Far to the Southern Region of the Longwind Divine Dynasty, in a mountain range a million miles away from Linze City.
It possesses a renowned and Top-Tier Dao Lineage.
[Red Furnace Mountain]!
Flames soared into the sky amidst the mountain peaks.
Towering furnace halls stretched along the mountainside, and spiritual fire drawn from the earth surged here along the Array Runes, turning the nearby rocks red.
The grand ceremony of the Divine Dynasty three months later will require a batch of superior magical artifacts.
In addition to the military equipment previously acquired from the border troops, Red Furnace Mountain has been continuously operating its furnace for over a decade, consuming countless amounts of Immortal Gold and divine wood.
At this moment, above the furnace area.
A middle-aged man in Official Robe flipped through the roster and instructed the steward beside him:
"Pass the message down and speed up the process."
"This batch of ceremonial weapons and ritual implements must be sent to the capital by next month at the latest, and the remaining time will be left for the Ministry of Rites to inspect them."
"If the ceremony is truly delayed, how many heads do you have to chop off?"
The managers quickly agreed.
Several other cultivators from nearby purchasing families also nodded in agreement, showing great interest in the delivery date.
As for the True Person Red Cauldron sitting on the High Platform behind, he had the right to ignore these trivial matters.
He was holding a scroll, flipping through the latest [Divine Dynasty Dao Gazette], his expression solemn.
The front page featured a report on the visit of the Supreme Clarity Palace Son, along with a brief biography of Ye Li.
This inevitably put pressure on the True Person Red Cauldron.
After all, given this person's style of doing things, there's a good chance that our Red Furnace Mountain will be targeted, but fortunately... he's a force of the Divine Dynasty.
No matter how domineering the Supreme Clarity Palace Son is, his authority is ultimately limited to the Three Continents, and he cannot enforce the law across continents like this.
He breathed a slight sigh of relief, then raised his hand and sent a wisp of Immortal Essence into the giant furnace below.
Boom!
The fire, which had been weakening, suddenly became raging again!
True Person Red Cauldron revealed a satisfied smile.
An elder quickly approached him and whispered:
"True Person, the next batch of materials for nurturing spirits is ready."
True Person Red Cauldron nodded and said, "Send him in. I'll take charge now."
"Yes."
The elder turned and left.
Before long, dozens of servants whose cultivation had been locked were escorted to the depths of the furnace hall.
Some of them had already sensed something was wrong and desperately turned their heads to look around, only to be struck down to their knees by a cultivator behind them.
What are you looking at?
"If the start-up is delayed, can you take responsibility?!"
The reprimands hadn't even finished.
Boom!!!
A loud bang suddenly came from the direction of the Mountain Gate!
The restrictions enveloping the mountains trembled violently as a vast stream of Pure Qi pierced through, crushing the array lights that lit up along its path!
Many furnace chambers shook simultaneously!
Who goes there?!
The supervising official suddenly looked up.
True Person Red Cauldron also stood up abruptly. Before he could speak, he saw a figure in Green Robe walking through the air from afar!
Those Golden Eyes swept across the furnace area and then landed on the group of people.
"Ye, Palace Heir Ye?!"
Upon seeing the person's face clearly, True Person Red Cauldron's expression changed drastically.
Isn't this the plague god he just saw in the Dao Gazette?!
The supervising official's heart sank as well!
They had certainly heard of the name of this Supreme Clarity Palace Son.
Path Opening allows one to cross borders and kill True Person, and not just one!
With Red Furnace Mountain's limited resources, how could they possibly have the strength to confront their opponent head-on?!
But why is this person here instead of attending a banquet in the capital?!
The idea had just formed in my mind.
Ye Li had already landed in front of the furnace area. Looking at the cultivators being escorted into the hall, he casually asked:
"I heard that you select cultivators with strong Divine Soul and put them into the furnace to nourish the spirit of the artifact."
Is that true?
"..."
The managers' expressions immediately changed.
True Person Red Cauldron's gaze swept over them, cursing inwardly, but still managing a slight smile on his face:
"Since Palace Heir 've come from afar, what brings you here? Why don't you go sit in the mountains for a while?"
"The fire is too intense here; this is not the place to talk."
"..."
Ye Li looked at him but did not respond.
A suffocating sense of oppression silently permeated the air, and True Person Red Cauldron's smile grew increasingly stiff.
Seeing this, the supervising official quickly took over the conversation:
"Palace Heir Ye, we are responsible for weapon forging matters approved by the Imperial Court."
"The border troops are pressing for this, and the grand ceremony three months from now is also waiting for these ritual artifacts."
"Whatever your concerns, you can submit a document to the Imperial Court first, and then take action after the matter has been investigated."
As he spoke, he took out a transfer order stamped with the imperial seal and said politely:
"The furnace area is currently under construction at a rapid pace, so please excuse us for the time being, Palace Heir."
Ye Li spoke calmly:
That's not what I was asking.
"... Palace Heir."
The supervisor's smile was somewhat forced:
"If these furnaces are shut down, someone will have to take responsibility for the damaged ritual implements and the delayed military schedule."
"If this really delays the deployment of border troops, we won't be able to explain ourselves if the Imperial Court investigates."
"I see."
Unexpectedly, after a moment's hesitation, Ye Li readily nodded and said:
"Then don't bother explaining."
Alas!
Several streams of Pure Qi swept into the furnace hall!
Regardless of their cultivation level, all the cultivators responsible for escorting the prisoners were thrown forward, and the chains binding them snapped with a deafening roar!
"You!"
The supervising official's expression changed drastically.
True Person Red Cauldron frowned as well, but still raised his hand to stop him.
Don't use your hands!
Now that this person has arrived, this group of servants definitely cannot be kept here.
They're nothing more than materials for nurturing spirits.
If this batch is missing, we can just replace it from elsewhere. There's no need to have a direct conflict with Ye Li over this!
But then...
True Person Red Cauldron's expression grew increasingly grim.
Because Ye Li released far more than just these few dozen people!
Behind the furnace hall, one after another, the sealed stone chambers were broken open by the Pure Qi!
Hundreds of cultivators were pulled out and fell outside the furnace area.
Most of them were still unaware of what had happened.
Some people hurriedly tried to get up, while others, upon seeing True Person Red Cauldron, subconsciously lowered their heads.
Ye Li's calm voice followed, sweeping through the area like a whirlwind:
"Within three breaths, all of you must follow the Pure Qi out."
"..."
A middle-aged monk hesitated for a few steps before taking a few more.
Only after they had actually passed through the furnace area without encountering any obstacles did they suddenly quicken their pace and run towards the outside of the mountain!
Seeing this, the others followed suit!
True Person Red Cauldron suppressed his dissatisfaction until the last person left before speaking again:
"Palace Heir, the person has been released."
"Would it be alright if we went to the mountains for a chat now?"
Ye Li glanced at the uneasy-looking stewards beside him and casually said:
"Does anyone have a rebuttal to what I just said?"
There was a possibility that the second princess was deceiving him, even through the case files.
Therefore, it's always good to ask a few more questions about everything.
But that was all; Ye Li felt this was the limit of his patience.
"This is the last time. If you answer irrelevantly again, you will all die."
Upon hearing this statement...
The furnace area immediately fell silent.
True Person Red Cauldron stared at him, and the smile on his face finally disappeared.
Everyone's already left, what more do you want?!
Judging from this, they actually intend to directly replace the Divine Dynasty in judging them!!
"Palace Heir Ye."
He spoke slowly, his tone noticeably somber:
"The Red Furnace Mountain receives tribute from the imperial court, and its actions are subject to the Imperial Court's decision."
"You wanted someone? I gave you one."
"But if you think that you can manipulate us at will because of this, then you are sorely mistaken!!"
In the middle of the conversation.
Beneath the mountains, crimson Array Runes lit up one after another!
The spiritual fires within the numerous furnace halls surged rapidly, converging along the mountain paths and rising into the sky, condensing into a thick curtain of fire!
Upon seeing this, the supervising officials and others quickly retreated!
Ye Li glanced at the closing formation and chuckled:
"You're not planning to keep pretending anymore?"
"I am acting on the Emperor's orders and cannot tolerate such insolence!"
True Person Red Cauldron shouted sternly!
He certainly didn't want to fight Ye Li.
But the other party has made it clear they intend to pursue this to the end. If we don't fight back, are we just going to stand here and wait to die?!
Boom!!!
The billowing spiritual fire gathered high in the sky, transforming into a gigantic crimson furnace shadow, which crashed down upon Ye Li!
Simultaneously True Person Red Cauldron activated the Great Dao.
He drew upon all the fiery energy of the surrounding world, and the protective Immortal Essence energy in front of him solidified, shielding his entire body!
He had no intention of competing with Ye Li.
If the people can be temporarily detained and the supervising official can send the message back to the Imperial Court, there is still room for maneuver in this matter!
But the next moment...
A bolt of Golden Thunderbolt had already crashed into the furnace shadow!
Boom!!!
The colossal furnace, which had not yet completely collapsed, shattered in mid-air!
True Person Red Cauldron's pupils suddenly contracted!
The Immortal Essence within his body was momentarily frozen due to the forced method, and the young man's outstretched five fingers were already upon him!
He slapped him squarely in the chest!
Boom!!!
A terrifying force erupted from that tiny space!
The True Person Red Cauldron's chest trembled violently, blood gushed out, and his body shot backward like a broken string, instantly crashing through several layers of Array Formation!
Finally, he slammed heavily into the giant furnace that he himself had been protecting!
The furnace wall suddenly cracked open!
The nearby cultivators turned their heads in shock, their minds still reeling, when they heard a suppressed scream from within!
It is none other than the True Person Red Cauldron!
The palm strike just now allowed an astonishing amount of Pure Qi to penetrate his body, wreaking havoc on his physical form!
He tried to force it out by channeling his Immortal Essence, but his physical body had already lost most of its connection with his Divine Soul under the influence of that Pure Qi!
"Wait a moment!"
True Person Red Cauldron hadn't expected his defeat to be so swift; blood gushed from his throat as he cried out in alarm:
"Palace Heir Ye, I think... we can still pretend about this!"
Before he could finish speaking...
A surge of Pure Qi exploded from his body!
The struggling body and Divine Soul were strangled together in the furnace!
A strange phenomenon appeared above Red Furnace Mountain: the death of Fortune-Mastery!
[Publicly killed the Red Furnace Mountain True Person Red Cauldron Fortune-Mastery Realm Crimson Furnace Mountain! Malice Points +!!]
"A mere second-level Fortune-Mastery dares to attack me? These cultivators from the Divine Dynasty are True Person unsophisticated..."
Hearing the notification sound in his ear, Ye Li couldn't help but withdraw his hand with a touch of emotion.
If only all the True Person in the Seven Continents were this brave.
Unfortunately, after the previous violent purges, the various local Dao Lineage have become quite restrained, which is truly regrettable.
Also.
The more True Person he fought, the deeper his understanding of this realm became.
How does Immortal Essence drive the Great Dao, and when does the Divine Soul transfer?
With a little attention, you can see quite a bit.
Before the True Person in front of him had even finished casting his spell, he already knew where to strike. Compared to when he first fought against the Fortune-Mastery, it was indeed much less strenuous!