136: Outsmarting the Treasure Armor

Now that he knew the whereabouts of the white dragon soft armor, Qin Feng didn't want to delay for a moment. After a brief explanation to Su Yuetang, he quietly slipped out of the city alone and headed straight for the Sun Moon Pool, fifty miles west of West Lake City.

This pool was named for its shape, which resembled the sun and moon shining together. Its surface was vast, its depth unfathomable, and it was shrouded in a layer of mist year-round, appearing deep, tranquil, and rarely visited by people.

Finding a secluded spot on the shore, Qin Feng took out the water repelling pearl. A faint blue halo expanded, enveloping his entire body. He took a deep breath and leaped into the icy pool water.

The water repelling pearl was indeed miraculous; the pool water parted automatically outside the halo, forming an invisible air bubble that not only provided air but also blocked out the water pressure and the cold. Qin Feng circulated his True Essence, moving like a fish as he dove toward the depths of the pool floor as indicated by the System's intelligence.

The further down he went, the dimmer the light became, and the surroundings turned into a silent, deep blue. Only the water repelling pearl emitted a soft glow, illuminating a small area ahead. Water weeds swayed like ghostly tentacles, and some strange schools of glowing fish were startled and swam away in all directions.

After diving for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he estimated he was near the bottom. However, Qin Feng did not immediately find any trace of the white dragon soft armor. The pool floor was not flat but was instead filled with jagged rocks and riddled with caves and crevices of all sizes; the terrain was complex.

He expanded his search area, sensing carefully with his Martial King-level Divine Sense. Finally, deep within a massive rock crevice shaped like a dragon's maw, he felt an extremely faint, chilly ripple of energy!

Feeling a surge of joy, Qin Feng immediately swam toward the crevice. The entrance was narrow, but the interior held a whole new world, like an underwater grotto. At the deepest part of the grotto, a cluster of soft white light floated quietly. In the center of the light, he could vaguely see a neatly folded silver soft armor of extraordinary material—it was the white dragon soft armor!

But just as Qin Feng prepared to step forward and take the armor, a sudden change occurred!

“Buzz—!”

Dozens of complex runes suddenly lit up on the rock walls surrounding the grotto! These runes linked together, instantly forming an invisible Formation barrier that firmly guarded the white dragon soft armor within! Simultaneously, a powerful repulsive force emanated from the barrier, pushing Qin Feng back several steps!

“A Formation Restriction?” Qin Feng frowned. He tried to force his way through with True Essence, but the barrier remained motionless. Instead, it rebounded with a bone-chilling counter-force that made his blood and Qi churn slightly. This Formation was clearly extraordinary; trying to break it by force would likely lead to unpredictable consequences and might even destroy the soft armor.

Seeing the treasure within reach but unattainable, Qin Feng did not rashly continue his attempts. He exited the grotto, found a relatively flat boulder on the pool floor nearby, sat cross-legged, and restrained his aura.

“It seems I can only wait for the zi hour.”

In the dark and cold depths of the pool, time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly. Qin Feng waited patiently while carefully recalling the System's intelligence regarding the white dragon soft armor, trying to find more clues. However, the intelligence only mentioned the location and that a "special method" was required for acquisition, without further detail.

Finally, the zi hour was approaching.

[Ding! The zi hour has arrived! Daily intelligence has been refreshed!]

The shimmering panel appeared exceptionally clear in the dark underwater.

[Today's Intelligence:]

[Blue Intelligence: The Formation guarding the white dragon soft armor is called the 'Three Talents Water-Suppressing Formation.' It operates by drawing upon the power of the pool's water veins and cannot be broken by brute force. The Formation has three invisible nodes corresponding to the Three Talents of 'Heaven,' 'Earth,' and 'Man.' They must be activated simultaneously with specific attributes of True Essence to open.]

[Blue Intelligence: The 'Heaven' node is located within the hanging stalactite at the center of the grotto's ceiling and must be infused with the most Yang and rigid True Essence. The 'Earth' node is located beneath a seemingly ordinary circular stone slab directly under the soft armor and must be triggered with the most Yin and soft True Essence. The 'Man' node is the most unique; one can use the 'water repelling pearl' and drop a single drop of their own Essence Blood into the water three feet directly in front of the barrier.]

[Blue Intelligence: The activation sequence for the three nodes must be 'Man' -> 'Earth' -> 'Heaven.' The interval must not exceed three breaths; otherwise, the Formation will judge it as an intrusion, launch a stronger counterattack, and potentially self-destruct.]

Three pieces of intelligence, each one critical! They clearly presented the method to break the Formation right before Qin Feng's eyes!

“So that's how it is! The Three Talents Water-Suppressing Formation requires three people to cooperate, or... someone who possesses multiple attributes of True Essence and holds the water repelling pearl!” A sharp light flashed in Qin Feng's eyes. He practiced the Primordial Unity Qi Art and the Daoist Primordial Chaos Art; his Internal Energy (True Essence) was naturally balanced and possessed both Yin and Yang qualities. Although it wasn't extreme Yin or extreme Yang, simulating those attributes was not difficult. And the water repelling pearl was already in his hand!

The opportunity was fleeting! Qin Feng did not hesitate and acted immediately!

He first swam to a spot three feet in front of the barrier, forced out a drop of crimson Essence Blood from his fingertip, and flicked it. The Essence Blood merged into the pool water.

“Buzz!” The 'Man' node was triggered, and the barrier rippled slightly.

Immediately after, he dove down to the area directly beneath the soft armor and pressed his palm against that seemingly ordinary circular stone slab. The nature of the True Essence in his body instantly transformed, becoming soft and lingering like moonlight or flowing water as it slowly infused into the stone slab.

“Buzz!” A second soft hum sounded, and the 'Earth' node lit up with a faint glow.

Finally, he surged upward like a swimming dragon toward the top of the grotto. Pressing his index and middle fingers together like a sword, his True Essence changed once more, becoming scorching and fierce like the blazing sun, accurately striking the tip of the hanging stalactite!

“Buzz—!!!”

The third hum was the loudest! The three nodes simultaneously burst with light, weaving into a web of radiance! The invisible barrier rapidly faded and vanished like melting snow!

The Formation was broken!

Qin Feng dared not dally and immediately stepped forward, reaching into the cluster of white light. It felt cool and smooth to the touch, as if he were touching living skin rather than armor. He gave a gentle tug and pulled out the white dragon soft armor.

As the light faded, the full appearance of the soft armor was revealed. It was a lustrous silver-white throughout, made of a material that was neither silk nor leather. It featured fine, natural patterns like dragon scales. It was icy to the touch but didn't feel cold; instead, a warm power flowed along his arm into his body, automatically fending off the cold and water pressure of the pool floor. The armor was light and thin, no larger than a palm when folded, yet one could feel the staggering defensive power contained within.

The Earth Rank Medium Grade treasure armor—the white dragon soft armor—was his!

Qin Feng felt exhilarated and tucked it away close to his body. He didn't stay any longer, using the water repelling pearl to quickly ascend.

He broke the surface and returned to the shore under the full moonlight. Feeling the slight coolness and powerful spiritual rhythm emanating from the white dragon soft armor against his chest, Qin Feng's confidence grew even further.