Chapter 196: Ghost Generals Clash, Joyfully Acquiring Little Black

Silence.

In an instant, everyone fell silent.

Indeed!

Although they spoke of watching out for each other, if they did not establish a leader, it would be hard to guarantee that someone wouldn't shrink back when real problems arose.

At a time like this, a leader was certainly needed to issue orders.

However, a leader would have more or less the power to mobilize the cultivators of each faction.

When the time came to face battle, they could send others to serve as the vanguard.

In this way, couldn't they preserve their own strength?

Li Yixian and Nangong Jin exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit agreement.

They were cultivation families with the fewest cultivators, and they also had many mortal descendants in tow.

If someone really made them go to their deaths...

"Hahaha!"

A hearty laugh rang out abruptly.

Facing the three's surprised gazes, Luo Chen cupped his hands with natural ease: "Gang Leader Wang possesses Foundation Establishment Level 3 cultivation, and is only a step away from the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment; he is the strongest among us."

"His Dahe Gang is even more numerous and powerful, traversing north and south."

"If we are to travel far on this journey, we must certainly rely on the transport capabilities of the Dahe Gang."

"In my opinion, let Gang Leader Wang be the leader!"

After saying this.

He ignored the astonishment of Nangong and Li.

"Two fellow Daoists, what do you say?"

Waves rose in Nangong Jin's heart; he had originally thought Luo Chen would fight with all his might for this leading position.

After all, among the four major factions, the Luo Tian Society was definitely a latecomer that surpassed the others in terms of the number of Foundation Establishment experts.

There was Luo Chen, Wang Yuan, and a Tier 2 Explosive Ape.

Yet he hadn't expected Luo Chen to give up this "leader" position so easily.

Li Yixian looked at Luo Chen's calm and composed expression; after her initial shock, she, being clever and quick-witted, began to weigh the deeper meaning behind it.

She looked again at Wang Haichao, whose mouth was slightly curled, and felt thoughtful.

"This Luo Chen has truly grasped Wang Haichao's psychology."

After figuring out the key point, she no longer hesitated.

She echoed Luo Chen's words.

"Alchemist Danchenzi is right; among our generation of cultivators, strength is respected. Gang Leader Wang is indeed worthy of the leader's position."

Nangong Jin frowned.

Having no better choice, he could not refute the two at this moment.

He had no choice but to follow suit: "To speak the truth, indeed."

Luo Chen looked at him with surprise, which made Nangong Jin feel puzzled.

Is he blaming me for not supporting him?

In reality, Luo Chen just felt that he had left out the three words "pure passerby."

When all three reached a consensus.

Their gazes all fell upon Wang Haichao.

He revealed a smile and cupped his hands.

"I am honored by everyone's regard."

"Since that is the case, let me, Wang, temporarily serve in this leader's position!"

"No, since it is an alliance, it should be called Alliance Master."

The three did not hesitate and all nodded.

After deciding this matter, the topic returned to the initial issue.

Where to go!

"Since I was the one who started this, let me share my thoughts!"

Luo Chen was not timid: "Previously, I discussed with the cultivators in the society. The places suitable for us to station and cultivate are definitely not deep mountains or great marshes. In such places, without Golden Core level cultivation, one simply cannot hold the fort."

Several people nodded in agreement.

Any Foundation Establishment faction, whether it be a fallen sect or a small cultivation family, mostly relies on large sects or large marketplaces to survive.

They cannot occupy good places!

In bad places, they cannot keep their own people.

Only sect marketplaces that are neither good nor bad allow them to obtain resources for survival and cultivation in the cracks.

Only with people can there be trade.

Cultivating alone is merely closing one's door to build a cart; it is far inferior to gathering together.

"Therefore, the places we can go are actually few in choice."

"Snow Lotus Marketplace, Taishan Marketplace, Flowing Light Marketplace, and... Tianlan Xiancheng."

After finishing, he closed his mouth and said nothing more.

He threw the topic to the three.

Being cultivators who had lingered in the vicinity for many years, the three quickly gave various opinions.

"Snow Lotus Marketplace is my old home; the Nangong family originally moved from there."

Nangong Jin shook his head: "But that place is not suitable for development."

"In the early years, there were frequent attacks by snow beasts. My Nangong family was on the verge of the Great Snowy Mountain, and we truly had no other choice but to decide to move."

"Although in the past few years, Snow Lotus Marketplace has been strangely quiet for a period."

"But in the last two years, I heard that Frost Giant Wolves have frequently attacked the marketplace."

"Additionally, Snow Lotus Marketplace is under the direct jurisdiction of the Golden Core sect, Ice Fortress. If we go there, we will certainly be under others' control."

The first one, Snow Lotus Marketplace, which was closest to Dahe Marketplace, was ruled out.

This was within expectations.

Accustomed to the normal four-season climate of Dahe Marketplace, a place like Snow Lotus Marketplace was indeed not very suitable for a family to raise descendants.

"What about Flowing Light Marketplace?" Luo Chen asked curiously.

Nangong Jin shook his head: "I don't know much about that."

"Let me speak!"

Li Yixian took over the conversation: "That place is truly too barren. In the early years, it was a mining site for the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. After the mining ended, it was abandoned."

"In the early years, Flowing Light Marketplace's casting and mineral business was booming. Because of this business, the Bai family of Flowing Light Marketplace even fought a battle with our Dahe Marketplace's Duan family."

"But now, the Bai family is also gradually declining, and it is very likely they will move away too."

Luo Chen was thoughtful.

In that case, Flowing Light Marketplace was also ruled out.

Wang Haichao smiled freely: "Why not go to Taishan Marketplace!"

"Does the Alliance Master have any insights?" Luo Chen asked with a smile.

Wang Haichao spoke eloquently: "Taishan Marketplace possesses the land of three mountains. Although the spiritual veins are scattered, it is suitable for us to live."

"Additionally, I have some friendship with several Foundation Establishment factions there."

"When the time comes, we can negotiate, and perhaps we can take root."

Li Yixian asked curiously: "I remember the ancestor of the Huo family in Taishan Marketplace has a cultivation level as high as Foundation Establishment Level 6 and is narrow-minded. In the entire Taishan Marketplace, his personal strength is respected. If we go, we will suddenly be four Foundation Establishment cultivators; can he tolerate us?"

The Huo family of Red Toad Mountain in Taishan Marketplace was also a Foundation Establishment family with a heritage of hundreds of years.

Moreover, they had a good relationship with the Golden Core sect, the Flame Alliance, and family cultivators often joined the Flame Alliance year-round.

It could be said that their own strength was strong, and their background was extremely deep.

The family ancestor, Huo Quan, had stepped into the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment long ago and was very protective of his own.

Under his protection, the Huo family's momentum had been rising steadily over the years, and they had already challenged the Kang family of Taishan, vaguely being hailed as the number one cultivation family of Taishan Marketplace.

Facing Li Yixian's curiosity, Wang Haichao's expression froze.

After a long while, he hesitantly said: "With the four of us Foundation Establishment cultivators coming forward, he should give us this face, right?"

After all that, he wasn't even sure!

Luo Chen twitched the corner of his mouth: "We'll see when the time comes; Taishan Marketplace is the first choice!"

Everyone nodded; at least they had a direction.

As for Tianlan Xiancheng, which Luo Chen had proposed, no one discussed it.

The distance was simply too far.

If it were a single person traveling alone, perhaps they could arrive quickly.

But if dragging families along, it would take at least several months.

Several months?

It seems like a short time, but the journey is long, and it is very easy to encounter danger on the road.

When the Fu family moved here, it was a journey full of hardships.

If it weren't for the excessive losses on the way, they wouldn't have been easily wiped out by Luo Chen leading the Luo Tian Society later.

Next, the four discussed many things.

When to leave?

How to leave?

How to handle the things left behind?

If they encounter danger on the road, how should each family contribute?

Upon arriving at the new place, under what name should they band together, and so on.

This meeting of the preliminary alliance became extremely long, and even developed into trivial matters towards the end.

If one didn't know that the four were Foundation Establishment True Persons with accomplished cultivation.

To mortals, they would probably look like a few businessmen haggling over every penny.

It was not until late at night that Wang, Li, and Nangong dispersed.

After they left, Luo Chen sat in the hall, rubbing his forehead.

"Come in!"

He said casually, and Sima Hui Niang walked in on tiptoe.

"President, is everything settled?"

"Yes. During this period, all major factions will probably spare no effort to collect resources they can take away. You send people to restrain the Luo Tian Society cultivators and try not to conflict with them."

"I understand this."

Sima Hui Niang nodded, then asked curiously: "Why did the President not fight for the position of Alliance Master?"

Luo Chen sneered.

"Alliance Master?"

"It's not that easy to be!"

Facing Sima Hui Niang's confusion.

Luo Chen was not stingy in clearing up her doubts.

She was the President of the Luo Tian Society, and all kinds of big and small affairs were executed and decided by her personally.

Many things seem small, but in reality, they have far-reaching influences.

But in the cultivation world, many decisions cannot just look at the present; one needs to look far enough ahead.

And cultivators are limited by their realm; many things truly make one unable to see the forest for the trees.

When Luo Chen was in the Qi Refining stage, he suffered many losses due to lack of experience.

He didn't want Sima Hui Niang to suffer similar losses.

Otherwise, what would be damaged would not only be Sima Hui Niang's interests, but more importantly, his own interests.

With the help of his vision, Sima Hui Niang could see further!

"Alliance Master, it's not that easy to be."

Luo Chen's gaze was distant, as if crossing time and space, seeing the situation after the four major factions set off not long after.

"On the road, there will surely be wind and rain, and twists and turns."

"As the leader of the alliance, the Alliance Master will inevitably be laborious."

"Where there are people, there must be conflicts of interest. With so many of us going to a strange place, how many people's interests do you think will be damaged?"

"Don't think that because the four families are allied, they can be invincible."

"The conflicts of interest among people in a region are far deeper than we imagine."

"Just like Hearing Mi Shuhua back then, he seemed to be a lone Foundation Establishment cultivator, but in reality, who knew he had Miao Wen behind him? Who knew he was also a long-time friend of Duan Qiankun? Would we know if he had other allies?"

"Why do you think the Dahe Gang, the Lianyun Alliance, plus the five major Foundation Establishment families, all took action at the same time? Wasn't it just for fear of not killing the snake and suffering the consequences?"

Seeing Sima Hui Niang's enlightened look.

Luo Chen showed appreciation in his eyes and continued:

"In this situation."

"The Alliance Master with the highest status will inevitably be the number one enemy of those whose interests are damaged locally. The danger to be faced is a hundred times that of ours!"

"The gun hits the bird that sticks its head out, and the knife cuts the local snake; that is the principle."

Sima Hui Niang suddenly realized.

But then, she asked in confusion: "Since that's the case, why did Wang Haichao agree?"

"Didn't he think of it?"

Luo Chen chuckled: "Such an old fox, how could he not think of such a simple principle."

"Then why?"

"Very simple, this is an open conspiracy; he had to agree. In fact, it was he who actively fought for the position of Alliance Master!"

Facing Sima Hui Niang's confusion.

Luo Chen chuckled: "He is not like the Li family or the Nangong family, which have blood ties and can take everyone away."

"The cohesion of the Dahe Gang is also completely inferior to our Luo Tian Society."

"Yes! Their Dahe Gang has also experienced many storms, but most of them had external forces intervening, and the benefits obtained were shared out a lot."

"The subordinates are mostly dissatisfied."

"And this person, who seems elegant and easygoing, is actually narrow-minded and cannot tolerate strong people under him."

"If we talk about the past, that Broken Blade Xu Renke must have defected to him long ago. As a result, on the debate stage, he let the Broken Blade waste Gao Tingyuan's substitute puppet, destroyed his dantian, and made him unable to establish a foundation for life."

"This kind of thing cannot be hidden from others."

"Aunt, what did Senior Danchenzi say?"

Luo Chen paused.

He looked at Sima Hui Niang and sighed: "I want to leave, and you all will follow me; why is that?"

Sima Hui Niang said without hesitation: "Because you, the President, have never treated us unfairly; following you, everyone has a bright future!"

Receiving such sincere praise, Luo Chen was not humble at all.

He nodded and asked again: "Then, if you were in his shoes, if Wang Haichao wanted to leave, would you follow him wholeheartedly?"

"Uh..."

"When you hesitate, it means you already have the answer."

Luo Chen smiled slightly and drank the cooled spiritual tea in one gulp.

"He, Wang Haichao, has no blood ties, no benefits to move people's hearts, and no prestige to convince the masses."

"If he wants to take enough people away, what does he rely on?"

"Relying on the title of Foundation Establishment True Person? Hehe, this thing is really not that valuable. Loose cultivators think very simply; at worst, they just leave and switch to another faction to continue cultivating."

Sima Hui Niang felt as if she had been enlightened.

Through Luo Chen's guidance, she instantly connected the key points.

"So, he needs the title of Alliance Master!"

Sima Hui Niang affirmed: "Only the position of Alliance Master of the four-family alliance can temporarily suppress the thoughts of many loose cultivators."

"And, in this way, it also cuts off the possibility of those loose cultivators defecting to us."

"President, is that so!"

Luo Chen nodded, indicating approval.

Loose cultivators without a sect to rely on are just like this.

Even if they are Foundation Establishment True Persons, their lives will not be much better.

Wang Haichao relies on the Dahe Gang; even if he can't afford good things like magic treasures in the short term, at least the resources used for cultivation will not be lacking.

If he loses the Dahe Gang to drive,

He has no special skills; where can he earn spirit stones?

Serving as a guest for those fallen small sects or cultivation families?

Stop joking.

In the current Eastern Wasteland cultivation world, the general price for a Foundation Establishment guest is only two or three thousand spirit stones a month.

After deducting the monthly cultivation needs, how many spirit stones can be left?

You say save money for a few years, stop cultivating, and save money to buy magic treasures; isn't this choking on food to avoid hunger?

If one doesn't achieve Golden Core and the lifespan ends, won't the treasures in hand become the legacy opportunities for descendants to explore?

Moreover, there are not many families that can offer this price.

Only he, Luo Chen, is rich and imposing!

And, it was also because Wang Yuan was his brother that he generously gave such treatment.

Wang Haichao cannot do without the support of the Dahe Gang.

And he, Luo Chen?

But it is not that he must have the Luo Tian Society.

Changing to another place, relying on the title of Alchemist, he can completely make a comeback.

The reason he decided to take the Luo Tian Society is, firstly, there are many of his friends here.

Secondly, everyone trusts him.

Thirdly, those people in the Alchemist Hall are truly very handy for him to use.

And, if he wants to go out.

With a large number of people guarding, safety can also be sufficiently guaranteed.

"If we can take root in Taishan Marketplace, it is undoubtedly the best."

"It is far enough from Dahe Marketplace, the crisis of the Ghost King cannot threaten us for the time being, and that place is not so strange."

"If not..."

Luo Chen's gaze was deep, and he had already begun to make backup plans.

He was never the type to put all his eggs in one basket.

Even when he was under Hearing Mi Shuhua's control, he was prepared to run away at any time.

Just didn't expect.

He wanted to run many times before, but for various reasons, he didn't succeed.

This time, he was the one who actively wanted to leave.

"You go down and get busy!"

"The departure time is set for two months later; all loose ends must be handled well!"

Sima Hui Niang bowed and saluted.

"Obey the President's order!"

One month later.

Late at night.

In the Green Thatch House, Bai Meiling shivered and hid in the corner, not daring to approach Luo Chen.

What she feared was not Luo Chen.

But the banner Luo Chen held in his hand.

Soul Refining Banner!

Luo Chen looked at the unfolded banner with suspicion.

Just this evening, while refining pills, this Soul Refining Banner underwent a mutation.

Bursts of chaotic aura could not be concealed and spread out from within.

It even almost caused his pill refining to fail.

He rushed back, opened it, and found that the dozens of ghost soldiers he had captured in the Soul Refining Banner had all disappeared.

Inside the entire banner, only two figures remained.

One was Duan Qiankun, and the other was Luo Tianhong.

The two figures devoured those dozens of ghost soldiers, and their bodies were much more solid than before.

And the commotion in the evening was caused by the battle between the two.

"I only know that one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, but I didn't expect that a mere magic tool couldn't tolerate two Ghost Generals."

Duan Qiankun's remnant soul was extracted by Luo Chen from Wang Yuan's body when he returned to Little Huan Mountain.

At that time, it was placed in the Soul Refining Banner, and he didn't pay much attention to it.

Didn't expect that after two months, it would develop to such a point.

Looking at the two ghosts that were full of ghost energy and constantly erupting in battle.

Luo Chen sighed; by this time, he had already reacted.

"After all, the grade of this Soul Refining Banner is too low; being able to accommodate a Tier 2 ghost object is already the limit."

"Two, instead, will devour each other."

This is the defect of the Soul Refining Banner.

Magic tool level can accommodate at most a hundred souls, and there can only be one Tier 2 ghost object.

Only when it reaches the magic treasure level can it accommodate a thousand souls, ten thousand souls, or even millions or tens of millions.

In that case, let alone Tier 2 ghost objects, even Tier 3 Ghost Kings could be accommodated in several numbers.

By then, the internal space of the Soul Refining Banner itself could form a ghost domain!

"Fine, let you fight!"

"Decide the winner, and save me the trouble of controlling you."

Under Luo Chen's gaze.

The battle inside the Soul Refining Banner became increasingly white-hot.

Luo Tianhong lost the Rotten Chess Piece and was severely injured by Luo Chen, so his strength plummeted.

But because he was born in the ghost domain, his foundation was deep and he could withstand the tossing.

Duan Qiankun's soul was old and no longer had the climate, and was robbed of spirit by Wang Yuan, becoming only a remnant soul of resentment.

But his restriction methods, even if only belonging to the soul, could be instinctively displayed.

The two fought, instead presenting a situation of being evenly matched.

But, there will eventually be an ending!

Luo Tianhong won!

This is a matter-of-course ending.

Duan Qiankun's lifespan was already exhausted before his death, and his soul was old and rotten.

The remnant soul formed only hated those who destroyed his Duan family.

But Luo Tianhong was in his prime when he fell on the path.

Holding a persistent obsession, he was born in that ghost domain.

He is a ghost of obsession; his ferocity may not be as good as a fierce ghost, but his survival instinct is far higher than ordinary Ghost Generals.

After such a long battle, the one who lost could only be Duan Qiankun.

In that banner, the victorious Luo Tianhong followed his instinct to crazily devour the loser's remnant soul.

Not long after, he devoured everything.

And his originally illusory body became more solid.

Even more, ghost energy armor slowly fitted to his side, wrapping the ghost body.

Luo Chen's heart moved.

This Ghost General appeared in the small house.

It subconsciously left the fire spring side and moved closer to the ice spring range.

Standing in front of Luo Chen, it hissed in a low voice, trying to approach, but subconsciously feared and retreated.

Such a contradictory scene made Bai Meiling, who was shivering in the corner, laugh "hee hee."

Luo Chen shook his head and immediately cast a Soul-Suppressing Technique.

The powerful soul foundation, plus the identity of the master of the Soul Refining Banner, directly made it kneel by his side.

"It would be inappropriate to keep calling you Luo Tianhong; it shows a lack of respect for you in life, and it is also prone to causing trouble."

"From now on, I'll call you... Little Black!"

Little Black froze for a moment, then lay on the ground even more respectfully.

The Soul-Suppressing Technique is not so easy to bear for a ghost without a shell.

After giving the name.

Luo Chen checked Little Black's status.

After successively devouring more than a dozen ghost soldiers, plus the remnant soul of Duan Qiankun, a Foundation Establishment True Person.

Its state had returned to its peak.

Even, it had a little more intelligence.

If judged by combat power, it was already a genuine Tier 2 combat power.

"Little Red ran away, and Little Black came."

"Heh..."

Luo Chen chuckled and put Little Black into the Soul Refining Banner.

Turning back, he looked at Bai Meiling seriously.

"How is the Soul Refining True Art going?"

"Yi yi..."

"Entered the gate?"

Luo Chen's eyes lit up: "That's a good thing, come with me for a trip!"

Bai Meiling drilled into the ghost mill ignorantly and was taken away from Little Huan Mountain by Luo Chen under the cover of night.

When the moon was in the middle of the sky, Luo Chen's footsteps fell outside the inner city gate.

He looked cautiously in the direction of Falling Phoenix Mountain, then stepped in.

As soon as he entered the door.

He noticed three wandering ghosts nearby.

Luo Chen's spiritual sense moved, urging the Soul-Suppressing Technique, and immediately activated the intake effect.

The three ghosts, as if being grabbed, were brought to his side.

Thump!

The ghost mill fell.

The three ghosts were directly thrown onto the millstone.

Looking at the dazed Bai Meiling, Luo Chen pursed his lips.

"Push!"

Bai Meiling froze and subconsciously pushed the ghost mill.

Under her push, the three weak ghosts were soon crushed into strands of pure soul power amidst whimpering sounds.

Looking at these pure soul powers.

Luo Chen's soul emitted a burst of longing power, and he couldn't help but want to devour it.

Swallowing his saliva, Luo Chen forcibly resisted this feeling.

After being crushed by the ghost mill, the soul power on it already carried Bai Meiling's will.

Because this was Bai Meiling's companion magic tool.

"Operate the Soul Refining True Art and devour it all!"

"Yi yi..."

Bai Meiling babbled for a while, then opened her mouth to inhale, sucking the pure soul power into her body.

Under the operation of the Soul Refining True Art, it completely merged with her body.

Looking at this scene, the hunger from Luo Chen's soul finally dissipated completely.

"Sucking like this is much better than Little Black's barbaric devouring; at least one can maintain sanity."

After Little Black devoured the remnant soul, it became even more fierce.

Bai Meiling was different.

The expression on her face became lively.

As long as this happens a few more times.

She will eventually recover her memories from before she was alive.

By then, Luo Chen will also let her meet Feng Xia and others.

Forget it for now!

If both sides meet, it will only increase the sadness.

"That's it for today."

Looking at Bai Meiling, who was patting her little belly, looking full.

Luo Chen shook his head and smiled.

Leaving the ghost city, walking on the increasingly desolate streets of the outer city.

Luo Chen began to think about how to continue to increase his soul foundation.

For now, he did not dare to take the Soul-Penetrating Pill again.

It's not that the Tier 1 Soul-Penetrating Pill has no effect on him at all.

But he is afraid!

He is afraid that when he breaks through to Foundation Establishment, the barrier of pill poison will appear on his soul.

"After Golden Core, spiritual sense evolves into divine sense; only then do Qi Refiners begin to gradually turn to refining spirit and refining Qi in parallel."

"I heard that Nascent Soul is even more about the soul turning into an infant, gaining a second life."

"The soul is so important, it must not go wrong!"

Without the premise of removing pill poison, the Soul-Penetrating Pill cannot be taken for the time being.

In this way, he must think of other ways to increase his soul foundation.

Luo Chen knows the benefits of a strong soul very well.

He was able to impact the Foundation Establishment stage five times in a row, relying not only on a strong physique, but also on the soul that can freely manipulate the spiritual power in his body!

If it were someone else?

They would have been covered in bruises by the out-of-control spiritual power during the first failure.

When breaking through to Golden Core later, whether the soul is strong or not will only be more important!

"Bright Spirit Breaking Evil is still only in the perfect stage; perhaps I can consider using evil energy to cultivate?"

"Evil energy..."

Looking at the mountain range of Little Huan Mountain, Luo Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

It's the 31st, does everyone still have tickets? Little Rain wants them.

End of chapter. ===== CHAPTER 197 =====