Chapter 38: The Iron Flag Has an Order

  Eighteen iron flags were arranged to form a flag array, which was the method he learned in his sect to absorb the Western Xigong Golden Energy. The copper pellet fell into the flag array, and a mouthful of magical power sprayed into that flag array.

  The green smoke wandered back and forth among the eighteen iron flags, each time it wandered to an iron flag, some of the green smoke merged into it. After the last iron flag absorbed the magic power, the flag array suddenly rotated violently.

  Only a thread of dark, iron-like light emanated from the iron flag, these lights entwined each other, forming a ball of black light about one zhang in diameter at the center of the flag array. The copper balls on the ground were attracted by the black light and flew into it, revolving and floating with the black light.

  As time passed, a thread of golden light emerged from the void, and these golden lights merged into the black light, slowly dyeing this mass of black light into gold.

  Golden light flashed, one part was like silk threads desperately drilling into the copper ball, while another part rolled back to the flag array, gradually invading the iron flag.

  Wang Guang didn't want to wait silently either, so he took out some thick animal hides and spread them on the ice, then started spewing out strands of magical energy from his mouth to help the Western Qingjin Qi refine the copper pellets.

  A wisp of green smoke shot into the flag array, a small portion was absorbed by the eighteen iron flags and mixed with the Western Canopy Golden Energy to slowly enhance its quality. Another part merged into the copper pellets, controlling the copper pellets or making them expand, transforming into thousands of rotating copper pellets, or turning it into a whirlpool to absorb.

  Later on, the Western Qīng Jīn (Metal) essence that emerged from the void condensed from strands to lines and finally into a thick beam of light.

  More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and only a copper ball the size of a bowl mouth was quietly suspended in the flag array composed of eighteen iron flags. Around this copper ball, thousands of copper balls the size of dragon eyes surrounded it, rotating endlessly, forming a circular ring with a diameter of one zhang.

  A strand of Xigang golden energy as thick as an adult's arm emerged from the void, and this Xigang golden energy fell into the ring. In an instant, it was polished into a bright spot by the ring, and then absorbed by thousands of copper pellets in one go.

  "Boundless Heaven Venerable!" After recovering the internal energy once again, Wang Guang did not continue to spew out his internal energy to refine the copper pellet as before. Instead, he stood up and snapped his fingers, planning to put away the treasure and end this refining session.

  "Baby! Come back quickly." The fingers snapped, and the thousand copper balls spinning in the flag array instantly merged into the center, then transformed into a yellow light that fell into his hand.

  The endless Western Qingjin aura lost its tempering target, but instead of dispersing, it began to twist in the air under the urging of the flag array. Finally, it split into eighteen thin beams of light and rushed towards the iron flags. For a moment, the eighteen iron flags gained a large amount of Western Qingjin aura, emitting a burst of creaking sounds. If not for Wang Guang's quick wit, these low-grade iron flags would have been completely blown up by the excessive Western Qingjin aura.

  He took the copper pellets, but didn't use them for experimentation. Instead, he relied on his spiritual power to sense that the might of this treasure had increased by a small margin compared to when it was first refined. Moreover, those eighteen iron flags had also improved in quality after absorbing the Western Essence Golden Energy, although they hadn't yet reached the next level. Wang Guang believed that as long as the iron flags fully merged with the Western Essence Golden Energy infused within them, the power of the flag array would definitely be stronger than it was now.

  After putting away the eighteen iron flags into the treasure pouch, he let the magic treasure roll up his own body, and the whole person transformed into a red light flying towards that small castle not far away.

  He didn't want anyone to find out, so he quickly pressed down the treasure light in a remote area outside the city and then walked into the city on foot, wandering around for three or five laps.

  But as a result of these three to five rounds of searching, Wang Guang found several targets. Relying on the skills of a Qi practitioner, in just one day, he used bricks and fists to knock down dozens of strong men and forcibly took away seven or eight women with different appearances.

  He found some ropes and tied these people together, like carrying sugar gourds, and after three to five times, he pulled dozens of people from the air to the foot of the mountain where he was cultivating.

  At the foot of this mountain, it's spring all year round, never having cold winds and heavy snow, nor icy invasions. If not for the countless fierce insects and beasts surrounding it, this place would be a paradise on earth for ordinary people.

  After throwing dozens of people together on a flat ground, they were still unconscious due to their own heavy hands. Wang Guang was not anxious and returned to the small city once again.

  Took advantage of the night to rob the military arsenal, and rummaged through it to gather some stuff. There were big knives, long swords, crutches, meteor hammers, shields, eighteen kinds of firearms, thirty-six kinds of rare doors, all complete. This guy was so smooth, he even managed to get seven or eight sets of carriages and crossbows that only the military had, as well as thirty or fifty strong bows and hard crossbows.

  After rolling up a large pile of food and drink utensils, knives, guns, clubs, and returning to the foot of that mountain, dozens of men and women who had been forcibly brought over by him had already woken up.

  However, unfortunately, there were seven or eight unlucky ones who, due to Wang Guang's excessive force, were beaten into idiots, drooling from the corners of their mouths and crouching on the ground, wailing without understanding any fear or shame.

  "Boundless Heaven Venerable! I am a Qi-practicing cultivator from the Azure Peak Mountain's One Qi Sect. Today, I've brought you all here to recruit you as my disciples, so that you can learn my Supreme Ultimate Great Method and in the future, enjoy longevity, boundless wealth and joy. This is your great opportunity, yet you don't quickly kneel down and thank me?" Wang Guang pressed down on Bao Guang's shoulder, shouting loudly at the crowd of people who were still chatting with each other.

  Dozens of people who were arguing fiercely and wondering what had happened saw someone falling from the sky, and they were terrified, but no one escaped, only terrified, kneeling on the ground and begging for their lives.

  Seeing these rivers and lakes people only begging, never listened to their own words, Wang Guang suddenly disliked in his heart. With a flick of both hands, a first-class Yin Lei was launched. With a toss of his hand, the Yin Lei landed on a mountain rock dozens of meters away, blasting the rock and creating a crater over ten feet deep.

  A thunderbolt came out of nowhere, shocking all the Jianghu people present into stunned silence. Who could still utter words of pleading?

  "You are all sealed within this mountain range, from now on you will be active only in this mountain range. You must not leave this mountain range. And don't even think about escaping, my methods you also know, just look at these few people." Wang Guang said as he swept his sleeve, leading everyone's gaze to fall upon those seven or eight idiots.

  A mouthful of cyan smoke spewed out, and suddenly those seven or eight idiots jumped up from the ground, letting out a mournful wail. The ropes that bound them were torn apart, and their hands frantically scratched at their bodies. Layer after layer of flesh was ripped off by themselves, but even as blood flowed like water, these idiots didn't stop. For a full minute, their entire body shed its flesh, leaving only white bones scattered on the ground.

  "Immortal, we are willing to surrender." A fifty or sixty-year-old man suddenly shouted loudly. "Please, immortal, teach us your immortal methods, so that we can assist you in times of need."

  "Lord of Boundless Heaven!" Seeing that someone finally understood his own meaning, Wang Guang was slightly satisfied.

  "I have left the Supreme Great Method at the top of this mountain peak. From now on, you all have the ability to cultivate it yourself." As he said this, he flipped his hand and pulled out a thick stack of books from the Hundred Treasures Pouch and threw them onto the ground. "The top of the mountain is extremely treacherous, and only those who have cultivated to the Pre-Heavenly Great Completion can ascend. If you haven't reached the Pre-Heavenly Great Completion, not to mention whether or not you can obtain my Supreme Great Method, it would be a blessing if you don't freeze to death halfway up."

  A large number of secret books were taken out and thrown at these people, but they were allowed to practice on their own.

  "In the future, there will be others coming here to cultivate with you. At that time, you can teach them the rules and regulations, and establish some relationships in advance. Later on, when they become fellow disciples, it will be easier for you to take care of each other." Wang Guang casually threw out various knives, swords, bows, and crossbows, letting these people use them as they pleased. He also tossed out salt, fire starters, pots, bowls, and ladles in a heap. As for dry rations and fine wine, he apologized, saying there wasn't even half a share."

  "You all don't need to run away, lest I come back and still have to look for you. This way, it will also save your lives in the future, and it will also save me from wasting my time." After saying this, he swung out his Hundred Miles Flowing Light and wrapped himself up, breaking through the air and leaving.

  "Escape from here? If I'm not mistaken, this mountain range is surrounded by either extremely ferocious beasts or ruthless poisonous insects." The middle-aged man who spoke couldn't help but shudder as he looked at the scattered white bones and flesh nearby.

  He has been wandering the world for over twenty years, and although he is not a top-notch master, he can be considered a first-rate figure in the martial arts world. Although he has killed countless people, he has never seen such a bizarre method of killing, nor has he ever seen anyone who could disappear into thin air.

  "There are only weapons and pots, but no food at all. Are we supposed to cultivate here and find our own food?" A woman frowned, looking at the messy objects in the distance with a puzzled expression.

  "Never mind about food and drink, first let's get rid of the ropes on our bodies. Why can't I mobilize even half a bit of internal energy?" A bald-headed big man shouted loudly at a thin man beside him.

  This reminder, some people began to busy themselves trying to remove the rope, familiar ones used their mouths to help their companions remove the rope, and those who were alone searched for sharp stones to grind it off.

  Some people took off their ropes and suddenly felt their inner strength restored. Either they went up to kill their enemies or they removed the ropes from their companions. There were crazy ones who directly pressed a woman to hold a gun and go up, and for a while, these dozens of people were in chaos for a period before order was restored.

  In these days, Wang Guang has been searching everywhere for people from the rivers and lakes, regardless of whether they are male or female, old or young, disabled or not. He directly knocks them unconscious with a slap and then throws them here. In just over ten days, more than a thousand men and women from the rivers and lakes have been thrown here.

  Those who are incompetent dig up plant roots, while those who are capable hunt and kill fierce beasts and poisonous insects in the mountains. For a time, the peaceful mountain peak was bustling with activity, with some leaving behind secret manuals and others continuing to cultivate their own secrets. However, not a single person escaped, partly because they were worried about their own restrictions, and partly because every time Wang Guang returned, he would use his magical powers to brutally kill three or five Jianghu people to establish his authority.