Chapter 448

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, congratulations!"

Chu Kui's cave dwelling is very close to Luo Chen's.

The two can be considered neighbors.

Therefore, Luo Chen arrived very quickly.

It was obvious that Chu Kui had also been waiting for Luo Chen, so the two met without any obstruction.

And the first time they met, Luo Chen sent such congratulations.

Because Chu Kui's state was worthy of such congratulations.

His spiritual power was calm and composed, perfect and smooth.

In the peace, there was also a feeling of being integrated into one.

This is the external manifestation of the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage!

Facing Luo Chen's congratulations, a warm smile appeared on Chu Kui's face.

After many years of seclusion, except for participating in the battle of the Yan Alliance, he rarely went out.

How could he not be proud of having such a realm now?

"I originally thought that this last realm of the Foundation Establishment stage would trap me for a hundred years, but I didn't expect it to be achieved naturally in just thirty years."

He said with some emotion.

Luo Chen smiled and praised him a few times at the right time.

Chu Kui's rapid progress in cultivation was actually predictable.

His foundation as a loose cultivator can be considered extremely terrifying.

Even compared to those true disciples of the sects, he is not inferior.

The ranking on the Dao Discussion Platform is not based on fame, but on battle after battle.

In the past, what hindered Chu Kui's cultivation speed was resources.

But in the battle of Jilei Mountain, Luo Chen had a huge harvest, and Chu Kui also had a considerable harvest.

And after joining the Luotian Society, the many resources in his hands also had channels for rapid realization, so he didn't need to sell the stolen goods himself.

This is the benefit of having a force.

Just like Luo Chen, after returning from Jilei Mountain, he only had one or two million spirit stones on him.

Logically speaking, he has been frantically refining pills in recent years, so his wealth should have been consumed a lot, right?

The answer is no.

Luo Chen's spirit stone savings have become more and more, and now they have reached three million!

The reason is that his previous spoils of war were quickly processed and realized with the help of Luotian Society cultivators.

Chu Kui is the same!

It was precisely because of this batch of resources, plus the fact that Luo Chen shared a portion of the high-grade Rising Dragon Pills that he didn't need with Chu Kui.

Only then was the other party able to cross the longest realm of the Foundation Establishment stage in just thirty years.

Now that he has reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, what's next...

As the two chatted, the atmosphere gradually became heavy.

Until Chu Kui took the initiative to bring up that topic.

"I have been practicing the 'Locking Pearl Curtain' secret technique for more than twenty years."

Luo Chen's heart moved when he heard this, and he asked impatiently: "What is the result?"

"It has reached the number of the small heavenly cycle!"

The number of the small heavenly cycle?

Luo Chen's brows couldn't help but wrinkle: "Doesn't that mean only thirty-six spirit pearls have been condensed?"

Chu Kui gave a bitter smile: "Sorry, with my foundation, I can only achieve the small success of the 'Locking Pearl Curtain' secret technique. If I want to go further, I fear it won't be twenty or thirty years."

Luo Chen opened his mouth, speechless for a moment.

He didn't expect that the high-level Core Formation secret technique given by the Luoyun Sect would be so difficult to practice.

According to the agreement between him and Chu Kui back then, Chu Kui, who had the relatively highest realm at the time, would practice the "Locking Pearl Curtain" in advance.

Luo Chen would provide him with the Tongyou Pill to increase his spiritual soul foundation.

And what Chu Kui had to do was to tell Luo Chen all the confusion, difficulties, experience, lessons, and insights he encountered along the way of practicing this technique.

And Chu Kui also had to try to use this technique to impact the Core Formation stage!

In short, this was a job of paving the way for others and being a lab rat for Luo Chen.

Chu Kui did not refuse and agreed readily.

After all, it can be considered a mutually beneficial thing.

However, only achieving the small success realm...

Luo Chen pursed his dry lips and asked: "I pushed the Tongyou Pill to the second-tier level, and you also took it, can't you go further?"

Chu Kui shook his head: "It came too late, and time is running out. Besides, the common sense that you shouldn't take too many pills when Core Formation is imminent is something you also know."

In the world of immortal cultivation, there is such common sense.

The closer you are to a major realm breakthrough, the less you should take pills.

Because that can easily cause pill poison to remain, thereby affecting the breakthrough of the major realm.

Luo Chen knew this common sense well and had suffered from it before.

Later, he got the "Qingyuan Miaodan Method" and solved this problem.

Moreover, his physique is different from ordinary Foundation Establishment True Persons. His five-element root physique plus his ancient third-tier physique allows him to take more pills more frequently than others.

Can the carrying capacity of a dangerous peak be compared to that of a thick and solid continent?

Luo Chen was still unwilling: "Didn't I send you the cultivation insights of a Luoyun Sect cultivator using the 'Locking Pearl Curtain' secret technique to break through to the Core Formation stage before? Have you read it? Is it useless?"

Chu Kui smiled: "It was precisely by relying on that cultivation insight that I was able to barely achieve the small heavenly cycle of thirty-six spirit pearls!"

Luo Chen was slightly stunned, caught off guard.

He knew a little about the difficulty of practicing the "Locking Pearl Curtain" secret technique, but he didn't expect it to be this difficult.

With Chu Kui's ability, with his full support and the help of predecessors' experience, he only barely reached the small success realm?

"I asked you to come today mainly to tell you three things."

"Well, go ahead."

"The first thing is to tell you all the experience and insights I have gained from practicing the 'Locking Pearl Curtain' secret technique over the years."

Luo Chen nodded, this was as it should be.

The two did not delay, and Chu Kui immediately started talking.

Not only did he talk about it, but he also took out a stack of bamboo slips and pointed them out to Luo Chen from time to time.

Those bamboo slips were all his thoughts recorded casually when he was practicing the secret technique.

"The so-called Locking Pearl Curtain is to turn the spiritual soul into silk threads, connect the spirit liquid, and form spirit power pearls with characteristics similar to a Core Formation."

"The most difficult barrier, and also the earliest one, is pain!"

"Dividing and cutting the spiritual soul, the pain is something I will never forget in my life. Those with slightly fragile minds simply cannot persist."

When Chu Kui spoke, he still had lingering fears.

And his face also lost its previous roughness and gained a bit of delicacy.

It can be seen that he was tortured by that kind of severe pain.

"Through the notes left by Senior Elder Linghu, I have a guess. Perhaps there is a supporting method in the Luoyun Sect that can reduce this pain. Unfortunately, we don't have it. So, if you want to practice this technique, you can only endure it."

Luo Chen nodded, without a trace of fear.

Miao Wen's words before death were still in his ears.

Luo Chen carefully put the jade slip into the Jilei Treasure Ring.

Whether this art is true or false, and whether there are hidden tricks, he is not sure.

After all, his relationship with Miao Wen is not that good.

The saying that a person's words are good when they are about to die does not apply to everyone.

After going back, the research on this art also needs to be considered in the long run.

Suddenly.

The flying boat paused slightly.

Luo Chen stood on the bow of the boat, his sharp eyes looking a thousand li away.

That ghost-filled ghost domain instantly entered his eyes.

The range had expanded several times compared to back then.

From the inner city to the outer city shantytown, all the way west, until the side of the Lancang River.

The once familiar Xieyue Valley, Xiaohuan Mountain, and Qingjiang Long Street had all disappeared, swallowed within it.

But!

"Is it over just by reaching this place?"

With the status of a third-rank Ghost King, the territory range should not be limited to this extent.

Just when Luo Chen was puzzled, he suddenly exclaimed.

"Eh?"

"That is..."

In his line of sight, a line of escape light flew out from another direction of the Guyuan Mountain Range.

They were carrying a huge demonic beast, not knowing whether it was dead or alive, and then flew straight into the ghost domain.

After a long time, they slowly flew out.

With Luo Chen's eyesight, he could vaguely see the relieved expressions on the faces of those few people, as well as the emblems they were wearing.

"Sword Sect disciples!"

Luo Chen was shocked.

He didn't know what the Sword Sect disciples were doing.

Logically speaking, it was natural for Sword Sect disciples to appear in the Great River Market, and it could even be said that they came too late, they should have come decades earlier.

They didn't come before, everyone just thought they were dragged down by the Luoyun Sect.

Now it seems, it doesn't seem right.

These people sent a living second-rank demonic beast into the ghost domain...

"Could it be, helping Pang Renxiong cultivate?"

The sudden thought made Luo Chen's heart shake.

Immediately, he didn't delay any longer, concealed his spiritual light, drove the flying boat, and hurriedly left the Great River Market range.

Along the road of the past, Luo Chen ran all the way.

It once took several months, this time it only took him three days to rush to the Tianlan Xiancheng.

Along the way, he passed through old places like Taishan Market, Liuguang Market, and Yuanzhao Country.

However, Luo Chen did not go to disturb the old friends in these places, only spreading his spiritual sense and taking a slight glance.

In this process, he did not encounter any storms.

Just like this, quietly and silently, he stepped into Danxia Peak.

In the Luotian Main Hall.

Xing Zonghan received the edict and came back specifically to report the intelligence.

This trip was not long, only half a year of time.

But if the time for preparing for the trip before was added, it was nearly ten years long.

Therefore, the intelligence gathered by Xing Zonghan was exceptionally complicated.

"The goal of the opening war has been completely set, it is for the Xiaoyue Mountain Range!"

"The initiator is the Luoyun Sect, in addition, among the initial five major Nascent Soul sects and thirteen major sects, four more major Nascent Soul sects and five major Core Formation sects decided to join the opening war. The following is the list of sects newly joining the opening war: Shenfu Sect, Five Elements God Sect, Fenghua Palace, Motian Cliff, Mengquan Cave, Huanzhu Tower..."

"A total of nine major Nascent Soul sects, eighteen major Core Formation sects, this battle is also called the Twenty-Seven Sects Together Attacking Xiaoyue."

Twenty-Seven Sects Together Attacking Xiaoyue?

This is no different from the sixteen sects together attacking Lianxia more than four hundred years ago.

Above, Luo Chen recited the names of the newly joined sects.

The joining of the Shenfu Sect and the Five Elements God Sect was expected.

Back then, the Yuding Sword Sect opened the Lianxia Mountain Range and got the help of the two sects.

This time, outside the six sects in the far east, there were two more major Nascent Soul sects, Fenghua Palace and Motian Cliff.

A savage mountain range that has not been opened is indeed of huge benefit.

But there is no need to provoke nine major Nascent Soul sects to take action together, right?

And those eighteen major Core Formation sects are definitely not soft persimmons.

As far as he knows, the Nine-Flower Mountain Mengquan Cave is a quite famous major Core Formation sect in the Fenghua Domain, producing various spirit springs, relying on the spirit spring business, the Mengquan Cave cultivators are quite wealthy.

Huanzhu Tower is also not weak, it is a well-known killer organization, and it is said that there is a Nascent Soul True Person as a backer behind it.

That Liu Senzhai, it is rumored...

"With so many forces, the Xiaoyue Mountain Range is afraid it is not enough to divide!"

Luo Chen frowned, not understanding why an opening war would provoke so many people to join.

Many people are naturally a great good thing for war.

But for dividing the benefits after the war, that is a great bad thing.

The cake is only so big, as the leader, the Luoyun Sect, is it willing to divide by twenty-seven?

The Yuding Sword Sect has endured for so many years and couldn't endure it anymore.

He didn't believe that the Luoyun Sect's True Person Han Zhan was such a short-sighted person.

If it were him, he would rather suffer a little loss in the war than divide as much as possible after the war.

One is just a short-term loss, while the latter is a long-term benefit!

Suddenly!

Luo Chen thought of the scene where the White Bone Daoist Palace was located in the Great Snow Mountain.

One Xiaoyue Mountain Range is not enough to divide, but if there is one more Great Snow Mountain, it seems to be more than enough.

If this guess is true.

Then if Venerable Canglong succeeds in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, and with the help of this general trend, simultaneously holds the opening war of the Bingbao, wouldn't these extra forces be able to make the best use of everyone?

If this guess is true.

Then True Person Han Zhan's willingness to take action personally to protect Venerable Canglong makes sense.

Of course, whether the two have old ties is not a secret that Luo Chen knows.

But if Venerable Canglong fails to break through to the Nascent Soul stage...

Luo Chen pursed his lips and asked: "The business of the Bingbao is the responsibility of Gu Caiyi, right?"

Xing Zonghan nodded, "Yes, this aspect has always been grasped by Hall Master Gu."

"You send a part of the Luo Net's manpower to the caravan side, collect intelligence on the Bingbao regularly, and then report to me."

Xing Zonghan was puzzled, "What kind of intelligence?"

Luo Chen wanted to say related to the Nascent Soul True Person.

But when the words reached his lips, they changed to "All intelligence!"

In his view, if Venerable Canglong really succeeded in breaking through, then the news would naturally be released, and there was no need to deliberately collect it.

If she failed...

"In addition, the trade route to Taishan Market can also be opened up. I will explain this matter to Sima Hui Niang, you first send people to collect intelligence on the three markets of Liuguang, Taishan, and Great River, and make preparations."

"Yes!"

Xing Zonghan took the order and left.

Luo Chen's thoughtful gaze, however, did not stop.

The scene in the Great River Market was still fresh in his memory.

After ruminating for a few days, he vaguely grasped the truth that the Yuding Sword Sect had ignored Pang Renxiong all these years.

The other party was not ignoring, but letting it go, deliberately giving the other party time to switch to the ghost path!

Ghost cultivation is also a kind of Great Dao cultivation.

As long as it doesn't harm heaven and reason, and kill wantonly, it won't be labeled as demonic cultivation.

But what Pang Renxiong has done over the years can't be called any orthodox ghost cultivation method.

It is precisely because of this that the other party's progress is extremely fast, and in a short time, he has cultivated to the level of a third-rank Ghost King, comparable to the Core Formation cultivation before his death.

The Yuding Sword Sect didn't care before because it was hard to care.

If they cared, the other party wouldn't be able to take such a shortcut, after all, the Yuding Sword Sect still has the concept of eliminating demons and defending the Dao.

If they didn't care, when the time came, they could directly see the results.

Now the Sword Sect has sent Foundation Establishment cultivators to assist Pang Renxiong in his cultivation.

I think they also have the idea of completely ending this matter before the opening war in forty years.

After all, when the time comes, there will be many people and many mouths, and the cultivators of other sects won't care about the Sword Sect's ideas, they will only shout and kill.

When Luo Chen sorted out this aspect of things.

Others gradually entered the main hall.

Sima Hui Niang and Duan Feng walked in.

"President, you're back? This trip, there were no twists and turns, right?" Sima Hui Niang asked with concern.

With their perception, they couldn't detect Luo Chen's current state.

Luo Chen naturally reported the good news and not the bad.

After some chatting, he brought up the matter of opening the trade route from the Luo Tian Society to Taishan Market.

"Once the opening war starts, the four markets adjacent to the Xiaoyue Mountain Range—Liuguang, Taishan, Great River, and Xuelian—will inevitably become the most important bridgeheads."

"The benefits involved are also immeasurable!"

"Our Luo Tian Society is a small sect, we definitely can't occupy the bulk of the benefits, but taking a step ahead and occupying some opportunities is always good. When the time comes, even if we drink some soup, everyone will benefit endlessly!"

"So, this matter that was brought up long ago should be done."

After hearing what he said, Sima Hui Niang nodded heavily.

"I have the same idea, but because of the law enforcement teams of the Luoyun and Yuding sects, I have been suppressing this impulse."

Luo Chen smiled, "Don't worry about those rules, they only restrict major forces above the Core Formation stage. And this time, when we take action, it's not in the name of opening a trade route."

Sima Hui Niang was stunned.

"Then in whose name?"

Luo Chen looked at Duan Feng on the side.

"In the name of revenge!"

Duan Feng seemed to have realized this, nodding slightly, "I have a grudge against the Bai family in Liuguang Market, and now that my cultivation has achieved success, it is time to avenge my father. No matter who comes, they can't say anything bad."

Sima Hui Niang suddenly realized, revealing a bright smile.

"Then in that case, I will arrange it!"

"No, we must be cautious." Luo Chen shook his head, mentioning his observations on the way back. "There are quite a few smart people who have this idea. As far as I can see, there are already many Foundation Establishment True Cultivators in Liuguang Market, which are clearly the vanguard troops of other forces. So, if we don't do it, we don't do it, if we do it, we must settle it in one hammer."

In front of the two, Luo Chen took out a scroll from his storage bag.

At the first sight of the scroll, Duan Feng's eyes widened.

"This is..."

"This is your family's heirloom treasure, now it should be returned to its original owner."

Luo Chen smiled and generously gave the defensive magic treasure, the Ze Guo Gui Tu, to Duan Feng.

A wisp of spiritual power carried the scroll to Duan Feng.

The other party was actually unable to control his excitement for a moment.

After all, this is a defensive magic treasure!

It was forged by his Duan family with the strength of several generations, plus some foundation from the beginning of the family's creation.

In the cultivation world, it can also be sold for an extremely high price!

"Go back and refine this treasure well, you must be able to simply activate it within ten years."

"For the matter of attacking the Bai family in Liuguang Market, you will be the person in charge, Hui Niang and Xing Zonghan will assist, the cultivators of the Battle Hall will be under your command, and if you have any needs, you can also propose them after thinking about them in these years."

"I only have one request: take down Liuguang Market, occupy the Bai family's land, and make it a branch of my Luo Tian Society's Danxia Hall!"

Duan Feng nodded excitedly, then took the order and left.

After he left, Sima Hui Niang looked at his back, thoughtful.

Behind her came Luo Chen's teasing voice.

"Why, seeing me give him a water-type defensive magic treasure, are you envious?"

Sima Hui Niang came back to her senses and shook her head: "I don't go out often, and fighting has little to do with me, so why would I be envious of such treasures. I'm thinking, why do you value Liuguang Market so much?"

Thinking and thinking, she slowly got the taste of it.

"You have your eye on the thin spiritual energy environment of Liuguang Market?"

Luo Chen nodded appreciatively.

Once the opening war starts, the front is certainly of huge benefit, but to convert some resources into white spirit stones, one has to rely on the thirty-six major domains in the rear!

So, as the few markets that first come into contact with those resources, they naturally become the hubs of commercial operation.

But whether it is Taishan Market or Great River Market, they are places with excellent geographical environments.

Such good places are not something the Luo Tian Society can touch.

It is estimated that the original landlords will be driven away by others.

On the contrary, Liuguang Market is quite special.

As a former mining market, because the mineral veins were over-excavated by the Yuding Sword Sect, the spirit veins were damaged, and the environment was not suitable for cultivation, so it was not highly regarded.

Plus it is not adjacent, so major sects will not value it so much.

If the Luo Tian Society can occupy this place in advance, relying on Luo Chen's good relationship with the Luoyun Sect and the Bingbao, as well as his own strength, he might be able to stand firm.

If the Kang family is pulled in, naturally there will be the signboard of the Yuding Sword Sect.

At that time, relying on this market located in the second line, the Luo Tian Society can occupy some opportunities that will not be envied by others.

Of course!

These things were just something Luo Chen thought of casually on the way back.

His focus next will definitely not be on these "petty gains."

"Hui Niang, I am going to prepare to form a core!"

A simple sentence, but it made the woman's breathing instantly quicken.

She asked subconsciously: "Is there anything I can help with?"

Luo Chen smiled slightly, "That's a bit too much!"

The matter of forming a core is of great importance.

Especially since Luo Chen's aptitude is too dull, although Venerable Canglong gave a different view, and it was reasonable and well-founded.

But in the end, Luo Chen is still the five-spirit-root aptitude that cultivators in the cultivation world discard like worn-out shoes.

Therefore, to form a core, one must do everything to the extreme in every aspect!

And this means that a massive amount of resources is needed!

It just so happens that Sima Hui Niang, who manages the Luo Tian Society, can be of great help while Luo Chen is in seclusion.