Scale Armor Protection

Back at his residence, Li Yuan slid the bolt into place and sat by 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 as soon as it entered his stomach. Its scorching medicinal power exploded from within his gut, carrying spirit qi as it surged through his meridians.

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

Unlike the previous times he had taken Fiend Essence Pills, this time felt different.

The Fiend Essence Pill's medicinal power carried fiend qi into his meridians. After Spirit Qi Condensation, Spirit Qi Filtration had become much more effective, filtering out most of the fiend qi.

The remaining fiend qi left only a faint chill as it swept past his five viscera and six bowels.

The medicinal power was also digested faster.

The effects of one Fiend Essence Pill were 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 more abundant than before he had taken the pill. The increase was more obvious than during any of his previous uses of Fiend Essence Pills.

It was not that the medicinal power had grown stronger. His own efficiency in absorbing and utilizing it had improved.

Spirit Qi Condensation had compressed his spiritual power, making it more solid, while increasing the proportion of fiend qi that could be intercepted. His absorption of medicinal power had also become stronger.

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

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

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

After these days of cultivation, he was no longer far from the threshold of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Li Yuan put away the Panel rather than continuing his cultivation, then rose and stretched his limbs.

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

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 noticeably decreased 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 suddenly slowed.

The rolled-up, intact hide at the roadside stall was still there.

The last time he had seen that complete Iron Scale Snake Molt, the stall owner had asked for twelve Spirit Stones. 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 pieces of mediocre Horned Lizard Skin.

Li Yuan walked over and crouched before the stall.

The vendor 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 resting his fingers on the molt.

Semi-transparent text appeared before his eyes.

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

[Item affix grade: White]

[Note: This item does not belong to you. Cannot equip. Unable to view detailed information.]

The affix was still there.

Li Yuan turned the molt over. The snakeskin was not particularly large; when unfolded, it was only about the size of an arm span. It was thin and pliant, its dark-green scale patterns packed tightly together without any damage.

"How much?"

The stall owner raised his fingers, hesitated for a moment, then showed a number.

"Nine."

Three fewer than last time.

Li Yuan glanced at the stall owner without saying anything.

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

Li Yuan knew he was telling the truth.

Demonic Beasts had been unusually active in the Yuanheng Mountains. Both the Monster Hunting Squads and the Guard Squad had been bringing back more spoils, and large amounts of Monster Materials had flooded into the market. Supply exceeded demand, so prices naturally fell.

"Eight." Li Yuan spoke, trying to haggle.

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

"Fine, eight. Consider it 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, wrapped the molt in a clean piece of coarse cloth, and handed it over.

"Take care, Fellow Daoist."

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

Leaving the stall, Li Yuan continued down East Street.

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

When Old Sun saw Li Yuan approach, his bright eyes lit up.

"How were the Fiend Essence Pills?"

Li Yuan stopped in front of the stall. "The effects were good."

Old Sun grinned, not putting down the Medicine Cauldron in his hands.

"Are you really not considering letting me test some pills on you? I've still got a bit of 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 on this list 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 the edge of the Medicine Cauldron with a finger.

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

Old Sun leaned closer again.

"Oh, and if you run into Demonic Beasts while patrolling outside, pay attention to the area around their nests. Some herbs like growing where Demonic Beasts often appear. The spirit qi concentration is higher there, so their medicinal effects are much better than elsewhere."

"Got it."

Li Yuan chatted with Old Sun for a few more moments before turning to leave.

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

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

The snakeskin felt faintly cool in his hands. It was thinner than it looked, yet exceptionally tough. When he pinched it hard with his fingers, the surface dented, then immediately sprang back into shape.

The moment his fingers touched it, semi-transparent text appeared again. This time, the information was complete.

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

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

[Permanentization condition preview: While wearing this molt, cumulatively receive a certain number of attacks and injuries from external sources (0/50)]

[Current Equipment Slots are full (2/2). Replace current equipment?]

Scale Armor Protection.

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

It was a defensive affix, 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 permanentization condition was interesting: while wearing the molt, he had to suffer fifty attacks and injuries from external sources.

Not cultivation, not taking pills—getting beaten.

The condition required attacks from external sources. 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. When unfolded, it covered roughly his chest and abdomen. It was only a thin layer, so wearing it against his body would not be too cumbersome.

The molt itself was soft and tough. Folded up, it could be tucked beneath his clothes, completely invisible from the outside.

His Equipment Slots were 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 cost of being unable to equip anything again for twelve hours after removing equipment, safety was still more important.

Li Yuan folded the molt and laid it flat against his chest and abdomen beneath his inner clothing, pressing it in place with his belt.

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

He moved his arms and waist a few times, bending over, twisting, and raising his legs. The molt clung tightly to the inner layer of his clothes without slipping or impeding his movements.

Li Yuan lowered his head and looked at his chest. Nothing unusual could be seen beneath his Patrol Uniform.

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