novelraw Chapter 539 - 231: Soul’s Return (Part 6)
Chapter 539 - 231: Soul’s Return (Part 6)
A barrier?
Shen Chongming said with some surprise, "I heard Third Uncle say, isn’t there an old monster in the Nascent Soul Realm stationed there?"
Jiang Xiuqi nodded slightly and said, "The one who made the move is that very True Monarch."
"There is also a rumor in Danzhou now that the one who attacked the True Monarch is also a mysterious presence in the Nascent Soul Realm."
"The reason for the great battle between the two sides is that the mysterious Nascent Soul Realm presence wanted to send some people to Yangnao Land."
"As for whether anyone ultimately arrived in Yangnao Land, there is no specific news yet."
Sighing heavily, Jiang Xiuqi continued, "I have previously discovered that this world is gradually undergoing strange changes."
"Now, it’s even easier to sense the chaos in the world, as if there is someone constantly manipulating the forces between Heaven and Earth."
"Go back and tell your Third Uncle, if he can break through the Golden Core, let him do so as soon as possible and not delay any longer."
After listening, Shen Chongming nodded solemnly.
"This junior will certainly convey the words of the senior."
"As for the matters of the market, if any assistance is needed from the Shen Family, please instruct, Elder Luo."
"If there is nothing else, this junior will take his leave."
The two in front both nodded slightly.
...
Yunshui City.
After Shen Chongming returned, he relayed all the advice from Jiang Xiuqi to his grandfather, Shen Yuan.
But when Shen Yuan heard these words, there was hardly any surprise on his face.
"A disruptor has appeared..."
He came to the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the shimmering water, and said in a deep voice, "But this is also good."
"Only when this large chess game becomes chaotic will the plans of those orchestrating it from behind the scenes be more likely exposed."
Shen Chongming followed and stood behind him, contemplating for a moment, he said, "Grandfather, do you think this disruptor could be related to the Suihuo Sect?"
Shen Yuan shook his head slightly and said, "Hard to say."
"But one thing is certain, all these events must be related to the Daying Immortal Mansion of those years."
"From today onwards, you need to deploy some manpower and tightly guard the Dragon Tamer’s Mansion in the mountains. The mysterious forces on the Danzhou side, even sending an old monster in the Nascent Soul Realm, aim to send people to Yangnao Land."
"This is enough to prove that their intentions are not small."
Shen Yuan paused slightly after speaking, then turned and picked up a piece of paper from beside the desk and handed it over.
Shen Chongming took the paper, and upon opening it, was surprised: "This is... the master’s notes!?"
"Has he returned?"
Shen Yuan sighed softly, "Only a wisp of the Divine Spirit has returned to Yunshui City."
"The physical body has long decayed elsewhere."
Hearing this, Shen Chongming’s expression stiffened, clenching his fist soon after.
"The ’Self-Examination Book’ is a supplementary technique for the ’Nine Fiends Gathering Body Technique’ compiled by the master."
"When you get back, work with that kid Xu Zhan to give it a try."
"But before that, we must first hold a funeral for Master Lu."
"That old friend has worked hard for the Shen Family for so many years; we can’t let the descendants of the Shen Family forget him."
Shen Chongming nodded respectfully.
"Are there any special requirements for the ceremony, grandfather?"
Shen Yuan sighed and said, "Go find Chongxuan. Let him arrange the ceremonies and also have him lead the mourning."
Lu Zhiyuan never married in his life, nor left behind any offspring.
But years ago, Shen Wenyan had apprenticed under him, and later on, Shen Chongxuan also practiced Literary Dao with him, treated as if he were a paternal grandson.
This time, let him lead the mourning for Lu Zhiyuan.
"Grandson understands."
After cupping his hands, Shen Chongming left the Black Water Pavilion.
Shen Yuan stood alone by the window for a long time, gazing at the distant sky.
In his eyes, a mysterious light flickered, seeming to pierce directly through the Ren Water Concealing Spirit Array over Yunshui City, looking towards even greater heights in the sky.
After a long time, Shen Yuan turned around, came to the chessboard with black and white pieces interlaced, contemplated slightly, then picked a white piece and placed it far from where the pieces of both sides were entangled.
...
Western Wilderness, Flame Lake City.
Compared to Zhen Nan City, Flame Lake City can be described as sparsely populated.
In this vast city, there are only about a hundred cultivators, and the common people number only a few hundred, mostly servants responsible for taking care of the daily lives of these cultivators.
When Flame Lake City was first built, it wasn’t planned for more common people to live inside.
With the terrifying magma that occupies half of the city, coupled with the later actions of Jiang Xiuqi, who set up three Grand Arrays in the city to lock the Golden Essence Fire Qi rising continuously from the magma lake, making the flux of gold and fire Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi far exceed elsewhere.
Under such conditions, ordinary mortals without some protective measures simply cannot live in the city.
And cultivators without gold or fire Spirit Roots would find it very difficult to stay in the city as well.
At the blacksmith’s shop on the edge of the magma lake, He Zhongyi was leading a group of cultivators in their work.
"Young Master Chongyi, please take a look."
A robust man came quickly forward, holding a long black spear.
He Zhongyi took the spear, examined it carefully, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad, it has reached the standard of the artifact embryos forged by the Hundred Refinements Valley of years past."
After practicing the ’Li Palace Bing Fire Refining Form Technique,’ He Zhongyi understood that the so-called standard weapons and armor forged by the Hundred Refinements Valley of those years were actually "artifact embryos."
Simply put, they are the embryos of ancient magical artifacts.
As for refining these "artifact embryos" into true magical artifacts, it would require inscribing "artifact patterns" within them.
The Ancient Refining Technique did not involve inscribing arrays on magical artifacts.
The power of a magical artifact was determined entirely by the combination and number of artifact patterns.
Having broken through Fetal Breathing, He Zhongyi had already grasped several Tier One "artifact patterns" from the ’Li Palace Bing Fire Refining Form Technique.’
This time, he let everyone attempt to forge some artifact embryos first, and then he would inscribe them uniformly, trying to see if he could refine true magical artifacts using the ancient refining technique.
"Young Master Chongyi."
"Young Master."
Just after the robust man handed over his refined spear, a few more people hurried over, presenting their own refined artifact embryos to him.
After He Zhongyi inspected each one, he gave evaluations.
"You all can stop here for today. If you still want to cultivate, you can go practice on the lotus platforms on the lake for an hour."
"Remember not to be overly greedy for success; otherwise, if the fire poison enters your body, you’ll suffer."
When Jiang Xiuqi came to Flame Lake City to arrange the array, he saw the extraordinary nature of the magma lake. Upon his suggestion, the Shen Family built thirty-six lotus platforms on some reefs around the magma lake.
Jiang Xiuqi also used some additional methods to connect the thirty-six lotus platforms with the Earth’s veins of the magma lake, using micro arrays to filter the magma’s fire poison, forming numerous cultivation treasures.
Cultivators in the city, including He Zhongyi and Shen Xiubai, would practice on the lotus platforms daily.
Although the lotus platforms had arrays set up by Jiang Xiuqi to filter out ninety percent of the magma’s fire poison, the remaining ten percent was still terrifying.
A Qi Cultivation Realm cultivator who practiced on them for an hour would have the magma’s fire poison gradually accumulate within them, needing time to refine and remove it.
If delayed for too long, the dense fire energy that was not promptly refined and absorbed would accumulate in their meridians, causing unbearable torture to the cultivator.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
After receiving orders, they excitedly headed to the lotus platforms.
He Zhongyi watched them with a slight smile, then took the artifact embryos handed over by the others and headed to a stone hut nearby.
He had tried inscribing artifact patterns on artifact embryos several times. Although each attempt ended in failure, every failure also accumulated valuable experience for him.
If he succeeded this time, he would have the preliminary grasp of the ancient refining technique.