Chapter 456: A Grandmaster

Once it was determined that the Daoist companion ceremony would be held during the Core Formation celebration, the various preparations had to be increased.

Although the two women might be busier, their state of mind was surprisingly good!

Over these years, there had been much discussion within the Luo Tian Society and around the Lanxiancheng regarding their relationship with Luo Chen.

Especially among the rogue cultivators, who relished talking about it and brought it up as a topic of conversation from time to time.

There were even busybodies who said that the reason Murong Qinglian, the former Hall Master of the Merit Hall of the Luo Tian Society, had moved away immediately after her husband passed away was to deliberately avoid suspicion.

Naturally, no one would pay any mind to such idle gossip.

Luo Chen's reputation was so great that having one or two beauties by his side was merely icing on the cake; what was there to be jealous of?

It was nothing more than envy.

Now that the two women could be acknowledged in name, it was of no consequence to others, but to them, it was a matter of paramount importance in their lives.

Especially for President Sima Hui Niang.

In earlier years, because of her intimate relationship with Luo Chen, she had been questioned by others in private while she was in charge of the Luo Tian Society.

Although this was later suppressed by the ability she demonstrated.

But it was still not a trivial matter.

Now that Luo Chen was a dignified Jin Dan True Person, acknowledging President Sima Hui Niang's status meant that others would no longer speak of nepotism.

They would only think that Luo Chen, for the sake of cultivation, had handed over sect affairs to a capable and intimately related Daoist companion to manage.

This was a very common occurrence in the world of cultivation.

The two women were busy, but in reality, their busyness was limited.

Over these years, the Luo Tian Society had grown much stronger, but it had also produced quite a few talents.

Not to mention others, the two women had their own trusted aides under their command.

President Sima Hui Niang had taken in three disciples; her eldest disciple, Yao Mingyue, had already successfully reached Foundation Establishment and had been helping her handle some management trifles.

Gu Caiyi was on good terms with Yuan Xiaoyue.

When she failed her Foundation Establishment back then, it was Yuan Xiaoyue, with her Qi Refining ninth-layer cultivation, who took charge of the Jin Dian on her behalf.

Later, after Gu Caiyi successfully reached Foundation Establishment, she spent a large amount of resources to forcibly elevate Yuan Xiaoyue to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Yuan Xiaoyue was naturally grateful.

Over these years, the number of times Gu Caiyi went out had become fewer and fewer, and most matters involving external business were left to Yuan Xiaoyue to handle under the protection of the caravan.

With people assisting, the preparations for the Core Formation celebration were proceeding in an orderly manner.

The relevant invitations had also begun to be sent out one after another as early as a year ago.

Luo Chen was not idle either.

After leaving the Luo Tian Main Hall, he did not leave Danxia Peak.

Instead, he turned and went to the Merit Transmission Hall.

……

"You've come."

"Mm."

"Congratulations on your successful Core Formation."

"Hehe, didn't Brother Wang already congratulate me once before?"

Even though he didn't care much about these things, Wang Yuan still felt warm inside when he heard Luo Chen address him as "Brother Wang" in private as always.

He shook his head gently, "Saying it in public is still somewhat different from congratulating you in private."

Luo Chen smiled.

Afterward, accompanied by Wang Yuan, he entered the Library Pavilion.

He did not go directly to the upper floors.

Luo Chen's footsteps began from the first floor, walking slowly upward bit by bit.

During the walk, he would take out book after book from the Lei Ting Treasure Ring from time to time.

Whether it was secret records of cultivation techniques, knowledge of the cultivation world, or corresponding secret arts.

Most were paper books, with bamboo slips and jade slips being in the minority, and there was no lack of records on animal skin and silk.

First floor: "Xiaoyaoyou", "Mountain-Opening Monument-Breaking Palm", "Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers", "Hundred Years of Observations in Lianxia Yuding", "Detailed Explanation of Various Forces in the Thirty-Six Domains of the Eastern Wasteland"...

Second floor: "Changchun Gong", "Blazing Flame Technique", "Wutu Gong", "Flying Fire Flowing Fireflies", "Entanglement Technique", "Black Prison Suppressing Flame Technique"...

Third floor: "Wood King Scripture" (the complete Foundation Establishment chapter of the Yi Wood Medicine King Scripture, pseudonym), "Ding Fire One Qi Method", "Qingyang Technique", "Near Water Pavilion", "Blazing Sun Technique", "Mountain Collapse", "Flower Fairy"...

When Luo Chen walked to the fourth floor, looking at the sparse bookshelves.

He sighed faintly.

Wang Yuan had already understood his meaning when Luo Chen continuously took out book after book of cultivation scriptures and secret records of spells.

This was because after achieving success in his realm, some of the low-level cultivation techniques he had accumulated in the past were no longer useful to him.

Keeping them on his person was just a burden.

It was better to contribute them all to enrich the Library Pavilion of the Luo Tian Sect.

The founding of the sect would take place in the near future.

Before that, determining the relevant inheritance of the Luo Tian Society was also a major event!

It could even be said that this matter was far above many other items.

The only book Luo Chen took back was "Record of Customs in the Six Domains", which he had given to the other party for free back then.

It wasn't of much use, but it still had a little commemorative significance.

At this moment.

Hearing Luo Chen sigh, Wang Yuan also understood what he was thinking.

"Although you are very powerful, everyone has also worked very hard."

"But the Luo Tian Society has been established for less than a hundred years, so it is perfectly normal for its foundation to be shallow."

"You don't need to sigh for this."

Luo Chen nodded, his gaze resting on the few incomplete third-tier cultivation techniques above, and then his line of sight paused.

Facing Wang Yuan's curious gaze, he once again took out cultivation techniques from his storage ring.

"From now on, the Luo Tian Society will also not lack third-tier cultivation techniques and secret arts."

"Hua Qing One Heart Technique"

"Blazing Sun True Scripture"

He did not take out the "Burning Wood True Technique" that he primarily cultivated.

This technique was still incomplete, and currently, it had only barely reached the proficiency level; taking it out for others to cultivate would instead harm them.

Moreover, he had to prevent others from finding his flaws from the cultivation technique and targeting him with it.

After taking out two complete third-tier cultivation techniques, Luo Chen's movements did not stop.

Instead, he successively placed the two complete water-type and wood-type third-tier cultivation techniques from Helian Yun's legacy onto the bookshelf.

In this way, among the five elements, except for metal-type cultivation techniques, the Luo Tian Sect already had corresponding complete third-tier cultivation techniques for the wood, water, fire, and earth elements.

In the future, whether it was the older generation of Foundation Establishment True Cultivators like Duan Feng and the others switching to third-tier cultivation techniques after successful Core Formation, or the younger generation of cultivators choosing their life-bound cultivation techniques after successful Foundation Establishment, they would all have an inheritance to rely on.

Especially the younger generation of cultivators!

They no longer needed to waste time and energy like Luo Chen, Duan Feng, and the others, switching their life-bound cultivation techniques at every stage.

Instead, during Foundation Establishment, or even during the Qi Refining stage, they could directly cultivate the Qi Refining chapters and Foundation Establishment chapters corresponding to the complete third-tier cultivation techniques.

Perhaps these cultivation techniques could not be considered profound and deep, and could not be compared with those inheritance methods of the Nascent Soul Upper Sects.

But at least they were taken by a Jin Dan Great Sect as inheritance.

The profundity within them was still worth discussing.

Seeing Luo Chen complete the third-tier cultivation techniques of the four elements, Wang Yuan couldn't help but nod in approval.

Over these years, Luo Chen had not only soared in realm, walking ahead of him, but even his harvest in assets was far beyond his imagination.

Seeing Luo Chen still digging into his storage ring.

Wang Yuan was a bit stunned, "There's more?"

However, this time.

The things Luo Chen took out were not placed on the bookshelf.

"I heard that your son, Ceng Yilong, has inherited your mantle, and like you before, he first achieved Foundation Establishment and then primarily cultivated body refinement?"

Wang Yuan nodded.

This was a path he considered feasible in an environment where body refiners were declining.

"Then, Brother Wang, what is your current realm?"

Wang Yuan did not hide it and said truthfully: "Thirty years ago, I had already achieved Great Success in Jin, and after the battle of the Yan Alliance, I grasped a little of the mystery of Dan Jin. After thirty years of research and cultivation, I am now beginning to try the method of Embracing Dan."

The path of body refinement seems to study the essence of the human body, simple and clear.

In reality, it is broad and profound; those without talent are often trapped in one realm.

Even for Wang Yuan, whose talent and intelligence were so outstanding, he was a grandmaster who often created his own cultivation techniques at every realm.

But now his lifespan had long exceeded the one-hundred-and-twenty-year limit of those in Qi Refining.

If he hadn't chosen to achieve Foundation Establishment first back then, he would probably have died of old age by now.

According to what Luo Chen knew, the first few of the second realm of body refinement were fine.

But the last four small realms—Ming, An, Hua, Dan—were harder than the last, and unlike Luo Chen's immortal cultivation, there was no method to rely on.

Now Wang Yuan had relied on himself to reach the final step, Great Success in Dan Jin, and was even seeking the method of Embracing Dan.

It was truly admirable!

Luo Chen handed the recorded jade slip in his hand to Wang Yuan.

"This is... 'Ten Thousand Daos Converging'? Didn't you already give me a copy before?" Wang Yuan was puzzled.

Luo Chen smiled.

"This copy is different; it is the 'Ten Thousand Daos Converging' that I perfected during my seclusion. Although it is relatively superficial in the use of Qi and blood, it has a lot to say about the tempering of the external physique. Perhaps it can have the effect of 'stones from other hills' for you."

Wang Yuan was shocked.

The previous copy of "Ten Thousand Daos Converging" was already extremely extraordinary; could it still be perfected?

Wang Yuan's spiritual sense probed into it, browsing through it hurriedly, and discovered several major areas that had been perfected.

They were the Blood Exchange Chapter, the Bone Tempering Chapter, and the Armor Transformation Chapter.

In addition, in the Meridian Clearing Chapter and the Aperture Opening Chapter, he had also supplemented one or two methods beyond the set he had proposed before.

While Wang Yuan was browsing, Luo Chen explained earnestly:

"My physique reached an alternative third tier of body refinement long ago, but I have been unable to continue to improve; you should know the reason for this."

"Now that I have perfected this method, I can have a method to rely on."

"As long as my Blood Exchange reaches Great Success, my Bone Tempering reaches Great Success, and I transform my life-bound scales, perhaps my body refinement realm can ascend to a level comparable to an ancient fourth-tier desolate beast."

Wang Yuan listened quietly to these words.

He did not express opposition, but nodded in recognition, comparing it with the cultivation method recorded on the jade slip.

Indeed!

If the nine Blood Exchanges reach Great Success, and then the whole body's bones are tempered, one can return to the original and step onto the cultivation system of ancient desolate beasts.

And transforming life-bound scales?

This was borrowing from the life-bound true feathers of the Peng bird and the reverse scale method of snakes, pythons, and dragons.

However!

He shook his head, "Perhaps tempering the physique can be borrowed from, but it has no great effect on my current Embracing Great Dan and Generating True Gang."

After realizing all the changes in Qi and blood, the third realm of body refiners is to walk the path of Gang Qi.

Once Gang Qi is achieved, its power is no less than the magic power of a Jin Dan cultivator.

And this is the reason why body refiners can greatly increase their lifespan once they step into the third realm.

Wang Yuan only thought Luo Chen didn't understand the principles.

But he didn't expect that Luo Chen had long been prepared.

"This copy of 'Ten Thousand Daos Converging' is only for your reference; I mainly want you to take it to improve and delete some parts, and teach Ceng Yilong well."

Wang Yuan was stunned.

Afterward, Luo Chen continued: "And your martial arts Embracing Dan and Generating True Gang, in my opinion, have the same effect as a cultivator forming a Jin Dan."

Martial arts Embracing Dan emphasizes the fusion of Qi and blood power with will to give birth to indestructible Gang Qi.

Immortal Dao forming a Dan emphasizes the fusion of spiritual energy power and spiritual soul to derive infinite magic power.

The essence of the two is different, but they are somewhat similar in form.

Therefore!

Another jade slip was stuffed into Wang Yuan's hand.

"This is?"

"Created by me, the Supreme Method of Core Formation—'Micro-Dust Origin Technique'."

In an instant, the always calm Wang Yuan's eyes widened.

His round eyes stared fixedly at the jade slip in his hand.

He swallowed his saliva, looking incredulous.

"This... Supreme Method of Core Formation secret art?"

You must know that in the world of cultivation, an ordinary Lower Method of Core Formation secret art would cost a great price to auction.

If it were an Upper Method of Core Formation secret art, then rogue cultivators would have to risk their lives to fight, compete, and snatch it!

Now, Luo Chen had actually created a Supreme Method of Core Formation secret art himself?

If this were to spread out, wouldn't it cause a huge uproar in the entire world of cultivation?

"With my aptitude, ordinary Core Formation secret arts cannot elevate my realm."

"Therefore, I took the strengths of a hundred schools, imitated the experience of 'Ten Thousand Daos Converging', and created this Supreme Method secret art. And with it as the foundation, I successfully formed my Dan."

"Its effect is beyond doubt!"

When he said this, Luo Chen exuded strong confidence.

And from Wang Yuan's perspective, he felt this confidence was very familiar!

Once, and even now, he himself had a similar temperament.

Holding two jade slips in his hand, which were the two cultivation secret arts created by Luo Chen, plus the miscellaneous third-tier cultivation techniques on the bookshelf.

At this moment, Wang Yuan realized what that temperament was.

The demeanor of a grandmaster!

Integrating everything one has learned, creating a method oneself, opening a mountain and founding a sect—this is to be a grandmaster of a school!

Unknowingly, that little rogue cultivator who used to set up a stall and sell aphrodisiacs had already reached the level of a grandmaster, and had even left his big brother behind.

Worldly affairs are unpredictable, truly catching one off guard.

Of course, Luo Chen had no intention of showing off in front of his friend.

He quickly said: "However, this secret art is mainly tailored for myself. There are too many requirements and restrictions to cultivate this technique."

Wang Yuan couldn't help but nod.

He had just glanced at it and discovered those terrifying cultivation conditions.

Those whose physique is not strong cannot cultivate.

Those whose spiritual soul is not strong cannot cultivate.

Those without a third-tier Great Dan cannot cultivate.

Those whose foundation is not stable cannot...

Miscellaneous and varied, it was simply not prepared for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Besides Jin Dan cultivators, how many satisfy these complete conditions?

And what use would a Jin Dan cultivator who has already formed a Dan have for this thing?

Therefore, although "Micro-Dust Origin Technique" is a Supreme Method, it is extremely tasteless.

Of course, he hadn't had time to check it carefully yet.

Perhaps there was knowledge he could absorb inside.

In fact, this was also Luo Chen's intention.

"Micro-Dust Origin Technique" was summarized and fused from five Core Formation secret arts, among which "Escaping the Cage", "Hun Yuan Method", and "Settling the Wind and Waves" all borrowed from the path of body refinement.

Especially "Settling the Wind and Waves", which is also a secret art for tempering the will.

If Wang Yuan could realize the essence within it, he would surely have a great harvest!

After Luo Chen explained these principles to Wang Yuan, Wang Yuan also had a few more expectations for this secret art.

"Of course, if Brother Wang has time, you can simplify this secret art. Even if the grade is lowered to the Upper Method or Middle Method level, it will be a happy event for the Luo Tian Sect."

Wang Yuan nodded.

This Supreme Method is simply not something ordinary people can use.

But if it is simplified and optimized to the Upper Method or Middle Method level, it can be popularized to the normal Foundation Establishment True Cultivators of the Luo Tian Sect.

In that way, the Luo Tian Sect could also have its own unique Core Formation secret art!

Perhaps in one or two hundred years, the Luo Tian Sect could naturally give birth to Jin Dan cultivators.

Cultivating one's own method, learning one's own art.

This scene seemed to flow in the hearts of the two.

Suddenly.

Wang Yuan shook his head violently, as if to shake something out of his brain.

Under Luo Chen's puzzled gaze, he asked soberly: "Luo Chen, you seem to have fallen into it?"

Luo Chen was stunned.

He didn't know what he meant by this.

Fallen into it?

However, when he followed Wang Yuan's burning gaze and looked at the scenery from the fourth floor to the first floor, he suddenly understood.

Fallen into the desire for power?

When he first left Dajiang Fang, Wang Yuan had warned him about this.

Establishing a force is fine, and collecting cultivation resources is also normal, but one must not be addicted to it.

We cultivators pursue longevity.

Apart from that, everything else is illusory!

However, times have changed!

Luo Chen gave a bitter smile, "It's not that I've fallen into it, but that people always change. These people have followed me through thick and thin, giving everything; do you expect me to ignore them?"

Wang Yuan could understand, but dared not agree.

"Attachments, bonds, friends, and relatives... within the scope of my ability, I must always do something and leave something behind."

Wang Yuan frowned.

What he disliked most was this kind of thing.

It was precisely because of attachments and bonds that Luo Chen had killed his way into the Fenxiang Valley with revenge in his heart back then.

If there were no such things, even if the Yan Alliance were powerful, he could have fled to a place, found a place to cultivate, and after hundreds of years, when his realm was successful, it wouldn't be too late to take revenge.

"Actually, it's not that I've changed, but that everyone will change."

Suddenly, Luo Chen stared at Wang Yuan.

"If I were surrounded by a great enemy and were about to die in front of you, what would you do?"

"If your disciple Ceng Yilong were trapped in prison, would you ignore it?"

Wang Yuan was speechless.

After a moment, he said hesitantly: "Within the scope of my ability, I would take action."

Luo Chen smiled and waved his hand.

"You thought, you hesitated, you wavered."

"It can be seen that if such a thing really happened, you would make a choice according to your instinct; based on my understanding of you, your choice would be to help us."

The man opposite had a bit of confusion.

Had he changed too?

Luo Chen's words continued.

Perhaps it was because of many years of seclusion, the long-sealed chatterbox was opened at once.

"We pursue longevity and seek to become immortals."

"What is an immortal? It's nothing more than one person and one mountain."

"The high-ranking disciples of sects have spiritual mountains and great rivers to rely on, but what about us rogue cultivators?"

"In this cruel world of cultivation, a rogue cultivator is nothing more than duckweed and ants, drifting with the tide. Don't talk about spiritual mountains; even a place to stand is hard to find."

"Huddling together for warmth and being each other's teachers is the orthodox method."

"Of course, this is just my one-sided view; after all, I have poured a lot of effort into the Luo Tian Society, and to let me give it up easily now is something I cannot do."

Wang Yuan gave an "mm" and no longer insisted on correcting Luo Chen's thoughts.

Everyone's pursuit is different, and even if they have the same pursuit, the methods of pursuing longevity will be vastly different.

Hadn't he himself enjoyed the convenience brought by the Luo Tian Society all these years?

Using his original philosophy to demand Luo Chen was actually his own mistake.

In his ears came the sound of Luo Chen changing the subject.

"These two cultivation secret arts, although they are recorded versions, are also extremely important."

"I have placed corresponding spiritual sense restrictions on them. Later, I will intercept the spiritual sense of you and President Sima Hui Niang. From now on, only you, the Hall Master of the Merit Transmission Hall, and she, as the Sect Master, can open them."

"If you encounter suitable disciples, if I am not here, it will be up to you to decide whether to let them cultivate these two arts."

"If there is an external enemy snatching them, then destroy them!"

Wang Yuan gave an "mm" and noted this matter down.

This was also his duty as the Hall Master of the Merit Transmission Hall.

After discussing these matters, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Before long, Elder Min Longyu's figure appeared in front of the two.

"Sorry, I came a bit late."

"No matter."

Luo Chen smiled and patted his shoulder, knowing that the other party was busy with the Core Formation celebration three months later.

He pointed to the bookshelves behind him.

"Next, I will have to trouble you."

Elder Min Longyu's eyes lit up, saying it was no trouble at all.

As one of the most important places for the Luo Tian Sect in the future, the Library Pavilion naturally could not be left without any protection.

At the very least, every cultivation technique that had reached a grade needed to be set up with corresponding array restrictions to avoid being stolen.

Luo Chen had taken out a large batch of books this time, and Elder Min Longyu would probably be busy later.

Leaving the two to discuss how to set up the restrictions, Luo Chen turned and went downstairs.

As he walked down floor by floor from the fourth floor, his footsteps became lighter and lighter.

Those cultivation techniques and classics were either memorized by him or cultivated to Great Success.

Now they were being shelved.

It was not abandonment, but rather a different kind of inexplicable realization.

"Having ascended the high building, one can travel light and climb the peak again!"

(End of chapter)