Twenty-Seven Sects Golden Core Gathering, You Are Danchenzi?

Late into the night. Inside Cave Dwelling Jia-8 of Poyue Immortal City. Luo Chen sat cross-legged, five centers facing heaven. His right hand formed an orchid hand seal, while his left held the fire-gathering spirit incantation. The Burning Wood True Art circulated slowly, surging spiritual power flowing through his meridians without pause. A powerful suction centered upon him, steadily drawing in the ambient worldly spiritual energy. Not only that, but his immense spiritual sense cast outward repeatedly like a great net. Each time he drew it back, it swept in a massive cluster of spiritual energy. The originally invisible and colorless spiritual energy, pulled in by this two-pronged absorption, formed a miniature tornado of misty clouds. The swirling vortex showed two distinct colors—azure and crimson—which represented wood and fire dual-attribute spiritual energy. As for the other three elemental attributes brought along, most were cast aside, with only a tiny fraction absorbed into Luo Chen's body. In the past, during the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment stages, circulating one's natal cultivation method could often only be done cycle by cycle. Upon reaching the Golden Core stage, however, a cultivator's robust soul foundation was sufficient to sustain uninterrupted circulation of their natal technique over a short period, drastically increasing the efficiency of spiritual energy absorption. This was one of the fundamental transformations brought about after forming a Golden Core. Luo Chen's soul foundation was comparable to that of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. Therefore, even though circulating the Burning Wood True Art was far more difficult and intricate, he could still manage five full major cycles in a single stretch! After five full cycles. Luo Chen opened his eyes. Parting his lips slightly, he slowly exhaled a stream of grayish-white turbid qi, which took on the appearance of a dragon of air in the spacious cultivation chamber. Sensing the condition within his body, Luo Chen could not help but smile with satisfaction. As expected! For high-level cultivators, the importance of spiritual lands far exceeded that of ordinary pills. In just this single night of cultivation, the spiritual power he gained was comparable to that from painstakingly refining a Tier 3 Many Stars Pill. Pills came with many restrictions, and concocting them was exceedingly tedious. By comparison, a Tier 3 spiritual land carried far fewer limitations. Cultivating over months and years, the benefits of a spiritual land surpassed pills all the more. Unless, of course, it was a supreme-grade Tier 3 pill like the Five Elements Divine Pill. "I can't dare dream of Five Elements Divine Pills, so grinding up my proficiency in the Many Stars Pill as soon as possible is the proper priority." "The Luotian Sect was already helping me gather the materials for Many Stars Pills, and now with Wind Rain Mountain Manor and the Cen family pitching in, I can concoct pills and grind proficiency to my heart's content without restraint." "I wonder when the Luoyun Sect will begin mobilizing their forces. Will there be enough time left for me?" As his thoughts drifted, Luo Chen circulated the Micromote Origin Art once more. Although this was a secret technique for forming a Golden Core, its grade was appraised by the panel as reaching the supreme rank, and its effects went far beyond Core Formation! Even though Luo Chen had reached the first layer of Golden Core, he still circulated it from time to time. Dispelling pill poison, condensing spiritual power, purifying spiritual power... Though his current cultivation progress seemed slow, under this patient, steady practice, his foundation grew increasingly profound and formidable! In fact, as time accumulated, he could vaguely sense minute growth in his soul foundation as well. Locking the Beaded Curtain was an art for dividing the soul and condensing spiritual power. Calming the Storm was a method for subduing the restless mind and firming one's resolve. Along with the earlier Bright Spirit Fiend Breaking. Having fused the essences of these methods and secret arts, the Micromote Origin Art naturally carried a modest efficacy for tempering the soul. In Luo Chen's view, if there were some extraordinary talent born with an inherently powerful soul who cultivated this art right from early Foundation Establishment, perhaps upon reaching Foundation Establishment peak perfection, they could form a Golden Core as effortlessly as water carving a channel! However, such exceptional seedlings were exceedingly rare in the cultivation world. Even a sect like Luoyun Sect probably could not find a disciple who met Luo Chen's standards once in a thousand years. Thus, this conjecture remained purely theoretical. After completing a round of the Micromote Origin Art, Luo Chen's cultivation was not yet finished. Resting for the span of an incense stick, he closed his eyes once more. The hand seals he pinched shifted continuously. A hazy, greenish glow of fire began to swirl around his body. The flames flickered ethereally, expanding and contracting as if breathing, warping the air inside the cultivation chamber with every inhalation and exhalation. This was the Convergence of Myriad Paths. Luo Chen circulated this technique, mobilizing his natal true fire, the Kurong Fire, to temper his physical body. Although immortal cultivators did not prioritize the physique—placing greater weight on the soul and spiritual power—having tasted the myriad benefits of a powerful body, Luo Chen was utterly unwilling to abandon body refinement. Of course! Focusing on body refinement as his primary path was out of the question; investing excessive energy like Wang Yuan did was simply not worth the cost for Luo Chen. The path of body refinement was shrouded in uncertainty and placed far more emphasis on breakthroughs in actual combat... Luo Chen did not enjoy fighting and killing in the least, nor did he wish to follow Wang Yuan's path of breaking through in the midst of battle. That was too dangerous. He still preferred to face enemies only after his cultivation realm was solidly achieved and every single technique had been honed to perfection. ... A night of arduous cultivation. When Luo Chen walked out of the cultivation chamber the next morning, he was still brimming with vitality! This energy, of course, was not because cultivation was effortless and free of fatigue. The main reason was that he had suddenly gained a proper cultivation ground, and the joy had yet to fade. Stepping out, he did not head for the cave dwelling's entrance. Instead, passing four rooms, he arrived at a spacious side hall. Clang! An implement shaped like a cauldron-pot landed upon the floor. It was none other than that damaged alchemy magic treasure, the Shangshu Cauldron. Once infused with spiritual power, the Shangshu Cauldron swelled with the wind, growing to a zhang in height in the blink of an eye. Perhaps hearing the sound, the doors of those four rooms opened as well. Wang Yuan, Chu Kui, Xu Huanzhen, and the junior Zeng Yilong all appeared together. "Supreme Elder, are you going to concoct pills?" Zeng Yilong stood by, watching Luo Chen's movements with curiosity. Luo Chen smiled and nodded. He first opened the lid of the Shangshu Cauldron, then retrieved an assortment of medicinal herbs from his storage ring, arranging them neatly by category. During this process, he also checked how well the herbs had been pre-processed. This was a good habit he had cultivated over many years of alchemy. Before concocting pills, one had to verify the state of the materials. Otherwise, no matter how exquisite one's alchemy skills were, defective ingredients would lead to failure. Luo Chen could never accept spoiling a whole pot of broth over a single piece of rat droppings. Zeng Yilong looked around in confusion. "This cave dwelling doesn't channel any earth fire. How will you concoct pills, Supreme Elder?" Chssst! A soft hiss sounded. A wisp of flame curled around Luo Chen's fingertip. "With this!" Luo Chen said with a smile. Understanding dawned on Zeng Yilong—it was his natal true fire! "Is there anything you need help with?" Xu Huanzhen asked. Luo Chen waved his hand. "Go about your own business. I'll mostly be staying in the cave dwelling to concoct pills these days. If anything comes up, I'll call you." The others nodded and went their separate ways. Luo Chen stood before the Shangshu Cauldron. After inspecting it briefly, he took a pile of materials from his storage ring and constructed a rudimentary pill chamber. "Though it can't compare to the pill chambers constructed by Mount Ailao cultivators, it will suffice for a while." Luo Chen felt a touch of nostalgia for his pill chamber on Tianlan Peak. Unlike the Jade Cauldron Domain, the Howling Moon Mountain Range did not possess abundant earth fire resources. Therefore, when Poyue Immortal City was built, most of the cave dwellings were not outfitted with channeled earth fire. It was truly a regrettable point. Fortunately, Luo Chen possessed the Kurong Fire. Otherwise, even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice. Once everything was prepared, Luo Chen controlled the Kurong Fire with one hand while guiding herbs into the cauldron with spiritual power. Time to grind proficiency in the Many Stars Pill! And strive to secure his future cultivation resources! ... Time passed quietly as Luo Chen focused on concocting pills. Two days later. A voice transmission talisman spun lazily within the grand array outside Luo Chen's cave dwelling. The formation parted, and the talisman flew inside. Shortly thereafter, a refreshed Luo Chen stepped out of the cave dwelling. His hair was bound in a high topknot beneath a jade crown, two white ribbons fluttering alongside his black locks. Coupled with his youthful features and tall, slender figure, anyone who saw him would praise his striking bearing! With a flick of his red, gold-trimmed sleeves, Luo Chen descended straight from the solitary peak. Yet he did not fly toward the immortal city; instead, he headed toward another isolated summit. As he flew, Luo Chen looked around and spotted numerous streaks of escape light. Judging by their potent fluctuations of spiritual power, the owners of these escape lights were undoubtedly Golden Core cultivators. "The Golden Core exchange gathering hosted by the Luoyun Sect this time has invited quite a few fellow peers!" Luo Chen murmured in admiration and picked up his speed. A few breaths later, his figure came to a stop before the gates of a grand palace. Handing his invitation to the Foundation Establishment disciple of the Luoyun Sect guarding the entrance, Luo Chen strode into the palace hall. The moment he stepped through, Luo Chen's brows twitched. In an instant, more than a dozen strands of spiritual sense swept toward him in unison. With a stir of his mind, Luo Chen released his own spiritual sense as well. After brief contact, those strands withdrew, though someone let out a soft exclamation of surprise during the encounter. Following the sound, Luo Chen looked up. An old acquaintance! "Danchenzi, over here!" Under a myriad of curious gazes, Luo Chen walked over. "Fellow Daoist Fei, I trust you have been well since we last met!" Mount Ailao's Golden Core elder—Fei Ming. Indeed an old acquaintance. Fei Ming swept his gaze up and down. While somewhat impolite, it reflected his easygoing nature. After sizing him up, he clicked his tongue in admiration. "When we first made contact just now, I hardly dared believe it. Only now am I certain. You are merely at the first layer of Golden Core, yet your spiritual sense contends with mine without yielding an inch. The younger generation is formidable indeed!" Luo Chen smiled and said nothing. When he had entered the hall just now, those dozen-odd strands of spiritual sense had swept over him not only out of curiosity about his identity, but also to measure his strength— to see whether he was qualified to attend this exchange gathering. In such circumstances, a cultivation level of Golden Core Layer 1 carried no weight. Hence, Luo Chen had released his spiritual sense with full strength, holding nothing back. Only by doing so did he earn everyone's acknowledgment. "Have you cultivated some soul secret technique? How can your spiritual sense be this potent?" Fei Ming was deeply curious. Seeing Luo Chen remain silent, he realized he had spoken out of turn and pressed no further. Moving past the topic, Luo Chen casually steered the conversation to the construction of Poyue Immortal City. The twenty-seven sects were co-building Poyue Immortal City, headed by Luoyun Sect and Tianfan City, and Mount Ailao had contributed significantly as well. Luo Chen's inquiry struck right at Fei Ming's pride, and the conversation soon grew lively. Meanwhile, Golden Core cultivators continued to arrive from outside the hall from time to time. Noticing the curiosity in Luo Chen's eyes, Fei Ming began introducing their identities to him. "The one from Huanzhu Tower is Vice Tower Master Xiaoxiangzi. His real name is unknown, and so is his face. That sect operates this way—they rarely show their true appearance. Many even suspect that the assassins of Huanzhu Tower are actually high-ranking figures from other sects." Luo Chen was slightly taken aback. A vice tower master of Huanzhu Tower could be an upper-echelon member of another sect? Then realization struck him. An assassination organization like this was fundamentally ill-suited to traditional sect lineage systems. If it was formed by experts from various factions, however, it made complete sense. Certain powerhouses who were unskilled in the hundred arts of cultivation but excelled in combat could join Huanzhu Tower anonymously. They could accept missions to earn resources while simultaneously honing themselves. Truly a wonderful arrangement that killed two birds with one stone! This also explained why an assassin organization merely at the level of a Golden Core great sect could survive so long in the cultivation world. "Two came from Mengquan Cave: Sect Master Si Nan and Elder Yu Jiaolong. The latter was likely brought along to broaden her horizons; she formed her core only a few years before you." Luo Chen's gaze lingered for a moment on that petite, delicate female cultivator. Perhaps sensing someone's attention, Yu Jiaolong reflexively glanced over. Seeing Luo Chen, her brows furrowed slightly. *What sharp perception!* Luo Chen mused inwardly, but then he felt another gaze quietly fixed upon him. Turning his head, he found it was none other than Huanzhu Tower's vice tower master, whom Fei Ming had just introduced. *Why is Xiaoxiangzi staring at me?* *What sharp perception!* In the corner, Xiaoxiangzi lowered his eyelids, astonished by Luo Chen's spiritual awareness. He was exceptionally skilled in concealing his aura and the ways of stealth and assassination. When he observed someone, they rarely noticed. Yet this Luo Chen had reacted in an instant! Such sensitivity was either tempered through life-and-death struggles, backed by a soul foundation far deeper than his own, or derived from innate talent that was superlative to the extreme, like Yu Jiaolong's Heavenly Spiritual Root. Xiaoxiangzi could not be certain, but the importance he attached to Luo Chen rose by several notches. *He cannot be treated as a mere novice Golden Core!* On Luo Chen's end, noticing Xiaoxiangzi was no longer staring, he also looked away. There were too many Golden Core cultivators here. Aside from probing newcomers at the threshold, everyone maintained courtesy and decorum, refraining from excessive use of spiritual sense. Thus, interactions were mostly carried out through spoken words and exchanged glances. Fei Ming continued introducing the various peers present. "That woman with the red cinnabar mole between her brows is Chu Baihong, the founding ancestor of the Baihong Sect. She looks young, but she is nearly five hundred years old. Her cultivation is slightly higher than mine at Golden Core Layer 5. Her 'Qi Piercing the White Rainbow' technique is exceedingly formidable, having once earned the praise of an expert from the Five Elements Divine Sect." "Five zhang to your right, the old man in filthy clothes has an unrecorded name; everyone calls him the Slovenly Daoist. It's said he begged for a living in the mortal world during his youth, had the good fortune to embark on the immortal path, and from then on rose uncontrollably. He is already a mighty powerhouse at Golden Core Layer 8. Among the coalition of eighteen Golden Core great sects this time, the Fish Dragon Gang he leads is a formidable force." "..." Under Fei Ming's introductions, Luo Chen gradually became acquainted with the representative figures of the eighteen Golden Core great sects. Corroborating them with the intelligence gathered by the Luotian Sect previously, he gained a preliminary understanding of them all. "Azure Pill Valley has announced its withdrawal from this development war, but with your Luotian Alliance stepping in, there are still eighteen powers at the Golden Core great sect level." "Oh, an old friend of yours has arrived!" Fei Ming paused. Luo Chen looked up and saw an ice-cold woman stepping into the hall. Fairy Jueqing! She paused at the entrance, then walked straight toward the two of them. As she approached, Fei Ming patted Luo Chen's shoulder. "Speaking of which, do you know Fairy Jueqing's real name?" Luo Chen grew curious. "What is it?" "You'd never guess. Such a cold beauty who acts with ruthless severity and bears the Daoist title Jueqing—her real name is actually Gu Xiaorou! Back in the day..." "Fei Ming!" A frigid voice rang out. Fei Ming gave a sly grin and bowed with clasped hands. "Fellow Daoist Jueqing, long time no see. The days when you and I joined hands to hunt down that dog Qin Tairan are still fresh in my memory." Fairy Jueqing snorted coldly. Her gaze fell upon Luo Chen. "You're here." "Gu—" "Hmm?" "Fellow Daoist Jueqing, I trust you have been well since we last met?" Luo Chen gave an embarrassed smile. Still startled by how delicate and homely Fairy Jueqing's real name sounded, it had almost slipped from his tongue. The corner of Fairy Jueqing's mouth curled slightly. "I am doing exceptionally well, no need for a favored child of heaven like you to fret." Faced with this sarcastic remark, Luo Chen was briefly taken aback. Yet reflecting on his actions after coming out of seclusion and the current state of Ice Fort, he understood. Ice Fort today, even if not teetering in the wind and rain, could certainly be described as having suffered heavy damage to its vitality. When Luo Chen emerged from seclusion, he had not visited Ice Fort first, but had gone to Azure Pill Valley instead. It was only natural that Ice Fort's cultivators harbored some resentment. Furthermore, although he still maintained the Jade Dew Pill business with Ice Fort, he only personally concocted high-grade Jade Dew Pills on rare occasions; the majority were low-grade pills refined by his disciple Qu Lingjun. All these factors contributed to the dissatisfaction in her words. Yet times had changed! Luotian Sect was no longer Ice Fort's vassal, and Luo Chen had formed an alliance of his own boasting five Golden Cores. As such, the two parties were now partners on equal footing. This resentment... Luo Chen did not get angry, replying cordially instead: "Once the development war concludes, Luo hopes to share a drink with Fellow Daoist atop Mount Tian." A drink atop Mount Tian? Jueqing's brows knit together. Entering another sect's core domain alone was an act of profound trust. Luo Chen saying this was a declaration of his stance. It was also a wish that she would survive this perilous, unpredictable development war. The tension in the woman's brow slowly relaxed. She said nothing more, standing quietly to the side. Fei Ming, on the other hand, sounded wistful. "It's a pity Azure Pill Valley withdrew. Otherwise, it would have been wonderful for the four powers of our Jade Cauldron Domain to gather together." Although the reason for Azure Pill Valley's withdrawal had not fully spread, the Golden Core great sects of the Jade Cauldron Domain knew it well. The failure to concoct the Nascent Soul Pill had claimed the lives of most senior alchemists in the Grand Pill Academy, and Qingdanzi was nearing the end of his lifespan. At such a juncture, choosing to abandon the potentially massive profits of the development war was a wise decision. Curious, Luo Chen asked, "What about Baihua Palace? As far as I know, the three Golden Core masters of Baihua Palace have been quite active in Poyue Immortal City. Why haven't I seen them today?" Fei Ming looked at Luo Chen in surprise. "You don't know, Danchenzi?" "Know what?" "Baihua Palace is also participating in the development war, but not under their own name. They are marching under the banner of the Hehuan Sect." Luo Chen paused. He had vaguely known in the past that Baihua Palace was a branch of the Hehuan Sect. It was a faction left behind when the Hehuan Sect opened up the Lianxia Mountain Range and settled the Jade Cauldron Domain. For that very reason, even when the Jade Cauldron civil war raged fiercely, Baihua Palace remained neutral, sitting firm as Mount Tai. Yet he truly had not expected Baihua Palace to act under the banner of the Hehuan Sect at this juncture. Did this not mean abandoning their independence and returning under the Hehuan Sect's fold? In that case... "Can the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect still tolerate Baihua Palace?" In this world, no Nascent Soul great sect would allow another great sect to expand on its territory under their own banner. Faced with this question, the silent Fairy Jueqing remarked faintly, "Naturally they cannot tolerate them, but they have elsewhere to go." "Do they plan to settle in the future Howling Moon Mountain Range?" Luo Chen asked, taking it for granted. Yet a divine sense transmission from Fairy Jueqing stunned him. *The Great Snow Mountain?* Fei Ming seemed to have known this news long ago, smiling as he watched their exchange via divine sense. The Cloud Crane companions, Baihua Palace, borrowing momentum to open up the Great Snow Mountain... and even Ice Fort would lend a hand! Hearing this intelligence, Luo Chen was astonished! He remembered clearly that when Master Canglong underwent her tribulation, True Person Han Zhan of the Luoyun Sect had acted as her Dao protector. Logically speaking, if Ice Fort were to help anyone, it should be the Luoyun Sect! Luo Chen asked tentatively, "Doesn't Ice Fort have good ties with that True Person from the Luoyun Sect? Why not focus your efforts on developing the Howling Moon Mountain Range?" Fairy Jueqing looked at him in surprise. "How did you know... Never mind, you misunderstand the situation." She did not probe into Luo Chen's source of information; such matters were already widely rumored in the Jade Cauldron Domain. She simply said, "That True Person from the Luoyun Sect merely had good personal ties with Senior Sister. Years ago, he even borrowed our Ice Fort's Ice Prison to cultivate a soul secret technique. But after a certain event, all debts and favors were settled." *A certain event?* Presumably, that referred to the Dao protection. "Moving forward, our Ice Fort will primarily assist True Person Yunhe. The main reason lies in Ice Fort's unique geographical environment—it is a matter of necessity." Hearing her say this, Luo Chen understood immediately. Ice Fort sat on the fringes of the Jade Cauldron Domain, bordering the Great Snow Mountain. Its situation had already been precarious! Furthermore, Master Canglong had forcibly borrowed the territory of the White Bone Mysterious Snake to attempt her breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, shattering the peaceful equilibrium between the two sides. Word had it that beast tides had erupted several times from the Great Snow Mountain over recent years, leaving Ice Fort exhausted from defending against them. If they could help the Cloud Crane companions conquer the Great Snow Mountain and turn it into human territory, Ice Fort's crisis would also be alleviated. "Luo Chen, do you intend to join the Cloud Crane companions' side?" Luo Chen countered, "Are you acting as a lobbyist?" "No, just asking casually." Fairy Jueqing shook her head, clearly with no intention of lobbying. Luo Chen offered an explanation: "I specialize in fire arts. A land of ice and snow does not suit my long-term cultivation; the Howling Moon Mountain Range is more suitable." It was a reason, but also an excuse. Once a cultivator reached the Golden Core stage, unless placed in an extremely frigid environment like Ice Fort's Mount Tian, they were not overly affected by the external cultivation environment. Between heaven and earth, yin and yang were balanced, and the five elements were complete. Almost any spiritual land possessed no severe bias in spiritual energy attributes. Between one Tier 3 spiritual vein and another, there might be differences in spiritual energy density, but the distribution of elemental attributes remained fairly balanced. Fairy Jueqing accepted this explanation. She had merely mentioned it in passing to Luo Chen, lest they misjudge each other's strength on the battlefield later on. As the three conversed, escape light shimmered at the palace entrance. A pair of striking figures appeared before the crowd. In an instant, they drew the eyes of everyone present. They were two women: one poised and noble like a peony, the other ravishing and alluring like a rose. Fei Ming whispered, "You recognize both of them, right?" Luo Chen replied, "I recognize one: Shi Xiangzhu. As for the other, could she be the legendary palace master of Baihua Palace, Baihua Fairy?" Fei Ming nodded. "Good eye. It is indeed them." The arrival of the two beautiful cultivators instantly seized most of the room's attention, and many stepped forward deliberately to strike up acquaintances. How female cultivators from the Hehuan Sect fared in battle might be up for debate, but in social grace, they were peerless. Within a few words, laughter and lively chatter ensued. During this, Shi Xiangzhu let her gaze drift over, glancing toward Luo Chen and his group from time to time. Yet Luo Chen and his companions did not take the initiative to approach them. Evidently, since Baihua Fairy and Shi Xiangzhu had arrived, the representatives of the other Nascent Soul great sects would soon follow. ... Sure enough, right on the heels of the two women, another person drifted in. The moment his feet touched the ground, an uproar of exclamations echoed through the hall. A crowd rushed over to surround him—including those who had just been clustering around Baihua Fairy and Shi Xiangzhu! The reason was simple. The newcomer was named Meng Changshou, a Golden Core elder of the Medicine King Sect and an illustrious Tier 3 Master Alchemist! "Master Meng, it has been many years, yet your bearing is even more distinguished than before!" "You must be Zhou Feng!" "You are as refined and affable as ever, Elder, actually remembering me. Back then, I was merely a Foundation Establishment junior..." "Yu Jiaolong greets Master Meng!" "Mm, exceptional aptitude, little girl, and so young. We are getting old; the cultivation world will belong to you young ones from now on." "Fellow Daoist Meng, since we parted in the secret realm, it must have been a hundred years!" "Fellow Daoist Chu, I trust you have been well!" Amid the wave of greetings, Luo Chen stood behind the crowd, a tinge of envy in his eyes. This was what a truly renowned Master Alchemist looked like, one whose Dao of alchemy had reached maturity! The moment he appeared, he drew everyone's attention! Even though Baihua Fairy and Shi Xiangzhu were as beautiful as immortals, they seemed utterly eclipsed before him. By contrast, Luo Chen's own reputation as a "Master Alchemist" lauded for boundless prospects seemed rather hollow. What people valued was merely his potential. After all, everyone knew he had formed his core not long ago, and whether he could refine Tier 3 pills was still an open question. Of course, Luo Chen did not belittle himself. He understood well that the reason Meng Changshou drew so many fawning flatterers was also the alchemy great sect at his back—the Medicine King Sect! They were not currying favor solely with Meng Changshou the individual, but with the sect behind him. Cultivating goodwill with him might mean the Medicine King Sect would supply more Tier 3 pills in the future. Nurturing an alchemist was exceedingly difficult. Just initiating a Tier 1 alchemist consumed an untold amount of resources. Ordinary sects could barely shoulder that expense. Even for a Tier 2 alchemist, a sect might grit its teeth and bear it. But a Tier 3 alchemist... Put it this way: when Luo Chen refined the Tier 3 Many Stars Pill, the raw materials for a single batch cost two thousand spirit stones! And he possessed that ultimate weapon, the system panel, which stabilized his pill formation rate. Yet even so, concocting a single bottle of low-grade Many Stars Pills consumed a full twenty thousand spirit stones. And such a bottle only sold for four to five thousand spirit stones. If an ordinary Golden Core great sect were to train an alchemist to concoct Many Stars Pills, the accumulated losses over time would run into the millions or tens of millions of spirit stones. And even then, there was no guarantee they would succeed in initiating the recipe! Even if they succeeded, there was no guarantee of reaching a higher pill formation rate or yielding higher grades. The scarcity of high-level alchemists led to the rarity of high-grade pills. Take the vast Jade Cauldron Domain as an example. The Tier 3 alchemists with renowned names were actually just Mu Yunyan of the Luoyun Sect, and Qingdanzi, Master Chiding, and Master Xingyun of Azure Pill Valley. As for rising stars like Qingyunzi and Danyangzi, though styled Tier 3 alchemists, no one had actually heard of them successfully concocting a Tier 3 pill yet. Beyond that, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had one Tier 3 alchemist within its ranks. And that was it! Ice Fort used to have one named Shang Hu, but unfortunately his Dao companion, Fairy Jueqing, had executed him for righteousness. The fallen Yan Alliance had possessed no Tier 3 alchemists, having only collected a few Tier 3 pill recipes alongside a small number of Tier 2 alchemists. Mount Ailao had none; Baihua Palace had none. Tallying it up, the vast Jade Cauldron Domain of the past had truly possessed only five Tier 3 alchemists. Just five people could never satisfy the pill demands of all the Golden Core cultivators across an entire domain. That was why the Medicine King Sect held such an exalted status. Even though they never involved themselves in disputes, whenever a Tier 3 alchemist from their sect stepped forth, they were invariably treated as honored guests of the highest seat. "If I took out Many Stars Pills for sale today, could I also achieve such..." The thought had barely surfaced before Luo Chen snuffed it out. How could the strength of one man compare to the might of the entire Medicine King Sect? Even if he revealed his ability to concoct Tier 3 cultivation-type pills today, he would at most build a network of connections; he could never attain a standing like Meng Changshou's. "Come, let's join the excitement too!" Fei Ming tugged at his sleeve. Luo Chen did not refuse. He had never been one to put on airs of lofty detachment. Joining the crowd now might carry a hint of seeking connections, but since everyone was doing so, no one would think twice about it. Besides, the gathering had not officially begun, and people were simply mingling to become familiar. No one was foolish enough to monopolize Meng Changshou indefinitely; most just exchanged greetings before stepping aside for others. Timing it well, Fei Ming led Luo Chen into the crowd. ... "Fellow Daoist Meng, long time no see! Fei has missed you dearly!" Meng Changshou was a white-haired elder, hale, hearty, and ruddy-faced. Seeing Fei Ming, his eyes lit up. "Ah, Fellow Daoist Fei! You've come just in time; I was just thinking of looking for you." Such rare familiarity distinguished Fei Ming from the crowd of people who had greeted Meng Changshou earlier. Fei Ming straightened his back. "Could it be regarding the pill chamber?" Meng Changshou laughed heartily. "As expected of a shrewd devil like you, guessing it right away. I intend to stay in Poyue Immortal City for a while and happen to lack a pill chamber suited to my habits and style. I'll have to trouble you with that later." Fei Ming smiled modestly, murmuring that it was no trouble at all, but the broad grin on his face laid bare his pride. To be singled out with special regard by Meng Changshou among a throng of Golden Core cultivators was indeed something to be proud of. Meng Changshou's gaze shifted, landing on Luo Chen. "And this fine young talent?" Fei Ming stepped aside and made the introduction in person: "The former number one Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Jade Cauldron Domain, founding ancestor of the Luotian Sect, leader of the Luotian Alliance—Danchenzi!" Meng Changshou's eyes brightened. Luo Chen gave a formal bow with clasped hands. "Luo Chen." "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Meng." Smack! To Luo Chen's bewilderment, Meng Changshou grabbed him firmly by the arm. This sudden motion caught everyone else off guard as well. Those with quick wits immediately began speculating about the relationship between Luo Chen, Meng Changshou, and the Medicine King Sect. Yet they did not have to guess for long before Meng Changshou's next words revealed the reason behind his abrupt action. The old man asked with an excited expression, "You are Danchenzi? The rogue cultivator alchemist who participated in Azure Pill Valley's concoction of the Tier 4 Nascent Soul Pill?" Luo Chen came to a sudden understanding. So it was about that! He replied modestly, "I did participate, but I was not leading the process, and in the end, it regrettably ended in failure." "Failure matters not!" Meng Changshou waved his hand dismissively. "Everyone experiences failure, especially with a pill as notoriously difficult among Tier 4 pills as the Nascent Soul Pill. Over the years, I have attempted to concoct Tier 4 pills as well, and haven't succeeded once either. Come, tell me the exact details of that Nascent Soul Pill concoction! My only regret is that trivial sect affairs tied me down at the time, otherwise I would surely have..." Luo Chen now fully understood where the elder's fervor came from. This was an alchemist utterly obsessed with the craft! He was currently stuck at the threshold of crossing ranks to refine Tier 4 pills. Happening upon a peer who had actually participated in such an attempt, he naturally treated Luo Chen with burning enthusiasm. Luo Chen had witnessed this kind of behavior many times. For instance, when he discussed body refinement with Wang Yuan, or sought Min Longyu's advice on formations... or just a moment ago, when he chatted with Fei Ming about constructing Poyue Immortal City and Fei Ming spoke with boundless gusto. It was just that Meng Changshou was even more candid. Or rather, with his stature, he had no need for superficial restraint or composure. Whatever he felt, he showed. "If I converse more with him now, not only will it enhance my alchemy attainment, but it will also elevate my standing in everyone's eyes." From the corner of his eye, Luo Chen caught the looks of surprise, curiosity, and contemplation on the faces around them. Yet he quickly reined himself in. "Fellow Daoist Meng, there are many peers present today. Why don't we set another date to speak in detail?" Meng Changshou blinked, noticing the cultivators behind still trying to squeeze through, and came to his senses. Looking at Luo Chen's calm and composed demeanor, a hint of admiration arose in his heart. This young man truly knew propriety and restraint, choosing not to seize the opening to push himself forward shamelessly. "Very well!" "I will arrange a time later, and we shall have a thorough discussion on the Dao of alchemy." Luo Chen gave an easy smile and retreated smoothly from the crowd. Immediately, another Golden Core cultivator stepped forward, casting a grateful glance at Luo Chen as they brushed shoulders. Yet many in the room kept their eyes on Luo Chen's retreating back. He had been valued by Azure Pill Valley and invited to concoct the Nascent Soul Pill! And now he had caught the eye of Medicine King Sect's Meng Changshou. Combined with his past exploits, this Luo Chen, provided he did not perish prematurely, was bound to become a prominent figure in the Eastern Desolation! With this realization, several people felt their interest piqued. Too many were fawning over Meng Changshou anyway, making it impossible to squeeze in; why not befriend this rising star instead? Yet having the thought was rarely as fast as someone else taking action. Unbeknownst to them, several more Golden Core cultivators had entered the hall, all hailing from the other Nascent Soul great sects. Fairy Fengyue of Fenghua Palace, Elder Ye Xiang of the Divine Talisman Sect, representatives from Motian Cliff... and Jin Buque of the Five Elements Divine Sect! At that moment, Jin Buque was already standing before Luo Chen, laughing and conversing warmly. No one knew what they were discussing, but the smiles on both their faces were radiant. From time to time, their hands gestured as they pinched incantation seals. Were they exploring spells? Indeed! The Five Elements Divine Sect excelled in researching and developing all manner of arcane arts and wondrous methods. Luo Chen also bore the Daoist title Lord Fire Spirit and was exceptionally adept in fire spells. When the two came together, their primary topic would naturally revolve around spellcraft. Inside the hall. The atmosphere had begun heating up with the arrival of the two Hehuan Sect cultivators. With the appearance of Meng Changshou from the Medicine King Sect, it had reached a crescendo. And when the other Golden Core representatives of the Nascent Soul great sects arrived, onlookers noticed and went forward to converse. When the Master Artifact Forger Huyan Zhuo of Tianfan City made his entrance, another stir swept through the room. His renown was deafening, echoing across more than a dozen cultivation domains! It even surpassed Meng Changshou's! Luo Chen, having just traded for a secret technique from Jin Buque to purge alien spiritual power, saw his eyes light up the moment he spotted Huyan Zhuo! A Master Artifact Forger! Natal magic treasures! This was an opportunity Luo Chen was determined not to miss! "Fellow Daoist Jin, shall we chat again next time?" "Certainly." Jin Buque smiled affably as he saw Luo Chen off. Watching him head toward Huyan Zhuo, Jin Buque largely understood his intentions. He had continually tracked intelligence regarding Luo Chen. "Ancestor has not yet awoken. Maintain good ties with Luo Chen first." "No rush, no rush!" Luo Chen's pace was swift, yet no urgency showed on his face, which remained tranquil. As he passed a corner, his figure paused reflexively. He glanced to the side. An exceptionally young man clad in green robes gave him a gentle nod of greeting. Luo Chen hesitated for a moment before bowing politely. "Luotian Sect, Luo Chen." The green-robed man cupped his hands. "Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, Lin Qingxuan." Luo Chen's expression tightened. His predecessor as the number one Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Jade Cauldron Domain! Lin Qingxuan gestured with one hand. "Care to take a step aside and chat?" Luo Chen showed some hesitation. Lin Qingxuan followed his gaze toward Huyan Zhuo. He gave a faint smile. "No need to go over. Master Huyan Zhuo has a rather eccentric temperament and finds conversing with strangers particularly irritating. Approaching him like that won't win you any favors; on the contrary, it's likely to breed annoyance." Luo Chen was taken aback; he truly had not known this detail. Yet thinking about it carefully, a master artisan passionately devoted to crafting novel magical artifacts, whose name had been pirated by countless people for profit, could hardly maintain a sunny temper. Weighing his options, he chose to believe Lin Qingxuan. The two walked to a secluded spot. Contrary to Luo Chen's expectations, there was none of the sword-drawn tension one might expect between two successive champions of Foundation Establishment in the Jade Cauldron Domain. The other man's very first words were: "Thank you!"