Clearly, I Was the First

Deep within Luotian, the night rain drummed restlessly against the eaves. A light shower fell in a steady patter, seemingly washing away all the day's clamor. After their passionate embrace, having weathered the storm of shared intimacy, Luo Chen lay in bed, staring up at the carved beams and painted rafters above. It was as though his gaze pierced the roof, looking out into the pitch-black night sky. He glanced down. The woman lay limply against his chest, having lost all strength, only her long black hair and snowy shoulders glowing vibrantly in the dim light. Some things came quite suddenly. Yet they unfolded naturally, carried along by a willing surrender. The reasons behind it required no explanation, nor could they be put into words. "You didn't seem very happy today?" Sima Huiniang asked lazily, listening to the thunderous thrum of his heartbeat against her ear. "Mm." A soft murmur betrayed that even after intense pleasure, a lingering gloom remained knotted within him. "Care to talk about it?" Had this been in the past, Luo Chen certainly would not have answered. He was accustomed to keeping his schemes and troubles locked in his heart, never speaking of them to outsiders. But at this very moment, she could no longer be considered an outsider. He hid nothing from her, recounting in full detail how Tantai Jin had staked her claim of dominion earlier that day. In the quiet room, only the man's deep voice resonated, recounting the tale step by step. It touched upon Luo Chen's Jade Dew Pill transactions with Ice Fort, as well as the current balance of power within Ice Fort itself. A long time passed. Only then did Sima Huiniang push herself up from Luo Chen's broad chest with her arms. "There is good and bad in this matter." "As I see it, President, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages." Looking down at her flushed face, Luo Chen shifted his posture, resting one hand behind his head. "Elaborate!" Luo Chen was not an obstinate man. When it came to advice from others, he was capable of listening. Sima Huiniang showed no hesitation, detailing her evening negotiations step by step. Which faction she had reached an understanding with, and with which she had finalized a partnership. How much they had given up, and how much advantage they had gained. In the end, she concluded, "Had Tantai Jin not come in person, and had she not bestowed that Core Formation Secret Technique, no amount of glib persuasion on my part could have secured so many advantages. Nor would those people have been willing to compromise so readily." Luo Chen frowned. "Those are merely short-term gains." "Even if Tantai Jin hadn't come and hadn't demonstrated how highly she values me with that Core Formation Secret Technique, those deals still could have been made." This was not arrogance on Luo Chen's part. It had been in his calculations from the beginning. Back when he was preparing to hold the celebration for Sima Huiniang, he had already anticipated all of this. If the Luotian Association wanted to quickly digest the sudden flood of resources, it had to rely on this opportunity. If they took it one step at a time, it would take decades to see results. Decades was simply too long! Especially for the present Jade Cauldron Domain, where no one knew when the two supreme Nascent Soul sects would personally take the field, turning the simmering tensions into an all-out, boiling war. That was why he had taken this step. Whether Tantai Jin intervened or not, he was confident he could have achieved his goal. At worst, they would have made slightly less profit. "Short-term gains?" Sima Huiniang smoothed her ruffled hair and smiled faintly. "I see it rather differently." Under Luo Chen's gaze, she continued unhurriedly: "Tianlan Immortal City was built jointly by the Seven Sects. The interests involved are so immense and intricate that ordinary people can scarcely fathom them." "If we wish to survive in Tianlan, it is impossible to remain without backing." "In fact, as I read through the intelligence reports on each faction recently, I discovered the entangled relationships among them." "The greater the faction, the more prominent the shadow of a major sect behind it." "Otherwise, the more you earn, the more eyes will turn green with envy. Sooner or later, you meet a tragic end where lives are forfeit and factions wiped out." *The more you earn, the more people turn green with envy?* *Lives forfeit and factions wiped out?* Each word struck Luo Chen's mind with quiet yet immense force. He was jolted awake. Lately, striking out in every direction and emerging victorious each time, had he grown conceited? How strong could a mere rogue cultivator faction become, after all? The Danxia Min family from a century ago? The Lianyun Merchant Alliance from a decade ago? Were they not strong enough? One possessed peerless array methods, withstanding a siege from enemies many times their number for a whole year. The other boasted over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, three late Foundation Establishment masters, and even a secret Golden Core guest elder. Yet their eventual ends were clear for all to see. Sima Huiniang continued speaking with composed eloquence. "Many factions in Tianlan have some degree of connection with the major sects." "Yet at crucial moments, those connections are entirely useless; they are merely convenient pretexts for daily dealings." "Take the Li family of the Qinhua River right before our eyes. Were they not distantly connected to Azure Pill Valley? Yet in their moment of life and death, did Azure Pill Valley ever lend a hand?" "No, they didn't!" "Not a single casual word came from them." "The great factions that manage to stand tall in Tianlan, however, all maintain tight, indissoluble ties with Golden Core sects." "Peach Mountain relies on Hundred Blossoms Palace's Patriarch Peach Blossom. Luosha Market is sheltered by Mount Ailao. The Du family of Taibai Market supplies their most valuable Taibai wine exclusively to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Then there is Tianyi Market..." "In all these cases, even the seemingly unbacked Iron Sword Hall is, like the Zheng family of Gunlong Ridge, a die-hard vassal of the Yan Alliance!" Luo Chen's expression tightened. He had truly awakened to the reality! When the Luotian Association faced crisis before, Ice Fort had acted just like Azure Pill Valley toward the Li family, paying no heed whatsoever. Back then, he assumed Ice Fort only valued him and looked down on the modest Luotian Association. He had thought things would remain that way going forward. However, he had overlooked that after devouring the resources of Dan Yuan Sect, Divine Craft Sect, and others, the potential of the Luotian Association was no longer that of a petty Foundation Establishment faction. In the future, it was destined to surpass late Foundation Establishment powerhouses like Iron Sword Hall and Tianyi Market. Under such circumstances, Ice Fort was no fool! Even if Luo Chen were in their shoes, he would have altered his approach. Turning a nominal vassal into a genuine one. The few words Tantai Jin had spoken yesterday suddenly became crystal clear. *"A mere Core Formation Secret Technique is nothing to our Ice Fort. So long as the Luotian Association remains united in heart and eternal friends with my Jueqing lineage, that will suffice."* The Core Formation Secret Technique was given to him, Luo Chen. Yet Tantai Jin had explicitly spoken of friendship between the Luotian Association and the Jueqing lineage! Her intention required no further explanation! It was not just Tantai Jin's words. A sentence from Tao Yisheng also boomed like a bronze bell in Luo Chen's mind. *"Among the Seven Jade Cauldron Sects, Ice Fort has the fewest vassals. Who would have thought the Luotian Association would be held in such high regard by Ice Fort!"* The emphasis of his words... ...was still the Luotian Association! Luo Chen finally understood. Now, Ice Fort not only valued Luo Chen himself, but they had also begun to place importance on the Luotian Association he had built with his own hands! "It seems I was blinded by being inside the game, overlooking the shift in circumstances," Luo Chen murmured. Sima Huiniang did not hear him clearly and lightly poked Luo Chen's firm chest with a finger. "From a short-term perspective, Ice Fort's regard brings us immense gains." "In the long run, it is also vastly beneficial." "At least within the bounds of Tianlan, no one will dare lay a hand on the Luotian Association. Even if another sect takes over the rotation of Tianlan one day, we will never again encounter situations where opportunists try to pull chestnuts out of the fire at our expense." "Of course, President, you harbor grand ambitions, so you might feel somewhat stifled by this subordinate position." "Yet a true man knows when to yield and when to stand tall! That is the mark of a true hero!" "Only the benefits clutched firmly in hand are truly tangible." This thorough analysis was incisive, striking straight at the heart of the matter. The furrow in Luo Chen's brow vanished completely, and the corners of his mouth curved upward involuntarily. He, Luo Chen, was certainly capable of bending and rising. And the further he bent, the harder he would strike when he finally stood tall! "Huiniang, listening to my lord's counsel is worth ten years of reading!" Sima Huiniang pursed her lips in a smile. "You're the Fire Spirit Lord, so what kind of lord does that make me?" "You are, of course, my Zhuo Wenjun!" Sima Huiniang stared blankly, her fair face, smooth as a freshly peeled egg, filled with bewilderment as she wondered who Zhuo Wenjun was. Luo Chen gave her no time to ponder, leaning down to press over her. Tonight, he was certainly not one to remain "in a subordinate position"! ... Between the hours of the tiger and the hare, dawn approached. Luo Chen twirled a silk magical artifact in his fingers—a woman's intimate dudou. Embroidered upon it was a carp hidden among lotuses; beneath the vibrant green lotus leaves, a white carp faintly peeked through. "To think you're still using this unorthodox artifact!" This eccentric artifact had originated from the Zhenlong Black Market in Dahe Market. It was a peculiar, offensive high-grade magical artifact. When worn against a cultivator's skin and continually nurtured with spiritual energy, it could erupt with the single strike of a top-grade magical artifact at a critical moment. Feeling the surging spiritual energy beneath its alluring, delicate fragrance, it was clear Sima Huiniang had refined it to its peak, ready to unleash a formidable attack at any second. "Mm," Sima Huiniang murmured softly, resting her head on his other arm. As if recalling something, she opened her eyes and looked earnestly at Luo Chen. "After that black market auction back then, it was you who saved us, wasn't it, President?" Though phrased as a question, her tone was entirely certain. Luo Chen smiled faintly and kissed her smooth forehead. "Hadn't you guessed it long ago?" Sima Huiniang snuggled closer into his embrace, her voice gentle. "Even though I knew, having you admit it yourself brings much more peace of mind." Indeed! Ever since recruiting the Three Sima Cultivators, Luo Chen had never hidden his methods. Whether it was the Waste Jade Marrow Pearl used to break the array that year, or the seized Green Flood Dragon Musk Gathering Banner, they had long pointed to his identity as their savior. "So, when you seduced me last night, was it to repay that debt of saving your life?" Sima Huiniang lifted her head, batting her eyes. "The favor of saving a life naturally warrants offering one's body in return!" Luo Chen laughed heartily. "Good thing I don't look half bad. Otherwise, you'd have said, 'The debt of saving my life is beyond repayment; this humble maiden can only tie grass and carry rings to repay your great kindness in the next life.'" Sima Huiniang froze for a moment, then could not help but laugh as well. How could she be so shallow as to judge a man solely by his face? As laughter lingered, she squirmed slightly, feeling a certain vital spot held firmly in his grasp. "President..." Luo Chen teased with a grin, "Back at the auction, you seemed quite ordinary, yet who knew such vast wonders were hidden beneath? I failed to see your true gifts." "Traveling far and wide back then, a woman naturally had to disguise herself! Ah, dawn is almost here, shouldn't we—mmph..." ... After the night rain, the sky was washed clean and clear. A streak of light soared away on a flying sword, departing Danxia Peak. Anyone with a modicum of discernment could tell from the remarkable spiritual energy fluctuation that it was a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. Yet on today's Danxia Peak, such a sight was already commonplace. Yesterday's Foundation Establishment celebration had drawn countless streaks of light, with Foundation Establishment True Cultivators arriving in droves, even if it could not be described as a grand gathering of myriad immortals. The current Luotian Association was no longer the ragtag rogue cultivator band of two or three stragglers from before. In the eyes of many rogue cultivators, the Luotian Association was already a second-rate faction worthy of renown beneath the great Golden Core sects. All it lacked was a late Foundation Establishment grand cultivator to hold down the fort. If they had a late Foundation Establishment cultivator presiding, they could firmly secure a place as the vanguard of second-rate powers. If they were fortunate enough to recruit a Golden Core guest elder, they would become one of the foremost factions beneath the great sects. Of course, all of this rested on the premise that the Luotian Association could fulfill its potential in the future. For the time being, it was merely a second-rate faction that had only just escaped being third-rate. On Danxia Peak, many cultivators noticed that departing streak of light. Those in the know naturally recognized it as their revered President. Gu Caiyi had received notice the moment she woke, instructing her to rush to Huixin Hall for a meeting. She knew that during yesterday's celebration, the President and Chief Executive had finalized many business deals. To ensure those operations ran smoothly, her presence as Head of the Gold Hall was indispensable. When she arrived, the others had not yet gathered. She joined Murong Qinglian, chatting idly about the likely agenda for the meeting. Murong Qinglian said worriedly, "Are Myriad Wonders Pills really going to be supplied exclusively to Peach Mountain from now on? If so, wouldn't we be down one product? That hardly seems good!" "Don't worry. With the Golden Quality Jade Liquid from the Kang family of Taishan Market, we aren't hurting for product variety. Besides, I heard Chief Executive Sima has already arranged for Peach Mountain's fairy peaches and the ink-blood mulberries from our ink mulberries as future supplements, not to mention the Essence Nurturing Pills newly concocted by the Pill Hall. We won't lack goods to sell." "Caiyi, you certainly know these things like the back of your hand!" "It's within my scope of duties, after all!" Gu Caiyi smiled faintly. She was already thoroughly practiced in these matters, able to explain them in just a few sentences. As they spoke, the chatter in the room gradually died down. From the rear of the hall came the crisp sound of footsteps. Before long, a radiant Sima Huiniang appeared before everyone. Glancing at the assembled crowd, she waved a hand. "Take your seats, everyone. We have quite a few matters to cover today, so let's sit and discuss them slowly." With that, she sat down directly. The others did not stand on ceremony. Having weathered hardship together, they were rarely overly stiff with one another. However, just as Gu Caiyi took her seat, she distinctly heard a soft gasp from Murong Qinglian beside her. "Huh?" "What is it?" "Nothing." Though she said it was nothing, Murong Qinglian's odd expression as she stared at Sima Huiniang left Gu Caiyi puzzled. Focusing her gaze, Gu Caiyi gradually noticed something peculiar as well. *This aura?* *It's just like those young brides at the Tianxiang Brothel who had only recently lost their virginity.* Her rosy lips parted slightly. With Gu Caiyi's worldly experience, she was naturally familiar with such matters. Even if one had never eaten pork, had one never seen a pig run? Yet Sima Huiniang was the dignified Chief Executive of the Luotian Association. Without having formed a Dao companionship, how could she...? Suddenly! She remembered the sword light that had departed this morning. She remembered the supple, graceful figure that had walked into Luotian Hall with high spirits outside the hall last night. A touch of bitterness surfaced at the corners of her lips. *Clearly... I was the first.*