Chapter 497 [Proof of Diligence] and [Dust of Swaying Shadows]

Xia Nan's primary reason for using Ellison's connections to meet the collector, Auriel Silverheart, was learning of the man's deep interest in exotic items. Ellison himself frequently gathered intelligence from Auriel to search for traces of his father, Lyle Morton.

Currently enjoying some downtime between quests, and with weeks still remaining before the Lunar Tide Banquet, he wanted to use the opportunity to find another secret realm. That way, he could replenish the energy of the [Dream Weaving Corridor] and boost his own strength to prepare for his upcoming dealings with "Algae Scale" Dodd.

Because of this, from the moment Xia Nan followed Auriel into the tower, he maintained a state of intense focus.

Whenever an item suspected of originating from a secret realm caught his eye, he summoned its Attribute Panel for a careful inspection, scanning the [Remarks] and [Introduction] sections for keywords like "Space-Time Travel" or "Another World."

Unfortunately, up to this point, Xia Nan hadn't discovered anything special.

The items were indeed exotic, but this "exoticism" was only relative to Barracuda Bay—not the Aifala Continent, let alone this world.

There were fragments of ancient architecture from the western deserts and old totems from the Barbarian Tribes of the northern Frost Tundra. However, not a single piece shared the common trait of originating from another world, unlike the [Faded Fire's Old Coin (Incomplete)] and the [Type III One-Piece Scalpel] he had found before.

In fact, even now as Auriel led him into a small study clearly reserved for higher-tier items, the precious collectibles carefully kept beneath glass display domes still lacked any otherworldly attributes.

Through his Attribute Panel, Xia Nan could clearly inspect the crown Auriel was talking about—a piece of unknown origin, suspected to be three thousand years old, and claimed to have belonged to the king of some ancient kingdom.

While it truly was an artifact from 3,215 years ago, it was merely a replica commissioned by that king for everyday wear to prevent unnecessary damage to the original. The authentic crown was only retrieved from a secret vault known to a select few for major events like sacrifices and coronation ceremonies.

It held no special effects of its own; it was purely a collectible.

As for the Tarot Card supposedly left behind in the mortal realm as a token by the God of Gambling, that was an outright lie. It possessed no ability to draw its bearer into a divine kingdom after death.

According to the brief description Xia Nan saw on its Attribute Panel, this Tarot Card had been deliberately crafted countless years ago by a Legendary powerhouse from the southern continent. It was forged in an attempt to usurp divine authority, serving as a prop for a massive, deceptive ritual.

As for the outcome... judging from the notes in the panel's remarks section, they had most likely failed.

Of course, it wasn't entirely useless. The bearer of the Tarot Card would receive a minor bonus to charisma checks involving persuasion and deception.

If one looked solely at its practical effects, it certainly wasn't worth keeping under such tight security. However, considering its historical significance as a relic of a Legendary powerhouse's failed ascension, it held decent value as a collectible.

What truly caught Xia Nan's attention was the third item he saw in this small collection room.

It was a dark gray metal bracelet.

It was woven from slender, flexible strands of silver-gray iron wire. The wires twisted and spiraled together tightly, resembling surging waves or overlapping scales, giving the piece a sleek and minimalist aesthetic.

Devoid of gold, gemstones, or complex, flashy designs, it didn't look like the sort of accessory favored by the continent's nobles and dignitaries at all.

Yet, elevated by its sheer level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, its sleek, high-class aura gave the bracelet an indescribably premium feel.

It was as if some master artisan had deliberately stripped away all superficial decorative techniques, pouring their lifelong skills wholeheartedly into an embodiment of ultimate practicality.

Looking closely, one could see tiny gaps left at evenly spaced intervals along the outer edge of the bracelet, formed by the bends in the woven iron wires.

There were exactly nine empty loops spaced evenly along the bracelet's outer curve.

Only one of these loops had something hanging from it:

—a strangely shaped badge.

The badge itself was quite small, roughly the size of a fingernail. Narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, it looked like a flattened, slightly stubby teardrop. It had a misty gray hue like solidified morning fog, yet it was completely opaque, giving off a tiny but weighty impression.

At first, Xia Nan hadn't paid much attention to the bracelet. After all, compared to the crown and the Tarot Card from earlier, its appearance simply wasn't the eye-catching sort.

That was until Xia Nan's attention finally landed on it as he went down the row of display stands. The Attribute Panel that popped up before his eyes completely changed his mind.

...

[Proof of Diligence]

Type: Bracelet

Grade: Ordinary/Fine/Rare/Unique/Epic

Effects:

1. -20% Stamina Consumption (during training);

2. +15% Stamina Recovery Speed;

3. +33% Training Efficiency (when training duration exceeds 180 minutes);

4. The wearer will enter a highly focused state more easily during training.

Slot 1:

[Dust of Swaying Shadows]: +50% Mastery acquisition speed for finesse-type combat techniques;

Slot 2: /

Slot 3: /

...

Slot 9: /

Introduction:

To the sweat drops before dawn, the thick calluses on the palms, and the clumsy devotion.

Remarks:

"Swing your sword. As long as you start swinging, everything will be alright."

...

'What is this!?'

Xia Nan almost thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.

'What does this "+33% Training Efficiency" and "+50% Mastery acquisition speed for finesse-type combat techniques" mean!?'

As a professional adventurer who had already pushed multiple combat techniques from Novice all the way to Mastery, he knew better than anyone just how painfully difficult it was to level up combat proficiencies in this world—even if he had only been transmigrated here for two years.

No matter how high this body's talent was, the ten-plus hours of daily training he put in during his downtime between quests was a harsh reality.

On the Aifala Continent, whether you were a fledgling adventurer just starting out or a Legendary existence standing at the very top of the pyramid, no one considered combat training to be easy.

The sweat poured out during grueling practice, the muscle aches following high-intensity routines, and the immense cost in time and stamina—these were the unavoidable hurdles every Class Holder had to cross on their climb upward.

No one was exempt.

This was exactly why an artifact like the [Dream Weaving Corridor], which could drastically boost combat technique proficiency in a short amount of time, was so incredibly precious. It was also why the effects displayed on the [Proof of Diligence]'s Attribute Panel left Xia Nan so deeply stunned.

A special effect capable of improving training efficiency—even by a mere five percent, or just half a percent—would be insanely effective over the long span of a Class Holder's training career, saving massive amounts of time.

Not to mention, the numbers here were "33%" and "50%"!

From the moment he was sent flying by that truck and arrived on the Aifala Continent to this very day, Xia Nan had never seen—or even heard of—equipment capable of boosting combat training speed.

It was hard to imagine the massive storm the [Proof of Diligence] would stir up among adventurers if it ever hit the open market.

Xia Nan was absolutely certain that even the mighty powerhouses at the very peak of the pyramid wouldn't be able to resist temptation upon seeing this type of gear.

And yet, right now, this bracelet of unimaginable value was sitting right in front of him, separated by nothing more than a pane of transparent glass that, to him, couldn't be any flimsier.

Perhaps the text on the Attribute Panel was simply too dazzling, but Xia Nan suddenly found the previously unremarkable bracelet to be inexplicably pleasing to the eye. It felt like a perfect match for his current loadout.

He subconsciously leaned in closer, carefully examining the bracelet on the display stand.

Based on the information revealed by the Attribute Panel, the [Proof of Diligence] was primarily divided into two parts.

The main body was the bracelet itself; as long as it was worn, the four special traits listed in the effects section would activate. Then there was that tiny, teardrop-shaped badge.

At the same time, unlike the other gear Xia Nan had acquired before, the Attribute Panel for the [Proof of Diligence] featured an extra section for "Slots."

There were exactly nine slots, eight of which were completely empty.

Only "Slot 1" was filled with a [Dust of Swaying Shadows], granting the additional "+50% Mastery acquisition speed for finesse-type combat techniques" effect.

Judging by the bracelet's physical appearance, Xia Nan could make a solid guess.

The nine slots listed on the Attribute Panel corresponded directly to the nine loops arrayed along the bracelet's outer curve.

And the [Dust of Swaying Shadows] occupying that sole active "Slot 1" was none other than the tiny badge currently hanging from one of those loops!

Xia Nan instinctively scrutinized the badge itself more closely.

Across its flattened, teardrop-like surface, he could see countless minute, undulating ridges. They resembled endless, rolling ocean waves, and also looked strikingly similar to the colliding, interwoven gravitational ripples he saw in that black-and-white world whenever he activated his [Heart-Guided Vision].

Remembering how the [Dust of Swaying Shadows] specifically boosted mastery acquisition for "finesse-type combat techniques," a thoughtful expression crept onto Xia Nan's face.

No wonder the quality grade for the [Proof of Diligence] on the Attribute Panel read "Ordinary/Fine/Rare/Unique/Epic."

Given the eight extra empty slots on the bracelet, it was reasonable to deduce that the [Dust of Swaying Shadows] wasn't the only one of its kind.

There were likely other badges similar to the [Dust of Swaying Shadows] scattered across this world, waiting to be set into the bracelet's loops.

And the types of combat techniques they boosted definitely varied too—they wouldn't be limited to finesse-types alone.

If someone could actually collect different badges and fill every single loop on the bracelet one day, that massive fifty-percent bonus to mastery acquisition speed might cover every single type of combat technique in the world.

Including even [Gravity Control]!

When that time came, the quality grade of the [Proof of Diligence] would reach the very same tier as the [Fate Coin]—a "pink Epic."

At that exact moment, Xia Nan's desire for this piece of equipment soared to its absolute peak.

No matter how many gold coins it cost, or what price he had to pay, as long as it didn't cross his most dangerous bottom line, he would do whatever it took to get this bracelet!

Meanwhile, the half-elf collector, who was enthusiastically lecturing Xia Nan on the room's various artifacts, noticed the dark-haired youth's intense gaze.

Because Xia Nan kept his emotions perfectly masked, Auriel didn't suspect a thing. Assuming the youth had simply taken an interest in the bracelet, much like he had with the crown and the Tarot Card, he offered an explanation:

"I picked up this bracelet at an auction house a few years back," Auriel said. "It came from a down-on-his-luck adventurer trying to liquidate his family assets to raise enough capital to turn his luck around at the casino."

"It might look plain on the outside, but if you inspect it closely, the craftsmanship is actually incredibly intricate. It's not something an ordinary artisan could pull off; it had to be made by a master-level craftsman."

"Plus, its inherent effects are quite good. It speeds up the wearer's stamina recovery, so I bought it right then and there."

"It cost me a little under a thousand gold in total. Compared to the market's average selling price for this sort of gear back then, it was actually a bit steep. But I was just so fond of the craftsmanship that I didn't even bother haggling."

"It's just a shame that adventurer never made his money back at the card tables. I heard later that he ran into trouble on a quest and never returned. Tsk, tsk..."

Xia Nan watched the half-elf's gaze drift as he reminisced about the past.

Xia Nan, however, felt a bit conflicted inside.

It made sense that Auriel could recognize the [Proof of Diligence]'s outstanding craftsmanship thanks to his rich experience as a collector. There was no issue there.

However, Auriel's subsequent mention of the "stamina recovery effect" and the "steep price of 1,000 gold" caught Xia Nan's attention.

The way he saw it, even if you ignored every other stat, just that single line reading "+33% Training Efficiency" on the bracelet's Attribute Panel was enough to justify tacking another zero onto its thousand-gold price tag.

Yet based on Auriel's tone, it sounded like the man thought he had... overpaid with those 1,000 gold?

This made Xia Nan suspect whether the collector had failed to fully appraise the exact attributes of the [Proof of Diligence].

It was certainly a possibility.

Take the [Tide-Surge Lure Pole] he had already sold to Ellison, for example. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the people in this world would only ever treat it as a spear-type weapon, completely blind to its special effect as a god-tier chumming pole.

After all, who else was going to take that stone spear, stab a whale with it continuously for ten solid minutes, and then chuck it into the sea?

Those harsh activation conditions meant that if the spear hadn't crossed paths with Xia Nan and his golden finger Attribute Panel, it could have been passed down for centuries—or even millennia—without anyone ever triggering its true effect.

To some extent, the same held true for the [Proof of Diligence].

Its ability to reduce stamina consumption, increase stamina recovery speed, and make it easier to enter a focused state were all effects anyone could easily discover just by wearing the accessory and testing it out.

But that thirty-three percent boost to training efficiency only triggered after dragging a single training session past the three-hour mark. It had a strict threshold.

Furthermore, the fifty percent mastery acquisition speed bonus from the [Dust of Swaying Shadows] applied strictly to finesse-type combat techniques.

Neither of these latter two traits was something that could be easily appraised.

Could it be that Auriel... completely missed them?