Jiang Bai opened the Heart of Genesis upgrade interface; the 100 Reputation was exactly enough.

“This thing is the main event!”

As Jiang Bai selected upgrade, a blinding golden light suddenly erupted. Following this, the black gemstone underwent a subtle transformation, seeming to become more crystal clear, even gaining a faint luster around it.

[Heart of Genesis] (Rank D, Upgradeable) Effect 1: Infinite Inventory Space Effect 2: Wielder gains the [Fusion] skill. Allows merging two pieces of equipment of the same slot, same quality, and same level into one piece of higher quality. The fused equipment becomes bound and cannot be sold or traded. (Currently, can fuse up to Ancient quality. Fusion for Ancient and higher quality requires three items instead of two.) Effect 3: Player gains the [Plunder] ability. When killing a target whose level is not lower than the player's, there is an extremely low chance to gain 1 random attribute point. Killing a Lord-level or higher Boss guarantees gaining 1-3 random attribute points. (Plunder has a usage limit; increasing the Heart of Genesis rank can raise this limit). Upgrade Requirement: 1000 Reputation Note: System Unique Item. Indestructible, Undroppable, Not lost upon death.

“Awesome!!!”

Jiang Bai's voice cracked, his face flushed red with excitement. The power of this third effect completely exceeded his expectations.

“Theoretically, as long as I keep grinding monsters, even without leveling up, I can grow infinitely!”

“Isn't that incredible?”

“I just don't know how low this 'extremely low chance' actually is.”

“Regardless, it can't possibly be 0%!”

Effect 3 injected Jiang Bai with a huge confidence boost. Another point that caught his attention was that he could now fuse Ancient-quality equipment!

Although it changed from two-in-one to three-in-one, significantly increasing the cost, for Jiang Bai who used novice weapons and armor as raw materials, this cost was less than a drop in the ocean.

This highlighted Jiang Bai's shrewdness. Only novice gear was practically worthless. If he were using ordinary white items from the market, fusing up to Ancient quality would cost at least 5 Gold Coins or more, even for Level 1 gear.

“Better enjoy the benefits of the novice phase while I still can. Once levels get higher, buying gear won't be this cheap anymore.”

Thinking this, Jiang Bai set up a stall right on the spot and started hawking again at 10 copper coins per piece.

Buying novice gear at this price wasn't difficult. In less than half an hour, Jiang Bai's inventory had gathered the necessary 32 novice weapons and 32 pieces of cloth armor [needed for fusing 2 Ancient items].

About three minutes later [after fusing the required Epic items], as Jiang Bai placed his purple longbow into the Fusion interface, the previous two-slot interface changed into three slots.

Following that, Jiang Bai placed the other two purple weapons he had fused into the remaining slots.

No one knew what stats Ancient equipment had. But as a pink light flashed past, Jiang Bai stared at the longbow's attributes, completely stunned.

[Frost Abyssal Longbow] (Ancient) Physical Attack: +18 Agility: +5 Strength: +5 Critical Hit Chance: +2% [Cutting]: Attacks inflict an additional 40 points of True Damage. [Frost]: Attacks gain Ice attribute, slowing the target by 20%, with a 1% chance to freeze the target for 3s. Required Level: 1

"Hiss..."

Staring at the heaven-defying stats, Jiang Bai couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. "This is too damn powerful!"

“The attack stats nearly doubled, the [Cutting] skill's damage doubled, not to mention the added 2% Crit Chance... this Ice attribute attack is simply game-breaking!”

Moreover, this probably wasn't the end.

After equipping the item, sure enough, the system's beautiful voice sounded again.

[Player 'Old Dream of Empty City' is the first player on the server to equip an Ancient-quality item, achieving the server-unique achievement "Ancient Will".]

[Ancient Will] (Ancient) Requirement: Be the first player on the server to possess an Ancient-quality item. (Achieved) Strength: +3 Agility: +3 Intelligence: +3 Spirit: +3 Constitution: +3 [Lifesteal]: When attacking, absorb 5% of damage dealt and convert it into own HP. [Rebirth]: Upon death, the player can revive on the spot with 80% HP. Cooldown: 24 hours.

!!!"

Jiang Bai was too shocked to speak.

“A server-unique title! This is a server-unique title!”

While Jiang Bai was excited, the entire server completely boiled over.

[NeverWipesAssAfterShit]: "Oh my god! Ancient gear! That's Ancient gear!" [OnlyWantsToKiss]: "Who the hell is this Old Dream of Empty City? Which expert player?" [GMsAsshole]: "Are we playing the same game? ARE WE PLAYING THE SAME GAME? I'm starting to doubt reality..." [DeepBlueLeftHand]: Server-wide bounty for info on Old Dream of Empty City! 10 Gold reward for any solid leads! [ObedientLittleBunny]: "Server-wide call again for 'Old Dream of Empty City' big bro! 173cm, dance major, youthful beauty seeking carry, seeking support~ I can really satisfy any of brother's requests... 😉" [OnlyLovesWhiteSilk]: "@Above, I really want..." ...

This commotion wasn't just limited to the server's public chat; a larger uproar was brewing in deeper channels.

One of Huaxia's four major guilds, "Paradise". Paradise Xiao Jie: "Which guild is this Old Dream of Empty City from? How come we've never heard of him before?" Eye of Paradise: "No idea. Keep an eye out, see who this character is. That Ancient gear is way too powerful..."

Huaxia Official Department [Guild?] "Dragonflame". Dragonflame 001: "Find information on this Old Dream of Empty City immediately." Dragonflame 009: "Roger."

Yuncheng Under Heaven Guild. Yuncheng GuTianle: "Damn, Boss! That bastard got Ancient gear now!" Yuncheng WuYanzu: "We need to act fast, Boss! It'll be bad if someone else beats us to it." Yuncheng Emperor: "Almost Level 5. Wait until I hit 5, then I'll head over. You guys keep tabs on him first. No rush. No one can snatch away something I've set my eyes on." ...

Of course, Jiang Bai didn't know he had caused such a huge disturbance. Although the system announcement revealed his name, Jiang Bai had kept his own ID hidden. So, even though everyone knew of 'Old Dream of Empty City', almost no one knew he was that person.

Da Tang Wu Zui: "Congratulations, brother." Da Tang Wu Zui: "Considering selling the Purple gear you replaced?"

“Sorry, not selling for now.” Jiang Bai replied.

Da Tang Wu Zui: "Alright, same offer stands, brother. Message me anytime if you have gear." “Okay.”

After closing the chat, Jiang Bai began fusing the cloth armor.

[Evasion Abyssal Cloth Armor] (Ancient) Defense: +16 Constitution: +5 Agility: +5 Max HP +200 [Damage Reduction]: When attacked, nullify 20 points of final damage. [Evasion]: When attacked, there is a 3% chance to dodge the attack. Required Level: 1

“This is really Level 1 Ancient gear...” Jiang Bai stared at the two newly fused items and sighed. "If this were a Level 3 or Level 5 Ancient item, the bonus stats would be at least in the double digits!"

Equipping the armor and adding the newly acquired [Ancient Will] title, Jiang Bai's stats soared once again.

[Old Dream of Empty City] Level: 3 Class: Archer Race: Human HP: 780 MP: 140 P.ATK: 175 M.ATK: 7 Attack Power: 28 Defense: 66 Attributes: Constitution: 16 Spirit: 7 Strength: 14 Intelligence: 7 Agility: 30 Skills: [Concussive Shot], [Aimed Shot] Titles: [I Am Strong], [Ancient Will]