Chapter 146 - 108: Divine Artifact Distribution and Golden Crow Phase 2 Modification Project

Chapter 146: Chapter 108: Divine Artifact Distribution and Golden Crow Phase 2 Modification Project

The contribution percentages were quickly displayed: Chen Shang at 31%, Ella at 25%, Evelyn at 22%, and Twilight at 22%.

All four pairs of eyes fell on the sword resting on the table. None of them could claim the Divine Sword outright, but according to the rules, the person with the highest contribution had priority in choosing it.

Chen Shang could choose the Divine Artifact and then compensate the others with Wizard Coins based on its price.

Evelyn stared at the sword, tapped her fingers lightly on the table twice, and then looked at Chen Shang.

"Are you taking it?" she asked. Her tone was flat, but Chen Shang could hear the hint of nervousness hidden within.

Chen Shang didn’t answer immediately. He was weighing the pros and cons of choosing the sword.

If he took it, the advantage was obviously obtaining a decent Divine Artifact, but what was the cost?

First, he didn’t have that much money. If he sold everything he owned to scrape together the compensation for the other three, his cultivation resources for the next few years would undoubtedly take a massive hit. Purchasing a batch of high-purity Energy Conduits was still necessary to engrave the latter half of Zhong Kui. Renting a training ground was required to practice various Witchcraft, and there was also the matter of settling the Heart of Fire... If this delayed his assessment, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Second, this sword didn’t suit him. A singular Fire Element weapon was usable, but far from ideal.

He already held Natural Fury in his hands, and he had the Heart of the Wind and Water Spirit along with a Wind Crystal Core prepared. He had a clear roadmap for his own weapon.

Once he gathered all the necessary materials, he planned to forge a Magic Staff that fused the four Basic Elements, rather than swapping to a Fire Attribute Divine Sword.

Having thought it through, Chen Shang shook his head. "I’m passing on the Divine Artifact."

"Are you sure?" Evelyn’s voice pitched up slightly.

"I’m sure. You guys decide who gets it." Chen Shang pushed the sword toward Evelyn. Thinking with the rational wisdom of a Wizard, he wasn’t about to be blinded by a single Divine Artifact.

Evelyn didn’t grab it right away. Instead, she looked at Ella and Twilight. "What about you two?"

Hugging her little bear, Ella glanced at the sword, then at Chen Shang, and shook her head. "I don’t need it."

Twilight’s Black Fog coiled around the blade once before retracting. She was concise and to the point. "Doesn’t suit me."

Neither of their attributes matched it. They could force themselves to use it, but it wouldn’t be as natural a fit as it would be for Evelyn. After all, the latter focused on Flame Specialization.

"Then it’s mine!" Evelyn took a deep breath and picked up the sword from the table, cradling it in both hands. The glowing white light from the blade illuminated half of her face.

She turned it over and over, examining it repeatedly. The corners of her mouth twitched into an uncontrollable smile, which she then forced down before letting out a heavy sigh.

"I’ll compensate you guys according to the market price based on your contributions," she said, her voice laced with an agonizing, teeth-gritting ache. "Sigh, this is going to bleed me dry."

Chen Shang rolled his eyes. "You were practically ready to kiss it. Stop acting like a victim when you just hit the jackpot."

Evelyn chuckled dryly but didn’t argue. She carefully stowed the sword into her Space Equipment, tucking it away as if hiding some illicit treasure.

Watching her put the sword away, Ella suddenly asked, "Do you even have that many Wizard Coins?"

Evelyn’s face instantly fell. She slumped onto the table, her voice muffled. "I don’t... but if I ask my parents for a loan, I can get it."

Chen Shang nodded. Evelyn had mentioned that her elders were Official Wizards. Official Wizards all had their own Plane operations, so shelling out a few hundred thousand Wizard Coins shouldn’t be a big deal for them.

"Then why the long face? You basically scored a Divine Artifact for free."

Evelyn lifted her head, her expression much more complicated than before. "You don’t understand. My parents aren’t the type to unconditionally spoil their kids."

She sat up straight and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "They originally sent me to Star Fall hoping I would learn its legacy. But now... well, you know how it is. Barely anyone in the entire laboratory can make heads or tails of the Repulsive and Attractive Dual Force.

"I’m already preparing to go down the path of Flame Specialization, which is quite different from what they envisioned. So if I borrow money this time, they are definitely going to ask what it’s for.

"If I tell them I bought a sword, they won’t just hand the money over. They’ll probably make me sign some sort of agreement, charge me interest, or demand I do something for them in the future."

Chen Shang fell silent for a moment. Among the Wizard community, there really weren’t many who spoiled their descendants. The crux of the matter was simple: you could spoil someone for a while, but not for a lifetime. If they grew up to be useless, it would only ruin them.

Wizards understood this perfectly.

"So, are you still going to borrow it?" Chen Shang asked.

"I am." Evelyn lifted her face from her arms, her gaze turning resolute once more. "This sword is worth the price, and it suits me perfectly. At worst, I’ll just work for them in the future to pay off the debt."

The four of them took inventory of their remaining spoils. There were four Tier Three Crystal Cores from Fire Elemental Spirits, along with over a dozen Tier Two ones, varying wildly in Quality.

The depleted Rune structures of the Flame Heart Talismans were still usable, and there were also some scattered Ores and Energy remnants scavenged from the Fallen Land.

Based on market estimates, after liquidating everything, each person would receive roughly between two hundred and fifty to three hundred thousand Wizard Coins.

Chen Shang ran the numbers in his head. This money was an absolute godsend. Not only was it enough for him to finish the latter stage of engraving Zhong Kui, but he would also have some left over to subsidize his daily living expenses.

"Wait for my message," Evelyn said, standing up. "I’m heading back to raise the funds." Her expression had reverted to that conflicted look of love and hate.

Chen Shang stopped her. "We’re not in a rush. The Plane Will binds you, so it’s not like you can run off anyway." He paused for a moment. "But let me borrow that Divine Sword for a couple of days."

Evelyn was taken aback. "What are you going to do with it?"

"To cut the Wind Element out of that Heart of Fire. That was the agreement we made, don’t forget."

Evelyn thought for a moment, retrieved the sword from her Space Equipment, and handed it to him. "Alright. You use it first. I’ll go back and raise the money. Once I have the funds, you can give the sword back to me."