281: Chapter 282 Transforming Stubborn Stone into Divine Iron, Forging a Celestial Palace to Stabilize Eternity

Lu Chen stood in the center of the Ethereal Wonderland.

Before his eyes lay the ruins of Lingjiu Palace.

Broken walls and crumbling remains were everywhere, covered in spiderwebs, with shattered stone steps and rubble strewn across the ground.

The wind blew, kicking up dust and carrying the scent of decay.

It might have once been glorious, but now only desolation remained.

Lu Chen raised his eyes, looking toward the distant, rolling mountains.

He lowered his head again, glancing at the ruins beneath his feet.

"It is time to settle this Karma," he said indifferently.

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly echoed through the empty ruins.

He took a step forward.

"Lin!"

The power of the Nine-Syllable Mantra instantly empowered him!

A Ten-Thousand-Fold Increase!

Boom!

An invisible wave of Qi exploded from him as the center, scattering the dust on the ground.

He raised his hand, aiming at a thousand-fathom-high peak in the distance.

The Houtu Hell-Suppressing Scripture was activated!

Inside his Dantian, the earthy-yellow Golden Core suddenly lit up, and a steady, heavy power surged forth.

The earth began to tremble.

It was not a slight tremor, but a violent roar!

The mountain body of that thousand-fathom peak began to disintegrate visibly!

Boulders and soil seemed to lose gravity, or perhaps were gripped by an invisible giant hand, peeling away from the mountain and whistling as they flew into the sky!

Hundreds upon thousands of massive rocks blocked out the sky, hovering in mid-air and casting large shadows.

The scene was magnificent, like the descent of a myth.

Lu Chen's expression remained calm, as if he had merely raised his hand.

With another shift of his mind, the Xuanjin Void-Rending Scripture was activated!

The white-gold light of his Golden Core shone brilliantly, and an incomparably sharp power permeated the area.

The boulders hovering in the air began to deform!

They were cut, compressed, and shaped by an invisible force.

The rough surfaces became smooth, and the sharp, angular edges became uniform.

Standard rectangular, cubic, cylindrical, and arched stone blocks quickly took shape.

More curiously, the color of these stones was also quietly changing.

The original blue-gray and earthy-yellow gradually took on a metallic luster.

It was not a simple coating, but a qualitative change from the inside out.

Under the influence of the Geng Metal power, the earth and stone were forcibly transformed, possessing the properties of metal: hard, cold, and carrying a biting aura.

"Bing!"

Another low shout.

The power of weaponry was added.

A faint flowing light appeared on the surface of these hovering metal boulders, as if covered by an invisible suit of armor, making them even more indestructible.

Lu Chen extended his finger and traced in the air.

His fingertips spat out five-colored brilliance; that was the power of his Five Elements Golden Core circulating.

Using his finger as a brush, the Void Realm as paper, and the power of the Five Elements as ink!

Arcane and complex runes flew from his fingertips, branding themselves onto the hovering metal boulders.

[Nine-Turn Reincarnation Array]!

The moment the runes were branded, a faint humming sound came from within the metal boulders. Their luster instantly restrained, and their structure seemed to have undergone thousands of hammerings, becoming incredibly dense and solid. If one were taken to the mortal world, even a Sharp Weapon would likely struggle to damage it in the slightest.

[Four Symbols Spirit-Suppressing Array]!

Another batch of runes flew out.

Phantoms of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise appeared on the surface of the boulders, flashing and vanishing. Inside the stones, some kind of power seemed to be vibrating at high speed, evenly dispersing any potential stress. Their toughness was greatly increased!

[Earth Vein Hidden Array]!

Earthy-yellow runes merged in.

The aura of the metal boulders faintly connected with the earth below, as if they had taken root. The material became heavier, and properties of wear resistance and fatigue resistance were carved into them. They would likely not change much even after a thousand or eight hundred years of use.

Lu Chen did not stop, his fingers flying so fast they left afterimages.

[Yin-Yang Edge-Quenching Array]!

Runes with swirling black and white Qi were imprinted.

The surface temperature of the boulders changed suddenly, sometimes freezing cold, sometimes scorching hot, before finally stabilizing. Used as building Materials, they would be impervious to cold and heat.

[Star Orbit Overcast Array]!

Runes composed of starlike points of light merged in.

The internal structure of the boulders seemed layered, as precise as the orbits of stars. Their ability to resist deformation was elevated to an unimaginable degree.

[Qiankun Wuji Array]!

Runes containing the changes of the Taiji and Two Forms were branded.

The light on the surface of the metal boulders seemed to be partially absorbed, becoming deeper. External impact? Most of it would be directly dissipated by crystal lattice vibrations. It was practically a low-end version of Vibranium.

[Five Elements Gathering Essence Array]!

Five-colored runes intertwined and merged.

The surface of the boulders began to slowly absorb the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and some minor flaws actually began to self-repair under the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi!

[Spirit Vein Profound Array]!

This was a Formation comprehended from the nine tripods, the most complex and profound one.

Countless fine golden veins were generated and connected within the boulders, forming a complete energy conduction network.

Lu Chen carved all eight Formations into all the hovering metal boulders in one breath.

The entire process was smooth and fluid, as if he had practiced it thousands of times.

With his Comprehension Ability under a Ten-Thousand-Fold Increase, coupled with his Golden Core realm mastery over the power of the Five Elements, carving these Formations was not much harder for him than eating or drinking water.

"Jie!"

"Zhen!"

"Lie!"

The Formation-related mantras of the Nine-Syllable Mantra were activated!

All the carved Formations were integrated, ordered, and activated by an invisible force!

Hum—!

All the metal boulders shone simultaneously, with the brilliance of various Formation patterns flowing across their surfaces.

Finally, Lu Chen pointed his finger to cast the last, and most critical, Formation.

[Guixu Nirvana Array]!

A black vortex rune that seemed capable of devouring everything was imprinted at the core of all the boulders.

In an instant, all the shining Formation pattern brilliance, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, was absorbed, fused, and converted by this black vortex rune!

In the end, all the light vanished.

The metal boulders returned to their original metallic color, only they looked deeper and more solid, as if they contained some kind of indescribable, terrifying power.

All the Formations were perfectly coupled together, forming a single whole.

Material preparation, complete.

Next was the construction.

"Dou!"

Lu Chen shouted in a low voice.

His fighting spirit erupted—not to fight anyone, but the determination to control everything and reshape everything!

Nine figures floated in the Void Realm, controlling everything simultaneously.

The metal boulders floating in the air, having been empowered by the Formations, began to move according to his will like obedient soldiers.

The massive foundation stones landed with a boom, precisely embedding themselves into their predetermined positions, fitting together perfectly.

Heavy wall modules rose rapidly, splicing together with the clanging sound of metal interlocking.

Huge metal pillars stood tall like pillars of heaven, supporting the magnificent dome.

The entire process was impossibly fast.

Like a fast-forwarded movie.

The ruins were cleared and leveled.

A brand-new foundation rose from the ground.

Walls, pillars, beams, dome...

A magnificent, temple-style building radiating a cold metallic luster took shape at the center of the Ethereal Wonderland at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The architectural style was somewhat similar to the temples in his memory, but it was larger and filled with a sense of power.

There were no ornate carvings or painted beams, only simple, powerful lines and the cold, immortal aura brought by the metallic material itself.

Sunlight shone on the metal building, reflecting a dazzling light that was not blinding, but rather carried a sense of sacred majesty.

The Lihuo Heaven-Burning Scripture was triggered, and the crimson Golden Core turned slightly.

Inside the building, certain specific locations were slightly embellished by him using the power of Lihuo, leaving behind flame-like patterns that added a touch of intense heat.

The Cangming Sea-Overturning Scripture was activated, and the azure Golden Core shone.

Places requiring curves or gentle transitions were molded into perfect arcs.

The Azure Emperor Longevity Scripture was activated, and the emerald Golden Core was full of vitality.

He urged some vines to grow around the temple, wrapping around the columns and corners, giving the cold building a hint of strange vitality.

Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.

The power of the Five Elements, in his hands, was like the most obedient tool, perfectly applied to this "renovation project."

"Zhe!"

The power of protection permeated the area.

The entire metal temple was shrouded in an invisible barrier, isolating the inside from the outside, making it indestructible.

"Qian!"

Around the temple, there seemed to be a hint of auspicious Qi, making people feel peaceful and afraid to desecrate it.

"Xing!"

The power of endless life circulated.

Inside the building, the energy networks connected by the [Spirit Vein Profound Array] began to slowly absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, self-circulating, making the entire building seem to possess life.

When the last piece of the dome was fitted perfectly in place.

The entire magnificent metal temple was finally completely finished.

It stood quietly in the center of the Ethereal Wonderland, replacing the original ruins.

Tall, magnificent, shining with a metallic luster, with arcane Formation patterns faintly flowing on its surface, it emitted a heart-palpitating pressure and a sacred aura.

It formed a strange contrast with the surrounding ethereal environment, yet it was exceptionally harmonious.

Jiejiao Xiaoyao Sect!

Five large characters, carrying a Dao aura like Kirin Cliff, were carved above the lintel of the temple.

It was as if this temple had always been meant to exist here.