Chapter 592: Distinguished Guest Arrives, Daoist Feeds the Dragon

: xshuquge

"On what grounds!"

In a cave dwelling overflowing with spiritual energy, Huangfu Song smashed the teacup in his hand, his face full of rage.

A mere low-grade defensive magic treasure, on what grounds did he dare to price it at five hundred thousand? Did he truly think the cultivators in the cultivation world were fools?

Gui Gong, who was reporting the news nearby, looked helpless at the sight.

He could mostly understand what Huangfu Song was angry about.

Having lost face before the Qingyang Demon Lord back then had once been the greatest humiliation in Huangfu Song's heart. Even though he often persuaded himself with the logic that those who achieve great things must know how to bend and stretch, the fact that he frequently paid attention to the Qingyang Demon Lord's movements showed he had not let the matter go.

Now that the Qingyang Demon Lord had refined a second defensive magic treasure, it meant the other party's success was no coincidence.

Such treasures had a very strong market, and the price had always remained high.

In this way, the Qingyang Demon Lord's source of wealth would be endless. The plan to rely on the other party having insufficient savings to support the massive rent, forcing them to withdraw from Penghu, was effectively dead.

With the two factors combined, it caused Huangfu Song's current loss of composure.

Gui Gong said in a sharp voice, "Master, some things should be let go if they must be let go. Do not delay our own great affairs."

Huangfu Song glared at him sideways. "On what grounds should I let it go? Do you truly think I am inferior to him? That time, it was in the other party's base of operations, which they had managed for many years and was bolstered by a great array; we were the ones who were constrained. If we change the location, who will emerge victorious between him and me remains to be seen!"

"A person of great wealth does not sit under a crumbling wall; why bother risking your life?"

"Hmph, don't I still have you all? Besides, when I begged her with all my might, Empress Zi promised she would make a move for me once."

"Cough, cough, Master, I heard earlier that Empress Zi took the initiative to send a visiting card to Penghu."

Huangfu Song was stunned.

He knew better than anyone what taking the initiative to send a visiting card meant!

Without the courtesy of "politeness before force," it meant the other party had the intention to befriend the Qingyang Demon Lord.

Thinking of this, Huangfu Song's expression became even more twisted.

"That cheap woman..."

It was just the ability to refine defensive magic treasures; did she need to be so shameless as to go up and fawn over him?

In Long Yuan Xiancheng.

Outside the Qingyang shop.

Cave Master Mowun paced for a long time before finally making up his mind.

"I want to see for myself the quality of this magic treasure you've crafted. For this, I won't regret paying even five hundred thousand spirit stones."

Some subordinates were puzzled as to why Qingyangzi would set such a high price.

To this, Cave Master Mowun curled his lip.

"He is displaying it as the shop's treasure, so the price naturally has to be set high. Five hundred thousand—Foundation Establishment cultivators can't afford it, and some who have just entered the Golden Core stage are also short on funds. Only veteran Golden Core cultivators who have been in business for many years can afford this sum, but such people usually already have suitable protective treasures from their many years of cultivation. Why would they abandon what is near to seek what is far and buy another?"

The subordinates suddenly realized.

No wonder a low-grade defensive magic treasure was priced so high, yet not *that* high.

This was hitting an excellent price point—it made people retreat in the face of difficulty without truly treating them like fools.

But now, their Cave Master was going to buy this treasure to study it carefully; this so-called shop treasure was about to be bought before it had even been on display for two days.

Cave Master Mowun strode forward, squeezed through the bustling crowd, and walked into the Qingyang shop.

The crowd behind him had all come for his reputation; seeing Cave Master Mowun at this moment, those who recognized him called out his identity on the spot.

For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar.

Even Cave Master Mowun, the most famous casting master in the Wan Xian Society, had come in person—was this a disguised acknowledgement of Master Qingyangzi's casting technique?

Could it be that Master Qingyangzi was already comparable to Cave Master Mowun?

Regarding the discussion behind him, Cave Master Mowun didn't care at all and walked straight to the counter.

He said to the gentle woman, "Where is that Bright Yellow Rock Armor?"

Wen Xiu recognized the other party's background and felt a bit nervous, but she maintained an expression that was neither humble nor arrogant as much as possible.

"Senior, I'm afraid this treasure cannot be shown to you right now."

"Hmm?" Cave Master Mowun frowned.

Before he could get angry, Wen Xiu hurriedly explained, "There is a buyer currently discussing with my husband upstairs, so we must first..."

"Hmph, I want to see who dares to snatch a treasure from me!"

Cave Master Mowun flicked his sleeve and strode up the stairs.

Wen Xiu followed closely behind.

*Clomp, clomp, clomp... *

Just as Cave Master Mowun entered the VIP room, a light laugh sounded.

"Fellow Daoist Mowun, it's just a low-grade magic treasure; why bother making such a big scene? Why not let it go to Huo this time?"

"Huo Fang!"

Seeing the middle-aged Daoist chatting and laughing calmly, Cave Master Mowun blurted out.

It was precisely Huo Fang, the Vice City Lord of Long Yuan Xiancheng.

"Don't you already have a middle-grade defensive magic treasure, the Heaven-Protecting Ring? Why do you still want to..."

Before he finished speaking, he realized something.

"Are you purchasing this for the Wuzhong Valley?"

Huo Fang nodded with a smile, his expression calm and composed, as if he wasn't worried at all that the other party would raise the price and compete with him.

Cave Master Mowun, however, was a bit conflicted.

Although Huo Fang was the Vice City Lord of Long Yuan Xiancheng, he was not a vassal under True Person Long Yuan, nor was he a monster hunter in the Wan Xian Society like the Fishing Old Man or Empress Zi.

He came from the Wuzhong Valley!

As everyone knew, the Wan Xian Society was known as the holy land for rogue cultivators, but it was not that pure.

Apart from the three great rogue cultivators and True Person Long Yuan, who had ascended from being a nine-star monster hunter, there were three other Nascent Soul True Persons.

And those three people had forces they controlled behind them.

The Chen family of Tianqu, the Zhou family of Coral Sea, and a sect called Wuzhong Valley.

This Huo Fang came from Wuzhong Valley; besides his status as Vice City Lord of Long Yuan, he was also the third disciple of True Person Yuling of Wuzhong Valley and concurrently held the position of Teaching Elder of Wuzhong Valley.

The reason he came to Long Yuan Xiancheng to take office had to do with a rule established when the Wan Xian Society was founded years ago.

The three major forces could not interfere too deeply in the Wan Xian Society, only acting as an alliance.

To compensate for their losses, the three great rogue cultivators specifically gave up a portion of the benefits of the Long Yuan Xiancheng area.

The price was the position of Vice City Lord.

And after some discussion, the three major forces decided to let Huo Fang take the position of Vice City Lord to seize the benefits that belonged to them.

These benefits were not as simple as cultivation resources; more importantly, there was also "recruiting talent"!

There are heroes among the grass-roots, and talent also emerges among rogue cultivators.

Among the countless groups of rogue cultivators, some individuals with special talents would always emerge.

The significance of Huo Fang serving as Vice City Lord lay in winning over some powerful rogue cultivators in the Wan Xian Society.

Why did Mowun know this?

For no other reason than that he was one of the people being won over!

Over the years, Mowun Cave had refined so many magic tools and treasures, but only a portion had flowed into the rogue cultivator groups. Most had been bought by the three major forces.

If Cave Master Mowun hadn't been naturally free-spirited and unwilling to be bound, the three major forces would even have been willing to promise him the position of Guest Elder and support him with heavy wealth.

And now.

Huo Fang had come to the Qingyang shop in person to buy this low-grade magic treasure that was useless to him; Cave Master Mowun instantly tasted the meaning behind this.

It wasn't the Bright Yellow Rock Armor he had his eyes on, but Qingyangzi, who refined it.

Just like back then, when they had their eyes on him!

Seeing Cave Master Mowun lost in thought, Huo Fang spoke up suddenly.

"You want this item, it should just be for research. This matter does not conflict with our purpose; on the contrary, it can help us appraise this item, and might even save you quite a few spirit stones."

"Fellow Daoist Mowun, let it go to me; it's a matter that benefits both sides. Later, I will also give you time to study this treasure."

Cave Master Mowun thought for a moment and agreed to the matter without hesitation.

And outside the room.

Zhang Jiadi and Wen Xiu didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Even if they had the heart to chat privately, they were afraid of being eavesdropped on by the Golden Core Senior's spiritual sense.

After a while, laughter came from inside the room.

The door opened, and Cave Master Mowun walked out, no longer mentioning the matter of buying the Bright Yellow Rock Armor.

"Vice City Lord!" Zhang Jiadi bowed respectfully.

Huo Fang gave a hum, his gaze falling on the couple, his eyes blinking.

"I heard that Fellow Daoist Qingyangzi doesn't have many capable assistants by his side, and it has always been you two helping him manage worldly affairs?"

Zhang Jiadi nodded hurriedly. "Yes, this lowly one has established a cultivation family. Relying on the Master, we live and work in peace and contentment, and usually, we help the Master handle some matters."

"Is that so..."

Huo Fang pursed his lips, the smile in his eyes growing stronger.

One month later.

A cyan visiting card was delivered to Tianxuan on Peng Island.

"The Master said he is in seclusion and will not see outside guests; what is Little Zhang doing?"

Over the years, countless people had tried to visit Luo Chen, and the visiting cards delivered to the door were piled up like a small mountain.

Among them, there was no lack of powerful figures who were quite famous among rogue cultivators.

But even so, Luo Chen had not seen a single person.

Especially after releasing the second defensive magic treasure, he anticipated the subsequent repercussions and specifically instructed Tianxuan to block visitors outside Penghu so as not to affect his cultivation.

Under such circumstances, Zhang Jiadi actually dared to send a visiting card up?

Under Tianxuan's displeased gaze, Zhang Jiadi swallowed his saliva.

"The person who gave this visiting card has a somewhat special status."

"Hmm?"

"It is Vice City Lord Huo Fang of Long Yuan Xiancheng."

"Huo Fang?"

Tianxuan recited the name, and her expression changed quickly.

Huo Fang did not represent Long Yuan Xiancheng, but rather Wuzhong Valley, as well as the Chen family of Tianqu and the Zhou family of Coral Sea.

In other words, he represented the three Nascent Soul True Persons in the Wan Xian Society!

The Master could ignore those powerful Golden Core rogue cultivators, but the face of the three Nascent Soul True Persons was not so easily brushed aside.

Taking a deep breath, Tianxuan took the visiting card and hurried toward the Alchemy and Casting Hall.

When she arrived there, she saw no movement.

"Is the Master not refining pills or casting?"

Without thinking, she came outside the Star Dou Hall and stood quietly for a long time.

Even if there was something, she didn't dare to rashly disturb the Master's cultivation.

Fortunately, Luo Chen's spiritual sense was powerful, and he had a special mental connection with his spirit beast and the Master, so he soon sensed her arrival.

"What is it?"

"Master, Vice City Lord Huo Fang of Long Yuan has delivered a visiting card."

"Give it to me!"

The heavy copper door slowly opened, revealing a crack, and a strand of magic power swept over, rolling the card held in Tianxuan's hands inside.

Afterward, the copper door slowly closed again.

It seemed calm, but at that instant, Tianxuan's expression changed drastically, her heart churned, and even the demon aura she had restrained for many years couldn't help but leak out.

"Gulp!"

"What is that aura!"

Tianxuan couldn't help but swallow her saliva.

Just a moment ago, she felt as if she had sensed the awakening of an ancient beast.

The natural suppression of rank made her almost unable to breathe.

"Master, what exactly is he cultivating?"

Inside the Star Dou Hall.

Luo Chen's eyes were tightly closed, but inside his body, it felt as if rivers and seas were surging.

On his body, large lumps bulged from time to time, as if someone were beating a cowhide drum.

Sounds like a great bell or a resonant chime sounded from time to time in the starlit hall.

Listening carefully, these sounds all came from within his body.

"Initial body refining, transforming from external to internal; small success is the realm of the Vajra."

"After entering the hall, blood energy surges like a river; this is the Blood Jiang He Realm."

"From then on, comprehending the changes in blood energy, gathering the core and focusing the intent, condensing the Gang energy, achieving the third realm of body refining—the Furnace Realm."

"This is the traditional path of body refining, but I have taken a different path, following the body refining path of ancient beasts, not focusing on the changes in blood energy, but only on physical strength."

"After many years of cultivation, I have changed my blood eight times, shaped two hundred and six bones, and with the bolstering of Black Emperor Paste, my physique is stronger than a puppet's body. But in the end, the cultivation is too mixed and cannot be perfectly integrated."

"Now, I am using the method of casting to forge a precious body. Taking the meaning of tempering a hundred times, I am doing the work of melting the four limbs and hundreds of bones, the eight extraordinary meridians, and in the future, I will surely achieve the phenomenon of swallowing the Great Wilderness!"

As his thoughts fluctuated, the blood energy within his body, accompanied by the burning of the Withered-Prosperous True Fire, formed strands of powerful force, bombarding Luo Chen's internal organs.

Under such bombardment, those internal organs and meridians became increasingly tough.

This was precisely the body refining method Luo Chen had newly researched.

Using blood energy as firewood, burning it with Withered-Prosperous True Fire to form a more powerful internal force, and then using this force to hammer the physique.

Supplemented by a large amount of blood food to enhance blood energy.

And there was the external fourth-grade Black Emperor Paste, constantly enhancing physical strength.

In this way, his path of body refining became increasingly perfect, and he did not blindly follow ancient methods, only seeking what was suitable for his own physique.

And the change was that on the attribute panel, the progress of body refining was increasing faster and faster.

It was only a dozen or so progress points away from that ancient fourth-grade; it was close at hand!

When a cycle was completed, Luo Chen slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze fell on the visiting card in his hand.

After reading for a long while, he smiled.

"Let's meet him!"

Three days later, a large ship slowly set sail from the shore of Penghu.

Zhang Jiadi, head of the Zhang family on Cai Lian Island, steered the helm himself, and Fairy Tianxuan accompanied them personally.

On the ship, there was more than one distinguished guest, Huo Fang.

He also brought a Foundation Establishment junior from the Chen family of Tianqu and a Foundation Establishment junior from the Zhou family of Coral Sea.

Besides this, there were also Casting Master Cave Master Mowun, eight-star monster hunter Empress Zi, and the Fishing Old Man.

The visit of the latter three could be considered riding on Huo Fang's coattails.

However, since they were already on the ship, it represented Luo Chen's acknowledgement.

The logic was simple: he had treated everyone equally and seen no one before, but since he was going to see Huo Fang now, it meant the precedent had been set. It was better to see the Fishing Old Man and Empress Zi at the same time; at the very least, they were the top figures among the rogue cultivators in the Wan Xian Society, and it was better not to offend them if possible.

At this moment, a group of people stood on the ship, standing against the wind, enjoying the scenery of the eight-hundred-mile Penghu.

Usually, it was vast and misty, with no people in sight.

At this moment, with the array activated, the water mist and smoke dissipated, revealing green mountains and small islands, and the lake water was emerald green, which could be considered a holy land of immortals.

Especially under the ship, the Golden Dragon Carp that swam by from time to time gradually gathered into a scene of ten thousand carp leaping together, which was spectacular.

Huo Fang stood in the lead, watching this scene, nodding continuously.

"It seems that Qingyangzi has managed this Penghu spiritual land quite well!"

Others nodded in agreement.

A young female cultivator with a melon-shaped face suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

"Eh, why are the Golden Dragon Carp here black-gold?"

Tianxuan glanced at them and said lightly, "Living here for a long time, they have been contaminated by the aura of the Jiao Dragon, and some mutations are within reason."

Aura of the Jiao Dragon?

The young female cultivator was stunned, and the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Chen family of Tianqu whispered an explanation to her: "The Master of Penghu has a spirit pet, which is a Black-Scaled Giant Jiao. It once almost swallowed a Golden Core mid-stage cultivator in one bite; it is truly incomparably fierce."

The woman suddenly realized.

With the Jiao Dragon living here for a long time, even the Golden Dragon Carp with a trace of dragon blood had evolved. She just didn't know how the black-gold Golden Dragon Carp tasted?

And these words fell into the ears of those Golden Core Seniors, each with different thoughts.

Empress Zi: "This Qingyangzi has managed Penghu so prosperously, and now even Huo Fang has taken the initiative to come and cooperate. His status in the Wan Xian Society is becoming more and more stable. I took the initiative to visit this time to break the ice for the previous misunderstanding, so as not to hinder my future path."

Having more friends is always better than having more enemies!

As for Huangfu Song, who had some connection with her?

He was still tossing and turning in a territory controlled by a Golden Core sect. In her view, his small-scale antics were truly not a climate.

Wanting to restore the Great Zhou Dynasty, who knows what year or month it would take?

Besides, even in the peak period of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Nascent Soul ancestors within had to hide like mice, unable to see the light of day.

The so-called glory of the dynasty was something she, Empress Zi, didn't want to enjoy even a fraction of in this lifetime.

The Fishing Old Man was different; he just wanted to see Qingyangzi and ask clearly when the other party would end his seclusion and be able to move normally.

He wanted to communicate more with the other party to learn more about things related to Core Formation.

As for Cave Master Mowun, who lived alone in a corner?

At this moment, he was full of hesitation and quite impatient.

After studying that Bright Yellow Rock Armor, his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws; he was itching to death.

How exactly did Qingyangzi manage to perfectly fuse the array and the magic treasure embryo?

It was clearly the most ordinary material, yet under that strange technique, it could have the defensive power to resist the attacks of Golden Core early-stage cultivators, or even Golden Core mid-stage cultivators.

That kind of technique, he had never seen or heard of.

If he could learn a thing or two, it would surely bring a qualitative improvement to his casting technique. Perhaps in his lifetime, he would have hope of refining the legendary True Artifact!

Huo Fang had a smile on his lips, watching this scene lightly.

"Fellow Daoist Tianxuan, how much longer?"

Tianxuan replied, "After passing this Flying Owl Island, we will be there."

Huo Fang looked at the island ahead, where short-tailed black birds were perched among the trees, their movements extremely swift when taking off and landing.

It was a pity they weren't spirit birds; otherwise, if they were cultivated, there would be many people wanting them.

Just as he was sighing, the large ship made a turn, crossing Flying Owl Island, and a water surface like a mirror came into view.

As the breeze blew, there seemed to be bursts of dragon roars.

Everyone looked closely and saw a white-robed Daoist sprinkling pills into the water by the water's edge, and a huge black dragon head suddenly leaped out of the water, joyfully swallowing those pills into its mouth.

Just at this moment, the white-robed Daoist turned his head.

He clapped his hands, as if brushing off crumbs, and also as if dispersing the black dragon.

When the black dragon turned over and dived into the bottom of the lake, splashing ripples, the white-robed Daoist laughed loudly:

"Having friends come from afar, is it not a joy!"

"Fellow Daoists, Qingyangzi greets you here!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 593 =====