Chapter 136: Sudden Change

Wang Yuan was the only friend Luo Chen could rely on.

Even when he refined the Blood-Burning Pill, which leaned toward the demonic path, the first thing he did was let Wang Yuan find someone to test the pill.

If one were to delve into their relationship, it was nothing more than a bottle of Grain-Grain Bigu Pills and a storage bag.

When Wang Yuan was down and out, Luo Chen gave him a bottle of Grain-Grain Bigu Pills.

When Luo Chen was seriously injured and possessed a rich amount of spoils, Wang Yuan did not forcibly seize them, and even had the spirit to give the other Soul-Breaking Nail to Luo Chen.

Which was lighter and which was heavier, one could see at a glance.

But true friendship could not be exhausted by the weight of value.

Running away was Luo Chen’s plan, but he definitely had to give an explanation to Wang Yuan.

Even if it was just a simple "goodbye"!

……

After another day of alchemy ended, Luo Chen held the "Qingyuan Pill Explanation" and sat on the cliff drinking tea and reading.

He had already made plans to go to the Dragon Hall tonight to say goodbye to Wang Yuan.

Then use the next half month to complete the refining of the Jade Marrow Pills and accumulate the spirit stones before leaving.

Doing this would not attract attention.

When he left, he could also be as calm as possible.

"The only pity is that my cultivation is still far from reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining; otherwise, I would have more self-preservation power."

In the realm column, the progress bar slowly advanced to [50/100].

It would take at least several months to fully purify his spiritual power once and break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Unfortunately, Luo Chen couldn't wait that long.

He didn't know how long it would take for Mi Shuhua to recover from his injuries.

These days were his best chance to run away.

Otherwise, if he waited until the other party’s injuries were healed, the determination to catch him back would only be greater.

Delay brings changes!

Luo Chen sighed in his heart and quietly waited for the Pill Hall cultivators to leave one by one.

Suddenly, Zhou Yuanli, who had been lurking in the dark, walked in.

"Hall Master, something is wrong!"

Luo Chen’s heart skipped a beat; he had disguised himself well enough, so logically, others shouldn't be able to see his intention to leave!

However, Zhou Yuanli’s next words made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Outside, something is not right!"

The big stone that had just landed was lifted back into his heart.

Luo Chen frowned and looked at him, "What’s wrong?"

"The two brothers arranged to patrol outside have no news."

"Hmm?"

Mi Shuhua had arranged five bodyguards for Luo Chen.

On the surface, it was still Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang, two ninth-level Qi Refining experts who could rival a ninth-level Qi Refining expert when combined.

Privately, three bodyguards each undertook the work of front and rear sentries.

Usually, two bodyguards would patrol outside at all times to ensure safety when Luo Chen went out.

Zhou Yuanli would also regularly contact them.

Now, suddenly, there was no news.

What did this mean?

"Bad!" Luo Chen shuddered in shock, "Hurry up and call Hall Master Murong and Deacon Gu back!"

Just now, under his nose, the two women left together.

Less than two minutes had passed.

And for two ninth-level Qi Refining experts to disappear silently meant that there was a danger outside that could threaten a ninth-level Qi Refining expert!

Zhou Yuanli was startled, his face changing.

He turned and left, but just as he got outside, he blew a whistle.

Many middle and late-stage Qi Refining cultivators who usually guarded the Slanting Moon Valley suddenly appeared, numbering more than twenty.

Among them, one even had the realm of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Luo Chen recognized the person; she was the only deacon of the Medicine Hall, named Yuan Yuejiao.

She was quite old, nearly a hundred years old, usually responsible for managing the medicine fields, spirit plant cultivation, and the latest beast-skin clothing production.

The spirit planter Yuan Dongsheng, whom Luo Chen was familiar with, was her eldest son.

Usually, it was mostly her and Sikong Shoujia who took turns staying at the Slanting Moon Valley at night.

Everyone respected her quite a bit and called her Granny Yuan.

"Activate the formation!"

A vigorous voice sounded, coming from Zhou Yuanli.

"Zhou Yuanli, what are you doing?" Luo Chen narrowed his eyes and stared fixedly at him.

"Hall Master, your safety is the primary task!"

Zhou Yuanli said neither humbly nor arrogantly, and at the same time waved his hand, and Dongfang Liang moved closer.

"You go outside to check the situation, and if you meet Hall Master Murong and Deacon Gu, please ask them to come back."

Dongfang Liang was a little nervous and nodded, flying out carefully.

Turning back, Zhou Yuanli looked at Luo Chen and Yuan Yuejiao and said cautiously: "Those two brothers have average combat means, but their concealment means are extremely strong. Now that they have lost contact, it is highly likely that the other party is coming for you, Hall Master."

"In all things, caution is the priority!"

Luo Chen looked at him deeply, and then his gaze fell on the Slanting Moon Valley.

He saw an earthy-yellow light curtain slowly expanding, and then like an inverted bowl, slowly covering the Slanting Moon Valley.

The large first-tier formation, the Earth-Defense Formation, was built on the foundation of the mountain’s terrain and was often the first choice for the protection formation of small cultivation families.

After the Pill Hall settled in the Slanting Moon Valley, the Mountain-Breaking Gang built this formation to guard the two major halls here, which Luo Chen knew very clearly.

Usually, the Earth-Defense Formation was rarely activated because it consumed a huge amount of spirit stones.

Activating it once required at least a hundred spirit stones.

If it were to be maintained, a hundred spirit stones had to be invested every incense stick of time.

But this time, Zhou Yuanli activated it without hesitation.

From this, one could see the high importance of Luo Chen!

As the formation was activated, the scenery originally shrouded in the sunset glow became even dimmer.

Luo Chen’s pair of spirit eyes constantly scanned the outside.

Suddenly, he raised his hand.

Zhou Yuanli was startled, then realized something, and quickly flew to the edge of the formation.

Soon, figures appeared in front of him.

Not enemies, but familiar people!

He breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing the bloodstains on many people, his face became even uglier.

Especially seeing Gu Caiyi, who was covered in blood and supported by Murong Qinglian, he only felt cold air rising all over his body.

"Hall Master Murong, what happened outside?"

"There are enemies, many!"

Murong Qinglian’s expression was anxious, and her palace dress was also stained with blood.

It was unknown whether it was her own or stained by the unconscious Gu Caiyi beside her.

"What kind of enemy could hurt you and Deacon Gu?"

Murong Qinglian looked back, but didn't see the enemy’s shadow.

She could only give a bitter smile, "I don't know the specific situation, but there are at least four or more ninth-level Qi Refining experts. As for those in the middle and late stages of Qi Refining, they are countless."

"Elder Sikong left the valley before us, but when we saw him, he was being chased by a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator wearing iron claws, and he was extremely embarrassed."

"It was precisely because of his warning that we escaped the sneak attack aimed at me and Caiyi."

Zhou Yuanli’s eyes widened; how could such an enemy appear for no reason.

Moreover, since they had such powerful strength, why did they let Murong Qinglian and the others escape back.

Especially outside the formation, those Medicine Hall and Pill Hall cultivators were all only at the early or middle stages of Qi Refining.

"Hurry up and let us in!"

"Those people are so terrifying, killing without blinking, Chen Yuan died right in front of our eyes, without a corpse left."

"Senior Zhou, can you activate the formation? I’m injured, it hurts so much."

"Hurry up and open the formation!"

Cries sounded, and later there were even angry curses and resentment.

Zhou Yuanli’s expression changed, and for a moment he didn't know how to make a decision.

"Let them in!"

A steady voice came to his ears, and Zhou Yuanli turned back.

"Hall Master! You can’t!"

"There might be spies mixed in among these people!"

Luo Chen’s expression was solemn, "It’s fine, I’ll make the decision for everything."

He waved his large sleeve and came to the formation.

Looking at those familiar faces outside, he said loudly: "Before entering the formation, show your Mountain-Breaking Gang identity tokens."

"After entering the formation, you are not allowed to move around, accept questioning, and are not allowed to do any resistance."

"If anyone violates the order, kill without mercy!"

The commotion outside finally stopped.

One by one, they shouted "Long live the Hall Master," "Thank you, Hall Master," and the like.

Luo Chen remained unmoved, just staring at the cultivators outside with a heavy gaze.

Zhou Yuanli sighed; Luo Chen was too inexperienced and too kind.

Letting so many people in suddenly, if there were spies inside, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But here, Luo Chen indeed had the highest status, so he couldn't disobey.

Especially under the eyes of everyone, if he refused, he would not only anger Luo Chen but also cause public outrage.

Among those cultivators outside, there were quite a few who were related to the people inside.

For example, the spirit planter Yuan Dongsheng was chatting with Elder Yuan of the Medicine Hall across the formation.

Sigh, forget it!

I’ll just be more careful later!

Zhou Yuanli was helpless, so he had to let people open the formation, revealing a gap for one person to enter.

The first to enter were naturally Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi.

Luo Chen glanced at them and nodded slightly.

"Deacon Yuan Yuejiao, please treat their injuries."

"I don't need it; I reacted in time and didn't suffer any injuries."

Murong Qinglian sighed and handed Gu Caiyi to the aged female cultivator.

Then, she stood beside Luo Chen.

Next, the low-level cultivators of the Medicine Hall and Pill Hall entered the formation one by one.

Under the requirements of Zhou Yuanli and others, they showed their Mountain-Breaking Gang identity tokens one by one and accepted questioning.

Suddenly, Luo Chen looked at a cultivator who had just accepted questioning, his brows furrowed.

"Catch him and question him carefully!"

That person was stunned, then his face changed greatly, and he wanted to run away.

The others didn't react in time, but Luo Chen had already taken action.

He flicked his finger!

Pfft!

That person knelt on both knees, with two small holes in his knees, and blood flowed like a stream.

Murong Qinglian was startled, "This is Zheng Baotai of the Medicine Hall; he shouldn't be..."

"He is not Zheng Baotai!"

Luo Chen struck out a strand of spiritual power, and a wisp of black gas suddenly emerged from that person’s face, revealing a strange face.

Disguise! Disguise!

While Zhou Yuanli was surprised, his movements were not slow at all, and he immediately caught the person.

"Not only him, but also this one."

Luo Chen looked at a cultivator shrinking behind the crowd, and flicked his finger again.

That person seemed to have expected it and sacrificed a magic tool on the spot.

Bang!

Blocked!

Just as he was happy, he saw two stone beads attacking from left and right, hitting his knees directly.

Pfft! Pfft!

Kneel down!

"Catch them all! Question them carefully and see which force they are from."

"In addition, impose restrictive means on the rest of the cultivators who entered, including Yuan Dongsheng."

Luo Chen ordered lightly, his gaze falling on Yuan Yuejiao not far away as he spoke.

That old woman pursed her lips and nodded slightly at him.

Zhou Yuanli took a deep breath and did as he was told.

He was just curious in his heart, how did Luo Chen distinguish between friend and foe?

Moreover, Luo Chen didn't seem as immature as he thought, arranging everything in an orderly manner.

Luo Chen wouldn't explain to him; with the blessing of the double Spirit Eye Technique, this kind of simple spiritual power disguise was too easy to identify.

However, one couldn't rule out that the cultivators of the Medicine Hall and Pill Hall had been bought by the enemy.

Therefore, he asked people to impose restrictions after questioning.

After dealing with these two, Luo Chen’s gaze fell on the remaining dozens of people outside.

As his cold gaze projected over, the crowd of dozens of people suddenly became restless.

Almost instantly, seven people scattered and ran in several directions.

Luo Chen sneered; a few middle-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and they still wanted to leave after coming!

The Earth-Defense Formation was for the outside, not the inside.

He didn't hesitate and flicked his ten fingers!

In an instant, dozens of Jade Marrow waste beads shot out.

Although the "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers" had only reached the second stage of proficiency, in terms of this hidden weapon technique of the "Mixed Origin Bead," he was definitely a master, worthy of being called the pinnacle.

Under his control of the pure spiritual power of the eighth level of Qi Refining, the power erupted by these dozens of Jade Marrow waste beads was no less than a blow from a low-grade magic tool.

In the blink of an eye, pfft-pfft sounds rang out.

In mid-air, beautiful blood flowers bloomed.

The only cultivator who relied on a mid-grade magic robe to block the attack was also blasted into fragments in the sky under the siege of twenty Jade Marrow waste beads.

Facing this scene of wanton slaughter, the cultivators of the two halls were silent as cicadas in winter.

The Pill Hall Master, who was usually easy-going and free-spirited, and kind to everyone, actually had such thunderous means.

Killing middle-stage Qi Refining cultivators was like slaughtering chickens and dogs.

But as the remaining surviving cultivators entered, cheers rang out again.

"Hall Master is mighty!"

"Hall Master’s strength is so strong!"

"No wonder he can hold one of the Nine Halls; I didn't expect the seemingly ordinary Hall Master to be so powerful!"

The more dangerous it is, the more worthy the strong are of reliance.

Luo Chen smiled slightly, comforted everyone, and then asked people to take the two captives into the Pill Hall.

……

"Did they confess?"

"Not yet." Dongfang Liang scratched his head, "I’m not very proficient in the Soul-Slaying Needle I learned from Elder Sikong. If he were here, it would be even better."

"Forget it, I’ll do it myself!"

Luo Chen stood up and took a silver needle from Dongfang Liang’s hand.

He didn't know the Soul-Slaying Needle, but he knew "Spirit-Clearing Evil-Breaking"!

This technique for exercising willpower required stimulating thirty-six acupoints, causing people to suffer intense pain.

Luo Chen had spent several months just to barely enter the threshold.

He hadn't seen the specific results yet.

But now, taking it to interrogate low-level cultivators was just right.

Coming to the first cultivator he captured, the man’s face was pale, but his eyes revealed disdain.

Luo Chen shook his head and didn't shake his will with words.

He stabbed down with one needle directly!

He didn't choose the acupoints that caused pain gradually, but went straight for the Quchi acupoint!

"Ah!!!"

With just one needle, the cultivator’s pupils widened, and he let out a heart-piercing roar.

Dongfang Liang, standing beside him, shuddered; it was just stimulating one acupoint, was there a need for such a big reaction?

Of course, he didn't know that Luo Chen’s technique didn't stop there.

Secretly, Luo Chen had already penetrated a strand of spiritual power with the help of the silver needle.

Now, it was an attack from both inside and outside; Qi Refining cultivators were still in the human category, so how could they withstand this sudden pain.

Whoosh!

The silver needle was taken out, and Luo Chen looked at the other party quietly.

After two breaths, he shook his head.

"It seems you still don't want to talk."

Pfft!

In the terrified gaze, he stabbed down with another needle.

"Ah!!!"

Taking out the silver needle, Luo Chen looked at the other party quietly.

Shook his head.

"You are indeed a man of iron bones, what a pity."

In the terrified gaze, Luo Chen reached out and took two silver needles.

His hands stabbed down like lightning.

"Eh, why aren't you screaming anymore?"

Luo Chen then discovered that the other party had already collapsed on the ground, with a faint smell of urine coming from his crotch.

"Even like this, you still won't talk?"

"I’m really curious, what kind of experience created such strong willpower in you."

Luo Chen sighed and reached out to take a third silver needle.

Just as he raised the silver needle high, the cultivator on the ground had dull eyes, and his lips muttered:

"You ask... you ask me..."