Collecting Debts!

Across the vast Five Elements Domain, the Five Finger Mountains had reemerged after many long years. Those five finger-like peaks had been destroyed by a formidable demon emperor ages ago. Their reappearance now signaled that the Five Elements Divine Sect had reclaimed its former stature. Whether each of the five peaks had a Nascent Soul first seat presiding over it, however, was another matter entirely. Beyond the Five Finger Mountains stood another towering peak, shrouded year-round in mist, looming high above everything within the sect. That was the cultivation dwelling of the Five Elements Divine Sect's Supreme Elder, Perfected Shenyuan! It was also a forbidden ground whispered of with dread among the sect's disciples. Any disciple who wandered into it by accident would vanish without a trace, and even Sect Master Shenhuo found it difficult to recover them in person. The outside world had no idea what had happened to the Supreme Elder, but Sect Master Shenhuo had issued strict, repeated orders that no one was to approach Shenyuan Peak! On this day. Sect Master Shenhuo stood on a distant cliff, gazing toward Shenyuan Peak with a conflicted, hesitant expression. Under several decades of his diligent governance, the Five Elements Divine Sect had gradually shown signs of resurgence. In particular, after many years of silence, the number of Nascent Soul True Persons had finally begun to surge. By all accounts, the divine sect's future looked exceptionally bright. Yet this troubled world simply would not allow peace! The demons were invading once more, and this time they were backed personally by the terrifying Lord of Mount Cangwu. Meanwhile, the hegemons of the Central Plains had arrived in force in the Eastern Desolation, bent on conquering its cultivation world. To be frank, whether submitting to the Mingyuan Sect or yielding to the Tianyuan Dao Sect, it made little difference to major Nascent Soul factions like theirs. It was nothing more than changing which sky hung over their heads. Yet when two opposing poles collided, war was inevitable! The present Five Elements Divine Sect truly could not withstand further upheaval. Sect Master Shenhuo did not want to see the flourishing situation he had worked so hard to foster ruined once again by this damned war between humans and demons. He wanted an audience with his senior brother. As one of the only three surviving late Nascent Soul grand cultivators in the Eastern Desolation, his senior brother commanded immense renown. If his senior brother were willing to take the initiative to plead with the Tianyuan Dao Sect to secure easy, safe duties for the Five Elements Divine Sect in the coming conflict, nothing could be better. Just like the fortunate Divine Talisman Sect! Rumor had it they had gained the protection of some prominent figure within the Tianyuan Dao Sect. They did not need to step onto the battlefield themselves, only having to steadily supply large quantities of talismans. The Five Elements Divine Sect could easily do such work as well! In fact, given their all-around breadth, they could do it even better! Yet his senior brother had kept out of sight for a long time, failing to show himself even when experts from the Tianyuan Dao Sect came to recruit them. It was as if he were entirely indifferent to everything happening in the outside world. "Senior Brother, what on earth are you thinking?" As Sect Master Shenhuo muttered to himself, his expression gradually hardened. He had heard that in the Central Plains there was a mountain named Heaven and Earth Peak! It bridged heaven and earth, majestic and grand! Upon it, the Tianyuan Dao Sect had established a special organization—the Star Gate—expressly meant to welcome outside experts from other provinces. The Star Gate was especially eager to recruit cultivators of great age and high cultivation. With his senior brother's realm and strength, he would surely be an outstanding figure even within the Star Gate. If his senior brother joined the Star Gate, the Five Elements Divine Sect would have a backer in future conflicts and could avoid perilous battles. And of course! Sect Master Shenhuo harbored his own selfish consideration. Having his senior brother remain in the sect right now was simply too dangerous. If he left the divine sect, might it not actually be a blessing for the sect instead? Having thought this through, Sect Master Shenhuo made up his mind, preparing to ascend Shenyuan Peak in person to pay his senior brother a visit. "I inquired about this with an expert from the Tianyuan Dao Sect, and they vowed it was feasible. Furthermore, the Dao Sect almighty currently presiding over the Eastern Desolation has some interest in Senior Brother and is willing to accept him into the Star Gate." "As long as Senior Brother agrees, it will benefit the coming war effort, benefit the sect's development, and even satisfy his long-standing desire to cultivate in a fifth-order spirit land to advance to the Soul Formation stage. Entering Heaven and Earth Peak would be a good thing for him personally as well." "Killing three birds with one stone, he should agree!" Reaffirming his conviction, Sect Master Shenhuo cast aside his apprehension and took a step forward, intending to head toward Shenyuan Peak. Yet the next moment, his pupils contracted, and his face changed drastically. The vast mist that enveloped Shenyuan Peak year-round began to churn violently in the distance. The boundless sea of clouds actually showed signs of collapsing. "How is this possible?" "That is Senior Brother's proudest work, the Nine Heavens Cloud Chi-Dragon Star-Locking Array, superior even to the sect-protecting grand array. How could it suddenly collapse?" Even as doubt gripped him. The vast mist suddenly sprang to life. As clouds and vapors swirled, a pure white python banded with specks of starlight reared its head, its ferocious gaze instantly locking onto a certain spot. *Roar!* With a furious roar, the starlit chi-dragon charged recklessly toward that direction. *Whoosh...* The mountain wind blew, and a figure slowly emerged. Facing the charging chi-dragon, he remained completely unhurried, tapping a single finger between the creature's brows. Instantly, as if struck by a tremendous blow, the starlit chi-dragon shattered. Yet the white-robed man showed no delight; instead, his brow furrowed. "The old scoundrel's mastery of formations exceeds my expectations." Sure enough, the shattered chi-dragon reconstituted itself within the vast sea of clouds, fixing its menacing glare on Luo Chen once more. *Boom!* Billows of clouds and mist surged toward the white-robed man as the chi-dragon thrashed its head and whipped its tail, forcing him to retreat step by step. Seeing this, Sect Master Shenhuo finally breathed a sigh of relief. Though he did not know what method this person had used to temporarily breach his senior brother's peak-protecting grand array, the intruder had clearly been sloppy and left loose ends behind. Conveniently, this bought Shenhuo enough time to react. However! In that fleeting glance, when he caught sight of the white-robed man's face, Shenhuo's complexion changed completely. It was Luo Chen! A piercing cry tore from his throat, resounding across the entire Five Elements Divine Sect: "Enemy attack!" In an instant, the entire Five Elements Divine Sect sprang into motion. The toll of a bell echoed nine consecutive times. Vast surges of magic power erupted like tidal waves. Streaks of escape light shot into the sky from every peak and valley, rushing toward Shenyuan Peak. Faced with all the commotion, Luo Chen let out a helpless chuckle. In his current state, he naturally could not do as Monarch Qixia had done—storm aggressively into the heart of another's sect and flatten Mount Yanfu with a single palm strike. In truth, even Monarch Qixia had relied on the avatar of Patriarch Tianyuan and used Luo Chen as an anchor to achieve that feat in a single blow. Thus, Luo Chen had no choice but to slip in quietly, intending to dismantle the defensive array of Shenyuan Peak first before settling the murky old scores accumulated over two hundred years with that old scoundrel Shenyuan! His approach might have been somewhat sneaky, but vengeance cared only for results. The only problem was a minor mishap along the way. The old thief Shenyuan's skill in formation dao surpassed everyone's expectations. He was shockingly a formation grandmaster in his own right! "Still, this array has flaws after all." Sneering coldly, Luo Chen ignored the starlit chi-dragon that endlessly died and reformed in an unbroken cycle. Magic power surged at his fingertips as his hands rapidly wove hand seals. Then, he slammed a palm violently against the earth! "Landslide!" A terrifying fluctuation of magic power swept up the heaven-and-earth spiritual qi, spreading outward from Luo Chen toward the sky-piercing Shenyuan Peak. Not only that, but a streak of black light shot from Luo Chen's arm, letting out a roar before transforming into a dragon hundreds of zhang long. Having already received Luo Chen's command, the Black King knew exactly what to do. It lunged fearlessly toward Shenyuan Peak, its massive body coiling tightly around the mountain and spiraling upward. Terrifying power erupted simultaneously from both the inside and outside. Under the horrified gazes of the rushing experts, the spiritual mountain—which had not collapsed even during the war between humans and demons—began to fissure inch by inch. The white-robed man slowly stood up, fixing his gaze on Shenyuan Peak. *Boom!* A deafening crash echoed as the colossal mountain collapsed and shattered! The vast sea of clouds dissipated into nothingness. With a sorrowful wail, the starlit chi-dragon vanished without a trace. At this moment, the earth tore asunder and the mountain crumbled, like the onset of the apocalypse. Watching the massive mountain cave in, Luo Chen called out in a resonant voice: "Old thief Shenyuan, just how long do you plan to hide?" The demanding shout turned into a roaring wave of sound that echoed through the entire Five Elements Divine Sect. Yet! There was no reply! All that answered was a series of furious, flustered shouts behind Luo Chen. "Insolence!" "What vile scoundrel dares invade our divine sect?" "Apprehend this reckless madman!" Facing the barrage of interrogations, Luo Chen turned around, frowning. Only now was his true appearance revealed before the four hastily arriving Nascent Soul True Persons. Since this was vengeance, there was no need to hide. His appearance was now his true face. With a single look, Qi Emei blurted out in shock, "Senior Alchemy Grandmaster?" "True Person Demon-Slayer, Luo Chen!" another gasped. Yao Hong's expression was filled with suspicion and bewilderment. "Senior, why are you doing this?" In the eyes of many, Luo Chen was a legend. A legend who had risen rapidly and whose name resonated across the Eastern Desolation. Moreover, his generous and benevolent nature toward juniors had earned him immense goodwill. Even though Qi Emei and the others had advanced to the Nascent Soul realm, out of sheer habit they failed to adjust their form of address in time, still calling him "Senior." Luo Chen did not answer their questions. Instead, he gave a nod. "In just a few short decades, the Five Elements Divine Sect has produced three newly ascended Nascent Souls. Your sect's foundation is indeed profound!" Then, shifting his gaze, his eyes settled upon the current sect master, Shenhuo. "Shenhuo, you ought to know why I have come today, don't you?" Shenhuo's lips quivered, unable to speak for a long time. Luo Chen shook his head. "Leaving aside your Supreme Elder's dark designs against me, the siege by three great demon emperors in the Medicine King Domain back then was something your Supreme Elder had a hand in. Today, I, Luo, have merely come to collect a debt!" At these words, Qi Emei and the other two could not help but exchange glances. Over the years, details of the great battle in the Medicine King Domain had gradually spread. The sheer number of top-tier experts involved was nearly on par with the most perilous period of the war between humans and demons. In particular, Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen's prowess in that battle had been praised to the utmost. Fighting three on one against three great demon emperors, he had not only survived, but personally slain Great Demon Emperor Huang Man, the son of the ancient demon Di Tian! Such a battle achievement could almost rival the feat of Demon Emperor Qingshuang, formerly the foremost expert beneath the Soul Formation stage, who had single-handedly fought three human grand cultivators. Yet the outcome of that battle had not only been Luo Chen's resounding victory; it had also included the tragic aftermath of Luo Chen fleeing gravely wounded and spending ten years nursing his injuries in hiding before returning. Now, the very person involved was stating outright that his predicament had been orchestrated in secret by the Supreme Elder of the Five Elements Divine Sect? If word of this leaked out—that the Supreme Elder of the Five Elements Divine Sect had sabotaged a fellow human expert during the war against the demons—his reputation would be utterly ruined. Even if it did not spread, the mere revelation threw the cultivators of the divine sect into turmoil right now. Seeing the situation deteriorate rapidly, Sect Master Shenhuo could no longer sit still. He snapped harshly, "Luo Chen, you are merely pinning trumped-up charges on us! Empty words carry no weight—do you have proof?" "Proof?" Luo Chen chuckled. His booming laughter echoed across the wilderness, causing the blood and qi of the gathering low-tier disciples to churn, their magic power to destabilize, and their very minds to reel. Beneath the awe-struck gazes of the four Nascent Soul True Persons led by Sect Master Shenhuo, Luo Chen slowly drifted into the air, with the crumbling ruins of the collapsing mountain behind him. "What need have I for proof?" "In my deeds, I seek only peace of mind!" "The grudge your Five Elements Divine Sect bears against me, Luo Chen, has festered for far too many years. Today, we shall settle it all at once!" As he spoke, Luo Chen's divine sense swept outward, and a formidable Nascent Soul domain abruptly unfurled. In a single instant, the four agitated Nascent Soul True Persons were crushed under an overwhelming restraint. The terrifying oppressive force made their faces change drastically. Especially the three newly ascended Nascent Souls like Qi Emei, who had believed that upon reaching the realm of a True Person, they could roam the world unhindered. Only now did they realize there were always higher heavens and greater beings. Even within the same Nascent Soul realm, the gulf between them was as vast as heaven and earth. Looking at the four bowed beneath his domain, and at the boundless low-tier cultivators who did not even dare meet his gaze, Luo Chen felt only a dull emptiness. "Old thief Shenyuan, are you still refusing to show yourself? Must you force me to slaughter them all?" Amidst the deathly silence, a hoarse, sinister voice rang out. "Foreign enemies invade, and you still do not strike?" An equally powerful Nascent Soul domain erupted from the shattered remnants of Shenyuan Peak. In an instant, it clashed head-on with Luo Chen's domain. *Boom!* Ripples blossomed across the void. Due to this clash, Luo Chen could naturally no longer suppress the others. Sect Master Shenhuo shouted abruptly, "Kill him! He has invaded the heart of our divine sect and provoked internal strife while the demon army is massing at our borders. Even if the Tianyuan Dao Sect investigates personally, reason is on our side!" ... High up in the nine heavens. A flying shuttle drifted half-hidden in the clouds. Old Fu wore a slight look of concern. "Four Nascent Soul True Persons, plus that top-tier expert Perfected Shenyuan watching from the shadows—does Luo Chen truly not need our help?" Beside him, Canglong smiled faintly, her eyes filled with absolute trust in Luo Chen. "There is no need. With Senior Brother Luo Chen's methods, as long as an opponent is not at the level of a grand cultivator, no matter how many come, it will be utterly futile." Old Fu glanced at Canglong, then looked down at the battlefield below, his expression turning rather complex. He was both astonished by Luo Chen's overwhelming strength and grieved that the Five Elements Divine Sect had suddenly produced three new Nascent Souls while the Luotian Sect had gained one as well. Why did his Divine Talisman Sect lack such newly emerged powerhouses? Naturally, that thought flashed by in an instant, his attention swiftly refocusing on the battle below. Did Luo Chen truly possess the strength to overwhelm all living beings like this right now? ... Amidst the loud shouting, Sect Master Shenhuo was the first to strike. Opening his mouth, he spewed forth a torrent of crimson flames that shot straight toward Luo Chen. Luo Chen's brow furrowed slightly. His divine sense continued to extend, tracing upstream in an attempt to pinpoint the old thief Shenyuan's whereabouts. Facing Sect Master Shenhuo's technique, he remained utterly unfazed. Playing with fire? Before him, Luo Chen, that was simply courting death! Without making any grand movement, he merely made a grasping motion in midair, and the crimson fire obediently flew into his grasp, swirling around his fingertips. Not only that, as Luo Chen drew his finger back, something seemed to be wrenched directly out of Sect Master Shenhuo's body. "Is this your source true fire?" *Pfft!* Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Sect Master Shenhuo looked on with utter horror. How could the source true fire he had refined for hundreds of years be broken so easily, and even yanked straight out of him? It was as if the other party were the true master of that source true fire! How could he know that Luo Chen was already a grandmaster of fire manipulation, his mastery of fire arguably second to none in this realm? Furthermore, having cultivated the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, a supreme fire-attribute cultivation art, he possessed an immunity—even a suppressive effect—against most fire attacks. Most importantly, he had already comprehended the very source of fire! Flaunting flames before him was like brandishing a broadsword before Guan Yu. As Sect Master Shenhuo attacked, the other three Nascent Soul experts moved as well. To this, Luo Chen merely smiled with disdain. "You are all courting death!"