"Cloud-like hair, flower-like face, swaying golden pins;
Warm hibiscus bed-curtains to pass the spring night in.
Spring nights, alas, are too brief; the sun climbs high,
No more early court for the sovereign under the sky."
On the wide, soft bed, the man murmured a few lines of verse from his homeland. The corners of his lips curved upward, as though savoring the memory.
Looking left and right at the two jade-like faces touched with exhaustion and satisfaction, Luo Chen smiled softly. He gently pushed aside the smooth, delicate arm resting across his chest, lifted the plump thigh weighing down on him, and slowly sat up.
Taking care not to disturb the two women, Luo Chen pulled a thin blanket over them before stepping down from the bed.
Casually draping a silk robe over himself and letting his hair hang loose down his back, he walked barefoot out of this gentle nest of tenderness.
As he walked along, the icy flagstones gradually cleared his mind.
When he reached the mountain peak, wisps of mist and thick clouds surged in with the morning breeze, only to scatter and part again.
Luo Chen released his divine sense, spreading it as silently and softly as spring rain over the entire hundred li of Baili Qingchuan.
It was still early.
Yet many cultivators within the Luotian Sect were already up and about.
Some were in the logistics department preparing meals, some were stretching their limbs in body-refinement exercises, and another group had taken the initiative to clear away the remnants of yesterday's grand ceremony.
Taken as a whole, the prevailing atmosphere could be summed up in one word: relaxed!
Gone was the suffocating urgency that had previously loomed over everyone's head at every moment.
And all of this had been brought about by Luo Chen.
Though Baili Qingchuan was small and the Luotian Sect modest in scale, beneath this leisurely rhythm, an air of burgeoning prosperity and vibrant life was gradually taking shape.
Luo Chen slowly drew back his divine sense, a satisfied smile gracing his face.
This was precisely what he wished to see.
The Luotian Sect of today truly could not afford any more turmoil.
Even so, certain matters still needed to be delegated.
After waiting at the summit of Mount Daqing for a brief while, he saw a figure ascending upon the clouds.
Wearing a tall coronet and broad robes, with the Chilong Sword hanging at his waist.
It was none other than the current Sect Master of the Luotian Sect, Li Yingzhang!
"Yingzhang greets the Supreme Elder!"
Li Yingzhang bowed and offered greetings with utmost deference, not a single flaw to be found in his etiquette.
Luo Chen naturally paid no mind to such formalities and said with a faint smile, "I didn't summon you for anything grave, only to give you a few instructions."
Li Yingzhang assumed a solemn expression and listened attentively.
Luo Chen paced slowly, speaking in a measured voice.
"The Luotian Sect needs to rest and recuperate going forward. The Core Formation cultivators must consolidate their realms, nourish their health, and treat the hidden injuries left from all these years of battle. The Foundation Establishment cultivators must shore up their foundations and practice their techniques in preparation for sprinting toward the Core Formation stage later. There is no need to worry about resources for forming a core; I can provide full support from my side. As for the Qi Refinement juniors, sort through them and pick out those with decent aptitude and solid temperament; the sect will support them in achieving Foundation Establishment.
"Fenghua Palace has already agreed to let Qu Lingjun return to the Luotian Sect, and the ties between our two sects have grown closer. Keep in frequent contact with them in the future.
"On the White Crane Sect's side, we have also formed an alliance and will advance and retreat together from now on. Keep an eye out, send people to take delivery of the spirit cranes they deliver, and prepare the corresponding spirit stones.
"The Divine Talisman Sect is currently residing in the Hundred Beasts Domain and is carrying out patrol duties at Lingtian Pass, correct? Their Supreme Elder promised to provide me with ten thousand talisman skins, but they will be delivered in installments. Keep track of that.
"In the future, quite a few people will likely come knocking on my door, most of them individuals of profound cultivation. Instruct the gatekeeping disciples to take care not to offend them.
"There is no rush regarding the patrol mission at Lingtian Pass for now. Castellan Lingtian granted an extension, and when the time comes, I will personally lead a team there.
"Within the sect..."
One by one, the affairs fell from Luo Chen's lips into Li Yingzhang's ears.
Though the list was rather tedious, Li Yingzhang memorized every detail firmly.
In his heart, he could not help marveling at Luo Chen's capability. In just a short time since his return, he had completely turned around the Luotian Sect's precarious, egg-balanced situation.
Not only had they secured a firm foothold in the Fenghua Domain, but they had also won the friendship of venerable sects like the White Crane Sect and the Divine Talisman Sect.
Such an achievement was something they could never have pulled off, no matter how hard they managed their affairs or how desperately they fought!
Of course, listening was one thing, but as the sitting Sect Master, Li Yingzhang still had to raise certain potential issues.
"Qi Yi is currently overseeing the Alchemy Hall. How should Qu Lingjun be placed once he returns?"
Luo Chen answered calmly, "He shall not enter the Alchemy Hall. Let him choose a location of his own to cultivate in seclusion."
Li Yingzhang was taken aback. While Qi Yi's cultivation realm had overtaken Qu Lingjun's, Qu Lingjun had received Luo Chen's true teachings in the alchemical dao and remained far superior to Qi Yi. Logically speaking, upon his return, he ought to resume his position at the head of the Alchemy Hall.
Moreover, Qu Lingjun's loyalty to the Luotian Sect had been proven through the years.
"Supreme Elder, wouldn't doing this be a bit..."
"Just do as I said!"
"Understood!"
Li Yingzhang did not dare object and promptly changed the subject.
"The spirit cranes of the White Crane Sect are renowned far and wide. Not only do they fly swiftly, but they are also exceptionally intelligent. It is certainly wonderful that you were able to persuade them to sell them to us, but in terms of spirit stones, our sect's reserves might be somewhat stretched."
Luo Chen felt a flicker of surprise.
Only after inquiring in detail did he learn of the Luotian Sect's current financial straits.
Nine Core Formation cultivators, two Tier 3 body cultivators, and dozens of Foundation Establishment True Cultivators had nearly drained the Luotian Sect's savings dry.
All the spoils hard-won from battle over these past years had been poured in as well.
Otherwise, Luo Chen's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony yesterday would not have been arranged in such an "austere" fashion.
At present, being asked to produce the spirit stones to purchase fifty spirit cranes all at once, Li Yingzhang was truly in the position of a clever cook who could not prepare a meal without rice.
Had this issue arisen before Luo Chen left the Northern Sea, it would have been trivial.
Back then, he possessed a net worth of hundreds of millions and did not care about spirit stones in the slightest.
Yet after multiple transactions converting his spirit stones into large caches of cultivation resources, he was currently cleaned out as well.
He did possess a few supreme-grade spirit stones, but trading supreme-grade spirit stones for spirit cranes was a squandering so egregious that anyone who heard of it would call him a prodigal.
Moreover, the shortage of spirit stones was clearly just a surface problem.
The deeper problem was that the Luotian Sect currently lacked a stable source of revenue!
In times of turmoil, everyone merely sought survival. How many factions could continue to rake in wealth like the Divine Talisman Sect?
After some thought, Luo Chen offered a solution.
"Take the White Crane Sect's spirit cranes for now. As for the spirit stones... put them on credit!"
"We just need to weather this period. The Luotian Sect's small numbers actually work to our advantage right now; at least everyone's hearts are united. Everyone will tighten their belts, and we will gradually improve our circumstances down the road."
Li Yingzhang had not expected Luo Chen to propose such an approach.
Still, since Luo Chen had spoken, he accepted it. At worst, he would simply have to develop a thicker skin when recording the debt.
Before he left, Luo Chen added another instruction.
"Have all Foundation Establishment cultivators, as well as the outstanding disciples among the late Qi Refinement stage, master basic beast-taming techniques!"
***
By the time Luo Chen finished giving these instructions, the sun hung high above the treetops.
The Fenghua Domain was on the chillier side, and Baili Qingchuan had not been well-developed, nor was there any temperature-regulating formation laid down. When Luo Chen returned to the simply constructed palace, he could still feel the cold air swirling through it.
Fortunately, the rising sun brought a touch of warmth to this chilly late autumn.
Within the hall, there were rustling sounds.
As Luo Chen stepped inside, two pairs of eyes turned toward him in unison, only to look away shyly a moment later.
Sharing a single bed between three people was, after all, rather scandalous.
Especially considering that the two women did not usually display much outward harmony toward each other.
Luo Chen smiled faintly and spoke directly: "Caiyi!"
Gu Caiyi raised her head and looked at Luo Chen.
A jade slip flew before her.
"You need not concern yourself with sect affairs. Go into seclusion to cultivate in peace and consolidate your realm. On this jade slip is the Micromote Origin Art that I reorganized. This art is no longer limited to forming a golden core; it will also be of immense benefit to your future cultivation."
Gu Caiyi accepted the jade slip with pleasant surprise.
"Also, do you have any ideas regarding a lifebound magic treasure?"
Gu Caiyi nodded hurriedly. Among the Luotian Sect's Core Formation cultivators, Fu Jiusheng and Chu Kui had formed their cores early on and prepared their lifebound magic treasures long ago.
Li Yingzhang's lifebound magic treasure was his ancestral Chilong Sword.
Even Yang Pingdu, who had joined the Luotian Sect later, possessed a suitable magic treasure left behind from the Wanxiang Sect.
Only she lacked a handy magic treasure of her own.
"Husband, I would like a treasure that balances offense and defense. A red silk flying sleeve would be best, though a brocade kerchief or a long whip would do, with a flying sword as a last resort."
Having said that, she sighed.
"Unfortunately, such magic treasures are rather uncommon. Even when one is occasionally obtained, it often retains heavy imprints from its original master and is ill-suited to my magic power."
Luo Chen smiled. "No matter. In a little while, I will personally craft one for you."
Gu Caiyi's eyes widened, somewhat bewildered by his words.
Her husband knew artifact forging as well?
Luo Chen then looked toward Sima Huiniang. "Huiniang, moving forward, you should move about the sect more and assist Li Yingzhang. He has not held the position of Sect Master for long, and capable though he may be, he is unfamiliar with the related affairs. Yao Mingyue needs to enter secluded cultivation to sprint toward the Core Formation realm, so everything will have to rely on you."
Sima Huiniang gave a soft assent, accepting the task.
From beginning to end, Luo Chen made no mention of her cultivating.
Until the Consonance Gu inside her body was resolved, Sima Huiniang could not easily cultivate, or disaster would strike.
"Next, I intend to refine a batch of Nascent Soul Formation Pills for the Divine Talisman Sect!"
Both women showed a flicker of surprise and looked curiously at Luo Chen.
Luo Chen smiled with confidence. "The difficulty of refining this pill is a minor matter to me. Yet if I succeed, it will be a momentous event for me, for the Divine Talisman Sect, for the Luotian Sect, and even for the entire Eastern Desolation cultivation world! Thus, it cannot be delayed."
Sima Huiniang said thoughtfully, "Husband, are you seeking to use this opportunity to cement your status as an Alchemical Grandmaster, forcing the powerhouses across the Eastern Desolation to look upon you with serious regard?"
"The one who knows me best is Huiniang!"
Luo Chen laughed freely and reached out to grasp at the earth.
The Hunyuan Cauldron, which he had secretly buried in Mount Daqing earlier to serve as the core of the formation suppressing the Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony, rapidly shrank and spun through the air toward him.
"No matter how eloquently I spoke before, words are empty without proof. Only by truly refining a Tier 4 pill will those Nascent Soul True Persons believe in my capability!
"At that time, armed with my peerless alchemical prowess, I will forge vast networks of connections. Friends will be found all across the Eastern Desolation.
"Even the Mingyuan Sect... will not be able to do anything to me!"
Luo Chen took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with confidence.
This was his strategy for handling any reckoning from the Mingyuan Sect.
With great renown as his foundation and alchemy as his capital, even if the matter of him once serving the demons of Mount Cangwu came to light, the Mingyuan Sect would not easily execute him.
After all, an Alchemical Master at the Core Formation stage and an Alchemical Grandmaster at the Nascent Soul stage were entirely different concepts.
Especially when the Mingyuan Sect had lost a figure like the Alchemy Saint!
Such a tactic was nothing more than repeating an old trick for Luo Chen; it merely amounted to putting the weapon of "reputation" to good use.
Having arranged matters large and small, Luo Chen did not linger in the nest of tenderness. Instead, he went to prepare for refining the Nascent Soul Formation Pill.
As he took his leave, Sima Huiniang hesitated, wanting to speak, but in the end said nothing.
Having finished tidying herself, Gu Caiyi witnessed this scene.
"Why didn't you mention that wretched creature's matter?"
Sima Huiniang lowered her head. "Husband is very busy right now; I don't want to distract him."
Gu Caiyi said coldly, "Then have you made up your mind? Are you going to kill him or release him?"
"Releasing him is certainly out of the question. But killing him..." Sima Huiniang pursed her lips, pain surfacing in her eyes. "He is my younger brother, after all!"
Gu Caiyi frowned deeply. "Yet he betrayed the Luotian Sect."
Sima Huiniang whispered, "I was the one who wronged him first."
"You were never this soft-hearted in the past!"
"I am no longer the Sect Master of the Luotian Sect either!"
Gu Caiyi shook her head. Matters like this were truly difficult to judge.
Before leaving, she hesitated for a moment and added, "Do as you see fit. Husband brought Sima Wenjie back and left him alone, clearly leaving everything to your discretion. No matter what you do, he will not blame you."
Sima Huiniang parted her lips, but in the end, she merely hung her head in dejection.
***
Three days later.
Three figures stepped together into the underground dungeon of Mount Daqing.
Sima Wenjie saw the three of them.
Li Yingzhang, Min Longyu, and his elder sister.
He knew that judgment day had finally arrived.
For some reason, the anxiety that had weighed on him earlier vanished, replaced by an odd sense of calm.
Under the light of the luminous pearl, Sima Huiniang's face had regained its rosy complexion, which brought him an even greater sense of peace.
Seeing that face, and recalling the grand ceremony the Luotian Sect had just held, he understood that his sister's steadfastness had been right, and his own wavering had been wrong.
Since that was the case, everything that had happened was of his own making.
Sima Wenjie did not beg for mercy. He merely smiled and said:
"Second Sister, he healed you. You're even prettier than before."
Sima Huiniang pursed her lips, her body trembling faintly. In the end, she nodded toward Min Longyu.
"I leave it to you."
Min Longyu twitched the corner of his mouth. "Leave it to me. It will only take a few days."
Sima Huiniang took one last look at her brother, then walked out of the dungeon alongside Li Yingzhang.
After they exited, a stifled, low roar of agony drifted out from within.
Hearing that sound, the woman covered her mouth.
Li Yingzhang sighed. "He did attain the Core Formation realm after all; crippling him is probably crueler than killing him! Were it up to me, it would be better to grant him a swift end."
Sima Huiniang kept her head down, her expression hidden from view.
"I am no longer the Sect Master."
Could one no longer employ thunderous measures simply because one was no longer a sect master?
Li Yingzhang was puzzled, yet looking at the woman's forlorn silhouette, he vaguely understood. Her current identity was the Dao companion of the Supreme Elder, the elder sister of the man inside currently enduring the Core Dissolution Array; she was no longer the sect master who could execute relatives for righteousness and look only to the sect's interests.
After some thought, he said, "I will arrange a chore for him within the sect. Living out his remaining days and dying of old age will not be an issue. How about sweeping and tidying the Scripture Depository?"
Sima Huiniang was taken aback, then slowly nodded.
"Thank you!"
The Scripture Depository was the place Wang Yuan guarded.
It had the fewest people and was the quietest; no one would point fingers at him there. With Wang Yuan watching over the place, a crippled Sima Wenjie could not stir up any trouble.
This was already the best outcome for him.
Li Yingzhang accepted her gratitude calmly. He would not engage in any reckless show of authority as a new appointee, but granting a small favor did no harm.
Besides, was this matter not granted with Luo Chen's tacit approval as well?
Walking through the dark, damp corridor, just as the daylight faintly came into view, Li Yingzhang suddenly spoke:
"Tomorrow, Qu Lingjun should be returning as well!"
***
Indeed, everything had returned.
Yet unexpectedly, Qu Lingjun did not return alone.
His Dao companion, Meng Qin'er, accompanied him the entire way.
Chapter 791