In Shouyang Mountain.
Along a bluestone path winding through the mountains, two figures walked side by side.
The man was tall and handsome, while the woman was radiant. Walking together, they seemed like an immortal couple.
“Caiyi, you have grown quite thin!” The man held the woman’s hand, his eyes filled with tender affection.
Gu Caiyi used her other hand to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, revealing her delicate, oval face. She smiled softly. “Compared to the countless perils and hardships you faced outside, Husband, I have merely spent some time in seclusion practicing ascetic cultivation. What does losing a bit of weight matter? Besides, as long as I can help you, no matter how harsh the austerity, I am more than willing!”
Luo Chen shook his head and sighed softly.
In the past, when his cultivation realm was still low and his strength feeble, his perspective on people and affairs had been rather utilitarian.
Those he befriended were mostly people of use.
The friends around him had to shine and generate heat for him as much as possible.
To put it harshly, even his union with Sima Huiniang back then, besides being half out of acquiescence, had also been driven by a desire to bind the manager of the Luotian Sect to himself through a closer bond.
Back then, Luo Chen had desperately needed all kinds of cultivation resources, so he had strained every ounce of strength from the friends around him.
Yet after Luo Chen reached the Nascent Soul realm, in the midst of chaotic times, the Luotian Sect had actually become something of a “burden” to him.
By that time, Luo Chen was no longer so utilitarian.
Or rather, toward his bedmates, friends, and the Luotian Sect, his primary stance was no longer about driving and utilizing them; instead, he had become a towering tree propping up the heavens, sheltering them from wind and rain.
Particularly when Luo Chen’s strength advanced by leaps and bounds, to the point where ordinary Nascent Soul True Persons were beneath his notice, the aid the Luotian Sect could offer him was practically nonexistent.
Therefore, even though Luo Chen now faced a behemoth like the Tianyuan Dao Sect, he had subconsciously never expected the cultivators of the Luotian Sect to be of any help.
He had not even wanted the cultivators of the Luotian Sect to get involved; if he were to perish and his Dao be extinguished, at least these relatives and friends could live on peacefully.
Yet what Luo Chen had not anticipated was that those weak figures he once sheltered had grown up before he knew it, and now stood behind him with resolute conviction.
Even Gu Caiyi had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage!
This was somewhat surprising.
Yet upon careful thought, it was also entirely reasonable.
Gu Caiyi’s innate talent was not particularly high; she had even failed Foundation Establishment once, and it was only because Luo Chen expended immense effort that she was saved.
However, it was precisely that failure at Foundation Establishment that made Gu Caiyi resolve to build a solid foundation, steadily climbing toward the heights step by step.
Over all these years, she had not coveted high positions in the sect, forsaking wealth and power. She had even reined in the jealousy and rivalry she used to play out with Sima Huiniang, dedicating her entire mind solely to cultivation.
With Luo Chen’s cultivation insights and experiences serving as general guidance, seasoned old Nascent Soul seniors like Lingfengzi offering regular pointers, and the Luotian Sect providing an endless supply of abundant resources, she had finally broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.
This year, Gu Caiyi was over four hundred years old. Nearing the five-hundred-year lifespan limit of the Golden Core realm, her time had nearly run out.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao did not fail those who persevered.
She succeeded. Not only did her realm elevate, but her lifespan was extended by five hundred years!
Luo Chen gently squeezed that soft, tender hand and said with emotion, “Who would have thought that we, who once crowded into that siheyuan courtyard at Dahe Mill, could reach where we are today?”
Gu Caiyi was equally overcome with emotion. From the tiny Dahe Mill, two Nascent Soul True Persons, a fourth-tier body cultivator, and several Golden Core cultivators had emerged.
And all of these were miracles brought about by following Luo Chen.
Back then, she truly had not misjudged him!
Gu Caiyi looked at the rugged contours of the man beside her, filled with reverence yet harboring a trace of worry.
“Husband, are you truly going to take on the Tianyuan Dao Sect?”
Luo Chen said calmly, “Not only the Tianyuan Dao Sect. In all likelihood, I will also face a Spirit Transformation mighty figure.”
Gu Caiyi shuddered, an instinctive look of fear and caution crossing her face.
She tightly grasped Luo Chen’s hand. “Husband, why must it be so? With our Luotian Sect’s current number of top powerhouses, your world-astonishing abilities, and the fact that the Eastern Desolation currently has no true master, we could live very well here. The Luotian Sect could become the number-one sect of the Eastern Desolation, and you would remain the revered number-one expert of the Eastern Desolation’s human race. Given time, ascending to attain the Dao is not impossible!”
Hearing this, a long-absent bitter smile appeared on Luo Chen’s face.
If only it were truly that simple.
He shook his head. “None of that has any meaning.”
Gu Caiyi was perplexed. “What has meaning then? What deep feud do you have with the Tianyuan Dao Sect that forces you to take up arms against them?”
Luo Chen said softly, “Breaking through to Spirit Transformation and attaining carefree longevity—that is meaning. And to take that solid step upon the road of longevity, I must storm the Tianyuan Dao Sect and seize a treasure.”
Gu Caiyi remained bewildered.
Over the past century and more, concerning Luo Chen’s situation, they had only seen the surface without understanding the specific details.
Only those close to him, like Wang Yuan and Gu Caiyi, had vaguely sensed his urgency.
It was an urgency willing to risk death and the destruction of his Dao just to forcefully elevate his strength!
And the actual turning point that let the Luotian Sect realize Luo Chen would take on the Tianyuan Dao Sect came from an old man crossing the sea to pay a visit to the Luotian Sect.
Zhou Yunshen!
After sending his grandson Zhou Fuyou to the Tiannan Dao Palace, he had not returned directly to his family.
Instead, before his lifespan reached its end, he quietly traveled to the Eastern Desolation cultivation world and visited the Luotian Sect, presenting Luo Chen’s keepsake.
It was then that he spoke of the matter—seemingly casually, yet perhaps deliberately.
Only then did the Luotian Sect mobilize en masse to support Luo Chen with all their might.
Yet why Luo Chen insisted on taking on the Tianyuan Dao Sect remained a secret.
Facing the woman who had shared his bed for hundreds of years, Luo Chen gazed at her for a moment and chose not to conceal it, recounting the circumstances in detail.
When she heard of the “missing life soul,” the woman instinctively covered her mouth, her face filled with shock.
Then all her doubts instantly vanished, leaving only indignant hatred for the Tianyuan Dao Sect.
“I had originally prepared two approaches. On one hand, elevating my strength to prepare for unforeseen events; on the other, cultivating an avatar to attempt a roundabout retrieval of my soul.”
“That avatar contains a portion of my cleaved soul, but not my primary soul. Once he breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm and his life soul is drawn in by the Lanke Chessboard, he can quietly swap places with the portion of my life soul that was seized. At that time, the avatar could find an opportunity to leave the Tianyuan Dao Sect and bring my life soul back, sparing me from making an enemy of the Tianyuan Dao Sect.”
“After all, that is a behemoth that oppresses an entire realm. Who would truly wish to oppose them?”
“Yet time waits for no one!”
Luo Chen sighed faintly, released Gu Caiyi’s hand, and walked to the cliff edge, gazing out at the bustling city of Lingtian Pass beyond Shouyang Mountain.
Because of Monarch Qixia, the Dao Sect suffered calamity, and the Central Continent met with disaster.
The two entered a tacit period of recuperation.
Yet the Tianyuan Dao Sect refused to sit idle and wait for death. They sought to reunite the Central Continent and rebuild Heaven and Earth Peak.
Once they truly succeeded, the already precarious situation would shatter instantly.
The God Descent Formation!
What manner of “god” would descend this time?
It would inevitably be a formidable entity capable of dealing with Monarch Qixia!
When that time came, the Tianyuan Dao Sect would no longer fear Monarch Qixia, and could forcefully charge into the Eastern Desolation.
Under such circumstances, even if he could retrieve his life soul later, he would be nothing more than an ant before strength that dominated the entire realm.
Luo Chen believed the Tianyuan Dao Sect in the Profound Realm possessed that capability!
After all, the *Secret Records of the Profound Realm* left to him by Divine Lord Youli of the Southern Border before his ascension roughly documented the Tianyuan Dao Sect’s situation: over a hundred mighty figures, several True Monarchs, and even Body Integration Great Venerables!
Before such beings, let alone without a life soul, even if he retrieved his life soul and miraculously advanced to Spirit Transformation, Luo Chen would still be no match, to say nothing of the Luotian Sect under his protection.
His avatar, Zhou Fuyou, had cultivated for less than a hundred years. Even with extraordinary talent, he still lacked time to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.
Pinning hopes on him was far too illusory.
In the end, he had to rely on himself!
The mountain wind howled, whipping his black Daoist robe until it fluttered noisily, as a chilling killing intent surged forth.
Standing behind him, the woman looked at his back. The earlier fear and worry on her face gradually faded, replaced by unwavering resolve.
“Caiyi will accompany Husband to the end, no matter who the enemy is!”
***
Shouyang Mountain was originally just an ordinary spiritual mountain within Lingtian Pass.
The only special thing about it was perhaps the fourth-rank spiritual vein inside, which had been forcibly relocated from elsewhere back when all the sects of the Eastern Desolation co-funded the construction of Lingtian Pass to resist the demon race.
The reason it gradually became special, turning into one of the most famous places in Lingtian Pass, dated back to the most intense period of the Human-Demon War.
Back then, many Nascent Soul experts gathered at Lingtian Pass to constantly fend off the invading demon army.
In their leisure time, the Nascent Soul experts often held small gatherings to exchange cultivation insights and resources.
Luo Chen’s fame as the Pill Sect had spread during that period.
And there were quite a few others who shared similar ideas.
A Nascent Soul cultivator surnamed Lu from the Dongyang Sect possessed no exceptional talent of his own, yet relying on his network of connections, he frequently invited Nascent Soul True Persons to gatherings.
These were no private gatherings among a close circle of friends. Each gathering drew considerable numbers, and the invitations were not restricted to his own network, continuously expanding.
The Nascent Soul True Persons attending came from various sects and schools, each with their own strengths; even experts from the Mingyuan Sect at the time were invited from time to time.
Even Nascent Soul experts who had once been hostile would temporarily set aside their grievances at these gatherings, maintaining an outward appearance of harmony.
Not only that!
Elder Lu would also regularly hold lecture assemblies for the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators below, answering their questions and clearing their doubts.
And all of this took place on Shouyang Mountain.
Therefore, these Nascent Soul gatherings and lectures for Golden Core cultivators came to be collectively known as the “Shouyang Dao Discussion.”
Elder Lu even earned the moniker of the Shouyang Shanren for a time.
Unfortunately, in a subsequent major battle, Elder Lu was grievously wounded, his physical body destroyed, and his Nascent Soul barely escaped. Afterward, he never appeared on the Human-Demon battlefield again, and the name of Shouyang Shanren faded into obscurity.
The Shouyang Dao Discussion he organized gradually declined as well.
Of course, after the war ended, many Nascent Soul True Persons still reminisced about the Shouyang Dao Discussion.
It was the worst of times, with the demon beast menace constantly looming.
Yet it was also the best of times, when a large number of same-tier experts gathered together, debating with one another and exchanging resources, with cultivation efficiency far surpassing that of working behind closed doors.
After the war, though the Eastern Desolation’s talents were depleted, those who survived saw their realms advance by leaps and bounds—a feat partially attributable to those gatherings.
And this time, an existence whose renown far exceeded that of the Shouyang Shanren revived the Dao Discussion upon Shouyang Mountain!
Three days had arrived; the Pill Sect had extended an invitation!
Beams of overbearing escape lights flew toward the mountain that was neither exceptionally tall nor imposing, watched by the reverent, admiring gazes of countless low-tier cultivators within Lingtian Pass.
A mountain need not be high; if an immortal resides there, it becomes wondrous.
Presently, Shouyang Mountain was the most spiritually vibrant immortal mountain in the entire Eastern Desolation!
Banners fluttered, and scriptures hung high.
Dragon-coiled pillars stood tall, and mist rose with every step upon the white jade stones.
One escape light after another descended from the sky, landing upon the white jade plaza. Then, hairs stood on end as visitors involuntarily reined in their proud auras.
All because upon the plaza, four immense demon beasts were presently in their true forms like stone sculptures, coldly watching all the arriving guests.
At the very end was a white gull. Remarkably handsome and spirited, its feathers were like sharp swords; even without spreading its wings, it projected a piercing chill.
A fourth-rank transformed great demon, the Tianxuan Battle Gull!
Opposite it lay a gigantic turtle sprawled upon the earth like a small island. Its eyes were half-open and half-closed as though asleep, yet the black water swirling around it warned everyone to stay away.
A fourth-rank desolate beast, the Nether Dark Turtle!
Further up, a black dragon coiled around a pillar, looking down on all living beings, giving the impression that at the slightest provocation, it would open its maw and refine them.
A golden tiger crouched, eyes tightly shut, its aura reined in until it was nearly imperceptible. Yet merely sitting there, it demanded that no one dare overlook it.
Leading his junior sister Changxi and junior brother Meng Ye, Sovereign Jiuling was the first to arrive at Shouyang Mountain.
Yet even as powerful as he was, the instant he saw that golden tiger, his expression changed drastically, his magic power leaking out.
Such a great demon, sitting here like an obedient spirit beast, guarding the mountain gate?
Assisted by Luo Chen, the current Golden Tiger Di Tu had completely absorbed the legacy left behind by the ancient demon Di Tian. Not only had he stepped into the Great Demon Emperor realm in one bound, but he had also comprehended the power of the Gold Origin.
In particular, the residual aura of the ancient demon Di Tian—the aura of a Spirit Transformation ancient demon—was enough to deter all existences below Spirit Transformation!
Changxi and Meng Ye exchanged glances, only now realizing the Luotian Sect’s profound foundation.
Four Demon Emperors!
On this alone, the Luotian Sect was fully capable of standing at the forefront of the Eastern Desolation’s major sects, to say nothing of the rumored Nascent Soul True Persons.
“Senior Brother?”
Sovereign Jiuling took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“Let us go!”
He led the two toward the solemn, newly renovated grand hall above. As he ascended the steps, he still could not resist looking back at that golden tiger.
Had such an existence truly been subdued by Luo Chen?
Before they even reached the grand hall’s entrance, figures filed out from within.
Sovereign Jiuling looked up; most of them were people he knew well.
Wang Yuan, Lingfengzi, Ghost Emperor Xiaobai, along with an elderly and a young figure who were presumably Haoranzi and Yu Jiaolong, whom he had heard of before.
Lingfengzi took the initiative to welcome them with a smile. “Fellow Daoist Jiuling, long time no see! Please leave your name here!”
A scroll had already been unrolled.
Sovereign Jiuling smiled faintly and casually inscribed his Daoist title upon it.
Then, nodding to everyone, he entered the Shouyang Hall—vast as a deep sea—under the guidance of Ghost Emperor Xiaobai.
Changxi and Meng Ye did the same, leaving their respective names on the scroll.
Lingfengzi looked back and said to Wang Yuan, “Not bad. It seems Senior Brother Luo Chen’s rallying power is quite impressive; three Nascent Soul True Persons have arrived first thing in the morning.”
Wang Yuan gazed calmly outside the mountain, where streaks of formidable escape lights were heading in this direction.
“It won’t be just three. We will have our hands full next. Lingfengzi, you are more familiar with the sects of the Eastern Desolation, so you handle welcoming the guests! Leave the task of recording names to me.”
Lingfengzi stroked his beard and chuckled, gladly taking up the assignment.
Next, with Wang Yuan holding the scroll and Lingfengzi welcoming guests, names renowned throughout the Eastern Desolation were called out repeatedly by Haoranzi and Yu Jiaolong.
The resonant chanting of names was even transmitted outside the mountain and throughout Lingtian Pass via the formation.
“Fenghua Palace: Fairy Fenghua, Fairy Fengyue!”
“White Crane Sect: Master Xianhe, Crane Emperor, Bai Yunfei!”
“Wan Jian Pavilion: Lin Qingxuan!”
“Hundred Beasts Sect: Qin Baixiang, Master Qilian!”
“Tiandu Sect: Tianduzi...”
...
“White Deer Grotto: Master Pengxiang, Master Kuxiang, Daoist Tieguan, Master Nanping, Layman Huiming, Kongtongzi!”
“Dongyang Sect: Grand Elder Master Dongyang!”
“Tianyuan Dao Sect: Shi Chuanting, Lian Buwei!”
When the last two arrived alongside Grand Elder Dongyang, the smile on Lingfengzi’s face vanished, and Wang Yuan snapped his head up, glaring fixedly at the three before them.
The originally lively atmosphere abruptly froze.
With his keen perception, Lian Buwei immediately noticed this. He raised an eyebrow. “What? Are we not welcome?”
Wang Yuan grinned—a smile that looked almost savage—and gestured behind him in invitation.
“Honored guests have graced our doors. How could you not be welcome? Please, enter!”
Chapter 1066