"What, are the three of you unwilling to welcome Fellow Daoist Fu into our ranks?"
A deep voice came from the man, his narrowed eyes radiating a dangerous aura.
Cen Qiusheng's eyelids twitched. "Of course not. An extra fellow daoist means extra strength. I naturally welcome him."
Luo Chen nodded slightly and then looked toward Diwu Qi and Jiang Yu.
Diwu Qi offered a sheepish smile. "I have long heard that Fellow Daoist Fu is a seasoned herb gatherer. With him joining us, our alliance will be like a tiger that has grown wings. I could hardly welcome him fast enough, so how could I possibly refuse?"
Jiang Yu nodded, concurring with Diwu Qi's words.
"Haha!"
Luo Chen let out a hearty laugh, as if the sharp edge he had displayed moments before had never existed.
"In that case, let us draft the pact and cement the alliance!"
As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, and a golden scroll appeared in his palm.
With both hands pulling it open, the interior of the scroll was jet-black, appearing as though it were waiting for someone to write upon it.
"A talisman contract produced by the Divine Talisman Sect?" Diwu Qi blurted out.
A talisman drawn in the form of a scroll?
The others also looked over with curiosity.
"Fellow Daoist Diwu is quite well-informed," Luo Chen said with a smiling nod. "Indeed, this is none other than the Divine Talisman Sect's Tier 4 talisman, the Xuanhuang Heaven-Earth Contract!"
The Xuanhuang Heaven-Earth Contract!
The moment the name was uttered, the hearts of the four shook.
A pact forged by such a talisman could not compare to an Oath of the Great Dao, yet it possessed its own profound mystery.
Its binding power derived from the cultivators themselves.
The more people who joined the pact and the greater their strength, the stronger the binding force became.
Should anyone violate the terms of the contract, the talisman would detect it through divine sense and activate automatically, delivering a backlash against the oath-breaker.
Unless someone among the signatories broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, an ordinary Golden Core cultivator could by no means withstand that backlash.
One could say that in the East Barren cultivation world, this was the favorite type of contract among Golden Core cultivators.
It would not hinder one's cultivation path the way an Oath of the Great Dao might, yet its binding power far surpassed a mere verbal promise.
Of course!
The price of such a talisman contract had always remained sky-high.
Luo Chen had only managed to acquire this single copy through Fu Xiuxiu, purchasing it from Elder Ye Xiang, a Golden Core cultivator of the Divine Talisman Sect.
Cen Qiusheng could not help but remark, "This must have cost Fellow Daoist quite a fortune!"
Luo Chen waved his hand dismissively. "Merely some spirit stones. Compared to what our alliance aims for, it is nothing."
Once the Luotian Alliance was established, what it sought was a Tier 3 spirit vein.
And not an ordinary man-made Tier 3 spirit vein, but a large Tier 3 spirit vein naturally formed and converged within the Wilderness Mountain Range.
Its immense value could not be rivaled by a single talisman contract.
From this, one could see Luo Chen's determination to achieve success in the upcoming endeavor.
"Shall we draft the pact and sign the contract, then?"
"Let's begin!"
Hesitating no further, the five Golden Core cultivators immediately began negotiating the terms of the contract.
In truth, it was not overly complicated.
Such a talisman contract was restricted to Golden Core cultivators, so it naturally only bound the five of them.
Consequently, the terms were intimately tied to the five individuals.
Considering that the previous Lianxia war of expansion had lasted only a century, and that this time more sects were taking part with even greater strength, one could imagine the war's duration would be substantially shorter.
Therefore, the time limit for this contract was set within a hundred years.
Within one hundred years, with Luo Chen as the head, the five Golden Core cultivators were forbidden from attacking or plotting against one another, nor could they collude with outsiders to strike at their own side.
They would advance and retreat together, obligated to lend a hand in perilous situations so long as it did not exceed the upper limit of their own strength.
Finally, some supplementary binding terms regarding the forces under the three parties were added.
The Luotian Sect, Wind Rain Manor, and the Cen Clan—these three powers would share honor and disgrace, united as allies.
After some discussion, the contract was finalized.
Then, as the convener and signatory, Luo Chen inscribed the corresponding text onto the black scroll using his pure magic power.
"Should anyone violate this pact, the others shall unite to slay them!"
With a low shout, Luo Chen slit his thumb and pressed it onto the final page.
In an instant, blood, magic power, and divine sense merged into one, leaving a vivid thumbprint.
He exhaled softly and looked toward the other four.
"Fellow Daoists, if you please!"
Fu Jiusheng did not hesitate, stepping forward first to press his bloody thumbprint.
Afterward, Cen Qiusheng, Diwu Qi, and Jiang Yu also left their marks one after another.
When everything was complete, Luo Chen brushed his hand over it. The characters inscribed upon the talisman contract burst into brilliant golden light, shining intensely before dimming and ultimately sinking into the black scroll.
He closed the scroll, its golden silk cloth gleaming with luster.
Thus, the Xuanhuang Heaven-Earth Contract was sealed!
The group all let out long sighs of relief.
The contradictory feelings of eagerness and dread regarding the war of expansion settled significantly within their hearts.
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Everyone, let us gather in my Luotian Main Hall!"
"That is just what we had hoped for, though we dared not ask!"
"Then let us sit and talk!"
"As it happens, I have only recently formed my core and have several cultivation doubts I would like to consult my fellow Daoist brothers on."
"Haha! Now that we are allies, this is the perfect opportunity to exchange our cultivation insights in depth. Though I fear Fellow Daoist Luo will have to spend more on hospitality."
"No matter! Fruits, pastries, spirit tea, and fine wine—there will be plenty for all!"
...
"We agreed on an alliance of three powers and four Golden Cores, yet in the end, an extra person was added. Fellow Daoist Diwu, why didn't you raise more conditions back then?"
A flying boat flew slowly through the sky.
Jiang Yu looked at Diwu Qi across from him and asked with displeasure.
"Raise what conditions?" Diwu Qi countered.
Seeing Jiang Yu hesitate, Diwu Qi shook his head.
"Since we wish to borrow Danchenzi's renown, we must be prepared to let him take the lead. If not Fu Jiusheng, it would have been someone else. After all, he is an alchemist, and there is no shortage of fellow Daoists of the same rank eager to curry favor with him."
Jiang Yu opened his mouth, but in the end could only console himself, "At least you and I have higher realms. When we act together in the future, we won't be put at too much of a disadvantage."
Diwu Qi held a starkly different view on that.
"Do not underestimate Luo Chen. Though his realm is lower, his strength is by no means weak."
Jiang Yu frowned. "You regard him so highly?"
Diwu Qi snorted coldly. "Though it has been less than ten years since he formed his core, his magic power is harmonious and well-rounded, showing almost no deficiency. Even Hongling of the Sword Sect ended up slightly disadvantaged in a brief exchange with him. How could I not hold him in high regard?"
Jiang Yu hesitated.
Recalling the scene when they drafted the pact earlier, the fluctuations when Luo Chen channeled his magic power were indeed genuine for the first layer of the Golden Core stage.
Such strength was certainly not something an ordinary person could possess.
Coupled with the body refinement realm the man had displayed back in the Foundation Establishment stage, stacking the two together meant he was by no means weak among early Golden Core cultivators.
Calculating it this way, it was no wonder the other party dared to seize leadership of the alliance.
He possessed ample confidence!
"Don't dwell on it so much. Our primary goal in joining this war is still to secure a Tier 3 spirit vein to serve as a blessed cultivation ground. At our age, as long as we establish roots in the new territory, we might follow Real Person Yunhe's example and achieve the Nascent Soul stage with the aid of the war of expansion."
A look of hope appeared in Diwu Qi's eyes.
They had previously been stranded in the Fenghua Domain, where whatever opportunities existed were mere scraps filtered down from Fenghua Palace.
Without leaving the Fenghua Domain, advancing further in this lifetime would be nearly impossible.
For this goal, sacrificing a few things was inevitable.
Jiang Yu nodded in agreement.
However...
"That Luo Chen had Fu Jiusheng lead the Luotian Sect's experts and rush to the Howling Moon Mountain Range alongside us, yet he himself lingers behind and refuses to leave. Who knows what he is up to?"
Diwu Qi pondered and guessed, "He probably wants to strike while the iron is hot and forge his natal magic treasure, right?"
"That is a possibility."
Jiang Yu thought the same. When they had exchanged cultivation insights earlier, Luo Chen had taken the opportunity to ask them for several rare mineral materials.
However, aside from Cen Qiusheng producing a piece of Gengjin, they had none of the other mineral materials Luo Chen needed.
They did have extra Tongxuan Heavenly Crystals, but seeing that Luo Chen showed no pleasant surprise upon receiving them, he had likely gathered quite a few himself already.
Jiang Yu could not help but lament, "It's just a pity that back when Fenxiang Valley was seized, not a single resource in the treasury was left behind. Who knows whose hands they fell into?"
"Why think so much about it? Luo Chen will arrive in due time. The pressing matter at hand is still to secure a firm foothold over at the Howling Moon Mountain Range," Diwu Qi said calmly.
He stepped out of the cabin and arrived on the deck of the flying boat.
Looking around, to his left and right were the more than one thousand cultivators of the Cen Clan led by Cen Qiusheng, and the five hundred elites of the Luotian Sect led by Fu Jiusheng.
Together with the more than one thousand members from their Wind Rain Manor, the combined strength of the three parties was formidable.
Placing it within the war of expansion, they should be able to secure a foothold.
"May everything go smoothly!"
...
Contrary to what Diwu Qi and the others thought, Luo Chen had not gone into seclusion to forge his natal magic treasure. Instead, he had departed Danxia Peak, flying in the opposite direction toward Azure Pill Valley.
Aboard the flying boat, Luo Chen rubbed the iron thumb ring, his eyes flickering with thought.
"According to Diwu Qi and the others, almost none of the Yan Alliance's treasury resources were left behind back then."
"In other words, they were very likely split into several shares and held by the Yan Alliance's three Golden Core cultivators and Sect Master Xiao Lian."
"Qin Tairan was the one with the highest cultivation realm in the Yan Alliance back then. This storage thumb ring of his might hold the Yan Alliance's greatest legacy!"
"If I can unravel it, I might be able to assemble the remaining primary materials needed to forge the Hunyuan Cauldron."
"Furthermore, Xiao Lian was personally slain by Danyangzi. On this trip to Azure Pill Valley, I can try trading with him."
"It won't be long now!"
Luo Chen's divine sense was powerful, no weaker than that of a mid Golden Core cultivator.
Combined with his intensive study of restrictions and formations over the years, he felt that unraveling Qin Tairan's divine sense imprint would not take much longer.
A few months at the shortest, two to three years at most.
When the time came, he would be able to catch a glimpse of the Yan Alliance's legacy.
"Hopefully it won't disappoint me!"
While Luo Chen was lost in thought, the flying boat beneath him surged forward at high speed.
It did not even require spirit stones to power it; simply infusing a stream of magic power allowed this top-grade flying boat to accelerate to its maximum velocity.
Azure Pill Valley was situated very close to Tianlan Immortal City.
Before long, Luo Chen arrived outside Azure Pill Valley.
The flying boat came to a halt amidst the clouds. Luo Chen looked toward that towering mountain peak.
"It has been many years since I last saw it, yet it has already been repaired. I wonder if the layout of five peaks shielding the valley can still be used?"
Muttering softly, his gaze swept across the area.
Unsurprisingly, his arrival had already been detected by the cultivators of Azure Pill Valley.
A streak of light flew out from Mount Yuanhua.
In the next instant, a familiar face appeared before him.
Luo Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "Elder Longquan, it has been a long time!"
The newcomer was none other than Master Longquan, the Golden Core cultivator of Azure Pill Valley who had once protected Dao for Tao Wan.
Longquan looked at Luo Chen with an expression of astonishment. After looking him up and down, he could not help but sigh with feeling:
"Danchenzi, you truly live up to your name!"
"You have actually attained the Golden Core stage! Congratulations, congratulations!"
Luo Chen beamed. "Having not seen each other for several decades, Fellow Daoist's cultivation has progressed considerably as well!"
Longquan shook his head. After attaining the Golden Core stage, his cultivation speed had slowed down to a crawl—how could there be any talk of significant progress?
Still, since the other party was being polite, he naturally would not dispute it. Chuckling, he led Luo Chen toward Danyang Peak.
Danyang Peak was the foremost among Azure Pill Valley's five peaks!
Within it lay the Grand Alchemy Court, home to countless alchemists.
Moreover, the Supreme Elder Qingdanzi, a late Golden Core cultivator, resided here in seclusion.
As the two traveled along the path, they drew considerable attention.
Elder Longquan naturally did not attract much notice; what caught everyone's eye was Luo Chen.
When they realized who it was, numerous exclamations rang out below.
The Danchenzi who had once made a name for himself in Azure Pill Valley had returned!
And this time, he was no longer an alleged junior, but a Golden Core Master of profound cultivation!
Before long, Elder Longquan halted outside a grand hall.
"Fellow Daoist, please enter! The Supreme Elder and the others have been waiting for you."
Luo Chen's gaze fell upon the solemn, towering hall, and he gave a slight nod.
"Thank you for the trouble."
After exchanging courtesies, he stepped forward.
Accompanied by a low rumbling sound, the doors of the solemn hall opened, as if extending a welcome to him of their own accord.
Elder Longquan watched this quietly. Without him realizing it, quite a few people had gathered by his side:
Sect Master Tao Wan, Peak Head He of Longshou Peak, Master Baisu of Mount Luojia...
"Will Danchenzi be able to do it?"
"He should be able to, right?"
"Mu Yunyan of the Falling Cloud Sect could not be invited, so our hopes can only rest on Danchenzi."
"He should meet the requirements. Whether the Nascent Soul Formation Pill can be refined depends primarily on the Supreme Elder."
"Whether our sect can break through its constraints and rise during this war of expansion depends entirely on this attempt."
"The mountain-protecting array can be activated. This pill refinement is of utmost importance; we must not let anyone disturb it!"
Streams of divine sense transmissions echoed among the Golden Core cultivators of Azure Pill Valley.
Every pair of eyes contained immense hope.
Meanwhile, inside the grand hall:
Five gazes instantly settled upon Luo Chen.
...
The new Peak Head of Danyang Peak, Danyangzi.
The two elders of the Grand Alchemy Court, Master Chiding and Master Xingyun.
The former Sect Master, Qingyunzi.
And...
Luo Chen's gaze settled upon the youth with rosy lips and white teeth seated at the head.
He clasped his hands in greeting.
"Junior Luo Chen greets Senior Qingdanzi!"
The youth looked at him with bright, piercing eyes. "Now that you have formed your core, we are peers. We may address each other as fellow Daoists."
After the pleasantries, he asked impatiently, "To what degree have you refined the Wither-Bloom Fire?"
Chi!
A wisp of green flame slowly rose from Luo Chen's palm.
He offered no introduction, choosing instead to openly display his source true fire.
He allowed them to observe it carefully.
At the same time, he wanted to see what keen insights these cultivators of Azure Pill Valley—who understood rare fires far better—might offer.
The flame rose, flickering between faint and scorching, swaying unsteadily.
To anyone's eyes, it did not appear particularly impressive.
Watching the green flame, the other four could not help but furrow their brows.
Only Qingdanzi's eyes flashed with sharp brilliance. "The true meaning of wither and bloom is fully present, without the slightest trace of unrefined volatility. Haha, your source true fire has indeed been refined to the stage of great accomplishment!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the other four experienced a sudden realization.
Danyangzi in particular compared it to the Purple Zenith Skyfire he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, and it seemed roughly comparable. Back then, the Supreme Elder had also praised his flame as having reached "great accomplishment."
What they did not know was that Luo Chen had refined this Wither-Bloom Fire with the assistance of Master Canglong of Ice Fort.
Only after years of struggle within that ice prison had he finally refined it.
Furthermore, Luo Chen had later used it to plunder a vast amount of vitality from demon beasts. Though he took a share for himself, the lion's share had been devoured by the Wither-Bloom Fire.
Only in this manner had it been nurtured to such a stage.
Master Chiding possessed keen vision and detected a subtle clue.
"Wait, your Wither-Bloom Fire doesn't seem like a Tier 3 flame?"
These words brought about a wave of astonishment.
Qingdanzi observed it carefully and nodded slightly. "It seems the rumors were true. The Yan Alliance modified the terrain of Fenxiang Valley and laid down the Ghost-God Valley Spirit-Seizing Array with the intention of nurturing the Wither-Bloom Fire to advance in rank. To think that after it became a Tier 4 rare fire, it ended up benefiting you."
"And, of course, benefiting my Azure Pill Valley!"
Luo Chen waited until they had confirmed his credentials.
Clenching his fist, he drew the source true fire back into his body and looked toward Qingdanzi.
"May I ask where my assistance will be needed in refining the Nascent Soul Formation Pill?"
Chapter 466