Chapter 3, Su Bao Mountain
Sun Li expressed surprise: "Triple overlay? Garbage formation? This is the most powerful mountain-protecting formation of the Seven Great Sects of the Sui Dynasty"
The valley opened up, with towering peaks on both sides, and the hillside meadows were filled with small white and yellow flowers. Chongpu smiled and said, "Junior Brother Tian, we have arrived, let's get out of the car."
Sun Li also heard it from the side, and he believed that the two mountain-guarding disciples not far behind him had also heard it. Yet, they still knelt obediently on the ground, not daring to show the slightest dissatisfaction
The Chong Zhao brothers were somewhat surprised: "How could the Nine-Tailed Dragon Scale Leopard suddenly go mad..."
The carriage entered Su Bao Mountain and traveled deep into the heart of the mountain. Many areas were perilous, difficult for monkeys to climb and birds to fly over. The capabilities of the lean horse became evident, as it traversed these places as if they were flat ground, smoothly pulling the carriage along without any trouble.
However, upon hearing Sun Li's question, Luo Huan let out a cold laugh and said, "Ignorant child. Just wait and see, in no more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, that nine-tailed dragon-scaled leopard will not be able to endure it any longer"
Sun Li and Tian Yingdong were horrified: This is the cannon of extermination!
A glimmer of brilliance flashed in Tian Yingdong's eyes, as if he harbored some aspirations
This line brought back Tian Yingdong, who possesses the precious jade-like wisdom. Chong Zhao was in a good mood, nodded slightly, and said lightly: "No need to be polite..."
Before they could react, they suddenly saw a sharp beam of light rise abruptly from among the continuous mountain peaks ahead. It swiftly crossed dozens of mountains from the sky above and with a whoosh, descended to a certain location behind them.
Sun Li silently said: "Nonsense, this is my future sect, could you at least consider my reputation?"
The building stands atop a tall mountain peak, taking on a circular platform shape, and the items on it left Tian Yingdong and Sun Li momentarily stunned
Chong Zhao asked, "Have the other senior brothers returned?"
Therefore, although Tian Yingdong and Sun Li came from a mountain village, they were not unfamiliar with cannons. At the peak, atop a massive circular platform, there stood a gigantic iron cannon!
Seeing the confusion in Sun Li and Tian Yingdong's eyes, there was a hint of pride in Chong Zhao's gaze. At his senior brother's gesture, Chong Pu took out a shield-shaped jade token from his bosom and held it up, a faint glow surging from within him and infusing into the jade token
Tian Yingdong roughly understood the strength of Su Baoshan, his face radiating brilliance: "Brothers, our sect is powerful, and it is our great fortune."
Subao Mountain is renowned within the Great Sui, ranking fifth among the ten famous mountains of the Great Sui. Three hundred years ago, the then headmaster, Master Jifeng, of Subao Mountain, slayed a malevolent dragon in the raging Cangjiang River, halting the flood that had plagued half the province. Following this, Subao Mountain was officially conferred by the emperor of the Great Sui, becoming a recognized sect of immortals by the imperial court
The four individuals continued forward, and the stone steps suddenly curved, winding around a mountain hollow, rendering the Spirit Beast Park invisible.
Along the way, Brother Chong Zhao and his companions subtly cultivated a relationship with Tian Yingdong, this future star, paying little attention to Sun Li. When Sun Li was thirsty, he would ask the two for some water, and when he was hungry, he would eat the dry rations he had brought with him
The five beams of sword light behind that person spread out like a peacock fanning its tail, clearly indicating a set of exceptionally high-quality swords with considerable attacking power
Chong Zhao explained: "Junior Brother Tian, that is the renowned Spirit Beast Garden of our Su Bao Sect. If any disciples wish to cultivate with the assistance of spirit beasts, they can report to the Sect Master and go to the Spirit Beast Garden to select a spirit beast to accompany them for life"
Tian Yingdong hurriedly wanted to return the gift, but was stopped by Chong Pu. Sun Li observed coldly from the side, vaguely sensing something.
Each of these divine weapons represents a powerful figure who once dominated the world and commanded great respect. After their demise, the weapons automatically returned to our Su Bao Mountain, where they now reside in seclusion
Mount Subao is approximately two thousand miles away from Mount Luomei, divided between two provinces. In the eyes of ordinary people, this distance is almost unattainable; however, for those who practice cultivation, it can be reached in just a few days.
The helplessness of the demonic cultivators persists, as they infiltrate the territory of the Ghost Barbarians in the northwest, supporting their repeated incursions across the border. In every conflict, our Seven Great Sects secretly send people to the border to assist the army in achieving victory. Without the protection of our Seven Great Sects, the Great Sui would have long been under the dominion of the demonic cultivators, leaving the people in dire straits
Sun Li sighed inwardly and shook his head subtly
Not far along, I saw the second crystal prism within the bamboo forest. Its size was similar to the previous one, but sealed inside was an exquisitely crafted golden hairpin
After a hundred miles, the cart descended, and the lean horse seemed somewhat dissatisfied, snorting loudly as it slowly began to pull the cart
Behind it, a magnificent mountain gate emerged, with a towering stone archway reaching a height of thirty zhang. Six stone pillars supported six vividly carved dragons, and the crossbeam was adorned with the twelve zodiac divine beasts, each radiating a faint golden light
Next to the pine forest, there is an extensive estate. From three to four miles away, one can hear the roars of wild beasts.
Sun Li was the last to get off the vehicle. He looked around and felt that there was not much difference between this place and Luomei Mountain.
Chong Zhao also revealed a pleased expression and said: "You all listen, this is the roar of the most powerful second-tier spirit beast in our Spirit Beast Garden, the Nine-Tailed Dragon Scale Leopard. This Nine-Tailed Dragon Scale Leopard was cultivated by us at Su Bao Mountain, and even the Ban Hu Studio, which specializes in spirit beasts, does not possess such a powerful spirit beast. They are extremely envious of us."
But what exactly is their origin? They casually criticize the various facilities that Su Bao Mountain takes pride in, leaving no stone unturned in their rebuttal
The celestial dragon's aura has always exerted a suppressive effect on those who cultivate the Dao. However, after receiving the imperial title and becoming an immortal official of the court, the entire sect gained an additional option in their cultivation: the Dragon Support Court
When the thin horse first leaped gently while pulling the cart, ascending against the current of a gigantic waterfall thirty zhang high, Sun Li was stunned, marveling in his heart: Indeed, it is the method of the immortals
Thus, after being treated as a transparent person by the Chongzhao brothers for four days, a vast and lengthy mountain range appeared ahead of the carriage, its peaks soaring like a dragon traversing the wilderness, exuding a majestic aura. The mountains were lush and green, steady and profound—this was Subao Mountain.
This "Great Sun Heavenly Fire Gun" was crafted using the nine-layer continuous fire refining method. Until today, I, Su Bao Mountain, am the only sect in the entire cultivation world that possesses the inheritance of this ancient divine technique.
The two continued on their journey with Sun Li and Tian Yingdong. However, Sun Li's heart was in turmoil: Luo Huan actually spoke the truth!
Ahead, another building has appeared
Chong Zhao nodded, waved his hand, and the four of them left together. The two mountain-guarding disciples then bowed again, saying, "We respectfully send off our senior brother"
滋ーー
Sun Li understood: So it is.
The Sui Dynasty invented gunpowder hundreds of years ago. It is said that during the process of the first emperor of the Sui Dynasty competing for supremacy, cannons played a crucial role.
Luo Huan expressed his dissatisfaction with a remark: "This fellow speaks like a flowing river, but most of it is likely just hot air, so it should not be trusted at all..."
Sun Li naturally did not believe it, and quickly followed Chong Zhao and the other three, soon passing by the vast estate. As they got closer, the sounds of beast roars came from nearby, and a strong wind rushed towards them, making Tian Yingdong ecstatic, feeling fortunate to have entered a powerful sect
And that third existence, the Night of the Moons, clearly instilled genuine awe in Luo Huan and Wu Yao, yet why did he remain silent from beginning to end
In the glow of the flames, the entire valley seemed to gently unfold like a scroll of painting.
This Great Clear Void Heaven Two Instruments Thunder Fire Formation sounds formidable and possesses sufficient power, yet its weaknesses are too apparent. As long as the attacking enemy possesses a set of sword formations or similar treasures, sacrificing this set of treasures can completely divert the power of the entire formation. This nonsense of the Su Bao Mountain is merely an unguarded mountain gate
At this moment, Chongpu was speaking when suddenly a tremendous roar echoed through the Spirit Beast Park. The pine forest beside the residence rustled as if swept by a fierce wind, with branches and leaves clattering.
A group of people passed by the artillery platform when suddenly a series of urgent bell tolls echoed from the mountains, "Dang dang dang..." The faces of Brother Chong Zhao and his companions changed: "The death bell has tolled seven times; something has happened inside the gate"
Some talented cultivators disdain to use this method, yet for those of ordinary aptitude who have no hope of breaking through through normal cultivation, it is their last lifeline
Chongpu added: "This Great Sun Fire Cannon possesses unmatched power; even a mountain peak can be flattened with a single shot."
Sun Li naturally did not believe it: "Just a single roar of a beast, and you can discern so many intricacies?"
Chong Zhao stopped a passing cultivator and asked, "Senior brother, what has happened?"
Seeing the astonished expressions on Sun Li and Tian Yingdong's faces, Chong Zhao and his companion exchanged a knowing smile and said in unison, "Junior Brother Tian, let us go in. We might be the last group to return."
One person respectfully replied, "I report back to you, Senior Brother, everyone has returned."
Pah! Rubbish treated as treasure
A group of fools! In Sun Li's mind, Luo Huan's disdainful voice echoed: "The roar of the Nine-Tailed Dragon Scale Leopard carries a hint of hoarseness, indicating that there must have been issues during its rearing. This roar shakes the pine forest, yet it cannot reach the heavens, clearly showing an excess of the fierce wind power and a deficiency in the resilient water power. It seems that there was a problem with the combination of ginkgo grass and fire crocodile meat during the spiritual feeding."
Chongpu淡淡 said to Tian Yingdong: "They are merely two outer disciples of the mortal realm, so there is no need for you to be overly courteous, Junior Brother Tian. With your qualifications, as soon as you enter the sect, you will surely be valued by a certain elder and become a direct disciple. In the future, when these two see you, they will have to greet you with great respect."
In fact, if one truly wishes to use this method to refine magical tools, having three types of true fire complementing each other would already achieve the best effect; adding a ninth layer of fire is merely superfluous.
The spiritual talisman of Chong Zhao cannot last long; after flying approximately 100 miles, the carriage had to descend. Although spiritual talismans are a common means in the realm of cultivation, they are certainly not as abundant as cabbages in the field, and Chong Zhao was not extravagant enough to rely on talismans for travel.
Sun Li once again expressed disdain
This grand formation is a second-tier top-level array left behind by the founding patriarch of our sect. In terms of offense, it can summon the thunder and fire of the Nine Heavens, unleashing eighteen consecutive Demon-Slaying Thunderbolts. Even a formidable being at the Supreme Realm would meet a bitter end when facing this formation! In terms of defense, it can withstand the full force of three strikes from an unparalleled Supreme Realm expert. Among the seven major cultivation sects of the Great Sui, our sect's Great Clear Void Heaven Two-Element Thunder Fire Array is the most powerful protective mountain formation!
Within this prism lies a seemingly rough large hammer, its body marked by various battle scars crisscrossing in all directions. One can only wonder how many life-and-death struggles its owner has endured!
Chong Zhao spoke in a reverent tone: "This is the famous 'Divine Weapon Forest' of our Su Bao Mountain. Each crystal prism you see here seals a divine weapon left behind by an enlightened predecessor. The divine weapons that can enter here are at least of the second rank or higher"
However, regardless of how great the achievements may be, it is always necessary to have a few people around to support oneself, to put it plainly, subordinates
Wu Yao seemed to sense what Sun Li was thinking, and immediately felt displeased: "Hmph, kid, if you don't believe me, when you have the ability to refine magical tools in the future, I will teach you a method called 'Three-Color Primordial Fire Heart Spirit Refinement.' You can then refine a clumsy fellow like this, and you will understand then."
Wu Yao let out a cold laugh: "Do you really believe that? There are countless cultivators in the world, but the resources are limited. In this small territory of the Great Sui, there are seven major sects; it would be strange if they didn't compete for resources. No matter how talented you are, from genius to powerhouse, it all comes down to the accumulation of resources!"
"Garbage is always garbage, even if it is the best among the refuse, it is still garbage!" Wu Yao stated without reservation
Every so often, the sect organizes its disciples to enter the Divine Weapon Forest in search of opportunities. If one can be favored by a relic left behind by a senior and successfully recognize its master, it will greatly benefit their future cultivation
Only with the court's bestowal can one have the qualifications for the Fulong Court
Other explanations did not provide Sun Li with any intuitive feelings; only the last sentence, which stated that it could dominate the entire Great Sui cultivation world, allowed him to clearly perceive the terrifying nature of this mountain-protecting formation
Tian Yingdong also has his own thoughts. Once he enters, it will be an unfamiliar environment. According to Brother Chong Zhao, he is destined to achieve great success in the future
Behind the mountain gate lies a long stone staircase. Ascending the staircase and rounding a peak, one arrives at a verdant pine forest halfway up the mountain.
If Wu Yao were to question him like this, Luo Huan would undoubtedly fly into a rage, have a fierce argument with Wu Yao, and would definitely not let the matter rest.
However, the iron cannon of Subao Mountain, even when combined with the four cannons from the imperial capital, still falls short by more than ten times
Within the mountain gate, two young Taoist priests stood guard. Upon seeing Chong Zhao and his companion, they immediately knelt down in reverence, saying, "We respectfully welcome our senior brother back to the mountain"
The carriage traveled for two days through the mountains and arrived at a secluded valley.
Sun Li still felt that this guy was boasting, after all, the power of the Great Sun Fire Gun was something he had witnessed firsthand; Wu Yao was merely speaking from his mouth.
Boom
Two stone-carved giant beasts, resembling small mountains, crouch before the mountain gate. Their thick, sharp claws press against the ground, and their four enormous eyes seem to move, scrutinizing every person who enters the gate.
Sun Li is from the same village as him, with average aptitude. He used to appear quite honest and straightforward, which, in Tian Yingdong's view, made him easy to control and cultivate loyalty. Therefore, Tian Yingdong actually regarded Sun Li as a candidate for future "core team" development.
The golden hairpin is of ordinary size, yet its surface is intricately carved with countless tiny runes, almost as fine as a strand of hair, densely filling the entire hairpin
This cannon measures twenty zhang in length, eight zhang in height, and has a caliber of three zhang. Even if one were to stuff a nine-tailed dragon-scaled leopard from the Spirit Beast Garden into it, it could still be fired out in a single shot
A loud explosion echoed, and the divine flames swept across the sky, instantly filling the entire valley with fire. Although the flames were extremely fierce, they rolled over the flowers, grass, and trees without causing any harm.
The previous flash of sword light was from an elder within the sect, who has already reached the level of a sage-level master. With his involvement and so many disciples rushing over, there was naturally no need for Brother Chong Zhao and his companions.
Recalling the gaze of his parents before parting, Sun Li still finds it hard to let go
Luo Huan actually hit the mark, which means that what Wu Yao said is mostly true
Dozens of master's degree holders rushed towards that place from different directions, their expressions hurried
The other three people in the car, brothers Chong Zhao and Tian Yingdong, seemed to be completely unaffected by the parting, engaging in lively conversation. From their discussions, Sun Li also learned that the brothers' sect, which would be their future school, is Su Bao Mountain, one of the seven major cultivation sects of the Great Sui. According to the brothers, Su Bao Mountain is powerful, with a true immortal-level ancestor presiding over it, more than ten sages of considerable strength, and over fifty disciples at the Daoist level, making it a genuine immortal sect recognized by the emperor of the Great Sui Dynasty
On the contrary, Tian Yingdong has become less averse to Sun Li than before, and he often chats with him for a couple of minutes each day
After taking two more steps, Brother Chong Zhao suddenly stopped, turned to face the two individuals, and revealed a serious expression
The stone steps ahead led into a lush green bamboo forest. After entering the bamboo grove for about ten zhang, amidst the verdant surroundings, a sudden flash of spiritual light emerged.
However, Luo Huan was still puzzled: "How could it be delayed for a while? If it is later than the time I calculated, then there must be an issue with the efficacy of the ginkgo herb. Oh, I calculated based on ginkgo herbs that are a thousand years old; I estimate that this dilapidated sect cannot afford ginkgo herbs of that age."
Above the archway, three enormous golden characters dance like dragons and phoenixes: Su Bao Mountain
Chongpu proudly stated: "Although the scale of our Spirit Beast Garden cannot compare to the Banhu Studio among the Seven Great Sects of the Great Sui, the truly elite portion is by no means lacking. In the Banhu Studio, there are one hundred and twenty spirit beasts of grade six and above, while our Spirit Beast Garden also has one hundred and ten. Moreover, we have as many as thirty-six spirit beasts of grade four and above, which is even more than the Banhu Studio!"
Sun Li still found it somewhat hard to believe: "But this is a second-grade formation, the level is already quite high"
Sun Li was somewhat puzzled when he detected a hint of hostility in his tone upon mentioning Banhu Zhai: Aren't the Seven Great Sects fighting side by side against the demonic cultivators?
The nine-tailed dragon-scaled leopard in the Spirit Beast Garden has gone berserk, breaking through the restrictions and has already injured seven or eight guarding disciples. He quickly finished speaking and hurried over.
He incessantly boasted about the merits and contributions of the Seven Sects, while continuously elevating the status of Su Baoshan among them. Sun listened from the side, gaining a general understanding of Su Baoshan's situation, which could be considered a slight gain.
Do not underestimate this imperial conferment; those who believe that cultivating immortality is completely disconnected from the secular world are certainly laughable. To say nothing of other aspects, just the benefits of this imperial conferment alone are numerous
Wu Yao suddenly spoke: "A trash formation that can only achieve a maximum of three layers of stacking is actually being used as a sect's treasure. How can there still be disciples who are so proud of it? What has happened to the current cultivation world? Are there no good things left? Are there no discerning individuals anymore?"
Moreover, it will be much more convenient to act in various states. For instance, when selecting a disciple, local officials will do their utmost to assist in the arrangements
Calculating the time, it was only a moment more than the duration of a stick of incense as mentioned by Luo Huan
Sun Li certainly did not know that Tian Yingdong had so many thoughts
Sun Li sat in the corner of the cart, holding a bundle in his arms, which contained the weighty affection of family ties
And in this surrounding area, the empty mountains stretch out, where is there any gate of the Su Bao sect?
Meanwhile, Luo Heng let out a disdainful "hmpf," feeling too lazy to explain to this country bumpkin, Sun Li: Is this even worthy of being called a celestial technique?
Wu Yao's voice echoed in Sun Li's mind: "It is merely a general magical artifact that relies on the accumulation of true fire spiritual power to achieve its might. The reason why the Nine Layers of Fire Refinement technique has been lost is precisely because this method is too outdated. To put it simply, it is just a matter of repeatedly tempering with nine types of true fire. A slight misstep can cause the effects of the nine types of true fire to conflict with each other, leading to the explosion of the artifact's core."
Chong Zhao looked on with reverence: "This divine cannon was personally crafted by my seventh-generation ancestor, Master Hong Yuan of Su Bao Mountain. Master Hong Yuan is a renowned master of artifact crafting in the history of the cultivation world. The supreme artifact crafting technique known as 'Nine Layers of Continuous Fire Refinement,' which was passed down from ancient times, has been lost for thousands of years. Yet, Master Hong Yuan, relying on his innate talent and a fragmented ancient text, managed to restore this ancient divine art!"
"Oh, good, good," Tian Yingdong replied, adjusting his clothing and appearance with utmost sincerity as he followed the two towards the mountain gate. Sun Li followed behind, hearing Chong Zhao introduce to the two in a tone filled with pride: "Do not underestimate this mountain gate; it conceals the protective formation of our Su Bao Sect: the Great Qing Xu Tian Liang Yi Thunder Fire Formation"
Young man, today I will teach you another lesson. The power of formations is not merely a matter of their rank. What is more important is the number of times this formation can be stacked. The more times it is stacked, the fewer the flaws and weaknesses.
In the present day, the Sui Dynasty has established the "Divine Fire Camp," which is a military unit specifically tasked with operating cannons
Upon approaching the front, it became clear that a towering crystal prism, two people high, stood amidst the bamboo forest
Beneath the drifting white clouds, a slender horse pulls an unremarkable cart, enveloped in a halo of light, traversing through the air
As the four individuals passed through the mountain gate, it was only upon nearing it that they could truly appreciate its enormity. However, in comparison to the two massive stone beasts, the four appeared as insignificant as ants beneath the feet of an elephant
In the eyes of the people of the Sui Dynasty, the entire "world" was encompassed by the Sui Dynasty itself. However, those who practice the Dao understand that the world is far from being so small. Throughout the journey, Brother Chong Zhao has been elaborating in detail to Tian Yingdong about some historical anecdotes of the cultivation realm.
Chong Zhaodao: "Disciple Tian, and also Sun Li, the place we are about to pass through is a sacred site of our Su Bao Sect. We must maintain a heart of reverence and absolutely must not make loud noises."
This time, it seems he has grown accustomed to Chong Zhao's "arrogance" as a brother, speaking in a calm tone, no longer impatient, yet the disdain that underlies his words is evident
Within the crystal prism, one can also see faint golden lines of the formation inscribed, emanating a subtle spiritual light
A beam of spiritual light shot out from the jade tablet, illuminating a void above the mouth of the valley
Cannon
Tian Yingdong would respond with a few words when spoken to, and he was too lazy to initiate a conversation when left to his own devices. The "grievances" between the two from their childhood seem somewhat amusing now that they have grown up
The world is vast, its boundaries unknown, and the Great Sui is merely a corner of this world. Su Bao Mountain, Companion Tiger Studio, Jade Sword Villa, Tianshui Stronghold, Chenbing Gate, Bolong Path, and Xianqiao Sect are the seven major sects of the Great Sui. It is said that hundreds of years ago, the ancestors of the seven sects joined forces, enduring countless hardships and dangers, to expel the demonic cultivators from the Great Sui, securing a peaceful world for the common people.
The two individuals became serious, adjusted their clothing, and followed Brother Chong Zhao forward.
This Great Sun Heavenly Cannon can directly harness the divine fire of the blazing sun to strike enemies from tens of thousands of miles away. The entire Great Sui is within the striking range of our Great Sun Heavenly Cannon at Subao Mountain, so often, we do not need to leave the mountain gate to punish those clowns who dare to offend the Subao Sect
The "Divine Fire Camp" of the Sui Dynasty boasts the largest caliber iron cannon, capable of accommodating a person, weighing as much as 36,000 jin! Even at the height of the Sui Dynasty's power, only four such cannons were manufactured, each positioned atop the four city walls of the imperial capital.