Chapter 115: Whose Sect Bridges Both Shores?

The crackling of flames still echoed, accompanied by the bursting sound of molten lava bubbles. Yet, Qingyuan’s calm and unassuming voice rang out like a thunderclap, drowning out all other sounds.

The expressions of the four elders changed noticeably.

Among them, Sun Yu, who appeared the most composed, reacted the strongest. Nearly losing his composure, a flicker of something unusual passed through his eyes as he spoke in a low voice, “You have a solution?”

Qingyuan replied, “It seems the esteemed elders are at a loss. In that case, why not try my method?”

Sun Yu fell silent for a moment before asking, “What do you want in return?”

Taking a deep breath, Qingyuan said, “Once this is resolved, spare my life.”

Sun Yu’s gaze sharpened as he nodded slowly, “If you help us, I will not be the one to kill you.”

A look of great joy appeared on Qingyuan’s face, feigning the innocence of youth who had narrowly escaped death. Yet inwardly, he scoffed quietly. Such verbal tricks were transparent to him.

Though Sun Yu would not act personally, it was inevitable that those around him might. Moreover, the treacherous terrain nearby could also pose a threat. Thus, it would not necessarily be Sun Yu’s own hand that struck.

“What is your plan?” asked He Daozhang, the Supreme Elder of the Seven Spirits Sect.

Beneath this land lies the source of subterranean fire, where rocks melt into molten streams. Even a cultivator of the elders’ caliber could not withstand the searing heat of this earth fire while walking on this ground. It would easily disturb the terrain, causing it to fracture and allowing the fire to surge upward.

Qingyuan explained, “Therefore, we must construct a bridge above it.”

At this, the others’ faces darkened considerably.

Sun Yu’s voice turned cold, “Do you think we are fools? Have we not tried such methods before?”

With a wave of his hand, a beam of light shot forward.

Just under ten feet away, the flow of air shifted abruptly, sending a surge of earth fire and molten lava rushing upward, engulfing the light beam.

“On this land, even Daoist arts cannot be used,” Sun Yu said, his face turning icy, murder flashing in his eyes as he raised his palm, where light shimmered. “If this is all you have, then I will send you on your way.”

Qingyuan shook his head slightly, “It’s not just that.”

“Then explain,” Gan Huan suddenly spoke, “I admire you; I know you’re clever. Your life is in our hands now, so you must have a plan. But the place before us is such that only cultivators of the Sixth Heavenly Layer or even True Immortals can traverse it by flying through the clouds.”

Qingyuan remained silent. He understood this place was arranged by the ancient Celestial Venerable of Guangyuan. Even soaring through the clouds would inevitably disturb the air currents, causing many unpredictable incidents.

In other words, without the proper method, even Sixth Heavenly Layer elders dare not enter.

This earth fire and molten lava are not ordinary; their power is just a step below celestial fire. Even True Immortals may find it difficult to endure.

In the past, when he refined pills with celestial fire, he relied on the Eight Dragon Hexagram Immortal Furnace to isolate the aura, or else he would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

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Qingyuan had long speculated about the map, though uncertain whether it depicted Fuzhong Mountain or Liyue Valley. Still, this did not hinder his deductions about the ancient Celestial Venerable of Guangyuan’s map.

By surveying the surrounding terrain, he roughly inferred a Five Elements differentiation, with a grand formation based on the Five Elements laid out.

Though the specifics of the Five Elements array eluded him, his mind turned over countless ideas and possibilities.

Hua Mei had scouted Liyue Valley and mentioned a few things to Qingyuan, helping him fully grasp the changes within that valley.

This place corresponds to the Li position, associated with fire.

And fire happened to be Qingyuan’s specialty.

“This side…” Qingyuan pointed diagonally. “Fire overcomes metal and can also overcome wood, while water overcomes fire. But here, the flames are earth fire, overwhelmingly strong. Water here would instantly turn to steam. Thus, we must use earth to construct a bridge in this direction.”

Sun Yu asked in a low voice, “Why this side? Didn’t you just see that once the Daoist arts are used, the terrain changes?”

Qingyuan said, “At this position, no such changes will occur.”

Sun Yu fell silent. Han Yu showed a hint of surprise, while Gan Huan asked in astonishment, “Why is that?”

“The Kun position,” He Daozhang suddenly spoke.

Qingyuan glanced at him, feeling a slight chill. He had presumed these people were skilled in cultivation but not particularly attentive to feng shui arrangements. Unexpectedly, there was one versed in this path among them.

Reading Qingyuan’s surprise, He Daozhang calmly explained, “I hail from the Seven Spirits Sect, an orthodox Daoist school. Tracing my lineage, I was once an outer disciple of the Shouzheng Dao sect, a branch of the Supreme Dao Ancestor. Within the Daoist path, we cultivate and refine qi, but also calculate fortune and doom, and survey feng shui. Though I have not mastered it, some of my fellow disciples practice it, so I have some passing knowledge.”

“You are too modest, Daozhang,” Qingyuan said with a slight bow. “Indeed, that is the Kun position.”

Han Yu suddenly asked, “We understand the Kun position, but why is it useful here?”

Qingyuan paused. “Explaining would be lengthy. Should I explain each step?”

Hearing this, the other True Immortals showed displeasure.

Han Yu’s eyes flashed coldly, a murderous intent flickering before vanishing, and he said faintly, “No need.”

Qingyuan replied, “Then please, elder, cast the spell.”

The elders exchanged glances before settling on Sun Yu.

All were somewhat familiar with earth-based Daoist arts, but none had condensed the Law Intent as Sun Yu had. Though they could perform such arts, none matched his mastery.

Among the Five Elements Law Intents, Sun Yu had condensed earth and was an expert in this path. His demeanor was as steady as the Law Intent itself. Only today, given the gravity of the matter, had he shown signs of unease.

“An earth bridge?” Sun Yu took a deep breath. With a movement of his hand, a yellow light shot forward, spanning ten feet before solidifying into a firm earthen bridge.

The stone bridge was about three feet wide and thirty feet long.

Beyond the ten-foot mark, the earth fire’s aura would be triggered, causing molten lava to surge and instantly melt the bridge.

Within the ten feet, however, the earth bridge remained intact and unscathed.

This astonished everyone, especially the elders, whose eyes glittered with admiration.

He Daozhang cast a deep look at Qingyuan, silently nodding with a hint of regret.

“Kun first, Xun second,” Qingyuan pointed in another direction. “Next, turn the stone bridge this way.”

With another Daoist spell, Sun Yu extended the bridge another ten feet, his heart now convinced by Qingyuan’s insight and without hesitation headed toward the Xun position.

“Li third.”

“Dui fourth.”

“Zhong (center) fifth.”

“Gen sixth.”

“Kan seventh.”

“Zhen eighth.”

Qingyuan took a deep breath, a subtle tremor stirring within him as he slowly said, “Qian ninth.”

As the bridge made its ninth turn, it reached the far end of this fiery chamber.

Then, silence settled once more.

The two sides were connected—the path to survival had been constructed!

The onlookers’ expressions were complex, stirred both by this young man and the life-saving path he had forged.

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