No sun or moon marks time in the mountains, while a thousand years pass in the mortal realm.
An exaggeration, perhaps, yet for Luo Chen, two years had slipped by unnoticed while he immersed himself in the study of the Senluo Fire Hell at Penghu Lake.
Over these two years, he had advanced with every passing moment.
He had not merely developed his deadly trump card, the Senluo Fire Hell, but had reaped other rewards as well—progress in formations, deeper refinement of his natal magic treasure, the Hunyuan Cauldron, and much more.
If anything had been dragged down, it was his speed of cultivation.
Expending vast amounts of magic power to manifest his pseudo-domain had inevitably delayed his core progress. His original estimate of a dozen years to break through to the seventh layer of the Gold Core stage would now be substantially postponed, leaving him uncertain whether he could achieve the breakthrough before departing for the Sunken Sea.
Yet Luo Chen refused to force the issue. In his view, unless one broke through an entire major realm to trigger a fundamental transformation, advancements between minor stages did not create an insurmountable gulf.
In battles between combatants of the same tier, magic treasures, secret arts, and all manner of external aids were what truly served as decisive killing moves.
And the Senluo Fire Hell he was currently refining was unmistakably a trump card that could decide life and death!
To master this technique completely, Luo Chen needed practical combat to uncover its strengths and weaknesses, lest unexpected complications arise when locked in a true fight to the death.
When Luo Chen arrived at the Demon Hunting Department and beheld the bustling, thriving scene, he realized that he was not the only one who had changed—so had this cultivation world, seemingly immutable for millions of years.
A colossal demon king corpse lay out in the open courtyard of the Demon Hunting Department. As Luo Chen passed by, his brow twitched slightly.
A single golden horn, an entirely silvery-white hide, resembling a water buffalo.
"A Golden-Horned Silver Rhinoceros? Someone actually managed to hunt one of those down?"
The Foundation Establishment cultivator guiding him spoke with equal awe. "To tell the truth, we were just as stunned at the time. When this demon king's corpse was hauled back, the entire Demon Hunting Department erupted. Even among third-rank demon kings, the Golden-Horned Silver Rhinoceros stands near the very top—a fearsome demonic race on par with the Giant Squid and the Lance Whale. For Lord Dao Lan to slay it proves him worthy of his renown as the fourth Eight-Star Demon Hunter of our Myriad Immortals Association!"
*Dao Lan killed it?*
Luo Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. He recalled the taciturn man who had roved unhindered through Withered Wood Ridge with nothing but a Golden Suanni Saber.
Bolstered by the contribution from the Withered Wood Ridge mission and his years of accumulated merits, Dao Lan had finally become the fourth Eight-Star Demon Hunter in the Myriad Immortals Association, following the Old Angler, Zihou, and Ghost Spirit Child.
Luo Chen paused outside for only a brief moment before the cultivator led him into the inner hall.
This time, the one who came out to receive him was Zihou.
"Where is the Old Angler?" Luo Chen asked, puzzled.
Zihou offered a faint smile. "He received a reward from the Perfected Person and has spent the past two years in seclusion. That leaves the vast Demon Hunting Department to be run by a helpless woman like me."
Luo Chen came to an understanding.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, he explained the purpose of his visit.
"You want to head to the battlefield at the Sunken Sea?"
"Yes. Is there any reason I cannot?"
"None at all! In fact, this humble woman couldn't ask for better!" Joy washed over Zihou's face, and she promptly explained the current situation facing the Demon Hunting Department in clear detail.
Ever since Blood Hermit issued the mission to purge the demon beasts encircling the outer perimeter of the Sunken Sea, many reclusive rogue cultivators had flocked to the battlefield to earn the hefty merit points.
Yet the vast majority were low-tier rogue cultivators.
Meanwhile, along the shores of the Sunken Sea, the number of demon beasts amassed over thirty years had grown into a terrifying horde.
Attentive observers estimated their numbers had reached several hundred thousand!
Even if scattered across the region, they were not a force that ordinary cultivators of the Myriad Immortals Association could easily match.
Above all, this was an offensive strike undertaken without the protective benefits of the arrays along the Three Great Defense Lines.
Luo Chen frowned. "Isn't it customary under such circumstances for the other major factions of the Northern Sea to lend aid?"
Zihou gave a wry smile. "This isn't an invasion into our human heartland, so why would they help? Besides, aside from our Myriad Immortals Association and the Tianyuan Business Alliance, all the top factions of the Northern Sea are entangled in the war between Righteous and Demonic paths. Where would they find the spare strength to support us?"
"I see," Luo Chen said thoughtfully.
At the same time, he understood why she was so delighted by his initiative to step forward.
A powerful Gold Core cultivator could stand against hundreds or thousands of low-tier cultivators; unleashed without reservation, such a cultivator could wipe out tens of thousands of low-tier beasts.
Clearly, Luo Chen was precisely that sort of emblematic, powerhouse Gold Core!
"Are there any suitable missions? I might as well take one on and make the journey worthwhile."
Zihou's eyes lit up. "Of course! Right now, I happen to have a troublesome yet flexible little task on my hands. If you take it, Qingyangzi, you can earn quite a generous amount of merit."
*Troublesome yet flexible?*
Puzzled, Luo Chen followed Zihou into a side hall at the rear of the Demon Hunting Department.
Three unfamiliar Gold Core cultivators were lounging inside.
When Luo Chen entered, the trio glanced over with curiosity, but after a single look, their interest waned and they looked away.
Perhaps it was because Luo Chen had concealed his cultivation base, appearing thoroughly unremarkable and doing little to command attention.
"Who are they?" Luo Chen asked with a slight furrow of his brow.
Zihou drew Luo Chen aside and whispered through divine sense transmission, "Just three rogue Gold Core cultivators who recently joined the Myriad Immortals Association. Your mission is simply to escort them to the front lines. What they do afterward is none of your concern."
"That simple?" Luo Chen's suspicion deepened.
Zihou paused, then added, "Naturally, should they encounter mortal danger, it would be best if you could offer a measure of protection, assuming you have strength to spare."
Why did this feel so familiar?
Inexplicably, Luo Chen was reminded of what Sang Jiugong had done all those years ago.
The only difference was that instead of shielding a flock of Foundation Establishment cultivators, he was being asked to look after three unfamiliar Gold Core cultivators.
If this was a similar affair... Luo Chen subtly swept his divine sense across the three.
"Hmph! That fellow Daoist outside is rather ill-mannered!" A delicate-looking female cultivator glared out with displeasure.
*Does she carry a treasure capable of detecting another's divine sense?*
Luo Chen saw clearly that all three displayed cultivations around the third layer of the Gold Core stage. Under normal circumstances, they should not have noticed his subtle probe.
Naturally, Luo Chen cupped his hands from afar, adopting an apologetic stance.
Internally, however, he had reached a firm conclusion.
These three had undoubtedly emerged from some prominent sect or clan; they were by no means ordinary rogue cultivators!
"Qingyangzi, will you accept this mission or not?" Zihou asked with a touch of urgency. She had been swamped with troublesome matters lately and wanted to offload whatever she could.
Seeing Luo Chen hesitate, Zihou gritted her teeth and said, "These three were placed under our care on behalf of True Person Longyuan, which is why the merit rewards are so handsome. Treat it as a favor along your route and accept the assignment! I wouldn't trust any of the other Gold Core cultivators on the front lines to handle them, but you possess the skill to keep things in hand."
*They carry the backing of True Person Longyuan!*
Luo Chen's heart gave a slight jolt, though his demeanor remained steady and unyielding.
"If this is an arrangement from the Perfected Person, then it is naturally my duty!"
Zihou let out a visible sigh of relief. "Wonderful."
***
Outside the Demon Hunting Department, the four Gold Core cultivators stood looking at one another.
In the end, Luo Chen had no choice but to retrieve a treasure-grade flying boat from his storage bag.
"Whoa, for a rogue cultivator, you actually own such a remarkable treasure carriage!" The delicate female cultivator gasped at first sight.
Along both sides of the thoroughfare, many Longyuan City rogue cultivators looked on in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the magnificent vehicle.
Remarkable?
It was downright extravagant!
Adorned in threefold elements and threefold splendors, cloud patterns cascaded over its surface. Banners in azure, black, and white fluttered on one flank, mirrored by banners in purple, gold, and red on the other. Across the carriage roof, ruyi jewel-droop tiles were closely set, fringed tassels and flowing silk sleeves dangled, and a stately five-colored canopy rose high above. The broad platform was paved in white jade, gleaming with radiant golden light. Even the six wheels beneath were far from ordinary, each boasting eighteen spokes dusted entirely in gold powder.
The corner of Luo Chen's mouth twitched slightly. He had known that bringing out this Six Imperials Flying Cloud Carriage would make maintaining a low profile impossible.
Yet he had no other suitable flight treasure for long-distance travel. He owned two lower-grade magic artifact skiffs, but they were wholly unfit for transporting four Gold Core cultivators together, let alone for rapid, long-haul journeys.
Only this Six Imperials Flying Cloud Carriage, acquired as part of Mountain Master Baizao's legacy, met the requirements.
It was only natural: a personal flying vessel kept on the body of the master of a paramount artifact-refining sect was bound to be extraordinarily opulent.
Its rank alone reached the middle-grade treasure tier!
Had its specifications been raised only slightly higher, calling it the carriage of a Nascent Soul Perfected Person would not have been an exaggeration in the least.
However...
Luo Chen cast a curious glance toward the delicate female cultivator. Though she had gasped, her surprise was not born of wonder at the carriage's luxury, but merely at the fact that an ordinary rogue cultivator like him possessed such a high-caliber carriage.
In other words, she was accustomed to seeing carriages comparable to the Six Imperials Flying Cloud Carriage, or perhaps even grander, which was why she took its opulence in stride.
This deepened Luo Chen's curiosity regarding the background of these three.
"Fellow Daoists, please board the carriage!"
A long-bearded middle-aged man among them twitched his ears slightly, his expression growing solemn. He cupped his hands to Luo Chen and motioned for the other young man to board.
Without hesitation, Luo Chen strode aboard and took his place within the warm pavilion sheltered by the central canopy, channeling his magic power to activate the vessel.
A resonant hum rang out.
In the next instant, dazzling brilliance erupted before the carriage as the phantoms of three taloned flood dragons materialized. With a collective roar, mist surged from beneath, gently lifting the vehicle aloft. As the cloud and wind runes along its hull flared with light, the carriage shot toward the horizon with a whistling rush, pulled forward by the three flood dragons.
Behind them, outside the Demon Hunting Department in Longyuan City, numerous rogue cultivators stared upward, clicking their tongues in wonder.
***
The Six Imperials Flying Cloud Carriage had once served as the personal conveyance for the sect master of Baizao Mountain.
Handed down through generations, it had been perfected by countless master craftsmen. In terms of utility, it seamlessly integrated flight, defense, and offense.
The name "Six Imperials" stemmed from the architecture of its restrictions, which wove together vast numbers of six core restrictions: Mountain, Water, Wind, Cloud, Light, and Void. Only Obscurity restrictions were sparse.
A lack of concealment was hardly surprising; a sect master's personal carriage was meant to command attention with splendor and fanfare, not skulk in the shadows.
However, the carriage possessed a peculiarity that was almost an inconvenience.
Apart from the central pavilion sheltered by the canopy, the rest of the vessel was an open deck, lacking supplementary cabins or halls. This design had likely been intended to allow disciples to stand prominently on deck to display the sect's majesty.
Yet at this moment, an awkward situation arose.
Only Luo Chen occupied the spacious comfort of the primary pavilion.
The other three remained shut outside.
After activating the carriage's protective arrays, Luo Chen stepped out from the main seat and saw the three standing by the deck railing, watching the scenery flash past below.
Hearing his undisguised footsteps, all three turned around at once.
Luo Chen offered a mild smile, cupping his hands in a formal bow. "My humble surname is Luo, given name Hai. Local fellow Daoists do me the honor of addressing me by the Daoist title Qingyangzi. Greetings to you three fellow Daoists."
The eldest among them, the middle-aged man, stroked his beard and returned the bow with a smile. "I am Changfengzi. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Luo."
The younger man carried an arrogant air, casting a sideways glance at Luo Chen before speaking brazenly. "I am Wu Tao!"
Luo Chen seemed entirely blind to the youth's haughtiness and turned his gaze to the last of the trio.
The delicate female cultivator knitted her brows, seemingly reluctant to acknowledge him. Yet under Changfengzi's pointed glance, she begrudgingly performed a formal bow and introduced herself.
Her name was Guan Xiaoping.
Once their names were exchanged, Luo Chen issued a courteous invitation.
"The journey to the Sunken Sea is long, taking at least ten to twenty days. The winds outside are fierce. If you three wish to avoid the chill and cultivate in comfort, you are welcome to enter the pavilion."
Changfengzi's long beard drifted in the breeze, and he seemed tempted.
Yet before he could speak, two voices sounded by his ear.
"A bit of wind and frost is nothing."
"I don't want to go in. I'd rather stay out here and watch the scenery."
Changfengzi parted his lips, but ultimately cupped his hands to Luo Chen in resignation.
"We thank Fellow Daoist for your kind offer, but with magic power protecting our bodies, a bit of wind and rain poses no trouble."
Luo Chen remained entirely composed. "No matter. If you need anything, simply call for me."
With that, he returned inside the pavilion, unabashedly activating the isolation array.
Once Luo Chen was inside, Changfengzi sighed.
"Junior Brother Wu, Junior Sister Guan, when traveling away from home, you should always treat others with courtesy."
Wu Tao curled his lip. "He is merely an ordinary rogue cultivator of the Northern Sea. Why should we waste courtesy on him? Our purpose on this trip is to form our Nascent Souls. If we are to make connections, they ought to be with formidable figures like Zihou or Dao Lan."
Guan Xiaoping's face showed even greater displeasure. "The man has no manners. He brazenly pried into us with his divine sense earlier. I have no desire to associate with him!"
Confronted by their willful arrogance, Changfengzi felt increasingly helpless.
He offered earnest counsel. "This man is far from as simple as he seems. Though he pried earlier, none of us noticed in the slightest. Had Junior Sister Guan's Mind-Waking Plaque not triggered automatically, he would have seen through us completely without our knowing. This alone proves his realm is above ours."
Wu Tao looked startled, glancing toward the canopy-covered carriage.
"Him?"
Changfengzi nodded. "Do not take him for a nameless rogue cultivator. Did you not notice earlier? When this carriage appeared, countless rogue cultivators in Longyuan City stared in our direction. Yet far from showing greed, their expressions were filled with awe. I took the trouble to make discreet inquiries and learned he is the master of Penghu Lake, a figure of great renown within the Myriad Immortals Association."
Guan Xiaoping remained skeptical. "Is he truly that capable? Then why was there no mention of such a person in the intelligence we received from True Person Liu?"
Changfengzi hesitated before saying, "After successfully forming his Nascent Soul in the Myriad Immortals Association, Clan Uncle entered seclusion for fifty years, emerging only recently. His information may simply be out of date. This man likely rose to prominence within these past fifty years, so it is only natural he was not mentioned in the reports."
The young man and woman exchanged a look.
Changfengzi concluded with a sigh. "In short, even if you do not seek to befriend Qingyangzi, do not go out of your way to offend him. The Northern Sea is vast, and formidable figures emerge one after another. Even though we hail from the Central Plains, we must never underestimate the heroes of the Northern Sea."
***
Inside the warm pavilion, Luo Chen stared at the water mirror before him, listening to the voices echoing from the jade chime beside him, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
Fellow disciples, from the Central Plains, their goal being to form a Nascent Soul.
True Person Liu, Clan Uncle.
Finally, he murmured softly to himself:
"Could that Clan Uncle be True Person Longyuan?"
Chapter 642