Cold and desolate stood Motian Cliff, where torrents cascaded in rushing waterfalls.
A figure in white stood beside a mountain stream, nearly blending into the white froth of the rapids.
Luo Chen wore a pensive expression, the clamor of the outside world completely failing to disturb his inward calm.
The arrival of three Mingyuan Sect cultivators bearing an invitation carried extraordinary significance.
From his current vantage point, many secrets had already come within his reach.
Among the three, Lei Daozi possessed the foremost combat prowess in the Mingyuan Sect beneath its ancestors, while Castellan Lingtian stood an immense chance of becoming the next sect master.
As for Chongming, his status was even more exalted.
At a young age, he had comprehended the true meaning of the water law entirely on his own, an achievement on par with the younger-generation prodigies of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, marking him as an unmistakable seed for the Soul Formation realm.
More importantly, behind Lei Daozi stood Ancestor Yuming, behind Castellan Lingtian was Ancestor Tianyuan, and behind Chongming stood Ancestor Heize, with whom Luo Chen was already acquainted.
For three such figures to call upon Luo Chen at once showed how highly the Mingyuan Sect valued him.
Yet viewed from another perspective, did it not also reflect their wariness of him?
"I brushed it off with the excuse of hiding away to nurse my wounds, but I doubt they fully believe it."
"Just what kind of figure is Qingshuang? Escaping from her grasp is truly unfathomable."
"Add to that the earlier mobilization of Ancestor Tianyuan's avatar... they might have already guessed that I went to Mount Cangwu!"
Luo Chen's brow furrowed slightly.
Yet almost immediately, he shook his head.
So what if they guessed?
Without substantial evidence, the tale was his to spin as he pleased.
Unless, of course, the Mingyuan Sect was willing to discard a talent of his caliber.
Clearly, the Mingyuan Sect was loath to do so. Otherwise, during their conversation in the hall just now, the trio led by Castellan Lingtian would not have suppressed further inquiry into the matter, refraining from puncturing that paper window.
Even so, going to the Mingyuan Sect meant he would likely face no small amount of suspicion.
"Just as well. Let me see whether this Soul Formation sacred land of the Eastern Desolation possesses the breadth of spirit to accommodate me!"
By now, Luo Chen no longer worried about whether his concoction of Transformation Pills for the demons would come to light.
He had already fully demonstrated his worth.
If the Mingyuan Sect could not even tolerate a matter like that, it would simply be too petty.
Even so, before departing, he still needed to secure a few lines of retreat for himself.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
Two sets.
"Husband!"
"Husband!"
Luo Chen turned around to see Sima Huiniang, dressed as a married matron, walking up side by side with the youthful, glamorous Gu Caiyi.
"Husband, are you leaving?" Gu Caiyi asked.
Luo Chen nodded. "The date is set—two months from now. They will come in person to escort me."
"Two months?"
Gu Caiyi murmured the span of time, her face filled with reluctance to part.
Sima Huiniang, however, asked urgently, "Does the Mingyuan Sect truly have a way to resolve the Demon Heart Gu?"
At that question, a peculiar look flashed across Luo Chen's face.
Earlier, barely half a month after Huiniang went down the mountain, word of a method to resolve the Demon Heart Gu had suddenly reached her ears—and that rumor pointed straight toward the Mingyuan Sacred Land!
During their idle chat in the hall, Luo Chen had probed Castellan Lingtian about it.
The other man had spoken without evasion, mentioning that there indeed was a Nascent Soul True Person in the sect who had spent a long time in the Southern Border and possessed deep research into the art of Gu insects.
He had not made any definitive promises, never confirming whether it could truly be resolved, only stating that this person had studied it deeply.
Luo Chen could not help suspecting that the information had been deliberately leaked by the Mingyuan Sect.
After all, both Ancestor Tianyuan's avatar and Castellan Lingtian had seen his son; perhaps they had picked up on something.
First gifting the white rhinoceros horn, and then intentionally releasing such news at this critical juncture—their goal was likely to use Luo Lingxi to keep Luo Chen in check.
So, should he bring Luo Lingxi along to the Mingyuan Sect?
Luo Chen's gaze fell upon the distraught Sima Huiniang, and he gave a slight nod.
Her eyes lit up, and she pleaded, "Husband, could you take us along to the Mingyuan Sect as well?"
"Lingxi may go." Luo Chen's reply brought a flash of delight to Sima Huiniang's heart, but with his very next words, her expression visibly changed. "Not you."
"Why?"
"Not for now. Once I am settled in, it should be fine," Luo Chen said.
Sima Huiniang breathed a sigh of relief.
"During the time I take Lingxi away, Huiniang, you must cultivate diligently. You cannot keep slacking off like this. Only the stronger we become can our child enjoy greater protection. Whether the Mingyuan Sect can truly cure Lingxi remains up in the air; if your realm advances, you might even resolve his troubles without needing anyone else's help."
Luo Chen guided her with gentle, earnest reasoning, prompting Sima Huiniang to nod repeatedly.
Perhaps having found hope, or perhaps finding truth in Luo Chen's words, she did not refuse this time.
Seeing this, Luo Chen offered a gratified smile.
Just as he had said, whether the Mingyuan Sect could cure Luo Lingxi remained uncertain, but taking his son away from Huiniang's side would at least allow her to focus peacefully on cultivation.
Two months would be plenty of time for mother and son to say their farewells.
And as for himself, it was time to put that idea to the test.
...
Three figures departed Motian Cliff, flying at an unhurried pace toward Lingtian Pass.
Discussions concerning Luo Chen had not ceased since their departure.
"Senior Brother, is Luo Chen truly that formidable?" Chongming asked curiously, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "To my eyes, his cultivation realm does not look much higher than mine."
Castellan Lingtian showed a trace of hesitation. "Hard to say. But time and again, this man has displayed astonishing abilities, proving his progress is remarkably swift. Moreover, his record of battle cannot be falsified."
Luo Chen's battle record was indeed too illustrious!
Beneath the sole moniker of Demon-Slaying True Person lay the corpses of one Tier 4 Demon Sovereign after another.
To say nothing of terrifying feats beyond ordinary imagination, such as defeating Qixi, fighting Shenyuan to a standstill, and obliterating Huang Man.
Chongming had spent all these years in deep cultivation within the Mingyuan Sect, and was now merely half a step away from the mid Nascent Soul stage.
"He received a Heavenly Mechanism Pill from Senior Sister Chu Yan. Perhaps, like me, he comprehended the true meaning of a law in advance and gained the ability to fight above his realm. But a Great Cultivator and cultivators like us are separated by a chasm after all. What kind of method could possibly allow him to reach such heights?"
To this, Lei Daozi gave a cold scoff.
"What other method could there be? It must be that mysterious source true fire of his!"
Chongming looked over in curiosity.
Lei Daozi explained, "I once tested my skills against him on Shouyang Mountain. Back then, I held back my full strength, and he showed restraint as well. Yet I was left with an extremely deep impression of his source true fire. Its might far exceeds ordinary law comprehension."
Chongming gasped in astonishment. "Could he have mastered a Tier 5 divine fire?"
"That is a question for Senior Brother Ye," Lei Daozi said, looking toward Castellan Lingtian.
The Castellan nodded, his expression grave. "Master's avatar and I visited the battlefield in the Medicine King Domain. Traces of Tier 5 divine fire indeed lingered there, and Huang Man perished precisely beneath its incineration. Furthermore, that is the primary reason the sect dispatched the three of us together to invite Luo Chen."
Castellan Lingtian shared a decent relationship with Luo Chen, Lei Daozi boasted immense martial prowess, and while Chongming's realm was not yet high, he had mastered the true meaning of the water law, granting him a degree of suppression against the fire-attributed Luo Chen.
If negotiations truly broke down and came to blows, they would hold a virtually guaranteed advantage.
As for why they would consider the possibility of negotiations breaking down when Luo Chen had long since agreed to join the Mingyuan Sect, that tied back inevitably to Luo Chen's connection with Mount Cangwu.
Having been briefed beforehand, Lei Daozi slightly narrowed his eyes.
"He didn't tell the truth!"
Castellan Lingtian took a deep breath. "From the moment he returned to the Eastern Desolation, he hasn't uttered a single honest word."
Chongming chuckled. "No matter. Once he arrives at the Mingyuan Sacred Land and the ancestors have some free time, he will speak the truth. Even if he has ties to Mount Cangwu, it hardly matters. As a dignified sacred land, do we lack even that much magnanimity? Think of Senior Sister Chu Yan—did she not also hail from our Mingyuan Sect, yet in that Tianyuan Dao Sect..."
"Chongming!" Lei Daozi glared sharply at him.
Chongming merely shrugged, nonchalant.
Castellan Lingtian did not join in the conversation this time, for their opinions did not matter.
When the time came, how Luo Chen would be treated ultimately depended on the will of the three ancestors.
For now, their task was merely to escort Luo Chen back.
And as far as things stood, it was proceeding very smoothly.
...
Atop the summit of Motian Cliff.
In the place where spiritual qi was at its richest and purest, two figures sat facing each other.
One was the white-robed Luo Chen; the other was the black-robed Jin San.
That black-robed Jin San was the Nascent Soul puppet Luo Chen had crafted years ago using Jinling's corpse.
Over these years, it had remained hidden inside a spirit node, nourished to the point where it was finally fit for use.
At this moment, Luo Chen's entire body trembled, the muscles of his face twitching continuously.
Across his features, golden light flickered in and out of sight.
The golden radiance was not dense—in fact, it seemed on the verge of dispersing at any moment.
Yet as a rich burst of vitality poured forth from Luo Chen's purple palace, the golden glow turned resilient and firm.
Suddenly!
"Sever!"
With a low cry, Luo Chen drew in all his qi and blood, submerging his divine soul.
At the center of his forehead, a droplet-shaped pattern instantly emerged, seeking to illuminate and expose his presence.
As if sensing it, the puppet Jin San opposite him snapped its eyes open. Qi flowed across its body, and an aura uniquely belonging to Luo Chen radiated outward.
Opening its mouth in a gentle inhale, the puppet drew the droplet forth; floating weightlessly through the air, it drifted over and landed between Jin San's brows.
Yet upon settling, the droplet pattern flashed violently, showing every sign of breaking free from the puppet and returning to Luo Chen.
Seeing this, Luo Chen remained calm. Casting one hand seal after another, he infused strands of his own aura into the puppet until the droplet pattern gradually stabilized.
When the droplet fully submerged beneath the puppet's brow, Luo Chen finally let out a long breath, a smile surfacing on his face.
"This molting technique from the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture is truly useful."
Nirvana, directed inward, was the ultimate pursuit of cultivation; directed outward, it was a method of resurrection from death.
Yet what cultivator was eager to court mortal peril at every turn?
Thus, the scripture contained a molting technique derived from the principles of nirvana.
It was precisely this technique, aided by the Nirvana Holy Fire, that had enabled Luo Chen to peel away the divine ability, Water of the Celestial One, which Ancestor Heize had implanted on him bit by bit.
Peeling off this divine ability—ostensibly meant for protection, but in truth a form of surveillance—had been Luo Chen's intention all along.
However, the methods he had previously envisioned were too harsh and would easily inflict severe damage on his foundational vitality.
By comparison, the cost of the molting technique was far smaller.
Though easy to describe, the conditions required were exacting in the extreme.
First, one needed a divine ability whose grade was not inferior to that of a Soul Formation grandmaster, such as the Nirvana Holy Fire.
Second, one needed an avatar or clone, preferably one intricately linked to the cultivator themself.
Lastly, the cultivator's divine soul had to be exceptionally powerful; otherwise, severing and peeling away the divine ability was simply impossible.
These three conditions were virtually out of reach for ordinary cultivators. Luo Chen had only met the prerequisites after returning to Motian Cliff.
Furthermore, during the process, he had drawn inspiration from the puppet death-substitute method Han Zhan had once used, which had ultimately brought the effort to fruition.
"With this, I have no more misgivings."
"I can make that journey to the Mingyuan Sacred Land after all!"
Luo Chen rose composedly. Meeting his gaze, the puppet opposite stepped toward him; with a flash of light, it merged into his body.
Faintly, the droplet pattern resurfaced between Luo Chen's brows.
Even if Ancestor Heize stood before him in person, he would only perceive that his divine ability still rested upon Luo Chen, never dreaming that Luo Chen had already slipped from his grasp.
Yet that was still not enough.
Considering that he had to bring his son along on this journey, Luo Chen had to prepare foolproof measures.
Thump!
He stamped his foot, sending an invisible ripple into the depths of the earth.
Moments later, Black King burrowed out from underground.
"You come along with me as well!"
Black King had already guessed their destination, feeling both a touch of unease and a swell of anticipation.
Last time Luo Chen went to the Tianyuan Dao Sect, he had not taken Black King with him.
This time, going to the Mingyuan Sect, it was to accompany him.
What kind of differences, after all, lay between a sacred land and an ordinary immortal cultivation sect?
...
Two months passed, arriving just as Luo Chen descended the mountain.
On the agreed-upon day, an incomparably magnificent flying boat arrived in the Luotian Domain.
Pennants fluttered atop it amidst rows of standing cultivators.
Every cultivator wore an expression of haughty pride, and every single one possessed Golden Core cultivation.
Such a lineup was simply beyond the means of any ordinary Nascent Soul upper sect.
To say nothing of the fact that the renowned Castellan Lingtian was among them.
Many cultivators throughout the Luotian Domain who had caught wind of the news rushed over to witness the spectacle.
As for the disciples of the Luotian Sect, they had long since assembled, waiting at the foot of Motian Cliff.
When Luo Chen held young Luo Lingxi's hand and drifted down from the mountain, several hundred Luotian cultivators looked up at him with reverent respect, their eyes filled with both reluctance to part and pride.
To ordinary cultivators, joining a sacred land was an immense honor.
Even the likes of Shenyuan and Hehuan in past years had once contemplated going to the Mingyuan Sacred Land for advanced cultivation to make a breakthrough into the Soul Formation realm.
Though Luo Chen's departure might be fraught with hidden undertones, in their eyes, he was soaring to the highest branch.
"Castellan, thank you for the trouble," Luo Chen said, standing outside the flying boat as he addressed Castellan Lingtian.
Castellan Lingtian smiled. "Hardly any trouble at all. I was due to return and report back regardless. Coming to receive you is merely traveling together along the way."
Luo Chen nodded and cast his gaze downward.
Familiar faces, pairs of eyes carrying worry, reluctance to part, or silent blessings—all reflected in his sight.
Along his path of cultivation, they had helped him immensely.
In the end, he had also secured a haven for them to cultivate and reside.
Setting off for Mingyuan, perhaps their karmic ties would end here.
There was no need for further sentimental farewells.
"Let us go."
Taking his son by the hand, Luo Chen stepped aboard the magnificent flying boat.
At Castellan Lingtian's command, the flying boat blazed with spiritual brilliance, slowly setting into motion before flying resolutely toward Lingtian Pass at an unhurried speed.
Behind the vessel, chorus after chorus of unified cries echoed in sendoff:
"Respectfully seeing off the Supreme Elder!"
Chapter 892