Chapter 436: A Close Miss (1/2)
Chapter 436: A Close Miss
As Nie Tian and Dong Li marched towards the volcanoes that hadn’t been claimed by the Tool Sect, they would often see the Rainbow Lightning flash past over their heads.
Those who stood on it were mostly people from the Tool Sect. They traveled back and forth between Desolate City and the numerous volcanoes, as if they were on some kind of mission.
Nie Tian envied them inwardly for having access to the Rainbow Lightning, and imagined that one day he would be strong enough to get the air-transportation spiritual tool left by the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace out of the mountain peak in the Realm of a Thousand Devastations.
During the first few days of their journey, every volcano Nie Tian and Dong Li came across had been occupied and was guarded by people from the Tool Sect.
Equipment forging rooms had been established in each and every volcano.
After the first few days, even though the volcanoes they came across were also guarded by people from the Tool Sect, many of the equipment forgers who worked there seemed to be from other sects.
Dong Li explained to him, “Powerful equipment forgers from the other realms come here to forge high grade spiritual tools, sometimes even Spirit Channeling grade spiritual tools.
“For example, Fang Hui from the Realm of Flame Heaven will need to forge a Spirit Channeling grade treasure under the Tool Sect’s supervision in order for him to be acknowledged as a Spirit Channeling grade equipment forger.
“Equipment forgers like him will need to have a volcano to themselves, so that their needs for an endless supply of flame power will be met.
“Before the assessment pageant starts, people from the Tool Sect will show them to different equipment forging rooms in different volcanoes, where they will make preparations and make sure the cultivation rooms they are allotted meet their needs.”
Nie Tian nodded, showing that he understood.
Over the past few days, even though he didn’t unleash his nine Heaven Eyes, he was able to sense the auras on the foreign equipment forgers in the volcanoes he passed, and learned that every single one of them possessed an extraordinary cultivation base.
Therefore, he speculated that all of those foreign equipment forgers had come here to advance to the Spirit Channeling grade.
“No more than twenty percent of them will be able to actually forge a Spirit Channeling grade spiritual tool,” Dong Li said with a sarcastic tone. “Most of them are only here to try their luck and squander their time.”
“It’s that difficult?” Nie Tian seemed surprised.
“Of course!” Dong Li snorted disdainfully. “Do you think Spirit Channeling grade treasures are easy to make? As far as I know, there are only about a dozen certified Spirit Channeling grade equipment forgers throughout the entire Domain of the Falling Stars. The Tool Sect’s assessment pageant is held every ten years. There have been many times where not a single equipment forger could advance to the Spirit Channeling grade.”
As they spoke, Nie Tian found himself standing by the foot of another high volcano.
He looked up and saw a sizable cave halfway up the mountain, and beside the mouth of the cave sat two equipment forgers from the Tool Sect, as if they were waiting for something.
After a quick glance, he withdrew his gaze and moved on under Dong Li’s urging.
Soon after they were gone, Fang Hui and Wu Ji stepped out of the cave.
Fang Hui nodded at one of the Tool Sect members, accepting his arrangement. “Everything seems fine. This is it. I’ll take this volcano and this equipment forging room.”
“Good luck to you then. We’ll come over when the assessment pageant starts.” With these words, the two Tool Sect members turned around and left.
Fang Hui and Wu Ji stood by the mouth of the cave and watched them leave.
“Have you ever heard of Fruits of Life?” Fang Hui asked.
Wu Ji’s eyebrows rose as he nodded. “I sure have.”
Fang Hui took his time and said, “Rumor had it that your disciple Nie Tian consumed a Fruit of Life during the Heaven Gate trial. Thanks to that, his lifespan has been greatly prolonged. It was also by relying on the rich life force within that Fruit of Life that he was able to awaken that Bone Blood Demon in the Blood Sect.”
A chuckle escaped Wu Ji’s mouth as he said, “Nie Tian being able to awaken that Bone Blood Demon probably had nothing to do with him consuming any Fruits of Life.”
Like Hua Mu, he was one of the few people in this world who knew about Nie Tian’s special bloodline.
He was well-aware that the fact that Nie Tian had been able to vest the Bone Blood Demon with life force and awaken it had nothing to do with any Fruit of Life. It was all because of his unique bloodline.
“Oh, okay...” Fang Hui seemed to have faith his judgment. “But Fruits of Life do exist. Also, they seem to have appeared in the Realm of Unbounded Desolation before.”
Gazing off into the distance at the numerous lava-spewing volcanoes, he added, “The weather and landforms of the Realm of Unbounded Desolation are quite unique. As the former habitat of Bonebrutes, it’s dry, desolate, and filled with active volcanoes. Normally speaking, it’s not likely for Fruits of Life to appear in such a place.
“However, many things in this world are more complicated and profound than we can ever imagine, and they can’t be explained with logic.