The Price of Not Caring

After finishing the meal.

Sipping rice wine infused with plums.

Wang Wen fell into deep thought.

Didn't you come in here to solve a problem?

How come we're eating now?

Still eating with such gusto?

Could this fox demon also possess the ability to Mi Lailai?

When was that time of being attacked?

Wang Wen savored the rice wine with relish, completely baffled.

The meal took about an hour.

Even though the fox demon had already used magic to help prepare the ingredients.

It was already 8 PM on Sunday.

There are 4 hours left until the reset.

Wang Wen decided to take action to solve the problem.

He casually dismissed the Cassia Seed.

He turned to stare at the Fox, and asked in a complicated tone, "Are you afraid of dying?"

The Fox has been overjoyed about Wang Wen's arrival all day.

Especially when she saw that he wasn't accompanied by any "fairies" and was willing to eat the food she cooked.

Her face radiated happiness.

Upon suddenly hearing this question...

She couldn't help but be somewhat lost in thought.

Remembering how Wang Wen had taken the lives of some demons each time she left to complete her "mission," she thought of how she had done so before.

She knew it was her turn this time.

As demons, humans and demons are already irreconcilable enemies, let alone immortals.

Even though this immortal had spared his life several times by replacing him with other demons.

Ultimately, it seems fate is beyond our control.

The Fox's eyes dimmed.

Recalling the beautiful and unforgettable dinner, she was deeply moved and said to Wang Wen with gratitude, "Thank you for your mercy, immortal! Knowing that this little fox's life is nearing its end, you specially came to dine with me. This little fox will repay your kindness in my next life!"

As she spoke, she gracefully bowed.

Wang Wen: "???"

Seeing the Fox revert to its original form, lying prostrate on the ground as if awaiting its fate, he was both amused and exasperated.

He reached out and tapped the little Fox's forehead, saying, "I've found a way to keep you by my side, but it's extremely dangerous. If it fails, you'll die. So, to know your resolve to follow me, answer me again: are you afraid of death?"

The little Fox's eyes suddenly lit up after hearing this.

Without hesitation, it spoke in human language, "As long as I can stay by the side of the immortals, this little fox will gladly die!"

The skinny boy and his friends crowded around, asking curiously, "Can it be taken out of the tower?"

"If it succeeds, then..." Wang Wen showed the four people her newly acquired extraordinary skill.

[Unique-Type Artifact Spirit]: Allows a life form that voluntarily becomes a spirit to be fused with a unique treasure in the World Tower. Success increases the item's strength, while failure results in the destruction of both the item and the life form. The higher the level in the item tower, the higher the success rate. The stronger the life form, the greater the boost to the item. Each unique treasure can only be fused with one spirit. Cooldown: 24 hours.

"A spirit??" the four asked in unison, their voices filled with confusion.

Wang Wen nodded in affirmation of the skill's power.

He had seen other Tower Climber acquire this skill in his previous life.

It's a rather pointless option for individuals; not only is the success rate of fusion low, but there aren't many "life forms" willing to take such a big risk to become a spirit.

Using animals for testing is problematic because the number of unique Arcana items is too small to allow for many tests.

The key is that if the life form is "involuntary," the fusion will fail directly. In this case, the life form remains intact while the item perishes.

Individuals with limited resources simply cannot fully utilize the potential of this skill.

But things would be very different if it were in the hands of a conglomerate.

Later, the Tower Climber found a sizable conglomerate to collaborate with, using the conglomerate's resources to fund a group of volunteers.

They were all desperate men who were willing to die so that they could leave some money for their relatives and friends.

The tests kept failing.

Human lives are not a big deal, they're not worth much money; the main problem is the severe loss of props.

Just when that conglomerate was on the verge of collapse and was planning to abandon the project.

The highest level of testing resulted in the successful acquisition of a unique, five-hundred-layer treasure.

Based on that one prop alone.

That conglomerate profited immensely within the tower, and the strength of its Tower Climber increased rapidly, forcing them to climb from "not small" to "top ten."

Even a member of their group who is only at level 300 can fight on par with a level 600 boss with that artifact that possesses a spirit!

Even before reaching the 900 mark, Wang Wen had already sparred with that prop.

They are indeed not easy to deal with.

It took him two ultra-high-level props and a level nine extraordinary skill to settle things.

I never imagined I'd acquire this skill at such a high cost in my lifetime.

And for myself in this lifetime.

The costs no longer seemed so great.

Unique Arcana?

Wang Wen smiled slightly and looked at He Jiong and the others.

At worst, we can spend more time taking people up to the 700th floor for a "buffet."

I believe they would absolutely hand over the treasure "voluntarily".

If all else fails, give them some money as compensation.

After all, without someone leading the tower, those people might never reach the 700th floor in their entire lives, wasting the rewards.

These days, human life is worthless; what's valuable is the seemingly "fair" right to receive awards and permits that exists behind those lives.

If it weren't for the fact that you don't have the qualification to choose your own treasure before the 700th floor...

It's likely that conglomerates have already been paying for lives, or even trading lives for items for free.

Wang Wen took out the [Oath Scepter (High-Rank (High-Rank (High-Rank))].

This seven-hundred-story item is the only supreme treasure in his possession, representing the highest level of the tower.

It is also the most suitable piece for fusing with a weapon spirit.

If it fails.

Let He Jiong and the others go up to seven hundred to "retrieve" it back for him.

The situation has changed.

The cost of the props wasn't too high.

On the contrary, it was the cost to life forms that could have been ignored...

Wang Wen looked at the little Fox and hesitated slightly before saying, "One last question: why do you insist on leaving here to come with me? In my opinion, you're living very well here, and becoming an immortal is probably just a matter of time. To be honest, I'm not some kind of immortal; I'm just an ordinary person. My world isn't as wonderful as you imagine. You really don't need to take this risk."

The little Fox tilted its head and pricked up its ears, saying, "This little fox has never seen such an unfathomable 'ordinary person' as you. Immortal, there's no need to test us further. We demons are most adept at grasping the secrets of heaven; otherwise, it's impossible to cultivate into human form. This little fox's mind is made up; I will bear all the consequences myself and will not blame others. Please, Immortal, cast your spell in peace."

Her voice was soft, but her tone was very firm.

Even the adventurers aren't worried, so why should I hesitate?

Wang Wen made up her mind.

Just as he was about to use his skill.

The skinny little boy next to them comforted them, saying, "Don't worry, neither of you looks unlucky. The fusion will definitely succeed!"

Wang Wen asked him in surprise, "I've known you for so long and I never knew you could read faces?"

The skinny little boy was slightly taken aback.

Then, somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Isn't that what people always say about encouragement? Or should I say palmistry?"

Wang Wen: "..."

Fox:"..."

He Jiong and the other two. "..."

Wang Wen, who wasn't too worried at first, was terrified by a few words from the skinny boy.

He picked up the [Oath Scepter] and used the energy within him to make an oath that would ensure the Fox's survival.

The energy remains still.

He thought for a moment, then changed his approach to ensure the Fox wouldn't die after the fusion failed.

The energy remained stagnant.