Just as panic hung heavy over the front line, a sudden piece of news arrived, putting everyone's hearts at ease.
A great cultivator had arrived at Broken Moon Immortal City.
A late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator!
Word had it that this was none other than Ancestor Hehuan himself!
The revelation sent a wave of relief and exhilaration through the ranks.
Ancestor Hehuan was by no means an obscure figure. Having cultivated the Hehuan Sect's legacy art, the *Six Imperial Yin-Yang Transformations*, for over a millennium, his strength had reached peak perfection. Rumor had it that in his earlier years, he had nearly been inducted into the Mingyuan Sect, the Soul Formation sacred land, as a guest elder. Though that fell through later for reasons unknown, it showed just how formidable he was.
The appearance of such a figure in the Howling Moon Mountain Range was like an anchor dropped into a tempest, instantly quelling the general terror. So long as no ancient Soul Formation demon emerged from the Million Mountains, no catastrophic disaster would befall the already conquered Howling Moon Mountain Range.
Of course, those privy to insider knowledge made their own reasonable guesses.
For Ancestor Hehuan, who had long avoided worldly affairs, to emerge from secluded cultivation and garrison the front line meant he was almost certainly there to atone. Everyone knew that from Broken Moon Immortal City to the decisive battle at Tiangu Plain, the Pioneering War had largely gone by the book. The blunder had occurred right at the very end during the assault on the Great Snow Mountain, an operation spearheaded by Perfected Yunhe of the Hehuan Sect and his Dao companion. Now that disciples under his banner had stirred up trouble and provoked powerful demons, the Hehuan Sect had to provide an answer, regardless of how the Eastern Desolation's human Soul Formation sacred land chose to handle it.
Once the human cultivators in the mountain range grasped this logic, they set their worries aside. The panic of the past month vanished without a trace, and business resumed in full swing. In fact, because a large number of Core Formation cultivators had disappeared, vast commercial interests had been left vacant, sparking fierce scrambles that frequently erupted into bloodshed.
Such disorder should never have been allowed. Yet with the Luoyun Sect currently leaderless, and Ancestor Hehuan remaining out of sight as if indifferent to mundane affairs, people grew all the more unrestrained.
***
High upon Mount Cangwu.
Two figures stood side by side, gazing down at the plaza below.
A man controlled true fire to heat a furnace and brew pills. Birds flocked around him on all sides, utterly silent, as if engrossed in study. The man looked rather displeased, yet his movements were remarkably fluid and without a single misstep.
Before Zhoukong Hall, Youquan fluttered her wings, hoping to land on the green-robed woman.
The two stood remarkably close, yet an invisible barrier seemed to part them, preventing her from crossing over no matter how hard she tried.
Youquan let out an abrasive croak. "Xiaoqing, just let me perch for a bit. Flying constantly is exhausting."
Qingshuang seemed not to hear, her bright eyes fixed on the scene below, looking slightly unfocused.
Youquan cawed twice, summoning a wisp of black cloud beneath her claws, and muttered to herself, "Those human cultivators truly don't take our warnings seriously! Two of their five Nascent Soul Perfected Persons were slain and three captured by your hand, yet they're still boldly bustling about the Howling Moon Mountain Range. Aren't they afraid Di Tian will launch a punitive strike?"
Qingshuang's expression stirred slightly. Then she said flatly, "Haven't you always said that human cultivators are thoroughly accustomed to arrogance?"
Indeed, they were.
Every Pioneering War was hailed as a venture where risk and profit coexisted. Yet every single time, countless individuals threw themselves into the fray, wave after wave, never ceasing.
Why?
Simply because cultivators habitually assumed the rewards far outweighed the dangers, dismissing the risks as negligible! Subconsciously, the victorious cultivators of the Eastern Desolation had never truly respected the demon race in the Million Mountains.
Youquan pursed her beak, glancing toward Duzhen Hall, which she was temporarily overseeing. "If you ask me, dead is dead. Why bother bringing them back alive?"
Qingshuang said softly, "Elder Sister said she and Di Tian walk different paths. Helping Di Tian once on her behalf was enough; there's no need to offend humanity beyond repair. Keeping these captives leaves room for future maneuvers. If the two sides reach an agreement, handing them over ensures we don't end up on humanity's bad side."
Youquan blinked. "Xiaoqing, I never expected you to understand such convoluted schemes."
Qingshuang bit her lip gently. "When you read enough books, you naturally learn the ways of the world."
Youquan chuckled slyly. "Then have you ever considered what happens if the talks break down?"
Qingshuang's brows knitted, caught in a dilemma. After pondering for a moment, she offered hesitatingly, "Kill them then?"
"I'm afraid it'll be far too late by then!"
"Uh..."
"Don't worry. I've already contacted the Eastern Desolation Demon Court founded by Di Tian, telling them to come and take the captives away. Whether it ends in war or peace, Mount Cangwu will have washed its hands of the matter." Youquan's tone turned solemn. "Xiaoqing, remember this: what you read in books is merely surface knowledge. True wisdom requires practical experience to grasp."
*Practical experience?*
A look of distress crossed the woman's delicate face.
Seeing her troubled state, Youquan smiled again and consoled her, "Fine, fine. I know you hate these trivial matters and only wish to focus on your cultivation so you can ascend to the Soul Formation stage soon. Leave these things to me from now on."
Hearing that, Qingshuang looked visibly relieved.
She said softly, "That is best. It is also what Elder Sister hopes of me. I cannot let her down."
"Yes, keep at it! I know you can do it. You've practiced the most orthodox demon cultivation arts since childhood, reaching the late Nascent Soul stage in under two hundred years. If anyone in the Mountain Sea Realm has the best chance to naturally break through to Soul Formation and ascend in this era, it is you, Qingshuang!"
Faced with the encouragement, a rare faint smile touched the woman's lips.
Yet she failed to catch the fleeting hint of irritation in Youquan's eyes.
Suddenly, gazing down at the back of the pill-refining man below, Qingshuang asked out of the blue, "You value him for more than just his alchemy, don't you?"
"What do you mean? Emperor's Flowing Syrup is of immense help in nurturing Mount Cangwu's forces. That alone is reason enough to hold him in high regard."
"Is that truly all, Youquan?" Qingshuang sounded doubtful.
Youquan cawed with a laugh. "Fine, fine, nothing gets past your sharp mind! Take a close look at the flame Luo Chen uses when concocting pills!"
Curious, Qingshuang looked down.
Gradually, an expression of wonder appeared on her face.
"Nirvana Holy Fire?"
"Yes, and no!" Youquan puffed out her chest with pride. "In all the world, only Monarch Qixia can command the true Nirvana Holy Fire. How could a mere Core Formation cultivator possess it? Still, your eyes didn't deceive you. The Wither-Bloom Fire Luo Chen commands contains the embryonic form of Nirvana Holy Fire, carrying the faint mysteries of life and death interchange."
Surprised, Qingshuang asked, "Is that why you gave him preferential treatment?"
"That's part of it!" Youquan lowered her voice, her tone turning strange. "Furthermore, the boy is truly extraordinary. Born with five spiritual roots, he managed to form a core in less than a century. He possesses an unyielding disposition and immense good fortune. Had he not crossed your path, he would surely have grown into one of the most dazzling paragons of humanity! Controlling him under my wing strengthens our forces, allows Mount Cangwu to flourish, and weakens humanity's foundation. Why shouldn't I kill two birds with one stone? Most importantly, Emperor's Flowing Syrup isn't the true objective. The Transformation Pill is the real key to Mount Cangwu's rise!"
The mountain breeze blew, rustling her green robes.
Qingshuang fell into thought.
After watching Luo Chen refine pills for a bit longer, she remarked casually, "Yet clearly, his control over that Wither-Bloom Fire is still at the rudimentary level. I doubt he can refine a Transformation Pill for you."
"Who would've thought that our Xiaoqing, who only focuses on body refinement and spatial Dao, would know so much about fire methods?"
Youquan chuckled slyly.
"Worry not, that's a simple matter!
"I have my ways to make him master the Wither-Bloom Fire and refine that Transformation Pill for me!"
***
On the mountainside terrace, Luo Chen refined Emperor's Flowing Syrup with a dark expression.
Over the course of a month, with Heqingzi's help, he had finally gathered a batch of ingredients. After he personally refined and processed them, they met the baseline requirements for concoction.
Had it ended there, it wouldn't have bothered him. Alchemy was his old profession, after all.
Yet Youquan had issued an order.
He had to personally preside over the refinement under the watchful eyes of the masses, and if any birds came to seek instruction, he was required to patiently answer their questions.
What did that mean?
It meant he was being forced to act as a teacher to these beasts!
It meant passing down his alchemical craft without holding anything back.
Luo Chen had no way to refuse. She had spared him from a soul search and granted him a peak-grade Rank Three cave abode that boosted cultivation speed ninefold. Under such circumstances, he couldn't hide behind an alchemist's personal habits to decline. Dying for his convictions was simply not something Luo Chen would do.
Yet the thought of shifting from refining pills for beasts to openly teaching them human alchemy left a bitter taste in his mouth.
*If human cultivators find out about this, I'll be branded a race traitor for good, won't I?*
Luo Chen smiled bitterly in his heart.
His hands, however, didn't slow in the slightest. With a sweep of his broad sleeve, he lifted the lid of the damaged Shangshu Cauldron. Streams of golden syrup surged into the sky, flowing smoothly into prepared jade bottles under the guidance of his circulating magic power.
The sight was as dazzling as sunlight yielding essence or the bright moon dropping radiant nectar.
*Chirp, twitter...*
The sounds of birds chattering echoed in his ears. Having picked up a bit of their tongue, Luo Chen could tell that these Rank One to Rank Three demon birds of Mount Cangwu were praising his skill from the bottom of their hearts.
Yet their praises sounded utterly grating.
Given the choice, Luo Chen would rather have none of it.
He turned to leave, but Heqingzi stepped forward, blocking his path.
"I need to rest!"
"Next time you refine, slow your movements down. Many of them couldn't follow the steps of your technique."
"If they couldn't see it clearly, it means they lack comprehension, and therefore have no talent to be alchemists."
"Luo Chen, I advise you to rein in your temper."
Luo Chen took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure as much as possible.
Yet his words remained sharp. "That is simply how it is. Otherwise, the cultivation world would be crawling with alchemists. Senior Heqingzi, you spent so many years in human society—surely you understand this better than I do, right?"
Heqingzi nodded reflexively.
Almost immediately, however, she caught the biting sarcasm beneath his words. He was mocking her for having once betrayed her own demon race!
Just as Heqingzi was about to flare up, she suddenly caught herself.
She looked up toward Zhoukong Hall, her expression shifting uncertainly before she turned back to Luo Chen.
"Lady Qingshuang and Lady Youquan summon you up there."
Luo Chen paused, his gaze instinctively drifting toward the immense palace looming half-hidden in the sky like an alternate dimension.
***
This was Luo Chen's first time setting foot inside Zhoukong Hall.
It was also his second time laying eyes on the formidable demon cultivator named Qingshuang.
When their eyes met, Luo Chen felt a tremor run through his heart and immediately lowered his head.
Inside the hall, Qingshuang still hesitated, sending a voice transmission to Youquan: *"Are you truly going to pass Elder Sister's cultivation method to him?"*
*"It's merely an excerpt of the Core Formation chapter; giving it to him does no harm. Besides, while the Monarch obtained the legacy from Lianxia, she long ago broke free from its shackles and no longer relies on that scripture. Worry not. If the Monarch decides to punish anyone, I will bear it alone,"* Youquan replied with a chuckle. Without having assumed human form, her speech retained the rasping, unnatural cadence of a crow, harsh and jarring to the ear.
Qingshuang replied noncommittally, *"If you insist, then do as you wish. Elder Sister said you are to oversee all affairs on Mount Cangwu anyway."*
*"Rest assured. Just remember to lend a hand when needed later on."*
*"Understood."*
In the center of the hall, Luo Chen kept his head down, standing quietly.
The prolonged silence weighed on him with immense pressure, making him feel as though his life and death rested entirely in someone else's hands, leaving him without the slightest power to resist.
Finally, the black crow spoke in her bizarre cadence.
"Luo Chen, has anyone ever told you that you've taken the wrong path?"
Luo Chen was taken aback and instinctively looked up, meeting her gaze.
"Someone has."
Youquan seemed unbothered by his direct look and nodded. "It seems there are indeed discerning figures among humans!"
Luo Chen recalled those who had guided him along the way—Master Canglong, who had offered him pointers, and Chu Kui, who had served as his sparring partner for a time.
Reflecting on those memories, he spoke slowly. "Someone once told me that while I excel in fire methods, I practice wood-attribute arts. Going north while heading south, my true strength is never fully unleashed."
Youquan nodded slightly.
"Someone also said that possessing all five elemental spiritual roots gives me an exceptionally solid foundation, providing the groundwork to ascend to the heavens."
Youquan did not dispute this either.
"Thus, after forming my core, I sought to correct my mistakes, shifting from solely practicing wood-attribute arts to dual cultivation of wood and fire. Unfortunately, core techniques are closely guarded sect secrets, and I only obtained an incomplete scroll of the *Burning Wood True Art*, which has slowed my progress considerably."
Youquan smiled. "The intention was good, and so was your drive. But have you ever considered this: dual cultivation is inherently difficult, and dragged down by your five spiritual roots, how long will it take you to reach the Nascent Soul stage? In this lifetime, will you ever stand a chance of breaking through to Soul Formation?"
At these words, a bitter smile surfaced on Luo Chen's face.
He truly had thought about it!
Or rather, he had pondered it deeply ever since forming his core.
Back then, he had simply taken it one step at a time, resolving the difficulties of cultivation little by little. Yet despite years of hard work and maximizing his resources, his realm advanced at a crawl. Even now, he had not found the opportunity to forge his natal magic treasure.
Though he now had access to a peak-grade Rank Three spiritual land that boosted his cultivation speed immensely, he still lacked confidence in forming a Nascent Soul, let alone reaching Soul Formation or achieving immortality!
Dual cultivation was a burden, and his five elemental spiritual roots formed a fundamental shackle. Moreover, he had no idea how long he would be allowed to enjoy this spiritual land.
As he stood there smiling bitterly, Youquan said leisurely, "I possess a peerless divine art capable of grafting your foundation, allowing you to transition fully to the Dao of fire. If you cultivate this technique to the pinnacle, you can even deceive the heavens and bypass the limits of having five roots, advancing swiftly as though blessed with a single root.
"Do you wish to learn it?"
Luo Chen shuddered, blurting out, "What cultivation method is it?"
Youquan opened her beak and spat out a flame-red feather that hovered before her.
"The *Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture*—a direct path to the Mahayana stage!"
Chapter 513