Gong Qiying is known for making some modifications to the effects of items produced by the Sain Dungeon.

The Protective Talisman Bag before everyone is the best proof of this.

In the original Elden Ring game, players would acquire talismans with various effects, but the number of slots for equipping them was limited. The effect of the Protective Talisman Bag was to add an extra talisman slot.

But in this world, there is no such restriction on talisman slots. Even if adventurers wanted to weave talismans into armor to drape over themselves or wear rings on all fingers and toes, nobody would stop them. Hence, the original role of the Talisman Bag was practically useless for adventurers — or rather, completely useless.

Therefore, the effect of the Talisman Bag has now changed.

It has been transformed to enhance the power of the talismans placed inside it!

The initial enhancement ability of the Talisman Bag for talisman effects was set by Gong Qiying to what he considered a relatively conservative value — self-considered.

The reason? Of course, because he wanted to market a wave of enhancements~

The Talisman Bag was set up by him to be an existence capable of upgrades like weapons, requiring Dull Forging Stones, which are more advanced than ordinary Forging Stones, for enhancement!

This could also be considered a way to keep adventurers lingering in the dungeon for a longer time.

Even so, it’s believed that adventurers couldn’t refuse the allure of such artifacts, not only to enhance the effects of talismans but more importantly...

"The talismans placed in this bag won’t impose any physical burden on us?"

Uffie exclaimed in surprise.

Everything has its price: to become stronger, one must train; if one chooses to rely on external objects rather than training, they must accept certain conditions from those objects.

The most obvious example is Dal, the man who loves to enhance himself.

Lately, he has been increasing his endurance, in order to make his body stronger and able to withstand the burden brought by more buff effects.

Dal’s signature big move is applying ten to twenty buff effects on himself, and using a Wolf Jump move when both body and mind reach their limits, a move that can even clash with Artorias!

But it’s just a clash. If it were a real fight, he wouldn’t stand a chance at winning now, because after using this move, his body can’t withstand the burden of so many buff effects and becomes useless, unable even to stand, much like a member of the Red Demon Clan who’s been drained by Explosion Magic.

At the very least, he needs to have the strength to use this move like a normal attack before he can truly fight with Artorias. Until then, any thoughts of a conquest are mere delusions.

If he had this Talisman Bag, Dal could reduce the burden of the talisman power, allowing himself to add two more buff effects, and his big move could become even stronger!

After all, the talismans and rings produced by the Sain Dungeon undoubtedly provide continuous enhancements to the wearer’s abilities, but these enhancements also put a burden on the body. Even if very slight, once the buff effects accumulate, the burden becomes more apparent, until the body gives out.

For Dal, the enhancement is already so significant, but for ordinary adventurers with slightly lesser strength, the enhancement effect of the Talisman Bag is even stronger.

"There’s really no sense of pressure."

Uffie tossed the Warrior Pot shard her father gave her into the Talisman Bag and randomly used a combat skill. The skill that used to be able to just hit trees now, at this moment, shattered a sturdy city wall, causing the bricks at one place to explode!

"Moreover, the amplification effect is quite substantial..."

Gong Qiying’s self-proclaimed conservative value didn’t seem so conservative in Uffie’s eyes.

She immediately beamed with joy, her eyebrows curving into crescent moons because she never pretended to be reserved. When it’s time to be happy, one must be really happy!

If even she reacted like this, others’ reactions can well be imagined.

With hearts racing and hands trembling, Tepi gently caressed the Talisman Bag in his hand like Gollum stroking the Magic Ring, his expression was the very embodiment of "joy."

"Brother, it’s gold!" Isha excitedly grabbed Fanen’s shoulders and shook him continuously. The latter laughed heartily, letting her swing him around. Both from a small town, they had never seen golden light points like this. Now, apart from feeling delighted, they couldn’t think of anything else.

The threat of the Omen Demon? Under the impact of the rewards, who cares about that! After all, it’s just a possible danger within the dungeon.

If you’ve got the guts, come out of the dungeon and hit me!

Who knows how long it was before people finally finished reveling, and gradually calmed down from the excitement.

Fanen turned around, gazing at the towering and magnificent Castle of Stoneveil behind him. The sky gradually darkened, and a storm swirled above this fortress full of deadly aura. The sky seemed on the verge of falling, with an unspeakable sense of heaviness lingering here.

Oh right, the Omen Demon was merely an appetizer. Defeating it entitled them to enter Stoneveil Castle, signifying that their exploration had only just begun.

"Even those guarding the gates are so formidable; what kind of dangers lurk in this castle? What kind of powerhouse is Greg, crowned with the name Demigod?"

Unlike the Casas Underground Tomb, where the background story hints at and emphasizes Overlord Vonier’s great power to let people feel overwhelmed, adventurers’ impression of Greg so far amounts only to the White Mask’s words of "old and ugly," offering no positive portrayal at all.

But just the title of a demigod made adventurers feel oppressed. No one would genuinely believe Greg was merely "old and ugly," considering that White Mask comes across as inherently arrogant; it’s possible he just wanted to belittle someone.

The main reason why adventurers treat Greg seriously is because the word demigod does exist in reality.

"Even so, we must continue to explore." Uffie swung her hair, standing with her spear, and said: "Countless treasures ahem, I mean worthy challengers await us ahead."

... You’ve already exposed your true thoughts, Fanen complained inwardly.

Who would have thought that someone like Uffie would also be attracted by rewards? Based on appearances alone, one would think she belonged to the martial fool type.

Tepi also stood up with an ambitious look on his face, "Shall we go on and enter the castle? It’s been a while since I felt my blood boiling."

That sounded as if you were this passionate about fighting every day before being beaten by Leon. Fanen again became the voice of sarcasm.

But no matter how much we complain, it’s still early, and everyone still has energy, so exploring Stoneveil Castle is inevitable.

However, there’s something to do before officially entering the city.

"Let’s rest here for a while, I’ll contact Edgar, and we’ll set off when he arrives."

After defeating the Omen Demon at the end of the bridge, a blessing appeared, and resting there would greatly aid in restoring endurance.

But what did Uffie mean by contacting Edgar? Could there be someone else entering with them?

Moreover, the name Edgar seems to be the title of the magician who came with the Second Prince Lanle.

Uffie took out a magic tool for communication, and while infusing it with magic power, she said, "We’ve succeeded, we can now enter Stoneveil Castle. How is your luminous stone collection progressing?"

After a while, Edgar’s voice came from the magic tool, sounding somewhat sullen and unhappy:

"I know, I’ll head over now."

Uffie jumped back in front of the Fog Gate, picked up the backpack she had left there, and pulled out a head-sized pot, filled to the brim with fresh red flesh.

She placed the pot on the ground and arranged several scrolls inscribed with a magic array around it. The magic array lit up, and the flesh in the pot suddenly began to squirm, breaking out and falling onto the magic array, rapidly changing shape.

"So disgusting, is this considered magic too?"

Uffie shook her head and turned back to the blessing spot.

This jar of flesh is also a magic tool. According to Edgar, it is his unique magic created through fusion with alchemy, temporarily creating a body identical to himself to house his spirit, though it looks a bit sinister.

Edgar had been intensely interested in the luminous stones Tepi brought back and decided to enter Sain Dungeon after a few days of research to visit the birthplace of these stones—Magic Town Celia.

He happened to meet Uffie and the others who were also going to the dungeon and teamed up with them. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

However, he wasn’t interested in subjugating the Omen Demon, so he didn’t come along, only asking to be notified once they could enter Stoneveil Castle.

Fortunately, the strength of the boss behind the Fog Gate varies based on the number of adventurers entering and the summoned assistants, preventing the encounter with a more powerful Omen Demon.

"What are your thoughts on the battle just now? Do you feel more experienced?"

Uffie was about to give some guidance to the group but looked back.

Everyone sitting before the blessing was looking in the same direction, as if there was someone in the air, despite nothing being there.

"Hey, why are you guys—"

Uffie immediately sensed something was wrong and was about to move when an unexpected change occurred.

Faden and the others vanished in an instant!

She halted her steps.

"Di-disappeared?"

Uffie fell into contemplation.

After a moment, she resolutely walked up to the blessing and sat down, muttering to herself:

"There can’t be any danger near the blessing, I trust Sain."

As she sat at the blessing, she finally understood why Faden and the others were looking at the empty air.

Because there, Melina, who had been absent for many days, appeared.

"I’m sorry, I’ve been observing you all these days, questioning if you truly want to meet the Elden Ring."

Accompanying the flowing light, this mysterious figure appeared beside Uffie, with an unchanging calm on her face, speaking words that puzzled others.

Uffie wanted to say it was okay, but Melina continued:

"It turns out I’m just paranoid, Torret has believed in you from the beginning, I wasn’t sincere enough."

Melina genuinely appeared somewhat guilty, evoking a feeling of wanting to comfort her.

No one had actually blamed her for this, yet she felt sorry herself, making one wonder if she was taking it too seriously.

But instead, it was somewhat... should it be called cute?

"But there’s one thing I can guide you on."

"The Round Table Hall, a place where the guided Faded, or heroes, gather."

She seemed to have mentioned a remarkable place.

"I can take you there."

"Do you want to go to the Round Table Hall?"