Forging a Sword

Early the next morning.

Weng Jiu arrived, driving a treasure carriage to take Su Yi to Heavenly Mang Mountain.

The foundation of the Nine Cauldrons Suppressing World Array had been built deep within Heavenly Mang Mountain and was guarded at all times by the Great Xia Imperial Family's foremost figures.

When Su Yi arrived, the Emperor Xia was already waiting there.

"Fellow Daoist Su, I must trouble you."

The Emperor Xia cupped his hands in greeting.

Su Yi gave a slight nod and looked into the distance.

This was an enormous cavern carved deep into the heart of Heavenly Mang Divine Mountain. Molten lava roiled within, while flames raged fiercely.

Seventy-two Bronze Pillars, each thick enough for several people to encircle with their arms, stood amid the lava. Their surfaces were engraved with strange, intricate talismanic cloud patterns.

At the center stood a black Dao platform nine chi high.

Upon the platform rested a wholly azure Eight Trigrams Furnace.

Su Yi's gaze was immediately drawn to it.

The furnace was only one chi tall. Its surface held eight peculiar doors, each nine inches high, representing the eight directions of Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui.

Its lid was perfectly round, engraved with images of the sun, moon, stars, celestial longitude, and terrestrial latitude. A three-inch-tall bronze statue of a green xi beast lay atop it.

The lava surged violently, spiritual radiance blazing like fire as it washed against the nine-chi Dao platform.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace stood immovable atop the platform. From time to time, streams of divine radiance burst from its eight doors and swept into the seventy-two Bronze Pillars, causing the talismanic cloud patterns on their surfaces to brighten and dim as though breathing.

"So that's how it is. This array uses an Emperor-grade spiritual