Mi Shuhua was dead, and the destruction of the Mountain Breaker Gang was inevitable.
Yet Miao Wen held high regard for Luo Chen's alchemy, as well as for the man himself.
Thus, he had proposed offering Luo Chen his protection and entering into a partnership.
What Miao Wen brought to the table was very little—one could even call him stingy.
It was merely himself and his prestige as a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect!
Luo Chen, on the other hand, would be responsible for building the new faction, concocting pills, handling sales, and managing countless other affairs.
After covering the internal expenses of the Luotian Association, the remaining spirit stone profits would be split evenly between them.
On the surface, Luo Chen was getting the short end of the stick.
In reality, he truly was.
Yet the opportunities and benefits inherent in this arrangement were far-reaching.
Luo Chen saw it with complete clarity. Though the early days might be difficult, as long as the Luotian Association grew, he would earn more than enough.
Moreover, by borrowing the name of a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Miao Wen, he could expand his network and enter a higher circle.
Miao Wen had even given him a promise regarding Foundation Establishment Pills.
He would allow Luo Chen to take part in opportunities to divide Foundation Establishment Pills alongside other Foundation Establishment factions.
And with no limit on the number of chances, provided he had sufficient wealth.
These were things Mi Shuhua had never been able to give him, nor would he ever have granted them!
Though there was no concrete proof, it was easy to imagine that Mi Shuhua had consistently blocked other Foundation Establishment figures from making contact with Luo Chen.
It had been a form of protection, but also a form of imprisonment.
Now that Mi Shuhua was dead, Luo Chen felt deeply conflicted.
Yet he would never halt his steps because of it; if anything, he had to stride forward with greater resolve and wider strides.
Luo Chen saw everything with total clarity.
Cooperating with Miao Wen meant taking a temporary loss in exchange for long-term gains.
Besides, he might not actually lose out.
Miao Wen lacked the time and energy to oversee daily affairs. The pills were produced by Luo Chen, and their sale was handled by the Luotian Association.
The room to maneuver in between was simply vast.
Luo Chen had far too many ways to ensure that his rightful share of profits far exceeded what he had received during the era of the Mountain Breaker Gang.
From this moment on, he could be said to have tenuously seized control of his own destiny.
And in the future, he would truly and fully hold that destiny in his hands.
The founding of the Luotian Association was the very first step!
This organization had to operate with him as its core.
That meant it could not do without people and resources related to the Dao of Alchemy.
The group of cultivators gathered here in Crescent Moon Valley all hailed from the Pill Hall and the Medicine Hall, perfectly suited to his needs.
It could be said that each one who joined made Luo Chen's foundation firmer and more solid.
In the end, nearly all of the thirty-one low-stage cultivators present joined the Luotian Association.
The reason it was "nearly all" was that one person had yet to declare her stance.
Mi Li!
The young woman stood alone at the back of the crowd, her face pale, her expression sorrowful, her eyes filled with an irrepressible bewilderment.
When everyone turned to look at this daughter of Mi Junping and granddaughter of Mi Shuhua, she took an instinctive step backward.
"I... I..."
Before she realized it, Luo Chen had already stepped before her.
A tall figure with a warm smile gently nodded to her.
"You are the old gang leader's granddaughter. Whether you join or not, the Luotian Association will treat you generously."
Unable to hold it in any longer, Mi Li burst into tears.
"Hall Master, I want to go home and see..."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
A raspy voice spoke up. Feng Xia looked at her with pity.
"I came from the inner city. Just yesterday at noon, the Nangong family announced that the Mi family ancestral grounds now belong to them.
"Over the next two days, the entire Nangong family will relocate there."
*Such swift action!*
This was the first time Luo Chen had heard this news, and shock stirred irrepressibly in his eyes.
Mi Shuhua's bones were hardly cold, yet the carving up of the Mi family and the Mountain Breaker Gang had already begun.
He knew little about the rest, but at the very least, the ancestral grounds the Mi family had held for a century had now changed hands to the Nangong name.
And the Pill Hall that Mi Shuhua had personally fostered had also been plucked like a ripe peach by Miao Wen, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
What about the rest?
The demon beast hunting in the Guyuan Mountain Range, the safe mountain passages, the beast pens, the Mining Hall, the brothels, the taverns, and countless hidden industries...
Luo Chen took a deep breath. His own movements could not afford to lag behind.
Patting the forlorn girl on the shoulder, Luo Chen stepped onto the boulder.
"Next, those whose names are called, step forward to receive your rewards!"
A feast of dividing the spoils unfolded right then and there.
For the thirty cultivators in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, each received one hundred low-grade spirit stones, one low-grade dharma artifact, and a bottle of cultivation pills.
No one voiced any objection to these rewards.
Added together, it amounted to four or five hundred spirit stones per person.
For any mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, that was a considerable windfall.
Next came the division of shares for the late-stage cultivators.
***
Inside the Pill Hall, presided over by Luo Chen.
Liu Qiang received two thousand low-grade spirit stones, one high-grade dharma artifact, and five bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills.
Gu Caiyi received three thousand spirit stones, one high-grade offensive dharma artifact, and two bottles of Dust-Cleansing Pills.
Taking his rewards, Liu Qiang couldn't help letting out a sigh.
"It's a pity about those brothers... Dongfang Liang didn't make it either. Otherwise, there would have been a share for them here."
Dongfang Liang had died under the siege of several late-stage Qi Refining enemies, and his body was laid out in Crescent Moon Valley.
The arrangements for the burials had also just been settled.
Hearing Liu Qiang's sorrow, Zhou Yuanli clapped him on the shoulder and sighed as well.
In this battle, the Mountain Breaker Gang had suffered catastrophic losses, and their Pill and Medicine Halls had fared no better.
Yet beneath the sorrow, excitement remained the dominant feeling.
The rewards were counted in thousands of spirit stones. Those who survived were always the most fortunate.
It meant that their Great Dao still held hope—perhaps they might even progress further than before.
Luo Chen said nothing as he handed a blue storage bag to Duan Feng.
When the other opened it, an unmistakable look of astonishment crossed his face.
"This much?"
"You put in great effort last night. This is what you deserve," Luo Chen said calmly. He had always been generous toward friends.
Inside that storage bag were a full five thousand low-grade spirit stones, a high-grade defensive dharma artifact, a high-grade offensive dharma artifact, and numerous pills for cultivation.
There was even a concise manual on formations and a set of water-attribute spells.
These were the things Duan Feng needed most.
Duan Feng did not refuse, putting them away directly.
Luo Chen turned to Granny Yuan, who wore a kindly smile.
"President, could you spare me one extra storage bag?"
Luo Chen smiled slightly and did not refuse. From that pile of battered storage bags, he picked out one in relatively decent condition, handing it over along with Granny Yuan's allotted share.
As for who that extra storage bag was meant for, it was easy enough to guess.
It was surely for her son, Yuan Dongsheng.
Luo Chen did not care about such a small matter. Granny Yuan and her son possessed skills as spiritual farmers, which were of immense utility to an alchemist.
In particular, Granny Yuan's final technique had clearly been the Tier 2 spiritual farming spell, the Kusanagi Gengold Sword Technique. Perhaps he could learn it himself in the future.
Fostering good relations now was certainly the right course.
Finally, it was Qin Liangchen and his wife's turn.
"Sister-in-law, this is yours."
Murong Qinglian also revealed a look of surprise: five thousand spirit stones, along with high-grade dharma artifacts and various pills and talismans.
After handing out these shares, Luo Chen bypassed Qin Liangchen and walked up to Zhou Yuanli.
Looking at that composed face, Luo Chen praised, "In the battle the night before last, you did remarkably well—far exceeding my expectations.
"If not for you commanding from the center, the grand formation would have fallen long ago."
Zhou Yuanli replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "That was merely this subordinate's duty."
Luo Chen shook his head. "There is no 'merely.' Especially during the final breakout, you still insisted on protecting me. For that alone, you deserve a hefty reward.
"Five thousand spirit stones, five bottles of Dust-Cleansing Pills, three boxes of Spirit Calming Incense, and a high-grade defensive robe.
"In addition, you may choose an extra item from these dharma artifacts."
Hearing such an extraordinarily rich reward, Zhou Yuanli could no longer maintain his composure.
He drew in a sharp breath. "President, isn't this too much...?"
"If it's given to you, take it!"
Luo Chen patted his shoulder, encouraging him to keep up the good work in the future.
After he finished selecting, there remained a full ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, several high-grade dharma artifacts, dozens of mid- and low-grade dharma artifacts, and a vast assortment of miscellaneous items like pills and talismans.
Oh, and a dozen or so storage bags. Though tattered and worn, they were still usable in a pinch.
Added together, these goods undoubtedly represented a fortune. Yet when Luo Chen kept them aside without distributing them, no one raised an objection.
Now that the Luotian Association was founded, there would be countless places where money had to be spent.
Furthermore, what each of them had received was by no means small.
It nearly rivaled the accumulated wealth of an ordinary ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.
One could say Luo Chen's "carving of the meat" on this occasion had been a resounding success.
Even though Zhou Yuanli had received rewards that far exceeded his cultivation realm and status, no one expressed dissatisfaction or raised questions.
Luo Chen watched this scene with satisfaction. In matters of dividing spoils, unfairness was the greatest taboo, as it easily bred resentment.
Yet excessive fairness was also a taboo!
That would only make those who exerted the most effort feel their sacrifices had been in vain.
Moreover, standing in a position of authority required considering both the past and the future, rather than just the present moment.
Zhou Yuanli's loyalty had already been proven.
This was a man Luo Chen certainly intended to rely heavily on in the future.
Perhaps the only thing that left everyone puzzled was Qin Liangchen.
Though he had not participated in the battle of Crescent Moon Valley, he had fought a solitary, fierce battle against the cultivators of the Nangong family to come to their aid, paying the price of an arm in the process.
His path of cultivation had even become bleak and uncertain.
No matter what, there should have been a share of the rewards for him here!
Yet Luo Chen offered no explanation.
Instead, he took his seat at the head of the room.
"Now that the Luotian Association has been established, we cannot simply treat it as some small-time outfit huddling together for warmth.
"We have our people, and we have backing from above!
"Therefore, the basic structure of our halls must also be established!"
Looking at his thoughtful subordinates, Luo Chen felt an ambition that he could barely keep under wraps.
He did not intend to follow the old structure of the Mountain Breaker Gang.
That had been far too bloated, scattering their forces whenever an enemy attacked.
Moreover, for the time being, the Luotian Association was far from fully formed.
"I intend to initially establish four halls: Pill, Merit, War, and Gold.
"The Pill Hall is simple: it will be centered around me, supported by the surviving cultivators of Crescent Moon Valley, merging with the former Medicine Hall. This will also be the most crucial hall of the Luotian Association.
"Granny Yuan, would you be willing to serve as the deputy head of the Pill Hall?"
Granny Yuan did not hesitate, nodding with a smile.
She could guess that what she would be doing in the future would be roughly the same as before.
With Murong Qinglian, the former hall head, removed from the post, perhaps the affairs of the Medicine Hall would all fall to her as well.
So be it. She still had some days left to live, so she would give it her all.
She would earn a fortune for her son, Yuan Dongsheng!
"The Merit Hall needs little explanation; its functions will be similar to those in the former Mountain Breaker Gang.
"It will mainly handle the evaluation of merits, cultivator registries, rewards, and punishments.
"As for the Merit Hall, I would like Sister-in-law to take the post of hall head. What do you think?"
Murong Qinglian was rather surprised. She looked back at Qin Liangchen, who sat resting with his eyes closed.
He opened his eyes, looked past her, and met Luo Chen's gaze.
Luo Chen said nothing, merely nodding solemnly to him.
Qin Liangchen gave a gratified sigh and nodded as well.
With that, Murong Qinglian had no objections, and the matter was settled.
In truth, this demonstrated just how much Luo Chen valued Qin Liangchen and his wife.
Who had overseen the Merit Hall in the former Mountain Breaker Gang?
Mi Junping!
Mi Shuhua's own daughter.
Now, Murong Qinglian had become the person Luo Chen trusted most in the Luotian Association.
That trust had not come out of thin air.
It had been built bit by bit through their daily interactions.
All the way until that battle the night before last, when Murong Qinglian had charged alone toward Lan Tianyun, leaving behind those words:
*"Caiyi, get Luo Chen out of here!"*
At that moment, Luo Chen had known his sister-in-law treated him with genuine care.
Thus, he entrusted the most critical department of the Luotian Association to her.
Controlling this department meant, in a sense, holding authority over every cultivator throughout the future Luotian Association.
Their names, their duties, their stipends, and more.
The status and authority of the head of the Merit Hall was second only to Luo Chen, the president!
"Next is the Gold Hall."
At this point, a smile touched the corners of Luo Chen's lips.
The others were curious as well: what was the Gold Hall for?
Earning spirit stones?
"Yes, just as you're thinking. The Gold Hall exists to earn spirit stones.
"After all, no matter how many pills I concoct, someone has to take them out and sell them so everyone can earn spirit stones to purchase resources suited to their cultivation.
"Yet how to sell pills is an art in itself!
"In the past, Old Gang Leader Mi had a decent view of the big picture, but when it came to the details, he was far too deficient.
"I will explain the specifics later. Today, we will only decide on the head of the Gold Hall."
As he spoke, Luo Chen's gaze settled upon the quiet Gu Caiyi.
Gu Caiyi froze for a moment, pointing a slender, scallion-white finger at herself.
"Me?"
"Yes, you—our most beautiful, clever, and capable Gu Caiyi, Lady Gu!"
Hearing Luo Chen's playful teasing, everyone burst into laughter.
With that laughter, the atmosphere inexplicably grew light and cheerful.
It seemed the bloody memories of the brutal breakout the night before last had faded a little.
Gu Caiyi shifted uncomfortably, her cheeks flushing red.
It wasn't that she was shy—she had seen far grander scenes back in the Tianxiang Brothel.
What flustered her was Luo Chen praising her openly before so many people.
Especially when Murong Qinglian and Granny Yuan were friends she knew so intimately.
Wait!
Gu Caiyi seemed to realize why Luo Chen favored her for the head of the Gold Hall.
"Lady Gu serving as a mere deacon in my Pill Hall was truly a waste of talent," Luo Chen praised. "Your true strengths lie in greeting guests, smoothing interactions, and being remarkably adept at social diplomacy. Bargaining and dealing with people come naturally to you.
"This newly established Gold Hall is the very place where your talents can truly shine."
Luo Chen was not merely flattering her.
Having spent so much time together, he knew Gu Caiyi's talents indeed lay in this realm.
To have stayed in the Tianxiang Brothel for so long while preserving her purity, and then decisively leaving it in the end, meant she possessed extraordinary skill in interpersonal dealings.
If nothing else, when Luo Chen had moved into that courtyard residence, the very first person to become familiar with him had been Gu Caiyi.
Even after coming to the Pill Hall—a place unfamiliar and entirely outside her expertise—Gu Caiyi had done everything she could to leverage her strengths.
She had helped Luo Chen win people's hearts, trained the internal affairs cultivators, and worked hard to build connections with the many cultivators of the neighboring Medicine Hall.
It could be said that while Gu Caiyi might not excel in combat, she had unique talents in other areas.
Hearing Luo Chen explain it this way, everyone reflected on it and nodded in silent agreement.
Only Gu Caiyi choked up slightly.
Finally, she stood up and said firmly, "Though I don't yet know how the Gold Hall will operate in the future, Caiyi will certainly do her utmost and not let everyone down!"
Could this be considered an official pledge?
From across the room, Gu Caiyi suddenly winked at Luo Chen, and the two shared an understanding smile.
"President, what about the War Hall?"
Perhaps in Luo Chen's view, among the four halls, the Pill Hall was the core, the Merit Hall was the most important, the Gold Hall was necessary, and the War Hall ranked lowest.
Yet in the eyes of cultivators, combat strength was always second only to cultivation itself!
This could be seen from the structure of the Mountain Breaker Gang in the past.
Among the nine halls, the War Halls had occupied three seats!
Moreover, those three halls had mostly consisted of Mi Shuhua's trusted confidants, all possessing formidable combat power.
Right now, the Luotian Association could not compare to the fallen Mountain Breaker Gang.
Combat cultivators who could truly take the stage were few and far between.
This War Hall was practically an empty shell.
Small wonder someone couldn't resist asking.
Luo Chen, however, had already prepared a plan.
"The matter of the War Hall can be handled together with what I'm about to say next.
"Everyone knows that right now, the Luotian Association is an empty frame. In terms of money, we have only this ten-thousand-stone starting fund; in terms of people, we can hardly pick out a handful.
"I might speak grandly, but the Merit Hall and the Gold Hall are just Sister-in-law and Caiyi standing on their own.
"Therefore, expanding our manpower is the Luotian Association's top priority!
"A recruitment—no, a recall order!"
Luo Chen looked at the crowd and said gravely, "The Mountain Breaker Gang is destroyed, but some brothers must have survived. I won't waste words on pleasantries. What we must do next is use my name as Danchenzi and Mi Li's name to recall as many wandering cultivators from the Mountain Breaker Gang as possible."
Using Luo Chen's name as Danchenzi could recall at least a few.
He was, after all, an alchemy master.
Using Mi Li's name might not be so easy.
With Mi Shuhua dead, who would still care about old ties and return to the remnants of the Mountain Breaker Gang?
Murong Qinglian hesitated. "Should we not mention the existence of that person?"
That person?
Deacon Miao!
Luo Chen slowly shook his head. "It is enough that we know he stands behind the Luotian Association. We must never use his name."
Luo Chen did not spell out the taboos involved.
Yet everyone understood more or less.
Miao Wen was no rogue cultivator; he was a sect cultivator with a lineage and a formal background.
He could use the Luotian Association and Luo Chen to make extra profits on the side, but such things could never be dragged into the open.
Otherwise, he would have a hard time answering to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect!
Surely no one would go shouting it about.
Although Dahe Market was the territory of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, it was separated from the sect's core domain by a vast distance.
Out here, Miao Wen was a local tyrant, far from the emperor's reach.
Who would dare cross him?
"If so, I'm afraid we won't be able to recall many people," Murong Qinglian said worriedly.
Luo Chen shook his head. "It doesn't matter. However many we get is fine; if there were too many, we couldn't afford to support them right now anyway. Furthermore..."
Glancing around at everyone, Luo Chen said softly, "The most important thing is to recall those people we truly need!"
*People we need?*
Suddenly, a name surfaced in everyone's minds.
Wang Yuan!
Seeing that everyone understood his meaning, Luo Chen said no more on the topic.
He then shared several more thoughts regarding the future development of the Luotian Association.
The four halls were merely the initial setup; more might be added in the future.
Moreover, as personnel filled out, each hall would establish new positions.
The Luotian Association would not place elders above the hall heads.
Instead, elders would be positioned beneath each hall head, serving as an intermediate rank between hall heads and deacons.
In addition, a baseline for stipends at each level had to be set—how much was the minimum, and how the maximum should be allocated—all of this required careful consideration.
By the time they finished discussing these miscellaneous matters, dusk was already falling.
Luo Chen stood up. "For the time being, Crescent Moon Valley will serve as the headquarters of the Luotian Association. I will take my time considering a new base.
"Everyone must be exhausted, and many are carrying injuries to varying degrees.
"Let us dismiss for today. Return and rest well for a while.
"As for the Pill Hall, I'll have to trouble Granny Yuan to take care of things."
Granny Yuan smiled and nodded to Luo Chen.
With the meeting concluded, no one lingered, heading home in small groups.
Luo Chen did not stay in Crescent Moon Valley either, returning to the courtyard residence alongside the others.
Late into the night, after seeing Gu Caiyi take her healing pills and drift into a deep sleep, Luo Chen closed her door.
Turning around beneath the moonlight, he saw a somewhat lonely silhouette.
Luo Chen smiled and stepped forward.
"Brother Qin, come to my room for a chat?"
Qin Liangchen did not hold back, following Luo Chen into the reverse-facing room that seemed rather humble nowadays.
In the courtyard, Murong Qinglian leaned against her doorway, gazing blankly at their retreating backs.
***
It was the height of summer, the heat stifling and oppressive.
Yet inside this reverse-facing room within the courtyard, a cool chill seeped out.
Sitting inside, Luo Chen retrieved a jar of fifty-year-aged yellow pear wine from his storage bag—the gift Yuan Xiaoyue's grandfather had sent for his birthday.
He then set out several plates of immortal beans, beef jerky, fried cracklings, and other snacks.
"Bottoms up!"
"Mm!"
*Clink!*
The wine cups touched with a light sound.
The two men sitting at opposite ends of the wooden table downed the fine wine.
Setting down his cup, one was high-spirited as midsummer, while the other was desolate as snow, as though still trapped in deep winter.
"Time really flies!"
"The memory of you wielding your heavy mace and chasing me down still feels fresh, yet when I think about it, that was already last year," Luo Chen said with deep feeling, refilling Qin Liangchen's cup.
The other man said nothing, merely drinking down the cup in silence.
Luo Chen didn't mind. He filled it again, talking as if to himself.
"Back then, I was just a rogue cultivator at the very bottom of Dahe Market. To escape an enemy, I gritted my teeth and moved into the inner city, where the rent was exorbitantly high for me.
"Concocting pills wasn't actually the hardest part; selling them was what wore me out. You never knew what excuse the next customer would use to haggle with you, so you had to stay intensely focused at all times to deal with every kind of difficulty.
"Watching the Dao Discussion Platform, I truly envied and admired you all.
"Even though people died up there, the high spirits of the victors and the cheers of ten thousand onlookers never failed to captivate my soul.
"Unfortunately, after I stepped onto the Dao Discussion Platform myself, beyond that initial thrill, I could never find the feeling I was looking for again.
"Because they all cursed me for fixing matches!
"I still remember standing like a nobody at the Zhongding House Core Formation feast, yet now I can preside over an entire association on my own, and in the future, I might well be a prominent figure in Dahe Market.
"Haha, it truly fulfilled what I said back then: 'A true man ought to be like this!'
"As for Mi Shuhua, he dragged me into the Mountain Breaker Gang by force, but he was also my benefactor.
"Without his backing, I might still have reached this step, but certainly never so quickly.
"To be honest, when I learned he was dead, my feelings were deeply complicated.
"Relief, feeling lost and adrift, regret, sentimentality... I really couldn't put a precise name to the taste in my heart."
Luo Chen spoke, and Qin Liangchen listened.
Cup after cup of yellow pear wine went down, warming their moods.
Looking at Luo Chen sighing over the past and dreaming of the future, Qin Liangchen felt both happy for him and bitter over his own plight.
Times change, and the world moves on!
He did not interrupt Luo Chen's eagerness to talk.
For he understood that over the past year, especially these last two days, Luo Chen had experienced far too much.
The suffocating pressure between life and death, the thrill of rebuilding the Luotian Association...
He knew Luo Chen needed an outlet.
It was only a pity that his own mood was not good.
Otherwise, he could have chatted alongside him.
So be it. Listening to him more and drinking a few more cups of wine would help him sleep more peacefully once he went back.
As for the future?
Why think so much? At worst, he still had a son with a bright future ahead of him, something well worth looking forward to.
"To be honest, the moment I killed Gao Tingyuan, I didn't feel any sense of relief.
"The pressure he gave me was far less than the pressure smiling Mi Shuhua gave me in our daily interactions.
"When I killed him, only a single thought popped into my head: *Oh, he's dead.*"
Luo Chen drank another cup of wine, looking at Qin Liangchen with anticipation.
"Brother Qin, do you remember any time you killed a great enemy? What was your mood back then?"
Qin Liangchen thought about it, then said gruffly:
"With my temper, I don't often make mortal enemies. If I really had to say, perhaps it was when I broke both legs of a fellow who ambushed me in the mountains—I felt a little something then!
"Specifically, it was roughly a kind of lofty pride: *Who dares bully me now?*
"Unfortunately, there are far too many people in this world who can bully me. Later on, I learned to take it in stride."
Luo Chen let out an "oh." Was that how it was?
After that, he chattered away about many things, like a rambling old man.
Yet he was still very young, not even thirty years of age.
Qin Liangchen listened quietly until Luo Chen's gaze fell upon his arm.
"Haha, Brother Qin, this arm of yours—reattached and broken again. You're destined to be a one-armed hero for the rest of your life!"
Qin Liangchen felt a pang of sorrow and a hint of embarrassment, but even more so, through that playful banter, he felt treated normally, on equal footing without discrimination.
He laughed and scolded, "So what if I'm one-armed? I can still teach you a lesson!"
"That might not be so certain!" Luo Chen said smugly. "After all, I'm an expert who slayed two ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivators in direct battle, crossing realms to take them down."
Hearing him say this, Qin Liangchen couldn't help drifting into a daze.
Though he hadn't witnessed the scene himself, he had heard Murong Qinglian speak of it later.
Luo Chen's strength had defied everyone's expectations.
It was almost like Wang Yuan when he had first burst onto the scene, constantly challenging those above his cultivation realm.
Tying the eighth layer at the seventh layer; crushing ninth-layer demonic cultivators at the eighth layer.
No wonder Wang Yuan valued this little brother Luo Chen so highly.
Yet thinking about it carefully, it seemed only natural.
He had sparred with Luo Chen many times. The man's speed, his remarkable talent with spells, and his exquisite mastery of dharma artifacts all provided the capability to slay enemies above his realm.
Suddenly, a question pulled him from his reverie.
"Brother Qin, can that arm of yours still be reattached?"
Qin Liangchen froze. If it could be reattached, who wouldn't want it?
However...
"In a couple of days, I'll go see Deacon Miao. Perhaps I can beg him to reattach your arm once more."
Qin Liangchen's eyes flickered, a sliver of hope rising in his heart.
Yet in the end, he gave a bitter smile.
"This time is different from before.
"On the Dao Discussion Platform, though my arm was severed, the shattered flesh and bone were still there. That was why the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect could use a secret art to mend the severed limb.
"This time, however, that arm was ground entirely to dust. There is no possibility of reattaching it."
Luo Chen shook his head. "No matter what, we can't leave that right sleeve empty. Otherwise, when you go out with Sister-in-law, it would look far too mismatched!"
"Do as you see fit."
Qin Liangchen lacked enthusiasm, not holding out much hope.
Yet he was still deeply moved by Luo Chen's kindness.
"Reattaching an arm is just a minor matter. With your open-mindedness, Brother Qin, I'm sure you don't take it to heart."
Luo Chen chuckled, set down his cup, and casually took out a box.
"I have something here. You can see it as a gift from me, as a reward for rushing to reinforce Crescent Moon Valley, or simply as something that belonged to you in the first place.
"Want to take a look?"
Qin Liangchen's curiosity was piqued, and he casually took the jade box.
Glancing at it, he saw it was entirely unremarkable, assuming it was some little trinket Luo Chen had brought.
After all, Luo Chen didn't seem to be treating it as anything significant.
Yet the moment he opened the jade box, his entire body froze.
For a long, long time.
Only then did he manage to utter those three words in a dry, hoarse voice:
"Foundation Establishment Pill!"
"Mm."
Qin Liangchen snapped his head up, his body trembling as he stared at Luo Chen.
The other man was drinking his wine and shelling immortal beans, his gaze drifting about without a single glance at the longan-sized pill.
As if he didn't care in the slightest.
"This... is a gift for me?"
"You could also say it belonged to you in the first place."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, this Foundation Establishment Pill is the very one Mi Shuhua once promised you. It's just that a month ago, he used it in a deal with me, exchanging it for my promise to refine pills for him with all my strength."
Luo Chen paused, then smiled. "You know how the old man loved using this trick."
Mi Shuhua indeed loved playing this card.
All manner of kind words and inspiring speeches were scattered about as though they cost nothing.
Occasionally, he would grant some small favors.
This tactic was extraordinarily effective on low-stage cultivators.
Yet as cultivators grew stronger, Mi Shuhua would become stingy, unwilling to part with truly valuable treasures.
This single Foundation Establishment Pill had once stirred Han Dang's ambitions, and had driven the nine late-stage cultivators of the Mountain Breaker Gang to risk their lives for him.
In the end, between Wang Yuan and Qin Liangchen, he had promised it to the latter.
Yet plainly speaking, he had never produced the actual object.
Last time, he had chosen to use it to entice Luo Chen.
Perhaps knowing that verbal promises could no longer win trust, he had given it to Luo Chen.
Yet even so, he had placed layers of restrictions upon it, allowing Luo Chen to see it and touch it, but never consume it.
After his death, Luo Chen had asked Miao Wen to dispel the lingering restrictions.
Miao Wen had not refused. After breaking them, he found it to be a Foundation Establishment Pill.
At the time, Miao Wen had given Luo Chen a deep look, yet said nothing.
In the eyes of sect cultivators like him, the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill was not so immense.
Yet for a rogue cultivator, it was something worth risking everything to obtain.
Spirit stones, resources, cultivation arts, relatives, friends, Dao companions—even staking one's very life.
Yet now, Luo Chen was casually giving it to Qin Liangchen!
It was returning an item to its original owner, yet how could it not also be an act of immense generosity!
For a long time, Qin Liangchen was struck speechless.
He had never imagined Luo Chen would give him a Foundation Establishment Pill.
It left him at a loss for words.
Refuse?
No Qi Refining cultivator would refuse a Foundation Establishment Pill placed before them.
Oh, now there was one—Luo Chen.
Accept?
He ought to accept it!
After all, it had originally belonged to him.
Yet he still felt something was amiss.
Hesitating, Qin Liangchen looked at Luo Chen.
He noticed the other's gaze drifting, persistently avoiding the jade box holding the Foundation Establishment Pill.
It wasn't disdain; it was more as if he feared that looking at it would make him unable to resist taking it back.
*So he isn't as completely indifferent as he acts!*
The corners of Qin Liangchen's mouth curved slightly as he asked softly, "Can you truly bear to part with it?"
"Come on, we're brothers. What's there to say?"
Luo Chen waved his hand nonchalantly. "Close the lid quickly, or the medicinal potency will dissipate.
"Come, come, let's keep drinking. We'll work hard together from now on, and our future days will only get sweeter!"
The wine cups were filled again, and the atmosphere grew warm once more.
It seemed as though all bewilderment regarding the future had vanished into thin air.
***
Closing the door.
Luo Chen lay on the bed, hands pillowed behind his head, legs crossed, his gaze fixed on the bright night sky through the glazed skylight.
At this moment, his heart felt completely at ease.
He had thrown off Mi Shuhua's suppression.
He had a small faction of his own.
And the Foundation Establishment Pill, the one matter stuck in his throat, had finally been handled.
No Qi Refining rogue cultivator could remain unmoved by a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Luo Chen was no exception!
Yet that pill had been a hot potato.
In name, it belonged to Qin Liangchen.
In reality, it had ended up in Luo Chen's hands.
If Luo Chen had truly concocted a vast quantity of Jade Marrow Pills for Mi Shuhua, sold them, and reaped the profits, he might have used the Foundation Establishment Pill with a clear conscience.
However, the destruction of the Mountain Breaker Gang and the demise of Mi Shuhua left that clear conscience with nowhere to anchor itself.
Luo Chen had carefully considered the value of this Foundation Establishment Pill to him.
It was not as great as one might imagine.
Yes, it truly lacked that much value to him.
First, Luo Chen's cultivation was only at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. Breaking through to the ninth layer, let alone reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining required for Foundation Establishment, would take a long time.
In the short term, this Foundation Establishment Pill could serve no purpose.
Second, he knew his own situation best.
His five-element spiritual roots were an innate trait.
Cultivation was already this difficult; breaking through to Foundation Establishment would likely be even harder.
A mere low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill would not be of much help.
Third, he had already connected with Miao Wen.
Even though Luo Chen was not yet a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would certainly possess an inherent advantage when purchasing Foundation Establishment Pills in the future.
Miao Wen did not have the petty, intolerant temperament of Mi Shuhua!
He hailed from a superior sect with Nascent Soul cultivators; his knowledge was vast, his horizons broad.
He had seen far too many things better than a Foundation Establishment Pill.
He knew plenty of people stronger than Foundation Establishment cultivators.
If Luo Chen could attain Foundation Establishment and advance to become a Tier 2 alchemist, their cooperation would only yield greater profits.
Miao Wen had no fear that Luo Chen would turn against him once his cultivation advanced.
To put it simply, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect gave Miao Wen that confidence.
Therefore, Luo Chen would not lack a Foundation Establishment Pill or two in the future!
Since that was the case, why keep this hot potato in hand, tormenting his conscience at all times?
By returning it to its rightful owner, Luo Chen could put his mind at ease while earning Qin Liangchen's deep gratitude.
Furthermore, Qin Liangchen was not alone. His Dao companion, Murong Qinglian, was also at the ninth layer of Qi Refining and exceptionally skilled at managing miscellaneous affairs.
He also had a son pursuing advanced cultivation in the Luoyun Sect, endowed with fine aptitude, who might well become a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future.
Thus, by giving up a single Foundation Establishment Pill that he had no immediate use for, Luo Chen would secure the friendship of Qin Liangchen and his wife right now, along with the goodwill of their son.
No matter how one looked at it, this decision was a guaranteed win!
Of course, thinking this way might seem rather mercenary.
True friends did not calculate so much when interacting.
Yet cultivators were different from mortals. Only when cultivation resources were settled cleanly and clearly could friendship be bound all the more tightly.
Luo Chen also hoped that if he ever faced danger again, someone would hold off enemies for him, cover his retreat, or travel thousands of li bearing a solitary blade to come to his rescue.
"Wealth, companions, arts, lands—among these four, the word 'companion' encompasses teachers and seniors, Dao companions and kin, but should also have a place for friends.
"Therefore, is this not also a form of cultivation?"
At the thought of cultivation, Luo Chen rolled over and sat up.
Today's daily practice could not be neglected!
***
In the adjacent room, separated only by a wall.
The husband and wife had not lit a lamp, gathering close together in the dark, their eyes burning as they stared at the jade box.
That longan-sized pill lay quietly within, releasing an aroma that made one's entire body tremble.
The hope of Foundation Establishment!
After a long time, Murong Qinglian spoke in a raspy voice, "Luo Chen not only wants to reattach your arm, but he gave you this Foundation Establishment Pill as well?"
"My lady, that's the third time you've said that."
"You devil!"
She playfully shoved Qin Liangchen, then sighed with emotion. "What are your thoughts?"
There was no answer, only faint breathing.
Murong Qinglian sighed, closed the box, and placed it solemnly into Qin Liangchen's hand.
"Regardless of what you think, I will do my utmost to help Luo Chen manage the Luotian Association well from now on.
"He fought his way to this point all alone. It hasn't been easy for him.
"We must help him out.
"Besides, if Xiaohu can reach Foundation Establishment in the future, all the better; if not, with Luo Chen around, he'll have someone to lean on!"
Listening to his wife's rambling words, Qin Liangchen held the jade box and lay down on the bed.
He stared up at the canopy of the bed, and only after a long silence did he murmur softly:
"Luo Chen is my brother!"
Chapter 145