Butcher (2-in-1)

"Your city building: Blacksmith Shop has been upgraded. The current shop level is 3, and the daily production capacity has been increased to 300 points."

"You are now able to unlock and craft standard Elite Tier equipment."

"The blacksmith shop now offers the following new Elite Tier equipment (blue): Refined Iron Bow, Refined Iron Armor, Refined Iron Sword, and Refined Greatsword."

After seeing this notification in the Lord Console, Bai Xiaowen was slightly taken aback, then overjoyed.

Mass production of blue equipment!

It turns out that a level 3 blacksmith shop can mass-produce Blue Gear! This means that Bai Xiaowen will also dominate the mid-range market for Earth Awakeners. Bai Xiaowen has discovered a new profit growth point for his shop, and the profit from Blue Gear is much higher than that from white-grade or rough equipment.

Bai Xiaowen checked and found that each piece of Standard Blue Gear required 50 daily production points, which was ten times higher than that of white equipment! This was normal, because the value of Blue Gear was more than ten times that of white equipment.

With a daily production capacity of 300 points, you can produce 6 Blue Gear or 60 white-grade items. However, the problem is that, given the increasingly saturated market, the demand for low-end items such as rough gray and ordinary white items is gradually shrinking, while Blue Gear, as long as the price is reasonable, will definitely be in short supply.

Rough, ordinary quality equipment is for beginners, aimed at those Quasi-Awakened or have just successfully awakened.

Blue Gear is available to all Awakened Ones! Keep in mind that even Awakened Ones like Bai Xiaowen and Li Shuyi, who have luxurious equipment, still have Blue Gear they haven't replaced yet.

However, these standard, mass-produced Blue Gear have relatively low added attributes, generally only 1 to 2 points. Standard Blue Gear don't have any equipment requirements or level restrictions, so you can't expect too much from them.

Cecilia was also very happy. What she valued was not the addition of Elite Tier Blue Gear, but the additional white-grade equipment such as the standard iron bow and the standard greatsword.

With this equipment, Cecilia can train powerful archers, making White Stone City's defenses even stronger.

The upgrades extend beyond just the blacksmith shop; they also include jewelry stores, Mill, and other production buildings.

It's worth mentioning the Mill. After a junior pastry chef arrived, the Mill's level was upgraded to level 2, its daily production capacity reached 100 points, and its products were no longer just ordinary Rye Bread; a new food item was added:

[Rye Pastry: Food. Restores 25 Life Value over 5 seconds after consumption. This food can only be used once per battle.]

Compared to Rye Bread, Rye Pastry restore 10 more Life Value, almost double! Due to the limited number of times food and recovery items can be used in each battle, food that restores more Life Value per use is far more valuable than simply doubling.

This can also be seen from the production capacity consumption. Producing one Rye Pastry consumes 5 production capacity points, which is five times that of Rye Bread.

"Therefore, the price of Rye Pastry should also be increased appropriately. After all, this is a relatively high-end product, targeting awakened individuals at the intermediate and Elite Tier levels. These people will definitely be willing to pay a good price for Rye Pastry."

Bai Xiaowen stroked his chin. "Ten times the price of Rye Bread... that shouldn't be too much, right? Hmm, that would cost 1000 Psionic Points, which is a bit excessive. How about reducing it by two points and selling it for only 998! Hehehehehe..."

The upgrades to the blacksmith shop and Mill added two more flagship products to Bai Xiaowen's virtual store, making him very satisfied.

With the arrival of various professionals, other production buildings have also been upgraded. For example, the jewelry store has been upgraded to level 2, and can now produce ordinary quality blank jewelry. However, it is still not very useful, as awakened individuals will not buy blank jewelry that has no additional attributes and only serves a decorative purpose.

Only after the jewelry store is upgraded to level 3 can blue Elite Tier rings, necklaces, or accessories be sold for a good price.

Accompanied by Cecilia, Bai Xiaowen toured White Stone City, and time gradually passed.

The three-day deadline arrived, Zombie Doctor finally sent word, asking Bai Xiaowen to return to the research institute.

In the research institute, Bai Xiaowen met the Zombie Doctor with dark circles under his eyes and bloodshot eyes.

"How's it going?" Bai Xiaowen asked. He muttered to himself, wondering if he had gone too far. If the Zombie Doctor got overworked, there wouldn't be anyone to replace him. However, when he thought about how the Zombie Doctor had an undead constitution, Bai Xiaowen felt relieved.

"Dear Boss, after a long period of research and verification, I have finally made initial progress... no, I have finally completely mastered this brand-new technology! Although I am currently limited by materials and processes and cannot yet manufacture an exact replica of the Voodoo Core, I can make some minor adjustments to the original product to make it more suitable for this Stitched Monster! Now, let me explain the specific parameters I modified..."

Bai Xiaowen waved his hand, interrupting the eloquent Zombie Doctor: "Just tell me the effects of the changes."

Zombie Doctor was momentarily speechless, and could only turn the page of the experimental report in his hand, "The effect... well, the effect is that it reduced the negative effects of the Voodoo Core and enhanced the Stitched Monster's autonomous consciousness, allowing it to resonate to a certain extent with external psionic equipment!"

"... Speak like a human being."

"Well, to be honest, the Stitched Monster can wear psionic gear and unleash its full power," Zombie Doctor said, head bowed. "Of course, at this stage, he can only use equipment for the head, upper body, and main/off-hand weapons, but this is a good start, Boss..."

Bai Xiaowen narrowed his eyes slightly, then widened them again after understanding what the Zombie Doctor meant. "Can we really use the equipment?"

"Yes... yes!" Zombie Doctor was a little confused about the reason for Bai Xiaowen's excitement.

Suppressing his excitement, Bai Xiaowen sat back down in his chair. "Words are no proof. First, fuse the Voodoo Core back into place and revive Fatty."

Three days later, Fatty, who had been in a dormant state, began to emit a slight stench of decay. Zombie Doctor skillfully wielded his scalpel, re- Suturing the adjusted Voodoo Core back into Fatty's skull.

Bai Xiaowen held his breath, awaiting the result. Whether Fatty would awaken, and whether he would permanently lose this summoned creature, all depended on this moment.

Delifa's phantom appeared from the surface of the Black Soul Stone at some unknown time. She, too, awaited the outcome.

After finishing Suturing, Zombie Doctor patted the Fatty's head, who was lying on the lab table. "Hey, hey! Can you hear me... hey!"

Fatty didn't make a sound.

"Master, it seems Zombie Doctor has betrayed your trust. It is necessary to punish him accordingly." Delifa smiled.

"... Impossible, my professional skills would never be wrong... Even if I don't meet the enhancement standards, I should at least wake up..." Zombie Doctor muttered to himself, clutching his large head.

Delifa: "Stop struggling, go back to the Black Soul Stone!"

"Wait a minute, Delifa."

Bai Xiaowen suddenly stopped the Banshee's actions. He closed his eyes slightly, activated his Telepathy ability, and connected with Fatty's consciousness star.

The Fatty's consciousness, which had been silent and unable to communicate, suddenly responded. Like waking someone from a deep sleep, the response gradually increased in strength.

"Hmm?"

With a confused groan, Fatty slowly opened his eyes. He braced himself with his arms and sat up.

A flash of light passed over Fatty's body, and the fat man, who had previously reeked of decay, was finally fully recovered.

"I did it! I knew it! My research would never go wrong!" Zombie Doctor shouted excitedly, finally free from the dark room.

Bai Xiaowen received a notification about the Spirit Realm Rules.

"Your summoned creature, the Stitched Monster Fatty, has undergone a new evolutionary effect due to the implantation of a modified Voodoo Core."

Your summoned creature, the Stitched Monster Fatty, evolves into: The Butcher.

[Butcher (Elite Tier Level 5)]

[Race: Undead Species / Corpse Demonfolk]

[Attributes: Strength 23, Agility 13, Constitution 30, Spirit 7]

[Skill 1: Slaughterhouse: Passive. Whenever an enemy target dies nearby, the Butcher's maximum Life Value permanently increases by 1-30 points (depending on the target's level and template). The Butcher's maximum Life Value can be increased to a maximum of 200% of their initial Life Value. If the maximum health is reached, this passive effect will instead restore the Butcher's current Life Value.]

[Skill 2: Rot: The Butcher emits a rotting aura, dealing poison damage equal to 1% of his maximum Life Value per second. Enemies within melee range will take the same amount of poison damage and suffer a 5% slow effect. The number of Rot stacks increases while the skill is active, adding one stack every 3 seconds, up to a maximum of 5 stacks.]

[Skill 3: Meat Hook: Omitted.]

Compared to before, Fatty's skin and flesh had become firmer, even showing the outline of muscles, reminding Bai Xiaowen of the classic boss Butcher image from the Diablo series.

In terms of attributes, the Butcher is no Transformation from the Stitched Monster era.

However, the changes to the skills feel like a complete upheaval.

Skill 1, "Slaughterhouse," is significantly stronger than the Bloated Body of the Stitched Monster form and the Bloat Voodoo Stitched Monster form. This is a growth-type skill; as long as Bai Xiaowen diligently grinds monsters, he can grow to his complete form in no time, doubling his maximum Life Value! Moreover, it doesn't have the defense-reducing effect of the Bloat.

Moreover, when the maximum Life Value reaches its maximum, the Slaughterhouse effect will switch to restoring Life Value, which greatly improves the Butcher's survivability. Combined with the second skill, it works even better.

Skill 2, "Rotten," is similar to "Corrupting Blood" from the Voodoo Stitched Monster era; both are mobile AOE skills. The difference is that Rotten is activated actively, while Corrupting Blood is only activated when attacked. Although Corrupting Blood can be triggered by forced damage from other summons, it is ultimately not as flexible and proactive as the Butcher activating it himself.

It stacks a layer every 3 seconds, which is quite fast. Once it reaches 5 layers, it deals 30 theoretical poison damage per second to every enemy in melee range, and also slows them down by 25%, making it an exceptionally effective attack.

And after the surrounding enemies die, Fatty can still recover health through his first skill, Slaughterhouse, which is absolutely shameless.

As for the Meat Hook skill, it goes without saying; it's their signature move.

The strength of these three skills is already comparable to that of some Boss Tier. Fatty is now at least at the level of Rare Elite.

As for the equipment slots, Bai Xiaowen checked and, just as Zombie Doctor had said, Fatty could currently wear a helmet, chest armor, and main and off-hand weapons.

"Summoned creatures can wear equipment?" Bai Xiaowen found it a bit unbelievable.

Normally, summoned creatures cannot use psionic equipment. This is why summoned creatures of the same level and template are significantly weaker than awakened beings or Spirit Realm monsters.

For example, a level 5 Elite Template character in the Spirit Realm has a total attribute of approximately 80-90 points (including equipment bonuses). The base attribute increase for Elite Tier creatures with each level is between 7-9 points.

A level 6 Elite Template character in the Spirit Realm can have a maximum total attribute score of 105. Where do these extra 6 attribute points come from?

The answer is simply four words: equipment bonus.

If Spirit Realm being is subdued by a summoner and becomes a summoned creature, it will lose its independent consciousness and will be unable to activate its psionic equipment (generate Psionic Particles resonance), thus failing to unleash the attribute bonuses of the psionic equipment.

As for mutated beasts that are tamed and become summoned beasts, they will also be weakened in the same way. The reason for this is probably that wild ones become domesticated... A domestic dog can't beat a wild dog, that's common sense.

Of course, rather than believing this to be common sense, Bai Xiaowen believed more that it was an automatic constraint of the Spirit Realm Rules, making there no obvious attribute differences between summoned beasts and humanoid summoned creatures of the same level.

If tamed summoned beasts are as powerful as wild mutated beasts, equivalent to a Spirit Realm character of the same level wearing full psionic equipment, then summoners will choose beasts over humanoid summoned creatures when selecting summons.

However, although the attributes have been weakened, the skills have not, which is why Leader Tier summoned creatures can still be effective.

In summary, summoned creatures are essentially the same level of the Spirit Realm creatures without any equipment.

Of course, a summoner's Divine Might can provide attribute bonuses to summoned creatures, but these attribute bonuses are not enough to make up for the lack of equipment.

Bai Xiaowen fared slightly better. In addition to the boost to Divine Might, his Spirit Channeling class passive skill provided a 20% bonus to all attributes, which to some extent compensated for the difference in equipment. This is why Bai Xiaowen's summoned creatures were able to fight against monsters of the same level and even defeat them repeatedly.

Now, Zombie Doctor tells Bai Xiaowen that his summoned creatures can wear equipment!

"If my summoned creatures can make up for the lack of equipment, and with the added bonuses from my Spirit Channeling and Divine Might, wouldn't they all be able to fly?" This was the only thought swirling in Bai Xiaowen's mind.