252: Chapter 253 The Intricacies of Equipment Modification

While Lin Muyang and Gu Shuanglin spoke in low voices, analyzing the subtle changes in the global secret realm scroll market caused by him, the atmosphere in the other corner of the living room was relaxed and novel.

Gu Xiaoyu, a lively and active young lady, was clearly full of curiosity toward the cold and uniquely tempered Jialiya. Seeing Jialiya sitting quietly beside Lin Muyang, her icy blue eyes occasionally scanning the room's furnishings but resting on Lin Muyang most of the time, she couldn't help but lean in, attempting to bridge the gap.

“Sister Jialiya,” Gu Xiaoyu said with a flattering smile, her voice crisp, “what do you usually do? Do you ever get bored? Want to play something interesting together?” As she spoke, she pointed toward the high-end computer Senior had used for gaming earlier. The screen was still on the results settlement interface after a game, with cool light effects flashing. “Look at this, it's really fun!”

Hearing this, Jialiya shifted her gaze from Lin Muyang to the flickering screen. A tiny ripple of pure curiosity flashed in her icy blue eyes. In her original world, necromancy, undead summoning, and soul research were her entire life; something like an electronic game, which existed purely for entertainment and relied on complex machinery and programs, was a completely foreign and novel field to her. The colorful, exaggerated virtual characters and skill effects on the screen were vastly different from real-world combat, leaving her somewhat confused yet drawn in.

She initially furrowed her brows slightly out of instinct, seemingly dismissive of this fake combat, but that disdain was quickly replaced by curiosity. Hesitating, she didn't immediately accept Gu Xiaoyu's invitation. Instead, she habitually turned her head, looking toward Lin Muyang with those clear eyes that seemed to contain an ocean of the underworld, as if seeking permission or confirming it was safe.

Although Lin Muyang was talking to Gu Shuanglin, he had been keeping a distracted eye on Jialiya’s situation. Seeing the girl's gaze filled with a hint of reliance and inquiry, his heart warmed slightly. He gave her a gentle nod, conveying the message “Go ahead, it’s fine, just relax” through his eyes.

Having received Lin Muyang's permission, Jialiya finally seemed to put her mind at ease. On her exquisite, usually expressionless face, a trace of softness appeared, though it was extremely hard to detect. She gave a soft “Mm.” Her voice was still cold, but it lacked some of the distance. She stood up and followed the enthusiastic Gu Xiaoyu to another chair in front of the computer, beginning to listen as Gu Xiaoyu animatedly explained the game rules, class choices, and operation techniques. She listened very seriously, occasionally asking a few short questions that left Gu Xiaoyu stunned, but with one happy to teach and the other finding it all novel, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Before long, amidst Gu Xiaoyu’s chirping explanations, occasional game sound effects, and the low conversation between Lin Muyang and Gu Shuanglin, a discordant but clearly audible “growl” suddenly rang out in the living room.

The source of the sound was none other than Gu Shuanglin, who was sitting beside Lin Muyang, trying her best to maintain an elegant posture while seriously analyzing market dynamics.

This abrupt sound caused Gu Shuanglin’s voice to stop dead. She was stunned for a moment before realizing what had happened. Her exquisite, fair face turned crimson in an instant, the flush reaching her ears and even staining her slender neck with a layer of pink. She instinctively covered her flat stomach with her hand, wishing she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into. Heavens! Her stomach had actually growled while she was talking to Lin Muyang! This was simply too embarrassing! She had been busy handling family affairs today and was so nervous and excited by Lin Muyang's sudden arrival that she had forgotten to eat lunch. She hadn't expected that now...

“Hungry?” Lin Muyang stopped talking and turned his head. Seeing Gu Shuanglin’s distressed look as she tried to bury herself, he couldn't help but find it a bit funny, his tone carrying a rare hint of playfulness.

“Mm... a, a little,” Gu Shuanglin’s voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. Her head hung low, and she didn't dare look Lin Muyang in the eye, feeling as though her cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg. “But it’s okay, I’m not hungry... Uh, I mean, it’s the same if I eat later. I can wait until Grandpa Senior is finished, or just eat when I get home...”

Looking at this eldest young lady of the Gu family—who was usually elegant and composed in front of outsiders but was now as embarrassed as a little girl because of a growling stomach—Lin Muyang shook his head. He found it amusing and somewhat touching. No matter how beautiful or outstanding a girl was, there were moments when she would show such a cute side.

“If you're hungry, eat. There's no need to hold back.” Lin Muyang’s tone returned to its usual indifference, but the concern within it made Gu Shuanglin’s heart warm. “What do you want to eat? I’ll have Elena come over and help make it.”

“Elena?” Gu Shuanglin looked up blankly, her face still flushed and her eyes filled with confusion. She knew Elena was the Angel Maiden by Lin Muyang’s side, possessing great strength and incredible healing and support abilities, but... cooking?

“Yes, she has a skill that can create food out of thin air. Basically, as long as she can think of it, she can make it, and the taste is decent.” Lin Muyang gave a simple explanation while simultaneously contacting Elena, who was resting in the Eternal Garden, through their soul contract to confirm she was available.

Gu Shuanglin was a bit dazed. There was such a skill? Creating food directly? This was practically a dream god-tier skill for a lifestyle Class Transferee! However, alongside her surprise, a small doubt arose. Could food generated directly by a skill actually taste good? Would it just be superficial, or would the flavor be monotonous?

But on second thought, regardless of whether it was delicious or not, Lin Muyang was preparing this specifically for her! This gesture alone was enough to move her. Even if what was made was black charcoal, she would finish it with a smile and a grateful heart!

So, with a mindset that was both expectant and somewhat resigned to fate, Gu Shuanglin said softly, “Then... then I’ll trouble you. I’d like a hamburger? Is that okay?” She chose a common food, thinking that even if the taste was ordinary, a hamburger couldn't be too bad.

“One hamburger? Are you sure that'll fill you up?” Lin Muyang looked at her, somewhat speechless. Given a Class Transferee's constitution and daily energy consumption, one hamburger was barely enough to get stuck in her teeth.

“About... right? Or maybe, two?” Gu Shuanglin answered instinctively, her voice getting even smaller and her head sinking lower. She felt like her image had completely collapsed today. In front of Lin Muyang, she always seemed prone to making a fool of herself.

Lin Muyang looked at her state and found it a bit funny, yet her cautious manner was also quite cute. He couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her shoulder. This action wasn't intimate; it was more like a gesture of comfort and encouragement between friends. “Don't be so nervous, just relax. From now on, consider yourself one of us; there's no need to be so restrained. I won't eat you, am I that scary?”

The warm and firm touch on her shoulder made Gu Shuanglin’s delicate body tremble slightly. Hearing Lin Muyang say 'one of us,' she felt as if honey had melted in her heart. Wisps of sweetness spread out, and her previous embarrassment and tension mostly dissipated, replaced by an indescribable joy and sense of security.

“Ah... I, I didn't mean that...” Gu Shuanglin shook her head quickly. The blush on her face hadn't faded, but her eyes were much brighter. She summoned the courage to look at Lin Muyang and explained softly, “It's just that you're too amazing. I, I naturally get a bit nervous... always afraid of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing...”

“Do you already know how amazing Master is?”

Just then, a crisp, pleasant voice with a hint of natural ignorance chimed in. A flash of holy light appeared, and Elena, with her snowy white wings folded behind her back, stood obediently before Lin Muyang. Her exquisite face carried pure curiosity as she tilted her head at Gu Shuanglin, having clearly heard her words just now.

???

As soon as these words came out, Lin Muyang and Gu Shuanglin both froze for a moment, and their expressions became somewhat subtle. Lin Muyang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, while the blush that had just begun to fade from Gu Shuanglin’s face surged back up with a “whoosh,” even more intense than before, turning her ears and neck a deep pink. Her beautiful eyes widened as she looked at this holy, beautiful Angel Maiden with a pure and flawless aura. For a moment, she couldn't tell if the other girl truly didn't understand the meaning of her words or if she was intentionally making a suggestive joke.

“Elena, you silly girl, what are you saying?” Lin Muyang couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and rubbed Elena’s smooth golden hair, his tone helpless but filled with doting. He knew Elena’s mind was as pure as a blank sheet of paper and that she didn't understand many worldly metaphors or double entendres; her words were most likely literal.

As Lin Muyang rubbed her head, Elena narrowed her eyes comfortably like a lazy cat, but her face still held confusion. She said very seriously, “Didn't this sister say Master is amazing? Elena knows Master is very amazing. He's amazing at fighting and very good to us... Does Master have other amazing qualities that Elena doesn't know about?”

Looking at her innocent and serious expression, Lin Muyang and Gu Shuanglin understood that this girl really hadn't thought that much. While Gu Shuanglin felt relieved, she also found it a bit funny; her momentary overthinking made her feel like she was judging a noble person by her own narrow standards. However, with Elena's interruption, the previous awkward atmosphere completely vanished. Yet, Gu Shuanglin's heart still raced slightly because of that ambiguous phrase and Lin Muyang's close proximity.

"Alright, stop teasing," Lin Muyang interrupted Elena's studious questioning with a smile, pointing at Gu Shuanglin. "This sister is hungry and wants to taste your cooking. Make her two... no, four burgers, with generous portions. Also, ask Jialiya and Gu Xiaoyu what they want and prepare some for them as well."

"Okay, Master~" Elena nodded obediently, no longer dwelling on the previous question. She closed her eyes and pressed her hands together in front of her chest. A holy, pale golden light radiated from her, slowly condensing between her palms. The light wasn't piercing; instead, it carried a warm life aura. Soon, the light began to take shape, emitting an enticing food aroma—the wheaty scent of perfectly toasted buns, the rich aroma of grilled beef patties, and the complex fragrance of various sauces and vegetables... In just a few seconds, four mouth-watering, extra-large burgers appeared out of thin air on a light disc held in Elena's hands, with the bottom halves thoughtfully wrapped in greaseproof paper.

"Here you go~" Elena handed the burgers to Gu Shuanglin with a pure smile on her face.

Gu Shuanglin took the warm, fragrant burger, and the last of her doubts vanished. Just the appearance and scent were definitely top-notch! She took a light bite—the bread was soft, the patty was juicy, the sauce had the perfect balance of sweet and sour, and the texture was rich. It tasted even better than burgers she'd had in many high-end restaurants! She couldn't help but widen her eyes, her gaze toward Elena filled with amazement. This skill was just too practical!

Elena then looked toward Jialiya and Gu Xiaoyu. Jialiya didn't have much of a concept of what a burger was but took one out of curiosity. She was currently taking small bites, her ice-blue eyes showing no particular expression as if she were tasting it seriously, though she didn't say whether it was good or not. Gu Xiaoyu, on the other hand, cheered and asked for a cheese beef burger, eating until her mouth was covered in oil while not forgetting to pitch various game strategies to Jialiya.

Just then, footsteps came from the backyard. The bald elder, Senior, returned to the living room with a satisfied smile, holding two pieces of equipment that radiated different aura fluctuations.

"The preliminary test results are out." Senior placed the two pieces of equipment on the coffee table in the center. He pointed to one robe that emitted a faint undead aura with dark and complex patterns, and another staff that, although modified, had a relatively mixed and less pure aura. He said to Lin Muyang, "Based on my comparative tests and data analysis, equipment converted into Necromancer gear using my modification method has higher compatibility, with minimal attribute decay—losing less than 5% of base attributes. In contrast, Mage series equipment has an attribute decay of about 15% after conversion, and the energy circuit compatibility is also slightly worse."

He picked up the robe, his fingers brushing over the newly inscribed dark patterns that looked like interwoven blood vessels and nerves, his eyes shining with professional brilliance. "More importantly, after the final bonus processing of my talent, this robe, modified from legendary-grade Summoner equipment, will have its final attributes increased by about 15% to 20% overall compared to before the modification!"

"Oh?" Lin Muyang's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this. He picked up the robe; it felt cool to the touch with a unique texture. As he probed it with his mental strength, he could feel the death aura within it faintly resonating with the fluctuations from Jialiya. "Senior, do you mean that without a top-tier equipment modification talent or if the modification technique is poor, the attributes of the modified equipment would actually be lower than the original?"

"Naturally." Senior stroked his non-existent beard, his tone carrying the certainty of an industry authority. "Equipment modification is essentially a destructive reconstruction of the original equipment's energy circuits, material characteristics, and rule imprints to adapt to new class requirements. This process itself causes energy dissipation, material damage, and rule conflicts, leading to a drop in attributes. A typical master-level modifier who can control attribute decay within 30%-40% is already an expert. For most, a 50% decay is the norm, and some even ruin the item entirely."

He paused and added, "Of course, the talent of us equipment modifiers is largely meant to compensate for this loss or even achieve a breakthrough. For instance, my disciple has an A-rank talent, Precision Reconstruction, which can reduce attribute decay to within 20%, which is already quite good. But even so, the attributes of the modified equipment can at most match the original; it's almost impossible to exceed them."

At this point, Senior's bald head seemed to shine even brighter, his tone filled with unabashed pride. "But this old man is different. My talent is SSS-rank! Not only can I minimize attribute loss, but during the modification process, I can also use my own essence blood and special techniques to trigger the potential deep within the equipment materials, performing a degree of sublimation and purification! Therefore, for equipment modified by my hands, as long as the material itself has enough potential, it's normal for the final attributes to exceed the original! This 15% to 20% increase is just a conservative estimate. If the equipment's foundation is good and the modification direction is extremely compatible, an increase of 30% or even more is not impossible!"

Lin Muyang listened and slowly nodded. He hadn't paid much attention to the details of the equipment modifier life profession before. After all, he and the young ladies around him either had special classes with their own growth equipment or were top-tier classes with high equipment compatibility, so they could always find something suitable. Someone like Elena had almost no need for conventional equipment.

Only Jialiya was different. The Necromancer class was too rare on Blue Star, so there was almost no ready-made top-tier equipment; it had to be obtained through modification. Moreover, equipment was especially significant for Jialiya. Her own combat power might not be as destructive as Ao Qingyan's or Gui Wanwan's, but her true value lay in her strategic and functional nature. She alone was an inexhaustible undead army that feared no death and could be constantly reorganized and regenerated!

The better the equipment, the higher her mental strength, Maximum Mana, summon reinforcement, control quantity, and precision. The scale, quality, endurance, and tactical value of this "undead army" would become even more terrifying. In certain situations, such as large-scale city defense, exploring unknown dangerous areas, or situations requiring human-wave tactics for attrition, Jialiya's value was immeasurable.

"I see, I've learned something." Lin Muyang acknowledged Senior's expertise. "Since Summoner equipment has better modification results, I'll find some top-tier Summoner gear and trouble Senior to tailor a set for Jialiya. Roughly how long will it take?"

"Very quickly!" Senior waved his hand with confidence. "As long as the materials are in place, I have a top-tier workshop and auxiliary magic circles ready. However..." He changed the subject, his gaze shifting toward Jialiya, who was quietly listening while taking small bites of her burger, a glint flashing in his eyes. "If this young lady can personally participate in the subsequent modification process, the effect will be even better. My talent has a hidden trait called Soul-Blood Resonance. If a drop of the user's essence blood is integrated at the critical moment of each equipment's modification, and their soul fluctuations are used as a guide for the final shaping, then the equipment will form a deeper soul bond with the user. Not only will it be as easy to use as an extension of their own body, but its final attributes can also be increased by an additional 50% on top of the Blood-Refinement Sublimation!"

"Oh? There's such an effect?" Lin Muyang was truly surprised this time. This Senior's talent was indeed powerful to an absurd degree! Not only could it increase base attributes, but it could also perform secondary reinforcement and binding through the user's essence blood and soul. This was almost a prototype of a unique life-bound equipment tailored specifically for the user! No wonder he could become a titan in the industry, and even the Gu Group treated him as a distinguished guest and guest elder.

"In that case, let's not delay." Lin Muyang decided on the spot. "Jialiya, once you're done eating, come with us to assist Senior with the equipment modification."

"Mm... okay." Jialiya lightly swallowed the last bit of food and nodded. She ate very gracefully, taking small bites at a steady pace. Regarding this novel food called a burger, after tasting it, a barely perceptible hint of doubt flashed in her ice-blue eyes. Did it not taste as special as she had imagined?