Chapter 129: Su Xue

Tower of Heaven.

Built on the surface, towering to meet the stellar ring.

On the surface, seventy prefectures share seven Towers of Heaven.

One Tower of Heaven stands every ten prefectures.

Shared jointly by ten prefectures.

Its peak soars into the clouds, piercing the heavens.

Supported by the most advanced divine technology arrays.

At the tower's summit, complex mechanisms directly connect to Earth's stellar ring.

Its energy is endless.

However.

Each activation of the Tower of Heaven consumes immense resources.

Therefore.

Only the peerless prodigies of each prefecture are granted access to the Tower of Heaven.

"The Tower of Heaven can be accessed at any time."

"But right now, the most urgent thing is to obtain a Level 4 Talent Orb."

Jiang Jian deleted the message and found Gu Qi's communication.

He paused to think.

Then dialed directly.

A few seconds later, the call connected.

"Congratulations, junior, on earning the title of Twin Prefecture Champion!"

Gu Qi's voice came through, "Junior, what do you need?"

Jiang Jian asked, "Senior, has the squad combat competition started?"

Gu Qi replied, "In half an hour. Why?"

"I'd like to ask about Level 4 Talent Orbs."

Jiang Jian said, "Are Level 4 Talent Orbs only available at auctions?"

Gu Qi thought for a moment, then said, "Auctions rarely have them—it's pure luck."

"Moreover, participation in Level 4 Talent Orb auctions isn't open to everyone."

"A Level 5 Resource Pack does contain one."

"You're a Level 5 Talent."

"Once you get the Resource Pack, you're guaranteed a Level 4 Talent Orb."

Gu Qi said, "If you still have other ideas, I can ask Senior Zhang Yan for you."

Zhang Yan is the young master of Jiangcheng Auction House.

"Thank you."

Jiang Jian replied.

The call ended.

He knew well.

Jiangcheng Auction House might not work.

After all, Level 4 Talent Orbs don't appear often.

Every time one appears, it sparks fierce competition!

Once listed at auction.

A Level 4 Talent Orb will fetch a sky-high price!

My credits may not be enough.

"First, replace the tech gear."

Jiang Jian made up his mind and opened the academy platform.

This time,

Jiang Jian lightly swiped, selected the tech gear section, and viewed the expensive items list.

Flowing Jade was very useful.

But it only worked during daytime and regular cultivation.

"Star Armor, cutting-edge tech armor, protects the soul, 60,000 credits."

"Heartguard Underarmor, cutting-edge tech armor, extremely strong defense, 48,000 credits."

"Soul-Cleaving Blade, cutting-edge tech weapon, 48,000 credits."

……

Jiang Jian's gaze settled on "Star Armor."

He tapped it and purchased immediately!

"The item you are about to purchase, Star Armor, is extremely rare!"

"Please confirm again!"

A prompt sounded.

Jiang Jian confirmed.

"Purchase successful!"

"You spent: 60,000 credits."

"Your remaining credits: 53,350."

"Due to the item's rarity, it will be delivered by a dedicated courier within one hour."

Jiang Jian swiped away the screen and continued browsing.

Star Armor cost a massive amount of credits.

But its soul-protection effect was extremely strong!

The arrays engraved on it were dense, numbering in the thousands!

"This Star Armor will last you all the way to the Surge Spring Realm."

Jiang Jian opened the auxiliary cultivation section.

"KH New Wristwatch, built-in small Qi source, consumable, 22,000 credits."

"Qi-Attracting Brooch, greatly accelerates cultivation, 25,000 credits."

"Su Xue Robe, greatly accelerates cultivation, extremely strong defense, 38,000 credits."

……

These items were all cutting-edge technological creations.

Flowing Jade was highly useful, but its drawback was obvious—it only worked during daytime.

Flying Frost Bracelets were effective.

But compared to these expensive creations, they were far inferior.

Jiang Jian looked at the Su Xue Robe and tapped to purchase.

"The item you are about to purchase, Su Xue Robe, is extremely rare!"

"Please confirm again!"

Jiang Jian confirmed.

"Purchase successful!"

"You spent: 38,000 credits."

"Your remaining credits: 15,350."

Swiped away the screen.

Jiang Jian removed the Flowing Jade and took off the Flying Frost Bracelets.

The Su Xue Robe bore countless engraved arrays.

Worn on the body, it formed a self-sustaining cycle.

It was a rare exclusive tech item.

If he wore the Flying Frost Bracelets or Flowing Jade alongside it,

the arrays would interfere and reduce the Su Xue Robe's effectiveness.

"Star Armor protects the soul."

"Su Xue Robe protects the body and enhances cultivation speed."

Jiang Jian sat on the sofa, satisfied.

These two tech items were among the most expensive technological creations.

The "Evil-Repelling Armor" worn by Shi Shi Xuan during the entrance exam couldn't even compare to the hem of the Su Xue Robe.

This was Jiang Jian's first time using cutting-edge tech gear.

110,000 credits were spent almost instantly.

But Jiang Jian didn't mind.

Credits were meant to be spent.

These two tech items would support him all the way to the Surge Spring Realm—with plenty to spare.

Most third-year students never accumulate enough credits to afford something so expensive.

Jiang Jian closed the academy platform.

He opened his identity device and checked his mail.

A flood of unread messages overwhelmed him.

Liu Liu Tiezhu: "Two-Faculty Academic Champion! So cool!"

"I placed a heavy bet on you and made over ten million Alliance Coins!"

"When you get back to the academy, I've got a gift for you!"

…

"Your sister is gorgeous—the school forum is going wild. Jiang Jian, bring her out for a meal. My treat."

The last message was sent just minutes ago.

Amid a sea of nonsense, Jiang Jian precisely caught the useful info and replied: "What gift are you giving me?"

A few seconds later.

Liu Liu Tiezhu initiated a real-time communication.

"Jiang Jian, where's your sister?"

He asked directly.

Jiang Jian was speechless. "I don't know. She probably went back to the dorm to rest."

Liu Liu Tiezhu said: "Shanye wants to meet her, and Yinyin does too."

"Maybe someday."

Jiang Jian said, "You and Shanye have both recouped your investment, right?"

Mentioning this.

Liu Liu Tiezhu couldn't stop laughing: "Thanks to you, we both made a fortune—I made more, she made less."

He suddenly remembered something. "By the way, I've got something for you."

A notification appeared on his identity device.

It was a document.

Jiang Jian opened the communication.

"Taiping Prefecture Market Entry Pass."

"With this pass, you may enter the Taiping Prefecture market for barter trade."

Jiang Jian asked: "What's this?"

Liu Liu Tiezhu said: "The underground market in Taiping Prefecture requires a personal referral to gain entry."

"I figured you've got the Two-Faculty Champion title and plenty of resources, but you probably can't use them all—and selling them won't fetch good prices."

"So I got you this."

"Just to thank you for helping me earn tens of millions of Alliance Coins."

He suddenly changed tone: "By the way, Jiang Jian, could you send me your sister's identity device info?"

"It's not for me."

"It's for Yinyin and Shanye."

Listening to him.

Jiang Jian was already scanning the market pass. "Next time we meet, I'll bring my sister to eat with you."

The call ended.

"Tongtian Tower stands right in the center of Taiping Prefecture."

Jiang Jian stored the market pass in his card case.

He began reviewing Taiping Prefecture's data.

Taiping Prefecture lies west of Linjiang Prefecture.

It has no waterways, no mountains.

It is entirely a boundless plain.

The Shenzhao Zone stretches across the clouds, endless and vast.

It could be called a magnificent sky-city.

Beneath the Shenzhao Zone lies the suffocating despair of the Shadow Zone.

In Guangling City's Shadow Zone, sunlight still reaches the county's edge.

But Taiping Prefecture is different.

Across the entire prefecture, every city hangs suspended in midair!

The city rings spread out, casting massive shadows, one after another.

One could even say.

Taiping Prefecture contains two extreme worlds.

Majestic sky-cities, one after another, float in the clouds.

And below them.

The surface Shadow Zone, untouched by sunlight for hundreds of years.

Yet correspondingly.

Taiping Prefecture thrives in cultivation.

Far more prosperous than Linjiang Prefecture or Hanjiang Prefecture!

From all directions, ten prefectures subtly revolve around Taiping Prefecture as their core.

Because among the seventy surface prefectures, seven Tongtian Towers exist.

One of them rises in the Shenzhao Zone of Taiping Prefecture!

"The Level 5 Resource Pack will still take some time."

Jiang Jian stared at the pile of resources before him, frowning. "I urgently need storage technology."

This time, he would go to Taiping Prefecture to train in the Tongtian Tower.

He hoped to break through to the Surge Spring Realm.

But these bulky packages—common resources, rare resources—

Were inconvenient to carry.

Yet.

Storage technology is the pinnacle of divine tech.

Its price is unimaginable.

Even Linjiang Prefecture and Hanjiang Prefecture

Have no such tech equipment.

"The Cross-Border Flyer would stand out here."

"But in Taiping Prefecture—"

"It would seem ordinary, nothing special."

Jiang Jian reviewed the data and made his decision.

He would use the Cross-Border Flyer to travel to Taiping Prefecture.

He needed a place to store the spiritual resources required.

And a place to rest himself.

Suddenly.

Ji Xue turned toward the door: "Someone's here."

The next second, a knock came.

"Academy delivery."

The voice came through the surveillance system into the room.

After checking carefully, Ji Xue walked to the door and pressed the button: "Place the items in the cargo transport pod by the door."

"No," the voice outside refused. "These two items are extremely valuable."

"They're special shipments from the Academy Resource Department."

"Must be delivered personally to the recipient."

"Not even pets allowed."

Hearing this.

Ji Xue turned to look at Jiang Jian.

"Open the door for him."

Jiang Jian said softly.

A few seconds later.

The door opened.

The staff stood at the threshold: "Student Jiang Jian, please use your identity device to receive the items personally."

Jiang Jian stepped forward and retrieved his identity device.

A soft beep sounded.

After identity verification.

The staff member's tone softened considerably: "Jiang Jian, I apologize earlier. These two items are too precious—we must have you receive them personally. Please understand."

"It's fine."

Jiang Jian took the two crates and brought them inside.

The staff member studied Jiang Jian and said, "The two academies' top students truly live up to their reputation."

Bound by regulations, he could say no more.

After confirming receipt, he turned and left.

The door closed.

Jiang Jian moved the goods onto the table and opened the first crate.

On black silk velvet lay a semi-translucent moon-white star chain.

Its shape was peculiar.

Stars and moons of varying sizes were strung together with icy threads.

The entire chain was semi-translucent.

It felt cold to the touch, emitting a faint moon-white glow.

A technological device: Star Armor.

Jiang Jian had read its usage instructions.

He reached out, picked up the star chain, and pressed it against his neck.

Instantly,

A cool sensation seeped into his marrow, spreading through every limb and bone.

The next moment,

A voice only Jiang Jian could hear entered his ear.

"This item is a brand-new Star Armor, crafted from divine technology materials, capable of integrating with blood and bone, classified as a consumable with uniqueness."

"User detected. Bind?"

Jiang Jian did not confirm.

Instead, he activated his Karmic Fire, letting it flood his pupils as he examined the star chain closely.

This was one of the traits of the "Karmic Fire."

Within its range, it could pierce illusions and reveal the essence.

At this moment,

In Jiang Jian's eyes,

The translucent star chain became a convergence of countless tiny arrays!

If magnified,

Thousands of arrays could be seen, constantly spinning furiously.

The materials composing these arrays shifted between real and illusory, emitting faint glimmers.

They were extremely precious divine technology materials.

Even after integration with blood and bone, they retained their integrity and continued functioning.

The Star Armor could not be recharged.

It was a single-use consumable.

Once all the tiny arrays within were destroyed,

Or if the initial energy source was fully depleted,

The Star Armor would dissolve on its own and vanish.

After confirming no hidden mechanisms existed within the Star Armor,

Jiang Jian whispered, "Confirm binding."

High-end technological devices all carried an initial binding system.

The Star Armor was one such device.

The moment the words were spoken,

The star chain grew even more transparent, flowing into Jiang Jian's skull, then vanishing completely.

Jiang Jian could clearly feel it:

A layer of transparent armor now covered the surface of his skull!

The Star Armor's function was singular.

It had one purpose and one alone.

To resist soul attacks!

Its defense against soul attacks was extremely powerful!

Its resistance to mind-control techniques was equally terrifying.

This Star Armor was worth 60,000 academic credits.

Even an ordinary Spring Surge cultivator using specialized soul-attacking methods would struggle to break its defense!

(End of Chapter)