Star Artifact

Liu Yingying happily went off to brew medicine for Li Yunyao and Lin Xiaolu.

Li Pin gnawed on bread as he watched the three chatting and laughing while they worked in the kitchen, then shifted his attention to his phone.

With the Jiangzhou Tournament about to begin, the Martial Arts Association had already sent over the tournament rules.

They were basically the same set from previous years.

The most important rule was to stop at the proper point.

If someone still dealt a killing blow after their opponent had already lost the ability to resist, they would not only be stripped of their qualification to compete, but could also face sentencing afterward depending on the circumstances.

But if they could not hold back amid a fierce life-and-death struggle...

The organizers had brought in a high-grade Star Artifact.

For martial artists, so long as they did not die on the spot, this Star Artifact could basically drag them back from death's door.

After reading through the information, Li Pin's phone rang.

Li Pin glanced at it and answered. Fang Lingjue's voice quickly came through. "At home?"

"Yes."

"Your Star Artifact is finished. I'll bring it over."

"It's done?"

Li Pin perked up. "I'll head to the martial hall in a bit."

"That works."

Fang Lingjue answered crisply and hung up.

Li Pin immediately instructed the two girls on taking their medicine, then brought them to Changfeng Martial Hall.

They could use Changfeng Martial Hall's facilities to maximize the medicine's effects.

Li Pin led the group into the elevator.

The moment they arrived at Changfeng Martial Hall, everyone who knew him greeted him one after another.

"Martial Master Li is here."

"Martial Master Li has already achieved Embrace Dan, yet he still trains so diligently?"

"Exactly. It's because of that unyielding spirit that Martial Master Li could Embrace Qi into Dan at only twenty-two. Speaking of which, Changfeng Martial Hall now has two Embrace Dan experts under one roof. Not many places in all of Canglong City can rival that lineup."

Everyone, including some students who trained regularly at Changfeng Martial Hall, wore broad smiles.

Li Pin nodded to each of them in acknowledgment.

"Embrace Dan?"

Li Yunyao, following behind him, was stunned when she heard that.

After nearly half a year, she was no longer a complete beginner who had just stepped into the world of martial arts.

She knew very well what the words "Embrace Dan" meant.

It meant someone who could easily earn an Associate Senior Title without needing to pull strings.

At any university, such a person could effortlessly become a professor in the martial arts department, specifically guiding outstanding students in their assaults on one tournament after another and winning glory for the school.

After all, while provincial martial arts tournaments, national martial arts tournaments, and the Number One Martial Arts Tournament Under Heaven were the competitions most valued across the nation and the entire Tianyuan Federation, those events were only held once every three years. In ordinary times, there were plenty of competitions held every two years or every year, and their importance was not the slightest bit inferior.

Many people—and many schools—were rated based on those competitions.

And from what these people were saying...

"Brother, you... have already achieved Embrace Dan?"

"I could kill a Cat Demon months ago. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to achieve Embrace Dan now?"

Li Pin replied.

"This..."

For a moment, Li Yunyao did not know how to respond.

But moments later, she cast the thought aside and immediately looked at him with worship written all over her face. "Brother, you're amazing! This is incredible! I like you so much!"

Seeing how adorable she looked, Li Pin could not help reaching out to pat her head. Four fingers slipped into her glossy black, silky hair and gave it a vigorous tousle as he laughed. "What's this? Later, I'll let you know that I'm even more formidable than this."

"Ah! I washed my hair right before coming here. You've messed it all up."

Li Yunyao cried out.

"Heh."

Li Pin withdrew his hand in satisfaction.

He pointed toward the training area. "You girls go train by yourselves first. I'm going to find Master Fang."

Just then, he saw Shanhu walking over and called to her, "Perfect timing. Help me keep an eye on the two of them."

"Alright."

Shanhu nodded.

Li Pin had gotten membership cards for Li Yunyan and Lin Xiaolu at Changfeng Martial Hall. This was not their first time coming here to practice, so Shanhu was no stranger to either of them.

"You're here?"

In the office, Fang Lingjue saw Li Pin push open the door and immediately slid a box over. "Take a look."

Li Pin opened the box. Inside was a bronze-colored ring.

"The material is copper from Shouyang Mountain, infused with the Star Power contained in a Star Crystal. As for the effect..."

Fang Lingjue paused. "A Star Artifact of this grade is just that. Whether it works well or not depends entirely on luck."

Li Pin nodded. "I remember seeing people online say that Star Artifacts refined from defective Star Crystals have an activation rate of roughly two to ten percent."

Star Artifacts interfered with one another, and wearing three or four was already the limit.

Thus, the quality of each individual one was important.

"That kind of data is meaningless."

Fang Lingjue said, "After all, when you're facing gunfire, there are only two possibilities: it activates or it doesn't. If it activates, its defensive efficiency is one hundred percent. If it doesn't, then it's zero."

As he spoke, his tone paused. "Unless you can equip yourself with a full set of third-tier Star Artifacts."

Li Pin looked at the bronze ring.

Star Artifacts forged from defective Star Crystals were often called zero-tier Star Artifacts. They were goods Star Refiners used to fob off on wealthy bosses, so those people could have at least a little peace of mind.

As for third-tier Star Artifacts...

Even third-tier Star Refiners might not be able to outfit themselves with a full set.

Such treasures were tied to a Star Refiner's overall strength. Every single transaction could even involve the rise and fall of the factions behind two Star Refiners. Ordinary people simply had no channel through which to buy them.

To rely purely on money for a purchase, one would need to prepare at least over a billion.

"Thanks."

Li Pin said.

"You supplied the materials, and you paid the processing fee. What are you thanking me for?"

Fang Lingjue smiled. "By the way, the Jiangzhou Tournament starts in less than half a month. I'm planning to head to Jiangzhou City next week... Although Canglong City is less than a hundred kilometers from Jiangzhou City, we can still get accustomed to the environment ahead of time."

As he spoke, he sighed. "This year's Jiangzhou Tournament won't be easy because of the upheaval in the Lihuo Sect. We have to stay in peak condition if we want any hope of standing out from the crowd."

"Then let's go together."

Li Pin said.

He was also greatly looking forward to this Jiangzhou martial arts tournament.

More than twenty Embrace Dan experts had registered!

If those peak Level Three martial artists who had cultivated Dan Jin were included, there were nearly a hundred formidable contenders.

Such a grand event...

On Blue Star, it would have been utterly unimaginable.

No matter what, he did not want to miss it.

"Alright. I'll pick you up then."

Fang Lingjue said. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "By the time the Jiangzhou Tournament begins, your villa should be ready to live in."

He smiled. "They're using only the highest-grade materials, and the money was paid in full. Their efficiency is extremely swift."

"Perfect."

Li Pin nodded.

He could move straight in while competing in the Jiangzhou Tournament.

Just then, a startled cry suddenly came from outside. From the sound of it...

"Was that Shanhu?"

Fang Lingjue and Li Pin exchanged a glance and quickly left the office.

The moment they stepped outside, Li Yunyao was already crying out impatiently, "She's cultivated force! Xiaolu has cultivated force!"