HPDBC Chapter 351: Divine Armor
Chapter 351: Divine Armor
Chapter 351: Divine Armor
Li Pin examined the documents Xing Ying handed over. They contained the results of an investigation into the towns around Hualong Mountain.
According to the documents, the crime rates in the country had skyrocketed ever since the Molong Royal Family fled.
Rather than answering Lin Langya, Li Pin spoke directly to Xing Ying. "Have Shi Shihu arrange for personnel to maintain order locally. Enforce the law strictly. Anyone who tries to take advantage should be punished without leniency."
"Yes, sir," Xing Ying responded.
However, she quickly paused, a thought coming to mind. "Which... country's law should we act according to?"
"For now, adhere to Molong's law," Li Pin replied. "In troubled times, strict enforcement is necessary."
"Strictly enforcing Molong's laws...." Xing Ying hesitated. "This may be... difficult."
Li Pin looked at her, puzzled.
"If it pleases you, Martial God Li," Lin Langya interjected, "I might be able to clarify Xing Ying's concerns."
Li Pin shifted his gaze to him, awaiting an explanation.
Lin Langya gravely revealed, "If we truly enforce Molong's laws... then every citizen would be guilty...."
"What do you mean?"
"It's true," Xing Ying said with a wry smile. "Molong's legal system was crafted from imperial regulations, amended and expanded over time. It has now become so absurd that even taking a sip of water without paying tax could lead to prison.
"Under these laws, drawing water from a well is treated as illegal mining, chopping firewood to cook is environmental pollution, and drying clothes outside is considered damaging the city's aesthetic. Each activity is criminalized under Molong's law."
With a bitter smile, she continued, "This is a deliberate design by Molong's ruling class. Officials can easily find a hundred ways to detain commoners, openly securing their control under the pretext of legitimate authority."
Li Pin frowned.
"Xing Ying's words are true," Lin Langya added, his tone somber. "Martial God Li, if you examine Molong's laws word by word, you'll find that... to be born as a commoner is to be guilty. To simply live is a crime."
Upon hearing this, Li Pin fell into a momentary silence, appearing deep in thought.
"Rulers and the ruled have always been opposing classes," Lin Langya went on. "Even if the ruled aspire to change their situation, once they assume power, their perspective changes, and they eventually become the very kind of ruler they once resisted.
He concluded, "Those who slay dragons eventually become dragons themselves. It's an ancient, unchanging truth." [1]
"So you're suggesting that your actions aren't about right or wrong, but merely a reflection of this inevitable cycle?" said Li Pin.
Lin Langya quickly lowered his head. "It's just that we lack the wisdom to break this curse of opposition... Perhaps only someone as insightful as you, Martial God Li, can disrupt this pattern. For us, the only path forward is to follow your will and dedicate ourselves fully to this cause. We're willing to give everything for it."
Li Pin acknowledged his words, then turned back to Xing Ying. "First, restore order in Molong. Also, have Shi Shihu and the Heavenly Martial Alliance prepare a formal plan as soon as possible."
Li Pin's mind immediately turned to a possibility—the Skill Crystals from the Black Gold Mine.
What did the Skill Crystal signify?
Inscribing the Skill Crystal with a legendary spell would allow them to cultivate a Legendary Mage in a remarkably short time! Its value surpassed that of rare astral equipment. [2]
Once the functions of Skill Crystals were revealed, people would not hesitate to exchange them with precious stones like Power Stones or Titan Stones, used to forge rare astral equipment. However, asking them to trade a piece of astral equipment for a Skill Crystal... wouldn't sit well with them.
"Xingchen has been captured by the Royal Empire... and Astral Cultivators possess incredible methods. A Master Astral Cultivator could forcibly hypnotize a Martial God.
"He may not be able to withstand it for long. Thus, Martial God Li, you should leverage your reputation to pressure the Royal Empire into releasing him. At the same time, you must also prepare for the consequences."
Lin Langya sighed. "Of course, if you are willing to forgo those interests, these dangers would vanish."
Li Pin remained silent. For some time, he had been researching the feasibility of creating an "artificial Ghoul King."
While other locations proved hard to work with, deep within the Black Gold Mine, in an area he called the Ghoul King Hall, success seemed plausible. Positioned at the intersection of all mine tunnels, this chamber was saturated with Death Aura from surrounding veins, giving his Ghoul King experiment a promising start.
The twenty or so Ghouls he had placed in the Ghoul King Hall had already begun to undergo varying degrees of mutation.
The cost? A significant investment in Astral Crystals.
Just as those Ghoul Kings absorbed energy from astral equipment, these Ghouls required a vast amount of Death Aura, Astral Crystals, and an unidentified factor that Li Pin had yet to clarify, to evolve into its King variant.
If not for the shortage of Astral Crystals, those Ghouls might have already transformed into Ghoul Kings. Once the mutations succeeded, it would equate to twenty Skill Crystals.
If Skill Crystals could be produced in ample quantities, the value of the Black Gold Mine and the Ghoul King Hall would be astronomical —enough to shift the balance of the world.
Therefore, Lin Langya's warnings were not mere exaggerations.
"So, you're suggesting I venture into the depths of the Great Moon Imperial Tomb to find that divine armor?" Li Pin inquired.
Lin Langya nodded. "The Imperial Tomb is indeed perilous, teeming with creatures that rival Master Astral Cultivators. However, unlike them, you, Martial God Li, could infiltrate the tomb, locate the armor, and retreat once you have it."
"Wait!" Li Pin interjected suddenly. "Did you say there's a Boarman with the strength of a Master Astral Cultivator in the Imperial Tomb?"
Lin Langya nodded. "Yes!"
Lin Baichi chimed in, "We once tried entering the Imperial Tomb to search for the armor. The Scarlet Boarmen and Dark Boarmen we encountered were manageable, but then a massive Pale Boarman blocked our path."
A flicker of fear crossed his face as he recalled the encounter. "That creature had, without a doubt, the power of a Master Astral Cultivator. If we hadn't escaped quickly, we'd have perished there."
"Very well," Li Pin said without hesitation. "Give me the detailed information on the Great Moon Imperial Tomb!"
1. A metaphor that highlights the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of maintaining humility and integrity. ☜
2. legendary spell is another way of saying legendary astral technique, given the astral palace path cultivators are referred to as mages. ☜