Two years of rapid development brought earth-shattering changes to Saliker Province.
The common people living here were no longer shrouded in gloom all day, but were filled with hope for the future.
The gradual increase in arable land also provided a means of livelihood for the old and weak who couldn't adapt to mining work, and Sarikel City was now largely self-sufficient.
The occupancy rate within the city was also continuously rising.
By now, the population of the entire Saliker Province had approached 150,000 people.
Of course, with the increase in population, conflicts did arise; some new residents wanted to seize residences closer to the streets from original inhabitants, and such scenes were not uncommon.
Ultimately, Armored Warrior had to intervene to resolve the disputes.
Lin Beiya even had officials post a notice, stating that anyone who dared to cause trouble within the city would be expelled from Sarikel City.
Only then did the situation improve.
However, the previous situation where anyone who came was a Salikellian had become a thing of the past.
The population was already sufficient for the province's self-development.
For those wishing to move in later, they would need to understand the housing tax and land tax.
After two years of diligent governance, Athena's voice finally echoed in Lin Beiya's mind once more.
"god of war and wisdom's Ninth Divine Examination."
"First Trial, Sanctuary, completed."
"Completion: Excellent."
"Reward: One god-bestowed spirit ring, 20% control over the shield of justice, 10% affinity with the god of war and wisdom."
A pure white light surged from his body, and Lin Beiya felt a new connection with the shield of justice.
He could now actively use the purification ability that had previously appeared passively, becoming a true bane of Evil Soul Masters.
As for the God Position affinity, Lin Beiya didn't yet know its use, but at least there was no harm in it.
He extended his left hand, and a golden light mass appeared in his palm.
This was what he urgently needed at the moment.
"It truly is a god-bestowed spirit ring; Athena is quite reliable."
Summoning Shi Nuo and the other two to the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Lin Beiya went straight to the point:
"I need to enter seclusion for a period, which might take a week."
"During this time, Sarikel and Holy Crown City will be entrusted to you."
"Yan Yan, I need to use the cloth for a while. If you want to Cultivate, borrow cancer from Ming Xin first."
The three nodded simultaneously. They probably guessed what Lin Beiya was going to do, and couldn't help but feel a little anticipation.
"Don't worry, Beiya, if anyone dares to invade, I'll crush him along with the earth."
"I understand, Brother Beiya!"
Lin Beiya was very confident in the current strength of the three.
"That's good then."
How could there be no secret chamber in the Supreme Pontiff Palace?
In any case, Lin Beiya had requested the craftsmen to build a 50-square-meter basement in the rear hall during construction.
All daily necessities were available inside. Now, it was time for the Breakthrough.
Coming to the bed, he sat cross-legged. Lin Beiya summoned the statue of the goddess of war, then donned the leo gold cloth.
He glanced at the golden god-bestowed spirit ring in his hand. Without hesitation, Lin Beiya crushed it directly.
A majestic spirit power instantly poured into his body.
A pale white spirit ring slowly condensed above the fifth pitch-black spirit ring.
According to Lin Beiya's actual physical strength, around 85,000 years was a relatively safe number, but with the cloth's assistance, Lin Beiya was determined to challenge a hundred thousand year spirit ring.
Time slowly passed, and the color of the pale white spirit ring deepened.
Pale yellow, dark yellow, pale purple, dark purple, black.
As the spirit ring's color changed, its age also continuously climbed: 10,000 years, 20,000 years, 30,000 years... Three days flashed by, and the age of Lin Beiya's sixth spirit ring reached an astonishing 90,000 years.
He initially thought the rest would be a matter of course.
However, when the spirit ring's age reached 95,000 years, the oppressive feeling brought by the spirit power within his body began to increase exponentially.
It seemed that a hundred thousand year spirit ring was not as easy to obtain as he had imagined.
If calculated by conventional means, with the cloth's assistance, his limit would probably be around 120,000 years, but during actual absorption, it was a completely different matter.
A long-lost sense of oppression filled his entire body. Lin Beiya had only experienced this feeling when absorbing his third spirit ring.
At this moment, Lin Beiya's entire body was red, like a cooked shrimp.
The spirit power continuously flushing through his Meridians put him under immense pressure.
But thinking of the power of a hundred thousand year spirit ring, he could only grit his teeth and persevere.
His bones began to crackle due to the compression, and faint traces of blood started to seep from his nose and mouth.
Fortunately, Lin Beiya's physical quality and mental force were indeed excellent.
Although the transformation process was difficult, it had not reached the point where he couldn't bear it.
At this time, a trace of crimson had already appeared on the black spirit ring.
The red began to gradually swallow the darkness, and the pain from Lin Beiya's body became even more intense.
Seven days later, the last trace of black on the spirit ring faded, and Lin Beiya, as if granted a great pardon, stopped absorbing the spirit power.
He opened his eyes and gasped for air.
"Phew, that was close. It seems I underestimated the difficulty of absorbing a hundred thousand year spirit ring."
"Good thing I didn't slack off during my usual training, otherwise it would have been dire."
After his relief, Lin Beiya looked at his sixth crimson spirit ring, his eyes filled with excitement.
"Everything was worth it. I'm also someone with a hundred thousand year spirit ring now."
Breaking through to Spirit Emperor cultivation and having the blessing of a hundred thousand year spirit ring, Lin Beiya's cultivation soared like a rocket directly to level 65, once again surpassing Shi Nuo and reclaiming the title of Holy Crown City's top expert.
As for his Spirit Ability, it made Lin Beiya's mouth curve into an even wider smile.
Exiting the secret chamber where he had stayed for seven days, Lin Beiya arrived outside the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
His crimson sixth spirit ring was directly lit up, and two golden rays of light shot into the sky.
A portion of the stars gathered to form a praying maiden's pattern, while another portion gathered to form a set of scales, appearing solemn and sacred.
Subsequently, two pillars of light shot directly onto the marble ground in front of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, and the outlines of two gold cloths slowly emerged.
Attracted by the commotion, Shi Nuo and the other two quickly arrived in front of the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Looking at the two gold cloths before them, and the crimson spirit ring above Lin Beiya's Spirit.
The three were deeply shocked.
That's right, the hundred thousand year spirit ring directly granted Lin Beiya two Spirit Abilities, which were the virgo gold cloth and the Libra gold cloth.
"Beiya, does completing this Divine Examination also reward a hundred thousand year spirit ring?"
"You could say that, but it's not entirely accurate."
A god-bestowed spirit ring will attach a spirit ring according to the limit your body can currently withstand. In other words, to get a hundred thousand year spirit ring, your physique must first be strong enough.
"So that's how it is."
The three nodded simultaneously. It turned out that they still had to rely on their own unremitting efforts. Thinking this, it seemed appropriate; otherwise, directly granting a hundred thousand year spirit ring would be too easy and lead to laziness.
"You all need to work harder from now on, especially Stone. Within these two years, you might need to focus on improving your Cosmo."
"Ah? Why?"
Although he didn't feel repulsed, Shi Nuo was still a little confused.
Lin Beiya's words were naturally not without purpose, because after he completed the first trial, Athena directly issued the content of the second assessment.
"Subordinates."
As the god of war and wisdom, how could he not have his own direct subordinates?
Within two years, complete the Zodiac's twelve guardians or have two of the twelve palace guardians' Cosmos Breakthrough to the Seventh Sense.