Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

This is a secret chamber in the void, temporarily opened by an array. It is about ten feet square, with water flowing on the four walls, isolating it from the outside world.

In the center of the secret chamber, a huge void projection floated and rotated continuously; it was a three-dimensional image of the "Li Huo Jie" (Boundary of Fire).

A crimson continent, a boiling sea of ​​fire, winding rivers of lava, and several massive building complexes with obvious signs of human intervention.

Two figures stood on either side of the projection.

The person on the left was thin and had a cold face. He exuded a chilling aura that made people feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

He was dressed in a snow-white Taoist robe, with ice crystals condensed at the hem, yet it remained suspended in the air.

Upon seeing Li Xiaoyao enter, he nodded slightly as a greeting.

The person on the right, however, presents a completely different picture.

He was stocky with a bronze complexion, wearing an earthy yellow short-sleeved shirt that revealed bulging muscles in his arms. He didn't look like a cultivator, but rather like a farmer who had been working the land for years.

But his gaze was as calm as a mountain, and when he met Li Xiaoyao's eyes, a heavy and steady aura emanated from him.

Bai Chuan introduced, "This is Fellow Daoist Chen Qing, whose Daoist name is Han Che. He specializes in the Dao of Cold Qi and is most skilled in freezing, delaying, and controlling the field."

He then pointed to the sturdy man, "This is Fellow Daoist Tian Mu, whose Daoist name is Muye. He is a follower of the Gen Earth Dao, specializing in defense, suppression, and the perception of earth veins."

Li Xiaoyao cupped his hands in greeting to them: "Shangyuan, greetings to Fellow Daoist Hanche and Fellow Daoist Muye."

Master Han Che nodded slightly.

Master Muye grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth: "Fellow Daoist Shangyuan, I've long admired you. I've heard people talking about your Rainbow Cloud Dao at the post station—you're a 'celebrity' in the Immortal Sect!"

Li Xiaoyao chuckled: "Just an empty title."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Master Baichuan walked to the projection in the void and cleared his throat.

"Fellow Daoists, now that everyone has arrived, I will get straight to the point."

We need to agree on the terms of this trip—its objectives, risks, and potential gains—before we can begin.

He pointed to a spot, and the crimson 3D image suddenly magnified, revealing a massive volcanic cluster.

In the center of the volcanic cluster, a colossal peak, entirely black yet spewing forth blazing white flames, stands out strikingly.

"I will temporarily name this realm 'The Realm of Departing Fire'."

Bai Chuan began his explanation, his tone clear, "After three separate infiltrations by myself, along with fellow Daoists Han Che and Mu Ye, we have obtained the following intelligence—"

"Firstly, the Heavenly Dao of this world is active and its hierarchy is complete, making it a superior-grade minor world."

He raised his hand and drew a circle of light on the projection, enveloping the entire Crimson Continent.

"The scope of the domain is approximately twice the size of Fellow Daoist Shangyuan's Luoxia Domain."

The spiritual energy concentration is slightly higher than that of ordinary minor worlds, and the fire-attribute spiritual energy is extremely abundant, making it a natural sacred ground for the cultivation of the Fire-based Daoist lineage.

Li Xiaoyao nodded slightly, quickly making a mental estimate.

Twice the size of Luoxia Realm means that the total amount of resources will at least double, but the required troop strength will also increase accordingly.

"Secondly, the local cultivation civilization was mature, with the Li Huo lineage as the mainstream, and it was in the era of the old methods."

"Based on observations from the perimeter and soul searches of several captured low-level cultivators, this realm possesses at least three powerful cultivators at the Purple Mansion level—"

He pointed three times at the projection.

In the center, on the giant peak spewing forth blazing white flames: "This is the Burning Heaven Sect, with two Purple Mansion cultivators stationed here."

One has been in seclusion for many years, and his lineage is suspected to be "True Fire"; the other is in charge of the sect's affairs, and his lineage is suspected to be "Departed Fire".

Their cultivation levels are all between the early and middle stages of the Purple Mansion realm.

In the east, a vast, crimson region: "This is the Flame Valley Tribal Alliance."

We originally thought there was no Purple Mansion there, but the latest intelligence confirms that a very old Purple Mansion is sleeping deep in the Flame Valley. Its lineage is "Bing Huo". It is very old and has been nourishing itself with fire for many years. It will not be easily awakened.

However, if the realm is invaded, the Burning Heaven Sect will surely awaken it.

On the projection, three Zifu nodes lit up with crimson light, forming a triangle that echoed each other.

Thirdly, the Heavenly Dao Laws of this Realm suppress those from outside the Purple Mansion.

Bai Chuan's tone grew increasingly solemn, "Please look, everyone—"

He raised his hand, and a stream of azure water flowed from his fingertips, slowly probing into the projection area.

The moment the water touched the illusory image of the crimson continent, it noticeably dimmed and shrank by three-tenths, as if it were being fiercely suppressed by an invisible force.

"I have tested it with my own experience—if I were to force my way into this realm with my supernatural powers at half their power, I would be suppressed to about thirty percent by the Heavenly Dao."

Bai Chuan looked at the three of them and said, "The situations of Fellow Daoists Han Che and Mu Ye are similar to those of mine."

Li Xiaoyao frowned slightly.

Losing 20% ​​of its power is no small amount.

It's equivalent to the combat power of the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm; once inside, one can only unleash half of that power.

Of course, they still have an advantage in terms of realm comprehension and law level, but they will undoubtedly lose if they directly confront the native Purple Mansion.

"Not only that."

Bai Chuan continued, "The Heavenly Dao of this realm is extremely vigilant."

Once our Purple Mansion aura enters the boundary barrier, the Heavenly Dao will issue a warning to the native Purple Mansion without us even having to take action.

In other words—it's impossible to sneak in and launch a surprise attack. Once inside, the enemy would know.

Han Che Zhenren rarely spoke, but he did: "Then how do we fight?"

Bai Chuan laughed.

He looked at Li Xiaoyao with a meaningful gaze: "If it were an ordinary minor world, with three Purple Mansions in charge, the Heavenly Dao would suppress it and issue early warnings—this battle would be impossible to fight."

"If the four of us go in, we'll be committing suicide."

"But this world has a fatal flaw."

He paused, then said, word by word:

"This world is still in the old legal era, before reforms."

Li Xiaoyao's eyes flickered slightly.

Old law.

This term was repeatedly mentioned in countless classic texts of the Immortal Sect.

In ancient times, cultivators relied on instinct, talent, and the spiritual objects of heaven and earth to cultivate themselves.

After breaking through to the Purple Mansion level, how do one cultivate supernatural powers?

Everyone has their own methods; there is no system, no lineage, and everyone has to figure it out on their own.

That kind of Purple Mansion, though it is still a Purple Mansion, is—

"The new law overturns the old law, and there is an essential principle of suppression."

Bai Chuan's tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "You are all here to prove yourselves through the new Dharma, so you should know the differences between you."

The old Purple Palace possessed crude supernatural powers and a shallow understanding of the laws, making its utilization of the rules of heaven and earth far inferior to ours.

Even though they have the blessing of Heaven, we are suppressed to half their strength—but…

He raised his hand and slowly clenched his fist.

"It's still a crushing defeat."

Master Muye grinned: "I've tried it. Three hundred years ago, when I was still at the Foundation Establishment stage, I followed my elders to conquer an old minor world."

The Purple Mansion over there was defeated by my family's elder, who was in the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm, who fought two against one and was completely powerless to fight back.

After the elder came out, he said, "The old method of the Purple Palace is like a three-year-old child holding a divine weapon—powerful but unable to use it."

Master Han Che nodded slightly, adding a rare remark: "Suppression at the level of laws cannot be compensated for by abundant spiritual energy."

The last trace of doubt in Li Xiaoyao's heart vanished.

He looked at the crimson projection, his gaze falling on the three Purple Mansion nodes.

"So, the tactic is—"