"Brother Bi, what did that unfamiliar fellow Daoist want with you just now? Was he some Moluo Stream scoundrel looking for trouble?"
Bi Dan waved his hand, a gratified smile spreading across his face.
"Not at all. He introduced himself as Jinghe, formerly a neutral loose cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage. Because of the war between the righteous and demonic factions, he didn't want to get dragged into the conflict, so he hid away in some obscure corner to cultivate in seclusion. He only recently formed his Core, and having heard about the truce between the two sides, he finally returned."
"Jinghe?" His companion turned the name over in his mind. It sounded entirely unfamiliar; he couldn't match it to anyone he knew.
Bi Dan chuckled. "What he's called isn't important. Loose cultivators are all like that, keeping their heads down and hiding their tracks. However, a good friend of his was once a disciple of Feiyun Ravine. Having heard that Feiyun Ravine had been annihilated, he came specifically to ask me about the details. Truth be told, we share a common hatred."
"I see!"
His companion came to a sudden realization, then sighed.
"Who could have imagined that the illustrious Feiyun Ravine would vanish in the blink of an eye?"
Bi Dan sighed as well.
If True Person Feiyunzi, the master of Feiyun Ravine, hadn't disappeared for decades, leaving such a massive faction without a leader, how could a Nascent Soul upper sect ever have fallen to such a pathetic state?
It was just a pity about his younger sister...
***
"True Person, I have made thorough inquiries."
Sang Jinghe stood respectfully behind Luo Chen, recounting every detail he had gathered.
"To resolve the infighting within the human race as quickly as possible, the Canghai Alliance launched a massive counteroffensive thirty years ago. Without the support of the Penglai Immortal Sect, the Moluo Stream was pushed back retreat after retreat..."
This matched up.
Luo Chen remembered that when he crossed through human territory on his way to Purple Spirit Island, he had witnessed the ferocious assault launched by the Canghai Alliance.
To deal with Stream Lord Lietian, they had even deployed three Nascent Soul True Persons all at once!
That alone showed the Canghai Alliance's resolve.
"Unwilling to accept defeat, the Moluo Stream cultivators plundered wildly before retreating. Coincidentally, news of the Land of the Fallen Demon leaked around that time, revealing that Feiyunzi had been killed by Qingyang..."
At this point, Sang Jinghe cast a reverent glance at Luo Chen.
"Continue!"
"With Feiyunzi's demise, Feiyun Ravine—a leaderless Nascent Soul sect—became the prime target. Several Gold Core forces led hordes into Feiyun Ravine, seizing its legacies and plundering its resources. To avoid leaving a viper half-slain to bite them later, they slaughtered every last one of the three thousand disciples and members."
"Did no one survive?" Luo Chen asked.
"There were survivors, of course, but only inconsequential minor figures who managed to escape by sheer luck."
"What of the Gu siblings I asked you to investigate?"
Sang Jinghe perked up and elaborated carefully. "I inquired as casually as possible. Throughout the battle, no one caught a glimpse of the Gu siblings. Even afterward, there was no sign of them. To be certain, I also asked around among Foundation Establishment cultivators, but what they said was largely the same."
"Largely the same? Where did it differ?"
Sang Jinghe paused, then replied, "Someone did mention the Gu siblings, but it was unconfirmed. It was said that a woman who appeared to be Gu Xiaolian was spotted at the ruins of Feiyun Ravine, though she disappeared shortly afterward."
"You may withdraw."
"Jinghe takes his leave."
On the tall pavilion, Luo Chen rested a hand on the railing, tapping lightly, his expression calm.
In his mind, he replayed that final scene in Mingzhao Heaven.
The furious Moon Hermit, the near-frenzied Blood Hermit, and those two utterly contrasting gazes by the palace gates.
One was a young woman covering her mouth as tears welled in her eyes; the other was a young man, silent, exuding monstrous murderous intent.
He remembered them. He had crossed paths with them once in the Xuanyan Sea Domain while hunting the Ring-Headed Turtle—one named Gu Shaoshang, the other Gu Xiaolian.
They were brother and sister.
Their father was Feiyunzi!
Normally, Luo Chen would not have cared. He had even killed Feiyunzi, so what did two juniors at the Gold Core stage matter?
Yet he remembered vividly that the siblings had emerged from the Bright and Dark Palaces!
What did that signify?
The answer was beyond doubt.
In particular, the golden crown atop Gu Xiaolian's head matched the Demon Lord's relic, the True Yang Crown, mentioned by the Heaven Refining Cauldron's artifact spirit.
That was a formidable weapon on par with the Heaven Refining Cauldron and the Black Demon Jar—a Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure.
Gu Xiaolian gaining the recognition of the True Yang Crown in the Bright Palace meant she had acquired the legacy of the Bright Palace.
Gu Shaoshang having emerged from the Dark Palace likely meant he had inherited its legacy as well.
Thus, their future potential was boundless!
Moreover, he had slain their father right before their eyes—a blood feud that could never be overcome.
If he could eradicate them before they grew into their full strength, it would resolve the matter once and for all.
But if he didn't strike early...
"I originally intended to pay a visit to Feiyun Ravine to track down the siblings. But now that Feiyun Ravine has been destroyed, my lead is gone."
Luo Chen sighed, feeling as though a fishbone were lodged in his throat.
The feeling of someone watching from the shadows was never pleasant.
The only silver lining was that ever since arriving in the Northern Sea, he had consistently used aliases; even his Daoist title was Demonic Lord Qingyang.
They did not know his true identity.
After leaving Longyuan Island, Luo Chen had resumed using his real name and traveled under the guise of the Desolate Hermit.
Through his body refining art, he had even subtly and naturally altered his appearance.
No one could easily connect him to the illustrious Demonic Lord Qingyang.
*Perhaps I should keep showing myself under the name of Demonic Lord Qingyang to lure the siblings into seeking revenge?*
The thought instinctively flashed through Luo Chen's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Compared to the threat posed by those siblings, the title of Demonic Lord Qingyang was far more likely to provoke that woman, the Moon Hermit. Luo Chen had no desire to undergo another flight across the Northern Sea.
*Never mind. As long as I cultivate diligently and stay ahead of them, they won't be able to touch me.*
*If they don't show themselves, so be it. But if they do, I certainly won't show mercy.*
***
The heavy rain showed no signs of stopping.
A vast curtain of rain filled heaven and earth, as if intent on washing clean the bloodshed of the century-long war between righteous and demonic forces.
Clad in white robes, Luo Chen walked alongside True Person Langya along a bluestone path, step by step heading toward a side hall within Molan Court.
The afternoon gathering of True Persons would be held there. True Person Langya had already introduced Luo Chen, securing him entry.
At the moment, True Person Langya was briefing Luo Chen on the backgrounds of the experts likely to attend.
"The Canghai Alliance sent quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators to the Truce Conference—seven or eight of them in all. However, because the leader is mid Nascent Soul cultivator Mulan Gaoxiong, none of these seven or eight have particularly high cultivation; at most, they are on par with Mulan Gaoxiong."
"Don't let their cultivation levels fool you; almost all of them rule over their own domains and are renowned figures across the Northern Sea cultivation world."
"Take True Person Sihai, for example. His name is Shang Sihai, and he commands the Sihai Commerce Alliance, a formidable power in its own right. The alliance even retains two early Nascent Soul consecrated elders. You could say the Sihai Commerce Alliance is a tremendous force within the Canghai Alliance. For this gathering, he is the one pulling strings on the Canghai Alliance's side."
"You've likely heard the name Old Ghost Nanqi."
Luo Chen pondered for a moment and gave a slow nod. "Is he that old monster who was once refined into a Soul Refining Banner by a Yuan Demon Sect cultivator, only to devour his master and steal his cultivation?"
"Precisely! You are indeed well-traveled and knowledgeable, far from an ordinary loose cultivator."
True Person Langya smiled, then grew solemn. "His true origin is very likely the Southern Border, and he specializes in Gu insects. After all, how could an ordinary cultivator turn defeat into victory after being refined into a soul banner, emerging not only unscathed, but with vastly increased cultivation?"
*Old Ghost Nanqi, a Southern Border cultivator?*
Luo Chen nodded slightly, committing the man's description to memory and resolving to avoid contact with him in the future.
"Madam Mi hails from..."
"Mulan Gaoxiong probably won't attend this gathering; as for him..."
"The elder of the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance hasn't made many appearances lately, but word is that he is quite fond of befriending fellow Daoists, so he might show up this time."
As they talked, True Person Langya shifted the topic and began introducing the figures who might arrive from the Moluo Stream.
"Stream Lord Minghuo will definitely appear! Years ago, when an enraged Mulan Gaoxiong struck down one and wounded another, he was the Stream Lord who was severely wounded. This gathering of True Persons was also convened at his behest, likely to seek resources to heal his injuries."
"Originally, his combat prowess was exceptional, rivaling Mulan Gaoxiong at his peak. After that battle, not only was he severely injured, but his prestige within the Moluo Stream plummeted, and his faction shrunk considerably."
"There is also a woman named Du Feiyan. You should be cautious around her as well, Hermit. She is the only woman among the Twelve Stream Lords of the Moluo Stream. For her to stand alongside such demons, her abilities must not be underestimated."
"As for Stream Lord Lietian, I hardly need say much. He made the biggest name for himself during the century-long righteous-demonic war. Although he is only at the third tier of the Nascent Soul realm, his wind-attribute cultivation art is peerlessly fierce. He comes without a trace and goes without a shadow, and his combat ability is in no way inferior to a mid Nascent Soul cultivator. To deal with him, the Canghai Alliance once dispatched three Nascent Soul True Persons all at once, yet they still couldn't bring him down."
"Most importantly, he is one of the few within the Moluo Stream who had close ties with Blood Nightmare Moluo. Now that Blood Nightmare Moluo has become a stray dog, Lietian's standing within the Moluo Stream has grown difficult. Reason dictates he should keep a low profile, yet for some reason, he took the initiative to attend this gathering."
Hearing these renowned names across the Northern Sea cultivation world, Luo Chen felt a stir of awe.
In the past, such figures had seemed like distant stars in the sky.
Now, they were about to appear before him one by one; for a moment, he even felt a faint trace of excitement.
Yet Luo Chen soon calmed his emotions.
That he was able to participate in this gathering proved he was an equal.
There was no longer any need to look up to them in deference.
Besides, Nascent Soul True Persons?
He had fought them, and even killed them!
There was no need to be overly cautious!
As the two conversed quietly, strolling at an unhurried pace, the bluestone path came to an end.
A spacious red jade square immediately came into view.
Beneath the dim curtain of rain, the red jade square looked rather oppressive.
At that moment, streaks of escaping light swept in from all directions, gliding across the red jade square and flying into the grand hall.
Guiyuan Palace!
It was said that in the past, this palace was used by Blood Nightmare Moluo to house the remnants of the Yuan Demon Sect who had rallied to him.
No one had anticipated that Blood Nightmare Moluo would personally refine those junior disciples into Blood God Children.
It was as though the crimson hue of the square had been stained by the blood of those Yuan Demon disciples.
"Let us head inside as well. Most everyone should be arriving soon," True Person Langya said, stepping forward.
Yet he noticed Luo Chen standing motionless, calmly gazing up at the sky.
Following his gaze, True Person Langya looked toward that direction.
Two figures stood in midair amid the veil of rain, glaring toward them.
"That's... Stream Lord Lietian!"
True Person Langya's expression shifted slightly. "How did he end up walking with Old Ghost Nanqi?"
Right then, Stream Lord Lietian took a step forward, looking down condescendingly upon Mei Yiqi and Luo Chen, his gaze locked especially onto Luo Chen.
His eyes were full of contempt, the corners of his mouth thin and sharp.
"These days, any stray cat or dog dares to crawl out. Even a nobody dares dream of sitting at the same table with us."
True Person Langya frowned. "Lietian, you go too far. The Desolate Hermit is my friend. His attendance at this gathering was agreed upon by True Person Sihai."
"Shang Sihai? This isn't his Sihai Commerce Alliance; he doesn't call the shots here. Mei Yiqi, with that good-natured disposition of yours, do you actually intend to stand up for him?"
"You!"
True Person Langya's face darkened, and he raised a finger.
Before words could leave his mouth, Luo Chen pressed a hand down from behind him.
Luo Chen stepped forward, gazing calmly at the sinister man in the sky.
This hostility was far too unprovoked!
He asked mildly, "Lietian, what is your intention?"
Stream Lord Lietian's mouth curled into a sneer. "In the vast Northern Sea, I have only heard of the Blood Hermit, the Moon Hermit, and the Mad Hermit. I have never heard of any 'Desolate Hermit.' What right or ability do you possess to rank yourself alongside them?"
"What ability does this Hermit possess? Would you care to see for yourself?"
"I would!"
Before the word finished falling, the curtain of rain between heaven and earth halted abruptly, and a peerlessly sharp aura tore through sky and earth toward him!
Luo Chen smiled faintly. His white robes flapped loudly against the raging wind as a blazing, overbearing aura surged upward like raging fire.
True Person Langya fell back several steps, looking worried.
Inside Guiyuan Palace, the Nascent Soul True Persons who had already arrived naturally sensed the sudden explosion of the two auras.
One after another, they sent out their divine senses to observe.
Seeing that it was Stream Lord Lietian stirring up trouble, they were all rendered speechless.
This man's insolence and arrogance were rare even among Nascent Soul cultivators.
No wonder he had gotten close to the likes of Blood Nightmare Moluo.
Still, taking out the rage pent up during days of negotiations on a newly ascended loose cultivator Nascent Soul was truly over the top.
"That fellow named Luo Chen is probably in for a rough time."
"Serves him right for his bad luck. The Blood Hermit is currently hunting down his good friend Blood Nightmare Moluo all over the world. Stream Lord Lietian doesn't dare provoke the Blood Hermit, but venting his anger on some 'Desolate Hermit' is easy enough."
"Of all the titles he could have chosen, he just had to call himself the Desolate Hermit. Where does he get the nerve to rank himself with the Three Great Loose Cultivators? When this concubine caught a glimpse of the Moon Hermit back then, she was utterly awe-inspiring. Now she has attained the late Nascent Soul realm, just one step away from Soul Formation..."
Ignoring the pessimism of those inside the hall, Shang Sihai, one of the two organizers of this gathering, looked somewhat displeased.
Looking across at the sickly red-haired elder, he said coldly, "Minghuo, isn't your man crossing the line?"
The sickly red-haired elder lifted his eyelids and said casually, "Lietian, fighting is forbidden during the Truce Conference. Do not provoke everyone's displeasure."
His words were calm, yet carried out like rolling thunder.
With that, he had set the boundary for the matter: as long as it didn't escalate to an actual battle, there was no problem.
And if that Desolate Hermit performed too disgracefully, he surely wouldn't have the face to attend this gathering anyway.
He knew Stream Lord Lietian's intentions inside and out.
Old Ghost Nanqi watched with a chuckle as Stream Lord Lietian unfolded his Nascent Soul domain, having roughly guessed the man's plan.
Throughout the century-long war between righteous and demonic forces, Stream Lord Lietian had made countless enemies.
His good friend Blood Nightmare Moluo had become a stray dog.
It could be said that whether in the Moluo Stream or the Canghai Alliance, he was practically isolated.
In the negotiations of the Truce Conference in particular, several clauses were specifically aimed at him, demanding reparations.
Under these circumstances, Stream Lord Lietian had to project strength to bargain more effectively in the upcoming negotiations.
Targeting the Desolate Hermit was hardly just venting anger; it was killing the chicken to scare the monkeys.
Ah well!
If he wanted to get his hands on that item, he would still need to rely on Lietian. If anyone rebuked Lietian later, he would just put in a few good words for him.
Meanwhile, Stream Lord Lietian felt that peculiar sensation surface in his heart once again.
His distaste for Luo Chen was by no means baseless.
It might have been the title of "Hermit," or the desire to make an example of someone, but the true reason that drove his decision to target Luo Chen was an elusive, uncanny sense of familiarity.
*I have definitely seen him somewhere before!*
*Since you hide behind a false name and disguise your identity, I will force you to reveal your true self and see what sacred being you really are!*
His resolve settled, his Nascent Soul opened its eyes. Vast magic power gushed forth, channeling the world's spiritual energy into a tempestuous Nascent Soul domain.
Countless currents of wind-attribute spiritual energy converged from all directions, bearing down upon the white-robed cultivator with tremendous force.
He was confident that under the suppression of his Nascent Soul domain, Luo Chen, a mere first-tier Nascent Soul cultivator, would never be able to hold his ground.
If Luo Chen still hoped to participate in this gathering, he would have to reveal some telltale clue.
Yet in the very next instant, Stream Lord Lietian's eyes widened abruptly!
Masses of world spiritual energy converged, forming two grand Nascent Soul domains—one azure, one crimson.
The azure Nascent Soul domain, initially dominant, not only failed to crush the crimson domain, but was pushed back retreat after retreat as the crimson domain surged relentlessly upward.
Furthermore, Stream Lord Lietian could even feel the wind-attribute spiritual energy he commanded being continuously melted away and shattered.
Even as he repeatedly channeled his magic power, he could not halt the rout in the slightest.
The torrential rain that had momentarily paused began to pour once more amidst the clash of the azure and crimson domains.
Only now, under the scorching heat, each raindrop transformed into boiling, terrifying steam that swept violently toward Stream Lord Lietian.
"Audacious!"
Stream Lord Lietian swung his wide sleeve to fan away the scalding steam, and a flying sword materialized swiftly in his grasp.
"Lietian."
Minghuo's listless voice echoed out once more.
Stream Lord Lietian drew a deep breath and had no choice but to put away his flying sword.
On the red jade square, Luo Chen smiled faintly as his Senluo Fire Prison flashed and subsided.
"Thank you for yielding!"
"Humph! 'Desolate Hermit,' was it? I'll remember you!"
Lietian glared fiercely at Luo Chen, then flicked his sleeve and entered the palace.
Before walking inside, Old Ghost Nanqi took a long, astonished look at Luo Chen.
Not only them, but even the Nascent Soul True Persons inside the hall found it unbelievable.
Stream Lord Lietian, a cultivator at the third tier of the Nascent Soul realm, had actually lost to Luo Chen, a first-tier Nascent Soul cultivator, in a clash of domains.
From within the silent hall came a soft sigh of wonder:
"From this day forth, the legend of the Four Great Loose Cultivators will be told across the Northern Sea."
Chapter 722