Chapter 1054: Master of the Rending Heaven, the Honored Luo Chen

Que Shou Island!

The foremost island of the Flying Swallow Archipelago.

The largest wharf was built here, and it was also the place with the highest volume of human traffic.

But today, Que Shou Island was eerily quiet.

It was empty, with no living creatures to be seen.

Ships of various sizes had lowered their sails and were docked in the harbor.

Only one figure stood quietly on the wharf, looking around with a complex expression.

This had been the environment where he grew up; even though hundreds of years had passed and much had changed, he still felt a sense of familiarity.

Back then, he was not valued by his family, and in order to improve his alchemy, he would occasionally come to the wharf to take on odd jobs to earn spirit stones.

Perhaps if he had continued like that for his whole life, he could have become a skilled first-tier alchemist, or at most a second-tier one.

As for his cultivation base, it would have stopped at the Qi Refining stage.

But everything changed because of the appearance of his Master.

His Master at that time needed a large number of people to help out.

Whether they were low-tier alchemists or fire-tending medicine boys, the more the better.

The various families vied to curry favor, selecting a large group of talent to send over, and because he was familiar with medicinal herbs, he was also called over.

From then on, the destiny belonging to him, Xu Muxian, truly began.

He became a named disciple of the Qingyang Demon Lord, learned the other's alchemy, was valued by his family, and entered into a marriage alliance with the Xu family...

And what moved Xu Muxian the most was the conversation he had with Luo Chen back then on Yaoyue Island.

At that time, he was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and feeling that his low cultivation base allowed for a comfortable life while his high-and-mighty Master's cultivation was incomparably bitter, he unconsciously developed confusion, so he specifically sought guidance from his Master.

The beginning of the guidance was a stern reprimand, a scolding for his reaching for things beyond his grasp.

But by the end, his Master seemed to have thought it through and did not reproach him further.

It was as if he had tacitly accepted that everyone has their own aspirations and should not be forced.

Only at the end did his Master mention, "The result is not important; the journey of seeking longevity has more beautiful scenery and a broader world."

That sentence completely touched him.

All his confusion was perhaps hidden within that vast world.

After his Master left the Feiyan Archipelago, he successfully reached Foundation Establishment by relying on his own bitter cultivation and the Foundation Establishment Elixir left behind by his Master. After his Dao companion’s lifespan ended and she passed away, Xu Muxian bade farewell to his Master’s wife, Cheng Haixin, and followed in his Master’s footsteps, leaving the Feiyan Archipelago to venture alone into the North Sea.

In a flash, more than three hundred years had passed.

Three hundred years of time, tens of thousands of days and nights.

Different moonlight shone upon him, and sea breezes, sometimes violent and sometimes gentle, blew past him.

He witnessed the treachery of human hearts, the cunning of demon beasts, the infighting of major powers, and the rise and fall of the North Sea overlords as they took the stage.

Among them were also the struggles for survival of the weak and the helpless sighs of those whose lifespans were nearing their end.

Just like this, through step-by-step travel and adventure, plus some fortuitous encounters, he finally achieved the Nascent Soul realm.

Along the way, he occasionally heard the name of his Master, the "Qingyang Demon Lord," but after he pursued it, there was mostly no follow-up.

Even the Wan Xian Society had been blown away by the wind and rain.

Later, he did not try to pursue his Master again.

He was, after all, only a named disciple; if there was no fate, then so be it.

Returning to his homeland today to protect his Master's wife during her Nascent Soul formation could be considered fulfilling the bond between master and disciple from back then!

Suddenly!

The wind had not moved, but the sails had.

Xu Muxian's heart stirred, and amidst the flapping of countless sails, he looked up into the distance.

A streak of green light arrived in an instant.

Wherever it passed, a clear mark was left in the blue sky, as if the sky itself had been torn apart by the newcomer.

A powerful aura drew ever closer.

Xu Muxian's heart began to pound, and the long sword in his hand emitted a trembling sound involuntarily.

The Nascent Soul domain suddenly expanded!

Boom!

The Master of the Rending Heaven stopped abruptly, his narrow eyes squinting at the man in green.

"Who are you, and why do you block my path?"

Xu Muxian's expression was calm. "I am Xu Muxian. I ask that you stop, fellow Daoist, and do not disturb the Nascent Soul formation process of the person on the island."

"Xu Muxian?" The Master of the Rending Heaven frowned, as if he had heard the name somewhere before. He had roamed the North Sea for a long time and knew most Nascent Soul cultivators, but this person was unfamiliar. After some thought, the Master of the Rending Heaven's eyes suddenly lit up. "Could you be the rogue cultivator Taibai Shi who refined the Thousand Gold Pill for the old monster Feng Zhang?"

Xu Muxian nodded. "It is indeed me!"

The Master of the Rending Heaven laughed heartily. "That Thousand Gold Pill is a fourth-tier elixir, precious beyond compare. It was precisely by relying on the Thousand Gold Pill that the old monster Feng Zhang was able to advance to the late Nascent Soul stage. He even let it be known that whoever makes things difficult for you is making an enemy of him."

Xu Muxian breathed a slight sigh of relief.

In the current North Sea, after many years of war, even though high-tier cultivators had strong survival capabilities, many had withered away.

Under such circumstances, the demonic path was gradually growing stronger, while the righteous path was declining.

But among the righteous path, there were also top-tier powerhouses who met the challenges head-on.

The old monster Feng Zhang was one of them, and after advancing to a Great Cultivator, he protected the human race in one region.

His relationship with him was not bad, and now by borrowing the other's name, perhaps he could scare off the Master of the Rending Heaven.

However, before he could be happy, the expression of the Master of the Rending Heaven suddenly changed.

"Others might give the old monster Feng Zhang some face, but I have long had a grudge against him. If you step aside today, that's fine, but if you don't, then I don't mind tearing you apart alive!"

Xu Muxian's expression sank. "Master of the Rending Heaven, do you really want to fight to the death like this? The person forming her Nascent Soul behind me is my Master's wife, and her Dao companion is also a powerhouse with no small strength. You should think carefully; once you start, you will offend not only me, but also fellow Daoist Feng Zhang, and my Master!"

These words carried considerable weight.

The old monster Feng Zhang was a Great Cultivator currently in the limelight, and Xu Muxian, with the Daoist name Taibai Shi, was also beginning to make a name for himself in the North Sea, having gathered many connections through his skills as a fourth-tier alchemist. If it were true as he said, that his Master was also a Nascent Soul powerhouse, then the Master of the Rending Heaven would really have to weigh things carefully today.

The Master of the Rending Heaven blinked and asked curiously, "I wonder what your Master's name is?"

After this question was asked, before Xu Muxian could answer, the sky over the Flying Swallow Archipelago suddenly changed.

Clouds and winds gathered, and lightning flashed.

The heavenly tribulation had appeared!

Such a scene already explained everything.

The Fairy of Yaoyue, Cheng Haixin, had already crossed all the difficult steps before Nascent Soul formation and was only waiting to survive the lightning tribulation to become a true Nascent Soul True Person!

Seeing this, the Master of the Rending Heaven could not help but be overjoyed, and he could not be bothered to wait for Xu Muxian's answer.

Such a newly condensed Nascent Soul was the most delicious thing imaginable; once he swallowed it along with the soul, he would have the opportunity to advance a great step and completely enter the late Nascent Soul stage.

Not only that, he might even be able to get ahead of others and condense that legendary Primordial Spirit!

"Get lost!"

He shouted sharply, transforming into a streak of green light and breaking through the air.

Xu Muxian did not dodge or evade, slashing out with his sword.

But the gap in cultivation between the two was like a chasm, and the contrast in strength was even more obvious.

The Master of the Rending Heaven just swiped his hand casually, dispersing the sword light, then reached out and grabbed toward Xu Muxian.

His famous signature move, the Rending Heaven Divine Claw!

Facing this move, Xu Muxian's expression was grave, and a bird's nest-like magic treasure appeared beside him.

Within the nest, black light flew, and fire phoenixes flew out one after another, blocking the Rending Heaven Divine Claw firmly outside.

"The Phoenix Nest! The old monster Feng Zhang is truly willing to part with it, even willing to lend you such a defensive true treasure."

The signature move was ineffective, but the Master of the Rending Heaven was not panicked in the slightest.

"This treasure can protect you, but it cannot stop me!"

He shrieked, instantly crossing Xu Muxian and rushing toward the center of the Flying Swallow Archipelago at an extremely fast speed.

Such a scene made Xu Muxian's eyes split with rage!

Was he still unable to do it?

Even if he was prepared to drag the other down with his life, could he not stop the other for even a single step?

Could it be that he would really let his Master's wife fail her breakthrough and perish before his eyes?

Within his field of vision, everything seemed to have slowed down.

The Master of the Rending Heaven tore through the sky, and from a distance, he reached out a claw toward the Ten-Mile Flat Lake.

Just at this moment.

"Fellow Daoist, I ask that you stop!"

A grand voice containing Buddhist sounds rang out, enveloping the Master of the Rending Heaven.

Tentacles stretched out eerily from the void, binding the Rending Heaven Divine Claw tightly, preventing it from advancing even an inch!

"Who is it?"

Seeing this, the Master of the Rending Heaven was both shocked and angry.

His signature move had failed twice in a row.

It was understandable that it failed before the Phoenix Nest, as that was the old monster Feng Zhang's defensive true treasure.

But this time, it had been blocked head-on by someone using a proper spell.

He looked up and saw a bald monk with a withered figure but a kind and benevolent face slowly descending from the sky.

Around his neck were skull prayer beads, and his hands were forming a Buddhist seal.

Compassionate and solemn, yet clearly malicious; two completely different temperaments were fused in the old man, giving one a sense of eeriness.

At just one glance, the Master of the Rending Heaven recognized the newcomer.

"The demon monk Kong Chan!"

Kong Chan smiled slightly. "Greetings, fellow Daoist."

The Master of the Rending Heaven took a deep breath. "Why block me? This is merely a human junior forming her Nascent Soul; you, a Great Demon Emperor of the demon race, have the leisure to meddle in other people's business? Or is it that you have taken a fancy to the other party?"

Kong Chan hurriedly waved his hand, not even bothering to form the Buddhist seal.

"What nonsense are you spouting, fellow Daoist? The person forming her Nascent Soul here is my Master's Dao companion."

Master?

The Master of the Rending Heaven was stunned!

A dignified Great Demon Emperor, the demon monk Kong Chan who had shaken the North Sea for hundreds of years, when did he have a master? What kind of existence could make the other party so willingly acknowledge a master?

A thought emerged uncontrollably.

A Soul Transformation powerhouse!

And he said that the Fairy of Yaoyue forming her Nascent Soul here was his Master's Dao companion?

Combining this with what Taibai Shi Xu Muxian had said earlier...

The Master of the Rending Heaven asked with difficulty, "May I ask your Master's honorable name?"

Kong Chan pressed his palms together, his face filled with reverence. "I would have you know, fellow Daoist, my Master's name is Luo Chen."

Without any added Daoist title or honorific, the simple two characters "Luo Chen" were enough to make the Master of the Rending Heaven's expression change drastically.

Whoosh!

Without a second thought, the Master of the Rending Heaven transformed into a streak of green light and sped into the distance.

Seeing this, Kong Chan smiled helplessly.

"I already told you to stop, fellow Daoist. These words 'stop' mean you cannot advance and you cannot retreat, so just honestly stay behind!"

He flicked his finger, and black mist suddenly rose all around, with tentacles appearing and disappearing within it.

Furthermore, the Morning Bell and Evening Drum, two great true treasures, stood within it.

Under the lashing of the tentacles, they emitted grand Buddhist sounds that shook the soul.

He had used his full strength the moment he attacked, showing how much effort Kong Chan was putting in.

The Master of the Rending Heaven's heart and gallbladder trembled, but his mouth remained tough.

"Old bald donkey, do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

A shocking battle unfolded over the Flying Swallow Archipelago.

However, for some reason, the battle that should have affected this entire region was restricted by an inexplicable force; the aftermath could not spread, and the impact of the fight was limited to a range of just a few miles.

Such an eerie situation naturally made people marvel.

As a Nascent Soul True Person, Xu Muxian felt the terror even more deeply.

A Soul Transformation existence had intervened!

He swallowed his saliva, looking at the place where the demon monk Kong Chan had appeared, and the words the other had just spoken emerged in his mind.

"Master's Dao companion!"

"Could it be that Master has returned?"

"But he is called Luo Chen, not Luo Hai... an alias?"

While he was hesitating, a divine sense transmission came.

"Come here."

Xu Muxian's mind was in total chaos; he avoided the battlefield where the demon and the monk were fighting and, following the guidance of the divine sense, flew to a cliff standing by the sea.

It was precisely Wanghai Cliff!

A figure stood with hands behind his back; although his temperament was somewhat different, his face was still familiar. At just one glance, Xu Muxian fell to his knees with a thud.

"Disciple Xu Muxian greets Master!"

Luo Chen smiled slightly, lifting a hand to help Xu Muxian up.

Looking him up and down, he could not help but reveal a look of admiration.

"Nascent Soul realm, not bad, not bad!"

It was indeed not bad!

In his life, Luo Chen had not taken many disciples.

The only true disciple was Qu Lingjun.

But his eldest disciple, due to his four-spirit-root aptitude, was still trapped in the Core Formation realm, and it was unknown when he would reach Nascent Soul.

However, the two named disciples he had pointed out casually, the demon cultivator Huamei of Cangwu Mountain and Xu Muxian of the North Sea, had both successively achieved the Nascent Soul realm.

The different circumstances of their fate were truly something to sigh about.

Xu Muxian's eye sockets grew hot; the praise from Luo Chen made him inexplicably excited.

His speech was stuttering, and he seemed less like a Nascent Soul True Person and more like a young child, his face filled with shame. "Master overpraises me. Disciple still has many shortcomings. If Master had not appeared today, I fear I would have been powerless to protect Master's wife during her tribulation."

Luo Chen chuckled. "This is not your fault; that fellow Rending Heaven is inherently powerful. Back when he was only at the third level of Nascent Soul, three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Canghai Righteous Alliance couldn't stop him, let alone now that he is at the sixth level. With your current cultivation, being able to block one of his moves is already not bad."

Xu Muxian hummed. As a rogue cultivator who ventured alone, having self-awareness was the most important character trait.

Otherwise, one wouldn't even know where they died.

He looked at Luo Chen expectantly. "Master, your name is Luo Chen; could you be that legendary Eastern Wasteland Alchemy Master who reversed-slayed a powerhouse?"

"As you think." Luo Chen nodded, then asked with confusion, "The North Sea is chaotic and news doesn't travel, but didn't Haixin tell you my true situation?"

"Master's wife didn't say." Xu Muxian answered honestly.

Luo Chen said "Oh," and understood Cheng Haixin's intentions.

Back then, Luo Chen had already told Cheng Haixin his general situation.

The reason she didn't tell Xu Muxian was probably to avoid unnecessary trouble!

Xu Muxian was still immersed in the shocking truth that his Master was Luo Chen, especially the means by which Luo Chen had restricted the aftermath of the battle between two powerhouses without showing any signs of effort, which shocked him even more.

This represented that Luo Chen's cultivation had completely surpassed them.

His Master was no longer the Core Formation cultivator from back then, but a Soul Transformation powerhouse!

Just as he was in shock.

Luo Chen said softly, "It has begun!"

The final step had begun!

Over the Flying Swallow Archipelago, dark clouds gathered and lightning flashed.

The power of the heavenly tribulation had gathered to the extreme.

And a tall figure had also appeared in the void at some point, ready to face the heavenly might! ===== CHAPTER 1057 =====