Su Xiao’s legs spread slightly, Dragon Slash pointed diagonally to the ground. Holding Dragon Slash, Su Xiao felt as if he could move to any position within five meters around him.

This feeling was completely different from using the skills on his equipment. It was similar to the feeling he had every time he activated Counter Shield or unleashed Blue Steel Shadow energy.

Although ’Dragon Shadow Flash’ is an ability attached to Dragon Slash, Dragon Slash is Su Xiao’s exclusive growing weapon, so this ability is equivalent to Su Xiao’s own ability.

Using equipment abilities differs greatly from using one’s own abilities. Using equipment abilities feels like flipping a switch with your hand, whereas using your own abilities is akin to instinctive actions like raising an arm, clenching a fist, or blinking.

Su Xiao glanced around, determining the surrounding terrain, then curved his body, preparing to charge forward. He suddenly disappeared from his original position, almost instantly appearing five meters away.

Su Xiao staggered a few steps, feeling obviously unaccustomed to using the Dragon Shadow Flash ability for the first time.

He closed his eyes and sensed the feeling of penetrating the space barrier. He didn’t perceive space-time power; the feeling was like penetrating a thin membrane. After piercing through that membrane, he appeared directly five meters away.

With a thud, some object made a noise as it landed.

Su Xiao turned his head to look, noticing A Mu sitting on the ground with legs spread apart, staring at Su Xiao in a daze, with a coconut between his legs.

"A Mu, come over here."

Su Xiao rotated the long knife in his hand, the blade facing forward, the spine facing backward.

A Mu’s head shook like a rattle, though he was naive, he knew better than to spar or compete with Su Xiao.

Under Su Xiao’s ’enthusiastic invitation’, A Mu stood before Su Xiao tearfully and reluctantly.

"Use your charge ability on me."

A Mu had no choice but to bend forward, aiming his horns at Su Xiao. After hesitating for about ten seconds, he finally charged at Su Xiao.

Su Xiao leaned forward slightly. A Mu’s horns drew near; if one’s mental fortitude were lacking, they would subconsciously dodge.

Su Xiao remained completely still. Just as A Mu’s horns were about to touch Su Xiao’s chest, he suddenly vanished.

When Su Xiao reappeared, he was standing on A Mu’s shoulders.

"The flaw is too obvious."

Su Xiao exerted force beneath his feet. A Mu knew he was in trouble; he had hesitated during the charge.

"Charging too directly."

Su Xiao jumped down from A Mu’s shoulders. It seemed necessary to teach A Mu some charging techniques.

Two hours later, Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, and A Mu were seated around a dining table. A Mu devoured food voraciously, expressing pure enjoyment.

A Mu’s expression came from savoring Xia’s culinary delights.

Next to him, Xia looked at A Mu with ’horror in her eyes’, sweat trickling down her forehead, a few strands of hair stuck to her face.

"Um... is there anything else you need?"

Xia’s mouth twitched. In the past hour, she felt mixed emotions—joy for a guest with a huge appetite and sadness that the guest ate so much she was nearly depleted.

"A Mu, are you full?"

Su Xiao chewed on his food.

"A Mu is halfway full, delicious, hiccup~"

Hearing this, Xia’s mouth slightly opened, and she trudged wearily towards the kitchen.

After a satisfying meal, Su Xiao paid a bill of 678 Paradise coin, the costs being 20% discounted.

On the way out, Bubu Wang smiled at Xia, indicating they’d return with the gluttonous eater in the evening, leaving Xia gradually petrified in the cold wind.

Xia took a deep breath, her fighting spirit began to rise~

She had cooked for more than 70 people in the past hour. Xia’s motto: as long as guests visit, she ensures they enjoy the delicious and plentiful food.

After a hearty meal, Su Xiao headed decisively towards a certain destination—a place notorious for eliminating countless contractors and for elevating many others to fame and fortune. That’s right, the Equipment Strengthening Hall.

Su Xiao stood in front of the Enhancement Hall, feeling slightly apprehensive, and for a good reason. Enhancing Dragon Slash carried great risks.

Dragon Slash had slipped from enhancement +12 to +7, needing enhancement once again.

At enhancement +7 or above, failure might result in the enhancement level resetting to zero or dropping by one level, the former less likely and the latter more likely.

From enhancement +10 and above, failure would damage the enhanced equipment irreparably.

Should Dragon Slash suffer damage now, it would severely affect Su Xiao, bringing his strength down by nearly half.

Therefore, Su Xiao aimed to enhance Dragon Slash to +10 and stop there. However, uncertainty loomed over him; luck being unpredictable, nobody knows how many Paradise coins will be lost should Dragon Slash fail once.

Su Xiao entered the Enhancement Hall, where numerous contractors gathered, particularly around the equipment enhancement machines.

Su Xiao approached one enhancement machine, which prompted him:

[Welcome to the 444th Equipment Enhancement Machine, User’s Paradise coin balance: 554915 points.]

With a hefty balance of 550,000 Paradise coins, Su Xiao felt assured, though the machine number made him slightly uneasy.

Su Xiao retrieved Dragon Slash, triggering a tray from the enhancement machine with his operation.

Whoosh～

White steam erupted from the enhancement machine as Su Xiao placed Dragon Slash on the tray.

[Equipment check... Completed, Dragon Slash+7 (golden) each enhancement costs 50,000 Paradise coins.] 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The cost of 50,000 per enhancement was excessive for a weapon of golden quality. Dragon Slash’s powerful abilities demanded much higher costs than weapons of the same tier.

[Proceed with enhancement? Yes/No]

Su Xiao didn’t immediately start the enhancement but placed five black mineral stones onto the tray.

[Pure Black Carbon Stone]

Quality: Dark Purple

Type: Rare Material

Effect: Can be added during equipment enhancement. Each stone increases the success rate by 2%, with a maximum of 10 stones per enhancement. Disappears after enhancement.

Rating: 260

Introduction: A rare mineral from the void. Only the Bana Dwarf Tribe knows mining methods. The Bana Dwarf Tribe only gives such minerals to mining comrades, making this mineral extremely rare in the void.

...

Su Xiao owned 65 of these stones. By placing five Pure Black Carbon Stones and choosing to enhance, consulting told him 10 stones would lead to diminishing returns, not achieving a 20% success rate but around 13%. Five stones optimally increased the success rate by about 9%, only critical moments requiring 10 stones.

[Enhancement begins, please wait two minutes.]

Rumble...

The enhancement machine operated, occasionally emitting electric crackle noises, its presence remarkable.

Two minutes flew by, and the tray emerged with steam pouring out.

[Dragon Slash+8 failed, downgraded to +6.]

Su Xiao’s eye twitched, 50,000 Paradise coins wasted, no, 100,000 Paradise coins!

[Continue Enhancement? Yes/No]

Su Xiao chose to continue, the enhancement machine started again, another two minutes passed quickly.

Pshhh, hot steam spurted.

[Dragon Slash+7 succeeded, continue enhancement? Yes/No]

Su Xiao chose to continue when +7 success eased a breath.

Two minutes flew by. The tray emerged, prompt appearing again.

[Dragon Slash+8 failed, downgraded to +6.]

Su Xiao remained silent, including the initial enhancement level, 200,000 Paradise coins wasted, consuming 15 Pure Black Carbon Stones; such was the thrill of enhancement.

Having reached this point, Su Xiao couldn’t pause and proceeded with further enhancement.

[Dragon Slash+7 succeeded.]

[Dragon Slash+8 succeeded.]

[Dragon Slash+9 failed, downgraded to +7.]

[Dragon Slash+8 succeeded.]

[Dragon Slash+9 succeeded.]

Enhancing to +9, Su Xiao exhaled, considering the enhancement rather unlucky.

Remaining Paradise coin: 154,915 points, Pure Black Carbon Stone: 25 pieces.

Just one step away from the expected enhancement +10; Su Xiao placed ten Pure Black Carbon Stones on the tray, starting enhancement.

Rumble, the enhancement machine roared, approximately five minutes later, vast white steam erupted from the machine.

[Dragon Slash+10 succeeded.]

The truth revealed how enhancing golden equipment without special items exhausted Paradise coins tremendously.

Su Xiao suspected the contractor who enhanced the Duke of Extinction to +13 might have used some item, perhaps.

Su Xiao grabbed Dragon Slash from the tray before swiftly exiting the Enhancement Hall. He wasn’t keen on revisiting this place soon.