Chapter 685 - 324: Challenge! Equipment Ban! (Part 2)

"Soul Fragments."

"Ten soul fragments, one challenge."

"Maximum five."

"Deal!"

....

Then, Hagen cast his eyes toward Tang Ruobing beside him and asked with a smile, "This student..."

"I also want five, no bargaining."

"....Alright."

Hagen reluctantly agreed, looking somewhat helpless, though in reality, he wasn’t too bothered because... he wasn’t spending his own soul fragments from the start.

His challenge was initiated by someone higher up wanting to see the no-equipment performance of the two little monsters, Ye Mingqiu and Tang Ruobing, rather than his own desire to fight. Making some profit in the challenge was enough for him.

...

After Hagen left, Qing Yu picked up a drink from the table and asked with a smile, "Boss, are you confident you can win?"

"Oh? How do you figure that?"

"Because I saw you hesitated for a moment and started thinking. When it comes to combat-related matters, you never hesitate, so..."

Qing Yu’s smile grew wider as he continued, "....you must have been thinking about how many soul fragments to rip him off for a deal."

"Pretty much."

Ye Mingqiu nodded, his expression not particularly happy as he turned to Tang Ruobing and said, "Did you notice? Just now, his expression was a bit off."

"What’s off?" Qing Yu frowned.

"Indeed, I felt that it wasn’t painful enough for him. If nothing unexpected happened, he probably spent money that wasn’t his own." Tang Ruobing replied.

"How did you figure that out?"

"So, you noticed too? It seems there’s definitely something fishy. I guess someone wants to test our no-equipment strength.... Should’ve asked for more just now." Ye Mingqiu sighed with a bit of regret.

"Sigh..."

"No need to feel too regretful, even if you had asked for more, he probably wouldn’t have agreed. You did pretty well already." Tang Ruobing comforted.

"By the way, is he Tank System?"

Ye Mingqiu stretched slightly, a radiant smile on his face.

Not using equipment is a major nerf to Tier Three Spiritualists, because a significant portion of their attributes depend on equipment, as their base attributes aren’t particularly high.

But...

Ye Mingqiu’s attributes are inherently high, even without equipment he’s formidable... all thanks to talent enhancements.

"I have another idea; after unequipping, let him not lower his strength....or he’d be too fragile." Ye Mingqiu added.

"?"

Qing Yu blinked blankly, suddenly feeling like he and Ye Mingqiu exist in different worlds.

Without equipment, he still Tier One against Tier Three? Are you even listening to yourself? Wait, is his attribute not granted by that cursed Blood Spear?

If that’s the case...

Then Hagen is...

....

"They really agreed."

Master Hissa watched from afar, a bright smile on his face, countless thoughts stirring in his mind.

He casually opened the new student report, flipping through Ye Mingqiu’s records while murmuring to himself.

"Initial talent, Spiritual Power - Fullness, base level only C-Level, a very weak talent, but the amplification on steady-state attributes is alright, it’s the top batch among C-Level talents...but the requirement is not to use spiritual energy, such awkward limitations....tsk tsk."

He shook his head with resignation and then glanced at the later-added talents, Sequence-Saintly Radiance.

"Extras add a new energy bar; if in battle only using Holy Power or Abyssal Power, it perfectly triggers the first talent, cranking up attribute enhancement to its peak and thus gaining immense power."

"But if that’s the case, it still doesn’t match his steady-state battle power, and he mentioned needing a second awakening to trigger the world artifact’s advancement, meaning...."

"He’s likely to have awakened at least twice!"

"If that’s truly the case..."

"Then his current talents aren’t merely the C-Level Spiritual Power - Fullness, but rather A-Level or even S-Level higher Spiritual Power Talent....therefore, his numerical stats are formidable."

"Moreover, this is just the abilities he’s shown; although he’s also a Legendary Level Spiritualist, he can make 1 point of attribute count as 2 or even more, transforming his attribute battle power with extreme efficiency, this is the source of his strength."

"So then...."

"How is his profession’s foundation? Is it truly on par with regular legendary levels? Or does it likewise possess far superior power?"

....

After a long while, the voting time passed, and Ye Mingqiu’s codename surprisingly topped the list, Other Shore.

The Spirit Realm codename and special training camp codename can be different, even after people know they aren’t identical, continuing to use it poses no problem. Though many people know Ye Mingqiu’s codename isn’t Other Shore, it doesn’t stop him from using it, reinforcing their impressions.

Ranked second was Broken Star, third was Hagen, fourth Mo Ze.

This was the ranking of peer combat power in most people’s eyes, with a few ranking factors, like Qing Yu being ranked down to 21st.

Frost Moon’s ranking, coincidentally, was 22nd, her intentions evident.

Meanwhile, the final rewards for the ranking were also announced.

1-3: 1000 points

4-10: 500 points

11-20: 300 points

21-50: 200 points

51-100: 100 points

No points beyond rank 100, reward-wise generally broad since it’s not a professional formal challenge, primarily entertainment-focused; the rewards aren’t overly precious, but overall, they’re decently valuable.

"1000 points, huh?"

Ye Mingqiu muttered, furrowing his brow slightly, acquiring points perhaps not being difficult for him, but how to convert them into soul fragments, given the purchase limits on soul fragments, is vexing.

He turned to Qing Yu beside him and asked, "How are you planning to get soul fragments? Just buying or spirit realm exploration won’t suffice in the end, right?"

"I come from a wealthy family."

Qing Yu replied with a playful smile.

"...."

Ye Mingqiu turned to Tang Ruobing, gently cleared his throat, and asked, "The stuff I gave you before, perhaps it can be exchanged for some, no?"

"Not much, soul fragments are hard currency, useful to any Spiritualist, while mineral materials...have value but will definitely restrict exchanges, on my end I can only get 8." Tang Ruobing sighed in resignation.

"That’s still quite good."

Ye Mingqiu felt a bit touched inside.

Bear in mind, his main task with 1600% completion only yields 8 soul fragments, exchanging minerals for 8 soul fragments is undoubtedly Tang Ruobing striving and securing those.

Moreover, the mentioned ceiling isn’t the exchange volume’s cap, rather a single transaction limit; ransacking half an entire world’s faction warehouse can’t merely worth 8 soul fragments, a single transaction volume too large, no faction would be willing to devour it all at once.

The cost-effectiveness is too low

The sound of steady footsteps echoed, looking ahead, it was Hagen smiling.

"Other Shore, I’m here to challenge you."

"I just thought about it; if it’s challenged like this, it might be too dull...." Ye Mingqiu paused, then continued, "How about this, you don’t need to suppress your tier and skill level, how’s that?"

"...."

Hagen’s smile froze.

Tier Two Level 1 against Tier Three Level 9, unarmed?

Do you truly take me for a ball to kick around?

In your eyes, is my strength really so weak? Do you look down on me that much?

His chest heaved, evidently riled by those words, as the highest unarmed Tier Three combat power, Hagen has never been subjected to such humiliation; he knows the opponent isn’t weak, but come on.

"Hahaha....hahahahaha!"

Hagen burst into laughter, his face full of humiliated anger, directly stating, "Fine, I won’t bully you, you two come at me together! Let’s see what you’re made of!"

"....."

Next to them, Qing Yu was dumbfounded, then barely holding back laughter, trying hard to maintain a straight face.

No way!

Can’t laugh yet!

At least wait till the fight starts to laugh!

This is too tough to maintain composure!