Riding a tiger through the mountain pass, summoned by a mighty figure, fêted at a feast hosted by the castellan—these three events heralded the grand return of a generational alchemy grandmaster!
Propagated by those with deliberate intent, tales of Luo Chen's deeds took root ever deeper in the hearts of the people, retold time and time again.
He had concocted hundreds of pills without a single failure, fully worthy of being hailed a master of his generation.
He had slain demon emperors, repelled great commanders, and strode across the battlefields of human and demon without suffering a single defeat; the title of True Person Demon-Slayer was beyond dispute.
Consequently, after he took up residence on Mount Danluo, visitors sought him out in an unending stream.
In ordinary times, Luo Chen would have received them.
Even in his present situation, circulating among peers would have seemed the wiser course.
Yet when faced with invitation after invitation, Luo Chen declined every one.
He remained peacefully on Mount Danluo, receiving no one and offering only the excuse that he was devoted to quiet cultivation.
Those who came with purpose returned disappointed and empty-handed.
Among them were friends Luo Chen had forged ties with in earlier years.
"*Cough, cough...*"
Along the mountain trail, Old Fu's bouts of coughing echoed softly.
"He is unwilling to see us!"
Sovereign Jiuling walked beside him with hands clasped behind his back, a profound, inscrutable expression in his eyes.
"Indeed. Summoned by a mighty figure, addressed in person as 'junior brother' by Castellan Lingtian at the banquet... does that not already say everything?"
Old Fu was hunched over, his face aged to an extent that even those familiar with him found hard to accept.
He halted, leaning heavily on his walking stick, and asked, "Do you think he looks down upon us now?"
"I said no such thing!" Sovereign Jiuling flatly denied it, but soon added in a lowered voice, "Times change, and circumstances with them."
"What do you mean?"
"When he first returned to the Eastern Desolation, he had no foundation, nor was his cultivation particularly high, so he needed us to back him up. Today, he carries the twin renown of alchemy grandmaster and demon-slayer, and even the Mingyuan Sect dispatched a Soul Transformation grandmaster to invite him in person. Under such circumstances, the value of old friends like us naturally diminishes greatly. It is only natural that he does not see us."
Old Fu's eyes flickered as he carefully mulled over the words of the man beside him—a cultivator standing closest to the rank of great cultivator.
Indeed, times had changed!
Did the present Luo Chen still need them?
The answer was, in all likelihood, no!
With a sacred land at his back and a mighty figure to rely upon, could he not demand whatever he wished across the entire Eastern Desolation?
Yet recalling his past interactions with Luo Chen, Old Fu still shook his head, somewhat reluctant to believe it.
"He shouldn't be that sort of person."
Sovereign Jiuling waved a hand. "Whether he is that sort of person or not, I do not know. But I do know that if we wish to rebuild our sect gates, we must form an alliance to secure suitable spiritual lands."
Hearing this, Old Fu nodded in deep agreement.
Counting from the day the Luoyun Sect had initiated the opening war, this conflict between the humans and demons had lasted a full one hundred and fifty years!
Over those hundred and fifty years, the seas had turned to mulberry fields, and countless sects had vanished like smoke within the crucible.
Leaving aside the minor sects, more than half of the renowned Nascent Soul upper sects had been destroyed.
The Medicine King Sect, the Hehuan Sect, Tianfan City, Ancient Mist Isle, the Tyrant Blade Sect, Taihu Palace, Fire Ridge, the Bikong Sect, Mu Prefecture, Wan Jian Pavilion, the Dieyun Sect, the Xuhuang Cult...
Among these ruined sects, some had long lost any substantial organizational framework and no longer held corresponding spiritual lands.
Yet among others—such as Mu Prefecture, Wan Jian Pavilion, the Dieyun Sect, and the Xuhuang Cult—considerable numbers of low-tier disciples had survived, still occupying their original spiritual grounds.
Virtually every Nascent Soul True Person had analyzed the future trajectory of the Eastern Desolation cultivation world to one degree or another.
An armistice between the two races would inevitably involve negotiations over every detail.
And for these Nascent Soul upper sects, the most critical matter of all was the allocation of spiritual lands!
Presently, the human race had lost fifteen domains, yet the demons had occupied only the former far eastern six domains, leaving nine domains as a buffer zone.
Those nine domains would very likely become the bargaining chips between both sides.
For the Nine Spirits Sect, the Divine Talisman Sect, Wan Jian Pavilion, and the Five Elements Divine Sect, none wished to choose their future mountain gates from within those nine domains.
The reason was simple: the demons had fully established their might!
When the next war between the two races would erupt, who could say?
Given the lessons of this conflict, the farther in the rear one lay, the safer one would be.
Even though three great commanders had led forces to raid the rear lines, that remained a low-probability event, and they had ultimately been repelled.
Thus, the places Sovereign Jiuling, Old Fu, and the others favored were naturally the spiritual lands within the surviving twenty-one domains.
That meant choosing among the sects that were ruined yet still existed in name.
Mu Prefecture, Wan Jian Pavilion, the Dieyun Sect, the Xuhuang Cult, the Tianji Dhyana Sect, or even the Seven Caves Mountain and the Hundred Beasts Sect, which had declined to their lowest ebbs!
As long as their sects took root in such places, they could avoid sharing borders with the demon forces!
In the future, after resting and recouping, they could achieve maximum growth!
Yet there was a problem.
A Nascent Soul upper sect controlled a domain for very long stretches of time.
Even if there was a generation gap in Nascent Soul cultivators and no True Person oversaw the domain, the sect would still receive short-term protection from the Mingyuan Sacred Land.
Unless there was internal strife, usurpation, or a change of lineage from within the domain's local sects, outside sects established for hundreds or thousands of years would commit a severe transgression and face heavy penalties if they attempted to seize territory that was not their own.
It was precisely under these circumstances that Sovereign Jiuling and the others had sought out Luo Chen.
They wanted to use Luo Chen to bind the major sects into a single cord, and then negotiate with the Mingyuan Sacred Land to extract concessions.
Luo Chen truly possessed such influence now!
Both in strength and in reputation.
More importantly, he had previously shown inclination in this direction and acted upon it.
That had been during the Shouyang Dao Discussion, when he had united the cultivators to apply pressure on the Mingyuan Sect.
It was thanks to obtaining prior explanations back then that the major sects had been able to make early preparations, thereby preserving their strength as much as possible in the brutal slaughter of Lingtian Pass.
This could be seen clearly from the casualties among Nascent Soul True Persons.
Seven had fallen at Lingtian Pass, but only two of them had not belonged to the Mingyuan Sect.
In the battle across the five domains, only that swordsman from Wan Jian Pavilion had sacrificed his life in a desperate stand to protect his sect and met an unfortunate end.
Because of all this, they had placed their hopes in Luo Chen.
Yet the reality was that Luo Chen had already joined the Mingyuan Sacred Land!
"He refused to see us. His stance is already clear. Perhaps we must choose another representative," Sovereign Jiuling said.
Old Fu pondered for a moment before offering his suggestion.
"Such a representative figure must possess both strength and prestige. In the vast Eastern Desolation, outside the Mingyuan Sect, only a few meet the criteria in this old man's eyes: Dongyang's Supreme Elder, Tianduzi, and Shenyuan of the Five Elements!"
Sovereign Jiuling shook his head. "The Dongyang Sect is nothing more than a lapdog of the Mingyuan Sect. Why would their Supreme Elder stand up for us?"
"As for Tianduzi, his sect suffered considerable harm in the battle a few years ago. Moreover, having repeatedly manipulated grand formations across multiple clashes, he has accumulated hidden injuries. He likely has no interest in this."
"Perfected Shenyuan..."
At the mention of this name, Sovereign Jiuling fell into thought.
Old Fu gave a wry smile.
The current Perfected Shenyuan was eccentric and solitary, his actions bizarre, and he had always walked alone.
Persuading him to step forward would be exceedingly difficult.
"How about you take the lead, Sovereign?"
Sovereign Jiuling froze, then waved his hands repeatedly. "There is no need to speak of me. I lack the true substance of a great cultivator, nor is my reputation particularly prominent. The Mingyuan Sacred Land would not even deign to look me in the eye."
"You are being too modest, Sovereign," Old Fu said with lingering reluctance.
Sovereign Jiuling replied earnestly, "It is not modesty, but simple fact."
Old Fu sighed. Indeed, it was the truth!
Sovereign Jiuling was said to rival a great cultivator, yet before the towering colossus of the Mingyuan Sacred Land, he remained like an ant.
How could he compare to Luo Chen...?
Thinking of Luo Chen, Old Fu was filled with even deeper emotion.
In a mere twenty years, the man had built an enormous reputation from nothing, to the point where a Soul Transformation grandmaster personally stepped forward to extend an invitation. Such capability was truly unmatched in the world today.
It was only a pity that he had now been brought under their banner.
Just as the two were tangled in contemplation and feeling lost, a rustling sound suddenly came from beneath their feet.
Sovereign Jiuling was the first to notice. Looking down, he saw a small black snake with dragon horns slithering down from the mountain.
"A demon emperor!"
"Wait!"
Old Fu held Sovereign Jiuling back, hesitating. "I learned from Fenghua Fairy that Luo Chen possesses an extremely powerful spirit pet. It seems to be of the dragon lineage."
Sovereign Jiuling slowly lowered his hand.
Black King slithered before them, seemingly oblivious to the palm strike that had been poised to unleash.
Opening his maw, he spat out a strip of paper.
Amid the duo's confusion, the paper abruptly unfolded, only to be reduced to ash in a sudden burst of flame.
Black King swallowed the powder in one gulp. "This was relayed by my master. Farewell."
With that, Black King twisted his body and vanished into the depths of Mount Danluo.
After his departure, the two men left behind exchanged glances.
"'Hold your ground, await heaven's timing.' What does this mean?"
"I do not know. Could there still be further upheaval before this near-settled situation?"
"Heaven's timing... what is heaven's timing?"
"I do not know, but this old man knows that Fellow Daoist Luo has not merely stood by as an idle bystander. He knows the situation we currently face. By these eight words, he is advising us not to form covert alliances for now, and to wait until matters are fully settled before making plans."
Sovereign Jiuling opened his mouth, somewhat unconvinced.
If they truly waited until the situation was settled, would they still have an opportunity to lay claim to those prime spiritual lands?
Yet...
Sovereign Jiuling turned back toward cloud-veiled Mount Danluo, as though he could see Luo Chen watching them.
Only after a long silence did he let out a quiet sigh.
"The current Luo Chen grows ever harder for me to fathom. So be it. Free of these worldly distractions, I shall focus peacefully on cultivation and strive to truly secure the standing of a great cultivator at an early date!"
The two walked away into the distance.
Because of Luo Chen's eight words, the undercurrents surging within Lingtian Pass gradually settled down as well.
Everyone seemed still immersed in the joy of once again repelling the demon invasion.
All eyes turned toward the upcoming negotiations at Mount Biyou.
***
Year 3632 of the Mountain-Sea Calendar!
A full five years had passed since the final battle at Lingtian Pass!
Amid the anxious and fervent anticipation of all, the date for the armistice negotiations was finally set.
The fifteenth day of the seventh month!
There was a certain significance to this date.
For on this very day back then, the Luoyun Sect's opening war had formally commenced.
When it began, and when it ended—everything seemed predestined.
On this day, a streak of light flew into Mount Danluo.
Luo Chen, who was in the midst of cultivation, opened his eyes and beckoned with a raised hand.
The sound transmission talisman wandering through the dense mists like a headless fly landed in his grasp.
The talisman ignited without wind, its contents flowing into Luo Chen's ears.
Blinking, Luo Chen rose to his feet.
"The time has come!"
With a flicker of his figure, he was already out of Mount Danluo, soaring straight toward the firmament.
Before long, Luo Chen came to a halt.
Facing the black-robed elder at the head of the five figures ahead, Luo Chen bowed in greeting.
"Greetings, Patriarch!"
Patriarch Heize cast a glance at him and flicked his wrist. A mass of golden light rolled out, landing at Luo Chen's feet.
The moment the creature emerged, it let out a furious roar.
"*Roar!*"
Luo Chen frowned and barked, "Beast!"
The golden light froze, and under the pressure weighing directly upon its divine soul, it instantly came to its senses.
"M-Master."
It was none other than the golden tiger Di Tu.
Yet compared to before, an indefinable change seemed to have come over Di Tu.
Had he become far more berserk?
Luo Chen could not discern the origin of that change, but he knew that Di Tu had certainly undergone some transformation during the two years spent in Patriarch Heize's hands.
For deep within his purple mansion, the Wither-Bloom Fire Spirit had quivered for a brief instant.
And the Yuantu Blood Sword, tempered in his right arm for so many years, had just emitted a scorching heat.
*Is it a Soul Transformation technique?*
With this thought, Luo Chen grew even more wary of the upcoming armistice negotiations at Mount Biyou.
Seeing Luo Chen subdue the golden tiger, Patriarch Heize nodded in satisfaction.
"Luo Chen, Lord Pingshan explicitly demanded that we hand over his son. In a moment, you will dissolve the slave seal and return his soul blood before his eyes. That is your task for this journey."
Luo Chen's expression remained tranquil, as though he had long anticipated this.
He gave only a slight nod.
"Very well, just the few of us. Let us depart!"
With a broad wave of Patriarch Heize's sleeve, a surge of magic power enveloped the other five, and they flew toward Mount Biyou in the Bikong Region.
Only now did Luo Chen find the time to observe the other four.
Every one of them was a late Nascent Soul great cultivator!
And all were familiar faces!
Lei Daozi of the Mingyuan Sect and Castellan Lingtian.
Tianduzi of the Tiandu Sect, and Perfected Shenyuan of the Five Elements Divine Sect!
Luo Chen did not know the deeper significance behind this roster, but from where he stood, three from the Mingyuan Sect and three from outside were sufficient to represent the entire Eastern Desolation cultivation world.
Entering negotiations with such a lineup would make the corresponding interests and demands far easier for everyone to accept.
As he observed them, the others sensed his gaze and looked back.
Lei Daozi grinned, a playful glint in his eyes.
Castellan Lingtian wore a solemn expression, looking as though he wanted to speak to Luo Chen but held back.
Tianduzi, by contrast, wore a look of joy and nodded approvingly at Luo Chen, seemingly quite pleased that Luo Chen could participate in such a monumental affair.
Perfected Shenyuan remained cloaked in black robes, his true face hidden, giving no hint of his expression.
Yet before Patriarch Heize, none of them spoke. The journey proceeded in silence, save for the rumbling roar of wind whipped up by their rapid flight.
At the flight speed of a Soul Transformation grandmaster, traversing the distance of three domains took merely an instant.
While their hearts were still stirring, the magic power enveloping them abruptly dispersed.
"We have arrived."
The six descended slowly onto Mount Biyou.
As they touched down, Luo Chen caught sight of an enormous handprint stamped upon a cliff face amid the peaks.
That was something he had left with his own hands during the battle in the Jueling Domain years ago!
*So this is Mount Biyou?*
*It seems I have quite a destiny with this place.*
Just as Luo Chen was feeling the weight of the moment, a demonic wind surged from below, accompanied by a voice that clattered like rolling sabers and spears.
"Heize, you are late!"
The sound waves rolled through, sweeping away the clouds and mist that had swirled about the summit for untold millennia.
Six figures came into view.
The leader wore a Flat-Heaven Crown and robes of white and gold, his countenance bearing a natural, commanding majesty.
Was that Lord Pingshan, who had leveled a million great mountains and brought countless demon tribes under his sway?
Luo Chen felt a tremor run through his entire body; even his divine soul trembled with unease.
It felt as though, before this figure, he might become nothing more than meat in the creature's mouth in the very next moment.
He was not the only one to react this way.
The five Nascent Soul cultivators who had come along all showed similar reactions.
Perfected Shenyuan in particular lost his composure, his black robes billowing violently.
"Hmph, it is you who arrived early!" Patriarch Heize snorted coldly, answering in kind.
With this single retort, the crushing pressure vanished, and the group breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Only then did Luo Chen have the opportunity to scrutinize the other five figures standing behind Lord Pingshan.
With just a single glance, all lingering hope of an easy encounter faded from his mind.
*Every single one is a great demon emperor of the commander rank!*
Chapter 860