Diving Equipment

Zijin continued:

"However, to achieve this level of sophistication, which is so different from the original form, requires a very high rank."

"At least Archdruid level."

Currently, there are no active Saint Rank Druids in the Taya World.

The only one is Rongjing from the Immortal Spirit Peninsula, but he has entered the "Tree Merging" state of eternal slumber and will die completely soon.

"The Great Druid?" Chloe searched her memory. "There's probably only one powerful Druid on Water Chestnut Island — Lu Lailuo!"

Zijin nodded.

"It must have been her."

The skeletal rat's tiny paws scooped up a small piece of "Filth-Cleansing Pepper".

"The marks on these surfaces are definitely her work."

Lang Yefu was stunned upon hearing this.

Of course she knew Lu Lailuo. "Isn't she the lover of the Scholar Heron?"

Why would someone do such a thing!

Lang Yefu said in disbelief.

The late Scholar Heron was also a half-deer, named Lufawen.

Although his wife, Lu Lailuo, did not receive any titles, she was a renowned figure in the field of botany.

This couple was a beacon of light in the hearts of all the half-orcs on Water Chestnut Island.

Six months ago, when the harm of "Filth-Cleansing Pepper" was exposed, some people even cited the research left by Lufawen. No one would have thought that the mastermind behind all this would be his wife.

"Let's deal with this after the war," Zijin sighed.

She couldn't understand why her former companion had changed like this.

****

The installation of the warning totem on the other side of the city wall has been successfully completed.

Apart from the extra guards left behind, the rest of the personnel began to withdraw gradually. The investigation in the surrounding area was still ongoing, with torchlight flickering across several blocks as guards went door-to-door asking questions and searching for clues; a sense of commotion could be felt from afar.

"Now I can use the ' Wolf Fang Key ' to control these seven warning totems," Lang Yefu said.

This means that the walls of Cloud Fang City can be entered and exited at will.

With his worries gone, Su Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

"The warning totem has just been destroyed, so we shouldn't go near there for the time being," he told everyone.

Lang Yefu nodded.

"The enemy's investigation into the incident will continue for some time."

Everyone gradually dispersed and returned to their rooms to rest.

Su Ming brought the skeleton rat into the room and placed it on the table.

"Why haven't you deactivated the projection yet?" he asked, puzzled.

"[Let me stay with you a little longer, okay?]" Zijin said. "[This kind of companionship is quite special.]"

The tiny skeleton rat sat down on the table, its long, thin bony tail swaying back and forth. Su Ming also sat down in the chair, checked the device management interface, and confirmed that everything was normal.

He then switched the system to night mode, turned off most of the screen, and switched the cooling fan to silent mode.

The surroundings fell silent.

"[Yise's situation isn't something we can't consider,'" Zijin suddenly said.

Su Ming reached out a finger and flicked the little mouse's head.

Zijin's vision immediately started to blur, [Oops!]

[You're entrapping us, and with live bait at that.] Su Ming laughed.

[Hmph, all you do is bully me.] Zijin said angrily, [Besides, you seem to be in a pretty good mood?]

"Of course I feel good when someone cares about me," Su Ming said honestly.

Zijin was very dissatisfied.

[I did this for no reason, and you're getting cocky!]

Su Ming thought for a moment, then his smile faded, and he said seriously, "[Yise and I will not cross the line.]"

[So this matter is actually still within the scope of my personal relationship with Yise that needs to be addressed.]

I will find the right time to have a complete talk with Yise.

Upon hearing this, Zijin looked down at her feet.

[Feel sorry.]

This was also the first time she had experienced these feelings.

It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that--

The Zijin flicked its tail.

[Perhaps I'm actually jealous of Yise, being able to experience such a fun adventure with you on Water Chestnut Island.]

"[... I shouldn't have pushed you away first.]" Su Ming said irritably.

[That's clearly it!]

**** First published on "Deqi Novel Network" d e q i x s. o r g

Back at the rear, support personnel discovered a problem.

"Su Ming, we need to connect an extra cable to the radar."

Su Ming carried the mouse to the balcony and took an electrical cord.

The Zijin bit the wire, climbed up through the hole in the wooden pole, and easily connected the wire.

She then released the bone claws, jumped up from above, and landed sprawled in Su Ming's palm below.

Su Ming slung the Zijin over his shoulder, connected the wires on the ground, and then sat down on the terrace, leaning against the wall.

The moon has risen.

In the direction of the royal palace, the Burning Cloud resembled a huge, slowly rotating ring of fire, with flashes of dark red light occasionally illuminating the distant outline of the palace.

The other half of the sky, however, remained filled with stars and moonlight.

The two of them looked up at the scene together.

[So this is what it's like.] Zijin said. The sky above Cloud Fang City was marked by starkly contrasting colors, one side scorching hot, the other serene and profound.

She was full of fighting spirit.

[Twenty days later, we will descend with lightning speed and completely eradicate these malignant tumors Plundering Clock!]

Although Yexiya is dead, Atiya's revenge must at least thoroughly cleanse the Plundering Clock to be worthy of the title.

Moreover, only after all this is over can Zijin choose what she wants to do and live the life she desires.

"Abidaqi how to handle this?" Su Ming asked.

During this period, the nighttime harassment by the Y-20 has never stopped.

The old elf's sleep schedule was thus altered, allowing him to intercept air raids on multiple occasions.

His quality of rest was significantly affected.

[Abidaqi is very strong.] Zijin said, [His Magic Power also exceeded expectations.]

Thanks to the observations from the Raccoon Dog Dream Theater, during this interaction, everyone noticed that Abidaqi's power was declining more slowly than calculated.

[Our "Betray the Master and Destroy the Ancestors" team has prepared several tactics and is currently practicing and refining them.] Zijin said. She raised her bone claw and pointed to the dark red cloud circle above the palace.

[Abidaqi's Burning Cloud Spell clearly draws upon the power of the earth's ley lines and is closely related to the "Kindling Magic Array."]

Our main concern is that there are still many variables involved.

A powerful progenitor-level mage, coupled with a magic array built over a century by a legendary dynasty.

This combination is something no one can help but fear.

[I will find out everything about the "Kindling Magic Array"!] Su Ming promised.

****

In the morning, Yuye set off to "stroll" over the city wall, gathering information and observing the situation.

Lang Yefu changed into an inconspicuous old outfit and went to the site of last night's gang battle, blending into the crowd of onlookers.

The Black Claw stronghold has been cordoned off.

People from the Cloud Fang City security department were inspecting the scene in twos and threes, but they were only low-ranking officers. Some of them were holding notebooks and recording the bodies on the ground and their manner of death one by one.

He seemed to be just going through the motions. "Don't linger, come back first," Ximina commanded.

"OK."

Lang Yefu responded, picked up the fruit she had just bought, and left the street corner as if nothing had happened.

Su Ming and Yise were organizing materials in the attic on the top floor of the theater, preparing for the teleportation.

"There are three sets of diving equipment in total. Isn't Lang Yefu going?" Yise asked.

Su Ming, she, and Ximina were naturally going.

"Someone needs to stay here to watch the place," Su Ming explained, "And Lang Yefu is terrified of water."

"So it's just a dry wolf." Yise pouted.

With a flash of light, the diving suit was teleported and reassembled.

The diving suit used for cave diving is a one-piece bodysuit that fits snugly around the entire body and is covered with numerous cyan magic star array runes.

"We finally got a swimsuit, but it turns out to be something even worse than a school swimsuit," Su Ming complained.

"Is this a swimsuit??" Yise picked up the wetsuit, looking at the complicated sealed skirt and waterproof zipper, turning it over and over, completely unsure where to begin.

"This is a dry suit; it's a bit complicated to use," the support team said.

In the video footage, a dark-skinned middle-aged man lays out the same type of equipment and begins to demonstrate each item.

This includes skills such as donning and doffing, buoyancy checks, underwater suspension, and emergency handling.

They spent over ten minutes just explaining how to properly wear clothes to seal them and expel excess air from inside.

Ximina also came to listen to the lesson.

Su Ming casually summoned her combat equipment.

Some of the smaller accessories aren't of particularly high quality, given that Ximina's rank is limited.

Their weapons were a rapier and a dagger.

At its core is a runic flute and a circular water harp with a ring of metal rods around its outer edge.

"Your instrument is quite peculiar," Su Ming said.

"This thing can be played underwater," Ximina explained.

She grabbed the edge of the water harp, swung it twice, and it made a whirring sound.

"And with its all-metal structure, it's easy to smash someone with it!"

"It certainly looks more comfortable to handle than a regular blunt weapon," Su Ming commented.

****

The water sprite Lingmo also appeared on the other side of the video.

"I want to learn too?" Jinxiu exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't you want to see the legendary ' Kindling Magic Array '?" Su Ming asked.

"Of course I'll go!" Jinxiu said.

"Then train hard."

Fairies can go into the water without any problem.

But to be able to cast spells normally at a depth of several hundred meters clearly requires a lot of skill. Jinxiu had no choice but to follow Lingmo and begin learning some spells and manipulation methods needed in deep water.

"Wait, how did you draw this hydrophobic rune?" Jinxiu protested repeatedly.

On the other end of the video, Lingmo raised her finger and displayed a complete rune.

Jinxiu's eyes widened.

"No, don't tell me you drew it with a flick of your wrist."

"You're a water sprite, but I'm not!"

The two fairies were arguing and bickering.

Zhifo looked left and right, feeling that something was amiss.

"Jinxiu, you've gained weight!" she suddenly said.

Jinxiu's little face puffed out.

"I've been working too hard lately, and I'm so hungry I'm bloated!"

"No!" Zhifo persisted, "You must have been eating too well lately with Su Ming!" This was true; Jinxiu not only had a concept-level supply of Magic Power, but also a constant supply of fruit with every meal.

Of all the members, she had the best food.

"No, the Corn here is awful," Jinxiu lied, her eyes wide open.

"Pinch your own belly fat before you speak!"

Those are abs!

"Soft."

"A fairy's muscles are soft!"