"You did well. Stand by to the side."
Hearing this, Bu Junjie showed excitement on his face and hurriedly and obediently stepped aside.
While Luo Chen spoke, the Qi Refining cultivators of the Luotian Association had already walked out one after another.
Everyone glared in shared indignation at those surrounding the Luotian Association's encampment.
Luo Chen glanced over with an impassive expression—two factions!
Leading the pack was the Qu family, while smiling and watching from behind was likely the Shenshui Sect that Duan Feng had mentioned.
Both were Ice Fort vassals, and both coveted the Luotian Association's encampment.
With Luo Chen's appearance, the surrounding atmosphere gradually settled into silence.
Calm, yet fraught with tension!
"Bullying the weak with your greater cultivation—Daoist friend, you have discarded all shame."
He spoke calmly, but on the side of the Qu family cultivators, an uproar broke out.
Qu Zhenbiao's cheek twitched. It was the first time someone had accused him of being shameless to his face before so many people.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the fury in his heart.
With a hollow smile, he said, "Respect is always earned through strength. Seeing how young you are, Daoist friend, I imagine you haven't cultivated for long and aren't familiar with the rules of the cultivation world!"
"Oh? You wish to take advantage of my youth?" Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.
Qu Zhenbiao sneered, "It's not about taking advantage of your youth, but that spiritual land belongs to the capable. In the past, when your Luotian Association held this place, so be it. But now, among the Foundation Establishment cultivators in your association, one is gone, one is wounded, and one is missing. To continue occupying this place is nothing short of a reckless waste of celestial treasures."
Luo Chen slowly shook his head. "Whether it is a waste is not for you to decide. Ice Fort will make its own judgment."
"And if Ice Fort offers no judgment, leaving us to negotiate among ourselves?"
Once these words were spoken, everyone erupted in murmurs.
This implied that the Qu family's desire to seize the Luotian Association's spiritual land already had the tacit approval of the great sect cultivators above.
Luo Chen fell silent.
His gaze turned toward the towering, colossal ice palace in the distance.
Opposite him, Qu Zhenbiao sneered repeatedly.
Further behind, the cultivators of the Shenshui Sect slightly shifted their expressions, exchanging glances.
It seemed the Qu family had moved faster than they had?
However, under such circumstances, how would the Luotian Association's newcomer Foundation Establishment handle this?
Facing pair after pair of watching eyes, Luo Chen suddenly chuckled.
"And what if I refuse to negotiate?"
"What would you do then?"
"Take it by force, or fight to the death?"
Qu Zhenbiao was stunned.
As if he had misheard, he subconsciously asked, "What did you say?"
Luo Chen did not answer.
Among the Qu family, the cultivators buzzed with discussion.
"This new Foundation Establishment from the Luotian Association is truly shameless!"
"Shamelessly clinging to this place—does he really think no one can deal with him?"
"When virtue does not match one's station, one ought to surrender the spiritual land!"
Hearing the chatter behind him, only then did Qu Zhenbiao come back to his senses.
He scoffed, "It seems your skin is truly not ordinary in its thickness, Daoist friend!"
"Not as thick as yours," Luo Chen shook his head. "After all, I could never commit the petty deed of bullying the weak before a public crowd while uttering arrogant boasts."
"You!"
This was the second time the old wound had been reopened, exposing his flaw.
Qu Zhenbiao even felt a pang of regret; he shouldn't have used that method to display his dominance.
Taking a deep breath, he regained his composure once more.
"Do you dare state your name, Daoist friend?"
"I never change my name, whether walking or sitting: Luo Chen of the Luotian Association!"
"So you are Daoist Luo. Let me ask you straight today: are you yielding it or not!"
He spoke decisively, exuding an air of absolute certainty.
Little did he know that behind him, among the Shenshui Sect, two Foundation Establishment cultivators' expressions changed.
"Luo Chen..."
"Could it be... yes, that Qi Refining disciple addressed him as Association Leader."
"Let's not make a move. Wait and see how things unfold!"
Luo Chen cast an imperceptible glance at those two, then looked back at Qu Zhenbiao.
"If I don't yield, what will you do?"
"If you want to raise a massive commotion, aren't you afraid of being held accountable by Master Jueqing, who bestowed this land upon us?"
The words came swift and sharp.
Yet every single word pierced straight into Qu Zhenbiao's heart.
His expression froze.
Fairy Jueqing was currently not on the Golden Sand Floating Island.
Influenced by the Flame Alliance's Core Formation destroying the Seventh Peak's formation, each of the Four-Sect Alliance had dispatched a Core Formation Master to guard the Fifth and Sixth Peaks.
It was precisely because of this that he dared come looking for trouble, wanting to present a fait accompli.
Yet if the other party mounted a desperate resistance, even if he forcibly took this place, once Master Jueqing returned, he would certainly face terrible consequences.
Everyone knew that the Luotian Association had deep ties with the Jueqing lineage.
One could even say the Luotian Association was currently the Jueqing lineage's only vassal!
In short, he dared offend them, but did not dare make an irreconcilable enemy of them.
'How is this fellow's skin so thick!'
'With so many people watching, how dare he justify occupying the latrine without defecating with such righteous confidence!'
Qu Zhenbiao cursed inwardly, but for the moment, he truly did not dare escalate into open conflict.
Just as he was caught on the horns of a dilemma, the man opposite him suddenly smiled.
"Of course, I don't consider my skin to be as thick as yours, Daoist friend, so I am willing to give you a chance."
"Your mother is the one with thick skin!"
Three times was the limit!
This time, Qu Zhenbiao cursed out loud directly.
Luo Chen's expression turned cold, dispensing with further nonsense.
"One move!"
"You and I will decide the victor in one move. Life and death are up to heaven. Whoever loses scrambles as far away as possible and never appears before me for the rest of his life!"
"Good boy, what brazen arrogance!"
Qu Zhenbiao was utterly infuriated.
Luo Chen sneered, and riding the wind and clouds, shot straight into the sky.
His intent was self-evident:
A battle in the sky!
Under the gaze of so many, Qu Zhenbiao naturally could not shrink back like a coward, and immediately gave chase.
Upon reaching the sky, he was just about to utter a few harsh words when he saw a black-and-red longsword already gripped in the other's hand.
His pupils shrank—a magic treasure!
He was not shocked that the other had a magic treasure, but rather that the other had brought it out without hesitation, which meant he truly intended to kill.
At this moment, he quickly reined in all his rage and settled into combat mode.
He likewise produced a magic treasure flying sword—clear azure and translucent, glittering like ice.
"Then let us fight!"
Without the slightest hesitation, he mobilized his internal spiritual energy, pouring it ceaselessly into the flying sword.
Since they had agreed on a one-move duel, there was no room for probing, let alone back-and-forth tactics and scheming.
What was being tested was pure strength!
Opposite him, the man held his longsword, yet did not seem to mobilize spiritual energy. Instead, he swung it in a peculiar rhythm.
Like writing, or perhaps engraving, with an faintly unrestrained posture, akin to a mad scholar splashing ink with a broad brush.
Such a commotion between the two could naturally not be concealed from others.
Across the Golden Sand Floating Island, clamor arose almost simultaneously.
Many cultivators stepped out of their residences, craning their necks to watch this battle.
Especially some cultivators who had seen Luo Chen at the floating island's boat-docking plaza earlier—they were even more astonished.
This Danchenzi had only just arrived and was already getting into a brawl.
What a fiery temper!
At the Luotian Association's encampment, the three groups looked up, none daring to breathe loudly.
Only the two middle Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Shenshui Sect communicated in private via spiritual sense transmission.
"Isn't this Danchenzi too arrogant? He's just an alchemist; how dares he stake it all against Qu Zhenbiao of Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer?"
"Junior Brother, the Qu family is far from Tianlan Immortal City, so it's understandable they don't know Luo Chen's capabilities. How could you be so ill-informed?"
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
"Have you forgotten that before Danchenzi, Luo Chen had another Daoist title!"
"Hiss... Fire Spirit Lord!"
By the banks of the Qinhua River, his fire arts displayed terrifying might.
In that battle, without even deploying a spiritual artifact or magic treasure, the Fire Spirit Lord had personally slain three early Foundation Establishment cultivators and one middle Foundation Establishment cultivator, intimidating countless cultivators across the green hills on both banks and preserving the clan left by his friend.
How could such a figure be regarded as a frail alchemist unversed in combat?
What was more!
The Shenshui Sect cultivator stared with dread at that black-and-red precious sword.
The Fire Spirit Lord had drawn a magic treasure; it was plain that he had truly been moved to kill!
Qu Zhenbiao had truly kicked an iron plate this time!
...
Above in the sky, golden sands filled the sight.
Qu Zhenbiao snapped his head up, looking toward Luo Chen.
"Junior, how childish! Releasing lethal moves against each other—do you think this is a sect tournament?"
With a low bark, the magic treasure flying sword broke through the air from his hand.
Sword light howled, carrying chilling killing intent.
Yet its power did not seem particularly immense.
He had not charged a lethal move at all; instead, he wanted to interrupt the other from activating his magic treasure's killing strike.
If his plot succeeded, under the backlash, Luo Chen would certainly be injured.
Regardless of life and death, when it came to victory and defeat, Luo Chen would have already lost!
Under his triumphant gaze, the flying sword arrived within a zhang of Luo Chen.
At such a distance, the other man stood dazed and motionless, not even summoning a defensive artifact.
"You've lost!"
Just as he proclaimed victory, a veil of azure-glazed light rippled outwards in an instant.
There was no booming explosion.
The unstoppable magic treasure flying sword seemed to sink into a swamp of mud, its flight speed abruptly grinding to an agonizing crawl.
Within that veil of light, it crept forward like a snail.
Witnessing this, Qu Zhenbiao's expression shifted drastically.
What defensive spell was this, so perverse that it could even obstruct a magic treasure flying sword?
Moreover, when had the other party activated it?
He hadn't seen him form hand seals or chant incantations!
A talisman? A magic treasure that autonomously protected its master?
Just as he was seized by shock, a fiery crimson sun slowly rose amidst the billowing yellow sand.
Accompanying it were those cold, indifferent eyes.
"No clown could surpass you."
As the words fell—
The sun set!
That blazing sun emerged from the sword tip and detonated right above Qu Zhenbiao's head.
Boom!!!
Incomparably terrifying fluctuations of spiritual power erupted recklessly.
Scorching high temperatures seemed ready to incinerate everything in existence.
Even empty space warped, shimmering like rippling light on water.
The defensive artifact Qu Zhenbiao hastily brought out failed to hold for even a single breath before melting directly.
"Ah..."
A bloodcurdling scream suddenly rang out.
And that horrifying explosive force slammed down upon him as if to annihilate everything.
"Enough!"
A soft, feminine voice suddenly resonated.
Following that, a streak of light swept across from atop the colossal dark ice fortress.
The sky full of fiery light vanished in an instant.
Though Qu Zhenbiao narrowly kept his life, he was far from well off.
Like a kite with a broken string, he plunged straight downward.
Voluminous sprays of blood erupted from his mouth, even carrying sparks of flame.
In the sky, Luo Chen reached out and seized Qu Zhenbiao's magic treasure flying sword.
Looking down at this scene, his face remained as calm as before.
As though he had known all along that this would happen.
At this moment, holding twin swords of water and fire, his long black hair fluttering in the wind, his cold gaze overlooked the entire Golden Sand Floating Island.
The terrified gazes of all, the horrified faces of everyone, were reflected in his eyes.
"Humph!"
With a cold snort, he didn't even glance at the surviving Qu Zhenbiao, descending straight back to the Luotian Association's encampment.
"Association Leader is mighty!"
"Association Leader is mighty!"
"Association Leader is mighty!"
Though only several dozen people, the roar they produced shook the air like mountain tsunamis and ocean waves.
Luo Chen raised a hand to press down gently.
The cultivators of the Luotian Association instantly fell silent, each gazing at him with eyes brimming with reverence.
Luo Chen turned around to look at the Qu family cultivators, among whom were Foundation Establishment True Cultivators.
"Not leaving? Do you need me to escort you out?"
The Qu family cultivators shuddered, stepping back subconsciously.
Yet one of the Foundation Establishment True Cultivators took a step back, halted, and gritted his teeth, saying, "We ask Daoist Luo to return my Qu family's Nine Qu Spirit King Sword."
Though spoken with resolve, to everyone's ears, it sounded practically like a plea.
Luo Chen twirled the sword casually.
The azure longsword lay horizontally before him.
"So this sword is named the Nine Qu Spirit King. A fine name, and indeed a fine sword."
"A pity that a bright pearl was cast into darkness, and a fine sword gathered dust."
"Your family head is not worthy of this sword!"
"Get lost. I won't see you off!"
At these words, the Qu family cultivators' faces turned green and white in turn.
The battle in the sky just now had been seen clearly by everyone.
They had agreed on one move to decide the victor.
Yet their Qu family head had insisted on playing petty tricks, attempting to interrupt the other's preparation of a magic treasure strike.
Had he not pulled that trick and both sides charged their ultimate moves, even if he lost, he wouldn't have lost so miserably.
He had been rendered completely defenseless.
Had it not been for the Ice Fort Core Formation Master's intervention, he wouldn't even have his life right now.
Saying the sword had gathered dust was truly no mockery.
Yet a family heirloom sword falling into the hands of an outsider was something they could never accept.
He wanted to speak further, but catching the hostile gaze from Luo Chen, the Foundation Establishment True Cultivator who had dared speak before clamped his mouth shut.
Trembling like a cicada in winter, he kept backing away.
The Qu family cultivators retreated.
Luo Chen then looked toward the Shenshui Sect.
Before he could speak, the two middle Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Shenshui Sect cupped their fists in succession, executing an impeccable Daoist salute.
"Greetings to Daoist Danchenzi! Xu Xiang pays his respects."
"The Fire Spirit Lord truly lives up to his reputation. Shenshui Sect Master Luo Jiangnan pays his respects."
The corners of Luo Chen's mouth twitched slightly.
He knew well that they hadn't come with good intentions initially.
Yet at this moment, one could not slap a smiling face.
Holding twin swords, it was inconvenient to return the salute properly, so he could only speak:
"If there is leisure in the future, I would be glad to gather with you two Daoist friends."
The underlying message was that he had no time for pleasantries right now.
The two from the Shenshui Sect took no offense, smiling amiably as they led their disciples away.
Only at this moment did the Luotian Association's encampment quiet down completely.
Luo Chen dismissed his earlier cold detachment, and a gentle smile like a spring breeze returned to his face.
"Return to rest, all of you!"
"Old Xu, take a count of those who are injured; I will treat them later."
With that, he stepped into the stone house.
After he left, the cultivators of the Luotian Association could no longer hold back their excitement and began chattering in groups.
Some emotional individuals even invited close association friends to drink and converse merrily.
Today's battle was truly exhilarating, wiping clean all the gloom that had hung over the Luotian Association in recent days.
Inside the stone house!
Clang!
"Without the Chilong Sword, there is still the Nine Qu Spirit King. Yingzhang, do you like this sword?"
Chapter 367