Since everyone's figures had changed somewhat, and today was a Sunday with free time, Xia Ci and Xia Zhen suggested going shopping for new clothes.
Xia Zhi suspected that these two goddesses just wanted to haggle for fun.
Walking down the street, they noticed that there were more parents and children around.
They were likely families coming to the city to enroll in the school.
Xia Zhi observed silently.
The clothes worn by the adults and children were clean, but some had patches.
This was normal.
But it was also something worth noting.
The children were young, and this was the time when their personalities were forming.
In a classroom, some children wore silk and brocade, while others wore coarse, patched clothes. Even if no one deliberately mocked or bullied them, they might still feel inferior.
This feeling of being different, if suppressed for too long, could have complex effects on a child's personality.
Some children might strive harder, while others might become insecure, shy, and weak.
--
In the evening, Miss Ningguang arrived.
While Xia Zhi was giving her a massage, he brought up the issue.
"What do you think, Mr. Xia?"
"I think the children should wear uniforms in school."
"Uniforms..."
"Yes, for children from poor families, this would be their most presentable outfit."
"I understand."
"I've already asked my cousin to handle the uniform designs. We'll need to contact a clothing manufacturer."
"I have related businesses under my name."
"Perfect, then let's price the uniforms at market value."
"No need for money. Firstly, it's not a big expense for me, and secondly, sponsoring the school for free will boost my business's reputation, which is more beneficial in the long run."
"Alright."
Xia Zhi smiled, not bothering to argue over such trivial matters.
However, he couldn't help but notice how stunning Miss Ningguang's figure was today.
--
At night.
Xia Zhi opened the system panel.
After saving up for days, his available points were looking healthy again.
It was time to try Evolving some items.
The golden items he currently had:
[Blazing Incense Burner], [Scholar's Ring], [Master Key], [Revival Coin], [Heart Badge].
Xia Zhi thought for a moment and removed the simple silver-white ring from his finger.
The ring was engraved with mysterious characters. When he first bought it, he couldn't understand what they meant, but now he could.
Xia Zhi opened the [Evolution] page and placed the ring in it.
"Confirm evolution of [Scholar's Ring]? This is a golden item with a 10% success rate, costing 100 points."
"Yes."
"Evolution successful."
A lucky one-shot success.
[Scholar's Ring]
Quality: Platinum.
Type: Accessory.
Traits: Amplification, Erudition.
Effect: When worn, all non-damaging passive skill effects are increased by 50%. When facing unknown knowledge, there is a chance (1%-5%) to automatically comprehend it.
Hidden Effect: Immune to mental spells of tier three and below.
Recyclable: 1000 points.
Xia Zhi looked at the item description. The first change was the existing [Amplification] effect, increased from [30%] to [50%].
This would make the mana gain from the [First Meditation Technique] passive even faster.
Second, a new trait [Erudition] was added.
This allowed him to automatically comprehend unknown knowledge, though the chance was low.
With his high luck stat, the chance would likely be 5%.
Thinking of this new knowledge-related effect, Xia Zhi immediately thought of another item stored in his inventory:
[Forbidden Knowledge] — a diamond-tier item extracted from his cousin.
Xia Zhi opened the inventory and took another look at its properties.
[Forbidden Knowledge]
Quality: Diamond.
Type: Special Item.
Traits: Corrosion, Chaos, Mutation.
Effect: Possesses strong Corrosion and chaotic properties, capable of altering the original form of items.
Hidden Effect: Extremely low chance of tier evolution.
Cannot be recycled.
Xia Zhi pondered for a moment but ultimately decided not to take it out from the inventory.
This thing was a bit strange.
Just looking at the three traits [Corrosion], [Chaos], and [Mutation], it was clear that this wasn't any ordinary knowledge.
Although the hidden effect was indeed tempting.
But he had plenty of time to grow and opportunities to evolve, so there was no need to take such a risk.
He still had enough points.
Xia Zhi put the ring back on his finger.
The passive skill effect of [First Meditation Technique] on the system panel had now changed to: +1.5 mana per second.
Xia Zhi then placed the [Master Key] into the [Evolution] page.
"Confirm evolution of [Master Key]? This is a golden item with a 10% success rate, costing 100 points."
"Yes."
"Evolution successful."
[Master Key]
Quality: Platinum.
Type: Auxiliary Item.
Traits: Opening, Activate.
Effect: Can open any door, activate any device.
Hidden Effect: +10% Luck.
Recyclable: 1000 points.
The hidden effect of this item also increased from [5%] to [10%].
Additionally, a new trait [Activate] was added.
Xia Zhi found this interesting.
Originally just a key for opening doors, now it could also start up machines.
"According to the 'Teyvat Travel Guide', there are many ancient ruins in the wild, guarded by mechanical sentinels. I wonder if this key could forcibly activate them."
Xia Zhi played with the key for a moment before putting it away.
Next, he took out the teardrop-shaped blue gem.
A special piece of equipment — [Tears of the Goddess].
After seeing the photo of the Hydro Archon, Furina, brought by Charlotte, Xia Zhi had been suspicious that the blue gem worn by the girl in the photo was the [Tears of the Goddess] he possessed.
The gem in the photo was just more pure and deep in color.
To prove this distinction was due to the difference in the gem's quality, Xia Zhi decided to evolve it early.
"Confirm evolution of [Tears of the Goddess]? This is a platinum item with a 10% success rate, costing 1000 points."
"Yes."
"Evolution failed. Try again?"
"Yes."
"Evolution successful."
[Tears of the Goddess]
Quality: Diamond.
Type: Special Equipment.
Traits: Growth, Focus, Song of Tears.
Effect: Each time a skill is used, gain 10 permanent mana. Spellcasting speed increased by 100%. Automatically master all hydro spells of tier five and below.
Hidden Effect: +50% mana, +50% mana regeneration rate. When the wearer cries, if the wearer is female, all gain effects are increased by 200%.
Recyclable: 10000 points.
Xia Zhi looked at the deeper blue gem floating in the [Evolution] page.
Indeed, it now looked identical to the gem in the photo.
"So my guess was correct..."
Xia Zhi took the blue gem and held it in his hand. Immediately, he saw a long list of hydro spells appear on his skill panel.
From tier one [Water Ball] to tier five [Tide of the Sea].
But this new hidden effect...
Putting aside the issue of crying, Xia Zhi, being male, couldn't fulfill the "wearer is female" condition.
"Tears of the Goddess... a goddess's tears... My cousin and Xia Zhen could fulfill the 'goddess' condition..."
Xia Zhi looked at the gem in his hand.
"Furina... from her confident and radiant demeanor in the photo, I can't imagine her crying in sadness..."
Xia Zhi shook his head. That was enough evolution for today. He took out the book of Faith Power and continued reading.
After completing his daily routine with Shenhe, it was time to sleep. Xia Zhi took out the [Dream Pillow].
Hope I dream of Furina tonight. (same)