Given the short distance, Luo Chen was likely the first to arrive at the Castellan's Mansion.
Yet the moment he stepped into the great hall, the hairs on his arms stood on end.
He looked up. Castellan Lingtian sat beaming from the high seat as usual, while in an adjacent chair, an elderly man was sizing him up with evident interest.
"Is this the newly famed Alchemy Grandmaster?"
With just a single glance, Luo Chen recognized who the old man was.
He was none other than the powerhouse who had set up the great array above Lingtian Pass earlier, dimming the very heavens.
Given what had transpired, the man's identity was self-evident.
"This old man is Tianduzi. Greetings."
Luo Chen performed a Daoist greeting. "Luo Chen of the Luotian Sect!"
At Castellan Lingtian's gesture, he picked an empty chair and sat down.
He had barely settled in when Tianduzi asked inquisitively, "Word has it that Fellow Daoist Luo is exceptionally skilled in the alchemical arts, boasting that there is no pill you cannot refine and reigning supreme over the Eastern Desolation's alchemical world?"
Luo Chen parted his lips, taken aback. When had the rumors grown so outrageous?
Though he had intended to make a name for himself, he hadn't used such extravagant slogans!
Wait, back then his sign had read "Refiner of a hundred pills, master of them all." That didn't sound all that different from what the old man just said.
Before he could reply, Castellan Lingtian chimed in with a grin, "Tianduzi, that is no mere rumor. In my view, in all the vast Alchemy Realm of the Eastern Desolation, there is hardly a soul who can rival Fellow Daoist Luo. Even the senior alchemists of my Mingyuan Sect fall slightly short. Perhaps only the Alchemy Saint in her day could have matched him."
Luo Chen swallowed hard. "You flatter me, you truly flatter me!"
Tianduzi clicked his tongue in admiration. "Young and promising indeed! To think this old man spent his entire life pursuing the dao of formations to its zenith, yet still failed to enter the Great Dao through arrays. Fellow Daoist Luo has attained such profound mastery in alchemy at so young an age—I fear your future achievements will be no less than those of Alchemy Saint Chu Yan."
Chu Yan, the Alchemy Saint, had entered the Dao through alchemy and ascended to the Soul Formation stage.
And before the eyes of all, she had ascended to the Upper Realm.
Such news, even across boundless oceans, was well known to apex figures of this realm like Tianduzi.
Comparing Luo Chen to her showed just how high Tianduzi's praise was.
Luo Chen felt a twinge of a headache. He hadn't expected that after refining pills for others only a handful of times, his reputation would be elevated to such dizzying heights.
Not wanting them to linger on the topic of himself, Luo Chen quickly asked about the strange occurrence earlier.
To this, Castellan Lingtian waved it off, saying they would discuss it once everyone arrived.
Naturally, Luo Chen dropped the subject.
Soon, Nascent Soul True Persons rushed in from all directions of Lingtian Pass, gathering at the Castellan's Mansion.
Familiar faces, old acquaintances, casual contacts, and even hostile figures like Jinling and Old Ghost Motian who glared with open enmity filed in one after another.
Luo Chen remained calm and composed, simply waiting for Castellan Lingtian to speak.
The only slight surprise was that Lingfengzi had returned safely to Lingtian Pass at some point.
As Lingfengzi entered, he nodded toward Luo Chen in greeting.
Everyone was present!
Castellan Lingtian rapped his fingers on the table and spoke in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoist Tianduzi—I trust none of you are strangers to him!"
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"From now on, Lingtian Pass's city-protecting formation, the Black Tortoise Four Directions Formation, will be personally taken over by Tianduzi.
"Furthermore, all arrays within the city at Tier 3 or above will be placed under the charge of Tiandu Sect disciples. Any fellow Daoists assigned to fixed patrol duties, please dispatch men as soon as possible to inspect the arrays in your respective sectors. Report their degree of wear, their structural integrity, and so forth to the Tiandu Sect disciples, so they may arrange repairs, replenishment, and any necessary modifications."
This was entirely reasonable and came as no surprise.
Specialized tasks belonged in the hands of specialists; nothing was worse than pretending to understand what one did not.
As a renowned formation sect in the Eastern Desolation, everyone in the Tiandu Sect from Supreme Elders to novice disciples possessed deep knowledge of arrays.
Having them oversee the formations of Lingtian Pass was the ideal choice.
After a few remarks, Castellan Lingtian yielded the floor to Tianduzi.
The old man offered a faint smile. "I have only two matters to announce.
"First, once I have fully taken charge of the Black Tortoise Four Directions Formation, its might will increase significantly, and the attack range of the Four Directions Profound Swords will no longer be confined to the inside of the fortress."
At these words, everyone's spirits lifted.
Especially Qin Baixiang, Luo Chen, and those who had witnessed it firsthand.
They knew the lethality of the Four Directions Profound Swords better than anyone.
Early Nascent Soul cultivators died the instant they made contact.
Mid Nascent Soul experts could scarcely resist them.
Only Great Cultivators might withstand a blow or two, and even then at a steep price.
Their sole shortcoming had been their range being restricted to Lingtian Pass itself, allowing Demon Emperors outside to menace the fortress defenses from time to time.
If the Four Directions Profound Swords could strike beyond the walls, even if activating them came at great expense, the demons would at least hesitate to act so brazenly.
"The second matter: the Cosmic Stellar Array that you fellow Daoists assisted me in laying down earlier is now active. The azure skies above Lingtian Pass are completely under our control. Never again will hordes of demonic beasts descend from the heavens to stage a surprise raid on our fortress!"
The Cosmic Stellar Array!
One of the three most famous Tier 5 arrays handed down in the Tiandu Sect.
None had expected Tianduzi to be willing to deploy it here at Lingtian Pass, and expressions of gratitude broke out across the hall.
Luo Chen realized with sudden clarity that the treasure-grade compass he had activated earlier was indeed a component of this great array.
With Tianduzi personally laying it out and over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators assisting simultaneously, the wondrous efficacy of this Cosmic Stellar Array was easy to imagine.
In this way, internal vulnerabilities were eliminated.
And the Four Directions Profound Swords capable of striking outside would help keep external threats at bay.
*Truly, a formidable formation master can single-handedly sway the course of a war.*
*Compared to him, my Tier 4 formation mastery falls far short.*
Luo Chen sighed inwardly.
He acknowledged the gap between himself and Tianduzi, but he did not belittle himself either.
The old man specialized entirely in array craft, whereas he had merely dabbled in it; falling short was only natural.
After Tianduzi finished sharing the two pieces of news, the tense atmosphere in the hall relaxed considerably.
Castellan Lingtian then left the remaining time to everyone present, encouraging them to get acquainted and coordinate better for the upcoming battles.
At the very least, they needed to familiarize themselves with one another's faces!
What had begun as a grave wartime council now felt more like an ordinary gathering of Nascent Soul cultivators.
Under these circumstances, Luo Chen predictably became the center of attention once more.
Nascent Soul cultivators came forward of their own accord to make his acquaintance.
Even the master of Wan Jian Pavilion, who had originally stood alongside Lin Qingxuan and Old Ghost Motian, walked over to Luo Chen beneath their furrowed brows.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, did you receive the formal calling card I sent you earlier?"
"Oh?" Luo Chen blinked, as if only just remembering, and laughed politely. "I did see it, but I was occupied with patrol duties, and then the Demon Emperors attacked, so it slipped my mind for the moment."
Pavilion Master Li faintly sensed Luo Chen's prevarication, yet he was undeterred and continued conversing warmly with him.
...
Time trickled by.
By evening, the Nascent Soul cultivators in the Castellan's Mansion gradually dispersed.
Meanwhile, in Luo Chen's cave dwelling, an intimate private gathering of just five people was underway.
The attendees were all familiar faces:
Sovereign Jiuling, Lingfengzi, Old Fu, and Master Xianhe.
All four owed Luo Chen a debt of gratitude for refining pills for them, so they visited frequently in their spare time.
Once the gathering at the Castellan's Mansion adjourned, Luo Chen had taken the initiative to invite them over.
Watching the four conversing in high spirits, Luo Chen could not help feeling a sense of pride.
In just a few short years since returning to the Eastern Desolation, he had established an extensive network of connections, all of whom were powerful Nascent Soul cultivators once far beyond his reach.
Now, they gathered around him with himself at the center, standing together through thick and thin.
And outside, countless others were eager to squeeze their way into this circle.
He had to admit, his earlier decision to make a name for himself through alchemy had been spot on!
"Fellow Daoist Luo, this poor Daoist must thank you again for the pills you sent last time. They helped purge the poison of that Lightless Beast," Master Xianhe suddenly remarked.
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "It was merely a small effort. The pills I sent were not an exact cure; your recovery is mostly credit to your own skillful recuperation."
Hearing their exchange, the other three grew curious.
Once Master Xianhe recounted the tale, the trio praised Luo Chen's noble character.
At the same time, it deepened their appreciation for the perils of battling Demon Emperors.
"Beings at the Demon Emperor level may not wield methods as versatile as us human Nascent Souls, but every one of them has a trump card in their innate demon arts. If one falls victim by carelessness, the consequences are disastrous."
"Indeed. Back when I was besieged by three Demon Emperors under Niu Gui's command, I considered my dharmic powers immense, not inferior to those of a late Nascent Soul Great Cultivator. Yet I never expected one of those demons to possess a bizarre technique capable of draining a cultivator's dharmic power. Had my reserves not been so deep, allowing me to hack out a bloody path of escape, I would likely have perished there."
"Even someone as formidable as you, Sovereign Jiuling, nearly met your end. If the rest of us encounter such foes, what hope do we have?"
...
Unlike the daytime gathering at the Castellan's Mansion, where everyone had projected united resolve and confidence in victory, this private gathering held a far bleaker view of the coming war.
Whenever they discussed the methods of the Demon Emperors they had encountered, lingering dread was evident.
The Demon Emperor Sovereign Jiuling mentioned was not recorded in any ancient text, likely a newly emerged exotic breed from the Million Mountains.
And that had been merely a subordinate under Commander Niu Gui.
The Nine Great Commanders of the demon race were all terrifically powerful.
From what was currently known, there was Qi Xi, Huang Man, Niu Gui, Baizu, Ao Kuang... and the chilling Demon Emperor Qingshuang, whose very name made one's blood run cold.
Not a single ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator wished to cross paths with any of them.
Their sole advantage, perhaps, was that they could hold the fortress, never needing to leave Lingtian Pass or expose themselves to those great Demon Emperors!
Yet Lingfengzi's next words cast a heavy shadow over everyone's heart.
"Do not be too optimistic. Before long, we may well have to march out and fight beyond the walls."
Master Xianhe gasped in shock. "Surely not! The demon race holds overwhelming strength right now. Even holding our ground is difficult enough; how could we launch an offensive?"
Lingfengzi sighed. "Do you know what my previous assignment was?"
Amid their confusion, he said somberly, "Castellan Lingtian gave me a complete map of the Eastern Desolation's human cultivation world and specifically circled three domains: Blade Tyrant, Azure Sky, and Fire Ridge. He ordered me to focus my reconnaissance on the distribution of demon forces there. If not to prepare for a proactive strike, I cannot fathom what other purpose that could serve."
Master Xianhe hesitated. "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles?"
"When the enemy is already at the gates, why scout so far ahead?" Lingfengzi scoffed. "Once their grand army arrives, wouldn't their strength be obvious? Furthermore, during the extra days he had me linger outside, he didn't just have me investigate those domains—he also had me scout the marching routes of the other demon armies."
Master Xianhe opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
Having experienced the first defense of Lingtian Pass, Luo Chen had some insight into the matter.
Lost in thought, he said slowly, "If we permit the demon armies to converge and surround us on all sides with overwhelming numbers, cutting off aid from the Five Lingtian Domains and the Sixteen Domains to the rear, Lingtian Pass will become an isolated island. When the time comes, a deluge of tens of millions of demonic beasts will crash against the pass all at once. Even if this is the greatest bastion of the Eastern Desolation through the ages, it will likely fall."
Sovereign Jiuling nodded beside him. "When my Nine Spirits Sect fell, it was precisely due to being overwhelmed by sheer numbers. In fact, not just the Nine Spirits Sect—Taihu Palace, the Blade Tyrant Sect, and even the Azure Sky Sect, all those mighty powers were ground to dust by the sheer weight of demon hordes."
Once numbers reached a certain scale, even the most exquisite techniques became little more than meaningless parlor tricks.
"Therefore," Luo Chen looked around at everyone and spoke gravely, "as long as Castellan Lingtian is not a pedantic fool, he will never sit idly by and watch Lingtian Pass be encircled. On the contrary, taking the offensive as defense and securing localized victories before the Nine Great Commanders can join forces is the only way Lingtian Pass can hold out in the long run. And those three domains make for the ideal strategic buffer zones!"
His words drew repeated nods of agreement from the group.
Though there were vast plains outside Lingtian Pass, using them as the battlefield would practically sever the fortress's supply lines.
Yet if they secured the three frontline domains and moved the theater of war there, their room for maneuver would expand vastly.
Whether advancing, falling back, or waiting for reinforcements from the Sixteen Domains to the rear, they would possess ample leeway.
From a strategic perspective, this was indeed the best course of action.
Castellan Lingtian was certainly no fool, and this was very likely his intention.
Yet for those who would have to take the field personally—like Luo Chen and Lingfengzi—the danger involved was impossible to fathom.
Old Fu, who had remained silent all along, could not help letting out a bitter laugh.
"No wonder Tianduzi went out of his way today to say that the attack range of the Four Directions Profound Swords would no longer be confined to Lingtian Pass."
Understanding dawned on everyone!
Tianduzi's words had been nothing less than groundwork laid for a future counteroffensive, intended to dispel the misgivings of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators like them.
"So... when will that battle come?" someone murmured softly.
...
The gathering in the cave dwelling drew to a close around the third watch of the night.
Besides deepening their ties and discussing broader matters, they had also exchanged insights on cultivation.
Sovereign Jiuling had cast aside any protective secrecy, generously sharing a wealth of mid Nascent Soul cultivation experience with the group.
During his occasional demonstrations, the fleeting wisps of aura he revealed were as deep as an abyss and vast as an ocean, drawing astonished looks.
*With the help of the Jiuli Pill, he has likely succeeded in dividing out his nine spiritual infants and begun mastering his sect's secret grand techniques. I wonder just how strong Sovereign Jiuling is now?*
After everyone departed, Luo Chen let his thoughts wander.
Yet he felt no apprehension; Sovereign Jiuling was an ally, and the stronger he became, the more Luo Chen's faction would benefit.
Besides, his own progress was not far behind!
On his cultivation panel, the progress bar toward the mid Nascent Soul stage was drawing nearer and nearer.
Once he broke through and his primary soul underwent its transformation, he might be able to split off a third divided soul!
When that time came, he could also attempt to learn a defensive soul technique recorded in the *Soul Splitting Art*.
When it came to offensive techniques, Luo Chen was confident he was not inferior to any peer of the same tier, and he even had a measure of confidence when fighting above his rank.
Yet the tides of war were treacherous and unpredictable; defense was the true foundation of survival!
Luo Chen retrieved a pill formula from his storage ring.
It had been handed to him by the master of Wan Jian Pavilion when the assembly dispersed earlier. He wished to commission Luo Chen to refine this pill in large quantities, offering ample compensation.
And the substance produced by this formula was quite familiar to Luo Chen.
It was none other than the advanced version of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's Clarity Liquid from years ago—the Jade Sovereign Clear Pupil Liquid!
It offered immense benefits to sword cultivators.
*Wan Jian Pavilion must have obtained this formula from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.*
Luo Chen glanced over it with little interest.
Refining this pill presented little difficulty to him; he could produce it with ease.
Yet at present, concocting pills provided far too little boost to his combat strength.
He would do better to direct his energies elsewhere.
Putting away the formula, Luo Chen took out the Yuantu Sword once more.
Through repeated cycles of refining sword qi, even though his proficiency in the sword scripture had not risen significantly and he had not accumulated much sword qi, he discovered that his mastery over the Yuantu Sword was steadily growing.
Faintly, he seemed to be forming an intimate connection with the Yuantu sword spirit sealed within the third layer.
*The Thousand Firmaments Sword Qi is indeed impossible to master quickly; it can only be built up gradually over time.*
*Yet if I can communicate with the sword spirit, I can fully command this killing sword that rivals a spirit treasure. For my present circumstances, that would undoubtedly be the greatest elevation of my power!*
Harboring high hopes, Luo Chen closed his eyes, mobilized the remaining unrefined strand of Crimson Firmament Qi within his body, and resumed his cyclic breathing.
Strands of sword qi infused with his dharmic power circulated across the Yuantu Sword.
Between man and sword, in a daze of concentration, there arose an inexplicable resonance.
Chapter 813