Chapter 79: Testing and Star Light Message (Seeking follow-up reading, seeking monthly tickets)

On the light screen projected by Zeng Shuo's Star-Plucking Token, a total of twenty-six pieces of star equipment in five categories appeared.

The most numerous were naturally the weapon category, with thirteen pieces. Xu Jin just glanced at them and skipped them directly.

There were only two pieces in the footwear category, one named Wind-Chasing Boots, and one named Three-Mountain Heavy Boots.

Wind-Chasing Boots could enhance the power of star power bursts by 20%, meaning that wearing Wind-Chasing Boots, the power of Xu Jin's Flying Star Steps could be enhanced by at least 20%. The price was 5,000 taels, which could be considered a very good choice.

Three-Mountain Heavy Boots, priced at 15,000 taels, could trigger a star light shield equivalent to a peak First Tier when star power was injected; it was defensive.

Just looking at the price, the cost-effectiveness was also very high.

But it was clearly not suitable for Xu Jin.

In a few days, Xu Jin's basic star technique, Star Light Shield, could be cast instantly even without being solidified by the star lamp.

There were five pieces in the shield category, including bracers, leg guards, large shields, arm shields, and round shields, with prices ranging from 3,000 to over 10,000 taels. Xu Jin looked at them and skipped them too.

He already had an arm shield, and because the Blood God Sect demon had designed it for easy carrying, it was very practical and easy to use. He was wearing it on his left arm right now.

There were four pieces of armor and two pieces of special equipment.

One piece of special star equipment was the Heavenly Phase Pendant, and the other was the Heavenly Wolf Star Ring.

The Heavenly Phase Pendant had the basic star technique Star Light Shield solidified within it, which could be cast instantly once with its own star power. After the star power was used up, it could recover slowly by itself or be injected with external force. The price was 18,000 taels.

The Heavenly Wolf Star Ring had the basic star technique Star Arrow solidified within it, which, like the Heavenly Phase Pendant, could recover star power by itself and could also be cast instantly once. The price was 21,000 taels.

This kind of special star equipment that brought its own star power and solidified star techniques was considered the most precious type of star equipment.

Instant-cast star techniques were life-saving artifacts at critical moments.

They were suitable for most people, but didn't mean much to Xu Jin.

In the end, Xu Jin's gaze fell on the four pieces of armor.

Of the four pieces of armor, one was a full-body heavy armor, two were full-body light armors, and one was a half-body inner armor.

The full-body heavy armor was priced at 26,000 taels and weighed 160 jin. It could easily defend against attacks from Second Tier cultivators, and could even block a portion of attacks from Third Tier Refine Star early-stage cultivators, which could be called a life-saving artifact.

But it was too heavy and too conspicuous.

It was fine to use on the battlefield, but in daily life, let alone using it, it wasn't even convenient to carry.

It took up space and was heavy.

The light armor weighed 80 jin and could defend against at most a full-force strike from a Second Tier Forge Star Realm cultivator. If it suffered multiple full-force attacks from a Second Tier Forge Star Realm cultivator, it would be damaged. The price was 18,000 taels.

How should he put it? Looking at these twenty-six pieces of First Tier star equipment in five categories, the only two that caught Xu Jin's eye were the Wind-Chasing Boots and the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor.

In terms of value alone, the Wind-Chasing Boots were only 5,000 taels.

In the end, Xu Jin chose the more cost-effective Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor.

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

It could be worn under outer clothing in daily life, and it had life-saving miraculous effects at critical moments.

"Your judgment is truly good, and your luck is also truly good. The material for this Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor is hard to come by; usually, there is only one piece every four or five months. This time, you happened to run into it."

Zeng Shuo said while fetching the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor for Xu Jin.

It felt ice-cold to the touch, but had a strange texture.

"By the way, Hall Master Zeng, can I buy those Wind-Chasing Boots separately?" Xu Jin asked tentatively after getting the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor.

The External Affairs Hall sold many things, but Xu Jin didn't know if this item was sold directly.

Wind-Chasing Boots were also extremely practical.

In all the world's martial arts, only speed cannot be broken.

Enhancing speed meant enhancing attack power and survival ability.

"They are sold, but according to the rules, they can only be purchased by entering the Great Chen Dao Academy's Star-Plucking Tower main tower through the Star-Plucking Token." Having said this, External Affairs Hall Master Zeng paused slightly. "However, if you want to buy them, Xu Jin, I can place an order for you and just fill in the record."

"After all, Wind-Chasing Boots only restock once every two or three months."

"Then many thanks, Hall Master Zeng."

Xu Jin understood that this External Affairs Hall Master was doing him a favor, and he had to accept it.

Otherwise, Xu Jin would have to wait until the Sixth Layer to buy them.

If they were bought by someone else, he would have to wait several months.

With these Wind-Chasing Boots, Xu Jin's harvest in the mountains next month would be much easier.

A few minutes later, the Wind-Chasing Boots were in hand, and the 10,000-plus taels of silver Xu Jin had just obtained were sent out again, 5,000 taels in the blink of an eye.

It felt like silver didn't last long.

"By the way, I also want to buy nine pieces of Human Tier Star Jade Tablets. I don't know if the External Affairs Hall has them in stock." Xu Jin thought that since he was already here, he might as well gather the nine Star Jade Tablets needed to upgrade the Third Tier Arena.

"Why, do you intend to practice engraving emblems?" Zeng Shuo laughed. "Engraving emblems is easy to practice but hard to master. Even for a Second Tier emblem master, it takes at least 100,000 taels of silver to feed them."

Xu Jin understood that this was again Zeng Shuo's well-intentioned reminder.

"Just curious, I want to try with First Tier ones to understand."

"Hmm, that is human nature."

After getting the nine Star Jade Tablets, Xu Jin paid the silver, thanked him again, and then left.

After a round of spending, Xu Jin's 12,880 taels of silver had only 6,980 taels left.

Counting the loot Xu Jin had obtained from slaying the Blood God Sect demons earlier, plus the remaining silver in his hands, he still had over 8,000 taels.

Xu Jin planned to use this silver for cultivation and settling his family. As for what he owed his teacher Ning Yuchan, he would repay it next month.

After all, owing it for too long wasn't good either.

Leaving the External Affairs Hall, Qian Xiaohu, Song Ye, Lu Xianbing, and Qiao Ruonan were still waiting for Xu Jin. Seeing the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor Xu Jin was carrying, their eyes lit up one by one.

"15,000 taels, when will I ever be able to get such a piece?" Song Ye's eyes were full of envy.

"Whoa, Brother Jin, your luck is not bad."

Lu Xianbing looked at the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor and also exclaimed in admiration. "Inner-wear soft armor is very sought after. My father had to entrust someone to buy one directly from the Yanzhou Dao Academy for me."

Hearing this, Song Ye and the others glared at Lu Xianbing in unison. This was naked showing off of wealth.

As for the Wind-Chasing Boots, Xu Jin didn't take them out to show others.

"You all, convert your harvest silver into strength as quickly as possible. The higher the strength, the greater the harvest. In three or five months, you can easily save up for a piece," Xu Jin laughed.

After finishing all this, it was already dark. Thinking that he would be able to see his younger sister Jiang Er tomorrow, Xu Jin wasn't in a hurry. He would buy some things tomorrow morning, buy a pair of new shoes for his father Xu Dajiang, buy some meat, get some wine, and buy some new clothes and pastries his sister loved, and then go home.

After finishing dinner, Xu Jin went directly to Lu Xianbing's small courtyard.

"Brother Lu, how about a spar!"

"Hmm?"

Seeing Xu Jin take the initiative to find him for a spar, Lu Xianbing was very surprised.

"I want to test this Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor."

"Good!"

"Watch the spear!"

In an instant, the long spear in Lu Xianbing's palm erupted with star light, stabbing toward Xu Jin like a poisonous dragon.

Xu Jin didn't dodge either.

He injected star power into the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor and took it head-on.

Channeling Star Power into the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor to take the hit directly.

"Again!"

Xu Jin's feet erupted with star light, and he met him again.

Gradually, Xu Jin basically figured out the defensive capability of the Crocodile-Dragon Soft Armor. The defense was still very strong, but it only defended against star power damage; for pure force, especially blunt strikes, the defensive power was limited.

Gradually, Xu Jin basically figured out the defensive capabilities of the Crocodile Dragon Soft Armor. Its defense was still very strong, but it only defended against Star Power damage; its defensive power was limited against pure force, especially blunt impacts.

A quarter of an hour later, Lu Xianbing stood with his spear retracted, panting, looking at Xu Jin with a look of shock.

"No, you're impressive. You should have learned these Flying Star Steps over half a month later than me, right? But why are your Flying Star Steps so strong?"

"This is almost at Great Perfection, right?" Lu Xianbing asked in surprise.

In the spar just now, saying he couldn't catch Xu Jin's shadow was a bit exaggerated, but Xu Jin could dodge Lu Xianbing's attacks every single time.

Being a large chunk behind Xu Jin in speed gave Lu Xianbing a sense of inexplicable powerlessness.

"Not yet, it just reached Great Achievement."

"Already reached Great Achievement?" Lu Xianbing's eyes widened. "So fast! My Flying Star Steps, to reach Great Achievement, will take at least another half month of bitter cultivation!"

"I might have a bit more talent in this area."

Actually, just now Xu Jin was testing the actual combat capability of the Wind-Chasing Boots.

Xu Jin's Flying Star Steps were a bit away from Perfection, but after wearing the Wind-Chasing Boots, they already had the effect of Perfection.

In a few days, when the Flying Star Steps were completely at Perfection, the effect would be even stronger.

By then, the speed of ordinary Forge Star Realm cultivators might not necessarily be faster than Xu Jin's.

In the evening, Xu Jin returned to his small courtyard and continued to cultivate.

After cultivation ended, he couldn't wait to enter the Star-Plucking Tower.

After entering the Star-Plucking Tower, suddenly two strands of star light drifted over in succession.

Someone sent him a star light message?

Xu Jin was a bit puzzled.

In the Star-Plucking Tower, he had only added one friend so far, right?

"Despicable Great Sage, are you afraid? Why didn't you come today? — Left by Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon."

"Despicable Great Sage, if you have the guts, come and fight! — Left by Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon."

"It seems you are really afraid? You haven't dared to come and fight for three consecutive days. Despicable Great Sage, you are truly despicable — Left by Zuiyue Xianzi Drunken Moon."

Xu Jin shook his head while looking.

This girl was crazy about wanting to get back at him.

The way he fought that day was actually just a flash of inspiration and improvisation on the spot.

How was it despicable?

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

Xu Jin didn't reply.

Replying to a message consumed a strand of star light, and one strand of star light was 100 taels of silver.

Even international satellite calls weren't this expensive.

Xu Jin didn't challenge either.

For one, he should stay away from such narrow-minded women.

For another, he had to test a piece of data today.

A very important piece of data he had inferred earlier.

Glancing at the Martial Arts Secret Realm ranking, having not entered for four nights, Xu Jin's ranking had dropped to over 30,000th.

Suddenly, a name on the First Tier Martial Arts Secret Realm ranking made Xu Jin's gaze freeze instantly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 80 =====

(End of chapter)