C14 Eightsect Escaping Armor

"Annihilate them!"

Xiao Ling's expression turned to one of alarm upon hearing this, but he quickly came to terms with the reality. On the Divine Martial Continent, power was everything!

For the weak to possess such resources was akin to a child flaunting a gold ingot in the streets, inevitably drawing the greedy gazes of many, leading to acts of murder and theft.

The Holy Martial Institute, as it stood, was just a minor academy within the Flame Yellow Empire. Should it unveil its formidable resources, it would be inviting its own ruin.

"This is precisely why the Holy Martial Institute has lain low for a millennium. With my tenure, I believe the time for our institute's resurgence has come, which is why I've brought you here," Jiang Ya explained to Xiao Ling and Yun Xi.

"You two have been inseparable since childhood and are the Holy Martial Institute's most gifted disciples. You're destined to dazzle the Flame Yellow Empire and gain renown across the Divine Martial Continent."

"That's the reason I've brought you here—to share the legacy of the Holy Martial Institute and the events of its past."

With hands clasped behind his back, Jiang Ya continued, "Looking at the Holy Martial Institute's historical trajectory, we are now at the 368th generation. My own power is limited to that of a Martial Spirit, so I've had no choice but to retreat within the Flame Yellow Empire, safeguarding the last bastion of our institute."

"Come with me."

Jiang Ya led the way, with Xiao Ling and Yun Xi trailing close behind. Soon, they arrived at a pristine white jade stele. Jiang Ya caressed the stele, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions, and said, "It's this very stele that has led to the Holy Martial Institute's downfall."

"What secrets does this jade stele hold?" Xiao Ling inquired, examining it closely.

Yun Xi, too, gazed intently at the stele, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"This stele bears the record of an unparalleled martial technique known as the Eight-sect Escaping Armor," Jiang Ya revealed with a sigh. "In pursuit of this stele, the Holy Martial Institute made enemies of many powerful forces. Ultimately, besieged and overwhelmed, we fell into our current dire straits."

"The elders aspired to fully grasp the secrets of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor and lead the Holy Martial Institute to prominence. Yet, the enigma of the jade tablet proved too elusive; not a single soul has managed to unlock the mysteries of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor!"

"It's such a shame that the Holy Martial Institute has fallen into decline over an inscrutable jade tablet. It's truly not worth the loss."

With his hands clasped behind him, Jiang Ya remarked, "You both possess exceptional talent, which is why I've brought you here. Should you decipher the Eight-sect Escaping Armor, it would be an incredible stroke of fortune."

"Legends say that mastering the Eight-sect Escaping Armor to perfection allows one to open all eight gates, achieve divine embodiment, and dominate the Divine Martial Continent..."

Xiao Ling's dark eyes sparkled with determination upon hearing Jiang Ya's words.

The Eight-sect Escaping Armor, with all gates unleashed, could sweep across the Divine Martial Continent!

No wonder the institute's forebears had fought tooth and nail for this tablet, only for their efforts to culminate in the institute's decline.

Indeed, mastering the Eight-sect Escaping Armor could have allowed the Holy Martial Institute to reign supreme over the Divine Martial Continent.

Alas, none of the institute's predecessors had penetrated its profound truths. Possession of the tablet meant little without understanding its essence.

"Father, let's try our hand at it," Xiao Ling proposed.

Without further ado, Xiao Ling and Yun Xi settled into a meditative pose beside the tablet, delving into its arcane depths.

Jiang Ya watched them begin their contemplation, then nodded approvingly before departing.

As time raced on, a month slipped away.

Beyond their daily sustenance, Xiao Ling and Yun Xi remained engrossed in the tablet's mysteries. Yun Xi was the first to open her eyes, exhaling a heavy sigh, "Principal, I'm at a loss."

She hadn't anticipated the Eight-sect Escaping Armor to be so challenging to fathom. After a month with no progress, it was clear why the institute's elders had met with failure.

"I'll just give it my all."

Jiang Ya had anticipated this outcome.

His gaze shifted to Xiao Ling, filled with hopeful expectation. He had pinned all his hopes on Xiao Ling.

He had a hunch that Xiao Ling's arrival marked the perfect moment for the Holy Martial Institute's ascent!

Meanwhile, after a month of deep reflection, Xiao Ling was beginning to form an idea.

He delved into the realm of the jade tablet, where he was met with a primordial, lifeless world—a blank slate awaiting creation.

"Is this the world within the jade tablet?"

Xiao Ling marveled at the celestial bodies overhead, smacking his lips in wonder, "This is just like the cosmos, with no sign of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor. How am I supposed to cultivate it?"

No sooner had Xiao Ling spoken than the heavens began to shift, cycling from destruction to creation and back again, an eternal dance of change.

Xiao Ling watched, entranced by the spectacle.

With each cosmic shift, extraordinary visions emerged.

"The stars, much like blood coursing through a body, and the galaxies, akin to its veins..."

A spark of realization lit up Xiao Ling's eyes. He chuckled, "I get it now. The essence of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor is to forge an infinite universe with one's body. Each star up there is crucial to mastering the Eight-sect Escaping Armor."

Boom!

The moment Xiao Ling's words ceased, a torrent of overwhelming information flooded his mind, splitting his head with pain.

"The cultivation techniques of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor!"

Xiao Ling's dark eyes opened, a universe of stars twinkling within them. He murmured, "The Eight-sect Escaping Armor is divided into eight gates: the Open Gate, the Rest Gate, the Life Gate, the Injury Gate, the Du Door, the Scenic Gate, the Shock Door, and the Death Gate. Each gate corresponds to an essential acupoint. Unlocking these acupoints paves the way to form a gate."

"With eight gates in the body, perfecting their cultivation can elevate one to divinity!"

At that moment, Xiao Ling's mind overflowed with the bodily cultivation diagrams of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor, drenching him in sweat yet filling him with ecstatic joy.

"However, cultivating the Eight-sect Escaping Armor requires relentless body tempering and a substantial investment of resources to achieve success."

Xiao Ling recognized that immense strength demanded a wealth of resources.

"Ling, have you grasped the essence of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor?"

Upon seeing Xiao Ling awaken, Jiang Ya couldn't resist inquiring.

Yun Xi also gazed at Xiao Ling with hopeful eyes.

The Eight-sect Escaping Armor, once mastered, could dominate the Divine Martial Continent.

"I've unlocked the mysteries of the Eight-sect Escaping Armor."

Xiao Ling nodded, his brow furrowed, "But the prerequisites for its cultivation are incredibly stringent. It demands a hefty infusion of resources for body refinement to succeed."

"Take the activation of the Shock Door, for instance. It necessitates a vital resource known as Grand Imperial Sacred Water."

Jiang Ya and Yun Xi beamed with joy at the news of Xiao Ling's breakthrough, with Jiang Ya's excitement coloring his cheeks red.

"The heavens decree the ascension of our Holy Martial Institute!"

Shaking with elation, Jiang Ya turned to Xiao Ling, "Ling, the Flame Yellow Empire possesses the Grand Imperial Sacred Water, to my knowledge!"

"The Flame Yellow Empire's enduring strength stems from the Grand Emperor Lake, home to the Grand Imperial Sacred Water."

"Martial Cultivators baptized in its waters undergo a profound transformation. The more Grand Imperial Sacred Water one absorbs, the greater their talent and potential for breakthroughs."

Xiao Ling's spirits lifted at this revelation, and he eagerly asked, "Father, how might I earn the right to this baptism in the Grand Emperor Lake?"

He had not anticipated that the key to unlocking the Shock Door lay within the Flame Yellow Empire's grasp.

Securing the baptismal rights from the Grand Emperor Lake would undoubtedly allow him to activate the Shock Door, formally commence his training in the Eight-sect Escaping Armor, and embark on the divine path of physical transcendence.

"Before long, the Flame Yellow Empire will host its decennial Hundred City Tournament."

You're aware, of course, that the Flame Yellow Empire boasts a hundred cities akin to True Martial City. The Hundred City Tournament selects the strongest young warrior from each city to journey to the empire's capital for the ultimate showdown. The final three contenders earn the right to be baptized in the Grand Emperor Lake.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling's dark eyes showed not a hint of fear, but rather a fiery determination. "I'm determined to compete in the Hundred City Tournament! I will secure my baptism in the Grand Emperor Lake!"

The tournament brings together the mightiest youths of the Flame Yellow Empire, narrowing down to a hundred who advance to the capital.

This underscores just how fierce the battle for a place at the Grand Emperor Lake really is.

Those who receive the lake's baptism are destined to rise as rulers in their own right.

"Well done!" Jiang Ya clapped Xiao Ling on the shoulder, grinning. "When the time comes for the Hundred City Tournament, you can sign up at True Martial City."

"Father, I won't let you down," Xiao Ling replied with a smile.

Armed with the Eight-sect Escaping Armor, the Edgeless Sword, and the enigmatic Red Blood Card, he was brimming with confidence to claim the title of the foremost warrior among the empire's youth.

"Ling, it's time to bind it with your blood," Jiang Ya instructed. "The elders say this jade tablet is no ordinary relic. Only those who have mastered the Eight-sect Escaping Armor can claim it with their blood. Inside, it contains a realm where living things can be kept..."

"Is that even possible?" Xiao Ling was taken aback. He had never heard of a storage space capable of holding living creatures.

Without hesitation, he bit his tongue and let a drop of his essence and blood fall upon the tablet.

Boom!

The moment Xiao Ling's blood touched the jade, a towering pillar of white light burst forth, sweeping across the land and stirring the heavens, drawing the gaze of all the formidable beings across the Myriad Country Territory.

"The long-lost Holy Monolith has finally resurfaced!" they exclaimed.

Monarchs of the Myriad Country Territory, long-secluded sects, and hidden powerhouses alike turned their attention toward the Flame Yellow Empire. In an instant, they transformed into myriad streaks of colorful light, converging upon the empire from all directions.

"Hehe, the Holy Monolith is mine!"

A figure cloaked in black, his aura a swirling mass of dark Qi, cackled malevolently before vanishing into thin air.

"Sigh, the inevitable has come to pass."

Gazing toward the Holy Martial Institute, a formidable man from the Flame Yellow Empire's palace exhaled deeply. With a swift motion, golden wings unfurled from his back, and he soared toward the Institute.

His essence Qi transformed into wings; he was a Martial Emperor!

Meanwhile, Jiang Ya's face paled upon witnessing this burst of light. He urgently instructed, "Ling, quickly secure the Holy Monolith!"

Xiao Ling, momentarily taken aback by the chaos he had unleashed, wasted no time in drawing the Holy Monolith into his body.

Once bonded with his essence and blood, the Monolith became an extension of his being, effortlessly stored within.

"Ling, we must gather everything in this chamber into the Holy Monolith, now!"

With a grave expression, Jiang Ya declared, "The calamity of the Holy Martial Institute is upon us!"