Scenes much like the one within the Lianyun Merchant Alliance played out across many of Tianlan's factions, both large and small.
The Chang family of Changliu Gorge, who held an old grudge against the Geng family and possessed only a single Foundation Establishment cultivator in their clan, received an invitation from Luo Chen.
The Yuhua Sect, who had once clashed with the Hu family of Tanqiu over the medicinal pill trade, received an invitation from Luo Chen.
Even on the desk of Zheng Kejian, patriarch of the Zheng family of Gunlong Ridge—a clan that had previously engaged in friction with them—rested a gold-embossed invitation.
Beyond these, several large Foundation Establishment factions in Tianlan's vicinity received invitations as well.
The Iron Sword Hall!
The Luo family of Luosha Workshop.
The Chen family of Tianyi Workshop.
……
Up on Danxia Peak, within the Hall of Transmission, the atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the bustling, fiery preparations for the grand ceremony outside.
Wang Yuan and Luo Chen sat across from each other, sipping wine and discussing pills.
"I tried it. The Blood Fiend Pill you concocted truly has the efficacy recorded on the recipe. In fact, it felt slightly better than described."
Luo Chen held a high-grade magical tool, the Jinzhu brush, slowly writing on a sheet of paper. "Describe the specific effects."
Wang Yuan nodded.
He was not surprised by this routine. Back when testing the Blood Burning Pill, Luo Chen had also questioned him relentlessly about its effects.
He recounted every detail of his physical sensations after taking the Blood Fiend Pill over the past few days, holding nothing back.
Near the end, he sighed with emotion. "With fifty Blood Fiend Pills to aid me, I could cross the middle stage of the Blood River realm in one fell swoop! After that, I would only need to focus on comprehending the four forces of overt, covert, transformative, and core jin."
"It possesses such wonder?"
Luo Chen paused his hand.
He blew gently to dry the ink, then carefully stored the pill-testing record away.
Wang Yuan said, "You know the training path for the early and middle Blood River realm in body tempering."
Tendon Changing, Marrow Cleansing, Viscera Refining, Meridian Unblocking, Aperture Opening.
These five minor realms constituted the five stages of the Blood River realm's early and middle periods.
Luo Chen naturally knew this.
After achieving Foundation Establishment, he had already completed the stages of Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing. The Five Viscera Health-Preserving Fist he practiced daily was meant to temper the five viscera and nourish the five qi. He had also dabbled in Meridian Unblocking and Aperture Opening. Especially for Meridian Unblocking, the perfected Ageless Evergreen Scripture was currently unceasingly opening the meridians throughout his body.
Wang Yuan continued, "The external aspects of my physique reached great success long ago! Practicing the Bright Spirit Fiend Mastery opened more than half of my apertures. After Foundation Establishment, I underwent Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing once more, bringing my Viscera Refining to perfection! This Blood Fiend Pill scours the meridians with surging vitality and peerless fiend qi. It is truly a divine elixir for the Meridian Unblocking stage!"
Luo Chen recalled the records on the pill recipe. It indeed mentioned that with peerless blood fiend, qi courses through all hundred meridians.
"Luo Chen, although you focus on qi cultivation, I suggest you try taking the Blood Fiend Pill as well," Wang Yuan said. "Once the meridians are unblocked, it offers immense benefits whether for circulating vitality or mobilizing spiritual qi. For example!"
As he spoke, Wang Yuan curled his fingers and raised only his index finger.
A crimson beam materialized in a flash!
Luo Chen's eyes widened. "The Blood God Tribulation Finger?"
"Indeed!" Wang Yuan smiled slightly. "Surprised that a lethal strike I once had to spend time building up can now be released instantaneously?"
Luo Chen was indeed astonished. He was well aware of the power behind this martial killing strike. But in the past, Wang Yuan could never have executed it so effortlessly!
He murmured, "Such is the benefit of unblocking the meridians?"
"As you see, I have only opened a portion so far." Wang Yuan withdrew the crimson beam laden with terrifying force.
After hearing this, Luo Chen felt an itch to try it himself. Both the Ageless Evergreen Scripture and Wang Yuan held unblocking all meridians in such high esteem; he genuinely wanted to experience that feeling for himself.
Their conversation regarding the pill reached its end there.
Curious, Wang Yuan instead inquired about Luo Chen's recent maneuvers. "Making such a grand spectacle doesn't seem like your usual nature."
"Oh?" Luo Chen looked at Wang Yuan with a half-smile. "And what do you consider my nature to be?"
Wang Yuan took it as a matter of course. "Inviting so many factions to Director-General Sima's Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony is overly ostentatious. In the past, you were cautious and circumspect, taking things one step at a time. Take the Jade Marrow Pill business back then—you quietly expanded it bit by bit without making a sound, only teaming up with the Zheng family of Gunlong Ridge at the end to squeeze out other competitors. What's more..."
At this point, Wang Yuan hesitated.
He remembered their time at Dahe Market. After Luo Chen reached Foundation Establishment, he had also invited experts from all directions and held a Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony.
Wang Yuan said hesitantly, "Times have changed?"
"Hahaha..."
Luo Chen laughed heartily for a while.
Then he reined in his laughter and smiled faintly. "That's right! I haven't changed. What changed was merely the environment and the situation."
He picked up his wine cup and rose from the soft couch. Walking to the window, he raised his cup and pointed toward Dahe Market in the distance.
"In the beginning, both of us were weak, which is why we were cautious and circumspect. But once I reached Foundation Establishment and you gained the combat prowess to rival a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, we naturally ought to act boldly and sweep forward unopposed! We changed locations, but the essence remains the same."
He pivoted his cup, pointing toward Tianlan Immortal City.
Luo Chen spoke with eloquent ease, his demeanor oozing absolute confidence and composure.
"When we first arrived in Tianlan, I was the sole Foundation Establishment True Cultivator in the Luotian Association. Whatever business we pursued, our hands were tied and obstacles abounded. Under those circumstances, how could we not be cautious and proceed step by step? But now, aside from those factions possessing late Foundation Establishment grand cultivators, which clan in the vast expanse of Tianlan can compare to my Luotian Association?"
Listening to these words, Wang Yuan fell into thought.
After a long pause, he ventured, "So now, we too should act boldly and command the board?"
Luo Chen drained his cup in one gulp, his eyes burning brightly.
"Precisely! The cultivators of my Luotian Association rose from a humble market, united in purpose with formidable cohesion. We even have five Foundation Establishment True Cultivators watching over Danxia! Not only that, we have the backing of Ice Fort, a Golden Core sect! Under such circumstances, if we were still timid and hesitant, shrinking back, it would be a blunder that invites contempt."
Whatever strength one possessed dictated the style one ought to display.
In this Eastern Desolation cultivation world, no one had ever heard of a Qi Refinement faction strutting around pompously, nor had anyone ever heard of a Nascent Soul grand sect acting with meek modesty.
Luo Chen's words struck directly at the heart of the matter.
What had changed was never his style of conduct, but rather the external environment's response to their own strength.
Wang Yuan was by no means foolish; he simply rarely bothered to ponder such matters deeply. Reflecting on it now, an expression of agreement appeared on his face.
Indeed!
If the Luotian Association continued playing small as before, it would actually be a mistake. People would look down on them and concoct needless misunderstandings. Unnecessary disputes and conflicts would erupt from time to time because others failed to accurately gauge the Luotian Association's strength.
A person had to know their own place, and they equally had to let others know that the faction occupying that place was now the Luotian Association!
Seeing Wang Yuan's contemplative look, Luo Chen smiled.
What he had articulated was only the macroscopic strategy. When it came to the microscopic details, this Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony held far more significance.
It would establish friend and foe.
It would solidify the Luotian Association's standing in Tianlan Immortal City.
Having acquired vast resources previously, how were they to liquidate them once digested?
Not a single faction he invited had been chosen at random. Some would be cultivated into allies, some needed to have their allegiances clarified in advance, and others were potential future business partners for the Luotian Association.
Especially that last category!
If they could settle these partnerships in one clean stroke through this ceremony, it would undoubtedly save immense trouble later.
As for whether finalizing deals involving tens or hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in a single day sounded like a fantasy?
No!
There was ample room to maneuver. Most importantly, the Luotian Association could leverage external strength!
"I hope everyone who ought to come will arrive," Luo Chen murmured softly, his deep black eyes brimming with anticipation for tomorrow's ceremony.
……
"Did you hear? Danxia Luotian is hosting a Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony."
"What's there to hear about? Wasn't word spreading like wildfire a month ago?"
"Making such a massive fuss over a mere Foundation Establishment. When all is said and done, this Luotian Association is just a small faction from the boondocks with no real heritage to speak of."
"Uh... Fellow Daoist Zhao, I never noticed you speaking with such a big mouth before."
"I may not be at Foundation Establishment, but does that mean I've never seen a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator? I've even seen several Golden Core Revereds!"
"Then are you going to Danxia Peak later to watch the excitement?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I? It's rare to have a spectacle like this to watch."
The dialogue above came from two Qi Refinement rogue cultivators, yet it was by no means limited to them.
Inside and outside Tianlan Immortal City, many idle rogue cultivators set out for Danxia Peak of their own accord, eager to see how a mere Foundation Establishment faction would handle this celebration. Having stayed in the immortal city for so long, they rarely saw any family make such a grand affair out of someone establishing their Dao foundation.
When Zhao Dongchuan and his friend arrived at Danxia Peak, they discovered that many rogue cultivators had already gathered at the foot of the mountain.
A glance revealed hundreds of people, and the crowd was continually growing.
Zhao Dongchuan was somewhat surprised. "So many people came to watch the show?"
His friend Wang Ke chuckled slyly. "A rogue cultivator's life is bitter. When there's a chance to watch a spectacle, who wouldn't come to blow off some steam?"
Someone nearby chimed in casually, "The Luotian Association has made plenty of enemies. Maybe we'll get to see some drama unfold today."
Zhao Dongchuan and Wang Ke exchanged glances, their excitement rising further.
While they waited, the Biyou Valley Market at the foot of Danxia Peak opened at some point. The outermost shops were lined with specialty Luotian snacks: things like immortal beans, popcorn, milk tea, and the like. They were inexpensive—one or two spirit stones could buy a whole bundle.
Many rogue cultivators waiting for the show queued up to buy armfuls of food, snacking and chatting while awaiting the start of the ceremony.
Voices buzzed in a lively clamor.
What a bustling scene!
Morning arrived.
The first faction attending the ceremony appeared.
A brownish-green flying boat parted the clouds and swept aside the mist, cruising in grandly.
At the very prow stood a handsome middle-aged man with his hands clasped behind his back, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind.
The rogue cultivators at the foot of the mountain looked up one after another.
"Hey, isn't that Senior Wei Bofan of Mount Xuchen?"
"Right! Why did he come?"
"I remember back in the battle by the Qinhua River, the Wei family's strongest elder, Wei Tuo, was slain by the Luotian Association's master himself, wasn't he?"
"I remember too! That very battle established the illustrious fame of the Fire Spirit Lord, master of the Luotian Association."
"Senior Wei Bofan attending Luotian's Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony in person... could it be that both sides have buried the hatchet?"
"Hehe, you don't know? Long ago, when that major battle ended, the Wei family of Mount Xuchen had already bowed and sued for peace. They even paid a hefty sum in war reparations!"
"Fellow Daoist, are you joking? Where did you hear such nonsense?"
The questioned rogue cultivator grew flustered and hurriedly said, "This is absolutely no baseless rumor! My granduncle's son serves as an outer steward in the Luotian Association, and he told me himself. Supposedly, the Wei family sent their Second Elder with hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, and even offered a Foundation Establishment Pill to apologize!"
Yet when he said this, the crowd found it even harder to believe.
"Now you're being utterly ridiculous! Hundreds of thousands? Selling off the whole Wei family wouldn't yield that much money."
"You sure can boast! If you ask me, my neighbor joined the Luotian Association too. She claimed the Fire Spirit Lord went in person to beg Senior Wei Bofan to come!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
No one took it seriously. How powerful was the Fire Spirit Lord? Why would he ever demean himself to curry favor like that?
Under their watchful eyes, Mount Xuchen's flying boat neared Danxia Peak.
The vessel descended slowly toward a vast clearing carved out by the Luotian Association.
At that moment, seven-colored clouds surged faintly atop Danxia Peak.
Immediately after, before the gaze of the many rogue cultivators, an arched bridge condensed of cloud and mist curved out from top to bottom, appearing to bridge heaven and earth.
Seven-colored iridescent clouds circled the bridge. Seen from afar, it looked like a rainbow suspended from Danxia Peak.
Upon the boat-landing platform, Wei Bofan stepped out slowly alongside Second Elder Wei Ping'an and Wei Yungao of the clan's younger generation.
He swept a glance across the rogue cultivators watching the commotion, saying nothing. Leading the two behind him, he stepped onto the rainbow bridge.
As their figures gradually vanished into the depths of the mist behind the rainbow bridge, a grand, resonant voice rang out.
"Welcome, Wei Bofan of Mount Xuchen, to Danxia Luotian!"
The sound was ethereal, as though drifting from atop the clouds, yet rumbling as if spoken right beside their ears.
The gathered rogue cultivators watched in dumbfounded amazement.
"What an ostentatious display!"
"What sort of spell is that, capable of conjuring such a magnificent rainbow bridge?"
"Could it be the Luotian Association's renowned Seven-Colored Danxia Grand Array?"
"It must be! Supposedly, this array was modified from the Min family's protective mountain array from a century ago. Not only is its defense greater than before, but it even possesses the might to easily wipe out Foundation Establishment True Cultivators."
"Tsk, tsk, to think that such a grand array would appear in a newly risen faction with such shallow heritage."
"You call this shallow? Daoist brother, isn't your standard a bit too high?"
"How is it not shallow? With Wei Tuo dead, the Wei family is merely a third-rate little faction. The guests a master receives reflect what kind of master they are—do I really need to say more?"
The speaker was none other than the haughty rogue cultivator Zhao Dongchuan. Relying on his exquisite spiritual plant cultivation skills, he lived quite comfortably even as a rogue cultivator.
The cultivator arguing with him fell silent.
A Nascent Soul grand sect would never associate with inferior sects; at most, they would take them as vassals. A Golden Core sect possessed its own pride; when opening a mountain and establishing an estate, none who came and went were weak.
The current Mount Xuchen truly carried little prestige. Correspondingly, did that not suggest the Luotian Association lacked heritage as well?
Once anything began, the rest followed like falling dominoes.
Following the arrival of Wei Bofan and his group, several streaks of light appeared in the distance.
Before long, two more Foundation Establishment True Cultivators arrived outside Danxia Peak, each accompanied by a younger junior.
Without hesitation, they landed, stepped onto the rainbow bridge, and vanished into the mist in the blink of an eye.
Outside Danxia Peak, knowledgeable rogue cultivators recognized them.
"That's the patriarch of the Chang family from Changliu Gorge, a cultivator of the third layer of Foundation Establishment! He holds a grudge against the Geng family and once fought the Geng siblings two-on-one without yielding an inch!"
"The other seems to be the sect master of the Yuhua Sect?"
"Yes, he's the only one in all of Tianlan with those two long wisps of white whiskers."
"Who would have thought? The Luotian Association has been in Tianlan for only a few short years, yet they already have so many friends."
"Heh, just a bunch of third-rate factions!" Zhao Dongchuan spoke up again, dampening the mood amidst the general admiration.
Facing the angry glares from the crowd, he shrugged.
It was simply the truth!
Were people not even allowed to state facts?
As long as no clan or sect backed by middle or late Foundation Establishment cultivators showed up, it proved the Luotian Association's stature reached only this far!
Just as he appeared helpless while secretly relishing his cleverness, a massive flying boat surged with raging spiritual qi, parting the clouds and mist as it tore through the sky.
Its immense aura was nearly suffocating.
Moreover, judging by its momentum, it seemed intent on bypassing the rainbow bridge entirely and barging straight into Danxia!
Trouble had arrived!
Right at that moment, a crisp crane cry resonated from deep within the mist.
Immediately after, a Daoist appeared, sitting cross-legged atop a magnificent white crane that beat its wings and soared out from the rainbow bridge.
The man's eyes were bright, gleaming with an immaculate divine light.
The white crane beneath him was impressively at the second tier as well.
Gazing at the massive flying boat cleaving the air, he spoke in a clear, resonant voice.
"Xu Huanzhen of the Luotian Association's Spirit Beast Hall is here to receive our fellow Daoists of the Lianyun Merchant Alliance!"
Chapter 310