Chapter 343: A Traveler Returning on a Snowy Night

In the Daoist Hall.

Tao Wan, who had been busy all day, returned from outside the sect.

She rubbed her brows, feeling slightly tired.

It was not physical fatigue, but mental fatigue.

A few days ago, she represented Qingdan Valley to attend a Core Formation ceremony of an affiliated sect.

That originally weak sect was not originally looked upon by Qingdan Valley.

Perhaps it was the ancestor's blessing, this generation's old Foundation Establishment Great Perfection cultivator, who gambled his life, actually luckily achieved the Core Formation stage.

In this way, it was originally just a small sect, and it suddenly became a first-rate force!

Such an appendage naturally cannot be easily perfunctory.

According to common sense, Qingdan Valley would generally send a Core Formation Elder of the same rank to congratulate.

Considering setting up connections for the current Daoist Tao Wan, Qing Yunzi sent her.

Tao Wan went happily.

The other party naturally received her grandly.

They did not feel slighted at all because Tao Wan only had the cultivation realm of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and were even quite happy.

After all, as long as Tao Wan doesn't make mistakes, she will be the Sect Master of Qingdan Valley in the future!

As long as you suck up to her, you can enjoy the shade under a big tree.

It is also the Daoist who has just become a Daoist, with few supporters, so if you enter her eyes at this time...

Therefore, it seemed extra diligent!

It's just that for Tao Wan, this trip was not only exhausting, but also meeting a bunch of new faces she had never seen before, which was quite laborious for her.

It's also a good thing!

Now Tao Yisheng is in charge of the Tao family, and she is starting to take over sect affairs.

In the next hundred years, the prosperity of the Tao family is just around the corner!

After resting for a while, Tao Wan's heart moved, and she summoned a deacon.

"Greetings, Daoist!"

Looking at this mid-stage Foundation Establishment deacon who served the Daoist specifically, Tao Wan spoke slowly.

"During this time, how is that one doing?"

Who that one is, goes without saying.

The deacon said respectfully: "He often went to the Tai Dan Academy in the first half year, but now he almost doesn't walk around there. Every day, he is either practicing or practicing spells, and even when resting, he is mostly studying classics."

A look of surprise appeared on Tao Wan's face.

"A bitter cultivator?"

As far as she knows, Luo Chen has never been associated with a bitter cultivator.

The collection of information about Luo Chen started when she decided to ask him for help.

Later, the sect elders secretly entrusted her to keep Luo Chen in Qingdan Valley temporarily, and then a group of people specifically collected detailed information about the other party after he arrived in Tianlan.

From the information, one can see that Luo Chen is a person who cannot endure loneliness, whether it is clinging to the Ice Fortress or joining forces to set up the Luo Tian Society flag in Tianlan.

But I didn't expect!

Since the other party arrived in Qingdan Valley, whether before or after the Dao Seed struggle, he has been quiet and almost never went out.

This style is very much like many Core Formation Elders in the sect who practice in seclusion and do not ask about world affairs.

And!

Although the weak Tier 3 spiritual land is good, it is a cultivation environment specially set up for powerful cultivators like Tao Wan who have reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

If it were an ordinary mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, it would be fine to practice in it for a day or two occasionally.

But to insist on not moving for months like Luo Chen.

That is a major event that is shocking.

Even Tao Wan often practices for a few days and rests for a day or two.

After all, the spiritual energy concentration is too high, and the frequent movement of spiritual energy by the cultivation technique is a great burden on the meridians and the soul.

"Is it because he encountered such an excellent place for cultivation, couldn't bear to waste it, so he grabbed every minute and every second to grit his teeth and practice?" Tao Wan muttered.

The deacon was also very emotional: "I have rarely seen such a hardworking person; if his aptitude were excellent, there would definitely be a place for him in the Yuding Core Formation. It's just a pity..."

Tao Wan knew what was a pity.

Regarding Luo Chen's aptitude, it was also in the information.

Five-element root physique, not considered waste, and even in the Five Elements God Sect, it is praised as a top-tier aptitude not inferior to the Heaven Spirit Root.

It is even higher than Tao Wan's Wind Spirit Root.

But for ordinary cultivators, it is definitely the weakest, and even equal to no aptitude.

Without massive resource supply, this generation will find it difficult to establish a foundation.

That Luo Chen was able to luckily establish a foundation shocked Tao Wan at the time.

But after Foundation Establishment, the path of cultivation will only be more difficult.

"Aptitude... resources..."

Tao Wan was thoughtful.

She vaguely figured it out.

Luo Chen, who cannot endure loneliness, is fighting for resources.

And fighting so hard for resources is also for cultivation.

Therefore, now that he has encountered the best spiritual land resources among various cultivation resources, he will naturally practice bitterly regardless of everything.

Therefore, from beginning to end, Luo Chen is still that Luo Chen.

Not contradictory!

After figuring this out, Tao Wan sighed.

"Have the resources given to me by the sect been issued?"

The deacon nodded, "Most of them are in place, and according to your instructions, Qi Lingyun, Tan Xiao, Tao Yisheng, Jia Shaoquan, Ding Kuo... these people have all been allocated quotas, and they will be issued regularly every year."

"What about the batch of top-grade Ascension Dragon Elixirs you asked me to set aside separately?"

The deacon subconsciously glanced at the side hall where Luo Chen was, and said in a low voice: "Daoist, is it for him? This, I'm afraid it's a bit..."

"Hmm?"

Tao Wan gave a light "hmm", but the tone made the deacon's body tremble subconsciously.

In a short period of time, Tao Wan has come into contact with many strong people at the Core Formation level, and her momentum and majesty have become heavier and heavier.

Living moves Qi, raising moves body, nothing more than this.

The deacon lowered his head quickly, "Everything is ready."

"Leave a portion separately every year from now on. Don't worry, it's not for free, Danchenzi will pay the equivalent spirit stones, and I will explain it to the Sect Master."

Speaking of this, Tao Wan paused.

She remembered that Luo Chen had acquired many pulse-protecting elixirs needed by Qi-refining cultivators when they establish their foundation in the market.

Those pulse-protecting elixirs are of too low a grade.

For Luo Chen to practice in the weak Tier 3 spiritual land, I fear it is of no use.

"Take a bottle of Tier 2 top-grade pulse-protecting elixirs and send them to the side hall tomorrow."

The deacon's heart trembled.

Tier 2 top-grade pulse-protecting elixir!

That is an auxiliary elixir that only a Daoist can enjoy!

One pill can protect the meridians for ten days without injury.

This thing is even more precious than the so-called pulse-moistening and deficiency-filling liquid!

In the entire Qingdan Valley, only True Person Xingyun will occasionally refine a furnace.

He had the heart to persuade, but under Tao Wan's calm expression, he had no way to speak.

He must unconditionally obey the Daoist's orders!

"Tier 2 top-grade pulse-protecting elixir!"

In the side hall, Luo Chen, who had just finished his cultivation, looked at the things sent by Deacon Chen with surprise and even shock.

Deacon Chen looked at the small bottle with envy and said:

"This was specifically ordered by my Daoist to be sent to you. Taking it before cultivation can protect the meridians from being severely injured by the impact of spiritual energy."

"You have been a bit desperate in your cultivation recently, so you must pay attention to the measure, it would not be good if you go into Qi deviation."

"The Daoist cares about you, so she sent this item."

It seems that he was afraid that Luo Chen would not understand Tao Wan's heart.

He also specifically introduced how precious this pulse-protecting elixir is.

In fact, Tao Wan never ordered these words.

But he had already decided to follow Tao Wan, so naturally, he wanted to win people's hearts for her.

After listening, Luo Chen was extremely moved.

"Deacon Chen, please thank Daoist Tao on my behalf!"

"Courtesy demands reciprocity, some time ago, with the help of True Person Xingyun of the Tai Dan Academy, I refined a furnace of beauty-preserving elixirs. Although it is of no use to cultivators of our generation, it can express my heart."

"Trouble you to pass it on."

Deacon Chen took the beauty-preserving elixir in surprise.

This thing is indeed useless, but female cultivators must like it.

This Danchenzi is really good at being a person!

After he left.

Luo Chen played with the pulse-protecting elixir, showing a thoughtful look.

Is Tao Wan judging that he needs this kind of elixir through his acquisition of low-grade pulse-protecting elixirs in the Qingdan Valley market?

But those low-grade pulse-protecting elixirs were prepared for some Qi-refining cultivators of the Luo Tian Society to establish their foundation.

For him, it is of no use.

Great success in meridian penetration, all meridians are connected, it's not a joke.

At least in this weak Tier 3 spiritual land, he only felt a slight burden, and after resting for a few hours, he could recover as before.

However, this elixir is indeed precious.

Tier 2 top-grade, Daoist exclusive!

"She has a heart."

"Now the Tai Dan Academy side hasn't invited me for two months, becoming colder and colder. She, on the contrary, hasn't changed from before, and is even more enthusiastic."

"This woman is worth befriending!"

For friends, enemies, partners, and casual acquaintances, Luo Chen distinguishes them very clearly.

He and Tao Yisheng can be considered friends, even if they are not at the point of speaking their hearts, they can talk freely.

But he and Tao Wan were only a relationship of interest entanglement from the beginning.

Now that the cooperation has clearly ended.

The other party gave him a weak Tier 3 spiritual land and pulse-protecting elixir one after another, which made Luo Chen sigh.

The arrogant appearance of Tao Wan when they first met has gradually blurred.

Instead, it has become profound, the appearance of saying that sentence "Let Wanwan do her best as a host" with a smile in the white clouds of Qingyun Peak a few months ago.

"On the path of cultivation, wind and frost are endless, swords and swords are on the body. But there are also people like Wang Yuan and Tao Wan accompanying me, so this Great Dao is not lonely."

Luo Chen smiled lightly and put the pulse-protecting elixir into his pocket.

Half a year later!

A ray of light flew out from Qingyun, passed through Yuanhua Mountain, and landed on Little South Mountain.

After a short stay, he had no nostalgia and headed toward Tianlan Immortal City.

On Little South Mountain.

Covered in frost and snow, everything is withered, but there are still many rare spiritual chrysanthemums blooming brilliantly.

Tao Yisheng looked at the gradually disappearing light, a look of loss appearing on his face.

"If he could stay for another half year, he could drink a cup of my wedding wine."

"He can't stay."

Behind him came the woman's faint voice.

Tao Yisheng turned back, "Sister."

Letting her long skirt cover the ground and touch the snow, Tao Wan walked up, vaguely crossing him by a position.

"He is not a disciple of our Qingdan Valley, staying in the Daoist Hall for a year has already caused criticism."

"Staying longer will be a disaster rather than a blessing for me and for him."

"Moreover, in Tianlan, there are his friends, his Daoist partner, and the foundation he built from scratch."

Tao Yisheng nodded.

How could he not know these truths.

After Luo Chen's guidance in the Ink Lotus Garden, he combined it with practice and gradually sorted out the interpersonal relationships of the Tao family.

Like these obvious things, he still understands.

It's just...

"Daoist partner?" Tao Yisheng was shocked, "How come I haven't heard that Luo Chen has a Daoist partner? Who is it? I haven't seen him hold a Daoist partner ceremony either?"

"Luo Tian Society President, Sima Hui Niang. Although there is no name of a Daoist partner, there is already the reality of a Daoist partner."

Tao Wan said lightly.

"It's her!"

Tao Yisheng suddenly realized.

No wonder Luo Chen held a Foundation Establishment ceremony for a female cultivator who had just entered Foundation Establishment with great fanfare.

It turns out there is this relationship inside.

"What a pity." Tao Yisheng sighed.

"What a pity?"

"It's a pity that Brother Luo has such alchemy attainments, if he could become a Daoist partner with you, sister, you are in charge of the outside, he is in charge of the inside, this vast Qingdan Valley will sooner or later be our Tao family..."

Halfway through, it stopped abruptly.

Facing the woman who was emitting a dangerous aura, Tao Yisheng retreated with a dry laugh.

"That... Miss Fu is coming to appreciate chrysanthemums tomorrow, no matter what, she is my future Daoist partner, I have to arrange it..."

While speaking, he disappeared into the snow.

Tao Wan opened her narrowed eyes, blinked her long eyelashes, and looked at the vast white snowy sky.

Clean, clear.

Finally, she smiled.

In the sky full of snow.

A small mid-grade flying boat was flying unhurriedly.

The opened defensive shield blocked the heavy snow outside.

Inside, a man in a red cloud Daoist robe sat cross-legged, looking at the void ahead with burning eyes.

The attribute panel flashed and closed.

Luo Chen took back his gaze with satisfaction.

When he came, he was at the 5th level of Foundation Establishment, when he left, he was at the 6th level of Foundation Establishment!

Just this point is worth the trip to Qingdan Valley.

If you add other gains, it is even more rewarding!

One Tier 1 alchemy formula, two Tier 2 alchemy formulas, three incomplete Tier 3 ancient alchemy formulas.

A new alchemy technique in hand.

There are several more spells, which have either broken through or been perfected in this year of practice.

Most importantly, he reached a deal with Tao Wan regarding the top-grade Ascension Dragon Elixir.

Now in his storage bag, there are forty bottles of top-grade Ascension Dragon Elixir, which cost 100, 00 low-grade spirit stones!

A bit expensive, two thousand five hundred per bottle.

But it's worth it!

Things that are priceless, it is understandable to sell them at any price.

Other major sects want this, and they can't buy it with spirit stones, they have to exchange it with corresponding resources and communicate with each other.

This batch of elixirs is enough for Luo Chen for a year.

And every year after that, Tao Wan will send him the corresponding elixir quota.

In this way, as long as there is no drug resistance, Luo Chen can rely on top-grade Ascension Dragon Elixir to accelerate cultivation.

"Although there is no weak Tier 3 spiritual land, there is top-grade elixir as a supplement, even if the cultivation speed will plummet, it is completely within the acceptable range."

Simply counting the gains, without checking them carefully like before, Luo Chen put away the attribute panel.

After all, he is on the way.

Even if Luo Chen can do many things at once, and pay attention to the situation outside, he doesn't want to suffer any sudden attacks.

He now only wants to return to Tianlan.

"I don't know if Hui Niang is used to living in my cave dwelling, I don't know how Xiao Ling's cultivation is progressing, how the Luo Tian Society is developing now, and what conditions the Heartless Fairy will treat me with..."

Thinking of the many things after returning, Luo Chen was not troubled, but smiled.

This time he left, it took a year and a half.

There were no twists and turns, but a lot of gains, and even more, the name of Danchenzi spread throughout the Yuding Domain.

Now that he is going back, he can be considered returning home in glory.

Thinking of the scene of meeting friends, talking about the Qingdan trip, and drinking and having fun after returning, Luo Chen couldn't help but inject a few more spiritual powers to speed up the flying boat.

It is precisely the heart returning like an arrow, not afraid of wind and snow.

Late at night.

Outside the snow-covered Danxia Peak.

Luo Chen put away the flying boat and landed steadily outside the mountain gate.

"Late at night, Luo Tian does not accept outside guests, stop!"

The mountain-guarding cultivator stepped forward, about to ask for his identity, but after seeing Luo Chen's face, he stepped forward and bowed excitedly.

"Greetings, President!"

"Well, thank you for your hard work." Luo Chen waved his hand with a smile, and just as he was about to go up the mountain, he asked casually, "Tonight, which True Cultivator is guarding Danxia?"

The Luo Tian Society has this tradition.

Every day, a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator is left to guard Danxia Peak to prevent petty thieves.

The mountain-guarding cultivator replied immediately: "It is Hall Master Murong!"

"Oh... hmm?"

Luo Chen blinked, "Hall Master Murong?"

"Yes, it is her."

The mountain-guarding cultivator nodded, seemingly realizing that Luo Chen had just returned from a long journey and did not know the affairs of the society.

So he specifically explained:

"Hall Master Murong succeeded in Foundation Establishment two months after you left. Now her realm is stable, so she took on the task of guarding Danxia for the past two months."

Luo Chen's eyes lit up.

This is a good piece of news!

He was still thinking about distributing a part of the Foundation Establishment resources he brought back to his sister-in-law, so that her chances of Foundation Establishment would be a bit higher.

I didn't expect that she had already succeeded.

Thinking about it, it was the Emperor Flowing Liquid he left for Hui Niang before!

It succeeded with only a twenty percent chance.

Perhaps, it also has the credit of the experience accumulated after one failure.

He didn't chat much with the mountain-guarding disciple.

Luo Chen went up the mountain immediately.

And the news of his return, in the spread of the mountain-guarding disciple, gradually spread to the entire Luo Tian Society.

The President is back!

The Danchenzi who suppressed the Seven Sons of Qingdan and spread his name throughout the Yuding Domain is back!

"Sister-in-law, congratulations! Oh no, I have to call you Daoist Murong!"

In the Merit Hall, Luo Chen performed a Daoist salute and said to the woman in front with a smile.

Murong Qinglian laughed, "Forget it, you'd better call me sister-in-law! Calling me Daoist from your mouth always feels strange."

Luo Chen smiled from the bottom of his heart.

Then he clapped his hands and said regretfully: "What a pity, I bought some special gifts when I went to Qingdan Valley this time. The ones prepared for sister-in-law were related to Foundation Establishment, but now they are useless. I didn't expect to be unable to take out a congratulatory gift for a while."

"Is that true, don't fool me." Murong Qinglian said with a light smile.

In the past, she naturally would not have spoken like this.

But after Foundation Establishment, because of the huge gap brought by the realm, it was smoothed out.

The communication between the two seemed to have returned to the period of the Sihe Academy and Xieyue Valley.

Of course, both of them knew that this was just a private mode of communication.

To prove his innocence, Luo Chen took out a lot of things at will.

Pulse-protecting elixir, top-grade returning-yang liquid...

"Not very precious, but if combined with Foundation Establishment Elixir, Soul-Calming Incense, etc., it can at least increase the chance of Foundation Establishment by another ten percent."

"The foundation of a major sect is not something that loose cultivators like us can compare to. There are many good things like this."

"I was also thinking that the Luo Tian Society has failed Foundation Establishment three times in a row, and the luck is probably not very good, so I bought it back to increase everyone's confidence."

While Luo Chen was speaking.

Murong Qinglian looked at this pile of things, and a look of emotion appeared in her eyes.

If she had such complete auxiliary resources when she first established her foundation, she wouldn't have failed.

The foundation of a major sect is truly enviable.

No wonder every Core Formation major sect has hundreds or thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the number is shocking.

Unfortunately, she doesn't need it now.

However, she accepted a portion.

"Just consider it a congratulatory gift from you!"

Luo Chen smiled: "Leaving it for Brother Qin?"

Murong Qinglian shook her head, "He has already extinguished the heart of Foundation Establishment, and the last failure of Foundation Establishment, although he didn't suffer any injuries, made him clear that he can only stop at the Qi-refining Great Perfection in this life. I plan to find time to send these things to Xiaohu."

Xiaohu, Qin Yuanjiang.

Their son, counting the age, is only one or two years older than Qu Lingjun.

Now he is also thirty-two years old.

With his excellent spiritual root aptitude, plus he is in the Luoyun Sect, he is already at the ninth level of Qi-refining, and Foundation Establishment is just around the corner.

In previous years, because of the war, the two of them almost cut off correspondence with each other.

It was only in the past few years that the situation slowed down that they re-established contact.

Hearing this, Luo Chen could only sigh that the couple really spent all their thoughts on that son.

Clearly, he hadn't seen Xiaohu come back once in these years.

Even if there are various reasons...

"By the way, there is more than one person who failed Foundation Establishment in the Luo Tian Society in these years."

Suddenly, Murong Qinglian said.

Luo Chen smiled: "I forgot to count the time you failed Foundation Establishment before, sister-in-law. But now that the bitterness is over, failure is just a stepping stone to success."

"It's not me." Murong Qinglian shook her head slowly.

Spat out a name that caught Luo Chen off guard.

"It's Caiyi!"

The smile on Luo Chen's mouth faded bit by bit.

Looking at Luo Chen with a solemn face, she sighed.

"You'd better go see her!"

"Cough, cough..."

"Sister Xia, what's the noise outside?"

In the gentle and atmospheric boudoir, a fire stove was burning wood that did not choke, and the temperature emitted drove the cold air out of the house.

Gu Caiyi leaned on the bed, looking at Feng Xia who walked in hurriedly from outside with sleepy eyes.

The other party had an uncontrollable joy on her face.

But after seeing Gu Caiyi, she deliberately lowered her head and then changed into a calm expression.

"Nothing, just a guest visiting late at night, Qinglian is entertaining."

"Oh."

Gu Caiyi was thoughtful, what kind of guest would cause such a big noise outside?

"Don't think about these things, rest well, who told you to sit up."

Feng Xia walked over and stuffed the unwilling Gu Caiyi back into the quilt.

She tucked the corners of the quilt again, as if in this way, the cold air would not seep in.

Gu Caiyi opened her big eyes and stared at Feng Xia who was taking care of her gently.

"Sister Xia, I'm actually almost better. You don't have to take care of me every night, Duan Feng's side..."

"Why mention him, he is a big man and not unable to live. And, where are you better, Senior Sun said, you must rest for at least a few years to recover as before."

"Can it really recover as before?" Gu Caiyi muttered.

Feng Xia said painfully: "Don't think too much, being alive is more important than anything. Old Qin failed Foundation Establishment, didn't he live happily? I heard that he recently accepted an apprentice in the Xiaoguang Hall."

"Brother Qin is different. Qinglian succeeded in Foundation Establishment, and he was happier than his own success. I am a lonely person, after my injuries are healed, I fear this cultivation base will not be kept."

"Who said you are a lonely person, don't you have us friends, and, he also..."

"Just now, he came back!"

In the warm boudoir, it became silent for a while.

After a long while, Feng Xia said with a bitter smile: "You are still so clear-minded, you set me up in three or two sentences."

Gu Caiyi smiled slightly, with a bit of comfort on her pale face.

He came back, that's good!

Seeing her smile, Feng Xia became angry.

"If you weren't so smart, you wouldn't have failed Foundation Establishment."

Gu Caiyi smiled: "Sister Xia, you are joking, failure of Foundation Establishment has nothing to do with being smart."

Feng Xia bit her white teeth, "Senior Sun said, you were already close to success, just because your thoughts were complicated, leading to Qi deviation, a slight negligence led to failure, and finally..."

Gu Caiyi listened quietly to these words.

In her mind, she seemed to recall the situation when she was closing in to impact the Foundation Establishment stage.

It seems that she really thought too much.

Clearly at the most critical moment, she was distracted and her thoughts were galloping.

By the time she woke up, it was already like this.

In a trance, Feng Xia's crisp voice like a bell was still chattering.

"Luo Chen is good to me, good to Duan Feng, good to everyone. But he shouldn't have kept you hanging, so that you failed."

"He didn't keep me hanging. It's just that I have never been qualified."

"What qualification or not? Like is like, don't love is don't love. He and the President were together in private, and I didn't see any deep love. In the words of mortals, he is..."

"Sister Xia, be careful!"

Feng Xia said excitedly: "Why be careful, I would say the same in front of him. If the relationship was determined earlier, there would be no such situation, just like me and Duan Feng. You are all my best friends, this kind of pulling and pulling will only harm the other party."

Gu Caiyi sighed.

Cultivators, how can they be generalized with mortals.

Seeing Feng Xia still wanting to speak, she coughed lightly, which stopped the other party's words.

"Forget it, you rest first!"

"I'm going to prepare the medicinal herbs that need to be decocted tomorrow."

"Fortunately, our Luo Tian Society is not short of herbs, and they are all the best processed ones. I don't think it will take three or four years to heal your injuries."

She watched the chattering woman walk out.

Gu Caiyi couldn't help but smile.

Sister Xia wasn't this talkative before; it seems that after getting married, she became increasingly fussy, losing the quiet temperament she once had.

Perhaps it also had to do with Luo Chen curing her throat!

Being so talkative, it was as if she wanted to make up for all the words she hadn't said in the first half of her life.

Thinking of Luo Chen, her smile faded, revealing a look of conflict.

He must be very busy after returning!

Not to mention the various matters of the Luo Tian Society, just the fact that the name of Dan Chenzi has spread throughout Lanxiancheng means he will likely have many social engagements upon his return.

So, will he come to see her?

Most likely, he will!

He is always excellent at putting on a show.

Besides, she counts as his friend, after all.

But if he comes, how can she face him with such a haggard appearance?

In front of him, she should always be the radiant and elegant Miss Gu, not a useless person lying on a soft couch all day long.

Perhaps she should let Sister Xia apply some light makeup for her tomorrow.

Yes, makeup that makes it look like nothing is there.

Just as she was lost in her wild thoughts, a sound from outside the courtyard made her heart tighten violently.

"President!"

The wind and snow had stopped, she didn't know when.

Only a bright moon hung high, illuminating the earth as if it were broad daylight.

Feng Xia, who had just stepped out of the courtyard, saw at first glance that fiery red figure standing in the courtyard.

He wore a red robe, and his face seemed to carry the weariness of a long journey that had not yet dissipated.

But those eyes were frighteningly bright.

When did he arrive?

Surely he didn't hear everything just now, did he?

Feng Xia swallowed, "President, I..."

"Sister Xia, long time no see. Have you been well?" Luo Chen smiled instantly.

Feng Xia managed to squeeze out a smile, "Fine, everything is fine. Did you just arrive?"

"Yes." Luo Chen nodded, pointing inside as he said, "Is Caiyi inside?"

"Yes!"

"Is she asleep?"

"Asleep... not yet."

"Alright, you go ahead with your work; I'll go in and greet her."

After speaking, he lifted the door curtain and walked in gently.

Watching that gentle, jade-like back, Feng Xia subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Although she had claimed earlier that she would dare to speak loudly in front of Luo Chen,

but once she saw him in person, the invisible pressure still made it hard for her to speak.

They were both Foundation Establishment cultivators, so why didn't her husband Duan Feng have such an oppressive presence?

Realm? Status? Reputation?

Feng Xia could not figure it out.

"You're back?"

"Yes, I'm back," Luo Chen said calmly.

Seeing the woman struggling to sit up, he shook his head.

"Just lie down; there's no need to be formal with me."

"Sorry, I haven't been feeling well lately," Gu Caiyi said, equally calmly.

Luo Chen looked around; this room was in a remote part of Danxia Peak, where spiritual energy was so thin it was almost non-existent.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, making it as warm as summer.

Such a comfortable environment, yet for a cultivator, it felt deeply incongruous.

No Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator would live in an environment with such thin spiritual energy.

And no cultivator would light a stove just because they were afraid of the cold.

Are the injuries that severe?

He focused his gaze; Gu Caiyi imperceptibly avoided his eyes, and her somewhat pale complexion was mostly covered by her dry, black hair.

He sighed inexplicably.

Luo Chen sat down on the soft couch.

"Stretch out your hand."

"Hmm?"

"Let me take a look."

"You know how to treat illnesses too!" Gu Caiyi laughed.

Luo Chen said calmly, "I know a little. Sister Xia's throat was cured by me, and when my sister-in-law failed her Foundation Establishment, I also treated her."

Gu Caiyi suddenly understood and, half-doubting, stretched out her hand.

Grasping her thin wrist, it felt as slender as a twig.

Luo Chen frowned.

Gu Caiyi, who had been staring at him, subconsciously wanted to pull it back, but couldn't move it.

"Just lie still!"

Luo Chen took a deep breath, gripped the woman's wrist with a common physician's technique, and a wisp of extremely gentle spiritual energy slowly entered Gu Caiyi's body along her meridians.

However, it was blocked after extending only a small distance.

"Hmm?"

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, released his spiritual sense, and simultaneously entered Gu Caiyi's body.

Unlike his own internal vision during cultivation, which was broad and unobstructed,

Luo Chen's spiritual sense and spiritual power moved extremely slowly.

Under his patient observation, the situation inside Gu Caiyi's body was clear at a glance!

Damaged! Chaotic! Blocked!

One meridian after another was in ruins, like flowers and trees broken after a rainstorm.

Broken, destroyed, withered, swollen; there was almost no part that was intact.

The only slightly better parts were the meridians near her stomach.

It seemed they had been repaired by a spiritual medicine like the Meridian-Moistening Liquid.

But it stopped there; deeper in, the medicinal power could not continue.

Consequently, many meridians were chaotically intertwined and piled together.

Not only that, but inside her body, vast and overbearing spiritual power was like a river bursting its banks, rushing into nearby ponds, fields, and cities.

Without guidance, it had no way out.

It accumulated in her body, constantly eroding the woman's fragile physique.

And the culprit behind all this,

was undoubtedly that nearly shattered dantian!

"How could it be like this?"

"Even Sima Xian, who was most severely injured after a failed Foundation Establishment, wasn't this bad!"

"And tracing the source, Caiyi had clearly passed the trial of the tongue, and her female primordial yin was still intact; she even broke through the dantian barrier, so why did she still fail?"

"Did she fail at the step of spiritual energy scouring the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary vessels?"

"No, Caiyi had also taken the Tongyou Pill, and her soul foundation was not weak; she should have been able to restrain the rushing torrent. This step shouldn't have been that difficult."

Countless questions surged wildly after Luo Chen explored Gu Caiyi's injuries.

Luo Chen frowned deeply and fell into deep thought.

Beside his ear, a soft voice, like a trembling little beast, reached him.

"Divine Physician Luo, how is my condition?"

Luo Chen said calmly, "The problem shouldn't be too big; let me look again."

After speaking, he concentrated his attention and guided his spiritual sense into Gu Caiyi's body once more.

Not only that, this time he also cast the Great Perfection Healing Spell, coordinating with extremely pure wood-attribute spiritual power to sweep over those blocked meridians like a spring breeze.

Stimulated, Gu Caiyi let out a muffled groan.

But soon, a comfortable feeling came from her body.

It was warm, as if someone were massaging her sore and swollen meridians.

For a long, long time.

This time, Luo Chen's observation lasted for a very long time.

When he came back to his senses, he found a pair of eyes staring at him unblinkingly.

He raised his eyes and said lightly, "It's a bit tricky, but the problem isn't big. It can be cured; at most, in one year, you can recover as before."

He spoke unhurriedly, as if he possessed immense confidence.

But to Gu Caiyi's ears, it was...

Such familiar words!

After hearing this, Gu Caiyi's face didn't show a joyful smile; instead, she felt a sense of loss.

She had heard these words many times over the past year.

Everyone said so, and he said so too.

They were all just comforting her.

"Rest well; I'll come to see you again tomorrow."

Luo Chen gently tucked that twig-like arm back into the quilt.

Then, he prepared to stand up.

However, just as he turned to the side, his hand was grabbed.

He turned his face to look at Gu Caiyi, who had been acting very calm and exactly as she always had since he entered; now, two lines of clear tears were flowing from the corners of her eyes.

Gu Caiyi didn't speak, just looked at him like that, tears flowing continuously.

In the calm, surging emotions were venting wantonly.

Emotions suppressed for too long were, at this moment, transformed into the strength of her tightly gripping Luo Chen's hand.

This strength was not great; Luo Chen could easily break free.

But Luo Chen felt as if she were holding his heart.

In the end, he did not break away.