"Modifying the Falling Star Pendant runes — adding virtual runes for coordinated control!"
The Chip's voice rang out at that moment.
A blue light flashed across Leylin's eyes, and countless tiny, transparent patterns surfaced across the Falling Star Pendant.
Next, he would need to modify the pendant according to these transparent patterns.
And while Leylin engraved, the Chip could provide real-time reminders, preventing any errors.
Using a pair of tweezers, Leylin fished the Falling Star Pendant out and placed it on a piece of white goose down. Then he picked up a hardened rune pen from the side and began the delicate engraving work on the cross's surface.
His hand was as steady as a steel sculpture, utterly rock-steady, without the slightest tremor.
This was work that demanded extraordinary attention to patience, and it consumed a great deal of time and energy.
As time trickled by, beads of sweat dripped continuously from Leylin's forehead.
"Falling Star Pendant rune array modification complete! Added Fortification rune! Energy Diffusion rune! Extension rune…"
Listening to the Chip's confirmation, a faint smile crossed Leylin's face.
He then picked up another hardened rune pen, its shaft fitted with a groove.
"Next, it's time to prepare the filling material!"
Leylin lit two beakers and melted down the Magical Item ingredients he had previously separated, turning them into two cups of liquid.
Following a precise ratio, he began combining the liquids from the two beakers.
He flicked the groove, and the pen's shaft split open, revealing a filling port.
He then poured the now silver-black viscous liquid into the pen's body.
One fine rune after another flickered to life around the rune pen, emitting a mesmerizing glow.
Leylin adjusted the pen tip with a satisfied smile and traced along the tracks he had just engraved, repeating the process once more.
This time, however, a steady stream of silver-black liquid flowed from the pen tip, filling every groove.
After completing the final stroke, Leylin examined the completely transformed cross and nodded in satisfaction.
"Activate!"
Leylin spoke two syllables in the Ancient Byron Language.
Whoosh! A hazy ring of grey light radiated outward from the cross, and threads of silver luminescence traced along the rune array Leylin had just carved, flowing ceaselessly across the surface of the Falling Star Pendant.
The silver-grey radiance continued to merge and intensify, growing brighter and brighter, until it completely enveloped the Falling Star Pendant within.
When the light fully subsided, the Falling Star Pendant had undergone a complete transformation.
It still retained the cruciform shape from before, but its size had increased by several folds.
Moreover, the colour had shifted from its former silver-grey to a deep crimson.
Its surface was inscribed with countless tiny runes, completely obscuring the original fractured gemstones.
Leylin held the dark red Falling Star Pendant in his hand. It was heavy, its weight having increased significantly compared to before.
"Ding! Falling Star Pendant upgraded successfully! Currently a mid-grade Magical Item! Current physical defence at 24 degrees, spell resistance at 25 degrees!" The Chip's notification sounded once more, bringing Leylin good news.
"Physical defence went from the original 13 degrees to 24 degrees, and spell resistance from 15 degrees to 25 degrees! Not bad, not bad at all!"
This magnitude was already approaching the defensive capability of the Komori Scales — essentially equivalent to adding another innate defensive spell. Leylin was naturally very pleased.
However, innate spells still far surpassed such Magical Items. Leylin's Komori Scales would continue to grow in defensive power as his own strength increased in the future.
The Falling Star Pendant, on the other hand, would be hard-pressed to keep up with Leylin's needs unless he could find a large quantity of rare materials to upgrade it further.
So, from a long-term perspective, it was still more practical to focus on developing his own innate spells.
"On the South Coast, apprentices make use of low-grade Magical Items, first-degree Wizards use mid-grade Magical Items and occasionally low-grade ones as well. Only the most formidable first-degree Wizards, along with those second-degree Wizards, are capable of wielding high-grade Magical Items!"
Leylin recalled what he had read in the Book of the Great Serpent.
Although the era of the Crimson Great Wizard was quite distant from the present, it still provided a general picture of the power distributions and customs across the South Coast.
Now that the Falling Star Pendant had ascended to mid-grade Magical Items, it could serve him well even during his time as a first-degree Warlock. This naturally put Leylin in high spirits.
……
The Magnegreat Canyon stretched across the borders of the Duchy of Yinglan and several neighbouring great nations. It was the only route into the White Wizard Domain controlled by forces such as the Nine Rings High Tower.
Of course, this only applied to Wizards.
The common folk of these great duchies never set foot outside their homeland from birth to death. Even mercenaries would at most take on jobs within their own country's borders.
Those mercenaries and bards who had travelled through neighbouring duchies could use their experiences as boasting capital and earn the respect of others.
"The Magnegreat Canyon is rife with dangers. Even the journey itself would take several months…"
As he mulled over the information about the canyon, Leylin furrowed his brow slightly.