Chapter Forty-Three: Turning Dark

Sparks of golden electricity crackled, coiling around Liu Ji like spiritual serpents, their wild dance enveloping his entire body in a dazzling aura of power. Segments of black armor, etched with intricate patterns, emerged from his flesh and blood, clicking together with a metallic chorus until he was fully encased. This time, even his head was concealed beneath a strikingly cool black helmet. Suddenly, two blood-red eyes flared to life on the pure black visor.

“I did it!” Liu Ji exclaimed, gazing down in delight and excitement at the armor covering him. According to the books, these Armor Spirits endowed their bearers with extraordinary attributes—a divine weapon all aspired to possess.

Liu Heng remarked, “Only those with the bloodline of Nu Xi can hope to summon an Armor Spirit. Its strength surpasses all weapons of this age, its sharpness unmatched. It is the sacred tool of the Nu Xi people!” He continued, “After summoning your Armor Spirit, do you feel any unusual changes? Greater strength? Something else?”

Liu Ji pondered, then shook his head. “No, neither my strength nor my vitality has changed. But I do feel the spiritual energy around me being drawn into my body on its own.”

Liu Heng nodded. “That suggests your Armor Spirit is a ‘Special Armor Spirit.’ That’s not bad at all—much better than a Pure Armor Spirit.”

“Special Armor Spirit?”

“There are two types: Pure and Special. Pure Armor Spirits grant the bearer only exceptional defense—nothing more. Special Armor Spirits, however, not only provide this defense but also enhance a specific ability: perhaps strength, speed, rapid recovery, and so on. The abilities are myriad and complex, but each comes with certain limits.”

He looked at Liu Ji. “Since your absorption of spiritual energy has greatly increased, it appears yours is a Special Armor Spirit.”

After a moment, he added, “Beyond Special Armor Spirits, there exists a mysterious class said to possess world-shattering power. For humanity, they are true catastrophes.”

He lowered his voice. “These are... the Primordial Armor Spirits.”

“Primordial Armor Spirits...” Liu Ji echoed softly.

He understood now: this was still a low-martial world, where individual power was not absolute. Armies still held sway. If the legends were true, and Primordial Armor Spirits wielded apocalyptic might, then they truly were...

Utterly terrifying.

He looked at Liu Heng hopefully. “It must be nearly impossible to summon a Primordial Armor Spirit, then?”

“Yes.” Liu Heng nodded gravely. “To my knowledge, in over a thousand years, only three Primordial Armor Spirits have ever appeared. Imagine how difficult their summoning must be!”

Liu Ji asked again, “Father, what about your Armor Spirit?”

Liu Heng smiled. “Mine? You want to know?”

Liu Ji nodded.

With a chuckle, Liu Heng patted his son’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. You’ll have the chance to get to know it well in the future.”

“Alright then.” Since Liu Heng was unwilling to say more, Liu Ji let the matter drop, not noticing the deeper meaning in his father’s words. He turned to leave.

“Report—” At that moment, a servant rushed in.

Kneeling with a fist to his chest, he announced, “My lord, a murder has been discovered in an alley within the city. The victim is a woman. When found, her body was... already mostly devoured, with only a few scraps of flesh and the torso’s bones remaining. Moreover, we suspect she was eaten by someone!”

Liu Heng’s face darkened at this. “Take me there.”

Liu Ji, curious and sensing the matter was far from simple, wanted to follow, but remembered that today was the day of the River Lantern Martial Contest. So he left the residence, heading to the contest’s location.

As he passed a gambling den, however, he suddenly heard Liu Yuqing’s voice: “Let me go! I’ll go home and get your money, isn’t that enough?”

A man’s gruff retort followed. “Money? You think I’m a three-year-old? How many times have you given me that story? I’m telling you, you must pay up today. Even if you’re a young lady of the prince’s household, I won’t let you go!”

Looking over, Liu Ji saw Liu Yuqing in blue being firmly gripped by a burly man. She was trying desperately to break free, but as an ordinary girl, how could she match his strength? Tears welled in her eyes from frustration.

Catching sight of Liu Ji, Liu Yuqing’s face lit up. She waved frantically. “Second brother! Over here—look this way! Come save me, someone’s bullying your little sister and won’t let me go!”

Liu Ji considered walking away in exasperation. This girl truly had none of the dignity of a noble lady—always in or on her way to a gambling den. He could never understand what she found so entertaining.

Wasn’t a brothel more fun?

But since Liu Yuqing had already seen him, he couldn’t just ignore her plight. He strode over and addressed the burly man, “Let her go.”

The man hesitated, intimidated by Liu Ji, and released her. “You’re just in time, young lord. Miss Liu lost money gambling here and now wants to renege. You have to make this right.”

“How much did she lose?”

“Three hundred and eighty thousand coins.”

“How much?!”

“Three hundred and eighty thousand.”

Liu Ji stared at Liu Yuqing. Under his withering gaze, she ducked her head. He sneered, half-smiling, “Well done, Liu Yuqing. You really know how to have fun!”

Though their family could afford the sum, it was outrageous for a girl of sixteen or seventeen to gamble away so much. Was she born for this?

“Just wait till we get home!” Liu Ji threatened, glaring at her. He slipped a jade ring from his finger and handed it to the burly man. “Take this to a pawnshop—it should cover her debt. Whatever’s left, keep as your reward.”

With that, he tossed the ring, grabbed Liu Yuqing by the ear, and led her out of the den. The burly man bowed repeatedly, beaming. “Take care, young lord, take care, miss! Come back anytime!”

On the way, Liu Yuqing clung to his arm, beaming. “Second brother, you’re not mad at me, are you?”

She pouted, “I promise I won’t do it again. Don’t be angry, please?”

Liu Ji snorted, “You can drop the act. Father’s right not to give you spending money, or you’d lose millions instead of hundreds of thousands.”

“Hmph.” Liu Yuqing pouted. “You scold me, but I haven’t lost as much in my lifetime as you’ve squandered. Three hundred and eighty thousand coins—barely enough for that gift you bought Mu Wanjun. Second brother, I’m hungry. Let’s eat!”

She bounced beside him like an unruly bellbird, refusing to settle. Suddenly, she bumped into a passerby, who barely glanced at her before striding off.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going! No apology? What’s your problem?” she grumbled. “That guy’s body is hard as wood. Ouch! Why’s my luck so bad today?”

Seeing Liu Ji still staring after the stranger, dazed, she waved a pale, slender hand before his eyes.

“Hey, what are you doing? Let’s go eat!”

“...Alright.” Liu Ji snapped out of it and led her towards the contest, frowning in thought.

Last night, in the corridor at home, he had brushed past a servant and felt a chill of unnatural cold. He’d dismissed it as the weather, but now, as that stranger passed, he’d felt it again—a bone-piercing, hair-raising chill.

Could it still be the weather?

He glanced skyward. The day was bright, the sun blazing in a cloudless sky—warm and dazzling. But as the stranger had already disappeared, he tried to dismiss it—perhaps it was just his imagination.

He failed to notice that the ghost crystal pendant on his wrist was gradually shifting from black to blue, then returning to its original state, as if nothing had happened.

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PS: Second update. Please vote for recommendations~