Mount Xiaohuan.
Once the ancestral grounds of the Duan family, it was now the headquarters of the Luotian Association.
It lacked the tranquil, aloof detachment of the past, having gained a bustling, secular vitality instead.
Following Luo Chen's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, the Luotian Association had vaulted into becoming Dahe Market's fifth major Foundation Establishment faction.
Unlike cultivation clans that relied solely on bloodlines to hold themselves together, many rogue cultivators chose to join its ranks.
Over the past few years, the Luotian Association had grown increasingly powerful, gradually taking on the formidable presence once commanded by the Mountain Breaker Gang.
Moreover, unlike the loose, undisciplined mindset of the Mountain Breaker Gang, the Luotian Association boasted the presence of Luo Chen, an alchemist, which drew a great many late-stage Qi Refinement experts.
Over these past few years, it had even attracted three rogue cultivators at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.
Such a development was hardly surprising.
Anyone capable of advancing to late-stage Qi Refinement or even the ninth layer before sixty harbored at least some hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.
In other Foundation Establishment factions, they might fear suppression by those in power.
Yet the Luotian Association was different.
Its head, Danchenzi, possessed remarkable magnanimity.
Along his rise, he had offered ample support and elevation to those around him and under his command.
He was an alchemist, so who could say whether he might one day brew pills capable of aiding a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment?
Joining the Luotian Association early on naturally put one in the best position to reap those rewards.
The only thing causing unease was that after achieving Foundation Establishment, Danchenzi had promptly announced a closed-door seclusion to stabilize his realm.
Three years had now passed without a trace of him.
The Luotian Association's pill business had ground to a halt for a time.
Though it was later restarted, the only pills being sold were low-grade Jade Marrow Pills.
Low-grade Jade Marrow Pills yielded virtually zero profit!
What was worse, their output was extraordinarily meager.
Under such circumstances, financial strain steadily mounted on the Luotian Association.
Through Sima Huiniang's decisions, the association's stipend policy underwent a complete overhaul.
Stipends were no longer distributed as a flat amount, but were tied directly to individual contributions.
The more one contributed, the higher the stipend.
Cultivators from the Battle Hall began taking on outside assignments as well—venturing into the mountains to hunt demon beasts, transporting cargo, acting as escorts, and so forth.
In comparison, jobs within the Medicine Hall and Pill Hall became highly coveted. Such duties offered guaranteed safety, offset only by slightly lower pay.
***
Along a street in Dahe Market's outer city, Luo Chen sipped wine while savoring fresh demon beast meat.
He nodded to an early-stage Qi Refinement rogue cultivator beside him and handed over a low-grade spirit stone. The young fellow departed in high spirits.
All the information had come from him.
"It seems Huiniang has handled things quite well."
Luo Chen settled the bill and turned to leave the establishment.
The full picture naturally could not be pieced together from low-tier rogue cultivators alone. He would need to return before getting a thorough understanding.
Once clear of the outer city, Luo Chen gave a casual wave of his hand. A condensed cloud of water vapor materialized beneath his feet.
Stepping onto it, he felt only a soft, spongy texture rather than solid footing.
"Cloud-riding in the Foundation Establishment realm is indeed different from when I was in Qi Refinement."
The wind buffeted his face, washing his mind clear and serene.
"Perhaps I should set aside some time to study my Great Circle Carefree Wind Riding and merge it into standard cloud-riding. That would undoubtedly boost my flying speed significantly.
"Of course, it would be even better if I could learn a Five Elements escape technique."
Five Elements escape techniques differed from ordinary flight; they were profound arts that harnessed the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth to travel at extreme speeds, far outstripping ordinary flying.
The only reason Shan Xiu had managed to evade Mi Shuhua's pursuit back then was because he possessed a tier-two water escape talisman.
Among the Five Elements escape arts, earth and water escape were the most practical. Both could be used almost anywhere by drawing upon the ubiquitous earth and water spiritual energy permeating heaven and earth.
By contrast, wood, fire, and metal escape techniques were bound by environmental constraints. Even so, each possessed its own profound mysteries, and their grades were exceptionally high—scarcely something an ordinary person could master.
Drifting in these light thoughts, Luo Chen soon arrived outside Mount Xiaohuan.
He came to a stop before the lake at the foot of the mountain.
After three years, the lake had actually expanded. No longer merely a hundred zhang across, it now spanned nearly a li—almost doubling in size.
A boundary stele stood outside the lake, engraved with two bold characters: "Fenghai."
For such a small lake to call itself an ocean seemed rather comical. Yet Luo Chen felt only a faint warmth in his heart.
This had to be Duan Feng's doing.
Back then, beneath Mount Qinghe, the little shop called the Fenghai Smithy had ended without fanfare. Now, Duan Feng had truly brought an "ocean" into being.
The moment Luo Chen paused, the lake's surface churned.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...*
Before long, the waters parted to reveal a long passage. Following the steps carved out of the waves, Luo Chen strode downward one step at a time.
A pair of bronze doors appeared before him.
*Creak, creak, creak...*
The doors swung wide.
Inside the cave dwelling, Wang Yuan wore a smile. "You're back."
Luo Chen offered a faint smile in return. "Yes, I'm back."
Looking at Luo Chen, a hint of astonishment gradually emerged at the corners of Wang Yuan's mouth.
Gone was the sharp, piercing aura from when Luo Chen had just broken through, nor was there any floating or restless fluctuation of spiritual power.
All that remained was a harmonious, natural, and utterly unadorned presence. Luo Chen simply stood there, devoid of secular airs, carrying an ever-stronger bearing of an immortal cultivator.
Such a dramatic difference could only mean...
He could not help asking, "You've polished and stabilized your realm?"
"Indeed," Luo Chen chuckled, strolling around the renovated cave dwelling. "Not only that, but I've also taken a small step forward."
Not merely polished and stabilized—Luo Chen had pushed through into Foundation Establishment Layer Two in one go. Now, he was firmly anchored in the early Foundation Establishment realm.
Wang Yuan shook his head repeatedly, sighing with emotion. "Incredible, simply incredible. Back then you were only at the third layer of Qi Refinement, and in a mere few years, you've reached Foundation Establishment. You've even surpassed me."
In terms of pure realm, Wang Yuan had only recently entered the second realm of body refinement, matching Luo Chen. But in the current cultivation world, immortal cultivation reigned supreme. On that front, he lagged far behind.
Luo Chen brushed it off, remarking instead, "Brother Wang, your Qi Refinement realm has grown increasingly harmonious as well, free of its past restlessness."
"Three years of work, and that's all I have to show for it."
Luo Chen halted his steps.
He could tell that this submerged cave dwelling had been meticulously refurbished for Wang Yuan. Beyond the boundary stele outside and the bronze doors at the entrance, the interior was paved with green bricks and white jade, dotted with moonstones that kept the space bright and free of gloom.
"Did anything major happen in the Luotian Association over these three years?"
"The tier-two exploding ape you enslaved ran away."
"Hm?" Luo Chen's brow furrowed.
Xiao Hong was a genuine tier-two demon beast that could not be kept inside a spirit beast pouch for long stretches. The Ghost City was hardly suited for it to fight in either, so before entering the city, Luo Chen had released it to be fed and tended by the Luotian Association's cultivators.
He had not expected it to escape.
"Without you, its master, continually applying control, its restraints grew weaker and weaker. On a full moon night, it quietly slipped away, taking its young offspring with it.
"Since it was your tame beast, no one dared be too harsh with it, so..."
After hearing the explanation, Luo Chen shook his head.
He had gained a ghost general and obtained a defensive magic treasure, but had lost a tier-two tame beast in return. Between what had been gained and what had been lost, he hardly knew how to weigh the outcome.
"Forget it. If the chance arises in the future, I'll track it down again."
The beast-taming methods of the Myriad Beast Scripture never relied primarily on violent subjugation, focusing instead on gradual conditioning. In fact, the highest form of mastery lay not in casting Spirit Subjugation Seals, but in day-to-day companionship until the beast accepted its master wholeheartedly.
"Did anything else of note occur?"
"Nothing."
"I suppose that counts as good news, then."
"With your formidable reputation preceding you, who would dare pluck the whiskers of a tiger?"
Hearing that, Luo Chen could not help laughing.
Since when had he attained such standing in the Jianghu?
How things had changed; it truly prompted a sigh of wonder.
Once his laughter subsided, Luo Chen cut straight to the point.
"I've found a way to purge Duan Qiankun's remnant soul for you."
"Truly?!" Wang Yuan's eyes lit up instantly.
Under his gaze, Luo Chen retrieved a banner—pitch-black in color and steeped in chilling, eerie ghost qi.
***
Luo Chen had emerged from seclusion!
The news spread across Mount Xiaohuan like wildfire.
In an instant, every cultivator's spirits lifted.
After all, knowing that one's faction had a True Cultivator of Foundation Establishment was an entirely different matter from having that True Cultivator present by their side. The former merely allowed them to borrow a name, whereas the latter meant they could walk abroad backed by real, formidable authority.
Amid the excitement, high-ranking cultivators of the association made their way one after another toward Huanyu Hall to pay their respects to Luo Chen.
Inside the Pill Hall, Gu Caiyi shot to her feet. "Has he truly emerged?"
Across from her, Mi Li smiled faintly. "Yes, the news has already spread. It probably won't be long before the Pill Hall welcomes the association head concocting pills in person."
Seeing Gu Caiyi's hesitation, Mi Li added, "Sister Caiyi, you are the master of the Gold Hall. You should go see him as well."
"You're right!" Abandoning her hesitation, Gu Caiyi left at once.
After her departure, a figure emerged from the alchemy chamber.
With sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, his bearing was handsome and ethereal. It was none other than Qu Lingjun.
"Lingjun, are you going to see your master too?"
Over the years, the changes in Qu Lingjun had grown increasingly striking. Standing beside Mi Li, he was a full head taller than her.
He nodded. "Now that Master has emerged from seclusion, I must certainly pay my respects. First, to report on the Pill Hall's circumstances; second, because I've accumulated quite a few questions over the years that require his guidance."
With that, he halted his steps. "Sister Mi Li, come with me!"
Meeting those earnest eyes, Mi Li showed a flicker of unease. "Perhaps I shouldn't..."
"No, you must come with me!" Qu Lingjun's tone was resolute as he gazed at the increasingly mature, gentle woman. "Ever since Grandfather passed away, Master and you are the only two people dear to me left in this world. Master ought to know about our relationship."
"But..."
"No buts. Come with me!"
His warm, broad hand clasped her slender fingers, pulling her toward Huanyu Hall.
Stumbling along behind him, Mi Li looked at his back, a tender, dazed look rising in her eyes.
***
"At present, the number of ninth-layer Qi Refinement cultivators in the association has grown from ten to fifteen.
"Three joined us from the rogue cultivators of Dahe Market, while the other two were cultivated from our own ranks.
"Liu Qiang and Su Xiaolin."
Hearing those two familiar names from Sima Huiniang, Luo Chen gave a gentle nod.
Liu Qiang's breakthrough to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement was well within expectations. He and Zhou Yuanli had partnered for years, mastering joint-attack techniques, and their cultivation levels had originally been comparable. Zhou Yuanli had broken through six years ago, so Liu Qiang's breakthrough now was, if anything, on the slower side.
The latter name, however, came as a pleasant surprise to Luo Chen.
"Su Xiaolin?"
"Yes, the very late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator you personally treated after the battle at Mount Xiaohuan."
Sima Huiniang smiled. "Deeply moved by your kindness, he has worked exceptionally hard within the Luotian Association over these years. He voluntarily takes on many tasks, setting a wonderful example for the others."
*A casual seed sown long ago had blossomed into shade.* Luo Chen chuckled softly. "Continue."
Sima Huiniang hummed in acknowledgment and went on reporting the association's developments over the past three years.
In truth, there had not been many major upheavals. Before entering seclusion, Luo Chen had already laid down the corresponding policies; Sima Huiniang merely had to carry them out. As for the external environment, he had already reached understandings with Nangong Jin, Li Yixian, and the others, so no great shifts were expected there either.
The changes within the Luotian Association were mainly reflected in three areas.
First was the stipend policy. Lacking the backing of Luo Chen's pill business, Sima Huiniang had adapted to the times, reverting the system to the standard model of ordinary rogue cultivator organizations across the cultivation world: more work, more gain; no work, no gain.
Put simply, base stipends were slashed.
This move effectively alleviated the association's financial strain while compelling cultivators to actively take on assignments.
It was a good thing.
Back then, Luo Chen had offered lavish stipends because external pressures were immense, forcing him to pour out substantial quantities of spirit stones each month to retain his subordinates. Now that the situation had shifted, trimming stipends was only natural.
Sima Huiniang had shouldered the resentment by implementing the change herself. Later, when Luo Chen offered a few pill rewards, he could both bind the late-stage Qi Refinement experts to his side and burnish his own reputation.
Luo Chen the Benevolent could not have played his part better.
The second change was a proposal raised during the Six Halls meeting to establish a new Law Enforcement Hall.
This hall required few personnel, but every one of them had to be an expert. Its purpose would be enforcing internal discipline and working alongside the Merit Hall to penalize wrongdoers.
Naturally, the proposal had not yet been finalized, pending Luo Chen's verdict.
After brief consideration, Luo Chen approved the recommendation. As for the hall master's seat, Zhou Yuanli was the undeniable candidate; Luo Chen had already bestowed upon him the nominal title of Law Enforcement Elder.
With this, the Luotian Association's various departments and halls were fully fleshed out.
Though small, the sparrow had every organ intact. Even if Luo Chen were away for short periods, it could operate smoothly on its own.
The third change, meanwhile, was genuine good news.
"Lingjun can now stably refine Jade Marrow Pills."
"How stably?" Luo Chen perked up.
Sima Huiniang replied, "Naturally nowhere near your pinnacle mastery, Association Head. Lingjun yields roughly one batch of pills for every fifteen portions of raw materials, currently producing low-grade quality."
Fifteen portions of raw materials cost around seventy-five low-grade spirit stones. At present, Qu Lingjun could not yet reliably control the output count per cauldron, producing about fifteen or sixteen pills a batch. Selling them yielded only a dozen or so spirit stones.
In other words, every refining session ran at a loss, offering zero profit.
Yet upon hearing this, Luo Chen was filled with delight.
"As expected, my judgment of him was not misplaced. His alchemy talent is truly extraordinary."
From reciting the Illustrated Guide to a Hundred Herbs and running errands in the Pill Hall, to taking hands-on practice at alchemy, to the Luotian Association fully backing him with vast quantities of materials, a mere six years had passed in total.
That span might seem long, but to high-tier cultivators, it was no more than the flick of a finger.
In major sects, grooming an alchemist capable of stably producing tier-one, low-grade pills took at least a decade! To turn a profit took many decades more. As for reaching master or grandmaster caliber, time could no longer be counted in single decades.
Now, Qu Lingjun had completed the first step of a major sect's apprentice alchemist in just six years. His talent was unquestionably superb.
Of course, Luo Chen's own alchemy insights had played a pivotal role. Luo Chen was someone who had walked the path of Jade Marrow Pill refining to its absolute zenith; calling him a grandmaster in that particular pill was no exaggeration.
With that guidance complementing Qu Lingjun's natural aptitude, such a remarkable result had been achieved.
Watching the corners of Luo Chen's mouth curl upward, Sima Huiniang breathed a sigh of relief.
Over the past three years, she had managed the association's affairs entirely on her own, expending tremendous effort. Earning Luo Chen's approval brought her peace of mind at last.
However, the matter she had to broach next made her somewhat apprehensive.
"Association Head, regarding your demon beast..."
"Yes, I'm already aware of it. I don't blame any of you."
"Still, that was tier-two combat strength!"
Luo Chen shook his head, a hint of regret showing on his face.
What Sima Huiniang meant to report was Xiao Hong's escape.
Xiao Hong, a tier-two exploding ape, had been captured alive by him and Wang Yuan during the beast tide. After obtaining a beast-taming manual, Luo Chen had enslaved it, and it had contributed considerably during the battle of Mount Xiaohuan.
Yet during the second year of Luo Chen's seclusion in Dahe Ghost City, the beast had fled Mount Xiaohuan, taking its young bloodline offspring along with it.
"Without my direct suppression, no one in the association could control it for long. Furthermore, my mastery of the Myriad Beast Scripture was only at the rudimentary level; even if I had watched over it day and night, I would have needed to constantly reinforce the Spirit Subjugation Seal to maintain control."
Luo Chen could still feel the faint, tenuous connection between himself and Xiao Hong, but that link was steadily attenuating.
It was clear that Xiao Hong had retreated deep into the grand mountains, putting greater and greater distance between them.
"So be it. Let it go!"
Refusing to fret over spilled milk, Luo Chen cast his gaze across the hall.
While Sima Huiniang had been delivering her report, the senior members of the Luotian Association had gradually assembled.
Facing those familiar gazes, Luo Chen announced a decision that caught everyone utterly off guard:
"In three months, we leave Dahe Market!"
Chapter 196