Chapter 551

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

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

Luo Chen hadn't put much effort into cultivating this named disciple.

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

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

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

Luo Chen's life journey hadn't involved systematic theoretical learning; he had basically relied on grinding proficiency step by step.

Whether it was alchemy, magic arts, or refining the body.

In his view, practice is greater than theory; practice produces true skill.

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

Xu Muxian trembled all over, but whispered with trembling lips: "I know."

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

Luo Chen was full of confusion; clearly, when he first saw him, the young Xu Muxian still had quite a bit of ambition.

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

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

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

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

At this moment, suddenly asking this question, Luo Chen was truly a bit stunned.

In the stifling atmosphere, Xu Muxian clenched his fists, as if to bolster his courage, and raised his head.

Because of these experiences, he often taught his disciples to just go and do it.

He stood quietly opposite Luo Chen, of average height, and although he lowered his head, he seemed to have gained some composure.

"But what if there isn't one?"

Xu Muxian was the same.

The latter condition was still a restriction Luo Chen had placed on him.

"Since that's the case, why can't I enjoy these years, do more happy and meaningful things? By the time I sit and wait for death, I won't feel regret for wasting my time."

"Master, I was thinking, if I have hope for the Great Dao, I should naturally learn from you and cultivate diligently, day after day."

"Doesn't that mean decades or even a century of time will eventually turn into a handful of yellow earth, ending in nothingness."

He had already discovered that this named disciple of his had talent but lacked a firm heart toward the Dao; 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, "Enduring the bitterness of bitterness makes one a person above people; without experiencing pain, you fantasize about the future—isn't that just aiming too high?"

Power, wealth, fine wine and delicacies, calling and ordering people around, showing off, and even not having to guard a beautiful wife while being unable to perform the act of intimacy.

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

Born into a side branch of the Xu family, he was not valued in his youth.

When he set off for Profound Rock Island, Cheng Haixin mentioned wanting to arrange a marriage with the Xu family, betrothing a Cheng family girl to Xu Muxian, which was also a way to win over this rising star of the Du 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 tempered themselves this way, finally achieving the True Immortal Dao by ascending to Soul Transformation! Why, do you want to take a Nine-Turn Golden Core from legends and ascend in one step?"

Upon hearing these words, Luo Chen's heart was full of disappointment, and he no longer had the heart to continue the conversation.

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

That would be nonsense.

He was just a signboard Luo Chen had set up to reassure the families of the Du Du Feiyan Islands.

"You are only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, yet you fantasize about the Golden Core Great Dao; don't you know the principle of aiming too high?"

Thoughts flowed, thinking of this person's experiences, Luo Chen had a faint realization in his heart.

"Compared to the five hundred years of vicissitudes, a hundred years is just a snap of the fingers." Xu Muxian said gloomily: "Efforts without seeing results only make me feel like I am in an Avici hell, suffering day and night."

The status of Xu Muxian's named disciple was more symbolic than a Daoist inheritance.

Given the other party's current status, they truly didn't need to cultivate in bitterness and purity, but should enjoy a more relaxed and pleasant life.

Since they know all this, it means he hasn't lived these thirty years in vain, so why this absurd question?

He didn't pursue it, just looked at the other party quietly.

Unknowingly, the trembling of Xu Muxian's body had stopped.

Luo Chen was puzzled.

Seeing that the other party had worked hard processing medicinal herbs for him and had a certain talent for alchemy, Luo Chen cherished his talent, so he took him as a named disciple, teaching some basic alchemy and occasionally correcting mistakes.

Luo Chen was afraid that the other party would indulge in affairs with women and ruin his primordial yang, making Foundation Establishment hopeless in the future, so he specifically mentioned it.

Did he have a premonition of this conversation?

Xu Muxian lowered his head, looking at the grass sprouting new buds under the nourishment of spiritual energy, "I know all this too."

It was meant with good intentions, but didn't expect...

Yes, years of hardship, after achieving something, couldn't lead to wanton indulgence. And seeing Cheng Dou, who was at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, fail to impact the Golden Core stage and die, he felt cowardice in his heart.

Luo Chen had a faint realization.

What about himself back then?

Come to think of it, after achieving something at every stage, he actually had moments of relaxation and indulgence.

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

Caiyi and Sima Hui Niang, two beauties by his side, respected by superiors, looked up to by inferiors.

These experiences allowed Luo Chen to persist in bitter cultivation and have sufficient sense of gain, which is why he was tireless.

People need to see positive feedback!

But many people don't receive enough positive feedback.

And Xu Muxian's current situation is actually the norm for ordinary low-tier cultivators.

After realizing that the Great Dao is hopeless, they choose to give up and turn to doing comfortable things.

Traveling the world, enjoying the scenery.

Spreading branches and leaves, passing down bloodlines.

If it weren't for the regulations of the holy sects, who knows how many Qi Refining cultivators would flee to the mortal world to enjoy an extremely extravagant life.

Wine pools and meat forests, soul-stirring—that's exactly it!

Thinking of this, Luo Chen reflected on himself.

If he didn't have the attribute panel that could see proficiency improvement at all times, what would he have become in the end?

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

The reflection stopped abruptly.

Luo Chen laughed dumbly; hadn't this kind of hypothesis been discussed many years ago?

That was when he first took the Tongyou Pill.

Tongyou enters dreams, increasing spiritual sense.

In that kind of dream, he didn't have a system either, 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 a chance to change himself.

Although in the dream, he was already old and frail, with weak blood and energy.

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

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

Xu Muxian stood there quietly, looking at the master who was younger than himself, feeling much more relaxed in his heart.

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.

Although he thought the master might be furious, the fact that he was only unhappy made him feel much better.

It's just that he might have disappointed the master!

Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder, patting it twice.

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

"I cannot assert whether you can form a core, but I know that five hundred years of time can allow you to see more scenery and enjoy more pleasure. The mere Du Du Feiyan Islands are just a corner of the world; staying here will ultimately make you a frog in a well."

"Don't you want to jump out and see a broader world?"

After saying this, Luo Chen withdrew his hand and left gracefully.

In the end, he didn't resolve his disciple's confusion, just gave the wavering person a future to imagine.

Xu Muxian stood in place, his expression still confused, just murmuring vaguely:

"A broader world..."

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

If the Ghost God Questioning Mirror were still here, it would be great.

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

And who knows if the other party will listen to his words?

And after listening, if he tries hard but gains nothing, will he resent this irresponsible teacher?

Regarding these questions, Luo Chen only pondered for a moment before casting them aside.

After all, he's just a named disciple.

As Xu Muxian said, a hundred years is just a snap of the fingers.

Luo Chen's time remaining on the Du Du Feiyan Islands also passed quickly in his monotonous life of daily cultivation and alchemy.

In a flash, three years passed, as if in a trance.

In these three years, Luo Chen's harvest in stockpiling pills was huge.

Even though the Du Du Feiyan Islands were remote and the environment was different from the Eastern Wasteland, making many medicinal herbs difficult to collect, Luo Chen still refined many pills he had mastered through some improvement methods.

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

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

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

Grain-Bigu Pill, Tongyou Pill, Yulu Pill, Emperor Flowing Pulp, Star Pill, True Flame Pill...

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

The price was that the families of the Du Du Feiyan Islands were miserable, their resources squeezed to the limit.

But everyone dared to be angry but dared not speak.

The might of the Demon Lord cannot be provoked!

This day.

Cheng Haixin sent an invitation!

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

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

On the invitation, it was clearly the time and place for a large-scale auction, as well as the names of some precious materials specially marked.

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

Cheng Haixin explained on the side: "Feileng City is located on Lengguang Island. Lengguang Island is the premier super-large island in the southeast of the North Sea, with countless cities and a mix 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 Canghai Alliance?"

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

"Didn't the Demon Luo Flow try to recruit her?" Luo Chen asked.

"Also rejected."

Luo Chen was a bit surprised.

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

Suddenly!

He realized.

The Feileng City, which has always been indifferent to disputes, suddenly convened a super auction in the current situation—isn't this releasing a signal?

A signal named "choice"!

Through this auction, the Feileng City Lord is very likely to lean toward one side.

Perhaps the Canghai Alliance, perhaps the Demon Luo Flow, or perhaps other top Nascent Soul forces.

But no matter which side, they would surely be very keen on having an extra Nascent Soul True Person, and by the way, controlling the southeast's largest island, Lengguang Island!

This signal should have been released a long time ago.

The Demon Luo Flow has also been preparing for this for a long time, which led to Wu Qi setting a ten-year period, and also led to Blood Nightmare Demon Luo coming to Du Du Feiyan to find Luo Chen on the way.

"In other words, if I go, I am very likely to encounter people like Blood Nightmare Demon Luo?"

Luo Chen muttered in his heart.

He is not very afraid of dealing with Nascent Soul True Persons.

Still the same sentence, an excellent alchemist, unless encountering someone jealous of talent, will be popular wherever they go.

And he is now at the Golden Core stage, so the situation of being forcibly recruited by Mi Shuhua and used as a tool when he was at the Qi Refining stage won't happen.

His gaze fell on the invitation, and looking at the dense list of materials, Luo Chen was a bit moved.

From it, he saw more than a dozen auxiliary materials needed for the Golden Core Formation Pill!

You know, these years the Du Du Feiyan caravan has also been collecting medicinal herbs for the Golden Core Formation Pill for him, but the harvest has been meager.

Not to mention scarcity, even the common ones are expensive, not something the family assets of Du Du Feiyan cultivators can afford.

Even more, some materials don't just depend on spirit stones, but also on "qualifications."

If the realm is not reached, there is no qualification to come into contact with them, let alone buy them.

"Master, are you going?"

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

For these years, the Demon Lord has been refining pills on a large scale, and many were not pills he needed himself, which clearly showed he was preparing for a long journey.

In other words, the other party was determined to leave.

Sure enough, Luo Chen nodded slightly.

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

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

Luo Chen's gaze fell on her, asking back: "Do you want to leave with me?"

"I..." The woman hesitated.

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

Cheng Haixin's face showed hesitation, but finally she bowed gracefully, "This concubine takes her leave."

After she left, Luo Chen sighed.

If the other party really wanted to leave with him, that would be fine; he wouldn't mind the burden.

Instead, because Cheng Haixin had managed trivial matters for him for so many years and already knew some of his habits, taking her along would allow her to continue handling trivial matters for him.

But clearly, the other party had family ties and couldn't just leave easily.

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

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

Flipping his wrist, a dazzling, gilded pill appeared in his hand.

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

It was exactly the Transformation Pill!

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

Four were handed over to the Hall Master of Duozhen, You Quan, and the last one was kept by him under the name of research.

This kind of pill is hard to come by.

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

Without it!

The main material is the biggest limitation!

The main material for the Transformation Pill is 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 moved, and he sent a sound transmission.

Not long after, a strong wind swept outside the hall, and at the same time, a lazy voice that sounded like it hadn't woken up came.

"Tianxuan, can you be a bit lighter? If you destroy the master's flowers and plants, be careful of being scolded."

"None of your business, you big fat snake, sleeping all day, how dare you talk to me."

"Hehe, little girl."

"Are you looking for a beating?"

"Come, try it with your Black Grandpa, I, Black King, am not afraid of you now."

"I'm not afraid of you, wait until I go to the sea, see if I don't beat you until your skin is torn and flesh is gaping."

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

Before they could speak, the eyes of the two great Demon Kings fell on the Golden Core.

Gulp!

Gulp!

The 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 flew slowly in front of the two.

(End of chapter)