Chapter 371

Whether the four sects were crazy or not, Luo Chen didn't know.

But Luo Chen knew that all the vassal forces under the four sects, and even the rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators lingering here, had all gone crazy.

Each of the four sects brought out a Core Formation secret technique, atmospheric and generous.

For the countless cultivators who had no way to form a core and were stuck at the late Foundation Establishment stage, this was no different from opening a gateway to the heavens!

Even for early and mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, although they didn't have an urgent need, who wouldn't want to make preparations in advance?

Luo Chen looked at the four Core Formation secret techniques above, each marked with the corresponding merit value required for exchange.

The highest was the superior Core Formation secret technique brought out by the Luoyun Sect—"Locking Pearl Curtain."

To exchange for this technique, it required a full ten thousand merit points!

Next were the three sects tied, requiring only two thousand merit points for their inferior Core Formation secret techniques.

The Ice Castle's "Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation" was also among them.

Luo Chen himself already possessed this technique, and he had even already prepared the two third-tier elixirs required for it.

Being tied with it, it was clear the other two wouldn't be any better.

But even so, for Foundation Establishment cultivators who were not true-transmissions of great sects, even an inferior Core Formation secret technique was extremely rare.

Now, the four sects had directly opened the gates of generosity.

Nakedly placing the exchange channels in front of them, who wouldn't be tempted?

At least, Luo Chen, who already possessed one secret technique, had his eyes fixed firmly on "Locking Pearl Curtain."

"President, we..."

Duan Feng's voice came to his ears.

Luo Chen came back to his senses and looked at Duan Feng, whose eyes were full of longing.

He turned his head and found that Xu Huanzhen's breathing was even more rapid.

The higher the realm, the more one craved Core Formation secret techniques!

In fact, it wasn't just them; the thousands of rogue cultivators gathered around the huge stele were all very excited at this moment.

Some even didn't want to rest at all, wanting to kill their way back to the Nine Thunder Mountains battlefield instead.

"No wonder when we rotated, I felt the number of cultivators was several percent higher than before."

"I suppose they were newcomers who received the news and rushed to the battlefield excitedly."

Luo Chen muttered, his gaze inadvertently catching a few ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators leaving while conversing with solemn expressions.

He swallowed, forcing himself to calm down.

The greater the benefit, the greater the risk!

With the four Core Formation secret techniques out, I'm afraid all the vassal forces and rogue cultivators within the Four Sects Alliance would go crazy.

With them going crazy here, it was impossible for the Sword Sect not to react.

This meant the intensity of the war would increase further.

Looking at the two excited people beside him, Luo Chen calmly whispered: "Go back and rest first!"

Xu Huanzhen and Duan Feng looked at each other, but didn't dare to oppose his words.

After returning to the encampment.

The news had already spread, and even the Qi Refining cultivators of the Luo Tian Society were discussing it heatedly.

Luo Chen calmly pulled the two of them into the room.

"Don't let Core Formation secret techniques cloud your judgment!"

Xu Huanzhen swallowed, "But, there is even a superior Core Formation secret technique in there!"

Luo Chen frowned, "Then why don't you look at the corresponding merit points required?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Huanzhen froze instantly, and the excitement gradually dissipated.

He opened his mouth to speak, but finally sighed dejectedly.

That's right!

The points required were simply too many.

The merit point acquisition rules set by the Four Sects Alliance were very simple and crude.

Ordinary garrison defense missions gave very low merit points.

Patrolling, sentry duty, and gathering intelligence were relatively higher, but still meager.

To obtain a large amount of merit points, there was only one way.

Kill the enemy!

Killing one Qi Refining cultivator earns ten merit points.

Killing one early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator earns one hundred merit points.

Killing one mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator earns two hundred.

Only by killing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator can one directly obtain five hundred merit points!

In other words, to exchange for the inferior secret techniques of the three sects, one would have to kill two hundred Qi Refining cultivators, or twenty early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, ten mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, or four late-stage Foundation Establishment great cultivators!

This was simply too difficult.

The Luo Tian Society had been stationed for two years before, and they had only gathered seven hundred merit points.

Most of them came from Min Longyu using a formation to blast and kill five early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, which was a stroke of luck.

Now, these merit points were only left with one hundred because of the exchange for Foundation Establishment pills.

This shows how difficult it is to obtain merit points.

And this was just for the inferior Core Formation secret techniques.

If one wanted to exchange for the "Locking Pearl Curtain" secret technique brought out by the Luoyun Sect, one would have to multiply that by five!

This was simply not something a Foundation Establishment True Person could achieve.

Slaughtering over a hundred early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, or slaughtering twenty late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Anyone capable of doing this would have to be a Jin Dan True Person!

But the problem is.

Once they are Jin Dan True Persons, who would care about these Core Formation techniques?

Moreover, the exchange rules also restricted that only those below the Jin Dan stage, and those outside the four sects, could participate in this kind of merit exchange.

This single clause blocked the path for Jin Dan True Persons of first-class forces to obtain Core Formation secret techniques through the war.

Looking at the two dejected people.

Luo Chen shook his head.

"I am also tempted, but one must have self-knowledge and learn to act according to one's ability."

"Just now you didn't notice that even the late-stage Foundation Establishment great cultivators who were most in need of Core Formation secret techniques all had solemn expressions."

"One of you is at the third level of Foundation Establishment, and the other is at the sixth level; you are still over a hundred years away from Core Formation, why be so anxious?"

With his words of comfort.

Xu and Duan finally came to their senses.

Just now, under the temptation of a higher realm, they had truly lost their composure.

Perhaps only such resources could make countless Foundation Establishment True Persons lose their usual calm and composure!

To comfort the two, Luo Chen even released the news of him becoming an Ice Castle guest elder in advance.

Amidst their surprise.

Luo Chen spoke directly.

"Once the war ends, with my status as a great sect guest elder, collecting Core Formation secret techniques will not be a difficult task at all."

"You only need to cultivate well and increase your cultivation realm!"

In this way, the two completely dispelled those inappropriate thoughts.

After sending them away.

Luo Chen couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief.

Just as he said, he was also tempted.

But some things require self-knowledge!

Luo Chen had assessed his current strength; crushing early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators was not a problem, and mid-stage cultivators were no match for him either.

Even if a great cultivator faced him, he was confident he could take them down one-on-one.

At worst, he always had the power to protect himself.

But to slaughter a dozen or twenty late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators on the battlefield was simply a fantasy.

Even if he let go and hunted early or mid-stage cultivators, it would be easy to attract the covetousness of stronger people.

You must know that merit point evaluation is not just based on realm.

For example, the few cultivators who are good at lightning techniques listed by each sect, even if they are only mid-stage Foundation Establishment, must be treated as great cultivators.

Luo Chen didn't want his own head to become a target for others.

"The Four Sects Alliance bringing out such resources is simply pushing their vassal forces and rogue cultivators to fight for their lives!"

"It seems the Luoyun Sect is determined to win this civil war."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have persuaded the other three sects to bring out Core Formation secret techniques. Even if they are just inferior Core Formation secret techniques that the great sects look down upon."

But in this way.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators whose casualties could barely be controlled before will likely easily fall into a situation of life-and-death in battle.

And the weaker late-stage Qi Refining cultivators will more easily become hunting targets in the eyes of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Ten thousand merit points is just the lives of one thousand Qi Refining cultivators.

As long as the late-stage Foundation Establishment great cultivators can put aside their pride and harvest ruthlessly, they will always be able to gather them!

Fortunately, Luo Chen is now an Ice Castle guest elder.

As for the Luo Tian Society under his command, they probably won't be needed for the subsequent war.

After half a year, they can just leave directly.

Otherwise, with the Luo Tian Society's mere one hundred people, they simply couldn't withstand the tossing.

After some thought.

Luo Chen had thoroughly weighed the pros and cons.

Immediately, his heart stirred suddenly.

"Next, everyone's attention should be focused on the battlefield."

"Can I take the opportunity to go to the Ninth Mountain to search for Wang Yuan's whereabouts?"

He took out a sound-transmitting jade pendant and fell into deep thought.

Before Wang Yuan set off, he had given him a jade pendant that could transmit sound to each other within a thousand-mile range.

The Ninth Mountain was not large; as long as he spent some time and was careful, he should be able to contact him.

The Nine Thunder Mountains have stood on this ten-thousand-mile quicksand land for a thousand years.

The other eight mountains are still places where ordinary Qi Refining cultivators can set foot.

But the Ninth Mountain is completely different!

The power of thunder is too accumulated within, causing lightning storms from time to time, and the internal environment is even more complex and intricate.

Even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators dare not venture deep into it.

Every year when picking Thunder Essence, only the Sword Sect's Jin Dan can enter to succeed.

After the war broke out, the other eight mountains became the center of offense and defense, only the Ninth Mountain was not within the target of the two Nascent Soul great sects.

This day.

A shadowy figure flew from the yellow sand filling the sky in the distance.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain, the figure stopped.

Luo Chen looked back and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Sure enough, just as he expected, everyone's attention was now on the war, killing, and hunting for merit points.

The Ninth Mountain, which was not the main battlefield, had attracted less attention.

"Next, enter this mountain and carefully search for Wang Yuan's tracks."

"According to the information gathered from all sides, the last time Wang Yuan appeared was half a month ago, appearing between the Ninth Mountain and the Seventh Mountain, suspected of wanting to leave the mountain?"

"But in the end, for some reason, he returned to the interior of the Ninth Mountain."

Muttering to himself, Luo Chen took out a jade pendant.

He injected a spiritual sense transmission into it, but there was no response, as if a clay ox had entered the sea.

"Is he still not within range?"

Luo Chen pursed his lips and quietly sneaked into the mountain, concealing his aura.

The deeper he went into the mountain, the more the environment inside the Ninth Mountain differed significantly from the other eight mountains.

Vegetation appeared, and second-tier lightning-struck wood was everywhere.

Even in the shallow layers of the mountain range, rare thunder-attribute ores appeared.

And in a dense forest.

Three figures looked at each other with gloomy expressions.

Their conversation was also full of arguments.

"Ku Chan, we have done enough for you. By now, let's stop!"

A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator said slowly.

Another man in a green robe also showed a look of panic.

"What deep hatred do you have with him? Such a powerhouse is simply not someone that Brother Chu and I can provoke."

The one he called Brother Chu was the mid-stage cultivator who first proposed to stop.

He said bitterly: "We were five people chasing him into this Ninth Mountain, and later you called three early-stage Foundation Establishment fellow daoists to help. But in just a few months, the situation reversed, and it became him hunting us instead. Now, only the three of us with the highest cultivation remain."

Hearing this, the green-robed cultivator's face trembled, as if he remembered something terrifying.

The two subconsciously looked at Ku Chan, waiting for him to make a decision.

An old man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, wearing a purple Daoist robe, who should have been dignified and domineering, became particularly creepy because of the toad-like pustules on his face.

This was Ku Chan, a late-stage Foundation Establishment great cultivator from the Flame Alliance!

As long as he didn't speak, the two couldn't leave after taking the benefits.

Ku Chan looked at the two coldly, watching them like a hawk.

"You don't want to do it anymore?"

The two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators nodded quickly.

"Better to leave!"

"The war outside is in full swing, which is the place for us to show our skills. Being tied up here will only lead to being exhausted to death by Wang Yuan!"

The cultivator surnamed Chu said without hesitation.

He paused, seemingly wanting to persuade the other party, and added a few more sentences.

"We all underestimated Wang Yuan; although his realm is only at the second level of Foundation Establishment, his ability is not based on his Immortal Dao realm at all."

Ku Chan nodded, and his old voice said words that sounded like heavenly music to the two.

"Indeed, we underestimated him."

"He is different from us; in this environment with violent spiritual energy, relying on his formidable physique, he is like a fish in water."

"Even if I am at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, I have to be careful when fighting him."

If you don't consider the lightning storms that appear from time to time, the natural environment of the Ninth Mountain is better than the outside world.

But it's only better to a limited extent.

The spiritual energy here is abundant but extremely violent.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment True Persons cannot recover spiritual energy here by running techniques and can only rely on elixirs.

But after several months, the elixirs in their hands were not much left.

But that Wang Yuan was completely different; his ability lay in his physique.

Logically speaking, body refiners are less suitable for long-term combat.

But this person's blood and energy were terrifyingly vigorous; after several months, not only did he not show weakness, but he became stronger and stronger.

Constant hunting caused Ku Chan's group to lose members continuously.

The chase turned into being chased.

The so-called eight-on-one advantage was theirs, but now it was three-on-one, and no one was confident that they still had the advantage.

The cultivator surnamed Chu said happily: "So..."

Ku Chan's mouth twitched, "You want to leave, you can, I won't stop you."

The cultivator surnamed Chu and the green-robed cultivator looked at each other, revealing joy.

Just as they were about to step away, they stopped hesitantly.

"Aren't you coming with us?"

Ku Chan shook his head, "No, I must kill him to avenge my hatred!"

Speaking of this, he looked at the two with a half-smile.

"Could it be that you don't dare to leave on your own?"

The cultivator surnamed Chu swallowed, his eyes full of panic.

If the three of them left together, Wang Yuan would definitely not be able to do anything to them.

But if they left individually, wouldn't that create a situation of being broken one by one?

The green-robed cultivator beside him gritted his teeth, "I don't want to accompany you anyway! Brother Chu, let's go together; no matter how strong he is, he wouldn't dare to face us directly!"

The cultivator surnamed Chu thought about it and decided not to delay any longer.

Apologizing to Ku Chan, the two carefully drove their magic tools and flew quickly toward the outside of the mountain, sticking to the ground.

Behind them, Ku Chan's gaze was cold, and he spat out two words imperceptibly.

"Idiots!"

After saying this, his heart suddenly stirred, and he looked in a direction a hundred miles away.

"Sure enough, you came; I won't let you go, and you don't want to let me go either."

"Then let's fight to the death!"

With a movement of his body, Ku Chan retreated instead of advancing, flying toward the depths of the Ninth Mountain.

And the moment he left.

A shrill scream came from outside.

"Brother Chu, how could you..."

"Fellow daoist, I'll take the first step; today you cover for me, I will definitely take care of your descendants!"

In a dense forest.

The green-robed cultivator had transparent holes the size of fingers all over his body; looking from the front, one could even see the light behind him.

A figure in coarse cloth and hemp clothes, with black hair draped behind him, rose without wind.

A pair of black eyes, fierce and domineering.

He looked at the cultivator surnamed Chu who had already escaped a hundred feet away, pointing his fingers like a sword.

Infinite blood and energy intertwined, condensing into an indescribable force.

The next moment!

A finger pointed out!

The cultivator surnamed Chu, who was fleeing frantically, seemed to have been prepared, immediately casting a talisman, and the top-grade defensive magic robe on his body swelled to the extreme.

Pfft!

That blood-colored force pierced through the talisman light shield, penetrated the defensive magic robe, and lightly tapped on the back of the cultivator surnamed Chu.

A tingling sensation flashed by.

It was like being bitten by a mosquito without any pain.

The cultivator surnamed Chu was overjoyed!

Sure enough, beyond a certain distance, body-refining methods were not that useful.

The blood-finger force of that person before was invincible, and no defensive magic tool could stop it.

Hitting someone, it would explode instantly, not something a cultivator below the late Foundation Establishment stage could resist.

But now, he had blocked it.

"Sorry, Brother Lin."

"Dead fellow daoist, not dead poor daoist, I, Chu, will take the first step!"

The escape light accelerated again, and after a few flickers, it disappeared from the eyes of the hemp-clothed cultivator.

Wang Yuan withdrew his hand and glanced at him coldly, seemingly not caring about his life at all.

He picked up the green-robed cultivator's storage bag, turned around, and looked in a direction following a mysterious intuition.

That old dog runs fast!

But if I don't kill you, I, Wang, will not be able to sleep or eat!

A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he took a step, appearing five feet away.

With constant strides, his figure disappeared into the depths of the Ninth Mountain in the blink of an eye.