Return Wind, Turn Fire Linked Sky Wall, Crimson Origin Treasure Register Refines Gold Essence

Azure waters rippled softly, while mist and haze hung low from the heavens.

Li Nanxing rode a crimson-bronze divine horse, galloping over the waves. A cauldron floated at his side, with a Golden Dragon suppressed within.

Just as Heng Hua had anticipated, it took Li Nanxing a full day to break free of the Coiled Dragon Token.

He only set out at noon to seek out Fu Henghua's group. Yet Fu Henghua had cleansed the Origin Copper Qi from the ship, forcing him to spend further effort. It was nearly dusk when he finally reached Earthflame Island.

By then, Heng Hua and the others had not only arranged the Southern Li Dark Sparrow Formation according to plan, but also set up three additional layers of formations against unforeseen developments.

Heng Hua stood atop a three-tiered earthen rampart, gazing at Li Nanxing as he gradually approached across the water.

"Turning Origin Copper into a horse—Senior Li has a deep understanding of the metal element. Prepare—"

With a sweep of his feather fan, the outermost formation of Earthflame Island activated.

Formation flags hidden beneath the surrounding reefs stirred up whirlpools, and thirty-six waterspouts encircled Earthflame Island completely.

Li Nanxing reined in his horse. The Origin Copper horse turned into a streak of primordial qi and returned to the Bronze Cauldron.

Looking at the formations around the island, Li Nanxing called aloud, "Little brothers of the Fu Family, aren't your Yanlong rules to fight spells on the island? Keeping me outside—isn't that breaking the rules?"

Fu Henghua used Wind Resonance, his crisp, ringing voice echoing through the wind and water that stretched to the horizon. "Senior's supernatural abilities are unmatched. This junior would not dare let you set foot on the island."

Li Nanxing swept the area with his Divine Sense and found no Colorful-Luan Spirit Ship. He secretly pondered, Did they move the ship onto the island? Are they planning to hold their ground and play a war of attrition with me?

Li Nanxing smiled disdainfully. The Bronze Cauldron gathered essence qi and slowly extended a gigantic hand a hundred zhang long.

"It is only an island. If you hide and refuse to come out, then I'll move the entire island beneath my feet! Rise—"

The massive hand flew into the air, and Origin Copper Qi crushed all thirty-six waterspouts. Its shadow blotted out the sky and sun as it seized the entire island.

"My formation flags!"

Fu Heyi hid on the far side of the island. Sensing the underwater formation flags shatter, his heart ached terribly.

When he had left home, he had only brought enough formation flags for fifty-six formations. Now one set had already been destroyed. This was all money!

The earth shook and mountains swayed as the volcano erupted.

As the giant Origin Copper hand exerted strength, countless flaming rocks shot from the volcanic crater in every direction.

Xu Wenyu and the others stood behind the island, watching the apocalyptic sight with terror written across their faces.

"Don't panic. This is Earthflame Island. He cannot move it."

Heng Hua calmly waved his feather fan and smiled at the giant Origin Copper hand in the air.

"Senior wishes to uproot Earthflame Island? Hahaha... This junior might as well make a bet with you. If you can pull Earthflame Island up, this junior will chop off his own head and give it to Senior as a ball to kick."

The giant Origin Copper hand continued to strain, yet Earthflame Island remained firmly rooted on the water without rising even a fraction.

Li Nanxing was astonished. My magic power is no weaker than a Golden Core Cultivator's. How can I fail to uproot even a single island?

His Divine Sense probed beneath the water. When he saw the grand, majestic volcanic range below Earthflame Island, he immediately fell silent.

"This island is actually a submerged volcanic region?"

At that moment, Heng Hua spoke again. "Senior, why do you think I took refuge on this island?

"Earthflame Island was left behind by the Cloudflame Mountains of Divine Land. The island possesses the mountain-guarding formation of the Cloudflame Immortal Palace. Senior, you cannot break in. Retreat at once.

"Otherwise, in a few more hours, the Golden Core elders of our Fu Family will come to meet us. By then, even if you wish to leave, you will not be able to."

Li Nanxing said nothing. After observing Earthflame Island's terrain, he had indeed detected traces of formations.

"Cloudflame Immortal Palace... was that some sect from the Divine Land Era?"

Li Nanxing revealed a doubtful expression and became even more vigilant.

Among the Thirteen Waters, Rooted Isles could be counted on one's fingers. All of them were famous mountains and lofty peaks from the Divine Land Era. Such places were often immortal cultivators' sanctuaries, so it was only natural for them to retain ancient residences and formations.

Hearing Heng Hua speak, Fu Xuanxing asked Zhou Xiao in a low voice, "Martial Uncle, weren't we supposed to lure him over? Why not just let him enter the island?"

Zhou Xiao whispered, "If we let him onto the island too easily, he will instead suspect there is a trap here. Refuse him first, then lure him in, and we can dispel part of his wariness."

Heng Hua swept his feather fan again.

A streak of flowing fire flew into the sky.

Fu Xiangfeng saw the signal and activated the second layer of the formation.

Gales rose around the island, mingling with Samadhi True Fire to form an airtight windfire barrier.

"My Return Wind, Turn Fire Flags." When Fu Heyi saw this formation activate, his heart bled.

The Return Wind, Turn Fire Formation originated from "Return Wind, Turn Fire," one of the thirty-six Heavenly Dipper Grand Supernatural Arts of the Mystical Sect. Once the formation was laid, it formed a wall of circulating wind and fire, automatically turning back any attack that approached.

This was the highest-ranked set of formations in Fu Heyi's possession, with a total of one hundred and eight formation flags.

Looking at the two sets of formation flags within it, Fu Heyi silently closed his eyes. Money... half my life's savings have been spent on this Earthflame Island.

Li Nanxing's expression changed at once when he saw the Return Wind, Turn Fire Formation.

Naturally, he understood the marvels of this great Mystical Sect formation.

Before the linked wall had fully begun to operate, he swiftly raised the Bronze Cauldron. Innate Origin Copper Qi condensed into a flying sword and shot forth.

The moment it neared the windfire linked wall, the flying sword was immediately swept back by divine wind.

"Is it already too late? Go—"

Another Origin Copper Sword Qi shot out, knocking aside the returning Origin Copper flying sword. He then used the Bronze Cauldron to retrieve both swords and reclaim the Origin Copper Qi.

"Senior, this formation was left behind by immortals of Divine Land. You cannot enter, so retreat at once."

Li Nanxing ignored Heng Hua's intimidation and stared at the formation as he silently considered:

"No wonder these people were confident enough to wait here. The windfire linked wall returns every attack and restrains all wind and fire arts. It may truly let them hold out for several hours until Fu Family reinforcements arrive."

He repeatedly urged the Bronze Cauldron. Origin Copper Qi transformed into divine horses, divine lions, divine tigers, and countless other attacks. Yet upon nearing the windfire linked wall, every one of them was sent back.

At last, the Bronze Cauldron boomed with peals of thunder as Li Nanxing completely activated the "Primordial Copper Elixir."

"Today is the perfect chance to kill Zhou Xiao and resolve the knot in my heart. If the Fu Family saves him, where will I find another chance like this in the future?"

Countless streams of Origin Copper Qi gathered in the air, forming a colossal sword a hundred zhang tall that stood between heaven and earth.

"Return Wind, Turn Fire is one of my Mystical Sect's grand supernatural arts, but how much of that supernatural profundity can your formation possess? A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators set up a formation and truly think they can turn heaven back? Break for me—"

The giant sword slowly descended. Wind and thunder erupted, and heaven and earth changed color.

Fu Heyi's face turned ashen.

If we block this strike, how many formation flags will I have to shatter?

Fu Xuanxing's mouth fell open. "This fellow's magic power is far too immense, isn't it?"

Zhou Xiao sighed. Li Nanxing was truly risking his life.

"Third Brother."

"Understood."

Fu Xiangfeng operated the Return Wind, Turn Fire Formation with all his strength. Fu Heyi, Fu Xuanxing, Xiaoyu, and Hengshou each guarded one side, activating every formation flag.

One hundred and eight formation flags revolved around Earthflame Island. The windfire linked wall rose to the vault of clouds and became a heaven-supporting pillar, steadily holding up the giant Origin Copper sword.

Bang—

One formation flag exploded, then fell to the ground.

Fu Heyi restrained the urge to look in that direction.

Formation flags shattered one after another, yet the hurricane carried the giant sword, gradually changing its direction.

"It can even block this?"

Though it struggled, the windfire linked wall was indeed pushing the giant Origin Copper sword back little by little.

"Senior, this is an immortal formation from the Divine Land Era. Every attack launched from outside can be forcibly repelled."

"From outside? Then I'll strike from within."

Li Nanxing raised another giant sword a hundred zhang long. He sent it soaring upward, attempting to attack from the center of the linked wall.

Yet however high the giant sword flew, the linked wall rose just as high, firmly keeping it outside.

"Return Wind, Turn Fire truly deserves to be called a Mystical Sect grand supernatural art. It will not be so easy to take a shortcut and smash down from the center."

Helpless, Li Nanxing could only use the clumsy method, slashing the second sword at the same spot as the first.

Rumble—

The two swords struck together, forcibly tearing a crack three zhang long in the windfire linked wall.

Wind and fire joined forces, pushing the two swords back again as the crack slowly closed.

"Now!"

Li Nanxing did not hesitate. He swiftly rushed into the windfire linked wall.

"Boy, I'll give you one last chance. Take your Fu Family people and get lost at once. Otherwise—"

"Thunder, rise."

The moment Li Nanxing entered, the third layer of the formation activated.

Golden Firmament Mystic Thunder Formation.

Xu Wenyu and the others silently poured their magic power into the formation gates while Fu Heyi drove the great formation.

Strands of golden lightning flew out like dragons and serpents.

Li Nanxing swept his sleeve and scattered the lightning serpents, his gaze fixed upon Zhou Xiao.

Sure enough, when the lightning appeared, Zhou Xiao formed hand seals with both hands. Xiaoyu stood behind him, ready to use golden needles to pierce acupoints.

"Two Modes Primordial—"

Before Zhou Xiao could act, Li Nanxing decisively took out a talisman forged from red copper and sent it into the sky.

Duality Stabilizing Talisman.

A secret talisman specifically aimed at stabilizing primordial magnetism and guarding against Zhou Xiao's methods.

Silver light spilled over Earthflame Island, and the magnetic field disturbances caused by the lightning immediately calmed.

"Zhou Xiao, you want to use Two Modes Primordial Magnetism to restrain me again? It is useless. This time, I—"

Amid the lightning, threads of fire qi had appeared at some unknown moment.

Heng Hua waved the Mysterious Fire Vermilion-Plume Fan. The Southern Li Dark Sparrow Formation, which he personally presided over, finally began.

The volcano erupted. Bound by invisible force, the magma flowed through trenches carved into the ground.

Bird cries rose one after another as scarlet birds darted through the magma.

Li Nanxing looked down at the earth. Seeing the formation shaped by the flowing magma, his expression became incomparably grave.

Terrifying, violent heat waves rolled through the island.

One flame, two flames...

Densely packed fire seeds emerged from crevices and among the rocks.

At that moment, all of Earthflame Island became a Fire Sea.

"Separation Flame?"

Li Nanxing's expression turned solemn. "You intend to burn me with Separation Flame?"

Among the Five Elements, fire could overcome metal—and it was equally effective against him.

"So your killing move was not Zhou Xiao, but this boy."

Origin Copper Qi surged, and flying swords rushed toward Heng Hua one after another.

"Snow Blowing."

"Two Forms Sword."

Clang, clang, clang—Sword Qi crisscrossed as Fu Xiangfeng and Fu Xuanxing struck at the same time, blocking the flying swords.

"Crimson Origin Golden Register."

Heng Hua slapped out the Golden Register he had prepared earlier.

The Golden Register resonated with the Separation Flame in the sky and the Bronze Cauldron. Some force from the unseen depths continually seeped in.

Yet a single Golden Register was nowhere near enough.

Heng Hua then threw out the twelve Golden Registers he had written that morning and lightly waved his feather fan.

"Talisman Fusion Technique."

A great wind swept over the ground, revealing twelve deep pits surrounding the earthen rampart. At the bottom of each pit, the pattern of a "Crimson Origin Golden Register" had been carved in yin lines.

When the twelve Golden Registers fell into the pits, they immediately activated the enormous Golden Register pattern.

Twelve beams of golden light erupted from the pits, pinning down the Bronze Cauldron.

As the radiance intertwined, a Secret Mantra Golden Register three zhang long and nine chi wide slowly rose into the air.

It worked!

At that moment, all of Earthflame Island became a formation disk, transforming every piece of "pure gold" on the island into Crimson Origin Gold Essence.

Heng Hua let out a long breath and threw back his head with a laugh. "Senior, I have exhausted every scheme to deal with you. Take this talisman, then!"

Not only the great Origin Copper cauldron in Li Nanxing's hand, but also the gold and copper objects on everyone else present began to melt in the flames, automatically becoming targets of the Secret Mantra Golden Register.

Fu Xiangfeng looked at the Spirit Song Sword showing signs of melting, sighed, and voluntarily threw the sword out.

Several earlier chapters had specifically explained the Metallurgy Daoist and the Secret Mantra Golden Register. I was afraid readers would find me long-winded and the plot too slow, but these things could not be cut.

The Secret Mantra Golden Register and Talisman Fusion Technique mentioned earlier were both meant to show Heng Hua's preparations against Li Nanxing.