A black inner armor was quietly hanging on a rack of clothes.
Ye Zhen lunged forward with a leap.
The black inner armor must have been woven from some kind of beast hide, and after the meticulous tempering of an Artifact Refiner, the black inner armor was covered with runes exuding an ancient aura.
Just from seeing the runes with an ancient aura on the black inner armor, Ye Zhen knew that this was an inner armor passed down from Ancient Times.
The runes inscribed by the Artifact Refiners of Ancient Times during artifact refining were completely different in style from those of today, the runes from Ancient Times were simpler, exuding an ancient charm, while today’s runes were classified in extreme detail and were very complex.
Taking down the black inner armor, Ye Zhen grasped it in his hand, and his Spiritual Power surged into the black inner armor!
Whoosh!
A bright halo, like that of an eggshell, appeared in front of and behind the black inner armor.
"It comes with Guardian Spirit Light, a Mid-grade Precious Armor?!"
Ye Zhen couldn’t help exclaiming with joy.
Among Artifacts, defensive Artifacts are more precious than offensive ones.
In a Sect like the Phantom Divine Sect, which claimed to be the number one Sect in the Black Dragon Domain, almost every disciple had an offensive Low Grade Artifact.
However, even someone as important as Bu Changxuan didn’t possess a defensive Low Grade Artifact.
Sometimes, even two to three times the price of an offensive Low Grade Artifact wasn’t enough to buy a defensive Low Grade Artifact. As soon as they appeared on the market, they were immediately snatched up.
It was evident just how precious defensive Artifacts were.
Not to mention a defensive Mid-grade Treasure Armor.
Whether it’s offensive or defensive, a Low Grade Artifact’s only function was to amplify the bearer’s True Yuan or Spiritual Power by ten to twenty percent, nothing more.
Mid-grade Artifacts, however, were different.
Take, for example, the Green Wing Divine Bow that Ye Zhen snatched from the Southern Barbarian Spiritist Da Hai, which could use Spiritual Power to form Spiritual Power Arrowheads and harm others.
And having Guardian Spirit Light was the hallmark of a Mid-grade Treasure Armor.
If this Mid-grade Treasure Armor was worn next to the skin, and Spiritual Power was stimulated, the Mid-grade Treasure Armor would amplify a circle of Guardian Spirit Light both inside and outside the Protective Spirit Force, and its defensive capabilities would vary with the amount of Spiritual Power input, extremely powerful.
Just in terms of value, this black Mid-grade Treasure Armor was even more precious than the Green Wing Divine Bow.
In Jianghu, treasures that protect one’s life are always more valuable than those that take lives.
"Black Wind?"
Black Wind Armor?
Diligently examining the item, Ye Zhen found the words ’Black Wind’ inside the black inner armor and guessed.
Ye Zhen surmised that ’Black Wind’ was either the name of the Artifact Refiner or the name of this Mid-grade Treasure Armor. Regardless of whose name it was, this black Mid-grade Treasure Armor would be known as the Black Wind Armor.
Such a precious life-saving treasure like the Black Wind Armor, now that he had obtained it, Ye Zhen had to put it on immediately. Who knew what danger he would encounter here?
Ye Zhen immediately took off his outer clothes, about to put it on.
Whoosh!
Blood Light suddenly lit up on the door of the adjacent hall, and a burly silhouette strode in right away.
Almost the instant the Blood Light on the hall’s door lit up, Ye Zhen realized what was happening,
Ye Zhen put on the Black Wind Armor as fast as he could, so when that person stepped in, Ye Zhen hadn’t even put on his outer clothes and was seen directly!
"Ye Zhen of the Qiyun Sect?"
"Precious Armor?"
"Hmph, I advise you to wisely hand over the Precious Armor to me!"
The newcomer didn’t hurry to attack, but stepped back a few paces, retreating to the teleportation passage of the great hall, completely blocking Ye Zhen’s path before speaking with a voice like rolling thunder.
It wasn’t surprising for the newcomer to directly call out Ye Zhen’s name.
Back when Ye Zhen had first arrived at Demon Soul Mountain, his sudden move to deal with Zheng Shuang almost made him memorable to Martial Artists from the Five Countries.
"Human Bear Cha Hai?"
Seeing the newcomer clearly, Ye Zhen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This Human Bear Cha Hai, true to his name, was exceptionally burly. Not to go into details, but his arms alone were twice as thick as Ye Zhen’s. However, being big doesn’t necessarily mean one is strong.
But importantly, this top Inner Gate expert Human Bear Cha Hai from the Gu Xuan Sect of Gu’an Kingdom was one of the very strong individuals whom the Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing had explicitly instructed to avoid.
However, Ye Zhen, who even dared to directly confront Luo Jingtian, the Six-Fingered Eagle Demon which Elder Zhong warned against at all costs, let alone Human Bear Cha Hai.
"Hmph, knowing my name, I won’t make it difficult for you! Hand over this black Precious Armor to me, and I will let you leave," Human Bear Cha Hai’s voice boomed like dull thunder.
"A name, huh? Although I haven’t made a name for myself that scares people yet, I advise you to leave quickly before I lose my temper, or else..."
Far from undressing, Ye Zhen leisurely put his outer clothes back on, causing Human Bear Cha Hai’s pupils to abruptly constrict.
"Very well, I prefer your answer like this! Instead of gaining without a fight, I prefer to seize with my own hands!"
"Roar!"
A roar, akin to that of a beast, suddenly burst forth from the mouth of Human Bear Cha Hai who swayed his body and, like a tiger descending the mountain, charged at Ye Zhen.
Despite his bulky appearance, Human Bear Cha Hai was surprisingly agile in action.
"Not good!"
Watching Human Bear Cha Hai rush towards him, Ye Zhen immediately recalled another thing Elder Zhong had advised—never to get into close-quarters combat with Human Bear Cha Hai!
And at this moment, this room no more than thirty meters across was just the right environment for Human Bear Cha Hai to exert his strength!
"Roar, Bear King Rips Mountains!"
Earth-yellow Spiritual Power burst from around Human Bear Cha Hai’s body, his arms spread wide, with strands of Spiritual Power surrounding them as he tore through the air towards Ye Zhen like a ferocious bear, the very air compressing and creaking where his arms passed!
Without any hesitation, Ye Zhen countered with a Wind Sweeps Away Clouds move!
Human Bear Cha Hai was extremely fast. Just as Ye Zhen had launched an attack, and before the Hurricane Sword Wheel had even formed, Human Bear Cha Hai’s hands had already slammed down onto Ye Zhen’s Sky Crystal Sword.
Not only did it disperse Ye Zhen’s yet to form Hurricane Sword Wheel, but the Sky Crystal Sword in Ye Zhen’s hand felt as if it had been struck by a weight of a million pounds, nearly flying out of his grip.
Even though the sword was not knocked away, the base of Ye Zhen’s sword-holding right hand had split and was bleeding, and his entire right arm was numb. What shocked Ye Zhen even more was that a fine crack had appeared on the Sky Crystal Sword itself.
A flicker of shock surged abruptly in Ye Zhen’s eyes.
"Body Cultivation!"
"It’s actually Body Cultivation!"
Only after personally clashing with Human Bear Cha Hai did Ye Zhen understand the terror of Cha Hai.
It is said that in the beginning of Martial Arts, there were two factions: Spirit Cultivation and Body Cultivation!
Spirit Cultivation, which is the practice method of Ye Zhen and others focused on enhancing Spiritual Power, is known for its speed in improving one’s cultivation.
On the other hand, Body Cultivation was extremely popular in Ancient Times.
The formidable beings of Ancient Times were nearly all Body Cultivators, and it is said that a powerful Body Cultivator could shatter a Spirit Practitioner with a single punch.
But despite its strength, Body Cultivation is exceedingly difficult to practice and consumes a tremendous amount of resources.
For the same level of cultivation, the resources consumed by a Body Cultivator are several times – even tens of times – greater than those consumed by a Spirit Practitioner.
In Ancient Times, Spiritual Medicine was as common as dirt, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were as abundant as weeds, and so the Cultivation Resources were extremely plentiful, hence Body Cultivation flourished. But over tens of thousands of years of inheritance and cultivation, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures have become extremely scarce.
Some inheritances of the great Sects claim to possess the techniques of Body Cultivation, but very few people practice them; there are simply not enough resources.
Therefore, in the present day, Body Cultivation is an exceptionally challenging path, with almost no one practicing it.
However, the individual in front of Ye Zhen, Human Bear Cha Hai, was a Body Cultivator.
"Hmph, you know how formidable I am now, right? If you take off this black Precious Armor and hand it over to me now, I’ll stand by my previous words," shouted Human Bear Cha Hai.
While talking, Human Bear Cha Hai once again pounced toward Ye Zhen like lightning, displaying a burst of speed that was even faster than Ye Zhen’s Chasing Star Step’s Direct Step.
Within short distances, especially in confined spaces, the advantages of Body Cultivation were too great.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Each punch from Human Bear Cha Hai was like a Mount Tai crushing down, causing Ye Zhen’s Blood Qi to boil.
Every time, before Ye Zhen could display the Wind Cloud Sword Technique, he would be broken up by the shadow-like Cha Hai with a clap of the hand.
The main reason was Ye Zhen’s carelessness, which allowed Cha Hai to get close; once Cha Hai got within ten meters, he was like a lingering disease in the bones – impossible to shake off.
If the distance exceeded fifteen meters, even if Ye Zhen couldn’t kill him, he wouldn’t be as suppressed by Cha Hai as he was now.
And Human Bear Cha Hai was very aware of his own strengths and weaknesses, deliberately maintaining this advantage.
"Hmph, Ye Zhen, I’ll tell you, within ten meters, even Luo Jingtian, the Six-Fingered Demon Eagle, would be defeated! I advise you to obediently surrender your Precious Armor, and I might spare your life," Cha Hai snorted confidently.
"Dream on!"
"Seeking death!"
Hearing Ye Zhen’s response, Human Bear Cha Hai erupted in rage, his figure suddenly accelerating, his body glowing in an earthy yellow light, abruptly creating five afterimages. These five afterimages flashed together like a ferocious bear charging at Ye Zhen.
"Five Bears Shaking the Earth!"
This move was Human Bear Cha Hai’s signature skill; five afterimages, some real and some fake, making it impossible for the enemy to dodge. Finally combining into one, forming a deadly blow that the enemy could only take head-on.
If this move hit directly, even with the protection of the Black Wind Armor, Ye Zhen would be broken and maimed.
This was the advantage of Body Cultivation. Apart from the authority of their Spiritual Power, their greatest advantage was their immense strength of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Under such a strike, no matter how strong your Spiritual Power is, you would have to suffer broken bones and mangled flesh, potentially even reduced to mush!
"Ye Zhen, die!"
Amidst Cha Hai’s roaring, Ye Zhen hacked out with his sword.
As usual, in the split second before Ye Zhen’s sword momentum fully coalesced, Cha Hai flashed suddenly, aiming a palm to smash Ye Zhen’s sword momentum.
This time was no different!
Suddenly, a profound chill arose.
So intense was the chill that even Cha Hai, whose Blood Qi was at its peak and was no longer susceptible to cold or heat, shuddered.
Thump!
As fist met sword, a deep grey radiance burst forth abruptly. Instantly, the temperature in the grand hall plummeted, breathing out visible frost!
Ice Fiend Qi!
Ye Zhen’s Spiritual Power secret technique, Ice Fiend Qi!
Crack!
The Sky Crystal Sword flew out of Ye Zhen’s hand, but at the same instant, Cha Hai’s entire body was coated with a layer of dim grey frost!
"Ah..."
"What is this power, my hand!"
As Cha Hai struck Ye Zhen’s Sky Crystal Sword, his right hand was immediately frozen stiff, unable to change even a fraction!
Imposing earth yellow Spiritual Power started to flicker on Human Bear Cha Hai’s body, flooding toward his right arm like a tide.
"Now, it’s my turn to kill you!"
Ice Fiend Qi sprayed from Ye Zhen’s fingertips, slashing like lightning at Human Bear Cha Hai!
Human Bear Cha Hai was immensely shocked! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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