623 Immortal Guard! The Amazing Masters!
“This,” Old Master Tong began, holding out the armor, “is an artifact I crafted, inspired by the immortal armor from Hundred Weapons Mountain.”

Although the armor looked plain and ancient, Qin Huai instantly recognized its significance upon hearing the name of the Hundred Weapons Mountain. In his past encounters, the support of Hundred Weapons Mountain had been invaluable. The immortal armor, which Old Master Tong mentioned, had enabled him to face formidable foes like the county governor of Lingjiang.

“This isn’t just any armor,” Elder Tong continued, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. “It evolves alongside its wearer, almost like an extension of their body. It’s imbued with force and bone patterns.

“For someone without any innate martial arts talent, this armor is a blessing. They wouldn’t need to study intricate cultivation methods. Just by fusing with this armor, they can reach the bone pattern realm. For those with talent, this armor boosts their strength without conflicting with their unique cultivation methods.”

Understanding the armor’s capabilities, Qin Huai recalled, “I remember the Hundred Weapons Mountain’s immortal armor was crafted in a rather aggressive manner. There were risks of users going berserk.”

Old Master Tong nodded. “True, our armor progresses slower in comparison, but it’s stable with no side effects. Moreover, it’s as durable as a treasured weapon. With this armor, you essentially have a powerful bone pattern realm martial artist by your side.”

Curious, Qin Huai asked, “How many of these immortal armors have you made?”

“Three thousand,” came a reply from behind. It was Li Shaoxiang. “I’ve formed an Immortal Guard with them. They were the ones responsible for Li Zexiang’s death.”

Qin Huai nodded. “Three thousand should be enough to oversee the ten counties of East Qingzhou.”

Old Master Tong added with pride, “I’ve even used the divine power book of a thousand creations to forge a visceral prefecture realm immortal armor. Now, even those from the Hundred Weapons Mountain call me ‘mister’.”

To this, even Li Shaoxiang looked surprised. She hadn’t been aware of this development, realizing that Elder Tong had kept this as a special surprise for Qin Huai.

Qin Huai was indeed surprised. He hadn’t anticipated that Old Master Tong would craft a visceral prefecture realm immortal armor. Martial artists of this realm were highly revered — they could establish sects and even enter the spirit world. In the vast Great You, they held esteemed positions. And now, someone has the capability to craft them!

But soon, Qin Huai’s astonishment settled. The divine power book of a thousand creations was a legendary technique, and he had personally used it to refine a guardian spirit item. The fact that Old Master Tong had managed to unearth and utilize this technique wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“How many have you made?” Qin Huai inquired.

“I’ve made three and stored them securely, even away from my son’s knowledge,” Elder Tong replied, clearly understanding the power they held. “With this armor, the sect master could conquer the world! I’ve streamlined its production so that my aide, Tong Erlang, can master it within a year. In two years, no matter where you point, there will be countless visceral prefecture realm experts!.”

Old Master Tong’s passion and ambition were evident.

Seeing the potential implications, Li Shaoxiang chimed in, “We’ll focus on producing more immortal armors. The resources and manpower of the ten counties, which now surpass even Qingzhou’s, will support us.”

Turning to Old Master Tong, Qin Huai said, “We must ensure the loyalty of those wearing the immortal armor.”

The elder nodded, “We can integrate Dao lines into the armor to ensure they can’t be misused. This method, although common among master blacksmiths, will increase costs by ten percent.”
Li Shaoxiang dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand. “The added cost is a small price for safety and loyalty.”

Overwhelmed, Qin Huai expressed, “You’ve given me an unexpected gift today.”

He had returned to rekindle old memories, but instead found himself on the cusp of a new era of power. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions when he thought about how he would be surrounded by thousands of powerful troops with a wave of his hand in the future.

Recalling a detail, he asked, “You mentioned the first immortal armor came from Hundred Weapons Mountain. Who sent it?”

After a moment of contemplation, Elder Tong replied, “His surname is Hu…”

“Hu Jinghai?” Qin Huai suggested.

“That’s it! Hu Jinghai,” the elder confirmed.

“Where is he now?” Qin Huai, filled with nostalgia, wondered how his former disciple had fared over the years.

Old Master Tong seemed thoughtful for a moment. “I’m not sure,” he finally admitted. “He mentioned he was curious about the imperial city of Great You and wanted to meet its renowned experts.”

Qin Huai pondered this. “It sounds like he’s had some good luck. He wouldn’t talk so confidently otherwise. I just hope he’s safe and well.”

After the discussion, Old Master Tong returned to his small land, his spirits uplifted. Qin Huai, offering support to Li Shaoxiang, whose legs weren’t in the best condition, strolled around the Nine Dragons Sect. He took the opportunity to ask about his two masters.

He learned that Sun Yuanshan was still exploring the world. Occasionally, he’d write to his disciple’s wife, sharing his experiences and observations, particularly about the challenges faced by everyday people.

Intriguingly, Sun Yuanshan had found love with someone who also practiced the same techniques. They were close in age and now journeyed together throughout Qingzhou, enjoying what could be seen as a prolonged honeymoon.

Elder Erlong, on the other hand, had become reclusive, engrossed in studying forbidden martial arts. Over the years, he had developed the sword rain technique, where he could transform a single hair into a powerful sword feather. He had also mastered the heavenly bone curse, a technique where he’d implant a fragment of his bone into an enemy, causing internal damage. Its potency was comparable to the flame longevity technique.

After spending a few more days absorbing the knowledge and atmosphere of the place, Qin Huai decided it was time to head to the secret realm in Pingwang county.