A gentle breeze drifted as wisps of white clouds floated by.
A flying boat cut across the sky, setting out from Tianlan Immortal City and speeding toward Azure Pill Valley.
Crossing the vast thousand-li Bamboo Sea and flying past Azure Pill Market, peaks of varying heights came into view.
Clad in white robes, Luo Chen stood upon the flying boat, letting the passing wind buffet his face and set his white robes and black hair flapping.
Looking down at the ruined, shattered hills below, his confidence grew a little firmer.
Especially when he reached the outskirts of Azure Pill Valley and saw that Mount Yuanhua, a place etched deep into his memory, had now been reduced by half, he felt entirely assured.
Mount Yuanhua—the gateway to Azure Pill Valley!
Not only was it a confluence of Tier 3 spirit veins, but it was also a pivotal peak in the Five Peaks Shrouding the Valley layout.
Yet now!
The three-thousand-zhang peak had been cleaved right through its waist by a single sword strike.
The mountainside had become the summit.
Across the diagonal sheared surface, the rock was as smooth as a mirror.
Upon it, a terrifyingly dreadful residue of sword qi still lingered.
One could imagine just how stunning and brilliant Master Yaoguang's strike had been!
Luo Chen even doubted whether that was the work of a Golden Core Master at all.
Golden Core Masters were capable of shattering mountains and sundering rivers. Even Luo Chen himself had the confidence to forcefully demolish a thousand-zhang mountain with his physical body alone.
Yet all of that was predicated on the target being unowned and undefended.
An essential location like Mount Yuanhua would undoubtedly be cloaked in a grand array and guarded by Golden Core cultivators of equivalent rank.
How could an ordinary Golden Core strike have sheared through it so easily?
The only explanation was that Master Yaoguang, at late Golden Core, had employed a measure bestowed by Perfected Jade Cauldron of the Sword Sect.
Otherwise, given Azure Pill Valley's prepared defenses, so long as Perfected Jade Cauldron did not personally intervene, they could have held out for decades even if the entire Sword Sect had mobilized.
"Who goes there?"
As Luo Chen observed the scene, cultivators of Azure Pill Valley had already come up to meet him, calling out from afar.
Luo Chen retrieved a token and tossed it over.
"Luo Chen, enshrined retainer of the Tao clan!"
Catching the token, the man examined Luo Chen with dubious eyes.
But suddenly, something clicked in his memory.
Moving closer, he asked hesitantly, "Could you be Senior Danchenzi?"
Luo Chen nodded slightly. "Indeed I am."
Once his identity was confirmed, the cultivator's expression became more respectful.
"Has Senior come to visit the Tao clan? If so, circling south for a brief moment will bring you to Mount Xiaonan, where the Tao clan resides."
Luo Chen smiled and waved his hand. "That is not why I am here. I wish to request an audience with your sect's Dao Child, Fellow Daoist Tao Wan. I wonder if she is available at the moment?"
An audience with Dao Child Tao Wan?
The disciple froze.
Though Tao Wan hailed from the Tao clan, her primary station at present was the Dao Child of Azure Pill Valley.
Since Luo Chen had addressed her by that title, his purpose in seeking her likely had nothing to do with the Tao clan, but rather Azure Pill Valley itself.
He hesitated, then said, "This junior's standing is humble, so I cannot say whether the Dao Child is currently free. I must ask Senior to wait a moment while I report your arrival."
"Naturally!"
Luo Chen smiled faintly.
Led by the disciple, he descended from the sky toward the foot of Longshou Peak.
"My apologies. Guests are usually received at Mount Yuanhua's Guest Reception Hall. But as that area is undergoing repairs, we had to temporarily move things to Longshou Peak."
"No matter. I take no offense at such things."
The disciple promptly arranged for tea and refreshments to be brought to Luo Chen before leaving Longshou Peak and flying toward Qingyun Peak, residence of the sect master and the Dao Child.
Once he departed, Luo Chen's thoughts stirred.
Walking out of the hall, he gazed into the distance.
With his keen eyesight, he could take in every detail of the scenery dozens of li away.
On Mount Yuanhua, countless Azure Pill Valley cultivators bustled about hauling materials and repairing foundations.
Even powerful Foundation Establishment True Cultivators were personally carting hewn boulders to fill the gaps on Mount Yuanhua.
Though they worked with frantic energy, an unmistakable panic showed on many of their faces.
Though Luo Chen had not been present at the time, intelligence reports had told him what they had endured.
That breathtaking sword strike had cleaved not only Mount Yuanhua, but also the pride Azure Pill Valley's disciples had nurtured for hundreds of years.
What if they were members of a great sect? Their foe was a Nascent Soul superior sect!
By comparison, no matter how filthy rich Azure Pill Valley was in normal times, once the other side set their mind to it, they were nothing more than a sheep waiting for slaughter.
Under such circumstances, once that veneer of arrogance was stripped away, the formerly haughty Azure Pill Valley disciples became even more panicked and bewildered than rogue cultivators.
Watching these unsettled cultivators, Luo Chen made some calculations in his heart.
Even during the Luotian Association's most difficult hours, someone had always stepped forward to steady the minds of those below.
Yet now, the low-tier cultivators of Azure Pill Valley were this lost and disoriented.
Clearly, the higher-ups had no attention to spare for them.
In other words, a far greater conflict was brewing within.
It seemed he had arrived at just the right time.
With a shift in thought, he turned his head and looked up toward the heights of Longshou Peak.
Only after a long while did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
Just moments ago, a divine sense had swept over him without much concealment—more like an observation and a warning.
Luo Chen pondered this.
Longshou Peak was where Azure Pill Valley's fiercest combatants resided.
Choosing not to host guests at Mount Yuanhua could be excused by the ongoing repairs.
Yet even so, they ought to have arranged it on Qingyun Peak, which handled most general affairs.
Instead, they had placed him on Longshou Peak, packed with battle cultivators.
This was not directed at Luo Chen alone, but at every outside guest who had visited Azure Pill Valley recently.
"Azure Pill Valley right now is just like a bird frightened by the twang of a bow!"
Unwittingly, the corners of Luo Chen's lips curved upward slightly.
***
Qingyun Peak, Qingyun Hall.
Aside from a few in seclusion, every Golden Core Master of Azure Pill Valley was gathered together in one hall.
The masters of the five peaks—Qingdanzi, Qingyunzi, Master Longshou, Master Baisu, and Master Yuanzhen—each occupied a seat of honor.
Beside them sat Master Chiding, Master Xingyun, Longquan, and the rest of the sect's Golden Core cultivators.
The sole Foundation Establishment cultivator present was none other than Azure Pill's Dao Child, Tao Wan.
She stood respectfully behind Sect Master Qingyunzi. Though her expression remained composed as she listened to the elders bicker across the hall, annoyance churned within her.
Bicker, bicker, bicker!
Ever since the Sword Sect had besieged the mountain, these seniors had argued endlessly.
Even now, they had failed to reach any consensus.
Some proposed handing over the Nascent Soul Dan recipe, but Qingdanzi rejected this on the grounds of their alliance covenants with the Falling Cloud Sect.
Some suggested asking the Falling Cloud Sect to intervene, but Sect Master Qingyunzi stated bluntly that the current situation was delicate; throwing themselves fully behind the Falling Cloud Sect was exceedingly likely to provoke the Sword Sect into marching upon their gates once more.
When someone brought up the sect's vassals—how their loyalties wavered and restless ambitions stirred—Master Longshou barked, "Would they dare?"
Others suggested invoking their five-hundred-year covenant to demand an explanation from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Yet among all the Golden Cores in the hall, not a single one dared set foot on Mount Yuhuang.
Only the proposal to repair Mount Yuanhua and restore the Five Peaks Shrouding the Valley formation met with unanimous approval.
Yet the terrifying sword intent lingering on Mount Yuanhua had become a massive obstacle to repairing the spirit mountain.
Unless they could enlist a Nascent Soul True Cultivator of comparable standing, they would have no way to purge that dreadful intent within a hundred years.
In that case, Five Peaks Shrouding the Valley could never be restored within a century.
And a hundred years later, with Inner Pill Valley's layout locked in place, it would likely never advance to a Tier 4 spirit ground.
Just as Tao Wan felt irritation mounting, her mind stirred.
A piece of jade fell into her palm, glowing faintly.
"Sect Master Martial Uncle, someone outside seeks me on an urgent matter."
Qingyunzi glanced at her and gave an indifferent nod.
Tiptoeing softly, Tao Wan slipped out the back of Qingyun Hall.
Once outside the Sect Master's hall, feeling the mountain breeze, she let out a long breath.
No matter how numerous or hectic her daily duties were, she had never felt like this before.
Indecisive, looking forward and backward with fear.
The entire sect was like a donkey without reins, having no idea where to go.
Though it kept turning in circles on the spot, in truth it accomplished nothing at all.
This feeling... was infuriating!
Shaking her head, she activated the jade piece.
"Dao Child, Senior Danchenzi has an urgent matter to discuss with you. This disciple has arranged for him to wait at the Guest Reception Hall at the foot of Longshou Peak."
Tao Wan's brows furrowed. "Luo Chen?"
What was he coming to see her for at a time like this?
Shouldn't he be staying in Tianlan Immortal City, properly putting his Luotian Association in order?
Thinking of the Luotian Association, Tao Wan actually felt a bit envious of Luo Chen.
Though it was only a minor power, small organizations had small perks!
As its founder, Luo Chen had absolute say.
Whatever he wanted done, was done.
Unlike Azure Pill Valley, where a massive establishment came with endless constraints.
She was the grand Dao Child, basking in glory before others, yet behind the scenes she worked like a beast of burden, slaving away without rest.
"Had I known, I would never have fought for this damned Dao Child title."
"Tired as an ox or a horse, nowhere near as carefree as Eldest Senior Brother."
With a self-deprecating chuckle, she rode a cloud down the mountain, heading straight for Longshou Peak.
***
Before long, she arrived at her destination.
Before even entering the hall, she called out with a clear laugh, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I trust you have been well since we last met!"
As she stepped inside, Luo Chen looked at her with a genial smile.
"I am safe and sound, but I wonder whether Fellow Daoist Tao's seat as Dao Child remains secure."
Her smile gradually faded.
Tao Wan regarded him coldly. "What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?"
Luo Chen likewise put away his smile, his expression turning solemn.
"It is not what I mean, but that calamity hangs over Azure Pill Valley. When the nest is overturned, can any egg remain unbroken? As Azure Pill Valley's Dao Child, could you possibly remain unscathed?"
"Alarmist nonsense!"
"If I were merely being alarmist, why did you all make preparations beforehand?"
"Those preparations were made against the Falling Cloud Sect, and the Falling Cloud Sect hasn't targeted our Azure Pill Valley."
"Heh, is there any difference between the Falling Cloud Sect making a move and the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect making a move?" Luo Chen's gaze sharpened. "It is nothing more than the stratagem of borrowing a knife to kill!"
The woman froze.
A surge of turbulent emotion churned in her chest, keeping her unsettled for a long time.
Borrowing a knife to kill!
For days on end, Qingyun Hall had echoed with relentless disputes over the past and the future.
Certain arguments, when framed by these words—"borrowing a knife to kill"—suddenly found an underlying pillar, making everything fall neatly into place.
The Falling Cloud Sect had sparked this war relying on more than just Han Zhan's advancement to the Nascent Soul stage.
A newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator and a Golden Core major sect—on what basis would they dare challenge the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, which had reigned supreme over the Jade Cauldron Domain for three hundred years?
What they relied on was Tianfan City fanning the flames from behind!
A Nascent Soul superior sect that possessed three Nascent Soul Perfected Cultivators, hundreds of Golden Cores, tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment disciples, and reigned supreme over an entire domain!
Tianfan City was an Eastern Desolation sect famed for its artifact forging.
Not only did they frequently forge natal magic treasures for Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators of other domains, but the artifacts and magic treasures developed and forged by their disciples were bestsellers across all thirty-six domains of the Eastern Desolation.
Before Tianfan City, there was no division of enemies—only those who bought their artifacts and those who did not.
If they truly had enemies, it would be sects that were similarly renowned for artifact forging.
Why would the Falling Cloud Sect, out of nowhere, choose not to explore the Deity Transformation ruins or attack the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, but instead launch an abrupt assault on the Yan Alliance, famed for its forging?
In all likelihood, Tianfan City's wishes were behind this.
And according to Luo Chen's speculations from two years ago, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect harbored intentions of purging the major sects of the Jade Cauldron Domain as well.
That explained why, when the Yan Alliance came under attack, the Sword Sect could have saved them but didn't, instead staging that half-hearted "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" diversion.
The Sword Sect was also borrowing a knife to kill!
Looking at it from another angle: could the Sword Sect's intimidation of Azure Pill Valley be viewed as the Falling Cloud Sect using the Sword Sect's hands to seize Inner Pill Valley, a spiritual land with the potential to reach a Tier 4 spirit vein?
Still, that didn't fully add up either.
If the Falling Cloud Sect used the Sword Sect's hand to claim Inner Pill Valley, why would the Sword Sect cleave Mount Yuanhua and ruin Inner Pill Valley's spirit-vein advancement layout?
Burning bridges?
Going back on their word?
A change of plans mid-stride?
And what of the future? Caught between two superior sects, how was Azure Pill Valley supposed to survive?
Looking at the bewildered Tao Wan, Luo Chen had no idea just how many wild associations his few simple words had stirred in her mind.
Once she came back to her senses slightly, he continued to speak with calm confidence.
"As for Azure Pill Valley's current situation: though an ally of the Falling Cloud Sect, it is merely an entanglement of interests without any firm foundation, more akin to bargaining with a tiger for its skin.
"I do not know whether the rumors of your sect possessing a Nascent Soul Dan recipe are true. But I know this: a mere Jade Cauldron Domain can never accommodate a third Nascent Soul superior sect!
"Today they shattered Yuanhua and ruined Inner Pill Valley's chance of advancement; tomorrow they will plot for the Nascent Soul Dan recipe and sever your path ahead. And one day, both superior sects will pounce directly upon Azure Pill Valley to gorge upon your flesh and drink your blood!
"Dao Child Tao, when I say disaster is at Azure Pill Valley's doorstep, am I mistaken?"
Tao Wan opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
For a moment, she couldn't find a single argument to refute Luo Chen.
Though the Jade Cauldron Domain was vast, that held true only for Foundation Establishment and Golden Core sects.
When it came to the realm of Nascent Soul superior sects, it was simply too small.
Surveying the thirty-six domains of the Eastern Desolation, which of the powers like Tianfan City or the Medicine King Sect did not dominate an entire domain of their own?
Even then, those superior sects felt their territory was insufficient, extending their tentacles into other great domains.
The Spirit Herb Pavilions, Divine Talisman Pavilions, and Wanbao Towers spread throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain today were all properties of external superior sects.
Even after over twenty years of the Jade Cauldron Civil War, they still thrived, living even more comfortably than before.
Under such conditions, how could the Jade Cauldron Domain ever tolerate a third Nascent Soul sect?
The Supreme Elders were ordinarily so wise; why couldn't they see through something so plain and simple?
Tao Wan smiled bitterly.
Yet she did not know that with the opportunity for Nascent Soul before them and dwindling lifespans pressing from behind, Qingdanzi and the others had no attention to spare for such matters.
Only achieving Nascent Soul mattered to them.
Shaking her head, Tao Wan gave Luo Chen a bitter smile.
"Fellow Daoist's analysis is penetrating indeed. Do you have a strategy to save our sect that you can teach me?"
Luo Chen chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I am merely a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator. In terms of breadth of vision or cultivation realm, I fall far short of great sects like yours. What means could I possess to save Azure Pill Valley? Fellow Daoist, you overestimate me."
Anger flared across Tao Wan's face.
You have no solutions whatsoever, yet you came here spouting all this grand talk?
What was the deal? Did you come just to laugh at our misfortune?!
Yet beneath her fury, as she stared intently at Luo Chen, she glimpsed the calm composure deep in his eyes.
Tao Wan took a deep breath and curtsied gracefully to Luo Chen.
"From what Wanwan has seen of you, Fellow Daoist never acts without certainty. Since you have come today, you surely already have a plan in mind.
"Why must we beat around the bush?
"Speak plainly, I pray you!"
Luo Chen glanced at her in slight surprise, pursing his lips.
He had intended to keep speaking in circles to exert even more pressure and coax her into aiding his goals.
But now that she had humbled herself, bringing out further posturing would only cause resentment.
He paused, then spoke candidly:
"Very well. You and I can be considered friends; dancing around the issue serves no purpose.
"I have three strategies—superior, middling, and inferior—that may perhaps resolve your noble sect's current predicament."
Three strategies—superior, middling, and inferior?!
You thick-browed fellow, and you just claimed your vision wasn't broad enough! Are you having fun at my expense?!
Not knowing whether to be angry or delighted, Tao Wan curtsied once more to Luo Chen.
"Then please, Fellow Daoist, enlighten me!"
Chapter 422