Chapter 356 - 354: Building the Flame Mountain Dojo

Chapter 356: Chapter 354: Building the Flame Mountain Dojo

For instance, Celestial Thunder Cliff is bombarded by Thunderbolts year-round. While Demon Beasts like the Golden-Winged Thunder Roc thrive there, ordinary Cultivators must tread as if on thin ice.

Only when a Tier Three Array is fully deployed can it constrain the ambient Thunder Element Spiritual Power, ensuring the Celestial Thunder strikes only the Celestial Thunder Wall.

Not a single Thunderbolt will fall anywhere else.

It was clear from the current situation that the mere All Heaven Fiery Array was incapable of taming the transformed Flame Mountain.

"The All Heaven Fiery Array is essentially just a Tier Two Top-Grade Array. It was forcibly upgraded to a Tier Three Array by adding a large amount of Fire Element Meteorite Iron to rebuild the Array Plate’s core."

Zhou Suqing looked weary. For a Core Formation True Man to appear so exhausted showed how much Heart Power she had expended controlling the Array and regulating the terrain during this time.

"Its external power, fueled by the Tier Four Spirit Vein, might reach the level of a Tier Three Top-Grade Array, but its fundamental Tier remains unchanged. There’s no way it could, in turn, influence the Tier Four Spirit Vein."

"Is there no other solution? What about finding a higher-Tier Array, one on the level of our sect’s Duality Illusion Moon Array?"

Bai Zichen understood. This was a mismatch between the Spirit Vein and the Array’s Tier.

The All Heaven Fiery Array was completely ineffective at regulating the Tier Four Spiritual Energy and restraining the flames.

"I’m only a Tier Three Low-Grade Array Master; I’ve never even seen a Tier Four Array... Besides, it would probably be difficult. The difference between Tier Three and Tier Four is as vast as the one between clouds and mud. Forcibly using the Duality Illusion Moon Array to adjust a Tier Four Spirit Vein would likely be counterproductive, making the Earth Fire even more volatile."

Zhou Suqing thought for a moment and rejected the idea.

"Are we just going to leave it empty, then? If only Brother Ge and I use it, the full potential of the Tier Four Spirit Vein will be wasted..."

If Flame Mountain could be fully developed, it could satisfy the Tier Three Spirit Land needs of several hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Even if the Qingfeng Sect grew to the size of the Holy Lotus Sect at its peak, or even if the number of disciples doubled again, the Black Mountain Range would be able to support them.

"Aside from the root solution—deploying a compatible Tier Four Array—there are two temporary fixes... One is to use a Fire Element Spiritual Treasure as the array’s eye. Placing it at the center of the All Heaven Fiery Array should allow it to suppress some of the flames."

’Bai Zichen immediately thought of the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror. If that Magical Treasure advanced just one step beyond its peak state, it would likely fit the bill.’

’However, he hadn’t even found the Innate Nine Yang True Fire yet; it was currently just an ordinary Low-Grade Magical Treasure.’

"The other option is to use a Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone as a substitute. We can take advantage of a Top-Grade Spirit Stone’s natural ability to absorb nature’s spiritual energy to fine-tune the Grand Array... The effect will definitely be inferior to a Spiritual Treasure. At best, it could clear out a hundred-qing area, freeing it from the worry of flames suddenly erupting from the ground."

Zhou Suqing shook her head slightly. Neither a Spiritual Treasure nor a Top-Grade Spirit Stone was a realistic option for the Qingfeng Sect.

Though they were now considered a Nascent Soul Major Sect, True Monarch Ge Cang was the first Nascent Soul Cultivator in the sect’s history, and its entire lineage was only a little over a thousand years old.

A sect like the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, which had a Tier Four Mountain Guardian Spirit Beast in its ancestry and a considerably long history, might be able to find something good in its Secret Vault.

’Bai Zichen paused. He didn’t have a Fire Element Spiritual Treasure, but he did, in fact, have a Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone.’

"Junior Sister Zhou, take a look and see if this Spirit Stone will work."

He took out a Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone that was more than half used and handed it to her.

Back then, in order to reach Late-Stage Foundation Establishment and attempt his breakthrough to Core Formation as soon as possible, he had even extravagantly used a Top-Grade Spirit Stone for his Cultivation.

He did it because there was no need for Refinement; he could directly absorb the pure Spiritual Power within it.

As a result, this Top-Grade Spirit Stone wasn’t in pristine condition; the majority of it had been consumed.

"A Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone!"

Zhou Suqing looked stunned. After taking the Top-Grade Spirit Stone and inspecting it, she nodded joyfully.

"It’s usable. It can maintain a hundred-qing area, keeping it free from the intrusions of Earth Fire for at least fifty years... However, Senior Brother Bai, if we use it as the array’s eye, this Top-Grade Spirit Stone will be an empty shell in fifty years. There’s no telling how long it would take to gather enough Spiritual Qi to restore it to its original state."

"It’s just a Top-Grade Spirit Stone. What’s not to like about trading it for fifty years of development time? I believe that fifty years from now, the Sect will have found a better way to control the Earth Fire eruptions on Flame Mountain."

Bai Zichen waved his hand nonchalantly, signaling for Zhou Suqing to take it and use it.

He acted as if it were just an ordinary Spirit Stone, not a Top-Grade Spirit Stone worth two million Low-Grade Spirit Stones—something even Nascent Soul True Monarchs treated as hard currency.

’In his mind, what was the use of a Spirit Stone sitting in a storage bag? Its value could only be realized when it was put into circulation.’

’Using it as the eye of the All Heaven Fiery Array to suppress the Earth Fire from a Tier Four Spirit Vein was the best way he could imagine to maximize the Top-Grade Spirit Stone’s value.’

"Senior Brother Bai is completely devoted to the common good. Suqing feels inadequate in comparison."

Zhou Suqing felt the Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone weighing heavily in her hand. Her entire net worth wouldn’t be enough to trade for a single Top-Grade Spirit Stone.

"Public service doesn’t have to be entirely selfless..."

Bai Zichen pointed out the areas that needed to be cleared. The two Tier Four Mid-Grade Spirit Lands were naturally the first priority.

In addition, a safe path up and down the mountain needed to be cleared.

Then, he designated an area halfway up the mountain, which was currently piled high with huge, gray boulders.

Half of them were Spiritual Materials rich in Metal Ore, which had been brought up from deep underground and deposited on the surface by the volcanic eruption.

A quick glance revealed there were at least ten thousand dan of it.

When the time came, the Sect Disciples could refine the ore while simultaneously using the local materials to construct halls and buildings.

This location was right at the center of Flame Mountain, making it convenient to travel up or down.

At the same time, it was surrounded by open space on all four sides, so future outward expansion would not be hindered.

After communicating his ideas, there was no need for Bai Zichen to personally involve himself in the subsequent matters.

Array calibration, personnel assignments, and the construction of the dojo would all be handled by Zhou Suqing leading the other Sect Cultivators.

He arrived at his future Spirit Land, a depression on the crater’s edge. The ground was uneven, formed entirely from hardened blocks of cooled lava.

RUMBLES echoed from within the volcanic crater, unleashing wave after wave of intense heat. In this environment, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would sweat profusely until they died of dehydration.

Wisps of red mist filled the air, a fog of Spiritual Qi made manifest by the high concentration of nature’s spiritual energy.

’What a great place. It’s practically tailor-made for me...’

The waves of heat gently dispersed before they reached Bai Zichen, feeling no different from a warm breeze against his skin.

He walked all the way to the edge of the volcanic crater. It was bottomless, with magma churning far below, its depths extending an unknown number of zhang toward the earth’s core.

Even with his Cultivation, he felt a flicker of dread. His intuition told him that venturing deep inside held unforeseeable risks.

’This feeling is somewhat similar to the volcanic magma I entered back then to find Su Li, but this is far more fraught with peril...’

Bai Zichen finally recalled why he had a sense of familiarity.

He had obtained that Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone from within volcanic magma. At that time, his Cultivation was insufficient, and after diving several hundred zhang, the pressure from the magma forced him to retreat decisively.

With his current Cultivation, he could actually return to that old place and explore it again.

A flash of Sword Light wrapped around a giant boulder in front of him, shearing off a smooth surface. He leaped up and sat upon it.

’Brother Ge’s ascension to the Nascent Soul realm is a blessing from the heavens for Wei Dao and Zhou Suqing, opening up more possibilities for them... But isn’t it the same for me?’

’The various threats that once hung over the Qingfeng Sect’s head were effortlessly neutralized now that Ge Cang had become a Nascent Soul True Monarch.’

’Bai Zichen now had ample time. He could follow the most logical path for his Cultivation and growth, instead of being forced to master some Heaven-Defying Divine Technique just to fight opponents of a higher realm.’

’If Ge Cang had failed to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, everything would have been different. If I didn’t master the Star River Sword Array as quickly as possible, I wouldn’t have been able to protect the Sect, nor could I have created a safe environment for my own Shattering Core and Transforming into Nascent Soul.’

’I can just raise my Cultivation step by step. After I observe the great battle between Senior Tang Fei and Xiangg Ji, I’ll leave Black Mountain to search for a Secret Treasure that can help me resist my Heart Demon.’

The sparring match with True Monarch Tang Fei had shown Bai Zichen the gap between his Sword Dao Realm and that of a true master of Swordsmanship.

Even though they were both at the Realm of Refining Sword into Silk, there was still much room for him to grow and improve.

If he could comprehend One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws, the power of his Sword Silk could increase by at least another fifty percent.

Moreover, when facing any Defensive Magical Treasure, he wouldn’t have to painstakingly break through the Protective Divine Light first. His Sword Silk could ignore defenses and strike a vital point directly.

As for Tang Fei’s Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation, which represented seven or eight hundred more years of Cultivation than his own, he automatically ignored it.

Having cultivated to this day, he had calmly accepted the outside world’s assessment that he had the potential to reach the Divinity Transformation Realm.

Although this achievement was thanks to his Mysterious Holy Body, the Sacred Body was a part of him, so it naturally had to be counted as part of his aptitude.

However, for something like Swordsmanship, progress through study and comprehension alone was too slow. Most Sword Cultivators achieved breakthroughs through sudden enlightenment during Combat.

Take Xiangg Ji, for example. Why had he tirelessly engaged in one duel after another with Tang Fei for hundreds of years?

It was also to gain nourishment from these life-and-death duels in order to achieve a Sword Dao Breakthrough sooner.

Opponents who were both Sword Cultivators and had similar Cultivation levels became increasingly difficult to find the further one progressed.

Both of their strengths had progressed by leaps and bounds, and it was impossible to say just how much of that was linked to their repeated bouts of combat.

Even though Tang Fei was clearly no longer a match, he still refused to give up, gladly accepting the challenge every time despite the risk of perishing.

Part of the reason was his refusal to bow his head before a long-time rival, but another factor was his desire to use the immense pressure of the duel to achieve a breakthrough in the heat of battle and truly enter the Sword Light Splitting Realm.

Bai Zichen set his travel destinations as the Central Domain and the Endless Sea of Suffering. In the Northern Domain, there probably wasn’t a single Core Formation True Man left who could pose a threat to him.

What kind of challenge could he possibly find in the duels he would have on such a journey?

The Central Domain was the birthplace of the Cultivation Realm. Ninety percent of the world’s Super Major Sects were gathered there, and stunningly talented Cultivators emerged endlessly.

Numerous breakthroughs in Magic and innovations in Cultivation Techniques were all proven in the Central Domain before gradually spreading to the other Four Domains.

This was also why Central Domain Cultivators often had a high opinion of themselves, viewing cultivators from the other Four Domains as nothing more than country bumpkins.

Even the low-level Loose Cultivators in the Central Domain’s Immortal Cities would hold their heads high and feel an inexplicable sense of superiority when encountering ordinary cultivators from other regions.

As for the Endless Sea of Suffering, Bai Zichen had a map that marked the Thirty-Six Demon Caves within the Sea of Suffering.

If he wanted to find enough strong opponents, it was simple. He just had to follow the map and challenge the Demon Caves one after another.

He was guaranteed to have endless opportunities for real combat, a place where his sword would never need to be sheathed.