Center of Attention, a Demon Sovereign's Remains

Three days later. Outside Shouyang Mountain at Lingtian Pass. Carriages and mounts flowed like water, while pedestrians wove in an endless stream. Countless low-ranking cultivators had gathered outside the mountain, spontaneously forming bustling street markets of all sizes to conduct various trades. To ordinary folk, such a sight would have seemed utterly inconceivable. Shouyang Mountain was the temporary cave dwelling of a Nascent Soul True Person. Under normal circumstances, who would dare set up shop right at the doorstep of such an esteemed figure? Yet this True Person surnamed Lu was different. Hailing from the Dongyang Sect, he had actively advocated for lifting numerous commercial restrictions upon arriving at Lingtian Pass. Setting an example himself, he cleared a vast expanse outside Shouyang Mountain so low-ranking cultivators could conduct their business openly and legitimately. Within the market, streaks of flying light would occasionally shoot into the sky, vanishing into the mist-shrouded mountain. Watching these lights, the low-ranking cultivators looked on with immense envy. "Another Golden Core Master just went in, didn't they?" "I heard there's an exchange gathering held inside specifically for Golden Core Masters. Quite a few people have reaped tremendous harvests from it." "I wonder when I'll ever be qualified to participate in a gathering like that." "Keep dreaming! And if you're going to dream, why not dream bigger? That even higher-level gathering of True Persons is what we should truly yearn for." "I heard that during the last True Person gathering, someone took out a Demon Sovereign cub..." While the low-ranking cultivators were marveling with longing, a streak of crimson flying light suddenly flew in from beyond the market, plunging straight toward Shouyang Mountain. This sight drew a chorus of astonished cries. Lingtian Pass was blanketed by a flight-ban formation! Even Golden Core cultivators were strictly forbidden from taking flight outside of wartime, permitted to fly only within specific designated zones. To soar directly across Lingtian Pass and head straight in from outside the mountain was a privilege granted only to Nascent Soul True Persons, completely exempt from restrictions! Another True Person had joined that mysterious gathering! *** In stark contrast to the bustle outside, the interior of Shouyang Mountain was comparatively quiet. Yet it was only "comparatively" so. The mountain summit and its waist were distinctly divided, where two separate groups of cultivators from different realms mingled. Each kept themselves composed, yet the scene radiated an air of gathered brilliance. Particularly on the summit, the number of Nascent Soul True Persons present was astonishingly over twenty! This number represented nearly two-thirds of all such experts stationed at Lingtian Pass. Across the human cultivation world of the Eastern Desolation, excluding the Mingyuan Sect, it accounted for over half. A gathering of luminaries, second to none. Yet within this exchange gathering of twenty-odd people, several distinct cliques had subtly formed. The circle led by Elder Lu of the Dongyang Sect, upon closer inspection, consisted of True Persons whose underlying factions were all tied to the Mingyuan Sect to varying degrees. Then there was the group gathered around Sovereign Jiuling, composed almost entirely of familiar faces. Figures such as Old Fu, Xiao Shiniang, and Lingfengzi were among them. These people shared a single commonality: their ancestral sects had fallen and they were homeless, hailing mostly from the fifteen fallen domains. In a sense, had this human-demon war never erupted, these figures would have been considered the rising powerhouses of the Eastern Desolation's human race. After all, the domains closest to the Million Mountains were generally opened up in the post-ancient era, and the sects residing within them were emerging powers that had surfaced over the past three thousand years. The final circle was somewhat delicate. It consisted of roughly seven or eight people, each dressed in robes bearing different sect insignias, all carrying an innate arrogance. They had no clear leader; their gathering was purely subconscious. Yet to discerning eyes, this circle represented older, established factions. They naturally clashed with the emerging powers, yet their ties with the Mingyuan Sect were mediocre at best. They were the neutral powers swaying between sides. Among these seven or eight people, one was notably active. Whenever he spoke, the others would usually chime in with smiles and agreeable nods. This was not because of an exceptionally high cultivation—an early Nascent Soul realm was hardly impressive in this setting. What mattered was his status as a Tier 4 alchemist! Of the myriad arts of cultivation, alchemy reigned supreme. Any major sect or clan would nurture its own lineage of alchemists. Ordinary alchemists were easy enough to cultivate; even Tier 3 alchemists could be produced so long as one was willing to invest sufficient resources. Yet when it came to Tier 4 alchemists, things became far more complicated. One had to satisfy three conditions simultaneously: talent, resources, and cultivation realm! Without talent, one could not even step through the threshold. Without resources, achieving depth was impossible. Even if the first two conditions were met, long periods spent refining pills would severely delay one's own cultivation, leaving them at a low realm. And with a low cultivation realm, one could never wield the overbearing control required to concoct Tier 4 pills. Take the former Supreme Elder of Azure Pill Valley, Qingdanzi, for instance. His alchemy skills had undeniably brushed the threshold of Tier 4. Yet precisely because of his insufficient cultivation, his repeated attempts to refine the Nascent Soul Formation Pill—backed by the full might of his entire sect—still ended in failure. In summary, Tier 4 alchemists were exceedingly rare talents throughout the entire Mountain Sea Realm. In the vast Eastern Desolation, there were merely six or seven renowned Tier 4 alchemists whose names were widely known. Most of them had already been recruited by the holy land, the Mingyuan Sect. Among those remaining outside, the most famous had once been the Pill Sovereign of the Medicine King Sect. However, that man was skilled at amassing wealth but terrible at cultivating relationships. When disaster struck, not only did no one lend a helping hand, but the immense wealth of the Medicine King Sect even drove many to kick them while they were down, tearing the wall down as it toppled. At this moment, within the True Person gathering on Shouyang Mountain, the figure being treated with such warmth was another Tier 4 alchemist. His name was Yao Ping, hailing from Seven Caverns Mountain, and people respectfully addressed him as Master Yao. The others fawned over him naturally because they had requests to make. "Master Yao, regarding the Tihu Pill I mentioned last time, have you made any progress?" "Deng Taiyue, why must you be in such a hurry? Although the Tihu Pill is Tier 4, in ancient times it was hailed as a pseudo-Tier 5 divine pill. How could it be so easily concocted? Furthermore, the recipe you gave me is missing a full forty percent, especially the most crucial primary ingredients. How could I possibly deduce the complete formula in short order?" "Master Yao, regarding the Zhenyuan Pills I require..." "That pill is not difficult; I have already refined some. However, over a century, I can at most provide you with ten bottles." "Ten bottles?" Hearing this answer, the cultivator who asked showed a trace of disappointment. The Zhenyuan Pill was a Tier 4 cultivation-type pill that required long-term consumption to be effective. Ten bottles over a century averaged out to one bottle every ten years, or just one pill a year. What effect could that possibly have? Nearby, someone chuckled. "Grandmaster Luo is coming today. Fellow Daoist Zhang, why not ask him for assistance? I hear Grandmaster Luo's alchemy skills are so supreme that he rarely ever fails. If you want a stable supply..." Before the speaker could finish, the grey-bearded Master Yao let out a cold snort from the side. "Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen is nothing more than an inexperienced fledgling who has cultivated for less than three hundred years. What profound alchemy skill could he possibly have?" The person who had made the suggestion replied sheepishly, "Yet our fellow Daoists at Lingtian Pass speak of it with great conviction. Moreover, Sovereign Jiuling is currently only at the sixth layer of the Nascent Soul, yet his status rivals that of a Great Cultivator, entirely thanks to Grandmaster Luo refining pills for him." Master Yao's expression soured, and he said in a heavy voice, "Grandmaster Luo may possess some skill, but in my eyes, he is merely someone who cuts corners. Look at the pills he refines for others—they are almost always one-off transactions, rarely long-term partnerships. The Zhenyuan Pill needed by Fellow Daoist Zhang is a cultivation pill, where a steady supply is of utmost importance. To my mind, Grandmaster Luo might be able to refine it, but to provide a stable supply..." Before he could finish, True Person Zhang hurried to nod along. He could see Master Yao was growing annoyed, and there was no need to stoke his temper. Ten bottles a century it would be. If he budgeted their usage well, it could still save him a decade of bitter cultivation! Seeing his agreement, Master Yao's complexion improved considerably. Yet once the conversation opened, he could not stop. Stroking his beard, he held forth with confidence. "There are many alchemists in this world, but few reach Tier 4. In the past, only the Pill Sovereign stood on equal footing with me. Now that the Pill Sovereign has fallen, and Fellow Daoist Bian, Hunyuanzi, and the others dwell secluded within the Mingyuan Sect, I cannot even find someone to discuss the Dao of alchemy with." "I heard that another master of alchemy has emerged in the Eastern Desolation. I traveled thousands of li despite the hardships, hoping to exchange insights with him." Everyone present knew who he was referring to. Was it not the Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen they had just been discussing? "Yet after delivering three visiting cards in succession, that person avoided meeting me every time. I fear he merely possesses an empty reputation and dares not show his face..." Understanding dawned on the crowd. No wonder Master Yao had ignored the perils of the front lines to leave the safety of Seven Caverns Mountain and come all the way to Lingtian Pass. So he had come to seek out Grandmaster Luo for guidance! Yet the other party had refused to see him. Could it be true, as he claimed, that Grandmaster Luo's reputation exceeded his ability? Before Master Yao could finish his disparaging remarks, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly paused. A streak of flying light descended gracefully to the ground. A tall, upright figure emerged, dressed in white robes and wearing a tall crown, with a handsome countenance. "Another unfamiliar Nascent Soul cultivator has arrived," True Person Zhang muttered under his breath. Master Yao nodded, paying little heed. Judging by his aura, the newcomer was merely at the third layer of the Nascent Soul. While slightly stronger than himself, it was nothing extraordinary. With his status as a Tier 4 alchemist, not to mention a third-layer Nascent Soul, even mid-stage or late-stage Great Cultivators treated him as an equal. Yet very quickly, he sensed that something was amiss. "Brother Luo, I heard you exited seclusion, but I didn't think it was true. It seems this trip of mine wasn't in vain!" Sovereign Jiuling stepped out from the crowd, his face brimming with smiles. The young man smiled warmly in return and asked with concern, "Has the injury you suffered back then healed?" Sovereign Jiuling patted his left arm. "Completely fine! Thanks to the healing pills you sent, it made a full recovery by the second year." Another figure approached—it was Old Fu of the Divine Talisman Sect. The young man asked with a chuckle, "I heard Fellow Daoist Ye Lan has come out of seclusion?" Old Fu said with deep gratification, "He has. Though it was a bit rushed, his realm is thoroughly stabilized. Now that the Divine Talisman Sect has a successor, this old man can close his eyes in peace even if I pass away today." "You must be joking, Senior. Seeing you command the golden-armored giant to slay the Six-Winged Golden Cicada Demon Sovereign during the last great battle in the Spirit-Severing Array, you looked hale and hearty as ever. You can easily live another five hundred autumns!" While exchanging pleasantries, the young man responded cordially to everyone who stepped up to greet him. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, five years apart, and you have grown even more radiant!" "Pavilion Master Li, we will discuss that matter shortly." "First Palace Master, what brings you here?" ... Every step he took was met with lively enthusiasm. It seemed as though everyone had an exceptional relationship with him! Even for those he did not recognize, once they introduced their affiliations, the young man would take the initiative to get acquainted without the slightest trace of arrogance. Once the circle led by Sovereign Jiuling finished greeting him, the host of the gathering, Elder Lu, stepped forward with a hearty laugh. "Fellow Daoist Luo, after years apart, your demeanor is even more striking than before!" "Elder Lu, those words sound rather intimate. Anyone listening might think you missed me dearly." "Haha! Come, let me introduce you to a few fellow Daoists!" "It would be my pleasure!" "Master Hua, this is the Tier 4 alchemist you have been longing to meet—Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen!" ... *So he is Grandmaster Luo!* Standing behind the crowd, Master Yao tugged tightly at his grey beard. His sage-like, transcendent composure cracked completely in that single instant. Both of them were Tier 4 alchemists. Yet when he arrived here, though people flattered and praised him, when had he ever experienced such glory? Those people could not even be described as merely trying to make an acquaintance; they were outright flattering and fawning over him, devoid of any True Person dignity! Could the difference truly be this vast? Just as jealousy flared in his eyes, the movement of the person beside him made his eyes widen in disbelief. "Fellow Daoist Deng, you..." Deng Taiyue glanced back at him and explained with a touch of embarrassment, "I heard that Grandmaster Luo is not only skilled at alchemy, but also actively collects incomplete pill recipes. Perhaps he can complete the recipe for the Tihu Pill. I'd like to introduce myself." With that, he turned without hesitation and squeezed into the crowd, becoming the next person eager to introduce himself to Luo Chen. Master Yao stood frozen, his mouth agape, his body trembling slightly. Abruptly, he turned to the others beside him. "Fellow Daoist Zhang, surely you aren't thinking of going over as well?" True Person Zhang had a favor to ask of him, so he naturally held his tongue. "And what about the rest of you?" The remaining few looked at one another before one of them said quite naturally, "Everyone attending this gathering is a fellow Daoist. What harm is there in getting acquainted? Besides, Master Yao, didn't you say earlier that you wanted to discuss the Dao of alchemy with him? Do you not wish to meet him?" "Indeed. For an alchemy grandmaster to be so young while possessing such cultivation, he must have extraordinary talents. I, too, cannot wait to meet him." At that moment, Master Yao's heart turned to cold ash. He had reached the Nascent Soul realm only in his twilight years, meaning his future Dao path was doomed to hit a wall. That was why he pursued fame and prestige, hoping to single-handedly revitalize Seven Caverns Mountain. Yet compared to Luo Chen, the disparity was glaringly obvious. Luo Chen had built a Nascent Soul upper sect from scratch, mastered profound alchemy at such a tender age, and barring any misfortune, might well be recruited by the Mingyuan Sect in the future—which would mean hope of reaching the Deity Transformation realm! One was the sun sinking behind western hills; the other was a rising, radiant sun. No wonder the cultivators here were so pragmatic. *Still, I am a senior in the Dao of alchemy, and my fame was established long before his. If he knows what is good for him, he should take the initiative to pay his respects!* Master Yao gritted his teeth. Even though only one or two companions remained at his side, he resisted the urge to lower his head and approach. He waited for Luo Chen to take the initiative to greet him. Yet until the gathering officially commenced, that young man did not spare a single glance in his direction. It was as if he did not even know such a person existed. *Feigning ignorance—infuriating! Simply infuriating!* *** "Now that everyone has been introduced, Lu shall cut straight to the chase!" Elder Lu sat in the host's seat, smiling at the assembly. "We will leave the exchange of cultivation insights for the end. Let us begin with the segment everyone cares about most: trading resources and fulfilling each other's needs!" At this point, he raised a hand in invitation. "In the previous gatherings, Lu nearly emptied his family stores. Which fellow Daoist would like to go first this time?" As soon as his voice fell, Luo Chen, who had been specially invited to sit beside him at the head of the hall, spoke up with calm composure. "This is my first time attending this gathering. As a newcomer, allow me to toss out a brick to attract jade!" The moment these words were spoken, eager glances turned toward him. Luo Chen was famous as an alchemy grandmaster; anything he brought out was bound to be high-grade pills. Pills of that caliber were exceedingly rare—who wouldn't want them? Even if one had no immediate use for them, buying one or two would be equivalent to giving Grandmaster Luo some face. Just as everyone watched in anticipation... A streak of flowing light shot forth, crashing heavily into the center of the spacious hall with a thunderous boom. A pungent reek of blood surged outward! A lingering, formidable aura blasted in all directions without restraint, shaking the souls of many and prompting them to violently circulate their magic power. Looking closely... A slender colossus tens of zhang in length, with the upper body of a bat and the lower body of a scorpion, lay sprawled before them. Dripping with fresh blood, stripped of its hide and fur, it was an utterly horrifying sight! The complete—remains of a Demon Sovereign! Amidst the crowd's shock and terror, Luo Chen offered a harmless, gentle smile. "The corpse of a Tier 4 Wuguang beast. Except for its pelt, it is virtually intact." "Does anyone want it? It can be yours in exchange for Crimson Firmament, Purple Firmament, or Carmine Firmament Qi!"