Flame Mountain, located in Xiniu Hezhou, is enveloped in raging flames all year round. It is a forbidden zone for life, as under the scorching flames, no living being can survive.
Yet today, an uninvited guest has come to this forbidden land of life. He is dressed in a green robe, with a treasure vase hanging above his head, casting down rays of light that envelop his body as he slowly ascends towards the peak of the mountain.
The beasts formed from the surrounding flames ignore his presence, as if they do not notice him passing by. If Patriarch of the Nether River were to witness this scene, he would probably be seething with rage. He had tried every means to break through to the depths of Flame Mountain but was blocked every time, yet this person seems to stroll into Flame Mountain with ease.
Protected by the treasure vase, Lu Yu curiously surveyed the surroundings. Since he had acquired the fire brick as the core, Flame Mountain had undergone significant changes from his previous visit. Not only had the temperature of the flames risen sharply, but many fierce beasts made of fire had also appeared. Despite the protection of the treasure vase, Lu Yu could still feel the scorching heat of the flames.
Moving forward, he quickly arrived at the summit, which is not only the highest point of Flame Mountain but also the core of the whole mountain. The large pit created by the falling fire brick still lay there quietly, unchanged by the passage of time.
At this moment, a brick glowing red and patterned with lines that shimmered with a fiery sheen lay quietly at the center of the pit, forming patterns similar to flames.
Lu Yu silently examined his own fire brick, noticing that it had undergone obvious changes in this period. It seemed that his years of refining it had led to an evolution stimulated by Flame Mountain. The fire brick now looked more refined than before, and its exquisite patterns made it appear less like brick and more like a fine piece of craftsmanship.
"I just wonder if the feel has changed," Lu Yu muttered to himself.
After all, the fire brick had been very easy to handle in the past and had earned great prestige in numerous battles. He had become accustomed to its somewhat rough surface. Now, looking as if it was glazed and shining, he was unsure if it still retained the rough texture of the past.
After carefully observing the surroundings and finding no signs of damage, it was clear that Patriarch of the Nether River had not reached this core area. Lu Yu looked at the fire brick with surprise and secretly marveled at how much impact the fire brick had on Flame Mountain.
This was not someone’s deliberate doing but the natural craftsmanship of nature, making the entire Flame Mountain a natural formation, like a furnace, with the fire brick as the source of the fire. As long as it was inside, the mountain would radiate terrifying heat.
Lu Yu couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile, silently mourning for the Patriarch of the Nether River. He had only intended to secretly undermine the Patriarch of the Nether River, never expecting the fire brick to be so effective that it actually prevented him from entering.
Mana surged through his body, and the thunder in his eyes appeared instantly. With a glance downward, he discovered the array hidden deep within Flame Mountain, with a wisp of blue aura quietly floating in the center.
Seeing it, Lu Yu felt as if he saw the convergence of all water in the world, the birth and transformation of water flows. This was the Rules of Water, an absolute treasure for those who cultivated the Way of the Water. Compared to the rule he had snatched from the newborn Patriarch of the Nether River, this Rules of Water was clearly more complete and more powerful.
No wonder Patriarch of the Nether River, with all his schemes, desired this rule. If he obtained this Rules of Water, left behind by Lady Xiang, he could fill the gap in his innate abilities, and even possibly take a leap forward, likely forming the illusory Fruit of Tao, thereby becoming a true Great Spiritual Practitioner of the Three Realms.
If that’s the case, then Lu Yu must not allow the Patriarch of the Nether River to obtain this Rule of Water, or else if the Patriarch notices that Lu Yu has stolen his rule, it would result in an implacable enmity. Although Lu Yu’s strength has greatly increased, directly confronting the true form of the Patriarch of the Nether River would likely still be more than he can handle.
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After all, the Patriarch of the Nether River would definitely not hold back this time and would seek to kill him in a short span of time. Numerous thoughts flickered through Lu Yu’s mind as he looked upon the Rule of Water lying quietly below, desiring it but feeling helpless. The surroundings were filled with restrictions set by the Patriarch of the Nether River, to think of taking the rule undetected was nothing but a fool’s dream.
Lu Yu looked on for a long time but eventually suppressed the greed in his heart, consoling himself silently, after all, having obtained one rule was enough.
"However, I can’t let him have it easy," Lu Yu said, his eyes spinning as he devised a plan.
He might not be able to break the restrictions, but he could add a few of his own. It was like adding several locks to a chest that already had one; he couldn’t unlock it, but neither could anyone else.
With this thought, Lu Yu made up his mind. He carefully projected his Primordial Spirit into the space and placed two more layers of restrictions outside the ones set by the Patriarch of the Nether River. Still feeling uneasy, he laid down another formation, channeling the earth veins of the Flame Mountain. If anyone forcefully tried to open the formation, they would be devoured by the earth veins.
After completing these actions, Lu Yu clapped his hands with ease. With these measures in place, it would be enough to give the Patriarch of the Nether River a hard time. Lu Yu felt a bit of glee in his heart; he truly wished to see the flustered face of the Patriarch.
However, he did not leave Flame Mountain. Instead, he stayed amid the roaring blaze to meditate, quietly waiting for the Monkey and his companions to arrive. When the time came, he would take out the Fire Brick to reduce the ferocity of Flame Mountain’s flames, ensuring the safe passage of Tang Monk and his disciples, as this was a matter that pertained to the transcendence of All Saints.
If he didn’t retrieve it himself, sooner or later, a powerful being would personally take action to reduce the difficulty, ensuring the success of the Journey to the West. Then, the Fire Brick which he painstakingly refined would fall into someone else’s hands.
Lu Yu settled in for a slow cultivation at Flame Mountain, while outside, the Patriarch of the Nether River was in a state of desperate anxiety. He watched as Tang Monk’s group drew ever closer, yet he still had no viable means to enter Flame Mountain.
If he waited until the Journey to the West group passed Flame Mountain, it was possible someone would detect something amiss. The escape of Red Child had already alerted him that his plans might have been leaked.
However, nobody knew where he had hidden the Rule of Water. What he had to do was to take the rule swiftly before others could react, even if it meant sacrificing these pawns. As long as he could secure the rule, it would all be worth it.
Yet now, these Sky-burning Flames were barring his way, especially since the flames had grown more intense of late. The Patriarch of the Nether River was controlling the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan to monitor Flame Mountain, preparing to make one last attempt. If that failed, he would have to risk waiting for the Journey to the West group to arrive and use their help to extinguish the flames before seizing the opportunity to take the rule, but that would greatly increase the risk.
"Damn it, where did things go wrong!" he cursed in frustration and exasperation. Find your next adventure on freewebnovel