Chapter 77: Mantis Exoskeleton Synthesis

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Mantis Exoskeleton Synthesis

Watching this engineering-minded woman, who usually only knew how to tinker and hammer, reveal such a girlish demeanor, Lin Ji chuckled softly and didn’t continue teasing her.

Gu Yihan smiled and handed over the last set of black athletic wear that had been lying on the bed.

"Husband, this is for you."

Lin Ji was taken aback for a moment before accepting the clothes and giving them a glance.

It was a fairly well-made black windproof athletic set. The fabric felt sturdy and durable, perfectly suited for activities in the harsh sea breeze.

"You bought a set for me too?" Lin Ji was somewhat surprised.

Gu Yihan nodded with a smile, her eyes filled with a look of seeking praise.

"I told the shop owner I was picking it out for you."

"As soon as she heard, she absolutely refused to take any money, saying you were her benefactor and insisted on giving it to you."

Hearing this, Lin Ji couldn’t help but laugh.

That woman named Wang Xinxin was indeed a clever businessperson, knowing how to use small favors to win over customers.

"Good taste. The clothes fit well."

Without any hesitation, Lin Ji took off his shirt and pants—both torn in several places and stained with blood—right in front of the women.

As the shirt fell to the floor, the sharp, explosive lines of his muscles, enhanced by his Second-tier Constitution, were instantly exposed to the air.

At the sight of Lin Ji’s broad back and firm chest muscles, apart from Gu Yihan and Shen Manyun, who had seen it many times before, Su Qingyue, Tang Ling, Lin Yurou, and even the little girl Bai Taotao all blushed shyly, instinctively averting their gazes.

Yet they couldn’t help stealing glances at this man brimming with masculine charm from the corners of their eyes.

Lin Ji leisurely changed into the black athletic wear.

Not only did he appear more sharp and efficient, but he also exuded an icy, oppressive aura that made it difficult to look directly at him.

After changing into clean clothes, Lin Ji still felt sticky and uncomfortable from the dried sweat and ash clinging to his skin.

Without saying much, he simply took off the clothes again and turned to walk alone into the transparent glass bathroom in the Captain’s quarters. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Seeing this, Gu Yihan didn’t hesitate for a moment. Right in front of everyone, she began to undress.

With a few long strides from her eye-catching legs, she slipped into the bathroom, saying she wanted to help the Captain scrub his back.

Watching the two figures overlapping in the misty bathroom, Tang Ling’s eyes flashed with unconcealable envy and jealousy.

Su Qingyue, on the other hand, snorted coldly and turned her head away.

"Bootlicker."

She muttered under her breath before leaving the second floor without looking back.

Over half an hour later, Lin Ji washed away the weariness from his body and emerged wearing the well-fitting black windproof athletic set.

By now, the Steam Ship had already sailed away from the highest temperature zone at the core of the Magma Floating Island, but the air was still somewhat dry and hot.

Lin Ji descended the stairs to the first floor, intending to check on how the crew had settled in.

He first pushed open the door to the room shared by Shen Manyun and the others.

Inside, Lin Yurou was sitting awkwardly on the edge of Bai Taotao’s bed.

"Yurou, you’ll stay in this room from now on," Lin Ji said to the girl, who shrank her neck slightly.

"Later, I’ll have Tang Ling make another single bed. You can sleep by the window."

Hearing that she finally had her own designated sleeping spot, Lin Yurou’s eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded firmly.

"Thank you, Captain..."

Lin Ji then turned and pushed open the door to the adjacent room where Tang Ling and Su Qingyue were staying.

As soon as he entered, a refreshing coolness washed over him.

Tang Ling, who had been extremely dissatisfied with the room assignment earlier, was now sprawled on the bed, looking utterly content.

"So nice... staying with the campus belle Su, and we even get air conditioning," Tang Ling sighed blissfully.

Su Qingyue was sitting nearby, tidying her damp long hair. She merely cast a cold glance at Tang Ling and Lin Ji as he entered, offering no response.

Tang Ling rolled off the bed and hurried over to Lin Ji.

"Boss, you came just in time!"

As she spoke, she patted the Expansion Pouch hanging at her waist.

"I’ve already pre-processed all the materials for synthesizing the exoskeleton armor. We can start the smelting anytime!"

Seeing her eager expression, Lin Ji nodded with satisfaction.

"Let’s go to the deck. We’ll do it right here."

Hearing that a top-tier piece of equipment was about to be synthesized, Su Qingyue, who had been maintaining her cold demeanor, couldn’t stay seated any longer. She silently followed the two of them.

In the neighboring room, Shen Manyun and the others heard the commotion and also rushed out to the deck to watch.

Tang Ling quickly and skillfully retrieved the crimson Crimson Sky Forge from the power compartment.

Once the Smelting Furnace was set in place, the surrounding air grew scorching hot once more.

Without wasting words, Lin Ji summoned his Logbook of Navigation.

Seeing this, Tang Ling promptly brought up her own Logbook of Navigation and gently touched its interface against Lin Ji’s.

[Ding! Face-to-face transaction request detected.]

Only when both parties were physically present and their Logbooks of Navigation made contact could Evolution Points be transferred directly in a face-to-face transaction.

For remote online transactions, one could only indirectly transfer points by listing an item in the Trading House, as Wang Xinxin had done.

"Transferred to you."

Lin Ji directly sent over 500 Evolution Points.

"Let’s begin."

Tang Ling’s expression grew unprecedentedly solemn. This was her first time handling a Red Quality blueprint, one that even required a Magic Core.

She took a deep breath, first slapping the [Hidden-Wing Mantis Exoskeleton Blueprint] onto the furnace’s array core to activate it.

Next, with effort, she tossed the massive Withered Wood Reaper carapace into the furnace, followed by the pair of nearly transparent hidden wings.

Finally, she carefully placed the Level 3 Wind Attribute Magic Core, which emitted a cyan-green glow, inside.

"Begin!"

Tang Ling shouted, pressing both hands firmly against the sides of the furnace. The Spiritual Power within her body surged forth like a floodgate opening.

Instantly, a strange cyan-green wind glow mixed into the originally crimson furnace flames.

As the synthesis progressed, fine beads of sweat began to form on Tang Ling’s forehead, and her face visibly paled.

These were signs of severe Spiritual Power depletion.

Finally, the furnace emitted a low hum, and a dazzling red pillar of light shot into the sky!

As the light faded, a set of black exoskeleton armor, covered in intricate Mimicry patterns and radiating a cold metallic sheen, hovered quietly in mid-air.

"It’s... it’s done..."

Seeing the armor take form, Tang Ling’s tense nerves instantly relaxed.

A wave of intense dizziness washed over her. Her legs gave way, and her entire body slumped backward uncontrollably.

Lin Ji reacted swiftly, firmly wrapping his arm around her slender waist and pulling her into his embrace.

The two astonishingly soft mounds pressed firmly against Lin Ji’s hard chest.