“I have a secret technique that can refine battle skeletons. I possess the bones of a Martial Saint. I can forge a skeleton with first-layer Martial Saint combat strength. It will take roughly one month.”
Lin Xiao stated honestly.
One month. He could also choose to refine the first-prize reward from the continent’s spirit controller competition, the early eighth-grade Spirit Surge Pill, and force a breakthrough in spirit power realm.
Yet breaking through spirit power was unpredictable in time.
One or two months might not even fully refine the pill.
Even if refined completely, success was not guaranteed.
Moreover, even if spirit power advanced one level and greatly boosted combat strength, it would not allow the same leap as before, crossing an entire major realm with each breakthrough.
From early seventh-grade spirit power to mid seventh-grade, he certainly could not directly contend with early eighth-grade spirit controllers.
At most, with spirit power alone, he could defeat a first-layer Martial Saint or barely hold against a second-layer.
Its value was far less than adding another Martial Saint-level battle skeleton.
Furthermore, breakthroughs were uncertain.
Refining skeletons, however, was his forte. With his current strength, forging a Martial Saint-level skeleton in one month should pose no major issue.
If it did not disrupt the plan, he naturally preferred creating one more Martial Saint combat unit.
Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, both Lu Hou and Qing Yan were startled.
Create a first-layer Martial Saint skeleton?
That was terrifying.
Though it might not endure as long as a living cultivator, a Martial Saint required a hegemonic power a hundred or two hundred years to nurture.
Yet Lin Xiao needed only one month to produce one.
No major power could imagine such a thing.
“Oh?”
Surprise also appeared on Long Tutian’s face. “If we can add another Martial Saint combat strength, nothing could be better. Normally, delaying one month should cause no great issue. However, this still requires discussion with the gate master.”
Lin Xiao nodded. Long Tutian left again. Not long after, he returned.
The Canglong Gate master’s answer was yes. Lin Xiao immediately entered a small chamber within the cave abode, took out Jiang You’s skeleton, and began refining.
“Whether successful or not, wake me in at most one and a half months.”
Lin Xiao instructed Huo Ruyan.
Huo Ruyan nodded. She and Qing Yan guarded outside the small chamber.
Lu Hou guarded the outer perimeter of the entire cave abode. Long Tutian departed once more.
Lin Xiao extracted Jiang You’s skeleton and started the process.
During it, his strength occasionally depleted, but with constant pill replenishment, he sustained the effort for a full month.
One month later, Lin Xiao successfully refined the battle skeleton.
This skeleton bore the imprint of his entire month’s power. The stored energy would suffice for prolonged combat.
Its strength matched Lin Xiao’s sixth-layer Martial Emperor primordial force.
After a month refining at Martial Saint level, his Indestructible Skeleton Technique had also improved.
By now, Huo Ruyan, Qing Yan, Long Tutian, and Lu Hou had gathered in the cave abode. Seeing Lin Xiao’s aura stabilise and emerge from the small chamber, Huo Ruyan asked, “Success?”
Lin Xiao nodded. “Success.”
“Now we can properly teach the Ji family a lesson.”
Joy shone in Huo Ruyan’s eyes.
Qing Yan beside her also looked eager.
“Senior Brother, can we move?”
Lin Xiao asked Long Tutian.
“Yes. Follow me.”
Long Tutian said.
After signalling Huo Ruyan and the others, Lin Xiao followed Long Tutian out of the cave abode.
They skirted the rear mountain and departed Canglong Gate from a side direction.
Outside Canglong Gate, in a grove, an elderly black-haired man with a furtive air appeared.
Seeing Long Tutian and Lin Xiao, the elder started, then hurried forward and bowed. “Elder Long.”
“Elder Ji Guang, everything depends on you.”
Long Tutian said to the black-haired elder.
Ji Guang nodded. “The Ji family dungeon is heavily guarded lately, but with my status, I can still come and go. Elder Long, rest assured.”
Long Tutian nodded. He and Lin Xiao exchanged a glance. Lin Xiao donned a mask and stepped before Ji Guang. “Thank you for the trouble, Elder Ji.”
This man was Canglong Gate’s mole in the Ji family, a half-step Martial Saint whose combat strength ranked among the top in that realm.
His background was complex. Though surnamed Ji, it was granted. His position in the Ji family was unusual.
Ji Guang nodded, then quietly led Lin Xiao away. They flew low through the woods. Long Tutian protected them covertly.
Huo Ruyan and Qing Yan also set off, following behind Long Tutian.
Along the way, Lin Xiao and Ji Guang passed several teleportation arrays. With Ji Guang’s Ji family elder token and his role as mole, they travelled unimpeded.
In less than ten days, Lin Xiao and Ji Guang reached Ji family headquarters.
The headquarters sprawled with buildings across hundreds of li.
The area divided mainly into nine regions. Lin Xiao’s target was the easternmost.
The Ji family defences were indeed strict, layers of guards. Yet with Ji Guang’s arrangements, Lin Xiao entered smoothly. They passed without issue straight to the easternmost cluster of buildings on the headquarters flank.
Pavilions, towers, glorious palaces. Everything expected was present. It looked no different from other areas.
But beneath lay the headquarters dungeon.
After several turns guided by Ji Guang, they entered a palace.
An elder stood guard inside.
“Elder Ji Guang.”
The guard greeted him upon sight.
“Routine inspection.”
Ji Guang replied calmly.
“Understood.”
The elder took a key and inserted it into a nearby stone pillar. A mechanism in the palace floor opened, revealing a sloping stone stair entrance downward.
Lin Xiao and Ji Guang descended. The guarding elder immediately closed the entrance.
Once underground, Lin Xiao saw dozens of branching passages. Without prior knowledge, finding the right one would be impossible.
Each passage entrance also had an elder guard, this one another half-step Martial Saint.
“Big brother, this time you want to check…” Seeing Lin Xiao and Ji Guang enter, the elder tensed, glanced around, and asked.
This man was Ji Guang’s own younger brother, one of the dungeon gatekeepers.
“Three-five-five.”
Ji Guang said softly.
“Big brother…” The half-step Martial Saint grew anxious and quickly said.
