Spring thunder rumbled through the night.
Even cultivators who were typically insensitive to the changing of seasons realized spring had arrived as the spring rain fell with a lingering chill.
Indeed, that domineering Demonic Lord Qingyang—a man like blazing fire—was about to leave. How could spring not have come to the Flying Swallow Archipelago?
However, though it had been agreed he would depart after three months, no one had seen him make any grand exit.
This left the various great clans feeling deeply uneasy.
The Demonic Lord couldn't have gone back on his word, could he?
Every day, Foundation Establishment True Cultivators craned their necks to gaze toward the dead center of the archipelago, hoping to see a streak of light take flight.
Yet none was ever seen.
Among these clans, only the Cheng clan was an exception.
The small estate where Clan Head Cheng Dou had once resided was bustling no longer. Only the woman whom outsiders respectfully called Fairy Yaoyue lived within.
Outside the manor, slow footsteps approached, eventually halting before a waterside pavilion.
The pavilion's mistress seemed to hear the footsteps and spoke in a soft voice.
"Is that Uncle Ji? Please, come in!"
His hair stark white, Cheng Ji gently pushed the door open. The first sight that met his eyes was a woman's back as she combed her hair before a bronze mirror.
Looking at her, Cheng Ji let out a soft cough.
"Seventh Niece, you surely understand why I have come. My days are numbered; I feel my allotted lifespan drawing to its end. It is time you took over as the new clan head."
Hearing this, the woman paused her movements.
Yet she replied, "The position of Cheng clan head should still go to Brother Haichang!"
"But this..."
"Brother Haichang has rarely gone out to sea in recent years, focusing instead on instructing the clan's juniors in their cultivation. He naturally commands enough prestige. As for whether he can manage the clan well, there is no need to worry. Today, the Cheng clan faces neither internal strife nor external threats; we merely need to pass the torch down steadily."
Cheng Ji remained dissatisfied. In his eyes, Cheng Haixin was the most suitable clan head.
Though she was young and a woman, she possessed an extraordinarily deep relationship with Demonic Lord Qingyang. With her serving as clan head, anyone who crossed her path would have to show her ample deference.
That way...
Just as he was about to urge her further, his gaze fell upon her hair, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.
Her lustrous hair was wound high into an elegant coiffure pinned horizontally with a jade hairpin. As the dangling hairpins swayed gently, the bronze mirror faintly reflected the mature, delicate allure of a woman newly wed.
The old man could not help but shudder inwardly.
"Seventh Niece, you!"
Cheng Haixin glanced left and right in the bronze mirror before finally standing up and turning to face the old man.
"From now on, I will guard Yaoyue Island alone and devote myself to cultivation in pursuit of the Golden Core Great Dao. Unless the clan faces an existential crisis, I will not emerge. Uncle Ji, I have disappointed you."
Having said that, the woman brushed past the old man and walked out of the pavilion.
Watching her retreating back, the old man parted his lips, but in the end he merely sighed and said nothing.
Perhaps this was indeed for the best.
Within the clan, there was neither internal strife nor external threat; with Cheng Haichang's capabilities, he could manage daily affairs.
Outside the clan, Cheng Haixin would strive diligently in her cultivation, serving as a future pillar of support.
If she could one day advance to the Golden Core stage, the Cheng clan would truly become the undisputed foremost clan of the Flying Swallow Archipelago.
Before such a grand vision, trivial clan affairs were no longer so important.
It was just that... this child had suffered so much.
Amidst the old man's sighs, the woman flew through the air, heading straight for Yaoyue Island.
Along the way, gaze after gaze was cast in her direction, yet she acted as though completely oblivious.
Upon stepping onto the shores of the ten-li tranquil lake, she waved her sleeve.
"Go!"
Instantly, five thick, blue-and-white forms flew out from the spirit beast bag at her waist and plunged into the lake.
The moment they entered the water, the five forms stretched their bodies, powerful demonic qi radiating outward.
They were none other than the five Blue-Ringed Giant-Fanged Sea Snakes Luo Chen had subdued on a whim back then. All of them possessed Tier 2 early-stage cultivation, and the largest among them was fully at the Tier 2 late stage!
Now, the five snakes entered the lake and circled the island.
With a light tap of her toes, the woman drifted onto the island.
As she arrived, the layers of white mist blanketing the island parted slowly, revealing a serene, secluded path.
The woman walked all the way until she reached the exterior of Qingyang Hall. Her gaze instinctively drifted toward a side hall.
Extending her divine sense, she felt a thick, vigorous aura slowly breathing within that side hall.
With a mere thought from her, the aura immediately responded, producing a low hum.
Cheng Haixin showed a look of satisfaction.
"With this Tier 3 puppet left behind by my husband, along with the five Blue-Ringed Giant-Fanged Sea Snakes, I can effortlessly suppress the entire vast Flying Swallow Archipelago as long as no genuine Golden Core cultivator appears!"
"What's more, I possess the token controlling the hub of this island's formation. Even if an ordinary Golden Core cultivator comes, I can delay them for a moment and make a calm escape."
Murmuring to herself, she stepped into Qingyang Hall.
Looking at the spot where the spiritual qi was richest, she shook her head with slight regret.
A Tier 3 spiritual vein was not something she could utilize at present.
Even so, before her husband departed, he had still prepared a suitable cultivation ground for her.
Walking onward, Cheng Haixin arrived at a simple and unadorned cave dwelling.
The rich spiritual qi of heaven and earth caused her pores to open, immersing her entirely.
A Tier 2 upper-grade spiritual qi environment!
What was more, once she cultivated to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, she could use the token left by her husband to upgrade it to a quasi-Tier 3 level!
At that point, she could cultivate smoothly all the way to Great Perfection and catch a glimpse of the Golden Core realm.
As for the method of forming a core?
Cheng Haixin flipped her wrist, and a jade slip appeared in her hand.
Sinking her divine sense inside, several large characters surfaced in her mind.
*Micromote Origin Art: Abridged*—Authored by Luo Chen.
"So my husband's real name is Luo Chen."
Clutching the jade slip, the woman pressed her lips together tightly, her eyes sparkling brightly, as though she could see that figure striding calmly across the vast sea tens of thousands of li away.
***
The spring rain fell without end, landing upon the sea and stirring countless ripples.
A crimson cloud drifted across the horizon at a measured pace.
Atop the red cloud, a man and a woman stood and sat respectively.
Yet a third voice broke the silence, sounding rather abrupt in the man's ears.
"Just a fleeting romantic encounter, yet you were quite generous with your gifts. You even troubled an old man like me to step in personally and forge a Tier 3 puppet for her."
The man chuckled softly. "Don't make it sound so crass. In any case, it was mutual affection."
Inside the Ten Thousand Soul Banner behind him, Han Zhan sneered. "Do you truly take this old man for someone ignorant of love? In the Luoyun Sect, my bloodline has been passed down for several generations, but none of them practiced mutual affection quite like yours. Without proper legitimacy or title, without matchmakers or grand ceremonial rites."
Luo Chen's smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. "Regardless of what Cheng Haixin thinks, in my view it was merely each taking what we needed. She uses my reputation to stabilize her clan's situation and secure resources for the Great Dao. Meanwhile, I leave a retreat route for myself."
"Are you afraid this journey will meet with unexpected turns?" Han Zhan asked, surprised.
Luo Chen shrugged. "Who knows? If things don't go smoothly, or if I find the outside world too chaotic, perhaps I'll beat a retreat. That Yaoyue Island is a tranquil place after all. With an attentive person like Cheng Haixin guarding it for me, I won't end up homeless."
"Is your home truly on Yaoyue Island?" Han Zhan asked.
Luo Chen fell silent. Memories of the people and events in the Eastern Desolation flashed through his mind, especially those two figures that had guarded the green mountain every time he set out.
Finally, his eyelids lowered, his tone solemn.
"Home is where my heart finds peace."
Inside the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, Han Zhan was taken aback.
He savored the profound meaning of those words.
In the end, he cast a deep look at Luo Chen's back.
This was a "selfish" man!
Suddenly.
The red cloud descended toward a landmass below.
Shadowy human figures flitted about in his field of view, with occasional streaks of light rising and falling.
As the red cloud descended, a streak of light rose to greet it.
"This is Baisha Island, the private territory of the Bai clan. Outsiders are forbidden from entering. Please withdraw immediately!"
A self-deprecating laugh came from atop the red cloud.
"I ask Fellow Daoist for a bit of accommodation. Having traveled a long distance, this humble one has run low on spiritual power. I heard that Baisha Island has a merchant fleet traveling between the north and south; I only seek to travel with the fleet, and I am willing to pay a generous passage fare."
As he spoke, the red cloud flickered with spiritual light, showing distinct signs of instability.
Seeing this, Bai Xiang frowned slightly.
He sent out a strand of spiritual power, stirring a gust of clear wind that helped stabilize the red cloud.
Only then did he see the two figures upon it.
A man and a woman. The man was tall and ordinary-looking, his only distinctive feature being a face as bright red as a glowing charcoal stove. Presumably, this was caused by cultivating some peculiar technique. Fluctuation of early-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual power radiated from him, appearing rather unstable.
As for the woman, she was fair and pretty, bearing a thirty-percent resemblance to the man. Her slightly narrow phoenix eyes, though tightly closed, carried a sharp and fierce edge. Sitting cross-legged on the cloud while regulating her breath, her cultivation realm could not be discerned.
"What is your name? Where do you come from, and where are you headed?"
Luo Chen first offered thanks for the man's assistance, then said calmly, "This humble one is Luo Hai, from the Luo clan of Qiyuan City, out traveling after establishing my foundation. Having just returned from the outer sea, I heard a large-scale trade meet is taking place over in Lengguang, so I wished to travel there and broaden my horizons."
Bai Xiang snorted coldly. "A mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to travel all over? Do you think this is still the era when the Yuan Demon Sect existed?"
When the Yuan Demon Sect was still around, demonic ways had run rampant, but a certain order had nonetheless been maintained.
Now that the demonic sect had been overthrown, the so-called war between righteous and demonic factions had instead led to frequent chaos.
Let alone Foundation Establishment cultivators, even cautious Golden Core cultivators rarely dared venture out to sea.
He could not tell whether this Luo Hai was courageous or simply ignorant.
Bai Xiang's gaze shifted to the woman. "And who is she?"
Luo Chen looked at the woman before him and smiled. "She is my maidservant. She recently suffered an injury and is currently recuperating, making it unsuitable for her to move recklessly. It is for this very reason that I wished to borrow your esteemed clan's merchant fleet, so we can rest while traveling."
As he spoke, he retrieved five spirit stones from a dusty gray storage bag and pushed them before Bai Xiang.
"Pardon the trouble. I ask Fellow Daoist for some accommodation."
Bai Xiang raised an eyebrow. Mid-grade spirit stones!
This fellow was quite generous. Although nominally worth five hundred low-grade spirit stones, the practical value of five mid-grade spirit stones was somewhat higher.
If it was only for passage fare, it was indeed sufficient.
After a moment of thought, he waved to Luo Chen.
"Follow me!"
Luo Chen voiced his thanks and quickly followed behind.
Before long, the two streaks of light landed upon a dock.
Bai Xiang turned around and pointed to a pale white ship moored outside the pier. "You arrived at just the right time. We depart tomorrow morning, and I will be leading the fleet. Wait here for a moment; once I head back to file a report, you may board the ship to rest. By the way, I am Bai Xiang, an elder of Baisha Island's Bai clan."
"Thank you for the trouble, Fellow Daoist Bai."
Luo Chen cupped his hands with a smile, then watched as Bai Xiang strode away.
Gazing at his retreating back, Han Zhan asked rather perplexedly, "Why not take the Flying Swallow Caravan's ship directly to Lengguang? Or with your strength, you could forcibly commandeer a merchant ship, and this trivial Bai clan would have no choice but to comply. Why go through so much trouble?"
Luo Chen cast a sound-isolation barrier and said calmly, "Wu Qi was able to deliver an invitation to my hands through the Flying Swallow Caravan, which means they are paying close attention to the Flying Swallow Archipelago. If I traveled that way, I'm afraid I would fall under their gaze before even reaching Lengguang Island. Revealing my Golden Core cultivation to commandeer a Bai clan ship would produce the same result."
Han Zhan was taken aback.
He had previously assumed Luo Chen had few concerns regarding the Moluo Stream, but it now seemed that was merely a facade.
In other words, Luo Chen remained composed in his grand strategy, yet acted with immense caution when it came to details.
Once they arrived there, he would probably investigate the situation thoroughly before formally meeting with the people from the Moluo Stream!
If circumstances turned against him, he might defect to other factions, or perhaps even become a wandering rogue cultivator.
*No wonder this kid was able to unite several major sects against the Yan Alliance during his Foundation Establishment days. Not only does he possess extraordinary boldness, but his mind is also remarkably meticulous.*
As Han Zhan silently marveled, Luo Chen added another sentence:
"After Tianxuan assumed human form, her demonic qi was not thoroughly concealed; she still needs time to cultivate the breath-concealing art I passed down to her. Although the merchant ship travels slowly, while concealing my whereabouts, it also provides her with ample time."
Tianxuan, who stood beside him with her eyes closed, pressed her lips together. "I have caused Master trouble."
"No matter. It was my lack of foresight earlier." Luo Chen clasped his hands behind his back, taking in the scenery of the dock.
Though Baisha Island was an unremarkable small island, its geographical position was excellent.
Connecting Flying Swallow with several human cultivator settlements, the dock business here was exceptionally prosperous.
And a force capable of controlling such a pivotal location was not as weak as it appeared on the surface.
The Bai clan was a prominent clan that possessed a Fake Dan cultivator!
As Luo Chen feigned bewilderment while observing his surroundings, a strand of divine sense swept over them, lingered briefly on Tianxuan, and then slowly receded.
Within an ancient cluster of buildings at the center of the island.
An elderly man slowly opened his eyes.
Facing him, Bai Xiang asked with slight tension, "Ancestor, is there any problem?"
The Bai clan ancestor mused, "There are no problems. That man named Luo Hai is indeed only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and the woman concealing her aura is merely at Qi Refinement under my probing. Once they board the merchant ship, as long as you stay alert, they will not pose any trouble to you."
Bai Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. He was at the mid Foundation Establishment stage and possessed a magic treasure.
Let alone early-stage cultivators, he barely paid mind even to mid-stage cultivators on par with himself.
Now that the Ancestor said there was no issue, it proved everything was truly fine.
After all, the Ancestor was a formidable entity who had survived a failed core formation attempt and even condensed a Fake Dan.
He could be called invincible beneath the Golden Core realm!
Unless that man and woman were concealing their cultivation and were Golden Core cultivators an entire realm higher than the Ancestor.
Clearly, that was absurd. That man looked even younger than himself; how could he possibly be a Golden Core cultivator?
"However!"
Bai Xiang started, seeing the Ancestor broach the subject again. "What is it?"
The Bai clan ancestor said placidly, "The current situation is chaotic. Internally, frequent battles rage between the righteous and demonic factions, while externally, demonic beasts assail immortal islands. A mere passage fare of five hundred spirit stones is hardly worth the trouble. If they wish to board the ship and receive our protection, double it!"
Bai Xiang's expression relaxed. "That is simple enough. I will speak with them. If they are unwilling, we will not force the matter."
***
Late at night.
Inside a cabin on the second deck of the merchant ship.
Tianxuan asked with slight confusion, "Our joining them clearly bolsters their strength and makes the journey safer, so why did they charge extra fare?"
Luo Chen shook his head. "Such petty gains aren't worth fretting over. Perhaps they had their own considerations."
At a juncture like this, he did not wish to invite complications.
Having Tianxuan sit cross-legged, Luo Chen pressed a hand against her back, circulating his divine sense through her meridians and acupoints while infusing strands of magic power.
"How is your progress with the Breath Concealment Spiritual Art?"
"I feel I am close to minor accomplishment, but completely suppressing my demonic power will still take some time."
"No rush. Take your time. It just so happens that I can familiarize myself with your bodily structure and deduce a suitable cultivation technique for you."
Luo Chen spoke as he carefully examined Tianxuan's body, which had been manifested through the Transformation Pill.
Under his inspection, he discovered many differences from the structure of a human body.
Because of these differences, ordinary cultivation techniques proved a poor fit for her.
*Is this an acquired defect from shaping the body through a Transformation Pill rather than drawing upon the divine creation of a heavenly lightning tribulation?*
Luo Chen pondered.
What he was doing now served a dual purpose: deducing a new technique for Tianxuan while also studying the effects and restrictions of the Transformation Pill through her body, thereby refining his own alchemy skills.
This work had already been underway for some time.
After a long while, Luo Chen withdrew his hand, having gained some insights.
Tianxuan looked nervously at Luo Chen. "Master, is it feasible?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "I already have some ideas. In just a few days, I should be able to devise a suitable technique for you."
Hearing this, Tianxuan's spirits were greatly lifted.
"Master is truly wise!"
The corner of Luo Chen's mouth twitched. For some reason, he found this ordinary flattery rather strange.
After Tianxuan stepped outside, Han Zhan asked, "Kid, can you really deduce a brand-new technique?"
Luo Chen countered, "Is that so difficult?"
Han Zhan was taken aback. "It's not strictly impossible, but you're only at the Golden Core stage. To deduce a cultivation technique for a cultivator of the same tier from scratch is quite extraordinary. Those capable of such a feat are invariably apex figures from great sects who possess vast experience and profound spellcasting talent."
Luo Chen chuckled dumbfoundedly.
"Oh, then you've misunderstood, Old Han. I'm merely taking a few techniques with shared principles and blending them together into a hybrid."
"Blending and combining?" Han Zhan was astonished. "Can that even work?"
Luo Chen shrugged. "We'll give it a try!"
Though he spoke of merely trying, his eyes held a distinct look of certainty.
Deep down, Han Zhan remained skeptical.
He acknowledged that Luo Chen possessed some talent in magical arts, but creating a technique—especially one tailored to a demon cultivator of the same tier—was an immensely difficult task.
Even if it wasn't creating one out of thin air, absorbing the strengths of many schools and synthesizing them into a cohesive whole was beyond the reach of ordinary men.
Even Han Zhan himself, throughout his entire life, had only deduced two techniques suitable for Foundation Establishment and one secret art for Golden Core after breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.
Could Luo Chen truly pull this off while only at the Golden Core stage?
Chapter 566