Bobby's Reward and Revelation

  It was already ten o'clock at night when Huang Di, using his flight ability, swiftly returned to the city. He headed straight to Bobby's workshop to deliver what he had promised and claim his reward. Upon arrival, he found Bobby’s son working at the forge while the dwarf himself conversed intimately with his wife in a corner of the cavern. Huang Di, not wanting to be rude but also in a hurry, froze for a moment, unsure of how to proceed.

  Bobby’s wife, noticing the young man’s embarrassment, smiled and discreetly left the cavern, leaving behind a dwarf with a rather serious expression. Bobby stepped forward and said with a lightly reproachful tone:

  "Kid, you really have a knack for showing up at the worst possible moments, don’t you?"

  Huang Di snapped out of his daze, nodded apologetically, and tried to excuse the ill-timed interruption. But Bobby, smiling, added:

  "Don’t worry, boy. That ship sailed a long time ago. Even if I wish for a moment with my wife, those are just echoes of a past that won’t return. But I assume you have a good reason for showing up like this, am I right?"

  With the door open, Huang Di explained:

  "Actually, I completed the task. I have the cores you asked for, in fact, I have more than one."

  Curious, Bobby asked to see the cores. Huang Di presented two: one from the black iron ore, and the other from the Iron Vulture’s beast core. Bobby examined them carefully, then smiled and said:

  "Keep them. You’ll need them more than I do. Come, let’s sit on the couch."

  The two headed to an adjoining room, where a familiar scene unfolded for Huang Di, the wise elder’s conversation. He didn’t want to miss the delight of such knowledge, though he knew the test ahead would soon demand his full focus.

  Bobby began:

  "Kid, I’m a man of my word. The items were merely a test, to assess your ability, to see if you were worth investing in long-term, and to determine whether you truly had what it takes to deserve my guidance. And, by the looks of it, you’ve passed with flying colors. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone like you, Huang Di. Many young hopefuls have walked through those doors over the millennia. Most had lofty ambitions and dreams, just like you, but they failed miserably. Many didn’t even get the chance to attempt the test, their bones scattered somewhere in this little world."

  He continued:

  "As you’ve likely realized, I, like all ghostly residents of this city, have passed through the trial of this relic. Once you complete even a single stage, you become a permanent resident of this place. Each of us has our story... but I won’t go into that now. They’ll tell you themselves when the time is right."

  Bobby, ever blunt, went on:

  "I promised you a King Rank armor, but that will take time. And perhaps you won’t even need it, after all. What I mean is... after your discovery of that technique of mine, what did they call it again?"

  "Become Metal," Huang Di replied.

  Bobby explained:

  "In truth, that technique has a different name, but essentially, yes, it’s the same one. The version you had access to is the first one I developed. Fortunately, you didn’t cultivate it, because it has a terrible flaw: over time, those who practice it have a high risk of becoming sterile. So, I strongly advise you not to use it. I assume no one mentioned that crucial detail, did they?"

  "No, no one told me," Huang Di answered, surprised.

  "See? That’s why I perfected the technique, fixed that issue and enhanced it significantly. The original version focused on internal transformation of the body, which could change the skin’s color based on the mineral or rock absorbed. That, in turn, affected one’s ability to reproduce. So I developed a new version that acts externally but maintains the same properties and power as Become the Metal."

  Bobby went on to explain that both versions offered similar benefits to the cultivator, though their advancement methods differed. With the help of the Witch, he managed to create a physical and spiritual technique that allowed the user to coat themselves in a hidden armor, activated through spiritual techniques. This armor was classified as a spiritual equipment, a revolutionary type of gear, rare in the mortal world but common in higher realms.

  Bobby concluded:

  "In my final days, I managed to complete a set of spiritual armor. But until you arrived, no one had passed my test. So, tell me, young Huang Di, are you willing to bring this treasure, comparable to the gear of higher realms, to the mortal world for display? But remember, nothing comes for free. The cost of summoning and retracting it is far too high for you now. Maybe once you reach King rank, you’ll be able to wield it more comfortably."

  Huang Di nodded attentively, watching as Bobby began gathering energy into his arms, as if preparing to electrocute him. Just as he was about to say he’d changed his mind, he felt a torrent of energy flood into his mind, like a bolt of lightning frying his thoughts. But as quickly as it came, the sensation faded.

  "Sorry, friend, messed it up a bit. “Let me try again," Bobby said with a slight grin.

  Before Huang Di could protest, another wave of energy surged through him, this time carrying the very knowledge he had longed to receive.

  The Exoskeleton Armor and the Spiritual Palace

  Huang Di received the inheritance transmission containing information about the Exoskeleton Armor technique, an advanced Emperor Rank ability. He now understood how to attach the armor, summon it, and disengage from it, even though he didn’t yet possess the armor itself. Staring in disbelief at Bobby, who wore a satisfied expression, Huang Di asked:

  "Was it really necessary to transmit it that way? The technique is quite simple; even I managed to understand it to the level of mastery. What makes it so difficult that it’s classified as Emperor Rank? You’re not trying to fool me, are you?"

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Bobby replied:

  "No, kid. The thing is, there are certain rules that I and the other members of this city must follow. I can't teach a technique of this rank in the traditional, step-by-step way. Only through the inheritance method can we circumvent that restriction. As for the ability, it may seem simple, but the cost of using it is quite high, depending on the armor you attach. If it's a low-quality armor like that mesh, I lent you… which, by the way, looks damaged, doesn’t it?", he chuckled, "But if it's a higher rank armor, the cost increases."

  He continued:

  "The armor I’m going to give you is the highest rank I have available. It adapts to your body, offers excellent protection, and has relatively low cost for usage. The true cost lies in storing it within your spiritual palace and retrieving it from there. The technique I just taught you allows exactly that, to extract treasures from your spiritual palace and use them. For instance, that grimoire, since it's a special, high rank item, the best place to keep it is in your spiritual palace. With this ability, you can store and retrieve it safely, as it’s a spiritual item and considered a living being, not a mere object. It's not advisable to store it in a regular space, like your pouch or that ring on your finger."

  Bobby concluded:

  "So, this technique focuses on retrieving spiritual items from your spiritual palace and putting them back in. If it were as simple as you claim, then why didn’t you do it before, genius?"

  Huang Di, slightly embarrassed, nodded and chose not to argue further. Bobby, sensing he had won the exchange, grinned with satisfaction and went to fetch the armor set. While he waited, Huang Di decided to test the new technique, sending the grimoire to his spiritual palace and retrieving it again. He found the process surprisingly easy.

  Shortly after, Bobby returned with a golden box containing the armor.

  "Don’t look at it just yet," he said. "First, try to send this box to your spiritual palace. Don’t feel ashamed if you can’t do it on your first try; it can take some time to get used to."

  Huang Di took the box and, without overthinking it, immediately sent it to his spiritual palace. This surprised Bobby, who quickly recomposed himself and said:

  "So, you can send it. That’s good. But that’s the easy part. Now you need to try visualizing the box in your mind."

  Huang Di listened to Bobby’s instructions and felt slightly offended, as though being treated like someone incapable of independent thought. Still, out of respect for the elder, he remained silent.

  Upon visualizing the box in his spiritual palace, near his grimoire, Huang Di encountered Sai Hu, who was curiously inspecting the items, especially the armor. After a moment of silence, she commented:

  "Huang Di, I don’t think it’s good to rely too much on items. That can limit your growth. It’s best to trust in your own fists to overcome your enemies. I won’t forbid you from using them, but that would turn you into a playboy. And I hate that type. Just a warning."

  Hearing that, Huang Di nearly choked. He had wanted to use the technique to impress Bobby and prove he was capable of exceeding expectations. Then, he heard Bobby’s voice from outside:

  "Well? Did you manage to see anything?"

  "Yes, I did. But I couldn’t retrieve it. Do you know anything about that?" Huang Di responded, hiding the truth.

  Bobby, visibly pleased, replied:

  "Ah, that’s normal. Like I said, you’ll only be able to use it once you reach King rank. Only then will you have enough power to summon it."

  What Bobby didn’t know was that Huang Di had simply spared him the embarrassment. He was clearly capable not only of opening the box, but of summoning the armor without expending much spiritual energy. However, each clan had its own strengths and weaknesses.

  The clan of men and the clan of dwarves had distinct characteristics. Dwarves struggled with spiritual techniques but were naturally more resilient and gifted in crafting and construction. Humans, on the other hand, typically had a greater affinity and reserve of spiritual energy. Huang Di, in particular, was born with an especially strong spiritual connection, comparable to the elves, one of the clans with the highest spiritual affinity, excluding the superior and most powerful bloodlines.

  Bobby gave Huang Di a few friendly pats on the back before stepping away, wishing him luck on the trial that awaited. Not wanting to waste any more time, Huang Di sprinted back to his hideout.

  By now, it was midnight.

  The Weight of the Armor and Huang Di's Growth

  Huang Di sat cross-legged, gazing at the box before him. At first, he believed opening it would be a simple task, but he was quickly surprised by the amount of spiritual energy it required. Upon finally opening the box and beholding its contents, he felt a pressure descend upon his mind, as if he were standing before a mystical beast… or rather, a high ranked creature that stared back at him.

  After a moment, the pressure subsided, allowing Huang Di to examine the contents more closely. Inside, he found a set of armor that resembled leather, black as the night itself. The set included a pair of braces, a belt, a chest plate, trousers, boots, pauldrons, a neck guard, and joint covers. Curiously, there was no helmet, which struck him as a significant omission.

  All the pieces had the texture of leather yet shimmered with a metallic sheen. Intricate runes, some ancient, some unfamiliar, adorned the armor, and he could partially comprehend them. Before attempting to summon the armor into the physical realm, he decided to test it within his mental space.

  Piece by piece, Huang Di donned the armor. With every component he added, he felt as though he were bearing the weight of a mountain. As soon as the last piece settled into place, the previously dormant runes lit up, and Huang Di collapsed onto the floor of his spiritual palace. The weight now was several times heavier than that of the rank 5 mesh he had worn before, making movement nearly impossible.

  It was then that he understood what Bobby had meant when he said Huang Di was not yet ready to wield the armor.

  After a few minutes of experimentation, Huang Di attempted to summon the armor into the material plane, but to no avail. What had seemed simple in theory proved to be immensely difficult in practice. He concluded that, due to the immense weight of the armor, its usage was currently unfeasible, and the energy cost to summon it was far too high.

  He realized that sending the armor into his mental space was far easier than bringing it back. After several failed attempts, he finally decided to store the armor back into the box, within his spiritual palace. From this experience, he came to a new understanding: either his current weakness prevented him from summoning such a treasure, or perhaps his subconscious was blocking the process in an effort to protect him, warning that he might harm himself by attempting to use such a powerful item prematurely.

  This experience made it clear to Huang Di how vital it was to continue improving each day, and not to underestimate the wisdom of those with experience. With this new insight, he understood that he could not rely solely on objects, for even they could fail.

  What Huang Di did not yet know was that the obstacle to summoning the armor was not his subconscious, but the consciousness of the armor itself. He had forgotten that the item was considered a living being, capable of thought and decision. Since it had not yet recognized Huang Di as its master, the armor subtly resisted his attempts to summon it. If it had already acknowledged him, there would have been no need for effort; the equipment would have answered his call and adjusted itself to his body, functioning even if summoned piece by piece.

  Choosing to rest and recover, Huang Di prepared his dinner while sensing a powerful surge in his Qi, nearly reaching the peak of the first stage of the Earth rank. This surprised him, as he knew he would still have to refine this Qi. His path, after all, was different from the ordinary.

  Typically, upon reaching the Earth rank, cultivators would choose the element with which they had the greatest affinity and fill their Dantian with elemental Qi mixed with common Qi. This fusion would later give rise to true Qi, the energy used by advanced cultivators.

  The Origin, Profound, and Earth ranks were considered low-tier cultivators within society, while the Heaven, King, and Emperor ranks were regarded as the elite. However, in Huang Di’s case, according to the treasure he had found, each level of the Earth rank needed to be filled with the five basic elemental Qi types: metal, wind, earth, water, and fire. Once these elements were fused with his common Qi, he would form true Qi, the energy of great cultivators.

  At that moment, Huang Di sensed that his companion had finally broken through to rank 6, achieving the breakthrough necessary for both of them to advance to the next trial and bring this chapter of their lives to a close. Overjoyed by Umbra’s achievement, Huang Di wasted no time and set off at once to find and congratulate him.

  It was now two o'clock in the morning.