Chapter 739: Choose Equipment! SSS-Rank Black Soul Battle Suit!

"Smartbrain, how many energy modules are in the warehouse?"

In the treasure vault, Ling Shuang's crimson lips moved slightly, her clear, melodious voice echoing.

A pale blue virtual light projected from the ceiling, forming a spherical holographic projection resembling a slime, which replied:

"Zero intact energy modules, eleven damaged energy modules."

"Eleven? Just one more than required to open the Sakura Nation civilization ruin."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly and said directly: "Bring out all the damaged energy modules."

"Understood."

As the words ended, a small drone flew out from deep within the vault.

On its gripping arms hung a silver-white password box.

Relative to the drone's size, the password box was much larger.

Yet it could still be lifted by the drone—that was the core technology of the ancient civilization.

"Eva, count these energy modules."

Xu Jingming opened the password box and called softly; Eva's holographic projection emerged from his smart bracer.

"You promised I could rest once we returned to Dayangzhou, yet here I am still working."

The green-haired, twin-tailed little girl Eva muttered discontentedly, yet carefully examined the energy modules.

After roughly ten seconds, she replied crisply:

"Eleven energy modules: one is severely damaged and irreparable."

"The remaining ten can all be repaired; combined with the energy modules you already hold at S-rank, it's exactly enough to meet the ruin's activation requirement."

"Good. You'll have to work hard for a while longer."

Nodding, Xu Jingming stored all the energy modules in his space ring, then turned to Ling Shuang and said:

"Shuang-jie, we need to set up a lab in the villa at Donghu Community for Eva."

Eva couldn't repair energy modules out of thin air—she'd need numerous large electronic instruments.

In Modu, it took half a day just to set up the lab in Jiang Chuxuan's remote villa.

"No need."

Ling Shuang shook her head. "Several villas in the martial arts academy's villa zone already come with labs—just pick any one."

"Good."

Xu Jingming grinned, sounding eager: "So, Teacher Ling, we'll all be living together from now on?"

"Since everyone who needs to know already knows, living together doesn't matter." Ling Shuang's expression was calm.

Xu Jingming's elders and the other two women had accepted her existence—why shouldn't she live openly with him?

The only thing troubling her was her student, Xia Lan.

How should she address Xu Jingming from now on...?

"True."

Xu Jingming nodded, paused thoughtfully, then continued:

"Shuang-jie, do you know anything about Lü Zheng and Han Li?"

"I only know they've been suppressed by Liu Shan and never promoted within the academy."

"Why are you asking about them?" Ling Shuang asked, puzzled.

"I want to appoint one of them as vice-director to help manage the academy's daily affairs," Xu Jingming explained.

Though merely a branch, Mo Ben Lei Ting Martial Arts Academy had over a million members.

The branch director and vice-director handled countless tasks daily.

He needed to hunt beasts in the wilderness, harvest ability points—couldn't stay at the academy for long.

If all tasks fell solely on Ling Shuang, she'd have no time for cultivation.

"Don't worry. Su Qingli has already planned ahead for us."

Ling Shuang smiled. "In ten days, an eighth-rank Zhongweida Master will arrive to serve as vice-director."

"This vice-director excels at administrative duties—you can focus on cultivation and trials."

Xu Jingming had broken through to seventh-rank Zongshi at age twenty; Su Qingli would delay anyone before delaying Xu Jingming.

"Good. But I suggest promoting one of these two."

"They've been here for years—they know far more than we do."

Xu Jingming proposed.

"I've had the same thought."

Ling Shuang nodded slightly. "I'll observe for a month. After that, promote one to head supervisor."

"As long as you have a plan, Teacher Ling."

Xu Jingming exhaled in relief, then addressed the hovering Smartbrain:

"Smartbrain, I need to view the SSS-grade battle suits and SSS-grade weapons list."

"Understood."

Hum—

With a soft hum, a holographic list appeared before them.

"Swift Suit (SSS-grade): 6.43 million points"

"Steadfast Suit (SSS-grade): 6.86 million points"

"Black Soul Suit (SSS-grade): 6.57 million points"

"Solar Blade (SSS-grade): 5.30 million points"

Black Stone Spear (SSS-grade): 5.12 million points

Autumn Water Sword (SSS-grade): 5.5 million points

......】

The number of equipment on the list wasn't large.

There were only 5 sets of SSS-grade battle suits, priced around 6.5 million points, which was 13 billion Blue Star coins.

There were also only 6 SSS-grade weapons, priced around 5 million points, 10 billion Blue Star coins.

Ability users who could afford SSS-grade equipment all started at the peak of Seventh Order or above.

And across the entire Moben branch, fewer than 10 ability users met this condition, so it was only natural that the equipment was scarce.

"Jingming, are you planning to swap out your equipment?" Hearing Ling Shuang couldn't help but ask at the sight.

"Made a bit of money recently, perfect timing for an upgrade." Xu Jingming grinned.

When collecting divine blood in the wilderness zone, he had killed quite a few Seventh Order Master-grade ability users over time.

After running into Ling Shuang, he had also killed two Eighth Order Grand Masters and two peak Seventh Order Masters.

All the loot combined had added up to a full 21.5 billion Blue Star coins.

"These are all standard-issue battle suits; compared to custom-made ones, their defense is slightly weaker.

But for you right now, they're more than enough."

Ling Shuang thought for a moment, then said, "As for the most critical piece — the weapon — it's still better to have it custom-made by a weapon grandmaster."

"That's exactly what I was thinking too."

Xu Jingming nodded, then carefully compared the parameters of different types of battle suits, and ultimately chose the SSS-grade Black Soul battle suit.

This battle suit could reduce damage from attacks by ability users below Eighth Order by around 70%, and could also reduce attacks from Eighth Order ability users by 50%.

Only against attacks from Ninth Order ability users was the reduction negligible — less than around 10%.

As for whether activating Lightning Extreme Form would simply tear the battle suit apart, there was no need to even consider that.

Battle suits of SS-grade and above all possessed extremely strong extensibility.

"Combined with the plant armor layered on by the Thorn Sword Grass, my defense will be raised to a terrifying level.

Ordinary Eighth Order Grand Masters probably wouldn't even be able to break through it."

Xu Jingming felt a secret thrill of satisfaction.

He planned to enter the virtual world arena shortly, set the corresponding battle suit parameters, and test out the defense.