In the Zhang family's small courtyard.
With Luo Chen making no deliberate effort to conceal his return, Tianxuan had sensed his arrival early on.
Seeing the two female cultivators come out to welcome him, he noticed Zhang Jiadi was nowhere to be seen.
He made a point to ask about it.
The answer he received was that Zhang Jiadi had taken on an escort mission to deliver supplies and had headed to the front lines.
"If I recall correctly, you two completed a mission not long ago. Why take on another so soon? The interval between missions for Star Demon Hunters shouldn't be so short, should it?"
Zhang Jiadi and his companion were merely Foundation Establishment cultivators, so their understanding of the Myriad Immortals Association was limited by their realm.
However, during Luo Chen's recent stay on Quyang Island, he had learned much more from Xiao Buhuan, a Golden Core cultivator.
Within the Myriad Immortals Association, missions for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators were typically spaced about half a year apart. For Golden Core cultivators, the interval was considerably longer, usually once every three to five years.
In wartime, this frequency would increase.
Alternatively, demon hunters keen on raising their star rank might proactively take on missions to advance more quickly.
Evidently, it was not wartime now, nor did Zhang Jiadi seem like someone eager to climb the ranks.
Wen Xiu sighed and caressed her belly. "Old Zhang is thinking of the child."
Luo Chen understood at once.
Zhang Jiadi wanted to complete several years' worth of missions in one go so that he could free up time later to care for Wen Xiu and their child.
He was indeed a devoted, responsible man.
Luo Chen nodded, beckoned to Tianxuan, and headed straight back to his room.
Once inside, Tianxuan followed him into the room.
Luo Chen sat down languidly. "How did things go?"
Tianxuan perked up. "Everything is settled. I didn't take merchant ships coming or going, but flew at full speed instead, which saved more than half the time on the round trip. Lately, rumors and inside stories about Lengguang Island have already begun circulating through the outer fringes of the Myriad Immortals Association. I believe it won't be long before they reach Longyuan City."
"Thank you for your hard work," Luo Chen praised.
Then, taking advantage of the free moment, he checked Tianxuan's condition.
In terms of cultivation realm, she was far weaker than she had been at her peak, only at the early Golden Core level.
However, her foundation was much sturdier.
From that perspective, the injuries she had suffered in the previous great battle were indeed a blessing in disguise.
Now, she merely needed to nurse her hidden injuries back to health. Not only would she quickly recover her realm, but her subsequent cultivation would also advance by leaps and bounds.
Luo Chen withdrew his divine sense with satisfaction.
"In the days ahead, we shouldn't have to rush all over the place as we did before."
"Tomorrow, I'm heading to the Dragon Taming Mountain Range to assess the situation. Come with me."
Tianxuan blinked, seeming to realize something.
Master's actions clearly meant he had passed the assessment mission and attained the status of a Star Demon Hunter; only then would he consider settling in the Dragon Taming Mountain Range.
At long last, she too would have a place to settle down.
***
Early the next morning.
Luo Chen set out in haste with Tianxuan.
Departing through the western gate of Longyuan Immortal City, their two streaks of light flew at an unhurried pace.
In the distance, lofty mountains loomed majestically.
Beneath their feet stretched an endless expanse of marshes.
If the name of the Dragon Taming Mountain Range traced back to the ancient desolate beast Stone Dragon, then the name of Longyuan Immortal City was tied to this vast marshland spanning thousands of li below.
Facing the sea and backed by the Longyuan Great Marsh, it had earned the name Longyuan.
Luo Chen's divine sense brushed gently across some buildings scattered throughout the marsh, and a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
Living there were cultivators of humble realms, mostly Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, with few Golden Core cultivators to be seen.
These were the true rogue cultivators!
They were rogue cultivators who had joined the Myriad Immortals Association without qualifying as demon hunters.
Fearing the harsh missions assigned to Star Demon Hunters, and unable to afford the exorbitant lease fees for cave dwellings in the Dragon Taming Mountain Range, they had chosen the spirit-barren Longyuan Great Marsh as their place of cultivation.
These people were the true core foundation of the Myriad Immortals Association!
Their exact numbers were incalculable—at least tens of thousands—and with the fierce war between righteous and demonic factions raging on, the tally continued to swell.
"Only with a large enough base can the number of Star Demon Hunters steadily rise, allowing those in higher realms to reap even more chives," Luo Chen muttered under his breath. Without lingering any longer, he led Tianxuan into the towering mountains.
***
On a mountaintop.
Tianxuan stood to one side while Luo Chen sat cross-legged beside her, his piercing gaze sweeping over the peaks and ravines.
After a long while, Luo Chen slowly retracted his gaze and rose to his feet.
"Let's move to another spot!"
Tianxuan looked puzzled. "Is this place unsuitable as well? The spiritual energy in that vacant cave dwelling seemed exceptionally rich."
"Beneath the vibrant blossoms lie nothing but rotten twigs and leaves. The so-called abundant spiritual energy is merely a castle in the air; it wouldn't withstand two years of our cultivation. It is far from my first choice," Luo Chen explained calmly before taking flight toward another peak.
Tianxuan turned Luo Chen's words over in her mind, understanding only half of it.
Why couldn't she see through such subtleties?
What she did not know was that techniques like tracking dragon veins, pinpointing focal points, and discerning spiritual veins were beyond ordinary cultivators.
Only through years of mastering foundational formations, paired with eyes uniquely sensitive to vital energy, could Luo Chen manage it.
Furthermore, the Fengshen Compass resting in his palm—with its Tier 3 Divine Search and Spirit Seeking Formation running continuously—served as an immense aid.
Relying on these very methods, Luo Chen had the confidence to verify one by one the Tier 3 cave dwellings Xiao Buhuan had recommended to him.
Unfortunately, after spending the better part of a day searching carefully, his gains were sparse.
Or rather, Xiao Buhuan, as a Five-Star Demon Hunter, operated at a level that only granted him access to low-grade or mid-grade Tier 3 cave dwellings.
To Xiao Buhuan, they might be exceptional, but to Luo Chen, they fell short of his needs.
Over the next two days, Luo Chen hurried between several locations that appeared well-situated for gathering wind and qi with excellent geomantic alignment, yet each ended in disappointment.
Standing atop a lush, verdant peak, Luo Chen paid no heed to the curious gazes of rogue cultivators watching him from other directions as he stowed away his Fengshen Compass.
"Let's go. We're heading back."
Tianxuan asked in confusion, "None of them will do? Just now, I probed using the technique you taught me, Master, and the spirit vein beneath this peak feels quite solid—at least mid-grade Tier 3."
Luo Chen shook his head.
Mid-grade Tier 3 was still not his goal.
Still, this trip had not been in vain.
At the very least, he had verified what Xiao Buhuan had said!
The spirit veins in the Dragon Taming Mountain Range had indeed suffered man-made damage.
As a result, although several Tier 4 spirit veins existed, each held domain over its own isolated system. Consequently, the subordinate lower-grade spirit veins beneath them were deceptive on the surface, making their true rank exceedingly difficult to judge.
"It seems the truly good spots are still monopolized by the Myriad Immortals Association. If I want a high-grade Tier 3 spirit vein, I'll have to approach Old Angler."
"Old Angler..."
Muttering the name, Luo Chen leisurely departed the Dragon Taming Mountain Range under the watchful eyes of numerous rogue cultivators.
After he left, the rogue cultivators began conversing in hushed tones.
"Another Golden Core cultivator has arrived at the Myriad Immortals Association."
"To have a Golden Core attendant following him—he must have been quite prominent before falling to the level of a rogue cultivator."
"So what if he was prominent in the past? Look how he lingered around the Dragon Taming Mountain Range for days without making up his mind to settle in. Clearly, his pockets are rather shallow."
"Who among us isn't in the same boat? My lease is almost up, and my spirit stones are nearly drained. I can't afford next year's rent, so I'll probably have to take on another mission."
"Why bother with missions? Hunting demon beasts on the first defensive line is much faster."
"Let's talk about that later. What about you, Fellow Daoist? I kept hearing you curse your cave dwelling, complaining that the spiritual energy falters on and off and disrupts your cultivation. Aren't you planning to switch to a better one?"
"How could it be that easy to switch? The better cave dwellings have long been claimed."
"Heh heh, once your lease here expires, why not just seize one? As long as the rent is paid on time, the Myriad Immortals Association won't give you any trouble."
"Isn't that... a bit inappropriate?"
"Haha, you're tempted, aren't you!"
The rogue cultivators' chatter gradually shifted from Luo Chen, the anonymous Golden Core cultivator, to other topics.
Yet none of them felt anything was amiss; rather, they chatted with growing enthusiasm.
When the topic turned to the quality of their own cave dwellings' spirit veins, however, most spoke evasively, describing them as worse than they actually were.
They feared being targeted by others!
***
Inside the Demon Hunting Bureau.
Three cultivators sat cross-legged together, gazing up at an image projected in midair.
While maintaining the Mirage Shadow Pearl to replay the battle scene, Old Angler explained, "The identity of this white-robed cultivator has been confirmed. He is indeed a remnant of the Yuan Demon Sect. His true name was Yan Zhixian, not Qin Tianming at all."
"Yan Zhixian was quite talented. Before disaster struck the Yuan Demon Sect, he had even intended to participate in the next contest for true disciples."
"To prepare for the true disciple duels, he went out hunting for treasures, which was how he escaped that great catastrophe."
Here, he paused.
"The man himself is no longer important. Aside from the resources related to demonic sect cultivation manuals, the rest of his legacy can be made available for demon hunters to exchange."
"Now, you two should assess the two newly promoted Star Demon Hunters!"
The two beside him were a man and a woman. The male was youthful, with an oversized head that made him look like a big-headed youth. The female had a graceful figure; though she appeared mature in years, her charm remained undiminished, her curvaceous body enveloped in purple garments, exuding the alluring grace of a mature woman.
The big-headed youth said lazily, "This fellow named Duan Li has a solid realm, but mediocre strength and poor combat experience. In this mission, he contributed very little. If you ask me, we should consider him to have failed!"
The purple-robed woman shook her head. "Though the Myriad Immortals Association has many cultivators nowadays, ninety percent are a motley crew. We are short-handed at present. As you said, Duan Li's realm is solid and he possesses good potential. Combat experience can be forged through more battles down the line. My suggestion is to deem him to have passed the assessment, but assign him a lower star rank."
With that, the purple-robed woman looked toward Old Angler. "Fellow Daoist Liu, what do you think?"
Old Angler stroked his beard. "My thoughts align with yours. Let's grant him the rank of Three-Star Demon Hunter!"
Two to one; majority ruled.
The big-headed youth curled his lip and did not argue.
Next came Luo Chen.
His qualification as a Four-Star Demon Hunter was a certainty, so there was no need to dwell on that.
What they discussed were the methods Luo Chen had displayed during the battle.
"This Qingyangzi has exquisite techniques. That great handprint spell was quite remarkable, even from my perspective at the ninth layer of Golden Core. Moreover, his domineering magic power was in no way inferior to the magic power cultivated by true disciples of the Yuan Demon Sect's Soul Refining Lineage—in fact, it was even superior. It is truly rare for a rogue cultivator to possess such depth of foundation," the purple-robed woman praised repeatedly.
Old Angler also nodded in agreement; he had witnessed that battle firsthand.
He too held great admiration for the fire-attribute spells Luo Chen had unleashed, especially the domineering intensity of his magic power, which even the Ten Directions Shadowless Formation could not withstand for a moment.
At the very least, when Old Angler himself was at the mid-Golden Core stage, his magic power had not reached such a level.
The purple-robed woman continued watching the projection, but as she watched, her brows furrowed slightly.
"This man hides his depths quite well! His control of that giant hammer magic treasure was unpracticed; it clearly isn't his natal magic treasure. That Ten Thousand Soul Banner doesn't seem to be an item bonded to his life and cultivation either. As for these chains..."
Old Angler picked up the thread. "They are not physical objects, merely manifestations of magic power. Yet from what I observed carefully, they don't seem to be produced by a spell. Perhaps they are a derivative technique of his natal magic treasure."
Could a mere derivative technique of a natal magic treasure possess such power?
Tearing through vengeful wraiths and fierce ghosts like paper, blocking an ambushing flying sword in the nick of time, and in the final moments firmly shackling that bizarre fused ghost king—comparable to a late Golden Core cultivator—leaving it unable to budge.
The purple-robed woman blinked, growing increasingly curious about what this Qingyangzi's natal magic treasure could be.
She turned her head. "Bi Gan, why haven't you said anything?"
The big-headed youth frowned, lost in thought.
Hearing his companion's question, he said hesitantly, "Qingyangzi... that Daoist title sounds familiar, as though I've heard it somewhere before."
Old Angler laughed. "Someone with such capability, even as a rogue cultivator, would never be an unknown. Perhaps you really did hear of his deeds at some point."
"It wasn't long ago!" the big-headed youth declared firmly.
After pondering a bit, he suddenly spoke up.
"I remember now! No wonder he seemed familiar. A few days ago, when I met up with some people in Shenyuan City, I heard them discussing the Nascent Soul battle on Lengguang Island. In one of the clashes between Golden Core cultivators, a rogue cultivator named Demonic Lord Qingyang was involved."
"Demonic Lord Qingyang?"
"Who is that?"
Both Old Angler and the purple-robed woman gasped in surprise.
The big-headed youth then shared the rumors he had heard with the two.
Upon learning the details—especially how Demonic Lord Qingyang had slain several cultivators of the same realm using his signature Qingyang Great Handprint—they marveled repeatedly.
"It seems this Qingyangzi and that Demonic Lord Qingyang might truly be the same person."
"Even if they are, it has little to do with us. Let's conclude this assessment here. As for the follow-up matters... since you oversaw the test, Old Angler, you handle them."
Old Angler had no objection; they were just trivial affairs anyway.
Presently, only the three of them served as Eight-Star Demon Hunters in the Demon Hunting Bureau, and they took turns handling routine matters.
Since it was his shift on duty, he naturally would not refuse.
***
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On this morning, Luo Chen arrived at the main gate of the Demon Hunting Bureau early.
To his surprise, Duan Li had arrived even earlier.
Seeing Duan Li bundled timidly inside a heavy coat, Luo Chen frowned slightly, but said nothing.
After exchanging brief greetings, Luo Chen walked straight inside.
Following behind, Duan Li watched Luo Chen's back, looking as though he wanted to speak yet held back.
'During that battle, Qingyangzi was completely unaffected by the white-robed cultivator's techniques. Even the strange ghost king's soul suppression was treated like a gentle breeze by him.'
'He must possess formidable mastery over soul cultivation as well.'
'I just don't know if he can resolve the lingering poison within me.'
'Yet if I ask him to heal my injuries, I would have to be completely open with him. One can never truly know another's heart, and with a great vengeance to exact, I cannot afford to gamble!'
Duan Li's mind was awash with conflicted thoughts.
When he snapped out of his reverie, he saw Old Angler chatting amicably with Luo Chen.
"This is your identity medallion, adorned with golden stars. Demon hunters in our Myriad Immortals Association are divided into nine stars: one to three stars are white, four to six are gold, and seven to nine are purple. Different colors signify different privileges."
"Aside from the discounts and benefits known to outsiders, you can also access the Demon Hunting Bureau's intelligence resources based on your star rank."
"If you are interested, you can look into it more later."
With so many rogue cultivators in the Myriad Immortals Association, intelligence sources were naturally extensive.
This came as an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Luo Chen accepted his identity medallion and looked down at it: a somber sea of blood beneath a bright moon hanging high in the sky, with four golden stars encircling the bright moon.
Duan Li, on the other hand, looked somewhat dejected.
His identity medallion bore only three white stars.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators could reach that rank.
Old Angler patted him on the shoulder. "Don't lose heart; this is only temporary. If you want to raise your rank, just take on more missions."
Duan Li gave a bitter smile. His own injuries were far from resolved; how could he possibly think of taking on missions?
Paying no heed to Duan Li's inner turmoil, the old man flicked his wide sleeve.
"Let's go!"
"It's rare that this old man has free time today, so I'll personally take you on a tour of the Dragon Taming Mountain Range to select suitable cave dwellings."
At this point, he gave them a half-smile.
"I trust you have your spirit stones ready?"
Luo Chen said calmly, "Please lead the way, Lord Angler. This humble one can certainly produce a modest sum of spirit stones."
This time, Duan Li showed no timidity either and followed the two.
***
Above the Dragon Taming Mountain Range.
Three streaks of light darted across the sky in close succession.
Holding a map shimmering with spiritual light, Old Angler guided them to inspect cave dwellings while introducing relevant details along the way.
Yet it was readily apparent that his explanations concealed certain truths.
To pick a truly suitable cave dwelling, one had to rely on one's own skill.
"This towering peak is called Mount Xiu. Its spiritual energy is exceptionally dense, making it an outstanding choice even among low-grade Tier 3 cave dwellings. Several Golden Core cultivators have resided here in the past. You may consider it."
Hearing this introduction, Duan Li was visibly tempted.
He wanted it, but with Luo Chen present, he intended to wait until Luo Chen had made his choice.
Luo Chen shook his head. "Fellow Daoist, please suit yourself. No need to wait for me."
Pausing, he suddenly added, "Though if this place were truly that wonderful, it probably wouldn't have gone through so many masters."
Duan Li froze.
Come to think of it, didn't that make sense?
Old Angler's brow furrowed. This Qingyangzi was truly shrewd, immediately picking up on the loophole in his words.
"Since neither of you wants it, let's move on to the next place! But let this old man give you fair warning: while there are many unclaimed cave dwellings left in the Dragon Taming Mountain Range, most are Tier 1 or Tier 2. There aren't many Tier 3 ones remaining."
"Opportunities like this don't come twice."
Luo Chen twitched his lips but said nothing.
Inwardly, he scoffed.
By all rights, this Old Angler was merely an employee working for the Three Rogue Immortals, so why did he care so intensely about minor gains and losses?
What harm would there be in letting rogue cultivators like them take a little advantage and suffer a little less?
He had truly immersed himself too deeply in his job.
Shaking his head inwardly, Luo Chen continuously projected his divine sense, scanning the lit-up nodes on the map in Old Angler's hand one by one.
Among them, there had to be one or two cave dwellings suited to him.
Chapter 601