The Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror!
Without a doubt, this was the most peculiar treasure Luo Chen had ever possessed.
At first, he had thought the artifact possessed only hallucinatory properties. But once he experienced it himself, he discovered its heaven-defying efficacy.
Miraculously, it could aid Foundation Establishment cultivators in simulating Golden Core formation!
Thanks to this treasure, Luo Chen had caught a vague glimpse of his future path and comprehended the general process of cultivation throughout the Foundation Establishment stage. Before forming his core, he had even used it to simulate the outcomes of several core-forming methods. Ultimately, he created the Micromote Origin Art, stepping into the Golden Core stage in a single bound!
Such an extraordinary treasure might not dramatically boost a cultivator's individual combat prowess, but it held immense significance for the rise or fall of an entire sect.
Unfortunately, it was originally damaged to begin with, and under excessive strain, it had been completely ruined.
Over the following century and more, Luo Chen had often found himself reminiscing about it.
When his nominal disciple in the Northern Sea, Xu Muxian, wavered in his Dao heart and could not see his path forward, Luo Chen had even thought that if he still possessed the mirror, he might have helped the youth perceive his true inner desires.
Now, Luo Chen had his own reasons for longing once more for the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror.
If he had it, combined with the vast store of Liquid Condensation Pills in his possession and the Micromote Origin Art, the Luotian Sect would surely produce Golden Core cultivators generation after generation!
With it in hand, he might even rely on its heaven-defying power to draw souls into phantasms and question their hearts, enabling Canglong to actively cultivate the Soul Splitting Art without unsealing her body. Paired with Great Soul Pills, this could heal her soul wounds and lay down a solid spiritual foundation for her to eventually charge toward the Nascent Soul stage.
These two reasons alone—one securing the unbroken continuity of the Luotian legacy, and the other saving an old friend trapped in slumber—were more than enough.
Yet Luo Chen had a third intention.
The Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror actually held a soul-tempering effect.
Part of why he had possessed such an immense soul foundation after forming his core stemmed from this very mirror.
Ever since he began practicing the Soul Splitting Art, Luo Chen had mastered only the method of splitting the soul, lacking a way to nurture and nourish them. He had been forced to rely on Great Soul Pills to forcibly raise the cultivation of his split souls.
However, progress attained in that manner was agonizingly slow.
For that reason, he had once used the lightning power within the Hunyuan Cauldron to temper his soul.
Yet that lightning had been absorbed by the cauldron during his Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation, and its nature was exceedingly tyrannical.
Every attempt required extreme caution and brought unbearable agony; he dared not temper his soul more than once in a very long while.
He had not dared subject his fragile split souls to such tempering, having no choice but to let his primary soul bear the brunt.
If he could forge a new Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror and pair it with Great Soul Pills, perhaps he could replicate Han Zhan's miraculous feat of cultivating nine split souls at blazing speed within a mere century!
Overtaking on a curve—nothing could fit the phrase better.
As for how to reforge the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror?
Luo Chen's gaze fell upon the mirage core in his palm!
*Back in the Central Plains, I suspected that Ghost-God Valley was merely an idle piece placed on the board by the Tianyuan Dao Sect in the Eastern Desolation, as evidenced by the Lanke chess pieces passed down through their lineage.*
*The Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror cross-examines a cultivator's heart and simulates core formation, which functions in nearly identical fashion to a fourth-tier mirage core radiating spiritual opportunities to aid Nascent Soul cultivators in comprehending the true meaning of the Laws!*
*Without a doubt, such a marvelous treasure could never be forged from ordinary materials. Only the mirage cores of the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven possess such wonder!*
Luo Chen was not merely indulging in wishful thinking.
When he first obtained a low-grade mirage core in the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven, he had questioned Fu Qinglan.
She had told him that low-grade mirage cores were useless to Nascent Soul cultivators, serving merely as tokens for the trial of Golden Core disciples.
Most of the low-grade mirage cores they hunted were traded away once they left the grotto-heaven, turned into various illusion-related treasures.
Evidently, the Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror was one such derivative, and one of the finest among them!
It could serve as the cornerstone heritage treasure of an entire sect!
It was just that Ghost-God Valley's mirror in those days had been of rather low grade.
It worked only on Foundation Establishment cultivators, and its power was difficult to regulate, requiring treasures like the Lanke Black Chess Piece for protection.
*If I use this mid fourth-tier mirage core as the primary material, the resulting Heart-Questioning Mirror will certainly be of no low rank.*
*At the very least, it will provide assistance to Golden Core cultivators.*
*When the time comes, my split Golden Core souls can use it to temper themselves and rapidly grow stronger!*
The more Luo Chen thought, the more excited he became.
The regret over falling short at the final step with the whip treasure dissipated entirely.
As long as he forged a new Ghost-God Heart-Questioning Mirror, he could kill three birds with one stone. Even if it cost him immense time and energy, it would be well worth it!
Yet while the direction was clear, achieving the goal required taking things one step at a time.
Whether it was auxiliary materials, illusion formations, or the core forging diagrams, he possessed none of them. This matter required long-term planning.
*How should I take the first step?*
Gazing at the swirling mist within the mirage core, Luo Chen sank into deep thought.
A tangle of threads swirled in his mind, countless strands with no obvious place to start.
Suddenly!
Luo Chen caught hold of one end of the thread.
Pursing his lips, he stowed away the Hunyuan Cauldron and the whip, stepping out of the cave abode.
With a flicker of divine sense, he sent a voice transmission.
Before long, a figure who had been guarding outside the cave abode came hurrying over.
It was Xu Xiaoliu.
Advanced in age and nearing the limit of his lifespan, he should have retired peacefully in the Luotian Sect. Yet this time, he had taken the initiative to volunteer to accompany Luo Chen to Lingtian Pass.
In his words, he had feared death his entire life, but waiting at home for death was even more terrifying. Better to serve at the Supreme Elder's side, expending the last of his remaining warmth.
As for whether his true purpose was to bask in the reverent, flattering gazes of others in his sunset years, or to earn a bit more favor and goodwill from Luo Chen on behalf of his daughter, no one could say.
In any case, he intended to dedicate himself body and soul until the very end.
"Supreme Elder, what are your orders?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly and asked, "Were there many visiting cards over the past year?"
Without hesitation, Xu Xiaoliu replied, "A great many! I filtered through them. Among them, one came from Master Xianhe, whom you are familiar with, and three came from Nascent Soul forces representing three different sects. Aside from those, there are countless cards from Golden Core cultivators. With your permission, I looked through them—most seek your aid in pill refinement."
"None from Lingfengzi?" Luo Chen was somewhat surprised.
Over a year had passed, yet the man remained so patient.
Xu Xiaoliu shook his head.
Luo Chen did not pursue the matter, asking instead about something else.
"Has the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance opened their shop in Lingtian Pass yet?"
At this question, Xu Xiaoliu hesitated.
He said in confusion, "Half a year ago, I heard that the Tianyuan Commerce Alliance chose a plot in Lingtian Pass to build a shop. But for some reason, just a few days after construction began, Castellan Lingtian unilaterally halted the project. Even now, the alliance's Grand Elder frequently visits the Castellan's Estate, seemingly trying to push the matter through."
"Oh?" Luo Chen blinked, rather intrigued.
Evidently, someone at Xu Xiaoliu's level had no access to such secrets and could provide no answers.
Luo Chen took the four visiting cards from the Nascent Soul forces, not bothering to inquire about the Golden Core ones.
His energy was limited; he had no time to bestow favors upon mere Golden Core juniors.
With the four cards in hand, Luo Chen dismissed Xu Xiaoliu.
He opened Master Xianhe's card first.
Good news!
The White Crane Sect's fourth-tier Spirit Crane Emperor had successfully undergone transformation after taking Luo Chen's Transformation Pill!
The emperor felt deeply grateful and wished to meet Luo Chen.
However, because it was inconvenient to visit Lingtian Pass in person, he asked Master Xianhe to relay an invitation for Luo Chen to visit the White Crane Sect as a guest.
*The Crane Emperor extends an invitation; I ought not refuse. Unfortunately, now is not the right time.*
Luo Chen had not yet completed his three-year patrol duty, making it unwise to leave Lingtian Pass at will.
Back when Nine Spirits Sovereign sought him out for alchemy, she had come and gone in great haste, not daring to shirk her own patrol responsibilities.
Next, Luo Chen opened the other three cards.
All came from Nascent Soul sects, and all sought his pill refinement services.
The requests ranged from the third to fourth tier.
Two were from sects situated behind the five regions of Lingtian, drawn by his reputation.
The remaining one surprised him slightly.
"Wan Jian Pavilion adheres to orthodox sword cultivation, historically disdaining reliance on external aids. Do they covet the benefits of pills as well?"
Muttering under his breath, Luo Chen did not immediately reply to any of them.
Instead, he tidied up slightly and stepped out openly.
He headed straight for the Castellan's Estate!
***
At dusk.
A somewhat dejected figure walked out of the Castellan's Estate.
Gu Zuokai was thoroughly frustrated, having returned empty-handed once again.
A soft chuckle suddenly sounded by his ear.
"Elder Gu, you promised to visit me when you had free time. How is it that nearly two years have passed, and you haven't crossed my threshold even once?"
Gu Zuokai was startled. Turning around, he saw a white-robed figure standing beneath the shade of a tree, gazing at him with a smile.
It was Luo Chen!
Gu Zuokai's heart stirred. Out of respect for Castellan Lingtian, he had not spread his divine sense, but an expert of the same cultivation realm shouldn't have approached so closely without detection.
Yet Luo Chen had appeared nearby without making a sound.
*Compared to our meeting three years ago in Dongyang Region, his cultivation has advanced again. He restrains his magical power fluctuations so thoroughly!*
Though marveling inwardly, he wore an expression of pleasant surprise as if reuniting with an old friend.
He walked over toward Luo Chen.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, what brings you here?"
Luo Chen said with a smile, "In name, both of us belong to the Tianyuan Dao Sect. Now that we are here in the Eastern Desolation, I suppose I count as something of a host. I intended to treat you properly once you visited, but after waiting in vain, I had no choice but to come out and welcome you in person."
Gu Zuokai sighed helplessly. "You are now a venerated Grandmaster of Alchemy, your doorstep crowded with visitors. How could I presume to disturb you?"
"Haha, merely empty fame!" Luo Chen gestured invitingly. "Let us find another place to talk. Today, it's my treat. Please!"
Gu Zuokai naturally would not decline; he had been longing to unwind as well.
Under the setting sun, the two figures walked off into the distance.
Inside the Castellan's Estate, Ye Lingtian slowly withdrew his divine sense.
"Both belonging to the Tianyuan Dao Sect?"
The corner of his mouth twitched, tinged with faint ridicule.
***
Despite being in a state of war, Lingtian Pass was not entirely austere and cold; it also had places of amusement.
After all, keeping a multitude of fugitive cultivators forcibly constrained to the front lines and organizing them into the Deathground Army exerted immense psychological pressure on them.
Therefore, several leisure spots existed within the city for cultivators to relax.
The Battle Arena was one of them.
Taverns and teahouses were also commonplace.
Then there was a place called "Tianxiang Brothel," whose true nature cultivators understood tacitly.
This establishment welcomed both men and women!
Inside, one could find not only all manner of alluring female cultivators, but also scores of handsome men.
They were skilled in flattery and pleasing others, and thoroughly versed in the arts of dual cultivation.
As long as one paid the price, a night of ecstasy was guaranteed.
Luo Chen was exceedingly familiar with such places.
Standing before a fourth-floor window, he looked down at the courtyard below, where silhouettes danced and soft singing drifted through the air. A wave of nostalgia welled within him.
"A pleasure quarter I could never afford in my youth. Who would have thought I'd make up for that regret at a time like this?"
Indeed, this Tianxiang Brothel was the very same famed establishment from Dahe Mill.
The same name, the same origins!
All of them hailed from the Hehuan Sect!
Ever since Demon Emperor Qingshuang carved her way into the heart of human territory and forcefully slaughtered the Hehuan Sect's remaining Nascent Soul experts, this once-thriving power that had nearly established branches everywhere shattered in an instant.
Scores of Hehuan Sect cultivators fled in all directions.
Some devolved into rogue cultivators committing all manner of evil, such as the Hehuan Sect Golden Core cultivator Fairy Jueqing had encountered—a scoundrel trying to fish in troubled waters, lusting after her beauty to capture her as a dual-cultivation furnace.
Others assumed false identities and concealed their names, mingling among commoners in the wildlands, keeping a low profile and never daring to identify as Hehuan remnants.
The largest group of Hehuan cultivators, however, followed the general exodus to Lingtian Pass, huddling together for warmth.
Only, they dared not walk the world under the name of Hehuan, adopting instead the name of the old Tianxiang Brothel.
Now, this Tianxiang Brothel served as their headquarters.
*Knock! Knock!*
A knock sounded at the door.
Luo Chen turned around to see a procession of glamorous female cultivators filing into the room.
To host two Nascent Soul cultivators today, the mistress of Tianxiang Brothel had pulled out all the stops, gathering every woman of exceptional beauty.
Even she and several Golden Core elders were willing to offer themselves.
"My Lords, these are the finest women our Tianxiang Brothel has to offer. Please select one or two to attend to you. In a moment, this humble concubine will arrange song and dance for your entertainment."
Luo Chen remarked casually, "Brother Gu, after you?"
Gu Zuokai took a swig of wine, waving his hand to let Luo Chen make the arrangements.
Luo Chen smiled. Though it was his first time visiting such a place as a guest, he showed no embarrassment.
His gaze swept across the crowd. The female cultivators stood with chests lifted, each possessing distinct charms and graceful poise, living up to their reputation for beauty.
He spotted the most glamorous among them and pointed a finger.
"You, attend to Brother Gu well!"
The woman naturally raised no objection. Taking light, lotus-like steps, she walked over with delight.
If she could win Master Gu's favor, she might have a chance to escape these nightmarish days and put distance between herself and the demonic calamity. How could she not serve him with all her heart?
"You go as well!"
Luo Chen pointed at another woman. While less stunning than the first, her figure was voluptuous and possessed a distinct allure, marking her as one of the standout beauties among the group.
This showed the high regard he had for Gu Zuokai.
Afterward, he waved his hand.
"The rest of you may leave!"
The mistress of Tianxiang Brothel paused. "My Lord, what about yourself?"
Luo Chen was about to say he had no need, but his eyes caught a female cultivator in the second row who stood with her head lowered.
While the other women held their chests high and flaunted their figures in hopes of catching a master's eye, this woman had kept her gaze averted from him the entire time.
*Strange?*
Luo Chen beckoned. "You, come here!"
The woman trembled all over, stepping out from the crowd.
Luo Chen frowned slightly. "Raise your head!"
The mistress also sensed something amiss and snapped, "Yuxiang, before an esteemed master, why act so timid?"
A name lingering faintly in his memory aligned instantly with that jade-white face, which still carried traces of resemblance to the past.
The woman offered a graceful bow to Luo Chen, her voice trembling slightly: "Yuxiang pays her respects to Master Luo!"
It was none other than Yuxiang, the former inner disciple of the Hehuan Sect from Dahe Mill's Tianxiang Brothel.
Luo Chen's expression remained calm. "You stay and pour wine for me."
Without waiting for her reply, he sat down.
Lifting his cup toward Gu Zuokai opposite him, he smiled.
"Brother Gu, please!"
Chapter 805