Chapter 333 - 322: Fire Cultivation Array

Chapter 333: Chapter 322: Fire Cultivation Array

On the surface, Mist Forest Marketplace maintained normal operations for wartime. The news of the Core Formation Platform’s disappearance was being fiercely suppressed by the Primordial Yang Sect’s high command, confined to a very small circle.

The Loose Cultivators only knew that Demon Cultivators had attacked the outpost a few nights ago. They had no idea that the most crucial item had been lost in the core area of the ruins.

But Li Yuan’s Divine Sense Lines, connected to the Spirit Vein, saw everything clearly.

Around the empty Array Base deep within the ruins, the auras of several Array Masters paced back and forth each day.

’The Primordial Yang Sect is still setting something up in the ruins.’

Li Yuan withdrew his perception from the ruins and focused his attention on what was in front of him.

Inside the stone house, Wang Ting’an sat at a table and slid a jade slip across it.

"Li Dao You, this is the Array Map for a Fire Cultivation Array that my family acquired," Wang Ting’an said, getting straight to the point. "This array can convert the waste qi from Fire Element Spirit Ores into pure Fire Qi, which then nourishes the ore vein. It will significantly increase the yield of Fire Evil Stones."

Li Yuan picked up the jade slip and sent his Divine Sense into it, quickly reviewing the array’s structure.

’The Array Map is authentic. It’s a Tier Two Low Grade nurturing-type array.’

"What are the Wang family’s terms?" Li Yuan asked, setting the jade slip down.

"My family will provide the Array Map. The split for the Fire Evil Stone output remains the same: sixty percent for you, forty for us," Wang Ting’an said, looking Li Yuan in the eye.

"However, you will be solely responsible for sourcing the Array Materials and managing all the manpower. The Wang family will not get involved, nor will we provide any Spirit Stones."

Li Yuan made a quick mental calculation. ’The materials needed for the Fire Cultivation Array are mostly fire-resistant Spiritual Sand and flow-guiding copper pillars. I just happened to acquire a large batch of scrap components from the Loose Cultivator stalls over the past few days. Once smelted, they’ll be more than enough.’

Compared to the long-term increase in Fire Evil Stone production after the array was complete, this initial investment was trivial.

"Deal," Li Yuan agreed with a nod.

A satisfied expression appeared on Wang Ting’an’s face. He rose and took his leave.

「For the next two days.」

Li Yuan remained at the intersection of the underground Spirit Veins, setting up the array.

He directed a few hired Loose Cultivators to carve out eight Array Base points in the central area between the Fire Ore and Evil Ore veins. Then, he personally took over, pouring molten Fire Element Spiritual Sand onto stone slabs to etch out the spiritual energy circuits.

The final step was to place the Array Hub.

Li Yuan took a perfectly round, polished Fire Sun Stone from his storage bag and walked to the center of the array.

The moment his palm touched the Fire Sun Stone and he pressed it into the groove, the panel appeared as expected.

[Equippable Item Detected: Fire Cultivation Stone (Complete)]

[Trait Preview: Fire Vein Nurturing (White)]

[Effect: Increases sensitivity to Fire Attribute Spiritual Qi, enhances fine control over Fire Spiritual Power.]

[Permanence Condition Preview: Practice two Fire Element Magic to the level of Proficiency.]

With a thought, Li Yuan equipped it.

Immediately, another notification popped up on the panel.

[Permanence Condition Met for Fire Vein Nurturing (White)]

[Practice two Fire Element Magic to the level of Proficiency]

[Make Permanent?]

"Yes."

[Fire Vein Nurturing (White) is now a permanent Trait.]

The spectral image in the equipment slot instantly solidified before dissipating, freeing up the slot once more.

Within Li Yuan’s perception, the once-chaotic Fire Spiritual Power in the surrounding rock formations now appeared in his mind with incredible clarity and depth. It was as if he could see the trajectory of every single dancing thread of fire.

He took out another Fire Sun Stone, inserted it into the Array Hub, and fully activated the Fire Cultivation Array.

Streams of residual Fire Qi were drawn out by the array, filtered through the Array Hub, and transformed into pure threads of fire. These threads then flowed along the spiritual energy circuits into the Fire Ore veins on either side. The Fire Evil Qi in the intersecting zone immediately grew more active.

After confirming the array was functioning correctly, Li Yuan returned to the surface.

Just as he stepped out of the mine shaft, his passive Spiritual Sense suddenly flared.

The color of the sky had changed.

To the north of the marketplace, the perpetual gray-white mist that shrouded Ghost Mist Forest was violently torn asunder by a wave of ink-black energy. That dark energy carried a suffocating chill. Even from dozens of miles away, it made the chests of the Low Tier Cultivators in the marketplace tighten.

Directly opposing the black energy, a crimson cloud of fire surged into the heavens, illuminating half the sky as if it were day. Two colossal auras of Spiritual Power collided violently high in the atmosphere.

There were no brilliant flashes from Magic, no deafening explosions.

There was only the pure collision of their Spiritual Power, which ground the clouds high above into dust.

’Golden Core Cultivators.’

’And a direct confrontation between a Golden Core Cultivator from the Demon Sect and one from the Primordial Yang Sect, no less.’

The Breath-Sensing Array and the linked Defense Array on the outskirts of the marketplace flickered wildly under the aftershocks of the Spiritual Power, emitting a piercing hum. On the streets, all the Loose Cultivators stopped their business, staring at the sky in terror.

Li Yuan stood before his stone house, his head tilted up toward the sky.

The high-altitude standoff lasted less than fifteen minutes. After roiling violently a few times, the dense black energy voluntarily retreated to the north. The crimson cloud of fire did not give chase, slowly receding in the direction of the Primordial Yang Sect.

The oppressive Spiritual Power faded, and the clamor of the marketplace returned.

Li Yuan turned and headed for the administration office.

Chen Yi was standing in a doorway, pinching the burnt-out remains of a Communication Talisman. His face was ashen, twisted into a cold sneer.

"Was that the higher-ups negotiating?" Li Yuan asked, walking up beside him.

"Negotiating, my ass," Chen Yi spat. "The Demon Sect’s Golden Core Cultivator showed up at our defensive line, spouting challenges, and ran straight into one of our elders."

"What for?"

Chen Yi lowered his voice, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "They went to all that trouble, using feints and sneak attacks to steal the damn thing. And now? Now they come over, denying it to the bitter end, claiming they don’t have it."

Chen Yi sneered again.

"The ones who did it were that bunch of bastards with their enchanted Demon Beasts. Our people at the outpost saw it plain as day. Besides them, who else could dismantle the outer and middle-layer arrays so cleanly within an hour? Now they’ve taken it and come back to play innocent. They must take our Sect for fools."

Li Yuan listened, his expression placid.

All the cultivators stationed at Mist Forest Marketplace, including Chen Yi, had fallen into a solid, closed loop of logic: the Demon Cultivators had a premeditated plan, they broke through the arrays with incredible speed, and their retreat was decisive—therefore, the Core Formation Platform was, without a doubt, in the hands of the Demon Sect.

To them, the Golden Core Cultivator’s denial was just another one of the Demon Sect’s usual, despicable ploys.

"What’s the Sect’s take on it?" Li Yuan asked.

"The elder wasn’t about to waste his breath on them. He sent them packing."

Li Yuan nodded, not pursuing the topic further.

Back in his stone house, Li Yuan sealed himself inside.

As night fell, four Divine Sense Lines spread out within the stone house. The main line drew Spiritual Power from his Dantian and guided it along the meridian pathways of the Nameless Body Refining Technique, beginning a deep scouring of his muscles and bones.

The Spiritual Power was like a heavy millstone, grinding against every fiber of his flesh. A faint, dark golden luster appeared on Li Yuan’s skin, and from beneath its already tough surface came the subtle sound of a bowstring being drawn taut.

One cycle. Ten cycles.

As the Spiritual Power from the final cycle seeped completely into his bone marrow, Li Yuan’s body gave a sudden jolt.

A sense of completion, originating from deep within his flesh and blood, suffused his entire being.

[Nameless Body Refining Technique (Tier Two): Perfected]

The panel popped into view.

Immediately, the Traits in his equipment slot began to trigger in a chain reaction.

[Permanence Condition Met for Medicine-Refined Strong Body (Green)]

[One Tier Two Body Refining Technique has reached the Perfected level (Complete)]

[Make Permanent?]

"Yes."

[Medicine-Refined Strong Body (Green) is now a permanent Trait.]

Without pausing, Li Yuan immediately took a Tier Two Iron Wall Pill from his storage bag and held it in his hand.

"Equip."

[Equipped: Tier Two Iron Wall Pill]

A mere breath later, another notification appeared on the panel.

[Permanence Condition Met for Iron Wall Strong Body (Green)]

[Make Permanent?]

"Yes."

[Iron Wall Strong Body (Green) is now a permanent Trait.]

Two green Traits related to body-refining pills became permanent, one after the other. Before he could even adjust to the changes in his body, the edge of the panel suddenly began to flash with an azure light.

[Permanent Traits that meet the criteria for same-system fusion have been detected.]

[Iron Wall Strong Body (Green) + Medicine-Refined Strong Body (Green) + Medicinal Power Refinement (White)]

[Fusion Path: Drastically enhances the absorption, conversion, and maximum physical augmentation from Body Refining pills.]

[Initiate Fusion?]

Li Yuan nodded.

"Fuse."

The green and white lights on the panel instantly shattered, weaving together into a deep blue radiance that then coalesced into a new line of text.

[Medicine-Refined True Body (Blue)]

[Effect: Drastically increases the digestion and absorption of Body Refining pills; Body Refining pills leave no impurities; The maximum physical strengthening from Body Refining pills is increased; Base physical strength increased by 30%. The more Body Refining pills consumed, the more pronounced the cumulative strength increase, up to a maximum of 50%. Pill toxins, medicinal dregs, and side effects are further and drastically reduced.]

The moment the fusion was complete.

Li Yuan’s Qi Blood erupted, boiling furiously as if it had been set ablaze.

Although the medicinal power from the Iron Wall Pills and Tier Two body refining pills he had taken before had been absorbed, a tiny fraction remained dormant in the deepest, most inaccessible corners of his muscles.

Under the effect of [Medicine-Refined True Body], this residual medicinal power was completely wrung out, transforming into pure energy that once again scoured his physical form.

A thin layer of grayish-black sweat seeped from Li Yuan’s skin, evidence of trace impurities being further expelled.

He clenched his fists.

The compression of knuckles against his palms produced a dull thud, like metal scraping against metal. The base thirty percent increase in physical strength had pushed his body’s toughness to an outrageous level. Combined with Three Elements Body Protection and Bone Firmness, his current physique could probably take a direct hit from an ordinary Tier Two High Grade Magic spell without even breaking the skin.