Several days later.
Inside the alchemy chamber, a pool of golden liquid sent up curls of dense vapor within the gradually cooling Hunyuan Cauldron.
The white-robed Daoist formed an incantation gesture. The liquid, golden and translucent as glazed glass, welled up into the air and showered down like raindrops, landing with unerring precision into waiting jade vials.
The Red Dog puppet held a tray bearing five jade vials in total.
With a flick of Luo Chen's sleeve, one of the vials flew into his grasp.
He sniffed it first, then dispensed a single drop onto his fingertip, rubbing it gently for a long moment. Luo Chen even touched a tiny drop to his tongue, surprisingly met with a crisp, brittle sensation in his mouth.
A look of wonder crossed Luo Chen's face.
"Is this the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid?"
For him, the difficulty of concocting this spirit medicine was quite ordinary; it merely required switching to the water method of alchemy. His repeated postponements with Pavilion Master Li in the past had simply been due to a lack of spare time. In truth, during his secluded cultivation five years ago, the Red Dog puppet had already thoroughly researched and mastered the recipe, which was why he had succeeded on his very first attempt today.
"Using the eyes of several demon beasts famed for exceptional sight as the primary ingredients was clearly done on the principle of nourishing form with form. But once used, can this concoction truly trigger a metamorphosis in one's eyes?"
Luo Chen felt a stir of eager curiosity.
Ever since the Spirit Eye Art had taken root in his eyes during his Qi Refinement days, his nurturing of his vision had hardly ever ceased. Runming Pearl Liquid, Tongming Liquid... Through persistent cultivation, his eyes had indeed improved steadily. During his Golden Core stage, he had even integrated the illusion art Mirror Flower Water Moon into them, enabling instantaneous casting!
The boost that exceptional eyesight provided to combat prowess was beyond doubt.
Piercing illusions, anticipating an enemy's moves.
Especially when paired with divine sense, unless an opponent's realm was vastly superior to Luo Chen's, it was exceedingly difficult to hide from him.
If nothing else, in his clash against the Lightless Demon Emperor years ago, being able to swiftly pinpoint the beast's true body in pitch-black darkness had mostly come down to the credit of these eyes.
His agreeing to concoct the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid for Pavilion Master Li had also stemmed partly from his own desire to use it.
"I'd certainly like to see what kind of effect it has!"
Luo Chen pursed his lips. After confirming the medicinal liquid was safe, he carefully raised the jade vial and tilted the opening downward.
Just like administering eye drops during his school days buried deep in his memories, a single drop of golden liquid resembling glazed glass fell slowly, landing squarely in his right eye.
*Plink!*
Luo Chen closed his right eye, quietly savoring the bizarre sensation.
His first impression upon contact was... granularity?
Though clearly a liquid, it gave the sensation of tiny pebbles or shards of glass.
He could not help slightly furrowing his right brow.
Then, a soothing cool sensation radiated outward.
That coolness permeated deeper, seeping into the eye, the pupil, and even into his divine soul... In faintly perceptible ways, something truly seemed to be quietly shifting and transforming.
***
Mount Danluo.
The mountain's original name had long been forgotten; all that was known was that True Persons in the city had joined forces to transport it from another great domain using formidable techniques.
Because the Alchemy Grandmaster, Luo Chen, had resided here for nearly a decade, it had gradually acquired the name "Danluo."
At this moment, Fairy Jueqing waited quietly at the foot of the mountain as instructed.
Seeing streaks of light flying toward her from the distance, she immediately stepped forward to meet them.
"Junior Jueqing greets you. Might this be True Person Li?"
The light dissipated, revealing Pavilion Master Li of Wan Jian Pavilion.
He smiled faintly. "Indeed it is. Forgive this seat for keeping you waiting, little friend."
Fairy Jueqing shook her head. "The Grandmaster has been behind closed doors researching something of late, so he specifically instructed me to greet Pavilion Master Li in advance, lest we neglect our guest. May I ask who these two are...?"
Fairy Jueqing looked toward the other two figures, yet her words faltered as the man and woman revealed their faces.
The man wore azure robes, tall and lean, his brows sharp as swords and his eyes shining like stars.
The woman was clad in a scarlet dress, alluring and gorgeous, yet carrying an unmistakable aura of baleful sharpness.
These two—she recognized them!
Pavilion Master Li smiled and introduced them. "Lin Qingxuan, the current Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, and Hongling, the Law Enforcement Elder. Both hail from the former Jade Cauldron Domain. Little Friend Jueqing should not find them unfamiliar, yes?"
The two looked at Fairy Jueqing and nodded in greeting.
How could Fairy Jueqing not recognize them? They were once true disciples of the Jade Cauldron Domain's supreme Nascent Soul sect; Lin Qingxuan in particular had been groomed as a Golden Core Dao Seed back during his Foundation Establishment stage. His subsequent achievements had lived up to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's investment, attaining the Nascent Soul realm at a young age amid relentless slaughter.
Had Luo Chen not burst onto the scene later, Lin Qingxuan, the Solitary Swan of the Sword Realm, would have been the most dazzling figure among the younger generation over the past century!
Though meeting "old acquaintances," Fairy Jueqing had no desire to reminisce.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, she asked, "Are they also here to see the Grandmaster?"
At this question, slight awkwardness surfaced on both Lin Qingxuan's and Hongling's faces.
Pavilion Master Li chuckled, however. "Indeed. I mentioned this to Fellow Daoist Luo beforehand, so you need not worry."
Seeing this, Fairy Jueqing raised no further objections. She parted Mount Danluo's formation array and led the trio up the mountain, stopping only before a grand hall halfway up the peak.
"Please wait a moment, honored guests. Allow me to inform him."
Once Fairy Jueqing had departed, Hongling could not help grumbling, "What airs this Alchemy Grandmaster puts on!"
"Junior Sister, watch your words!" Lin Qingxuan snapped in a low voice.
Hongling pouted, yet frustration colored her face.
To think that Luo Chen had formed his core after her, yet after all these years, she remained stranded at the mid Golden Core stage while he had long stepped into the Nascent Soul realm.
Previously, she had heard tales of the Alchemy Grandmaster's towering renown, but it had felt like viewing flowers through fog—vague and distant.
Yet just now, seeing Fairy Jueqing—an icy beauty once famous in the Jade Cauldron Domain—now reduced to Luo Chen's subordinate, driven at his beck and call like a gatekeeper...
One had to remember that back then, Luo Chen had to survive under the shadow of the Ice Fort's breath.
Now that the tables were completely turned, it was truly poignant—and all too bitterly relatable!
Watching the martial siblings, Pavilion Master Li smiled slightly.
"In troubled times, heroes emerge in profusion. It is true of you, Qingxuan, and it is true of Luo Chen—he has merely forged ahead of you."
"A temporary concession secures a far vaster world."
"You have clearly found your bearing, and your future holds boundless promise. Once the demon chaos is quelled, you can follow the example of Perfected Jade Cauldron, opening up a new domain and re-establishing your sect."
Listening to this earnest counsel, Lin Qingxuan remained calm and composed, showing none of the vexation one might feel at being lectured by a peer of the same realm.
For there was deeper history between them.
The world thought he had simply broken through to the Nascent Soul realm amid slaughter, but how could they know the sheer distance of the bloody path a mere Golden Core cultivator had to carve out in a desperate plight where the sky itself seemed to collapse?
His current accomplishments were inseparable from the secret backing of Wan Jian Pavilion.
Thus, even when conferring among peers, he showed Pavilion Master Li profound respect before outsiders.
Even today, when the man had brought him here to offer an apology!
***
"Those two? They're here to apologize for the previous incident!"
Luo Chen stood before a massive iron anvil, striking a glowing red jade stone fiercely with a heavy sledgehammer.
His motions were vigorous, raising the hammer high and bringing it down with crushing weight, yet the strikes landed without a sound or jarring tremor. Because of this, his voice carried with absolute clarity to the woman behind him.
Looking at the bare-chested man whose back displayed terrifying cords of sinew and muscle, the woman clicked her tongue in silent awe.
She could hardly tell whether her reaction was prompted by Luo Chen's formidable physique, which radiated a thick aura of danger, or by the words he had just spoken.
After all, Lin Qingxuan was now a sect master and a renowned Nascent Soul True Person in his own right. To think he would voluntarily come to Luo Chen's door to apologize!
*Clang!*
Tossing the sledgehammer onto a rack, Luo Chen paid no heed to the scorching heat and picked up the jade stone, its crimson glow half-faded to reveal its innate rainbow luster.
He nodded slightly.
This piece of Seven-Po Jade had been forged to perfection; it was ready to be used in crafting the Heart-Interrogation Mirror!
He then formed an incantation gesture, and an iron chest swung open, venting biting cold air.
Only after stowing the Seven-Po Jade in the chill chest did Luo Chen exhale in relief.
Without any visible movement on his part, his trousers extended upward, transforming into a loose white robe that thoroughly concealed the back muscles that looked like gnarled tree roots.
"Come, let us go meet them and see if their sincerity measures up."
The instant he turned around, Fairy Jueqing froze for a second.
Something was different about Luo Chen's right eye!
Lowering her head, she dared not stare, following closely behind Luo Chen as they left the artifact refinement hall.
"Why are they apologizing? Is it because Hongling previously involved herself in Luotian's internal turmoil during the Ten Duels of Decision?"
"Mm."
Luo Chen walked ahead, his wide sleeves billowing, his expression placid.
"Back then, Wan Jian Pavilion supported the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect in meddling with the White Crane Domain—no different from how the Five Elements Divine Sect and Motian Cliff tried to lay hands on the Fenghua Domain. Thus, they were natural allies. But as the demon beasts advanced on our doorstep, all maneuvers detrimental to unity had to stop."
"Once stopped, their fragile alliance effectively ceased to exist. And with my rise, they were forced to make a choice."
"The Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid is merely a catalyst; even without it, they would have sought reconciliation with me on their own initiative."
Mulling this over, Fairy Jueqing realized it was indeed so.
Yet she knew full well that the greatest factor driving this shift was Luo Chen's unstoppable rise!
She had heard that at the Shouyang Dao Discussion Gathering, he had been courted by numerous peers of the same realm.
Even Grand Cultivators such as Tianduzi and Castellan Lingtian had shown goodwill on their own accord.
How could a mere latecomer like Lin Qingxuan continue to maintain an aloof stance?
Even so, the thought that members of the Sword Sect, once so lofty in the Jade Cauldron Domain, now had to apologize to Luo Chen—who had once been like an ant in their eyes—evoked an involuntary sense of absurdity in her.
Yet a moment later, she smiled bitterly to herself.
Absurd as it was, could it be any more absurd than how her own relationship with Luo Chen had changed?
***
"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"
"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"
A number of Luotian Sect disciples were stationed on Mount Danluo permanently. As Luo Chen arrived at the mountainside, greetings rang out in chorus.
Luo Chen gave a gentle nod of acknowledgment before stepping into the reception hall.
"Fellow Daoist Li, Fellow Daoist Lin, forgive me for keeping you waiting!"
Pavilion Master Li rose from his seat with a smile. "Not at all, it was only a brief—"
"Huh!"
A gasp of surprise came from the side; it was Lin Qingxuan.
And Pavilion Master Li immediately saw the cause of his shock.
Luo Chen's right eye!
Lustrous as fine jade, shimmering with speckles of light.
With every turn of his gaze, it resembled golden amber!
Lin Qingxuan parted his lips, incredulity written across his features. "You truly succeeded?"
"Had I not succeeded in concocting the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid, why would I have called you over?" Luo Chen chuckled heartily. Taking his seat, he countered, "Judging by your reaction, Fellow Daoist Lin, you seem to have seen what happens after one uses the Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid?"
Lin Qingxuan's astonishment gradually faded, and he nodded. "Indeed I have. After all, my sect had been researching this recipe for ages. On one occasion, it was concocted to near perfection and administered to Eldest Senior Brother. Alas, after his fall, we discovered that the liquid remained flawed, harboring a defect within. Because of that, for many years our sect dared not brew it again, fearing it might harm more disciples."
Anyone Lin Qingxuan would address as Eldest Senior Brother could never be an unknown figure.
Instantly, Luo Chen thought of that peerless genius once ranked first among Golden Cores on the Jade Cauldron Domain's Prodigy Board—Ren Pingsheng!
He had also heard Han Zhan recount the details of the Luoyun Sect's ambush against Ren Pingsheng back then.
To help Han Zhan master the formidable Liangyi Five Elements Sword Formation, the Luoyun Sect had paid a staggering price to secretly besiege Ren Pingsheng.
That battle had cost heavy casualties, ending in a fluke victory.
The reason it was called a fluke was that the Luoyun Sect's elders had swapped positions using several Golden Core puppets, fooling Ren Pingsheng's eyes to finally bring him down.
Looking at it now, Ren Pingsheng's failure to see through the illusion had come down to a defect in his vision!
"Although we dared not concoct it again after that, our research into the recipe never halted. Our Sword Sect's chief alchemist eventually concluded that a flawless Jade Emperor Clear Pupil Liquid should appear lustrous as jade and amber gold in color. Only when it is thoroughly absorbed can a divine pupil be nurtured."
Lin Qingxuan spoke measuredly, his gaze heavy as he fixed it on Luo Chen's right eye.
"Just as yours appears right now!"
Luo Chen laughed heartily. "Then I seem to have appropriated the hard-won insights of your sect's predecessors!"
Lin Qingxuan sighed. "You jest! It is purely due to the Grandmaster's superlative skill that such an achievement was possible."
Pavilion Master Li, silent for quite a while, finally could not hold back.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, since it is a success, perhaps we might discuss our transaction? What we discussed earlier..."
"No hurry!"
Luo Chen waved his sleeve, looking at Lin Qingxuan and Hongling with a faint, knowing smile.
"That transaction is between the Luotian Sect and Wan Jian Pavilion. These two were not included in the cooperation. Pray tell, what is your intention in coming here today?"
A matter everyone understood in their hearts—must it be laid bare so bluntly?
*Plop!*
The scarlet-dressed woman gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees on the floor.
"Interfering in Luotian's internal conflict that day was Hongling's fault. I beg Senior to be magnanimous and forgive this junior's offense!"
Lin Qingxuan sighed. Producing an item, he carried it with dharmic powers and sent it before Luo Chen.
"Having heard that Brother Luo also harbors an interest in the sword path, Lin has specially prepared a manual of sword cultivation insights as a token of apology."
Luo Chen beamed as he accepted the thin booklet, immediately sensing a sharp, piercing intent upon touch.
Furthermore, the calligraphy within struck bold, unconventional paths, imbued with reckless solitary courage.
The handwriting truly reflected the man!
"Penned by Fellow Daoist Lin's own hand?"
Lin Qingxuan gave a self-deprecating smile. "Trifling scribbles; I only hope Brother Luo will not look down upon them."
How could Luo Chen look down upon them? Although he possessed a Tier 5 sword scripture, all his cultivation had been fumbled out on his own.
Lin Qingxuan was different. Nurtured in the orthodox sword cultivator traditions of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect since childhood, he had once enjoyed the reputation of being the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator in the entire Jade Cauldron Domain.
That alone spoke volumes of how solid his foundations were.
Acquiring his cultivation insights was an immense boon for Luo Chen.
Seeing the satisfied look on Luo Chen's face, Pavilion Master Li let out a quiet breath of relief.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, may we discuss the transaction now?"
Luo Chen set the booklet aside. To the astonishment of all three, a wisp of scarlet sword qi slowly coalesced at his fingertips.
"We can discuss the transaction, and the grievances between my Luotian Sect and the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect can be wiped clean as well. But before that, this one has a presumptuous request."
"I have not practiced the sword path for long and feel I have made modest progress, yet I have seldom sparred with others, leaving me unsure of how wide the gulf is between myself and a true sword cultivator."
"Since fate brings us together today, I ask the Solitary Swan of the Sword Realm to grant me some instruction!"
Chapter 828