Chapter 16

Those valiant Eagle Wing hunters, who were usually fearless, were now somewhat anxious and uncertain as they returned from their patrol, discussing whether they had offended the fire spirits in the mountains. The hunters, facing the roasted delicacies, had lost their appetite and seemed to be in a hurry to continue on their way.

Zhou Lu rode his horse at the back, happily gnawing on the fattest mountain badger's thigh.

"Fire spirit? You're the fire spirit."

He had discovered another ability of the demonic fire, which filled him with joy. He wouldn't tell anyone that the busty beauty he had just conjured up was his creation.

Being able to control fire so effortlessly amazed even Zhou Lu. Sometimes, he would secretly speculate about the type of fire he had obtained and why he could control other flames so easily.

The journey was quiet. The hunters patrolled the area but found no suspicious traces, and they returned to the camp smoothly.

After completing his task, Zhou Lu returned to his tent, added a few logs to the fireplace, and lay down by the fire, closing his eyes. The cold and damp night outside made him feel warm and comfortable by the fire, almost to the point of moaning. He could feel the demonic fire in his dantian gradually recovering its energy.

However, what made Zhou Lu dissatisfied was the extremely slow recovery rate. It was like drying out a piece of land and then trying to moisten it with mist. Using the fire was satisfying, but replenishing it was too slow. It would take ages for the demonic fire to regain its strength and help him refine spiritual medicines to enhance his power.

...

Early the next morning, the captain of the third squad, Wu Zhuo, woke Zhou Lu up. For the next ten days, their squad was assigned to guard Wanxiu Peak and protect the Array Fire Pavilion.

They needed to set off early.

Zhou Lu rubbed his sleepy eyes and stepped out of the tent. The morning mist enveloped the West Mountain, creating a vast and mysterious atmosphere, like a fairyland. The mist made the West Mountain Range seem endless and ethereal.

Zhou Lu felt a great sense of relief. He never expected such a beautiful scene in this desolate mountain.

Wu Zhuo, though not particularly outstanding in strength, was very shrewd, and the centurion Lei Meng trusted him with a squad.

As the captain, Wu Zhuo treated Zhou Lu, the valiant archer, with a hint of flattery.

"Haha, Brother Zhou Lu, are you stunned? When I first came to the West Mountain and saw the morning mist, I was also amazed. Come on, today we're going to guard Wanxiu Peak, where the scenery will be even more breathtaking."

Zhou Lu nodded with a simple expression.

Thirty or more squad members gathered, mounted their horses, and the sound of hooves broke the morning silence. The horse team tore through the morning mist, winding up a winding mountain path. After traveling more than twenty miles, a strange peak suddenly rose before them, towering like a pillar supporting the sky, blocking all the views.

Zhou Lu looked up, mesmerized.

Wu Zhuo rode up to Zhou Lu and chuckled, "How about it? The scenery is great, right? This peak is famous for its strange rocks and steep cliffs. There's a Skyline, Half Cliff, Seven Springs, and a Heavenly Waterfall... It's a wonderland, with a new scene at every step. Wanxiu Peak, more than ten thousand wonders."

Zhou Lu nodded repeatedly, captivated, and said with a simple expression, "Yeah, the scenery is really nice! It's much higher than the hill in front of our hunting ground."

Wu Zhuo's smile froze, feeling like he had been talking to a cow: This lazy guy, how can you compare them?

A powerful hunter rode up and laughed, "But this peak is occupied by the Array Fire Pavilion. We're just guarding the gate for them."

Wu Zhuo smiled and shook his head, "Those Array Fire Pavilion artisans are skilled. Why should we envy them? Without them, how could our Tian Yao clan have such sharp weapons? My Longyuan sword had a notch from fighting with the Fox Hunters last time. I plan to ask the Array Fire Pavilion artisans to repair it."

Wu Zhuo paused and explained, "My sword is made from several materials fused together. Only those artisans can repair it."

The powerful hunter sneered, "Wu Zhuo, don't get your hopes up. Those artisans are so arrogant, with their ability to control array fire. They might not help you."

Wu Zhuo smiled bitterly, feeling a bit discouraged. However, Zhou Lu's ears perked up at this point.

"Array fire? Controlling array fire?"

His lips curled into a sly smile, like a weasel eyeing a chicken.

Zhou Lu thought about his demonic fire. The ordinary fire in the fireplace had a low heat, and it hadn't replenished much energy overnight. The array fire, however, was different. It was produced by using spiritual power to activate the Fire Pattern on the array furnace, creating the Two Flavors of True Fire.

Such flames could melt metal and stone effortlessly.

If he could use such powerful fire to replenish his demonic fire's energy, it might have an immediate effect...

Zhou Lu was suddenly filled with anticipation for the Array Fire Pavilion.

The group rode up the mountain and arrived at a flat area on the hillside. A wide, neatly paved stone staircase led directly to a stone cave on the peak.

The stone door of the cave was slightly ajar, with three bold characters inscribed: Array Fire Pavilion.

On the side of the hill, several large tents were hidden in the forest.

After Wu Zhuo handed over the shift to the Eagle Wing Army from another squad, he assigned over a dozen people to guard various lookout points. Zhou Lu approached, "Captain, where should I go to guard?"

The nearby hunters laughed at the same time.

Wu Zhuo patted Zhou Lu's shoulder and smiled, "You're our esteemed valiant archer. You don't need to guard. Just shoot a few more arrows when you spot the enemy."

"Really?"

Zhou Lu was both surprised and delighted.

If he really had to guard a pass, it would be a torture for him. Hearing that he didn't have to work like the others, Zhou Lu sighed in relief. His eyes darted around, and seeing that there was nothing for him to do, he walked toward the nearby stone staircase.

"Huh? What are you doing?"

Wu Zhuo was startled and quickly grabbed Zhou Lu, "Zhou Lu, you want to go to the Array Fire Pavilion?"

Zhou Lu nodded with a simple expression, showing a hint of confusion, "Yeah, I want to see what the Array Fire Pavilion looks like and how they refine weapons. We're guarding it, so it would be a waste not to go in..."

In fact, Zhou Lu wanted to see what the array furnace and the array fire looked like.

"You're crazy!"

Wu Zhuo and the other hunters were both amused and exasperated.

"Want to see how they refine weapons?"

Wu Zhuo smiled bitterly, gripping Zhou Lu's sleeve, with a helpless expression, "Zhou Lu, do you know what the Array Fire Pavilion is? It's a restricted area set by the Elder Pavilion, a military secret. If you enter without permission, you'll be executed. Even as a valiant archer, you won't be spared."

Wu Zhuo made a chopping motion on Zhou Lu's neck.

Zhou Lu's face changed, and he pulled back his neck, exclaiming in disbelief, "So strict? Oh my God..."

Wu Zhuo grunted, "What did you expect? The artisans control array fire to refine minerals, which is very dangerous. If the array fire is disturbed, it can cause an explosion and kill people. How can we let outsiders wander in?"

Seeing Wu Zhuo's serious expression, Zhou Lu's face showed disappointment.

"Not allowed to enter? How can I get the array fire..."

Zhou Lu's eyes darted around. He could feel the hunger of the demonic fire in his dantian. It was like a weasel being shown a delicious roasted chicken but not allowed to eat it. The hunters were already in position at various strategic points on the hillside.

Wu Zhuo, worried about Zhou Lu, sternly reminded him several times. Zhou Lu, though a prestigious valiant archer, was still under twenty years old and seen as an impulsive young man by the other hunters.

Zhou Lu reluctantly agreed.

At this moment, the slightly ajar stone door of the Array Fire Pavilion creaked open, and a steward with bushy eyebrows walked out.

"Someone from the Array Fire Pavilion is coming out?"

Zhou Lu quickly turned his head, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. He wanted to see what the people in the Array Fire Pavilion were like and why they were so arrogant and mysterious.

The steward's eyes looked like two large brooms, giving him a somewhat stern appearance. He wore a soft robe instead of leather armor, but otherwise, he didn't seem different from others.

Zhou Lu watched for a while and felt somewhat disappointed.

The steward quickly walked down the stone staircase.

Wu Zhuo greeted him with a shrewd smile, "Steward Qi, you have time today? Where are you going..."

Steward Qi walked down the stone staircase to the hunters and gave a symbolic smile, "Captain Wu Zhuo, it's your shift today. I have a favor to ask. Today, an artisan in the pavilion will perform a very important furnace opening. We need a laborer to move minerals, and I want to find a hunter to help us for a while..."

"Laborer?"

The hunters' faces showed a strange expression, and they exchanged glances with a chuckle, but no one spoke.

Yes, they all wanted to be on good terms with the Array Fire Pavilion, but the Eagle Wing Army was composed of elite hunters selected from the entire clan. They had their own pride.

Steward Qi continued, "Of course, I won't let you help for free. I'll give eighty ox knives..."

Eighty ox knives could buy a whole sheep. The price for a short laborer job was not low. However, the hunters' faces showed even more strangeness. How could they, with their status, do such a job?

Seeing no one respond, Steward Qi's face turned red, and he was about to offer more money when a voice suddenly shouted from the back of the crowd:

"Eighty ox knives?"

The genuine enthusiasm in the voice made everyone pause and turn to look. They saw Zhou Lu, with a simple expression, full of surprise, pushing his way forward:

"Wow, eighty ox knives can buy a sheep for my family... I'll do it!"

Steward Qi looked at this simple, fat man and was delighted. He liked this kind of straightforward, easily manipulated person who would be obedient and easy to manage inside the cave.

Steward Qi grinned, grabbed Zhou Lu's hand, and said happily, "Great, come with me."

As the two turned and walked up the stone staircase, the hunters behind them were both amused and frustrated: They, the Eagle Wing hunters, were proud of their status and wouldn't do such a job, but Zhou Lu, a more powerful valiant archer, was doing it with such enthusiasm?

Damn, does he have any pride as a valiant archer!

To add a sheep to his family?

Who didn't know that the game Zhou Lu had hunted last night was worth more than several sheep?

The hunters, who knew this little rascal well, had black lines appear on their foreheads, and they smiled bitterly. They knew Zhou Lu just wanted to visit the Array Fire Pavilion and find a way to sneak in.

Thinking about Zhou Lu's genuine excitement, the hunters were all impressed by his acting skills.

"Hmph, Steward Qi thinks he's getting a good deal, but will that little rascal listen? He'll make you cry soon."

However, Wu Zhuo's heart was heavy. The Array Fire Pavilion was a serious place. With Zhou Lu's character, would he behave inside? Zhou Lu better not cause too much trouble, or even the centurion wouldn't be able to protect him.

Thinking about this, Wu Zhuo realized the gravity of the situation, frowned, and quietly instructed a hunter:

"Zam, quickly report this to the centurion."

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