Chapter 1606 - 673: It’s All Ning Zhuo’s Fault

Chapter 1606: Chapter 673: It’s All Ning Zhuo’s Fault

Here, clouds envelop all four sides, rolling layer upon layer along the mountainside like white silk wrapped around a column.

The fire veins run hidden; occasionally, a speck of crimson peeks from the crevices in the rocks, appearing at first glance like remnants of magma, yet upon closer inspection, it is the warm and gentle earth fire spirit light.

This spot is precisely Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar.

The altar’s surface is expansive, shaped into an octagon, and paved with ancient stones that have turned red-gold after years of sunlight.

The waist of the altar swallows clouds.

Strands of cloud qi flow up along the stone steps, and at the altar waist, they are constrained by an invisible force, transforming into a circle of exceedingly faint platinum cloud rings.

The base of the altar suppresses fire.

Deep within, the fire veins coil along the terrain like a crimson dragon that has slept for years, its scales still glowing. From within the earth, it emits a faint rumbling sound, muffled and weighty, like the dragon breathing slowly in the depths.

Beside the Cloud Ascending Platform, there is also a Locking Yang Well.

The well mouth is not large; the well rim is forged from ancient bronze, its color mottled, and faintly visible are three deeply embedded Stabilizing Vein Copper Wedges within the well wall. One wedge faces the sunlight, another faces the fire veins, and the third faces the cloud roots. Each node bears a distinct hue: the sunlight is pale gold, the fire veins are crimson, and the cloud roots are milky white. They converge deep within the well wall, forming an exceedingly fine and bright vortex.

There is no water in the well.

Looking down, only the sunlight, cloud qi, and earth fire are locked tightly together, neither dispersing nor mingling, neither turbulent nor chaotic. The bundle of light at the bottom of the well rotates slowly, like an unhatched sun or a core furnace deeply imbued with heaven and earth essence.

Once, White Cloud Village stationed here for many years, nurturing the surface Cloud Crossing, but the Territorial Expansion Alliance was truly the one cultivating this Feng Shui Treasure Land painstakingly.

Tan Zhu unveiled the secrets of this place, sparking the conflict between White Cloud Village and Territorial Expansion Alliance.

Subsequently, Nanming Village forcefully intervened, triggering the Five Battles Martial Arts.

Now, with the martial arts settled, the news of Liang Ming’s defeat spread faster than the mountain wind, reaching this place swiftly.

The cultivators stationed from White Cloud Village were originally maintaining the array flags, led by a Golden Core Cultivator.

This person was slender, wearing a cloud white Daoist robe, with streaks of frost at his temples.

He stood by the Locking Yang Well, and upon hearing this news, his figure swayed briefly as he pressed his hand against the well rim, his knuckles whitening from the force.

"Stop for now; the Five Battles Martial Arts has concluded," he spoke after several moments of silence.

The group of cultivators gathered around, hearing the results from the leader’s mouth, their expressions changing.

Some turned pale, some clenched their teeth, and some fidgeted with their magic artifacts, their bodies slightly trembling.

A young cultivator from White Cloud Village couldn’t refrain from whispering, "Uncle Master, do we really have to let go?"

The slender Golden Core’s Adam’s apple moved, squeezing the words through clenched teeth: "The five battles are settled, the whole sect knows. With Liang Ming’s defeat, this place belongs to Nanming Village."

The young cultivator’s cheeks flushed: "But we’ve guarded this place for so many years!"

Just as the words left his mouth, the heavens above suddenly split apart.

Firelight came first, crimson like dragon scales, rolling over the clouds.

The Nine Fire Dragon Lord arrived stepping on fire, tall and imposing, with red hair draped over his shoulders, deep-set brow bones, and a fiery-patterned long robe billowing high in the air.

By the Nine Fire Dragon Lord’s side, Tan Zhu emerged slowly.

He was clad in a dark gray long robe, thin and gaunt, cheekbones slightly protruding, eye sockets deep and dark. A faint purple-black smoke curled around his cuff, shrinking slightly with each breath, moving like a living thing along his wrist bone.

Lastly, Tu Yuanzi appeared.

He looked youthful, wearing a wide earth-colored robe, appearing quite sincere and honest.

The three Nascent Soul Cultivators stood shoulder to shoulder in the air.

The cloud ring atop the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar suddenly froze, and the platinum cloud qi at the altar waist was compressed inward, as if pressed by an invisible giant hand.

The expression of the White Cloud Village cultivators changed drastically.

The slender Golden Core leader’s facial muscles twitched, and in the end, he cupped his hands.

The Nine Fire Dragon Lord overlooked them, expressionless: "The five battles are finished, Liang Ming defeated. From now on, Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar belongs to Nanming Village."

The slender Golden Core’s eyelid jumped slightly, his fingers clenching within his sleeve, then helplessly letting go: "White Cloud Village acknowledges the agreement, and honors its promise."

Tan Zhu: "Since that’s the case, let’s proceed with the handover. The earth veins, well mouth, altar base, cloud root nodes all need to be identified on site."

With that said, in the distance, more rays of tunneling light approached.

Shen Xi, Lin Jinglong, Situ Xing, and other subsequent cultivators also arrived.

"Let’s begin the actions," the Golden Core leader sighed long, issuing the command.

The White Cloud Village cultivators began their actions.

Shelters made from clouds were disassembled.

Several cloud beasts with snow-white bodies and fine scales on their backs were led out. Even the beast pen was taken away.

Potted spirit plants and nurseries were all carried off.

Those spirit plants had absorbed the sunlight and cloud qi for years, the edges of their leaves shimmering with subtle gold and white luster. The White Cloud Village cultivators carried them away with the soil and pots, some even scraped clean the cloud moss sticking under the pots.

Beside the Locking Yang Well, several Array Cultivators from White Cloud Village had started to dismantle the array plates.

The White Cloud Village took away all facilities, even collecting the cloud ladder section by section from the mountain wall.

The wind blew through, sweeping over this former ferry, leaving it empty and spacious.

The Nanming Village cultivators watched the scene, their expressions varied on their faces.

Some were excited, eyes bright, feeling they had finally secured a foothold on Flowing Cloud Peak.

Someone remained alert, constantly observing, fearing that White Cloud Village might leave behind some hidden tricks when they withdrew.

Someone felt disappointed, looking at the emptied spirit plants in the cloud abode, muttering quietly, "They really didn’t leave even a blade of grass."

Finally, the gaunt Golden Core leader of White Cloud Village, with a face as if mourning, bowed to the Nine Fire Dragon Lord, Tan Zhu, and Tu Yuanzi.

"The Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar is handed over to Nanming Village today as agreed." He enunciated clearly, "The altar base is intact, the Locking Yang Well undamaged, and the nodes at the Fire Vein, cloud root, and sunlight are all in place. As for White Cloud Village’s private property, it has all been reclaimed."

Nine Fire Dragon Lord crossed his arms, his red hair fluttering in the wind: "Good, you’ve handed it over readily, everyone saves face."

The gaunt Golden Core’s gaze turned cold, as he looked up at the Nine Fire Dragon Lord: "Nanming Village has the upper hand today, naturally the Dragon Lord has the final say here. We, White Cloud Village, have operated here for many years, and though sentiment is shallow, there have been some hardships. How long Nanming Village can hold this, will depend on its future capabilities."

Fire light intensified in the eyes of Nine Fire Dragon Lord.

Tan Zhu: "Holding it or not will naturally depend on capability. If White Cloud Village has the ability in the future, it can compete according to the rules."

The gaunt Golden Core glanced at Tan Zhu, feeling a chill rising in his heart.

Knowing that further words today would only bring self-humiliation, he raised his hand and waved: "Let’s go."

The cultivators of White Cloud Village, led by him, retreated gloomy.

White Cloud Village withdrew.

On the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar, only the people from Nanming Village remained.

Nine Fire Dragon Lord descended to the altar’s center, with red boots stepping onto the ancient stone. He glanced around, unable to suppress the smile that appeared on his face.

"A good place."

Tan Zhu slowly descended beside the Locking Yang Well, his withered fingers lightly tapping the rim. The light spinning at the well’s bottom reflected in his shadowy eyes, a mix of gold, red, and white, unexpectedly brightened his toxic-laden face slightly.

"No wonder Chun Yangzi fought with his life." He murmured.

Tu Yuanzi crouched down, pressing his palm onto the altar surface, emanating an earth-yellow glow.

The glow spread along the stone’s patterns, moments later, Tu Yuanzi nodded: "The altar base is stable. White Cloud Village didn’t dare move the roots."

Shen Xi suggested: "White Cloud Village even took away the array; we must immediately set up defenses."

Situ Xing gazed at the empty ridge: "My family can fund a part."

Lin Jinglong: "My clan is willing to plant spirit plants."

Nine Fire Dragon Lord laughed heartily: "Good, let’s do that first. My Nanming Village succeeded in establishing a village peak, achieving great results. From now on, the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar will be our village’s base."

His voice echoed over the ridge, falling into the sea of clouds.

The cultivators of Nanming Village initially fell silent, then many showed excitement in their eyes.

Some clenched their fists, some cheered quietly, others looked at the Locking Yang Well, throat dry.

They finally had a true foundation on Flowing Cloud Peak!

Territorial Expansion Alliance Encampment.

Several Nascent Soul cultivators gathered together.

The leader of the Expanding Territory Alliance was a middle-aged cultivator, with a wide forehead and square face, wearing a thick brown-yellow robe, with an Earth Seal hanging at his waist, his brows and eyes solemn.

"This martial arts exercise, we have lost." The Expanding Territory Alliance Leader said slowly.

A thin elder’s throat moved, voice hoarse: "True Monarch Liang Ming fought until the sixth day. The Seven Gui Sacrifice was only a step away, yet ended in such dire circumstances."

The Expanding Territory Alliance Leader said: "A miss is as good as a mile. Chun Yangzi chose to act later, trapping Liang Ming beyond recovery, indeed showing superior skills. Unfortunately, even the Heaven-reaching Hook was deflected by him."

Everyone fell silent for a while.

The battle with Nanming Village cost the Expanding Territory Alliance heavily.

Shi Heng True Monarch recuperated, Yue Qingshan perished, Liang Ming, although the flesh was restored, the Nascent Soul shattered, leaving most of his cultivation effectively wasted.

"It’s Ning Zhuo." Qiu Lei spoke, breaking the silence.

"We invested heavily, crowdfunding the Three Brave of Xiang Sect to target Nanming Village’s core members. As a result, Ning Zhuo was detained."

"This is akin to our side’s heavy punch missing. Nanming Village lost a mid-stage Foundation Establishment shortcoming, instead lifting Chun Yangzi. Meanwhile, our side’s Three Brave of Xiang Sect were entangled, unable to participate in the fifth battle."

"And at the crucial moment, it was still The Humbleheart Broken-Blade Guard that blocked the residual power of the Heaven-reaching Hook."

"Liang Ming lost to Chun Yangzi; we all lost to Ning Zhuo!"

Again, the crowd fell silent.

White Cloud Village base.

The cloud qi at Flowing Cloud Peak swept past the eaves, emitting a low hum.

The atmosphere was heavy here.

The Golden Core leader returning from the Sun Raising Yang Locking Cloud Altar completed his report, walking heavily off stage.

"This Feng Shui Treasure Land, ultimately couldn’t be held."

"Far more than that. This place used to be Cloud Crossing, bustling with traffic. Losing this site means we’ve lost a major source of wealth."

"Everyone knows the agreement of the Five Battles Martial Arts. Now that we’ve lost, naturally, we must yield; can we still deny it?"

"Let’s focus on the future. With this victory, Nanming Village has successfully established the peak. From now on, a new powerful force has settled onto Flowing Cloud Peak. How should we face this strong new neighbor?"

The cultivators of White Cloud Village each pondered.

The Five Battles Martial Arts has concluded. With Nanming Village’s powerful settlement, it will inevitably affect the old situation of Flowing Cloud Peak in the future.