Inside the palace on Peng Island.
The guests were seated, conversing merrily.
Led by Zhang Jiadi, the two Foundation Establishment juniors went outside to tour the grounds.
Inside the hall, after trading pleasantries, the conversation gradually turned to the main topic.
"Daoist Qingyang, representing Wuzhong Valley, I formally invite you to join our sect. Of course, if you are inclined, the Tianqu Chen family or the Coral Sea Zhou family are also options open to you," Huo Fang said solemnly.
The reply he received was an unhesitating refusal.
"My apologies. I have long been accustomed to wandering unhindered and cannot bear the constraints of a sect. I appreciate Daoist Huo's kind intentions, but I must respectfully decline."
Huo Fang was not surprised by this answer; Cave Master Moyun had rejected him in precisely the same manner years ago. Still, he wanted to make an effort.
"Won't you at least hear the conditions we are prepared to offer?"
Luo Chen chuckled. "Better not. If your terms are too generous, I might be unable to resist temptation."
Huo Fang was left speechless. Wuzhong Valley had indeed prepared a handsome price, intending to win over this master caster skilled in forging defensive magic treasures.
The baseline alone included a Tier 3 mid-grade cave dwelling, supplemented by an annual stipend of five hundred thousand spirit stones.
Beyond that were countless servants, along with two to five concubines below the Core Formation stage arranged at his pleasure.
If Qingyangzi had other requirements, they were entirely open to negotiating further upon that foundation.
Naturally, such terms came with corresponding expectations.
Qingyangzi would need to establish an Artifact Casting Hall within Wuzhong Valley, instruct low-tier disciples in artifact-casting arts, and tailor defensive magic treasures for the valley's Core Formation cultivators.
Now that Qingyangzi was not even willing to hear the terms, Huo Fang had nowhere to begin.
Then again, such conduct was typical of rogue cultivators.
Shaking his head, Huo Fang sighed. "What a pity that I cannot share a sect with you, Fellow Daoist."
Luo Chen wore a genial expression. "Though not of the same sect, we walk the same path. Whenever you have leisure, you are always welcome to visit Lake Penghu for amusement."
Huo Fang chuckled and brought out his alternative plan.
"Then let us cooperate!"
"How would we cooperate?"
"Of the magical instruments and magic treasures you refine each year, our three factions will take seventy percent, purchased at market value."
"Lord Huo must be joking," Luo Chen replied. "The path of artifact casting is unpredictable in duration and fraught with failures. How could I guarantee a steady annual output? Furthermore, long-term artifact casting severely impairs my cultivation. I cannot neglect the pursuit of the Great Dao for petty gains."
Huo Fang frowned, his gaze falling upon Luo Chen's ostensibly youthful face, though flushed with a ruddy hue.
None of the intelligence reports seemed to mention Qingyangzi's actual age.
They had assumed that a master possessing such craftsmanship had to be a senior cultivator several centuries old.
If he had been such a figure with no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul realm, he would naturally seek worldly comforts and material profits.
As it stood, Huo Fang realized he had underestimated the man's ambition for the Great Dao.
After a moment's consideration, Huo Fang relaxed the terms.
"Then let us not calculate it year by year, but over a ten-year term. How about that?"
Luo Chen raised a brow. "That is indeed much more flexible. However, what benefit do I stand to gain? You must know that even without selling defensive magic treasures to you, countless people clamor for them. I will never lack for spirit stones."
"That is simple!" Huo Fang smiled. "You must find the mandatory tasks assigned every five years by the Demon Hunting Department quite tedious, don't you?"
Luo Chen hesitated slightly, his gaze shifting toward the Old Angler and Zihou.
The two nodded subtly in confirmation.
"What do you mean by that?" Luo Chen looked back at Huo Fang.
Huo Fang nodded. "Though our three factions cannot directly interfere in the internal affairs of the Myriad Immortals Association, we still possess certain connections. As long as you agree to cooperate with us, we will manage things on the Demon Hunting Department's side, ensuring they grant you every convenience. Of course, without undertaking tasks, your Demon Hunter rank will essentially remain capped at four stars."
"Daoist Moyun, why don't you share your own experience?"
At Huo Fang's invitation, Cave Master Moyun gave a light cough.
"On this point, Qingyangzi, you can set your mind entirely at ease. I have cooperated with them for nearly a century, and except for wartime conscription, I have never once had to embark on an external mission. Even during beast tides, we can avoid the perilous frontlines under the guise of logistical personnel."
After hearing this explanation, Luo Chen fell into deep thought.
It had to be said that the condition was exceedingly enticing.
Putting aside the danger of external missions, the sheer time they devoured was bothersome enough.
If the three factions of Wuzhong Valley could spare him from those troubles, he would have far more time to concentrate on cultivation.
Evidently, they possessed the actual clout to deliver on this promise.
The presence of the Old Angler and Zihou said it all!
Coincidentally, in order to prepare for refining the Demon Emperor's remains, he needed to forge a batch of defensive magic treasures anyway. Trading them to these factions was entirely agreeable.
Why not achieve two goals at once?
Luo Chen did not hesitate long and agreed on the spot.
However, he laid down one condition: in the short term, he would accept no customized requests. The three factions would only have the right to purchase whatever he chose to forge!
Huo Fang naturally would not object.
In the cultivation world, magic treasures were plentiful, but defensive magic treasures were exceedingly scarce. Regardless of their attributes or styles, securing them first was what mattered.
Even if an item was not suited to one individual, the three factions possessed countless cultivators; someone was bound to be a match.
Having settled this matter, Huo Fang used the opening to broach further avenues of cooperation.
"I see that the black gold dragon carp in Lake Penghu are of exceptional quality. Once they mature, how about reserving half for us? We can negotiate the specifics of the price when the time comes."
"Also, Qingyangzi, you have yet to fully utilize this spiritual ground. I have a few suggestions you might consider if you have sufficient manpower on your end."
"Speaking of manpower, you truly have too few people at your disposal. The Zhang family has only a handful of core members—hardly qualifying as a true cultivation clan. Why not have their patriarch spread his branches and expand his progeny, so that he may serve you far better?"
"Today, I brought two fine young women of outstanding appearance and virtue from the Chen and Zhou families. They hit it off with Zhang Jiadi at first sight. Perhaps a fortuitous match can be arranged—what is your opinion, Fellow Daoist?"
Luo Chen had listened to the initial proposals with a relaxed smile, but toward the end, the flavor of the conversation began to sour.
A political marriage?
Or planting spies?
Helping him develop Lake Penghu, or eyeing this spiritual ground for themselves?
Under Huo Fang's smiling gaze, Luo Chen remarked placidly, "Though the Zhang family is affiliated with me, they are not my slaves after all. How this proceeds should be left to nature!"
This meant neither actively encouraging it nor refusing it outright.
Huo Fang laughed heartily. "Indeed, the affairs of the juniors are best left to take their natural course!"
With that, the topic was laid to rest.
Next, Luo Chen spoke with Zihou and the Old Angler in turn.
The former had come to explain Huangfu Song's earlier provocation. Luo Chen brushed it off with a smile, stating he had long stopped taking it to heart. Hearing this, Zihou visibly relaxed, even declaring that she would arrange a banquet in the future so Huangfu Song could serve tea and apologize to Luo Chen in person.
As for whether that banquet would ever materialize?
In all likelihood, it never would, but Zihou had at least made her conciliatory stance clear.
He did not talk much with the Old Angler. Luo Chen merely mentioned that although his seclusion had been interrupted, he would resume it shortly.
In other words, the Old Angler would not be seeing him anytime soon.
The old man was naturally bitterly disappointed, but under the watch of Huo Fang and Zihou, he could hardly reveal his true intentions.
Of course, even if he had, those two would only have scoffed.
Huo Fang was backed by Wuzhong Valley, while Zihou possessed the Nascent Soul heritage of the ancient Great Zhou Dynasty; both held methods for breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.
What they needed to consider was not how to find a breakthrough technique, but how to reach the perfection of the Core Formation stage and overcome the Heavenly Tribulation.
Only true rogue cultivators like the Old Angler had yet to discover even the threshold of a path to the Nascent Soul stage.
After chatting with the two, it was Cave Master Moyun's turn.
The moment he stepped forward, he could not wait to inquire about Luo Chen's casting technique—specifically, how he achieved such seamless harmony between the formations and the magic treasure embryo.
Naturally, Luo Chen could not disclose the core secrets of the Hunyuan Cauldron.
Instead, he dodged and parried, chatting about the casting methods of Baizao Mountain and Lianfeng Firm one moment, and bringing up artifact-refining techniques he had casually picked up in the Eastern Desolation the next, all while prompting Cave Master Moyun for his insights.
Desiring guidance, Moyun shared everything he knew without reservation.
Luo Chen took full advantage of the opportunity to pick up several neat casting tricks from the veteran caster.
At the end, Luo Chen said solemnly, "In truth, formations are still just formations; anyone applying them follows the diagram step by step. What truly matters is the magic treasure embryo itself. If you refine the embryo to absolute perfection, it will naturally accommodate the vast majority of formations."
A perfect magic treasure embryo?
Cave Master Moyun's brow furrowed deeply. Did that require peerless raw materials?
Yet recalling the Bright Yellow Rock Armor he had inspected, its materials had not seemed particularly extraordinary.
How had this Qingyangzi managed to turn ordinary materials into a miraculous, flawless magic treasure embryo?
While he was lost in thought, dusk had already fallen.
Huo Fang set down his teacup and rose leisurely.
"Interrupting your secluded cultivation today was already an imposition. We shall trouble you no further and take our leave!"
Luo Chen rose alongside him, wearing an apologetic look.
"My apologies. Time is indeed pressed; otherwise, I would certainly share a candlelit night discussing the Great Dao with you all."
Huo Fang laughed heartily and waved his hand. "Days are long, no rush at all! Once you emerge from seclusion, Wuzhong Valley will always welcome your presence."
Luo Chen smiled back. "I have long admired Wuzhong Valley, known as the place from which myriad demons never return. If opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly pay a visit."
The two walked out side by side, with the others following behind.
Upon reaching the shore of Peng Island, Luo Chen bid them farewell one by one.
When he reached Cave Master Moyun, the man seemed to snap back to his senses.
"Qingyangzi, were you trying to pull a fast one on me?"
"What makes you say that?"
"A perfect magic treasure embryo is easier said than done! Such things are forged by human hands, and thus inherently flawed. Unless it is like the Dao artifact embryos spoken of in immortal legends, born at the genesis of heaven and earth, how could it ever be perfect?!"
Luo Chen blinked. "At the very least, my general direction wasn't wrong, was it?"
Moyun was caught flat-footed.
Luo Chen continued, "As for how to achieve it, that depends on each craftsman's proprietary means—secrets never revealed to outsiders. It is just like your Thirteen Moyun Hands, which have never been leaked in all these years. Surely you didn't expect me to be so selfless and generous as to blurt out my life's secrets on a whim?"
Upon hearing this, Cave Master Moyun's face flushed red and white by turns. Though somewhat exasperated, he knew Qingyangzi's blunt words held truth.
He had indeed acted presumptuously.
After taking a moment to compose himself, his expression turned calm. "It was indeed my overreach."
Luo Chen smiled. "No harm done. Though our core techniques cannot be shared, your casting style differs from mine. We can always exchange insights in the future to improve together."
Cave Master Moyun nodded, then suddenly remarked, "I am not the only one who wishes to exchange insights with you."
"Do you mean the Old Angler?" Luo Chen asked dismissively.
However, Cave Master Moyun waved his hand.
"Not him, someone else. You know that person as well. Before long, he should find the time to break away and come visit you on the island."
"Someone I know?" Luo Chen wondered. "Who?"
Cave Master Moyun wore a mysterious grin and chuckled.
"You will find out in time."
With that, he strode onto the massive flying ship under the watchful eyes of Huo Fang and the others.
Standing by the lake, Luo Chen could not figure it out.
Ultimately, he could only chuckle and shake his head.
That Cave Master Moyun had been led in circles by him, so right before leaving, the old fellow turned around and left him with a riddle.
An amusing fellow, indeed.
Yet who was Luo Chen? Why would he torment himself over such a trifling matter? A chuckle was more than enough.
Whenever the visitor arrived, he would see who it was.
***
Luo Chen assumed that "in time" meant the near future.
Yet to his surprise, several years slipped by without any sign of the acquaintance Cave Master Moyun had spoken of.
On the other hand, earth-shaking changes unfolded across Lake Penghu.
The first of these was the head of the Zhang family on Cailian Island taking a daughter of the Coral Sea Zhou family to wife!
On that day, the mist formations of Lake Penghu parted. The wedding procession departed from Cailian Island and crossed into the Coral Sea territory, forming a spectacular fleet of flying vessels draped in billowing celebratory banners.
Upon their return, sea beasts escorted the retinue, and countless rogue cultivators offered loud congratulations.
At the wedding, Qingyangzi—who had not shown himself for years—appeared in person to preside over the ceremony as witness for Zhang Jiadi.
For the occasion, he specially gifted the bride a jade ruyi magic treasure embryo, hailing it as a masterwork combining offense and defense to grant "smooth fortune in all things."
The bride was named Zhou Shanshan.
After marrying into the Zhang family, she bore Zhang Jiadi a son in her second year, finally carrying on his lineage.
Not only that, but after taking charge of the Zhang family household, Zhou Shanshan brought new enterprises with her.
She planted a batch of emerald coral across the eight hundred li of Lake Penghu. Emerald coral was a rare variety of freshwater coral whose intrinsic grade was not particularly high—scarcely reaching Tier 1 even after growing for a century.
However, it possessed the miraculous ability to cleanse water quality and naturally gather heaven-and-earth spiritual energy.
With long-term cultivation, the spiritual environment of an entire body of water could be substantially enhanced.
Furthermore, waters enriched by emerald coral could support unique aquatic livestock, and even marine spiritual beasts could be transplanted there.
Thanks to these developments, the Zhang family instantly gained several lucrative revenue streams.
Zhou Shanshan's position as the primary mistress grew increasingly secure!
In contrast, Wen Xiu and her daughter, who had already lacked presence, found themselves further pushed to the margins.
Wen Xiu rarely returned to Cailian Island now, spending most of her time solitary and withdrawn at Qingyang Firm in Longyuan City.
Regarding this, Luo Chen offered no comment beyond remarking to a puzzled Tianxuan, "How fickle are the human hearts that change with ordinary fortune."
He watched these developments with detachment, dedicating all his energy to the forging of magic treasures.
Just like that, five years flew by in the blink of an eye.
***
Inside Constellation Palace.
A Daoist in white robes sat cross-legged when a sudden clap of thunder detonated within his body.
His entire frame shuddered as his joints popped in rapid succession.
Suddenly, a long dragon of white vapor burst forth from his mouth.
The Daoist slowly opened his eyes, through which white electrical arcs seemed to flicker for an instant.
Amidst the clear, radiant divine light, joy predominated in Luo Chen's gaze.
"Core Formation sixth layer, achieved as naturally as water flowing into a stream."
"Six sets of profound armor, all completed."
"Years of careful planning, everything is prepared. Next comes the official refining of the Demon Emperor's remains."
Amidst his soft murmur, a primitive, weathered turtle shell imbued with the vicissitudes of ages floated serenely into the air before him.
Chapter 620