Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World

Chapter 615: Chapter 317: Divine Dao Technique? Digging a Hole (Part 2)

"How is the search for the temples coming along?" Cheng Zongyang’s brow furrowed slightly. The thought of Divine Daoists ignited a flicker of anticipation within him.

’Soul Crystals are incredibly valuable. If we can find more later on, it would be highly profitable whether we give them to Ding Xing or sell them. Of course, giving them to Ding Xing is contingent on him actually pursuing the Divine Dao.’

Luo Dingran shook his head, a hint of resignation in his expression.

"Sir, we’ve found a fair number of ruins in the various villages and counties, and some temples as well. Our men have carefully searched every possible location, but we still haven’t discovered any Divine Statues containing Soul Crystals. I’ve already instructed the Exploration Team to start targeting mountain villages, paying special attention to any located in a Land of Five Elements."

"And the Fragmented Map?" Cheng Zongyang asked.

"Nothing," Luo Dingran sighed. "We’ve asked just about everyone, but no one recognizes the Fragmented Map. Sir, given the Da Yi Commerce Association’s reach, they’ve likely already offered countless bounties to identify it. Since they couldn’t find the location, I’m afraid it’s probably not in the Martial Arts Realm. I suggest we post a bounty for its identification within the Cultivation Immortality Realm."

It was as if Luo Dingran’s words had sparked a realization in Cheng Zongyang.

’That’s right. Given the sheer scale of the Da Yi Commerce Association, they’ve probably sent this Fragmented Map far and wide for identification already.’

’The Land of Seven Kingdoms, the Thirteen Royal Families, overseas... The fact that Tang Feng is now trading it for resources means he must have already searched for the location and failed. That’s why he’s selling it now.’

"The Cultivation Immortality Realm, huh?" Cheng Zongyang mused. ’Maybe after I finish setting up the new Teleportation Array, I can go to a Sect and post a bounty for information.’

Continuing their walk, the two soon arrived back at the entrance of the small market house.

"Sir, if there’s nothing else, I will take my leave and get back to my duties," Luo Dingran said, respectfully cupping his fists.

"Alright, you may go." Cheng Zongyang nodded. Then, he remembered something and added, "Oh, right. Go and purchase a Tier Four combination Array, one that can provide both Shielding from Divine Sense and general Defense. It only needs to be large enough to cover an area of four to five mu. It would be best if you could acquire it within two days."

Luo Dingran was inwardly startled but immediately responded, "Yes, Sir."

Having made his decision, Cheng Zongyang put the matter aside for the time being.

’The Array is a necessity. As for why Tier Four, it’s just a precaution. I know all too well that in this world, danger can strike at any moment. What if some Nascent Soul Cultivator happens to pass by and idly sweeps the area with their Divine Sense? If the Array’s grade is too low, the place will be discovered.’

’A Tier Four combination Array will be considerably more expensive, but that’s nothing compared to ensuring my safety.’

Immediately, Cheng Zongyang summoned the Mole Beast. Taking a Lighting Lamp and the creature with him, he left the Wilderness World.

Reappearing in the mountain cave, he hung up the Lighting Lamp and began to carefully observe his surroundings.

He began directing the Mole Beast to dig. This time, he planned to significantly expand the cave, creating not only a chamber for the Teleportation Array but also a main hall for personnel to rest and a storage room. This excavation would likely hollow out a good portion of the mountainside.

Cheng Zongyang pictured what the cave would look like. ’The accommodations will be basic,’ he thought, ’but it’s just a temporary transition point. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy.’

Once the Mole Beast understood his instructions, Cheng Zongyang let it begin excavating while he took a brief walk around the mountain to survey the surrounding environment.

The mountain forest was quiet and serene. A gentle breeze swept through, making the leaves rustle. As he walked, Cheng Zongyang considered how to ensure the location’s security and secrecy. Eventually, he returned to the cave, where he helped clear away the excavated soil and contemplated his next moves against the three Martial Arts Gangs.

’There are four One-Star Level Cultivation Immortality Gangs in the North District. The Supreme Profound Gang is the one backing the Black Wind Gang. The other three are the Medicine King Gang, the Wind and Thunder Gang, and the Flying Immortal Gang.’

’From what I know, those three Martial Arts Gangs are just puppets taking orders from the Cultivation Immortality Gangs behind them. Wiping out the Martial Arts Gangs would barely affect their backers. Therefore, I have to target the three Cultivation Immortality Gangs directly.’

’When I get back, I’ll need to investigate the forces backing those Martial Arts Gangs!’

As the Mole Beast steadily excavated soil from the mountain, an idea struck Cheng Zongyang amidst his work—a simple and direct method: anonymous bounties!

’I’ll spend ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones per gang to put a bounty on their main leaders,’ he calculated. ’That should be enough to attract plenty of desperate Loose Cultivator assassins willing to take the job. For me, solving problems with money, without getting my own hands dirty, is simply the easiest and most efficient method.’

’Or what if I offered a single Foundation Establishment Pill to wipe out an entire gang? Would anyone take that job?’

’Without a doubt. And the ones making a move would likely be the Cultivation Immortality Families. The temptation of a Foundation Establishment Pill is far greater than that of Spirit Stones!’

’But using a Foundation Establishment Pill carries risks. It might draw suspicion to me and Zhao Yonglong. After all, Foundation Establishment Pills have been showing up in the Immortal City with suspicious frequency. If one is now used to place a bounty on three gangs, those who bought the pills before might start connecting the dots back to us.’

Having settled on a method of resolution, Cheng Zongyang made up his mind.

’Whether to use Spirit Stones or a Foundation Establishment Pill is something I can decide based on the circumstances. The pill is more secure for large, contract-bound trades, but if I have a proxy post the bounty, that changes everything.’

「Two days later.」

「Inside the mountain cave.」

Cheng Zongyang looked on in satisfaction at the massive cave—a sprawling layout of three rooms and a main hall—that the splendid Mole Beast had excavated nonstop over the past two days.

The main hall took up two-thirds of the total area, about three mu in size. The three smaller chambers were for the Teleportation Array, storage, and a lavatory.

The storage chamber was for temporarily holding supplies, while the main hall was for personnel to rest.

The entire cave spanned about four mu, which was more than enough space.

"You’ve worked hard," Cheng Zongyang said. Seeing the somewhat fatigued splendid Mole Beast, he chuckled and took out a bottle of Red Blood Pills as a reward.

He then sent the creature into the Wilderness World to rest before taking out the dual-purpose combination Array Luo Dingran had acquired: one for Shielding against Divine Sense and one for Defense!

The Defense function was primarily to protect the cave itself.

Half an hour later, after setting down more than thirty High Tier Spirit Stones, Cheng Zongyang activated the Array. His small supply of Top Grade Spirit Stones had to be reserved for the Teleportation Array.

As a curtain of light spread out within the cave and vanished from sight, Cheng Zongyang knew the Array was active.

There was still much to be done. Cheng Zongyang went into the Teleportation Array chamber to set up the arrays.

The first was the Array connecting the Martial Arts Realm to the Cultivation Immortality Realm, the very one he had dismantled from his home. From now on, anyone teleporting from the Martial Arts Realm would arrive in this cave. The second Teleportation Array he set up connected to the cellar of the Cheng Mansion. This one was for his exclusive use.

This would allow him to leave Zi’an County discreetly in the future without having to leave the Cultivation Immortality Realm entirely. It served as an extra "relocation channel."

After setting up these two Teleportation Arrays, Cheng Zongyang took out the Tier One Defense Array that Luo Daoist had been studying how to make. This was the very first Array Luo Daoist had personally created after extensive research.

Although it only covered an area the size of a single house, the fact that this practice piece could be stably activated was proof enough of Luo Daoist’s progress.

This Array would be sufficient to protect the Teleportation Array. Its main purpose was simply to prevent people arriving from the Martial Arts Realm from accessing the chamber.

It was practically useless for defending against invading Cultivators. After all, if someone could break through the main Tier Four Formation, this inner array would have to be Tier Five or higher to stop them.

But setting up a Tier Five Array would be a declaration that this place held an astonishing secret. The attention it would attract wouldn’t just be from a few individuals, but likely an entire Immortal Sect.

Of course, as the most critical link between the Martial Arts Realm and the Cultivation Immortality Realm, there could be no room for error here.

He had already prepared for this eventuality. He planned to set up one more Teleportation Array here, one that led directly to his own residence.

If this location were ever breached, he would still have a backup teleportation route to avoid being trapped.

He could also use his Flying Shuttle to fly up to the Array in the sky, enter the East Sea Abyss, and escape through the deep sea, but that would surely be noticed by the Cultivators guarding that Array. A Teleportation Array was far safer and faster.

Cheng Zongyang set up Luo Daoist’s array inside the teleportation chamber. After activating it, he continued setting up his backup route.

Once all this was complete, Cheng Zongyang hastily entered the Wilderness World.

The transaction quota for his market house had been reached!

He was in such a rush because the refresh time was unexpectedly short—it would only take a single hour!