Chapter 351: Divine Armor

Li Pin examined the documents Xing Ying handed over. They contained the results of an investigation into the towns around Hualong Mountain.

According to the documents, the crime rates in the country had skyrocketed ever since the Molong Royal Family fled.

Rather than answering Lin Langya, Li Pin spoke directly to Xing Ying. "Have Shi Shihu arrange for personnel to maintain order locally. Enforce the law strictly. Anyone who tries to take advantage should be punished without leniency."

"Yes, sir," Xing Ying responded.

However, she quickly paused, a thought coming to mind. "Which... country's law should we act according to?"

"For now, adhere to Molong's law," Li Pin replied. "In troubled times, strict enforcement is necessary."

"Strictly enforcing Molong's laws...." Xing Ying hesitated. "This may be... difficult."

Li Pin looked at her, puzzled.

"If it pleases you, Martial God Li," Lin Langya interjected, "I might be able to clarify Xing Ying's concerns."

Li Pin shifted his gaze to him, awaiting an explanation.

Lin Langya gravely revealed, "If we truly enforce Molong's laws... then every citizen would be guilty...."

"What do you mean?"

"It's true," Xing Ying said with a wry smile. "Molong's legal system was crafted from imperial regulations, amended and expanded over time. It has now become so absurd that even taking a sip of water without paying tax could lead to prison.

"Under these laws, drawing water from a well is treated as illegal mining, chopping firewood to cook is environmental pollution, and drying clothes outside is considered damaging the city's aesthetic. Each activity is criminalized under Molong's law."

With a bitter smile, she continued, "This is a deliberate design by Molong's ruling class. Officials can easily find a hundred ways to detain commoners, openly securing their control under the pretext of legitimate authority."

Li Pin frowned.

"Xing Ying's words are true," Lin Langya added, his tone somber. "Martial God Li, if you examine Molong's laws word by word, you'll find that... to be born as a commoner is to be guilty. To simply live is a crime."

Upon hearing this, Li Pin fell into a momentary silence, appearing deep in thought.

"Rulers and the ruled have always been opposing classes," Lin Langya went on. "Even if the ruled aspire to change their situation, once they assume power, their perspective changes, and they eventually become the very kind of ruler they once resisted.

He concluded, "Those who slay dragons eventually become dragons themselves. It's an ancient, unchanging truth." [1]

"So you're suggesting that your actions aren't about right or wrong, but merely a reflection of this inevitable cycle?" said Li Pin.

Lin Langya quickly lowered his head. "It's just that we lack the wisdom to break this curse of opposition... Perhaps only someone as insightful as you, Martial God Li, can disrupt this pattern. For us, the only path forward is to follow your will and dedicate ourselves fully to this cause. We're willing to give everything for it."

Li Pin acknowledged his words, then turned back to Xing Ying. "First, restore order in Molong. Also, have Shi Shihu and the Heavenly Martial Alliance prepare a formal plan as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir," Xing Ying responded

She quickly conveyed his orders.

Li Pin turned his gaze back to Lin Langya, contemplating the value of the legendary astral equipment.

"Any members of the Lin Clan who demonstrate adequate skills in the assessment may participate individually in restoring Molong's order. If they're exceptional, they'll stand out naturally."

With this, Li Pin had granted the Lin Clan a fair chance to compete alongside the Dragonfist Sect, the Heavenly Martial Alliance, and other Martial Saints from across the world who had pledged their allegiance.

Lin Langya understood Li Pin's intention and respectfully bowed. "Thank you, Martial God Li. The Lin Clan will not disappoint you."

"Good. You may leave now. The Dragonfist Sect will take charge of Black Gold City," Li Pin instructed.

"We will cooperate fully."

With this matter settled, Li Pin stood up to leave. Yet, just as he turned, Lin Langya hesitated briefly before asking, "Martial God Li... are you familiar with the Great Moon Imperial Tomb?"

Li Pin was well aware of it. "I am."

Strictly speaking, the Great Moon Dynasty had lasted for over four centuries. During that time, it had established an immense imperial tomb. But in these turbulent times, the tomb and its surroundings had become plagued by strange phenomena, turning it into a haven for ferocious beasts and demonic creatures.

Back when Great Moon still stood, the tomb would occasionally be cleared. However, since its fall, it had become overrun with beasts. In the nearby royal hunting grounds, the area was now most densely populated by groups of Wild Boarmen.

Each of these Wild Boarmen possessed qi and blood almost as potent as that of Top-Tier Astral Cultivators. Though their strength barely matched that level, their raw aggression and primal intensity were unmistakable.

Alongside these creatures, other ferocious beasts and demonic creatures infested the area, making the thousand-mile expanse around the Great Moon Imperial Tomb the most treacherous region within former Great Moon territory.

It was even more dangerous than Taibai's Death Valley and the Underground Palace, falling just short of the Degenerate Temple and the Demon-Sealing Fortress. It was also this perilous region that had kept the Royal Empire and Great Shang from fully occupying the region, leaving it as a buffer zone.

"I've heard about it," Li Pin replied.

Lin Langya took a deep breath. "To date, the Great Moon Imperial Tomb is the most perilous region within its former borders. During its final days, Great Moon poured its resources into creating two supreme treasures. One was the Sword of Destiny, though only half-finished. The other was a divine armor, crafted from materials gathered from a foreign dimension."

He paused for a moment. "Back then, Great Moon placed even greater hopes on this divine armor than the Sword of Destiny. Even with the advent of Legendary figures, the main branch of Great Moon believed that with the power of this armor, they could foster martial artists to rival those Legends. Yet, during the fall of Great Moon, the last elite forces retreated deep into the tomb, and with the armor, were buried there, lost to time.

Li Pin listened and managed to piece things together. "Divine armor?"

Aside from the main Astral Cultivation system, the modern world included Great Shang's Astral Palace techniques, Solar Radiance's beast-taming methods, and the well-known astral equipment system.

Rumors had long suggested that Great Moon was the birthplace of astral equipment. However, before it could fully develop this system, Great Moon was divided, and its knowledge spread globally. Consequently, each of the Six Extremities acquired this technology, leading to the widespread use of astral equipment.

Therefore, it was certainly possible that Great Moon would have concealed astral equipment from the world.

"What are you implying?" Li Pin asked.

"Martial God Li, while your reputation is immense, so much so that even the Six Extremities wouldn't dare provoke you lightly... that is based on the assumption that opposing you yields fewer gains than potential repercussions," Lin Langya continued, his tone steady. "But... if an irreconcilable conflict of interest were to arise..."

Li Pin's mind immediately turned to a possibility—the Skill Crystals from the Black Gold Mine.

What did the Skill Crystal signify?

Inscribing the Skill Crystal with a legendary spell would allow them to cultivate a Legendary Mage in a remarkably short time! Its value surpassed that of rare astral equipment. [2]

Once the functions of Skill Crystals were revealed, people would not hesitate to exchange them with precious stones like Power Stones or Titan Stones, used to forge rare astral equipment. However, asking them to trade a piece of astral equipment for a Skill Crystal... wouldn't sit well with them.

"Xingchen has been captured by the Royal Empire... and Astral Cultivators possess incredible methods. A Master Astral Cultivator could forcibly hypnotize a Martial God.

"He may not be able to withstand it for long. Thus, Martial God Li, you should leverage your reputation to pressure the Royal Empire into releasing him. At the same time, you must also prepare for the consequences."

Lin Langya sighed. "Of course, if you are willing to forgo those interests, these dangers would vanish."

Li Pin remained silent. For some time, he had been researching the feasibility of creating an "artificial Ghoul King."

While other locations proved hard to work with, deep within the Black Gold Mine, in an area he called the Ghoul King Hall, success seemed plausible. Positioned at the intersection of all mine tunnels, this chamber was saturated with Death Aura from surrounding veins, giving his Ghoul King experiment a promising start.

The twenty or so Ghouls he had placed in the Ghoul King Hall had already begun to undergo varying degrees of mutation.

The cost? A significant investment in Astral Crystals.

Just as those Ghoul Kings absorbed energy from astral equipment, these Ghouls required a vast amount of Death Aura, Astral Crystals, and an unidentified factor that Li Pin had yet to clarify, to evolve into its King variant.

If not for the shortage of Astral Crystals, those Ghouls might have already transformed into Ghoul Kings. Once the mutations succeeded, it would equate to twenty Skill Crystals.

If Skill Crystals could be produced in ample quantities, the value of the Black Gold Mine and the Ghoul King Hall would be astronomical —enough to shift the balance of the world.

Therefore, Lin Langya's warnings were not mere exaggerations.

"So, you're suggesting I venture into the depths of the Great Moon Imperial Tomb to find that divine armor?" Li Pin inquired.

Lin Langya nodded. "The Imperial Tomb is indeed perilous, teeming with creatures that rival Master Astral Cultivators. However, unlike them, you, Martial God Li, could infiltrate the tomb, locate the armor, and retreat once you have it."

"Wait!" Li Pin interjected suddenly. "Did you say there's a Boarman with the strength of a Master Astral Cultivator in the Imperial Tomb?"

Lin Langya nodded. "Yes!"

Lin Baichi chimed in, "We once tried entering the Imperial Tomb to search for the armor. The Scarlet Boarmen and Dark Boarmen we encountered were manageable, but then a massive Pale Boarman blocked our path."

A flicker of fear crossed his face as he recalled the encounter. "That creature had, without a doubt, the power of a Master Astral Cultivator. If we hadn't escaped quickly, we'd have perished there."

"Very well," Li Pin said without hesitation. "Give me the detailed information on the Great Moon Imperial Tomb!"

1. A metaphor that highlights the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of maintaining humility and integrity. ☜

2. legendary spell is another way of saying legendary astral technique, given the astral palace path cultivators are referred to as mages. ☜