The Mountain Takes Flight!

"Why take them in?" "Wanxiang Sect took Tieqing Mountain by force. With this group of their disciples with us, our takeover is completely aboveboard and justified." "Why make it so complicated? If the three of us join forces..." "Kill them?" "Precisely! It's merely a few hundred people, with barely ten Foundation Establishment cultivators among them. Killing them would be effortless!" "And aren't you afraid of someone slipping through the net?" "With Jiang Yu's Rain-Calling Banner and Sea-Calming Pearl, not a single one among those hundreds could possibly escape!" "Then have you considered the rogue cultivators watching this place from nearby? If word leaks even slightly, it is a grave offense—violating the Opening Covenant by striking down our own allies! Diwu Qi, can you shoulder such a charge? Can my Luotian Alliance shoulder it?" "Yet I have already killed Yang Wenchang!" "Your method was covert in the extreme; aside from Jiang Yu and me, not a third soul knows." "Fine. We shall do as you say. Then going forward, how do you intend to handle this flock of Wanxiang Sect disciples?" "They will not enter your Wind Rain Mountain Villa, nor will they join my Luotian Sect. They will be incorporated into the alliance. When the time comes, we shall carve out a plot of land within the mountain gates for them, allowing them to preserve Wanxiang Sect's lineage. That way, we can take over Tieqing Mountain as a natural progression while broadcasting the Luotian Alliance's benevolent and righteous prestige." "Dan Chenzi, you are nursing a tiger that will cause you calamity later! You will regret this!" "I am the Alliance Leader!" Atop the mountain peak, the conversation ended on a sour note. Diwu Qi departed in a huff. Luo Chen watched his retreating figure, eyes narrowing slightly as a faint smile touched the corner of his lips. *Trying to beat the mountain to frighten the tiger? Trying to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys?* *I haven't even resorted to such tricks, yet you two started playing them first.* Spared today, these several hundred people of Wanxiang Sect would be a nail driven into Diwu Qi's eye, a thorn embedded in his flesh. He would have plenty of annoyances to keep him busy in the future, saving him the excess energy to play petty mind games here. "Hmph!" Luo Chen gave a cold snort and chose not to go anywhere else, sitting down cross-legged right where he was. He meditated to regulate his breath and restore his condition, while simultaneously spreading his divine sense outward to investigate Tieqing Mountain's spirit vein. *** Five days later. Beyond Tieqing Mountain, streaks of escaping light suffused with formidable surges of magical power came soaring through the skies! The prepared disciples of Wanxiang Sect inside the mountain looked up. They watched streak after streak descend directly onto the mountain summit. Senior Brother Zong Jiulang's expression grew exceedingly colorful. "Master Song Mi of Heavenly Blade Sect!" "Elder Fei Ming of Mount Ailao!" "Fairy Jueqing of Ice Fort!" "Jin Buque of the Five Elements Divine Sect!" "Master Chen Xiuli, the newly advanced Golden Core cultivator of Tianyi Workshop!" "The Alliance Leader carries immense sway to invite so many powerhouses all at once! If we count the Luotian Alliance's five Masters already present, that makes ten Golden Core powerhouses assembled here!" Zong Jiulang was a man of considerable experience and worldly knowledge, and he recognized every single one of the arriving Golden Core Masters. Even those Wanxiang Sect cultivators who lacked broad horizons recognized one or two. Cries of astonishment echoed through the mountain in undulating waves. Suddenly, a gentle voice carried down. "All cultivators, vacate Tieqing Mountain, board the Scarlet Flame Dragon Boat, and heed Elder Fu Jiusheng's dispatch!" It was Alliance Leader Luo Chen's voice. Zong Jiulang trembled, then swiftly rallied the Wanxiang Sect disciples to board the Scarlet Flame Dragon Boat suspended outside the mountain. Before they could even secure a firm footing after stepping aboard, they saw Fu Jiusheng emerge from the cabin. "Everyone, form groups of nine, enter your designated formation apertures, and channel your spiritual power!" Zong Jiulang nodded in haste. Luo Chen had already briefed him on the plan: they were about to execute the Luotian Alliance's mountain-relocating operation. The effort of these low-tier disciples was precisely what was required. Once everyone was in position, Fu Jiusheng took a deep breath, gazing with stirred eyes toward the mist-wreathed peak in the distance. "Supreme Elder, everything is ready. We can begin at any moment!" Atop the mountain summit, Luo Chen smiled as he looked at the friends who had answered his invitation. "Next, I shall have to trouble you all." Jin Buque laughed heartily. "No trouble at all! I used to do this sort of thing often in the past." Fairy Jueqing nodded, a hint of eagerness glinting in her eyes. She too wanted to see how a mountain was relocated; perhaps Ice Fort would make use of this technique in the future. Song Mi pursed his lips. "Speaking of which, a year ago within the Jade Cauldron Domain, the Sword Sect also began moving mountains, hauling Incense Valley straight to the base of Mount Yuhuang. I never expected that you, Dan Chenzi, would possess such grand boldness as well!" Luo Chen shook his head. "It is merely patching and mending. Unable to conquer a large Tier 3 spirit vein, one can only resort to clever tricks." Having said that, he turned solemnly toward Fei Ming. "Fellow Daoist Fei, in a moment we will need to trouble you to safeguard Tieqing Mountain's earth vein, lest its qi-dynamic shift and its feng shui be altered." Fei Ming waved his hand. "Safeguarding an earth vein is child's play; I know the craft!" With that settled, there were no lingering worries. Luo Chen cast a glance over Diwu Qi, Jiang Yu, and Cen Qiusheng, who were all primed and ready. The first two showed slight changes in expression. They had not anticipated that Luo Chen could muster so many peers of the same tier in one breath. Even the weakest among them—the newly advanced female Golden Core cultivator who appeared quiet and reserved—was clad in gorgeous court robes that were unmistakably a treasure-grade magic robe. If the wealth she displayed on the surface was already this lavish, who knew how many hidden techniques she possessed? Their earlier petty maneuvers seemed utterly laughable in comparison. Cen Qiusheng did not entertain such convoluted thoughts. To him, Luo Chen commanded an exceptional reputation. As long as their foundation was laid down, the Cen family would be treated well even when his lifespan ended and he passed into meditation. Whatever happened, it would hardly be worse than the Qinhua River Li family that had once attached itself to the Luotian Sect! "Let us begin!" Luo Chen said calmly. Everyone nodded to him and flew off toward their assigned positions according to plan. Apart from Fei Ming, who remained on the mountain, everyone—including Luo Chen—departed Tieqing Mountain. Time ticked steadily by. Suddenly! A mighty shout rang out. "Rise!" Immediately, the collective voices echoed in response: "Rise!" "Rise!" "Rise!" Eight surging beams of magical power shot straight down thousands of feet into the earth. Fei Ming stood in the center, slamming a palm down onto Tieqing Mountain. Earthy-yellow magical power poured frantically from his palm, gradually shrouding the entire grand peak. More than that, atop the Scarlet Flame Dragon Boat, Fu Jiusheng's hands formed rapid seals. Colossal chains of spiritual qi extended from the dragon boat—nine in total—embedding themselves firmly into Tieqing Mountain. "Set sail!" With his thunderous cry, the Scarlet Flame Dragon Boat shuddered before slowly getting underway. The moment the dragon boat began moving, an area of ten thousand li around Tieqing Mountain started to tremble. It felt like an earth dragon overturning, or the roaring of an ocean. *Rumble! Boom! Boom!* The mountain had taken flight! *** The opening war was currently raging like wildfire. Spearheaded by Luoyun Sect, with the great Golden Core sects serving as the main force, the campaign was supplemented by numerous first- and second-rate minor factions. Among them, rogue cultivators were by no means absent. Or rather, in this war to conquer the Howling Moon Mountain Range, while the combat strength of rogue cultivators might be lackluster, their numbers were definitely on par with those great sects. They had no fixed objectives. Gathering in small groups of three to five, they rushed toward the various clash sites where sects were battling demon beasts. Taking advantage of the chaos to loot was something they certainly dared not do. However, banding together to slay a few demon beasts was more than enough to feed themselves well. If fortune favored them and they managed to scavenge a kill on one or two demon beasts above their own cultivation realm, the resources harvested in return would yield boundless benefits. For this reason, an endless stream of rogue cultivators departed Poyue Immortal City every single day, hurrying off to the various battlefields. On this day, several hundred rogue cultivators hastening toward Seven Kings Mountain came to an abrupt halt. Every single one of them raised their head, gazing up at the sky in fright and awe. That immense phantom looked as if a whale were swimming across the heavens! No! How could a whale ever be compared to such a sight? It blotted out the sky and covered the sun; not a speck of light filtered through. When that colossal behemoth slowly drifted past, it was as if night had fallen in broad daylight! Moving a mountain! Someone was moving a mountain! The crowd of rogue cultivators erupted into an uproar. "Is this the legendary immortal craft of moving mountains and filling the seas?" "I always assumed that was mere exaggeration in ancient records. To think someone can truly accomplish it in reality!" "What is so difficult about that? Have you never seen a Golden Core cultivator casually destroy a mountain with a flick of the hand?" "Destroying a mountain is easy, but moving one is difficult! Stop flaunting your shallow knowledge here." "Uh..." "Those are cultivators from the Luotian Alliance, aren't they?" "What in the world are they doing?" "*Hiss*, that spiritual mountain being transported—the spiritual qi upon it is so rich!" "Could they be trying to forcefully manufacture a blessed land for their sect through sheer cultivator might?" "Most likely! When Poyue Immortal City was being constructed, didn't True Person Tianyezi of Tianfan City personally transport a cloud-piercing solitary peak into the city?" "Word has it that spiritual grounds are composed of raw spirit stone deposits. If one wishes to construct a sect's blessed land, wouldn't excavating more raw deposits suffice? Why go through such hassle to haul an entire mountain?" "Now you're being hopelessly ignorant! If it were truly that simple, could those great sects simply bury tens of millions of spirit stones within their headquarters to make their spirit vein ranks surge upward on the spot?" "Uh... Fellow Daoist, what is your insight?" "I have heard that Heaven brings forth all things, and all things possess spirit! Even mountains and rivers that appear inanimate harbor spiritual vital breath. The trend of their ranges, the feng shui configurations, and even the trees and rocks upon them are all parts of their physical body. If you destroy these, you might slightly elevate the spiritual qi concentration at best, but raising its rank is completely out of the question. Only by relocating the mountain intact can one ensure that the spirit vein's rank will not degrade." "That is too profound. Could you put it a bit more plainly, Fellow Daoist?" "To use an analogy, a piece of spiritual land is like a person. The raw spirit stone deposit is the heart. If you carve out a heart on its own and transplant it, can you foster a living person? You cannot! Only by transplanting the person's entire body can they continue to breathe, inhale and exhale the world's spiritual qi, and construct a blessed land." "So that's how it is!" "I have learned much today!" "No wonder so many Golden Core cultivators had to act together! Every one of them possesses the might to level mountains and cleave peaks, yet joining hands right now, they transport this giant mountain with such meticulous care—all to preserve the integrity of the spirit vein!" *** The tide of chatter below reached the ears of Luo Chen and the others without the slightest obstruction. None of them felt surprised. Prior to relocating the mountain, Luo Chen had already imparted all the essential secrets and methods to them. This had been part of the remuneration for securing their assistance! Whether it was Ice Fort, Heavenly Blade Sect, or Tianyi Workshop's Chen family, all of them would harbor similar demands in the future. Jin Buque, representing the Five Elements Divine Sect, and Fei Ming of Mount Ailao had no need for such methods, as their sects already possessed comparable secret arts. Consequently, the Luotian Alliance had separately provided each of them with one million spirit stones as compensation. To obtain such a staggering sum simply by expending some magical power—who would refuse? As for Luo Chen borrowing their banners to dispel the petty ambitions of underhanded schemers, none of them took it to heart. Time drifted by. They drew closer and closer to their destination. Finally, ten days later. Under the gaze of countless onlookers, the colossal Tieqing Mountain settled down with a thunderous roar to the east of Snow Wolf Flat. The instant the towering peak took root, earth-shattering cheers erupted. Yet the high-tier cultivators knew that this matter was far from over. The Scarlet Flame Dragon Boat set out once more! All ten Golden Cores boarded the vessel. The dragon boat flew swiftly toward Huimeng Ridge. Upon arriving at Huimeng Ridge, the identical procedure and steps began anew. Unlike Tieqing Mountain, which had formed an integrated terrain, Huimeng Ridge proved far more troublesome. Although the spirit vein here was also at Tier 3, its scale was small and its layout far too scattered. Consequently, the preparatory work alone took three full days. Three days later, following Luo Chen's command, the thousand-li expanse of Huimeng Ridge was hoisted with a booming roar, leaving behind only the bare, exposed rock of the earth below. *** *Boom!* An ear-splitting roar detonated, and a massive shockwave rolled in every direction. With Mimeng Mountain at its heart, Huimeng Ridge now sat to the west of Snow Wolf Flat. In this arrangement, Snow Wolf Flat lay centered to the north, Mimeng Mountain stood to the west, and Tieqing Mountain rose to the east, forming a feng shui layout that sat facing south. Furthermore, Tieqing Mountain acted as a bulwark, warding off unknown threats from the direction of the Great Snow Mountain. An open expanse was left in the center, seeming to emulate the style of the Yan Alliance and Azure Pill Valley in preserving an inner valley within their grounds. By this stage, the overall framework appeared fully settled. Chen Xiuli walked up to Luo Chen's side with evident envy. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist! Your foundation is established and a blessed land is in your grasp. From this moment onward, you can truly be regarded as having founded your sect and become an ancestral patriarch of a generation!" Her envy was well-founded. Relying on Tianyi Workshop and the magical robe business, the Chen family had amassed a considerable fortune in spirit stones. Yet after sustaining her breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, their resources had been drained. Even now, the Chen family did not possess a single patch of Tier 3 spiritual land, and she herself had to rely on connections and immense sums of spirit stones to lease a Tier 3 immortal cave within an immortal city for her cultivation. Yet how could such an artificial spiritual ground ever compare to a naturally generated Tier 3 spirit vein like the Luotian Alliance's? Luo Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air and replied modestly, "The earth qi of these spirit veins has yet to merge. If we wish to truly forge a mid-Tier 3 or even high-Tier 3 spiritual land, it will take at least a century or so. Calling it a blessed land is still far premature." Chen Xiuli pursed her red lips, her eyes still brimmed with envy. Even if the blessed land was not yet fully realized, there was hope at last, wasn't there? She too wanted to emulate Luo Chen's feat. Yet it remained merely a passing thought! Who else possessed Luo Chen's rallying appeal, capable of forging an alliance faction that rivaled great Golden Core sects within such a brief span? Who else had Luo Chen's sheer boldness to relocate mountains and forge a blessed land by force when a single site fell short? As for leading the Chen family into the opening war? She lacked the courage. One needed look no further than the He family's cautionary tale, having nearly faced annihilation at Huimeng Ridge. Then there was Wanxiang Sect, possessing considerable strength, yet two of its Golden Cores had perished on Tieqing Mountain. Had the Luotian Alliance not intervened, Wanxiang Sect's lineage might have been severed entirely. While conversing with her, Luo Chen kept an eye on Fu Jiusheng, Fei Ming, and the others. They darted between the three great mountains, embedding formation plates and spirit stones from time to time. They were erecting the Trapped Dragon Grand Formation Luo Chen required. This formation array was also something he had traded for from Meng Changshou of the Medicine King Sect. Its primary purpose was to lock in spiritual qi and prevent it from leaking outward. With this formation in place, they could bind the spirit vein, stabilize the blessed land's grade, and over time, as long as it was not excessively exploited, even continuously raise its upper limit. Cultivators training within would be like trapped dragons ascending to heaven, beholding the bright moon, with the Great Dao in reach! To construct this grand formation, Luo Chen, Diwu Qi, and the others had essentially emptied their coffers, pooling several million spirit stones into it. Indeed, they would inevitably have to pour in even more spirit stones in the future. After chatting for a while, Luo Chen could no longer hold back. His hands were itching to get involved! Turning to Jin Buque, Song Mi, and the others, he said, "Fellow Daoists, please choose a spot to rest for a bit. Tonight, we shall host a banquet to entertain you all!" The others smiled and nodded. Moving mountains over these past few days had genuinely exhausted them. Taking a rest now was very welcome. However, seeing Luo Chen join the ranks of Fu Jiusheng and Fei Ming to arrange the formation, curiosity got the better of them. "Does Dan Chenzi understand formations as well?" The question was naturally directed toward Fairy Jueqing, who had the closest relationship with him. Under everyone's gaze, Fairy Jueqing replied with slight bewilderment, "Perhaps he has dabbled in it."