"How much do you know about that figure in the Dongyang Sect, Brother Deng?"
"Not much, but in my view, that man falls far short of you in every respect, Brother Luo. There is no need to worry overmuch."
"Oh?" Luo Chen blinked and smiled faintly. "You have that much confidence in me, Brother Deng?"
Emotions welled within Deng Taiyue as he said, "Setting aside how you suppressed that Nether ghost cultivator right before my eyes, the battle of the Western Desert's Pure Land that has been widely spoken of in recent years alone is enough to give me a hundredfold confidence in you."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. He had not expected news of his deeds in the Western Desert to have already reached the Eastern Desolation.
Yet counting the time that had passed, it was indeed about right.
His battle record there was truly astonishing, fully worthy of spreading to other continents.
Seeing that Luo Chen offered no rebuttal or denial, Deng Taiyue realized the rumors were true, and his admiration deepened even further.
"Battling the thirty-six monks of the Hanging Temple all on your own without suffering defeat, and then joining forces with the demoness Qingshuang to instantly shatter the Arhat Great Formation—even though I have repeatedly overestimated your abilities, Brother Luo, you still exceed all imagination!"
Luo Chen chuckled. "The world is prone to exaggeration. Little do they know that under the siege of those thirty-six eminent monks, I was merely struggling to hold on."
Knowing Luo Chen was being modest, Deng Taiyue did not call him out. Instead, he asked out of curiosity, "According to the version put out by the Tianyuan Dao Sect, you and that demoness Qingshuang once engaged in a life-and-death struggle. Why, upon arriving in the Western Desert, did you join hands to fight together?"
"Grievances and debts, feuds and favors—they shift unpredictably. It is difficult to explain in just a few words!" Luo Chen laughed it off, glossing over the matter, and steered the conversation toward something he cared about more: "Did only those bits of news come from the Western Desert?"
Deng Taiyue's expression turned solemn. "Indeed, there was another major event!"
Luo Chen's interest was piqued, and he adopted an attentive posture.
And what Deng Taiyue recounted next was indeed precisely what Luo Chen wanted to know.
The Hanging Temple had closed its gates once more!
Only this time, it had not closed them voluntarily. It had been sealed away by force!
Rumor had it that after the demoness and Mara routed the Hanging Temple's elite thirty-six monks in the Pure Land, Master Xuan Du arrived before the Verdant Mist Screen outside the Hanging Temple.
At the cost of his entire Deity Transformation cultivation, he channeled the Glazed Pure Land to evolve an immeasurable Buddhist land, attempting to merge it directly into the Verdant Mist Screen.
During this process, Mahakala, an Arhat of the Hanging Temple, struck out repeatedly and beat Master Xuan Du to death. Even so, he failed to halt the fusion of the Glazed Pure Land and the Verdant Mist Screen.
When a spatial spirit treasure fused into a natural chasm that was already deemed an impregnable defense, its power defied all imagination.
Amidst Mahakala's roar of bitter indignation, the Hanging Temple was completely sealed away.
Such news sounded simple in the telling, but anyone present could imagine how tragic and brutal that battle must have been.
Upon hearing this, Luo Chen could not help but sigh with deep emotion.
"To think that Fellow Daoist Xuan Du could truly go so far as to sacrifice his life for the sake of all living beings."
Had it been Luo Chen himself, having attained the Deity Transformation realm with such immense difficulty, how could he ever have brought himself to accept death so serenely?
Recalling his conversation with Xuan Du before departing back then, Luo Chen felt that if time permitted, he truly ought to burn a stick of incense for him.
Deng Taiyue continued, "Mahakala was sealed, but the Hanging Temple's lineage was not severed. Before his death, Master Xuan Du left behind sixteen eminent monks, each possessing power equivalent to a Nascent Soul Master. They continue to propagate the Buddhist path across the Western Desert under the name of the Hanging Temple."
At that point, Deng Taiyue glanced at Luo Chen.
"I heard those sixteen were among the thirty-six monks who were fortunate enough to survive your hand."
Luo Chen smiled and shook his head, guiding the conversation back on track.
"The Western Desert is too far from us. Let us speak of that figure in the Dongyang Sect instead!"
Deng Taiyue acknowledged this and began describing the Dongyang Sect's Grand Elder based on what he knew: "This man is a very traditional Dongyang Sect cultivator. He displayed talent from a young age, achieved success in his studies, and after ascending to the Nascent Soul realm, followed in his predecessors' footsteps to cultivate further at the Mingyuan Sect. Where he differed from other Dongyang Sect cultivators was that his submission to the Mingyuan Sect back then was total and absolute; he was obedient in every conceivable way.
"During his reign over the Dongyang Sect, not only did the sect guard the gateway of the Eastern Desolation on behalf of the Mingyuan Sect, but its disciples could also be mobilized and directed at will by Mingyuan Sect cultivators.
"To put it politely, they were as close as one family. To put it bluntly, he was their dog."
Luo Chen recalled some of the things he had personally witnessed in years past.
He had indeed seen Mingyuan Sect disciples ordering around Dongyang Sect disciples. Such a dynamic rarely occurred even between friendly sects.
Forget different sects; even within a single sect, distinct factions existed.
For them to appear so harmonious only proved how low the Dongyang Sect had bowed.
So, what did the Dongyang Sect's Grand Elder gain by working so tirelessly for the Mingyuan Sect?
"He is the youngest Great Cultivator across all generations of the Dongyang Sect. When he stepped into late Nascent Soul back then, he was not even five hundred years old! At that age, ordinary cultivators might still be scrambling for opportunities just to break through into the Nascent Soul realm." Deng Taiyue sighed in wonder, then subconsciously glanced at Luo Chen as an incredible realization struck him. "Brother Luo, you must already be in the late Nascent Soul stage, right?"
Luo Chen smiled and replied candidly, "Naturally, yes."
Deng Taiyue breathed a sigh of relief. If Luo Chen were not in late Nascent Soul, he would have questioned his entire existence. After all, had Luo Chen's illustrious battle feats in the Western Desert been achieved at mid Nascent Soul, it would have been utterly terrifying.
Of course, he did not know that at the time, Luo Chen had indeed only been at the sixth level of Nascent Soul.
Even so, while relieved, Deng Taiyue could not help but marvel again and again.
"I speak of the Dongyang Sect's Grand Elder as an extraordinary genius, yet compared to someone as dazzling and peerless as you, he still falls far short! You are only around three hundred years old, are you not?"
Luo Chen smiled without answering.
Deng Taiyue shook his head and continued his description of the Dongyang Sect's Grand Elder.
"He advanced to late Nascent Soul very early on. Reason dictates that during the two-century Human-Demon War, he should have stepped forward to assist. Yet throughout those entire two hundred years, he was never seen taking action personally. Rumor has it that he used that opportunity to bring his cultivation to full fruition, becoming the sole cultivator at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection in the Eastern Desolation!"
Nascent Soul Great Perfection?
The corners of Luo Chen's mouth curled slightly, revealing a hint of interest.
He asked casually, "Does the Dongyang Sect's Grand Elder have any famous battle records?"
Deng Taiyue paused. "You have me stumped there."
Luo Chen's brow furrowed. "Are there any recorded instances of him fighting that onlookers witnessed with their own eyes?"
Deng Taiyue pondered for a moment. "There is one, though it hardly counts as a life-and-death struggle. Not long ago, when I hosted that auction, Sovereign Jiuling—having newly advanced to the Great Cultivator realm and brimming with vigor—exchanged a blow with the Dongyang Grand Elder."
"And the outcome?" Luo Chen asked, intrigued.
"Sovereign Jiuling was defeated, falling slightly short in strength," Deng Taiyue answered.
Luo Chen was not particularly satisfied with this answer; the information was simply too sparse.
"However, later when we gathered in private, Sovereign Jiuling seemed quite displeased with the result. He stated bluntly that if it were a life-and-death struggle, it would remain uncertain whose hand the stag would die by."
With this additional detail, Luo Chen understood the situation.
At the very least, when he had tested his strength against Sovereign Jiuling back when Jiuling had just become a Great Cultivator, Jiuling had been thoroughly and wholeheartedly convinced of his defeat.
Yet when the Dongyang Grand Elder defeated Sovereign Jiuling in a single exchange, Jiuling remained defiant. That meant the gap between them was not particularly vast.
"It seems this person excels at cultivation, yet is hardly skilled in combat!" Luo Chen reached a broad assessment.
Deng Taiyue asked inquisitively, "Do you intend to eliminate him?"
Luo Chen countered, "Did you not say he would not be swayed by the Empowerment Pill to become my ally?"
Deng Taiyue nodded. "Indeed. After the Mingyuan Sect fell, he surrendered directly to the Tianyuan Dao Sect. Even now that the main forces of the Tianyuan Dao Sect have left the Eastern Desolation, he still collects tribute from the various sects here on their behalf. Word has it that he intends to follow the old Star Gate system and join the Tianyuan Dao Sect. In return, the Tianyuan Dao Sect promised to assist him in attaining the Deity Transformation realm. Therefore, your Empowerment Pill will hardly move him."
The Empowerment Pill merely offered a chance to comprehend the true intent of the laws ahead of time and accelerate cultivation.
While comprehending true intent greatly aided future advancement to Deity Transformation, the most crucial necessity for truly stepping into Deity Transformation was not true intent, nor even the origin soul, but a fifth-tier spiritual land!
And such territories were held exclusively by the great sacred grounds of the Mountain Sea Realm.
If Luo Chen could one day unearth and reactivate Mount Yanfu, which lay buried deep in the Netherworld Abyss, he too would have the chance to control a fifth-tier spiritual land.
In fact, this was precisely why Deng Taiyue was currently complying with his every request. Deng Taiyue had truly seen Mount Yanfu with his own eyes and knew that Luo Chen had claimed the Ming Water spring eye, possessing the foundational condition required to reactivate Mount Yanfu.
If Deng Taiyue himself were to reach that final step one day, he would also be desperately lacking a fifth-tier spiritual land.
At that point, the three promises Luo Chen had given him today would become exceedingly precious.
By the same logic, he could easily understand why the Dongyang Grand Elder would never accept any terms from Luo Chen.
The temptation of attaining Deity Transformation outweighed everything else!
Deng Taiyue hesitated briefly before cautioning, "Yet if you eliminate him now, might that not alert the enemy? If the Dao Sect becomes vigilant, we truly will have no room to turn things around."
Luo Chen smiled and said, "You are right. I have no intention of moving against him right now. Still, we must meet at least once. After all, rather than waiting for them to seek me out, it is better for me to pay a visit and see how things stand."
"Is that wise?" Deng Taiyue asked with concern.
Luo Chen brushed past him and patted his shoulder.
"Do not worry about such things. For now, cultivate diligently with the Empowerment Pill and the insights I gave you! Be sure to comprehend the true intent of the laws!"
Luo Chen pulled his hood back over his head, took a step into the void, and vanished into the night.
Only after he had departed did the monolith shift under the moonlight, transforming back into its beast form.
It spoke in a low rumble: "Master Taiyue, that person must never be made an enemy!"
Deng Taiyue said helplessly, "I naturally know his prowess. Before I comprehend the true intent of the laws, I am certainly no match for him."
Shi Gandang growled softly, "No. Even if you make a breakthrough, do not attempt to provoke him."
Deng Taiyue frowned slightly, looking at his stone spirit in bewilderment.
Shi Gandang took a deep breath, its eyes filled with thick dread.
"The sensation he gave me is already no weaker than that of a Deity Transformation powerhouse."
Deng Taiyue was stunned. Could it really be that exaggerated?
***
"Master, that stone spirit was quite amusing. Why didn't you take it?"
Piloting the Frost Eagle Shuttle, Bai Meiling asked curiously, recalling the fellow named Shi Gandang.
Luo Chen replied helplessly, "That is their sect's guardian stone spirit. How could I deprive someone of what they cherish?"
Bai Meiling gave an "oh" and added, "Still, it seemed terrified of you. With just a casual pulse of your magic power, it reverted to its original form."
Luo Chen said calmly, "It naturally had reason to fear me! Even among sentient beings, there are strong and weak. Within my purple mansion reside two great fire spirits, both fifth-tier existences comparable to Deity Transformation. Leaking merely a wisp of their aura was enough to terrify Shi Gandang."
Bai Meiling came to a sudden realization.
Not long ago, she too had witnessed the Nirvana Fire Spirit—a mighty existence that seemed just like a true divine beast phoenix!
"Master, where are we heading next? Are we heading straight out to sea, or to the Dongyang Sect?"
"To the Dongyang Sect, which is also on our way out to sea, as it lies on the same path," Luo Chen said flatly, appearing not in the least concerned about entering the premier Nascent Soul upper sect of the Eastern Desolation.
Bai Meiling let out a melodious laugh and spurred the Frost Eagle Shuttle to greater speed.
***
Several days later.
Within the Dongyang Sect, along a long stone stairway, Luo Chen walked upward with calm steps.
Bai Meiling's voice drifted into his ears in wonder.
"Master, the Dongyang Sect is so bustling!"
Luo Chen looked up at the sky and could not help but sigh inwardly. Indeed, it had been a very long time since he had seen such a lively sect.
Across the horizon, rays of flying light wove like threads, and sword-riding cultivators were everywhere.
Among the mountain forests, figures moved about in abundance.
Even along this stone stairway leading toward the peak where guest elders resided, disciples came and went continuously.
Among the various sects whose talents had withered after two centuries of the Human-Demon War, this was an extraordinary anomaly.
Yet when one considered that over the past two hundred years the Dongyang Sect had barely participated in frontal battles aside from dispatching the Mount Shouyang Hermit and a few low-tier disciples, it was perfectly normal.
In particular, after the Human-Demon War ended, the Dongyang Sect had been accepting tribute from the various sects of the Eastern Desolation on behalf of the Dao Sect. How much profit they skimmed off in the middle was difficult to fathom.
Under these circumstances, the present Dongyang Sect could truly be called the foremost sect of the Eastern Desolation!
Unfortunately, such a Dongyang Sect possessed no independent autonomy.
Luo Chen took step after step forward, while the surrounding disciples seemed entirely unable to see him.
Before long, he arrived at a courtyard.
Two people were conversing within.
"I wonder when we will finally be able to return to the Central Plains!"
"What is so good about going back? Right now the sect is fractured, with the great families vying for power and profit. The Ancestor has no interest in governing the sect; if we return, we will only be dragged into the vortex of internal strife. How could it compare to our situation now, collecting tribute and resources from the subordinate sects while cultivating in peace?"
"That's not entirely fair. Didn't the Ancestor issue an order to vigorously foster the new generation of disciples? I was thinking that if I were back home, I could add my newly come-of-age grandson to the roster. Who knows, he might have a chance to become a true disciple."
"Stop dreaming. The criteria for this cultivation plan are extraordinarily harsh. How many spiritual roots does that grandson of yours even have?"
"True enough. Forget it, let us cultivate here in the Eastern Desolation in peace and strive to return only after reaching mid Nascent Soul. That way, our voice in the clan will carry more weight."
"Cultivation alone won't do. Word came from the Ancestor telling us to keep an eye out for Luo Chen."
"This man Luo Chen..."
The conversation in the courtyard continued, covering a wide range of topics not limited to any single continent, region, or cultivation craft.
Indulging their mood, the two Nascent Soul Masters chatted wherever their whims took them.
It was not until dusk that one of them took his leave.
Once he was gone, the remaining cultivator was about to channel his magic power to shut the courtyard gate when he saw a figure cloaked in black stride inside.
"Who are you?"
Displeasure surfaced on the cultivator's face at this uninvited intrusion, but then he saw the visitor pull back his hood, revealing a pair of eyes shimmering with an extraordinary luster.
Aside from those eyes, he could see nothing else and could remember none of the visitor's facial features.
He heard only a voice drifting out from the haze of his confusion.
"Your name?"
He murmured in reply, "Shi Chuanting."
The corners of the black-robed man's lips curled slightly. "Good fortune indeed. A Nascent Soul Master from the Twelve Great Houses, no less."
Chapter 1020