A Critical Moment of Life and Death: Why Not Follow Precedent?

How much was a living, second-tier exploding ape worth? This beast belonged to the fire element. Violent by nature and devoid of human reason, it was exceptionally difficult to tame. Without specialized beast-taming techniques, it held little value beyond being slaughtered for materials, fetching four to five thousand spirit stones at most. It was nothing like the blazing cloud roc Luo Chen had purchased. Although the blazing cloud roc was also a second-tier demon beast, it was an avian creature, notoriously difficult to capture. An intact pair of wings alone made for premier second-tier forging materials. As such, the price of a blazing cloud roc had always remained consistently high. By contrast, in the hands of others, an exploding ape was worth far less. Yet that was only true for others. Luo Chen was different! He was an alchemist, and he happened to possess a pill recipe that specifically called for exploding ape demon blood. At this moment, gazing upon the battered, bloody ape, Luo Chen felt a surge of excitement in his chest. *If I refine Blood Burning Pills with the blood of a second-tier exploding ape, just how potent will they be?* *Does this mean they could even be used by Foundation Establishment True Cultivators?* If so, the value of the Blood Burning Pill would skyrocket. Even now, the price of a Blood Burning Pill was already comparable to ordinary second-tier pills. Yet that was primarily due to its unique effect. If made with second-tier demon blood as the primary ingredient, it would inevitably become a genuine second-tier pill, endowed with that exceptional boost. "Heh heh..." "What are you grinning foolishly about?" Across the ruined wasteland, Wang Yuan strolled over as if walking on flat ground. Coming closer, he raised a brow. "Not going to kill it?" "I still have a use for it, so I'll keep it alive for now." He had no intention of slaughtering this second-tier exploding ape. Keeping it captive and regularly drawing its blood to refine pills would maximize its value. "Then you take this demon core!" As he spoke, Wang Yuan casually tossed the demon core he had seized earlier to Luo Chen. The moment Luo Chen caught it, the unconscious ape at his feet twitched. "Oho! Its instincts still want to recall its natal demon core." Luo Chen grinned, examining the demon core in his hand. Dense red threads of blood, coiled like tiny serpents, tightly wrapped around the fist-sized crystalline core. Through the crystal, one could faintly perceive a massive reservoir of pure demon power. And on the outside of the crystal, in addition to the blood threads, lay a thin cyan barrier. This was the azure musk toxic fragrance released by the Azure Musk Flood Dragon Gathering Banner. That Wang Yuan had been able to effortlessly prevent the demon core from self-destructing was partly thanks to Luo Chen's assistance. The two did not dally; a mountain of matters still awaited them back at Crescent Moon Valley. Spiritual power surged from Luo Chen's hands, clattering as it formed chains that bound the unconscious ape's massive frame securely. Dragging the slumbering brute along, he took flight toward Crescent Moon Valley. "Pity it shriveled so much. Otherwise, just selling the beast meat would have made us a fortune." Hearing Luo Chen's money-grubbing tone, Wang Yuan, flying alongside him, could not help but chuckle. "When it comes to demon beasts, bigger isn't always better." "Hm?" "When you have free time, you really should look through the Heavenly Roc Transformation. It contains many explanations regarding demon beasts." Under Wang Yuan's explanation, Luo Chen finally learned why a second-tier demon beast would undergo such extreme changes in size. An overly massive frame meant a far higher demand for food. Even slight movements during normal times would consume vast amounts of vitality and blood. Therefore, upon breaking through to the second tier, many demon beasts instinctively began shifting their cultivation direction. They shifted the focus of their cultivation from pure physique to the accumulation of demon power. A demon core! This was the culmination of a demon beast's cultivation. Unlike human cultivators, who typically had to reach the Core Formation stage to condense a Golden Core, demon beasts condensed a demon core upon reaching the second tier. At this stage, they embarked on a cultivation path similar to that of humans. They took the spiritual energy they absorbed and stored it within the demon core, refining it into natal demon power. Once in combat, the vast demon power would pour forth; in addition to unleashing demonic arts, it could also inflate their physical size. After hearing this explanation, Luo Chen finally understood why mostly first-tier demon beast meat was sold on the market. Second-tier beasts were clearly larger and heavier, so logically they should yield far more meat. As it turned out, their entire essence was concentrated inside the demon core. When Xiong Kun had sold him the blazing cloud roc, his main focus had also been on the demon core and the wings. He had hardly cared about the tens of thousands of jin of meat on the roc's body, originally intending to just casually sell it off to Qi Refinement rogue cultivators. "From the look of it, the Heavenly Roc Transformation really does have some unique merits," Luo Chen remarked with praise. Then a thought struck him. He happened to have the carcass of a roc-type demon beast in his storage bag. If refined, it could yield a substantial amount of essence blood, which could then be supplied to Wang Yuan to cultivate the Heavenly Roc Transformation. Unaware of Luo Chen's thoughts, Wang Yuan sighed with emotion. "After all, it is a technique for the third realm of body cultivation. How could it be worthless?" "Then, Brother Wang, was your size transformation earlier also derived from the Heavenly Roc Transformation?" Wang Yuan shook his head. "No, I've known that trick for a long time. It's an application of vitality and physique. But the Heavenly Roc Transformation did give me plenty of ideas." Luo Chen blinked. "Then do you plan on cultivating the Heavenly Roc Transformation?" He had already decided that if Wang Yuan truly needed it, he would give him a portion of the essence blood from the blazing cloud roc carcass. The remainder would still be enough for his own future refining of Emperor Flowing Liquid. Unexpectedly, Wang Yuan curled his lips. "How could transforming like a beast ever compare to our true human form? This technique is only worth drawing inspiration from. If it can help me perfect my natal technique for the second realm of body cultivation, it has already served its purpose. "As for cultivating it fully, I would never put the cart before the horse." Hearing this, Luo Chen could not help but nod in agreement. Demon beasts were formidable, but not invincible. A human cultivator of the same tier, provided they possessed sufficiently versatile means, could handle a demon beast. Mimicking beastly transformations truly seemed ill-advised. Besides, the Heavenly Roc Transformation was incomplete; even if one wished to cultivate it fully, there was nowhere to begin. While chatting, the two arrived outside Crescent Moon Valley before they knew it. *** "The president is back!" "Look, what's that?" "Hiss, a demon beast!" "It seems to be alive!" With the return of Luo Chen and Wang Yuan, the cultivators of the Luotian Association, having already concluded their battle, gathered around in droves. Cheers resounded without end. When their eyes fell upon the exploding ape, gasps of astonishment broke out. Even Sima Huiniang and the others who approached could not conceal the terror in their expressions. This was a second-tier demon beast! Ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators could not withstand a single blow from it. Defeating it was already as difficult as ascending to heaven, and slaying it was nearly unimaginable. Yet now, Luo Chen and Wang Yuan had joined hands and captured it alive. Did this not mean that together, their strength surpassed that of a second-tier demon beast? Compared to a human Foundation Establishment cultivator, they were probably not far behind! Within the crowd, Duan Feng watched this scene, his eyes burning with intense fervor. "A true man ought to be like this!" Surrounded by so many gazes, Wang Yuan frowned slightly. This battle had taken a heavy toll on him. There was no need for him to linger here; Luo Chen was far better suited to handle such matters. Without a word, Wang Yuan flew directly into Crescent Moon Valley. Luo Chen strode forward through the crowd. Sweeping his gaze across the surroundings, his sword-sharp eyes made everyone reflexively avert their gaze. Soon, however, fervent gazes followed his retreating back once more. Today's battle had once again solidified Luo Chen's standing within the association. It was no longer just about his superb alchemy skills. He possessed undeniable, formidable strength that commanded everyone's respect! Single-handedly traversing the beast tide, moving at will. Even against a second-tier demon beast, he could capture it alive. Everyone knew that Wang Yuan of the Battle Hall was powerful, far stronger than anyone had imagined. Yet even Wang Yuan could hardly capture a second-tier beast alive by himself. In other words, Luo Chen had contributed significantly to the clash on the wasteland. Reaching the valley entrance, Luo Chen turned around. Wasting no words, he immediately gave orders. "I need two late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators to escort this exploding ape down to the dungeon and lock it up. "No need to worry about it running amok. Its demon core is in my hands and it has been heavily poisoned; it won't be able to resist anytime soon." Promptly, two late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators stepped forward and employed Attraction Art. Using chains of spiritual energy, they hauled the exploding ape's body and flew into Crescent Moon Valley. During the initial construction, the underground of Crescent Moon Valley had already been expanded. It already contained massive natural mine caverns that could be put to use after slight renovations. Using them to confine this second-tier demon beast now was more than sufficient. After taking care of the exploding ape, Luo Chen continued issuing commands. "Hall Master Murong, tally the casualties and calculate the merits. Tomorrow, we shall reward merit and punish fault. "Caiyi, join Granny Yuan in tending to our wounded brothers. "Duan Feng, lead a team to repair the fortifications and mend any gaps in the formation. Ensure no scoundrels can take advantage of our distress." With such a massive battle erupting at Crescent Moon Valley, it was impossible for it to go unnoticed. It was only that the situation had not yet clarified, so rogue cultivators dared not make any reckless moves. When Luo Chen swept his eyes across the perimeter earlier, he had already spotted quite a few rogue cultivators lurking nearby. He issued command after command as precautions. He even instructed Sima Xian and Qin Liangchen to lead two squads on patrol around the vicinity. Only at the end did he speak in a low voice: "Director-General Sima Huiniang, Law Enforcement Elder Zhou Yuanli, follow me." *** Inside Bright Moon Hall. Luo Chen sat high in the head seat, his eyes slightly closed. Having ingested a Dust-Cleansing Pill earlier, coupled with the passive qi recovery of the Eternal Spring Art, the vast amount of spiritual energy he had expended was slowly replenishing. Below him, Sima Huiniang and Zhou Yuanli stood respectfully on either side, barely daring to breathe. By now, having weathered the Battle of Crescent Moon Valley, the conflict with the Fu family, and this latest clash against the beast tide, the baleful aura around Luo Chen had grown increasingly pronounced. Having held high authority for so long, his every word and gesture carried the unmistakable presence of a ruler. Zhou Yuanli, who had followed him the longest, felt this most acutely. In the past, Luo Chen would often joke, tease, or act playfully naive. Now, however, such moments were rarely seen. Perhaps they were no longer appropriate, or perhaps holding high office had cultivated an aura befitting his station. After a long silence, Luo Chen opened his eyes. Looking at the two, his tone was flat—neither gentle nor harsh. "Where did the beast tide come from?" His opening words went straight to the heart of the matter. Zhou Yuanli bowed. "The spirit vein containment formation in Dahe Market's inner city shattered, dispersing a massive surge of spiritual energy across a thousand li and creating a land rich in spiritual qi. Because of that, low-tier demon beasts had already been instinctively venturing into the outer city districts earlier." "That is not the answer I am looking for." Luo Chen slowly shook his head. Sima Huiniang hesitated before saying, "According to reports from our subordinates, this wave of the beast tide consisted mostly of ape-like demon beasts. Among the nearest mountains, only Mount Zhouyi of the Guyuan Mountain Range harbors a large population of such beasts. "Thus, the beast tide must have originated from Mount Zhouyi." Luo Chen's expression darkened slightly as he fixed his gaze on them. "Mount Zhouyi is several hundred li from Crescent Moon Valley. Even if demon beasts run swiftly and could cover that distance quickly, they possess strong territorial instincts. Why would they bypass what is near to seek out what is far? "If they were seeking a land rich in spiritual qi, they should have headed for the nearest parts of the outer city. "Am I right?" Sima Huiniang and Zhou Yuanli exchanged glances. For a moment, they were at a loss for words. Luo Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "Someone must be targeting our Luotian Association!" At these words, a shiver ran through both people below. They had known the beast tide's arrival was strange, but they had not thought deeply about it. After all, beast incursions had been quite frequent in Dahe Market's outer city lately. The only thing that had puzzled them was why demon beasts from Mount Zhouyi would come all the way here. Now that Luo Chen had laid it bare, they felt a chill creep down their spines. Who would go to such elaborate lengths to target the Luotian Association? Luo Chen sighed inwardly, gripped by an uneasy premonition. Three or four months had already passed since Dahe Market's inner city turned into a ghost city. In all this time, there had not been a peep from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. For rogue cultivators, this might be good news. For him, however, it boded ill. It meant the days of using Pang Renxiong's token to borrow authority would soon come to an end. If the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect still did not return after another two months, someone would inevitably lose patience and strike at the Luotian Association. This beast tide was likely a preliminary probe. And those Foundation Establishment cultivators were the prime suspects! "The beast tide was undoubtedly lured here by someone! "Yet there must be a specific method behind it; otherwise, no faction in Dahe Market could withstand repeated onslaughts of beast tides." Luo Chen looked at the two. "Conduct a thorough investigation within the Luotian Association! Uncover anything and anyone that might have attracted that second-tier exploding ape." "Understood!" "Understood!" As the two withdrew, Luo Chen rubbed his temples. The tree craved stillness, yet the wind would not cease. Underneath Dahe Market's seemingly peaceful surface, undercurrents surged relentlessly. With the Luotian Association flourishing more and more, it had undoubtedly become a fat piece of meat coveted by many. He needed to find a countermeasure. He felt concern, but not panic. For back when he decided to stay in Dahe Market, he had already anticipated such a scenario. Now, it was merely time to face it. "This is truly a critical moment of life and death... Perhaps I can follow past precedent?" His murmured words echoed faintly through the spacious hall. *** Early the next morning. Cultivators of the ninth level of Qi Refinement entered and exited Bright Moon Hall one after another. Zhou Yuanli, Duan Feng, Qin Liangchen, Murong Qinglian... Luo Chen sat in the seat of honor without speaking, leaving everything for Sima Huiniang to preside over. He merely listened from the sidelines, intervening only when critical matters arose. "In last night's battle, the cultivators inside the valley suffered minimal casualties. The only heavy losses fell upon the Battle Hall. "A total of eleven Battle Hall cultivators perished in the beast tide. Furthermore, two have lost their combat capability and will likely never recover to their peak." Eleven dead, two crippled. This amounted to nearly half the Battle Hall's strength. Had Luo Chen not returned in time, even if the Luotian Association won the battle, it would have lost its sharpest spearhead. Even so, the losses were grievous. Murong Qinglian's report continued. "Damage to the fortifications is relatively minor, but we consumed ten mid-grade spirit stones, which is a considerable expense. "Elder Duan's side is expediting repairs on the fortifications to restore the Lesser Five Elements Formation to its peak state. "For this, another expenditure will be required. "..." "Director-General Sima, what are your thoughts?" When the report finished, Sima Huiniang frowned deeply. Without hesitation, she said, "Repairing the fortifications is of paramount importance. Tell me how many spirit stones are needed, and they will be provided immediately. "The remaining Battle Hall cultivators must be handsomely rewarded. "The reward criteria will follow the terms set during my pre-battle mobilization. However, we can relax the restrictions slightly, allowing them to exchange items of equivalent value for high-grade artifacts and talismans. "The severely injured cultivators must not be mistreated. I suggest transferring them to the logistics department where they can continue to contribute." Decisions flowed steadily from her lips. From start to finish, Luo Chen did not interrupt once. In truth, Sima Huiniang had already discussed these plans with him beforehand. The Luotian Association's losses were indeed severe, but they were mainly concentrated in casualties. Actual material consumption was relatively modest. The estates of the eleven fallen Battle Hall cultivators were confiscated into the association's coffers. That inheritance alone was enough to distribute as bounties. As for the more than two hundred demon beasts slain on the battlefield, a portion belonged to those who killed them, while many of the rest had been personally felled by Luo Chen. The meat of these first-tier demon beasts was good merchandise. With a bit of processing, it could be sold outside. At one spirit stone per ten jin of meat, it would easily bring in ten to twenty thousand spirit stones. And that didn't even account for the pelts, blood, and bones. The only detail Luo Chen had intervened in was the rewards for the surviving cultivators. He had told Sima Huiniang to loosen restrictions rather than adhere strictly to standard rules, allowing those cultivators to use items of equivalent value along with their earned merit points to redeem high-grade artifacts and high-grade talismans from the Luotian Association. The intent behind this was self-evident. If numbers were lacking, quality would make up the difference. The remaining members had to have their combat power elevated! Conveniently, the Luotian Association truly possessed that many high-grade artifacts. Having gone through three battles, though many artifacts had been destroyed, plenty of fine spoils had also been seized. Earlier, Duan Feng had repaired many of them. Releasing them all now was enough to arm the Battle Hall cultivators to the teeth. After Murong Qinglian departed in satisfaction, quiet finally returned to Bright Moon Hall. Yet Sima Huiniang still did not dare relax. After all, she had only assumed office a few days ago, and the association had already suffered such heavy casualties. No matter how one looked at it, she could not escape responsibility. However, Luo Chen did not blame her. Some things were simply not her fault. "You have done very well. With you overseeing the association's affairs, I can set my mind at ease." Luo Chen offered a rare smile and gave Sima Huiniang words of encouragement. Only then did the woman let out a sigh of relief. Luo Chen gestured, and Sima Huiniang stepped closer. Before Luo Chen, a paper crane and two crane nests suddenly appeared. "This is a voice transmission paper crane. We shall each keep one crane nest. "In the future, if an urgent matter arises, you can notify me directly through this over a range of a thousand li." Taking the paper crane with hesitation, Sima Huiniang's face showed wonder. When had such an artifact appeared in the cultivation world? With such a vast transmission range, it far surpassed voice transmission talismans. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, hurried footsteps came from outside. Soon, Zhou Yuanli entered with a somber expression. "President, I found it!" "Oh?" "Please follow me this way." Luo Chen's eyes flickered, and he set off immediately. Before long, guided by Zhou Yuanli, he arrived outside a building steeped in a foul, beastly stench. He looked at the place in puzzlement. "The beast pens?" Zhou Yuanli nodded and pushed open the heavy door. Liu Qiang's awkward expression immediately met their eyes. "President, I..." Luo Chen stepped inside, his gaze instantly locking onto a young ape whose entire body was fiery red. "A first-tier exploding ape. Is this the means that lured the beast tide here?" As his voice fell, Liu Qiang dropped to one knee. "It is my fault! "I bought this beast from outside, never imagining it would invite wolves into our home." Luo Chen slowly shook his head. This was not Liu Qiang's fault. Because purchasing live demon beasts was an errand Luo Chen had personally entrusted to Liu Qiang, forbidding him from delegating it to others. These live beasts were for Luo Chen to practice the God-Deterring Technique after taking Nether-Passage Pills. In the dead of winter, heavy snow blanketed the mountains. Ordinary wild beasts were scarce, and hunting demon beasts was even harder. Liu Qiang alone could not capture many live beasts, which was why he had turned to buying them outside. To that end, Luo Chen had specifically allocated a sum of spirit stones to him. Studying the young exploding ape, its demon qi was very weak, appearing to have barely entered the first tier. Its coat, however, was smooth and supple, its crimson sheen reminding Luo Chen of the second-tier exploding ape imprisoned deep within the underground mine cavern. "Is it that second-tier demon beast's offspring?" Luo Chen asked without looking back. "Almost certainly," Zhou Yuanli said in a low voice. "I already had someone perform a bloodline test. The two beasts share a direct and exceptionally potent bloodline connection." Testing a demon beast's bloodline was quite simple—much more distinct and pronounced than that of humans. Rumor had it that some demon beasts even relied on bloodline inheritance for their cultivation. In that case, everything made sense. The second-tier exploding ape had lost its cub, the one with its purest bloodline at that. No wonder it had flown into a rage, leading a beast tide to storm the valley. Now that Dahe Market lacked the deterrent of the inner city formation, demon beasts had gradually lost their reverence and fear. Signs of this could already be seen in many minor occurrences. The second-tier exploding ape was merely the first second-tier demon beast to enter the vicinity of Dahe Market. One could imagine that in the days ahead, there would be more. Yet none of that mattered right now! Luo Chen turned back and looked at Liu Qiang. "Stand up and speak." Liu Qiang rose to his feet, meeting Luo Chen's gaze. "Where did you buy this beast?" "From the Nangong family's beast pens." "The Nangong family?" Luo Chen's brows furrowed slightly. "Who sold it to you?" Liu Qiang answered instinctively, "It was a veteran from the old Mountain Breaker Gang, Beast Hall Master Ke Yuelin. He is currently affiliated with the Nangong family, managing their beast pens, and he sold this beast to me personally. I saw that it was full of spiritual intelligence and thought it might aid in your cultivation, President..." "Ke Yuelin..." Luo Chen narrowed his eyes, murmuring the name under his breath.