Night Dreams at Tianlan, "Convergence of Myriad Paths"

A few days later. In the dead of night. A figure traversed the desolate, quiet street and made his way along the Tianlan Path to the foot of Tianlan Peak. "Who goes there?" "Qu Lingjun of the Luotian Association." "What are you doing going up the mountain so late? Come over and register!" Under the heavy veil of night, a gaunt man walked over as bidden. Drawing near, he looked at the unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivator and asked curiously, "Where is Senior Wang Pingzhi?" The mountain guard had been disturbed from a peaceful rest and was already impatient. Hearing him ask about his predecessor, his face darkened with displeasure. "Dead!" "Couldn't just stay put doing a perfectly fine mountain-guarding duty, insisted on mucking around on the battlefield. By now, I doubt even his roaming ghost can find its way home." Disguised as Qu Lingjun, Luo Chen froze for an instant. He had known this war would claim countless lives, but he had never expected an ordinary guard on Tianlan Peak like Wang Pingzhi would perish because of it as well. Still, even with a different person guarding the gate, one could always foster good relations. Luo Chen discreetly passed over a medicine vial—the Medicine King Sect's Qi Harmonizing Pill. It was not exceedingly precious, but for a Qi Refinement cultivator, it was already an impressive gift to produce. The mountain guard stared blankly for a moment. He scrutinized Luo Chen closely, then tucked the vial away without a word. "Luotian Association, Qu Lingjun, right?" "Yes, this junior indeed," the gaunt man replied with a nod. The mountain guard made a few strokes on a bamboo scroll. "All right, your registration is complete. You may head up." With that, he parted the Tianyi Engenders Water Grand Array. Seeing the gaunt man step forward to enter, the guard hesitated before calling out to him. "In the future, don't enter or leave Tianlan Peak in the middle of the night. Because of the Deity Transformation ruins at Mount Thunder Accumulation, many formidable figures from outer domains have flooded into the Jade Cauldron Domain, not to mention all those ruthless cutthroats pulling back from the battlefield. Even Tianlan Immortal City has become a den of snakes and dragons, fraught with danger." "During the day, with an identity token in hand, nobody cares what you do. But nighttime inspections are quite strict." He paused for a breath before adding another piece of advice. "Seeing that you're a mere Qi Refinement junior who can afford to lease a cave dwelling on Tianlan Peak, you must have substantial wealth. When entering and leaving the immortal city, you had best keep your eyes open. Don't end up being trailed without even realizing it." Luo Chen listened attentively to every word, bowed respectfully, and only then mounted his dharma artifact to fly up Tianlan Peak. The mountain guard shook his head at his departing figure, then retrieved the jade vial of Qi Harmonizing Pills. Tossing it up and down in his palm, a radiant smile spread across his face. So this mountain-guarding post wasn't completely devoid of perks after all! The Luotian Association? Quite a sensible sect! Mulling over the familiar name, something clicked in his memory. That was a subordinate force on quite good terms with his own sect. Its president was even said to be a Guest Elder of the Ice Fort. In the future, perhaps he could turn a blind eye when they came and went. *** Amidst the deep night, the man steered his dharma artifact, flying leisurely toward the rear slope of Tianlan Peak. The flight speed of a Qi Refinement cultivator kept his pace rather slow. Yet no matter how slow, he would eventually arrive. However, had the mountain guard seen where he came to a halt, he would have been utterly astounded. Luo Chen had not stopped at a Tier 1 cave dwelling, but a Tier 2 one. And an upper-grade spiritual retreat among Tier 2 cave dwellings at that! Casually tracing an incantation hand sign, the protective array guarding the dwelling slowly parted. The mist cleared, and he stepped inside. The moment he crossed the threshold, Xiao Ling's surprised voice rang out. "It's so late. What brings Sister President here?" Pattering over, she reached the entrance and saw the man. "Qu Lingjun, why are you here so... Wait, where did you get the incantation to open the array?" Luo Chen smiled faintly. His aura shifted, and he wiped a hand across his face. His features shifted into place and his stature lengthened. In the blink of an eye, a familiar figure stood before her. The aura of the Foundation Establishment realm was revealed without reservation. Bai Meiling froze. An innate sense of intimacy resonating from the depths of her soul made her pounce forward heedless of everything. "Master, you're back!" At the same time, the door to the cultivation chamber burst open, and a graceful figure rushed out impatiently. Luo Chen smiled softly, cradling Bai Meiling with one arm while opening the other wide. The lovely silhouette threw herself straight into his embrace. "Uuu..." Soft sobs echoed against him. Luo Chen chuckled and shook his head. "What are you crying for? Haven't I returned safe and sound?" Gu Caiyi lifted her head, her delicate fists lightly thumping against his broad, solid chest as she gazed up at his gaunt face. "Who told you to vanish for over a year without sending back a single word! Do you have any idea how worried I was? Especially after hearing you were being hunted by a Golden Core cultivator..." Women truly loved to chatter! Luo Chen leaned down and planted a deep, firm kiss on her lips. "Mmmph..." Bai Meiling had already slipped out of his arms at the right moment, watching the scene with a beaming smile. A long while passed before their lips parted. A warm, tender atmosphere hung thick in the air. "Huiniang will be here soon. Xiao Ling, keep watch over the array." Luo Chen gave a brief instruction, then eagerly swept Gu Caiyi into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Bai Meiling blinked her large eyes, watching their retreating backs. So Master was a ghost just like her! Except, he was a lustful ghost! *** When Sima Huiniang received the news and rushed over under the starry night, she caught sight of Luo Chen just as he emerged from the bedroom. He wore a loose black silk robe. Compared to his past mature, steady demeanor, his gaunt physique now held an untamed, dashing air. Long black hair drifted casually behind him. She froze for a moment, blurting out instinctively, "It seems I didn't come at a good time." "No, you came at the perfect time." A bewitching smile curved upon Luo Chen's lean face, and he beckoned to her. Sima Huiniang hesitated, yet she could no longer suppress the surging emotions within her heart. Step by step, she was drawn toward him. Seeing Luo Chen pull her toward that very same room, her voice dropped to a whisper barely louder than a mosquito's hum. "Could we change rooms, please?" "Not ideal. Too troublesome!" This time, the man's firmness far exceeded anything in the past! Sima Huiniang had no wish to resist him either. With half-yielding reluctance, she was guided through the doorway. Inside, clouds gathered and rain poured; red sheets tossed in waves of passion. Partway through, one woman stirred awake, only to be swept back into the fray. Luo Chen had experienced battles between Foundation Establishment True Cultivators many times before. This time, having returned with new mastery, his combat prowess had grown immensely. A formidable physique granted him unprecedented stamina and vigor, an onslaught so fierce it felt as though heaven and earth were crumbling and mountains and seas were toppling over. Out in the main hall, Bai Meiling rested her chin on one hand atop the stone table, listening with relish. With her other hand, she flipped through a recipe book, planning to prepare a lavish feast for Luo Chen. And so it continued until daybreak! They were Foundation Establishment True Cultivators after all—their recovery was remarkably swift! Once daylight broke, Sima Huiniang and Gu Caiyi departed Tianlan Peak with flushed, glowing complexions, heading off to the Luotian Association to manage affairs as usual. Luo Chen, meanwhile, indulged in a rare bout of sleeping in. This sleep lasted a full three days and three nights. During that year in the Deity Transformation ruins, he had drawn upon lightning power almost every waking moment to temper his body. Even when resting, it had been nothing more than shallow, fleeting dozes. As a result, beneath his robust physical frame, his soul had grown thoroughly exhausted. It felt as though he had undergone a grueling, uninterrupted secluded cultivation for a whole year. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, pushing oneself to such limits during seclusion was feasible. Particularly when breaking through major bottlenecks, going months or even years without rest was not uncommon. Yet in everyday life, one still took brief reprieves. Otherwise, placing such sustained strain on the soul could easily leave lingering repercussions. Fortunately, when Luo Chen slowly woke, he felt no ill effects whatsoever. On the contrary, his body was vigorous, his constitution hale, and his spirit refreshed a hundredfold. Faintly, he sensed that the foundation of his divine soul had climbed another step, accompanied by an elusive, indescribable change. As to what exact change it was, Luo Chen could not say. Knowing it was a favorable development was enough; further nuances would have to be uncovered gradually over time. Emerging from the bedroom, he found no one inside. Releasing his spiritual sense, he discovered Bai Meiling busily tending the one-mu plot of Tier 2 spiritual farmland outside. It seemed a harvest had already been gathered earlier, and new crops had been planted, growing reasonably well. The greenery was lush, the flowers and herbs vibrant with life, and the previously felled Warm Sun Tree had sprouted fresh, golden-yellow foliage. Luo Chen did not disturb her. Turning on his heel, he stepped into the cultivation chamber. A rich wave of spiritual energy instantly washed over him. Inhaling deeply, Luo Chen sat cross-legged and began circulating the *Ageless Evergreen Scripture*. Though he had not practiced it in quite some time, the movements carried not the slightest unfamiliarity or friction. Whether inhaling and drawing in heaven-and-earth spiritual energy or guiding it through heavenly circulation to refine and purify it, everything flowed naturally, like water carving its course. In fact, during his second cycle of cultivation, a new idea struck him. Beyond just operating the *Ageless Evergreen Scripture*, he also employed the breath-drawing technique from his self-created *Heavenly Thunder Body Refining Method* to take in a ferocious gulp of spiritual qi. With this three-pronged approach working in unison, the efficiency with which he channeled and absorbed external spiritual energy multiplied dramatically. The meridians within his body felt no strain whatsoever; rather, they seemed left wanting more! After a long while, Luo Chen brought his cultivation to a halt. Sensing the state of spiritual power in his body, he nodded in satisfaction. Living waters had been reintroduced into his somewhat parched sea of qi. Proceeding at his current pace, it would not take long to restore himself to his prior peak condition. However, that was not the most pressing matter. With a thought, a transparent panel cascaded down before his eyes like a shimmering waterfall. [Lifespan: 50/250] [Spiritual Roots: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth] [Realm: Sixth Layer Foundation Establishment 30/100, Desolate Ancient Tier 3 1/100] [Cultivation Methods: Ageless Evergreen Scripture Master 600/1000, Heavenly Thunder Body Refining Method Proficient 220/300, Myriad Beast Scripture 10/100] [Spells: Tier 3: Ninety Thousand Miles Flawless 427/500, Mirror Flower, Water Moon Entry 75/100, Life Severing Finger Entry 1/100 Tier 2: Landslide Grand Perfection, Glazed Canopy Grand Perfection, Blazing Sun Art Grand Perfection, Spring Breeze Rain Art Grand Perfection, Water Mirror Art Flawless 475/500, Flower Fairy Skilled 127/200, Mind Beguilement Art Skilled 177/200, Kusanagi Gengold Sword Technique Skilled 125/200 Tier 1: Soul Intimidation Art Master 509/1000 Grand Perfection Spells (Click to view details)] [Alchemy Arts: Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method Master 900/1000, Origin Cultivating Hand Flawless 371/500, Scale Turning Hand Entry 18/100, Star Plucking Hand Proficient 281/300. Grand Perfection Alchemy Arts (Click to view details)] [Martial Arts: Mountain-Cleaving Stele-Shattering Palm Grand Perfection, Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers Master 571/1000] [Professions: Tier 2 Alchemist, Tier 2 Physician Tier 2 Pills: Dust Settling Pill Entry 10/100, Emperor Flowing Liquid Entry 9/100 Tier 1 Pills: Blood Burning Pill Grand Perfection, Spirit-Nurturing Pellet Entry 30/100, Grand Perfection Pills (Click to view details)] [Achievement Points: 22] The dazzling array of entries was enough to make one's head spin at first glance. Yet Luo Chen felt nothing but joy, brimming with a deep sense of accomplishment. These entries were the most direct reflection of everything he had achieved through years of hard toil! In fact, he had not even expanded the hidden entries; had he done so, there would have been even more. His eyes settled first upon his lifespan. Two hundred and fifty years? That was twenty years higher than the upper limit he possessed upon advancing to the Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment. It was likely a consequence of his transformed physique. Still, his physical body had clearly attained Tier 3 according to the panel. Why had it only added twenty years? "Is it because my fundamental constitution remains that of a human?" The long lifespans of spirit beasts were not strictly tied to the strength of their cultivation realm. Much of it stemmed from the natural advantages inherent to their species. Of course, the higher their realm, the longer they lived, and breaking through major realms brought corresponding increases. Yet at lower realms, this difference was not nearly as pronounced. Luo Chen had only acquired physical resilience on par with beasts without undergoing an actual racial metamorphosis, which explained why his lifespan had only gained this modest amount. Unless he achieved massive leaps in body refining going forward, the bonus to his lifespan would likely remain limited. After all, this was not a traditional body refining method devised by human cultivators specifically to extend longevity. When Luo Chen had created the technique, increasing his lifespan had never been his goal. He felt no grievance over this. A lifespan limit of two hundred and fifty years was already exceptional! For an ordinary Foundation Establishment True Cultivator without a longevity-enhancing method like the *Ageless Evergreen Scripture*, their lifespan rarely surpassed two hundred and fifty years. If they suffered severe injuries during their cultivation journey, they might even age prematurely and perish. He was currently only at the Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment. As his realm rose in the future, his upper limit would naturally stretch far beyond that of his peers! What surprised Luo Chen was the change in his body refining realm entry. It was no longer the traditional human body refining progression—First Realm Vajra, Second Realm Blood River, Third Realm Crucible... Instead, it had transformed into a somewhat perplexing entry: [Desolate Ancient Tier 3]. "Desolate Ancient? Could it be referring to desolate beasts and ancient beasts among spirit creatures?" Human cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Realm possessed an extensive understanding of spirit beasts. In this world, humanity's greatest adversaries were beasts. Contemporary spirit beasts followed the evolutionary path of taking human form, developed after antiquity. Tier 1 Qi Absorption, Tier 2 Core Condensation, Tier 3 Wisdom Awakening, Tier 4 Metamorphosis. Once they reached Tier 5, they could be called Ancient Demons, equivalent to human Deity Transformation grand cultivators. Yet legend had it that prior to ancient times, the mainstream of beasts did not tread this path. Back then, beasts followed a primordial, natural path—absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to temper their beastly forms and unlocking innate racial divine abilities. Among them were ignorant, unawakened desolate beasts, as well as ancient beasts whose intellect rivaled humans and who could grasp the Great Daos of heaven and earth. The latter was also the origin of the modern title for Tier 5 Ancient Demons. "When I created my body refining method, the crisis left me no time to comprehend blood qi transformations. I purely squandered the lightning power within my body to burn through it." "Thus, it followed an exceptionally pure method of physical tempering." "From this perspective, it truly belongs to the very same system as the desolate ancient beasts of primordial times." Luo Chen muttered to himself, seeming to sort through his knowledge, yet also feeling out the path ahead. Soon, however, his expression flickered with uncertainty as he recalled the details of the *Heavenly Thunder Body Refining Method*, feeling momentarily lost. Cultivating a beast method with a human body—what would the ultimate outcome be? After a moment, Luo Chen rallied his spirits. Who cared! This method had been tailored specifically for him by the system. Who was to say it was a beast method? Different paths simply led to the same destination! What truly drew his attention were several other changes on the panel brought about by his body refining. *Bright Spirit Fiend Breaking*, the *Wang Clan Secret Manual*, *Qi and Body from the Same Source*, and *Turtle Spirit Armor* had all vanished! These four arts encompassed fiend qi body tempering, willpower honing, refining essence into qi, converting between essence and qi, conventional human body refining, and many other techniques. *Turtle Spirit Armor* in particular had been modeled after the primordial great demon, the Black Tortoise, dividing into four secret arts: Tortoise Breath, Armor Manifestation, Death Avoidance, and Longevity Extension. It was extraordinarily profound. Luo Chen had even raised it to the Master level, gaining adept proficiency in Tortoise Breath, Armor Manifestation, and Death Avoidance. Now, these arts had all disappeared as well. Their destination was beyond doubt—the system had completely fused them into the *Heavenly Thunder Body Refining Method*. Small wonder this technique absorbed the strengths of a hundred schools, distilling every bit of foundation Luo Chen had accumulated over his lifetime. In fact, it even incorporated elements of the alchemy art *Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method*, the Core Formation secret art *Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation*, fiend qi aperture opening, lightning aperture opening, and various other techniques. At this point, continuing to call it the *Heavenly Thunder Body Refining Method* felt somewhat unfitting. That name had merely been slapped on casually under the pressure of the moment. After a moment of contemplation, the entry for *Heavenly Thunder Body Refining Method* on the system panel rippled like water and shifted into *Convergence of Myriad Paths*. The meaning was simple: since this technique drew upon the strengths of countless schools and still had clear room for improvement and optimization, calling it the Convergence of Myriad Paths to forge Luo Chen's mighty true form was only fitting. It captured its origins while embodying his grand ambitions for its future. "This can be considered the first technique I've truly created since embarking on cultivation. I wonder how far it can carry me in the days to come." Luo Chen smiled faintly, a gentle sense of pride and joy warming his chest. Although the method had been deduced, synthesized, and integrated by the system using the Tier 3 body refining art *Heavenly Roc Transformation* as a foundation, the underlying techniques, secret arts, spells, and cultivation methods had all been painstakingly accumulated by Luo Chen over the years. The system had only assisted, using achievement points to accelerate the process. Even without the system, should a stroke of divine inspiration have struck him one day, Luo Chen might well have taken this step on his own. Therefore! "All of this is the fruit of my own hard work!" "System, let me see your limits... Wait, no, let's look at the other entries first!" In high spirits, Luo Chen cast his gaze upon the realm entry. [Sixth Layer Foundation Establishment 30/100]