Chapter 856: Red Copper Umbrella, Fire Gathering Platform

On the crimson mountain peak, Zhou Yuan’s spirit sat cross-legged. His spirit power emanated outwards, directly intercepting the golden fire lotuses descending from the sky. He then used his spirit power to entwine and orbit them around his body.

By this time, there were already twenty golden fire lotuses circling Zhou Yuan.

However, this method of using his spirit to entwine and pull was too cumbersome. Zhou Yuan estimated he could only manage to pull around a hundred lotuses at his limit. Any more, and he would become flustered and unable to attend to other matters.

Fortunately, about an incense stick's worth of time later, Yi Qiushui's spirit swiftly arrived.

“The Red Copper Umbrella is ready!” Yi Qiushui exclaimed, raising her jade-like hand. A streak of crimson light immediately flew towards Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan's spirit rippled, and the crimson light floated before him. Looking closely, within the red light was a crimson umbrella. Its surface was smooth as a mirror, and though made of wood, it resembled red copper.

“So this is the Red Copper Umbrella?”

Zhou Yuan felt a touch of curiosity. With a thought, his spirit entwined with the Red Copper Umbrella and opened it. A faint crimson light immediately spread downwards, enveloping his spirit. The oppressive heat in the surroundings quickly diminished, as if shielded by that layer of crimson light.

Zhou Yuan grasped the umbrella and turned its surface towards the twenty-odd golden fire lotuses floating nearby. The lotuses instantly surged into the Red Copper Umbrella as if drawn by some force, transforming into tiny flames that slowly revolved along the umbrella's edge, dazzling and beautiful to behold.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but show his delight. Previously, he had continuously used his spirit power to pull these golden fire lotuses, and although the spirit consumption wasn't significant, it still made him somewhat restricted. Now, with the Red Copper Umbrella, he could effortlessly collect the fire lotuses.

According to his estimate, the Red Copper Umbrella could probably collect over a hundred golden fire lotuses at once.

No wonder the Red Copper Umbrella was said to be indispensable for the Heavenly Flame Ritual; it indeed made things much more convenient.

“How long until everyone is equipped?” Zhou Yuan asked.

Only with the Red Copper Umbrella could they move freely within the Heavenly Flame Cauldron. After all, the Sun Flame in any single location was limited, so they would have to constantly move to gather more.

Yi Qiushui replied, “Over three hundred have been made so far. It will take about half a day to equip everyone. Additionally, the Fire Gathering Platform is also being constructed.”

Zhou Yuan followed her gaze and saw a massive crimson platform gradually taking shape in the valley below. The platform was also made of Red Copper Wood and Red Stone, appearing like a colossal crimson sphere from a distance.

It was the Fire Gathering Platform.

Zhou Yuan nodded and said, “Continue. Have those equipped with the Red Copper Umbrellas disperse and start gathering Sun Flame.”

“What about the Fire Pavilion?” Yi Qiushui asked.

Zhou Yuan replied, “Let's wait and see. They are stronger. We can only wait for them to make a move first before we can find their weaknesses and strike to defeat them.”

The Fire Pavilion's overall strength far surpassed that of their Wind Pavilion. If they initiated an attack, they would have no advantage.

Yi Qiushui subtly nodded, said no more, turned, and swept downwards, continuing to urge everyone to accelerate the production of the Red Copper Umbrellas and the Fire Gathering Platform.

Zhou Yuan, meanwhile, looked up and gazed into the distance, his eyes slightly narrowed. The current situation appeared calm, but beneath that tranquility, a storm was brewing.

Over the next half-day, no battles erupted within the Heavenly Flame Cauldron. On the Wind Pavilion's side, more and more Red Copper Umbrellas were produced, and everyone was equipped.

“Pavilion Master, the Fire Gathering Platform is ready!”

Upon hearing this joyful announcement, a hint of delight flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes. With a flicker of his figure, he appeared in the valley. He looked ahead and saw a massive crimson sphere, roughly dozens of yards in size.

“Pour the Sun Flame into it,” Zhou Yuan instructed with a wave of his hand.

As he gave the order, many figures immediately appeared around the crimson sphere. The surfaces of their Red Copper Umbrellas slowly closed forward, forming pointed bud-like shapes. Golden flames flickered on them, flowing down the umbrella surfaces and into the Fire Gathering Platform.

The flames roared within!

As more and more Sun Flame poured in, golden flames ignited within the Fire Gathering Platform, heating the surrounding red copper until it glowed crimson. However, due to the insulating properties of the red copper, the intense heat was contained.

Zhou Yuan also stepped forward and poured the dozens of Sun Flames he had collected in his Red Copper Umbrella into the Fire Gathering Platform.

Observing the increasingly intense flames within the Fire Gathering Platform, not only Zhou Yuan but also thousands of other Wind Pavilion members showed joy. The more vigorously the flames burned, the more Sun Flame they would be able to distribute later.

“Hmm?”

Just then, Zhou Yuan suddenly looked up at the distant sky and waved his hand, “Alert!”

Thousands of spirits immediately became vigilant upon hearing his command, forming battle formations.

In the distant void, about a thousand spirits were swiftly approaching; it was the Fire Pavilion's contingent.

At the forefront was a somewhat familiar figure: Wang Chen, the Vice Pavilion Master of the Fire Pavilion.

Zhou Yuan's spirit gradually ascended. He looked coldly at Wang Chen and said, “Could it be that the Fire Pavilion thinks this small force is enough to take on everyone in my Wind Pavilion?”

Wang Chen stared at Zhou Yuan with disdain and said, “Pavilion Master Zhou Yuan is overthinking things. I am merely here on our Pavilion Master's orders. Our Pavilion Master is willing to give you another chance. If your Wind Pavilion can hand over one hundred thousand fire lotuses during this Heavenly Flame Ritual, our Fire Pavilion will spare you some dignity.”

Hearing Wang Chen's arrogant words, the Wind Pavilion members all showed anger. Handing over one hundred thousand fire lotuses was an outrageous demand; was the Fire Pavilion expecting them to work for free?

Zhou Yuan stared at Wang Chen, yet he didn't get angry; instead, he smiled. “Vice Pavilion Master Wang Chen, why don't you bring your people closer, and we can discuss this matter?”

Hearing this, Wang Chen sneered, “Pavilion Master Zhou Yuan, don't be ungrateful. This is your final warning. Otherwise, next time, there won't be just a small force.”

Of course, he wouldn't truly approach. With his thousand men, how could they possibly be a match for the Wind Pavilion? Their current distance was the safest, allowing them to advance or retreat.

Zhou Yuan shook his head, his eyes showing disdain.

Seeing this, Wang Chen's expression darkened, but he ultimately suppressed his anger. He knew Zhou Yuan was deliberately trying to provoke him. If he dared to approach, Zhou Yuan would immediately consume them, weakening the Fire Pavilion's strength.

Seeing that Wang Chen wasn't falling for his bait, Zhou Yuan shook his head again, no longer bothering with him. He turned to the Wind Pavilion members and ordered, “Hurry up and gather the Sun Flame.”

He knew Wang Chen and his group were likely sent by Lu Xiao to observe them. He had initially thought Lu Xiao would be eager to cause trouble, but it seemed Lu Xiao was quite patient. He probably wouldn't launch a full assault before all his members were equipped with Red Copper Umbrellas, to avoid giving them an opportunity.

However, Zhou Yuan was not afraid. He had made all the necessary preparations. Now it was a matter of responding to whatever came their way; ultimately, only after a confrontation would they know who would emerge as the biggest winner.

At Zhou Yuan's command, the Wind Pavilion left a thousand spirits to watch Wang Chen and his group in the distance, while the rest quickly dispersed to gather Sun Flame.

Although golden fire lotuses continued to drift down from the sky, under the relentless gathering of thousands, the Sun Flame within the great mountain was quickly depleted. Inside the crimson sphere of the Fire Gathering Platform, the golden flames became increasingly magnificent and bright.

After thoroughly collecting the Sun Flame from this location, Zhou Yuan completely ignored Wang Chen and his group in the distance. With a wave of his hand, he led his people to relocate and continue gathering Sun Flame elsewhere.

Thus, thousands of people, holding Red Copper Umbrellas, soared through the air. Even the Fire Gathering Platform was lifted by numerous spirits and flew through the sky.

Wang Chen watched the Wind Pavilion members disregard him completely, and his eyes grew even darker. Finally, he waved his hand, a strange, cold smile playing on his lips. “Follow them, and report their location to the Pavilion Master at all times.”

“Let them gather first; they're just doing our work for us.”

“Once the Pavilion Master's plan is complete, Zhou Yuan will have his time to cry!”