Mimic Cultivation Environment - Star Dome Valley

The next morning, at Murong Mansion.

After rising early and freshening up, Murong Huai prepared to depart for the Pope Palace. However, no sooner had he stepped out of the mansion gates than he spotted a man and a woman waiting for him. Upon seeing Murong Huai, the two bowed in salute.

"Your subordinates pay respects to the Holy Son." After the salute, the woman explained to Murong Huai:

"Holy Son, we have been ordered by His Holiness the Pope to assist you in your cultivation. I am Ju Qinglan, possessor of the Healing White Lotus martial soul, a level 74 auxiliary-type spirit sage."

"I am Tu Zhen, possessor of the Mystic Water Heavy Blade martial soul, a level 85 assault-type spirit douluo," the burly man beside her added with a bow.

The two produced their identity tokens to verify their status. Murong Huai nodded, surprised that Qian Daoliu had dispatched a spirit douluo and an auxiliary spirit sage to aid his training; in any other faction, these two would be treated as honored guests.

"No need for such formalities," Murong Huai waved a hand.

"Holy Son, the carriage is prepared. Please." Tu Zhen gestured toward the four-horse carriage nearby.

Seeing this, Murong Huai was puzzled. "A carriage? Are we not going to the Pope Palace?"

Ju Qinglan explained, "In reply to the Holy Son, His Holiness has prepared a specialized cultivation site for you outside of Martial Soul City."

Hearing this, Murong Huai nodded and was about to step into the carriage when Murong Fuhai emerged from the mansion.

"Huai'er."

Murong Huai turned with a smile, "Father, are you heading to the military camp?"

Murong Fuhai nodded, then glanced at the two attendants. Murong Huai explained, "Father, these are the people the Teacher sent to assist with my cultivation."

Seeing him, the two hurriedly bowed to Murong Fuhai. "Ju Qinglan and Tu Zhen pay respects to Marshal Murong!" As they saluted, a clear glimmer of admiration shone in Tu Zhen's eyes.

Murong Fuhai nodded, "Huai'er, then you go ahead. Your father must head to the camp."

With that, a pitch-black carriage arrived at the gate, surrounded by a contingent of the Black Flame Army. Murong Fuhai waved to Murong Huai, boarded the carriage, and departed quickly. Tu Zhen watched the direction of the Black Flame Army with a look of longing.

Seeing this, Murong Huai entered his carriage. Ju Qinglan followed to attend to his needs, while Tu Zhen took the reins to drive.

On the road, Murong Huai asked curiously, "Tu Zhen, I saw your expression earlier when you looked at the Black Flame Army. Do you wish to join them?"

At this, a look of yearning flashed in Tu Zhen's eyes as he drove. He quickly replied, "In reply to the Holy Son, it has been my dream since childhood to become a soldier who protects the country, and the Black Flame Army has always been my goal. Unfortunately, they only recruit new soldiers from the military, and as I am under the command of the Pope Palace, I do not meet the requirements."

Hearing this, Murong Huai nodded without a word, then closed his eyes, leaned back against the soft cushions, and began to circulate his spirit power.

The carriage soon left Martial Soul City. After about half an hour, it arrived at a mountain range roughly ten kilometers outside the city.

Although it was a mountainous region, the terrain appeared to have been leveled and was remarkably flat, making the carriage ride very stable. After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the carriage came to a halt.

"Holy Son, we have arrived."

Hearing Tu Zhen, Murong Huai exited his meditative state, opened his eyes, and stepped out of the carriage.

Seeing the scene before him, Murong Huai was astonished, for he felt an incredibly dense metallic aura here—it was a perfect fit.

The valley looked as if it had been hammered into the earth by a giant force. The rock walls on both sides were a dark gold, covered in cracked patterns as if countless tiny metal wires were writhing beneath the surface.

When the wind blew, the walls emitted a faint hum, like thousands of sharp swords vibrating in their scabbards. A waterfall cascaded from the top of the valley, and at the bottom flowed a winding, dark river. The riverbed was paved with some unknown golden metal; as the water struck it, the splashing droplets froze into tiny ice crystals in mid-air, refracting a cold, blue light.

Various strange plants grew along the riverbank, their leaves as sharp as thin blades, with silver sap flowing through their veins that chilled the skin upon contact.

"Is this a mimicry cultivation environment?"

Tu Zhen explained, "Indeed, Holy Son. This is a top-tier mimicry cultivation environment for metal-elemental attributes, known as Starfall Valley."

"This was originally just a planned metal mine. Ever since you awakened your martial soul, His Holiness the Pope had it specially crafted for you. He dispatched five thousand architects, craftsmen, and others overnight, working without pause. Several grandmasters of mimicry environment construction from Martial Soul Hall served as chief engineers, joined by dozens of master architects and cultivators. With thousands working simultaneously, they transformed this place into a top-tier cultivation environment in just three days and four nights."

"They transplanted thousands of metal-elemental flora and spiritual plants here, including Sword Grass, Dazzling Gold Flower, Wind-Breaking Gold Willow, and more. Countless top-tier metal ores were buried underground, and there is even the skeleton of a nearly 100,000-year-old metal-attribute spirit beast."

"As a result, this place is now saturated with dense metal-elemental energy. For a spirit master with a metal-attribute martial soul, it can double their cultivation speed. His Holiness has also placed this site under your name," Ju Qinglan added.

Hearing this, Murong Huai felt a surge of emotion. Starfall Valley was at least two kilometers in diameter; to build such a massive, top-tier environment in less than five days required unimaginable wealth, manpower, and resources.

An ordinary mimicry environment that increased cultivation speed by thirty percent was already impressive, yet this Starfall Valley could double it for a metal-attribute spirit master.

Murong Huai estimated that this was likely on par with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well that boosted Tang San's cultivation in the original story.

Since his own martial soul was of the ultimate attribute, his cultivation speed was naturally much slower than other spirit masters, but with the support of this environment, that flaw was completely mitigated.

Teacher is a legend!

"This place is truly magnificent." Murong Huai spread his arms, feeling the incredibly dense metal-elemental energy; it felt as if every cell in his body was cheering.

"However, 'Starfall Valley' sounds like stars crashing down—it's an unlucky omen..." He looked at the surrounding environment, the flowers, trees, and the cascading waterfall, and said, "Let's change the name. Call it--Star Dome Valley. Symbolizing the rise of stars and wind, shining brilliantly across the firmament."