“Ah...”

Bai Yunfei was confused, to say the very least.” Senior Tiger King...what might that mean?” He asked.

“That land is sacred to us soulbeasts. A soul cultivator would never be allowed there. And frankly speaking, not even I would be able to go there right now. So those crafting stones you were looking for...I’m sorry to say your search ends here.”

“Sacred?”

The reply was unexpected but disappointing. There wasn’t any point in hoping for permission or asking the Bloodhowl Wolf King for help if there was a reason like that...

“This junior would like to apologize, in that case...” He bowed with a silent sigh to himself. Turning around, Bai Yunfei left the room to go back to the Core World.

“Did you find those crafting stones in ‘that’ place?” The Bloodhowl Wolf King asked the Three-eyed Tiger King as soon as Bai Yunfei was out of earshot.

The Three-eyed Tiger King nodded. “It was when I became a class eight. I don’t quite understand the differences and his excitement, but I cannot help him as much as I want to. You of all people should know he would never be allowed into such a place.”

“I recall...seeing a crafting stone like that in the Wind Ape King’s abode. Bai Yunfei had the same reaction then...is there really some kind of difference? Does it have an attribute beneficial to cultivating? Or is it a valuable supplement to crafting? I’ve never paid much attention to the crafting stones in ‘that’ place before, but now that I think about it...”

The Bloodhowl Wolf King grew silent after this as if he was thinking hard about something.

Within the Core World.

Still dejected, Bai Yunfei sat by himself with a stormy expression on his face.

Fate was not always kind enough to lead people away from the dead ends in life. The Three-eyed Tiger King already told him the answer so Bai Yunfei wasn’t going to press the issue or try to find where it was from. Nothing good would come from forcing the issue. He should be happy that he was even lucky enough to get this one +11 Guaranteed Upgrade Stone to begin with.

Now it was time for him to make use of this new Guaranteed Upgrade Stone to upgrade the Soul Sealing Mandate.

Who knew that the problem he had a while ago would be resolved so quickly?

Perhaps he should’ve kept that +13 Upgrade Stone. If only he had known!

It was too late for regrets. The actions of his past had still a positive net effect and so Bai Yunfei was satisfied. The chance of a successful +14 was gone, but Bai Yunfei would still be happy with having the Soul Sealing Mandate be upgraded to +12.

The form of the white tiger was already out and about in the Core World. Its lively eyes were eyeing the upgrade stone in Bai Yunfei’s hand.

“Yunfei. Is this the +11 Guaranteed Upgrade Stone? Will I be upgraded now?”

Xiao Fang appeared beside the white tiger, “What, are you afraid of the upgrade failing? Relax, the Guaranteed Upgrade Stone is exactly as it sounds like. Prepare yourself to become stronger and for something new. I wonder what kind of effect you’ll get? Hurry up and upgrade him, Yunfei.”

Bai Yunfei nodded. Grabbing hold of the +11 Guaranteed Upgrade Stone in his left hand and the Soul Sealing Mandate in his right, Bai Yunfei closed his eyes.

“Upgrade.”

Equipment Grade: Mid Divine

Elemental Affinity: None

Upgrade Level: +11

He didn’t bother reading the rest of the notifications after that. He grabbed hold of the +12 Guaranteed Upgrade Stone he had.

“Upgrade.”

Equipment Grade: Mid Divine

Elemental Affinity: None

Upgrade Level: +12

Soul Compatibility: 100%

Equipment Effect 1: 100% Regeneration rate to the soul.

Equipment Effect 2: Summon a white halo. Soulforce recovery is increased by 100%.

Other effects cannot be activated within the duration of this effect.

Equipment Effect 3: Seal the soul of a single entity. Entity will be unable to take any actions.

Additional Attribute: 40% Increase in Equipment Effect 1 and 2’s effects.

+10 Additional Attribute: Create a spiritual barrier by using soulforce. Gain immunity to a single spirit-based attack for up to 5 seconds.

Cooldown of 24 hours.

+12 Additional Effect: All allies within range gain a 20% increase in all attributes.

All enemies within range have a 10% decrease in all attributes.

Determination of ally or enemy is dependent on user. If unknown, then neither effects will apply.

Duration of 1 hour and cooldown of 24 hours.

Upgrade Requirement: 700 Soulpoints

“Another range-of-effect effect!!” Bai Yunfei exclaimed with glee upon seeing the changes.

He never thought that he’d get two of the same type of effects after upgrading both the Soul Sealing Mandate and Core Stone to +12! Neither effects were single-target effects, they targeted multiple people within a certain range!

And this was an effect that strengthened allies and weakened enemies!!

An effect that granted a twenty-percent buff and a ten-percent debuff...how terrifying!

Unlike before where Bai Yunfei tended to try out all new effects, he began to think about something...

He was trying to focus on the feelings he had after upgrading the Soul Sealing Mandate twice. He was coming close to having another realization.

The light in his eyes were gleaming wildly. His hand rose slowly into the air as if hesitating. Twisting it, Bai Yunfei grabbed hold of a white stone.

It was the High-heaven tier upgrade stone!

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“What should I do, upgrade again?”

The hesitation played across his eyes for a split-second. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!”

He was going to use an upgrade stone to upgrade again!

Of course, the target of such an attempt would not be one of his precious Regalia or other lifebound armaments. And neither did this mean he could upgrade an ordinary item. He had to upgrade something more valuable like that. Like the...armor he was wearing!

The armor came off quickly onto his hands. Reluctance lingered in his eyes as he looked at it, and then to the upgrade stone. Putting them together, he whispered, “Upgrade!!”

“Bzz...”

Maybe he was imagining things due to his nervousness, but Bai Yunfei could’ve sworn he heard a certain type of ‘noise’ come out from the upgrade stone. When the stone turned to mist and entered the armor, Bai Yunfei’s heart was in his throat as he tried to pay as close attention as he could the sensations he was experiencing...

Equipment Grade: Mid Heaven

Elemental Affinity: Metal, Darkness

Upgrade Level: +12