Mortal: Fairy Song Yu has issued you a task.

Chapter 8 Crisis in the Sword Tempering Cave

As usual, Lin Jingchu easily completed the maintenance of the mountain protection array node he was responsible for, and then returned to the shore, where he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Since he started practicing the life of alchemy and cultivating immortality, he realized how miserable his previous life had been. After taking the Qingyun Pill for only five days, his cultivation improved rapidly.

If this momentum continues, we should be able to break through to the twelfth level of Qi Refining next month.

"Junior Brother Lin, you're still so fast!" Senior Brother Qian on the other side had also finished his inspection and came walking on water.

Lin Jingchu quickly waved his hand, "Not at all! It's just a matter of practice makes perfect."

Even if someone cultivates immortality, they're still a man. How can you say it's fast? It wouldn't take three days and three nights, but at least several hours!

"The new junior brother Xu is quick to get started," Senior Brother Qian said, looking in the direction of Senior Brother Zhao and Xu Fuzi.

"I thought it would slow down the progress, but I didn't expect that we would be able to finish before the deadline. I wonder where he learned his array formation skills, they are truly unique."

"The world of cultivation is vast, and there are many talented and extraordinary people hidden in the mountains and fields," Lin Jingchu replied casually.

If Xu Fuzi's identity hadn't been questionable, he might have been just as curious as Senior Brother Qian, or even taken the initiative to befriend him.

Now, however, I wish I could stay as far away from these potential troubles as possible.

The mountain-protecting array, the Azure Wave Water Element Array, has just been fully inspected and repaired. When I return to the General Affairs Hall to report back, I'll find an excuse to temporarily relieve the array master of his rotating duties. It's just a pity about his high monthly salary.

During their conversation, Senior Brother Zhao and Xu Fuzi completed the final inspection of the key points.

The four of them gathered together, all looking relaxed. Even Uncle Feng, who was usually stern and unsmiling, showed a rare relaxed smile.

Although he appeared relaxed, he was actually on high alert all day, constantly monitoring the four people's movements in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Given his meticulous nature, there was absolutely no way he would slack off secretly when faced with such an important task as the mountain-protecting formation.

Although it was already getting late, no one wanted to delay until the next day to finish their tasks, so they all used their flying magical artifacts and headed to the General Affairs Hall together.

As the five entered the Array Control Division under the General Affairs Hall, they sensed that something was amiss in the atmosphere around them.

A senior disciple dressed in the attire of the Hidden Sword Hall was pacing anxiously in front of the desk.

The disciple on duty behind the desk repeatedly reassured him, "Uncle-Master, don't worry. I have already sent a message to several array masters, and they should be here in a moment."

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciple on duty saw Lin Jingchu and the others approaching, and his eyes lit up immediately. He quickly pointed and said, "Uncle-Master! These five fellow disciples are the formation masters!"

The Hidden Sword Peak martial uncle was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately said, "You've come at the perfect time! There's an urgent matter that requires your immediate assistance!"

The leader, Uncle Feng, frowned slightly. "May I ask, Senior Brother, what has happened?"

"Let's talk as we walk!" Uncle Yu of Hidden Sword Peak turned and headed outside.

With a wave of his hand, a jade flying boat about two zhang long floated on the open ground in front of the hall.

"Quickly board the boat and follow me to Hidden Sword Peak!"

Lin Jingchu and his four companions could only board the jade boat with trepidation.

The jade boat soared into the sky, the night wind whistling outside the protective shield, making the atmosphere even more solemn.

"My surname is He," the martial uncle who was piloting the flying boat introduced himself.

"Some time ago, cracks were discovered in the 'Mysterious Gold Stone Foundation' at the bottom of the Earth Fire Pool belonging to my Hidden Sword Peak, and the 'Flame Dividing and Connecting Array' on it was also damaged."

"At that time, the crack was still minor, and the peak master was away and had not yet returned. The peak simply reported to the Array Control Department as usual and waited for someone to come and repair it."

His tone suddenly turned serious:

"Unexpectedly, just now, for some unknown reason, the earth's fire element erupted! A corner of the stone foundation at the bottom of the pool collapsed, and the fire from the earth's core surged out! Now, it's all thanks to the Core Formation Grandmaster's temporary sealing, and the situation is extremely precarious!"

Besides the main peak, which boasts the largest earth fire pool, the Luoyun Sect's six other peaks, including Yinjian, Tianquan, and Baifeng, each have their own exclusive earth fire pools.

Hidden Sword Peak is the most unique among them, as most of the disciples on the peak are sword cultivators or weapon refiners skilled in crafting sword-shaped magical artifacts. The Earth Fire Pool was built as the "Sword Tempering Cave".

The bottom of the pool is paved with black gold stone bricks to form a base. The base is engraved with the Dividing Flame and Connecting the Foundation. The fire in the earth's veins is regulated by the formation and then distributed to sword-quenching chambers of different sizes through eight fire channels.

Because of the need for tempering swords, the fire here is exceptionally intense and violent, and it is also mixed with a large amount of abyssal evil energy, making it extremely dangerous.

Uncle Feng's expression was solemn: "Senior Brother, do you mean we need to enter the bottom of the pool to repair the damaged 'Eight Flames Connecting Formation'?"

"Exactly!" Uncle He said decisively.

Just as he finished speaking, the task panel in Lin Jingchu's mind flashed!

[Task Discovered]

[Task Name: Repair the Damaged Fire Pool in the Sword Tempering Cave]

[Posted by: Wei Changqing, Master of Hidden Sword Peak (Affection Level: Unfamiliar)]

[Mission Description: Proceed to the Sword Tempering Cave at Hidden Sword Peak of the Falling Cloud Sect to assist in repairing the damaged "Eight Flames Connecting Formation," clearing the fire path, and averting the crisis. {Map}]

[Quest Reward: One magical artifact belonging to Wei Changqing]

Lin Jingchu maintained the same solemn expression as his companions, but inwardly he was startled.

He had assumed this mission system was exclusively for Song Yu. He never expected Elder Wei to be able to trigger the mission too!

Does this mean that all the characters appearing in the story can become mission issuers?

Just as his mind raced, the jade boat pierced through the clouds, revealing a towering, precipitous peak in front of him.

We've arrived at Hidden Sword Peak.

The airship maintained its speed, then pressed down on its bow and sped down towards the middle of the mountain, finally coming to a steady stop in front of a steep cliff.

In the very center of the cliff face stands a magnificent, colossal stone gate, exuding an aura of profound antiquity.

Once the jade boat came to a stop, the six people leaped and landed on the stone platform in front of the stone gate.

Uncle He tossed out a token. With a muffled rumble, the stone gate slowly opened inward.

"call--!"

A blast of scorching wind burst out from inside the door, washing away the coolness of the autumn night and instantly raising the temperature near the stone platform by more than ten degrees!

"There's no time to lose, everyone, follow me!" Uncle He quickly stepped into a dark doorway.

Lin Jingchu and the others followed closely behind, entering the gaping maw of the abyss that seemed to lead to hell.

After passing through a wide passageway, a huge cave suddenly appeared before us.

In the center of the cave is a crimson pool with a diameter of more than ten zhang, which is the Fire Pool of the Sword Tempering Cave.

At this moment, the fire in the cave's core boiled incessantly, constantly exploding into tongues of flame, and the sparks that spewed out scattered and danced throughout the cave, illuminating the entire space in a crimson glow.

Above the Earth Fire Pool, two powerful figures stood in mid-air, occupying two sides.

The two were currently forming hand seals and exerting their full power, forcefully suppressing the raging fire in the earth's core below into the pool with their immense spiritual energy.

"My two senior uncles! The array master dispatched by the Array Core Division has arrived!" Senior Uncle He stepped forward quickly to report.

Lin Jingchu looked at the two Core Formation cultivators from Hidden Sword Peak in mid-air, and his heart tightened.

Peak Master Elder Wei was not present.