The time had ripened!
These were no groundless words.
With the arrival of the Luoyun Sect's Magic Treasure flying boat, the entire Golden Sand Floating Island seemed to come alive.
Imposing true disciples of the Luoyun Sect were dispatched frequently across the floating island.
The elites of the other three sects also began sharpening their weapons and feeding their mounts.
The subordinate forces under the four sects and numerous rogue cultivators were likewise rubbing their fists and wiping their palms, preparing to display their prowess in the upcoming battle.
The free-trade gathering, previously held only once a month, was now convened every single day.
In preparation for the Four-Sect Alliance's coming counteroffensive, everyone was doing everything possible to enrich and enhance their means of combat.
Yet under these circumstances, Luo Chen kept an increasingly low profile, rarely stepping outside.
Chu Kui was curious about what he was doing, but did not press the matter.
Since Luo Chen had said half a month, then half a month it was.
After all, only four or five days remained.
...
Inside the stone house.
As Luo Chen cast the Blood-Melting Demon Finger and the Cleansing Art once again, a drop of water, so faint it was nearly imperceptible, dripped onto the floor.
It was not truly water, but the final trace of the flame imprint's origin.
Without hesitation, Luo Chen conjured a water mirror.
At a single glance, the handsome face reflected in the mirror broke into a smile.
Between his brows, there was no longer any vivid flame imprint—the skin was smooth and clean, as if restored to how it had always been!
Success!
In the end, it was merely an art cast by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Combining the wits of both Luo Chen and Wang Yuan, dispelling it was not all that difficult.
Now, the lingering affliction was completely gone.
Next, he could head into battle unburdened.
His ears twitched slightly, and Luo Chen casually dispelled the Water Mirror Art.
Just at that moment, footsteps came from outside the door.
"President, a disciple from the Luoyun Sect has come to pay a visit!"
Luo Chen froze for a moment.
He had assumed it would be a notice telling the Luotian Association to prepare for troop rotation; he hadn't expected it to be someone from the Luoyun Sect.
"Is it Tianxingzi?"
"No."
"Hmm?"
"The visitor calls himself Qin Yuanjiang!"
Luo Chen paused, as if he hadn't heard clearly.
"Who?"
"He says his name is Qin Yuanjiang, with a Foundation Establishment cultivation base, and has specifically come to visit you, President."
Hearing this name, Luo Chen felt a momentary daze.
Qin Yuanjiang?
...
Luo Chen carefully sized up the young man before him.
The youth was of similar height to him, dressed in a snug black martial robe that gave him a sharp, spirited look.
His slender eye corners and thin lips bore a striking resemblance to his mother, Murong Qinglian.
Such facial features should have appeared effeminate, yet a straight, prominent nose pulled his demeanor into an entirely different realm.
Heroic without lacking ruggedness, lively and spirited.
His eyes revealed curiosity toward everything under heaven and a vibrant vigor.
Truly a young tiger cub!
No wonder Qin Liangchen had given him the childhood name Xiaohu back then.
It was just that his realm...
Luo Chen couldn't help but frown slightly.
While he was observing Qin Yuanjiang, Qin Yuanjiang was also observing him.
The first impression was—so young!
Was this the master of the Luotian Association his mother had repeatedly mentioned in her letters?
He clearly looked scarcely a few years older than himself, yet he could accomplish so much that both of his parents admired and revered him immensely?
Even when Qin Yuanjiang had proposed bringing the two elders to settle in Qianye Immortal City, they had refused, repeatedly declaring that they wished to follow this man!
Just what charm did he possess, and what ability?
Judging by his cultivation realm, he didn't seem all that impressive!
He looked to be around the middle Foundation Establishment stage, not much different from the ordinary senior brothers in the sect.
Could it be solely because of an extraordinary mastery in pill concoction?
Could such a person truly rise from among rogue cultivators, make a name for himself in Azure Pill Valley, win the favor of Ice Fort, receive personal recruitment from an elder of Mount Ailao, and even be spoken of from time to time within his own Luoyun Sect?
While he was puzzling over this, Luo Chen smiled and spoke, "Xiaohu, you have actually achieved Foundation Establishment. If this good news is sent back, I'm sure your father and mother will be thrilled. What brings you here to see me?"
That his parents would be happy was a certainty.
They had always taken pride in him.
However, hearing his childhood nickname come from the mouth of a man who looked scarcely older than himself made Qin Yuanjiang's expression slightly awkward.
"Ahem!"
Clearing his throat, he said, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I heard earlier that my father had come to the battlefield and even went over to the Luoyun Sect's side looking for me, so I came over to check."
Fellow Daoist Luo?
Luo Chen's face froze!
I'm sworn brothers with your father and call your mother sister-in-law, and here you are calling me "Fellow Daoist"?
Even if you didn't say "Uncle Luo," you should at least offer a "Brother Daoist" or address me by my Daoist title out of respect!
Still, on the surface, Luo Chen maintained his grace as an elder very well.
He smiled and said, "I have already sent your father back. Counting the days, he should have arrived in Tianlan Immortal City long ago."
Qin Yuanjiang nodded.
In his eyes, there was disappointment as well as relief.
Disappointment that he hadn't seen his father, and relief that his father was still alive and wouldn't have to participate in the coming battle.
At this point, the purpose of the visit had been stated, and the matter explained.
After this, there seemed to be little else to say.
Reasonably speaking, there was a connection between the two sides.
In particular, with Qin Yuanjiang's parents working under Luo Chen, chatting a bit longer to ask about his parents would have been only natural.
Yet there was an awkward circumstance: when Luo Chen first met Qin Liangchen and his wife, Qin Yuanjiang had already entered the Luoyun Sect.
The two had never crossed paths.
If he were to inquire, it would have to be in the posture of a junior, yet their ages were actually quite close.
At the Foundation Establishment realm, a difference of ten or twenty years was practically nothing.
Amidst the awkwardness, Qin Yuanjiang rose to take his leave.
Luo Chen looked at him, his brow furrowing slightly, before he ultimately couldn't hold back:
"You only just achieved Foundation Establishment not long ago, didn't you?"
Qin Yuanjiang paused and said with a touch of pride, "I broke through three months ago!"
At his age of around thirty, achieving Foundation Establishment so early was indeed something to be proud of.
However!
"While such a realm is fine, swords and blades have no eyes on the battlefield, and middle and late-stage cultivators are everywhere. For your sect to send you out—isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Hearing Luo Chen question the sect's decision, Qin Yuanjiang's expression darkened slightly.
Luo Chen knew his words were rather abrupt, perhaps even offensive.
Yet this was the son of a friend, after all; staying completely silent without a word of caution was simply not his way.
"It isn't just me—all the junior disciples in our batch who successfully established our foundations have entered the war!"
Qin Yuanjiang huffed coldly, unwilling to be outdone.
"Besides, serving the sect is our rightful duty!"
"If I can distinguish myself in this war, I can attain the status and treatment of a true disciple even at the early Foundation Establishment stage."
"Fellow Daoist Luo, do not underestimate me!"
His words carried the proud air of someone who took pride in his sect today, confident the sect would take pride in him tomorrow.
He was also quite confident in his own strength.
Luo Chen felt helpless.
Perhaps this was the arrogance inherent in disciples of great sects!
Of course, one could also use another term: cohesion.
Whatever the sect bade them do, they questioned nothing and gave their all.
This was also tied to how these cultivators had grown up within the sect from an early age; their relationships and the resources needed for cultivation were all within those mountain peaks.
Over time, they were forged into a single rope.
Yet war was merciless and weapons lacked eyes; such sentiments were of little real use to an individual.
He had already offered a reminder; saying more would be impolite.
Sighing, Luo Chen nodded.
"Then I wish you an early promotion to true disciple."
Qin Yuanjiang was slightly displeased, sensing in Luo Chen's words a dismissal of his capabilities.
He was about to flick his sleeves and leave on the spot.
Yet before departing, he paused his steps.
"You are right about one thing: no one can guarantee their own safety on the battlefield. Ice Fort values you quite highly; in the upcoming war, if you can avoid taking part, you had better stay out of it."
Having said his piece, he strode away.
Behind him, Luo Chen chuckled speechlessly.
This kid!
It was hard to tell whether he looked down on Luo Chen or cared about him, saying such words right before leaving.
His temperament was somewhat tangled.
Neither quite like Qin Liangchen nor like Murong Qinglian, yet feeling like a blend of both parents' personalities.
Stepping out of the stone house, Chu Kui's teasing voice reached his ears.
"Young people nowadays—every single one has eyes higher than the heavens, barely even looking at us seniors!"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "He is an esteemed sect disciple, after all. Even if his realm is a bit low, he naturally has his pride."
Chu Kui grunted in agreement.
This was precisely why he disliked dealing with sect disciples.
Noses in the air, looking down on everyone.
He far preferred sitting down with Luo Chen to haggle over every single spirit stone.
"When did you arrive?"
"Right on the heels of that Qin kid. I heard someone from the Luoyun Sect had come and thought they were urging us to Mount Thunder Accumulation's Nine Peaks, so I rushed over to wait for news."
"You seem rather impatient."
"Can't help it. If we arrive late, I'm afraid we won't even get scraps."
Luo Chen shook his head.
"Rest assured, people can never be wiped out. What the cultivation world lacks least of all is bottom-tier cultivators."
Chu Kui could not agree more with those words!
...
People, indeed, could never all be killed!
Above the myriad li of yellow sand, streak after streak of escaping light flew toward the Sixth Peak.
In terms of numbers, there were more than double compared to last time!
One had to know that this war had already dragged on for years.
Yet far from diminishing, the number of participating cultivators only grew larger.
Or rather, more and more people were joining in.
Those rogue cultivators holed up in forgotten corners and clan cultivators with little lifespan left waiting to die at home could no longer resist the temptation in the face of the enormous profits offered by the Four-Sect Alliance.
Just like Luo Chen and Chu Kui, they were part of this tide.
Amidst the crowd, Luo Chen glanced upward; four figures stood lofty and imposing, starkly in view.
Yinyue of Ice Fort, Master Ju'an of Mount Ailao, Elder Long of Azure Pill Valley, and the Core Formation Master leading the Luoyun Sect this time, Linghu Jie!
These four were all masters presiding over their respective sects' affairs on the Golden Sand Floating Island.
Now, they were mobilizing together.
It was clear that for this battle, victory was considered imperative.
Glancing at Elder Linghu of the Luoyun Sect, Luo Chen's eyelid twitched.
From this man, he sensed an inkling of familiarity.
Yet he had never met him before—why would he feel this way?
The Core Formation Master who orchestrated the ambush to kill Pang Renxiong back at Dahe Market?
Inexplicably, a figure shrouded in black robes sprang to mind.
The more he looked, the more it resembled him!
Especially since Tianxingzi was closely following behind him.
This only further confirmed that he was likely the chief culprit behind the Dahe Ghost City incident.
"Luo Chen, what do we do next?" Chu Kui asked from beside him.
Luo Chen said calmly, "No rush. I'll settle the Luotian Association members first."
"All right, I'll follow your lead."
Although he said this, when Chu Kui saw Luo Chen leaving both Xu Huanzhen and Duan Feng behind at the rear of the Sixth Peak, a thick look of confusion still washed over his face.
"For this battle, you aren't bringing these two helpers along?"
"The two of us are enough. Two more won't add much, and without them, it makes no difference." After settling everyone, Luo Chen turned around and said coolly, "Besides, if they can't keep up with our combat rhythm, having more people around will only make them liabilities, don't you think?"
Chu Kui was momentarily speechless.
In terms of logic, that was indeed true.
Yet it seemed somewhat different from what he had envisioned earlier.
Shouldn't they draw upon the power of all the Luotian Association's cultivators to hunt down as many enemies of the Sword Sect alliance as possible?
Watching the serious manner in which Luo Chen gave instructions to Xu Huanzhen, Chu Kui thought to himself, A bit too soft-hearted.
Yet soon enough, as he watched Xu Huanzhen and Duan Feng pleading earnestly to fight alongside Luo Chen, he shook his head.
When he sought out Luo Chen to cooperate, hadn't it been precisely because of this "soft-heartedness" of his?
...
The clarion call for the Four-Sect Alliance's counteroffensive had been sounded half a month ago.
However, the longer both sides fought at Mount Thunder Accumulation's Nine Peaks, the more familiar each became with the local terrain and conditions.
If the Luoyun Sect could utilize a Tier 4 grand formation to achieve Tier 3 effectiveness, the Sword Sect alliance naturally could as well.
In fact, on the Seventh Peak, they had set up a complete, large-scale Tier 3 defensive formation!
Though not Tier 4, it could unleash the full power of a Tier 3 defensive formation.
Without Core Formation Masters stepping in, it was exceedingly difficult to breach.
Aided by geographic advantage and the grand formation, ordinary Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators simply could not break through the Seventh Peak's defenses.
Therefore, over the preceding half month, several Core Formation Masters of the four sects stationed on the Sixth Peak had begun striking in turns.
Taking half a month, they had finally shaken that defensive grand formation.
This rotation of guards, in reality, was no rotation at all.
The cultivators arriving from the Golden Sand Floating Island joined with the original garrison on the Sixth Peak, forming an army of over thirty thousand cultivators.
The vast majority were late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
Yet the core striking force consisted of more than two thousand Foundation Establishment True Cultivators!
Beneath the deep, dark curtain of night.
Seven rays of brilliance suddenly manifested outside the Seventh Peak.
Some were frigid as profound ice, some loomed majestic as colossal seals, while others were sweeping flying swords, fluttering flower baskets...
Almost the instant the seven rays appeared, four vast surges of magic power erupted from the Seventh Peak.
Furious shouts detonated across the void:
"You go too far!"
To this, the Four-Sect Alliance paid no heed.
The ones who crossed the line first were you lot.
Back when the Seventh Peak was raided by night, Core Formation Masters attacked without regard for their status—they remembered that very clearly.
In virtually an instant, the four Core Formation Masters on the Seventh Peak struck together, each intercepting an incoming attack.
One of them split his sword-light, forcefully intercepting two attacks with a single sword.
Yet even so, two Core Formation-level attacks still slammed into the Tier 3 defensive grand formation.
This formation had already been worn down for over half a month.
Now struck simultaneously by the attacks of two Core Formation cultivators, it shattered into pieces in practically a heartbeat.
Just at this moment, Linghu Jie of the Luoyun Sect stepped forth from the ranks.
"Disciples of our sect, prepare!"
As soon as his voice fell, dark war puppets exuding threatening auras materialized behind him.
Cold and ferocious.
Behind each puppet stood excited Foundation Establishment True Cultivators of the Luoyun Sect.
Controlling their respective puppets, bright white beams of light gathered and swirled within the puppets' gaping maws.
"Fire!"
Linghu Jie swept his wide sleeve.
The next moment, hundreds of light pillars lit up behind him in an instant, blasting toward the Seventh Peak like roaring thunder.
In a flash, the night sky was illuminated.
Such an offensive was not inferior in the slightest to the earlier strike of the seven Core Formation Masters.
The air tore apart as furious thunder roared.
When that vast barrage crashed down, it illuminated the panicked, terrified faces of countless cultivators on the Seventh Peak.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Endless explosions resounded simultaneously.
In merely an instant, the battle formation that the Sword Sect alliance had bought time to establish using the defensive grand formation was thrown into disarray.
Wails, shouts, and the sounds of panicked flight echoed across the Seventh Peak.
Linghu Jie watched this scene with satisfaction, then waved his hand once more.
"Everyone, kill!"
Chapter 383