Chapter 156: Formless Armor

Yang Xiao tested out the Seven-Star Linked Arrows, finding them to be a remarkably fine treasure. He promptly stored the artifact away in his storage pouch. According to his calculations, being able to enter the third layer was already the absolute limit of his capabilities. There was no need to even test the fourth layer, as entering it was a complete impossibility for him.

If the fourth layer were so easy to access, no one would have failed to set foot inside it until now.

However, cultivating for a while on the third layer should still offer some benefits to his cultivation base. Although the enhancement would not be as dramatic as when he first stepped in, his strength should nevertheless experience a steady, gradual improvement.

With this plan in mind, Yang Xiao wandered around, intending to find a spot to patiently cultivate for a while. Yet, as he approached the boundary of the portal leading to the fourth layer, the mysterious jade sliver on his body suddenly vibrated violently and transmitted a wave of intent into his mind. Yang Xiao could only grasp the rough meaning of this intent, but it seemed the jade sliver had an intense desire to enter the fourth layer.

Yang Xiao naturally found this quite curious. He had not expected the jade sliver to possess a will of its own; could it be that this sliver was actually a living entity?

Nevertheless, since the jade sliver had conveyed such a desire, Yang Xiao felt compelled to venture into the fourth layer and see what manner of items lay within. Taking a risk, he forced his way through.

Initially, Yang Xiao was blocked by the turbulent spiritual energy of the fourth layer and struggled to advance. However, the mysterious jade sliver unexpectedly began to absorb the spiritual energy as well, and its absorption rate was vastly superior to Yang Xiao's own capacity. Consequently, the surrounding spiritual energy gradually thinned out, allowing Yang Xiao to successfully pass into the fourth layer.

"What is happening? Has someone actually entered the fourth layer?" Upon witnessing the fourth ray of spiritual light ascend, Linke was utterly dumbfounded. The fact that someone had penetrated the third layer was already shocking enough—even he could barely manage the third layer himself. Yet now, someone had broken into the fourth layer. How could such a thing possibly occur?

Ever since this spirit array was established, only Lin Lang had ever managed to enter the fourth layer. Not a single one of his descendants possessed the capability to do so. Logically speaking, one needed to reach at least the late stage of the Zhoutian Realm, or even its peak, to possess the capacity to enter the fourth layer. Yet which of the people who had entered the spirit array possessed such prowess? For an event like this to transpire was simply unimaginable.

"Impossible, how could anyone enter the fourth layer?" Feng Ye, too, was observing this phenomenon and was struck with profound shock. The fourth layer was the very place where Lin Lang had spent long periods in cultivation, and it ought to house numerous rare treasures left behind by Lin Lang himself.

Feng Ye had attempted on numerous occasions to enter the fourth layer, but he had been utterly unable to breach it, which was why he had eventually abandoned the idea entirely. Yet now, someone else had managed to enter the fourth layer, and a cultivator of relatively low realm at that. How could this fail to astonish him?

Initially, although Linke and Feng Ye knew someone had entered the fourth layer, they did not know the identity of this person. However, as the rest of the participants successively walked out of the spirit array, Yang Xiao was the only one missing. Naturally, this made it clear to them that the person who had entered the spirit array must be Yang Xiao.

Linke surveyed the returning group and noticed that all of their cultivation bases had improved, with some clearly advancing by a full minor realm. This outcome left him quite satisfied. However, apart from Lin Hao, who had retrieved a high-grade spirit treasure from within the array, the other disciples had not claimed any treasures. Evidently, they had only cultivated on the first layer; since the spirit artifacts there held no great utility for them, they chose not to take them, preferring to wait for a future opportunity to enter the second layer, at which point they would not mind acquiring a spirit treasure.

"Could it be that Brother Yang Xiao has yet to emerge?" Lin Tian asked, feeling rather anxious about Yang Xiao's safety.

"Little Friend Yang Xiao should have entered the fourth layer, which is why he will not be coming out anytime soon. Let us wait patiently," Linke replied.

"What? Yang Xiao has entered the fourth layer? How can that be? Even Grandfather cannot enter the fourth layer, can he? How could Yang Xiao possibly get in?" Lin Hao was utterly bewildered. Although he had witnessed Yang Xiao entering the third layer, he had assumed Yang Xiao would not last long there before being expelled by the oppressive spiritual energy. He never imagined that Yang Xiao would not only be completely fine on the third layer, but would actually advance smoothly into the fourth. Wasn't this far too bizarre?

"The exact details are probably known only to Little Friend Yang Xiao; we will have to ask him once he emerges. However, judging by the current situation, regardless of the reason, it is undeniable that he has indeed entered the fourth layer. Let us wait here patiently," Linke said.

Thus, the group fell silent, waiting outside the gathering spirit array with their own thoughts and concerns.

Upon entering the fourth layer, Yang Xiao found the spiritual energy here to be infinitely more turbulent and far beyond what he could endure on his own. However, thanks to the mysterious jade sliver having absorbed a massive amount of spiritual energy, he was barely able to keep his footing.

The mysterious jade sliver seemed to be intentionally testing Yang Xiao. Theoretically, it possessed the capacity to completely swallow all the spiritual energy within the fourth layer, yet it only absorbed a large portion, leaving the remainder behind for Yang Xiao to absorb.

Having done this, the mysterious jade sliver ceased absorbing energy and once again fell completely still.

For Yang Xiao, this served as an immense trial. He had to constantly resist the onslaught of the surrounding spiritual energy. Yet amidst this resistance, his cultivation base exhibited a tendency for rapid growth. Soon enough, he broke through to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, meaning he had officially entered the late stage of Qi Condensation. At this moment, his strength underwent a tremendous leap. Not only that, but the third transformation of the Nine-Turn Golden Body also smoothly reached the realm of Great Accomplishment. Through all this, Yang Xiao's overall strength took another massive stride forward.

By now, the giant formed by the Great Spirit Technique had become even more solid, and the beast of sand's cultivation had likewise seen a substantial enhancement. Only the lightning imprint seemed far more interested in lightning itself than in spiritual energy; hence, although it had absorbed a small amount of spiritual energy, its transformation was not particularly pronounced.

Once Yang Xiao's strength had vastly increased, he was finally able to walk about the fourth layer. It was then that he discovered several supreme-grade spirit treasures affixed to the walls. Every single one of these supreme-grade spirit treasures possessed terrifying might, but one item in particular captured his heart completely. It was a piece of armor-like treasure known as the Formless Armor. According to the brief description inscribed beside it, this armor could freely change its shape, possessed astonishing defensive capabilities, and—most importantly—granted the user auxiliary flight capabilities that far surpassed those of ordinary flying treasures.

Such a treasure naturally filled Yang Xiao with a strong desire to make it his own.