Chapter 551: Confusion of Dao Heart, Transformed Demon

"Master, do you think I have hope of forming a core in the future?"

The voice, filled with anxiety and confusion, came from the side. Luo Chen looked at the middle-aged man, and his brows frowned subconsciously.

For this named disciple, Luo Chen didn't put much effort into cultivating him.

Or rather, Luo Chen himself wasn't very good at teaching disciples.

Whether it was his true disciple Qu Qu Lingjun or the younger generation Ceng Ceng Yilong, Luo Chen's guidance to them was more reflected in "putting into practice".

This also had to do with Luo Chen's own experience.

Luo Chen walked through his life, his systematic theoretical learning wasn't very good, basically relying on brushing proficiency step by step.

Whether it was alchemy, magic arts, or physical cultivation.

In his view, practice is greater than theory, and practice produces true skills.

After finally learning a bit of alchemy, his status didn't change much, until he met himself, which gave him the opportunity to change his life.

Xu Xu Muxian trembled all over, but whispered, "I know."

It's just, why would it be like this?

Luo Chen was full of confusion. Clearly, when he saw him back then, the teenage Xu Xu Muxian still had quite a bit of motivation.

The Cheng family girl and Xu Xu Muxian both complied with Luo Chen's regulations.

"Master enjoys the process, but what I want to see is the result."

Luo Chen snorted, "What is meaningless, what is wasting time? The process of seeking the Dao itself is a meaningful thing."

But in his astonishment, he shook his head with a frown.

At this moment, suddenly asking this question, Luo Chen was really a bit astonished.

In the dull atmosphere, Xu Xu Muxian clenched his fists, as if to embolden himself, and raised his head.

Because of these experiences, he often let them do it when teaching disciples.

He stood quietly opposite Luo Chen, of average height, and although he lowered his eyebrows, he seemed to have become calm.

"But what if there isn't?"

Xu Xu Muxian was also like this.

The latter one was a restriction Luo Chen placed on the other party.

"Doesn't that mean decades or even a hundred years of time, in the end, turn into a pile of yellow earth, leaving only regret for wasting time."

"Master, I am thinking, if I have hope for the Great Dao, I should naturally follow your example and cultivate diligently, working day and night."

"Doesn't that mean decades or even a hundred years of time, in the end, turn into a pile of yellow earth, leaving only regret for wasting time."

He had already discovered that this named disciple of his, although talented, lacked a firm heart toward the Dao, and his future achievements could be seen at a glance.

This tone was a bit heavy.

Luo Chen disagreed, "Without experiencing the process, how can there be a result. If you fantasize about the Golden Core Great Dao, you should experience the Foundation Establishment realm, at least gaining an extra hundred years of lifespan."

Luo Chen sneered, "Eating the bitterness of bitterness, to be a person above people, without experiencing pain, just fantasizing about the future, isn't that just aiming too high?"

Power and wealth, fine wine and delicacies, calling and drinking, showing off, and even not having to guard a beautiful wife, yet unable to perform the act of intimacy.

Xu Xu Muxian's eyes wandered, carrying a trace of admiration, "That is for you, Master, who treats day and night meditation and cultivating painful secret techniques as nothing, finding joy in bitterness. Many people, including me, cannot persist to the end."

Born in a side branch of the Xu family, he was not valued when young.

When he set off for Xuanyan Island, Cheng Cheng Haixin mentioned wanting to marry into the Xu family and marry a Cheng family girl to Xu Xu Muxian, which could be considered winning over this potential-filled rising star of the Du Feiyan Islands.

Luo Chen said unhappily: "Since you know, why not be down-to-earth and do it step by step? Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, my generation of cultivators has always been tempered like this, finally achieving the Transformation stage and ascending, achieving the True Immortal Dao! Why, do you still want to take the Nine-Turn Golden Core

Upon hearing these words, Luo Chen's heart was filled with disappointment, and he no longer had any desire to continue the conversation.

If one were to ask if there was any deep "master-disciple bond" between the two?

That would be nonsense.

He was merely a signboard Luo Chen had erected to put the hearts of the various families in the Du Feiyan Archipelago at ease.

"You are only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, yet you harbor delusions of the Golden Core Dao; do you not know the principle of aiming too high?"

As his thoughts drifted and he recalled this person's experiences, a faint realization dawned on Luo Chen.

"Compared to five hundred years of vicissitudes, a hundred years is but a fleeting moment," Xu Xu Muxian said in a low voice. "In efforts where no results can be seen, this disciple only feels as if I am in an endless hell, suffering day and night."

Xu Xu Muxian's status as a nominal disciple was more symbolic than a matter of orthodox inheritance.

Given the other party's current status, he truly did not need to engage in pure, bitter cultivation, but should instead enjoy a more relaxed and pleasant life.

Since he knew all this, it meant he hadn't lived these past thirty years in vain, so where did this absurd question come from?

He did not press the matter, but simply watched the other party quietly.

At some point, the trembling of Xu Xu Muxian's body had ceased.

Luo Chen was puzzled.

Seeing that the other party had been diligent in processing medicinal herbs for him, and possessed a certain talent for alchemy, Luo Chen felt a bit of pity for his talent, which was why he had taken him as a nominal disciple, teaching him some basic alchemy and occasionally correcting his mistakes.

Luo Chen was afraid that the other party would become addicted to carnal affairs and ruin his primordial yang, leaving him with no hope for Foundation Establishment in the future, so he had specifically mentioned it.

Did he seem to have anticipated this exchange long ago?

Xu Xu Muxian lowered his head, looking at the small grass sprouting new buds under the nourishment of spiritual energy, "This, this disciple also knows."

It was meant to be a kindness, but he hadn't expected...

That was it. After years of hardship, he couldn't find wanton indulgence even after achieving some success. Seeing Cheng Dou, who was at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, fail to break through to the Golden Core stage and perish, he had developed a sense of cowardice.

Luo Chen had a faint realization.

What about himself back then?

Come to think of it, after achieving success at each stage, he had actually engaged in acts of indulgence to soothe his mood.

Establishing a force, wielding great power, having thousands of followers at his beck and call, and deciding the fate of sects with a single word.

With Gu Caiyi and Hui Niang by his side, the True Person favoring him, and those below looking up to him with reverence.

These experiences gave Luo Chen a sense of fulfillment from his persistent, bitter cultivation, which was why he never tired of it.

People need to see positive feedback!

But many people do not receive enough positive feedback.

And Xu Xu Muxian's current situation was actually the norm for the vast majority of low-level cultivators.

After realizing there was no hope for the Great Dao, they chose to give up and turn to doing comfortable things instead.

Traveling the world, enjoying the scenery.

Starting a family and passing on their bloodline.

If it weren't for the regulations of the Holy Land sects, who knows how many Qi Refining cultivators would drift into the mortal world to enjoy an extremely extravagant life all day long.

A life of debauchery and indulgence—nothing more than that!

Thinking of this, Luo Chen reflected on himself.

If he didn't have the attribute panel that allowed him to see his proficiency increase at every moment, what would he have become in the end?

Would he have sunk into low-level pleasures, or...

The reflection came to an abrupt halt.

Luo Chen couldn't help but laugh; hadn't this kind of hypothesis been proven many years ago?

That was when he first took the Tongyou Pill.

Entering dreams to enhance the primordial spirit.

In that dream, he didn't have a system, but because he wanted to improve his alchemy to change his fate, he joined the Poshan Gang again and again, mining for spirit stones to refine pills... until finally, he successfully refined the Zhongmiao Pill that had the chance to change his life.

Although in the dream, he was already old and frail, with his vitality withered.

But having a respectable alchemy skill, even if he couldn't achieve Foundation Establishment in the future, he could still improve his cultivation environment.

The heart seeking the Dao is rooted deep in the soul!

Xu Xu Muxian stood there quietly, looking at his master, whose appearance was even younger than his own, and his heart felt much lighter.

Some words, if kept in the heart for too long, will make one sick.

He had been unable to enter meditation during his recent cultivation sessions.

Although he had expected his master to be furious, the fact that the other party was merely displeased made his situation much easier to bear.

It was just that he might have disappointed his master!

Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder and patted it twice gently.

The man with a peaceful expression and gentle eyes spoke slowly.

"I cannot say for certain whether you can form a Golden Core, but I know that five hundred years of time can allow you to see more scenery and enjoy more pleasures. The mere Du Feiyan Archipelago is but a corner of the world; staying here will ultimately make you nothing more than a frog in a well."

"Don't you want to jump out and see the wider world?"

After saying this, Luo Chen withdrew his hand and left in a carefree manner.

In the end, he still hadn't cleared up his disciple's confusion, but had merely given the wavering man a future he could look forward to.

Xu Xu Muxian stood where he was, his expression still blank, only murmuring vaguely:

"A wider world..."

After returning to his residence, Luo Chen felt a bit of regret.

If the Mirror of Questioning the Heart was still here, it would have been great.

Combined with the illusion of Mirror Flower, Water Moon, he could have easily chosen a more suitable path for Xu Xu Muxian.

And he didn't know if the other party would listen to his words?

If he listened, and after trying his best, ended up with nothing, would he resent him, this irresponsible teacher?

Regarding these questions, Luo Chen merely pondered them for a moment before casting them to the back of his mind.

When all is said and done, he is just a nominal disciple.

Just as Xu Xu Muxian said, a hundred years is but a fleeting moment.

The time Luo Chen spent in the Du Feiyan Archipelago also passed quickly in his monotonous life of day-to-day cultivation and alchemy.

Leisurely, three years of time passed in a flash, as if it were just a moment of distraction.

In these three years, Luo Chen's harvest in stockpiling elixirs was enormous.

Even though the Du Feiyan Archipelago was remote and the environment of the North Sea was different from the Eastern Wasteland, making it difficult to collect many medicinal herbs, Luo Chen still managed to refine many of the elixirs he had mastered through some improved methods.

In the eyes of outsiders, he was a third-tier alchemy master.

But on the system panel, he was already a genuine fourth-tier alchemist, well-versed in scriptures, proficient in pharmacology, and able to handle various alchemy techniques with ease.

For first-tier and second-tier pill formulas, even without suitable medicinal herbs, he could find substitutes through repeated experiments.

Grain Bigu Pill, Tongyou Pill, Yulu Pill, Diliujiang, Fanxing Pill, Zhenyan Pill...

In three years, Luo Chen's pockets were full.

The price was that the various families in the Du Feiyan Archipelago were miserable, and their internal resources had been squeezed to the limit.

Yet, everyone dared to be angry but dared not speak.

The might of the Demon Lord could not be provoked!

On this day.

Cheng Cheng Haixin delivered an invitation!

In the hall, Luo Chen looked at the gold-stamped invitation and revealed a look of sudden realization.

"No wonder there was this ten-year deadline."

On the invitation was the time and place of a large-scale auction, as well as the names of some rare materials that were specially marked in dense detail.

This invitation was brought back from the outside by the Du Feiyan caravan, and was specially sent by Wu Qi of Wushen Island.

Cheng Cheng Haixin explained from the side: "Fairy Feileng City is located on Lengguang Island. Lengguang Island is the premier super-large island in the southeastern part of the North Sea, with countless cities and a mixture of various forces."

"Overall, this place belongs to a neutral zone."

Luo Chen was puzzled, "Neutral? Shouldn't it be under the jurisdiction of the Li Canghai Alliance?"

Cheng Cheng Haixin shook her head, "It's not like that. As the largest city on Lengguang Island, Fairy Feileng City is the most powerful force among many. The City Lord, Fairy Fairy Feileng, had old ties with a Nascent Soul True Person of the Yuanmo Sect in her early years. It was also by relying on that Yuanmo Sect True Person that she was able to occupy Fairy Feileng City alone. Therefore, even though the Demon Sect has been destroyed, in the eyes of outsiders, she still belongs to the remnants of the Demon Sect... the lineage of the Demon Sect. In the early years, the Li Canghai Alliance tried to accept her, but was rejected."

"Didn't the Xueyan Moluo Liu side try to recruit her?" Luo Chen asked.

"They were also rejected."

Luo Chen was a bit surprised.

In the chaotic North Sea of today, not huddling together for warmth but standing alone—isn't this a path to destruction?

Suddenly!

He realized.

Fairy Feileng City, which had always been peaceful and uncontested, suddenly holding a super auction in the current situation and gathering various forces—isn't this releasing a signal?

A signal called "choice"!

By taking advantage of this auction, it is highly likely that the Fairy Feileng City Lord will lean towards one side.

Perhaps it is the Li Canghai Alliance, perhaps it is the Xueyan Moluo Liu, or perhaps it is some other top Nascent Soul force.

But no matter which side it is, they must be very keen on having an extra Nascent Soul True Person of their own, and by the way, controlling Lengguang Island, the largest island in the southeast!

This signal should have been released a long time ago.

The Xueyan Moluo Liu had also been preparing for this for a long time, which is why Wu Qi set the ten-year deadline, and why Xueyan Xueyan Moluo came to Du Feiyan to find Luo Chen on his way.

"In other words, if I go, it is highly likely that I will encounter people like Xueyan Xueyan Moluo?"

Luo Chen muttered in his heart.

He wasn't particularly afraid of dealing with Nascent Soul True Persons.

Still the same saying: an excellent alchemist, unless they encounter someone jealous of talent, will be well-received wherever they go.

And now that he is in the Golden Core stage, he won't encounter the situation where he was forcibly recruited by Mi Mi Shuhua and used as a tool during his Qi Refining stage.

His gaze fell on the invitation, and seeing the dense list of material names, Luo Chen felt a bit moved.

From it, he saw more than a dozen auxiliary materials needed for the Baby-Forming Pill!

You must know that over the years, the Du Feiyan caravan had also been collecting medicinal herbs for his Baby-Forming Pill, but the harvest had been meager.

Not to mention their scarcity, even the common ones were expensive and not something the Du Feiyan cultivators' family fortune could afford.

It could even be said that some materials didn't just depend on spirit stones, but also on "qualifications."

If your cultivation realm isn't high enough, you simply don't have the qualification to come into contact with them, let alone buy them.

"Master, are you going?"

Cheng Cheng Haixin asked cautiously, but she already had the answer in her heart.

Over the years, the Senior Qingyang Demon Lord had been refining pills on a large scale, and many of them were not pills he needed himself; no matter how you looked at it, it was all in preparation for a long journey.

In other words, the other party had already made up his mind.

Sure enough, Luo Chen nodded slightly.

Cheng Cheng Haixin understood, but another question was even more important.

"Master, will you still come back after you leave?"

Luo Chen's gaze fell on her, and he asked in return: "Do you want to go with me?"

"I..." the woman hesitated.

"Go down first, I still have some things to do here."

Cheng Cheng Haixin's face showed hesitation, but in the end, she gave a graceful bow, "This concubine will take her leave."

After she left, Luo Chen sighed.

If she really wanted to go with him, that would be fine; he didn't mind the burden.

On the contrary, because Cheng Cheng Haixin had been handling trivial matters for him for these years and had already learned some of his habits, taking her along would allow her to continue handling trivial matters for him.

However, it was clear that she had family burdens and was afraid she couldn't just leave easily.

Luo Chen didn't take it to heart; without Cheng Cheng Haixin, with his methods, finding a second Cheng Cheng Haixin wouldn't be difficult.

At the moment, there was another important matter that needed to be handled.

With a flip of his wrist, a dazzling, gilded pill appeared in his hand.

Listening carefully, there was even a faint sound of an infant crying echoing from it.

It was exactly that Transformation Pill!

In his three years at Mount Cangwu Mountain, Luo Chen had finally refined a batch of Transformation Pills, a total of five.

He had handed four over to the True Truth Hall Master Master Youquan, and the last one was kept by him under the name of research.

Such pills were rare and hard to find.

Even though Luo Chen had already mastered it and had the means to refine it in batches, he couldn't reproduce it.

No other reason!

The main ingredient was the biggest limitation!

The main ingredient of the Transformation Pill was the primordial essence blood of a Nascent Soul True Person!

He, Luo Chen, didn't have the ability to collect the most precious essence blood of a Nascent Soul True Person.

With the Transformation Pill in hand, Luo Chen's heart stirred, and he sent out a sound transmission.

Before long, a gale swept outside the hall, and at the same time, a lazy voice that sounded as if it hadn't woken up yet came through.

"Seeing Tianxuan, can you be a little lighter? If you ruin the master's flowers and plants, be careful of getting scolded."

"None of your business, you big fat snake, sleeping all day long, and you have the nerve to talk about me."

"Hehe, little wench."

"Are you looking for a beating?"

"Come, try it with your Uncle Hei, I, Hei Wang, am not afraid of you now."

"I'm not afraid of you. When I get a chance to go to the sea, see if I don't beat you until you're bruised and battered."

Following the noise, a gull and a dragon shrank their bodies and stepped into the hall.

Before they could speak, the eyes of the two demons subconsciously fell on that Golden Core.

Gulp!

Gulp!

A clearly audible sound of swallowing saliva came from the throats of the two great demon kings.

Luo Chen smiled slightly, and with a lift of his hand, the Transformation Pill slowly flew in front of the two.

(End of chapter)