Chapter 156: The resource beneath

Long Tao's avatar rushed into the excavation site. A natural entity that was able to terraform such a large part of earth into fire stones of such high quality was rare to come by. 

"What could the core hold?" As Long Tao continues to advance deeper into the pit, the temperature began to rise. From being a minor feel, Long Tao could feel his skin getting scorched as he went further. The concentration of fire energy could be estimated from this instance alone.

The energy seemed to have changed the atmosphere in here. Long Tao could see threads of fire energy with naked eyes. HE started using the quasi king artifacts and his to rush into the bottom. 

As he crossed the last hurdle and came into the core regions, an astonishing view greeted him. 

.........................................................

"What is this?"

A huge bed of magma was lying underneath a crystalized covering of fire crystals. Long Tao could feel the radiated energy from this far.

"It's a fire energy vein." The Keeper informed.

"It's sure doesn't look like a vein.". It was the first experience of viewing a fire vein. He couldn't help but place some doubts.

"Fire veins are naturally occurring stacks of incredible fire energy. It takes a long period of time to form itself. What you see below is a relatively young and small fire vein."

"It's similar to the thunder pool n the thunder god academy."

"The one in the thunder god academy doesn't e even come close to it. It was man-made from various thunder resources. This is a natural born energy reserve which is formed by collected fire energy through a large period of time."

"It uses are limitless. It is an elemental resource, a cultivation material, can be used to make weapons of emperor class, can help improve the quality of fire in your body, among others."

................................................….

"Is it beneficial to you?" Long Tao asked.

"It is beneficial to both the artifact and you. It is a cultivation resource that can only be utilized by those of the emperor class, but the artifact can work as a medium to incubate it into your body. This much help you reach to the top of king class easily."

"Then why didn't you extract it already."

"The resource is quite powerful. When I said it could help you reach the peak of king class, I wasn't including the part which would be absorbed by the artifact to mend itself."

"If used totally by someone, one can easily rise through two levels in emperor class. Do you think such a natural resource would showcase some natural phenomena?"

"You didn't absorb it already because you are scared it would give rise to a natural phenomenon and attract cultivators to this place."

"Exactly. Do you remember all the sects you infiltrated? The pill hall and firmament palace both have king class cultivator. The thunder god hall must have one too. As per the star emperor academy, I suspect there must be cultivators above king class there."

........................................................

Above king class would mean cultivators in emperor class. They were like hegemons of these areas. A single emperor class cultivator could lay waste to all the sects and countries. Long Tao couldn't match someone like that.

"The crystallized crust is the barrier that doesn't allow the veins to showcase some massive environmental change. But I need to break it if we were to absorb the fire vein."

"But that would give rise to the phenomena we are scared of, attracting cultivators who are far beyond the limit of our capabilities." Long Tao completed the Keeper's sentence.

"Could we use a concealing formation or a barrier formation to prevent the leak, or at least mask the energy."

The Keeper couldn't hold his laughter. "You are just a grade 3 formation master boy. This is a resource that is used by an emperor level practitioner. The formation w3on't be able to bear the burden."

"I think I have an idea."

.................................................................

"Any formation draws its power from a source, which helps it sustain its properties. When you said it couldn't hold the energy, you must be referring to the lack of energy to sustain it, right." 

The Keeper nodded in agreement.

"What if we make the formation keeping the vein itself as its power core."

"The thought is having a good theoretical base, but working with the fire vein is not that easy. The material required to sustain such a massive source of pure fire energy is not easily found. Your level is too low to work with such materials."

"What if we stack formations one above the other."

The Keeper's eyes shone with a delighted light. It might just work. He instantly started discussing the number of formations required for flawless execution of the stack.

"The stack would be divided into 5 major parts and there will be 3 bridging pathways between each successive part."

"Each part would contain a sealing formation, a masking formation, and energy channeling formation, and an energy-absorbing formation."

..................................................................…

"Even if we successfully execute all of this, the formation would be able to work autonomously." The Keeper stated his doubt.

"Two avatars will work to simultaneously control the formation. One will be in charge of the inner sets and the other one will be responsible for the outer ones."

"How long would it take for you to completely absorb the energy within the vein."

"Once I completely absorb the whole deposit, the artifact would have gone through a qualitative change twice. But the energy reserve this time is still too large. It would take at least three whole months with absorbing and mending simultaneously to completely absorb it."

Long Tao spirits instantly took a hit. Three months was not only long from a perspective of training time, but the actual reason for worry was the formation itself."

"The formation wouldn't be able to hold for that long." Long Tao informed the Keeper.

"As I said boy, we won't be able to completely devour this opportunity." When the formation breaks the blast of energy radiated out would attract multiple practitioners of the king realm and above. This zone would be uncontrollable then

..........................................................................

"I have an idea." Long Tao said with a cunning smile. If he couldn't devour the whole thing, he would make the beats out of what was left out.

"We will hold and continue to absorb as much as we can. When the formation would be about to break, I would take the chance to inform the sects about a resource that I found out."

The Keeper looked at Long Tao with disbelief. This boy was too cunning in his actions. If he informs the sects about this resource, he is sure to get rewarded for it. It was far better than completely losing the resource.

"What is the estimated amount we can absorb until the formation holds."

"If I pushed the artifact to its limit, I would say about half the vein."

"Would the remaining part be alluring enough to certify as an incredible natural resource."

"Even a quarter would be enough to start a blood bath among emperor realm cultivators."

Long Tao smiled upon hearing the news. The plan would be perfect.

...................................................................

"All the avatars would cease their practice for the time being and protect this area. We couldn't let anyone intrudes within the region where the effect is prominent. The area would be tripled, once the surface crystallization is removed.

"Any threats are to eliminate. I will be asking the prince to give me absolute control over this area. I think he would be more than happy to do it."

Jiao military was short on capable hands to control over eh newly gained territory. If Long Tao came forward to assume control over the wildlands, Jiao Shen would happily offer it to him. It would also signify itself as a reward to Long Tao for his glorious deeds.

The avatars started working.