C1087 Firecloud Armor

The towering pyramid-shaped hall, with its seven floors, housed thousands of artifacts!

From the outside, the colossal tower-like hall shone brightly, resembling a divine residence and delivering a profound visual impact.

Standing beneath the hall, human cultivators appeared as tiny as ants.

Yet, whenever Otherkin spotted a human nearby, their expressions would subtly shift, and they'd become cautiously vigilant.

Humans held an exalted status among all intelligent lifeforms across the vast, endless cosmos!

This respect and esteemed standing were hard-won through millennia by innumerable human cultivators who ventured into the extraterrestrial realms, securing it through countless fierce and bloody battles.

Inside the grandiose hall, the first floor alone spanned hundreds of acres, allowing even the towering Titans to move freely without feeling cramped or uncomfortable.

The Skyreach Consortium had complete control over the vast Ionodios, and it was evident that they had meticulously considered every detail.

When Yu Yuan, accompanied by Luo Yue, Wen Lu, and Ann Ziqing, stepped into the massive hall that showcased a variety of items, they too were taken aback.

The first spectacle to catch his eye was a set of seven chariots, crafted from gold, bronze, and black iron.

These chariots, standing five to six meters tall and stretching over ten meters in length, glowed under the gleam of the gem-lit ceiling, exuding an aura of battle-readiness.

The chariots' railings, banners, and auxiliary components were all intricately carved from gems, jade, and crystal, presenting a sight of breathtaking beauty.

Members of the Silverscale Tribe and enchantresses were gathered around these chariots, inquiring about their prices.

"Hey, you're here too!"

Tong Laoqian emerged from a corner, approaching Yu Yuan with a beaming smile and a respectful nod. "These chariots were crafted by the skilled artisans of the Dawnbringers. They can harness the light of the sun, moon, and stars, storing it within the inscribed formations inside," he explained.

After a brief introduction, he added, "Regrettably, these chariots lack energy shields to envelop the entire structure. Therefore, they cannot traverse the extraterrestrial Star River, nor can they prevent the seepage of corrupting forces. They might serve as impressive status symbols for the various empires and families within the Everlands, but beyond that, their utility is somewhat limited."

Tong Laoqian was clearly a familiar face around here. As he chatted with Yu Yuan, he frequently nodded and waved at the Skyreach Consortium members.

The consortium members seemed to know him well, with quite a few Otherkin among them.

"You seem to be doing quite well," Yu Yuan remarked, somewhat surprised.

"Haha, it's only because you carry a lot of clout," replied Tong Laoqian, the Solar Spirit Body. A jade ruyi dangled from his waist, and his pure energy form was cloaked in an exquisite garment.

This robe was different from the one Yu Yuan had seen him wear initially.

Upon closer inspection, the patterns and carvings on it didn't match the Everlands' style.

"It's a recent purchase; it helps me refine my metal magic."

Before Yu Yuan's eyes, Tong Laoqian's concentration caused the robe to emit a golden glow, with streams of golden light weaving through the fabric.

Nearby, golden glimmers from jades and stones appeared to be drawn toward the robe, as if ready to be absorbed into it.

The gems and jade inlaid in the chariots shone even brighter, seemingly eager to detach themselves from their settings.

Tong Laoqian had only intended to demonstrate the robe's wonders, not to actually draw the power from the golden stones nearby. So he quickly dissipated the effect and told Yu Yuan, "I came here once with Zhou You. He's an executive in the consortium and made it known to the others that I'm your trusted confidant. That's why they've started to see me in a new light."

He showed no signs of embarrassment for basking in reflected glory; in fact, he seemed quite pleased with himself.

"This palace has seven levels. The treasures and Spirit Armor on the lower levels are of a relatively lower grade, hence they are more abundant." He gestured with his hand, pointing east then jabbing westward, "Over there, they sell all sorts of chariots and devices capable of traversing the extraterrestrial skies. On this side, you'll find various armors, Spirit Armor, and some magical garments."

"And over there, there's an array of offensive weapons: ice blades, crystal cannons, Flame Spears."

"And on this side..."

Tong Laoqian detailed the first floor's layout of the stone hall to Yu Yuan as if he were recounting treasures from his own home.

Yu Yuan nodded repeatedly, scanning the area as he followed the direction of the gaze.

Dozens of meters away, Yu Ying, Shen Feiqing, and Tan Yuan—all cultivators of equal standing from the Forgeroses—were mingling with members of the Moonlit Wanderers and the Fiend Scorpions when they heard Tong Laoqian's voice.

The three women turned around just in time to catch Yu Yuan's glance. The Goddess of War, a petite figure who had practiced the "Ancient Echoes of the Void" mantra for many years and harbored a grudge against Yu Yuan from their time in the Forgotten Ruins, gave Yu Yuan a cold look before turning away.

Tan Yuan, who had once hosted Yu Yuan in the Godsblight Marsh, offered a slight smile and a nod in greeting.

Yu Ying's smile was warm and inviting. Her once frail frame had been revitalized by the nourishment of vitality and the restorative power of the Blood Essence Elixir, which had significantly replenished her strength. She appeared much younger and radiated a vibrant, spirited energy.

"Our Yu family certainly doesn't lack outstanding descendants," she mused.

As Yu Yuan's attention shifted elsewhere, Yu Ying whispered with a smile, "Wen Lu and the girl from the Colddeath are quite impressive. I think they'd be well-suited for him."

"Senior Sister Ying, that young man is quite the heartbreaker; you needn't worry about that. I recognized his charm with the ladies when we first met in the Forgotten Ruins," Shen Feiqing interjected with a huff. "You might want to consider how he'll manage all those complicated relationships. There are plenty of girls in the Everlands who are deeply smitten with him."

"More?" Yu Ying's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"I can attest, there are indeed quite a few," Tan Yuan said with a suppressed laugh, as if recalling an amusing anecdote. "The most formidable among them is the Grand Sword Immortal who practices the Stardust Blade. What do you think about her?"

"Ji Ningshuang?" Yu Ying exclaimed, taken aback. "Ms. Ji is known for her fiery temper."

"Her disciple is also fond of him. It'll be interesting to see how that unfolds," Tan Yuan added, stirring the pot.

At this, Yu Ying's brow furrowed with concern, and she sighed, "Oh, what to do? Life is truly complicated when you've lived it twice over."

"Does anyone know where the Firecloud Armor might be?"

Yu Yuan's gaze shifted from the distance as he addressed Tong Laoqian. "Hold on, let me check," Tong Laoqian responded, pulling a small booklet from his chest. He infused it with strands of remnant soul, rapidly browsing its pages. After a moment, he reached the booklet's latter section, skimmed it, and announced, "On the fifth level, in the Northern District, there's a vendor that sells all types of armor."

Yu Yuan nodded and made his way directly to the fifth floor. En route, he encountered Becker of the Starborn, Peach Madam from the Shadowkin, and Pattinson, also of the Shadowkin, all of whom greeted him.

One of his objectives for this journey was the Firecloud Armor, which he intended to purchase and later present to Yuan Lianyao upon their reunion.

The Flame Demon, associated with the Firecloud Armor, was a notorious late-stage Unbound cultivator from the Ruby Hand, famously vanquished by the Sunlit Order.

The Flame Demon's lineage continued through the Duan family of the Crimson Sun Empire. In the conflict between the Land of Quiescence and Euwrea, the Sunlit Order led their formidable cultivators to breach the Ruby Hand's stronghold and vanquish the Flame Demon within, marking a profound disgrace for the Ruby Hand.

The necessity to eliminate the Flame Demon stemmed from his potential to ascend to the primordial spirit realm, which would have elevated the Ruby Hand to the pinnacle of sects, on par with the Sunlit Order. His ruthless and bloodthirsty nature was deemed too great a threat by the Sunlit Order, prompting them to eradicate him at significant cost to themselves.

The Firecloud Armor, a renowned relic of its time, was classified as seventh-level heavenly gear. Following the Flame Demon's demise, the Sunlit Order seized the armor. It was later refined by the preceding Lord of Mensend Hill, who adopted it as his personal protective gear.

This very Lord of Mensend Hill, whom Feng Pu had previously encountered, was besieged and slain by the Starborn and the Dawnbringers in the extraterrestrial Star River.

The Firecloud Armor subsequently came into the possession of the Dawnbringers. Unable to harness its formidable power and reluctant to sell it—lest they inadvertently bolster the might of the Sunlit Order and Ruby Hand's warriors—the Dawnbringers kept it within their sacred grounds. It remained there until the Skyreach Consortium recently secured it through a trade for goods coveted by the Dawnbringers.

The Firecloud Armor made its debut at this illustrious gathering because of this very reason.

Bypassing the second, third, and fourth levels, Yu Yuan headed straight for the fifth floor. Guided by Tong Laoqian, he made his way to the northern section where the armors and enchanted robes of various tribes were on display.

"My young master wishes to purchase the Firecloud Armor," Tong Laoqian called out from a distance, his voice booming.

Eyes from all over the fifth level turned their attention toward the commotion.

"Yu Yuan."

Bai He, Xi Quan, Taruer the Ghost King from Shadow's Keep, Zhongli Dapan, Mia, and others on the same floor all turned to look in his direction.

A timid girl from the Shadowkin, dressed in the attire of the Skyreach Consortium, spoke up, "You're too late. It's already been sold."

"We've acquired the Firecloud Armor, apologies," said Selter, an elder of the Shadowkin, standing at the counter with Kennard, known as the Children of the Forest.

Kennard, donning a pair of silver gloves, was engrossed in examining the Firecloud Armor, seemingly oblivious to Tong Laoqian's announcement and Yu Yuan's arrival, his attention solely on the Demon Armor in his hands.

Wen Lu's expression turned uneasy the moment she caught sight of him. She retreated behind Yu Yuan, too apprehensive to come forward.

​