Oirat Guardian General of the Nation

The title "Guardian General of the Nation" was famous even to Lin Zhao, who was far away in the border regions.

His fame was comparable to Prince Jing'an, Zhu Chenhao, and in terms of prestige, he even surpassed the latter.

He was already a living symbol for both the Oirat and Lanting Holy City, an unshakeable guardian deity in the hearts of billions.

Although he had not truly stepped into the Legendary Master Warrior realm, his combat power was already far superior to that of a Legendary Master Warrior.

Such a person, only one step away from that supreme realm, could wrestle a Pangolin Dragon with his bare hands as if it were a trivial matter. He was terrifying indeed.

Lin Zhao's fingertips unconsciously traced the hilt of his sword, a flicker of ardor crossing his eyes: "Besides Father, I must see for myself what true strength looks like in a person like him."

After some inquiries, there was no trace of the Netherworld Grass.

Such a rare and obscure secret material was likely only sought after by those who practiced unorthodox techniques like the Netherworld Technique.

As for Evil Dust, even the apothecary shopkeepers shook their heads, claiming to have never heard of it.

"That's normal." Lin Zhao's brow twitched slightly, but he wasn't surprised. "Such spellcasting materials are not something ordinary shops would carry. I expected this."

The sales situation for internal energy techniques was the same as at the Treasure Pavilion – out of stock.

Lin Zhao understood. It seemed that no matter which country's territory, selling cultivation techniques openly was a taboo. To obtain high-level techniques, one ultimately had to resort to the Black Market.

The rules of the open world had never been able to stop those who truly sought the Way.

He immediately instructed Li Yue to purchase the Pangolin Dragon Essence for five hundred silver coins. This money was exchanged in the Black Market before he came.

He hadn't brought much travel money this time, as he had already made plans: find a secluded residence in Lanting Holy City, earn money while also acquiring Pangolin Dragon Essence to cultivate diligently, and not return to his territory for the time being.

After all, ordinary enemies were no longer a threat to him.

To Lin Zhao, his territory was merely a tool for generating wealth.

He was now a Grand Master Craftsman, his dependence on his territory greatly reduced. Moreover, apart from top experts like Xu Qin, he had no significant enemies.

If someone like Xu Qin were to find him, staying in his territory would be like walking into a trap. It was safer in Lanting Holy City, a place where hidden talents abounded.

With Li Yue's efforts, Lin Zhao found a courtyard in the central district.

The ground was paved with blue bricks, and the walls were high and the courtyard deep, a world of difference from the shantytowns in the outer city. The rent for one month was enough for a commoner in the outer city to work for an entire year.

After settling in, the remaining materials for the Mystic Dragon Secret Medicine were quickly gathered.

Lin Zhao prepared the secret medicine overnight. The rich medicinal aroma filled his nostrils, and he immediately sat cross-legged on the ground to begin cultivating – time was strength, and he was unwilling to waste even a moment.

He then asked Li Yue to rent a small blacksmith shop in the outer city, with a monthly rent of only one silver coin.

The shop was small, but heavily marked by smoke and fire, which was perfect for him to forge weapons and earn money in his spare time.

He only had a thousand silver coins left. To the commoners of Lanting City, this was already a fortune, but for Lin Zhao, who needed a large amount of Pangolin Dragon Essence, this money was barely enough to buy ten portions. To take dozens of portions back, earning money was an urgent matter.

These days, Lanting Holy City was becoming increasingly lively in preparation for the grand ceremony. The sounds of drums and music, and the cries of vendors, filled the day and night, giving the impression of universal celebration.

But Lin Zhao had no interest in this. He stayed indoors all day, immersing all his attention in cultivation.

Five days later, a muffled explosion suddenly sounded within the courtyard.

Brute Ox Technique, broke through to the Fourth Level!

Lin Zhao opened his eyes, his fist instinctively swept out, creating a gust of wind.

He could clearly feel a fierce force surging within him as his Blood Essence churned, as if trying to break through a constraint – the text on his proficiency panel clearly appeared:

Lin Zhao--

Brute Ox Technique: Fourth Level (Perfected State), Special Effect: Rage Burst (When Blood Essence surges during combat, strength temporarily increases by 30%).

He felt this fluctuating strength and couldn't help but chuckle: "It's more unpredictable than simple 'basic strength,' but it's still inferior. I still need to rely on the Iron Rhinoceros Technique; that's the real deal that can reach the Fifth Level!"

Another fifteen days passed, and the forging sounds from the blacksmith shop suddenly ceased.

Iron Rhinoceros Technique, reached the Fourth Level!

As True Qi circulated on his skin, it seemed to condense into a thin layer of armor – the numbers on his proficiency panel flickered. Although the words "Perfected State" did not appear, a crucial annotation was added:

Lin Zhao--

Iron Rhinoceros Technique: Fourth Tier (1/20000), Special Effect: Rhino Armor Stacking (Each time True Qi is circulated, an additional layer of temporary defense is added to the skin, stacking up to 3 layers, capable of negating some of the impact from Peak Martial Master level attacks).

"As expected, it didn't disappoint me!" A gleam appeared in Lin Zhao's eyes. He raised his hand and touched his arm, feeling a faint coolness formed by True Qi. "Once I cultivate it to the Fifth Level, I will fully integrate the Black Bear Technique and Brute Ox Technique into it. Combined with this 'Rhino Armor Stacking,' my defense will increase by another layer!"

In addition to the breakthroughs in these two techniques, the proficiency of the Mystic Dragon Technique skyrocketed with the aid of the secret medicine.

Lin Zhao could clearly feel that the Mystic Dragon True Qi within his body was becoming more solidified, circulating to his chest as if it were substantial. The cloth armor, scale armor, chainmail, and heart mirror at his chest gained another layer of True Qi protection, making it five layers in total!

What surprised him even more was that when the True Qi attached to his forged long sword, it could easily cut through the refined iron that was previously difficult to sever – the proficiency panel updated in a timely manner, and a small line appeared after Mystic Dragon Technique: New Special Effect · Mystic Dragon Armor Piercing (When True Qi is attached to a weapon, it can ignore 10% of the defense of low-level armor).

"With such stacking defense and armor-piercing, who among my peers can withstand me head-on?" Lin Zhao touched his chest and nodded with satisfaction.

During these days, the materials for the "Heart Guardian Seal" that he had entrusted Li Yue to collect were also ready. Today was the time to test it.

Lin Zhao sat cross-legged in the courtyard, his hands fluttering like butterflies, his finger seals changing rapidly like afterimages. Then, a handful of shimmering materials were scattered from his palm.

"Buzz—"

A mysterious power instantly surged into him, flowing through his meridians to every part of his body.

The materials, mainly composed of Radiant Crystals, suddenly erupted with brilliant light. The powder, like stardust, enveloped his body. A faint white light, starting as dots, then lines, then a surface, instantly formed an inverted bell-shaped shield.

Lin Zhao tentatively reached out his hand, and his palm passed straight through the protective barrier.

"Hm? Did it fail?" He frowned slightly.

Just then, a mechanism pre-arranged in the corner of the courtyard was suddenly triggered. A stone the size of a fist flew towards him with a whistling sound.

Lin Zhao, already prepared within the barrier, clenched his right fist. If the barrier was ineffective, he would immediately shatter the stone.

"Bang!"

The stone fiercely collided with the barrier. The barrier merely trembled slightly, ripples spreading across its surface. It not only steadily absorbed the force but also sent a faint rebound force back along the stone—the stone instantly shattered into pieces, its fragments scattering with a subtle explosive force.

"It worked! There's even a trick to 'rebounding'!" Surprise flashed in Lin Zhao's eyes as he stared at the shattered stones on the ground, murmuring, "The 'Heart Guardian Rebound' characteristic is quite practical. It can block and also make the attacker suffer a small loss. Although I don't know if it can withstand the attack of a Peak Martial Master, having such an effect at the First Level upon completion is already rare."

He tapped the barrier with his fingertip, his voice calm but unable to hide his smile: "After all, this barrier's main purpose is to defend against demonic and strange entities. Physical defense still relies on True Qi and armor. However... with the Mystic Dragon Technique at Fifth Level for Heart Protection + Iron Rhinoceros Technique at Third Tier for Armor Stacking + Heart Guardian Rebound, with six layers of stacking and counter-damage, who can harm me with ordinary attacks?"

A sense of security washed over him like a tide. Five breaths later, the barrier dissipated into specks of white light.

The Proficiency Panel updated in a timely manner:

Lin Zhao--

Heart Guardian Seal: First Level (1/1000), Characteristic: Heart Guardian Rebound (When blocking an attack, reflects 10% of the enemy's attack power, doubled against demonic entities).

According to the Wen Clan's secret records, the duration and defensive power of the Heart Guardian Seal's barrier increase with cultivation depth and are also closely related to bloodline concentration.

This seal is divided into three stages: First Rebirth Phase: Guarding the Heart, Second Phase: Mutual Guarding of the Heart, Third Phase: Destroying Form, Guarding the Heart.

Lin Zhao's current white barrier is merely the weakest introductory level.

But once he reaches the Destroying Form, Guarding the Heart realm, he will be physically invulnerable to blades and spears, immune to spells and demonic entities, and the rebound force can increase to a terrifying 30%!

The Wen Clan's ancestors, relying on this Destroying Form, Guarding the Heart Seal, fought their way through waves of demonic entities seven times, earning legendary status.

This is Lin Zhao's goal.

It's a pity that the spellcasting materials he brought for this trip to Oirat are limited, and Lin Zhao is unwilling to waste Radiant Crystals on arduous cultivation.

He took stock and found that he had enough materials for about ten uses of the Heart Guardian Seal and over twenty uses of the Blazing Sun Seal, more than enough to serve as his trump cards.

"Although Lanting Holy City in Oirat is full of experts, there are probably only a handful who can force me to use my seals. Moreover, with the 'Guardian General of the Nation' stationed here, if I don't cause trouble, who can easily find trouble with me?" Lin Zhao stretched his limbs, his joints cracking.

His cultivation temporarily concluded, he changed into ordinary clothes and quietly went out—now that he had the 'Mystic Dragon Armor Piercing' special effect from the Mystic Dragon Technique, it would be perfect for forging weapons: "First, I'll embed some 'Blazing Sun Runes' into the weapons and sell them to Xuan Yao Pavilion for some silver coins."

Previously, as a VIP of Xuan Yao Pavilion under the identity of 'Hundred Refinements Heavenly Craftsman', he now only needed to embed a small amount of Blazing Sun Seal material into the weapons during forging. The finished weapons would then inflict a weak burning damage on demonic entities, directly doubling their price.

This method of embedding runes neither wastes precious materials nor allows him to earn money quickly, perfectly solving his urgent need.

A great city like Lanting Holy City naturally has no shortage of Xuan Yao Pavilion branches.

Lin Zhao knew the location of the branch by heart and walked briskly towards the outer city.

Before long, the clamor of the outer city reached his ears.

As Lin Zhao turned the street corner, his gaze suddenly sharpened—in front of his small blacksmith shop, a group of fierce-looking men had gathered.