Tonglu Mountain

**Tonglu Mountain** (铜炉山, *Tónglú Shān*) is a live volcano and giant mountain range that used to be the Kingdom of Wuyong. Within the volcano lies the City of Gu, which will open its gates every few hundred years and grant ghosts the opportunity to become a Supreme, a ghost of the highest rank.

## Description

Tonglu Mountain is a mountain region as big as seven city-states. The outside area is an already mountainous terrain covered in many lush green forests with many roads leading to the actual entrance of Tonglu Mountain.

### Levels

* **Level 1:** The first level refer to the outer edges of Tonglu Mountain. The majority of the ghosts and creatures in that area are incredibly weak and easy to kill or scare away. It mostly consists of forest terrain and takes about a day to journey through.
* **Level 2:** The second level possesses less woods. The roads are wider, and it even possesses signs of habitations such as broken down houses.

### Locations

* **Kiln:** The Kiln is the core of Tonglu Mountain and the birthplace of Supreme ghosts. If the last standing ghost is able to break out of the Kiln, they would reach Devastation level of power. If they aren't strong enough they will suffocate and be burned to ashes.
* **Wuyong Palace:** The palace of the former royal capital is now buried half in the ground. The entire inside is empty and any movement echoes through the interior. Yet despite that, it is still a majestic site that is mostly intact. It possesses many golden, shimmering patterns, sculpted columns and painted buildings. There exists an armory in the palace filled with weapons that long to kill.
* **Wuyong Temples**
* **Mountains**

## Function

### Reopening of Tonglu Mountain

#### Arousal of the Ghosts

Before the gates to the City of Gu open, all ghosts would become aroused months beforehand as an alert that Tonglu Mountain is about to reopen, causing them to become exceedingly rebellious and excited. Ghosts deal differently with this arousal, for example Hua Cheng is seen to turn into a smaller and younger version of himself while He Xuan hibernates. At that point the tens of thousands of ghosts would slowly gather at the gates of Tonglu Mountain until the gates open.

#### First Trial

The ghosts face a small trial before being allowed to enter the mountain. In the reopening taking place for the fourth Ghost King to be born this trial consisted of finding a way past a mountain that could neither be flown over nor walked around. The mountains are considered landmarks, but they are known to be mischievous and play around as they will, shown when the entrance mountain had already trapped them inside when some wanted to back out.

#### Slaughter

Once the gates have opened, the ghosts would start to slaughter each other, killing until only one of them remained. The more opponents one kills inside Tonglu Mountain, the stronger the slayer will become.

## History

Tonglu Mountain used to be Wuyong until that kingdom was ultimately destroyed by the volcano erupting.

## Inhabitants

 Lava Spirits
 Empty-Shelled Mutants

## Trivia

* The spiritual powers of Heavenly Officials are heavily restricted on Tonglu Mountain.
* Distance-Shortening Arrays can't be used to arrive at Tonglu Mountain and one is required to walk there.
* Ordinary animals like chicken seem to live in Tonglu Mountain as well.

## References

1. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 12: Red-Clad Ghost; Burning of the Martial and Civil Temples
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Novel, Book 3, Chapter 143: Gates open at Mount Tonglu; the Assembly of Millions of Ghosts
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Novel, Book 3, Chapter 149: Panic Left and Right; East or West Undecided
4. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 230: Adroit Dice; Snake Eyes Rolled Alarming the Heart II
5. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 232: Adroit Dice; Snake Eyes Rolled Alarming the Heart IV
6. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 136: My Puqi Shrine Will Collapse Supremely II
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Novel, Book 3, Chapter 145: Gates open at Mount Tonglu; the Assembly of Millions of Ghosts III
8. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 142: I Choose The Path I Walk II