"It went up by one!"
One point seemed insignificant.
Yet one had to remember that Luo Chen had reached the perfection stage long ago. Back at the Great Circle of the Qi Refining stage, his proficiency had hovered around 350. Later, after breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he had undergone three years of secluded cultivation.
Over such an extensive span of time, his proficiency had advanced by a mere hundred points—a progress as slow as a snail. Often, he had to circulate the technique countless times just to gain a single point of proficiency.
He had not expected that by cultivating with the aid of fiend energy this time, his proficiency would surge so rapidly.
*If the pace doesn't taper off later, relying on the ten floating rocks I have on me—which hold a hundred wisps of earth fire fiend—should be just about enough to push me into the grandmaster tier.*
*Even if it isn't enough, I can borrow a bit from Brother Wang.*
He never worried about whether Wang Yuan would lend it to him.
They were brothers!
Once Bright Spirit Fiend Shattering reached the grandmaster tier, it would likely yield tremendous benefits for enhancing his divine soul.
"Carry the medicinal ingredients inside!"
"Put them over there, put them over there—arrange them on the shelves first."
While Luo Chen was lost in thought, bustling voices drifted in from outside.
Qu Lingjun's precocious, solemn young voice was particularly noticeable.
The door to the pill room pushed open.
Catching sight of Luo Chen inside, Qu Lingjun froze in astonishment.
"Master, you're up this early?"
Luo Chen put on a stern expression. "Lingjun, the secret of a day lies in the dawn. You've grown lax."
With that, he walked out of the pill room to attend to his preparations for pill concoction.
Qu Lingjun stood dazed in the pill room, unable to recover his wits.
Subconsciously, he stepped out and glanced up at the hazy, misty sky.
"Am I really not early enough?"
"Right!"
"I heard Aunt Gu and Aunt Xia say before that Master used to wake up during the Yin and Mao hours before dawn to cultivate and process ingredients."
"I truly haven't been working hard enough!"
He clenched his fists tightly, eyes burning with resolute determination.
*Master, Lingjun will never let your expectations down. I must work even harder from now on!*
***
The preparations before their departure were exceedingly complex.
Even Luo Chen was swamped beyond measure.
Concocting pills, concocting pills, and yet more concocting pills!
In three months, he had to refine as many Jade Marrow Pills as possible. Only then would they possess sufficient funds to establish a foothold in a foreign land.
Beyond pill concoction, he had to venture to the periphery of the Ghost City to capture yin souls and assist Bai Meiling in her cultivation.
His cultivation of Bright Spirit Fiend Shattering did not cease, either.
This technique, created by a secular martial arts grandmaster, was truly peculiar. It seemed like an odd chimera of diverse styles, yet it somehow conferred improvements across every aspect. Now that Luo Chen focused it on tempering his will and forging his divine soul, a definite direction had gradually emerged. It was no longer an unruly hybrid, but rather a soul-refining technique tailored specifically by Luo Chen.
Wang Yuan had not stayed idle, either.
Having received Luo Chen's confirmation, he plunged deep into the earth veins every night to seize earth fire fiend energy. It took a full ten days before he finally harvested it all.
Luo Chen requested ten more portions, leaving all the surplus to Wang Yuan. This was a considerable fortune; if sold, it would allow Wang Yuan to amass a substantial personal reserve.
The only side effect was that the earth fire beneath Mount Xiaohuan grew weaker and weaker. In the end, when Qu Lingjun attempted to refine pills, he could not even draw out the earth fire through the formation.
It gave the boy quite a fright.
After comforting him, Luo Chen had no choice but to revert to the primitive method of kindling firewood to concoct pills.
And so, time flowed like water.
One month later!
Atop Mount Xiaohuan.
More than three hundred cultivators gazed with conflicted expressions at the colossal flying boat slowly ascending into the sky.
It measured fully thirty zhang in length and fifteen zhang in width, suspended aloft as if blotting out the sun and clouds.
Stepping onto this flying boat meant they would soon bid farewell to Dahe Market, their former home.
What would the outside world be like?
Would new opportunities await them?
Years from now, would they ever return?
No one knew. All they knew was that before long, a ghost king would be born in Dahe Market, reducing this land to a living purgatory. It was no longer fit for human cultivation.
Thus, this departure was inevitable.
No matter how deep the reluctance, the confusion, and the hesitation.
When the flying boat halted, a figure leaned over the railing and waved to those below.
It was Duan Feng!
To maneuver such a massive vessel, only he and Luo Chen were capable of it within the Luotian Association. The former relied on technical skill, while the latter relied on his cultivation realm.
Standing below, Luo Chen nodded in approval.
"Among the Duan family's heritage, aside from that puppet on par with the Great Circle of Qi Refining, this Sky Eagle Flying Boat is the most valuable treasure."
Murong Qinglian stood beside him, smiling. "Indeed. This vessel is an upper-grade artifact, capable of carrying a thousand passengers in flight. In terms of price, it undoubtedly ranks at the very pinnacle of upper-grade magical artifacts."
The Duan family had left behind three flying boats: two upper-grade and one mid-grade.
When Luo Chen went to meet Falling Cloud Sect's Xu Ji before, he had ridden the other upper-grade vessel. As for the mid-grade one, he had bestowed it upon Sima Huiniang. As the director-general of the Luotian Association, she needed a dignified means of conveyance.
"President, I'll go arrange for everyone to board."
"Mm."
Luo Chen nodded, remaining at the rear.
Watching the members board one after another, Luo Chen turned his head toward Qin Liangchen and remarked, "Sister-in-law's cultivation progress seems to have overtaken yours?"
Qin Liangchen nodded placidly, unsurprised that Luo Chen could see through it.
Luo Chen frowned. "Didn't the Nangong family gift you a piece of Seven-Aperture Lotus Root? Did it have no effect after you used it?"
"It naturally had an effect." Qin Liangchen sighed, a bitter smile gracing his lips. "But in the end, it still falls short of how it used to be!"
*The Seven-Aperture Lotus Root is a third-tier treasure—could even that fail to restore him to his original state?*
Looking at the silver strands at Qin Liangchen's temples, Luo Chen felt a faint premonition of dread.
When he first met Qin Liangchen, the man was in the prime of his life, only forty-nine years old. Luo Chen was certain of this, as he had frequently consulted Qin Liangchen on the cultivation speeds of various spiritual root aptitudes. Calculating the years, Qin Liangchen was now fifty-seven.
Only three years remained before the sixty-year age limit—the optimal threshold for breaking through to Foundation Establishment.
Yet he was still a distance away from the Great Circle of Qi Refining.
In contrast, his relatively younger wife, Murong Qinglian, had forged ahead and was already close to the Great Circle.
If this continued, Qin Liangchen would inevitably miss the ideal window for breakthrough.
While Luo Chen pondered deeply, Qin Liangchen's wistful voice sounded by his ear.
"Don't worry about me."
"Now that I'm getting on in years, I've learned to take these things lightly."
"Right now, I'm free of wounds and illness, which is already far better than before. My only wish is to see Xiaohu once more."
"The Falling Cloud Sect and the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect have gone to war; I don't know how he's faring inside."
Qin Liangchen offered Luo Chen an easy, carefree smile before casting the Wind Riding Technique to fly up onto the Sky Eagle Flying Boat.
Watching his departing silhouette, Luo Chen felt a heavy weight in his chest.
*Has he truly taken it lightly?*
*He probably still can't entirely let it go!*
Any cultivator who was abruptly stopped in their tracks when standing a mere step from Foundation Establishment could never truly be reconciled to it.
Sighing, Luo Chen knew he was powerless to change it.
Toward his friend Qin Liangchen, he had done everything within his power, even bestowing an invaluable Foundation Establishment Pill upon him. In everyday life, he had never stinted on resources—a fact reflected in Murong Qinglian's rapid cultivation progress. Yet when it came to cultivation, one could never substitute for another.
"To each their own destiny!"
As Luo Chen sighed, all the passengers had boarded the Sky Eagle Flying Boat.
Over the past few years of the Luotian Association's growth, under Sima Huiniang's stringent standards, most of the members recruited were individuals of strong ability and relatively clean backgrounds. For this very reason, their numbers had never swelled dramatically. A headcount of over three hundred was negligible for a vessel capable of carrying a thousand passengers.
"Master, come aboard!" On the boat, Qu Lingjun waved his hand, shouting with excitement.
Luo Chen gave a helpless smile.
*Ah, youth!*
While others leaving their homeland were steeped in sorrow, an adolescent like Qu Lingjun was brimming with eager anticipation.
"President, come aboard!"
"President, please board the vessel!"
Perhaps infected by Qu Lingjun, other cultivators from the Pill Hall began calling out to him as well. Before long, numerous Luotian Association cultivators stood along the outer deck, looking down toward him.
"Very well!"
"Here I come!" Luo Chen laughed heartily. White clouds surged beneath his feet, carrying him upward onto the deck of the Sky Eagle Flying Boat.
Wherever he passed, the cultivators of the Luotian Association bowed their heads in respectful homage.
Ascending to the third tier of the cabin structure, Luo Chen looked out at the scenic, verdant slopes of Mount Xiaohuan below.
*Farewell!*
His gaze drifted toward Crescent Moon Valley.
*Farewell.*
Finally, he looked toward Dahe Market's Ghost City, eerie and bleak as the underworld itself.
*Farewell, Dahe Market!*
"Everyone, attention!"
"When the flying boat launches, no reckless movements, no casting spells..."
"Rise!"
As Duan Feng's steady command rang out, the Sky Eagle Flying Boat emitted a deep hum. A pale azure halo slowly radiated outward, enveloping the entire vessel.
*Hum!*
*Whoosh!*
The colossal flying boat transformed into a streak of light and shadow, swiftly pulling away from Dahe Market.
***
Lancang Pier!
The largest water transport hub of Dahe Market.
It had always been under the control of the Great River Gang. Over many years of operation, Qingjiang Long Street had even sprung up around it as a commercial center. Regrettably, Wang Yuan's battle years ago had battered the street into utter ruin. Even after it was rebuilt, it had never regained its former bustling prosperity.
Today, however, was entirely different.
Gu Caiyi, Feng Xia, and Yuan Xiaoyue leaned against the deck railing, poking their heads out to look below.
Beneath them lay a surging sea of people, a clamorous din of voices, and an unbroken tapestry of movement. The raucous tumult soared straight into the clouds. Even through the flying boat's protective formation, the uproar below remained audible.
"Sister Caiyi, look how many people there are!" Yuan Xiaoyue cried in excitement.
Feng Xia was equally astonished. "Even during Dahe Market's peak prosperity, we never witnessed such a sight!"
Occupying a high rank within the Luotian Association, Gu Caiyi knew far more than they did. Looking at the clamorous scene, she remarked with emotion:
"It's only natural there are so many people."
"The departure of the four major factions could never be kept secret. With the exact date set for today, the rogue cultivators made inquiries far and wide to find out."
"They want to travel with us!"
Yuan Xiaoyue asked curiously, "Couldn't they just leave on their own?"
"It isn't that simple." Gu Caiyi shook her head. "Prosperous as Dahe Market is, its geographical location is exceptionally remote. The nearest market, Snow Lotus Market, is thousands of li away."
"And our destination this time is Taishan Market, which is even farther!"
"For such a vast journey, relying on rogue cultivators to fly on their own would take far too long. The perils along the way are simply beyond count."
Yuan Xiaoyue still couldn't quite fathom it. Born and raised in Dahe Market, she had been sheltered by her father and grandfather from a young age. Even after her father's passing, she had enjoyed Luo Chen's care and protection. She had no real understanding of the dangers of a long voyage.
Ever considerate, Feng Xia patiently explained it to her.
There were only a few routes leading to Taishan Market.
Traveling by land required crossing several towering mountain ranges teeming with demonic beasts; only Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators could traverse them with ease.
Therefore, over all these years, cultivators leaving Dahe Market had always taken the waterway. The river route was reasonably swift, and by letting boats drift with the current, one could conserve a great deal of spiritual power. The only concern was the occasional emergence of aquatic demonic beasts in the Lancang River. Yet the Great River Gang was thoroughly experienced in dealing with such threats.
Thus, the water route was indisputably the safer option!
The only thing to consider was the cost.
"Fifty low-grade spirit stones?!" Yuan Xiaoyue's mouth dropped open in a round, adorable O-shape.
*Just to take a boat once, they're charging so much?*
Gu Caiyi gave a light chuckle. "Under ordinary circumstances, it wouldn't cost anywhere near that much. The Great River Gang is simply seizing the opportunity to hike the price and rake in a fortune."
"How utterly unscrupulous!" Yuan Xiaoyue stuck out her little tongue in a characteristic grimace.
"Unscrupulous they certainly are. Yet plenty of people are still clamoring to buy tickets—arrive a little late, and you might not get one at all."
Gu Caiyi looked down at the dense throngs crowded before the dozen-odd vessels, sighing with emotion. "If we hadn't basked in Luo Chen's light, we wouldn't have secured an entire ship free of charge, either."
While she marveled, a cultivator flew up from the Great River Gang.
Clad in luxurious garments and bearing an aloof, distinguished air, his flight carried a distinct grace and composure. Floating just outside the Sky Eagle Flying Boat, he cupped his hands in greeting.
"I am Min Longyu, sent by Gang Leader Wang to receive the fellow Daoists of the Luotian Association."
"We trouble you, Fellow Daoist Min." Sima Huiniang emerged from the crowd and stood beside him.
The two exchanged voice transmissions to finalize various details. Afterward, under Duan Feng's steering, the Sky Eagle Flying Boat glided past the dense crowds on the pier and descended gently above a massive vessel.
Bidding farewell to Min Longyu, Sima Huiniang flew over to direct everyone off the flying boat and into the large ship. She simultaneously assigned shifts for sentry patrols and cabin cleaning. The large cargo and materials brought by the Luotian Association were also retrieved one by one and stowed in the hold. Under her capable hand, every trivial matter was arranged in immaculate order.
From beginning to end, Luo Chen never showed his face.
After the Luotian Association boarded their vessel, the nearby Li family cultivators also appeared in the distance. Swaths of cultivators flew in steadily, while on the ground below, numerous mortal martial artists galloped swiftly on dragon-horses. This was a true clan migration, bringing every relative and belonging along!
The Nangong family arrived in similar fashion, though their numbers were significantly smaller than the deep-rooted Li family's.
Meanwhile, on the pier, the stream of rogue cultivators buying tickets showed no sign of thinning.
The Great River Gang possessed five large magical artifact ships and five small magical artifact boats. The remainder were merely ordinary vessels outfitted with formations.
Of the five large ships, three were allocated to the Luotian Association, the Li family, and the Nangong family. Of the remaining two, one was occupied by the Great River Gang's higher-ups, while the other was reserved entirely for escorting cargo. Behind them came the five small magical artifact boats, all dedicated to carrying passengers. Each could hold several hundred people, and packed tightly, a thousand wouldn't be an issue.
Every rogue cultivator boarding had to pay a ticket fee of fifty spirit stones. The Great River Gang was truly making a colossal fortune this time—aiming to rake in hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in one go!
It was heartless to the extreme.
Even so, many rogue cultivators seeking safety gritted their teeth and bought tickets. Naturally, far more were strapped for cash, having to pinch every spirit stone in two. Yet they had their own ways: some fashioned wooden rafts and small skiffs, while others planned to fly alongside the fleet. In any case, they were determined to travel together!
The Great River Gang paid no heed to the latter group. Once they reached the Lancang River and met with danger, those freeloaders would learn that some bargains were not so easily seized.
Amid these lingering delays, time slipped away.
By dusk, when the dusky afterglow washed over the river's surface, all the vessels were finally prepared.
A resonant, deep voice carried by profound spiritual power swept across the entire Lancang Pier:
"Set sail!"
The command was met with a chorus of resounding echoes:
"By the Gang Leader's order, hoist the sails!"
"By the Gang Leader's order, hoist the sails!"
"By the Gang Leader's order, hoist the sails!"
*Swish, swish, swish!*
Broad sails dropped in unison from every vessel. Under the helmsmen's control, more than a dozen ships slowly set forth.
Dahe Market, now deserted and empty, sat alone outside the untamed mountains, watching them depart.
There were no voices, no farewells.
Only a lone sail in the distance, and the Lancang rushing on.
Chapter 201