Three days later.
In front of Cave Abode B-17 on Tianlan Peak, a man and a woman bowed respectfully before departing hand in hand.
They had not left empty-handed. In Mi Li's hand was a rank-one body refinement art. It was a short excerpt of body refinement techniques that Luo Chen had taken from *Myriad Dao Confluence*, covering only the aspects of tendon alteration, meridian unblocking, and spiritual marrow cleansing.
Relying on this technique alone would not allow her to attain the Great Perfection of the first realm of body refinement. However, prolonged cultivation would improve Mi Li's constitution, making it far more attuned to the dantian and meridians reshaped by the Canghai Pill. That way, once her body had fully recovered, she could advance rapidly in her cultivation.
Her natural aptitude was actually quite exceptional: dual Wood-Fire spiritual roots! Her inability to cultivate in the past was merely due to innate deficiencies—slender meridians and fragile dantian walls. Such defects meant that despite possessing excellent spiritual roots, she could not freely absorb ambient spiritual energy, and attempting breakthroughs was fraught with peril!
Now, her innate deficiencies had been repaired by Luo Chen with a rank-three pill. If she diligently practiced this technique to transform her tendons and cleanse her marrow, combining it with her dual spiritual root talent, she would have a genuine chance of scaling the heights of Foundation Establishment in the future.
Left to her own devices, hope would have been slim. But with Qu Lingjun's support, supplying a modest amount of resources would pose no problem at all.
Once the young couple departed, Luo Chen's days quieted down once again.
Regarding the nuances of the Heavenly Roc True Form, his discussions with Wang Yuan were largely complete, and further breakthroughs were impossible in the short term. The only thing he could do was hone his mastery of the Heavenly Roc Transformation as much as possible.
With his exchanges with Wang Yuan tapering off, and Chu Kui in perpetual secluded cultivation striving for the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, Luo Chen had truly become a shut-in, never stepping beyond his door. Aside from occasionally gathering with Huiniang and Caiyi, he spent virtually all his time immersed in bitter cultivation, attempting to advance to late Foundation Establishment!
Inside his quiet meditation chamber, Luo Chen sat with eyes shut tight, circulating his natal cultivation method. Vast quantities of ambient spiritual energy were continually captured, circulated, and refined by him. Within his body, he was simultaneously digesting a high-grade Soaring Dragon Pill. The moment one was fully digested, he took a second.
After a long while, Luo Chen leisurely surfaced from his cultivation. Sensing his progress, he nodded with satisfaction.
"With copious dietary nourishment, my build has finally returned to normal."
"Thanks to my Rank-Three Primeval constitution, the number of pills I can digest has stabilized at three high-grade pills a day."
"Because of this, my cultivation speed has doubled. Originally, I estimated that breaking through to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment would take another six or seven years. Now, it seems three to four years should suffice."
Calculating his progress, an ambitious gleam flickered in Luo Chen's eyes.
Once he reached late Foundation Establishment, he would truly be a great cultivator in every sense of the word!
The lighthearted jest from his Qi Refining days would soon become reality.
Yet what he anticipated most was that upon reaching late Foundation Establishment, he could begin making comprehensive preparations for Core Formation.
Luo Chen did not wish to emulate the likes of Xuan Yu and Chu Kui, scrambling in a panic to gather Core Formation resources only after reaching the ninth layer or Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. If he prepared early, everything would be set. When the time came, with all matters arranged, focusing solely on secluded cultivation to push straight into the Golden Core stage was undeniably the wisest course. At the very least, it would spare him countless complications along the way.
While Luo Chen engaged in secluded cultivation, the situation across the Jade Cauldron Domain was shifting like treacherous winds and clouds.
First and foremost was the matter of ownership over the Soul Formation ruins.
The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and Luoyun Sect had reached an agreement to co-develop the ruins while barring all other sects from exploring. Such a decision naturally stirred immense discontent. Under negotiations led by the five great Golden Core sects—spearheaded by the Yan Alliance and Azure Pill Valley—the two superior sects made a slight concession, agreeing that every century, the five great Golden Core sects could send cultivators inside.
This matter caused a massive uproar and dragged on for a long time. It involved not only these local sects, but also powerful experts from beyond the domain who meddled in the fray. Skirmishes and bloodshed flared up incessantly. The Myriad Li Quicksand wasteland, which had originally quieted down when the two superior sects shifted their focus to the Soul Formation ruins, never truly settled in all these years.
Meanwhile, friction between the two sects showed no signs of ceasing.
This was the second major affair.
To this day, the Jade Cauldron civil war had not yielded any written or verbal armistice. No one could fathom what the two superior sects were actually planning.
These were the major affairs of the outside world. For Luo Chen, what hit closest to home was the Luotian Association's current plight.
The restructured Iron Sword Hall had expanded at a breakneck pace in just a year or two!
Though they lacked Zuo Song as hall master, they had drawn in even more experts. They aggressively recruited rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators, welcoming not only locals from within the domain but also outland cultivators without discrimination.
Presently, the Iron Sword Hall boasted three great cultivators in late Foundation Establishment!
Such violent expansion inevitably spilled over into resource acquisition. Originally, because many cultivators had perished in the war, numerous commercial markets in Tianlan Immortal City had opened up. The Iron Sword Hall ought to have focused its expansion on these vacant markets. Yet, they deliberately set their sights on the business domains of the Luotian Association.
Their targeted hostility was an open secret to all!
In addition to the Iron Sword Hall, the Gunlong Ridge Zheng family exerted pressure on the medicinal pill market, actively undercutting and ambushing the Luotian Association. Outside Tianlan, a subordinate force of the Yan Alliance, the Silver Gorge Xiahou clan, also turned its blades against the Luotian Association's ally, the Luosha Workshop Luo clan.
Unwittingly, the Luotian Association found itself besieged on all sides, exactly as Sima Huiniang had predicted.
Under such circumstances, factions that had once been close to the Luotian Association began keeping their distance, cooling their ties.
The Xuchen Mountain Wei clan, the Feathering Sect, the Changliu Gorge Chang clan...
Indeed, when one was basking in glory, thousands flocked close; at the slightest sign of decline, they avoided one like the plague.
Luo Chen knew full well why this was happening. Apart from subtle nudges from the Yan Alliance, it was also tied to his prolonged absence from the public eye. His secluded cultivation had severed his cooperation with Ice Fort regarding the Jade Dew Pills. Consequently, Ice Fort's protective umbrella over the Luotian Association inevitably weakened.
After making a brief trip back to Tianlan Immortal City back then, Fairy Jueqing had hurried back to Ice Fort and had not returned since. Currently, the presiding Golden Core cultivator overseeing Tianlan Immortal City was that mysterious descendant of the Haoran Sect on Tianlan Peak. Daily administration fell onto the shoulders of a late Foundation Establishment female cultivator named Yin Xiuhua.
Supposedly, this woman was a kinswoman of Master Yinyue, representing not only Master Yinyue but also the sect master's lineage of Ice Fort.
Luo Chen's relations with Master Yinyue were far from amicable. Naturally, Yin Xiuhua offered no special favor to the Luotian Association.
Besieged by a pack of wolves without, and lacking support from a major sect within.
Such was the predicament confronting the Luotian Association.
Even so, Luo Chen paid it no heed and quietly focused on cultivation.
Strength!
That was the true key to breaking the deadlock!
Even if he showed himself now, the most he would obtain was support from Ice Fort, which could never dissolve the Yan Alliance's enmity. If anything, his appearance would only intensify their hostility.
In that case, it was better to bolster his own strength and that of the Luotian Association as much as possible, so that when upheaval struck, he could deliver a decisive stroke to quell the storm.
...
Spring passed and autumn arrived.
Without realizing it, another two years had slipped by.
This year, Luo Chen was fifty-two!
His cultivation remained stalled at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, still a short distance away from breaking through.
Yet he had no choice but to come out of seclusion. For this year was a highly sensitive one. The term for the sect presiding over the immortal city on rotation was about to expire once more.
Inside the cave abode, Sima Huiniang remarked with a sigh, "Another ten years have passed!"
Luo Chen also felt a twinge of wistfulness.
The previous decade felt like yesterday.
Back then, he had made a name for himself along the Qinhua River, earning the Daoist title of Fire Spirit Lord. Even if that moniker had only circulated within a small circle in Tianlan Immortal City, it bore witness to the accomplishments of that chapter in his life.
Now, ten years had passed in the blink of an eye, and the crisis facing the Luotian Association had not eased; rather, it had worsened.
"What are our enemies planning right now?"
With a solemn expression, Sima Huiniang answered, "I sent people to negotiate, but the Yan Alliance subordinates led by the Iron Sword Hall have shown no intention of yielding. I have even heard rumors circulating that the Luotian Association is on the brink of destruction."
Rumors?
Luo Chen sneered.
This was undoubtedly released intentionally by the Iron Sword Hall to destabilize morale within the Luotian Association.
The association's growth momentum had actually been tremendous in recent years! Not only had they leased four spiritual grounds within a thousand li of Danxia Peak, but new Foundation Establishment True Cultivators had also emerged in steady succession. Currently, their numbers exceeded ten fingers, reaching as many as fifteen!
Of the roster Sima Huiniang had drawn up two years ago, half had failed their attempts, but half had succeeded; among them, Zhou Yuanli, Gui Jiang, and Xu Xiaoliu had achieved Foundation Establishment.
Bian Zhen had also miraculously succeeded on his second attempt at Foundation Establishment.
However!
In spite of such thriving conditions, the number of low-level cultivators in the Luotian Association remained stuck at three thousand. The association clearly offered generous compensation and ample opportunities for advancement, yet over the past two years, most rogue cultivators did not dare to join; only a few audacious individuals dared to take the gamble in hopes of establishing their foundations.
It had to be said that the hostile external environment severely hampered the association's growth.
Luo Chen took a deep breath and asked, "Though it's merely a rumor, it isn't devoid of value. For them to speak so boldly, there must be a reason behind it. Have you investigated this thoroughly?"
"The details remain murky, but after piecing together the intelligence submitted by Su Xiaolin, I have a vague conjecture."
"Let's hear it."
Sima Huiniang smoothed a stray lock of hair, her lips slightly pressed together.
"In this upcoming immortal city rotation, the Yan Alliance intends to intervene!"
Luo Chen's eyelids twitched. "By convention, shouldn't it be Mount Ailao's turn?"
He had previously reviewed the rotation schedule.
After Ice Fort came Azure Pill Valley, followed by Mount Ailao, and only after Mount Ailao would it be the Yan Alliance's turn.
Due to the civil war between the superior sects, the Luoyun Sect had mediated the division of interests, assigning Azure Pill Valley's immortal city revenues to Ice Fort. Looking at long-term interests, the next ten years would best remain with Ice Fort. At the very least, Mount Ailao ought to take charge of Tianlan Immortal City!
Out of nowhere, why was the Yan Alliance sticking its hands in?
Sima Huiniang could provide no answer to this question.
Luo Chen could only ponder it himself. After a while, his thoughts cleared somewhat.
"Could it be that the two superior sects intend to redraw the immortal city's rotation terms, and the Yan Alliance, acting as the Sword Sect's representative, is forcefully stepping up to negotiate rotation rights for the next decade, or even the next century?"
This conjecture held some merit, yet it remained too speculative, with many questionable gaps.
Returning to matters directly affecting the Luotian Association's interests, Sima Huiniang said hesitantly, "If the Yan Alliance desires future rotation rights over Tianlan Immortal City, they will surely dispatch a Golden Core Master to negotiate. If a Golden Core Master presides here, those hostile to our Luotian Association will no longer need to fear Ice Fort and can openly move against us."
That was Sima Huiniang's deduction.
It had to be admitted: it made complete sense!
Luo Chen furrowed his brow, weighing the potential scenarios. For a time, he found himself hesitating.
Having a Golden Core Master leading the charge versus having none were entirely different matters.
This disrupted his original plan of sitting tight and biding his time.
As he was brooding over these matters, Sima Huiniang suddenly mentioned, "The high-grade Soaring Dragon Pills supplied to you by Dao Child Tao arrived today."
"Mm, just hand them over," Luo Chen replied offhandedly. He was indeed running low on pills.
His digestive capacity had grown so formidable that pill supplies he once deemed sufficient fell far short of his surging demand. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that the efficacy of the Soaring Dragon Pills was beginning to diminish for him. Recently, he had even begun consuming large quantities of rank-two low-grade pills like Qi Gathering Pills.
If quality fell short, quantity would make up the difference!
Suddenly, Luo Chen looked up at Sima Huiniang.
She gave a slight nod. "This time, the person who delivered the pills was Tao Wan herself!"
"She came to Tianlan Immortal City as well?" Luo Chen exclaimed in surprise.
Immediately, he grasped what Huiniang meant.
"Where is Tao Wan right now?"
"Inside Azure Pill Valley's shop. Officially, she's here to inspect the business operations across various immortal city storefronts. However, judging from her movements, she is likely here for the rotation rights of the immortal city as well."
Luo Chen's eyes flashed, and he made up his mind.
...
That very day!
Luo Chen disguised himself, quietly descended the mountain, and headed straight for the Azure Pill Hall.
After revealing his Foundation Establishment cultivation and requesting to purchase large batches of rank-one Meridian Protecting Pills, he was escorted into a VIP room by the Azure Pill Hall's cultivators.
Once inside, he produced his guest elder medallion from the Tao clan, channeled a strand of spiritual power into it, and closed his eyes to rest his mind.
A moment later, when he opened his eyes, Tao Wan happened to push the door open and enter.
Their gazes met, and both exchanged knowing smiles.
"Indeed, I knew Fellow Daoist was no ordinary figure and wouldn't perish within those Soul Formation ruins."
Not having seen her in years, Tao Wan was even more radiant than before. Not only was her attire far more magnificent and dignified, but her demeanor bore the distinct air of a sect's Dao Child and future sect master.
Her cultivation level in particular had advanced at astonishing speed—she seemed not far from the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment!
Luo Chen stood up, cupped his hands, and offered a Daoist salute. "All these years, Fellow Daoist has never interrupted my supply of Soaring Dragon Pills. I must express my gratitude."
Tao Wan smiled and gestured for him to take a seat.
Once both were seated, she remarked leisurely, "You've come regarding the rotation of the immortal city, haven't you?"
"Partly right, partly wrong."
Tao Wan pursed her lips and said calmly, "Then it seems the part that is 'wrong' concerns that Golden Core Master from the Yan Alliance?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist is astute; nothing escapes your eyes."
The woman shook her head and let out a sigh. "I know very little of the inside story regarding this matter. I am merely here this time to observe and lend support. The true crux depends on the negotiations between the Masters of Mount Ailao and the Yan Alliance."
Luo Chen frowned. "Did the two superior sects not send anyone?"
"That, I cannot say for certain." Tao Wan also revealed a puzzled expression. "The actions of the two superior sects have baffled even our Golden Core sects. They clearly agreed to co-develop the Soul Formation ruins, yet they refuse to announce a truce, acting as though a single disagreement could reignite the war at any moment. Even lucrative matters like managing the immortal city, which yield immense profits, seem beneath their notice, leaving us to haggle among ourselves."
In truth, it was not just Tao Wan who was confused.
Over these years, even Luo Chen found the intentions of the two superior sects increasingly opaque. If the goal had initially been to bleed the five great sects and carve out room for the Luoyun Sect's growth, there was no reason to halt the plan halfway through.
*Could it be that my opening of the Soul Formation ruins caused an unforeseen hiccup in their plans?* Luo Chen wondered privately.
Looking at the equally perplexed Tao Wan, Luo Chen hesitated for a moment before deciding to share his previous speculation with her.
"You're saying the Jade Cauldron civil war was meant to wear down the strength of our Golden Core sects?"
Tao Wan looked thoughtful, then shook her head. "Our sect elders have considered such a possibility, but seeing that the disciples of the two superior sects suffered casualties as well, it didn't seem to make sense."
Who would stage a play and end up bleeding themselves in the act?
Luo Chen cautioned, "What if it's for Pill Valley—that territory of your Azure Pill Valley with immense potential to advance into a rank-four spiritual ground?"
"This...!"
Tao Wan's expression shifted slightly.
She truly had not considered this angle.
Or rather, even the upper echelons within Azure Pill Valley had never thought of it. It was not due to a lack of wit, but because being players on the board, their vision was blocked by a single leaf. After all, that spiritual land was currently only rank-two. Claiming that a Nascent Soul True Cultivator was plotting after a mere rank-two spiritual ground would sound absurd to anyone.
Yet connecting the dots as Luo Chen had done, the possibility was far from implausible!
"Thank you for informing me, Fellow Daoist. I will report this to our sect master and Supreme Elder as soon as possible," Tao Wan thanked him sincerely.
Luo Chen waved his hand. "There is no need for that. It could very well be baseless worrying on my part."
"This concerns the survival of my sect; even if it is baseless worrying, one must prepare for a rainy day!" With a solemn expression, Tao Wan offered another Daoist salute. "Thank you for the warning, Brother Luo."
Luo Chen shook his head. After all, he was nominally a consecrated elder of the Azure Pill Valley's Tao clan. He had reaped no small amount of benefits in medicinal pills over the years. That the Luotian Association had produced five or six new Foundation Establishment True Cultivators in succession owed a significant debt to the Meridian Protecting Pills unique to Azure Pill Valley.
He knew full well how to repay a favor in kind.
However, coming here today was certainly not just for this. Without delay, he laid out the predicament currently facing the Luotian Association and the potential war looming ahead.
Upon hearing this, Tao Wan frowned.
"My apologies, but I may be powerless to help in this matter."
"Hm?"
Seeing Luo Chen's displeasure, she smiled wryly. "The Luotian Association is a subordinate of Ice Fort. In this matter, you ought to seek help from Ice Fort."
She was right.
As an affiliate of Ice Fort, when encountering trouble, they naturally should turn to Ice Fort. What sense did it make to turn to Azure Pill Valley?
Yet here in the immortal city, Fairy Jueqing had returned to Ice Fort, and power lay in the hands of the sect master's lineage. Luo Chen's relationship with Master Yinyue of the sect master's lineage was far from good. Why would the other side step forward willingly to back them up? Unless Luo Chen betrayed the Jueqing lineage and went groveling to Master Yinyue. It was even possible that the Luotian Association's present predicament was partly due to their intentional negligence, letting things deteriorate bit by bit.
For Luo Chen, betraying Fairy Jueqing or bowing his head to beg for aid was simply out of the question.
For a moment, matters had reached an impasse.
Seeing Luo Chen's furrowed brow, Tao Wan smiled and offered comfort: "The Golden Core Master from the Yan Alliance has yet to arrive; it will take at least some days."
Luo Chen shook his head. "That merely delays the eruption of the crisis."
Tao Wan put away her smile and said seriously, "I cannot interfere with the Luotian Association, but you are a consecrated elder of my Tao clan. Should things go awry, I will personally ensure your safety! On this point, Brother Luo may rest easy."
*Pledging to protect me in the name of a sect's Dao Child?*
Luo Chen's expression stirred. He stood up and bowed respectfully. "With this promise, this trip has not been in vain."
After Luo Chen took his leave, Tao Wan immediately retrieved a jade token to transmit a message. Before long, two Golden Core Masters appeared on the shop's second floor.
When she shared the conjecture that True Person Han Zhan of the Luoyun Sect might covet Azure Pill Valley's spiritual grounds, their expressions altered drastically.
"Senior Brother Long, I must trouble you to watch over the Dao Child alone. I will return to the sect immediately to report this to Senior Brother Qingdanzi!"
"Very well. Go and return quickly! Whether this proves true or not, making early preparations can never go wrong."
In just a few words, the matter was settled.
After his junior brother departed, Master Long looked at Tao Wan and remarked with deep feeling, "We were truly blinded by a single leaf, forgetting that our Azure Pill Valley harbors such a treasure to invite envy, requiring an outsider to point it out. Fortunately, nothing sudden has occurred yet; otherwise, ruining the ancestral foundation would be a grave sin on our heads."
Tao Wan consoled him, "It is not Martial Uncle's fault. In the past, the Jade Cauldron Domain had only that one True Person from the Sword Sect, and they already possessed a rank-four spiritual ground. Why would they covet a mere rank-two ground in Pill Valley that has only begun to take shape? Now that another sect has produced a True Person, your thoughts simply had not made the leap yet."
"And that is precisely what being blinded by a leaf means!" Master Long sighed, then added, "Who would have thought that this Danchenzi, besides his extraordinary alchemy attainments, possesses such sharp intellect? We truly owe him a favor this time."
Tao Wan smiled faintly. "Owing a favor is fine; after all, he shares some ties with our Azure Pill Valley. Besides, the opportunity to repay it may present itself before long."
"Oh?" Master Long asked curiously.
"When the time comes, I might need to trouble Martial Uncle Long to step in."
"Who is the opponent?"
"A Golden Core Master of the Yan Alliance."
Master Long frowned. "That might be somewhat troublesome. Cultivators of the Yan Alliance are exceptionally bellicose. If I am alone, I fear I won't be able to protect many people."
"Martial Uncle need only do his best. As long as you keep Luo Chen safe, the favor will be considered repaid," Tao Wan said.
Master Long thought it over and nodded slightly.
...
Regarding the potential crises confronting the Luotian Association, Luo Chen's preparations were not limited to Tao Wan.
On Danxia Peak, inside Huixin Hall, Sima Huiniang looked at Xu Xiaoliu and nodded slightly.
"Very good. After four months, your cultivation realm has finally stabilized."
A genuine smile spread across Xu Xiaoliu's face.
He had dreamed of Foundation Establishment, dreamed of borrowing Ice Fort's strength to establish his foundation. But never had he imagined that he would achieve Foundation Establishment within the Luotian Association, and so quickly at that.
Only a dozen years had passed since he joined the Luotian Association.
Now that he had achieved Foundation Establishment, he finally possessed the confidence to stand before Shi Lan.
He said respectfully, "Everything Xiaoliu has today is thanks to the Luotian Association's nurturing! In the future, I will gladly lay down my life to repay this immense debt."
Sima Huiniang waved her hand. "There is no need to lay down your life, but I do have a task that can only be entrusted to you."
Amid his curious gaze, Sima Huiniang produced a letter.
"On behalf of the Luotian Association, make a trip to Ice Fort to seek an audience with Master Jueqing, and deliver this letter into her hands personally."
Xu Xiaoliu took the letter in surprise.
What matter could warrant sending him so far away?
Quickly, the realization dawned on him.
It had to be the various troubles currently confronting the Luotian Association!
Carefully stowing the letter into his storage bag, he said with resolve, "I will see the mission through!"
Sima Huiniang nodded, then produced a flying sword.
"Take this!"
A magic treasure flying sword!
Xu Xiaoliu's eyes instantly lit up.
After Xu Xiaoliu departed, Sima Huiniang rubbed the bridge of her nose, then tapped lightly on the table.
A slender, pretty figure appeared behind her.
"Mingyue, make the arrangements. I want to meet with Luo Feng and Chen Xiuli... In addition, dispatch our merchant caravans immediately to head toward Taishan Market, Snow Lotus Market, Feiyun Market, and the other areas. Carry my letters to visit the Foundation Establishment forces in those regions that do business with us."
...
After meeting with Tao Wan, Luo Chen once more entered seclusion.
The large batch of high-grade Soaring Dragon Pills she delivered resolved his immediate predicament. Furthermore, Sima Huiniang instructed the Luotian Association to scour the black markets for high-grade cultivation pills on his behalf. Not merely rank-two pills—if any rank-three pills were encountered, they were to be purchased regardless of the price!
Three months later.
Inside Cave Abode B-17, Luo Chen closed his attribute panel and solemnly retrieved a medicinal pill from his storage bag.
Pale cyan in color, it bore seven cloud patterns across its surface.
The grading of medicinal pills was most intuitively distinguished by the number of cloud patterns.
One to three patterns denoted rank one.
Four to six denoted rank two.
When the cloud patterns reached seven or more, it was a rank-three pill!
The sect emblem of Azure Pill Valley was nine cloud patterns, signifying their ability to refine rank-three high-grade pills—a testament to their extraordinary renown!
And this rank-three pill in Luo Chen's hand likewise originated from Azure Pill Valley.
The Dragon Transformation Pill!
An elixir used in tandem with the Ice Phoenix Pellet in the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation Core Formation secret technique to charge into the Golden Core realm.
Obtained from the Jueqing lineage!
At this moment, Luo Chen had retrieved this pill not to charge into the Golden Core stage, but rather to squander a grand treasure on a lesser task: using it to break through to late Foundation Establishment.
Had word of this leaked out, jaws would have dropped across the world.
To expend such an exquisite treasure on a minor sub-realm within Foundation Establishment was a reckless waste of heaven's gifts.
"With my current physical constitution, consuming a rank-three pill beyond my realm carries risks, but if successful, the returns will be equally immense."
"Perhaps I can even use this to leap across the prolonged period required to push into late Foundation Establishment in one fell swoop."
"Besides, if Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivators can take this pill to charge into the Golden Core stage, why can't I take it now?"
"In terms of physique and meridian resilience, I am confident I yield nothing to those at Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment!"
Luo Chen opened his mouth and drew a deep breath.
A dragon formed of ambient spiritual energy was instantly drawn into his body.
Faintly, his sleeves billowed and his muscles swelled, making him appear like a titan.
Having made this preparation, Luo Chen cautiously placed the Dragon Transformation Pill into his mouth and swallowed it.
The moment the pill entered his body, a deluge of spiritual energy so vast and immense as to be unimaginable erupted instantly.
His body shuddered violently, and crackling pops boomed through his flesh and bones.
Luo Chen let out a muffled groan, subduing his body's instinctive terror as he exerted every ounce of will to circulate the *Ageless Evergreen Scripture*.
Once, twice, again and again...
The medicinal potency contained within a rank-three pill was genuinely terrifying.
In particular, this was no ordinary rank-three cultivation pill, but a Core Formation elixir crafted specifically to charge into the Golden Core realm.
At this moment, Luo Chen could only rely on his unyielding willpower and a monstrous physique comparable to a primeval demon beast to painstakingly absorb the medicinal potency within.
Within his sea of qi, as if spurred by intense stimulation, spiritual energy churned across the first through sixth heavens. Innumerable droplets of pure, condensed spiritual liquid surged like an ocean, whipping up towering waves that crashed relentlessly.
A tiny vortex spun clockwise at its heart.
When that boundless spiritual energy came surging in like a tidal bore, the vortex spun with frantic intensity.
It not only absorbed the influx of external spiritual energy, but also swept up Luo Chen's own refined spiritual power, expanding the vortex's scale ever wider.
Chapter 403