"Strange."
"Two whole months have passed. Why hasn't Tao Yisheng come out of seclusion yet?"
Standing before his cave abode, Luo Chen gazed toward Tao Yisheng's dwelling, feeling puzzled.
Yet no matter how puzzled he felt, he had no intention of seeking out the man himself.
Since he had decided to play hard to get, he had to see it through to the end.
Otherwise, he would very likely find himself at a disadvantage in any subsequent negotiations.
By staying unhurried and composed now, he retained the chance to seize the initiative instead.
And the confidence that allowed Luo Chen to remain so calm and collected sprang precisely from the fact that his cultivation speed had doubled after opening all his meridians!
By his rough estimates, he had a realistic chance of reaching the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment before his lifespan ran out.
He was only in his forties right now.
Even in a great sect, that pace kept up with the chosen prodigies of his generation.
With over two centuries left to him, he was confident that even without high-grade pills from Azure Pill Valley, he could forge another path and increase his cultivation speed once more.
Since that was the case, why rush?
Besides, he had plenty to keep himself busy on an ordinary day.
If nothing else, he still had room for improvement with the two tier-two pills: the Blood Fiend Pill and the Jade Dew Pill.
"My proficiency in both the Blood Fiend Pill and Jade Dew Pill has reached the Master tier."
"Maxing these two out first will free up much more time down the road!"
Luo Chen chose to max out the Blood Fiend Pill first.
For one simple reason: there were barely any raw ingredients left for it.
If he gave it his all, brewing them would take less than half a month.
Although both he and Wang Yuan had opened all hundred meridians and no longer needed Blood Fiend Pills to unblock pathways, the pill was still of immense benefit to Wang Yuan's body refinement, and Luo Chen could gain another achievement point in the process. There was no sense in letting the materials go to waste.
Over the days that followed, Luo Chen adjusted his schedule and poured his energy into brewing Blood Fiend Pills.
Half a month later, Luo Chen looked at the completely empty sunken wood container and shook his head with regret.
The Underworld Yin Fiend was entirely depleted.
It had just barely pushed his proficiency in the Blood Fiend Pill to the Great Perfection level.
From start to finish, this endeavor had earned Luo Chen five achievement points, the opening of all hundred meridians, and an extra batch of more than two thousand Blood Fiend Pills in his hands.
Most were superior-grade, though there were plenty of low-grade and mid-grade ones as well.
There were even a few dozen top-grade Blood Fiend Pills!
Luo Chen intended to keep only a handful for emergencies and give the rest to Wang Yuan.
After all, the raw materials for brewing the Blood Fiend Pills had all been painstakingly gathered by Wang Yuan over the years, virtually draining the man's savings.
Lately, Wang Yuan had been getting by entirely on his stipend from the Luotian Association, making him the most hard-pressed among the association's few Foundation Establishment True Cultivators.
With this batch of high-quality Blood Fiend Pills Luo Chen had brewed for him, however, he would not have to worry about external resources for a very long time.
"If only I had a pill recipe suited for my own cultivation, that would be ideal."
Even in his delight, Luo Chen could not help feeling a pang of regret.
If he possessed a tier-two pill recipe that suited him, why would he need to show his face in public and go to such lengths to befriend the Tao siblings?
He could simply focus on developing the Luotian Association, earning resources, and buying raw materials to supply his own alchemy.
Suddenly, an idea sprang into Luo Chen's mind.
*If the Ice Fort won't work out, perhaps I can try asking the Tao clan for a cultivation pill recipe?*
*The ancestor of the Tao clan was Master Nanshan, an alchemy master of his generation...*
Murmuring to himself, he tidied up the alchemy chamber and left Tianlan Peak.
He had not visited the Luotian Association in quite some time; it was good to make an appearance now and then to maintain his presence.
***
Outside the Scripture Transmission Hall, on the white jade plaza, figures were sparse. Only a lone youth stood under the blazing sun, executing a set of fist forms move by move.
Luo Chen dispersed his cloud and descended.
"Xiao Long!"
Seeing Luo Chen, the youth's eyes lit up. "Uncle Luo!"
Just as he started to run over, a pebble shot through the air and struck him squarely in the back.
The sharp pain hit him like a heavy blow.
"Finish this set of the Spirit Clarifying Five Qi Fist first!" a cold voice called from within the hall.
Tears welled in Zeng Yilong's eyes as he looked at Luo Chen aggrievedly.
"Listen to your master!" Luo Chen said with a laugh, shaking his head as he walked toward the hall.
Passing by the youth, he ruffled the boy's head. "Come play with your uncle later. I've got a gift for you."
Zeng Yilong's eyes brightened, and he nodded vigorously before resuming his fist routine in earnest.
Though his movements still appeared somewhat stiff, his small limbs stretched as far as they could, and the stray world spiritual energy drifting nearby seemed to trickle into his body in thin wisps.
Luo Chen observed thoughtfully.
This fist technique seemed to combine both body refinement and qi cultivation, though the rate of spiritual energy absorption looked rather slow.
Could this be Wang Yuan's latest developed technique?
Entering the hall, Luo Chen was met by Wang Yuan, who looked up at him. "You're here."
"Yes, I'm here," Luo Chen replied, pointing outside at Zeng Yilong. "What fist technique is that?"
"Didn't you hear just now? The Spirit Clarifying Five Qi Fist."
Luo Chen sighed helplessly. "You know that's not what I meant."
Wang Yuan set down the book in his hand. "While I can't create a tier-two technique from scratch yet, my years of accumulation are enough to synthesize a tier-one technique."
"Does it combine body refinement and qi cultivation?" Luo Chen asked, voicing his suspicion.
"Indeed!" Wang Yuan nodded, a rare hint of pride surfacing on his face. "This Spirit Clarifying Five Qi Fist integrates several arts—Spirit Clarifying Evil Dispelling, Qi and Body from the Same Source, and the Five Viscera Health-Nourishing Fist—into one.
"It conditions the physical body while also drawing in spiritual energy in areas where it is abundant.
"In this way, it achieves dual cultivation of technique and body, forging an exceptionally solid foundation at lower realms!"
Luo Chen gazed out at the sweating boy, his expression pensive.
This fist technique clearly combined several merits of the arts Wang Yuan mentioned while stripping away restrictive conditions like fiend qi and spiritual sense.
For laying an initial foundation, it was indeed effective.
However...
"The cultivation speed seems a bit slow?"
Wang Yuan nodded. "That is true, and it is currently the greatest drawback of this technique. But Xiao Long possesses dual spirit roots. Sacrificing a bit of cultivation speed in exchange for a solid foundation is entirely beneficial with no harm."
"Can it be rolled out to other low-tier cultivators in the Luotian Association?" Luo Chen asked the question he cared about most.
At this, Wang Yuan frowned.
After a moment of thought, he said with some hesitation, "Perhaps, but it would likely require an abridged version."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"In its current form, while achieving dual cultivation, the Spirit Clarifying Five Qi Fist demands exceptional natural talent and abundant external resources. Ordinary people simply don't have those conditions."
Luo Chen understood.
Zeng Yilong's circumstances were naturally excellent.
Before his father Zeng Wen died, he had left behind powerful connections.
His mother, Xiugu, held an important post in the Luotian Association.
With Wang Yuan as his master on top of that, the boy certainly lacked no initial cultivation resources.
For anyone else, however, that would not be the case.
Not to mention the inherent prerequisite of aptitude.
"I'll study it more later and see if I can work out a simplified version," Wang Yuan said casually.
Researching cultivation techniques had always been his favorite pursuit; otherwise, he would not have gladly accepted the position of Hall Master of the Scripture Transmission Hall.
He looked at Luo Chen, curious. "Usually when you come to Danxia Peak, you seek out Director-General Sima first. Why come to my place today?"
"I brought you something."
Luo Chen kept his eyes on Zeng Yilong outside while casually tossing a storage bag to Wang Yuan.
Wang Yuan instinctively swept his spiritual sense inside.
Then he was stunned.
Blood Fiend Pills!
A densely packed hoard of Blood Fiend Pills!
He took a few out, and his shock deepened even further.
"Superior-grade Blood Fiend Pills!"
"There are even top-grade ones!"
He swallowed hard and blurted out, "You brewed all of these?"
"Who else could it be?" Luo Chen countered.
Wang Yuan shook his head vigorously. "No, that's not it! I don't know much about alchemy, but you've only been brewing Blood Fiend Pills for a few years. How could you produce so many superior-grade and top-grade ones? This is downright terrifying!"
Luo Chen knew full well how shocking it was when he devoted his full efforts to a pill.
However, some things were best left unsaid.
He smiled faintly. "I may not have brewed it for long, but I've studied the recipe for a very long time! You gathered all the ingredients, so getting the hang of it was naturally effortless for me."
He spoke lightly, but Wang Yuan still found it hard to believe.
To brew superior-grade and even top-grade pills so effortlessly—such a figure would be renowned as an alchemy master across the cultivation world!
This was no simple tier-one pill.
It was a tier-two pill!
Looking at Luo Chen's calm, overly modest demeanor, Wang Yuan suddenly realized that his friend might be trying to conceal something.
Seeing that, he asked no more.
Instead, he sighed with emotion. "With these high-quality Blood Fiend Pills, my cultivation in the Blood River Realm is bound to advance by leaps and bounds!"
"Then congratulations to you!" Luo Chen laughed.
Wang Yuan shook his head, clutching the featherlight yet immensely weighty storage bag. "You've helped me so much, I really don't know how to..."
"Hold it right there!"
Luo Chen raised a hand like the Tathagata Divine Palm, cutting off his words. "Between brothers, there's no point in speaking like that."
Wang Yuan broke into a helpless laugh. "Then I was being overly sentimental."
Luo Chen nodded.
With the items delivered, there was no reason to linger.
After asking Wang Yuan for a transcribed copy of the Spirit Clarifying Five Qi Fist, Luo Chen departed from the Scripture Transmission Hall.
By the time he reached Huixin Hall, a meeting was underway inside.
Not many people were present—chiefly Sima Huiniang, Gu Caiyi, and Qin Liangchen.
Standing outside, Luo Chen used his formidable spiritual sense to eavesdrop on the discussion.
It mostly concerned expanding business operations, assigning personnel between the Golden Hall and the Glow Hall, and similar matters.
There was also mention of plans to open shops in the Tianyi Workshop and Luosha Workshop.
The details were somewhat tedious, but as the three inside explored them thoroughly, there was a palpable sense of harvest and joy in their voices.
Time slipped by.
The meeting drew toward its close.
"Hall Master Qin, arrangements have been made for you to attempt Foundation Establishment next month. Remember to hand over the affairs of the Glow Hall properly," Sima Huiniang's voice sounded.
Qin Liangchen sounded expectant yet uneasy, though his composure held. "Rest assured, I will never neglect the association's affairs!"
Then came the sound of footsteps as two people walked out after the meeting adjourned.
The moment he stepped outside, Qin Liangchen was startled to find Luo Chen leaning idly against the outer wall, looking as though he had been there for a long time.
"President, when did you arrive?"
"Around the time you were discussing the first batch of amber silkworm silk business," Luo Chen said with a smile.
Qin Liangchen gave an "oh." In that case, he had indeed arrived quite early.
"Right, take this. Superior-grade Yang Restoring Water. When attempting Foundation Establishment, be sure to use it. Its life-preserving power is several times greater than the low-grade version!"
Luo Chen produced a vial and handed it to the astonished Qin Liangchen.
Patting Qin Liangchen's arm, Luo Chen said, "Don't burden yourself too heavily during the breakthrough because of your arm. At the very least, your life can be preserved."
Having his inner worry laid bare, Qin Liangchen felt a flush of embarrassment, but clutching the jade vial, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It had to be said that Luo Chen's gift struck right at the heart of what he needed most.
Deeply moved, he said, "Thank you!"
Luo Chen smiled faintly and accepted the gratitude gracefully.
Then, his gaze fell upon Gu Caiyi, who had remained silent at the side.
She had been staring at Luo Chen all along, but when he looked over, she instinctively turned her eyes away.
Yet the moment she looked away, an inexplicable pang of sorrow surged in her heart.
*Why am I running away?!*
She forced herself to turn back and meet Luo Chen's assessing gaze.
Beside her ears, Luo Chen's approving voice sounded.
"Not bad. Your spiritual energy fluctuations are much thicker than before. Another year or two, and you'll reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement. Foundation Establishment is well within sight!"
It was still the same old routine praise.
Gu Caiyi bit her red lips and spoke words that took the nearby Qin Liangchen by surprise: "Do you have nothing else you want to say to me?"
Luo Chen blinked, then an expression of realization dawned on him.
Under Gu Caiyi's expectant eyes, he retrieved another jade vial and pressed it into her palm.
"Just like before, take one every month. Use the method I gave you and absorb the medicinal power carefully."
With that, he nodded to the two of them and entered Huixin Hall.
The contrast of light and shadow between inside and outside swallowed his retreating figure.
It seemed to swallow Gu Caiyi's heart as well.
She gripped the vial containing low-grade Jade Dew Pills tightly, her face turning pale.
Qin Liangchen was a rough man, but by no means a fool.
Standing on the outside, he saw things clearer than anyone.
Seeing the woman's demeanor, he understood roughly what was going through her mind.
Shaking his head, he walked away, remarking as if offhandedly, "A person has to be brave sometimes.
"When I attempt Foundation Establishment, I certainly can't hesitate and shrink back. Only by being bold can I honor Brother Luo Chen's good intentions."
Gu Caiyi froze and looked up, but Qin Liangchen had already walked far off.
She looked back at the towering Huixin Hall, and finally her gaze dropped to the jade vial in her hand.
*Was I too cowardly?*
*I was clearly the first. Whether it was meeting him or sharing a courtyard, why did someone else beat me to him?*
*I wasn't like this in the past.*
*When did I start feeling so inferior in front of him?*
Thoughts surged like a tide.
Her departing footsteps felt unimaginably heavy.
***
Inside Huixin Hall, Sima Huiniang looked at Luo Chen with a half-smile.
"Gave her Jade Dew Pills?"
Luo Chen unceremoniously squeezed into her chair, nudging her plump, rounded hips to the side.
"What, jealous?"
"Heh, where would I find the time, and how would I dare be jealous of you, Lord President?"
Luo Chen curled his lip. "I did give her Jade Dew Pills, but only low-grade ones. Caiyi's cultivation is insufficient right now; she wouldn't be able to digest higher grades. Even with low-grade Jade Dew Pills, she has to spread one out over a long time to absorb it."
Sima Huiniang sighed helplessly.
She knew the relationship between Luo Chen and Gu Caiyi all too well.
Back when she served as director-general of the Luotian Association in Crescent Moon Valley, she had often seen Gu Caiyi shelling melon seeds for Luo Chen while they exchanged cultivation insights.
Such intimacy had long signaled that their bond was far from shallow.
"There's really no need to explain to me. I don't mind these things."
"Then what do you mind?" Luo Chen turned her face toward him, looking directly into her eyes. "Your elder brother failed his Foundation Establishment attempt and his life is hanging by a thread. Why didn't you tell me?"
Sima Huiniang's expression instantly dimmed.
Seeing Luo Chen's concerned gaze, she murmured, "Everyone has their own destiny. You've already given so much; how could I trouble you over such a small matter?"
Luo Chen gave a soft snort.
"I know you've always avoided suspicion, but Sima Xian isn't just your elder brother—he's also the Hall Master of the Battle Hall in my Luotian Association.
"Come on.
"Take me to see him."
Chapter 321