A++ Armor

A++!

The rating isn’t bad. Though it’s a bit pricey, after spending so much money, Ye Chuan doubted the performance would disappoint.

As he slapped the transformation device onto his waist, metallic whirring sounds echoed, and phantom images of armor pieces materialized over his body.

"Armor Fusion!" A deep voice rang out. Streaks of light flashed, and a set of golden armor enveloped Ye Chuan.

The helmet resembled a dragon’s head, with sharp horns extending from either side—angular and domineering. The visor was a deep crimson, exuding an aura of solemn authority.

The chest plate was also gold, with an energy circle pulsing like a shield. The shoulder guards were broad and imposing, adorned with raised dragon heads that radiated raw power.

"Is this… Golden Core-level strength?" Ye Chuan sensed the energy coursing through him. It felt slightly stronger than his own, yet not quite at the Golden Core stage.

But one thing was clear—it amplified all his physical stats.

The armor’s design was inspired by his memories of the Emperor Armor. Though not an exact replica, Ye Chuan turned in front of the mirror, thoroughly satisfied.

Kinda cool.

And the defense was maxed out.

No way—he had to test this armor’s capabilities at a rift.

Ye Chuan deactivated the transformation and stepped out of his room. Outside, only Lan Xiaoke was lounging around. Lately, she’d gotten hooked on binge-watching dramas, as if trying to make up for lost time.

Bai Qianshuang, meanwhile, was deep in cultivation, seemingly on the verge of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

As for Ke Ning, Ye Chuan hadn’t seen her in ages. According to Lan Xiaoke, she occasionally emerged to make instant noodles—just enough to stay alive—apparently engrossed in some research.

Ye Chuan checked the logs. Indeed, Ke Ning hadn’t rested in forever—even her chibi avatar sported dark circles.

Weirdly adorable.

Bai Qianshuang, on the other hand, was still meditating live on stream, raking in steady income.

Truly a once-in-a-generation physique built for leveling. Ye Chuan thought his own progress was insane, but Bai Qianshuang wasn’t far behind.

"Ye Chuan, you heading out?" Lan Xiaoke, curled up on the couch, eyed him curiously.

Lately, her outfits had gotten increasingly casual. After growing closer to Ye Chuan, she’d ditched the maid uniform entirely, opting for a simple tank top and hot shorts—full-on shut-in mode. Sometimes she’d giggle like an airhead at dumb videos on her phone.

Still, the outfit did her figure justice, so Ye Chuan didn’t bother commenting.

"Yeah, going out." Seeing her laziness, he waved. "Follow me."

Lan Xiaoke, engrossed in her show, blinked. "Ye Chuan, I’m kinda sick today. Think I have a fever."

"Fever?" Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow.

He pressed a hand to her forehead—ice-cold. Then he felt her bag—still chilly and hard to grasp.

"Let’s go." He pinched her cheek and hoisted her up with one arm.

"Wah—"

And just like that, Lan Xiaoke was dragged along.

"Where to?" she asked.

"The rift. Monster hunting." Ye Chuan pulled out his transformation device at the doorstep.

"Armor Fusion!" A mechanical voice announced as golden light erupted, encasing him in armor once more.

"?!" Lan Xiaoke’s eyes bulged beneath her white bangs. "Huh?! ↗"

"Pretty cool, right?" Ye Chuan flexed his wrist. His armor had unlimited transformations since it ran on his internal energy.

And thanks to the Holy Grail Lilith had given him, his mana regenerated infinitely.

In short, this armor could spam skills nonstop with zero cooldown.

"I want one too!" Lan Xiaoke’s eyes sparkled.

"Maybe if you behave." Ye Chuan scooped her up with one arm, then kicked off into the sky. The metallic wing-like thrusters on his back flared with blue flames, propelling them like a meteor toward their destination.

......

Mountaintop City, outskirts.

A ten-meter-tall spatial rift loomed over the barren hills. At the base stood over a hundred people—elite warriors from super-martial families, gathered to clear the rift of monsters.

"Hey, Zhang Chao, I heard Wang Yanran’s already a ninth-rank super-warrior. How are you still stuck at first rank?"

"Ninth rank, schminth rank. She’s got a big bro backing her. Not all of us are girls." Zhang Chao smirked and struck a pose. "Me? Zhang Chao, third-rank super-warrior. OK?"

"Third rank?" The other warriors looked surprised. "Damn, when’d you level up?"

"Didn’t you hear? The Wang family’s selling pills that boost cultivation speed. Three million a pop. My grandpa fed me ten, and bam—third rank. Plus, check out my skin. Smooth as hell." Zhang Chao pointed at his face.

"Ugh, gross. Dude, you’re disgusting."

Just then, another car pulled up nearby. A young woman with long, wavy hair stepped out, scanning the area before locking onto the massive rift atop the mountain.

"That’s the place?" murmured Wang Yanran.

She’d accepted the mission to clear this rift, but it was bigger than she’d imagined.

"Cousin, you’re a ninth-rank! You’ve got this!" A girl who looked like a younger version of Wang Yanran—Nuonuo—grinned beside her.

"Nuonuo, rifts are unpredictable. We can’t let our guard down." Wang Yanran sighed but still pinched her sister’s cheek affectionately.

"Yo, Yanran." A familiar voice called out. She turned to see Zhang Chao.

"‘Yanran’? It’s Wang Yanran to you." She crossed her arms, her tone icy. Proud by nature, she only softened around Ye Chuan.

If not for the alliance between their families, she might’ve slapped him already.

"Even more stuck-up after hitting ninth rank," Zhang Chao muttered, then gestured at the rift. "Monsters already pouring down. What’s the plan?"

"We’ll clear them from the outside inward." Wang Yanran assessed the gathered warriors before giving the order.