A few days later.
A flying boat glided slowly through the rugged mountains and wilderness.
It was the height of midsummer, yet the mountain ranges that should have been lush with green woods appeared desolate and bare.
Gazing at the jagged, craggy boulders and the uneven mountain peaks, Luo Chen shook his head as he stepped out onto the deck for a stroll.
This was already the territory of Liuguang Market.
Yet across this vast market domain, there was none of the ethereal spiritual aura of Dahe Market or Taishan Market.
It seemed the rumors were true: the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had mined the mineral veins dry, destroying Liuguang Market's spiritual veins in the process.
Now that the ores were depleted, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had waved their sleeves and departed without taking a single wisp of cloud with them, leaving behind only this scarred wasteland for the local cultivators.
"No wonder Liuguang Market produces so many bandit cultivators!"
"In a resource-barren wasteland like this, how else could one survive? If you don't fight and pillage, are you supposed to rely on honest cultivation?"
Sighing with emotion, Luo Chen was about to head back inside when his gaze paused in a certain direction.
"Little Duan, is the Bai family over in that direction?"
At the moment, the Sky Eagle flying boat was being piloted by one of Duan Feng's blacksmith apprentices, which was why its flight speed was somewhat slow.
Duan Feng had taken advantage of this lull to step out and get some rest.
Hearing the name "Bai family," his aloof expression instantly fractured, and a sliver of hatred buried deep within his heart surfaced in his eyes.
Nodding, Duan Feng said coldly, "If the President sees a mountain bearing a gigantic you cypress, that is undoubtedly the Bai clan's ancestral grounds."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.
In his line of sight, there indeed stood a grand mountain covered in verdant cypresses.
At the very center of the mountain, a colossal cypress soared from the ground, thousands of feet tall, thrusting straight into the clouds. It enshrouded the entire mountain beneath its canopy, blocking out nearly all sunlight.
The you cypress was a first-tier spiritual wood. Yet having grown to this scale, it had transcended the first tier and reached the second, even showing faint signs of approaching the quality of the third tier.
"There is indeed a massive you cypress."
"Then that's the place," Duan Feng said with bitter resentment. "Most of Liuguang Market's spiritual veins were destroyed, but the Bai family relied on that second-tier you cypress to lock down the earth vein's spiritual energy, establishing their clan's two-hundred-year reputation. Not only that, but the you cypress yields cypress resin, which is exceptionally well-suited for forging artifacts. Coupled with the abundance of mineral ores in Liuguang Market back then, the Bai family was able to rise as an artifact-forging clan."
Luo Chen came to an understanding, then asked out of curiosity, "So that was why your Duan family fought that cross-market war with the Bai family back then?"
"That's right. The cultivators of Liuguang Market had limited spending power. The Bai family produced far too many low-tier magical artifacts that couldn't be absorbed locally, so they attempted to break into Dahe Market's trade. And thus, a war erupted between the two artifact-forging clans."
He recounted it in great detail, enunciating nearly every syllable.
Seeing the hatred etched across his face, Luo Chen understood completely. It was during that great battle that Duan Feng's father had laid down his life for their clan, perishing at the hands of the Bai family cultivators.
"Rest assured, President. Though I hate them, I won't lose sight of the bigger picture."
Duan Feng pursed his lips, his voice squeezing out through gritted teeth. "Once I achieve Foundation Establishment, I will avenge this myself!"
Luo Chen patted his shoulder. "Little Duan, don't worry. That day isn't far off... Hm?"
Luo Chen furrowed his brow, shifting uneasily. He cast a suspicious glance around his surroundings.
Just now, he had abruptly felt the sensation of being watched.
"I'm going to take over the shift. Call me if anything happens."
Duan Feng did not wish to linger outside any longer. After a deep look toward the Bai family's territory, he slipped into the lower cabin.
Luo Chen gave a soft grunt of assent, still looking around with suspicion.
"Gone? Such an abrupt disappearance only makes me more certain someone was secretly spying on me. Who was it, and where are they?"
Suddenly!
Spiritual light blazed in his eyes as his Great Perfection Spirit Eye Art flared to life, staring intently across the distance toward that colossal cypress tree.
***
"What keen perception!"
Atop the you cypress, a middle-aged man with a ruddy, almost greasy complexion underwent a slight change of expression. Gripping a formation plate in one hand, he murmured under his breath, "Such overt domineering aura! This youth is extraordinary!"
Just moments ago, he had used the gigantic you cypress beneath his feet to conduct that distant reconnaissance. Yet he had never expected to nearly get caught.
No! More accurately, he had already been sensed by Danchenzi.
Beside him, a ninth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator of the Bai clan asked inquisitively, "Patriarch, now that we've been discovered, should we still make a move?"
The Bai clan patriarch, Bai Lun, sneered. "So what if we were discovered? Now that they've entered Liuguang Market, feigning ignorance would be even more suspicious. Besides, passing through our territory without leaving something behind simply won't do."
The Qi Refinement cultivator said with concern, "This Luotian Association is not a force to be trifled with!"
Though the Luotian Association had only been established for a few years, its fame was not weak in the slightest. The mere fact that they had wiped out the Duan family was enough for the Bai clan to remember them well.
During the cross-market war back then, the Bai and Duan clans had clashed fiercely, turning heaven and earth upside down in a river of blood. The Duan family had once even pushed all the way to the foot of You Cypress Mountain. Had they not used the you cypress to establish a second-tier grand formation and heavily battered the Duan family, the Bai clan would have been wiped from the cultivation world in that battle.
That the Luotian Association had managed to destroy the Duan family spoke volumes about their formidable strength.
Bai Lun sneered, "Naturally I know the Luotian Association isn't one to mess with, which is why I have no intention of touching them at all. Someone else will take care of them!"
"Then what about us?"
"The Nangong family is our target!"
A vicious expression emerged on Bai Lun's face, laced with a glint of greed. He was well aware that Nangong Jin had bid against Wang Haichao for a low-grade magic treasure at the Huo clan's auction.
Without a doubt, Nangong Jin had to be carrying a vast sum of spirit stones. That defensive magic treasure had already been claimed by someone else, but when the time came, all those spirit stones and resources would belong entirely to them.
Hearing that their target was the Nangong family, the Bai clan Qi Refinement cultivator breathed a sigh of relief. Neither the Luotian Association nor the Li family was easy to deal with, but a mere Nangong family would be no problem for their Bai clan.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Bai Lun let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
"Patriarch, what is it?"
Bai Lun raised his brows and said softly, "It seems this Danchenzi is quite a cautious fellow. My probing put him on guard, and he's changed course immediately."
***
"Adjust our course. We are bypassing Liuguang Market!"
Luo Chen barked the order. Though Sima Huiniang was bewildered, she still passed down the command.
Soon, the Sky Eagle flying boat turned its prow, slowly skirting around Liuguang Market.
"What's wrong, Luo Chen?"
"Brother Wang, something feels off."
"Hm?"
"No matter, I'll keep watch."
Luo Chen narrowed his eyes, his Spirit Eyes sharply scanning all directions.
The earlier probe had come from the Bai clan. There was nothing strange about that in itself; anyone leading a large convoy openly into another's territory would draw watchful eyes.
Yet after he detected them, the other party had made no move to reveal their identity or lay down their terms. That was highly suspicious! Whether welcoming, admonishing, or warning them, there was no need to hide their heads and tails like that. Acting in this manner meant they harbored ill intent.
The journey to Tianlan Immortal City was long and arduous; any danger, at the first sign of trouble, should be avoided as much as possible. Besides, bypassing Liuguang Market did not mean losing their way. It merely meant spending a little more time.
The Sky Eagle flying boat could easily alter its course, but for the Nangong and Li families trailing behind, this sudden turn caught them off guard.
Behind them.
"Father, should we keep following them?" Nangong Qin asked curiously.
Gazing at the distant craft veering off its path, Nangong Jin hesitated. After pondering for a while, he slowly shook his head.
"Let's not follow any further. Our clan isn't suited for such a long trek. Liuguang Market may be barren, but it can barely accommodate our family."
This meant they intended to settle in Liuguang Market.
"Still, the Luotian Association's sudden change in direction means something must have happened. We cannot afford to let our guard down either. Have everyone halt and rest for a bit!"
Following his order, the Nangong family halted and began to rest where they were. Before long, the Li family's main contingent caught up.
Nangong Jin flew up and looked toward the Li family's flying boat from afar. Aboard the slow-moving vessel, Li Yixian locked eyes with him.
"It seems the Li family intends to stay with the Luotian Association," Nangong Jin sighed.
With this, their paths would part for good. Without Luo Chen and Li Yixian—fellow Foundation Establishment True Cultivators hailing from Dahe Market—a sudden, inexplicable weight of pressure settled over him.
Was Liuguang Market truly a safe haven?
No one could give him an answer. He planned to visit the local Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Bai clan tomorrow morning. If they could reach an understanding, so much the better. But if not...
***
The evening glow gradually descended, dyeing heaven and earth in a wash of gold.
Luo Chen surveyed his surroundings, yet found nothing suspicious.
"Could I have been overthinking?"
From behind, Sima Huiniang approached. "President, shall we make camp at Gaoling Plain tonight?"
"Gaoling Plain?"
"Yes. That area commands the high ground, and it is densely populated with stone pillars. If we camp there, it offers exceptional concealment, effectively guarding against surprise attacks while being ideal for patrols and sentries."
"That sounds viable." Luo Chen nodded.
The Sky Eagle flying boat flew slowly toward an elevated plateau plain. Before long, craggy, jagged stones came into view, along with hundreds upon thousands of colossal stone pillars standing tall. It looked as if the supporting pillars of a collapsed palace complex still lingered across the earth.
However, the closer they drew, the more uneasy Luo Chen felt.
"Commands the high ground... exceptional concealment... No!"
All at once, Luo Chen's eyes locked down upon the vast plain beneath them.
At that exact moment—
Three attacks abruptly erupted out of thin air, blasting in unison toward the Sky Eagle flying boat.
"Damn it! Duan Feng, activate the defensive formation!"
Buzz—!
A droning hum resonated instantly. A cyan defensive barrier expanded, enveloping the entire massive vessel. This was the Sky Eagle flying boat's built-in defensive formation, which could barely withstand a single strike from the Foundation Establishment stage.
Yet hurtling toward them were three attacks!
Without hesitation, Luo Chen shook his wide sleeves, sweeping out a surge of tempestuous spiritual power to confront the heaviest, most forceful strike among the three.
A blue flood dragon surging toward him wailed miserably and shattered inch by inch beneath his sleeve sweep. Even as the shockwaves rippled outward, under Luo Chen's continuous sleeve sweeps, they amounted to nothing more than a gentle breeze and drizzle brushing against him, causing him no harm at all.
Yet this familiar method of attack vaguely reminded Luo Chen of a certain person.
At the same time, a bloody tornado surged out from the flying boat, lunging toward a beam of mingled black and red light.
Boom!
As the two clashed, Wang Yuan's expression tightened slightly. Several diminished black-red light beams swirled back and finally sank into Gaoling Plain.
Those were only two of the attacks. The third attack, completely unimpeded, was about to strike the Sky Eagle flying boat.
Piloting the craft, Duan Feng's face turned pale. "A Foundation Establishment strike—push the defense formation to full power!"
The deep cyan barrier vibrated violently, thickening by a few degrees.
Bang!
As if struck by a colliding mountain, the final earth-yellow streak of light smashed into the Sky Eagle flying boat. Upon impact, the streak flew backward, revealing itself to be a small seal.
They had blocked it!
Yet before Duan Feng and the others could rejoice, the Sky Eagle flying boat wobbled precariously and began to plummet.
"President, the flight formation's core has been damaged!"
"Land and prepare for battle!" Luo Chen commanded without turning his head.
Standing aloft in the sky, his expression dark, he looked down at three figures slowly revealing themselves atop three massive stone pillars.
"Huo Hu!"
"Tu Shan!"
"Wang Haichao!"
When speaking the final name, Luo Chen practically ground his teeth. A perfidious traitor. Even after parting ways, he lingered like a vicious dog, sickening to behold.
As if blind to Luo Chen's disgusted, contemptuous gaze, Wang Haichao laughed aloud. "Just what kind of spell is that sleeve sweep of yours? Twice in a row now, you've struck second yet landed first, shattering my Water Dragon Wring!"
Luo Chen cast a cold glance at him and didn't bother to reply. His gaze shifted to the other two.
"Tu Shan acting against me, I can understand. It's nothing more than the Subtle Pill Method of Pure Origin. But Huo Hu, aren't you afraid of making an enemy for the Huo family by doing this?"
At these words, Wang Haichao and Tu Shan among the three Foundation Establishment cultivators showed subtle shifts in expression. Generally speaking, clan-based Foundation Establishment cultivators rarely made enemies with rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators of the same rank. For if the lone cultivator wasn't killed, the endless retribution would be disastrous. If they possessed unscrupulous morals, they wouldn't target the clan's Foundation Establishment True Cultivators, but instead hunt down their Qi Refinement cultivators traveling outside. Who could possibly prevent that? It wouldn't take a hundred years before an entire prominent clan was bled white and left in ruins.
The threat in Luo Chen's words was plain as day! If Huo Hu were cowed by him, the two of them would be in an awkward bind.
However, Huo Hu's next words instantly put their dangling hearts at ease.
The corner of Huo Hu's mouth twitched. "If I kill you, there won't be any enemy left, will there?"
Logical enough!
"Enough nonsense with them. End this swiftly before complications arise!"
Huo Hu shouted sharply and slammed his fists together. Upon his left and right wrists were bracers that clashed, unleashing two blasts of black and red energy resembling astral wind and baleful aura. And this attack was aimed squarely at Wang Yuan.
Was he marking his opponent?
Wang Yuan didn't even look at the incoming attack, glancing instead toward Luo Chen. Luo Chen gave him a nod.
"Don't worry, I'll finish off Huo Hu quickly and come help you!"
Wang Yuan let out a low roar, transforming into a crimson tornado that surged straight into the attack without dodging. His speed was so swift it nearly rivaled the flight of a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.
Huo Hu was momentarily taken aback; when battling a body cultivator, one had best keep their distance. Retreating in haste, his hands repeatedly slammed together. Beam after beam of black and red light erupted from his two bracers. With every blast that erupted, Wang Yuan met it with a punch of his own. One pursuing and one fleeing, the two swiftly fought their way into the depths of the stone forest.
And so, only Luo Chen, Tu Shan, and Wang Haichao remained.
Paying no mind to Wang Haichao's mocking gaze, Luo Chen glanced down at the Sky Eagle flying boat that had landed in the stone forest. Several hundred cultivators from the Luotian Association had already charged out. Meeting them were over a thousand rogue cultivators of the Great River Gang. The hum of a formation resonated as stone pillars shifted, arraying themselves in formation.
"Min Longyu, I leave all of them to you. If you do well, Young Master Huo will surely reward you with a Foundation Establishment Pill," Wang Haichao said leisurely.
From within the stone forest, Min Longyu gave a muffled grunt of acknowledgement, though his figure was nowhere to be seen.
At the same time, Sima Huiniang's sharp voice rang out.
"Cultivators of the Luotian Association, hear my command! Sima Xian, Zhou Yuanli, lead the charge! Gu Caiyi, carve an escape route out of the stone forest!"
Gu Caiyi leading the vanguard? It sounded almost unbelievable.
Yet when a thirty-foot-tall giant bear puppet began charging from before her, everything made complete sense. A puppet rivaling the peak of Qi Refinement Great Perfection! A trophy claimed from the battle of Mount Xiaohuan, Luo Chen had later bestowed it upon Gu Caiyi to serve as the Gold Hall's pillar treasure. Now, under Gu Caiyi's manipulation, it swept aside all obstacles in its wake, routing everything in its path.
Close behind followed Sima Xian and Zhou Yuanli at the head of elites from the War Hall and Law Enforcement Hall, ruthlessly slaughtering any enemy cultivators in their vicinity.
From the very first moment of clash, blood sprayed like rain, and wails echoed far and wide. The Luotian Association cultivators fought with such fierce momentum and terrifying combat prowess that it was breathtaking. Yet with the enemy vastly outnumbering them, this piercing offensive could hardly be sustained for long. What was more, Min Longyu, an expert in formations, was lurking and waiting in the wings.
Luo Chen's eyes flashed with brilliance, sweeping repeatedly across the stone forest in an effort to locate Min Longyu's position.
"Don't waste your energy," Wang Haichao said with a chuckle. "To ambush you, Young Master Huo lent out the Huo family's supreme-grade concealment formation. You won't find Min Longyu. Besides, rather than worrying about your subordinates, you'd better worry about yourself."
Luo Chen raised his head, looking at the two men slowly floating toward him.
Wang Haichao, a cultivator at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, was flanked by a circling supreme-grade water-attribute flying sword. Having led a gang for so many years, his methods were surely not limited to this.
Tu Shan, at the first layer of Foundation Establishment, held the earth-yellow small seal in his hand; judging by its grade, it was at least supreme-grade as well.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Chen was about to speak when a gentle breeze whispered a voice into his ear. He cast an imperceptible glance toward a certain spot, then stared coldly at the two men ahead.
Spiritual energy surged through Luo Chen's body, billowing his white robe taut. He said chillingly, "Are you truly so confident you have me at your mercy?"
"I know you..."
Swoosh!
Even as he spoke, the flying sword shot forth.
"...possess formidable combat strength. I would never underestimate you."
Speaking in a steady stream, Wang Haichao maneuvered his supreme-grade flying sword to attack.
Confronting the hurtling supreme-grade flying sword, Luo Chen opened his mouth and spat. A sword pill flew from his mouth. Whirling around, it transformed into hundreds and thousands of golden sword rays, intercepting the flying sword at every turn.
Yet he himself pulled back in retreat.
Extreme speed abruptly erupted!
"Hm?" Wang Haichao froze for a moment. "He's running?"
Tu Shan was just about to unleash his great seal when he, too, paused in bewilderment. Just a moment ago, the man had seemed deeply concerned for his subordinates and ready to fight them to the death; how could he flee before the battle even truly began?
From the distance, a fierce shout rang out: "Don't let him get away! Otherwise, my Huo family will never know peace!"
It was Huo Hu!
It seemed that right from the start, his battle against Wang Yuan had swung in his favor, leaving him with enough leeway to monitor this side of the battlefield.
Wang Haichao and Tu Shan exchanged a glance and nodded in silent accord.
"He won't get away."
Tu Shan dropped suddenly to the ground. "His speed may be swift, but it's still within the bounds of Foundation Establishment. Watch my Earth Escape Art!"
The next moment, a hazy yellow glow enveloped him. Then, he sank deep into the earth. A beam of spiritual light shot through the underground, giving chase toward Luo Chen at extreme speed. From Wang Haichao's vantage point, it was as if an earth dragon were rampaging through the depths below.
"Five Elements escape arts..." Murmuring to himself, Wang Haichao stepped forward, bringing the flying sword beneath his feet as it carried him off in swift pursuit.
Chapter 212