After the brief interlude, the atmosphere in the hall eased.
From the start, today's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony was unlike any ordinary celebration.
Decades had passed since Luo Chen broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, and he had not achieved it in the Eastern Desolation. There were no old peers coming to offer congratulations on a newfound breakthrough.
Nor was today's display particularly grand; it hardly qualified as a sect-wide jubilee.
None of the arriving True Persons had brought along disciples or juniors to listen to Luo Chen preach the Dao.
Evidently, every single person present knew precisely what Luo Chen aimed to achieve by deliberately staging this ceremony.
He wanted to build a network of connections!
In consideration of the claim written on the invitation cards—"Concocting a hundred pills, master of them all"—the fellow Daoists across the Five Domains were willing to give him face.
Yet that face had been granted by others.
Following that clash with Jinling just now, Luo Chen's momentum had not been suppressed in the slightest. If anything, it had climbed a level higher.
At this point, he no longer needed others to give him face. Relying solely on his own strength, he was fully capable of establishing a foothold in the Eastern Desolation!
Of course, Luo Chen had never been fond of mindless fighting and killing; by nature, he was not bellicose.
"Gentlemen, you may have thought the claims on my invitation were an exaggeration.
"Luo holds no grudge over such doubts. After all, boasting of such caliber truly sounds arrogant.
"However, excessive humility is merely pride in disguise. When it comes to the alchemical Dao, Luo still possesses some degree of pride and confidence.
"Everyone, feast your eyes!"
The moment Luo Chen took the initiative to bring up alchemy, all eyes converged on him.
After singing his own praises, Luo Chen directly produced proof that could substantiate his alchemical prowess.
Pills of the Hongyuan Pill, each reaching the top-grade quality, hovered before everyone under the gentle guidance of his magic power.
In an instant, the crowd grasped the pills, looks of shock surfacing across their faces.
"What a dense medicinal fragrance! The medicinal power contained within is immense!"
"Tier 4, top-grade!"
"True Person Luo, did you refine this?"
"Was it a stroke of luck, or..."
Confronted with barrage after barrage of inquiries, Luo Chen answered each with a smile.
When asked whether he could reliably concoct Tier 4 top-grade pills, although he did not confirm it unconditionally, he stated that he had immense confidence in both his pill-formation rate and finished quality rate.
Castellan Lingtian, hailing from the Mingyuan Sect, held a Hongyuan Pill in his palm, his expression equally incredulous.
A Tier 4 pill of top grade?
Even the Alchemy Saint back then had been no better than this!
He remembered clearly that Chu Yan had initially been unable to consistently refine Tier 4 top-grade pills; only with sheer luck could she occasionally turn out a top-grade specimen.
Only later, after she fluked a furnace of Tier 5 divine pills and thereby earned the title of Alchemy Saint, was she able to consistently produce Tier 4 top-grade pills from an elevated vantage point of mastery and comprehension.
In other words, Luo Chen's current alchemical mastery was virtually equivalent to Chu Yan's final Alchemy Saint phase in the Eastern Desolation?
Even if he could not yet concoct Tier 5 divine pills and could not claim the supreme mantle of Alchemy Saint, the title of Alchemical Grandmaster was undeniably genuine!
How could such a figure be allowed to become a lapdog of Tianyuan or a guest elder of the Star Gate!
Castellan Lingtian could not help but look up at Luo Chen.
Basking in the admiring, astonished, and even disbelieving gazes around him, Luo Chen received them with composure.
Hide his abilities?
Unnecessary!
Hiding his abilities before a behemoth like a Soul Formation sacred ground was even more pointless!
If they discarded all reason and crushed you like a bug, that would truly be absurd.
Only by displaying sufficient value could one earn the regard of superiors, the flattery and courting of peers, and the awe and reverence of subordinates.
And that value lay in being beneficial to others.
In these turbulent times, Tier 4 pills that could reliably enhance the strength of Nascent Soul True Persons were undeniably the most beneficial and the most valuable.
"This pill is unsuitable for you; it is merely a pill Luo concocts for his own private cultivation.
"However, my alchemical Dao has already reached great attainment. For any other pill, as long as there is a complete pill recipe, sufficient raw ingredients, and enough time, refining it will pose no great difficulty."
Luo Chen spoke with an airy casualness, as though describing an insignificant trifle.
Yet the content of his words stirred a tempestuous wave in every heart.
Immediately, someone asked impatiently,
"Can you refine Tier 4 pills?"
Luo Chen glanced over. The speaker wore a gourd topknot and a flowing-wind robe, bearing an ethereal and transcendent aura. It was none other than the Piaomiao Sect's Supreme Elder, Lingfengzi.
Luo Chen nodded slightly. "I can!"
Lingfengzi was overjoyed!
Then another person spoke up.
"Can you refine breakthrough pills?"
This time, the one asking was Old Fu.
An eager, anxious light shone in his eyes.
The Divine Talisman Sect had once rivaled the Medicine King Sect in wealth within the Six Eastern Domains.
Later, however, the Medicine King Sect had pulled far ahead in a solitary lead, and even Tianfan City had caught up from behind to overtake the Divine Talisman Sect.
The root cause behind all of this was a generational gap in the Divine Talisman Sect's talent pool.
Old Fu was already nine hundred years old!
He had reached the Nascent Soul realm five hundred years ago!
For a full five hundred years, not a second Nascent Soul True Person had emerged in the Divine Talisman Sect.
Not only did this impede the sect's development, but it also sent them into gradual decline.
Had Old Fu not been a wily old fox who pulled his head in the moment things took a turn for the worse, the sect would have perished long ago amid relentless inter-sect rivalries and beast rampages.
The implication behind his question now was self-evident.
Meeting that fervent gaze, the corners of Luo Chen's lips curved faintly.
"I can do that as well!"
Thump!
A sudden thud of a hand striking a table echoed.
Luo Chen glanced sideways. Castellan Lingtian had planted his right hand on the table in an uncharacteristic lapse of composure, his expression intricate.
Everyone witnessed this, yet nobody cared.
They cared far more about the truth of Luo Chen's words.
Sovereign Jiuling suddenly stood up. "Fellow Daoist Luo, if a Tier 4 pill recipe is incomplete, can you still produce finished pills?"
Luo Chen laughed freely. "Without seeing it first, Luo would not dare boast. But if I manage to refine it, that would be another price altogether. Sovereign, pray think it through before deciding."
Sovereign Jiuling beamed with delight.
Suddenly, the rest realized something.
Price!
Indeed, Luo Chen's willingness to help them concoct pills was already an immense favor.
Even so, business was business, and remuneration was an entirely separate matter!
After all, in this day and age, having wealth did not guarantee that someone would work for you; it depended on whether they chose to give you face.
Right away, someone inquired about the conditions for Luo Chen to take action.
Luo Chen showed no coyness, listing several items generously.
Crimson Firmament Qi, and in vast quantities!
High-tier body refinement cultivation techniques, regardless of their era of origin!
Various pill recipes, regardless of tier.
These three were universal conditions.
Anyone possessing any one of these three could seek out Luo Chen. However, the specific details and additional pricing would require detailed discussions.
After all, the refining difficulty, time, and energy required for each pill recipe differed, so naturally the price varied accordingly.
Once Luo Chen laid out these terms, the atmosphere in the hall cooled slightly as everyone pondered whether they possessed items that met his demands.
Yet there were several people whose minds were elsewhere.
Take True Person Shenhuo, for instance. Witnessing this scene, he could not help but recall what Jinling had said earlier.
Luo Chen was truly growing into a force to be reckoned with!
In a brief span of time, he had become the center of attention.
If he truly began refining pills for these people, favors would be owed, and their loyalties would naturally fall into his palm.
If the Five Elements Divine Sect wanted to deal with Luo Chen in the future, it would only be...
"Shenhuo, I heard that Elder Qingchi of your noble sect perished under a siege of Demon Sovereigns. Does your Divine Sect still have anyone capable of refining the Great Five Elements Divine Pill?"
Shenhuo snapped his head up, meeting Luo Chen's smiling gaze, and felt a lump of fury stick in his throat.
As the strongest sect in the Six Eastern Domains, the Five Elements Divine Sect at its peak could rival the mighty sects of antiquity.
The elders of its five peaks each possessed their own specialties.
Jinling excelled in battle, Linmu excelled in nurturing, and he, Shenhuo, excelled in artifact forging.
Yet if one were to ask who was the most vital among the five peak elders, it was undeniably Qingchi.
She had been the chief alchemist of the Five Elements Divine Sect. Whether it was the Ruoshui Pill used for Foundation Establishment, the Five Elements Divine Pill commonly taken by Golden Core cultivators, or even the Great Five Elements Divine Pill used to aid the cultivation of their Nascent Soul True Persons, all came from Qingchi's hands.
Yet in that battle back then, two of the five peak elders died and one was wounded. Qingchi had fallen under the combined onslaught of several Demon Sovereigns.
With her death, the Divine Sect's pill supply was severed.
For Luo Chen to bring this up now was practically indistinguishable from tearing open their wounds in public!
Suppressing the rage in his heart, Shenhuo demanded, "Luo Chen, what is the meaning of this?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "My meaning is simple. If your noble sect lacks anyone capable of refining the Five Elements Divine Pill, I wouldn't mind lending a hand."
"Oh? You are that kindhearted?" Shenhuo frowned in disbelief.
Luo Chen shrugged. "I have always been softhearted; I cannot bear to watch others suffer. As long as your noble sect's Supreme Elder brings the recipe for the Great Five Elements Divine Pill in person, what harm is there in me refining a furnace of spirit pills for you?"
Shenhuo froze, but soon caught on.
"Apologies. Our sect's Supreme Elder is indisposed and sees no visitors."
With that, nursing his resentment, he found an excuse to bid farewell and depart.
Watching his retreating back, Luo Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
***
This Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony did not last long, drawing to a close around dusk.
The experts from the various sects and factions departed one after another.
Before leaving, Qin Baiming of the Hundred Beasts Sect shot a few bewildered glances at True Person Xianhe, who sat poised and composed.
*Not only did this old fellow arrive early, but he looks like he has no intention of leaving. Luo Chen hasn't known him for long—could they really have that good of a relationship?*
Unable to make sense of it, Qin Baiming nevertheless departed briskly.
He intended to return and consult his sect peers to see whether they should part with some resources to commission Luo Chen to refine a few batches of pills beneficial for rearing spirit beasts.
Atop Mount Daqing.
True Person Xianhe walked shoulder to shoulder with Luo Chen, chatting and laughing.
"I previously heard that you defeated Motian in an instant within Lingtian Pass and suppressed Shenhuo. At the time, this old man was still skeptical, but seeing you forcefully triumph over Jinling in a clash of domains today was truly an eye-opener."
"Haha, you flatter me, you flatter me! That old rascal Jinling said it himself: domain clashes are mere parlor tricks, and real skill must be proven with fists on another day."
"For Fellow Daoist Luo to be so carefree, you must surely be brimming with confidence in your martial abilities!"
"He is, after all, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator a level above me. How could I speak of absolute certainty? I was merely putting on a brave face."
True Person Xianhe glanced at Luo Chen, seeing not the slightest trace of hollow bravado, only consummate confidence.
He shook his head and dropped the polite banter, getting straight to the point.
"Could you supply our White Crane Sect with Emperor Flowing Liquid in large quantities?"
As if anticipating this question all along, Luo Chen asked with a knowing smile, "You have already tested the medicine, I take it?"
True Person Xianhe rested his horsetail whisk across his arm and stroked his beard. "Indeed, it is as you said. This medicine holds tremendous benefits for advancing spirit beasts. If we can secure large quantities of Emperor Flowing Liquid, our White Crane Sect's strength will certainly climb to another level."
Luo Chen offered a half-smile. "Fellow Daoist Xianhe, did your testing conclude with only that?"
Xianhe froze, his hand tightening around his beard, his expression turning slightly awkward.
Luo Chen continued on his own, "Emperor Flowing Liquid works wonders for beast advancements, but for Qi Refinement cultivators, it also provides a twenty to thirty percent chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Its efficacy is not in the least inferior to orthodox Foundation Establishment spirit medicines. I have never heard of any faction supplying such a resource in bulk to outsiders."
Since ancient times, breakthrough pills had commanded values far exceeding ordinary cultivation pills of the same tier.
On the black market or among itinerant cultivators, the markup could easily reach tenfold or a hundredfold!
Even in regular trade, the price would be exorbitant.
Having his intentions exposed, Xianhe lowered his hand awkwardly.
"It does indeed possess similar effects."
Then, his tone turned solemn.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, name your price!"
"Name my price?"
Luo Chen chuckled.
"Ordinary spirit stones are not something I care for. If you truly wish to trade, why not offer a batch of well-trained, accomplished spirit cranes!"
"Impossible!" True Person Xianhe refused flatly. "The spirit cranes are the foundation of our sect. How could we sell them to outsiders?"
Luo Chen indeed coveted the White Crane Sect's spirit cranes.
Their spirituality was exceptionally high, far surpassing that of ordinary spirit beasts, and they could even patrol and defend the mountain gates on their own.
Furthermore, their flying speed was blistering. Among those of the same tier, perhaps only formidable avian beasts like the Tianxuan Battle Gull could hold a decisive edge over them.
Yet the White Crane Sect's spirit cranes were communal creatures, moving in vast flocks.
They were nothing like the Tianxuan Battle Gull, which lived in solitary isolation.
Although the Luotian Sect had lost Xu Huanzhen, the techniques for taming and riding avian beasts from their earlier years remained.
If they could acquire a large batch of well-trained spirit cranes, the sect members' strength would instantly surge, drastically boosting their self-preservation capabilities at the very least.
Moreover, these spirit cranes could compensate for the Luotian Sect's lack of manpower.
One must perform the duties of the position one held.
Now that Luo Chen had resumed his identity as the Luotian Supreme Elder, he was destined not to enjoy the untethered freedom of before.
He did not find it troublesome; it was merely a matter of moving his lips, after all.
Furthermore, through this process, he could build his own interpersonal network.
Walking alone was free and easy, but when trouble arrived, one had to shoulder everything alone. How could that compare to the ease and comfort of standing shoulder to shoulder with allies?
Facing True Person Xianhe's flat rejection, Luo Chen took no offense.
He said with a chuckle, "For Fellow Daoist to be so eager for Emperor Flowing Liquid to bolster your disciples' strength, you must surely fear the flames of war spreading here, no?"
Without waiting for True Person Xianhe to reply, he pressed on, "The three frontline domains have been locked in stalemate for years; their collapse is only a matter of time. Once all three fall, the demon race's spearhead will point straight at Lingtian Pass. When that happens, every soul within the Five Domains will be swept into the most perilous war between humans and demons!
"And that war will not only be the most perilous, but also the most uncompromising. The demons will show no mercy, and the Mingyuan Sect backing the Eastern Desolation will never allow us to retreat a single step.
"Therefore, every person and every faction is doing everything in their power to increase their strength, all to survive the coming war—and perhaps even seize greater benefits from it.
"Fellow Daoist Xianhe, am I correct?"
Under Luo Chen's gaze, True Person Xianhe opened his mouth, but in the end let out a subdued sigh.
"You have only just returned to the Eastern Desolation, yet your insight into the local situation is as clear as day."
Luo Chen shook his head with a smile, pacing slowly before suddenly lapsing into silence, as if lost in thought.
Perplexed, and wanting to break the awkward silence, True Person Xianhe offered dryly, "Our White Crane Sect has a limited number of spirit cranes, so it truly is inconvenient to trade them. Why doesn't Fellow Daoist choose another..."
Suddenly!
Luo Chen, who had been pondering for a long while, raised his head and locked eyes with True Person Xianhe.
"Last time I was within your noble sect's mountain gates, I sensed the aura of another True Person He, yet he did not show himself. Could it be that the rumor is true?"
True Person Xianhe's expression changed drastically!
"Fellow Daoist Luo, what do you mean by this?"
This reaction confirmed Luo Chen's suspicion.
Among the five Nascent Soul factions of the Lingtian Five Domains, aside from the weakest Mu Prefecture, the remaining four possessed comparable strength.
Fenghua Palace had two Palace Masters; the Wan Jian Pavilion likewise had two Nascent Soul True Persons; and the Hundred Beasts Sect, in addition to Qin Baiming, had enslaved a Demon Sovereign, which also counted as two Nascent Soul combatants.
Then came the White Crane Sect.
Rumor had it that the White Crane Sect also possessed two Nascent Soul True Persons.
True Person Xianhe, and a shapeshifted spirit crane.
Yet whether from external rumors or the intelligence provided by the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance, no one had ever seen that shapeshifted spirit crane; peers of the same tier could only faintly sense its aura.
Over time, a rumor had cropped up.
That True Person He of the White Crane Sect had indeed survived the lightning tribulation, but had failed the transformation, making it inconvenient to appear in the world.
Surviving the lightning tribulation yet failing the transformation sounded contradictory.
In truth, it was not hard to understand.
It merely meant that during the tribulation, an external force had aided the tribulation-taker. Although they weathered the life-and-death ordeal, they lacked the complete baptism of heaven and earth, leaving the feat unfinished.
The resulting fallout was that the demon cultivator could not cultivate rapidly in a human body, and due to its enormous true form, it faced numerous handicaps such as difficulty traveling outside.
The rumor surrounding the White Crane Sect was not necessarily false.
The Wan Jian Pavilion's covert support of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and Lin Qingxuan's probing of the White Crane Sect served as corroborating evidence.
Otherwise, why would the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, which currently had barely a handful of survivors left, dare provoke the White Crane Sect that boasted two Nascent Soul True Persons?
Having observed True Person Xianhe's reaction, Luo Chen now had his answer.
"My meaning is simple.
"Relying on Emperor Flowing Liquid to nurture your disciples' strength requires years of steady accumulation; you simply do not have that much time left.
"Conversely, if your sect's True Person He could freely walk among mortals, wouldn't that be the greatest and most immediate boost to your strength?"
*Swish!*
A pill appeared in Luo Chen's hand.
"This pill is called the Transformation Pill. I am willing to offer it as a gift to forge a bond of friendship between our two sects!"
Chapter 789