Spirit of the Blood Sword, Shenyuan Wanxiang

Phoo... A brisk breeze cleansed the air as he gently exhaled a breath of turbid qi. Stepping out from Mogan Mountain, Luo Chen instantly felt like a bird taking to the azure sky or a fish returning to the boundless sea. The oppressive weight that had hung over him completely dissolved. Turning to look back, his spiritual vision allowed him to faintly discern two blood seas of similar hues crashing against one another. The monstrous waves thrown up by their fierce battle battered and shattered the remaining Lengguang islets, reducing them to debris. For Nascent Soul cultivators capable of manipulating the ambient spiritual qi of heaven and earth, letting loose without restraint unleashed truly terrifying devastation. At the very least, mountains crumbled and peaks broke; at the worst, whole islands sank into the sea. It was just like Luo Chen's own Qingyang Great Handprint fused with the Spirit Subjugation Seal—if left unchecked, its power would snowball, growing ever more formidable until smashing a city with a single blow would be no exaggeration. "It was my intrusion that awakened Blood Nightmare Moluo, who had been hiding here, which in turn drew the Blood Hermit, who had been relentlessly hunting him. "Both are renowned Nascent Soul powerhouses in the Northern Sea. In the past, they seemed towering and unreachable, deep as the vast ocean. But looking at them now, they don't seem quite so untouchable anymore!" Luo Chen watched the clash of the two blood cultivators, a conflict spanning decades, his eyes glinting with sharp insight. He couldn't say whether it was because his own realm had risen, narrowing the distance between them, or because decades of mortal combat had heavily sapped both men's vitality. In any case, to his eyes, neither was an opponent he had no hope of contending with. Just moments ago, he had torn Blood Nightmare Moluo's physical body to pieces. Even if the man was nigh-immortal and could reconstitute a new form from the blood sea, Luo Chen could carve him apart and mince him again and again! If all else failed, fully unleashing the Wither-Bloom True Fire would be more than enough to incinerate this entire sea of blood! What was more, he had not even assumed his strongest state, the Desolate Ancient True Body. He possessed ample confidence. *Should I try to reap the spoils?* The thought flickered through Luo Chen's mind. He could tell that the battle between the two had entered a white-hot phase from the very start. Each unleashed their utmost blood dao methods in a battle to the death, and this clash would very likely yield a definitive conclusion. No matter who emerged victorious, if he could swoop in as the fisherman... In the end, Luo Chen dismissed the covetous urge. His divine sense detected a considerable number of Core Formation cultivators rushing over from all directions. These Core Formation figures posed no threat to him, but their arrival meant the battle in the Lengguang Archipelago had already caught the outside world's attention. Behind them, peak powerhouses from both the orthodox and demonic paths would undoubtedly arrive one after another. Not wanting to stir up further complications, Luo Chen picked a direction and departed in haste. *** A magnificent carriage drifted in and out of view among the clouds, covering vast distances in the blink of an eye. Tianxuan held the reins of the Six Imperial Flying Cloud Carriage, casting worried glances behind her toward the figure resting behind the curtain. Ever since fighting his way out of the Lengguang Archipelago, her master had remained silent. Had something gone wrong? Behind the curtain, Luo Chen's eyes were closed as his divine sense entered the Hunyuan Cauldron within his purple mansion. The cauldron remained the same muted gray. Yet unlike its previously rough and unpolished appearance, it was now perfectly rounded and harmonious, showing not the slightest trace of array engravings. All of its materials had fused seamlessly into a single entity, appearing less like a human creation and more like something naturally birthed by heaven and earth. Even the Xuanchen Armor, which had likewise advanced into a True Artifact, paled in comparison. Indeed, the might demonstrated by the Hunyuan Cauldron far exceeded what the Xuanchen Armor could muster. The tribulation lightning produced after devouring heavenly thunder might be modest in quantity, but at crucial moments, it caught opponents entirely off guard. Its innate properties were equally astonishing: it could forcefully suppress and absorb a pseudo-spirit treasure like the God-Slashing Blood Sword, which was capable of wounding Luo Chen's physical body. *Was it because of that streak of gray light that fused into it back in Mingzhao Heaven?* Luo Chen pondered inwardly. He searched once again for traces of the gray light, but found nothing. It was as if it had vanished into thin air. Letting out a soft sigh, Luo Chen turned his attention back to the God-Slashing Blood Sword, examining it closely. Among all the weapons he had encountered in his life, the highest-ranking was undoubtedly the Heaven Refining Cauldron, reputed to be a Heavenly Spirit Treasure. However, after enduring a millennium of strife between the Nine Refining Beacon Fire and the Nirvana Holy Fire, the cauldron had been severely damaged. Furthermore, it was not an offensive killing treasure, so its lethal presence had never felt truly terrifying. In terms of sheer lethality, this God-Slashing Blood Sword stood at the very top of everything he had ever witnessed! The war between the orthodox and demonic factions in the Northern Sea had begun when three Nascent Soul masters of the Moluo Sect ambushed Mulan Gaoxiong, but what truly lured Mulan Gaoxiong into the trap was this very blood sword. Because of it, Mulan Gaoxiong's Dao path had been severed, leaving him forever halted at the mid Nascent Soul stage. And because of it, Blood Nightmare Moluo could wield it to contend with the Blood Hermit, the most notorious of the Three Great Loose Cultivators. Such was the weapon's sharpness. Yet by Luo Chen's intuition, Blood Nightmare Moluo had never fully unleashed the sword's true potential. According to Han Zhan, during the battle at the Sea of Clouds Square in Mingzhao Heaven, Blood Nightmare Moluo had to sever his own fingers to feed the blade just to activate it. Clearly, he had never truly gained the sword's acknowledgment. *Is it because of the sword spirit?* Luo Chen attempted to probe the spirit with his divine sense, only to be firmly rebuffed by a dense shroud of crimson light. Although the God-Slashing Blood Sword was trapped inside the Hunyuan Cauldron and unable to escape, it could still seal off its interior from the outside, denying Luo Chen contact. Such spontaneous volition certainly made it seem sentient. Yet Luo Chen remembered clearly that the God-Slashing Blood Sword was not a genuine spirit treasure that had birthed its own self-awareness. The spiritual entity within was closer to those special magical treasures encountered at lower cultivation realms, into which an external soul had been bound. Therefore, to master this sword, one either had to earn the entity's recognition, or forcefully subjugate and manipulate it. Inexplicably, Luo Chen thought of the White Tiger puppet shelved away in his storage ring. He slowly opened his eyes, looking thoughtful. "It seems I truly need to seek out some profound texts on puppetry." *** Years ago, traveling from the Lengguang Archipelago to Giant Whale Port had taken three full years. This time, the journey took merely a few months. The blazing speed of the Six Imperial Flying Cloud Carriage was one reason, but the end of the orthodox-demonic war had also cleared the path. Indeed, the war was officially over. Along the way, Luo Chen had heard from passing cultivators about the peace talks at Mulan Court. The two sides had reached a broad consensus that a ceasefire was imperative. The Moluo Sect publicly declared Blood Nightmare Moluo to be the sole culprit behind the conflict, using him as a convenient scapegoat. The Canghai Orthodox Alliance chose to let bygones be bygones, even sharing the complete, updated linked-island array art developed by the Soul Formation grandmaster Li Canghai with the Moluo Sect. Luo Chen had no way of knowing the finer details. But in his view, the haste with which both sides ceased hostilities and entered cooperation stemmed entirely from external pressure: the Northern Sea Demon Alliance! And Luo Chen could already feel that pressure firsthand. Giant Whale Port, once bustling and prosperous, was now visibly desolate, with hardly any of the former hustle and bustle in sight. Sang Jinghe reported his findings to Luo Chen in a hushed voice. "Shenyuan City is indeed encircled by a massive horde of demon beasts. However, their movements are well-disciplined. They haven't completely besieged the city, but have instead left one side open, keeping Giant Whale Port accessible as a conduit to the human interior. It is precisely because of this that we have a chance to enter Shenyuan City safely." Luo Chen listened quietly, extending his powerful divine sense outward. Thousands of li away, several formidable auras indeed flickered on the edge of perception. In terms of cultivation realm, those beings were no weaker than he was. "Besieging three sides while leaving one open?" Luo Chen mused. "Do these demon beasts want to foster false hope within this major Northern Sea stronghold, baiting them into dispersing their forces so they can be picked off one by one? Or do they simply fear provoking the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance, maintaining merely a superficial encirclement without daring to strike a fatal blow?" Shenyuan City was the headquarters of the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance in the Northern Sea, backed by none other than the Tianyuan Dao Sect in the distant Central Plains! The Northern Sea Demon Alliance was clearly no rabble; its powerhouses certainly harbored misgivings toward the Tianyuan Dao Sect. Therefore, Luo Chen's latter guess was much closer to the truth. Recalling that Fu Chaosheng had arranged to meet him in Shenyuan City, Luo Chen set his mind at ease and walked toward the towering black-and-white immortal city. Before setting out, his sleeve twitched slightly. A small snake slipped out, sliding into the ocean and disappearing from sight a moment later. *** The city walls were pitch-black, resembling a colossal dark dragon coiling around hundreds of square li of land. Inside, uniquely designed, pure-white structures rose in every direction. Small bridges arched over flowing waters, tranquil lakes and rivers meandered through the city, and lofty pagodas pierced the sky. Luo Chen had never seen such an architectural style before. Grand and imposing, it possessed exquisite details that suggested every inch had been meticulously planned from its inception. The striking interplay of black and white carried an immense visual impact. Rumor had it that the Central Plains favored the game of Go, particularly the Tianyuan Dao Sect, whose disciples were all adept at the board game. This architectural style was likely influenced by that tradition. Yet what drew Luo Chen's attention most was the concentration of spiritual qi within Shenyuan City. It was remarkably dense! Even the open streets boasted the qi concentration of a weak Tier 2 spiritual vein. One could easily imagine that the shops and multistory pavilions fitted with Spirit Gathering Arrays operated at Tier 2 as a baseline. The dedicated cultivation abodes within the city would feature no small number of Tier 3 veins. Luo Chen could even sense at least ten locations radiating an intense pull toward him—locations housing the spiritual qi density of a Tier 4 vein! This single city alone rivaled the entire Dragon Taming Mountain Range. One wondered how, back when the Yuan Demon Sect held sway, they had ever permitted the Tianyuan Dao Sect to secure such prime heartland to establish their alliance headquarters. "Master, what should we do now?" Tianxuan asked. Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Find a place to settle down, of course." As he spoke, a medallion appeared in his hand—the VIP token Fu Chaosheng had personally gifted him years ago. "Jinghe, take this to the central pagoda and lease a Tier 4 cultivation cave from them." "Master, why aren't you sending me again?" Tianxuan asked, puzzled. She considered herself sharp and efficient, having made very few mistakes over the years. Yet along their journey, Luo Chen had entrusted nearly all matters, large and small, to Sang Jinghe. Luo Chen placed the token into Sang Jinghe's respectfully outstretched hands and patted his shoulder, gesturing for him to go ahead. Then, strolling leisurely down the wide thoroughfare, he explained softly, "The situation is delicate right now, and tensions between humans and demons run high. Although you have taken human form, your fundamental nature remains that of a Core Formation demon cultivator. If someone sees through your identity, it will invite needless trouble. Jinghe is a human cultivator and has been to Shenyuan City before. It is far better for him to step forward. As for you... just accompany me on a walk." Tianxuan came to an understanding just as Luo Chen stepped into a storefront, and she quickly followed him inside. The moment they entered, an attendant warmly greeted them. "Senior, are you looking for anything in particular?" "Nothing specific. Just browsing." "Then you've come to the right place! Our shop may not look large, but our stock is extraordinarily comprehensive—not a bit inferior to the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance!" "Oh?" Luo Chen's interest was piqued. Such bold words for a shopkeeper. He recalled the plaque hanging above the entrance: Wanxiang Tower. The attendant perked up and began to introduce the establishment. "Behind our Wanxiang Tower stands the Xiang clan, foremost among the Thirty-Six Clans of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, surpassed only by the Twelve Great Houses! Our business spans north and south alike. Here, you will find not only local Northern Sea specialties, but also an exhaustive selection of resources from the Southern Border!" Luo Chen chuckled inwardly. After such boasting, it seemed the claim had been somewhat exaggerated. The Tianyuan Commerce Alliance operated across the entirety of the Mountain Sea Realm, reaching far beyond merely connecting north and south. Still, for this Xiang clan to extend their trade all the way to the Southern Border, their foundation was undoubtedly profound. Setting aside his skepticism, he asked, "If what you say is true, do you carry Southern Border Gu insects?" The attendant gestured invite-style with an open palm. "Senior, this way please! Gu insects are arcane and volatile, so to avoid disturbing customers, their storage area is set in the back." Luo Chen followed him to the rear with a faint smile. Jars and vessels appeared before him one after another as the attendant's explanations flowed continuously. "This is a Moonlight Gu. Its tier is modest, only Tier 1, but it possesses the ability to guide qi and unblock meridians. Those possessing spiritual roots who were born with clogged meridians can refine this Gu to break through their constraints and begin cultivating. Even those born with clear meridians gladly refine a Moonlight Gu to aid their Qi Refining. "This is a Wineskin Gu. Placing spiritual wine inside steadily improves its quality and imparts a rich, mellow flavor—an absolute must for those fond of drink! It is one of the best-selling low-tier Gu insects in our Wanxiang Tower. "...And this is a Tier 1 Consonance Gu! Senior may not have heard the name, but you must have heard of its predecessor: the Demon Heart Gu, a demonic Gu insect that parasites a cultivator's body. Upon the host's death, their entire cultivation is devoured by its master." Hearing the name Consonance Gu, Luo Chen's heart gave a sudden lurch. Not only had he heard the name, he had used one himself. Nurtured by his immense blood and vitality, the Consonance Gu inside his body had once been fostered all the way to Tier 3. Later, after his physical body underwent its nirvanic rebirth, the Gu—along with his vast ocean of magic power—had vanished without a trace... Suddenly, a realization struck Luo Chen like a thunderclap. A Tier 3 Consonance Gu possessed far more than the simple function of telepathic empathy; it could advance to the level of a Demon Heart Gu. While it could not transfer an entire lifetime of cultivation to benefit another, it could transmit half of one's magic power across space to the mother Gu. Could it be that his vast magic power back then had not vanished into nothingness, but had been transferred through the Consonance Gu into Sima Huiniang, who harbored its counterpart? At this thought, Luo Chen's body shivered involuntarily. He knew better than anyone how domineering and fierce his magic power had been. If Sima Huiniang had already reached the Core Formation stage, she might have barely managed to withstand it. But if she had not yet broken through back then, she might have... The attendant, ever observant, noticed Luo Chen's tremor and hurriedly reassured him, "Senior, there is no need to worry. No one dares refine the Demon Heart Gu nowadays. Even though the Consonance Gu is controlled by a King Gu, capable figures within our Central Plains' Xiang clan neutralized the King Gu's influence long ago. You can safely purchase a pair to plant in someone dear to you, allowing you to sense their safety and well-being." Luo Chen's mind was in turmoil; he could barely process the attendant's words. Taking a deep breath, he waved a hand toward Tianxuan behind him. "Buy one of every Gu insect. Tianxuan, settle the bill." Leaving those instructions, Luo Chen walked out of Wanxiang Tower in a daze. Standing on the quiet street, he instinctively tried to activate the Consonance Gu, but the little insect had long departed his body; he could sense nothing of Huiniang's condition. A heavy melancholy settled over his heart. At the far end of the street, Sang Jinghe hurried toward him, accompanied by a richly dressed, middle-aged man. From a distance, the middle-aged man cupped his hands in a deep, respectful salute toward Luo Chen. "Junior Fu Hongzhang greets Senior Desolate Hermit!"