It also meant he bid farewell to the state of 'running naked'.
The final artisan plugin was a rather rare dual attribute plugin that boosts both strength and calculative power, with strength +14 and calculative power +22, just enough to replace the training plugin given to him by the big shots from the Hall of Thousand Doors.
Others also changed their equipment to varying degrees.
The Papalarians got a cloak that was exclusively for the Papalarians and allowed invisibility.
Miss Atira switched to a Magic Guided Lance.
Elisa acquired a new pair of gloves that could create an avatar with ten percent combat power, one of the strongest magic guided conductors within the shadow line for Nightingale. Meanwhile, Xiesta received an earring, and Fang Hong got a good glare from her when he delivered it.
But Miss Maid did end up wearing it.
After all, the earring was exclusively for fighters, boosting the Qi pool, and it was of no use to anyone else.
The Big Cat People opted for a shield, and he couldn't praise enough the Great Shield with a platinum lion head decoration, naturally tossing away the Flying Shield Fang Hong originally constructed for him to Luo Hao. Just in time for the latter, who had gained a level after combat, to use the shield.
This kind of scene was rather unexpected for Fang Hong. Luo Hao said, "Without unexpected wealth, one won't prosper," originally it was just a joke, but it turned out to be prophetic.
Fang Hong couldn't help but think, if every time they fought the Dragonfire Guild the rewards were this abundant, he might as well follow the Dragonfire Guild wherever it goes. Doing so a few times, the Seven Seas Traveler's budget would surely be sorted.
Of course, the main purpose was still to investigate the Dragon Worship Sect's secret plans. Fang Hong added a somewhat sheepish remark in his heart.
Miss Tata kindly reminded him: "Mr. Knight, actually everyone can't hear."
"Papa, hug—"
Then came Nini's sticky voice.
Making Fang Hong feel a bit embarrassed, he gently touched the little girl's forehead with his finger before pulling her away from his cheek to avoid getting his face covered in her saliva.
He actually could craft these items, just not at such a high level, as he lacked the blueprints and couldn't pour experience into every aspect. For example, the Shield Generator and the shadow line magic guided conductor gloves Elisa used, are relatively niche categories in magic guided conductors that require specific skills and knowledge.
Ultimately everyone had to choose a specialization on the craftsman's path, and Fang Hong Heng was facing this issue too. He had always prepared to invest experience into crystal manufacturing, dragon knights, and shipbuilding, even including some routes of Fairy Master, along with combat artisan.
Five domains, already quite a handful for a normal Invoker, though his extraordinary calculative power and the presence of Tata and Nini meant he didn't have to invest much experience or skill into the combat artisan domain. Still, he had to make a choice eventually, focusing on one of the five domains.
But he was a bit hesitant for a moment, as these five domains contained at least four that were unavoidable except for Fairy Master.
Crystal manufacturing and dragon knights were tied to his inheritance of Hain Famm's legacy, and were crucial to his own non-attribute advancement, while shipbuilding was his promise to Hilveld; combat artisan was simply a personal hobby.
Choosing one or two from these four domains was truly difficult for him.
Fang Hong could only take one step at a time.
The sky grew darker, and he looked afar to see others clambering down from the massive carcass of the Silver Mane Spider Queen, Tianlan and Parker seemed to have found something, bursting into cheers. Even from such a distance, he could hear their excited voices coming through.
"About the Dragonfire Guild's reply, what do you guess it is?" An ember glowed and faded in the Big Cat People's pipe. He suddenly spoke.
"Which one?"
"Regarding the benefits promised by the Dragon Worship Sect."
Fang Hong pondered for a moment: "In Dolifen, I remember the Dragon Worship Sect mentioned a term, Immortal."
"You're saying, the Dark Giant Dragon promises them immortality?" The Big Cat People extinguished the pipe, flicked off the ash inside, then turned back, silver eyes gazing at him: "But immortality is but a monster, you should understand this."
"Yes," Fang Hong nodded, "That's precisely what's puzzling me."
The two were silent for a while.
Suddenly, the Big Cat People spoke again: "Your cousin is here."
Fang Hong turned to see Tang Xin approaching from the edge of the forest bar.
He asked her: "How's Luo Yu?"
"Are all of you like this," Tang Xin said with a hint of displeasure, shooting him a glare, "First you, then him, does everyone need to lie bedridden for one or two weeks for it to count as an adventure?"
Fang Hong detected the discontent in his cousin's tone, yet it stemmed mostly from concern, causing him to shy away from her gaze: "Battles inevitably lead to injuries."
Tang Xin hummed softly, eventually responding reluctantly:
"Luo Yu is fine, doesn't need several weeks to recover like you."
She stopped, stood shoulder to shoulder with Fang Hong, watching the valley bathed in golden light - the last ray of sunshine sinking into the crevices of the hills, she flicked her sweat-dampened hair, appearing unusually serene.
Fang Hong couldn't help but look back, seeing the blood stains on his cousin's simple white robe, yet it didn't diminish her grace, instead, it added an intriguing beauty.
"Brother," Tang Xin suddenly asked, "Do you really like this world so much?"
Fang Hong was taken aback.
He promptly nodded: "Sure."
...