Scale Armor Protection

Back at his residence, Li Yuan slid the bolt into place and sat down beside the bed.

He took out the two bottles of Fiend Essence Pills Old Sun had given him from his sleeve, then placed one pill in his mouth.

The pill melted the moment it entered his stomach. Its scorching medicinal power exploded from his gut, carrying Spirit Qi as it surged through his meridians.

Li Yuan closed his eyes and circulated the Spirit Guiding Art, drawing the Spirit Qi into his dantian.

This time felt different from the previous times he had taken Fiend Essence Pills.

The medicinal power of the Fiend Essence Pill, mixed with Fiend Qi, invaded his meridians. After Spirit Qi Condensation, the effect of Spirit Qi Filtration had become stronger, filtering out most of the Fiend Qi.

The remaining Fiend Qi left only a faint chill as it passed through his five viscera and six bowels.

The medicinal power was also digested faster.

The medicinal power of a single Fiend Essence Pill was fully digested in less than two hours, much faster than before.

Li Yuan opened his eyes. With a thought, the panel appeared.

The spiritual power in his dantian was far fuller than before he had taken the pill. The increase was more obvious than after any previous dose of Fiend Essence Pills.

It was not that the medicinal power had grown stronger, but that his efficiency in absorbing and utilizing it had improved.

Spirit Qi Condensation had compressed his spiritual power, making it more solid. The proportion of Fiend Qi intercepted had also risen, and his absorption of medicinal power had become stronger.

Li Yuan swallowed the second Fiend Essence Pill and continued circulating the Spirit Guiding Art.

The medicinal power exploded again, and that familiar scorching sensation surged through his meridians.

After fully digesting the medicinal power of both Fiend Essence Pills, Li Yuan slowly exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

After cultivating these past days, the threshold of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer was no longer far away.

Li Yuan put away the panel and did not continue cultivating. He got up and loosened his limbs.

Although taking two Fiend Essence Pills in a row had caused no obvious discomfort, his body still needed some time to recover. His meridians in particular felt mildly fatigued after spiritual power had raced through them at high speed.

He poured himself a bowl of cool water and took a drink, then began cultivating the Nurturing Origin Technique and practicing the Origin Condensation Art.

The next morning, Li Yuan went to patrol the market as usual.

The flow of people on East Street had not decreased much from before. Those who were going to leave had already left, while most of those remaining had no plans to move anytime soon.

After walking halfway down East Street, Li Yuan's steps suddenly paused.

The rolled-up intact hide was still on the roadside stall.

The last time he had seen this complete Iron Scale Snake Molt, the stall owner had asked for twelve Spirit Stones, and Li Yuan had not had the money to buy it.

There were fewer items on the stall than last time. Several beast bones and bottles of beast blood were gone, leaving only the molt and several ordinary Horned Lizard Skins.

Li Yuan walked over and crouched before the stall.

The owner was still the same lean middle-aged Rogue Cultivator from last time. Seeing someone crouch down, he perked up and leaned closer.

"Fellow Daoist, take a look at this complete Iron Scale Snake Molt. Its quality is first-rate."

Li Yuan said nothing, merely placing his fingers on the molt.

Translucent words appeared before his eyes.

[Detected equippable item: Iron Scale Snake Molt (Complete)]

[Item trait grade: White]

[Note: Item does not belong to the user. Cannot equip. Detailed information cannot be viewed.]

The trait was still there.

Li Yuan turned the molt over. The snakeskin was not very large, only about an armspan square when spread open. It was a thin layer, yet its texture was supple and tough. Its dark green scale patterns were densely packed, without any damage.

"How much?"

The stall owner raised his fingers, hesitated, then made a number.

"Nine."

Three fewer than last time.

Li Yuan glanced at the stall owner without saying anything.

Apparently afraid that Li Yuan found it too expensive, the stall owner immediately explained, "There are simply too many Monster Materials lately, and the prices of beast hides have been falling all along. This molt is high quality. In the past, it would have gone for at least twelve Spirit Stones, but nine is already a loss for me now."

Li Yuan knew he was speaking the truth.

Demonic Beasts had been unusually active in the Yuanheng Mountains. The Monster Hunting Squads and Guard Squads were bringing back more harvests, and huge quantities of Monster Materials were flooding into the market. Supply exceeded demand, so prices were naturally forced down.

"Eight." Li Yuan spoke, testing the waters with a little bargaining.

The stall owner opened his mouth, then gritted his teeth.

"Fine, eight. Let's call it the price of making a friend."

Li Yuan took out eight Spirit Stones from his sleeve and lined them up neatly on the stall cloth.

The stall owner collected the Spirit Stones, rolled the molt in a clean piece of rough cloth, and handed it over.

"Take care, Fellow Daoist."

Li Yuan accepted the molt, tucked it into his sleeve, and got up to leave.

Leaving the stall, Li Yuan continued onward along East Street.

When he passed Old Sun's stall, the old man was squatting behind it, fiddling with a small medicine furnace. A wisp of green smoke rose from its mouth.

Seeing Li Yuan approach, the old man looked up, his bright eyes lighting up.

"How were the Fiend Essence Pills?"

Li Yuan stopped before the stall. "The effects were good."

Old Sun grinned, still not putting down the medicine furnace in his hand.

"You really won't consider letting me test pills on you? I've still got some foundation in pill refining after all these years."

Li Yuan immediately refused, then changed the subject.

"I'll keep an eye out for the herbs listed here when I'm patrolling. But we're resting in the market these next few days. We won't return to the outskirts until tomorrow."

Old Sun nodded, tapping a finger against the edge of the medicine furnace.

"No rush. It's best if you can gather them, but it's no problem if you can't."

Old Sun leaned closer again.

"Oh, and if you encounter Demonic Beasts while patrolling outside, pay attention to the areas around their nests. Some herbs like growing where Demonic Beasts frequently come and go. The Spirit Qi is denser there, and their medicinal effects are far better than elsewhere."

"Got it."

After chatting with Old Sun for a few more sentences, Li Yuan turned and left.

Back at his residence, Li Yuan slid the bolt into place and sat beside the bed.

He took the Iron Scale Snake Molt from his sleeve, unfolded it, and laid it across his knees.

The snakeskin felt slightly cool to the touch, thinner than it looked but remarkably tough. When he pinched it hard with his fingers, its surface sank in, then immediately sprang back to its original state.

The instant his fingers touched it, translucent words appeared. This time, the information was complete.

[Detected equippable item: Iron Scale Snake Molt (Complete)]

[Trait preview: Scale Armor Protection (White)—Increases skin defense, able to resist partial toxin corrosion and negative effects.]

[Permanent condition preview: While wearing this molt, suffer external attack damage a cumulative number of times (0/50).]

[Current Equipment Slot is full (2/2). Replace current equipment?]

Scale Armor Protection.

It increased skin defense and could even resist toxins and negative effects.

It was a defensive trait, different in direction from Viscera Strengthening—Viscera Strengthening protected the internal organs, while Scale Armor Protection protected the outer skin. One guarded against internal injuries; the other blocked external wounds.

The condition for making it permanent was rather interesting: while wearing the molt, he had to suffer external attack damage fifty times in total.

Not cultivation, not taking pills, but getting beaten.

The condition specified external attacks. Hitting himself did not count, but he did not know whether hiring someone to attack him would count.

Li Yuan lifted the molt and compared it against himself.

It was not large. Spread out, it would cover roughly his chest and abdomen. Being only a thin layer, it would not hinder him much when worn against his body.

The molt itself was supple and tough. Folded up, it could be tucked inside his clothes, and no one would notice it from the outside.

His Equipment Slot was full, so he could not equip it, but the molt did not need to be equipped.

At a critical moment, he could remove his other equipment and swiftly equip the molt to defend against danger.

Compared to the price of being unable to equip anything again for twelve hours after removing equipment, safety was still more important.

Li Yuan folded the molt, laid it flat against his chest and abdomen over his inner clothes, and held it in place with his belt.

The molt felt faintly cool against his skin. After a moment, his body heat spread into it, the chill faded, and he could barely feel its presence.

He moved his arms and waist a few times, bent over, twisted his body, and lifted his legs. The molt clung tightly to the inner layer of his clothing without shifting or obstructing his movements.

Li Yuan lowered his head and looked at his chest. Nothing appeared unusual beneath his Patrol Uniform.

After straightening his clothes, Li Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed and circulated the Spirit Guiding Art.