47: Chapter 47 Armor, the Black Armor Shield!

Judge Zhou glanced at Zhou Yuan's departing back, withdrew his gaze, and maintained his usual expression.

"Alright, the competition is over. First place overall, Lin Fan. Second place overall, Ye Qing. Third place overall, Zhou Yuan."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Come to the association building tomorrow at nine in the morning to collect your prizes. Now, you are dismissed."

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Ye Qing stood in place, looking at Lin Fan with a complex expression.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't get the words out.

Lin Fan saw her expression and smiled.

"If you want to say something, just say it. Isn't it uncomfortable to hold it in?"

Ye Qing glared at him.

"Who's holding it in? I was just..."

She paused and took a deep breath.

"Lin Fan, you're impressive."

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Young Miss Ye can actually compliment people?"

Ye Qing's face flushed, and she immediately let out a cold snort.

"Don't get cocky! I'm only admitting that your ability as a Breeder is actually decent, but next time I will definitely win!"

Lin Fan nodded with a smile.

"Alright, alright, I'll be waiting."

Ye Qing looked at his devil-may-care attitude, grinding her teeth in frustration, but she couldn't do anything about him.

She turned to leave, but stopped after taking two steps.

"Um..."

Lin Fan looked at her.

"Hm?"

Ye Qing stood with her back to him, her voice muffled.

"That Rock-Armored Lizard of yours is truly impressive. I misjudged it."

After saying this, she walked away quickly, her ponytail swaying behind her.

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

This girl is quite the tsundere.

The next morning, the sun was bright.

Lin Fan arrived at the third floor of the association building on time.

The hall was much quieter today than yesterday, with only a few people present.

Ye Qing stood by the window, holding a check and looking down at it.

Zhou Yuan was also there, standing on the other side. His expression was still not great, but he was calmer than yesterday.

Judge Zhou walked out of his office, holding a metal case and a kraft paper bag.

He walked up to Lin Fan and handed the items over.

"Lin Fan, your champion's reward. 500,000 in cash, and this High Grade Spirit Rank armor."

Lin Fan took the heavy kraft paper bag, which contained five bundles of cash.

He looked at the metal case again.

The case was not big, about forty centimeters in length and width. It was silver-gray all over, with fine patterns engraved on the surface, from which a faint fluctuation of spiritual power could be felt.

Judge Zhou gestured for him to open it.

Lin Fan pressed the latch and lifted the lid.

A shield lay quietly inside.

The shield was not large, about thirty centimeters in diameter, dark brown in color, and covered with fine tortoise shell patterns on the surface.

The most unique part was the center of the shield, which was inlaid with a fist-sized dark gold crystal. Inside the crystal, there was a faint flow of light, as if it were alive.

Lin Fan reached out and touched it.

It felt warm and smooth, not like metal, but more like some kind of special bone-based Material.

Judge Zhou explained from the side.

"This piece of armor is called the 'Black Armor Shield'. It was forged over seven days and seven nights, using the back shell of a Spirit Rank Iron-Armored Turtle as the main Material, supplemented by the belly shell fragments of a Rock Turtle."

He pointed to the dark gold crystal in the center of the shield.

"This is a Counter-Shock Stone, a Spirit Rank Earth-type Material. With it, this shield can not only defend but also reflect a portion of the force from incoming attacks back at the attacker."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

"Counter-shock?"

Judge Zhou nodded.

"Yes. The greater the force the enemy uses, the greater the counter-shock. Although it's impossible to reflect one hundred percent of the force, it can reflect thirty to forty percent."

He paused.

"This shield is considered High Grade among Spirit Rank armor. If you encounter an opponent of the same level, as long as you hold the shield properly, if they hit you, they will suffer a bit themselves."

The more Lin Fan heard, the more satisfied he became.

He was just worrying about his weak defense; this shield was practically tailor-made for him.

He took the shield out of the case and tested it in his hand.

The weight was moderate, neither too light nor too heavy, just right for holding up with one hand.

There were two buckles on the back of the shield, which could be fixed to the arm, freeing up both hands.

Lin Fan fastened the buckles onto his left forearm and swung his arm.

The shield sat firmly against his arm without hindering his movement, and he could raise it to block at any time when needed.

Good stuff!

Judge Zhou looked at his satisfied expression and smiled.

"Alright, put it away. Although this thing is good, it's not invincible."

Lin Fan nodded, put the shield back into the case, and closed the lid.

He looked at Judge Zhou.

"Thank you, Judge Zhou."

Judge Zhou waved his hand.

"Don't thank me, you earned it yourself."

After Judge Zhou left, Ye Qing walked over.

She looked at the metal case in Lin Fan's hand, then looked at him.

"Congratulations."

Lin Fan smiled.

"Didn't you already congratulate me yesterday?"

Ye Qing glared at him.

"I want to, is that not allowed?"

Lin Fan raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright, do as you please."

Zhou Yuan stood not far away, his gaze locked tightly on this side.

He had been pursuing Ye Qing for a full half year.

Giving gifts, flowers, Materials, giving everything he possibly could.

And Ye Qing had only given him a polite smile.

But now, she was smiling so naturally at some brat who popped out of nowhere.

Zhou Yuan's expression was so gloomy that it seemed like it could drip water.

Then, without saying a word, he turned and strode away.

His leather shoes clicked against the floor, making a dull sound.

Lin Fan heard the commotion and looked up.

He happened to catch Zhou Yuan's departing back, and the fleeting, extremely cold look on his side profile.

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow.

"What's... up with this guy?"

Ye Qing looked in the direction of his gaze and saw Zhou Yuan's retreating figure; her eyes looked a bit unnatural.

Lin Fan saw her expression and smiled.

"Alright, he's gone now, tell me."

Ye Qing hesitated for a moment.

"Tell you what?"

Lin Fan put his hands in his pockets and spoke slowly.

"Zhou Yuan. The way he looked at me was like I was his sworn enemy. I just won a competition against him, is that necessary?"

Ye Qing was silent for a few seconds.

"Zhou Yuan's father is also in the Dongyun City Breeder Association; he is the Vice President, a position only below my father."

She paused and continued.

"Also, Zhou Yuan has been pursuing me, but I have never agreed..."

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"So he treats me as a romantic rival?"

Ye Qing's face turned even redder.

"What romantic rival? Don't talk nonsense!"

Lin Fan watched her embarrassed and angry expression and laughed even harder.

"Alright, alright, not a romantic rival, but an imaginary rival. Anyway, he just doesn't like me, right?"

Ye Qing was silent for a few seconds and nodded.

"This person is extremely petty. You won against him and made him lose face in public, so he definitely resents you. And now that he sees me with you..."

She didn't continue.

Lin Fan was lost in thought.

Ye Qing looked at him, her eyes filled with a hint of worry.

"Lin Fan, be careful. Zhou Yuan is the type of person who would do anything. He wouldn't dare do anything openly, since the competition was fair, but secretly..."

Lin Fan nodded.

"Understood."

Ye Qing saw his indifferent attitude and got anxious.

"Why are you still like this? I'm talking to you seriously!"

Lin Fan smiled.

"It's fine. His dad is the Vice President, but my master is the President."