The Alchemy Grandmaster had an heir!
Luo Chen, the supreme powerhouse and Supreme Elder of the Luotian Sect, had a successor!
At some point, the news had spread to every corner of the sect.
For a time, disciples rushed about sharing the tidings in joyous celebration. Even neighboring Golden Core factions caught wind of it and made a point of dispatching envoys with lavish gifts.
To be fair, such an intense reaction was rather peculiar in the cultivation world. Cultivators generally prized partaking of wind and dew, remaining tranquil and detached, severing worldly ties whenever possible. For a mere bloodline descendant, there was scarcely any reason to mobilize in such grand fashion.
Yet on closer examination, it was entirely logical.
Both sects and cultivation clans were human organizational frameworks, little different from mortal dynasties and empires aside from possessing far greater martial might.
And for a mortal dynasty, no matter how vigorous and capable its ruler might be, his dependents always desperately hoped he would produce a successor.
Cultivation sects were comparatively less urgent in this regard.
Yet the Luotian Sect was an exception!
As a newly risen Nascent Soul upper sect, the influence Luo Chen exerted over it was simply too immense.
It could truly be said that without Luo Chen, there would be no Luotian Sect.
Moreover, many people knew he was soon to depart for the Mingyuan Sect to take charge of the Hall of Alchemy Saints.
Even though he was leaving behind a host of powerhouses, a vast expanse of territory, and a rich, profound legacy, he was nonetheless going to leave.
Once he was gone, would he ever return?
Perhaps he would; perhaps he would not.
Furthermore, once he left, how would the sect's power structure be divided?
Would they follow the two wives? Or Sect Master Li Yingzhang? Or perhaps Nascent Soul Elder Lingfengzi and Wang Yuan, whose strength rivaled that of a Nascent Soul powerhouse?
No one dared ask Luo Chen these questions, and Luo Chen had never initiated a discussion about them.
Yet now, with Sima Huiniang's pregnancy, all those questions seemed to find their singular answer!
The Luotian Supreme Elder had an heir!
The father was a top powerhouse whose renown shook the Eastern Desolation—forming his core at a hundred and conceiving his Nascent Soul at two hundred, boasting peerless talent.
Though the mother's cultivation realm was modest, she was the foundational Sect Master of the Luotian Sect, steering it from frailty to strength. Whether in intellect or administrative tact, she had earned the enduring respect and trust of the entire sect.
A child born of such a union, whether son or daughter, was bound to be extraordinary!
Even taking ten thousand steps back, if the child failed to inherit every single virtue of both parents, inheriting merely a sliver of merit from either side would—with the father's backing—guarantee future achievements that were far from negligible.
So long as this bloodline descendant remained in the Luotian Sect, it would be impossible for Luo Chen to turn a blind eye to the sect after joining the Mingyuan Sect.
The internal power structure of the Luotian Sect now had an anchor.
Whether it was the first wife or the second wife, Sect Master Li or the Nascent Soul elders, all of them would serve merely as a transitional phase.
Ultimate authority would eventually pass to this favored child of heaven.
The Luotian Sect's future was no longer clouded in chaos and uncertainty; it had a clear, defined path.
This was why the cultivators of the Luotian Sect rejoiced so deeply upon hearing the news.
Some even felt that for this child to appear right after the sect anchored its foundation in Motian and established its mountain gate meant it was born to carry heaven's mandate—a chosen child of destiny!
The only pity was that their wishes to visit Sima Huiniang were turned away, as she was resting atop Motian Cliff to nurture the unborn child in quiet seclusion.
Even so, whenever Luotian cultivators passed below Motian Cliff, their eyes brimmed with renewed confidence as they looked up toward the peak.
With an heir to the Supreme Elder, the Luotian Sect had a bright tomorrow!
***
Yet at that very moment, atop the heights of Motian Cliff, the mood was devoid of celebration, draped instead in chilling, solemn severity.
Yao Mingyue knelt on the ground with her head lowered, not daring to breathe aloud.
Before her, the young man stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing silently into the far distance.
A bird flew toward the precipice, yet before it could draw near, it plummeted inexplicably from the sky.
Watching the bird fall, Luo Chen spoke calmly.
"Was it you who leaked the news of your master's pregnancy?"
Confronted with that even question, Yao Mingyue's first instinct was to offer an excuse.
She could say the physician who took Sima Huiniang's pulse had let it slip by accident.
She could say Sima Huiniang herself had disclosed it.
She could even feign utter ignorance.
Yet beneath Luo Chen's calm tone, she found herself incapable of denying it.
"It was me."
"Without my permission, where did you find such nerve?"
"This disciple felt... the sect members' minds were growing unsettled recently. It seemed as though they had lost their pillar because you are preparing to depart, Grandmaster, so I used this news to bolster morale."
"Oh?!"
A cold snort made Yao Mingyue shudder to her core, as though a storm of heavenly thunder were about to strike her head.
She pressed her forehead directly into the dirt, stammering in terror, "This disciple was worried that you..."
"Enough!"
Luo Chen cut her off. Some words, once uttered aloud, meant tearing down all pretense of courtesy, and he would not be able to let them slide without reaction.
Kept locked in the heart until the dust settled, they would become insignificant anyway.
Yao Mingyue was, after all, someone who had rendered meritorious service to the sect.
Watching a figure hurrying toward them from below the mountain, Luo Chen said indifferently, "Though your foundation is solid, it has only been a few years since you formed your core; your realm is not yet fully stable. A hundred li from here lies a quiet, secluded hill where the spirit qi is abundant. Go there and enter closed-door seclusion for ten years to properly solidify your Golden Core realm!"
With that, Luo Chen turned to descend the peak.
Passing by Yao Mingyue, he shook his head.
"Sometimes, good intentions produce terrible outcomes."
With those parting words, he swept his sleeves and walked away.
Yao Mingyue knelt respectfully where she was, waiting a long while before daring to slowly raise her head.
Her face was deathly pale, sweat beading at her temples.
She stood up and watched Luo Chen's receding figure. Biting her lip, her expression was tangled beyond measure.
She understood that the Supreme Elder had raised his hand high only to bring it down gently, letting her off easy.
She also knew that her standing was insignificant and that she had no business meddling in the Supreme Elder's domestic affairs. But her master's kindness toward her was as heavy as a mountain; how could she bear to watch her master suffer in the future?
*Mingyue has done all she can. I only hope the greater good of the sect can sway the Supreme Elder's mind!*
Yao Mingyue sighed softly, turning away with a desolate heart toward that remote, tranquil retreat a hundred li off.
***
"Is she really pregnant?"
Gu Caiyi, having rushed back, asked urgently the moment Luo Chen entered the bedchamber.
"Yes, two months along," Luo Chen answered with a smile.
Gu Caiyi found it hard to believe.
She knew Sima Huiniang had always wanted a child.
She understood why, too. Sima Huiniang had halted her cultivation over the years and handed administrative duties over to Li Yingzhang and the others. Unable to offer much help to Luo Chen since she was not a Nascent Soul cultivator, she had grown somewhat restless.
A child would allow her to redirect her focus.
Yet Luo Chen was a Nascent Soul True Person, and Sima Huiniang was at the Golden Core stage. In the eyes of ordinary people, both were high-tier cultivators.
How could conceiving be as simple as snapping one's fingers?
As if reading her bewilderment, Luo Chen chuckled softly. "Are you underestimating your husband? Have you forgotten what trade I built my foundation on during the Qi Refinement stage?"
Gu Caiyi froze, instinctively recalling the past.
The Myriad Wonders Pill.
It was designed to solidify vitality, lock yang energy, and prevent the leakage of vital essence, crafted specifically for low-tier cultivators without grand ambitions who indulged in worldly pleasures.
Her husband was a Grandmaster of Alchemy. If he understood the mechanics behind suppressing it, how difficult could it be to reverse the process and conceive a pearl-like embryonic descendant?
Moreover, based on her observations back in the Tianxiang Brothel, her husband's prowess in bed was peerless. She had often found it difficult to endure his vigor alone, which was why she had occasionally consented to their ménage à trois with Huiniang.
Neither she nor Sima Huiniang had conceived previously simply because Luo Chen had exercised deliberate restraint, unwilling to burden themselves with dependents amidst volatile times.
Now that the situation was stable and her husband possessed towering cultivation and formidable strength capable of sheltering all under his wing, having an heir seemed only natural.
Even after reasoning through it all, Gu Caiyi still found it rather sudden.
"But..."
"There are no 'buts.' Or could it be that Caiyi thinks I am playing favorites? If you want a child, your husband certainly will not be stingy."
Gu Caiyi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she shot Luo Chen an exasperated glare.
"For a Golden Core cultivator, bearing a child takes a toll on one's cultivation. I still intend to condense a Nascent Soul in the future! I won't waste more words on you—I'm going to see her!"
Gu Caiyi waved her hand dismissively and made her way toward Sima Huiniang's chambers.
Reaching the doorway, she hesitated briefly before stepping inside.
A short while later, she emerged looking puzzled.
"Didn't you say she was only two months along? Why is she so exhausted and drowsy? Does pregnancy affect a Golden Core cultivator this severely?"
Standing outside the door, Luo Chen explained with a smile, "For an ordinary cultivator, pregnancy naturally wouldn't exert such a toll. But you know Huiniang's condition well from past years. To prevent any lingering ailments after childbirth, I deliberately arranged a regimen to nurture the fetus and soothe her spirit."
Gu Caiyi had an epiphany; she had completely forgotten about that.
She had witnessed Sima Huiniang's perilous state in earlier years firsthand; she had nearly lost her life.
Now that she was pregnant, taking extra care to recuperate was indeed necessary.
"Never mind, she is fast asleep. I'll visit her again when she wakes. There are still sect affairs to attend to, and Li Yingzhang can't manage alone. I should lend a hand, lest people claim the Supreme Elder's family sits high above and ignores their duties."
Gu Caiyi had arrived in haste and departed in haste.
Though she carried herself briskly, a trace of jealousy lingered in her eyes.
She had clearly arrived first, yet at every turn thereafter, Sima Huiniang had stayed one step ahead.
First to help Luo Chen manage the Luotian Sect, first to achieve Foundation Establishment, first to form a Golden Core, first to formalize their relationship with Luo Chen, and now the first to carry his child.
It was as if lagging behind by one step had left her trailing at every stride.
Yet Gu Caiyi understood her own advantage: she could still advance in cultivation!
*If mutual devotion endures through the years, what need is there to cling to every dawn and dusk?* As long as she could attain the Nascent Soul realm and gain a vast increase in lifespan, she would have ample time to accompany her husband through the long future.
Gu Caiyi took her leave.
Luo Chen did not escort her out, stepping instead into Sima Huiniang's chambers.
He walked slowly to the bedside and looked down at the woman smiling faintly in her slumber, a gentle smile gracing his own eyes.
"As long as you endure the next half-year or so, you will be able to cultivate normally again."
"As for this child..."
The warmth in Luo Chen's eyes gradually faded as he formed a hand incantation.
Centering upon Sima Huiniang, streaks of array light illuminated the chamber, converging at last over her flat lower abdomen.
Wisps of uncanny, intricate floral markings slowly took shape, poised on the verge of blooming.
The Gestation Spirit Flower Array!
This was the solution Perfected Tianshan had imparted to him.
Using bloodline transference, the Demonic Heart Gu could be channeled into the infant embryo, step by step severing the parasite's bond with Sima Huiniang's soul.
A rank three Demonic Heart Gu already possessed instinctive awareness and would ordinarily resist having that connection severed.
Yet bound by bloodline, with mother and child sharing one flesh and heart, its resistance would be vastly reduced.
With the guidance of the Gestation Spirit Flower Array, the Demonic Heart Gu would ultimately transfer its parasitism entirely onto the unborn child.
When the spiritual flower blossomed and the melon fell from the vine upon maturity, Sima Huiniang would be entirely freed.
As for the child colonized by the Demonic Heart Gu?
Luo Chen shook his head, waving his hand to dissipate the array. He took out a rank three spirit-nourishing medicinal pill, fed it to Sima Huiniang, and then walked out.
He did not venture far from the bedchamber, remaining in the main hall to continue his previous work.
He had mostly finished organizing the Luotian Sect's legacy techniques.
Now, he was sorting through miscellaneous texts covering lore of the cultivation world and various cultivation arts.
Future disciples of the Luotian Sect would inevitably need these materials.
Luo Chen even planned to compile a travelogue on the Northern Sea and Central Plains based on his own experiences.
From his storage ring, he retrieved a stack of books.
Most were volumes he had perused before and knew well.
Yet when his fingers brushed against a yellowed beast-hide tome, he paused.
"*Tongyou Ji*?"
Luo Chen stared blankly for a moment. This was a manual of weiqi classics that Fu Qinglan had gifted him when he departed the Central Plains.
Through all these years, he seemed never to have flipped through it.
Compared to the Thousand Clouds Myriad Transformations Sword Scripture and the formation manual *Stone Chamber Immortal Secrets* gifted by the Fu Clan, he had possessed zero interest in a book on chess.
"I must watch over Huiniang in the days ahead. Since I have time to spare, I might as well give it a look."
Luo Chen smiled faintly and opened the first page of *Tongyou Ji*.
"There are nine ranks in weiqi: the first is Spirit Entering; the second is Sitting in Clarity; the third is Concrete Comprehension; the fourth is Penetrating the Profound; the fifth is Employing Wisdom; the sixth is Minor Skill; the seventh is Contending Might; the eighth is Seeming Folly; the ninth is Preserving Clumsiness..."
***
Time flowed slowly by.
Days spent in waiting always seemed arduous to endure.
Yet Luo Chen remained unhurried, dwelling in solitude upon Motian Cliff, undisturbed by the world outside.
Even when Castellan Lingtian from the Mingyuan Sect personally visited the Luotian Sect to inquire when Luo Chen would depart, Luo Chen answered truthfully, stating that he still required some time before journeying to the Mingyuan Sacred Land.
Castellan Lingtian inquired into the circumstances and did not press him.
The facts spoke for themselves: the Luotian Sect was rebuilding amid the ruins and truly required Luo Chen's presence to oversee things for a time.
Moreover, his Dao companion was carrying a child; there was no reason to compel an expectant father to embark on an immediate distant journey.
To offer his congratulations, Castellan Lingtian even presented a lavish gift.
It proved a pleasant surprise.
Three months later.
Sima Huiniang's pregnancy showed prominently, her belly rounding.
Though increasingly drowsy, she occasionally rose to take a walk.
Whenever she came across Luo Chen sitting silently in the hall studying the chess manual, they would share a conversation.
"Husband, why have you been so obsessed with this weiqi classic lately?"
"Merely passing the time."
"These nine endgame layouts—can you solve them?"
"I would like to, but I have not yet grasped the fundamentals. The time is not ripe."
"I hear the opening campaign on the Nine Spirits Sect's side isn't going very smoothly?"
"Did Caiyi tell you? It truly hasn't been smooth. No one expected the two Demon Emperors under Commander Ox-Ghost to double back; Jiuling Yuanjun has been quite vexed of late."
"Are there any major events occurring in the sect? I often see flying lights coming and going."
"Li Yingzhang plans to recruit a batch of youths with clean backgrounds from the outside to carry on the Luotian Sect's legacy."
"Recruiting disciples? That is wonderful. In the future, our child will have many senior brothers and sisters."
"Huiniang truly thinks far ahead. Go and rest now; you have exerted yourself enough today."
"Husband, have you thought about what our child should be named?"
***
Ten months later.
Atop Motian Cliff, array radiance soared toward the heavens.
Chapter 876