Chapter 158

"Luo Chen, is it!"

The tone, seemingly a question but actually a statement, made Luo Chen’s scalp tingle.

In a trance, he even thought the person before him was that old man who had passed away.

Back then, he had also asked a question just like that.

And the aftermath was Luo Chen becoming the master of the Elixir Hall, working like a horse and ox for him.

Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Luo Chen forced himself to pull it together.

Why be afraid? Others are Core Formation, I am Qi Refining; at worst, I’ll just be killed or carved up.

"Congratulations to the Elder for slaying the demonic cultivator."

"Demonic cultivator? Hehe..."

Pang Renxiong actually started to laugh.

He laughed so lightly and breezily, not at all like the mountain-like pressure he had exuded before.

He shook his head, "There’s no need to pin this hat of justice on me; I killed him simply because I killed him. In this Yuding Domain, no one dares to trouble me."

Luo Chen said righteously, "This person successively robbed and killed loyal and righteous men like Fei Bowen and Mi Shuhua. Especially Mi Shuhua, who was my benefactor; he was upright and open-hearted, and loved to help others. To be able to lay a hand on such a righteous person, this man had truly and thoroughly fallen into the demonic path."

"The Elder slaying the demon with his sword—if this spreads, it will surely be a fine tale!"

"Even the Yuding Sword Sect will take pride in you!"

These words, spoken from his mouth, left Luo Tianhong and Miao Wen stunned.

Especially Miao Wen, who only felt it sounded very familiar.

It seemed that when he went to Xieyue Valley to protect Luo Chen, the other party had also praised him endlessly as if it cost nothing.

But this flattery, I’m afraid, was aimed at the wrong person.

Elder Pang is someone who doesn’t respond to soft or hard tactics; he isn’t the kind of...

"Haha, you certainly have a glib tongue."

Pang Renxiong laughed heartily, "But you are right; this person had indeed fallen into the demonic path, and everyone should kill him."

Immediately, without looking back, he instructed, "Miao Wen, Tianhong, spread the news of today’s events. Say that the demonic cultivator who murdered the Ailao Mountain cultivator Fei Bowen and the Po Shan Gang leader Mi Shuhua was slain by me on the banks of the Lancang River."

"Hmm, the process should be described as a bit more tortuous, do you remember?"

Luo Tianhong was stunned for a moment, then immediately agreed.

Miao Wen also hurriedly agreed, though he felt stifled inside.

Doesn’t Elder Pang dislike hearing flattery?

And he doesn’t seem like the type to fish for fame... perhaps there is a deeper meaning?

Miao Wen and Luo Tianhong exchanged a glance, and the two nodded in tacit understanding.

With the intelligence of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and being in the middle of the situation, they quickly figured out the joints of the matter.

It should be correct.

The Elder’s move was not for his personal reputation.

It was for the reputation of the Yuding Sword Sect.

After all, after that demonic cultivator killed Fei Bowen, he had framed the Yuding Sword Sect for it.

It even caused the Ailao Mountain Supreme Elder to personally go to the Yuding Sword Sect to demand justice.

As long as this news is spread, it not only restores the Yuding Sword Sect’s reputation but also provides an explanation to Ailao Mountain!

After figuring all this out, the way Miao Wen looked at Luo Chen became strange.

This kid, I don’t know if it was unintentional or intentional.

Even flattery can be delivered so perfectly.

After giving the orders, Pang Renxiong looked at the pale-faced Luo Chen.

"This battle also has your share of credit; if not for the guidance of that soul seed, I fear we wouldn’t have found this villain so quickly."

"Looking at your appearance of just reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining, I imagine you are worrying about reaching the Great Perfection of Qi Refining!"

Luo Chen opened his mouth, then was overjoyed.

He immediately replied, "Yes!"

Miao Wen, standing behind Pang Renxiong in the lower position, took a deep look at Luo Chen.

He hadn’t noticed at all before that Luo Chen had broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

He had thought the other party was still at the eighth level of Qi Refining from the battle at Xieyue Valley.

This kid, he hides so deeply and has so many schemes!

Just as he was grumbling in his heart, Pang Renxiong’s voice reached his ears.

"Ah?"

"Ah what? I don’t have first-grade Spirit Elixirs, you surely have some, take a few bottles for him."

Miao Wen said stifledly, "I don’t have first-grade ones either, only five bottles of second-grade Spirit Elixirs."

"Second-grade ones aren’t unusable, give them all to Luo Chen!" Pang Renxiong said indifferently.

Miao Wen had no choice but to take five bottles of Spirit Elixirs from his storage bag and toss them to Luo Chen.

Holding the five jade bottles, Luo Chen still found it a bit unbelievable.

Is this Elder so generous!

Attack magic treasures, defensive magic treasures, casually bestowed upon juniors in the sect.

At the time, he only thought it was guidance for the younger generation.

He didn’t expect that even he, a small rogue cultivator, would receive benefits?

This is a Spirit Elixir!

A special elixir capable of purifying spiritual power; Mi Shuhua had once mentioned it to him.

Produced by the Medicine King Sect, it is impossible to buy normally, and only occasionally do some flow out at auctions.

For late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, it can be called a top-tier divine medicine!

Even Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators can use this elixir.

However...

Luo Chen raised his head, "Second-grade Spirit Elixirs, I’m afraid I can’t use them for the time being!"

Pang Renxiong chuckled, "That’s simple, you are an alchemist, you know the Pure Heart Hand, right?"

Luo Chen nodded hesitantly; he indeed knew this alchemy technique.

The Pure Heart Hand is specifically used to process medicinal materials of the plant variety.

"Then there is no problem. Spirit Elixirs are actually a type of semi-finished elixir made from spirit fruits; if you decompose them with the Pure Heart Hand, you can obtain first-grade medicinal power."

"One second-grade Spirit Elixir can equal ten first-grade Spirit Elixirs."

Just that simple?

Luo Chen opened his mouth, still finding it inconceivable.

Spirit Elixirs are not pure elixirs, but semi-finished elixirs refined from spirit fruits; does such an alchemy technique exist in the world?

In wild joy, Luo Chen hurriedly thanked Pang Renxiong, and incidentally thanked the resentful-looking Miao Wen as well.

However, after hearing this, Pang Renxiong just waved his hand.

"I heard from Tianhong that your alchemy skills are extremely outstanding, considered a leader among rogue cultivators, not even inferior to the alchemists cultivated by the sect."

Just hearing the beginning, Luo Chen knew.

The main event was coming!

It’s about my alchemy skills again, damn it!

Wouldn’t...

"I ask you, are you willing to join my Yuding Sword Sect and enter under my, Pang Renxiong’s, tutelage?"

Is this a question?

This is a command!

Luo Chen had no hesitation, nor any dissatisfaction.

He immediately bent over and bowed.

"Junior Luo Chen is willing to enter under the Elder’s tutelage!"

"Haha, very good, very good! Slaying a demonic cultivator first, and taking in a fine disciple later—this must be an incredibly wonderful day."

Pang Renxiong laughed very heartily.

Luo Tianhong also smiled and offered congratulations.

Miao Wen naturally wouldn’t fall behind, it’s just that his face looked extremely reluctant no matter how you looked at it.

"This is my Elder token, take it!"

"I give you one day to go back, pack your things, say goodbye to your relatives and friends, and follow me back to the sect tomorrow afternoon."

He didn’t give Luo Chen time to bargain.

After tossing him a sword-shaped token, Pang Renxiong wrapped the three of them in magic power and rushed back to Dahefang like lightning.

And that Lancang River, after the great battle, was left in a mess, with the river surface widened by nearly double.

On the way back, Luo Chen held the palm-sized small sword token and could clearly see countless rogue cultivators driving their escape lights toward the previous battlefield.

They arrived too late and would gain nothing.

That black-robed cultivator’s Core Formation, corpse, and even all his inheritance had already been thoroughly looted by Pang Renxiong.

Even Luo Chen himself had become Pang Renxiong’s harvest from the trip to Dahefang!

When Luo Chen landed firmly in Xieyue Valley, his mind was still in a daze.

"Just like that, have I become a sect disciple?"

"A moment ago, I was still worrying about cultivation and plotting means to deal with Foundation Establishment. The next instant, I was personally taken in by a Core Formation Elder and became his nominal fine disciple."

"The impermanence of worldly affairs, nothing more than this!"

Luo Chen stood at the gate of Xieyue Valley, a bitter smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

But with things this way, all the various things he had painstakingly done for the Luotian Society seemed very ironic.

"With me leaving, the Luotian Society that was just established will likely exist in name only!"

He knew very well that the true core of the Luotian Society was not the combat-powerful Wang Yuan, nor the hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators below, but himself as an alchemist.

With him leaving, the Luotian Society lost its core and didn’t have a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Falling apart might happen in the blink of an eye.

"How should I explain this to them?"

Luo Chen raised his head and looked at the black-bottomed gold-gilded sign that had just been hung on the low city wall.

The three big characters "Luotian Society" were shining brightly.

Murong Qinglian had even inlaid silver edges on both sides according to his preferences.

"Good day, President!"

"President, you’re back!"

Luo Chen opened his mouth, and in the end, only said one thing.

"You’ve worked hard."

The two night-watch cultivators said with a smile that it wasn’t hard work.

How could it not be hard work?

This Xieyue Valley isn’t some place with a spirit vein.

Oh, there is a branch of a spirit vein, but it was sealed off by Luo Chen.

What others can enjoy is only the negligible wisps of spiritual energy that leak out.

Approximately equal to nothing.

Amidst the greetings of the night-watch cultivators, Luo Chen entered the Luotian Society with complex feelings.

Under the lush trees, someone was waiting for him.

"You’re back."

"Hmm."

"Miao Wen took you away in a hurry; did something happen?"

Wang Yuan frowned, "I heard that a rare battle broke out a thousand miles downstream from Dahefang; it wouldn’t have anything to do with you, would it!"

Luo Chen smiled bitterly, "How could it not!"

He held nothing back and told Wang Yuan the whole story from beginning to end.

When he finally said that Pang Renxiong had taken him as a disciple and was taking him away tomorrow afternoon, Wang Yuan lost his composure in a rare display.

He stood there blankly, speechless for a long time.

After a long while, he looked at Luo Chen with a complex expression.

"I remembered a sentence you once said."

"Hmm..." Luo Chen’s mind was elsewhere, as if he were wandering beyond the heavens.

Wang Yuan’s expression was nostalgic, as if he had fallen into memories.

"Back then, I brought you back to headquarters, but you were noticed by Mi Shuhua, who forced you to join the Po Shan Gang."

"At that time, I felt very guilty for implicating you and making you lose your freedom."

"But you comforted me instead, saying you didn’t blame me. Because as long as you still needed to earn spirit stones for cultivation, you would be noticed sooner or later. Without the Po Shan Gang, there would be the Dajiang Gang, the Li family, the Duan family, or even Core Formation sects, the Six Great Upper Sects."

"At that time, I didn’t take it to heart and just agreed with you on the surface."

"Now it seems, it was truly predicted by you."

"It actually turned out to be one of the Six Great Upper Sects, the Yuding Sword Sect, and invited personally by a Core Formation True Person."

The rambling words brought Luo Chen back from his wandering thoughts.

He smiled bitterly, "Who could have thought it would be a direct hit."

He walked slowly out of the shade, facing the moonlight, and walked to the side of the pond formed by diverted mountain spring water.

"First Mi Shuhua, then Miao Wen, and now Pang Renxiong of the Yuding Sword Sect."

"Hehe, I, Luo Chen, have unknowingly become a servant of three masters."

Hearing these bitter, self-deprecating words, Wang Yuan shook his head.

"Why be like this? Perhaps that Core Formation True Person really wants to cultivate you? You also said he called you a fine disciple, which shows he holds great goodwill toward you."

"Really, Brother Wang?"

Luo Chen turned his head and looked at Wang Yuan blankly.

Wang Yuan frowned; he found that Luo Chen’s state didn’t seem right.

The Luo Chen of the past, no matter what harsh environment he was in, always held an attitude of finding joy in suffering.

Even when Mi Shuhua died and he was constrained by the sect’s Foundation Establishment Miao Wen, he never admitted defeat.

Instead, he led the Luotian Society to fight a beautiful turnaround battle and gained a certain degree of autonomy.

But looking at him now, he was full of confusion.

Is it confusion about the future?

Or the huge sense of powerlessness from being unable to resist a Core Formation cultivator?

Wang Yuan sighed and patted Luo Chen on the shoulder.

"Think on the bright side, at least that is a very generous senior!"

Yeah!

He is indeed very generous!

Luo Chen took out a bottle of Spirit Elixirs and casually handed it to Wang Yuan.

"Second-grade Spirit Elixirs, he gave me several bottles. You should be able to use them; this is also the last gift I give you before I leave, little brother."

Wang Yuan looked at the jade bottle and didn’t reach out to take it.

"Don’t worry about me. If I really go into a big sect, with my skills, I won’t be short of this bottle or two of elixirs."

Luo Chen smiled self-deprecatingly, "I am, after all, a noble alchemist!"

After saying that, he stuffed the jade bottle into Wang Yuan’s hand.

What a "noble"!

For some reason, Wang Yuan only felt the jade bottle in his hand was so heavy.

"It’s a pity, I’ve almost finished researching that second-grade Blood Fiend Elixir formula."

"But I won’t have the chance to refine a few bottles for you, Brother Wang."

The Yuding Sword Sect is located in the hinterland of the Yuding Domain and is a prosperous place that gathers the essence of the domain.

It is thousands of miles away from Dahefang.

After this parting, I fear it will be hard for the two of us to meet for several years.

Wang Yuan opened his mouth, but in the end, didn’t say anything.

He accompanied Luo Chen as they walked around Xieyue Valley.

Patiently listening to the other party ramble.

"If I leave, what should the Luotian Society do?"

"Brother Wang, do you want to take over? I know you actually had the experience of managing a faction in the secular world. As long as you settle down, you can still use the Luotian Society to collect cultivation resources for yourself."

"No interest? That’s true, you are a cultivation fanatic now."

"This piece of land, it wasn’t actually like this before; I remember it was a first-grade spirit field. In winter, Yuan Dongsheng would even cast the Four Seasons Like Spring formation on it, it was really warm. Once I hid inside to read, and he kicked me out in disgust."

"The Elixir Hall, I spent a lot of effort on it. Back when Old Man Mi was still here, I plucked so much wool from him to build it this well."

"In the future, I don’t know who will benefit from it."

"Tell me, how should I face Sister-in-law Murong, Caiyi, and the others tomorrow?"

"Cough, cough..."

"I’m reluctant!"

"Actually, I also know that this trip is a mix of good and bad fortune, perhaps there will be more good, after all, I have a better and bigger platform."

"But I’m used to hanging around among low-level cultivators, I’m really not used to, or rather, I have no experience with sect life."

"I don’t know if that Pang Renxiong has any rivals in the sect, and if he will take his anger out on me, a small Qi Refining cultivator."

"However, if I go, I should be given a Foundation Establishment Pill for free, right? When Sister Xiuxiu went to the Divine Talisman Sect, others promised her one, I don’t know if she succeeded in Foundation Establishment now."

"Cough, cough..."

"Brother Wang, you say..."

Wang Yuan interrupted him.

"Stop talking, go get some good rest!"

"Your heart is in chaos!"

Luo Chen opened his mouth, then sighed dejectedly.

He entered the stone room that Mi Shuhua had once built for him alone, opened the formation, and fell into a deep sleep.

This time, he put down the daily cultivation he had insisted on for many years.

The next day.

In the Luotian Society.

In the newly built hall that inherited the name of the Po Shan Gang’s Haoyue Hall.

Luo Chen announced his decision to the senior members of the Luotian Society.

Everyone was incredibly shocked that a mere rogue cultivator could be favored by a Core Formation cultivator.

But after the shock, they felt it was a matter of course.

After all, Luo Chen’s alchemy talent was truly terrifying.

Thus, congratulations and well-wishes kept coming from everyone’s mouths.

Luo Chen accepted these congratulations.

He could feel that most of them were heartfelt.

Only Elder Zeng Wen of the Golden Hall was unwilling.

However, after Luo Chen gave him five bottles of high-grade Zhongmiao Pills, he became sincere as well, even wiping away tears he had forced out.

Luo Chen saw very clearly that beneath these congratulations, there was loneliness and confusion in the depths of everyone’s eyes.

Everyone knew very well that once Luo Chen left, the Luotian Society would truly exist in name only.

And then, where should they go?

"It hasn’t reached the point of direct dissolution."

Luo Chen smiled, "I thought of some things for everyone this morning, perhaps you can use them."

"Feng Xia, Xiaoyue!"

Feng Xia and Yuan Xiaoyue, who had rushed over in a hurry today, were stunned and immediately stood up.

Luo Chen waved his hand, signaling them to continue sitting and talking.

"Now that the demonic cultivator who framed the Yuding Sword Sect has been eradicated, the Dao Discussion Platform will naturally reopen."

"So some small businesses can also be started, like your milk tea and snack business."

"I still have a few small gadgets I developed before; when the time comes, take them out, expand production and operation, and you can earn quite a bit of money."

Luo Chen smiled and took out a few secret recipes, handing them to Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi.

What was written on them were all the little gadgets he had modified for the cultivation world when he was bored before.

Such as ice cream, spirit fruit shaved ice, monster meat barbecue, etc.

As long as they are linked to spiritual energy, these things shouldn’t be hard to sell after the Dao Discussion Platform reopens.

"Of course, these cannot become pillar industries."

Luo Chen looked at Duan Feng, who had been notified in advance, and the other party nodded at him immediately.

"If you can’t refine elixirs, you can also cast weapons!"

"Duan Feng is very good at repairing magic tools; he can also take a few apprentices to learn the technology."

"And the main profit point should be placed on recycling second-hand magic tools, buying low and selling high."

"Actually, this was also a plan I had from the beginning, but it wasn’t the right time, so I didn’t say it."

"In addition, the business in the mountains, it’s not like you can’t do it."

Listening to Luo Chen’s arrangements one by one, and his sincere concern for them in every sentence.

Everyone’s hearts gradually settled down.

At the same time, the way they looked at Luo Chen became more and more respectful.

Even though the President was about to head toward a great future, he was still thinking of them.

In the cold cultivation world, this is truly an anomaly.

It is precisely because of this difference that they respect this President, who is much younger than them, from the bottom of their hearts!

"That’s about it."

"Before I leave, I will greet Deacon Miao and ask the Yuding Sword Pavilion to take care of the Luotian Society."

"Plus, with the powerful Hall Master Wang Yuan, you can still be like fish in water in Dahefang."

Luo Chen stood up and took a storage bag from Murong Qinglian’s hand.

Inside it was the profit generated by the Jade Marrow Pill during this period.

Luo Chen only took his own share, about five thousand spirit stones.

The rest were counted as daily consumption for the Luotian Society.

As for those previous resources, he didn’t intend to take them either; even if he didn’t leave, those things would have to be used in this organization.

Watching Luo Chen stand up, with a rustle, everyone stood up in tacit understanding.

A group of people walked toward the outside of the Luotian Society.

Other cultivators in the society didn’t know what had happened.

But seeing these people acting collectively, with reluctance to part in their eyes, they all had a bad premonition in their hearts.

Luo Chen walked all the way and finally stepped out of the gate of the Luotian Society.

He turned his head back, and the figures one by one, the familiar faces one by one, made him choke up a bit.

Wang Yuan, Murong Qinglian, Qin Liangchen, Gu Caiyi, Duan Feng, Granny Yuan, Zeng Wen, Feng Xia, Yuan Xiaoyue, Sima Sanxiu...

Even, from the corner, he saw Qu Lingjun standing beside Tang Quan, as well as Mili who had rushed over in a hurry.

"President!"

Someone shouted.

Luo Chen seemed not to hear it, turned around, and just waved his hand.

When he flew a few miles away, he could still vaguely hear the farewells wishing him a smooth journey.

"Goodbye, Dahefang!"

Luo Chen flew in the sky, overlooking the familiar scenes of the outer city area below.

This place was where he had once struggled.

The confusion at the beginning of his transmigration, the longing when he first learned that cultivation could lead to longevity.

And the excitement of refining the first furnace of Zhongmiao Pills, the pleasure of breaking through realms, the fear and excitement of killing enemies across levels, and even the unwillingness of being suppressed by Mi Shuhua...

Everything will become a thing of the past.

His speed was very slow, as if he was afraid that if he walked too fast, he would forget every blade of grass and tree here.

Suddenly, Luo Chen stopped.

He turned around and looked helplessly at the back.

"That’s enough, go back!"

Two figures flew out of the alley below in a sorry state.

Liu Qiang smiled and touched the back of his head.

Zhou Yuanli said seriously, "As long as you don’t leave Dahefang for a day, we will always have the responsibility to protect you."

"Don’t you know I’m more powerful than both of you combined?" Luo Chen was speechless.

Zhou Yuanli just remained silent.

"Forget it, suit yourselves!"

Luo Chen was helpless and continued to fly toward the inner city.

It was already very late, it was noon now, and he was afraid that if he arrived late, he would make that future master unhappy.

He didn’t need to go to the Sihe Academy; when Feng Xia came over in the morning, she had brought some of his worthless little belongings.

While flying, Luo Chen thought of some things he hadn’t thought of before.

"Yuanli, after I leave, help me take care of Lingjun more!"

"You know, I actually value that little brat very much and have always wanted to cultivate him into an alchemist to help me in the future."

"Qu Hancheng probably doesn’t have many years to live; he was seriously injured when the furnace exploded back then."

"Once he is gone, the Qu family won’t have any Qi Refining cultivators, and Qu Lingjun will have a very difficult time."

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang followed on his left and right as usual.

Hearing these words, he just kept making "Hmm," "Hmm" sounds.

Luo Chen didn’t mind; he knew the other party had listened.

Calculating, Zhou Yuanli was also about to advance to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

With such a steady senior taking care of him, as long as Qu Lingjun doesn’t provoke experts, he can still live very smoothly in the future.

Just like Tang Quan, even if Zeng Wen wasn’t very responsible, Tang Quan still lived better than many rogue cultivators.

Sending a friend a thousand miles, one must eventually say goodbye!

When Luo Chen arrived at the gate of the inner city, the two behind him stopped in tacit understanding.

In the past, they also sent him here, and that would end the day’s guard work.

Luo Chen, as before, didn’t look back and just waved his hand.

"I’m off!"

After saying that, he prepared to step into the inner city.

But just at the moment he was about to take a step, he suddenly raised his head.

In the inner city, three terrifyingly extreme auras erupted under the scorching sun.

"Run!!!"