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Chapter 728: Confounding the Enemy
Chapter 728: Confounding the Enemy
Chapter 728: Confounding the Enemy
"Prior to coming here, I conducted some research into the Infernal Tribe, and I saw an interesting rumor. Apparently, there's a naturally forming karmic fire crater in Asura City, and all Infernal beings are thrown into the crater at birth to be baptized in a process that they refer to as soul cleansing," Baili Yan said.
"They're throwing newborns into karmic fire? How is that possible?" Shi Chuankong asked.
"Baleful qi is essential for all cultivators of the Gray Realm, so their tolerance of karmic fire far exceeds ours. On top of that, they're not actually throwing infants into karmic flames. Instead, they're only making the newborns live near the karmic flames. Only upon reaching twelve years of age are they truly baptized using karmic flames, and only those that survive have the right to become true Infernal beings," Baili Yan explained.
"No wonder there are so few Infernal beings," Fox 3 mused.
"Earlier in the courtyard, I already sensed a very formidable karmic fire aura. I presume the karmic fire crater must be right under that courtyard," Baili Yan remarked.
"If the rumor is true, then the karmic fire crater should be in the Soul Cleansing Area, why is it in the Rashom Area?" Shi Chuankong asked.
"That's nothing to be surprised about. We don't know the shape and size of the karmic fire crater, perhaps it runs through both areas," Mo Guang said with a smile.
"It's also a possibility that the Infernal Tribe carved out an underground passageway to guide the karmic fire into the Rashom Area for tool refinement purposes. In any case, it looks like we'll have to make a trip underground," Han Li said.
"Are you suggesting that we sneak into the Soul Cleansing Area through the karmic fire crater?" Baili Yan asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"That's right. There's a very good chance that we'll be caught by Great Encompassment cultivators if we try and go there through conventional means, so we may as well try our luck underground," Han Li replied with a nod.
"But how are we supposed to traverse through the karmic fire? It's not like we're Infernal beings," Shi Chuankong said in a concerned manner.
He was already quite worried about baleful qi infiltrating his body, so he was naturally even more fearful of these karmic flames.
"I'm sure Fellow Daoist Baili knows more about karma flames than all of us. Do you have a solution to that problem?" Han Li asked as he turned to Baili Yan.
"As I'm sure all of you are aware, baleful qi and karmic fire are essentially one and the same, except they're manifested in different forms. Even among karmic flames, there are differences between naturally occurring ones and ones derived from a cultivator's body.
“These underground karmic flames can scorch both the body and the soul. The body can be protected using treasures, but not much can be done to protect the soul," Baili Yan explained.
"So what you're saying is that there's nothing we can do but endure the karmic fire," Fox 3 sighed.
"Not necessarily. If any of us has a graded immortal treasure that can protect the soul, we can all use it together, and that could perhaps ensure that our souls remain unaffected," Baili Yan said.
"I have a treasure of that description," Han Li said, then pointed a finger at his own glabella, and a white rune emerged, accompanied by a burst of formidable spiritual sense.
This was none other than the Imperial Peak Spirit Restriction Talisman in his consciousness, and everyone's expression changed slightly upon sensing Han Li's spiritual sense.
"Your spiritual sense is immense, Fellow Daoist Li! Could it be that you've already cultivated the Spirit Refinement Technique up to the fifth level?" Baili Yan asked with a stunned expression.
"That's right," Han Li replied with a nod. "What do you think, Fellow Daoist Baili? Will this Imperial Peak Spirit Restriction Talisman suffice?"
Everyone was so stunned by Han Li's spiritual sense that they forgot to examine the talisman, and only now did they begin to assess the talisman.
"This is a treasure of a very high caliber to begin with, and with your immense spiritual sense and everyone's help, it should suffice for our needs. The only problem is that we don't know what it's like underground," Baili Yan said with a concerned expression.
"How about we disguise ourselves as Infernal beings and sneak underground?" Fox 3 suggested.
"That's too risky. The aura of Infernal beings is quite unique and difficult to replicate. If we're exposed on the spot, we'll be in a world of trouble," Shi Chuankong said with slightly furrowed brows.
"How about if I use this?" Fox 3 asked with a smile, and he summoned several slender fox tails as he spoke.
The fur on the fox tails were all standing up on end and giving off a translucent gleam, but they were also giving off a strong foxy stench that made everyone involuntarily recoil slightly.
"Are these Heavenly Jade Fox Tails?" Shi Chuankong exclaimed.
"You have a good eye, Brother Shi. Indeed, these are Heavenly Jade Fox Tails, and they were shed by a High Zenith Stage senior of mine. Let me make this clear in advance: I'm only borrowing these tails to everyone, and you have to return them to me after the event, Fox 3 said.
"Heavenly Jade Fox Tails are not just illusory treasures, but also have a confounding effect. With these tails at our disposal, we could definitely attempt to pose as Infernal beings, Baili Yan said with a smile.
"In that case, let's get moving," Han Li said.
Thus, Fox 3 handed out the Heavenly Jade Fox Tails to everyone, then disclosed the usage method, and everyone employed the method to complete their transformations, following which the foxy stench instantly faded.
Mo Guang and Baili Yan were both at the High Zenith Stage, so they had transformed into true Infernal beings, while Han Li's trio transformed into three Infernal Servants that trailed along behind them in a subservient fashion.
With their disguises adopted, they rose up into the sky and flew toward the ring-shaped building.
Inside the courtyard, several Dwarf beings were examining the aftermath of the explosion, and their leader was nodding with a pleased expression.
Han Li's group descended out of the sky before drawing to a halt in front of them while hovering a foot above the ground, and the Dwarf beings were forced to look up at them as they extended a respectful salute, in response to which Baili Yan and Mo Guang merely nodded in silence.
The Dwarf beings immediately began to sweat profusely, and none of them dared to say anything.
Right as Baili Yan was about to break the silence, the leader of the Dwarf beings said, "Please forgive our incompetence. Those two scoundrels from the True Immortal Realm have refused to cooperate with us, and as a result, we were only able to conclude our experiments on the Karmic Fire Baleful Lightning today, so we haven't had a chance to go into mass production yet.
“However, rest assured, we'll be able to produce a batch in three more days at most, and they'll definitely hold sufficient power to match your requirements."
"Take me down there," Baili Yan instructed in a cold voice.
The leader of the Dwarf beings hurriedly led the way, while the other Dwarf beings trailed along behind Han Li's group.
The ground began to rumble as a passageway that led downward slowly emerged, and an intense karmic fire aura instantly erupted upward.
After traveling down the passageway for several thousand feet, everyone arrived in a massive underground hall.
Upon entering the underground hall, everyone was struck by bursts of scorching heat alongside dense baleful qi, and with the exceptions of Mo Guang and Baili Yan, everyone else was feeling quite uncomfortable.
The fact that there was so much discomfort even before entering the karmic fire had Han Li wondering if he had really made the right decision.
Even after taking some to acclimate to these new conditions, the discomfort still remained, but it had abated somewhat.
The hall was lined with several dozen armorclad Infernal Servants that were hovering above the ground, and their expressions remained unchanged at the sight of Mo Guang and Baili Yan, but they did extend respectful bows.
"Lead the way," Mo Guang instructed without even sparing a glance at the Infernal Servants.
The Dwarf being immediately led them deeper into the hall, and the deeper they went, the louder the sound of pounding metal became.
After passing through a short passageway, a series of giant underground halls began to appear on either side. These halls were bustling with flames and activity, and there were many Dwarf beings in all of them, vigorously refining all types of treasures and weapons.
Han Li snuck a few glances into the underground halls along the way, and he discovered that each of them had a giant furnace that was filled with scorching karmic flames.
The group made its way to the entrance of a certain hall, following which the Dwarf being stopped in his tracks and said, "This is where the Karmic Fire Baleful Lightning is being refined."
Mo Guang and Baili Yan stepped into the hall first, followed by Han Li's trio.
This hall was significantly larger than the ones before it, and it was split up into many sections, with close to a hundred Dwarf beings busy at work inside.
They seemed to be completely oblivious to the arrival of Han Li's group, and they continued to toil away, while a True Immortal Stage Infernal Servant approached the group before extending a respectful bow toward Mo Guang and Baili Yan.
Balls of black flames were dancing incessantly within a giant furnace at the center of the hall, and beside the furnace was a group of Dwarf beings that were clad in full suits of protective equipment, including even visors that covered their faces, and they were carefully fishing out balls of black karmic fire out of the furnace using containers with extremely long handles.
Right at this moment, one of the Dwarf beings accidentally bumped their container against the edge of the furnace, and the karmic fire inside instantly spilled out before flowing toward Han Li's group.
The Dwarf being was horrified to see this, and he hurriedly bent down to recover the karmic fire, but he was struck by a whiplash to the face from the Infernal Servant.
A loud crack rang out as the visor on his face was instantly shattered, and a charred gash appeared on his face.
Smoke was rising up from the gash, but he didn't even dare to groan in pain as he continued to chase after the spilled karmic fire.