Wu Zhangkong fell silent.
The heart that had only just begun to rekindle.
Smack.
It was as if someone had dumped a basin of ice water over his head.
Chilling him to the bone.
But just then.
He noticed Long Bing in his arms.
She had tilted up her little head.
Staring unblinkingly at the advertisement in the sky.
Her eyes gradually lit up.
It was undisguised envy.
The softest place in Wu Zhangkong's heart felt as though it had been lightly pricked by a needle.
He couldn't refuse.
Absolutely couldn't refuse.
Buy it.
Even if he had to sell his Battle Armor.
Even if it left him penniless.
Even if it cost him his life in the end.
He had to buy it for her.
Especially—
Wu Zhangkong raised his eyes.
And saw the string of bright red words above Long Bing's head again.
This wasn't reality.
A red name meant she didn't even have the most basic protection under Federation law.
Anyone could kill her.
His fingers slowly clenched.
"How wonderful..."
Long Bing suddenly spoke softly in his arms.
She stared at the old man in the advertisement who had embraced his daughter again.
Her eyes sparkled.
"I really want to..."
"Have my own independent server too."
"And then..."
She paused.
Her voice was filled with undisguised longing.
"Go see the outside world."
Wu Zhangkong said nothing.
He only tightened his arms around her bit by bit.
Meanwhile, Spirit Pagoda, top-floor laboratory.
With the final crisp metallic hum.
The light on the forging platform finally began to dim.
Pieces of silver-white Battle Armor quietly floated in midair.
Breastplate, shoulder armor, arm guards, waist armor, battle skirt...
Fine and complex soul-conduit patterns flowed across the surface of every piece.
Occasionally, seven-colored glimmers flashed through the depths of the