souvenir.

She asked suspiciously, "Is that so strange?"

"No, it's just too astonishing." Tong Zi couldn't hide her curiosity and pressed on, "I'm very curious, did Master Su develop such an exquisite thing all by himself?"

"Otherwise what? Since you know that my master can possess a robot, you should be able to guess that her understanding of the soul is far beyond the scope of ordinary cognition." This was exactly the intention that Su Ninglong had laid out earlier. Any research involving the soul needs to be made with a sufficiently weighty reason. If one does not have an almost primal insight into the soul, how could one create such a special sacred artifact?

Su Ninglong's statement perfectly matches Master Su's unfathomable persona.

Tong Zi's doubts largely dissipated, and she accepted the explanation. However, a more practical concern arose: "So... will there be any side effects from using it?"

"Master clearly stated that this bead is an experimental version, designed with safety in mind and no known side effects, but it has three key limitations. First, it is a one-time consumable; once activated, it can continuously monitor soul fluctuations for up to ten days. Second, it is extremely time-sensitive; after opening the outer packaging, it must be firmly attached to the user's skin within half a minute, otherwise, the sacred artifact will immediately become ineffective. Finally, it will be automatically activated as soon as it enters a contaminated area, so you must be vigilant at all times."

The so-called experimental version certainly cannot be the complete version of the artifact; it only needs to ensure its effectiveness.

"So, we can carry it with us, and when we enter areas with sufficiently high pollution levels, it will be truly 'awakened' and start working? Is that what you mean?"

“Yes.” Su Ninglong nodded in affirmation, then added an important reminder, “Remember this: it’s just a monitor that reflects the degree to which your soul has been corrupted. If you’ve already developed cognitive biases due to the pollution, then your ‘sanity’ might be misinterpreted.”

After learning about these features, Tong Zi wanted to know its cost.

“It’s not expensive at all.” Su Ninglong liked Tong Zi’s candid inquiry on the spot, and gave her a friendly, sweet smile. “Because it’s in the experimental stage, it’s just a symbolic fee…” She tried to hold up five fingers.

"Fifty thousand?" Tong Zi's voice rose instantly. For most hunters, this price was simply astronomical for a disposable item.

With this budget, it would be more cost-effective to save it up and buy calming earrings that can stabilize the mind in the long term.

"Am I the kind of person who asks for exorbitant prices?" Su Ninglong looked aggrieved, as if she had been misunderstood. "The reason I made it is so that more people can afford it and use it, benefiting the general public..."

Tong Zi tentatively asked, "So, it's five thousand each?"

"Five hundred!" Su Ninglong quoted a crisp price, implying it was a "friendship bargain." The cost was only twenty star coins, but considering the unique technological value it contained, charging five hundred was perfectly reasonable, right?
She quickly calculated in her mind that one batch could produce over a thousand pieces, an efficiency that even she couldn't help but admire her own ability.

Reasonable!

This price is far below Tong Zi's expectations; it's practically a steal!
She instantly felt it was an incredibly good deal, and her desire to buy it ignited like dry tinder, making her want to immediately declare, "Give me a hundred!"

“However…” Su Ninglong changed the subject, pouring cold water on their enthusiasm, “We can’t officially sell them yet; we can only ‘lend’ them to you for trial use. There happen to be twenty monitors here.”

She pointed to a stack of papers next to her, "You can't be careless with your experience reports. Remember to write one for each of you and bring back twenty. My master has even printed out detailed feedback forms for you. Here, everyone, take one."

Just moments before, everyone was basking in the joy of the low prices. But when they saw the form handed to them, they exchanged bewildered glances and fell into a collective silence: "..."

After a brief silence, Lian Xinyi couldn't help but ask, "Then... after the trial period ends, will I be able to buy this anytime?"

“You are my master’s key clients,” Su Ninglong readily promised. “Don’t worry, once it officially goes on sale, we will definitely reserve the highest priority for you to purchase.”

This wasn't just polite talk; she did indeed have several client resources at her disposal.

Moreover, a high-quality customer base is a long-term investment that requires careful maintenance.

Offering this tempting "priority right" demonstrates sincerity and effectively retains these potential stable buyers—why not?
Having received the promise, Tong Zi's last trace of doubt vanished.

She didn't ask any more questions and reached out to open the rectangular box in front of her.

The contents of the box were revealed. The shape of the cane differed slightly from the design drawings Tong Zi had envisioned. It was not straight and rigid, but rather presented a smooth and natural curve, eerily reminiscent of a human spine.

Lian Xinyi couldn't help but ask, "What... what material is the main body made of?"

If it were the spine of a humanoid creature, he swore that even if it were legal, he would never touch it.

“Wood, and gems!” Su Ninglong rolled her eyes in annoyance, as if the other party had asked a stupid question.

"Come on, what era are we living in? Where am I supposed to find remains as materials? Parasites and mutants are everywhere, but they're not going to be kind enough to leave me with a complete spine!" She herself didn't mind designing something a bit grotesque, but a skilled cook can't cook without rice, and the material library limited her creativity.

Lian Xinyi chuckled and scratched the back of her head. "Sister Su, don't be angry. I won't dare to think such things again."

Su Ninglong smiled: "No, you can let your imagination run wild. I like a rich imagination."

Lian Xinyi immediately shut up. He would still seek out sacred artifacts in the future, and he didn't want to smash some corpse's spine against the Mystic Spirit; the image was too unpleasant.

Tong Zi composed herself and reached out to take out her cane.

The staff was about 1.2 meters long, its overall shape extremely slender and refined, with the diameter of its thickest part barely reaching two centimeters. Her fingers landed on the handle area. It wasn't smooth, but covered with an extremely fine, peculiarly textured, scale-like pattern. Even more astonishingly, the dark red cracks on each "scale" were completely different, like flowing, ever-changing abstract paintings, silently unfolding different patterns under her fingertips.

As Tong Zi subconsciously focused her gaze, trying to make out the ever-changing details of the cracks, a sudden, intense wave of dizziness gripped her.

It was as if those tiny cracks had turned into vortexes, trying to pull her consciousness in.

Beneath these strange scales, two semi-circular gems are inlaid at the core of the handle.

They are not simply pieced together, but rather interlock and rotate in an exquisite way, as if undergoing eternal quantum entanglement, forming a dynamic Tai Chi diagram full of mystery.

The entire walking stick perfectly blends the precision of cutting-edge technology with the profound and mysterious realm of ancient cultivation.

The design is similar to that of the SAN value monitor, and it is easy to tell that it was made by the same person.

Tong Zi abruptly closed her eyes, forcibly severing the uncomfortable visual connection.

A moment later, she opened her eyes again, but carefully avoided the tempting yet dangerous area of ​​the handle, daring only to look at the relatively safe middle section of the staff.

A few clear red veins quietly spread across the whites of her eyes. A wave of pain washed over her, and she covered her eyes, wanting to ask Su Ninglong if she would be alright.

After about ten seconds, the pain suddenly disappeared.

It felt like I was hallucinating.

Tong Zi recounted her feelings from just now, and said nervously, "Will I get contaminated with it while using it?"

"Relax, it's uncontaminated. Just like those high-level sacred artifacts, looking directly at its core will only cause discomfort. Only when your soul strength is comparable to a five-star hunter can you withstand its 'true form' without hindrance." Su Ninglong's explanation made Tong Zi instantly understand what was going on; it was due to his insufficient strength.

This alone makes "Master Su" even more important in Tong Zi's heart. Master Su is definitely a strong person on par with Principal Yan.

"My master referenced the patterns on the sacred artifacts of the Court of Life and Death and made some unusual modifications. The thickest part in the middle is the filter. You must remember that when it turns black, do not use it anymore, as it will produce extremely strong distortion and pollution. It is best to use it in conjunction with the Mind-Cleansing Earrings and the Spirit Anchor. Using both at the same time is the safest approach."

Tong Zi nodded solemnly.

Maintaining a clear mind and accurate cognition in a treacherous and polluted environment is an essential skill ingrained in every hunter. She knew all too well the horror of "cognitive distortion."

That is often the first step toward the abyss of death.

Many experienced hunters have ultimately failed and perished at this fatal juncture.

The craftsmanship of the staff before her was so exquisite and intricate that it almost exhausted all of Su Ninglong's skill reserves at the Foundation Establishment stage.

The staff alone is covered with countless tiny arrays, each nested in its own right, numbering no less than a thousand.

The level of precision is astonishing.

Once the internal structure is damaged, it takes at least two weeks of painstaking work to disassemble, locate the fault, and then recarve and repair it to restore it to its original state.

"Take good care of it; if it gets damaged, it's hard to repair," Su Ninglong reminded her again. "The box containing it is itself a matching sacred artifact, a 'purifier.' Any inanimate object that has been contaminated or corroded can have its contamination slowly purified once it's placed inside. Remember, it only works on inanimate objects."

That seemingly ordinary box actually hides a secret.

The outer layer of the box is covered by a constantly operating quantum filter, which acts like the most precise sieve to block harmful pollutant particles.

The inner layer of the box is entirely constructed of warm and translucent pink crystals, densely etched with complex energy conversion arrays.

To further enhance purification efficiency and stability, Suninglong has also specially crafted a majestic Pixiu pattern at the core node.

This legendary auspicious beast, transformed into a spirit pattern that "guards the gate," has its ability to devour evil spirits cleverly integrated into the formation, becoming a solid support for the stable operation of the transformation array.

"The air purifier itself has its limits, so don't use it too often." Without Tong Zi even asking, Su Ninglong explained directly: "What I mean by frequently is that you go into the polluted area every day and put your cane, which is full of pollution, in to purify it."

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad..." Tong Zi had a wry smile on her face. She knew her own limitations and couldn't be a tireless robot, venturing into the polluted area every day.

This is just asking for trouble. A three-star hunter isn't a donkey pulling a millstone. Even a donkey needs to rest after pulling a millstone all day, let alone a human.

The walking stick was very light, about the same weight as a regular trekking pole. After getting used to the feel, Tong Zi asked, "Does it have a name?"

“I didn’t have time to choose one! You can choose a name, and Master has reserved a space for it to be engraved,” Su Ninglong said.

Tong Zi's gaze fell once again on the staff, which resembled a spine. After a moment of contemplation, several thoughts flashed through his mind.

"Spirit Erosion Spine, that's a bit of a mouthful. How about we call it Star Erosion Spine?"

"Let's simplify it and call it Star Eclipse."

Tong Zi also thought the name was good.

Su Ninglong gently beckoned with her finger, and the "Star Eclipse" cane lying in Tong Zi's palm seemed to be pulled by invisible threads, floating lightly up and drifting in front of her.

A cluster of pure and condensed spiritual fire suddenly rose from her palm. Under her exquisite control, the flame, like liquid gold, quickly outlined the two ancient and elegant seal script characters "Star Eclipse".

With a flick of the fingertip, the name forged by the spiritual fire transformed into a stream of light, and with a soft "hum," it was precisely imprinted on the pre-reserved position on the staff.

The elegant and powerful ancient calligraphy instantly blends into the staff, as if it were meant to be there, giving this unique sacred object its final soul imprint.