Chapter 1320: Mountain Within a Mountain

The colossal peak is hollow.

They stood on the mountain peak, where there was only enough space for three people to stand side by side.

From the enormous mountain pass, a continuous stream of crimson smoke rose from below. It was eventually blocked by a restriction and gathered at the mouth of the pass, forming a thick layer of red mist. The view inside the mountain was completely obscured by the red mist.

Upon arriving, the Fiery Jade Centipede became increasingly restless, but Qin Sang had restrained it, rendering it immobile.

Qin Sang looked down, staring at the red mist for a moment, then asked, “What kind of magic treasure do you intend to refine, Fellow Daoist, and what can Fellow Daoist Xiang and I do to help?”

Bing Han calmly replied, “Fellow Daoist Qin will understand once you go down and see for yourself.” As she spoke, she took out a Frost Jade Pendant and handed it to Qin Sang.

Qin Sang took it and immediately felt a surge of coolness enter his body. The Frost Jade Pendant had the character ‘Void’ inscribed on it. When he channeled his True Essence into the character, he immediately felt a connection to the grand formation in the forbidden area, and a significant sense of coolness enveloped him.

“The fire poison below is intense; using the Frost Jade Pendant will save you a lot of trouble,” Bing Han explained, then tapped her foot and vanished into the mist.

Qin Sang flashed after her. He had initially intended to activate the Fire Lotus Seed to form a protective fire armor, but since he had the Frost Jade Pendant, he temporarily put that idea aside and waited to see what would happen.

Their figures plummeted rapidly. Under the effect of the Frost Jade Pendant, the red mist dispersed in all directions.

Qin Sang had heard that for Void Spirit Sect disciples, the best place to refine magic treasures, provided their cultivation was sufficient, was the ‘mountain within a mountain.’ However, he hadn't seen a single person along the way.

They descended to an unknown depth.

Bing Han, who was ahead, suddenly stopped. Qin Sang paused, realizing that there was no red mist around them anymore. Instead, the entire void was filled with extremely pure and intense fiery aura, so dense that all he could see was a deep crimson.

“Is this the mountain within a mountain?” Following Bing Han's gaze, Qin Sang saw the outline of a mountain in the depths.

In essence, it was a naturally formed colossal stone. The stone was pointed at the top and wide at the bottom, shaped like a peak, and it was indeed the size of a mountain, making it a true ‘mountain within a mountain.’ The entirely crimson stone mountain blended perfectly with the surrounding fiery aura. Its surface was uneven but lacked sharp edges, as if it had been smoothed by the underground flame veins.

Qin Sang slowly descended, observing the base of the stone mountain. To his astonishment, the space beneath it was empty; there was no support, and the stone mountain simply floated in mid-air. He closed his eyes slightly, and upon careful sensing, he realized that the stone mountain's suspension wasn't due to a restriction or a spirit formation, but rather a naturally formed, unique landscape. The underground flame veins pierced through the surrounding mountain walls, converging here to form a posture resembling ‘Fiery Dragons holding a pearl.’ This kind of terrain was extremely rare, and the stone mountain was that very dragon pearl. Perhaps the stone mountain was originally just an ordinary boulder. Over countless years, the stone mountain had been tempered by the fiery aura, undergoing a transformation. It was now almost transparent, with a jade-like texture, as if flames were burning within it.

Magnificent and ethereal. This was nature's masterful craftsmanship, and Qin Sang marveled at its beauty. He found it strange that while he could feel the fluctuations of the underground flame veins outside, it was perfectly calm here.

Bing Han flashed towards the mountain within a mountain, saying, “Years ago, a seismic event occurred in the Minor Cold Domain. Our sect's founder accidentally discovered this place, determined it to be the ideal location for our sect, and established our sect here. This mountain's current transformation is partly due to natural forces and partly to the efforts of our sect's founder.”

As they spoke, Qin Sang and Bing Han landed on the mountain. At this moment, the Fiery Jade Centipede's reactions became even more intense; the object that attracted it was also inside the mountain within a mountain! Just then, Qin Sang finally sensed another fluctuation, coming from deep within the mountain within a mountain. This fluctuation was very subtle, pulsing like a heartbeat.

“Could it be that inside here...” Surprise flickered in Qin Sang's eyes.

Bing Han nodded. “Our founder concluded back then that a unique fire spirit would inevitably be nurtured within the mountain. The grand formation in the forbidden area was also set up for this purpose, to accelerate the fire spirit's gestation. For many years, our Void Spirit Sect has been preparing for this, but no one knew when that moment would arrive, or in what form. It wasn't until a century ago that signs finally emerged, from a core fire jade stone deep inside the mountain within a mountain.”

“You intend to refine the fire spirit and this fire jade together into a magic treasure? No wonder you need Fellow Daoist Xiang and my help,” Qin Sang said, having largely understood Bing Han's plan.

“Exactly! The fire spirit and the fire jade are symbiotic. By refining the fire jade into a spirit embryo with other precious spiritual objects and leaving it to continue gestating within the mountain within a mountain, there's a possibility it will develop sentience!” Bing Han nodded. “This fire spirit was born here and is inextricably linked to the mountain within a mountain, allowing it to easily wield the power of the flame veins. It will instinctively resist. The methods prepared by our ancestors over generations have not been very effective against it. After much deliberation, I devised a method that can barely achieve this using a special spirit formation. However, it also requires a spirit fire of extremely high grade, one that the fire spirit instinctively fears, in order to easily suppress it.”

As she spoke, Bing Han turned to Qin Sang. “Throughout the Northern Star Realm, there are a few fellow Daoists proficient in fire manipulation, but the only spirit fire whose grade surpasses that of the mountain within a mountain is the Ancestral Sacred Fire of the Azure Yang Demonic Sect. Fellow Daoist Qin's spirit fire, as demonstrated on Divine Stellar Peak, seems to be even superior to the Ancestral Sacred Fire. Fellow Daoist Xiang Qing just attempted it, but the Ancestral Sacred Fire within him is still too faint to completely subdue the fire spirit. Instead, the fire spirit targeted him, causing fire poison to enter his body, nearly leading to a serious incident. We had to halt our efforts hastily. If the two of you work together, it should be much easier. Refining this spiritual treasure holds immense significance for the entire Void Spirit Sect. Now, Fellow Daoist, you understand why I asked you to make such a demanding oath.”

Qin Sang nodded. The previous fluctuations of the underground flame veins were, it turned out, caused by the fire spirit's resistance. Bing Han and Xiang Qing had tried countless times without success, leaving them no choice but to ask for his assistance.

“What great courage, Fellow Daoist! Once the spiritual treasure is refined, the Void Spirit Sect can prosper indefinitely. However, you just mentioned wanting to refine it into a spirit embryo and leave it here to continue gestating. It will take who knows how many years for it to develop sentience and become a spiritual treasure. You yourself might find it difficult to use it, correct?” In fact, this might not be the only option. Bing Han was proficient in artifact refinement. If she were to integrate the fire jade into her own natal magic treasure, it would be easier to refine a spiritual treasure. Doing so, however, would only benefit her. Moreover, this assumes Bing Han is confident in breaking through to the Mid Nascent Soul stage, or even the Late Nascent Soul stage; otherwise, the Void Spirit Sect's generations of planning would be wasted.

Bing Han gazed quietly at the stone mountain and softly said, “If the spiritual treasure is refined and future generations of the Void Spirit Sect can benefit from it, I can rest in peace, knowing I have fulfilled my duty as Sect Master.”

Qin Sang fell silent, his respect for Bing Han growing. Among the righteous sect masters in the Minor Cold Domain he had encountered—Daoist Chongyi, Bing Han, and even Count Dongyang—all possessed sufficient resolve and foresight to prioritize their sects.

“Let's go see that fire jade first,” Qin Sang said. It seemed the treasure attracting the Fiery Jade Centipede was indeed the fire jade. Bing Han's process of refining the spirit embryo would be of great reference value to him.