Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, Save Me!

By the banks of the Qinhua River. The rushing river waters flowed halfway along their course before a portion diverted into a massive bend, growing calm and still. The bend was vast, spanning several dozen zhang across. The water's surface was unruffled by waves as a gentle breeze drifted by. Two figures sat side by side along the riverbank with medicinal tea set between them, each holding a fishing rod glowing faintly with spiritual light. “My Li family built its modest reputation in Tianlan Immortal City on alchemy and cultivating seven kinds of medicinal herbs.” “In truth, beyond herbs and pills, we also maintain three spiritual fish ponds as supplementary income.” “Huilong Bay beneath our feet is one of those ponds, used to rear Flower-Washing Fish, which require living water.” Li Jinhuang stroked his grizzled beard as he spoke at length with easy confidence. The numerous Li family businesses he mentioned were the clan’s lifeblood. Sharing them so openly suggested he had no fear of the man beside him coveting them. Luo Chen smiled faintly, glanced at his motionless fishing rod, and said offhandedly, “If one wants to fish, why not go to a genuine river? Coming to a domestic fish pond is rather dull.” The implication was clear. Fishing in a pond showed no real skill. Only out on the great rivers could true ability be seen. To his surprise, Li Jinhuang waved a hand. “Fellow Daoist, you have it wrong. What I invited you here to catch is not the captive Flower-Washing Fish.” “Oh? How so?” “Flower-Washing Fish require living water, which is why the pond had to be established here in Huilong Bay. However, the Qinhua River is home to azure-scale dragonfish, which prey eagerly on Flower-Washing Fish. Since the two bodies of water are connected, azure-scale dragonfish frequently sneak in to feed. Even with magical implements set up as barriers, a few slip through the net and inflict heavy losses on my family.” Li Jinhuang paused and gestured with his chin toward the fishing rod. “The bait we are using is specially crafted from Flower-Washing Fish bones, making it exceptionally enticing to azure-scale dragonfish.” Enlightenment dawned on Luo Chen. “So it turns out I came here to provide free labor for your Li family!” Li Jinhuang said in a weathered tone, “Fellow Daoist, you seek to borrow my channels to sell your pills. Is that not also asking me to provide free labor?” Luo Chen frowned. “Naturally, your share of the payment will not be shorted.” “I am a dying man. What use do I have for a handful of spirit stones?” Li Jinhuang looked at Luo Chen calmly. At that moment, Luo Chen fell silent. The old man had little lifespan remaining, with at most a few years left to live. Earning spirit stones really served no purpose for him. Much like Duan Qiankun before his death, who had instead spent money madly to acquire all kinds of resources for his clan. Li Jinhuang was doing the exact same thing! After a long pause, Luo Chen raised his head, meeting those calm, weathered eyes. “Speak, then. What do you want?” Li Jinhuang nodded, yet he did not immediately state his request. Instead, he explained what he could deliver. “I will dispose of your pills for you at a price that is certain to satisfy you. Furthermore, I will ensure no one discovers who refined them—no one will even be able to trace them back to me. Every loose end will be tied up, completely foolproof.” “Are you certain?” Luo Chen was somewhat skeptical. Keeping suspicion away from himself seemed plausible enough. However, for Li Jinhuang—the one directly handling the sale—to obscure his own involvement was quite an impressive claim. Li Jinhuang smiled faintly. “I was born and raised in Tianlan Immortal City. Across this expanse of thousands of li, covering countless sects large and small, I know the lay of the land like the back of my hand. Fencing a few goods is nothing more than child's play.” “In fact, I will not even dispose of that batch of pills within Tianlan Immortal City itself.” “Does that put your mind at ease?” With him putting it that way, Luo Chen believed him a little more. The old man was an alchemist himself; though not particularly skilled and capable of refining only Tier 1 pills, he undoubtedly understood the underground channels for selling medicine far better than Luo Chen, a newcomer who had only arrived in Tianlan Immortal City a few years ago. That brought the matter back to the core question. “Tell me what you want. I will do what I can.” “What I want is very simple!” Li Jinhuang took a deep breath, his weathered eyes turning sharp and fervent as he stared fixedly at Luo Chen. “If the promising young talent of my Li family successfully achieves Foundation Establishment, let him join the Luotian Association and grant him the titular rank of elder.” Hm? Luo Chen was taken aback. A Foundation Establishment True Cultivator joining the Luotian Association, asking only for an elder position, and a merely titular one at that? “And if he fails?” Thoughts raced through Luo Chen's mind, but he pressed forward aloud. Li Jinhuang sighed. “If he fails, I hope you will promote Yuan Dongsheng to the position of Medicine Hall Master.” Yuan Dongsheng was Granny Yuan's grandson. At the same time, he was the partner in the marriage alliance between the Luotian Association and the Qinhua Li family. The betrothal had already been finalized. In another year or so, the wedding would take place. Luo Chen grew even more bewildered. “Why do I feel that either way, my Luotian Association comes out ahead?” “Is that not a good thing?” Li Jinhuang asked with a smile. Luo Chen shook his head. “I only know that good fortune never comes without a price. For every gain, there is a loss.” Li Jinhuang nodded. “Naturally. All I ask is that when a critical moment arrives, you look out for the Qinhua Li family on my behalf.” *So that's it!* Whether a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li family joined the Luotian Association, or the Li family's son-in-law Yuan Dongsheng was promoted to Hall Master, both outcomes directly bolstered the Qinhua Li family's standing within the association. If disaster struck, the Li family could rely on the Luotian Association to weather the storm. Luo Chen remarked with feeling, “Old senior, you truly worry yourself sick over your clan! However...” His tone shifted. “Are you not afraid that after you pass, I will use Yuan Dongsheng's name to swallow up your Li family's assets?” Li Jinhuang stroked his beard and chuckled. “After I am gone, if the Li family lacks a leader capable of revitalizing it, others will covet this estate even without you.” “Compared to those Foundation Establishment figures out there harboring malicious intentions, I place greater trust in your character.” “At the very least, with your magnanimity, you will not drive us to utter ruin; you will leave some scraps for my Li family.” “Am I right, Fellow Daoist Luo Chen?” Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, genuinely unsure how to reply for a moment. The old man had clearly conducted a thorough investigation of his past deeds. Only then could he have judged his character and made such an entrustment. It was an acknowledgment of his personal integrity. “Fellow Daoist, a fish has taken the bait!” A reminder sounded in his ear, and Luo Chen jerked the black fishing rod upward with force! The transparent, resilient line snapped out of the water. Amidst the chilly wind, a massive dragonfish was hoisted from the river, thrashing violently. Its azure scales gleamed with intense fluctuations of demonic qi. It was actually a late-stage Tier 1 azure-scale dragonfish! “Fellow Daoist, haul it up quickly! This fish is wonderful stuff!” *** “Master, Sister Mi's alchemy has improved a lot lately! Out of ten cauldrons, she can produce over twenty Myriad Wonders Pills now!” “How did you know I caught a seven-hundred-jin azure-scale dragonfish?” “Uh...” The eager Qu Lingjun was instantly dumbfounded. Luo Chen laughed aloud, praised Mi Li beside him with a few encouraging words, and ascended Danxia Peak. He handed the enormous azure-scale dragonfish over to Yuan Dongsheng. “This is good stuff. The dung it excretes can be used as fertilizer to improve the soil's aeration, allowing spiritual energy to soak into the roots of spiritual plants so they grow faster and better!” Yuan Dongsheng’s eyes shone, and he nodded repeatedly. He had long heard about these azure-scale dragonfish from his fiancée, Li Yingjun. The reason the Li family's medicinal herb business thrived so well was that they frequently used the dung of azure-scale dragonfish to upgrade their spiritual fields and aid plant growth. He simply had not expected the president to haul back such a massive late-stage Tier 1 fish! Yuan Dongsheng immediately dispatched people to take the large fish down to be fed and reared, then guided Luo Chen along the mountain trails. “The terrain here is relatively flat. There are thirty-seven spiritual fields in total, all of which have had their grade restored.” “We pulled up the Silkworm Kidney Beans and Ten-Fragrance Cardamom that were planted before, and once the heavy snow passes, we plan to cultivate azure-silver flowering grass. It is a spiritual grass rich in spiritual energy, holds high economic value, and has a short growth cycle. Its only drawback is that it is overly delicate and requires careful tending.” “However, Elder Min Longyu surveyed the area once and said he could lay down an array formation to protect the growth of the azure-silver flowering grass.” “Over there is...” The two walked and talked. For the most part, Yuan Dongsheng spoke while Luo Chen listened. Along the way, they occasionally encountered Battle Hall cultivators who had come to the spiritual fields to earn merit points. Whenever they crossed paths with Luo Chen, they proactively stepped aside, greeting him with warmth and respect. Luo Chen responded to each with a smile. Now and then, when he ran into a familiar former subordinate, he would stop to ask how their cultivation was progressing, clearing up their doubts in a few words. Thus, walking and chatting, Luo Chen finally gained a comprehensive understanding of the spiritual fields on Danxia Peak. It could truly be called an immense fortune! Managed properly, it could generate over a hundred thousand spirit stones in annual revenue! Setting aside the Pill Hall supported by Luo Chen himself, these spiritual fields would form the primary source of income for the Luotian Association. Leasing Danxia Peak for ten years at the cost of a hundred thousand spirit stones was an absolute steal! Yet the Ice Fort had not lost out either. They only possessed the right to collect rent; Danxia Peak was actually the shared property of the Seven Sects. A prodigal son selling his father's fields feels no heartache, after all! Moreover, managing spiritual fields was grueling work that required constant oversight. On top of that, it required an experienced spiritual farmer like Yuan Dongsheng. If one handed a field to an ordinary rogue cultivator who did not know the first thing about farming, they would not even know how to cultivate it, let alone what to plant! The main reason no one had leased it before was that the situation on Danxia Peak was far too complicated. The rent was steep, numerous rogue cultivators were entrenched there, and minor factions like the Divine Craft Sect and the Geng family had their hands in the pie. In the end, it was Luo Chen who had relied on both silver-tongued diplomacy and raw strength to claim the territory. Even so, restoring the grade of these spiritual fields had cost the Luotian Association considerable effort. Arriving at a secluded area, a few narrow spiritual fields had already been planted with star-tethering vines capable of scaling the cliff walls. Luo Chen halted his steps. “You have done very well. I hope you will do even better in the future!” Yuan Dongsheng offered a modest smile. “President, you have shown me immense kindness and even arranged a wonderful marriage for me. Doing these things is only my duty.” It appeared he was quite pleased with his fiancée, Li Yingjun. Luo Chen shook his head. “Keep working hard going forward!” “Once you reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement, I will make the decision to let you take charge of the Medicine Hall.” Yuan Dongsheng paused. He asked instinctively, “Then what about Hall Master Bian Zhen?” “He knows nothing of such matters to begin with; he merely holds the fort in the Medicine Hall by virtue of his cultivation realm.” Luo Chen turned to walk back. “When the time comes, the Luotian Association will have other arrangements for him.” Hearing that, Yuan Dongsheng's mind was put at ease. Following behind Luo Chen, his face flushed with excitement, his heart racing. He had little desire for power. Yet the Medicine Hall had been founded and developed by his grandmother with her own hands. If he could take charge of the Medicine Hall again one day, he would not have failed his grandmother's expectations. *** Next, Luo Chen visited the Artifact Hall, the Battle Hall, and even took time to inspect the modest Biyou Valley market, which was beginning to take shape. By the time he finished the circuit, the hour was already late. When he returned to the Luotian Grand Hall, Sima Huiniang had already been waiting quietly for a long time. Sitting down in a chair, Luo Chen sighed with feeling. “Huiniang, you truly have done a wonderful job!” Even though years of tempering had made her mindset remarkably mature, hearing Luo Chen's heartfelt praise still brought a slight sting to Sima Huiniang's nose. Outsiders would not know why Luo Chen had offered this sudden, context-less compliment. Only Sima Huiniang understood perfectly. During this afternoon, Luo Chen had not merely engaged in a superficial tour, inquiring about the development of each hall. Through brief exchanges with each cultivator he met, he had been assessing their current sentiment toward the Luotian Association. Slashing baseline stipends across the board had undoubtedly been a risky move. History showed that the decline of countless great enterprises began with cutting expenditures and clamping down on internal personnel management. In his previous life, Luo Chen had merely been an exploited middle-tier corporate drone. He knew the concepts, but not the deep principles underlying them. Therefore, when deciding to take this step, he had still felt uneasy. He did not want to see the Luotian Association, which he had built with his own hands, suffer a premature demise. Yet reality dictated that he had to do it. Otherwise, the association’s collapse would only arrive sooner. Luo Chen had kept this concern in mind all this time. That was why, right after meeting Li Jinhuang, he had come straight to Danxia Peak. Yet after observing everything along the way, he discovered there was no boiling resentment among the members. This proved that the internal cultivators had accepted the series of new policies. And their acceptance was certainly not because the policy itself was wonderful, but because the person executing it had done an exceptional job! That was why his praise for Sima Huiniang had sprung forth so naturally. In business operations and development, she might have shortcomings constrained by her cultivation realm and worldly experience. However, in management and personnel mediation, she possessed genuine talent. After all these years, that talent had fully converted into strength! “The president overpraises me.” “That I could accomplish this much is entirely because of your prestige, President, which allowed everything to proceed without obstruction.” “Prestige? Perhaps!” Luo Chen smiled and shook his head. Looking at the slightly weary woman, he knew she must have endured much grievance and shouldered considerable blame during the rollout of the merit policy. After all, the generous one was always President Luo Chen. The stingy one was forever Director-General Sima Huiniang. Sima Huiniang said earnestly, “At the onset of the merit policy, I made an example of a few to deter the rest, and then offered benefits with a carrot-and-stick approach.” “Above all, the conditions in our Luotian Association were already far better than those of neighboring factions.” “Whether it is good or bad, everyone keeps their own tally in their heart.” “And most importantly, everyone believes that following the president offers a path to advancement!” “Duan, Wang, and Min achieved Foundation Establishment before, and Hall Master Murong is currently making her push. What about after that? What about the future? Everyone feels that they, too, have a chance!” “And that chance is something the leaders of other small factions would never give—only the president alone!” *Is that so?* Luo Chen was pleased to hear this, though in his mind, he recalled Li Jinhuang's words from that morning. *Heh!* That old man had probably judged his character based on this as well! After all, anyone could utter pretty words, but the truth always depended on practical actions. Luo Chen had not spoken many grand words, yet the Luotian Association had indeed produced Foundation Establishment True Cultivators time and time again! That was the most compelling proof of all! “Leaving the Luotian Association in your hands puts my mind at ease.” “Keep up the good work!” Without lingering on high-sounding rhetoric, Luo Chen offered a few words of encouragement and departed Danxia Peak. Any later and the gates of Tianlan would close, forcing him to trouble that old fellow Xu Jingnian again to get back inside. Right now was a critical moment in his push toward the mid Foundation Establishment stage; Luo Chen did not want to waste a single day. Carving out a whole day today was also meant to check for and resolve potential hazards within the Luotian Association. Only when the Luotian Association was safe and secure could he focus entirely on alchemy and cultivation. Beneath the cold moonlit night, high above the desolate wasteland, a flying boat cut through the air. Suddenly, Luo Chen frowned, his gaze dropping to a spot not far ahead. Three flying eagles wheeled and dove in the sky. Magic tools flashed, brimming with chilling killing intent. A lone figure was parrying desperately left and right under the combined assault of three enemies and three flying eagles. “Interesting!” “A dignified Foundation Establishment True Cultivator driven into such straits by three Qi Refinement cultivators.” Luo Chen shook his head, having no intention of muddying himself in these waters. With just a single glance, he drove the Langqi Flying Boat at full power, preparing to skirt around the combatants ahead. As he flew, his eyes remained fixed on the battle. He felt that the besieged person looked somewhat familiar. “Eh?” “It’s him!” Luo Chen remembered. Was this not the scarred cultivator who had sold him three damaged Magic Treasures? That man had reached Foundation Establishment at nearly the same time as Min Longyu, and had left Tianlan Immortal City before even having time to stabilize his realm. As Luo Chen watched, the scarred cultivator seemed driven into a corner and suddenly bellowed in fury. “Juniors, you push people too far!” “Die!” Before his words finished echoing, a resplendent sword light swept forth with explosive force. The sword light was magnificent, like the blade of a divinity, sweeping aside all opposition. Beneath this single strike, the three Qi Refinement cultivators and the three flying eagles had no power to resist whatsoever; without even a dying word, they were reduced to ash. “A Magic Treasure!” “Tsk, what a pity. It seems he had only crudely refined it. A single slash drained all the spiritual power in his body and even caused internal backlash.” “Still, three Qi Refinement cultivators daring to besiege a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator—they truly had no regard for their own lives.” Luo Chen had seen those three clearly. They might have been considered capable fighters, but they were hardly remarkable. They were a notch below Duan Feng and Qin Liangchen back in their Dahe Market days, roughly on par with Zeng Wen at best. For such people to attempt slaying an opponent of a higher realm was truly seeking their own deaths. Shaking his head, Luo Chen steered the flying boat to bypass the battleground. Suddenly, from behind him: “Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, save me!”