Chapter 36: Serpent Spirit Flying Armor

Ye Yun found a devastated plain left behind by a battle. This plain offered a wide field of view, and it was unknown just how terrifying the power of the expert who had created this place was. Ye Yun slipped into it like a lizard and found a fissure in the ground.

“The battle with Yan Yun’ao was truly thrilling.”

After hiding his aura, Ye Yun then realized that the True Qi in his Dantian had been severely depleted. The Overlord Cauldron and the Overlord Fist were Divine Abilities, requiring powerful True Qi to form and sustain. Furthermore, his opponent this time was at the peak of the tenth layer.

Ye Yun’s greatest battle before this was the fight with the Four-Armed Demon Bear, and also that time when the Yang Family attacked the Ye Family, when Ye Yun, under the identity of Ye Man, clashed with the Yang Family Ancestor, Yang Danhou. To be honest, it was the Four-Armed Demon Bear that had given Ye Yun his greatest trial. That time, Ye Yun had broken through to the Flesh Immortal Fifth Layer and gained True Qi.

This time, however, Ye Yun was fighting an opponent of equal height while possessing formidable strength himself. This was a battle of heights, not the simple, brute force clashes of the past.

It was like the great battle between the Yang Family Ancestor Yang Danhou and the Ye Family Grand Elder Ye Wentian, where they unleashed Divine Abilities that could shatter the heavens and destroy the earth.

A true battle meant challenging limitless heights. During the process of killing Yan Yun’ao, Ye Yun’s mastery of Divine Abilities became more refined, and he also gained some insight into his realm. Especially at the moment his Blood Mansion True Qi condensed, he felt an incredibly vast, hollow energy appear within his Blood Mansion.

“For your sake, there has been nothing but constant danger.”

Taking the cylindrical artifact that descended from the Ancient Ruins from his Storage Ring, Ye Yun examined it carefully. The cylinder looked quite ordinary, already covered in rust, with a small black serpent carved in its middle section, coiled upon it like a dragon.

After searching for a long time, he finally found the method to open it. Twisting off the lid, waves of a yin-cold aura immediately seeped out. Ye Yun shuddered, his curiosity growing even stronger. He focused his gaze and saw a black scale-like piece of armor lying quietly inside. Spreading his palm, he gently poured it out.

“There are three pieces.”

As a freezing chill abruptly erupted, three black scale pieces landed in Ye Yun’s palm. The cold energy immediately swept through his entire body. Ye Yun circulated his True Qi to resist it, straining to expel the cold energy from his body.

Upon closer inspection, the three black scale pieces were covered in mysterious, winding patterns like earthworms. They seemed to be made directly from scales, each about the size of a fist. The edges of the scales gleamed with a sharp, cold light. Ye Yun felt the three pieces were very light, weightless as a feather.

“‘Serpent Spirit Flying Armor’… could that be the name of this Cultivation Artifact?”

Turning over the scales, he found ancient script on the back of one piece. However, this script was also of the common written form. Ye Yun continued to search for the secrets of the Flying Armor, but after a long while, he couldn’t find the slightest clue.

“This Cultivation Artifact should be of the mid-grade Sacred rank.”

Just as Ye Yun was at a loss on how to proceed, Uncle Han’s long-absent voice suddenly rang in his mind. “Mid-grade Sacred rank. Even on the Purple Jade Continent, these are considered rare treasures. Within the Xuanwu Sect, there are only about a dozen or so. Back in the Ye Family’s most glorious days, the Xuanwu Sect only bestowed a single low-grade magical artifact.”

Ye Yun turned the pieces over and over, frowning, his face full of doubt. “They don’t seem particularly special, and I can’t sense any powerful, unfathomable aura.”

“A Cultivation Artifact, a truly top-grade one, isn’t about its surface power, but the attack methods contained within. From Uncle Han’s sense, this artifact’s capabilities are extraordinary. Moreover, as a relic from the Ancient Times, that vanished era held many techniques. If one could find an Ancient Will Inheritance within a Cultivation Artifact, that would be the greatest treasure. Possessing an Ancient Will could allow one to establish a school, like the founding ancestor of the Lanfeng Sect. It’s said he obtained a technique from an Ancient Ruins site, and thus established the Lanfeng Sect in the North Sea.”

“I see.”

Hearing Uncle Han speak so highly of it, Ye Yun’s heartbeat quickened, and his gaze fixed tightly on the three flying scales. “Uncle Han, what should I do now?”

Uncle Han said, “Refine it using the True Qi in your body. Make it acknowledge you as its master. Its original master has likely long since perished. If there is no residual Will left behind, refining it will be easy. If there is a Will, it will take some time.”

Whoosh!

A surge of astonishing True Qi gathered before Ye Yun. He then tossed the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor into it. The moment it entered the ocean of True Qi, the three flying scales seemed to come alive, beginning to rotate on their own. The winding patterns shimmered with a dark, glossy light, releasing waves of an ancient, desolate, and mysterious aura from the Ancient Times.

As True Qi entered the flying scales, Ye Yun also sensed a black space within, filled with countless hand seals—the refining space inside the armor. Ye Yun cautiously followed his True Qi into it. Surprisingly, he encountered no Restrictions. It seemed the armor’s master had indeed perished long ago during the Ancient Times.

“Hmm?”

Entering the core world of the flying armor, Ye Yun saw a cluster of radiance. Within this radiance, an incredible scene appeared: a Giant stood upon the head of a massive black demonic serpent. He held a blood-red sword over ten feet long, its blade still dripping with blood. Waves of battle intent and killing intent that could seize the soul continuously emanated from it.

“That must be the artifact’s former master. How powerful he must have been, taming an Ancient demonic serpent, wielding a divine sword, cutting through thorns and brambles, penetrating any obstacle…”

In that instant, Ye Yun was affected by the aura emanating from the Ancient heroic spirit. He knew that the expert riding the demonic serpent was the former master of the flying armor, a supreme, peerless expert. When he forged this magical artifact, a trace of his remnant Will was left within. If the Will wasn’t fragmented, Ye Yun could have witnessed everything from the artifact master’s lifetime, and could even, through the master’s memories, see that mysteriously vanished Ancient era.

Vast quantities of True Qi poured into the radiance. The Will of the artifact’s master, wielding the divine sword and riding the demonic serpent, gradually scattered under the vibration of the True Qi. Ye Yun’s heart trembled inexplicably, as if hearing someone howl at the heavens, unwilling, unable to let go. But everything had turned to dust and smoke. Indeed, nothing in the world was eternal and imperishable.

“So it is indeed a masterless artifact. Xiao Yun, this artifact carries an aura from the remote past. Quickly refine it. The benefits to you in the future will be great, very great. One day you will understand. It seems everything is predestined.”

At this moment, Uncle Han’s excited voice rang in Ye Yun’s mind.

“Yes.”

Ye Yun didn’t understand the meaning behind Uncle Han’s words, but he knew Uncle Han wouldn’t harm him. It was just that the time hadn’t come yet. When that day arrived, everything would naturally become clear.

Releasing another surge of astonishing True Qi, Ye Yun used it to temper the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor. Within the world of True Qi, the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor seemed to come alive once more, shimmering with a dazzling, ancient light.

A powerful force of presence forced Ye Yun to retreat step by step. To completely succeed in the refinement, Ye Yun released all the True Qi from his Blood Mansion. In an instant, the True Qi could be described as nothing less than an ocean. The Serpent Spirit Flying Armor twitched restlessly under the tempering of the True Qi, as if resisting. But it also needed the True Qi to nurture it.

Time slowly passed. Ye Yun was struggling to hold on, utterly exhausted. His battle with Yan Yun’ao had nearly consumed all his True Qi. Now, consecrating and refining this artifact was, unintentionally, adding insult to injury. However, that hollow energy in his Blood Mansion reappeared, seemingly growing.

“Could this be the precursor to my Blood Mansion reaching full maturity?” Instantly, Ye Yun understood something.

“Yun’er, quickly drip a drop of your blood. The time is right.” Uncle Han suddenly spoke.

Ssshh.

Ye Yun bit through the skin of his hand and dripped a few drops of blood. The crimson blood fell onto the three flying scales. The countless black patterns on the scales actually turned blood-red, resembling blood vessels. They frantically absorbed the blood. They were acknowledging their master, voraciously consuming the sacred spirit energy and a large amount of True Qi.

“What exquisite refining and Sealing techniques! It’s a shame my realm is too low. I’d need at least Earth Immortal cultivation, and a deep understanding of Formations and artifact forging, to completely grasp its mysteries.”

Ye Yun felt his own consciousness breathing within the flying armor, as if a heart was beating. Gradually, the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor lost its resistance and ceased its silent roar. Its luster faded, and it returned to its original pitch-black, ordinary appearance.

“What extraordinary ability does it actually have?”

The Serpent Spirit Flying Armor hovered in mid-air. Ye Yun still couldn’t see through it even after a long while. In the depths of his mind, Ye Yun’s Will flickered within the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor. The three Serpent Spirit Flying Armor pieces actually integrated into Ye Yun’s shadow on their own, merging with it completely. Apart from the shadow itself, the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor’s form was completely invisible.

“Could this be its ability?”

With a thought, the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor slowly appeared from within the shadow. Ye Yun was astonished. All people have shadows. If he could hide the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor within his shadow, he could kill without leaving a trace. Especially at night, it would be even more effective.

“You are lucky indeed, obtaining a magical artifact you can truly use. This artifact is truly marvelous. Even the Xuanwu Sect couldn’t find many like it. With this Serpent Spirit Flying Armor, even an Earth Immortal could be slain in a single strike. Unless you encounter a high-order Earth Immortal, you could kill a first to third layer Earth Immortal effortlessly.” Uncle Han exclaimed in admiration.

“Right now, your realm is low. Only when you possess power comparable to a Heavenly Immortal can you truly unleash its full might. Mid-grade Sacred rank—only a Heavenly Immortal can make it erupt perfectly. Don’t abuse it from now on, unless you are forced into a corner. Once you unleash it, you must be prepared to take a life.”

“Uncle Han, you must have possessed a Cultivation Artifact before, right?” Ye Yun’s mind was completely captivated by the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor, but he was also listening attentively to Uncle Han, and a doubt involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Uncle Han’s voice hesitated slightly, carrying an endless desolation. He only spoke after a long pause. “Naturally, I did. But during that battle with the many experts of the Xuanwu Sect, everything was taken from me. They even seized and Suppressed my True Body, which remains imprisoned within the Xuanwu Sect to this day.”

“What?!” Ye Yun was utterly shocked. Uncle Han had perished, and his body was taken and Suppressed by the Xuanwu Sect. That was simply too much. Furthermore, another thought suddenly occurred to Ye Yun—a truly crucial question.

The Ye Family possessed Uncle Han’s stone statue. Initially, Ye Yun had thought Uncle Han’s body was inside because he sensed a human-like aura within. But now Uncle Han said his true body was Suppressed by the Xuanwu Sect. If not Uncle Han’s, then whose body was inside the statue?

“The Xuanwu Sect’s treatment of rebels like me has always been ruthless. Back then, they slaughtered countless experts of our Ye Family, forcibly erased all memories of Xuanwu Sect cultivation from the clan members, directly reducing us from a ruling power to a third-rate family. Fortunately, they had some reservations at the time, or the Ye Family would have been wiped out completely.”

“Uncle Han, I will definitely reclaim your True Body and take revenge for the Ye Family ancestors.”

“I know your heart’s intent. But for now, quickly master the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor. Uncle Han senses signs of your Blood Mansion reaching full maturity. It must be the opportunity brought by the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor. Hurry and cultivate.” Uncle Han’s voice sounded, sternly urging him.

Ye Yun said no more. He withdrew the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor into his Dantian. Having been refined with his blood, the Serpent Spirit Flying Armor was now a part of Ye Yun’s flesh and body, allowing it to enter and leave his body at will. He then inhaled deeply and began cultivating the Indomitable Blood Body.