Atop a mountain five hundred kilometers from Fire Artifact Mountain, thirteen Golden Immortals stood divided into two groups, gazing toward Fire Artifact Mountain.
"Fellow Daoist White Spirit, if you ask me, our two great forces should act together and simply overwhelm Fire Artifact Mountain's gate. Surely its master wouldn't dare resist?"
Ganlin Mountain's master said unhappily.
The old Daoist White Spirit was also a late-stage Golden Immortal cultivator. He smiled and said:
"Fellow Daoist Ganlin, don't be impatient. The master of Fire Artifact Mountain is at least a late-stage Golden Immortal. If we fight, some losses will be unavoidable.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could take Fire Artifact Mountain without shedding blood?"
"Heh, I'm only afraid they won't appreciate our kindness!"
"Offer courtesy before force. If Fire Artifact Mountain truly refuses to cooperate, then we'll just have to make him suffer a little!"
Just as the two late-stage Golden Immortals, the old Daoist White Spirit and Ganlin, were discussing Fire Artifact Mountain,
Luo Qing's voice suddenly came from above them.
"Oh? I didn't know what sort of suffering you two fellow Daoists intended to inflict on me."
The two men were startled. They looked up and found Luo Qing standing above the Nine Heavens Above, smiling faintly down at them.
Luo Qing was so close to them, yet they had not sensed him at all.
This left the two of them both shocked and delighted.
The master of Fire Artifact Mountain had actually left his mountain gate to seek them out. How foolish—he had abandoned the aid of the mountain's grand formation.
Ganlin Mountain's master had a quick temper. The moment he saw Luo Qing before him, he immediately made his demand.
"Master of Fire Artifact Mountain, since you've found us, I assume you know what we intend.
Give us a clear answer. Are you willing to place Fire Artifact Mountain under the control of Ganlin Mountain and White Spirit Mountain from this day forward?"
The old Daoist White Spirit chimed in.
"Exactly! As long as Fire Artifact Mountain is willing to submit, you may remain its master. You'll only need to offer eighty percent of Fire Artifact Mountain's future resources."
"Eighty percent? Heh!"
Luo Qing sneered inwardly. Were these two dreaming?
Speaking of the area spanning hundreds of thousands of kilometers, there were only three mountain forces: Fire Artifact Mountain, White Spirit Mountain, and Ganlin Mountain.
It was merely that Fire Artifact Mountain had established its mountain gate later than the other two.
Originally, Fire Artifact Mountain only recruited fire-aligned Innate Gods, so it had not affected White Spirit Mountain or Ganlin Mountain much.
But who could blame them when Fire Artifact Mountain was simply too famous for Artifact Refining?
Its speed at accumulating resources was even greater than that of White Spirit Mountain and Ganlin Mountain combined.
That was what had touched the nerves of the two mountain masters and prompted them to discuss dividing up Fire Artifact Mountain.
"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to say more. Let's see whose skills are greater!
As long as you can defeat me, what harm would there be in Fire Artifact Mountain submitting to you?"
Luo Qing did not wish to waste more words. In his eyes, the two mountain masters were already dead men.
"Then we'll have to seek your guidance, Fellow Daoist Fire Artifact!"
The old Daoist White Spirit and the Golden Immortal Ganlin exchanged a glance. With two against one, there was no reason they could lose.
They did not call on the other Golden Immortals for assistance. The two joined forces, rode clouds, and fought Luo Qing high above the clouds.
The dozen or so remaining early-stage Golden Immortal cultivators all looked calm.
They knew the strength of the two mountain masters, White Spirit and Ganlin.
A late-stage Golden Immortal who specialized in Artifact Refining would surely be lacking in combat spells. Since victory was guaranteed, what was there to worry about?
"Heh! Once Fire Artifact Mountain is subdued, I'll definitely have them refine a set of Acquired Spiritual Treasures for me!"
"That's a good idea. Perhaps each of us will have a mid-grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure in the future!"
"With Fire Artifact Mountain as our support, the strength of our two mountains will surely advance greatly!"
As these Golden Immortals chatted among themselves, discussing how they would deal with Fire Artifact Mountain afterward,
Only a dozen breaths later, Luo Qing had already returned from above the Nine Heavens Above.
The Golden Immortals looked at one another in confusion. Why had only the master of Fire Artifact Mountain appeared? Where were the two mountain masters, White Spirit and Ganlin?
"The two fellow Daoists, White Spirit and Ganlin, were too weak. I failed to stop in time, and they have already turned to ash.
I wonder what plans you fellow Daoists have now?"
Luo Qing spoke gently, smiling as he looked at the eleven Golden Immortals remaining.
"Old Daoist Fire Artifact, don't get carried away! The two mountain masters possess profound cultivation. How could you possibly be their match?"
An intermediate-stage Golden Immortal strode forward angrily and questioned him.
"Exactly! This old bastard Fire Artifact must have set a trap and temporarily imprisoned the two mountain masters. Fellow Daoists, let's join forces and kill this wretch!"
Another intermediate-stage Golden Immortal also urged the gathered immortals to act.
The nine Golden Immortals had been chilled to the bone when they heard that Luo Qing had killed the two mountain masters.
The two late-stage Golden Immortals had not even lasted a dozen breaths. Even if all nine of them attacked together, they feared they would still be no match for the master of Fire Artifact Mountain.
But after hearing the encouragement of the two intermediate-stage Golden Immortals, they began to waver.
"Sigh! I had intended to give you all a chance to live. Why rush to your deaths?"
Luo Qing sighed. He had not wished to create more bloodshed, but some people insisted on seeking death.
The instant his voice fell, the eleven Golden Immortals, including the two intermediate-stage Golden Immortals, were immediately immobilized by an overwhelming force. They could not move at all.
Just as the gathered immortals were overcome with terror, two blurry streaks of Spiritual Light flashed and vanished.
Under the eyes of the remaining nine, the two intermediate-stage Golden Immortals who had just urged everyone to attack instantly turned to ash.
This completely crushed the remaining nine Golden Immortals' will to fight.
"Submit or die. Choose one."
Luo Qing looked indifferently at the survivors.
"I'm willing to submit!"
"I'm willing to submit as well!"
"I submit!"
Faced with the choice between backbone and death, the nine Golden Immortals readily bowed their heads to Luo Qing.
Luo Qing looked at the nine of them with some surprise. He had thought that a few more would jump out to resist.
However, Luo Qing soon came to terms with it.
They had previously submitted to White Spirit and Ganlin, which showed that they had no great ambitions.
Moreover, they were neither relatives nor close friends of White Spirit and Ganlin. They had merely banded together for warmth.
Submitting to White Spirit and Ganlin was submission, and submitting to Fire Artifact Mountain did not seem any different.
White Spirit Mountain and Ganlin Mountain had not possessed many Golden Immortals to begin with.
Luo Qing subdued the nine on the spot and had them establish Great Dao oaths, so he had no fear of their betrayal.
Furthermore, with White Spirit and Ganlin dead, and the might of ten Golden Immortals behind him, White Spirit Mountain and Ganlin Mountain completely submitted to Fire Artifact Mountain.
From that day onward, White Spirit Mountain and Ganlin Mountain became subordinate mountain-gate forces of Fire Artifact Mountain.
All the fire-aligned immortals relocated to Fire Artifact Mountain. With the reinforcement from the two mountains, the number of Innate Fire Gods at Fire Artifact Mountain formally surpassed two hundred.
The number of affiliated Golden Immortals reached fifteen.
Unfortunately, the only two late-stage and intermediate-stage Golden Immortals had all been wiped out by Luo Qing.
Inside a hidden cave dwelling in the rear mountains of Fire Artifact Mountain,
Luo Qing watched the Mandala Revert to Innate grand formation with faint delight in his eyes.
Based on the fire-element origin collected by the Five Source Spirit Disk, to perfectly complete the second transformation,
the number of Innate Fire Gods required would likely have to exceed five hundred.
Luo Qing felt rather regretful. If the Southern Domain had not been occupied by the Phoenix Clan, it would presumably have been easier to gather so many Innate Fire Gods there.
He thought to himself: Relying solely on Fire Artifact Mountain's reputation to attract Innate Fire Gods is still too slow. The nearby Fire Gods have already been recruited.
It seems I'll have to find another method.
Not long afterward,
a piece of news spread from Fire Artifact Mountain, White Spirit Mountain, and Ganlin Mountain.
Anyone who found an Innate Fire God disciple for Fire Artifact Mountain could exchange them for one Low-grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure.
Those who offered an intermediate-stage Innate Fire God disciple could receive one Mid-grade Acquired Spiritual Treasure.
Once the news spread, the cultivators within hundreds of thousands of kilometers were stunned, then went completely wild.
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