Chapter 79: Test and Starlight Message (Request Follows, Request Monthly Votes)

On the light screen projected by Zeng Shuo’s Star-Picking Command, twenty-six star weapons appeared across five categories.

The most numerous were weapons, thirteen in total; Xu Jin merely glanced at them and passed over them immediately.

Only two items belonged to footwear: one named Pursuit Wind Boots, the other Three Mountains Heavy Boots.

The Pursuit Wind Boots enhance star power burst by twenty percent—meaning, with them on, Xu Jin’s Flying Star Step would gain at least a twenty percent boost in power, priced at five thousand taels, a very solid choice.

The Three Mountains Heavy Boots cost fifteen thousand taels; when star power is infused, they activate a star shield equivalent to a first-rank peak technique, a defensive item.

Merely by price, the cost-effectiveness is very high.

But they are clearly unsuitable for Xu Jin.

In a few more days, Xu Jin’s basic star technique, Star Shield, could be cast instantly even without star lantern stabilization.

There were five shield items: arm guards, leg guards, large shields, arm shields, and round shields, priced from three thousand to over ten thousand taels; Xu Jin glanced and passed over them too.

He already owned one arm shield, designed by the Blood God Cult’s demon for easy carrying—practical and effective, currently worn on his left arm.

There were four armors and two special items.

The two special star weapons were the Celestial Phase Pendant and the Wolf Star Ring.

The Celestial Phase Pendant was engraved and stabilized with the basic star technique Star Shield, capable of instant casting once using its built-in star power; once depleted, it recovers slowly on its own or can be recharged externally, priced at eighteen thousand taels.

The Wolf Star Ring was engraved and stabilized with the basic star technique Star Arrow, like the Celestial Phase Pendant, capable of self-recovering star power and one instant cast, priced at twenty-one thousand taels.

Such special star weapons, imbued with stellar energy and engraved with star techniques, are the most valuable category.

Instant-cast star techniques are lifesaving tools in critical moments.

They suit most people, but hold little meaning for Xu Jin.

In the end, Xu Jin’s gaze settled on the four armors.

The four armors included one full heavy armor, two full light armors, and one half-body inner armor.

The full heavy armor cost twenty-six thousand taels, weighed 160 jin, could easily withstand attacks from second-rank cultivators, and even partially resist those from third-rank Star Refining initiates—truly a lifesaving artifact.

But it was too heavy, too conspicuous.

Fine for battlefields, but impractical for daily wear, let alone carrying it around.

Bulky and heavy.

The light armor weighed 80 jin, capable of withstanding only one full-force strike from a second-rank Casting Star cultivator; repeated full-force attacks would damage it, priced at eighteen thousand taels.

The half-body inner armor weighed 26 jin, named Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor; when star power is infused, it defends against second-rank Casting Star attacks and weakens third-rank Star Refining attacks, priced at fifteen thousand taels.

In summary, among these five categories and twenty-six first-rank star weapons, only two caught Xu Jin’s eye: the Pursuit Wind Boots and the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor.

In pure value, the Pursuit Wind Boots cost only five thousand taels.

In the end, Xu Jin chose the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor for its better cost-effectiveness.

The Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor was very light, and crucially, convenient.

It could be worn daily beneath outer clothing, offering lifesaving efficacy in critical moments.

“Excellent taste, and great luck—Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor materials are rare; usually only one appears every four or five months. You happened to catch this one.”

As he spoke, Zeng Shuo fetched the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor for Xu Jin.

It felt cold to the touch, yet carried an odd sensation.

“By the way, Master Zeng, could I buy the Pursuit Wind Boots separately?” Xu Jin asked tentatively after receiving the armor.

The External Affairs Hall sold many items, but Xu Jin didn’t know if this one was sold directly.

The Pursuit Wind Boots were also extremely practical.

In martial arts, speed is invincible.

Increasing speed enhances both offensive power and survivability.

“We sell them, but by regulation, you must use your Star-Picking Command to purchase them from the main tower of the Great Chen State Dao Academy’s Star-Picking Tower.” Zeng Shuo paused slightly, then added, “But if you wish to buy, I can place the order for you and update the record.”

“After all, Pursuit Wind Boots are restocked only every two or three months.”

“Thank you, Master Zeng.”

Xu Jin understood: the External Affairs Hall’s chief had done him a favor, and he owed him this debt.

Otherwise, Xu Jin would have to wait until he reached the sixth level before purchasing.

If someone else bought them, he’d have to wait months.

With the Pursuit Wind Boots, his mountain foraging next month would become much easier.

A few minutes later, the Pursuit Wind Boots were in hand; the over ten thousand taels Xu Jin had just acquired vanished again, five thousand taels spent.

He felt the silver didn’t last long.

“By the way, I’d also like to buy nine Human-grade Star Jade Tablets—does the External Affairs Hall have any in stock?” Xu Jin thought, since he was here anyway, he might as well gather the nine Star Jade Tablets needed to upgrade his Third-Level Can-Dou Platform.

“Planning to practice engraving talismans?” Zeng Shuo chuckled. “Engraving talismans is easy to learn but hard to master; even a second-rank talismanist needs at least one hundred thousand taels to train properly.”

Xu Jin understood: this was Zeng Shuo’s well-intentioned warning.

“Just curious—I want to try with first-rank ones, to get a feel for it.”

“Hmm, perfectly natural.”

After obtaining the nine Star Jade Tablets, Xu Jin paid, thanked again, and left.

After all this spending, Xu Jin’s initial 12,880 taels now stood at 6,980 taels.

Adding the silver from his earlier defeat of the Blood God Cult demon and his remaining funds, he still had just over eight thousand taels.

Xu Jin planned to use this silver for cultivation and to settle his family’s needs; as for the debt to his teacher Ning Yuchan, he’d repay it next month.

After all, long-term debt isn’t good.

Outside the External Affairs Hall, Qian Xiaohu, Song Ye, Lu Xianbing, and Qiao Ruonan waited for Xu Jin. Seeing the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor he carried, their eyes gleamed.

“Fifteen thousand taels—when will I ever afford something like this?” Song Ye’s eyes brimmed with envy.

“Damn, Brother Jin, you’ve got serious luck.”

Lu Xianbing stared at the armor, marveling: “Inner soft armor is in high demand. My father had to use connections to buy one directly from the Yanzhou State Dao Academy for me.”

Hearing this, Song Ye and the others all glared at Lu Xianbing—this was blatant flaunting.

As for the Pursuit Wind Boots, Xu Jin did not display them.

“You all should convert your foraging silver into real strength as soon as possible. The higher your strength, the more you can forage. In three or five months, you’ll easily save up for one.” Xu Jin smiled.

After finishing everything, night had fallen. Thinking he’d see his sister Jiang Er tomorrow, Xu Jin wasn’t in a rush—he’d buy some things tomorrow morning: new shoes for his father Xu Dajiang, some meat, a bit of liquor, a new dress for Jiang Er, some of her favorite pastries, then head home.

After dinner, Xu Jin went directly to Lu Xianbing’s courtyard.

“Lu brother, let’s spar!”

“Huh?”

Lu Xianbing was surprised Xu Jin came to him voluntarily for sparring.

“I want to test the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor.”

“Fine!”

“Watch out for the spear!”

Instantly, Lu Xianbing’s spear erupted with starlight, striking like a venomous dragon toward Xu Jin.

Xu Jin didn’t dodge.

He infused star power into the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor and took the hit head-on.

Starlight exploded against Xu Jin’s chest, the force driving him back three steps; his chest felt only a slight prick, nothing more.

“Again!”

Xu Jin’s feet erupted with starlight as he charged forward again.

Gradually, Xu Jin grasped the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor’s defensive limits: strong against star power damage, but limited against pure physical force, especially blunt impacts.

Then, he continuously activated his Flying Star Step, darting left and right, engaging Lu Xianbing in close combat—using only weapons, no star techniques.

After fifteen minutes, Lu Xianbing sheathed his spear, panting, staring at Xu Jin in astonishment.

“No way—you’re strong. Your Flying Star Step—you only started half a month after me, right? But why is yours so powerful?”

“Isn’t it nearly perfected?” Lu Xianbing asked, bewildered.

In the sparring, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say Lu Xianbing couldn’t catch Xu Jin’s shadow; every one of his attacks was dodged.

Xu Jin’s speed far outpaced his, leaving Lu Xianbing with a strange sense of helplessness.

“Not yet—just barely perfected.”

“Already perfected?” Lu Xianbing’s eyes widened. “So fast? My Flying Star Step still needs at least half a month of hard training to reach perfection!”

“I might just have a natural talent for this.”

In truth, Xu Jin had just tested the Pursuit Wind Boots’ combat effectiveness.

Xu Jin’s Flying Star Step was just shy of perfection, but with the Pursuit Wind Boots on, it now matched perfect performance.

In a few days, when his Flying Star Step fully reached perfection, the effect would be even stronger.

Then, most Casting Star cultivators wouldn’t be faster than Xu Jin.

That night, Xu Jin returned to his courtyard and resumed cultivation.

After finishing, he eagerly entered the Star-Picking Tower.

As soon as he entered, two starlight points suddenly drifted toward him.

Someone had sent him a Starlight Message?

Xu Jin was puzzled.

In the Star-Picking Tower, he’d only added one friend, right?

“Cowardly Great Sage, are you scared? Why didn’t you show up today? — Left by Immortal of Drunken Moon.”

“Cowardly Great Sage, dare to fight! — Left by Immortal of Drunken Moon.”

“So you’re truly afraid? You haven’t dared to fight for three days straight, Despicable Great Sage—you’re truly despicable—Left by Immortal Lady Suiyue.”

Xu Jin stared at it and shook his head.

This girl’s gone mad trying to regain her honor.

That fighting style of his that day was merely a flash of inspiration, improvised on the spot.

Where’s the despicability?

Besides, on the battlefield, the dead have no right to call others despicable!

Xu Jin did not reply.

Sending one reply consumes a strand of starlight; one strand costs a hundred taels of silver.

Even international satellite calls aren’t this expensive.

Xu Jin did not issue a challenge either.

First, such petty women should be kept at a distance.

Second, today he was going to test a piece of data.

A crucial piece of data he had previously estimated.

He glanced at the Combat Realm rankings; after four nights away, his rank had dropped to over thirty thousand.

Suddenly, a name on the First-Rank Combat Realm leaderboard froze Xu Jin’s gaze.

(End of Chapter)