Chapter 147: Celestial Moon!
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Time pa.s.sed quickly, and after twenty minutes had gone by, Xia Fei managed to pick out fifty-seven of the most valuable items. Some of these were no doubt top-grade, and the price happened to be within the acceptable range in Xia Fei’s eyes.
Ye Jingshan was correct; Xia Fei did not have any way to discern these top-grade items, but what he was unaware of was the presence of this strange master of his, Phantom.
“The Comet 90 combat suit is very good. In terms of its grade, it’s more than half a rank higher than the Windshade Mark IV, reaching Peak Legendary standards. Though the speed enhancement it provides is slightly lower than that of Windshade Mark IV, it possesses very powerful defensive capabilities, and I don’t think you need me to tell you twice why you’ll need defense,” Phantom somberly commented.
Xia Fei nodded. If he was just doing a singular a.s.sa.s.sination, it was only natural for the Windshade series to be much better, but when actual combat began, especially in sustained combat situations, a combat suit’s defense rating would clearly become important.
His year-long fighting on the Heritage Planet was already proof of this point, and just having a single combat suit was insufficient for a top-rank warrior. This was especially important in Xia Fei’s case, who was a warrior not only possessing great strength in a.s.sa.s.sination but also capable of ma.s.s destruction and powerful offensive. He would at least need three sets ready to deal with different combat needs. Of course, he would also need weapons he could swap between for a more targeted impact, for different scenarios.
Xia Fei presently did not have that many points to exchange for all this equipment, so he could only settle for a set of combat suits in the meantime. He could not have it both ways, so Xia Fei had to make his choice between a speed increase or a higher defense rating.
“If I go with the Comet 90 combat suit, I’ll still be able to match it with a Wind Spirit Ring to boost my speed. This way, I can attain a sort of middle ground, having both a powerful defense as well as a decent speed increase.”
“Then, there’re weapons. With your present cultivation, choosing the higher-grade weapon, Extreme Light, will be a better fit than Chasing Light. After all, you’re already used to the combat style of having a hidden glade up in your sleeve, and you’re extremely handy with it, too. With the additional concealed wheel lock as an auxiliary weapon, you’ll thus possess the capability to engage in ranged combat.
“If I were you, these are the four pieces of equipment that I would choose. Being of sufficiently high grade, and with the total coming up to just about ninety-eight points, this will be well within the range you’re able to afford,” Phantom very clearly laid things out point by point to Xia Fei.
Phantom’s a.n.a.lysis was sound, comprehensively considering factors from every angle. Though this second-rate a.s.sa.s.sin was not particularly practiced with his profession, he was still quite accomplished in his knowledge of medicines and equipment.
While one hundred thousand contribution points did not seem small, it was actually not that much in reality. Especially in the face of all this top-grade equipment, each of them exceptional, so their price matched in excellence as well. His contribution points could buy plenty of average equipment, though it would be a stretch if used to purchase top-grade equipment.
At the end of the day, being a warrior was an expensive profession, and a warrior’s need for top-grade equipment could be described as ‘insane’.
Xia Fei very quickly calculated everything in his mind, until his gaze fell upon an anomalous weapon that was listed at the very bottom of his screen.
This anomalous weapon was called Celestial Moon, and it was a transformation weapon. From its outer appearance, it looked like a phoenix’s tail from the legends, formed out of eighteen sectional circular blades, and that dark-gray color faintly giving off a murderous aura.
Celestial Moon was made from a Supercrowe alloy. Its blade was paper-thin, yet it was imaginably hard and keen. It was tightly linked, loop by loop, through a complex mechanism, and when it was not in use, it would look like a frisbee disc, seemingly clasped onto the user’s arm with the same arm-binding method Chasing Light had.
He could adjust the length of Celestial Moon through a mechanism when in use, and every sectional blade boasted a fifteen-centimeter diameter, roller-shaped in appearance. Unleas.h.i.+ng three would form a strange-looking shortsword, which was around the length of forty-five centimeters, while ten would create a 1.5-meter-long linked longsword. All eighteen sectional blades completely unleashed would turn into an almost three-meter long claymore, more than capable of splitting mountains and parting the sea.
Celestial Moon was not only able to change its length but also let the user use the built-in mechanism to change its shape however they liked according to the eighteen sectional blades.
It could turn into a long whip to create a swing attack or form into a s.h.i.+eld to defend against an opponent’s ferocious attack; as long as it could be imagined, the weapon could conform arbitrarily to the users’ desire. There was no doubt it was a top-grade anomalous weapon.
It was strange not only in its transformation, it even demonstrated its crazy form of attack. In addition to the Celestial Moon’s capabilities as mentioned, it could also do dispersion attacks.
All it took was a push of a b.u.t.ton and the eighteen, thin sectional blades would immediately break away from the main mechanism and form a single circular knife, able to attack enemies in all directions. It would not be easy to predict where the attacks came from, leaving the enemies nowhere to hide.
Beyond that, just the anomalous and variations that Celestial Moon was designed meant it had already reached the pinnacle of human weapon designs, historically speaking. Only the most insane genius could possibly design a weapon so complex and weird. Furthermore, it was still able to maintain st.u.r.diness while using a complex mechanism. No matter how he looked at it, this weapon could only be considered marvelous.
Phantom followed Xia Fei’s gaze and chuckled. “What, you’re still not giving up on that Celestial Moon?”
Xia Fei nodded. “That’s right. I can’t think of another weapon that suits me more than Celestial Moon. It’s almost as if this weapon has been specially made for me.”
Phantom sighed. “Though the Celestial Moon is great, choosing that weapon means you won’t be able to exchange your points for other equipment.”
Xia Fei did not respond; his expression was stoic. Right now, he needed to use his brains to determine what to take or let go.
As the word suggested, taking was easy, and anyone could do that, but as for the other option, letting go was always the hardest. If he wanted to leave the place with something, he would have to abandon the other, and if the value between the two choices happened to be about the same, that would make the choice all that more difficult.
Xia Fei smirked as he began to chuckle. He took out a Hongtashan from his pocket, appearing to be very at ease.
“I’ve made my decision. I’m going with Celestial Moon,” Xia Fei softly concluded.
Phantom broke out into a self-deprecating laugh. “I spent all that time trying to plan the perfect purchase, yet you’re still gone with Celestial Moon, or should I say, even when it comes to choosing your equipment, you’re still taking the lesser road traveled; I think you’re just mad to the bones.
“Do you understand that, though choosing Celestial Moon will afford you the strongest offensive power, you’ll do so at the loss of your defense, and your overall combat capabilities will be far lower as a result. That is why I’ve picked out four pieces of equipment to help balance you out better. This is no more than spending the same amount of money to achieve one thing when you can achieve four.
“You’ve always been stingy, so why are you suddenly willing to spend all the points you have on just a single weapon today?”
Xia Fei smiled. “I’m not stingy, it’s just that some expenditures are spent unnecessarily, so it is best to save what we can, but in crucial moments, I’ll most definitely not feel heartbroken spending money. Though choosing Celestial Moon loses me the chance to gain the other equipment, I’ll give me the most powerful offensive power in return. When doing something, we ought to do it to the best of your abilities, or else we’re better off not doing anything at all.”
Phantom sighed. Xia Fei was a stubborn man; since he had already made his choice with Celestial Moon, nothing else he said could convince him otherwise. Thus, he opted to just soundlessly dive back into his nest in the Moore Stone.
Ye Jingshan pushed open the door and returned to his office in a timely fas.h.i.+on. He was abruptly stunned when he saw the list of equipment Xia Fei had single-handedly picked out on the screen. ‘How is it possible?! He actually managed to pick out all the most valuable equipment in the database!
‘Just which did he choose in the end?’ Ye Jingshan was apprehensive as he sat back down in his chair and asked Xia Fei, “Are you done choosing yet?”
Xia Fei nodded, gesturing with one hand to Celestial Moon, which seemed to be exuding a sanguinary aura on the screen. “Commander Ye, I’d like to redeem this Celestial Moon.”
Ye Jingshan’s expression changed. “Are you certain that you want to spend 105,000 contribution points to purchase Celestial Moon?”
Xia Fei nodded. “Indeed, though I currently only have a hundred thousand points. Is it possible for me to use star coins to make up the remaining five thousand that I lack?”
Hearing that Xia Fei did not have enough points, Ye Jingshan instantly felt his mood alleviate quite a lot. That weapon was one of the few Eternal Rank weapons in the B-tier database. The previous president in Robert’s place had been the one who used the weapon, and he had bequeathed it to the Union after his death. Because no one knew how to use it, it had remained in the Union’s warehouse, collecting dust, for so many years, and the value of this weapon was most definitely incalculable.
“What a joke. How can the Union’s contribution points be subst.i.tuted with star coins? It’s best if you choose something else,” Ye Jingshan said.
Xia Fei furrowed his brows and thought for a while before saying, “Command Ye, may I give a call to Old man Qin Mang to borrow the contribution points I lack? I’m sure he has some save up after working for so many years here in the training camp.”
Ye Jingshan instantly got nervous. Xia Fei had no idea that Qin Mang was actually his master, so he would surely be taken to task if his master learned about this matter. At this point, all he could do was not further anger his master; Ye Jingshan would be willing to jump right in a pit if he had to.
“Hang on.” Ye Jingshan gritted his teeth. “There’s no need for you to do that. I’ll just record down the five thousand contribution points you owe for you to pay back at a later date.”
Xia Fei was elated, never expecting Ye Jingshan to be so amenable. “That works, too. Then, I will have to thank you; Commander Ye, you’re really a nice guy.”
After Xia Fei departed, Ye Jingshan secretly transferred five thousand points from his own account right into the Union’s account, shaking his head as he muttered to himself, “Truly, not only have I failed to gain what I sought, I ended up losing out, instead. Master, just how did you find such a rascally disciple?”
….
Xia Fei was in a great mood now that he had acquired Celestial Moon. He sprinted back to the library and told old man Qin Mang excitedly about everything that had just happened.
Qin Mang’s eyes were squinting as he asked skeptically, “You chose Celestial Moon? I recall that it isn’t a weapon that speed ability users use. Only mental ability users are able to unleash its full potential; you can only use forty percent of its combat capabilities at best.”
A weapon like Celestial Moon is full of variations, able to be soft, disperse, or concentrate. Furthermore, Crowe alloy itself was specially made for mental ability users, able to improve interaction frequency between the weapon and the brainwaves.
The weapon would be more suited to a mental ability warrior than a speed ability user, for its greatest strength was the dispersion attacks. Unleas.h.i.+ng all eighteen sectional blades and using psychokinesis to make it fly around, attacking unpredictably; that was the proper way to use the weapon.
…
Though speed ability users were able to use the length and hardiness transformation to attack, that would still be lacking the strongest combat style that mental ability users had access to.
Xia Fei chuckled softly. “Old man, what a speed ability user emphasizes is a flexible combat style that has plenty of variations. Though I may not be as powerful as a psychokinetic ability user with Celestial Moon, I’ll still be able to provide plenty of supplementary potency with my attacks.
“Besides, this Celestial Moon is very hard to use. If I am able to exchange it with others for the equipment that I need, it’ll also be a great bargaining chip, no?”
Qin Mang nodded. What Xia Fei had said was logical. The value of Celestial Moon was plain to see. If there was ever a day when Xia Fei came across a top-grade weapon that he could better take advantage of, there was a good chance that he could swap for it with Celestial Moon. Meanwhile, Celestial Moon’s transformational combat style could still be considered highly practical for Xia Fei to use in the meantime.
Xia Fei had always been very astute, and Qin Mang did not really suspect his explanation to be anything but the truth.
Pulling out two letters he had personally written from his pocket as well as a memory chip, he handed them all to Xia Fei. “These are what I am giving to you. Out of these two letters, one is for an old friend who is living in the capital and the other is for a disciple of mine that is in the Black Abyss Star Region. Help me pa.s.s these along to them.
“The memory chip contains the books that I’ve prepared for you. This time, I’m afraid that you won’t be returning from the Death Trio Star Region in a year and a half’s time; it’s necessary for you to train and fight, but you musn’t neglect to regularly read books; knowledge is an equally important aspect to a strong warrior.
“As for the visa to enter the capital, I’ve already applied for it on your behalf; I reckon that it’ll be delivered to your inbox two days from now. You’ll be allowed entry to the capital for a whole year, granting you permit to stay in the city for seventy-two hours. This is already the best I can do,” Qin Mang confessed with great concern and heavy-heartedness, almost as if he somewhat could not bear to see Xia Fei leave.
Xia Fei stored the two letters into his spatial ring and inserted the memory chip into his microcomputer. Opening it to take a look, Xia Fei was instantly stunned.
All he saw in the catalog of books was the first row of words, which read ‘An Introduction to Coding Robots’.
“Old man, this…”
Xia Fei was completely taken aback by this. He had never expected that Qin Mang would actually store that book on coding robots from the ancient civilization into a memory chip. After all, this was a book about AI, and it was considered to be the greatest taboo topic in the Pan-Human Alliance.
Xia Fei was about to open his mouth to ask when Qin Mang promptly reached his hand out and stopped him. “Don’t say a word. Now, let me speak and you listen.”
Xia Fei nodded anxiously, his expression turning solemn.
“I have nothing to say.” Qin Mang spoke each word out slowly, his two cloudy eyes flas.h.i.+ng craftily.
Xia Fei immediately understood what he meant and silently kept that memory chip. Smiling, he said, “Thank you.”
Qin Mang calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip, his other hand stroking Old Black’s back repeatedly.
“Be sure to store everything properly. After receiving those letters I personally penned, the two recipients of the letter will treat you as one of their own, so look for them directly if you have any issues. As for those books, read them whenever you find the time.”
Qin Mang had intentionally emphasized the word ‘those’. His intentions were already apparent, and it was his hope that Xia Fei would learn what was inside that introduction to robot coding book.
Xia Fei had gotten himself even more acquainted with old man Qin Mang’s mysteriousness. Gaining entry into the Alliance capital was extremely difficult, yet Qin Mang had managed to get it sorted in the time it took to boil a fresh pot of tea. Furthermore, his recommendation of people whom he personally trusted to Xia Fei, just this extension of fellows.h.i.+p itself was enough to make Xia Fei cast a sidelong glance.
“Old man… I’m beginning to realize more and more that you’re really mysterious,” Xia Fei jokingly commented as he helped top up Qin Mang’s tea.
Qin Mang took the teacup and chortled. “Rascal, you’re not the only expert when it comes to having secrets; anyone and everyone has their share as well.”