Several days later, a large flying boat landed unhurriedly upon Danxia Peak.
This journey to congratulate Ice Fort's Dao Child on her advancement to the Golden Core stage had carried a wealth of gifts. On the return trip, it had brought back many of Ice Fort's local specialties in kind.
Watching the abundance of Ice Fort's specialty resources being unloaded from the vessel, everyone knew that the Luotian Association's ties with Ice Fort had grown even tighter.
Other vassals of Ice Fort enjoyed no such treatment. When giving gifts, one simply delivered them—there was never any expectation of return gifts.
Thanks to Gu Caiyi's ostentatious display, the factions around Tianlan grew increasingly respectful of and friendly toward the Luotian Association.
In truth, even without such fanfare, the Luotian Association's standing on this patch of turf in Tianlan Immortal City was already extraordinarily solid.
Within the Luotian Main Hall, the leadership was actively reporting on the association's affairs in recent years, as well as the changes in Tianlan's surroundings.
"The Yan Alliance's vassal factions have either surrendered to other sects or been steadily eradicated. Today, not a single remnant of the Yan Alliance remains in Tianlan Immortal City."
"Strangely enough, aside from the Sword Pavilion, all of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's other assets have left Tianlan Immortal City. Even some of their affiliated clans are relocating."
"Now, the main powers here in Tianlan are concentrated within what was once the Four-Sect Alliance, mostly comprised of various vassals."
"The Yan Alliance's former home, Fenxiang Valley, lies nearly desolate after that great battle. However, two Golden Core masters from other domains have joined forces to establish a faction called Fengyu Manor. This new power has yet to be recognized by the Six Jade Cauldron Sects, yet no one has moved to disrupt them either. That, too, is rather strange."
...
"Our Luotian Association has received courtesy from several sects. Not only have we leased all four first-rank spirit grounds around Danxia Peak, but we also obtained operational rights over the Thousand-Li Bamboo Sea!"
"The Thousand-Li Bamboo Sea has long been a contested territory. In name, it belonged to the former Seven Jade Cauldron Sects, but originally it was Azure Pill Valley's land. After years of dispute, it was left largely overgrown, which ended up benefiting rogue cultivators instead."
"This time, the Falling Cloud Sect stepped forward and united with other sects to reach a consensus with Azure Pill Valley."
"Going forward, our Luotian Association will manage the Thousand-Li Bamboo Sea. The profits will be split three ways: one share paid to Tianlan, one to Azure Pill Valley, and the final share kept for ourselves."
"It might sound like a raw deal at first glance, but we've run the numbers—it is definitely profitable! What's more, it can provide plenty of employment for the Qi Refinement cultivators under our banner."
...
"Our original businesses are all operating methodically and enjoying strong momentum. Here are the account ledgers; President, please have a look."
"Elder Sun Sifang of the Scripture Transmission Hall passed away in meditation a year ago at the age of two hundred and seventy-five. To attain such longevity is rare among Foundation Establishment True Cultivators, so it was considered a blessed departure."
"Before passing, she personally authored a medical classic titled the *Fanghua Classic*. It has already been cataloged in the Scripture Transmission Hall, and several talented female cultivators within the association have been selected to begin studying it. This effort is being spearheaded by Elder Sun Sifang's chief disciple, Su'e."
"Additionally, Elder Wang Yuan obtained a battle formation method from the Yan Alliance that allows Qi Refinement cultivators to form formations against enemies. He has passed this method on to the Battle Hall..."
One by one, the senior figures of the Luotian Association reported on the recent status of their respective departments.
Gradually, Luo Chen gained a clear overview of how the association had fared over the past few years.
When the briefings drew to a close, he rubbed his brows and spoke with a weary, dispirited air. "Everyone has done wonderfully. While I was away, it was thanks to all of you managing our home. You have worked hard."
At his words, no one claimed credit for themselves. Instead, each responded from the bottom of their heart:
"It is merely my duty!"
"President, you are the one who has truly toiled!"
"President, please take care of your health!"
As they spoke, their eyes instinctively drifted to Luo Chen's exhausted demeanor and his dry, graying hair.
The rumors were indeed true.
In the battle of Fenxiang Valley, the President had suffered grievous wounds.
Otherwise, how could someone so young and possessing such profound cultivation have his hair turn gray before his time?
And all of this had been endured to wipe away the disgrace of the Luotian Association being besieged at their own doorstep all those years ago, to avenge their fallen brothers.
A leader with such backbone and accountability was exceedingly rare to find.
Consider how mighty the Lianyun Merchant Alliance had once been in Tianlan Immortal City. Yet when besieged by the Sword Sect's vassal factions, they handed over their Second and Third Elders to take the fall.
Though such conduct had preserved the Lianyun Merchant Alliance, anyone speaking of it later held it in utter contempt.
How could they compare to Luo Chen?
Not only had he stood by the Luotian Association through life and death, but he had even struck right back at their enemy's mountain gates, reducing a renowned Golden Core great sect to ashes!
Such a heroic feat was thoroughly thrilling, and it inspired immense reverence in all of them!
Facing the waves of concern and worry from his subordinates, friends, and lover, Luo Chen felt warmth in his heart, along with a touch of helplessness.
In truth, there was nothing wrong with him at all right now.
Yet having made a promise to Canglong, he had to play the part to the end.
Displaying weakness to the outside world would save both the Luotian Association and Ice Fort a mountain of trouble!
The reason sounded a bit ridiculous, but it was reality!
Earlier, word had spread far and wide throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain that his combat prowess was staggering, overshadowing even the Dao Children of numerous Golden Core sects and true disciples of premier sects.
Bored gossips had even gone so far as to crown him the number one Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Jade Cauldron Domain.
Empty fame could sometimes serve as a stepping stone or a protective umbrella, but at other times, it was a trap that brought endless peril.
Those Dao Children and true disciples of great sects were all prideful to the bone; how could they endure being suppressed by a mere rogue cultivator?
If Luo Chen appeared completely unharmed, vibrant and bursting with life, then within three days, powerful Foundation Establishment figures would surely arrive at his door, issuing challenges.
That was no exaggeration.
Though Luo Chen had no fear of cultivators of the same rank, he despised hassle!
Fighting day in and day out with nothing to gain from it—how was one supposed to live, let alone cultivate immortality?
So, he dutifully put on a sickly facade.
To that end, he had applied subtle disguises to his face and made sure to mind his usual expression, tone of voice, gait, and mannerisms.
The only drawback was that he had fooled his own people first!
Still, it was no great matter. As soon as he formed his core, none of this would signify.
And forming a core meant he had to plan his upcoming cultivation carefully.
Haoranzi had already returned from the Mount Thunder Accumulation Deity Transformation ruins two years ago, so that third-rank cave estate had naturally been returned.
Furthermore, Luo Chen had no intention of relying on third-rank spirit grounds to cultivate before reaching the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.
The hidden dangers were simply too great!
He had no wish to undergo another heart tribulation or demonic barrier.
Therefore, when it came to his cultivation, he had to return to an old standby:
Pills!
"With all of you overseeing the Luotian Association's affairs, my mind is completely at ease," Luo Chen said slowly. "For major decisions, Huiniang alone can make the call. Unless it involves matters of life and death for our association, there is no need to report to me going forward."
Sitting beside him, Sima Huiniang swept her gaze over everyone present, meeting nothing but nodding approval. It was evident that her capabilities had earned unanimous recognition over the years.
"Moving forward, while recuperating, I will be refining some pills. As for the necessary herbs, I will need everyone's help in gathering them."
"President, rest assured, the Spirit Herb Hall will take care of it," replied Feng Xia. Following Bian Zhen's death, she had taken over that vital department.
Sima Huiniang concurred as well.
After all, Luo Chen's needs always took precedence over everything else within the Luotian Association!
Luo Chen was pleased and immediately handed a list to Sima Huiniang.
He had drawn it up specifically on the way back.
The primary herbs were not difficult to find: materials for three distinct pills—the Jade Dew Pill, Blood-Boosting Pill, and Dust-Settling Pill.
In addition, there was a vast list of materials that included, but was not limited to, the requirements for the Nether-Passage Pill.
Refining supreme-grade Nether-Passage Pills could not cease. Moreover, deducing the recipe for the second-rank Nether-Passage Pill would require trial and error with various medicinal herbs.
This task, too, had to be entrusted to the Luotian Association.
One could easily imagine that while Luo Chen's days ahead might be ordinary and quiet, they would certainly not be idle.
His gaze swept over the gathered crowd before settling on Qu Lingjun, who was now at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.
Luo Chen felt a slight stir in his heart.
He recalled his days in the Ice Prison, and how his "Senior Sister" Canglong had offered him guidance from time to time.
That had truly been the demeanor of a benevolent, virtuous elder!
In comparison, his own guidance of his disciple, Qu Lingjun, had fallen rather short.
Over these years, the young man's daily cultivation had largely relied on occasional pointers from Li Yingzhang and the Luotian Association's other Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As for his questions on alchemy, he had initially discussed them with the alchemists in the Alchemy Hall, but as his skills completely surpassed theirs, he had been left to grope forward alone.
As a master, he had not been very dutiful!
"Lingjun, from now on, come to my cave estate once a month. I want to see whether your cultivation and alchemy have fallen behind."
Sitting beside Li Yingzhang, Qu Lingjun's eyes instantly lit up at those words!
Chapter 434