Chapter 137: The Book of Keys

Is this a piece of clothing? He already has a fine Mistwalker’s Garment.

Chen Qi checked the panel.

[Circuit Garment: Conductor’s Edition]

[Equipment Type: Possession-type, Rune Blood-type (also known as Rune Garment; this item adheres to your skin surface and remains invisible under normal circumstances.)]

[Attribute: Hammer]

[Equipment Requirements: Inspiration 80, Attribute not Cup, requires 30 minutes to fuse.]

[Description: A perfect circuit should reside within oneself, not in a weapon. My body itself is the circuit of the arcane!]

[Details: A masterpiece painstakingly crafted by the Conductor, made from the exceedingly rare White Dragon Silk, capable of channeling spiritual power within the enhanced blood.]

[Equipment Effects:]

Perfect Circuit: Your blood circuit is greatly enhanced; you can perform most arcane techniques that normally require a circuit weapon using only your own body.

If you possess a powerful circuit weapon, this equipment accelerates your spellcasting when using the weapon.

Additionally, your arcane learning speed increases.

Ultimate Arcane Enhancement: Without equipping any other similar transformation equipment, you gain a 30% boost in arcane power (for outward offensive spells) without additional spiritual power consumption.

Arcane Slot: You can inscribe spells onto the Circuit Garment. “Enhancement-type” spells inscribed in this equipment have greatly reduced consumption and extended duration. Current slots used: 0/2.

It’s a Rune Garment!

Chen Qi examined the gear. He had seen similar equipment mentioned in posts by some top-tier players.

This gear did not conflict with his current garment.

It was a possession-type Rune Garment. Typically, Rune Garments are detachable rune patterns etched on the skin, akin to “body seals,” which are difficult to detect.

Rune Garments are intimately connected to the blood, enhancing the release of spiritual power.

Chen Qi reviewed the garment’s three effects one by one.

The Perfect Circuit allows him to use many arcane techniques that normally require a weapon, relying solely on his own body.

Usually, many powerful spells depend on the conductivity of spiritual power through blood, necessitating the use of a weapon.

For example, his current spells—“Black Flame Attachment,” “Black Flame Domain,” and “Black Flame Burial”—all require the Debt Collector’s Longsword to be executed properly.

Without the weapon, these spells would be significantly weakened; “Black Flame Burial” might degenerate into a mere black flame massage.

This skill would undoubtedly help him overcome that limitation.

The arcane enhancement was a substantial boost: a 30% increase is a remarkably high figure, especially for Rune Garments.

Chen Qi continued reading.

This gear even had slots for spell inscriptions…

Having slots in a Rune Garment was rare indeed.

Two enhancement-type spells, which fit perfectly with this garment.

Chen Qi glanced at the text.

As for the Inspiration requirement of 80, he didn’t meet it yet.

However, by allocating some unused attribute points and combining with the 50% Inspiration boost from Unspent Ember, reaching the threshold wouldn’t be an issue.

Chen Qi exhaled—a truly powerful garment!

Rune Garments are already extremely rare, and this one could be considered a masterpiece among them.

He stored the equipment and looked further into the text.

[The Conductor secretly tells you this is the strongest masterpiece he has produced this year, but he also reminds you not to forget to return the Mechanical Core to the elderly Conductor.]

Chen Qi looked at the Mechanical Core in his inventory; fundamentally, it still belonged to the Conductor.

He needed to inject the Conductor’s spiritual power to use it—it could be said to be an item bound to both the Conductor and the train.

Once the Conductor escapes the crowd demanding money, Chen Qi would return it.

He continued reading.

[Your ears perk up, listening to the discussions among the forging car workers. The equipment given to you by the Conductor is indeed his finest work!

Many experts who have slain the Furnace Spider King are clamoring for this gear!]

[You slowly raise your head. The flames that once flickered in the night have now turned into daylight illuminating the New Capital. The smile moon has been driven away by the daylight’s brilliance; the breeze feels so pleasant.]

[As the daylight burns, the Conductor’s mask comes off, and some of the bodily mutations vanish.]

[You sit atop the carriage, feeling the wind brush past your ears, gazing at the distant rivers and mountains.

Contrary to your expectations, the Rare Light region under the daylight is so beautiful.]

[The Conductor reminds you that this train journey will reach the Forest Kingdom in District 9 of the New Capital, a place with strict level restrictions and abundant forests, unlike the barren District 8.

If you intend to return, this is a good place to disembark.

Staying on the train for too long is not advisable; if you remain over two days, you may suffer strange ailments like her.

She suggests you see a proper doctor for a checkup once you return.]

[You look toward the distant rivers and mountains and quietly nod.

The Conductor sees that the Conductor is busy and adds more: There are many strange things on this train that you haven’t encountered yet!

Although train staff always stay aboard, they have seen no fewer strange creatures than treasure hunters!

If you plan to spend the night on the train, she can try summoning some creatures at night.

She thinks you are a restless and curious person.]

Chen Qi shook his head; he didn’t want to deal with any strange creatures for now. The dolls he encountered today were enough.

He rested his chin in his palm. Before nightfall, it was about time to slip away from this journey.

But first, he had some tasks to complete.

First, to rescue the treasure hunter Kanno and see what treasures he might offer.

Second, to repair the Flame Bow. The train was full of talented people, but this weapon's repair was difficult; it was best to fix it here.

Chen Qi clicked on the surgery carriage to check on the treasure hunter wrapped in a cocoon.

[You wave goodbye to the Conductor, planning to rescue the treasure hunter while everyone is gathered in the forging carriage.]

[The carriage moves forward...]

[You arrive again at the surgery carriage.

Inside, you see signs of a struggle; the operating table is now empty.]

[Most people have gone to the forging carriage, asking the Conductor for money and gear!]

[You look at the cocoon on the ceiling. Do you want to cut it open?]

Yes.

[A shadowy dagger appears in your hand. Compared to a longsword, this smaller weapon reduces the risk of harming the person inside.]

[Layer by layer, the cocoon’s outer skin is sliced open.

A shriveled figure, as skeletal as a skeleton, falls out. His eyes have lost their color.]

Chen Qi opened his inventory and gave some juices and easy-to-eat food he had bought from the organization.

[You pour a bottle of juice into the other’s mouth.]

[Gulp, gulp.

“Thank you, benefactor…” Kanno, who looks pitifully emaciated, slowly opens his eyes, fearfully surveying his surroundings.]

[You tell him that the Cocoon Witch is gone and he need not be afraid for now.]

“Really…”

Kanno’s eyes gradually brighten. Having been trapped in the cocoon for so long, he had regressed from a hopeful adventurer into a hollow shadow without purpose.

“I... survived…”

After a moment’s recovery, Kanno, as agreed, reveals the location of the treasures he still possesses.

He recalls for a long time and weakly tells you that before coming to the Textile Train, he had hidden his Treasure Key Book and some other items in a safe place, both as a precaution and to restrain himself from being distracted by other items.

Thanks for the 100-point coin tip for when I was kissed by a pig as a child (forgot to thank for it yesterday), and thanks to everyone for subscription and monthly votes!

P.S.: This dungeon was designed with Lantern and Blade in mind, overly ambitious as a higher-level dungeon. It turned out somewhat lengthy and flawed, with many settings unexplained, such as the classification of disasters and attribute gradations.

(End of chapter)