https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-178-A-Critical-Moment-Emulating-the-Past/12920501/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-180-Heavenly-Star-Master-s-Departure-The-Beast-Taming-Scripture/12920503/
Chapter 179: Soul-Suppressing Interrogation, Blazing Sun Technique Success
Chapter 179: Soul-Suppressing Interrogation, Blazing Sun Technique Success
The fleeting days and nights swiftly passed by, like the wind blowing in the bright daylight.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.
During this time, the Luo Tianhui had almost entirely gone into seclusion.
Cultivators no longer ventured outside, and the Jade Marrow Pills were no longer supplied to the outside world, not even to the other major Foundation Establishment powers.
This strange state attracted the attention of many wandering cultivators.
However, no one questioned it.
The reason was simple; everyone knew that the Luo Tianhui had suffered a terrifying beast tide attack.
It was said that even Tier 2 demonic beasts had personally appeared.
In the end, the Luo Tianhui managed to barely defend themselves with a supreme array.
But even so, the Luo Tianhui suffered heavy losses, with over a dozen late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators dying under the beast tide's onslaught.
Under these circumstances, it was undoubtedly the most reasonable choice for the Luo Tianhui to retreat and silently lick their wounds.
The other major Foundation Establishment powers remained silent on the matter.
Or rather, there wasn't much to say in the first place.
It would be unreasonable to suddenly jump out and claim responsibility for the attack, or to deny it, right?
That would be like confessing to a crime!
Unbeknownst to outsiders, a fervent cultivation frenzy had erupted within the Luo Tianhui!
The more than two hundred Tier 1 demonic beast corpses, aside from those that were completely skeletonized, still retained a large amount of demonic beast meat.
There was a whopping twenty thousand jin of it!
With such a massive batch of demonic beast meat, Sima Huiwang not only sold half of it to recoup the spirit stones but also kept the rest for the cultivators of the Luo Tianhui to consume.
Moreover, Luo Chen personally refined sixteen hundred medium-grade Jade Marrow Pills in ten days.
He kept six hundred and distributed the rest to the cultivators.
It wasn't a free handout but was sold internally at half the usual price.
If you asked if the cultivators of the Luo Tianhui were willing to buy them, the answer would be a resounding yes!
Although the medium-grade Jade Marrow Pills could only be used by early to mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, with a sufficient supply, their effects were still quite remarkable.
After all, not everyone could afford to consume pills like Luo Chen, treating them as if they were meals.
Now, Luo Chen was providing them internally at half the usual price.
Even the logistical cultivators tightened their belts and gritted their teeth to buy a few bottles.
Luo Chen had only three requirements for them.
During this period, they were not allowed to go out.
The Battle Hall cultivators were to supplement their combat techniques and familiarize themselves with the new magical tools they had acquired.
The logistical cultivators were to focus on consuming pills and striving to improve their cultivation.
Under such feverish preparations, everyone could sense the impending storm.
After completing the pill refinement, Luo Chen disappeared from everyone's sight.
...
Within the Everdark Mountain, Luo Chen strode on the clouds, his robe fluttering in the wind.
He did not suppress his aura at all, surveying the Everdark Mountain like a sovereign.
It was clear that he was not the ruler of the Everdark Mountain.
Soon, a deep howl echoed through the air, expressing dissatisfaction with his audacity.
Luo Chen looked at the ancient giant wolf that appeared on the mountain peak, his mind clear and calm.
In just a short inspection, he had discovered something.
For an entire year, the main forces of the ice frost giant wolves of the Everdark Mountain and the gray leaf wolves of the Brightleaf Mountain had yet to return.
Only the old, weak, and disabled remained.
However, in Luo Chen's eyes, these "old and weak" wolves were formidable and life-threatening foes to ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators.
"A Tier 2 Frost Demon Wolf is a decent opponent to practice against."
Luo Chen's lips curled slightly, and he spat out a sword orb.
Instantly, a sword beam shot forth.
On the mountain peak, the demonic wolf coldly watched this scene, its claws casually clicking.
Three sharp ice shards flew out, instantly deflecting the sword beam in various directions.
It was clear to the naked eye that the source of the sword beam was a sword orb.
As old as it was, it had gradually developed some spiritual intelligence.
Therefore, seeing a human provoking it, it felt perplexed.
How dare a mere Qi Condensation cultivator be so brazen? As it watched the sword orb, it neither dodged nor avoided, instead extending its wolf claws to grasp it.
Large patches of frost appeared on its giant claws.
However, just before the sword orb reached its side, it suddenly transformed into surging golden light.
The blinding golden light transformed into dozens of sword beams, enveloping the mountain peak in layers.
This attack was not particularly threatening to the wolf.
The wolf exhaled two streams of white air from its nose, which swept through the air.
Wherever the white air passed, layers of ice formed in the sky.
All the sword beams, upon encountering the ice layers, continuously dissipated.
The white air howled back, and the wolf, losing its patience, decided not to play with this human any longer.
There was still a litter of wolf cubs waiting for its care, and if other demonic beasts entered the canyon, it would be a significant loss.
However, before it could move, a sense of danger surged from the depths of its being.
"Awoo!"
A piercing wolf howl sounded, and heavy ice walls suddenly erupted on the mountain peak.
In the distant sky, Luo Chen watched this scene, the small sun he held in his hand becoming increasingly scorching.
"It's quite alert."
"Indeed, demonic beasts become more sensitive as they age."
Luo Chen chuckled lightly and released the small sun in his hand.
The small sun plummeted towards the peak of the Everdark Mountain.
Boom!!!
A violent explosion erupted.
Terrifying spiritual energy, scorching heat, and a powerful blast instantly enveloped the mountain peak.
Bang!
A horrifying scene unfolded.
A gigantic fireball, as bright as the sun and red as a crimson lotus, emitted a thunderous roar, accompanied by countless tiny explosions.
It was as if a chain reaction had occurred, ultimately creating an unimaginable resonance.
Under the azure sky, waves of fire spread out in layers.
The towering mountain peak, amidst the intense explosion, suddenly crumbled.
Boulders and ice mingled with fire.
In the scorching heat, a massive white wolf leaped down from mid-air, its fur singed, and its body enveloped in both cold and hot air.
Its chest was bloody and mangled.
Its left front claw was strangely twisted, and pale blood continuously dripped from it.
It was injured, and not lightly!
"Wuuuu..."
The wolf's angry howl was sharp and continuous.
Its eyes darted, and its nostrils sniffed the air.
It frantically searched for its enemy, but no matter how hard it looked, it couldn't find a trace of the enemy.
...
In a narrow mining tunnel, Luo Chen walked with a relaxed demeanor, showing no signs of fatigue.
"This old wolf is not ordinary!"
"Even among Tier 2 demonic beasts, it's considered strong, comparable to a human Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Luo Chen was well aware that the old wolf had not used its full strength at the beginning.
The only time he went all out, it was primarily for defense.
Defense, however, was not the strong suit of the Demon Wolf.
Their strength lay in speed and attack.
But Luo Chen was not discouraged; he had tested his already fully optimized method.
The advanced version of the Grandfire Ball Technique—the Blazing Sun Technique!
With limited time earlier, he had only used half his strength and still forced the powerful Frost Giant Wolf into such a desperate situation.
It was likely that the wolf had suffered more than just minor injuries.
Given enough time, he would undoubtedly pose a threat to a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.
"With this, I finally have some means to protect myself."
Luo Chen was very clear about his strengths and weaknesses.
Compared to a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, his shortcomings were insufficient Spirit Energy, inability to project his Spirit Perception, and extremely poor defensive capabilities.
His advantage, however, was his speed, which was no less than that of a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator and might even be slightly faster.
After all, even the Jade Cauldron Sword Cultivators, known for their exceptional speed, had once been amazed by his swiftness.
If it were only about speed, he would be no more than a pesky fly.
But after optimizing the Grandfire Ball Technique to perfection, he was no longer just a simple fly.
With his incredible speed, he could threaten the explosive attacks of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
In this brief confrontation, he was already no less than an ordinary Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.
"It's about time the Nan Gong family gives me an explanation," Luo Chen said with a cold smile as he stepped out of the mine.
Arriving at the Luo Tianhui, he scanned the inside and outside of the Crescent Moon Valley with his Spirit Eye Technique.
With his mastery of the Spirit Eye Technique, he could thoroughly investigate every fluctuation of Spirit Energy.
The remaining two dozen Qi Condensation Late Stage Cultivators in the Battle Hall had not left the valley.
The Golden Hall and the Alchemy Hall, however, brought him an unexpected surprise.
Without counting the spirit beast meat and Jade Marrow Pills, in just half a month, they had helped several long-term Qi Condensation Sixth Level Cultivators break through to the seventh level.
With this, the number of people in the Battle Hall could be slightly replenished.
However, none of this was important.
Soon, a voice reached his ears.
Luo Chen nodded almost imperceptibly and then rode the floating cloud towards the Ancient Plains Mountain Range.
Ten li behind him, a figure in linen robes followed closely.
Half an hour later, Luo Chen cautiously stopped within the Qinghe Mountain.
"I didn't expect it to be you, Senior," he said.
On a stone platform halfway up the mountain, a middle-aged man in luxurious clothing turned around.
He smiled slightly, "Isn't it me that you wanted to see?"
Nan Gong Jin, the head of the Nan Gong family.
Strictly speaking, this was Luo Chen's first time meeting him.
In the past, whenever the Nan Gong family discussed cooperation, it was Nan Gong Qin who connected with Luo Chen.
Luo Chen's eyes flickered and then fell on the big tree next to the stone platform.
Another familiar person was lying there, limp.
"I have no intention of making things difficult for the Luo Tianhui, nor do I have any reason to be disrespectful to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. The beast tide incident was not caused by my Nan Gong family, and I hope you will consider this, young friend."
Nan Gong Jin spoke calmly, with no hint of guilt in his words.
He pointed at the unconscious person.
"This person is the former Beast Hall Master of the Po Shan Gang. After the Po Shan Gang was destroyed, my Nan Gong family and the Li family divided the resources of the Beast Hall. This person then joined us but has only been managing the beast arena's trivial matters."
"Recently, my Nan Gong family has been in seclusion, and many matters have been entrusted to him."
"Therefore, the beast tide incident must have been his doing alone."
Whoosh!
A surge of Spirit Energy suddenly appeared.
The unconscious person twitched twice and then opened his eyes in a daze.
His first glance fell on Nan Gong Jin, and he instinctively showed a flattering smile.
The second glance was at Luo Chen, and his body instinctively took a step back.
Luo Chen stared at him intently, capturing his panic and the sudden tightening of his pupils.
Nan Gong Jin smiled slightly, "Young friend, ask whatever you want. Today, there must be an explanation."
After saying this, he retreated to a distance.
Luo Chen didn't hesitate and rushed forward.
"Ke YueLin, it's been a while," Luo Chen said.
Ke YueLin opened his mouth, then smiled awkwardly, "Yes, it's been a while. Congrats, Luo Chen, on becoming the president. You're much more impressive than before. We..."
"You know, I didn't come to ask about that," Luo Chen shook his head.
Ke YueLin's eyes darted around, searching for an excuse.
But Luo Chen had already lost patience, and the green light in his eyes intensified.
In an instant, Ke YueLin fell into Luo Chen's gaze, feeling as if he had stepped into a thick fog.
It was as if he had encountered his nemesis, and his entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Huh?"
In the distance, Nan Gong Jin exclaimed in surprise.
Luo Chen ignored him and looked down at Ke YueLin.
"Where did you get the second-stage Explosive Ape cub?"
"I bought it from a wandering cultivator in the Ancient Plains Mountain Range. The Nan Gong family has a tradition of raising young demonic beasts, hoping to domesticate them into spirit beasts."
"Which wandering cultivator?"
"I don't know, I only know his surname is... Li, a Qi Condensation Ninth Level Cultivator."
Luo Chen frowned, Li? And at such a high cultivation level?
Could it be a cultivator from the Dahexian Market Li family?
He continued, "Why did you sell it specifically to Liu Qiang? As far as I know, he doesn't have the habit of acquiring demonic beasts through family cultivators. It was you who took the initiative to contact him."
"Someone told me that the Luo Tianhui was buying first-stage demonic beasts, alive. So, hoping for a high price..."
"Who told you?"
The Ke YueLin lying on the ground struggled for a moment.
He opened his mouth, but what came out was unrelated to the question.
"What does Luo Chen have that makes him so favored by Mi Shuhua and admired by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect? I'm not convinced; he's just a lucky guy. Everyone fawns over him."
"What kind of Luo Tianhui leader is he? It's just a bunch of homeless dogs huddling together for warmth."
"Wuu..."
"I'm the one who's homeless, looked down upon by everyone."
"The Nan Gong family is heartless and ruthless. I helped them manage the beast arena, and they even took my Foundation Establishment pills."
"Don't give me a chance, or I'll definitely..."
Luo Chen's face darkened.
Without even turning his head, he could see Nan Gong Jin's unpleasant expression in his peripheral vision.
He didn't want to listen to this nonsense anymore.
The green light in Luo Chen's eyes intensified again.
A faint shadow seemed to appear and disappear above Ke YueLin's head.
Luo Chen controlled the intensity of the Soul Suppressing Technique, using it only to intimidate.
Luo Chen asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, who told you that the Luo Tianhui was buying demonic beasts?"
"It... was... Duan... Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood spurted out.
Ke YueLin's pupils suddenly dilated, and his eyes almost popped out.
On his forehead, the blue veins were exposed, and his mouth was wide open.
His hands tightly covered his neck, and he remained silent for a long time.
Avoiding the blood, Luo Chen stood up with a gloomy expression.
"Friend, impressive skills!"
Had the young friend become a fellow cultivator?
Luo Chen tugged at the corners of his mouth, "But it's just a minor use of the Divine Soul, not worthy of the grand halls."
Indeed, it was only a minor use.
Currently, Luo Chen's Divine Soul foundation was already far beyond that of a wandering Qi Condensation cultivator, comparable to a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The Soul Suppressing Technique inherently had the effect of intimidating enemies.
Using the Grandfire Ball Technique as a medium, Ke YueLin was in a state of complete helplessness.
As such, it was easy to obtain information.
Unfortunately, the other party's Divine Soul suddenly vanished, leaving no chance to ask for more intelligence.
Nan Gong Jin walked over, looking down at the lifeless Ke YueLin.
"He must have been dealt with by a true Foundation Establishment cultivator, unable to speak the truth, or else his Divine Soul would have shattered on the spot."
"There aren't many true Foundation Establishment cultivators in Dahexian Market."
Nan Gong Jin was taken aback and raised his eyes.
Luo Chen seemed to be smiling, but not quite, as he looked at him.
He laughed lightly, "Since I dared to bring him to you, I have a clear conscience. Moreover, with your interrogation just now, you should have a good idea by now!"
"The Li Family? Or the Duan Family?"
These were the only two people with surnames mentioned by Ke YueLin.
Nan Gong Jin restrained his smile and said seriously, "If it's the Li Family, then it's directed at my Nan Gong Family. We have a grudge and conflicting interests that cannot be resolved."
"Using my Nan Gong Family's hands, whether it's killing you or offending you, my Nan Gong Family won't benefit after returning from Jade Cauldron Sword Sect."
"If it's the Duan Family..."
Nan Gong Jin frowned, unable to think of any conflicts between the Duan Family and them.
After all, there was a time when they almost became in-laws.
"We have a direct descendant of the Duan Family in our group, and he holds a grudge against them." Luo Chen said indifferently.
Nan Gong Jin hesitated, "In other words, framing and shifting the blame? Using someone else's knife?"
After speaking, he shook his head again.
"But doing this is making a mountain out of a molehill. If a true Foundation Establishment cultivator wants to kill, why use such means?"
"I have Elder Pang Renxiong's protective measures, and overly flashy methods will always leave evidence."
Upon hearing this, Nan Gong Jin subtly pursed his lips.
Luo Chen looked at Ke YueLin's corpse and said, "So, the key lies in who placed the Divine Soul restriction on him..."
"Divine Soul restrictions require advanced techniques. As far as I know, the Duan Family is skilled in Magical Tool forging and is proficient in Array restrictions. That female cultivator from the Li Family practices the Willow Shade Art and is also familiar with such methods."
The truth was once again at a standstill.
Luo Chen and Nan Gong Jin looked at each other, then seemed to understand each other's thoughts, and smiled in tacit understanding.
"None of that matters, doesn't it?"
"Yes, the most important thing is for you and I to put aside past grievances and cooperate sincerely."
"What about the Jade Marrow Pill supply?"
"As usual, I brought fifty bottles with me."
"Good! Good! Good!"
After delivering the pills, Luo Chen didn't even glance at Ke YueLin's corpse and flew away immediately.
After he left, a figure quickly approached from below the stone platform.
"Father, why be so polite to him?"
Nan Gong Qin was puzzled.
He acknowledged that Luo Chen indeed had exceptional abilities, which was why he no longer looked down on him.
But why was his father, a true Foundation Establishment cultivator, so approachable? However, Nan Gong Jin looked cautiously into the distance.
"Being polite is due to strength."
"Strength?"
Nan Gong Qin was perplexed.
He couldn't extend his Spirit Perception to sense the surroundings.
But Nan Gong Jin could easily sense that, several miles away, there was a presence unreservedly emitting its aura.
It was an aura no less formidable than that of a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.
It should be the expert from the Battle Hall of Luo Tianhui.
"And..."
Nan Gong Jin handed his storage bag to Nan Gong Qin.
"For my Nan Gong Family to regain its former glory, pills are indispensable. With this batch of Jade Marrow Pills, those few juniors stuck at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation should be able to break through."
Nan Gong Qin nodded in agreement.
Recently, it had become increasingly difficult to purchase pills in Dahexian Market.
In the past, they could still rely on the Linked Cloud Commerce Alliance and Zhenlong Black Market.
But for some reason, the pill prices in the Linked Cloud Commerce Alliance had been rising.
The number of pills flowing out of Zhenlong Black Market had also been decreasing.
Recently, Luo Tianhui had been retracting, no longer supplying Jade Marrow Pills to the various Foundation Establishment sects.
This had completely blocked the Nan Gong Family's supply.
To restore the pill supply, the father and son had embarked on this joint mission.
"And this person?" Nan Gong Qin looked at Ke YueLin's corpse.
"Just a wandering cultivator dared to harbor resentment towards my Nan Gong Family, but it was easy to kill him."
Nan Gong Jin chuckled and cast a Fireball Technique.
The raging fire burned the remains, and the former leader of the Beast Hall of Po Shan Gang turned into ashes.
Nan Gong Jin brushed off the light ashes and walked to the edge of the stone platform with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant, looking at the figure that had disappeared into the horizon.
"No wonder you said that he gave you pressure no less than a true Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"His Divine Soul foundation is so powerful that if he could advance to Foundation Establishment, his Spirit Perception would cover at least five miles!"
"Moreover, this person has exceptional courage. He dared to speak frankly in front of me, and there are indeed qualities worthy of being valued by a Golden Core Adept."
Ordinary cultivators, when they first extend their Spirit Perception during Foundation Establishment, can only cover a two-mile radius.
Five miles is already twice as much as ordinary cultivators.
Luo Chen's Divine Soul foundation was so powerful? Hearing the final high praise, Nan Gong Qin's heart trembled.
The fact that Luo Chen was valued by a Golden Core Adept from Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and given a token was already public knowledge among the major Foundation Establishment cultivators in Dahexian Market.
It seemed that it wasn't a lie after all.
"Qin'er, you should spend more time with this person in the future."
"But Father, what about our relationship with Qin Liangchen..."
"Some things, when taken up, must also be let go. He killed many of our family's cultivators, but he also paid a price, didn't he?"
Nan Gong Qin sighed, "We need allies, someone not too strong but with sufficient value!"
"But didn't you say to divert the trouble?"
"Hehe, that depends on whether they can prove their worth."
(End of Chapter)
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