Today's Shangyou Waste City had long lost its former splendor as the gateway to a sacred land.
The colossal palm print that had descended from the heavens had forcefully cleaved the immense immortal city into seven distinct regions.
The massive crater at the center churned with molten lava day and night, known to all as the "Sky Fire Basin."
The remaining six relatively intact regions had become home to a vast multitude of rogue cultivators who settled and cultivated there.
While some lamented the immortal city's collapse, the rogue cultivators living here rejoiced.
Had the Mingyuan Sect not fallen, where else could they have found such a treasured land for cultivation?
Led by Old Monster Ge, a late Gold Core grand cultivator who rallied a host of fellow Gold Core cultivators to clear the blocked spirit veins, they gradually restored some semblance of Shangyou Immortal City's former vitality.
The strong gathered, dividing the territories and each claiming dominion over their own corner.
On this day.
A cultivator with a ruddy, glowing complexion stood quietly waiting outside a misty formation.
After a long while, the mist parted, and Chu Mo looked at his visitor in surprise.
"Fellow Daoist Feng, what brings you to my place today?"
Feng Yinuo gave a hearty laugh and shook the frost-chilled gourd in his hand.
"Didn't I just happen to come across a bottle of Subing Wine? You and I are the only true gentlemen of the cup around here, so naturally, I had to share it with you. Besides, you helped me repel my mortal enemy last time, and I've been pondering how to repay you ever since. I figured you wouldn't turn down a bottle of good wine."
A look of delight surfaced on Chu Mo's face. Rubbing his hands together, he asked, "Could it be the Subing Wine brewed by the Dieyun Sect back in the day?"
Feng Yinuo smiled smugly. "Indeed! Ever since the Dieyun Sect fell, all sorts of popular spiritual wines have grown scarcer on the market, especially this Subing Wine. It cost me an immense amount of effort to dig up this gourd in the black market."
With that, he gestured inside with a nod.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
Chu Mo chuckled. "Please come in, please come in!"
Had Feng Yinuo brought anything else as compensation, Chu Mo might have declined; after all, his help back then had merely been an effortless favor.
Yet for an inveterate drinker like him, Subing Wine—renowned as a pseudo-fourth-tier brew—was absolute perfection.
Even before his own small clan was wiped out all those years ago, he couldn't have enjoyed more than a few cups in an entire year.
Since that was the case, why refuse?
The two entered the cave dwelling and began drinking cup for cup to their hearts' content.
As they drank, they chatted freely about all manner of topics.
"Back then, your Chu family was quite the prominent clan in the Tianji Chan Domain. How did it just vanish overnight?"
"When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer!"
"But I heard that when the demon kings attacked the Tiandu Sect, they didn't lay a finger on the Tianji Chan Domain, did they?"
"Sigh, the calamity wasn't brought about by those demon kings. It was the wicked karma left behind by that old bald donkey, Monk Huiping!"
"You mean... the Demon Subduing Pagoda?"
"Exactly. Monk Huiping died in the Million Mountains, leaving no one to oversee the Demon Subduing Pagoda. After so many years, the seal weakened, and the heretical demons trapped inside finally broke out. Brother Feng, just imagine the sheer rancor they harbored after being suppressed for so long. The moment they got out, they launched a merciless slaughter. If I hadn't been fighting at Lingtian Pass back then, I probably would have died at home too. I only pity my kinsmen!"
"Who isn't in the same boat? I once established a small sect of my own, calling myself a founding patriarch—what grand glory that was. Now my mountain gate is gone, and I've become one of the rogue cultivators I used to disdain most."
The human-demon war, which had dragged on for nearly two centuries, had wrought catastrophic consequences.
It had utterly overturned the order that had kept the Eastern Desolation stable for three millennia.
Even though several well-known Nascent Soul upper sects still stood tall, countless small sects and clans had been reduced to ashes.
Could the many Gold Core rogue cultivators gathered in this Shangyou Waste City truly be considered ordinary rogue cultivators?
Hardly!
Take the most formidable of them, Old Monster Ge. Rumor had it that he had once been a true disciple of a Nascent Soul upper sect, with genuine hopes of forming a Nascent Soul!
Reminiscing about the past, both men sighed with poignant melancholy.
Chu Mo tapped the table. "Why dwell on such sorrowful memories? Drink, drink!"
Feng Yinuo burst into hearty laughter. "Right! Today we talk only of pleasure and leave heartaches behind. We're free and unfettered now. Though we may have today with no guarantee of tomorrow, we no longer bear the burdens of family and sect. We finally don't need to ration our fine wine!"
Amid boisterous laughter, the two drank with even greater relish.
Yet gradually, Chu Mo felt something amiss.
"Brother Feng, this Subing Wine has too much of a kick. Why am I feeling a chill all over?"
Feng Yinuo also felt the biting frost, but he paid it no heed. "Isn't it nice to cool down a bit? With the Sky Fire Basin's influence, Shangyou Waste City is sweltering day in and day out. Perhaps this Subing Wine has aged so long that its miraculous properties have grown this potent!"
Chu Mo murmured in agreement, finding the explanation sensible enough.
Yet a moment later, he finally realized something was wrong.
"It's not in our stomachs—it's outside!"
He instantly released his divine sense to examine the surroundings.
Startled, Feng Yinuo followed suit.
Soon, they located the source of the chilling frost.
Atop a jagged, broken mountain peak, a vast amount of spiritual qi was rapidly converging, radiating a terrifying coldness outward.
Wherever the spiritual qi passed, frost congealed, turning the surroundings into midwinter.
Even the searing heat rolling off the Sky Fire Basin was temporarily suppressed.
Witnessing this scene, the two exchanged glances and swallowed hard.
"Rousing the heaven-and-earth spiritual qi and giving birth to an anomaly... someone is breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage!"
"Could that place belong to Old Monster Ge?"
"No, though Old Monster Ge mainly cultivates water-attribute methods, a breakthrough to Nascent Soul by a cultivator with ordinary five-element spiritual roots wouldn't summon such a peculiar phenomenon. Could it be someone else?"
Ceasing their speculation, the two left their cave dwelling and found a vantage point to observe from afar.
Their reaction was among the slower ones.
Before them, throughout Shangyou Waste City, numerous Gold Core cultivators had already detected the anomaly.
One after another, they gazed up at the sky above Old Monster Ge's cultivation grounds.
As immense quantities of spiritual qi gathered, ominous calamity clouds coalesced, and wisps of silver-white lightning began flickering relentlessly through the cloud layers.
Spiritual qi gathered; anomalies arose.
Tribulation clouds emerged; heavenly thunder arrived.
This was unmistakably the great tribulation of a Gold Core cultivator breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage!
And for this sight to unfold within Shangyou Waste City, everyone understood full well what it signified.
It meant that a fellow rogue cultivator had fused their three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, finally taking the crucial final step.
Would they succeed?
They hoped the person braving the tribulation would succeed, for that would prove that even rogue cultivators had a path toward the Great Dao!
Yet as the thunderclouds grew denser and the silver-white arcs of lightning flashed with mounting frenzy, a heavy weight settled over everyone's heart.
"This is no ordinary thunder tribulation!"
"With such immense scale, it's far more terrifying than the tribulation of the chosen prodigy I saw last time. Just how profound is this person's foundation?"
"Are they truly a rogue cultivator?"
Amid the chatter, Old Monster Ge, one of the central figures involved, was currently standing respectfully and cautiously to the side.
His gaze lingered repeatedly between the woman lying asleep in the ice coffin with a pill in her mouth and the young man sitting cross-legged nearby.
The terrifying presence was not the woman undergoing the tribulation.
It was the young man assisting her!
Just what kind of profound ability was required to cause a slumbering female cultivator to draw down a thunder tribulation?
Especially the medicinal pill resting in her mouth—if he wasn't mistaken, it was likely a medium-grade Nascent Soul Formation Pill!
Nascent Soul Formation Pills were already exceedingly rare under heaven. Even in the Nascent Soul upper sect Old Monster Ge once belonged to, they had kept only a precious few stockpiled as foundational treasures of the sect.
And a medium-grade Nascent Soul Formation Pill?
Old Monster Ge couldn't imagine anyone in this world capable of concocting one.
No!
Perhaps there was one.
Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen!
The moment he thought of that legendary figure and his glorious past battle achievements, Old Monster Ge could not help holding his breath.
If the person before him truly was that man, how should he conduct himself thereafter?
Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.
Inside the ice coffin, the woman's eyelashes fluttered lightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Within those beautiful eyes lay countless complex emotions wrought by the vicissitudes of time.
Old Monster Ge's presence didn't register in her sight at all; she saw only the young man manipulating the precious mirror.
With a soft gulp, the Nascent Soul Formation Pill was completely refined.
The surrounding spiritual qi gathered at an even faster pace, and the tribulation clouds in the sky grew so dense that they seemed about to crush Shangyou Waste City completely.
The woman moved her mouth stiffly, finally uttering a soft remark.
"I have truly troubled you."
Luo Chen smiled faintly and withdrew the Dust-Karma Immortal Mirror shielding Canglong, tucking it away.
He then pointed toward the exterior. "An even bigger trouble awaits outside. Senior Sister must be careful in a moment."
Canglong slowly rose from the ice coffin, glanced outside, and nodded to Luo Chen.
"I shall do my utmost!"
She then drifted upward, breaking past the cave dwelling's formation restrictions and ascending into the sky.
Not only that, but a pagoda and a flying sword by her side followed her up as well.
The pagoda had nine tiers, appearing half-new and half-old; it was the Moonlight Ice Fort, the Ice Fort's upper-grade sect-protecting treasure that Luo Chen had helped repair. The Ice Fort's very name originated from it.
The flying sword was elegantly shaped, with a Canglong Pearl embedded where the hilt met the blade—it was the natal magical treasure of the Ice Fort's founding ancestor. Even Fairy Canglong's Daoist name had been derived from it.
At this moment, as Canglong faced her tribulation, these two protective treasures and her own strength were all she could rely on.
Could she succeed?
Even Canglong herself harbored little confidence.
This was because the current thunder tribulation vastly exceeded the one she had experienced before.
Part of the reason was that a second tribulation was inherently more difficult, but Luo Chen's assistance was also a factor.
Especially the latter!
That was the primary cause behind drawing down such a horrific thunder tribulation!
Yet Canglong showed no hesitation!
Having experienced that centuries-long dream inside the Dust-Karma Immortal Mirror, she understood far too much.
Without an indomitable spirit, without the determination to find life through death, how could this heaven and earth ever allow one to become a "true human"?
Moreover, the gaze watching over her from behind granted her absolute confidence.
She believed that when she could hold on no longer, he would step in.
Because this thunder tribulation was not hers alone.
"I shall do my utmost!"
Her face still slightly pale, the woman charged toward the thunder tribulation.
Luo Chen, looking entirely at ease, did not let his guard down completely.
With a flick of his hand, a massive stone suddenly materialized and hovered in midair.
Opening his mouth, he exhaled a wisp of green-and-white flame that surged out like a fiery serpent and began scorching the great stone.
Though the flame was small, its temperature was unimaginably high.
In just a short moment, the golden stone began to melt, dripping into threads of golden liquid.
Like mercury, it flowed slowly through the air.
Watching this, Old Monster Ge couldn't help swallowing hard.
Gengjin!
And it was the highest grade of Gengjin—Nine Yang Gengjin!
What was more, such an enormous chunk!
If this item alone appeared in the world, who knew how many cultivators would fight tooth and nail over it, stirring up a storm of blood.
Yet at this moment, he dared not harbor the slightest hint of greed.
Because that piece of Gengjin was being smelted into liquid bit by bit by terrifying true fire.
Legend had it that Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen had once engaged in a life-and-death battle against Huang Man, son of the ancient demon Di Tian, in the Medicine King Domain!
That battle had ended only when Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen wielded a mysterious, formidable flame to incinerate the ancient demon's son to ashes.
What kind of mighty flame could incinerate a Great Demon King?
Perhaps only this green-and-white flame before him, capable of melting gold and forging iron!
Luo Chen glanced at him and said indifferently, "Have you guessed my identity?"
Without hesitation, Old Monster Ge dropped to one knee with a thud.
"Former true disciple of the Ancient Mist Isle, Ge Wangji, pays respects to Senior Alchemy Grandmaster!"
"Ancient Mist Isle?" The corners of Luo Chen's lips curved slightly. "So you are the descendant of an old acquaintance? What is your relation to Xiao Shiniang?"
"She was my master!"
"I recall that Daoist Xiao fell during the battle of Lingtian Pass. Since you are her disciple, why didn't you rebuild the sect after your revered master perished, instead of coming to this ruined city to become an unnamed rogue cultivator?"
"Junior cultivates alone in constant fear and trembling, so how could I speak of restoring the sect's former glory? Moreover, the Eastern Desolation cultivation world today is controlled and subjugated by the Tianyuan Dao Sect, and another clash with the demons appears imminent. Under such a grand tide, even if I rebuilt the Ancient Mist Isle, I would be nothing more than cannon fodder. Since that is the case, it is better to remain a rogue cultivator—free, unfettered, and beyond control."
Hearing this answer, Luo Chen could not help sighing softly.
Rogue cultivators enjoyed freedom, yet the hardships they bore were known only to themselves.
Ge Wangji was a fitting name.
Amid weapons and conflict, he chose to forget worldly schemes, seeking natural non-action and transcendence from the mortal sphere.
"Borrowing your cave dwelling to undergo tribulation today is also a stroke of fate."
"However, my identity is sensitive, and it is best not exposed. Furthermore, after today, this cave dwelling will likely not survive, leaving you with no place to cultivate."
"Therefore, I give you two choices. First, join my Luotian Sect as a guest elder. Second..."
Without hesitation, Ge Wangji dropped fully to his knees and kowtowed to Luo Chen.
"Junior chooses the first!"
He didn't even wait to hear the second choice.
Luo Chen burst into laughter. How could a mere Gold Core cultivator speak of transcending the mundane?
This Ge Wangji was indeed tactful and shrewd.
Of course, Luo Chen's actions did carry a slight hint of bullying the weak with overwhelming might.
With a wave of his hand, a jade bottle landed before Ge Wangji.
"Seeing you stare so intently at that Nascent Soul Formation Pill, you must be nearing your cultivation bottleneck. Consider this the first salary for a guest elder of the Luotian Sect!"
Taking the jade bottle, Ge Wangji's heart pounded wildly.
Though he claimed he did not wish to sink into worldly affairs or fight with others, had he never yearned for the wonderful days of having a powerful force sheltering him, allowing him to focus solely on his cultivation?
The Alchemy Grandmaster was truly generous!
At that moment, the tribulation outside was taking a perilous turn.
If a cultivator progressed smoothly throughout life, they would experience the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation—three tribulations in total, each consisting of three rounds.
Canglong had already weathered the first two rounds, yet the third round held back for a long time, merely gathering power.
Amid the agonizing wait, Canglong panted continuously, her heart sinking deeper and deeper.
The first two rounds alone had completely surpassed the full three rounds she had endured in the past.
She could hardly imagine how terrifying the final round would be.
Bolts of lightning as thick as water buckets flashed through the clouds, gradually revealing their forms.
Nine in total!
Canglong gasped, and the onlookers nearby erupted into an uproar.
How could there be such a monstrous thunder tribulation?
Having brewed for so long, the heavenly retribution gave no time to react.
Nine bolts of lightning crashed downward in unison.
At that exact moment.
A figure appeared abruptly, blocking Canglong from the front.
His five fingers splayed and then clenched into a fist.
Instantly, he threw a punch!
*Boom!*
The resounding blast made countless minds buzz, while the endlessly disintegrating flashes of lightning stung their eyes.
Before Canglong's shocked gaze, Luo Chen stood bathed in the torrential thunder and lightning. Five sword pills floated lightly from his body, enveloped by a vast quantity of melted Nine Yang Gengjin liquid, and shot straight into the thunderclouds.
Chapter 926