CHAPTER 299: STRENGTH AUGMENTING ARMOR

Three days later.

Inside the Dust Valley Refining Hall, Mo Jian, Elder Bai Delan, and Elder Luo Zhen regarded the newly refined armor before them.

When Mo Jian proposed the strength-augmenting armor, the two elders were confused.

They had never heard of anything like it. But they did not question him.

While Elder Luo Zhen was working on the generic weapon, Mo Jian and Elder Bai were designing the strength-augmenting armor.

And now, it was completed.

"Young Master, what do you think of such an ingenious idea?" Elder Luo Zhen couldn’t help but ask.

As a weapon refinement master, he believed no one in the sect could match him in weapon refinement.

But now, he realized he was nothing but a frog at the bottom of the well.

Mo Jian only smiled. "We need to test the armor’s strength."

"You’re right. We need to confirm its strength," Elder Bai nodded.

"Also, we need to identify weaknesses and how to counter them if the situation demands it."

Mo Jian and Elder Luo Zhen nodded in agreement. They understood his line of thought.

"According to our design, the armor allows the wearer to fight at least three stages above their current realm," Mo Jian continued.

The two elders nodded. That was the plan.

"What do you think about testing it against a Mortal Rank-9 warrior at Foundation Realm stage 1?" Mo Jian asked.

"Young Master, we will follow your plan," Elder Bai replied.

Quickly, the three left the artifact refining hall and found a Mortal Rank-9 and Foundation Realm stage-1 opponent.

Standing inside the arena, the outer disciple looked nervous and curious.

"Put this on and fight," Mo Jian commanded, signaling to the inner disciples.

Deng Jie could hardly believe that his former hidden rival would one day become an insurmountable mountain.

His petty grudges had long since faded. What was talent compared to such a heaven-defying person?

Against him, Deng Jie felt himself to be nothing but an ant.

Thus, he focused on his cultivation and did not care about anything else.

When he arrived in the arena and sparred with some fellow inner disciples, he was chosen by Mo Jian.

At first, he thought he was being targeted by his past actions.

But looking at the strange armor, he realized the truth. He was simply unlucky to be picked by Mo Jian.

Inside the arena, both outer disciples and inner disciples looked at the scene before them with mixed confusion.

"What is going on?"

"What are the elders and Young Masters doing?"

Many wore perplexed expressions, but no one dared speak aloud.

"Are they testing a new artifact?" a disciple asked in a low voice.

"I think so," another replied.

Beside the stage, Mo Jian, Elder Luo Zhen, and Elder Bai Delan watched the two disciples with the same impassive expressions.

"Both of you, go all out. You don’t have to worry about killing your opponent," Elder Bai declared.

Deng Jie nodded, and the outer disciple, though panicked, also nodded.

"Fight!"

Deng Jie did not hold back, closing the distance with his movement technique, leaving a gust of wind in his wake.

Panic swept through the crowd.

The outer disciple retreated; the gap between a Mortal Realm and a Foundation Realm was simply too great.

He barely kept sight of Deng Jie’s movements.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Deng Jie delivered a barrage of blows, each punch seemingly more powerful than the last. The outer disciple could only mount a clumsy defense.

Many of the disciples believed the outer disciple was finished.

Yet, to their shock, the outer disciple retreated only a few steps before halting.

No matter how Deng Jie struck, the outer disciple withstood the blows.

"What is going on? How is this possible? Shouldn’t he be sent flying off the stage by now?"

Many were puzzled, but as they looked at the bright smiles on Mo Jian and the two elders’ faces, they began to realize that things were not as straightforward as they seemed.

"Look!" a disciple shouted, pointing at the armor.

"It glows. Every time Deng Jie attacks, it glows as if it is absorbing the attack."

By this point, both Deng Jie and the outer disciple could sense that something was not right.

Deng Jie realized the armor was extraordinary, while the outer disciple’s expression shifted from shock to renewed confidence.

He had thought he was finished and would need to lie down for a month or two to recover from his injuries.

But now...

Instantly, his posture changed.

"River Cleaver Punch!"

Bang!

Deng Jie, ready to deliver another powerful strike, did not anticipate the sudden turn.

The attack slammed into him, and he spat a mouthful of blood.

His face went pale as he retreated.

However, with the outer disciple regaining his confidence, he closed the distance and attacked again.

Bang! Bang!

In two strokes, Deng Jie was sent flying off the stage.

Looking at Deng Jie sprawled on the ground, all the inner disciples drew in a cold breath, while the outer disciples struggled to believe their eyes.

Compared to their shock, Mo Jian, Elder Bai Delan, and Elder Luo Zhen nodded in satisfaction.

"Young Master, using the Pulse Stone in the refinement was a brilliant idea," Elder Luo Zhen said with a smile. "This enhances the armor’s defense."

Mo Jian nodded, but he was not satisfied with the battle. They needed to see the armor under extreme pressure.

"Continue fighting. Anyone who defeats him will receive one thousand lower-grade spirit stones," Mo Jian ordered.

"Huh!"

The disciples were stunned for a moment before quickly recovering.

Without hesitation, a sturdy inner disciple stepped onto the stage.

Bang! Bang!

Two strikes. That was all it took before the outer disciple sent the inner disciple flying off the stage.

Rather than being daunted by the armor’s strength, the inner disciples were filled with fighting spirit.

Bang! Bang!

When Foundation Realm stage-2 warriors joined the battle, the outer disciple began to hold his own.

But with the armor’s terrifying defense, even Foundation Realm stage-2 disciples found themselves at a disadvantage.

It was only when Foundation Stage-3 entered the arena that the armor’s limits were clearly demonstrated.

Yet this was enough to demonstrate the strength of the strength-augmenting armor.

"What do you think?" Mo Jian looked at the two elders.

"I think it is too powerful, especially the defense. We need to reduce it by half," Elder Bai stated directly.

Mo Jian nodded. "I share the same thought. We must reduce its power. Also, I plan to add another prevention rune."

"What rune?" Elder Luo Zhen asked.

"A self-destruction rune," Mo Jian replied. "Each armor can only be used for one to two months. Beyond that, it would disintegrate."

The two elders exchanged a knowing smile.

This would deter those who sought to hoard the armor or to equip their forces with it.

Moreover, it would turn the armor into a continuous revenue stream for Mo Jian.

Just thinking of such a clever plan made the two elders exhale a cold breath.

Mo Jian’s ability to generate wealth was truly terrifying.