"It's Master Chongxuan of the Mingyuan Sect!"
Gazing at the departing figure, Lingfengzi said in a low voice.
Luo Chen narrowed his eyes and asked, "Was Qi Xi fighting him earlier?"
Lingfengzi nodded.
Luo Chen came to an understanding. So Qi Xi's retreat was not merely due to the deterrence of his Wither-Bloom Dao Finger, but also because Master Chongxuan had been pursuing him!
He had been so engrossed in the fight earlier that he had overlooked Master Chongxuan's arrival, only sensing someone watching secretly from the shadows toward the end.
Regardless, this place was temporarily safe now.
He flicked his fingers, releasing the hand seal he had been tightly holding.
The spiritual qi drawn toward him immediately dispersed, as though losing its anchor.
Fairy Fenghua stared at Luo Chen's hand, her lips feeling slightly dry.
"Brother Luo truly possesses formidable capabilities!"
Lingfengzi chimed in, "Slaying three demons, capturing Di Tu, and repelling a Great Demon Emperor with a single finger—I fear Brother Luo's abilities are second to none among the Masters of our generation."
Luo Chen cast a glance at Lingfengzi, an ambiguous smile playing on his face.
Under that gaze, Lingfengzi felt rather embarrassed.
Luo Chen chose not to press the matter for now, turning instead to Fairy Fenghua.
"How are things on your side?"
Fairy Fenghua's expression shifted slightly. "Canlou has retreated, but a vast horde of demon beasts is still besieging Fenghua Palace. I must take my leave first—we will speak again later!"
"Wait!"
Luo Chen called her back, then gave his left arm a jolt.
A plume of black qi surfaced and expanded in an instant, transforming into a hundred-zhang-long dragon.
"I am somewhat depleted and cannot assist in person. Let this dragon and tiger lend you a hand in my stead!"
The desolate beast Black King and the golden tiger Di Tu!
Fairy Fenghua gave Luo Chen a deep look.
"Thank you!"
Before departing, Di Tu stole a glance at Luo Chen.
Was he truly exhausted this time?
***
After Fairy Fenghua left with Luo Chen's two spirit pets, silence fell over the area.
Standing beside Luo Chen, Lingfengzi felt an uneasy apprehension in his heart.
Suddenly, Luo Chen spoke:
"Lingfengzi, do you plan to return to the battlefield at Lingtian Pass, or will you stay?"
Lingfengzi replied without hesitation, "Lingtian Pass has already descended into chaos, and having held off Commander Qi Xi for so long, I should naturally stay..."
Yet his voice gradually trailed off.
Luo Chen seemed indifferent to his answer, drifting down from the sky.
When he touched down, a crowd of Luotian Sect cultivators came forward to greet him.
Every pair of eyes brimmed with reverence and admiration.
The number of demon beasts this time far exceeded anything the Luotian Sect had ever faced in its history, and several Demon Emperors had even taken part.
Yet under the Supreme Elder's leadership, the Luotian Sect had survived with minimal casualties!
How could they not revere and love Luo Chen?
In particular, Sect Master Li Yingzhang's eyes shone with an excitement that surpassed even that of Luo Chen's two Dao companions.
"I am unhurt. Yingzhang, take the disciples and clear the battlefield," Luo Chen said with a slight smile.
"Understood!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Li Yingzhang led the disciples to scatter across the area.
The battlefield was strewn with countless demon beast corpses, every one of which was cultivation resources for cultivators!
Huiniang and Caiyi also came forward to show their concern for Luo Chen. Only after seeing that he was unharmed and looked completely normal did they lead their people away.
Luo Chen then called Tianxuan over.
"How many souls did the Myriad Soul Banner reap?"
"Tens of thousands!" Tianxuan replied, adding with visible excitement, "Having been nurtured by Master in earlier years, this banner already possessed the foundation of a Hundred Thousand Ferocious Soul Banner. With the influx of new souls this time, it only lacks a Nascent Soul-stage primary soul to truly advance into a Hundred Thousand Ferocious Soul Banner!"
Ordinary soul banners were merely magic treasures at best.
However, once the souls within numbered a hundred thousand and it possessed a Nascent Soul primary soul, it could advance into a Hundred Thousand Ferocious Soul Banner, rivaling a True Artifact.
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "That works out perfectly."
He reached out to take the Myriad Soul Banner, then fished inside the Hunyuan Cauldron.
A miniature Nascent Soul figure, its eyes tightly shut and enveloped in countless black electric arcs, landed in his palm.
It was none other than the Nascent Soul of Lu Chang'an, the third of the Lu brothers!
Before Lingfengzi's stunned gaze, Luo Chen placed restriction after restriction upon it before dispelling the black electric arcs.
Lu Chang'an snapped his eyes open, glaring at Luo Chen with venomous hatred.
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "The Hunyuan Cauldron is my lifebound magic treasure, hardly a proper dwelling place for Fellow Daoist. Better you find somewhere else to reside."
With a toss of his hand, Lu Chang'an's Nascent Soul was cast into the Myriad Soul Banner.
Instantly, black qi churned as countless resentful souls roared and pounced upon the miniature Nascent Soul.
Chilling, agonized wails rang out.
"Take it and temper it well. With this banner paired with your Nine Winds Plantain Fan, few below the Nascent Soul stage should be a match for you."
Tianxuan's eyes lit up, and she took the Myriad Soul Banner with excitement.
Once Tianxuan had joyfully withdrawn, Luo Chen turned his gaze upon Wang Yuan.
Their eyes met—Luo Chen's full of concern, while Wang Yuan's expression appeared somewhat bewildered.
"What is the matter?"
"Nothing," Wang Yuan said, shaking his head.
Luo Chen frowned slightly, sweeping his divine sense over him. Though Wang Yuan had sustained a few wounds, none were serious.
Seeing that the other man did not wish to speak, Luo Chen did not press him, turning instead to extend an invitation to Lingfengzi.
"The battle has drawn to a close. Why not accompany me for a stroll through Baili Qingchuan, Fellow Daoist?"
Lingfengzi nodded reflexively.
After the two departed, Wang Yuan remained standing where he was, his weather-beaten, resolute face filled with bewilderment.
He knew the current Luo Chen was exceedingly strong and formidable!
Whether through cultivation realm, battle achievements, or how Luo Chen deliberately pulled his punches when sparring with him, everything pointed to that fact.
Yet he had never imagined that Luo Chen's power had begun to exceed his comprehension!
When that Great Demon Emperor arrived, the horrifying pressure had left all of Baili Qingchuan gasping for breath.
At that moment, even Wang Yuan, veteran of countless battles, had felt powerless to resist.
He had even felt that advancing to the fourth realm of body refinement would have done nothing to alter the situation.
Yet Luo Chen had repelled the foe with a single finger!
"Has the little brother of the past grown to a point where even I cannot see through him?"
Wang Yuan murmured to himself, fully realizing the chasm between him and Luo Chen.
***
A stench of blood assailed the nostrils amid devastated ruins.
Such was Baili Qingchuan at present.
The scenic beauty and vibrant life of the past were nowhere to be found.
Yet as Luo Chen strolled through it, a smile graced his face, as if he were in wonderful spirits.
Lingfengzi followed behind him absentmindedly. Although the wound on his chest and abdomen remained grotesque, the bleeding had stopped, posing no immediate danger.
When Luo Chen arrived at the banks of the Heishui River, he halted, looking up at the severed head of the jiuzhang deer that had been hewn off by the Yuantu Sword.
"Lingfengzi, do any disciples of your Piaomiao Sect still survive?"
"There are indeed a few left alive. I pulled strings to send them to the rear; they should be able to avoid this catastrophe of life and death."
"Only a few? I heard that in its heyday, the Piaomiao Sect had tens of thousands of disciples and flourished with abundant incense."
"Alas, in the end, it was my incompetence. I failed to protect the young and old of the sect."
"Have you ever thought of rebuilding the Piaomiao Sect in the future and reviving its lineage?"
"Naturally, I have. But under the current circumstances, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!"
Lingfengzi sighed, looking despondent.
Rebuilding a Nascent Soul upper sect from scratch was far from being as simple as merely possessing the cultivation realm.
First, one needed the Nascent Soul realm.
Second, one needed exceptionally talented disciples who were fiercely loyal to the sect.
Lastly, one required a suitable spiritual land to establish a sect.
Among these three conditions, the first was the most crucial, but the latter two were equally indispensable.
Especially the spiritual land!
To secure one, virtually any Nascent Soul sect had to launch an opening war to tear a territory away from the jaws of countless demon beasts.
The current Piaomiao Sect lacked the strength to launch an opening war.
Even if the war between humans and demons concluded entirely, Lingfengzi had no idea how much time and energy it would take to restore even a tenth of the Piaomiao Sect's former glory.
Moreover, plans could never keep pace with change; if any mishap occurred, the Piaomiao Sect's inheritance might well be severed in his hands.
Luo Chen looked at the disheartened Lingfengzi and suddenly asked, "Then do you think my Luotian Sect can achieve it?"
Lingfengzi pondered for a moment and nodded. "Certainly! Although the Luotian Sect currently has few disciples, from what I observed just now, every one of them is outstanding, and their devotion to the sect runs deep. Coupled with your strength and prestige, Fellow Daoist, you need only raise your arm and call out, and countless outsiders would gladly help you slay demons and conquer a spiritual land."
Luo Chen chuckled. With his current appeal, doing so would indeed not be difficult.
And yet!
"The help of others, in the end, cannot compare to our own disciples acting with one heart and mind!
"It is just a pity that aside from myself, the Luotian Sect has no other Nascent Soul cultivators. Handling so many matters personally is truly troublesome. If someone could assist me, things would surely be much easier.
"Lingfengzi, would you be willing to join my Luotian Sect?"
Lingfengzi snapped his head up, meeting Luo Chen's smiling eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, isn't this a bit..."
"Forcing someone against their will? Demanding repayment for a favor?" Luo Chen laughed heartily, his expression candid. "If you are unwilling, Fellow Daoist, I shall not force you. You may leave as you please!"
Lingfengzi opened his mouth, his face turning thoroughly unsightly.
He lifted his foot to leave, but as he did, he caught sight of the deer head before him, blood still trickling from it.
His raised foot dared not touch the ground.
In his hesitation, he recalled Luo Chen's awe-inspiring might when repelling the Great Demon Emperor with a single finger.
If word of what happened here spread, the Alchemy Grandmaster's renown would undoubtedly soar to greater heights, blazing like the midday sun!
And if he walked away now, would he completely sever his friendship with the Alchemy Grandmaster?
Might he even lose any foothold across the entire Eastern Desolation?
Slowly, he pulled his heavy foot back.
Lingfengzi looked at Luo Chen, who currently gave off not the slightest ripple of magical power, completely unable to determine whether the man's power was truly depleted or if he still had strength to spare.
Yet he knew that Luo Chen, having comprehended the True Meaning of the Law, already had hopes of reaching the Soul Formation stage!
Now that such an existence had extended an olive branch, should he take it?
Refusing meant being ungrateful and cutting off his own future.
Accepting meant becoming family with Luo Chen from now on.
Yet once he accepted, the Piaomiao Sect would vanish like mist and dust, and the profound hopes pinned on him by predecessors and juniors alike would dissolve in an instant.
Could he commit such an act of betraying his masters and ancestors?
Countless thoughts surged through Lingfengzi's mind, clashing in endless contradiction.
The wounds that had stopped bleeding began to loosen under the turbulence of his spirit, sending throbs of pain through him.
Luo Chen spoke no words of urging, simply standing quietly by the Heishui River.
Time slowly drifted by.
The two of them stood there for half a day.
Not until the setting sun turned blood-red, casting its glow over the surging surface of the Heishui River, did a heavy, raspy voice finally sound:
"Lingfengzi is willing to join the Luotian Sect."
Luo Chen clasped his hands behind his back and asked flatly, "Have you truly made up your mind?"
Lingfengzi said in a low voice, "I have indeed. You have shown me kindness time and again, Fellow Daoist, and this time you even braved the pressure of a Great Demon Emperor to save my life. With so many great debts of gratitude that I can never repay, I can only pledge myself to your cause."
What a 'pledge myself to your cause'!
Luo Chen reached out and patted his shoulder firmly.
"From this day forth, you are the Second Elder of the Luotian Sect. You may establish the Piaomiao Hall and carry on your lineage!"
That pat seemed to brush away the burden on his shoulders, and Lingfengzi felt as though a great weight had been lifted.
Beside the Heishui River, bathed in the lingering afterglow of sunset, he bowed deeply toward Luo Chen.
"Lingfengzi pays respects to the Supreme Elder!"
Luo Chen smiled and helped him up.
"Though we never studied under the same master, we now share the status of fellow sect members. As my cultivation realm is slightly higher than yours, addressing me as Senior Brother will suffice."
With everything spoken plainly, the shackles fell away from Lingfengzi.
He offered a wry smile. "Senior Brother Luo Chen."
Luo Chen laughed heartily. "Since you call me Senior Brother, I must present a meeting gift. Let it be this deer head!"
Lingfengzi subconsciously looked up.
Resting beside the riverbank, the deer head stared with unseeing eyes, its antlers grotesque.
Lingfengzi let out a breath, feeling a touch of relief and fortune in his heart.
Such was the end of those who stood as Luo Chen's enemies.
Yet once he became one of his own, benefits were delivered right to his doorstep.
He had likely made a good choice, hadn't he?
***
After the great battle, the Luotian Sect's strength had not diminished in the slightest; instead, it had seen the greatest enhancement in its history!
Not only did they reap countless demon beast corpses, but they also gained the addition of a Nascent Soul Master in Lingfengzi.
Perhaps his combat prowess was not particularly outstanding, but his escape arts were superb, and he possessed unique expertise in intelligence reconnaissance.
In the future, the Luotian Sect's shortcomings in intelligence would surely be remedied.
However, there was no rush for this matter.
With the decisive war still underway, any elaborate plans were merely castles in the air.
Three days later.
Beyond Mount Daqing, clouds billowed and the wind howled.
Clouds follow the dragon; wind follows the tiger.
Disciples bustling about the mountain looked up to see a massive dragon and a golden tiger tearing through the void.
In the past, panic would have seized them long ago.
Yet now, they felt only a profound sense of security.
For they knew those two demonic beasts were the Supreme Elder's spirit pets!
Boom!
The golden tiger touched down, its immense weight pressing a deep hollow into the white jade plaza before the Luotian Grand Hall.
"Little Di, watch your step! Every brick and every tile here belongs to Master's property!"
Di Tu snorted heavily, glaring viciously back at him.
Black King, having shrunk his body, glared right back.
"What do you want? Never mind that your cultivation realm is higher than mine—you joined after me! When I call you Little Di, you answer to it!
"Master even calls me Xiao Hei sometimes."
Black King muttered under his breath and flew into the Luotian Grand Hall.
After hesitating for a moment, Di Tu also voluntarily took human form and walked in.
The hall was rather bustling at the moment.
The Luotian Sect's Golden Core cultivators, led by Li Yingzhang, were reporting the situation to Luo Chen.
The casualties, the spoils—it was somewhat tedious and verbose.
Yet Luo Chen continued to listen attentively.
"The greatest problem is that the spiritual vein here was damaged. The spiritual qi is now running wild, and the spiritual acupoints across the area have collapsed. Min Longyu is leading disciples to dredge and align the spiritual vein, but to little effect.
"In the short term, Baili Qingchuan is no longer suitable for our cultivation," Li Yingzhang said with a look of worry.
Luo Chen nodded. He had naturally noticed this situation.
Earlier, when he meditated to recover his magical power, he discovered that his efficiency in absorbing spiritual qi had dropped significantly.
This was caused not only by the onslaught of a hundred thousand demon beasts, but primarily by his battle with Di Tu and the other Demon Emperors!
Even though he had contained the battlefield during that fight so it did not spill over to the low-tier cultivators below, both Lu Changsheng's self-detonation and Lu Changqing's demise had unleashed tremendous storms of spiritual qi.
Baili Qingchuan ultimately possessed only the foundation of a Rank Three spiritual land; it simply could not withstand such shockwaves.
The present reality was just as Li Yingzhang described: the spiritual land's earth veins were destabilized and spiritual qi was rampaging unchecked, making it entirely unfit for low-tier cultivators to cultivate.
"Master, this is simple—leave it to Xiao Hei! In two or three years, I can guide the spiritual qi back into place!"
The moment he entered the hall, Black King volunteered.
Two or three years?
Luo Chen shook his head. They could not afford to lose that much time.
He looked at the two demons and inquired, "How are things at Fenghua Palace?"
Facing the gazes turned upon him, Di Tu felt quite unnatural.
He gave a dry cough and said, "After we arrived, the crisis was resolved quickly. The reason we were delayed so long was that beast tides continued to surge from Lingtian Pass from time to time, so we lingered for three days."
Luo Chen understood.
From the look of it, Fenghua Palace was safe for the time being.
Baili Qingchuan was no longer habitable. Perhaps he could speak with Fairy Fenghua about taking up temporary residence at Fenghua Palace for a time?
Just as Luo Chen was contemplating this, his expression suddenly shifted.
Not only him, but even Black King subconsciously coiled his slender body, looking toward the dome of the grand hall in alarm.
"What is it?" Lingfengzi, sitting nearby listening, asked in confusion.
Di Tu was also bewildered, though a faint sense of familiarity stirred within him.
Luo Chen and Black King exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grave.
The primordial qi of heaven and earth was churning!
Had a Soul Formation mighty figure made a move?
Chapter 854