Ashen God

So, regarding the small goal of multiplying the Shield Value Limit by forty times, Zhang Yanhang still maintains the same attitude as before, thinking it might only be possible upon reaching the Fifth Tier.

After tallying the benefits of the Life Ring, Zhang Yanhang immediately began tallying the benefits of the next equipment.

Next is the light golden quality Neck Potential Activation Device obtained from the golden quality drop treasure box of the T-0400TP type Death God Tyrant. This time, Zhang Yanhang obtained a total of 185 Neck Potential Activation Devices.

Previously, Zhang Yanhang had a total of three limit-breaking orange quality Neck Potential Activation Device +5, and three Neck Potential Activation Devices +4, one Neck Potential Activation Device +3, one Neck Potential Activation Device +2, one Neck Potential Activation Device +1, and one ordinary Neck Potential Activation Device.

This part of the potential activation devices, excluding the Neck Potential Activation Devices +5 that don't need to be included in the statistics, is equivalent to 63 ordinary Neck Potential Activation Devices. Adding the 185 Neck Potential Activation Devices obtained this time, it amounts to a total of 248 Neck Potential Activation Devices.

Currently, Zhang Yanhang only has four necks, so there's only one neck vacant. Given the current number of Neck Potential Activation Devices, it's certainly easy to fuse the fourth Neck Potential Activation Device +5 to fill this last vacancy.

Therefore, Zhang Yanhang quickly took out the Neck Potential Activation Devices stored in the waist bag and placed them together with the Neck Potential Activation Devices obtained just now in the Alchemy Array and immediately started the fusion process.

In the first round of fusion, due to the large quantity, Zhang Yanhang completed the fusion in five batches, ultimately fusing a total of 93 Neck Potential Activation Devices +1.

Although it's an odd number, fortunately, he still had one Neck Potential Activation Device +1 left, which, when added together, makes a total of ninety-four Neck Potential Activation Devices +1. In the second round of fusion, Zhang Yanhang used three batches to fuse them into 47 Neck Potential Activation Devices +2.

Though it's an odd number again, he similarly had one Neck Potential Activation Device +2 left before, so after including it in the fusion, in the third round, Zhang Yanhang used two batches to fuse twenty-four Neck Potential Activation Devices +3.

But during the fourth round of fusion, the previously remaining one Neck Potential Activation Device +3 couldn't be used and had to be set aside. Due to the smaller quantity, Zhang Yanhang completed the fusion in just one batch, fusing a total of twelve Neck Potential Activation Devices +4.

Although Zhang Yanhang previously had three Neck Potential Activation Devices +4 left, even adding them up would only make fifteen Neck Potential Activation Devices +4, while fusing two Neck Potential Activation Devices +5 requires sixteen; he was still one short.

Fortunately, it's not a big deal, since he originally only had one neck vacant anyway. Therefore, he quickly selected eight Neck Potential Activation Devices +4 to fuse into one orange quality Neck Potential Activation Device +5.

Ultimately, after the fusion process, Zhang Yanhang now had four Neck Potential Activation Devices +5, seven Neck Potential Activation Devices +4, and one Neck Potential Activation Device +3. As long as he could obtain eight more Neck Potential Activation Devices, he could immediately fuse another Neck Potential Activation Device +5.

"Although I was busy for quite a while, the overall strength effect bonus hasn't increased much, or you could say it's actually a bit low.

After all, one Dark Gold quality Neck Potential Activation Device +4 provides a 44% strength effect bonus, while an orange quality Neck Potential Activation Device +5 only offers 9% more than the Neck Potential Activation Device +4, which means it can only provide a 53% strength effect bonus."

So, even though Zhang Yanhang fused so much equipment, he could only obtain a 9% strength effect bonus.

Although it's a little, it can't be dismissed completely, so Zhang Yanhang quickly used this Neck Potential Activation Device +5 to replace the previously original Neck Potential Activation Device +4 on his neck.

After successfully replacing all four necks with orange quality Neck Potential Activation Devices +5, Zhang Yanhang immediately vomited out a large pile of steel cubes from the stomach space and began skillfully testing his strength.

Knowing that the strength effect bonus from this enhancement was small, Zhang Yanhang didn't dare to add too much; initially, he only added a hundred tons more than last time. As expected, he immediately felt his margin greatly reduced. After gradually adding another thirteen tons, Zhang Yanhang instantly felt the remaining margin completely disappeared.

"Previously, my single-arm strength was a total of 14,877 tons, and now it increased by 113 tons, bringing my single-arm strength to 14,990 tons. Alas, why couldn't it increase by ten more tons? Fifteen thousand tons sounds so much better.

But rounding up, I can still say fifteen thousand tons directly, as it's only ten tons less."

Zhang Yanhang thought under these circumstances, some leniency could be allowed.

"Although a hundred tons more strength is not much to me, for a normal Fourth Tier awakener whose maximum strength is perhaps just around a thousand tons, it would actually be quite a significant growth."

Zhang Yanhang's current primary stance was that his strength effect bonus was quite excessive, which made this hundred-plus tons of strength increase seem small. But in truth, it's really not that little.

After conducting a simple strength test, Zhang Yanhang quickly proceeded to tally the benefits of the third item of equipment, which was the golden quality Electromagnetic Energy Pump obtained from the light golden quality drop treasure box of the T-011 type Talos Tyrant. This time, Zhang Yanhang acquired a total of 93 Electromagnetic Energy Pumps.

Prior to this, he had a total of seven Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +4, one Electromagnetic Energy Pump +3, and one Electromagnetic Energy Pump +2, which all together equated to a hundred twenty-four ordinary Electromagnetic Energy Pumps. Adding the ninety-three Electromagnetic Energy Pumps obtained this time, it totals 217 Electromagnetic Energy Pumps.

In terms of quantity, although Zhang Yanhang was certain he couldn't fuse two orange quality Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +5, it should be no problem at all to at least fuse one Electromagnetic Energy Pump +5.

So, Zhang Yanhang took out the remaining Electromagnetic Energy Pumps from the waist bag and placed them together with the Electromagnetic Energy Pumps obtained just now into the Alchemy Array. However, he didn't take out the ones on his arm for the time being, as he knew they probably wouldn't be needed this time, so better not to waste the effort.

After activating the Alchemy, in the first round, Zhang Yanhang used three batches to fuse 46 Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +1, with one ordinary Electromagnetic Energy Pump remaining on its own. Then, in the second round, he used two batches to fuse twenty-three Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +2.

Although it's an odd number, luckily, Zhang Yanhang still had one Electromagnetic Energy Pump +2 left, so after the third round of fusion, Zhang Yanhang fused a total of twelve Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +3, and finally in the fourth round, Zhang Yanhang fused a total of six Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +4.

Thus, after the fusion process, Zhang Yanhang now had a total of thirteen Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +4, one Electromagnetic Energy Pump +3, and one ordinary Electromagnetic Energy Pump in hand.

"Sigh, it turns out that I didn't need the Electromagnetic Energy Pump in my arm at all. Currently, I'm still three Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +4 short of fusing two orange quality Electromagnetic Energy Pumps +5."

After performing a simple calculation, Zhang Yanhang immediately continued fusing the Electromagnetic Energy Pump +5, even though it was his first time breaking the limit of the Electromagnetic Energy Pump +4. But fortunately, it wasn't a big problem. For the well-experienced and seasoned Zhang Yanhang, familiarity didn't really matter much.

Therefore, Zhang Yanhang still completed this fusion quickly and efficiently in just fifteen minutes.

Looking at the electromagnetic energy pump +5 shining with orange light in front of him, Zhang Yanhang immediately began to check its attribute list.

[Electromagnetic Energy Pump (Magnetic Energy Embedding) +5]

[Quality: Orange]

[Type: Equipment]

[Origin: Ashen World, Umbrella Biochemical Test Field, Stokes Town, Zhang Yanhang.]

[Durability: 78/78]

[Defensive power: 62]

[Additional Attributes: Physical Recovery Speed +110% (+20%).]

[Usage requirements: Constitution 115 points.]

[Score: 590 (Orange item score ranges from 531 to 680.)]

[Description: After successfully manufacturing the T-0400TP type Death God Tyrant, maybe it's because the higher-ups appreciate my talent and the recent achievements I've made, I've been directly promoted to a second-level researcher, even though the second-level researcher doesn't have any additional privileges compared to a third-tier researcher...]

"So, does this little town have a name? It's actually called Stokes Town?"

Indeed, when Zhang Yanhang checked the attribute list, the first thing he paid attention to was the origin. He had always thought that this small town with an Evaluation Settlement Treasure Box was nameless, but it turned out to have a name, and a relatively common one at that.

In terms of meaning, Stokes is a name that cannot be translated meaningfully (has no meaning) and can only be transliterated. It's a word used mostly as a personal pronoun, like 'Stokes,' which could be considered as the third person singular of 'stoke' if one insists on a meaning.

As to why it's well-known, it's probably because of the necessity to learn the Stokes' Theorem in advanced mathematics, which turned 'Stokes' into a personal name that's ever-present and devoid of other meanings.

Specifically, it's akin to searching for the meaning of 'Einstein,' which will always lead to the name of Einstein, rendering the entire word meaningless and merely a personal reference.

"After the electromagnetic energy pump breaks through the limit and fuses to +5, indeed it successfully advances to orange quality, with the equipment score increasing from a previous full score of five hundred thirty points in dark gold quality to a medium score of five hundred ninety points in orange quality, an overall increment of sixty points."

Zhang Yanhang remembered that the Neck Potential Activation Device also increased by sixty points after breaking through the limit and fusing to +5 in orange quality previously.

However, unlike it, the electromagnetic energy pump +4, due to having a full score of five hundred thirty points in dark gold quality before the breakthrough, ultimately had a ten-point higher total score than the Neck Potential Activation Device +5, which only scored five hundred eighty points.

Although the difference doesn't seem much, the ten-point difference made the electromagnetic energy pump +5 a medium score equipment in orange quality, while the Neck Potential Activation Device +5 remained at a low score in orange quality.

This, perhaps, is also the reason why the additional attribute enhancement of the electromagnetic energy pump +5 is higher than that of the Neck Potential Activation Device +5.

"I have to say, the additional attributes obtained after the electromagnetic energy pump fused to +5 are inexplicably high. I remember the initial state of the electromagnetic energy pump only provided a 70% physical recovery speed bonus in total.

In the subsequent four fusions, it only increased the physical recovery speed bonus by 20%, bringing the total bonus to 90%.

But this time, with just one limit break, it immediately added another 20% physical recovery speed bonus, bringing the total bonus from the original 90% to 110%, comparable to four normal fusions. What's the deal with this? One section is stronger than four sections?"

However, fortunately, Zhang Yanhang had encountered several similar situations before, so he wasn't surprised. Or one could say that such situations are quite normal to some extent. It's just a pity that it only appears on a single piece of equipment. If it could be generalized to all equipment, he would undoubtedly be even happier.

"Besides the additional attributes, after the electromagnetic energy pump +5 was upgraded to orange quality, the usage requirements also unexpectedly increased by fifteen points, from the original one hundred points to one hundred fifteen points, a normal attribute value range for orange quality (fifth tier)."

Every time this happens, Zhang Yanhang would feel grateful that his fourth-tier professional skill is 'Hundred Taboos,' otherwise, these pieces of equipment would become unusable after fusion success, and he would have to wait until the fifth tier to meet the relevant usage requirements and use them normally.

After checking the attribute list of the orange quality electromagnetic energy pump +5, Zhang Yanhang immediately used the Transformation Technique to open up the flesh of his arm.

After taking out the electromagnetic energy pump +4, which was firmly lodged between the ulna and radius, he stuffed the newly fused electromagnetic energy pump +5 in, switched it to a hidden state again, and then used the Transformation Technique to gather the muscle tissue and skin.

Although not switching to a hidden state wouldn't hurt, it does feel a bit awkward and affects the structure of exertion when moving the arm, so Zhang Yanhang still prefers to switch all these internal equipment to a hidden state since the status doesn't affect the bonus effect anyway.

After the additional 20% physical recovery speed bonus, the time it takes for Zhang Yanhang to fully restore all his physical strength finally reduced from the original ten and a half hours to just ten hours.

Although it was only a decrease of half an hour in recovery time, it finally allowed Zhang Yanhang to accomplish his small goal of reducing his physical recovery speed to under ten hours.