Astral Pet Figure
72

Chapter 72: Solar Power Fort

After saying goodbye to everyone, Su Ping and Fan Yujing went to the front counter of the base to apply for departure and for Nether Ore to be decontaminated. Once this was done, they could head to the designated pick-up station within the base city to pick up the ore.

Without wasting any time, they brought their car to travel back to the city in the middle of the night.

When they reached the main intercity highway, the horizon was already bright. In the front passenger seat, Su Ping yawned boredly and started checking what he had obtained to complete the rescue mission.

“Solar Fort..?”

It seemed that it was a skill designed to improve his body. He did not need to read a book because it was already printed on his brain.

“Let me see.. Solar Bulwark is a bodily cultivation art created by an ancient clan of mythical creatures called the Jinwu, or ‘the golden sun crow’. Those who master this art will receive devastating strength that can punch through mountains and lands. Once perfected, it will even allow its user to shatter the stars and recover from fatal injuries.

“To harvest its power, you must draw in the energy of nature and develop a core of celestial consciousness inside, which in turn helps fortify your inner structure as well as your mentality. When you fully synchronize with this consciousness, you will be able to temporarily transform into a fledgling golden crow who can fly faster than sound and uneash an impinging blaze.”

Reading the description of the new skill had helped Su Ping eliminate the drowsiness completely. He knew he could expect something good from the system. But not this good!

If the book did not exaggerate things, this art must have come from a mythical creature that could use all kinds of unimaginable movements.

“I can even be a mythical crow? Amazing...” Want to not want him to feel very happy at this time. As he recalled, "myth" was the term for a very ancient creature that existed long before the Beast King appeared.

Also according to the book, this skill only had seven ranks, while proceeding to each subsequent rank was extremely difficult. At the same time, achieving a new rank would greatly improve its performance.

The first rank allowed its user to withstand ordinary swords and bullets using an unprotected body and move at sonic speed. This alone meant a strong defense, already as strong as the fifth rank Astral Pets.

Up to the next rank meant moving faster and surviving more deadly attacks such as armor-piercing weapons and cannons, which were usually used against rank eight or nine Astral Pets.

At the third rank, users will be able to activate the "golden crow mode" and use some of the basic moves available to this particular mythical beast. In extreme situations, he might even survive in space for a while.

"Evil! This thing could make a person as powerful as Astral Pet. Guess this is how pet fighters from the past were trained. Well, as masters of powerful pets, they themselves must be strong. ”

Their car has entered the city. Soon, they reached the road where Su Ping was picked up the other day.

"Here." Fan Yujing parked the car and would drive Su Ping away.

Su Ping was gone. “I'll see you.”

"Thank you for the help. Really."

“Do not mention it.”

Fan Yujing saw Su Ping leave without looking back and shook his head with a bitter smile.

…

"Hi mother?"

Su Ping's plan to sneak back into his room failed when he saw his mother, Li Qingru, waiting right inside the living room. Worse, Li Qingru gave him a cold gaze that made him feel as if he was being stared at by the real Beast King.

"Where Are You?"

"Come here."

Defeated, Su Ping advanced forward while getting ready for a good punch.

Li Qingru examined him and made sure there was no smell of alcohol or marijuana.

"Where are you going?"

“I'm helping someone with their computer—wait, no. I'm out taking care of someone's pet.”

“People's pets? It took all night?”

Su Ping had no choice but to follow through on his lies. Fortunately, his mother somewhat trusted him, as he was guarding their shop.

“Are you exhausting yourself? Ouch Buyung. Are you hungry?"

"Yes, uh, kinda."

“Let's wash your face. You look terrible. I'll prepare breakfast. And remember to wake your sister. If you feel unwell, you can take a leave of absence.”

Once again, Su Ping felt happy that he had a home and someone who cared for him in this cruel world.

"Thank you Mother."

She goes to the bathroom to take a shower as instructed, though she may need more time to take care of her watery eyes.

After this was done, he went to Su Lingyue's room upstairs. He did not need to knock on the door because Su Lingyue came out first as if she knew this would happen.

Su Lingyue gave him an unfriendly look, pushed him to the side, and walked away.

“Don't stay outside at night again.”

Su Ping raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant by that.

The breakfast duration was very quiet. As soon as Su Lingyue finished eating, she went to her academy without insulting Su Ping, which was extremely rare.

Su Ping still went to his shop as usual even though his mother had suggested. His trained body could spend a night or two without sleep without any problems.

Business is bad as usual. Some customers who decided to come were feared by the price tag, without giving Su Ping the opportunity to introduce his merchandise.

He's getting bored. Very, very bored.

Fortunately, he had something to do in the meantime, such as learning the four basic augmentation skills he had just acquired from the settler base. That skill worked by creating astral runes that were affixed to his pet, using his astral powers. To make the improvement last longer, he had to "paint" the runes as accurately and completely as possible.

Learning how to paint astral runes is usually difficult at first. But being someone who had read the Chaos Star Chart before could familiarize themselves with such runes much faster. Within a day, he managed to master all four first rank augmentation, which usually took one to three months for ordinary students, or even half a year for someone who was bad at learning.

Using his spare time, he also occasionally used a computer to search for tools and medicines that could help him train the Solar Bulwark, so that he could get it from the settler base later.

The first rank and foundation of the Solar Bulwark required an enormous amount of natural energy to upgrade its body. Using his energy, he could forge his body like he used a weapon, until his flesh became strong enough to fend off the sword and unleash devastating punches and kicks.