Chapter 274 - 273: Upgrade Plan

Chapter 274: Chapter 273: Upgrade Plan

"No problem, I’ll be on time." Zelir nodded in agreement.

After completing the transaction, his gaze drifted elsewhere.

Zelir once again found himself drawn to the Magic Wand section of the shop.

Rows of exquisite cabinets crafted from black walnut wood stood there.

Soft Magic Spotlights shone down from above, making the items within glitter and gleam.

It was different from the Magic Wand Shop Bev had taken him to, which only sold finished products.

Here at Barrett’s, most of the Magic Wands were just Base Materials, without even Accessories or a Wand Core inlaid.

This was very much in line with his long-held philosophy of custom tailoring.

Below each Base Material, a small placard detailed its characteristics and the applicable Magic systems.

Zelir walked by slowly, his gaze sweeping over them.

The bizarre variety of Base Materials was a real eye-opener for him.

For instance, there was a Base Material labeled [Dragon Breath Ebony].

It was pitch-black like charcoal, its surface covered in dark red cracks. A palpable, scorching heat could be felt when approaching it.

It could convert Magic Power into active Fire Elements and grant a faint explosive effect to any Fire Magic cast with it.

There was also [Thunderstruck Purple Core Wood].

It was a straight, purple, bamboo-like stalk with no carvings on its surface, yet it had naturally grown lightning-shaped scorch marks.

Zelir lightly touched the Thunderstruck Purple Core Wood, and a tingling, numbing static shock pricked his fingertip.

The special effect of Thunderstruck Purple Core Wood was:

It provided a much greater boost to Casting Speed than other Base Materials and also had a damage bonus for Lightning Element Magic.

’I wonder what would happen if I used it to cast Flame Thunder Spear...’ Zelir couldn’t help but think.

Zelir even saw a Base Material made of a very unusual substance.

[Siren’s Spine].

It was actually made of bone.

Pale vertebrae were linked together, curving naturally along an arc, just like a human spine when bending over.

Its effect was equally unique: it boosted Magic of the Spirit Magic System, making it easier to penetrate an enemy’s spiritual defenses during Casting.

As he browsed, Zelir started to feel tempted.

He remembered what Barrett had said last time: even a finished Magic Wand could be upgraded further.

’I have some spare money anyway... I might as well ask about it and see what my options are.’

’Wealth is ultimately an external possession. Converting it into combat power is what’s most important.’

As Zelir browsed, Barrett followed quietly behind him.

He didn’t disturb him with a sales pitch, instead allowing Zelir to observe and choose on his own, giving him plenty of space.

"Barrett."

Zelir finally turned around. "You said before that Magic Wands can be upgraded, right?"

Hearing Zelir’s words, a sharp glint flashed in Barrett’s eyes.

"Of course."

Barrett took an elegant step forward.

"While most shop owners would just advise you to buy a new one—it’s more profitable, after all—I’m different. I’m a nostalgic person."

"A Magic Staff that feels comfortable in your hand is an extension of your body, and one develops an attachment to it."

"Generally speaking, a finished Magic Wand, when first crafted, has not reached its limit. It can undergo a second upgrade to fully unlock its potential."

"So... how exactly is it done?" Zelir asked curiously.

"We usually have two options," Barrett explained.

"First, Wand Core replacement."

"If you feel your Magic Power output is insufficient, we can replace the Magic Wand’s Wand Core."

"For example, if it originally has a regular Magic Beast Crystal Core, we could swap it for a High-Tier one, like a Dragon Crystal from an adult Earth Dragon, or a high-purity Elemental Core."

"Second, Rune re-engraving."

"This means engraving a second, or even a third, layer of overlapping runes onto the original staff body."

"This is an extreme test of craftsmanship, but it can grant the Magic Staff new properties, such as rapid cooling or spell enhancement."

"As for your Star Meteorite Wood Magic Wand... I’ll need to take a look first."

Barrett took the Night Peace Magic Wand from Zelir.

Under the bright light of the Magic Spotlight, the Star Meteorite Wood staff body revealed its fine, cold texture.

Barrett’s fingers slowly slid along the staff body.

He would occasionally tap it to listen to the sound, then infuse a faint trace of Magic Power to test its feedback—he was also a Mage.

After a moment, Barrett spoke.

"The unique property of Star Meteorite Wood is that the material itself is an excellent conductor of Magic Power. Its internal structure is like a single, solid piece of Crystal."

"But for that very reason, any attempt to forcibly embed a foreign object, like a Wand Core, would destroy its original Magic Power-conducting channels, rendering the Base Material useless."

"So, the first option, Wand Core replacement, is out."

Barrett’s fingers tapped on the body of the Night Peace Staff.

"That leaves the second option: a complete upgrade of the Rune Circuits to improve its magic amplification efficiency."

"Then we can also replace the Accessories with better ones, which can also enhance its effectiveness to a certain extent."

"Oh..."

Zelir nodded thoughtfully.

The amplification Night Peace currently provided him was quite good.

Based on his own feeling, Night Peace increased his Casting Speed by about 15% and his Magic’s power by 10%.

If he were to cast bare-handed without Night Peace, Zelir’s strength would indeed be somewhat diminished.

"So... about how much would it cost?"

"Let me think."

Barrett’s gaze swept back and forth over Night Peace.

"To re-engrave the Array... the staff body would need to be reinforced with an inlay of the same Star Meteorite Wood material. The current Base Material isn’t substantial enough to contain that much Magic Power."

"Then there are the Accessories... The Secret Silver Thread is a bit too plain. It could be replaced with better Refined Liquid Gold to reduce Magic Power loss."

"And some other minor work..."

"All in all..."

Barrett counted on his fingers. "It would probably come to over three hundred Gold Coins?"

"Of course, that’s just a rough estimate."

"If you decide you want it done, give me a few days, and I’ll immediately draw up a custom plan just for you!"

"Over three hundred Gold Coins?"

Zelir’s eye twitched in surprise. "That’s several times more expensive than the Magic Wand itself?"

"Well, we are modifying it from its original state. Many things need to be carefully considered. It’s delicate work."

Barrett was clearly used to such questions about his prices. He patted his chest and declared confidently,

"But I, Barrett, would absolutely never overcharge you! You can go to any other Magic Wand Shop and ask about the costs."

"Besides, it’s not several times more expensive... After all, looking at the craftsmanship of your original Magic Wand, it should be worth at least two to three hundred Gold Coins."

"No... I only spent One Hundred Gold Coins," Zelir said.

"Huh?"

Just like Mage Haddley when she heard the Magic Wand’s price, Barrett now wore a look of clear astonishment.

"Mr. Zelir, you’re not joking with me, are you? One Hundred Gold Coins?"