A few days later.
At the Jia-1 Immortal's Cave.
The once snow-blanketed grounds were now completely transformed, reshaped into a quaint and elegant immortal's cave.
It was tastefully adorned with an array of flowering plants and potted greenery, exuding a vibrant vitality that brought joy to anyone who beheld it.
An elderly man clad in a brocade robe sat within, tossing feed to the schools of swimming fish in the small pond before him.
A hurried set of footsteps approached.
Before long, a young disciple stepped inside and said respectfully, "Elder, Danchenzi requests an audience."
Upon hearing the name, Fei Ming's eyes lit up.
He truly had come!
All his prior gestures of goodwill had not been in vain.
Just as the rumors claimed, this Danchenzi was indeed an astute and discerning figure—quick to grasp the subtle hint and quite adept at navigating the ways of the world!
"Show him in!"
***
Outside the immortal's cave.
Luo Chen stood casually to the side, turning over in his mind the topics they might discuss in their upcoming meeting.
There were certain things the other party wanted that he was not entirely opposed to parting with.
However, it had to come at the right price.
"Fellow Daoist Danchenzi, Elder Fei invites you in!"
"Understood. Thank you for your trouble."
Luo Chen nodded and followed the Mount Ailao disciple into the cave dwelling.
Along the path, the refreshed arrangement of the cave subtly reflected the stark contrast between its new master and its former occupant, Fairy Jueqing.
Fairy Jueqing favored quiet, spending year after year in secluded cultivation.
Though ostensibly overseeing Tianlan Immortal City, she rarely made public appearances, leaving all administrative affairs to her disciples.
Fei Ming, on the other hand, was entirely different.
Ever since his arrival in Tianlan Immortal City, he had been remarkably active.
Not only did he frequently invite nearby Core Formation peers to gatherings and exchanges, but he was also enthusiastic about the city's various miscellaneous affairs.
For example, his willingness to assist in the reconstruction of Danxia was something Fairy Jueqing would never have done.
'People who are keen on power and material gains are actually much easier to deal with.'
'As long as you cater to their preferences, many problems can be easily resolved.'
'With someone capricious like Fairy Jueqing, those of a lower realm always feel immense pressure when interacting with her.'
Many thoughts drifted through Luo Chen's mind.
Soon enough, he met the person he had come to see.
Fei Ming tossed all the remaining feed into the fishpond, clapped his hands, and looked toward Luo Chen with a beaming smile.
"Hasn't my young friend been seizing every moment for bitter cultivation lately? What brings you here to pay an old man a visit?"
Luo Chen cupped his hands in a bow. "Junior has come to express my gratitude to Senior for your help in rebuilding Danxia."
Fei Ming waved a dismissive hand. "You provided the remuneration, and I merely carried out a task for pay. What need is there for thanks?"
A corner of Luo Chen's mouth twitched.
Just listen to those words.
Who would believe that a dignified Core Formation Master would handle matters with such meticulous care purely for the stated payment?
Unprovoked courtesy always hid an ulterior motive.
Wasn't his true aim the remaining Century Thunder Core in Luo Chen's possession?
However, with Haoranzi and Fairy Jueqing having established precedents, Fei Ming could not simply force a buy or sell.
That was why he had made all those friendly overtures.
If Luo Chen failed to respond, he would be seen as lacking tact, giving Fei Ming an excuse to make things difficult for him later.
For a cultivator of a higher realm, there were far too many ways to manipulate someone weaker.
Resorting to martial force?
That was merely the crudest and most inferior method.
A subtle display of goodwill was something you had to accept whether you wanted to or not!
Of course, on the surface, appearances had to be maintained.
After all, Luo Chen still held the status of a Guest Elder of the Ice Fort.
What Luo Chen needed to do now was to provide an honorable way out and take the initiative to offer up the Century Thunder Core!
It sounded somewhat stifling.
Yet handled properly, it would not be without its rewards.
"Senior, you are widely traveled and well-informed. I wonder if you happen to know of two materials: the Seven-Apertures Lotus Root and Origin-Tracing Clay?" Luo Chen asked proactively.
Fei Ming chuckled. "Though the former is a Tier 3 material, it has always been scarce, and I truly know nothing of it. However, as for the latter... could it be that you seek it to craft your natal magic treasure?"
Luo Chen paused in surprise.
"Origin-Tracing Clay can be used to forge natal magic treasures?"
Fei Ming nodded. "Naturally. This Tier 4 material possesses an inherent self-repair property. Take those low-grade magic treasures you use nowadays; in truth, they are quite inferior. A slightly stronger attack can easily damage them beyond repair."
Luo Chen agreed wholeheartedly.
Presently, low-grade magic treasures were widespread throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain. While it could not be said that every Foundation Establishment True Cultivator possessed one, anyone with modest wealth could save up for a while and purchase one or two.
Yet the shortcomings of those treasures were obvious.
They were arduous to refine, slow to unleash lethal strikes, and made of mediocre materials that were easily damaged.
That was precisely why damaged magic treasures appeared so frequently.
"If a Core Formation cultivator's natal magic treasure incorporates Origin-Tracing Clay, it needs only minor mending after suffering damage to be restored to its original state."
"A rare treasure like this holds a value no less than that of your Thunder Core!" Fei Ming said with pointed significance.
Luo Chen nodded with apparent compliance.
Internally, however, he scoffed.
One merely possessed a simple memory function and still required additional materials for repairs after being damaged.
The other could influence the Heavenly Tribulation of the Nascent Soul realm.
How could their values be mentioned in the same breath?
Moreover, the Thunder Core in his hands was not a ten-year variant, but a century-old one!
Did this man truly take him for a fool?
Perhaps realizing that his words were somewhat disingenuous, Fei Ming added a qualifying remark:
"Of course, it would take a sizable amount of Origin-Tracing Clay to match the worth of a single Thunder Core."
"A pity that I have only a few jin of Origin-Tracing Clay left in my possession."
A few jin!
Luo Chen's eyes brightened. To reattach his sister-in-law's severed limb, a mere two liang of Origin-Tracing Clay was required.
This quantity was far more than enough!
"I wonder if Senior might part with some of your treasured hoard?"
Fei Ming looked at him with a faint smile. "It is not a matter of reluctance to part with it, but rather what you intend to offer in exchange."
"What if I offered a Century Thunder Core?" Luo Chen blurted out.
A surge of joy rose in Fei Ming's heart. Tactful indeed!
He was inclined to agree on the spot.
However, if such an unequal trade came to the ears of Fairy Jueqing and Haoranzi and spread outward, people would surely mock him for bullying the weak and using his standing to exploit a junior.
Suppressing his excitement, Fei Ming smiled and asked, "In that case, wouldn't I be taking too great an advantage of you? Are you truly willing?"
"There is nothing to be unwilling about," Luo Chen replied candidly. "As long as Senior looks after my Luotian Association during your time in Tianlan, it will be more than enough."
Just that simple?
Fei Ming could barely conceal the broad grin on his face.
Looking after a faction formed by loose cultivators was something that required nothing more than a passing word or a subtle show of favor from him.
He wanted to finalize the trade immediately, but after a moment's thought, he added, "Are you certain you have no other requests?"
Luo Chen had originally intended to leave it at that, but catching sight of the man's expression, his thoughts shifted.
The man genuinely wished to leave no handle for others to grasp.
He wanted to reap the benefits while maintaining an air of noble benevolence.
Since that was the case, why should Luo Chen be polite?
He immediately said, "Senior must know that I exchanged merit points for an inferior-tier Core Formation secret technique from your esteemed sect."
"Ah, yes, Escaping the Cage! That secret technique was acquired by chance when a junior of our sect traveled to another domain." Fei Ming paused, looking at Luo Chen with a genial chuckle. "Do you wish to learn more about this Core Formation secret technique?"
He spoke casually, seemingly holding little regard for the technique.
Luo Chen, however, would not overlook any method that could aid in Core Formation.
"I humbly ask Senior for some guidance!"
"I wouldn't call it guidance, merely some experience and insight." Fei Ming waved his hand, his gaze settling upon Luo Chen with an expression of open appreciation. "Speaking frankly, this secret technique is actually magnificent for someone like you!"
Magnificent?
Luo Chen was taken aback.
Following the elder's gaze, Luo Chen looked down at his own body.
Faintly, he realized what the elder meant.
While he was still turning it over in surprise, Fei Ming's measured advice reached his ears.
"A cage—what constitutes the cage? The body itself is the cage."
"How does one escape it?"
"By escaping through the golden core!"
"The stronger the body, the stronger the cage, and the stronger the golden core that can be condensed, ensuring it is not merely a rudimentary seed."
"With your physical constitution, using this method would yield an effect no lesser than that of a medium-tier Core Formation secret technique."
"Of course, this also requires the catalytic aid of suitable external items; otherwise, relying on one's own power alone cannot condense a golden core potent enough to breach the cage. As for what those external items might be, one must naturally speak of various Core Formation spiritual medicines..."
***
Several days had passed since Luo Chen returned from Fei Ming's residence.
He had traded one of his scarce Century Thunder Cores to the elder on the spot.
Fei Ming, naturally, was all smiles, thoroughly pleased.
In the elder's view, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator possessing a single core was already plenty; keeping extra would only invite trouble by clutching a treasure beyond his station.
Fei Ming had shown goodwill multiple times, provided assistance, handed over the Tier 4 material Origin-Tracing Clay, and imparted valuable insights regarding Core Formation.
Trading all of that for a Century Thunder Core gave Luo Chen more than enough face.
Naturally, Luo Chen did not feel he had lost out either.
A Century Thunder Core was indeed exceptional, but he had no use for it at present, and he had a plentiful reserve of Thousand-Year Thunder Cores waiting for him in the future.
Trading it away for resources he could currently put to use was far more sensible.
Besides, hadn't he also gained the goodwill of a Core Formation Master?
Over the past few days following his return, Luo Chen spent his spare time studying the Escaping the Cage secret technique alongside his regular cultivation.
Integrating it with Fei Ming's explanations deepened his comprehension day by day.
Unlike Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, which followed the path of harmonizing fire and water, this technique condensed a golden core seed under the violent impact of surging spiritual energy.
First and foremost, it required a Core Formation spiritual medicine brimming with immense spiritual energy.
Fei Ming had suggested three possibilities: the Cauldron Aspiration Pill, a secret medicine of the local Jade Cauldron Sword Sect; the Evergreen Pill, a specialty of the Medicine King Sect; and the Dark Sea Pill of the Mingyuan Sect.
Any of the three could satisfy the requirement.
Next, the cultivator required a physique capable of withstanding the tremendous impact of that massive spiritual energy.
Otherwise, before the golden core seed could even coalesce, the cage would shatter, making any talk of 'escaping the cage' entirely moot.
No wonder Fei Ming had remarked that Escaping the Cage suited Luo Chen so well.
The elder had witnessed Luo Chen's terrifying physique firsthand on the Danxia battlefield, where he had withstood a direct blow from Qin Tairan without dying.
Luo Chen's body was naturally a rugged, formidable cage!
As for the final condition, it was an absolute prerequisite shared by all Core Formation secret techniques.
An intact soul!
Whether it was exceptionally powerful was secondary; at the very least, it could harbor no defects.
Otherwise, even if the core formed successfully, one could still fall short at the very final step.
'This technique truly aligns well with me.'
'However, its success rate is relatively low. Like other inferior-tier methods, it offers only a ten percent boost. Who knows whether sifting through the sands will actually yield any gold?'
'Moreover, I don't possess any of the corresponding Core Formation spiritual medicines.'
The medicinal potency of Azure Pill Valley's Dragon Transformation Pill was still too weak.
Luo Chen had taken one previously to break through to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment.
Yet that was its limit.
If paired with the Ice Fort's Ice Phoenix Pellet, its potency might be stronger, but even then, the enhancement remained limited.
'The Sword Sect's Cauldron Aspiration Pill, the Medicine King Sect's Evergreen Pill, and the Mingyuan Sect's Dark Sea Pill...'
Luo Chen's eyes flickered as he made up his mind.
He would first have the Luotian Association keep an eye out and collect them.
If he could gather some of them, then when he reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, should all other paths fail, using this technique to attempt Core Formation would still be a viable option.
'Counting them up, of the four Core Formation secret techniques in my hands, Chu Kui is testing Locking the Pearl Curtain; for Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, I can procure the required Dragon Transformation Pills through Azure Pill Valley; and now my understanding of Escaping the Cage is deepening.'
'In terms of preparations for Core Formation, I should be ahead of most Foundation Establishment True Cultivators!'
Of his four secret techniques, three were currently being refined, tested, or prepared.
He was still at least several decades away from reaching Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
By the time his cultivation reached its peak, the testing of these techniques would likely be nearly complete.
When that moment arrived, Luo Chen could select the most suitable method without hindrance and make a seamless push toward the Core Formation realm!
Planning ahead in all things had always been his habit.
It had been the same back when he was preparing for Foundation Establishment.
At the eighth and ninth layers of Qi Refinement, he had already coordinated with Tianxingzi to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill, and had even prepared the Emperor Flowing Liquid as a backup plan.
Now, Core Formation was vastly more important and treacherous.
Naturally, his preparations had to be even more thorough.
And those were only the overarching strategies.
On a smaller scale, he was continually making calculations as well.
***
Two months later.
Inside the pill room.
Luo Chen gazed at the red, agate-like pill resting in his hand, a look of excitement gracing his face!
The Blood Augmenting Pill was a success!
Over the past two years, he had been cultivating continuously in Haoranzi's cave dwelling.
The pseudo-Tier 3 spirit ground had allowed his cultivation speed to advance by leaps and bounds.
He was now not far from the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment!
Yet amidst this pleasing progress, a hidden concern remained.
Once Haoranzi returned, he would inevitably be unable to continue borrowing this Tier 3 cave dwelling.
When that happened, he would have to return to his previous superior-grade Tier 2 cave dwelling.
If that were the only issue, it would be manageable.
A Tier 2 cave dwelling, supplemented with pills, still offered a considerable cultivation speed.
Spending a century or so would eventually see him through to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.
Unfortunately, he had hit a bottleneck regarding pills.
Superior-grade Soaring Dragon Pills had triggered medicinal resistance within him, rendering them useless!
Currently, the superior-grade Soaring Dragon Pills that Tao Wan regularly delivered were being sold at cost to Chu Kui, Min Longyu, and others in the Luotian Association.
Under these circumstances, once Luo Chen vacated the Tier 3 cave dwelling, his cultivation speed would not only plummet, but it might not even reach half of what it once was!
In other words, reaching Great Perfection might take more than two centuries rather than just over a hundred years.
Luo Chen naturally could not accept such an outcome.
Therefore, he had been tirelessly searching for a new Tier 2 pill capable of serving as a direct substitute for the superior-grade Soaring Dragon Pill.
In terms of pill recipes, he had amassed quite a collection over the years.
In particular, he had salvaged a scattered assortment of recipes from the spoils gathered on the Mount Thunder Accumulation battlefield.
From Tier 1 to Tier 3, incomplete and complete, unorthodox and orthodox—they were a jumbled assortment lacking any unified system.
Through continuous screening and study, Luo Chen finally identified a set of pills that was likely the best fit for him.
Taking into account medicinal efficacy, difficulty of concoction, ease of procuring materials, and cost-effectiveness, it was undeniably the optimal combination!
Indeed, not a single pill, but a set.
'The Dust Reduction Pill!'
'It originated from the pill concoction tournament of Azure Pill Valley, a new recipe released by the Grand Alchemy Court. It is exceptionally simple to concoct, costs very little, and the required ingredients are easy to collect. Its sole drawback lies in the principle it follows: tracing back to the source and refining essence into qi.'
'With my Tier 3 Primeval physique, the flesh-and-blood essence I could refine would be more than enough to push me to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.'
Of course, only a fool would engage in such self-destructive behavior.
Luo Chen would never dismantle the Tier 3 Primeval physique he had forged through countless brushes with death.
It was one of his greatest trump cards!
However, he had an alternative method to replenish his flesh-and-blood essence.
The Blood Augmenting Pill!
This recipe had been acquired from a minor alchemy faction known as the Danyuan Sect.
Its sect master, Dan Yuanzi, had built his reputation as a renowned Tier 2 alchemist in Tianlan Immortal City precisely by concocting this Tier 2 pill.
Yet after securing the title of Tier 2 alchemist, he had basically ceased concocting the Blood Augmenting Pill.
The reason was simple.
The primary materials required to refine it were far too sensitive:
The blood of a Tier 2 demon beast Blood Leech, Rainbow Wood sap, and... cultivator essence blood!
When Luo Chen had first obtained this recipe, he had given it a clear assessment:
'A demonic pill akin to the Blood Fiend Pill!'
Any pill recipe that involved the essence blood of human cultivators could be classified as wicked and unorthodox.
In the past, Luo Chen naturally would not have entertained thoughts of using this recipe.
Yet, as luck would have it, he was currently sitting on a massive hoard of cultivator essence blood.
What was more, it was the staggering essence blood of Foundation Establishment True Cultivators!
Putting aside whether using it was unconscionable or a descent into demonic ways, allowing it to sit idle was an absolute waste of precious resources.
In truth, Luo Chen harbored no rigid convictions regarding the orthodox versus demonic divide.
In his eyes, so long as it did not invite fatal peril, all resources were divided simply into two categories: useful and useless.
Since he had both the recipe and the core materials, why shouldn't he make use of them?
The Blood Augmenting Pill, as its name suggested, could vastly augment a cultivator's vital energy and blood.
'I will first consume the Blood Augmenting Pill to enhance my vital energy and blood, and then take the Dust Reduction Pill to refine essence into qi, converting it into spiritual power.'
'Though it is somewhat cumbersome, it is undeniably a viable method to advance my cultivation.'
'Furthermore, while the base effects of these two pills are ordinary, once crafted by my own hands, their quality will certainly reach superior or even peerless grade.'
'Peerless-grade pills!'
'Their medicinal potency will never fall short. Surpassing a superior-grade Soaring Dragon Pill is well within reach, especially with the combined effect of both pills!'
Joy filled Luo Chen's eyes.
After all these years, he could finally concoct cultivation pills for his own consumption.
In the past, the Jade Marrow Pills he crafted had indeed been orthodox cultivation pills, but their potency was truly mediocre—inferior even to the higher-grade Qi Nourishing Pills purchased from outside.
It was almost laughable.
Danchenzi, a master alchemist celebrated across the Jade Cauldron Domain, had been unable to use the cultivation pills he concocted and had to buy them from others.
No one would believe it if told.
Yet that was the reality.
In the cultivation world, orthodox cultivation pills were monopolized by major sects, especially controlled by the prominent alchemy sects.
Even a Nascent Soul overlord like the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect could manage only self-sufficiency.
Only now had Luo Chen finally reached this stage.
Even so, he was barely able to pull it off thanks to his immense savings and the unintended groundwork laid by Xuan Yu.
Once that pot of Foundation Establishment essence blood was exhausted, this set of cultivation pills would likely have to be sealed away.
After all, Luo Chen was no bloodthirsty slaughterer.
He could not bring himself to engage in demonic practices like Xuan Yu and Wang Yuan, murdering people solely to harvest their blood.
'Still, this essence blood should be enough to support my cultivation all the way to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.'
Luo Chen made a rough estimate and arrived at a general figure.
In fact, he suspected there would be quite a surplus.
When that time came, the excess could simply be given to Wang Yuan!
Wang Yuan walked the path of vital energy and blood transformation within body refinement; to him, the effects of the Blood Augmenting Pill would be no less potent than a Blood Fiend Pill.
The Dust Reduction Pill and the Blood Augmenting Pill.
Luo Chen had already grasped the basics of both.
All that remained was to grind his proficiency and elevate their grades.
With the pseudo-Tier 3 spirit ground currently available to him, there was no rush to consume them.
Once Haoranzi returned, Luo Chen would relocate back to his original Tier 2 cave dwelling.
By then, with the proficiency of both pills maxed out, they would serve perfectly to offset the dip in his cultivation speed.
In just two short months, Luo Chen had fully charted out his future cultivation path.
While he was steadily cultivating and grinding his pill concoction proficiency, an esteemed guest arrived at the Luotian Association!
***
"Is this Danxia's Luotian?"
Outside the bustling Biyou Valley Market, a group of more than a dozen cultivators stood gazing forward.
The leader looked up at Danxia Peak, cloaked in mist and iridescent clouds. Palaces stood in orderly rows with pavilions nestled among them, while soaring birds and spiritual eagles circled the skies from time to time—a magnificent display of immortal grandeur.
"Small though the sparrow may be, it possesses all the vital organs. It seems Danxia Peak was built under the guidance of an expert to possess such magnificent grandeur!"
As he spoke, the dozen or so cultivators beside him nodded in agreement.
Even though a few bore disdain in their eyes, none dared utter a mocking word while this man was speaking.
A young man beside him said with a trace of excitement, "Senior Brother Han, this is my first time visiting the Luotian Association as well. To think it truly matches what my father wrote in his letters—the Luotian Association is quite extraordinary!"
Senior Brother Han looked at him with a warm smile and said measuredly:
"Disciples of the superior sects are permitted to travel to other domains once they reach Foundation Establishment."
"However, our Luoyun Sect is currently in an eventful period, so you may not leave the Jade Cauldron Domain. You can only travel within the domain to broaden your horizons."
"Junior Brother Qin, it has been nearly thirty years since you entered the sect. You progressed all the way from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, and apart from participating in the battles at Mount Thunder Accumulation, you have barely stepped outside."
"Leaving the sect on this journey is a fine opportunity to reunite with your kin and ease your longing for your family."
Having weathered the brutality of the battlefield and brushed past life and death, Qin Yuanjiang had matured considerably.
Yet with the family he had not seen in years just ahead, his heart could not help but surge with excitement.
"I must thank Senior Brother for making this possible, bringing me to the Luotian Association as our first stop."
Senior Brother Han smiled and waved his hand.
Turning back to the dozen-odd fellow disciples behind them, he said:
"This trip is for Junior Brother Qin to visit his family, so there is no need for all of you to follow. Moving in such force would only cause unease for our hosts."
"Those who wish to explore the market may do so at leisure. Those who wish to stroll through Tianlan Immortal City may travel in groups. As for our meeting point, let us gather at the shop our sect maintains in the immortal city."
"Everyone, please suit yourselves!"
Hearing this, the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Luoyun Sect nodded in agreement.
An ordinary loose cultivator faction usually boasted at most a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Their group alone numbered more than ten True Cultivators.
If all of them showed up at the doorstep together, they might very well frighten the inhabitants.
Furthermore, having grown up amidst the famous mountains and grand rivers of the Luoyun Sect, a mere Danxia Peak—no matter how well-constructed—held nothing particularly remarkable in their eyes.
Once the crowd had dispersed, Senior Brother Han asked with a smile, "Junior Brother Qin, are you not heading up the mountain?"
Qin Yuanjiang nodded repeatedly.
Yet just as he took a step forward, he halted in puzzlement.
"Senior Brother Han Zheng, are you coming with me?"
Han Zheng smiled faintly.
"Let us go together!"
"I too would like to meet that Danchenzi whose name echoes across the Jade Cauldron Domain, the Ice Fort elder who slew a Core Formation cultivator of the Yan Alliance above his realm, and the Fire Spirit Lord of Luotian who dispatched multiple peers in the blink of an eye."
Chapter 416