Chapter 79

The Jiaoliao armor itself is extremely magical, and the Chilong armor's abilities surpass it by a level. Even an ordinary person who doesn't know martial arts would be hard to kill by a Dao realm cultivator after putting it on.

As for the Great Dragon armor, the Da Yong Dynasty might have developed it, but it is a supreme treasure, existing only in the treasury and not displayed.

Guchen Sha used Heavenly Dew to catalyze the Chilong armor, making it transform, which was even more magical than refining. It was as if the Heavenly Dao was catalyzing all things, allowing them to grow and evolve naturally, making the technique of refining even closer to perfection.

The Chilong armor wriggled, emitting a crackling sound from inside, similar to the transformation of the Dragon Bone Sword, but with much stronger fluctuations.

Boom!

The Chilong armor seemed to turn into a faint dragon-shaped rainbow, struggling fiercely to break free from its shackles.

"Master, this armor is about to transform, but it lacks a key element. Master, immediately perform the ritual, concentrate your will, and use the treasure-refining technique," Yiming shouted urgently.

"Yes, the Sun and Moon Refinement." Guchen Sha suddenly remembered that the Sun and Moon Refinement not only refined the spirit, qi, body, and physique, but also awakened all things.

For example, using the Sun and Moon Refinement technique could make ordinary objects possess spirituality, with better effects than spirit liquid.

"Sun and Moon Melting, Creation of Spirits." Guchen Sha leaped up, drawing runes on the Chilong armor with his fingers. His own blood seeped out from his pores, serving as the ink for the runes.

His blood had a faint golden hue, and when held up to the light, it seemed to have a spiritual essence flowing within. This was due to the long-term practice of the Sun and Moon Refinement, which imbued his blood with a hint of the essence of the Sun and Moon dragon blood.

Using blood as the rune and will as the guide.

This was the method of awakening all things in the Sun and Moon Refinement.

To be precise, if it were an ordinary long sword, Guchen Sha could draw runes on it with his own blood, then breathe and meditate, using his will to cleanse and communicate with the sword. Over time, the sword would develop spirituality and eventually become a divine weapon, with better effects than soaking it in spirit liquid.

However, this method of refining in the Sun and Moon Refinement was quite draining on one's essence and energy, essentially sacrificing oneself to perfect all things. Although it aligned with the spirit of the heavens nurturing all life, it was detrimental to cultivation, so he had never used it. Besides, he didn't know what treasure to refine.

But now, at this critical moment, using the treasure-refining technique from the Sun and Moon Refinement to give the Chilong armor its final breakthrough was worth it.

A large amount of blood seeped out, and the runes were drawn in a calligraphic style. Each rune was filled with the essence of all things' growth, even Guchen Sha himself didn't know what they meant, only that they were the most exquisite part of the Sun and Moon Refinement. This time, drawing the runes gave him new insights.

"I use my blood to nurture all things, endowing them with spirituality, feeling content and joyful. This is the true essence of the Sun and Moon Refinement. The Sun and Moon provide the opportunity for all things to grow and exercise, like a father and mother," Guchen Sha suddenly sighed, understanding the greatness of the Sun and Moon, and also realizing why he couldn't advance to the Dao realm. He had not truly comprehended the vast and inclusive spirit of the Sun and Moon.

In the act of sacrificing and consuming his essence and energy, he understood the principle of giving and taking.

"Done!"

When the last rune was drawn on the Chilong armor, the entire armor suddenly felt connected to his breathing, then abruptly condensed and attached to his body, transforming into a non-jade, non-gold, non-iron, non-stone, non-wood armor.

This armor was composed of many scales, fitting together seamlessly.

"Fly!"

Guchen Sha softly commanded, and the scales on his back quickly wriggled, forming a pair of scaly wings in an instant. With a gentle flap, he rose into the air.

"This is the Great Dragon armor, and it's even more magical than the manufactured Great Dragon armor," Yiming hadn't expected this.

"Retract." Slowly descending, the scales gathered and formed a scaly belt around his waist.

"Master, you consumed so much essence and blood, how do you feel?" Yiming hurriedly asked.

Guchen Sha waved his hand, took out a gourd, and swallowed three drops of Heavenly Dew, his pale face gradually regaining its rosy hue: "My essence and blood were indeed heavily consumed. The first time I used this treasure-refining technique, it consumed one-third of my total essence and blood. Without Heavenly Dew, I wouldn't have been able to recover. But this consumption has made me understand the growth of all things and the principle of giving and taking."

"Master has understood and comprehended, and his spirit and demeanor have changed again." Yiming carefully sensed that Guchen Sha's aura had a "teacherly" quality, like a teacher of all things.

"The power of this armor, from my experience just now, even if I use my full strength, Master has a chance to escape, not a certain death. And the innate qi of the realm below me cannot break through this armor's defense to harm Master." Yiming was delighted: "This way, Master's chances of victory in battle have greatly increased."

"Speaking of victory is a bit much, but there is now hope. If before there was only a one in ten thousand chance, now it's about one in a thousand. The hope is still slim, but with my cultivation and training, advancing to the first or second transformation of the Dao realm is just around the corner. Then everything will be different." Guchen Sha knew that after entering the Dao realm, the power of the Sun and Moon Refinement, Sun and Moon Transformation, and Sun and Moon Killing techniques would be even greater, and he would gain more insights. Moreover, his body would be much stronger, and using the Sun and Moon Killing technique would no longer risk breaking his meridians.

Cultivating the Heavenly Son's Divine Technique, the transition from the Mortal realm to the Dao realm is a significant hurdle. The changes after crossing it are beyond what outsiders can imagine.

"Master, what should we do now?" Yiming said, "I see that Liu Yu and the other five have greatly increased their cultivation after transforming their five swords. They probably will soon enter the Dao realm. They have the blood of the ancient Five Seasons Gods—Spring God, Summer God, Flame God, Autumn God, and Winter God. The five bloodlines are stirring, making them true descendants of the gods. This time, Master has found a treasure."

"This is not a coincidence." Guchen Sha thought, the ancient Five Seasons Gods assisted the Heavenly Son in governing the world. Now that he has received the Heavenly Sacrifice Edict, encountering people with the blood of the Five Seasons Gods might be a predestined arrangement: "For now, I have done everything I can. I can only rest and wait for the expedition."

Ten days passed in a flash.

On this early morning, the horns sounded, and Lou Baoyue had already sent people to call him.

Guchen Sha knew today was the day of the expedition. He had arranged his troops before dawn and was waiting on the Chengtian Pass square.

As the sky began to brighten, the surroundings became clearly visible, and the princes' troops gradually arrived at the square.

"These princes' troops are all wearing Jiaoliao armor!" Guchen Sha saw that the tenth prince, Guzhen Sha, led a squad of five hundred, all wearing Jiaoliao armor. He himself wore a different set, a green one covered in runes, which made a sizzling sound with every slight movement.

"Prince, the tenth prince and the Heavenly Engineering Academy spent a large amount of money and various treasures to obtain five hundred sets of Jiaoliao armor. The armor he wears is called 'Thunder-Breaking Armor,' a family heirloom of the Lei family, which he borrowed. Its effect is not inferior to the Chilong armor, and it can even release lightning if hit by an enemy," Meixiang, also wearing Jiaoliao armor, explained beside him.

"Do the princes' equipment need to be purchased? Didn't the tenth prince requisition them from the court?" Guchen Sha was a bit puzzled.

"How could the Heavenly Engineering Academy give them for free?" Sixiang smiled, "It is an independent institution, outside the court, only under the emperor's command. No government department can manage it, and even entering it is impossible. As early as the fourth year of the Heavenly Symbol, the emperor erected a huge monument outside the Heavenly Engineering Academy, stating that no civil or military officials, princes, or royal relatives could step into the Heavenly Engineering Academy without an imperial decree, and violators would be executed without mercy. The Heavenly Engineering Academy is truly a place of hidden dragons and tigers. The academy's head could easily destroy the Lei family, so why would he favor the tenth prince? He wouldn't even favor the seventh prince. If you want Jiaoliao armor, you have to pay for it, or exchange it with treasures and spirit medicines."

"Indeed." Guchen Sha nodded, "The most mysterious and important place in the court is the Heavenly Engineering Academy. I remember that in the fifth year of the Heavenly Symbol, Uncle Yuhuang was executed by my father for擅自闯入天工院."

The court has its rules, even princes cannot do as they please.

"I wonder what new things the Heavenly Engineering Academy has developed. Now that I have money, perhaps I can buy what I need from there." Guchen Sha thought as he saw many princes gathered in the same place: "The fourteenth and eighteenth princes are also here. Their strength is so great that I can't even discern it clearly."

The fourteenth prince, Guyun Sha, and the eighteenth prince, Guhong Sha, also led troops, each with a hundred men, all wearing Jiaoliao armor. Some of the people in their troops had mysterious auras, and it was unclear what their cultivation levels were, or if they were some ancient treasures.

They didn't greet Guchen Sha but whispered to each other.

"The seventh prince is here."

The princes on the square were agitated, seeing someone descend from the sky.

He was not wearing armor but was dressed in brocade and a jade crown, holding a long sword. When he landed, the air currents swirled, and the ground slightly sank, as if a celestial being had descended.

"Master, the seventh prince successfully refined the Three Pure Fires to permeate his entire body, passing the most dangerous stage and successfully entering the tenth transformation of the Dao realm, the Lustrous Jade Body," Yiming hurriedly reminded in an imperceptible voice, "I am three transformations behind him. If he wanted to kill me, it would be effortless."

"Prince, the seventh prince holds the Law-Breaking Immortal Sword. It seems he successfully refined himself with the help of the Legalists. Does this mean there are experts in the Legalists who surpass Grand Tutor Wen Hong?" Sixiang spoke, being Lou Baoyue's person with access to information, her words were full of deeper meaning.

"Law-Breaking Immortal Sword! Lustrous Jade Body." Guchen Sha knew this sword was his mother's legacy, but it had fallen into the hands of the seventh prince. He wanted to reclaim it but knew it would be extremely difficult.

The Law-Breaking Immortal Sword was already powerful, and the Law-Breaking Immortal Sword was even more so.

From the eighth transformation of the Three Pure Fires to the ninth transformation of the Lustrous Jade Body, it is the most dangerous stage. Throughout history, few cultivators have successfully passed this stage. Especially the refinement of the Three Pure Fires in the brain, even a slight mistake can lead to mental collapse, and the worst-case scenario is becoming a vegetable or having the brain explode, with the body spontaneously combusting into ashes.

The seventh prince successfully passed this stage, indicating that his cultivation had entered a new realm, overcoming the most dangerous obstacle, and his future path was smooth and bright.

Many princes also noticed the seventh prince's transformation and felt a heavy weight in their hearts, unable to speak.

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