A Letter from Home, the War Begins!

Time flowed slowly by. A month slipped past in the snap of a finger. As Luo Chen exhaled a long breath, specks of golden light vanished into the void like a dream. He felt as though a great mountain had been lifted from his shoulders, bringing instant ease. There was truly no better description than a weight off one's chest! "At last, the Golden Wolf King's demonic qi has been purged!" Luo Chen unconsciously rubbed his chest; as his magic power circulated, not a single obstruction remained. That Golden Wolf King was an extraordinary member of the Radiant Gold Wolf species—rare yet renowned among wolf kind. Demonic wolves of this breed were generally known for their intellect. Yet the Golden Wolf King he had clashed with had dedicated his cultivation toward tempering his demonic form, achieving remarkable results. "Rumor has it that Wolf Emperor Ao Xiao is a pure-blooded Radiant Gold Wolf who awakened his celestial wolf bloodline after taking human form, thus receiving ancestral heritage. His three sons possess distinct pelts and coats, suggesting they were born of different queens. "The Golden Wolf King excels in body refinement, the Black Wolf King specializes in demonic arts, and the youngest, though lacking the Radiant Gold Wolf bloodline, possesses immense intellect, combining sonic attacks with soul-targeting assaults, making him especially favored by Wolf Emperor Ao Xiao. "From the looks of it, the Falling Cloud Sect's intelligence was rather biased. The Golden Wolf King was by no means as reckless and witless as he appeared on the surface. Beneath that powerful body-refining cultivation lay equally unmatched, ferocious demonic power." Luo Chen sighed in emotional reflection. Fortunately, the Wither-Bloom True Fire he had refined was of sufficiently high grade to suppress the demonic power injected by the Golden Wolf King. Otherwise, beset by troubles both internal and external, he would have perished on the spot! Now, relying on the Spirit-Dissolving Liquid and the Dragon Slaying Art, he had thoroughly eradicated the golden wolf's demonic energy. Coupled with the Sea-Solidifying Pills to calm his turbulent qi sea and the Meridian-Mending Pills to nourish his meridians, his internal crisis was finally resolved. Moreover! Through the continuous healing process, his proficiency in the Tier 4 spell, the Dragon Slaying Art, had increased tremendously. It had now reached the mastery level, not far from perfection! He had even joyfully gained an achievement point! That counted as an unexpected boon! With his internal concerns cleared away, he could focus all his efforts on tending to his external injuries. Luo Chen assessed his physical state; compared to the beginning, he had improved greatly, yet he still could not transform into his Heavenly Peng true form for the time being. Through this, Luo Chen had also uncovered a flaw in his body-refining method. The physique tempered through the Convergence of Myriad Paths was exceedingly strong and fiercely rigid. Yet rigidity made it prone to breaking! Against those whose physiques were inferior to his, he could crush them with absolute dominance. However, against someone physically stronger than himself, the one vulnerable to trauma became him. If he wanted to overcome this flaw, Luo Chen had two potential paths. The first was to concurrently practice Wang Yuan's body-refining technique, comprehending the variations of qi and blood. That way, cultivating both external and internal arts to balance hardness with softness would allow him to cushion extreme external impacts. The second was to rely on the Wither-Bloom Fire, devouring vast amounts of life-force from demon beasts so that this rigid physique possessed even greater regenerative power. Yet while these two methods sounded simple enough, putting them into practice was enough to give him a headache just thinking about it. The former would demand time and energy, requiring considerable comprehension. The latter represented countless demon beast resources—or rather, "living being" resources. In truth, any being possessing potent vitality could be refined and absorbed, including human cultivators! "I shouldn't dwell on this for now." "Better to recover from my injuries first!" Luo Chen retrieved the black jar from his storage ring; more than half of the Black Emperor Paste remained inside. Over the course of this long month, he had cast the Five Elements Viscera-Restoring Art, the Bone-Restoring Art, and the Healing Art from time to time... fully realigning his organs, meridians, and bones. Consequently, his body's efficiency in absorbing the Black Emperor Paste had increased considerably. Before long, his physique would surely return to peak condition. Luo Chen had already discovered that this secret remedy of the Falling Cloud Sect had an exquisite effect on body tempering! It provided unimaginable auxiliary benefits! It absorbed even better when applied to wounds. It almost gave him the illusion that if he were completely shattered and pieced back together, his body would ascend to an entirely new tier. "That idea is far too dangerous!" Luo Chen gave his head a vigorous shake, banishing the thought. Rather than taking such risks, it was better to devise a way to trade for more Black Emperor Paste from the Falling Cloud Sect in the future to aid his tempering. Slow and steady absorption was effective enough! *** "Xu Huanzhen, what brings you here?" "News of the night battle at Qianye Peak has spread throughout Poyue Immortal City. Since I was already in charge of our demon beast resource trade, and the Falling Cloud Sect collected numerous carcasses they couldn't immediately process, it worked to our benefit. Furthermore, Supreme Elder, your feats have been causing quite a stir. The Sect Master was worried about you, so she had me come personally." Xu Huanzhen cautiously raised his gaze to Luo Chen. "Supreme Elder, are you all right?" Luo Chen chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry to make you all worry. I suffered some minor injuries, but it's nothing serious now." Hearing this, Xu Huanzhen's expression relaxed. "That's good, that's wonderful." He then continued, "The Luotian Alliance was worried you might lack hands, so they dispatched another group of Foundation Establishment cultivators over." At this, Luo Chen waved his hand dismissively. "No need. When you head back, take them with you!" Xu Huanzhen looked puzzled. Luo Chen explained, "Our Luotian Alliance suffered heavy losses in that battle, so the Sword-Bearer Hall won't assign me any missions for the time being. Having them return to safeguard our spiritual grounds is what truly matters." So that was why! Xu Huanzhen nodded in understanding. "By the way, when you return, take Wan Ting of the Wanxiang Sect and Zeng Yilong back with you as well!" As he spoke, a tinge of dejection surfaced on Luo Chen's face. He had led ten men out, yet in the end, only two would return. That was his failure. Of course, while he felt guilt in his heart, others did not see it that way. To Xu Huanzhen, the fact that the Supreme Elder could achieve such glorious battle merits under those dire circumstances was already a miracle. How could anyone demand more? After chatting a bit longer, Xu Huanzhen prepared to take his leave so as not to disturb Luo Chen's rest. Before departing, he presented a letter. "Written personally by the Sect Master. She specifically instructed me to place it directly in your hands, Supreme Elder." "From Huiniang?" Luo Chen murmured softly as he took the envelope. *Letter to My Husband* *** *Your humble wife, Huiniang, bows with solemn propriety to greet my husband:* *Recalling our parting at the Snow Plain, a year has flown by in the blink of an eye. Separated by the ends of the earth, I harbor lonely thoughts across time. Grievances in the deep courtyard cannot be counted by mornings and evenings.* *Yet Huiniang stands alone at the helm of Luotian, with disciples at my beck and call and myriad intricate matters left to my discretion. You alone dwell abroad, forced to rely on others—with whom can you confer?* *When you departed, countless threads within the sect required untangling. After a year of labor, results have finally shown.* *Our fellow Daoists of Mount Ailao undertook grand construction, moving three mountains, dredging two rivers, and erecting twelve pavilions to accommodate Luotian's Nine Halls, your Main Hall, and the two halls for mortal affairs...* *** In the first half of the letter, beyond expressing her longing, she focused on detailing the developments within the Luotian Sect and the current landscape of the alliance. Diwu Qi had honored the promise made before Luo Chen's departure, causing no trouble whatsoever. The Cen family had abandoned their previously aggressive posture and begun steadily nurturing their clansmen, likely because Cen Qiusheng's lifespan had been extended by seventy years, allowing him to manage the clan with calm assurance. The Wanxiang Sect, on the other hand, was showing signs of unrest. A large number of Qi Refinement disciples had already defected or secretly approached the Luotian Sect, seeking to switch allegiances. Sima Huiniang had outlined countermeasures for each of these matters. Luo Chen found it immensely reassuring to read. He knew well that although he had gained some grasp over sect administration and was no longer as lost as when he started, he remained far behind Sima Huiniang, who had honed her skills over many years. In just a single year, she had neatly organized the Luotian Sect's affairs in the Howling Moon Mountain Range. Moreover, she had fostered even closer cooperation with the other factions. In a pleasant mood, Luo Chen continued reading. *** *When I first heard your illustrious name echoing from Qianye Peak, my heart leaped with joy and pride. Yet when the true details reached my ears, only then did I learn that you were gravely wounded, hovering between life and death.* *Caiyi sent seven consecutive transmissions, her concern spilling through every word.* *I believe that in conducting oneself as a true man, one should not harbor deep grudges, nor should one overextend oneself for gratitude. Regarding the Falling Cloud Sect, my husband needs only to do what he can. Why must you expend yourself unto the end, courting death?* *To act within one's means is the only true way!* *Yet I am merely a woman, absent from the battlefield and unfamiliar with the nuances. My words may well be inappropriate.* *I ask only that my husband treasure his own life and return safely.* *The Luotian Sect cannot endure a single day without you, nor can Sima and Gu survive alone in your absence.* *Awaiting your return,* *—Sima Huiniang* *** Lowering his hands, Luo Chen fell into a brief silence. After a long while, he shook his head with a smile. "Spoken with the grace of the head wife, bringing Caiyi along with her." As for the contents of the letter, he merely felt touched without overthinking them. Or rather, before receiving this letter, he had already thought it through clearly. Huiniang was right. In certain matters, acting within one's means was enough; there was no need to seek glory. Looking back at that battle, there had indeed been a far better approach. With his supreme speed, luring the two early Tier 3 wolf kings away from the main battlefield would have been the optimal choice! Once in a secluded place, whether to slay them or flee would have been entirely under his control, completely avoiding everything that followed. As for whether the Falling Cloud Sect would be slaughtered by the wolf army, what did that have to do with him? In the end, he had simply remembered Qu Xibai opening the array of Tianlan Immortal City to assist him in forming his core, wanting to do his part on the battlefield to repay that kindness. Now, Fellow Daoist Qu Xibai had fallen. That debt of gratitude could be considered settled. As for the future? He would proceed with caution, thinking thrice before taking action! Carefully folding the letter and placing it deep within his storage ring, Luo Chen prepared to enter seclusion to nurse his injuries back to health. However, this plan was momentarily interrupted. Zeng Yilong arrived at his door. "I'm not going back!" Luo Chen gazed at him intently, but the youth kept his chin raised, showing no intention of backing down. Under Luo Chen's scrutiny, he ultimately could not withstand the pressure and whispered: "Martial Uncle is fighting on the battlefield, so how could I sit comfortably in the rear? "And... I want to witness the grand spectacle of the decisive battle!" Luo Chen frowned. "From whom did you hear about a decisive battle?" Without hesitation, Zeng Yilong replied, "Everyone outside is saying that the Falling Cloud Sect doesn't intend to rest. They're preparing to muster all their strength for a fight to the death against the Ao Xiao Wolf Court on the Tiangu Plain, striving for dominion over Howling Moon! "Besides, I asked Aunt Murong privately, and she indeed hinted at it. She said the Falling Cloud Sect is summoning all its members and amassing its forces, truly showing the posture of a massive campaign. "Such a grand event might only be witnessed once in a lifetime by cultivators of our generation. "I don't want to live with regrets!" Luo Chen fell silent. After a long while, he said softly, "Then you may stay. I can still protect a single person like you. But when the time comes, you must obey my orders, understood?" Having received his answer, Zeng Yilong's eyes shone brightly. "This disciple will remember!" After dismissing Zeng Yilong, Luo Chen stepped out of his immortal's cave and headed toward Fairy Jueqing's residence. *** "Is the news of the decisive battle true?" "There's no absolute certainty, but judging by the Falling Cloud Sect's movements and the speculations of the major powers, it's eight or nine times out of ten." "Did the Golden Core cultivators of those Nascent Soul sects give any statement?" "How could they fathom the thoughts of a Perfected Person? They're just like us, combining intelligence and guessing privately. Dan Chenzi, why are you so concerned about this?" "Making preparations early is always wise." Fairy Jueqing said indifferently, "Actually, you don't need to worry. You performed meritorious deeds in the previous battle, and the Luotian Alliance suffered heavy losses. Even if a decisive battle truly occurs, the Sword-Bearer Hall wouldn't assign you dangerous tasks." "Let us hope so!" Seeing that he could pry no definitive news from Fairy Jueqing, Luo Chen prepared to take his leave. Fairy Jueqing stopped him. "Lately, there have been many private gatherings among Golden Core cultivators. There's one tonight—would you like to go?" Luo Chen hesitated, but ultimately declined on the pretext of needing quiet rest to recover from his injuries. Naturally, he also asked her to help him gather any Fire Spirit Diamonds if she encountered them. Fairy Jueqing readily agreed. Seeing her like this, Luo Chen grew curious. "You usually don't seem fond of such gatherings. Why have you been so keen on them lately?" Fairy Jueqing rolled her eyes. "Do you think I want to be?" She did not state the specific reason. Yet after Luo Chen returned, he gradually figured it out. With Master Canglong heavily injured and stepping back from affairs, and Ice Fort losing several Golden Core cultivators, the sect lacked prominent figures to represent them publicly. Fairy Jueqing was taking on the burden of serving as their pillar outside. "It's been hard on her too." Back in his quarters, Luo Chen sighed softly before resuming his healing efforts. *** Half a month later, Xu Huanzhen led the group back to the sect. Luo Chen penned two letters, entrusting him to carry them back to Sima Huiniang and Gu Caiyi. As for other matters, he said little. However, before departing, Wan Ting, the surviving member of the Wanxiang Sect, looked at him with an expression of hesitance, which caught Luo Chen's attention. Thus, he secretly transmitted a message to Xu Huanzhen, instructing him to tell Sima Huiniang to keep a close watch on the Wanxiang Sect's movements. By this point, Luo Chen was temporarily free of lingering worries. Declining all social engagements, he resumed his closed-door seclusion. *** One day, inside the immortal's cave, the clash of metal on metal rang out continuously. It only ceased when the sound of a sharp weapon snapping echoed. Looking at the faint white mark on his arm, Luo Chen wore an expression of astonishment. Not long ago, his injuries had fully healed, leaving behind no internal or external ailments. And after recovering, he was astonished to discover that his body-refining realm on the attribute panel had undergone a distinct shift. It had changed from [Desolate Ancient Tier 3: 26/100] to [Desolate Ancient Tier 3: 28/100]. It had advanced by a full two points of progress! He had anticipated an increase, given that he had consistently maintained his medicinal diet and cultivated the Convergence of Myriad Paths, tempering his flesh with source true fire over the years. Yet jumping two points all at once was entirely unexpected. Now, even a top-grade flying sword driven with full power could not harm him in the slightest! Evidently, this abrupt advancement stemmed from the Black Emperor Paste! "What a marvelous treasure!" "If I had a steady supply of Black Emperor Paste to aid my body tempering, I might achieve grand completion and ascend to Desolate Ancient Tier 4 within a century at most!" For a moment, Luo Chen's heart surged with fervent desire, and he attached immense importance to that Black Emperor Paste. Yet following that burst of excitement, a wave of dejection set in. From what he knew, this secret medicine was exceedingly scarce even within the Falling Cloud Sect. Ordinary puppets were not worthy of being coated with it. Only Tier 3 puppets and above could be lightly smeared with a small amount. Perfected Person Han Zhan's willingness to bestow a portion upon him had already been exceedingly generous. Furthermore, with rumors of the decisive battle spreading ever louder, the Falling Cloud Sect's chief alchemist, Mu Yunyan, was focusing primarily on concocting other pills, naturally leaving no spare time to brew Black Emperor Paste. This completely crushed Luo Chen's thoughts of purchasing it at a steep price. "If I can't obtain the Black Emperor Paste itself, what about the pill formula?" Suddenly, this thought popped into Luo Chen's mind. A sect's pill formulas were strictly kept secret, particularly those tied to the foundational legacy of the sect. Yet evidently, the Falling Cloud Sect's inheritance involved not only puppetry, but also spirit-refining arts! The special favor they had shown him earlier had clearly been prompted by his presentation of the Tier 2 Nether-Passage Pill. One could even say that for a cultivator, external puppets were merely tools, while the inner soul was the root! "If I use the Tier 2 Nether-Passage Pill formula in exchange for the Black Emperor Paste formula..." There was a disparity in grade between the two—one was Tier 2, while the other was Tier 3. However, the Nether-Passage Pill was a rare spiritual medicine that augmented the soul's foundation. Meanwhile, though the Black Emperor Paste seemed precious, body refinement had long fallen into decline; the Falling Cloud Sect used it almost exclusively for puppet crafting. In this contemporary era, its practical value did not match its grade. "It might just work." Luo Chen muttered to himself, then began pondering the specific details of the transaction. After a while, a general plan formed in his mind. There was no rush for the moment! If he went knocking on their door right now, he would be the one begging for a favor, and they might make exorbitant demands. Yet once they secured their dominance over the Howling Moon Mountain Range, the heavily depleted Falling Cloud Sect would urgently need to restore its strength. Possessing the ability to concoct the Tier 2 Nether-Passage Pill, he would surely draw their keen attention. When that time came, it would be their turn to seek him out. Then he could negotiate with composure, and offering the Nether-Passage Pill formula would surely delight the Falling Cloud Sect! Having thought this through, Luo Chen's mind settled completely. That day was not far off! The decisive battle was right before their eyes! *** Having recovered from his injuries, Luo Chen still kept his doors shut to visitors. For the time being, he lacked no cultivation resources, and his doubts regarding cultivation had been answered during several earlier gatherings among Golden Core cultivators. At the very least, his path to the late Golden Core stage was assured. That being the case, socializing was an exercise in futility. Staying aloof and detached could even foster his reputation. He was waiting—waiting for the day of the decisive battle to arrive. Or rather, it wasn't just him waiting; everyone was waiting! The Falling Cloud Sect no longer bothered to conceal its movements. Strong experts from the sect were returning one after another, and formidable puppets, crafted around the clock by the cultivators of the Falling Cloud Sect and Tianfan City, were continually delivered. The Falling Cloud Sect had even managed—at who knew what price—to procure a battleship from Tianfan City! Yes, an actual battleship! That was Tianfan City's exclusive war treasure! Eight hundred years ago, during Tianfan City's own pioneering war, it had displayed dazzling brilliance. Since that conflict, Tianfan City had rarely deployed it, and other sects could neither purchase nor borrow one no matter how hard they tried. Luo Chen had gone out to view it once; hovering above the main camp was a colossal, ferocious-looking flying vessel. Yet it was merely a terrifying outline; its full scope remained veiled. Perhaps only when the decisive battle erupted would the true might of the Tianfan battleship be revealed. Nor did the Falling Cloud Sect's preparations stop there. They summoned every sect participating in the pioneering war, ordering them to dispatch their cultivators to assemble on the periphery of the Tiangu Plain. Countless cultivators began gathering like clouds. Ten thousand, twenty thousand, until reaching a hundred thousand! These were battle-tested cultivators, not motley bands encumbered by families or mixed with weak, low-tier cultivators. Beyond these hundred thousand cultivators, countless rogue cultivators gathered as well. All of them had caught wind of the coming conflict and wished to claim a share of the spoils. Those who dared to come naturally possessed confidence in their own capabilities. The atmosphere within the camp grew increasingly restless. Like a volcano poised to erupt at any moment, it waited for someone to raise their arms and give the call. Evidently, that call could only come from the Falling Cloud Sect. As time slowly ticked into the tenth year of the pioneering war, that legendary Nascent Soul True Person of the Falling Cloud Sect finally revealed himself to the world. Atop Qianye Peak. Beneath the gaze of thousands. Clad in azure robes with a solemn countenance, Perfected Person Han Zhan gave a low shout. "To war!" That single call, bolstered by surging magic power, rolled forward like raging waves, echoing across the four quarters. Answering him, aside from the sharp rumblings echoing through the crust of the Tiangu Plain, was a single word thundering like a mountain-toppling tsunami: "War!" "War!" "War!"