Chapter 79

Seeing that he couldn't continue talking with Brian Edgar, Tang En had no choice but to take the Iron-Cleaving Sword and return to the lord's mansion.

The current attributes of the Iron-Cleaving Sword were quite ordinary. Although Brian used steel to forge it, he didn't add any magical metals, so it was just a plain piece of equipment with no additional attributes.

However, Tang En really liked this sword. The commemorative value of the Iron-Cleaving Sword was even greater than its practical value, so he planned to permanently enchant a few spells on it as a keepsake, which would also make it pleasant to look at at home.

Use it? No, no, no, Tang En wouldn't even think of using this sword. When he needed a melee weapon, he could just take one from his enemies; carrying a weapon himself would be too much trouble.

The effect of permanently enchanting a spell is similar to enchanting, but it doesn't require much magic affinity from the equipment. However, it is more difficult and, correspondingly, more powerful.

How many spells an item can permanently enchant depends on both the quality of the item itself and the strength of the mage.

Tang En's strength goes without saying, but the key was the Iron-Cleaving Sword's ability to withstand the enchantment.

"Since it's called the Iron-Cleaving Sword, let's start with a 'Hellfire Impact.'"

Hellfire Impact is a fifth-level fire spell. After being permanently enchanted, it allows the user to use it once a day without consuming any mana, dealing terrible flame damage to a wide area in front of them.

The magic light in Tang En's hand flickered, forming a strange rune that sank into the sword, and a faint red glow appeared on the Iron-Cleaving Sword.

"Can it withstand a fifth-level spell?? Then let's continue, and permanently enchant a 'Wind Elegance Aura'!"

A hurricane condensed into a small rune in Tang En's hand. Just looking at it, one could feel the immense power it carried. Then, Tang En pressed the rune onto the sword, and the Iron-Cleaving Sword began to tremble violently. Green light and the sound of the wind wrapped around the sword, and the violent trembling lasted for several minutes before it finally subsided.

"Although it was intense, I feel like it can still handle another spell."

Tang En was already very surprised. The most he had ever enchanted on a single piece of equipment was five spells on a magic robe, but that robe was sewn with precious Eternal Gold thread, so it was normal for it to have such strong endurance.

But now, the sword in his hand was just a longsword made of ordinary steel. Although it was forged using folding and cladding techniques, it was still just ordinary metal.

Wind Elegance Aura is a sixth-level spell, and the fact that it could withstand it was already very surprising.

Tang En raised an eyebrow and decided to take another risk: "Let's permanently enchant a 'Giant Strength' spell."

Giant Strength is a third-level spell, which puts less strain on the equipment, so the third permanent enchantment was completed very smoothly. However, the Iron-Cleaving Sword trembled even more violently this time, and it took over ten minutes for the trembling to stop. At this point, Tang En knew the sword had reached its limit.

Tang En raised an eyebrow: "One third-level spell, one fifth-level spell, and one sixth-level spell... that's equivalent to fourteen spell slots, right?"

In the game "Chaos Invasion," the concept of spell slots is different from that in D&D. Spell slots are mainly used to measure the equipment's ability to withstand permanently enchanted spells. A first-level spell occupies one slot, while a ninth-level spell occupies nine. Legendary spells cannot be permanently enchanted—at least not with the players' current strength.

A common fine-grade equipment usually has five spell slots, meaning it can withstand one fifth-level spell or two second-level spells and one first-level spell.

Because of the existence of permanent enchantments, PvP is full of variables. A low-level player might have a seemingly ordinary weapon that has been permanently enchanted by a high-level mage, leading to situations where a high-level player tries to bully a low-level player but is suddenly killed by the low-level player's enchanted spell.

What do fourteen spell slots mean? It means that even though this sword is plain, after being permanently enchanted by a high-level mage, it can have power comparable to an exceptional-grade equipment.

However, there is one important point: five spell slots can only permanently enchant up to a fifth-level spell, but it doesn't mean it will definitely succeed. The higher the spell level, the higher the quality of the equipment required, and the greater the load. For example, the Iron-Cleaving Sword has fourteen spell slots, theoretically allowing it to permanently enchant one ninth-level spell and one fifth-level spell, making it easy for a common soldier to become a god-like player... but is that possible?

Of course not.

Tang En was almost certain that permanently enchanting a ninth-level spell would definitely fail.

Why?

Because the quality of the Iron-Cleaving Sword is not enough to support the load of a ninth-level spell. The massive magic circulation would cause the sword to collapse the moment it entered the sword.

From the situation when the spells were permanently enchanted, this steel sword could at most withstand a sixth-level spell; a seventh-level spell was out of the question.

After the spells were permanently enchanted, the sword looked very special, with a gentle elemental glow, clearly not an ordinary item.

Looking at the Iron-Cleaving Sword hanging on the wall, Tang En wore a very satisfied expression.

"Hey? Lord?"

At this moment, Fiona returned: "I was looking for you, and you were in the study... sword?"

Fiona also saw the sword hanging on the wall and was taken aback.

Tang En smiled and said, "Doesn't it look good? I'll just put it here."

"Good... no, let's get to the point!"

Fiona came to her senses: "Hilton and Thomas can't wait for the workshop to be completed. They plan to organize a caravan and set out."

"Set out? Where to?"

"East, to the mountain city of Bain."

Fiona paused and said, "Caspami Castle was just visited by you, and their lord was killed by you, so it's currently in a sensitive period. It's not suitable to open a shop there right now. On the other hand, the mountain city of Bain is closer to Ellington than Caspami Castle. A carriage ride only takes two days, and it's closer to the capital, making it more prosperous. It's a good choice."

"The most important thing is that you dealt with the bandits led by Bak, so the traffic and security between Ellington and the outside world have improved a lot. There won't be any bandits or almost any monsters on the way to the capital, making it very safe."

"Bain... that's fine, but what about the goods the caravan will carry?"

"The mint candies and soaps produced in the past few days are enough, plus the metal farming tools produced by the blacksmith apprentices using the machines. The total value of the goods is over a thousand gold coins, and they should bring us at least two thousand gold coins in profit when transported to Bain."

Fiona paused and continued, "They will also take a thousand gold coins to buy a shop as a fixed base for our guild and to enter the noble circles, preparing for our future market expansion. Their success in the mountain city of Bain will determine the speed of our future development in Ellington."

Tang En waved his hand: "Since this mission is so important, give them ten thousand gold coins as activity funds, and send twenty guards to protect them and boost their morale."

Fiona was shocked: "Lord! Are you crazy!? We don't need that much!"

"I know."

Tang En said casually, "But you know what those nobles are like. A mere thousand gold coins won't get them into the noble circles. At least five thousand gold coins will make them look like decent merchants, and another five thousand will barely qualify them to enter the noble circles."

Fiona was silent for a moment. She knew Tang En was right. She had originally planned to save money by relying on Hilton and Thomas's abilities, but now with the lord's support, there was no need to be frugal.

"Alright, I understand. Your generosity will definitely make their mission smoother."

Fiona noted this down.

Tang En continued, "Since they are opening a shop, they need something impressive to attract attention. Mint candies and soaps are practical, but they won't attract the nobles' attention."

Fiona's eyes lit up: "Are you going to give me magic scrolls?"

"Are you kidding me?"

Tang En looked at Fiona with disdain: "A store selling daily necessities selling magic scrolls?"

For example, it would be like having a rocket launcher next to the soap on a shelf in a convenience store on Earth, which would be terrifying...

Fiona laughed awkwardly, realizing she was too eager.

"No magic scrolls, but... here."

Tang En rubbed his chin, suddenly clapped his hands, and took out a few bottles of wine and handed them to Fiona: "How about this?"

"This is—"

Fiona immediately recognized the bottles of wine and exclaimed, "New Moon Wine! Elven New Moon Wine!? Oh my god! Besides the one you had last time, you actually have so many!? Do you know any elves!?"

Tang En shrugged: "I wish... don't waste time. Give these bottles to them, but don't let them be foolish. Do you know how to maximize their value?"

Fiona tentatively said, "Should we have them appraised first, and then sell them?"

Tang En covered his face in pain, took a deep breath, and patiently said, "Put one bottle in the store, but it's a showpiece! A gimmick! Don't sell it casually. Take another bottle to an auction to build the guild's reputation and show that we can get Elven items. Then, after the auction, invite the powerful nobles in Bain to a party and share the third bottle with them. Got it?"

Tang En's slight guidance made Fiona immediately understand the logic, and her admiration for Tang En was boundless!

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(End of the chapter)