Chapter 848: Soul Seizing Flame

Eighth Hundred and Forty-Fourth Chapter

“Do you know the sacrificial site for the Sky Flame Ritual? It’s on Great Flame Mountain. On Great Flame Mountain, there’s a colossal crystal glazed cauldron, personally refined by Grand Master Cang Yuan back then, specifically for the Sky Flame Ritual. That’s why it’s also called the Sky Flame Cauldron.”

“To activate the Sky Flame Cauldron, ninety-nine Sky Sun Realm experts must fully channel their Sky Sun Flame into it... After being amplified by the Sky Flame Cauldron, these Sky Sun Flames become exceptionally pure and vast.”

“Furthermore, within the Sky Flame Cauldron, physical bodies are prohibited; only divine souls can enter. This is because the Sky Sun Flames inside the cauldron are too intense, and a physical body entering could be directly incinerated. Only a divine soul can avoid this.”

“Therefore, to capture and collect Sky Sun Flame within the Sky Flame Cauldron, one can only rely on the power of the divine soul.”

“Although your divine soul is at the Transformed stage, relying solely on your individual power probably won’t be very effective. This requires a collective effort. After all, no matter how strong your Transformed stage divine soul is, it can’t outweigh hundreds of Actualized stage divine souls, can it?”

“So, the key to securing a share of Sky Sun Flame during the Sky Flame Ritual is for your Transformed stage divine soul to be the core. All of us in the Wind Pavilion will activate our divine souls, and you will coordinate and direct us. It’s like... you’re the general, and we’re the soldiers.”

Inside the Wind Pavilion Master’s building, Yi Qiushui was briefing Zhou Yuan on information related to the Sky Flame Ritual.

“I see…” Zhou Yuan nodded, finally understanding the mechanics of the Sky Flame Ritual.

This was somewhat different from what he had expected. The Sky Flame Ritual didn’t rely on the strength of one’s Genesis Qi; instead, it depended on the overall strength of each faction’s divine souls.

“But even when it comes to divine soul power, our Wind Pavilion is at the bottom among the four pavilions. Do you know how much Sky Sun Flame our Wind Pavilion managed to get last year?” Ye Bingling, standing nearby, sighed softly and held up a slender finger.

“Barely one-tenth of the Sky Sun Flame.”

“Last year’s Sky Flame Ritual was hosted by the Profound Crystal Clan. The Mountain Pavilion had a fixed four-tenths of the Sky Sun Flame, while the Fire Pavilion took three-tenths, and the Wood Pavilion took two-tenths...”

“So even if this year’s Sky Flame Ritual rules allow for free competition among all factions, with our Wind Pavilion’s capabilities, we’ll likely end up with only about one-tenth again...”

Upon hearing this, Yi Qiushui gently shook her head and said, “There’s no need to be so pessimistic. The Wind Pavilion’s poor performance in past Sky Flame Rituals was because we weren’t united. After all, there was no Pavilion Master before, only Senior Sister Ye and Chen Beifeng as Deputy Pavilion Masters, and Chen Beifeng leaned towards the Fire Pavilion. So, the Wind Pavilion back then was completely disorganized.”

“This year, with Zhou Yuan as Pavilion Master, the Wind Pavilion is united in spirit. If we compete with all our strength, I believe we can at least secure two-tenths of the Sky Sun Flame.”

“Yes, we believe in the Pavilion Master’s ability!”

“As long as the Pavilion Master leads us, our Wind Pavilion will surely secure two-tenths of the Sky Sun Flame this time!” Xiao Hong and the other commanders nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with fervent respect for Zhou Yuan. Over the past few months, the abilities Zhou Yuan had displayed had conquered all the Wind Pavilion members, making their confidence in him grow stronger and stronger.

Looking at their expectant gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly stated, “Given the significant loss the Fire Pavilion suffered this time, I don’t think they’ll remain inactive during the Sky Flame Ritual.”

He pondered for a moment, then looked at Yi Qiushui and asked, “How many Actualized stage divine souls do we have in the Wind Pavilion?”

“We have two hundred and thirty-two Actualized stage divine souls, though most are in the early Actualized stage.” Yi Qiushui thought for a moment, then added, “And over at the Fire Pavilion, Zhu Lian’s divine soul has also reached the Transformed stage, not inferior to yours. They have about five hundred or more Actualized stage divine souls.”

Zhou Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Most of the Divine Dwelling Realm experts in both the Fire Pavilion and the Wind Pavilion had not practiced orthodox soul-forging techniques. However, as their Genesis Qi realm increased, their divine souls would also be nourished and grow stronger.

Generally, once one’s Genesis Qi cultivation reaches the Divine Dwelling Realm, their divine soul can gradually break through to the Actualized stage.

There aren’t many young prodigies like him who cultivate both Genesis Qi and divine soul and achieve such progress in both. Take Zhu Lian, for instance; although his divine soul is also at the Transformed stage, if it came down to a pure Genesis Qi power fight without considering divine souls, Zhou Yuan could easily swat him to death.

Or take Lu Xiao; although his current Genesis Qi foundation is stronger than Zhou Yuan’s, if it were a divine soul battle, Zhou Yuan was confident he could use Soul Flame to incinerate Lu Xiao’s divine soul into nothingness within a few breaths.

Of course, such comparisons didn’t hold much meaning. Zhu Lian wouldn’t be foolish enough to compete with him in Genesis Qi, nor would Lu Xiao be foolish enough to compete with him in divine soul power. No one would choose to use their weakness against another’s strength.

Beside him, Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong, Shang Xiaoling, and others also grew solemn. The overall strength gap between the two sides was truly immense, creating significant pressure.

The Fire Pavilion’s overall strength far surpassed that of their Wind Pavilion. If the Fire Pavilion truly intended to target the Wind Pavilion, they could indeed cause them considerable trouble.

“However, ‘when the general comes, a barrier is built; when water comes, earth is used to block it.’ We don’t need to be overly afraid. After all, the barefoot aren’t afraid of the shoed. How much worse could it be than previous years?” Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Zhou Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Hearing his unconventional reassurance, everyone couldn’t help but smile, and their expressions gradually relaxed. Indeed, the Wind Pavilion had already been in its worst state in the past; how much worse could it possibly get?

“For the upcoming period, each commander should coordinate their respective members. Every morning, gather in front of the Pavilion Master’s building. Since a major battle is ahead, we must also conduct some divine soul drills to prepare.” Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before issuing his command.

Zhou Yuan had never before commanded multiple divine souls in combat this way. So, to avoid confusion and unpreparedness when the time came, he needed to conduct some practice drills to gain experience.

All the commanders clasped their fists in acknowledgment, then turned and departed.

Watching them leave, Zhou Yuan’s relaxed expression gradually turned solemn. This time, the free competition for the Sky Flame Ritual was an opportunity Senior Sister Xi Jing had secured for him. Therefore, he certainly couldn’t be content with just earning the worst possible guaranteed outcome, as he had told everyone earlier.

In fact, even two-tenths felt too little to him!

The competition for the Chief Pavilion Master position was drawing nearer. This Sky Flame Ritual was his best opportunity; if he seized it well, he would truly possess the strength to contend with Lu Xiao.

However, given the Wind Pavilion’s overall divine soul strength, they truly lagged far behind the Fire Pavilion...

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. With such a disparity in strength, if the other party harbored ill intentions, the Wind Pavilion might not gain much benefit... And if the Wind Pavilion gained little, then he, as Pavilion Master, would also gain nothing but ‘drink the wind.’

This Sky Flame Ritual was crucial for him.

And Lu Xiao could probably guess this point too. In previous confrontations, the Fire Pavilion had suffered hidden losses. If he were Lu Xiao, he would certainly not underestimate him this time but would instead exert all the Fire Pavilion’s strength to suppress his side.

Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes and muttered to himself.

“It seems I must find a way to counter this...”