The hourglass in front of Xia Zhi had beco more refined, ancient, and compact. He placed it into his inventory and checked its updated properties.
[Hourglass of Ti]
- Quality: Diamond
- Type: Special Equipnt
- Traits: Ti Stasis, Ti Rewind, Ti Flow
- Effects: Allows an area to enter a state of ti stasis or ti reversal; enables control over ti acceleration or deceleration within a designated area.
- Hidden Effects: Comprehend the rules of ti; immune to ti erosion.
Xia Zhi noticed that its type had changed.
Previously, the [Hourglass of Ti] was categorized as a rules-based tool, but now it had beco special equipnt.
Its traits now included a new ability, [Ti Flow], which allowed him to manipulate the acceleration or deceleration of ti at will.
As for the original [Ti Stasis] and [Ti Rewind], they were no longer limited by the need to invert the hourglass.
The most significant improvent lay in its hidden effects.
The previous "eternal youth" had been upgraded to "comprehend the rules of ti" and "immune to ti erosion."
After reviewing its updates, Xia Zhi equipped the hourglass in his character panel.
Just as when he ascended to godhood, his mind was automatically imprinted with a new rule sigil, granting him mastery over ti-based rules.
At the sa ti, the system's notification echoed in his mind.
- "Host has acquired the trait: Ti Rewind."
- "The cooldown limitation on [Shadow Hand]'s Skill Steal trait has been lifted. It can now be activated anyti."
This marked the second occurrence of traits combining synergistically.
The first instance involved [Space Rip] ( Void Break changed to Space Rip '-' ) and [Skill Steal], allowing the latter to be activated remotely.
Now, [Ti Rewind] and [Skill Steal] had combined, removing cooldown limitations altogether.
This ant Xia Zhi no longer had to worry about missing opportunities to copy abilities.
However, Xia Zhi pondered over sothing.
The [Ti Rewind] trait had already existed in the platinum-tier [Hourglass of Ti], so why hadn't this synergy occurred before?
He speculated:
- Could it be that a minimum "diamond quality" was required to trigger trait combinations?
- But then, the [Phantom Mirror], acquired from the diamond-tier treasure chest, hadn't triggered any combinations.
Was it a matter of trait compatibility? Or perhaps only special equipnt worn on the character panel could interact in this "set effect" manner?
Xia Zhi couldn't draw a definitive conclusion just yet. He realized this question might only be resolved as he acquired more diamond-tier and higher-grade items in the future.
---
To test the hourglass, Xia Zhi picked up a dried flower petal, a spice from Suru, and activated [Ti Rewind].
Ti began to flow backward at his fingertips.
The withered petal instantly beca fresh and vibrant, as if it had just blood.
Bringing it to his nose, he inhaled its fragrant scent.
Compared to the rules of light, the rules of ti were far more wondrous.
Placing the petal down, Xia Zhi traced a complex sigil in the air with his finger—a sigil representing the rules of ti.
Compared to the sigil of light, the ti sigil was even more intricate.
Next, he sketched a simpler symbol next to it—one representing the godly language of ti.
Careful observation revealed similarities between the ti rule sigil and the ti godly language symbol.
This confird his earlier theory: The godly language was derived from rule sigils.
"Who created the godly language, I wonder… Was it the gods who mastered different rules? Or was it one god who possessed mastery over all rules?"
Unconsciously, Xia Zhi thought of the supre deity in the void.
How many rules did that entity wield?
Or was there sothing even more fundantal beyond the rules?
---
Returning to his experintation, Xia Zhi took out the [Blazing Incense Burner], placed a prepared blend of spices into it, and aligned the patterns on its cover.
The incense burner began to operate, and under normal circumstances, the incense would take ten minutes to finish crafting.
Xia Zhi extended his hand, activating [Ti Acceleration] on the burner.
Within seconds, a familiar aroma wafted from the burner.
The incense was ready.
Opening the lid, Xia Zhi retrieved a perfectly crafted piece of incense.
Ti-accelerated creations were indistinguishable from those made under normal conditions.
To test further, Xia Zhi tossed the incense into the air and activated [Ti Deceleration].
The incense seed to lose its weight, floating down as lightly as a feather.
After watching for a while, he caught it in his hand.
[Ti Deceleration] would undoubtedly be most useful in combat.
Reflecting on his battle with Osial, Xia Zhi realized that if he had used [Ti Deceleration] to slow Osial, he could have easily pierced its eyes with his light spear.
---
After testing the hourglass's abilities, Xia Zhi noticed that his ntal and divine energy reserves were nearly depleted. He tried using [Ti Rewind] on himself to see if it would restore his energy.
It had no effect.
Perhaps his immunity to ti erosion, or the system's independence from the rules, prevented this.
Though a bit disappointed, Xia Zhi cleaned up his workspace and went to bed.
---
In the dream world, Xia Zhi t up with Shenhe. The two played gas together and went mushroom-picking.
---
The next afternoon, after closing the shop, Ningguang arrived with her secretary.
Xia Zhi gave her a massage.
Lying on the small bed, Ningguang looked visibly relaxed.
"As expected, Xia Zhi's skills are the best."
"You've been working hard lately, haven't you, Ningguang?"
"Indeed. There's a mountain of work left by the events at Guyun Stone Forest that we need to handle carefully."
"Thank you for your efforts."
"Thankfully, Shenhe was there. Otherwise, the Millelith's losses would have been unimaginable."
"Shenhe is that powerful?"
"Very. At the ti, she froze an entire tsunami. Otherwise…"
"She deserves proper gratitude."
"I've been thinking about how to thank her, but I'm at a loss. Do you know what she likes?"
"She… likes candy."
"Candy?"
"Yeah."
"I could prepare a collection of every type of candy in Liyue for her, but that alone doesn't seem enough."
"Shenhe doesn't care much about material things. It's the thought that counts."
"That may be true, but I still want to do sothing aningful. I'll think about it… Oh, by the way, I'll be hosting a banquet at the Jade Chamber next week. I hope you'll attend."
"Just ?"
"Of course not. Bring everyone."
"Alright."
----
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