Chapter 377: That Looks Like Your Place
Chapter 377: That Looks Like Your Place
The word "off" was the antonym of the word "on." In this context, it meant extinguishing the flames that had been ignited. This was exactly what Chu Liang had conveyed to Wen Yulong using mere facial expressions.
Wen Yulong smacked his forehead. "I didn't realize that you'd need to turn off the Inferno Abyss Flames during a fight. When the foundational qi runs out, it'll shut off on its own, right?"
"And when exactly will that happen?" Chu Liang asked.
"I designed an inscription pattern to store foundational qi. As long as you save enough, you just need to infuse a little bit to ignite the flames, and they'll last a long time," Wen Yulong explained, grinning proudly. "When I tested it, I didn't store much qi, so it should burn for another four hours."
Chu Liang fell silent for a moment. He had to admit that the design of this armor was indeed impressive.
In prolonged battles, cultivators might fight until they run out of foundational qi. At that point, this qi saved in this qi-storing formation could be life-saving. Wen Yulong's design was truly thoughtful.
Although Chu Liang felt touched by such a design, he thought it would have been nice to know these things in advance...
"If I take it off, will it extinguish?" Chu Liang asked.
"While the Inferno Abyss Flames are still active, the armor can't be taken off," Wen Yulong explained. "You can only remove it once you're out of combat to prevent damage or accidental removal during a fight."
Great. I am stuck, Chu Liang thought as he felt a sense of helplessness.
With no other choice, he flipped his hand and made a pointing gesture, drawing a couple ice talismanic scripts in the air.
Sizzle!
As expected of the Inferno Abyss Flames being the essence of the earth fire! It took a total of twelve blasts of icy frosts at his own face to extinguish the fire.
"Cough, cough... This battle armor modification turned out pretty well. Thanks... cough!"
Chu Liang brushed off the thick layer of ice and frost from his body, sending a cloud of icy dust into the air and making him cough several times.
After taking off the armor and letting it revert to its spherical form, Chu Liang finally felt at ease and sat down.
Wen Yulong's modifications to this treasured armor were a pleasant surprise. The enhancements he made to the Inferno Devil Armor, features that the members of Inferno Devil Valley hadn't thought of, significantly boosted its power.
With the Inferno Abyss Flame extensively enveloping his body during a fight, those martial artists without long-range combat abilities would be at a severe disadvantage. Unless they were strong enough to kill him in a single strike, there was no way they could withstand the prolonged battle while being continually roasted by the Inferno Abyss Flame.
Despite the improvements, the blend of surprise and awkwardness remained the same.
"By the way, there's something else," Wen Yulong said. "Dan Lingzi, the alchemist you asked me to contact, sent a message. The first batch of Qi-Gathering Pills is ready for pickup."
"Oh?" Chu Liang's eyes lit up.
Previously, he had learned the technique of making fruit-flavored pills from Dan Lingzi. However, after a few days of intense practice, Chu Liang got caught up in various other matters and wasn't able to refine more berry-flavored pills.
Now that he had to oversee all the business operations of Silver Sword Peak, it became difficult for him to personally participate in production. So, he decided to outsource the task of making the fruit-flavored pills.
Chu Liang initially searched the Hall of Alchemy for suitable disciples and found two who were capable of learning this technique. He had them practice the technique with the intention of having them refine the pills later on, which he would then buy at a high price.
However, they weren't as quick to learn as Chu Liang and still needed more time to master the technique.
A few days ago, when Wen Yulong went to Taotie City to purchase tool-making materials, Chu Liang asked him to send a letter to Dan Lingzi, requesting his help in refining the berry-flavored Qi-Gathering Pills. Chu Liang offered to buy them at a price higher than the market rate.
Since Dan Lingzi made a living by crafting fruit-flavored pills, this request wouldn't inconvenience him too much.
Naturally, Dan Lingzi agreed, and Chu Liang sent over a batch of Golden Vein Berries. Now, the first batch of the order was ready.
The Berry-Flavored Qi-Gathering Pills were one of the most attractive products of Berry Wonderland. As long as there were enough pills, Berry Wonderland would always be able to attract tourists to the Red Cotton Market.
However, the stalls run by Mount Shu disciples alone weren't enough to handle the influx of visitors.
The few shops in Taotie City that agreed to open branches here haven't sent any updates for a while, Chu Liang thought. I need to pay them a visit again.
...
As night fell again, a crescent moon hung in the sky.
The wind on the ancient tree on the Azure Falling Peak was very strong at night, causing clothes to flutter.
Jiang Yuebai, dressed in a white gown, stood on a branch of the giant tree as she waited. During this dark night, her eyes sparkled like stars.
As Chu Liang flew over from afar, he couldn't help but feel this wave of emotion. Although he had met Senior Sister Jiang many times, he was still stunned by her beauty each time.
"Senior Sister Jiang, why have you asked me to meet you here?" Chu Liang asked as he looked around, feeling guilty for some reason.
"My esteemed teacher has entered closed-door cultivation," Jiang Yuebai replied with a faint smile.
"Oh..." Chu Liang immediately relaxed, sitting down on the branch and waving his hand. "It's not like I'm afraid of Senior Aunt Yan."
But you are though, Jiang Yuebai thought.
Of course, she didn't expose Chu Liang's little secret and instead said, "Our usual spot was discovered. Recently, people have been disturbing the peace there, but it has become much quieter being on the Azure Falling Peak, so I thought we should meet here instead."
Chu Liang smiled awkwardly, feeling a tinge of guilt.
He was partly responsible for this. That place had originally been Jiang Yuebai's secret base, but during their last visit, two Heavenly Qi-Circulation Phenomena occurred simultaneously, drawing a large crowd of Mount Shu disciples to the location. To this day, people still go there to take a look. Even though they had been headbutted by Little Baize multiple times, they still wouldn't give up.
However, the ancient tree on Azure Falling Peak was indeed a quiet place.
It was obviously quiet, as it had been Daoist Yan's territory. Daoist Yan had spent all four seasons meditating under the ancient tree on Azure Falling Peak. Apart from Jiang Yuebai, no one dared to approach. With Daoist Yan now in closed-door cultivation, this naturally became Jiang Yuebai's place for solitude.
Speaking of which, it was strange that Daoist Yan had suddenly moved her closed-door cultivation to an unknown location. Moreover, few people knew that she was even in closed-door cultivation.
"My esteemed teacher being in closed-door cultivation is something you should keep to yourself," Jiang Yuebai reminded.
Chu Liang hadn't thought much of it at first, but her reminder made him understand immediately.
Daoist Yan was preparing for a breakthrough!
There was only one reason she needed to be this cautious. Daoist Yan cultivated the Cloud of Determination Great Dao. If she achieved a breakthrough, she would clash with the current Dao Master of the Cloud of Determination. If word got out, it might attract deliberate sabotage from those with ulterior motives.
For example, there was a scheme to awaken Baize from its state of being on the brink of ascension.
The competition for control of the Great Dao was ruthless, and the methods used in this competition were extremely fierce, both secretly and openly.
The two of them sat side by side on the high branch, their silhouettes against the crescent moon looking like a perfect pair.
"On the first day of next month, the Four Seas Whale Gang is holding a ceremony for the new vice-chief's succession. Representatives from the Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten will attend," Jiang Yuebai said softly. "Senior Uncle Wang Xuanling asked me to see if you plan to go."
"The Four Seas Whale Gang..." Chu Liang murmured.
Whenever the Whale Gang's new chief assumed their position, they would hold a grand succession ceremony, inviting fellow immortality cultivators. Besides celebrating, it was also a way to announce the change of leadership and establish connections with the new leader.
Given the controversy surrounding Jiang Shenting's ascension, this ceremony was bound to be exceptionally grand. Inviting representatives from the Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten was his way of legitimizing his position.
As the grand peak master of Mount Shu, Wang Xuanling would certainly attend such an event.
Naturally, he wouldn't go alone; a few prominent disciples would accompany him. The head disciple couldn't escape this duty, and Xu Ziyang, being Wang Xuanling's favorite disciple, was also included. The third person Wang Xuanling summoned was Chu Liang.
However, Wang Xuanling was reluctant to visit Silver Sword Peak himself, fearing an encounter with Di Nufeng. Knowing that Jiang Yuebai had a good relationship with Chu Liang, he asked her to relay the message instead.
"I'm actually quite busy these days..." Chu Liang pondered for a moment before saying with a smile, "But if you are going, then I can't miss out."
"Hah," Jiang Yuebai laughed, "I didn't ask you to come along."
"There is a mix of all kinds of people in the Four Seas Whale Gang. As Mount Shu Sect's head disciple, you must not be in any danger. It's our duty as fellow disciples to accompany you and ensure your safety," Chu Liang replied righteously.
Jiang Yuebai smiled, then turned her head and remained silent for a while. Suddenly, she asked softly, "What if...
"If I were to go to a very dangerous place in the future, would you come with me?"
She seemed a bit nervous.
"Of course," Chu Liang answered without hesitation.
Jiang Yuebai turned back to look at him, her eyes shining like evening stars, making Chu Liang feel slightly dazed.
But he stood his ground, meeting her gaze bravely.
He even felt a slight urge to lean closer...
Boom!
At that moment, a thunderous explosion echoed from afar, so loud it was deafening even from this distance.
Both of them were startled.
Jiang Yuebai looked towards the source of the sound and remarked, "That was a powerful explosion."
Chu Liang replied softly as he tried to restore the atmosphere earlier, "Don't worry. Someone will handle it."
"But..." Jiang Yuebai said, glancing over again, "that looks like your place."
"What?!" exclaimed Chu Liang.