"Alright, now let me explain the effects of these two daggers. Pay close attention and remember them well. You need to understand them thoroughly for when you use them in battle."
Bai Yunfei then meticulously detailed the additional effects of the two daggers to Li Chengfeng. Once he was certain the other had memorized them clearly, Bai Yunfei put away the one he was holding and summoned another, ordinary +8 dagger.
"Alright then, let's start testing their effects concretely now," he said. "I still have some questions myself and need to study them in more detail..."
"Hmm, how should we test them?" Li Chengfeng nodded repeatedly, his voice filled with anticipation.
"No need for actual combat," Bai Yunfei explained. "We're just researching the triggered effects. I'll block with this dagger, and you slowly attack me with the one you're holding. You understand, right? I recall last time we experimented, you seemed quite happy hitting me with that brick..."
"Heh, I know what to do," Li Chengfeng replied with an embarrassed chuckle. "Let's begin."
"Alright, start."
Li Chengfeng raised his dagger and slowly brought it down towards Bai Yunfei. Bai Yunfei raised his own dagger horizontally, blocking the 'attack'.
"Hmm, a bit lighter force, continue," Bai Yunfei instructed, glancing at the new notch that had appeared on his dagger blade from the impact. After all, the attack power of Li Chengfeng's enhanced dagger was significantly higher.
After nearly a dozen such clashes, Bai Yunfei's dagger was already riddled with notches.
Another soft clink of metal meeting metal sounded. Bai Yunfei instinctively opened his mouth to say, "Still nothing, again." But before any sound emerged, his vision suddenly plunged into absolute darkness. He could see nothing.
"Blindness!" After a stunned second, Bai Yunfei reacted immediately. "Stop!"
Li Chengfeng had actually sensed the effect trigger the instant it happened, as a wisp of Soul Force uncontrollably surged into the equipment whenever an effect activated.
Bai Yunfei didn't resist with his Soul Force. Instead, he focused intently on experiencing this state of 'blindness'. The three seconds passed quickly. Light flooded back, and the world snapped back into view.
"How was it, Yunfei? Was that the 'Blindness' effect?" Li Chengfeng asked. Seeing no visible change on Bai Yunfei's dagger, he knew it must have been the other dagger's effect.
"Yes, indeed. The Blindness effect," Bai Yunfei confirmed, recalling the sensation carefully. "The entire world suddenly turned pitch black, completely sightless. But my other senses remained unchanged." A thoughtful look crossed his face. "This effect... it's incredibly useful. If this happens suddenly during a fight..."
After pondering for a moment, he continued, "Let's continue. Let's test that 'Blade Breaker' effect now."
Another dozen or so clashes later, during one contact between the blades, Li Chengfeng's face lit up. "Here it comes!"
Almost simultaneously with his shout, Bai Yunfei felt his hand suddenly lighten. There was no clashing sound this time. Li Chengfeng's dagger swept down as if cutting through tofu, cleanly severing the dagger Bai Yunfei was using to block it!
Li Chengfeng stared dumbfounded at the dagger in his hand, then at the half blade lying on the ground. "This... this is the 'Blade Breaker' effect?" he murmured, disbelief in his voice. "It just... cuts the opponent's weapon in half?!"
Bai Yunfei looked at the broken dagger in his hand. The cut surface was perfectly smooth, showing there had been no resistance whatsoever.
"The +12 additional effect truly is terrifying," Bai Yunfei breathed. "'Blade Breaker'... While the trigger chance decreases the higher the tier of the enemy's weapon, only Heritage tier or above is specified as 'cannot trigger'."
A realization dawned on him. "That means... even Soul Artifacts like the Subzero Thorn, of Rare tier, could potentially be 'broken'!"
......
Afterwards, the two began experimenting with the effects of the other +12 dagger.
During testing, when Li Chengfeng thrust his dagger and the 'Phantom Image' effect triggered, Bai Yunfei clearly saw the dagger aimed at his heart. Yet, as the blade neared, the actual attack landed on his abdomen!
The 'Phantom Image' effect created a false image of an attack, disrupting the opponent's vision and allowing a surprise strike elsewhere!
As for the other effect, 'When striking downward with the tip, Attack Power is doubled,' it was straightforward and self-explanatory. No special research was needed.
The two spent the entire morning in the clearing, meticulously testing and confirming every nuance of each effect before finally stopping.
"Decided!" Li Chengfeng declared suddenly, sitting on the grass and staring intently at the two daggers in his hands. "These daggers shall be named 'Blade Breaker' and 'Phantom Image'!"
"Heh," Bai Yunfei chuckled beside him, nodding. "They're your daggers, the names are yours to choose. Naming them after their effects? Hmm, very fitting."
"Yunfei, you're amazing!" Li Chengfeng exclaimed, handling the daggers with obvious affection. "Forget about the magical effects for a moment; just the sharpness alone is many times greater than before!"
"Hmm," Bai Yunfei agreed thoughtfully. "The attack power of these two daggers is almost comparable to the Subzero Thorn before enhancement. That means they've reached the realm of Soul Artifacts. Though whether they truly are Soul Artifacts, I can't say for sure. My understanding of Soul Artifacts is still limited."
Seeming to remember something, Bai Yunfei took a ring from his pocket and handed it over. "Here's your spatial ring back. I enhanced it a little too, but it didn't reach the level to gain an additional effect. It wasn't worth risking destruction if it failed."
Li Chengfeng took the ring, puzzled. "This... this can be enhanced too?"
"Put it on and see for yourself," Bai Yunfei replied with a smile, gesturing for him to try.
The moment Li Chengfeng slipped the ring onto his finger, he visibly stiffened. He looked down at his body in confusion, then at the ring on his hand, before turning his questioning gaze to Bai Yunfei. "Yunfei, I feel like..."
"Like your body feels lighter, more agile?" Bai Yunfei finished for him, a knowing smile on his face. "It's not your imagination. After enhancement, this ring doesn't add attack or defense power; it enhances a physical 'attribute'. The one I wear adds 'Strength'. Yours adds 'Agility'."
Li Chengfeng's spatial ring, after being enhanced to +8 by Bai Yunfei, provided an additional 'Agility +18'.
"The increase isn't huge, but it's better than nothing," Bai Yunfei said, a hint of regret in his voice. "It's a shame there's no more time. Otherwise, I could have experimented further with the attributes of various accessories at high enhancement levels..."
At his words, Li Chengfeng's expression dimmed. "Preparing to leave, then? When?"
Bai Yunfei thought for a moment. "Tomorrow. Rest well tonight. We'll leave first thing in the morning."
"Won't you tell the villagers?"
"No," Bai Yunfei shook his head. "No need to disturb everyone. I dislike big farewell scenes. After I'm gone," his tone turned serious, "you must remind everyone in the village. If anyone from the Zhang family comes asking questions, they must not slip up. Act as if they never knew me."
"Yes, I understand," Li Chengfeng replied firmly. "Don't worry. The villagers have experience dealing with investigators. There won't be any problems."