“This is indeed a good plan.” Li Zhengshen had arrived at Lu Li’s small courtyard, watching the Heavenly Deduction Sect disciple who was debugging.
“But Lu Li, do you have enough spirit stones?”
“I’ve saved up about six hundred low-grade spirit stones so far.” Lu Li said.
“I also asked the junior Heavenly Deduction Sect disciples. Once the Spirit Armor is activated, it consumes three per breath.”
“Yes, and for a cultivator, the Divine Sense and True Yuan consumption is also high. But now that you’re about to infiltrate the Yao race… having a Spirit Armor as a backup is appropriate.” Li Zhengshen looked at the Spirit Armor being assembled, then waved his hand, using a Restriction to isolate the space.
“Let’s spar a match. I want to see your True Yuan circulation.”
“No problem.” Lu Li thought for a moment, then drew the Yin Yang Sword.
This action made Li Zhengshen raise an eyebrow.
“Not using Light Gauze?”
“…Well, because the Spirit Armor is a long sword.” Lu Li explained offhand.
“True. This kind of heavy Spirit Armor wouldn’t suit such an airy weapon.” Li Zhengshen flicked his wrist, and a huge battle axe appeared in his hand.
“Lu Li, I’ll suppress my cultivation to the Initial Foundation Establishment Stage. You can use any technique.”
“Yes!” Lu Li tapped his feet, activated his footwork, and slid toward Li Zhengshen, leaving a trail of frost with each step.
“Flowing Wind and Returning Snow of the Yin Yang Sect.” Li Zhengshen shook his battle axe, shattering the frost on the ground instantly.
“As expected of a Golden Core True Person.” Lu Li leaped into the air, his robes spreading like a flower. “Bewitch Heart!”
With a soft shout, nine fox tails bloomed from his waist.
Li Zhengshen immediately closed his eyes, his Divine Sense surging like a tide. He naturally raised his battle axe, pointing its tip at Lu Li’s chest.
“Enchanting Sound.” Lu Li bit the tip of his tongue and sprayed a puff of pink mist, which clung to the axe’s tip.
“The Yin Yang Sect’s techniques really aren’t suited for frontal attacks, but your adaptability is strong.” Li Zhengshen tapped his own neck with his free hand, temporarily sealing his hearing. “But what about your sword technique?”
“I was just about to use it.” Lu Li extended his long sword and lightly tapped the axe’s tip.
The sword bent like a crescent moon, then rebounded like a bow, launching Lu Li into the air.
Then he flicked his Light Gauze, stepped onto it, and gazed down at Li Zhengshen, who had his eyes closed and ears sealed. “True Person Li, forgive my offense.”
“It’s a friendly spar, unavoidable.” Li Zhengshen swung the battle axe, scattering the pink mist clinging to it in a circle around him. “Any other moves?”
“Here it comes.” Lu Li smiled. “Bewitch Heart.”
“A soul attack?” Li Zhengshen gripped the axe with his right hand, ready to throw it toward Lu Li’s position in the air. “Huh?!”
The moment he spoke, the courtyard where the mist had fallen suddenly writhed. A large number of rocks came alive, reattaching themselves to one end of the battle axe.
The sudden change in weight caused a slight shift in his center of gravity.
“Damn…” If Li Zhengshen were at the Golden Core Stage, this extra weight would have had no effect.
But suppressing himself to the Initial Foundation Establishment Stage meant suppressing his strength as well.
Taking advantage of the instability, Lu Li’s sword descended naturally, resting on the other end of the battle axe.
“Mountain Breaker.”
“Boom!”
The rocks at the other end exploded, carrying immense force as they sprayed toward Li Zhengshen’s face.
“That’s enough. As expected of the Yin Yang Sect’s Saintess.” Li Zhengshen released his cultivation suppression. The rocks stopped in front of his face, frozen by his Divine Sense, then fell back to their original spots in the courtyard. “An ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would be no match for you.”
“You flatter me, True Person.” Lu Li landed, gaining a subtle understanding of a Golden Core True Person’s capabilities.
“It’s sincere praise. Perhaps we can adjust our thinking a bit…” Li Zhengshen dispelled the Restriction and looked at the nearly tuned Spirit Armor.
“It was too hasty to think all soldiers could use it from the start. We can equip you Saint Sons and Saint Daughters first.”
“And the initial cost isn’t something ordinary soldiers can bear.” Lu Li walked toward the Spirit Armor. “Can I just walk in?”
“Yes, then infuse the Spirit Armor with your Divine Sense.” The Heavenly Deduction Sect disciple who was debugging bowed to Lu Li.
“Holy Maiden Lu, the basic debugging is complete. Even if you handle it poorly, the worst outcome is exhausting your True Yuan and Divine Sense, leaving you a bit tired. There’s no danger.”
“Understood.” Lu Li leaped into the air and landed in the center of the Spirit Armor. “This is a bit like stilts.”
“Yes, but the main feature is that it carries magical artifacts. When powered by True Yuan, they can achieve the escape effect of the Blood Burning Technique.” The Heavenly Deduction Sect disciple explained.
“The armor also has strong shields to withstand heavy attacks, and the limbs have artifacts that amplify strength.”
“Very convenient.” Lu Li stepped inside, stretched out his hand, and slowly filled the thick Spirit Armor with his Divine Sense.
“But the True Yuan consumption is high.”
“Yes. To use the Spirit Armor, you need at least the Initial Foundation Establishment Stage… Without using spirit stones, it consumes one point of True Yuan per breath.” The disciple’s figure was temporarily obscured by the thick face armor.
Then, as his Divine Sense surged and his True Yuan drained rapidly, Lu Li could once again see everything in the courtyard.
“Holy Maiden Lu, how does it feel?” The Heavenly Deduction Sect disciple was now the height of a child, only reaching Lu Li’s thigh.
“It’s a bit hard to get used to, but the sense of power is really good.” Lu Li carefully felt the consumption of True Yuan in his dantian, as well as the amplification of his strength.
If he had worn the Spirit Armor when facing the three-tailed demon beast earlier, he was absolutely sure he could have torn it apart with the Sky Breaking Technique.
When he took another step, Lu Li felt that his control over his body was much more sluggish than before.
But as he slowly paced around the courtyard, this unfamiliar feeling diminished somewhat.
‘If I encounter an enemy I can’t face head-on in the Yao Kingdom, this thing might buy me ten or more breaths of escape time…’
Lu Li thought as he walked.
“Lu Li, that’s enough. Your Divine Sense consumption is high.” After about ten breaths, Li Zhengshen’s voice echoed in Lu Li’s mind.
“If you continue, you’ll collapse.”
“Yes.” Lu Li had been focused on adapting his body and hadn’t noticed his Divine Sense depletion.
“Spirit Armor, release.” As he murmured softly, the armor opened from the middle.
Taking in the cold air, Lu Li realized his forehead was soaked in sweat and strands of hair were stuck to his cheeks.
“Ahem…” Everyone in the courtyard coughed lightly, then turned away.
Several male Heavenly Deduction Sect disciples blushed, their eyes fixed on the papers in their hands.
A few female disciples took out robes and handed them to him.
“Huh?” Lu Li looked down and saw that he was drenched in sweat, his robes clinging to his body.
“Ah…” At such a sight, Lu Li could only laugh bitterly.
Because the first thought that came to his mind was that he was used to it.
Then came the desire to wash up properly and relax in the hot spring.
‘I really hope this female body can end soon.’ Lu Li thanked the female disciples, then evaporated his robes with a surge of True Yuan.
“…Well, I’ll still go to the hot spring.”