Chapter 1200: Seeking an Answer

He Lingchuan now possessed the complete Roshen Armor, but he had no idea how to utilize its second characteristic. Most of his attention was, for the moment, drawn to the third one.

The words "karma" startled He Lingchuan. Be it the gods and immortals of old, or today's cultivators, all fear the stain of karma. As the saying goes, one reaps what one sows; all living beings are subject to this. At its root, karma is the power of causality. The many tragedies surrounding the Roshen Armor in the past were essentially born from the evil karma between the cursed armor and its hosts, intertwining and growing, giving rise to terrifying causality.

After the Great Square Kettle obtained the Roshen Armor, it purified its past sins. However, He Lingchuan hadn't expected that when the Great Square Kettle returned it to him, the armor would still retain its initial characteristic. Why? He surmised that perhaps the power of causality itself is one of the most powerful laws, which even the Great Square Kettle could not strip away.

He murmured, "Karma? This armor can still absorb karma."

The mirror exclaimed, "Oh dear! You dare touch something so terrifying? Maybe you shouldn't wear this armor?" How terrifying is karma? Just look at the fates of the Roshen Armor's previous owners. Its new owner is so smart, he surely won't repeat their mistakes, right?

"I can't take it off," He Lingchuan tried. The armor stubbornly clung to him, refusing to budge. However, with a thought, he could retract it into his body. This was similar to the Fleeting Life Blade. This meant he could wear normal clothes, bathe without hindrance, and don the armor instantly for battle. "Quite convenient," he mused.

The Soul-Sealing Mirror worried, "What now?"

"I'll just wear it," he said, ever the optimist. If he couldn't take it off, he might as well wear it. "Karma isn't just about sin."

In fact, he could already feel a faint, subtle power emanating from the armor; though slight, it was undeniably present. This was the first time he had encountered such a power. It was both ethereal and vast, yet it made him feel remarkably warm, like sunlight. But he could sense that once this power accumulated, it could build sand into towers, stack stones into mountains, or become boundlessly vast and majestic. It was indescribable, ineffable. Was this the power the Black Dragon once felt?

He Lingchuan couldn't understand why this armor, freshly cleansed by the Great Square Kettle, should have had all its old connections severed. He always trusted the Great Square Kettle to handle things properly. But where did this trace of power come from? Had he started to accumulate karma the moment he put on the armor?

He Lingchuan felt a little uneasy, then suddenly remembered someone telling him that he needed good armor. "A treasure armor should have a name." This armor, having been refined by chaos, had severed ties with its past and should no longer be called Roshen Armor. Like the broken blade before it, it yearned for a fresh start.

He Lingchuan raised the Fleeting Life Blade and gently tapped the heart-scale of the armor twice with its back. *Clang-clang*, the sound was crisp and resolute. "Let's call you Qianglong Armor," he declared. As soon as he spoke, each plate on the armor slightly parted, then slowly settled back, as if alive. It reacted to its new name.

He Lingchuan took out the Soul-Sealing Mirror, which transformed into a man-sized mirror-shield. While looking in the mirror, he adjusted the style of the armor on his body to better suit his preferences. A dozen breaths later, no one would be able to associate it with the Roshen Armor.

With a thought, He Lingchuan suddenly took out a mask and put it on, covering his face. The black-armored figure in the mirror immediately appeared unfamiliar—both majestic and dangerous. He crooked a finger at the mirror, and the black-armored warrior in the mirror also tilted its head and crooked a finger back at him.

The mirror flattered him, "Your disguise is excellent; even I can't recognize you."

He Lingchuan chuckled. His voice didn't come from the mask, but was filtered through the Qianglong Armor, making it particularly deep. A perfect tool for his activities.

Footsteps were heard outside. He Lingchuan walked towards the door, and simultaneously the Qianglong Armor disappeared, leaving him in his normal clothes. This donning and doffing was incredibly convenient. General Hong's armor seemed to work similarly, even able to change styles.

Shumin Academy was filled with the clear sound of reading. He Lingchuan grabbed a handful of grain and leaned against a tree trunk outside the classroom, feeding the birds. Sparrows and pigeons arrived first, followed by various colorful finches he couldn't name. Even the large white geese from the river waddled ashore to snatch some food. With ancient trees, blue bricks, large stones, and buildings everywhere, He Lingchuan always felt especially relaxed here. The academy itself was a serene and pure place, inspiring peace of mind.

Finally, class ended. The children swarmed out like uncaged chicks, filling the air with a buzzing clamor. The once solemn academy was instantly filled with the innocent chatter of children.

Instructor Sun also walked out of the classroom. Her dress was the color of falling apricot blossoms, and she wore a creamy white vest with subtle patterns. Her smile was soft and warm, the kind any man would dream of. "I've kept you waiting," she said, having seen He Lingchuan outside through the window during class. "General He, what brings you to me today?"

He Lingchuan had just been promoted by Zhong Shengguang to "Tiger Wing General," commanding five thousand men, and his military duties were heavy. Panlong City, implementing Zhong Shengguang's will, was in a phase of intense military preparation. The integration and training of troops, along with other miscellaneous tasks, kept He Lingchuan busy as could be. Sun Fuling's encounters with him had noticeably decreased recently.

"My apologies! I've been incredibly busy lately." He Lingchuan, knowing that politeness never hurts, presented a beautiful black and red lacquered food container. "A small token of apology for you, Instructor." The food container was not only large but also five-tiered, with exquisite lacquer paintings on the lid. It was an impressive and grand gift.

"Oh, Pearl Pavilion Restaurant?" Sun Fuling recognized it the moment she saw the box.

"A full set of Pearl Pavilion's pastries, from classics to new creations, thirty-six pairs in total. They are all favorites among the academy instructors."

Sun Fuling smiled, "Lord He is getting better and better at giving gifts." This gift wasn't just for her. The box was too large, so He Lingchuan carried it for her. Upon entering the teaching building, he announced that Instructor Sun was treating everyone to pastries. The three master pastry chefs of Pearl Pavilion had recently returned from studying abroad, bringing innovations in variety, taste, and packaging, effortlessly starting a craze in Panlong City. The instructors of Shumin Academy were also frequent patrons there lately, and upon seeing the gift, they all beamed and thanked both of them.

Seeing her colleagues enjoying the pastries, Sun Fuling pulled He Lingchuan to a tree in the courtyard, glanced at him, and said, "Since you've helped me save so much face, tell me, what's on your mind?"

He Lingchuan said earnestly, "Instructor, your insight is sharp; even the smallest matters can't escape your notice."

"My next class is about to begin." The instructor's implication was, "I'm busy, so get to the point."

"Instructor, you are very learned. I'd like to ask about karma and causality." After saying this, He Lingchuan took out a small box of almond shortbread from his storage ring and offered it to her. There were only four small pieces, perfect for a lady to eat in one bite. The pastries he gave to his beloved naturally had to be more exquisite. The color of the shortbread surprisingly matched the apricot blossoms filling the courtyard.

"Asking me?" Sun Fuling asked, surprised. "Why do you ask about this?"

"How could a cultivator *not* ask?" He Lingchuan retorted confidently. "Look at our current environment, and how much bloodshed I'll have to cause on the battlefield." With the recovery of spiritual energy, cultivation was accelerating for everyone. Indeed, they would soon encounter deeper problems, or rather, troubles, than before.

"Hmm..." Sun Fuling casually picked up an almond shortbread, her eyes narrowing. Delicious! "For this question, you'd best ask Dean Xu."

Xu Shichu, being able to serve as the dean of Shumin Academy, was naturally learned and knowledgeable. Before He Lingchuan's great disturbance in the Heavenly Palace, he had even sought Xu's calculations regarding changes in the stars, which indeed proved flawless. Otherwise, He Lingchuan would have been long gone.

"The Dean just returned from Xicheng today. I'll take you to see him." He Lingchuan was always meticulous in his manners and never asked for favors empty-handed. So, he pulled Sun Fuling along to first acquire a meeting gift before seeking out Xu Shichu. Instructor Sun's next class had to be entrusted to another instructor.

In He Lingchuan's impression, Dean Xu was a very busy man. He was in charge of the overall teaching outlines for all academies and schools in the Panlong Wilderness and Maohe Plains. Besides Zhong Shengguang always consulting him, Xu Shichu also frequently traveled for work. However, when Sun Fuling led him to Xu Shichu's small office courtyard, the venerable dean was bent over, trousers rolled up, weeding in a vegetable patch.

Sun Fuling was used to this sight. "Dean Xu, General He is here to see you."

"Oh?" At this point, He Lingchuan was no longer the lowly soldier he once was. Xu Shichu often met him at official meetings, so they were no strangers. Xu Shichu pointed to the stone table and chairs under the eaves and said, "A rare guest indeed, please sit!"

Sun Fuling smiled, "You two talk; I have class." With a glance at He Lingchuan, she turned and left.

He Lingchuan sat on the stone stool and watched Xu Shichu flick a snail off a vegetable leaf. "Dean Xu has such leisurely pursuits."

"Doing a little work helps relax the mind," Xu Shichu chuckled. "Aren't you training troops at Ximo Ridge? Why are you here to see me gardening?"

"I have something to ask for your guidance on."

"Go on, speak your mind," Xu Shichu continued weeding, not treating him as an outsider.

"With the recovery of spiritual energy, cultivation greatly benefits our generation," He Lingchuan began. "However, cultivators most fear accumulating karma. For people like me, leading troops into battle means not just being embroiled in the mundane world, but also repeatedly fighting through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Such actions inevitably lead to karma, don't they?"

"Inevitably, of course inevitably," Xu Shichu chuckled. "Few in this world truly understand karma. I've read ancient immortal commentaries that speak of the cycle of causality and manifest heavenly principles, stating that even earth-shattering figures like them had to tread carefully."

"If one accumulates too much karma, how can one cultivate?"

Xu Shichu pulled out two dandelion plants. "Though weeds, they can be steeped for tea. Let me ask you—" He hadn't finished speaking when the courtyard gate creaked open, and someone else entered. He Lingchuan turned around and saw the newcomer wearing a mask and light red armor. It was General Hong.