C16 Profound Turtle Heavy Armor

Lee Yi feigned a departure, turning as if to walk away.

Thirty thousand Merit Points was no trifling sum; it was enough to purchase another Profound Grade Magic Weapon. He was uncertain whether Hee Shuixian could actually produce such an amount. If she couldn't, it would be a significant loss for him.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard something whizzing towards him from behind. Catching it deftly, he found himself holding a token.

Hee Shuixian spoke up, "I can't produce thirty thousand Merit Points at the moment. Here are ten thousand Merit Points for you to take now. I'll give you the rest in a few days. Just hand over the sword!"

Her pride and self-esteem were well-known; she had never suffered such a setback. Ordinarily, she wouldn't part with a single Merit Point, but the Sword of Dripping Water was too significant to her, irreplaceable by any common Profound Grade Magic Weapon. Reluctantly, she suppressed her pride and parted with ten thousand Merit Points.

She had no intention, however, of giving up the remaining twenty thousand Merit Points.

Lee Yi examined the token and, sure enough, it represented ten thousand Merit Points. Pleased, he remarked, "True to your Alchemy Pavilion roots, your wealth is indeed remarkable. Given your evident sincerity, I'll hold off on selling the Sword of Dripping Water. Consider these ten thousand Merit Points a down payment. I'll give you ten days to come up with the rest. If you can gather the Merit Points within that time, feel free to seek me out. But be warned, I won't wait beyond that!"

"You..." Hee Shuixian was livid, nearly choking with rage. She had feigned earnestness hoping to deceive Lee Yi into returning the sword first, but he hadn't taken the bait.

Lee Yi walked away with an air of confidence, unchallenged by anyone.

Onlookers watched his retreating figure with mixed emotions.

"Senior Sister Shuixian has such a formidable reputation, yet she's taken such a blow from him!"

"How did he get so strong? He used to be weaker than me, but now I doubt I could even defeat one of his fingers!"

The upcoming Outer Sect Competition promises to be a spectacle beyond our wildest dreams. Not only are seasoned experts who've honed their skills abroad making their return, but even Liu Sansheng has come back. And with the emergence of an unexpected dark horse, this could very well be the most thrilling Outer Sect Competition to date!

Lee Yi made his way to the Hall of Contributions.

Originally, he had intended to trade the Black Turtle Shell for medicinal pills, prioritizing a boost in his realm to quickly reach the Third Level's peak. Subsequently, he planned to refine the peculiar stone and solidify his Genuine Qi.

However, after receiving 10,000 contribution points from Hee Shuixian, he abandoned his initial plan. Instead, he exchanged the points for ten bottles of True Essence Pills, amounting to a hundred pills in total.

Despite his preference for Earthly Pills, the Hall's policy limited each person to only three pills. Having already made his exchange previously, he reluctantly let go of that option.

Lee Yi harbored some resentment towards the rule, unaware that it had inadvertently worked in his favor.

Earthly Pills, being of Earthly grade, possess an incredibly potent medicinal power that most people cannot withstand. Those who do manage to endure it see their realm soar dramatically. However, this rapid advancement can lead to an unstable foundation, which was precisely why Lee Yi's progress had stalled before reaching the early stages of the Third Level.

Had he taken an Earthly Pill at this juncture, it might have yielded immediate benefits, but the long-term consequences would be detrimental. With an already shaky foundation, forcing growth would damage it irreparably, preventing him from ever reaching the fourth level of Arcane Awakening.

In contrast, the True Essence Pills offered a more sustained and gentle potency, strengthening his foundation and significantly increasing his chances of advancing to the fourth level of Arcane Awakening.

After departing from the Hall of Contributions, Lee Yi paid a visit to the Alchemy Pavilion.

Channeling all his mana, he hefted the Black Turtle Shell out of his storage bag. Upon impact, the ground quivered ever so slightly.

"This is..." A disciple from the Smithing Pavilion gazed at the enormous turtle shell on the ground, caressing it lightly, his face alight with astonishment. "A Profound Turtle Shell?"

He attempted to lift it, but the Profound Turtle Shell remained immovable.

Lee Yi nodded in confirmation, "Exactly."

The disciple scrutinized Lee Yi with a complex look and asked, "Last time, you returned with a Wind Wolf's tail, and now you've acquired a Profound Turtle Shell. How do you manage this?"

Lee Yi offered a smile and inquired, "I'd like to have this Profound Turtle Shell crafted into a full set of heavy armor. Can you estimate how long that might take?"

The disciple paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "While the Profound Turtle Shell is top-notch for creating defensive magical equipment, it's typically used for shields or individual components, like a Heart Protection Mirror. Crafting an entire set could be excessively heavy, surely that would hinder movement?"

"Concern yourself not," Lee Yi assured him. "Proceed with the crafting. The shell is sufficiently large to forge a complete set of heavy armor, and I believe it will be more than enough. Any leftover material can be your compensation. How does that sound?"

A glint of excitement passed through the disciple's eyes. Initially reluctant due to the complexity of forging a full suit of heavy armor—given the weight and difficulty of cutting the Profound Turtle Shell—he now found himself swayed by Lee Yi's offer.

The Black Turtle had vanished many years prior, seldom seen by anyone. A shell of this size indicated a lifespan of at least five hundred years; the older the turtle, the stronger the shell's defense—a truly exceptional material.

He estimated that about a third of the shell would remain after the armor's completion. With careful management of the process to minimize waste, he might even conserve more.

"Very well," the disciple agreed eagerly, as if worried Lee Yi might change his mind. "I'll inscribe a lightening magic array on the armor to lessen its weight. This will slightly compromise its defense, but rest assured, the reduction will be minimal."

Lee Yi shook his head and said, "No need. I don't want any lightening arrays."

The attendant disciple assumed Lee Yi was concerned about compromising the armor's defense and nodded in agreement, "That's fine. But if it's too heavy, you won't have the option to add a lightening array later on."

"Is there a formation that can increase the weight?" Lee Yi suddenly inquired.

"What?" The attendant disciple was taken aback, wondering if he had misheard.

"The Black Turtle Shell is a bit too light for my liking. I'd prefer it heavier," Lee Yi clarified.

In truth, Lee Yi's desire to craft a set of heavy armor wasn't primarily for the shell's defensive capabilities, but rather to aid in his cultivation of the Wind magical power.

To advance his mastery of the Wind magical power, he needed to subject his body to immense pressure, pushing it to its limits before achieving a breakthrough.

Training in the reverse currents at the bottom of the Styx River was one option, but it was too restrictive. Wearing heavy armor, on the other hand, would allow him to train continuously.

"Are you making fun of me?" The attendant disciple was starting to get irritated. "I'm quite busy and don't have time for jokes!"

Lee Yi earnestly replied, "Senior Brother, you've got it all wrong. I'm speaking nothing but the truth. Why would I tease you?"

Seeing Lee Yi's sincerity, the disciple's demeanor softened slightly, though he still frowned. "What's your purpose in increasing the weight? Your mana doesn't seem particularly potent; it appears you're just relying on sheer physical strength. But even so, the Black Turtle Shell is already quite heavy for you. If you make it heavier, aren't you just asking to be crushed?"

Lee Yi's physical strength was exceptional, effectively masking his mana, which led the disciple to believe that Lee Yi was merely using brute force to handle the Black Turtle Shell.

Lee Yi responded with enthusiasm, "So, there is a formation that can add weight?"

The disciple gave him a sidelong glance and said, "There is, but I can't just apply such a formation willy-nilly. If word got out that I crafted armor heavy enough to crush someone, it would tarnish my reputation. You'll need to give me a good reason first."

Seeing the disciple's firm stance, Lee Yi had no choice but to reveal, "To be frank, my aim isn't to enhance my defense; it's to train in a specific movement technique."

The deacon disciple was taken aback and exclaimed, "What kind of movement technique requires such a life-threatening approach to master? I've never heard of anything like it. You must realize that ordinary defensive magical instruments are quite heavy, usually weighing up to ten thousand kilograms. A set of Mystic Turtle Heavy Armor weighs at least twenty thousand kilograms. If you add a formation to increase its weight, can you imagine how heavy that would be? Are you sure you can handle it?"

Skepticism filled the deacon disciple's eyes.

Lee Yi chuckled and replied, "Senior Brother, go ahead and forge it. The movement technique I'm practicing is quite unique; without risking my life, I can't make any progress."

"What kind of movement technique is it? I'm curious to see."

"You'll have the chance to see it on the day of the Outer Sect Competition. Please forge the Mystic Turtle Heavy Armor as soon as possible," Lee Yi said, bowing slightly.

"Fine, I'll do what I can. Come back in half a month to collect it." The deacon disciple was still somewhat skeptical but didn't delve further. After all, the compensation Lee Yi offered was generous, and he wasn't keen on turning away such an opportunity.

"That long?" Lee Yi raised an eyebrow.

The deacon disciple shot him a stern look. "Given the complexity of your request, half a month is actually quick!"

"Very well, I appreciate your efforts," Lee Yi consented, albeit reluctantly.

Leaving the Artifact Forging Pavilion, Lee Yi made his way back to his quarters and sat down cross-legged to delve into the Sword Slashing Technique.

His recent duel with Hee Shuixian had deepened his understanding of swordsmanship.

With this newfound clarity, Lee Yi felt a rush of inspiration and eagerly began to explore the more profound mysteries of the Sword Slashing Technique.

The Sword Slashing Technique, an incomplete method derived from the Heavenly Sword Technique, was far from straightforward.

Over the years, many had attempted to master it, yet only a handful had achieved Great Completion. None had reached Perfection, failing to grasp its deeper significance.

Lee Yi immersed himself in contemplation, sitting for hours on end, oblivious to the darkness that had fallen. In his mind, a golden figure soared and danced, tirelessly practicing the sword.

Without realizing it, dawn had broken.

Lee Yi remained steadfast, having fully immersed himself in a state of self-forgetfulness.

As another day slipped by, he at last rose to his feet, summoned his nameless sword, and gazed intently into the distance.

Then, in a sudden flash, he unleashed a powerful strike.