Ch.169169. Ice Spirit Cold Liquor

“Actually, I don’t mind selling an SS-rank ability to the Murim Alliance Leader.

Even if a hunter with an SS-rank ability gains another SS-rank ability, it wouldn’t pose much of a threat to me, who’s plastered with SSS+ abilities. Besides, building a good relationship with the Murim Alliance Leader, regardless of him being Chinese, wouldn’t be a bad thing for me.

However, that would make my life considerably inconvenient and difficult.

From the Murim Alliance Leader’s perspective, granting an SS-rank ability is already absurd, but if he learns I can give hunters additional abilities, would he be satisfied with just one time?

Even if I say it’s a one-time opportunity, he’d try to squeeze more out of me, putting me through hell.

That’s why I decided to give it to his granddaughter.

“For the second option, you can choose to receive the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant later. I’ll take your granddaughter and grant her the ability. After giving her the ability, I’ll return, receive the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant, then go back to get your granddaughter and confirm her ability. Then goodbye. It’s essentially the same as the first method, just with an extra step. I don’t recommend this. It’s just tiring for both of us. Since we’re trading on trust, let’s go with the first method.”

I need to receive the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant.

Once I give the SS-rank ability to his granddaughter, there’s no way to take it back.

It’s a consumable item.

Meanwhile, from the Murim Alliance Leader’s perspective, he could give me the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant and then take it back.

“Do you think you can escape safely just because I give it to you first?”

“If I thought that, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

“We also have your younger sister.”

“I wasn’t planning to escape alone.”

“….Hehe. In the heart of China, inside the Murim Alliance, you think you can break through the entire Murim Alliance and leave…”

“I wouldn’t recommend thinking that way. Killing people isn’t exactly a pleasant experience.”

I’m saying this because I’m confident.

It might not be easy.

The Murim Alliance Leader is a high-level SS-rank hunter, and there are probably many different hunters waiting here.

Despite what I’m saying, it would be no trouble for me to quickly grab Kim Soo-jung and escape using Leap.

“What incredible confidence. I should reevaluate you.”

“You’ll need to update that evaluation weekly.”

“What if you receive the ability but don’t give the item?”

“I’d have no choice. Since I can’t take back the ability once given, it would be a waste to give it for free, so I’d have to eliminate it before leaving.”

“…”

“Why do you keep making me think bad thoughts? I’m not that kind of person. If we just exchange what we both want, won’t we have opportunities to see each other again in the future?”

I could tell from his anxious gaze that the Murim Alliance Leader wasn’t really trying to pull something.

He was just worried.

The idea of taking his granddaughter somewhere.

The concern that something might happen to her.

“…Alright. Let’s make the deal.”

Li Weixing touched something on the wall and entered a secret room, returning with the necklace.

“You keep it quite casually.”

“I don’t particularly like enshrining items.”

The Ice Spirit Jade Pendant was beautiful.

It was a necklace made of a pearl the size of a thumbnail, but unlike regular pearls, it was blue.

A crystallization of mana created from extreme yin energy.

“Did it come from a mythic box in an S-rank dungeon?”

“It came from an S- rank dungeon.”

“This game really is all about luck, damn it.”

I’ve played for 10 years and never seen a mythic-grade box in high-tier dungeons, yet in reality, both America and China have one each. What are the odds of getting an accessory of such high grade from that box?

This is why online games are better.

In solo farming worlds, no matter how much you farm with terrible luck, you can’t get certain items, but here, some people can buy what others get through ridiculous luck.

I put the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant around my neck.

A cold sensation wraps around my nape, then gradually seeps in, warming my neck.

“I know you use close-range damage dealing and holy magic. Does it meet the equip requirements?”

The Murim Alliance Leader asked in surprise, apparently not realizing I was buying it to wear myself.

I smiled and explained.

Since he told me where he got it, I’ll share a secret in exchange.

“Why do you think I have two abilities?”

“…!”

That should be enough of a hint.

After putting on the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant, my magic power reached SS+ rank.

At this rate, my magic power might be the first to reach SSS- rank.

My base mana also increased from 770 to 1500, nearly doubling.

This clearly shows the massive gap between raising from SS- to SS, and from SS to SS+.

Just with this, my base mana increased significantly, but with the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant’s option, my maximum mana increased from +50% to +150%, adding 2250 more mana, bringing my total to 3750.

Moreover, my mana recovery rate increased to +55% per minute, which at this point, I could cautiously say gives me virtually infinite mana.

The best part about this Ice Spirit Jade Pendant isn’t just the inflated mana, but the option that converts that mana into final damage.

– +1% final damage per 100 maximum mana (currently 37%)

This more than justifies the SS-rank value of the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant.

Even if I equip other mana items, it’s not just investing in mana; my final damage increases too.

“Hehe. Hehehehe.”

“You seem pleased.”

“I came because it looked good enough to exchange for an SS-rank ability.”

“I’m glad we could both get what we wanted. Now, what about my granddaughter?”

“It would be convenient to do it here, right?”

“If you permit it.”

“Call her here. Your granddaughter.”

Li Weixing quickly took out his phone and made a call.

“Mmm. My granddaughter. Could you come to grandfather’s room for a moment?”

To think that someone with such a tiger-like build and face would speak so tenderly.

I wasn’t particularly interested in the cringe-worthy conversation between grandfather and granddaughter, and I checked my Light Demon Sword while waiting.

The main option of the now-activated Light Demon Sword:

100% increase in mana skill effects and 50% reduction in mana consumption for mana skills.

The mana consumption per minute for summoning Yunir and Fungfungi has decreased.

Now I can freely use Leap Slash or Double Slash.

Though with how much my mana has increased, I could spam them anyway.

Knock knock.

“Grandfather!”

Soon, Li Weixing’s granddaughter opened the door and entered.

Considering Li Weixing’s age of 66, I expected a young child, but she appeared to be almost an adult woman.

“Oh.. Hello.”

“I thought your granddaughter would be younger.”

Kim Soo-jung only mentioned that he had a granddaughter on YouTube, not her age, and I hadn’t bothered to look up the videos, so this was my first time seeing her.

“Haha. My granddaughter is 20 this year. Isn’t she pretty?”

“Indeed. Does she take after her mother?”

“Hoho. My daughter-in-law is quite beautiful too.”

I wasn’t just being polite; his granddaughter was extremely pretty.

The 20-year-old still had that youthful fullness to her face, combined with classic Chinese beauty features that made me curious about what her mother looked like.

Well, being the daughter-in-law of an SS-rank hunter, she might even be a celebrity he brought in as a bride.

I was momentarily impressed but not particularly interested.

I didn’t want to pry into someone else’s family affairs.

I was more interested in the beautiful item around my neck than the beautiful woman standing before me.

I approached his granddaughter, wanting to quickly complete the transaction and go home.

“Did your grandfather tell you? I’m going to help you learn an SS-rank ability.”

“Yes… I heard, but is it really possible?”

“Do you have an ability in mind? Think of your top 5 choices. The list of available abilities differs for each person, so some might not be possible.”

“…I’ve decided!”

“Already?”

“Hehe… I’ve always wanted to become a hunter like my grandfather.”

Li Weixing’s granddaughter, Li Suin, clearly had a bright upbringing.

“Then let’s go.”

I looked at the Murim Alliance Leader and held out my hand.

Li Suin intuitively took my hand, and I logged in.

——————

“Wow! Where is this?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Master!”

“Oh, Lulu.”

“Ah! Hello! Who is this? Is she new to the farm?”

“No, we’re just making a transaction. Bring us some drinks.”

“Yes!”

At the farm, I asked Li Suin:

“Let’s do this quickly. What ability do you want?”

“My first choice is… a healer!”

“You’ve chosen an expensive one.”

“Hehe…”

If you could have an SS-rank ability, what would be best?

Everyone has different preferences, but the best is definitely a healer.

It’s a safe choice, rare, and as an SS-rank healer, you’d likely become world-famous.

And since it’s not an uncommon ability, I could easily grant it using the SS-rank ability selection.

I temporarily registered Li Suin at the farm and used the ability selection to grant her the ability.

I could betray the deal and run away to save my SS-rank ability selection, but since I’ve already shown my face and even do YouTube, there’s no need to be stingy with an SS-rank ability selection, especially when it’s not even SSS+ rank.

Besides, from my perspective, exchanging an SS-rank ability selection for the Ice Spirit Jade Pendant is more than worth it.

“Whoa!”

Li Suin acquired SS-rank holy magic.

Her status window changed to a farming window, but when I released it at the farm, it returned to a status window.

This was something I’d wanted to confirm, so it was a good experience.

“Master! The drinks…! Oh?”

As Lulu came out with the drinks, I logged out again with Li Suin.

“I’ll be back in a few days.”