Farewell, Dahe Market

"Luo Chen, right?" Pang Renxiong's tone carried the weight of a statement rather than a question, sending a prickle of dread across Luo Chen's scalp. For a fleeting second, Luo Chen almost felt as if the dead old man were standing before him again. Years ago, that old man had asked him the exact same question. And after that, Luo Chen had become head of the Pill Hall, working like an ox and a horse for him. Swallowing hard, Luo Chen forced himself to pull his wits together. What was there to fear? The man was a Golden Core expert while he was only at Qi Refining. At worst, he would be slaughtered at the elder's whim. "Congratulations on slaying the demonic cultivator, Elder." "A demonic cultivator? Heh heh..." Pang Renxiong actually chuckled. His laughter was airy and relaxed, devoid of the mountain-crushing pressure he had exerted earlier. He shook his head. "There's no need to pin a halo of righteousness on me. A kill is just a kill. In this Jade Cauldron Domain, no one dares make trouble for me." Luo Chen adopted an air of righteous indignation. "That villain successively ambushed and murdered honorable men like Fei Baiwen and Mi Shuhua. Mi Shuhua in particular was my benefactor—a man of upright character who was always eager to help others. To lay vicious hands even on such an upright soul proves beyond doubt that he had fallen into the demonic path. "Elder's feat of slaying this evil monster with a single sword strike will surely become a celebrated tale once it spreads! "Even the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect will take great pride in you!" Hearing these grand words pour from his mouth, Luo Tianhong and Miao Wen stood entirely dumbfounded. Miao Wen, in particular, found it strikingly familiar. It seemed that when he had gone to Crescent Moon Valley to shield Luo Chen back then, the young man had lavished him with a torrent of shameless flattery just like this. Still, this sycophancy was probably aimed at the wrong person. Elder Pang was notoriously impervious to flattery and coercion alike; he was hardly the sort to... "Haha, you certainly have a silver tongue." Pang Renxiong roared with laughter. "Still, you speak the truth. That fiend truly fell into the demonic path, an outlaw whom anyone was justified in putting to death." Without glancing back, he issued instructions: "Miao Wen, Tianhong, spread word of today's event. Announce that the demonic cultivator who murdered Mount Ailao's Fei Baiwen and Mountain Breaker Gang's Leader Mi Shuhua was executed by me on the banks of the Lancang River. "Mm, make the story sound a bit more perilous and twisted. Have you got that?" Luo Tianhong blinked in surprise, then immediately complied. Miao Wen also hurried to acknowledge the command, though an odd sense of stifled exasperation welled up inside him. *Didn't Elder Pang despise sycophancy?* *Besides, he's never seemed like the kind of man to fish for empty fame... Or is there a deeper calculation at play?* Miao Wen and Luo Tianhong exchanged a glance, nodding in tacit agreement. With the intellect of Foundation Establishment cultivators and their position inside the situation, they quickly pieced together the underlying logic. That had to be it. The elder wasn't seeking personal glory. He was doing it for the reputation of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. After all, when that demonic cultivator murdered Fei Baiwen earlier, he had framed the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect for the crime. It had even provoked Mount Ailao's Supreme Elder into personally storming the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect to demand justice. Once this news was broadcast far and wide, it would not only salvage the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's honor, but also provide Mount Ailao with a satisfactory resolution! Realizing all this, Miao Wen looked at Luo Chen with an increasingly peculiar expression. Whether by sheer luck or deliberate cunning, this kid's brown-nosing had struck the bullseye with terrifying precision. Having given his orders, Pang Renxiong turned his gaze toward the pale-faced Luo Chen. "You also share credit for this battle. Had that soul seed not pointed the way, we wouldn't have tracked this scoundrel down so swiftly. "Seeing that you've just reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, I expect you're vexing over how to achieve Qi Refining perfection." Luo Chen opened his mouth, and then delight flooded his face. He instantly replied, "Yes, Elder!" Standing behind and slightly beneath Pang Renxiong, Miao Wen cast a searching glance at Luo Chen. He hadn't noticed at all that Luo Chen had advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining. He had assumed the young man was still at the eighth level, just as he was during the skirmish at Crescent Moon Valley. *This brat hides so deeply. What a schemer!* While Miao Wen was grumbling inwardly, Pang Renxiong's voice broke in on his thoughts. "Huh?" "'Huh' what? I don't carry Tier 1 Spirit Purifying Pills on me, but you certainly do. Fetch a few bottles for him." Miao Wen replied gloomily, "I don't have any Tier 1 pills either, only five bottles of Tier 2 Spirit Purifying Pills." "Tier 2 isn't unusable. Hand them all over to Luo Chen," Pang Renxiong commanded offhandedly. Left without a choice, Miao Wen pulled five jade bottles from his storage bag and tossed them to Luo Chen. Cradling the five bottles, Luo Chen still felt a sense of disbelief. Was this elder truly so lavishly generous?! He had casually tossed offensive and defensive treasures to younger sect disciples earlier, which could be explained as looking after sect juniors. Who would have guessed that even a minor loose cultivator like himself would walk away with such a windfall? These were Spirit Purifying Pills! Specialized pills capable of refining and purifying spiritual power. Mi Shuhua had mentioned them to him in the past. Produced exclusively by the Medicine King Sect, they were impossible to buy under ordinary circumstances, only ever trickling out at rare auctions. To a late Qi Refining cultivator, they were top-grade divine medicine! Even Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators could make use of them. However... Luo Chen raised his head. "Elder, I'm afraid this junior won't be able to use Tier 2 Spirit Purifying Pills anytime soon!" Pang Renxiong gave a light chuckle. "That's simple. You're an alchemist. Do you know the Pure Heart Hand?" Luo Chen gave a hesitant nod. He had indeed practiced this alchemical technique. The Pure Heart Hand was designed specifically for handling botanical medicinal ingredients. "Then there's no issue. The Spirit Purifying Pill is essentially a semi-finished pill crafted from spiritual fruit. By applying the Pure Heart Hand to break it down, you can extract Tier 1 medicinal potency. "A single Tier 2 Spirit Purifying Pill can yield the equivalent of ten Tier 1 pills." *Just that simple?* Luo Chen opened his mouth, still finding it incredible. A Spirit Purifying Pill wasn't a standard finished pill, but a semi-finished concoction made from spiritual fruit? Could alchemical arts truly work this way? Swallowed by sheer euphoria, Luo Chen hurried to bow in gratitude to Pang Renxiong, not forgetting to offer thanks to a visibly sour Miao Wen as well. Pang Renxiong, however, merely waved a dismissive hand. "Tianhong told me that your alchemy skills are exceptionally sharp. You stand out as an exceptional talent among rogue cultivators, on par even with alchemists groomed by established sects." Just hearing the opening line, Luo Chen knew what was coming. Here came the main hook! Once again, it was damn well tied to his alchemy! Could it be... "Let me ask you: are you willing to join my Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and become a disciple under my, Pang Renxiong's, tutelage?" Was this an invitation? It was a flat command! Without the slightest hesitation or resentment, Luo Chen bent his waist in a deep bow. "Junior Luo Chen is willing to enter Elder's tutelage!" "Haha, splendid, splendid! Slashing down a demonic cultivator first, then taking in a fine disciple—today has been an utterly wonderful day." Pang Renxiong laughed with unreserved gusto. Luo Tianhong also offered a smiling congratulation. Naturally, Miao Wen could not afford to fall behind, though the expression on his face looked as painfully reluctant as could be. "This is my elder token. Keep it!" "I give you one day. Go back, pack your belongings, and bid farewell to your friends and family. Tomorrow afternoon, you return to the sect with me." He gave Luo Chen no room to negotiate. Tossing him a sword-shaped token, Pang Renxiong enveloped all three of them in a shroud of spiritual power and swept them back toward Dahe Market at breakneck speed. Behind them, the aftermath of the ferocious clash left the Lancang River in utter ruin, its riverbed expanded to nearly twice its original width. On the return flight, Luo Chen gripped the palm-sized sword token, clearly spotting countless rogue cultivators riding their escape lights toward the former battlefield. They had arrived far too late; there was nothing left to scavenge. The black-robed cultivator's Golden Core, his corpse, and all his worldly belongings had already been picked clean by Pang Renxiong. Even Luo Chen himself had become one of Pang Renxiong's spoils from this trip to Dahe Market! When Luo Chen's feet finally touched solid ground in Crescent Moon Valley, his mind remained in a daze. *Just like that, I've become a sect disciple?* *One moment I was racking my brains over my cultivation path and scheming ways to handle Foundation Establishment foes. The next moment, a Golden Core elder takes me into his lineage in person, making me his prized disciple in name.* *Nothing exemplifies the fickle twists of fate better than this!* Standing before the main gate of Crescent Moon Valley, Luo Chen gave a bitter smile. Seen in this light, all the exhausting effort he had recently poured into the Luotian Association felt bitterly ironic. *The moment I leave, this newly founded Luotian Association will exist in name only, won't it?* He knew full well that the association's true core was neither Wang Yuan's formidable martial might nor the dozens or hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators beneath them; it was himself, an alchemist. With him gone, the Luotian Association would lose its pillar and possess no genuine Foundation Establishment cultivator. Its collapse could happen in the blink of an eye. *How am I supposed to break this to them?* Luo Chen lifted his eyes to gaze at the black-and-gold sign newly hung upon the low rampart. The three characters "Luotian Association" gleamed brilliantly in the light. Murong Qinglian had even lined the edges with silver filigree to match his aesthetic preference. "Greetings, President!" "President, you're back!" Luo Chen opened his mouth, but in the end, only managed a gentle reply: "Thank you for your hard work." The two night-watch cultivators grinned, saying it was no trouble at all. How could it not be hard work? Crescent Moon Valley wasn't some bountiful spiritual vein. Well, there was a minor tributary vein, but Luo Chen had sealed it off. All the others could enjoy were the negligible wisps of ambient spiritual energy that leaked out. It was practically next to nothing. Amidst the night guards' respectful greetings, Luo Chen crossed into the Luotian Association with tangled emotions. Beneath the lush foliage, a figure stood waiting for him. *** "You're back." "Yeah." "Miao Wen hauled you off in such a hurry. Did something happen?" Wang Yuan furrowed his brows. "I heard an unprecedented clash erupted a thousand li downriver from Dahe Market. It didn't involve you, did it?" Luo Chen laughed bitterly. "How could it not?" Without holding anything back, he recounted the entire sequence of events to Wang Yuan. When he finally revealed that Pang Renxiong had taken him as a disciple and would carry him off tomorrow afternoon, Wang Yuan suffered a rare loss of composure. He stood frozen on the spot, speechless for a long time. Only after a prolonged silence did he look at Luo Chen with deep, conflicted emotion. "I'm reminded of something you once told me." "Mm..." Luo Chen answered distantly, his mind wandering. Wang Yuan sighed, seemingly lost in memory. "Back then, I brought you to the Mountain Breaker Gang's headquarters, only for Mi Shuhua to notice you and force you into the gang. "I felt terribly guilty at the time, thinking I had dragged you down and stripped away your freedom. "Yet you turned around to comfort me, telling me not to blame myself. You said that so long as you needed to earn spirit stones for your cultivation, someone would take notice of you sooner or later. If not the Mountain Breaker Gang, then the Great River Gang, the Li family, the Duan family, or even a Golden Core sect, one of the six superior sects. "Back then, I didn't think much of it and merely humored you on the surface. "Looking at it now, your words have truly come to pass. "To think it would be the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, one of the six superior sects—and an invitation delivered in person by a Golden Core Master, no less." These rambling remarks pulled Luo Chen back from his reverie. He forced a wry chuckle. "Who could have guessed a casual remark would hit the mark so squarely?" He stepped slowly out of the shadows of the grove, walking under the cascading moonlight toward the pond formed by channeled mountain spring water. "First it was Mi Shuhua, then Miao Wen, and now Pang Renxiong of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. "Heh, without even realizing it, I've ended up a lackey serving three different masters in a row." Hearing his bitter self-mockery, Wang Yuan shook his head. "Why look at it that way? Perhaps that Golden Core Master genuinely wishes to nurture you. You said it yourself—he called you a fine disciple. That shows he harbors substantial goodwill toward you." "Does he really, Brother Wang?" Luo Chen turned his head, staring blankly at Wang Yuan. Wang Yuan's brow creased; he sensed that Luo Chen was in an uncharacteristic mental state. In the past, no matter how grim his circumstances were, Luo Chen had always managed to find cheer in adversity. Even when Mi Shuhua died and a sect Foundation Establishment cultivator like Miao Wen sought to rein him in, Luo Chen had never thrown in the towel. Instead, he had led the Luotian Association to pull off a magnificent comeback, carving out a degree of autonomy for themselves. Yet at this moment, he seemed entirely lost. Was it uncertainty about the future? Or was it an overwhelming sense of powerlessness born from his inability to defy a Golden Core cultivator? Wang Yuan sighed and patted Luo Chen's shoulder. "Look on the bright side. At least that senior is remarkably generous!" Indeed! He truly was generous! Luo Chen fetched a bottle of Spirit Purifying Pills and casually held it out to Wang Yuan. "Tier 2 Spirit Purifying Pills. He gave me quite a few bottles. You should be able to use them, so consider this my parting gift to you, Brother." Wang Yuan stared at the jade bottle without reaching out to take it. "Don't worry about me. If I really enter a great sect, with my craft, I won't lack a bottle or two of pills." Luo Chen gave a self-deprecating smile. "I am an esteemed alchemist, after all!" With that, he shoved the jade bottle firmly into Wang Yuan's palm. What a title—"esteemed"! For some reason, the jade bottle felt exceedingly heavy in Wang Yuan's hand. "It really is a pity, though. I've nearly finished deciphering that Tier 2 Blood Fiend Pill recipe. "Yet I won't have the chance to brew a few bottles for you, Brother Wang." The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect was located in the heartland of the Jade Cauldron Domain, a fertile land of thriving spiritual energy that gathered the essence of the entire domain. It lay thousands, even tens of thousands of li away from Dahe Market. Once they parted, it was unlikely they would meet again for years. Wang Yuan opened his mouth, but no words came out. He accompanied Luo Chen on a quiet stroll through Crescent Moon Valley, patiently listening to the young man rambling on. "Once I leave, what will become of the Luotian Association? "Brother Wang, will you take it over? I know you used to lead a sect back in the mortal world. If you set your mind to it, you could use the Luotian Association to gather cultivation resources for yourself. "Not interested? True enough. You're practically a cultivation maniac these days. "This patch of ground wasn't like this originally. I remember it was a Tier 1 spiritual field. In winter, Yuan Dongsheng would cast his Spring Across the Seasons array over it, making it wonderfully warm. Once, I hid in here to read, and he scolded me and chased me out in disgust. "And the Pill Hall—I poured so much heart and soul into that place. When Old Man Mi was still around, I sheared an enormous amount of wool from him just to build it to this standard. "Who knows who'll get to enjoy it after this. "Tell me, how am I going to face Sister-in-law Murong, Caiyi, and the others tomorrow? "*Cough, cough...* "I really don't want to leave! "I know full well this journey brings a mix of fortune and misfortune, and perhaps the fortune outweighs the rest. After all, it's a much bigger and better platform. "But I'm used to knocking about among low-tier cultivators. I'm truly not accustomed to sect life, nor do I have any experience with it. "Who knows if Pang Renxiong has bitter rivals within the sect who might take their spite out on a puny Qi Refining nobody like me? "Then again, if I go, they should provide me with a free Foundation Establishment Pill, right? When Sister Xiuxiu went to the Divine Talisman Sect, they promised her one. I wonder if she has succeeded in building her foundation by now. "*Cough, cough...* "Brother Wang, what do you say..." Wang Yuan cut him off. "Say no more. Go get some proper rest! "Your mind is in turmoil!" Luo Chen opened his mouth, then let out a defeated sigh. Alone, he entered the stone chamber Mi Shuhua had once built for him, engaged the defensive array, and fell into a deep sleep. For the first time, he cast aside the daily cultivation routine he had maintained for years. *** The following day. Inside the Luotian Association. Within the newly built chamber that retained the name of the Mountain Breaker Gang's Bright Moon Hall, Luo Chen announced his decision to the assembled leadership. The crowd was dumbfounded. That a mere rogue cultivator could catch the eye of a Golden Core Master was staggering. Yet once the initial shock passed, it felt entirely natural. After all, Luo Chen's talent in alchemy was genuinely terrifying. And so, words of congratulations began to spill from every mouth. Luo Chen accepted these well-wishes. He could feel that most of them were heartfelt. Only Zeng Wen, Elder of the Gold Hall, seemed sullen and reluctant. Yet after Luo Chen gifted him five bottles of superior Myriad Wonders Pills, Zeng Wen also shifted into heartfelt sincerity, even wiping away a tear he had forcefully squeezed out. Behind these congratulations, however, Luo Chen clearly caught the desolation and bewilderment lurking deep in everyone's eyes. Everyone understood that the moment Luo Chen left, the Luotian Association would exist in name only. Where were they supposed to go from here? "Things haven't gotten so dire that we need to disband on the spot," Luo Chen said with a faint smile. "I brainstormed a few ideas this morning that might prove useful to everyone. "Feng Xia, Xiaoyue!" Feng Xia and Yuan Xiaoyue, who had rushed over on short notice today, both blinked and stood up at once. Luo Chen waved his hand, signaling them to remain seated. "Now that the demonic cultivator who framed the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect has been eliminated, the Dao Discourse Platform will naturally reopen. "Small ventures can resume operations—like your milk tea and snack stalls. "I also have several little recipes I came up with in the past. If you take them and scale up production, you should be able to turn a tidy profit." Smiling, Luo Chen produced several secret recipes and handed them to Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi. Written upon them were novel treats he had adapted for the cultivation world out of boredom in the past: items like ice cream, shaved ice with spiritual fruit, roasted beast meat, and the like. As long as they incorporated spiritual energy, there would be no shortage of buyers once the Dao Discourse Platform resumed its activities. "Of course, none of these can serve as pillar industries." Luo Chen looked toward Duan Feng. The man had already been briefed in advance and gave him a solemn nod. "If we cannot refine pills, we can still forge and repair artifacts! "Duan Feng is skilled at repairing magical artifacts. He can take on a few apprentices and teach them the trade. "Moreover, the primary profit margin will come from purchasing second-hand magical artifacts and flipping them for a higher price. "In truth, this was part of my original plan from the beginning; I simply hadn't mentioned it because the timing wasn't right. "In addition, the trade routes into the mountains remain open to you." Listening to Luo Chen's systematic arrangements and his genuine, thoughtful care for their welfare, everyone's hearts gradually settled. At the same time, the respect in their eyes only deepened. Even as the president was about to stride toward a dazzling future, he was still taking pains to look after their livelihoods. In the ruthless, cold world of cultivation, he was truly an anomaly. It was precisely this exceptional character that made them respect this president, so much younger than themselves, from the bottom of their hearts! "That should cover the essentials. "Before I depart, I will speak with Deacon Miao and ask the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion to extend extra care to our association. "Coupled with Hall Master Wang Yuan's formidable strength, you will still be able to thrive in Dahe Market." Luo Chen rose to his feet, taking a storage bag from Murong Qinglian. Inside were the proceeds accumulated from the Jade Marrow Pills over this period. Luo Chen took only his rightful share—roughly five thousand spirit stones. The remainder was left to cover the Luotian Association's daily operations. As for the stockpiled resources, he had no intention of claiming them; even if he hadn't left, those goods were meant to sustain the organization. Seeing Luo Chen rise, the entire hall stood up in unison with a rustle of robes. The group escorted him out of the Luotian Association. The rank-and-file cultivators still had no idea what had happened, but seeing the senior leadership moving together with expressions of parting sorrow, an uneasy premonition gripped their hearts. Luo Chen walked steadily ahead until he crossed the threshold of the association's main gates. He turned around. The familiar silhouettes, the well-known faces, caused a lump to form in his throat. Wang Yuan, Murong Qinglian, Qin Liangchen, Gu Caiyi, Duan Feng, Granny Yuan, Zeng Wen, Feng Xia, Yuan Xiaoyue, the Three Sima Cultivators... He even caught sight of Qu Lingjun standing beside Tang Quan in a corner, along with Mi Li, who had come running up in haste. "President!" someone called out. Acting as though he hadn't heard, Luo Chen merely turned his back and raised a waving hand. Even after he had flown several li into the distance, faint farewells wishing him a safe journey seemed to linger in his ears. "Farewell, Dahe Market!" Soaring through the sky, Luo Chen looked down upon the familiar streets of the Outer Market. This was the place where he had fought and struggled. The confusion when he first transmigrated; his yearning upon learning that cultivation offered eternal life; the thrill of brewing his very first furnace of Myriad Wonders Pills; the exultation of breaking through cultivation realms; the terror and excitement of slaying foes above his level; and even the sullen indignation of being suppressed by Mi Shuhua... All of it was about to fade into the past. He flew slowly, as if afraid that moving too fast would erase the memory of every blade of grass and tree below. Suddenly, Luo Chen came to a halt. He turned around, gazing helplessly behind him. "That's quite enough. Head back!" Two figures scrambled up awkwardly from the alleyways below. Liu Qiang chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. Zhou Yuanli stated solemnly, "As long as you haven't left Dahe Market, protecting you remains our duty." "Don't you realize I'm stronger than the two of you combined?" Luo Chen said, exasperated. Zhou Yuanli maintained his silence. "Fine, suit yourselves!" Resigned, Luo Chen resumed his flight toward the Inner Market. It was getting late—already midday. He feared arriving behind schedule and earning the displeasure of his prospective master. There was no need to visit the courtyard; Feng Xia had already brought over all his modest personal belongings that morning. As he flew, a few loose ends crossed his mind. "Yuanli, once I'm gone, please look after Lingjun for me. "You know I've always thought highly of that kid. I was planning to groom him into an alchemist to assist me down the road. "Qu Hancheng probably doesn't have many years left; he suffered grave injuries back when his furnace exploded. "Once he passes, the Qu clan won't have a single Qi Refining cultivator, and Qu Lingjun will have a very hard time." Flanking Luo Chen on the left and right, Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang shadowed him just as they always had. Hearing these words, Zhou Yuanli simply grunted in steady agreement. Luo Chen took no offense, knowing the man had taken the plea to heart. By his estimate, Zhou Yuanli was close to advancing to the ninth level of Qi Refining. With such a steady senior watching over him, so long as Qu Lingjun didn't provoke powerful figures, he would be able to live a comfortable life in the future. Much like Tang Quan—even though Zeng Wen was rather neglectful, Tang Quan still lived far better than most rogue cultivators. Though one escorts a friend a thousand li, the parting must come at last! When Luo Chen arrived at the gates of the Inner Market, the two men behind him halted in tacit agreement. In the past, this was where they had always stopped, concluding their guard duties for the day. Without turning around, Luo Chen merely raised a hand and waved, just as before. "I'm off!" With that, he prepared to step through the Inner Market gates. Yet just as his foot was about to land, he jerked his head upward. Deep within the Inner Market, beneath the blazing sun, three terrifying auras erupted into the sky with cataclysmic fury. "RUN!!!"