CHAPTER 436: LEGIONARY SET

"Three strongholds down. And yet, the number of the Vindicators just keeps on growing. Is it because of its current ’breached’ status? Every soldier we took down was instantly getting replaced by a new one. And because they’re not just respawning magically in a set place, they’re emerging from the next area." Lin Mo mused to himself as he watched the smoke rise from inside the third stronghold.

The original plan was to covertly bypass every stronghold to reach one of the five fortresses. However, even with a concealment formation, a talisman or even an artifact, they’d always be spotted by a patrol group or a sentry. And that always leads to a battle.

If that’s the only case, there would be no problem. However, at each encounter, their presence within the Anchor was being broadcast to every Vindicator in the area. The metallic zeal of their Aether would flare, and reinforcements would march from adjacent strongholds and even the distant fortresses.

The only fortunate thing was that the Vindicators couldn’t cross the distance easily, allowing Lin Mo and the cultivators to continue moving forward. Regardless, the number of enemies they were encountering as they ventured further inside was gradually increasing.

In his estimate, they might truly be overwhelmed by the time they reach the fortress.

"Shopkeeper, we’re done here. I passed all the dropped pieces of equipment to Xiaoyu." Liu Zhongzhu’s voice rang in his head. "You can rest assured. This much pressure is still manageable to us. It’s nothing compared to the trials we faced in the Conduit Tower."

Lin Mo looked over at the assembled cultivators as they filed out of the third stronghold. Despite having just fought through three consecutive strongholds, they were far from exhausted. The combination of [Energy Replenishing Candies] and the Aether absorbed from the defeated Vindicators kept their reserves high. Their morale was even higher, fueled by a string of decisive, overwhelming victories.

"That’s truly reassuring, Master Liu." He replied as he watched Xiaoyu make her way back to his side.

The young woman was grinning from ear to ear as she said, "Boss, we finally completed one set. Look!"

From her spatial ring, pieces of equipment appeared as they clattered to the ground.

He counted it and frowned. Not counting those which came in pairs, it was ten pieces in total. From helmet to greaves, every part of a Legionary’s Aether-forged armor was there. Their weapon and shield were a separate loot but they seemed to be only supplementary equipment and not part of the whole set.

"It took downing over fifty Legionaries to get one complete set," Xiaoyu also frowned as she recalled how she got three helmets in a row from the Legionaries and Decanus she defeated. "It’s quite weird that they’re dropping only a piece of equipment and the rest would dissipate like smoke, only leaving behind a sliver of Aether. Why is it different from those who died outside?"

"It should be how these Anchors operate. It’s the same as the one you reset with the Shopkeeper and Sword Fairy, right?" Wu Meiyu commented, "Anyhow, this aligns with the information we have. Their power is external. Their armor is their core. When we destroy the being, we are destroying the ’core’, causing the remaining pieces to lose their Aetheric resonance and drop."

Lin Mo picked up a gauntlet. It was heavy, masterfully crafted, yet felt... inert. The metallic energy that had once pulsed within it became dormant as if it needed to be donned by someone along with the other pieces to awaken it again.

He scanned it and its details popped up.

[Legionary Gauntlet]

[Origin: Argent Covenant Realm]

[Grade: Low Spirit Grade (Argentum-II)]

[Description: One piece of the standard-issue Legionary Set. Channels Aether to enhance physical strength and durability. Alone, it is a simple piece of armor. As part of a set, its true potential is unlocked.]

[Set Bonus (10 pieces): Argentum Resonance - Forms a bond with the wearer, allowing them to channel their life force to power the armor. Grants strength equivalent to a Spirit Condensation Stage cultivator. Unlocks the ability to form a linked energy field with other set-wearers.]

[Status: Unbound]

[Experience: Currently Unavailable]

Lin Mo read it carefully and shook his head. It reminded him of the set equipment with set effects from those RPG games on Earth. It was a hassle to collect but they’re quite satisfying once you do collect and equip one, especially if their set effects could greatly enhance his character’s stats.

From those last three lines, he understood that once someone donned the set, it would be bound to them. And it’s possible to gain experience and upgrade it. Possibly from continuous use or a method used by the inhabitants of that realm.

"Boss, can our artificers do something with these? Or maybe the divine beings?" Xiaoyu asked, kicking a breastplate gently with her foot.

"Perhaps they can but this clearly runs on a different set of laws, given that it’s crafted from their realm." Lin Mo said thoughtfully. "Let’s see. I have a more... convenient idea. Scholar Wei, come here."

The quiet, scholarly advisor to the Crown Prince stepped forward, his eyes already glowing with the golden light of his [All-Seeing Eye Scripture]. He had been analyzing the armor pieces since the first one dropped. While the system interface was also useful in appraising them, it’s better to hear the words of an expert.

"Shopkeeper," The old scholar greeted with a respectful bow.

"Scholar Wei, your scripture allows you to see the flow of energy. I want to ask you a question. Is there a way for us to wear this armor? Can we channel our own spiritual energy into it, to mimic their ’Aether-forging’?"

The assembled experts, who had been listening in, all turned their heads. Wear the enemy’s armor? Use their own artifact against them? That was an interesting idea.

Scholar Wei’s golden eyes scanned the full set of armor lying on the ground. He traced the faint, now-dormant energy channels etched into its surface.

"Theoretically... yes, Shopkeeper," He answered with his voice filled with intellectual excitement. "The inscriptions and runic patterns are a form of external meridian system. They are designed to channel Aether, a very specific type of energy. Our spiritual energy is... possibly incompatible with it. Trying to force it through would be like trying to run water through a pipe designed for oil. It would clog, sputter, and likely cause a violent backlash."

"However," He continued as his finger traced the breastplate, "if we could find a ’converter’... or a medium that could translate our spiritual energy into a form that the Aether-forged runes could accept... then it might be possible. The armor would treat our spiritual energy as its own native Aether."

Lin Mo’s grin widened. A converter. That’s in line with his own observation.

"Let’s try using a spirit stone first. But if it’s not working, we can try something else." Lin Mo declared.

He turned to the assembled cultivators. "Master Liu, let’s take a short break here. Please send out scouts to look out for the enemy reinforcements. We’re just going to run a quick experiment here. In the meantime, rest, replenish your energy, and stay vigilant."

He then gestured for his own ten-man squad to follow him into the now-cleared stronghold. Inside, he set up a [Mirage Veil Projector], shrouding the place in a bubble of concealment array.

"Alright," he said once they were hidden. "Let’s build a Vindicator."

He laid out the complete set of Legionary armor. He then accessed his inventory and retrieved a high-grade spirit stone and an unrefined [Highland Crystal], one of the items they had looted from the Decrint Anchor.

"Boss, that’s... from the other Anchor, right?" Xiaoyu asked, her eyes wide with understanding.

"Exactly," Lin Mo confirmed. "We’ve learned that all foreign energy can be categorized as ’Dimension Essence’. The Aether of the Argent Covenant, and the Highland Energy of the Decrint... they are all different ’flavors’ of the same fundamental cosmic energy. And both of these are like batteries."

"Alright. Let’s not put this on someone yet." He continued. "Since we have to keep moving, this is going to be quick. Scholar Wei, if you would."

Lin Mo handed the spirit stone and Highland Crystal to the old scholar. Scholar Wei accepted them with the reverence of an artisan examining rare materials. His glowing eyes first focused on the high-grade spirit stone.

"The spiritual energy within this is pure, but it is a closed system. It releases energy, but it does not actively interface. It will not work as a direct power source."

He then turned to the Highland Crystal. His golden gaze intensified. "This... this is different. It is also a foreign energy, but its structure is more... raw. More fundamental. It feels... compatible, in a chaotic way. It could potentially act as a bridge for energies."

Lin Mo smiled. "That’s what I was hoping for. Now, for the test subject..."

He didn’t look at the powerful cultivators around them. Instead, he pulled out a small, unassuming item from his inventory: a [Basic Training Puppet], a simple automaton sold in the store for practicing basic techniques.

"Let’s start with a non-living dummy first. If it doesn’t work, let’s set it aside for after we leave this place."