Chapter 7, Fortification

As Jiang Mu stepped out of Yun Shen Hall, the sky had already darkened, with countless stars twinkling above, occasionally intersecting with the divine patterns that flashed through the protective mountain array, adding a touch of mystery.

Based on this result, his cultivation aptitude has already surpassed that of Second Senior Brother Xu Yi, and is even a cut above Zhang He. Given ten years, he will undoubtedly have the confidence to advance to the Nascent Soul stage

Relying on the protective mountain formation is certainly not feasible, as no one can sustain such a massive consumption of spiritual energy

Retracting his thoughts, Jiang Mu sighed, realizing that in order to accomplish one thing, it is necessary to consider the impact of another matter

Thus, various exotic flowers and plants, as well as rare birds and animals, can thrive

By bypassing the foot of the Qianshan Mountain, one arrives at a place known as the Jade Gathering Pavilion, which serves as the entrance for the Floating Cloud Sect to collect jade stones

To the west of Nanshan and to the north of Yudai River, there is another peak known as Xishan, covering an area of several miles.

It is already excessive for a serious cultivator to kill, rob, and seize spirit stones, while evil cultivators would capture ordinary mortals or solitary cultivators to refine blood spirit pills. Moreover, there are completely out-of-control great demons; the disappearance of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is even more fatal to them, causing the little intelligence they possess to collapse.

Some demon-suppressing towers are built in remote and desolate wilderness areas, while others are constructed directly within the gates of powerful sects.

However, they immediately closed the mountain gate after the outbreak of the spiritual energy tide and no longer emerged into the world

The main peak rises approximately three hundred zhang above the ground, where the most prominent and spacious area features three grand halls

The core of the Floating Cloud Sect is a mountain known as Floating Cloud Mountain

However, these three locations are not visible to the naked eye and are also not commonly accessible. They are connected to the central hub of the mountain protection formation and require the commander's order jade, the elder's key, and a special incantation to be activated

However, without the protective formation of the Hushan Mountain, this Floating Cloud Mountain truly gives one a headache

On one side of the front mountain lies another peak, known as Nanshan. This mountain is also not high, but it is elongated, stretching over thirty miles from east to west, wrapping around the main peak of Fuyun Mountain, the rear mountain, and the front mountain like a jade belt.

Next are the Forbidden Land Sect's Grand Repository, the Dao Inquiry Library, and the Ascension Site of the Dao Ancestor

Above is the Ming Xuan Fire Array, below is the Xuan Du Sealing Mountain Array, and in between lies a grand melting hall. This is the place where the Floating Cloud Sect refines Xuan Iron

This protective mountain formation can maintain a height of 3,000 zhang, extend underground for 10 miles, and cover a radius of 50 miles on the ground

How strange

Fortunately, although the Qin Ge County is in a state of chaos, at least it does not have those demon-suppressing towers.

The Cloud Deep Hall for deliberation

Due to the protective mountain formation, there will be no invasion by demonic beasts, no large-scale, high-intensity thunderstorms, torrential rains, or hailstorms, resulting in a perpetual spring-like climate filled with abundant spiritual energy

Worse still, due to the disappearance of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, some major sects' demon-suppressing towers, which were used to suppress and seal ancient demons, quickly lost their ability to contain them

Continuing towards the mountain peak, in this perilous place, there are four cultivation sites: the Snow Viewing Platform, the Thunder Listening Platform, the Rain Bathing Platform, and the Wind Relying Platform. This location connects to the central array, where the spiritual energy is abundant, resulting in excellent cultivation effects

Then, by transforming the sword's original power, I can, to a certain extent, long-term possess the thunderous means of a cultivator. However, in the end of the Dharma era, one cannot become accustomed to solving every problem with the methods of a cultivator

Without spiritual energy, everything is but a mirage, an illusion, a castle in the air

The Yunshutang, which hosts important guests.

If the five major super sects, given their prestige in the realm of cultivation, were to step forward at the first opportunity to maintain order, even if they could not resolve this catastrophic disaster, at least they could mitigate the intensity of the hatred that mortals feel towards cultivators

These malevolent practitioners are elusive during ordinary festivals, their movements unpredictable. Jiang Mu has never encountered them in his entire life, but that does not mean they do not exist. Moreover, once they appear, it is likely to be a fight to the death.

This is something that even the old monsters in the Void Refinement realm cannot deduce

However, once the spiritual energy is lost, everything becomes futile. The so-called immortal herbs and spiritual medicines can degrade to the level of ordinary herbs and medicines within just a few years

Taking a deep breath, I sense the rich spiritual energy between heaven and earth. Just a single cycle of inhalation and exhalation brings comfort throughout my body, as the abundant spiritual energy swiftly transforms into magical power

It can absorb the spiritual energy within a radius of three hundred li, replenishing the energy within the mountain gate; therefore, the concentration of spiritual energy inside the mountain gate is more than twice that of the outside.

This is the mountain-protecting formation of the Floating Cloud Sect, which has been inherited for three thousand eight hundred years, an old and worn-out thing

The night could not obstruct Jiang Mu's gaze. When he soared to an altitude of 3,000 zhang, a layer of ethereal grand formation cloud patterns emerged, with streams of runes circulating, more dazzling than the starry sky, more captivating.

Thus, in response to the eye of the protective mountain formation, the spiritual energy here is most abundant. Jiang Mu's senior brother Yao Cheng and his second senior brother Xu Yi have their cultivation places nearby

Five secondary peaks have been completed, surrounding the main peak in a formation reminiscent of stars encircling the moon

This is the territory of the Floating Cloud Sect

The most important aspect of Pianfeng is the rear mountain, as it contains a deposit of Xuan iron ore and is connected to the main peak, thus there is no valley separating them

Where there is a rear mountain, there is a front mountain. The front mountain is located more than 10 miles from the main peak, separated by a wide valley. This valley is flat and has a spiritual spring flowing through it, making it the most important medicinal herb field of the Floating Cloud Sect, known as the Spiritual Valley Field.

It can only be said that individuals are different from one another, and cultivators are also different from one another

There are quite a few cultivation sects that share similar thoughts with the five major super sects, after all, no one knows whether the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is permanently lost or intermittently disappears

However, it is worth considering collaborating with the Tianxuan Sect in advance to have them design a protective mountain formation that only meets the minimum level of defense and has the lowest spiritual energy consumption

Compared to the chaos of the world and the suffering of the people, nothing is more important than the inheritance of the sect

For instance, if he were to gather the common people of Qinge County, he might be able to deal with those chaotic loose cultivators, but it would inevitably attract the evil cultivators who refine Blood Spirit Pills

There is one main peak, five secondary peaks, nine valleys, one spiritual spring, one waterfall, and one star lake

Passing through three grand halls, a winding path leads to a secluded area, where four separate courtyards are nestled amidst the bamboo groves, and fifty rooms are arranged in a refined setting. This place serves both as a reception area for guests and as the residence for Jiang Mu and his disciples.

To the north of Xishan, approximately ten li away, lies the last solitary peak, Beishan. This is, in fact, a solitary mountain with the steepest terrain. There used to be a separate residence, a meditation hall, and a cultivation platform on the mountain. It is said that five hundred years ago, a master uncle of the Yuanying realm from the Floating Cloud Sect established a branch here, which nearly flourished. However, in the end, it faded away with the passage of time, leaving only remnants of walls and ruins.

There is no risk to guard against

The next scene is easy to imagine

Jiang Mu smiled wryly, rising with the wind. A jade talisman radiating blue light instantly transformed into a flying boat, carrying him up into the vast sky.

In the southwestern corner of Nanshan lies a Star Lake, with its waters flowing southwest, converging into a river known as the Yudai River, which ultimately merges into Yun Lake, located fifty miles to the southwest. There is a small town by the lake, but it is already beyond the coverage of the protective mountain formation.

Let us first attend to the task at hand before discussing other matters

What if spiritual energy resurges several decades later

But what about the primordial infant?

Do your best

It is meaningless

Jiang Mu pondered quickly, yet he still found it very difficult. This was because, in the years following the outbreak of the spiritual energy tide, mere mortal cities would be of no use. There would still be a large number of crazed cultivators, especially those rogue cultivators and evil cultivators who were not bound by any sect. If they were not stopped, all hope would be lost

The reason why the founding master of the Floating Cloud Sect chose to establish the sect's residence here was not due to the terrain, but rather because of the mysterious iron mine in the back mountain, the jade mine in the front mountain, and a spiritual spring located at the main peak, all enveloped by a protective mountain formation. Over time, this place is destined to become a blessed land for immortals

Jiang Mu could hardly believe it; he had been reborn. He was unsure whether it was due to his mindset or some other reason, but at this moment, the speed and efficiency of absorbing and transforming spiritual energy had actually increased by more than fifty percent compared to his previous life

In addition, there are some experts in the realm of transformation who possess a strong sense of justice and take it upon themselves to care for the well-being of all living beings. Ignoring the consequences of the disappearance of spiritual energy, they relentlessly pursue the fleeing great demons and the evil cultivators refining blood spirit pills, ultimately sacrificing their lives to eliminate all these great demons and evil cultivators.

This is a celestial abode

The Yunqi Hall, where the ceremony of apprenticeship and the worship of the ancestral tablets of esteemed predecessors is held

Jiang Mu no longer thought about it, as it was futile. In his previous life, a surge of spiritual energy had erupted, unleashing countless ancient ghosts and ten-thousand-year-old demons. Amidst the strange and tumultuous waves, even if he were to be reborn, he might not be able to grasp or avoid them in advance

Therefore, we must learn from mortals to build cities, construct fortifications, and train mortal warriors

Some rare and exotic beasts nurtured by the Floating Cloud Sect are raised in this place

Even if Jiang Mu wished to build a city, he found flaws and weaknesses everywhere

The front mountain is not high, yet it covers a vast area, spanning over ten miles in circumference. Ancient trees tower above, with dense vines intertwined, and rare flowers and unusual grasses are often found within.

Recalling the tales of the evil cultivators refining blood spirit pills from a past life, where often an entire city or a prefecture would be emptied of mortals by the evil sects, Jiang Mu felt a chill run down his spine

Jiang Mu recalls that in his previous life, the Five Prefectures of Western Shu had a sect with two experts in the Transformation Stage. This sect was annihilated because a demon-suppressing tower within their mountain gate lost its sealing effect. To ensure that the demons inside would not wreak havoc upon the world, the two Transformation Stage elders and dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators fought fiercely for several days, ultimately leading to their mutual destruction and the extermination of the sect

Next, Jiang Mu stood in the flying boat, overlooking the land, studying the terrain, and considering how to build a city and construct fortifications

Between Xishan and Nanshan lies a wide and flat valley, which serves as the entrance to the Floating Cloud Sect.

Overall, if it were not for the protective array concealing it, Floating Cloud Mountain would have long since become a place for mortals to enjoy spring outings. After all, apart from the Northern Mountain, the remaining peaks, whether the main peak or the subsidiary peaks, have gentle slopes that can easily be traversed on horseback.