https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-190-Initial-Foundation-Establishment-Overpowering-Nangong/12920522/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-192-Luo-Chen-s-Guidance-Resolving-Past-Grievances/12920524/
Chapter 191: The Foundation Establishment Ceremony, The Power of a Single Stroke
Chapter 191: The Foundation Establishment Ceremony, The Power of a Single Stroke
Three days later, the once quiet Little Huan Mountain suddenly bustled with activity.
Lamps were lit, and people came and went.
The pavilions and towers were adorned with colorful flowers, and the air was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Some cultivators displayed their spells, creating layers of misty and ethereal scenery.
At first glance, the combination seemed quite celebratory.
But upon closer inspection, it appeared rather mismatched.
However, as a group of loose cultivators gathered together, no one paid much attention to these details.
The liveliness was all that mattered!
In reality, there weren't many precedents for the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.
Most of the related rituals originated from the holy lands of sects.
In such places, the number of disciples could easily reach tens of thousands.
For a mere Foundation Establishment of a small group, there was no need for grand ceremonies or elaborate rituals.
Most of the time, it was just a gathering of friends and family to offer congratulations, and that was the extent of it.
Only when cultivators reached the Nascent Soul Stage would they widely open their sect's gates, inviting fellow cultivators from all directions to celebrate the birth of a new Immortal.
It was only in places like Da He Fang and Xue Lian Fang that such ceremonies were held.
Loose cultivators gathered in these small areas.
But when a true cultivator achieved Foundation Establishment, it was a significant event.
To showcase their strength, the sect to which the Foundation Establishment cultivator belonged would hold a so-called "Foundation Establishment Ceremony."
The same was true for the Luo Tianhui on Little Huan Mountain.
Even the number of invited fellow cultivators was not significant.
Most of the attendees were internal cultivators, celebrating together.
Early in the morning, Luo Chen descended from the mountain.
It wasn't to show respect for the upcoming Foundation Establishment cultivators but to gather with his friends.
"You've really reached Foundation Establishment."
"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable, I can't believe it!"
Three consecutive exclamations of disbelief came from Zeng Wen's mouth.
Luo Chen laughed heartily and said, "With my exceptional talent, isn't this to be expected?"
Zeng Wen rolled his eyes, considering Luo Chen's words as self-praise.
He understood Luo Chen better than anyone else.
Back when he was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, Luo Chen was still setting up a stall in the loose cultivator market in Da He City.
In the blink of an eye, five years had passed. Luo Chen had reached Foundation Establishment, while he was still at the same stage.
"Is this your son?"
"Yes, isn't he handsome!"
"Let me hold him."
Zeng Gu took the chubby toddler from Xiu Gu's arms and handed him to Luo Chen.
Zeng Wen's eyes widened.
Xiu Gu smiled and said, "President Luo, Xiao Long is already two years old."
Looking at the chubby toddler in his arms, Luo Chen felt that time had flown by.
During his seclusion, the once carefree Zeng Wen had settled down and started a family.
His child was already two years old.
"Is his name Zeng Yilong?"
"Yes, Brother Zeng hopes that he won't be a worm like himself but will become a dragon among cultivators."
This implied that the child had spiritual roots.
Indeed, both his parents were late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.
Zeng Wen had decent talent initially, which was why he had cultivated to the ninth level of Qi Refinement.
The chances of their child having spiritual roots were indeed high.
Luo Chen played with the toddler for a while before his gaze shifted to Tang Quan, who was standing behind Zeng Wen.
"I heard from Huiwang that you're doing quite well now."
Tang Quan nodded respectfully, "It's all thanks to President Luo's early guidance!"
Luo Chen sighed and handed Zeng Yilong back to Xiu Gu.
He hadn't provided any guidance at all.
His approach to cultivating Tang Quan had been entirely wrong.
After such a long time of alchemy, Tang Quan still hadn't achieved anything.
His current success was due to no longer practicing alchemy and instead taking over the management of the Dan Hall.
As for his cultivation, he had reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement.
In this regard, it was still something to be happy about.
As Luo Chen sighed, the initially harmonious atmosphere of catching up suddenly became subdued.
Luo Chen was taken aback.
Then he realized something.
He was different now from before!
After reaching Foundation Establishment, a subtle pressure emanated from his words and actions, giving others a sense of intimidation.
This was evident from the reaction of the toddler, Zeng Yilong.
When Luo Chen held him, he had been incredibly calm, but as soon as he was returned to his mother's arms, he couldn't help but squirm.
Fortunately, the oppressive atmosphere was soon broken.
"Greetings, President Luo!"
"Congratulations on your Foundation Establishment, President Luo! This is my gift to you!"
The first voice belonged to the gentle Mi Li, while the second voice was that of an unfamiliar young man.
Luo Chen looked at the youth in surprise, "Lingjun?"
The youth scratched his head awkwardly, "It's me!"
Tsk, tsk!
It had only been a few years!
The changes were astonishing.
Not only had he grown taller, but his voice had also matured, becoming more steady and less childish.
"I almost didn't recognize you."
Luo Chen laughed and took the jade bottle from the youth's hand.
"Let me see what gift you've brought for my Foundation Establishment."
Before the Foundation Establishment Ceremony, Luo Chen had already told his friends not to bring any gifts.
At their current stage, the gifts they offered wouldn't be of much use to Luo Chen.
A simple "congratulations" was enough to express their well wishes.
As Qu Lingjun eagerly watched, Luo Chen opened the jade bottle.
In that instant, he was stunned.
A snow-white pill fell into his hand.
The familiar medicinal scent confirmed that it was a Jade Marrow Pill.
A low-grade Jade Marrow Pill!
However, it wasn't made by Luo Chen.
Luo Chen couldn't refine such a "poor-quality" pill, and even the cloud patterns were intermittent.
Yet, it was precisely because of this that his heart trembled with shock!
"You refined this..."
Luo Chen couldn't help but speak, his heart stirred with a storm of emotions.
Qu Lingjun spoke with some embarrassment, "It's not entirely my doing, I had help from Sister Mi Li and Brother Tang Quan."
A solemn gaze instantly fell upon the two of them.
Tang Quan immediately spoke up, "I didn't have much to teach, I merely demonstrated the pill refining techniques you shared with me."
Mi Li was a bit nervous, but her words were calm and measured.
"I've been researching the Jade Marrow Pill formula for many years, and with your understanding, I was able to follow the clues and make progress."
"Originally, I intended to refine it myself, but after several failures, I still had no success. Lingjun wanted to give it a try, so..."
Under Luo Chen's stern gaze, the others dared not even breathe.
Even Qu Lingjun, who had been eagerly anticipating Luo Chen's praise, pursed her lips and stood awkwardly in place.
After hearing their explanations, Luo Chen suddenly understood.
Indeed, in terms of research time on the Jade Marrow Pill formula, he had to admit that Mi Li had been at it longer.
After all, this pill formula originated from the Mi family.
Mi Li was the first to be groomed as a pill refiner by Uncle Mi.
She must have long memorized the material ratios in the formula.
What she lacked was only experience and a bit of talent.
As for technique, although Luo Chen had never taught anyone before, he had generously shared some guidance when Tang Quan was refining the All Wonders Pill.
He hadn't expected that under such circumstances, Qu Lingjun would be able to draw parallels and refine a low-grade Jade Marrow Pill.
He took a deep look at Qu Lingjun.
Luo Chen spoke softly, "After the ceremony, don't wander around. I'll find you later."
After saying this, he carefully put away the Jade Marrow Pill.
Before leaving, he paused for a moment.
"I really like this gift."
With these words, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.
Mi Li heaved a sigh of relief.
The young man standing next to her also revealed a bright smile.
...
"President, the decision to have Mi Li and Qu Lingjun refine pills was mine."
In the Universe Hall, Sima Huiwang took responsibility.
"At the time, you were in seclusion for too long, and our relationships with the Great River Gang, the Nan Gong family, and even the Li and Chen families were becoming increasingly tense."
"We didn't dare disturb you, but we couldn't stop the pill business either. So, we decided to let Mi Li, who had some achievements in pill refining, refine the Jade Marrow Pill."
"But we never expected that it would be Qu Lingjun, who had always been an assistant, who refined the Jade Marrow Pill."
Luo Chen's gaze turned serious, "How many times did he fail?"
Sima Huiwang took out the Dan Hall record book but didn't open it. Instead, she respectfully handed it to Luo Chen.
As Luo Chen flipped through the pages, she reported the details below.
"In total, they refined the Jade Marrow Pill seventy-nine times."
"In the first thirty-five attempts, there were three times where the pill almost formed."
"The first real success came after the sixtieth attempt. That time, seven pills were successfully formed, and there were ten waste pills."
"The bottle of Jade Marrow Pills he gave you was likely from the batch refined five days ago. Among them, eleven pills were successfully formed, all of low grade."
Seventy-nine times.
Thirty-five, sixty, seven, eleven...
Each number passed through Luo Chen's mind.
After a while, he closed the record book and returned it to Sima Huiwang.
"I understand. This time, I will mainly give out rewards. You, Tang Quan, and Mi Li will all receive rewards."
"But next time, no, there won't be a next time."
"Without my permission, no one in the Dan Hall is allowed to refine any pills other than the ones I've specified."
He didn't say what the punishment would be if there was a next time, but with Luo Chen's notoriously harsh style in dealing with outsiders, if someone made a mistake internally, they wouldn't expect a good outcome.
Sima Huiwang's heart skipped a beat, and a chill spread from her back.
She quickly bowed and respectfully replied, "Yes, President."
"What about Qu Lingjun, President?"
Luo Chen glanced at her and said indifferently, "I have other plans for him, and you'll find out in due time."
"Yes!"
After handling this matter, there was still some time left.
Sima Huiwang reported various matters that had accumulated over the past year to Luo Chen, one by one.
Most of them were decisions she had already made and implemented.
Now, she was letting Luo Chen review them, and if there were any mistakes, he would naturally point them out.
There were also some unresolved issues that Luo Chen could handle.
"Is the Ghost City becoming more dangerous?"
Luo Chen's eyebrows furrowed, and before Sima Huiwang could respond, footsteps could be heard outside the hall.
He stopped what he was doing and looked at the people entering.
First were Qin Liangchen and his wife, their expressions complex.
"Congratulations on the President's Foundation Establishment!"
"Congratulations on the President's Foundation Establishment!"
It was no longer the young Luo Chen, nor the familiar Luo Chen.
It was a sincere "President."
Luo Chen sighed inwardly, as he had already sensed this shift earlier.
His expression remained calm, and he smiled, inviting the couple to take their seats.
Next came Duan Feng, who was silent and stoic, followed by Gu Caiyi, who was filled with joy, and finally, Granny Yuan, who entered with the support of her grandson, Yuan Dongsheng.
With this, all six of the Luo Tianhui's hall masters were gathered.
Each of them sincerely congratulated Luo Chen.
As for how much envy and admiration they felt inside, that was unknown.
Luo Chen accepted their congratulations calmly.
Unlike his previous conversations with Zeng Wen's family in the outer hall, where he had been relaxed and smiling, he knew that the changes in his cultivation stage and status had already unconsciously altered the way they interacted.
Zeng Wen, a man with a carefree nature, was indeed a rare breed.
He was the one who, under the scrutiny of thousands, dared to demand compensation from Mi Shuhua, a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Luo Chen was well aware of this.
He still considered these people friends.
But he wouldn't show it in words; he would only demonstrate his friendship in their future interactions.
Soon, all the high-ranking members of the Luo Tianhui were seated in the Grand Hall.
Only the four corners remained empty.
Everyone knew who these seats were reserved for.
Suddenly, Luo Chen's expression shifted slightly.
"Huiwang, go and welcome them."
Sima Huiwang was startled but quickly realized what was happening and hurried out of the hall.
In a short while, loud voices could be heard from outside.
"Foundation Establishment True Cultivator Nan Gong Jin pays his respects to Dan Chen Zi and offers a 500-year-old Ling Shen as a gift."
After the announcement, all the Essence Refinement Stage cultivators in the Grand Hall stood up.
Soon, Nan Gong Jin's figure appeared before everyone.
Following him was Nan Gong Qin, who was also well-known to the crowd.
"Haha, it seems I've put you to some trouble, fellow cultivator."
A hearty laughter escaped Luo Chen's lips.
But he remained seated, unmoving, only waving his hand slightly.
"Please take your seat, Nan Gong fellow cultivator!"
Nan Gong Jin returned the greeting and then took his seat on Luo Chen's left, led by a female attendant.
After Nan Gong Jin's arrival, other Foundation Establishment cultivators also arrived one after another.
Li Yixuan, the Li family leader whose heritage was second only to the Duan family in the Da He Fang, appeared before the crowd for the first time.
"Foundation Establishment True Cultivator Li Yixuan pays his respects to Dan Chen Zi and offers a Second Stage Technique as a gift!"
Upon hearing this, the many Luo Tianhui cultivators feasting outside the hall couldn't help but exclaim.
A random Second Stage Technique was worth thousands of Spirit Stones.
Such a valuable gift, far more precious than the 500-year-old Ling Shen Nan Gong Jin had offered.
However, Luo Chen showed no surprise.
This was a condition they had agreed upon in private.
For this Technique, he had paid a considerable price!
Soon!
Luo Chen saw Li Yixuan's true appearance for the first time.
She had a well-proportioned figure, and her voice was like heavenly music.
But her looks were ordinary, even among female cultivators.
She bowed to Luo Chen with grace.
Luo Chen's eyes flickered as he stared at her, nodding slightly.
Then he deliberately averted his gaze, focusing on the young man behind her.
Li Ao.
The most outstanding among the younger generation of the Li family, he had recently succeeded as the family head.
In terms of cultivation stage and status, he was no less than Nan Gong Qin, the son of Nan Gong Jin.
The fact that Li Yixuan had brought him to this occasion showed how highly she regarded this Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Fellow cultivator Dan Chen Zi, Elder Zhou Qing of the Linked Cloud Alliance probably won't be able to make it today."
As soon as Li Yixuan took her seat, she brought Luo Chen unexpected news.
"Oh?"
Li Yixuan spoke softly, "Currently, the two High Stage Nascent Soul Sects outside are in a fierce battle, and the Linked Cloud Alliance, suspected of being a covert ally of the Falling Cloud Sect, has become a target of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Elder Zhou Qing has recently been recalled to the Heavenly Wave Immortal City by the headquarters."
Such developments!
After being in seclusion for so long, Luo Chen was unaware of the tumultuous events in the outside world.
It seemed that the conflict between the two High Stage Nascent Soul Sects had escalated from minor friction to targeting each other's affiliated forces.
Whether the Linked Cloud Alliance was indeed a covert ally of the Falling Cloud Sect was unknown.
But judging from the ambush set up by Zhen Long in the Black Market to target Pang Ren Xiong...
The Linked Cloud Alliance was likely involved.
As Luo Chen was thinking, his mind stirred, and he looked outside.
At the same moment, Li Yixuan also raised her head to look out.
Sensing their synchronized movements, Nan Gong Jin was taken aback.
Then he quickly understood what was happening.
But his face turned slightly unnatural.
In that brief moment, the difference in spiritual cultivation between the three was evident.
Li Yixuan smiled, "It seems that Fellow Cultivator Wang Hai Chao has arrived."
Soon after she spoke, loud voices could be heard from outside.
"Great River Gang's Wang Hai Chao pays his respects to Dan Chen Zi and offers a Second Stage Spell as a gift!"
Then, two figures entered the hall.
It wasn't Wang Hai Chao, but two cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Essence Refinement.
Min Long Yu and Li Da.
Luo Chen frowned; wasn't Min Long Yu an affiliated cultivator of the Linked Cloud Alliance? When did he become a disciple of Wang Hai Chao?
At this moment!
A violent Essence Energy fluctuation spread, and an Azure Blue Dragon burst into the hall.
Its momentum was fierce, and as it swayed its head and tail, the entire hall seemed to tremble.
But the overall power was extremely condensed, demonstrating the caster's formidable control over Essence Energy.
This move was well-prepared!
If not handled carefully, it could cause serious injury, or at the very least, a humiliating drenching.
This was Luo Chen's Foundation Establishment Ceremony!
If he were to be soaked, it would be a great loss of face.
In an instant, everyone's breathing quickened.
Luo Chen's eyes flashed.
His right hand slowly waved!
Whoosh...
A gentle breeze swept by, and the massive Azure Blue Dragon instantly turned into raindrops and disappeared.
What kind of technique was this?
Wang Hai Chao's figure emerged, standing before Min and Li, his face filled with surprise.
"As expected, fellow cultivator, your strength is extraordinary!"
(End of Chapter)
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