Chapter 65: The Sect Leader Personally Teaches the Mountain Collision Technique

Inside the Alchemy Hall, Ding Desheng was aiding Ding Xuanming in healing his injuries. The two spoke with complete honesty—a white-bearded old man, and a thin fellow with a black beard.

“Big Brother, I just can’t figure it out. If Xie Wuji is merely a Fire Ape, why are those Fire-Tailed Chickens always around him? They seem to be quite fond of the aura he gives off,” Ding Xuanming said.

Ding Desheng sneered, “Who knows? Perhaps the fire-attribute spiritual energy on Xie Wuji’s body attracts them. After all, in our sect, fire-attribute spiritual energy is rather scarce.”

“Never mind. If this boy is only a fourth-grade Golden Core, he poses little threat to us,” Ding Xuanming went on. “What do you plan to do about him now, Big Brother?”

“It’s obvious that Dongmen Yong is protecting the boy. Your earlier attempt to ambush Xie Wuji with your spiritual energy was likely noticed. In the days ahead, we’d best keep a low profile. It’s not worth exposing our grand plan for the sake of a fourth-grade Golden Core disciple. If Xie Wuji possessed a third-grade Golden Core, he’d be of some value, but as a fourth-grade, he’s only a single-beast spirit. There’s a world of difference between single and dual-beast spirits.” Ding Desheng rose to his feet. “Are you feeling better?”

“Thank you for the healing, Big Brother. I’m almost fully recovered now. The remaining injuries I can tend to myself—in three days, I’ll be as good as new,” Ding Xuanming replied.

Ding Desheng glanced outside and snorted. To him, the fact that Xie Wuji failed to condense a first-grade Golden Core, instead regressing to a fourth-grade, was a blessing. Had Xie Wuji achieved a first-grade Golden Core, he would have become a latent threat, and Ding Desheng would never have let him live—especially since Xie Wuji was far more likely to join Dongmen Yong’s faction.

But as things stood, with Xie Wuji on the foundation of a fourth-grade Golden Core, he no longer warranted such priority.

Meanwhile, at Dongmen Yong’s residence, Xie Wuji, Dongmen Jianhao, and Dongmen Qianyun were all gathered. Dongmen Yong eyed a bronze sword and said, “This is a magical artifact from the Supreme Immortal Sect. Evidently, an elder or disciple from that sect gravely wounded the Millennial Fire Python, inciting its rampage, and this is a flying sword. The Supreme Immortal Sect is renowned for their mastery of flying swords, yet they’ve appeared here in the Cloud Nation.”

“What sort of place is this Supreme Immortal Sect?” Xie Wuji asked.

Dongmen Jianhao scoffed, “You really are ignorant. The Supreme Immortal Sect ranks among the top three of the world’s ten great sects—far more powerful than ours. But they are not a sect of our country. Their presence in Fire Dragon Mountain means they’ve crossed the border. They did not inform us, nor the imperial court, which violates the ceasefire agreement.”

“As for this bronze sword, keep it confidential for now. I will personally take it to the palace,” Dongmen Yong said.

Dongmen Qianyun spoke up, “Father, it was said during our last trial that if we completed this high-level challenge, each of us would receive a spiritual artifact as a reward. Does that still hold?”

Dongmen Yong laughed. “And what is it you desire?”

“What I want doesn’t matter. Brother Xie has just formed his Immortal Core—shouldn’t he be given a spiritual artifact for protection?” Dongmen Qianyun replied.

Dongmen Jianhao interjected with a hint of jealousy, “Sister, it’s always ‘Brother Xie’ with you! You never treated me half as well, and I’m your own brother!”

“A real brother wouldn’t stand on ceremony!” Dongmen Qianyun retorted.

Dongmen Jianhao looked enchanted. “Dearest sister, even your anger is lovely.”

Dongmen Yong turned to Xie Wuji, “Wuji, what would you like?”

Xie Wuji cupped his fists and replied, “I leave everything to the sect master’s discretion.”

With a casual wave of his hand, Dongmen Yong produced a pair of shoulder guards, each fashioned into a bronze dragon’s head. “These belonged to the former sect master of the Undying Longevity Sect—the Furious Dragon Pauldrons. They come with a special technique, which I shall now teach you. See to it that you learn well.”

Dongmen Qianyun nudged Xie Wuji with her elbow. “You had better thank my father! He’s giving you a top-tier earth-grade shoulder armor and teaching you a signature move—an opportunity others could only dream of!”

Xie Wuji was stunned, immediately grasping Dongmen Yong’s thoughtful intentions. Clearly, Dongmen Yong wished to help him restore his sect’s glory. With both the pauldrons and the technique, it was truly a rare gift.

Dongmen Yong demonstrated the move, placing a massive boulder against the courtyard wall. He donned the pauldrons, drew a deep breath, and glared intensely.

“Mountain-Crushing Charge!”

With a shout, he gathered his spiritual energy at his shoulders and crashed fiercely into the man-tall boulder.

The stone shattered instantly, sending dust flying everywhere.

Xie Wuji leapt to his feet in astonishment. Dongmen Yong dusted off his clothes and said, “This technique was once the famed signature move of the Undying Longevity Sect’s master. Of course, my spiritual energy is not fire-attribute, so I cannot unleash its full destructive power. But you, possessing fire-attribute, can refine it in the moment of impact. At that instant, your shoulders will erupt with a tremendous explosive force—no opponent of equal cultivation could withstand it.”

“My deepest thanks, Sect Master!” Xie Wuji said with profound gratitude.

Dongmen Yong added, “Though this move is devastating, it also consumes a vast amount of stamina and spiritual energy. If an enemy is chanting a spell or preparing to strike, you can use it to disrupt their rhythm and catch them off guard. But in a straightforward duel, if the enemy is prepared, it’s easy enough to dodge.”

“This strike can cripple your foe, but it has a fatal flaw—it is rather slow.”

Xie Wuji cupped his fists again. “I shall remember your teachings.”

Dongmen Yong tossed the pauldrons to Xie Wuji, who caught them. “Near your cabin is a purple cedar spirit tree. Whenever you have time, use that tree as your training post. When your Mountain-Crushing Charge can shatter the purple cedar, you’ll know your mastery is sufficient.”

As for the other spiritual artifacts: Dongmen Qianyun received a heart-protecting mirror, capable of withstanding a full-force blow from a Golden Core master. Fat Dragon and Slim Tiger, both chefs by trade, received more unconventional artifacts. Fat Dragon was given a spirit cauldron that could cook food without fire, while Slim Tiger received a kitchen knife forged from rare frost crystal—each slice keeping ingredients at the lowest temperature without freezing, allowing meats and vegetables to be preserved for a long time.

These artifacts suited them perfectly.

Xie Wuji returned to his small cabin and found the purple cedar spirit tree. As always, the Fire-Tailed Chickens clustered around him.

The grand elder had originally planned to take the Fire-Tailed Chickens away, but they were so swift in flight that he struggled to catch them. In the end, a chicken coop was built there, with the agreement that all Fire-Tailed Chicken eggs must be handed over. The grand elder would assign disciples to manage the coop and provide feed at his own expense.

The two fellows watching the chicken coop were the same ones who had previously suffered the wrath of the Fire-Tailed Chicken King. Now, knowing Xie Wuji was a fourth-grade Golden Core, they treated him with courtesy.

The chickens seemed to love the patch of spirit bamboo forest, so they were mostly free-range.

Xie Wuji strapped on the pauldrons, eyed the massive purple cedar—broad enough for ten people to encircle—and gritted his teeth before charging at it.

“Mountain-Crushing Charge!”

He shouted, but only managed to leave a pale mark on the tree’s surface. Purple cedar was known for its hardness—many weapon handles were made from it, being tougher than ordinary steel.

After just one strike, Xie Wuji felt his spiritual energy was nearly depleted. He sighed, “It truly is exhausting. With my current strength, I could manage three charges at best.”

He sat cross-legged, regulating his breath, and began to cultivate the Undying True Flame—a branch of the Phoenix Divine Art.

In truth, the Phoenix techniques had no strict sequence. One could start with the Undying True Flame or with the Inextinguishable Grasp—it all depended on personal preference.