Luo Xi nodded gently. After having her spiritual root replaced, she didn’t feel any discomfort—not even the biting cold.
"Mm."
"Relax, I’ll help guide the spiritual energy within you." Ye Chuan controlled the flow of spiritual power inside Luo Xi. Once the icy blue glow completely faded, he continued, "Next, I’ll change your physique."
"Okay."
Changing her physique was just as straightforward. The moment the transformation was complete, Luo Xi’s body was immediately enveloped in an icy blue radiance, and the surrounding temperature plummeted!
Though not a peerless physique, an exceptional one was still incredibly rare. Once the full potential of the Ice Profound Body was unleashed, a layer of frost coated everything in Ye Chuan’s room due to the chilling aura.
"Ye Chuan, you—" Just then, Lan Xiaoke popped her head out from the wall, about to say something, only to be startled by the sudden burst of cold. She let out a yelp that sounded like something out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon,
"Ooowahwoo~"
After a while, Luo Xi seemed to gain control over her physique, and the temperature returned to normal. Unable to inspect her own condition internally, she asked curiously, "That’s it?"
"Yes, that’s all. Now you can cultivate without worry." Ye Chuan nodded. Besides, time was the one thing he had in abundance. With his spending power, Luo Xi’s future strength wouldn’t lag far behind.
As Luo Xi marveled at the changes, Ye Chuan tested something himself—his core remained warm.
Though Luo Xi subconsciously released bursts of cold energy, it had no real effect on Ye Chuan. If anything, it added a peculiar sensation.
……
Days passed, and the impact of the dimensional rifts gradually lessened. The occasional new rifts that appeared were swiftly cleared.
However, many super martial artists noticed that the monsters’ strength seemed to be steadily increasing. Even high-level fighters found themselves struggling.
Still, there was a silver lining—more and more people were awakening as super martial artists, and overall power levels were rising.
The [Super Martial Alliance] officially emerged as a recognized organization, implementing policies in response to the rifts.
First, they offered support to newly awakened super martial artists, encouraging them to join the alliance in combating the rift monsters.
Second, they consolidated the forces of super martial clans. The [Super Martial Assembly] was suspended, replaced by a system where resource allocation for clans depended on their monster kill counts.
Though the future remained uncertain, things at least seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
Meanwhile, at home, Ye Chuan finally unlocked the second tier of the tech tree, thanks to Ke Ning’s replication device and his own duplication magic. With a steady daily income of two cores and a series of buffs, he achieved his goal.
[Unlocked: [Transformation Belt] blueprint. Added to inventory.]
"So this is the transformation belt?" After unlocking the blueprint, Ye Chuan realized he could now craft equipment.
Alongside the existing [Alchemy] and [Potion Brewing] options, a new [Crafting] button appeared.
[No materials detected in inventory. Spend 50,000 to purchase raw materials?]
Fifty grand?
Money wasn’t an issue for Ye Chuan. Despite recent extravagant spending, selling elixirs kept his bank balance comfortably above 300 million.
Without hesitation, he bought the materials. His phone screen flashed with a crafting animation before a notification popped up—
[Transformation Belt successfully crafted. Added to inventory.]
Ye Chuan immediately checked the details.
[Item: Transformation Belt
Allows one armored transformation.
Rating: D++]
D++?
That’s a low rating.
Still, he didn’t dwell on it. He took out the belt—more of a small metal box, really—and instinctively knew how to use it. Slapping it against his waist, the device activated.
With a metallic click, the box extended into a belt that wrapped around him.
"Transform."
"Armor, unite!" A mechanical voice announced.
Shadows swirled around Ye Chuan before merging with him, forming a sleek, grayish metal armor—simple and unadorned.
"This is the transformation belt?"
Testing its power, he found it barely matched the strength of a Qi Refining cultivator.
"Too weak."
Deactivating it, the belt broke, rendered unusable.
"Fifty grand just gone?" Ye Chuan’s eye twitched. And it was a one-time use? More like an expensive toy.
He studied the crafting function further and realized the transformation belt’s parameters were highly customizable—everything from sound effects and appearance to functionality could be tweaked.
The catch? Each customization cost extra.
"Hmm… this could be interesting." Adjusting the settings, he crafted a new version.
[Item: Transformation Belt
Allows armored transformation. Requires recharge.
Rating: C++]
This custom belt cost twice as much but wasn’t disposable.
Slapping it on again, he commanded, "Transform."
"What are you doing, ah? Haha~" A rooster-like cry echoed as a sleek black-and-white armor materialized over him.
Ye Chuan flexed. "Huh, Foundation Establishment-level power?"
Mediocre.
As a Core Formation expert, such gear was beneath him.
But upon deactivating it, an idea struck—he could sell these. Or rather, trade them for resources.
While Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment-tier gear was useless to him, it’d be revolutionary for super martial artists.
"I don’t need money, but I can exchange these for cores."
With rifts appearing worldwide, cores—though rare—would accumulate. Offering transformation belts as rewards in exchange for cores seemed like a solid plan.
Next, Ye Chuan set out to craft the perfect belt for himself.
Unlike the weaker models, this one would be maxed out.
"Defense—absolute priority."
Physical attacks were his only vulnerability, so he poured everything into defense.
[No materials detected in inventory. Spend 50,000,000 to purchase raw materials?]
He paid without blinking.
[Item: Transformation Belt (Custom)Gold
Allows armored transformation. Requires recharge.
Rating: A++]