Chapter 200: The Ghost General's Dispute, Acquiring Little Blackie

Chapter 200: The Ghost General's Dispute, Acquiring Little Blackie

Silence.

In an instant, everyone fell silent.

Indeed!

They spoke of mutual aid, but without establishing a leader, it would be difficult to guarantee that no one would back down when faced with a problem.

At this moment, a leader was definitely needed to give orders.

However, the leader would inevitably have some authority over the cultivators from various families.

When the time came, during battles, they could be dispatched as vanguards.

This way, wouldn't it be possible to preserve one's own strength?

Li Yixuan and Nangong Jin exchanged a glance, nodding in tacit understanding.

They were from a cultivation family, with the fewest number of cultivators and many mortal descendants.

If someone were to ask them to risk their lives...

"Hahaha!"

A hearty laughter suddenly echoed.

Facing the trio's astonished gazes, Luo Chen naturally cupped his hands in a grand gesture, "Brother Wang possesses the cultivation base of the third level of Foundation Establishment. He is just a step away from the middle stage of Foundation Establishment and is undoubtedly the strongest among us."

"His Great River Gang has a large number of members and is a formidable force in the north and south."

"If we are to travel far, we will definitely rely heavily on the Great River Gang's transportation capabilities."

"In my opinion, Brother Wang should take the lead!"

After saying this, he paid no heed to Nangong and Li's astonishment.

"What do the two of you think?"

Nangong Jin's heart stirred with emotion. He had originally thought that Luo Chen would fiercely compete for this leading position.

After all, among the four forces, the Luo Tianhui Sect had the most Foundation Establishment experts.

They had Luo Chen, Wang Yuan, and even a second-rank Explosive Ape.

However, he never expected Luo Chen to give up this "leader" position so easily.

Li Yixuan looked at Luo Chen's calm and composed expression. After her initial surprise, her quick wit led her to ponder the deeper meaning behind his words.

She glanced at Wang Haichao, who had a slight smile on his lips, and a thought crossed her mind.

"This Luo Chen has indeed grasped Wang Haichao's psychology."

After understanding the key point, she no longer hesitated.

Echoing Luo Chen's words, she said, "Danchenzi is right. Among us cultivators, strength is paramount. Brother Wang is indeed worthy of the position of leader."

Nangong Jin furrowed his brows.

With no better choice, he couldn't refute the other two at this moment.

He could only follow along, saying, "That's true."

Luo Chen gave him a surprised look, causing Nangong Jin to become perplexed.

Was he blaming me for not supporting him? In reality, Luo Chen just felt that he had forgotten to add the words "a mere bystander."

Once the three of them reached a consensus, their gazes turned to Wang Haichao.

He revealed a smile and clasped his hands together.

"I am honored to have your trust."

"Since that's the case, I, Wang, will temporarily take on the role of leader!"

"No, since it's an alliance, we should call it an alliance leader."

The three of them didn't hesitate and nodded in agreement.

After deciding on this matter, the topic returned to the initial issue.

Where to go!

"Since I was the one who brought it up, I'll share my thoughts!"

Luo Chen was not intimidated, "Previously, I had discussed this with the sect's cultivators. The place suitable for our settlement and cultivation is not some remote mountain or swamp. Without the cultivation base of the Golden Core stage, it's impossible to establish a foothold in such places."

Several people nodded in understanding.

Any Foundation Establishment force, whether it's a declining sect or a small cultivation family, mostly relies on large sects and market towns for survival.

They couldn't occupy the good places! As for the bad places, they could retain their own people.

Only the mediocre sect and market towns could allow them to obtain resources for survival and cultivation within the cracks.

With people, there would be trade.

Solitary cultivation was like reinventing the wheel, far less efficient than gathering in groups.

"Therefore, the places we can choose from are actually quite limited."

"Xuelian Market, Mount Tai Market, Radiant Light Market, and... Celestial Wave City."

After saying this, he fell silent.

The topic was now in the hands of the trio.

As cultivators who had been active in the nearby area for many years, they quickly offered various suggestions.

"Xuelian Market is my hometown. The Nangong family originally moved here from there."

Nangong Jin shook his head, "But that place is not suitable for development."

"In the past, there were frequent snow beast attacks. The Nangong family, located near the Great Snow Mountain, had no choice but to relocate."

"Although it was peaceful for a few years..."

"But in the last two years, I've heard that Ice Frost Giant Wolves have been attacking the market frequently."

"Additionally, Xuelian Market is directly governed by the Golden Core-level Ice Fortress. If we go there, we will definitely be under their control."

The first option, the closest market to the Great River Market, Xuelian Market, was ruled out as expected.

This was within their expectations.

Accustomed to the normal four seasons of the Great River Market, a place like Xuelian Market was indeed not suitable for the family's offspring to thrive.

"What about Radiant Light Market?" Luo Chen asked curiously.

Nangong Jin shook his head, "I'm not very familiar with that place."

"I'll speak then!"

Li Yixuan took over the conversation, "That place is truly barren. In the past, it was the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect's mining site. After the mining ended, it was left abandoned."

"In the early years, Radiant Light Market's forging and mineral businesses thrived. Because of these businesses, the Bai family of Radiant Light Market even had a conflict with our Great River Market's Duan family."

"But now, the Bai family is gradually declining and will most likely relocate as well."

Luo Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

It seemed that Radiant Light Market was also ruled out.

Wang Haichao smiled, "Why don't we go to Mount Tai Market then!"

"What are your thoughts, Alliance Leader?" Luo Chen asked with a smile.

Wang Haichao spoke confidently, "Mount Tai Market occupies the land of three mountains. Although the spiritual veins are scattered, they are still suitable for our residence."

"Additionally, I have some connections with several Foundation Establishment forces there."

"When the time comes, we can negotiate and possibly establish ourselves there."

Li Yixuan asked curiously, "I remember that the old ancestor of the Huo family in Mount Tai Market has reached the sixth level of Foundation Establishment and is known for his narrow-mindedness. The entire Mount Tai Market respects his personal strength."

"If we go, we'll be four Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Do we think he can accommodate us?"

The Huo family of Vermillion Toad Mountain in Mount Tai Market was also a Foundation Establishment family with a heritage spanning hundreds of years.

Furthermore, they had a good relationship with the Yan Alliance, a Golden Core sect, and it was common for family cultivators to join the Yan Alliance.

One could say that not only were they individually powerful, but their background was also extremely profound.

The family's old ancestor, Huo Quan, had entered the middle stage of Foundation Establishment long ago and was known for being very protective of his family.

Under his protection, the Huo family had been rising steadily in recent years, even challenging the Kang family of Mount Tai. They were quietly hailed as the top cultivation family in Mount Tai Market.

Facing Li Yixuan's curiosity, Wang Haichao's expression froze.

After a long pause, he hesitantly said, "If the four of us Foundation Establishment Cultivators step in, he should give us this face, right?"

After all this time, he wasn't even sure!

Luo Chen tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Let's see what happens later. Mount Tai Market is our first choice!"

The others nodded, at least they now had a direction.

As for Luo Chen's suggestion of Celestial Wave City, no one discussed it.

It was simply too far away.

If one were to travel alone, they might be able to arrive quickly.

But with a family in tow, it would take at least a few months.

A few months?

It seemed like a short time, but the long journey was fraught with danger.

When the Fu family relocated, it was a difficult journey.

If they hadn't suffered so many losses on the way, later on, they wouldn't have been so easily defeated by Luo Chen and the Lohe Sect.

Next, the four of them discussed many things.

When should they leave?

How should they travel?

How should they handle the things they left behind?

If they encountered danger on the way, how would each family contribute?

Once they reached the new place, under what name should they form an alliance?

This initial alliance meeting became extremely lengthy, even turning into trivial matters towards the end.

If it weren't for the fact that the four of them were accomplished Foundation Establishment Cultivators, ordinary people might have thought they were just petty businessmen.

It wasn't until late at night that Wang, Li, and Nangong left.

After they left, Luo Chen sat in the hall, rubbing his forehead.

"Come in!"

He called out, and Sima Huiwang entered quietly.

"President, is everything settled?"

"Hmm. During this time, all the major forces will likely do everything they can to gather resources to take with them. You should manage the Lohe Sect cultivators and try to avoid conflicts with them."

"I understand."

Sima Huiwang nodded and then curiously asked, "Why aren't you vying for the position of Alliance Leader?"

Luo Chen chuckled.

"Alliance Leader?"

"It's not that easy!"

...

Seeing Sima Huiwang's confusion, Luo Chen didn't hesitate to explain.

She was the president of the Lohe Sect, responsible for executing decisions on various matters, big and small.

Many things, seemingly insignificant, actually had far-reaching consequences.

But in the cultivation world, many decisions couldn't be made based solely on the present; they needed to be considered from a long-term perspective.

However, cultivators were limited by their cultivation realms, and many things could truly be obscured, leaving them unaware.

Luo Chen had suffered many losses due to his lack of experience during the Qi Refinement stage.

He didn't want Sima Huiwang to suffer similar setbacks.

Otherwise, it wouldn't just be Sima Huiwang's interests that would be harmed; his own interests would be affected even more.

With his guidance, Sima Huiwang could see further!

"Being an Alliance Leader is not easy."

Luo Chen's gaze was distant, as if he could see through time and space, envisioning the situation after the four forces set out.

"Along the way, there will be storms and frequent setbacks."

"As the leader of the alliance, the Alliance Leader will inevitably face many worries."

"Where there are people, there will be conflicts of interest. With so many of us going to an unfamiliar place, how many people's interests do you think will be harmed?"

"Don't assume that a four-family alliance can be invincible."

"The conflicts of interest in a region are far more complex than we can imagine."

"Take Misha Hua, for example. He seems to be a lone Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but who knows if he has Miao Wen backing him? Who knows that he and Duan Qiankun are long-time friends? How can we know if he has other allies?"

"Why do you think the Great River Gang, the Lianyun Merchant Alliance, and the five Foundation Establishment families would all take action at the same time? It's because they're afraid of stirring up a hornet's nest and getting hurt themselves."

Seeing that Sima Huiwang seemed to understand, Luo Chen's eyes showed appreciation as he continued,

"In this situation, the Alliance Leader, being the highest-ranking, will inevitably become the number one enemy of those whose local interests are harmed. The danger they face will be a hundred times greater than ours!"

"The leader who sticks out will be the first to be targeted, and the local snake will be the first to be cut down. That's the principle."

Sima Huiwang suddenly understood.

But then, she asked in confusion, "If that's the case, why did Wang Haichao agree?"

"Didn't he think of that?"

Luo Chen smiled lightly, "How could an old fox like him not think of such a simple principle?"

"Then why?"

"It's simple. This is a transparent scheme, and he must agree. In fact, it's the position of Alliance Leader that he actively sought!"

Seeing Sima Huiwang's confusion, Luo Chen smiled and said, "He's not like the Li family or the Nangong family, who have blood ties to rely on and can take everyone with them."

"The Great River Gang's cohesion is far inferior to ours in the Lohe Sect."

"Yes! They've been through many storms, but many external forces have intervened, and the benefits have been shared with others."

"Many of his subordinates are dissatisfied."

"Moreover, this person seems gentle and easygoing, but in reality, he has a narrow mind and cannot tolerate strong subordinates."

"If we look at it from the other way around, Xu Renke, the Broken Sword, would have long since relied on him. But in the end, at the Debate Platform, he let the Broken Sword ruin Gao Tingyuan's puppet, destroying his dantian and preventing him from ever reaching the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Such things can't be hidden from others."

At this point, Luo Chen paused.

Looking at Sima Huiwang, he sighed, "Why will you follow me when I leave?"

"Sima Huiwang spoke without hesitation, "Because you, the Sect Leader, have never wronged us. Following you, we all have a bright future!"

Hearing such sincere praise, Luo Chen didn't show any modesty.

He nodded and asked, "If the situation were reversed, and Wang Haichao were to leave, would you follow him without hesitation?"

"Er..."

"When you hesitate, it means you already have your answer."

Luo Chen smiled slightly and drank the cup of cooled spiritual tea in one gulp.

"Wang Haichao has no bloodline to rely on, no benefits to entice people, and no prestige to command respect."

"If he wants to take a large number of people with him, what can he offer?"

"Just the title of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Hmph, that's not as valuable as you think. Loose Cultivators have it easy; if they don't like it, they can just leave and find another force to join and continue their cultivation."

Sima Huiwang felt like she had just been enlightened.

Through Luo Chen's guidance, she instantly connected the key points in her mind.

"So, he needs the title of an alliance leader!"

Sima Huiwang affirmed, "Only the position of the leader of the Four Families Alliance can temporarily suppress the thoughts of many Loose Cultivators."

"Moreover, this also cuts off the possibility of those Loose Cultivators joining our forces."

"Sect Leader, that's right, isn't it?"

Luo Chen nodded in agreement.

This was the reality for Loose Cultivators without the backing of a sect.

Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would not have an easy time.

Wang Haichao relied on the Great River Gang, and even if he couldn't afford high-quality Magical Treasures in the short term, at least he wouldn't lack the resources needed for cultivation.

If he didn't have the support of the Great River Gang, where could he go to earn Spirit Stones without any special skills?

He couldn't even think of becoming a tribute for those declining small sects or Cultivation families.

That was a joke.

In the current Eastern Wasteland Cultivation world, the going rate for a Foundation Establishment tribute was only around two to three thousand Spirit Stones per month.

After deducting daily expenses, how many Spirit Stones could one save?

You might say that by saving and being frugal for a few years, one could stop cultivating and save up to buy a Magical Treasure, but that would be like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

If one couldn't succeed in forming a Nascent Soul, by the time their lifespan ended, the treasures in their hands would become relics for future generations to explore.

Moreover, there weren't many families that could offer such a price.

Only Luo Chen had the financial resources to do so!

And even then, it was only because Wang Yuan was his brother that he was willing to offer such generous treatment.

Wang Haichao couldn't leave the support of the Great River Gang.

But what about Luo Chen?

He wasn't bound to the Lohe Sect.

He could easily start anew elsewhere, relying on his reputation as an Alchemist.

The reason he decided to bring the Lohe Sect with him was, firstly, because many of his friends were there.

Secondly, everyone trusted each other.

And thirdly, he found the people in the Alchemy Hall very useful.

Moreover, if they were to venture out, having a large number of people as guards would ensure sufficient safety.

"If we can establish ourselves in Mount Tai Market, that would be the best outcome."

"It's far enough from Da He Market, and the crisis of the Ghost King won't pose an immediate threat. It's also not an unfamiliar place."

"But if we can't..."

Luo Chen's eyes flickered as he began to consider backup plans.

He had never been the type to put all his eggs in one basket.

Even when under Misha Hua's control, he had always prepared to run at any moment.

He never expected that.

On several occasions, he had wanted to run but couldn't due to various reasons.

This time, however, he was taking the initiative to leave.

"You go and take care of your tasks!"

"The departure date is set for two months from now, and all loose ends must be tied up!"

Sima Huiwang bowed respectfully.

"As the Sect Leader commands!"

...

One month later.

In the dead of night.

In the Green Thatch House, Bai Meiling trembled in the corner, afraid to take a step closer to Luo Chen.

What she feared was not Luo Chen himself.

It was the Soul Confinement Banner in his hand that had unfurled.

Soul Confinement Banner! Luo Chen looked at the unfurled banner with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

Just this evening, during his alchemy, the Soul Confinement Banner had undergone a strange change.

A chaotic aura emanated from within, unable to be concealed.

It even almost caused his alchemy to fail.

He hurried back and opened the banner, only to find that the dozens of Ghost Soldiers he had captured were all gone.

Inside the banner, only two figures remained.

One was Duan Qiankun, and the other was Luo Tianhong.

The two figures had devoured the Ghost Soldiers, and their bodies had become much more solid than before.

The commotion in the evening was caused by the battle between the two.

"I only know that two tigers cannot share the same mountain, but I never thought that even a mere Magical Artifact couldn't accommodate two Ghost Generals."

Duan Qiankun's remnant soul had been extracted by Luo Chen from Wang Yuan's body when he returned to Xiao Huan Mountain.

He had placed it in the Soul Confinement Banner without much thought.

He never expected that, after two months, things would develop to this extent.

Looking at the two ghosts fighting amidst the eerie ghostly aura, Luo Chen sighed.

"It seems that the grade of this Soul Confinement Banner is too low, and being able to contain one second-tier ghost is already its limit."

"With two, they would end up devouring each other."

This was a flaw of the Soul Confinement Banner.

A Magical Artifact-level item could hold up to a hundred souls, and only one second-tier ghost could exist within.

Only when it reached the level of a Magical Treasure could it hold a thousand souls, ten thousand souls, or even millions.

In that case, not only second-tier ghosts but even third-tier Ghost Kings could be contained in large numbers.

At that time, the internal space of the Soul Confinement Banner would become a ghost realm in itself.

"Oh well, let them fight it out!"

"Let them settle their differences, and I won't have to worry about controlling them."

Under Luo Chen's watchful gaze.

The battle within the Soul Confinement Banner intensified, reaching a fever pitch.

Luo Tianhong, having lost the Rotten Chess Piece and suffered a heavy blow from Luo Chen, had greatly weakened.

However, being born in the ghost realm, he had a deep foundation and could withstand the turmoil.

Duan Qiankun's soul was aged and weak, and after Wang Yuan extracted his spirit, only a remnant soul and grudge remained.

Even without a physical body, his innate restriction abilities allowed him to instinctively unleash his powers.

The two fought fiercely, and surprisingly, the battle seemed evenly matched.

However, there had to be an outcome!

Luo Tianhong emerged victorious!

This was the inevitable conclusion.

Duan Qiankun's lifespan was already nearing its end, and his soul was old and decayed.

The remnant soul he became was filled with hatred for the Duan family.

But Luo Tianhong, in his prime and at the peak of his strength, had perished on the path of cultivation.

Driven by a single-minded obsession, he was born within the Ghost Realm.

He was a ghost driven by obsession, perhaps not as fierce as a vengeful ghost, but his survival instincts far surpassed those of an ordinary ghost general.

After such a prolonged battle, the defeat could only belong to Duan Qiankun.

Within the Soul Confinement Banner, the victorious Luo Tianhong, driven by instinct, frantically devoured the loser's remnant soul.

In no time, he consumed it entirely.

His originally ethereal body became even more substantial.

Moreover, a suit of Yin Qi armor slowly enveloped his ghostly form, covering his ghostly body.

Luo Chen's thoughts stirred.

The ghost general appeared within the small house.

It instinctively moved away from the fire spring, drawing closer to the ice spring.

Standing before Luo Chen, it let out a low roar, attempting to approach but then hesitating and retreating.

This contradictory scene caused Bai Meiling, shivering in the corner, to giggle.

Luo Chen shook his head and immediately unleashed a Soul Capturing Technique.

With his powerful soul foundation and the status of the Soul Confinement Banner's master, he directly forced the ghost general to kneel beside him.

"It's not quite appropriate to call you Luo Tianhong anymore. It's disrespectful to your past life, and it might attract unnecessary trouble."

"From now on, I'll call you... Blackie!"

Blackie paused for a moment, then prostrated himself on the ground even more respectfully.

The Soul Capturing Technique was not something a naked ghost soul could easily withstand.

After naming him, Luo Chen checked Blackie's status.

Having devoured more than a dozen ghost soldiers and the remnant soul of a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Duan Qiankun, Blackie's condition had returned to its peak.

Moreover, his spiritual intelligence had increased slightly.

In terms of combat power, he was now a genuine second-rank fighter.

"Little Redie ran away, and now Blackie has arrived."

"Hehe..."

Luo Chen chuckled and put Blackie into the Soul Confinement Banner.

Turning around, he looked at Bai Meiling seriously.

"How's your progress with the Soul Refining True Art?"

"Yi yi..."

"Have you grasped the basics?"

Luo Chen's eyes lit up. "That's good news. Come with me!"

Bai Meiling, still confused, crawled into the Ghost Grinding Stone, and Luo Chen took advantage of the night to leave Xiao Huan Mountain with her.

When the moon was high in the sky, Luo Chen's footsteps led him to the outer city gate.

He glanced at Luofeng Mountain with a sense of solemnity and then stepped inside.

As soon as he entered, he sensed three wandering ghost spirits nearby.

Luo Chen's spirit sense stirred, and he activated the Soul Capturing Technique, immediately initiating the absorption effect.

The three ghost spirits, as if grabbed, were brought to his side.

Thud!

The Ghost Grinding Stone descended.

The three ghost spirits were directly thrown onto the grinding stone.

Seeing Bai Meiling's dazed expression, Luo Chen gestured with his chin.

"Push!"

Bai Meiling hesitated for a moment, then instinctively pushed the Ghost Grinding Stone.

With her push, the three weak ghost spirits were quickly crushed under their wailing, transforming into streams of pure ghostly power.

Observing this extremely pure ghostly power, Luo Chen's soul emitted waves of longing, as if it couldn't resist the urge to devour it.

Swallowing his saliva, Luo Chen forcibly suppressed this feeling.

After being crushed by the Ghost Grinding Stone, the ghostly power on it had already been infused with Bai Meiling's will.

After all, this was Bai Meiling's innate magic artifact.

"Activate the Soul Refining True Art and devour it all!"

"Yi yi..."

Bai Meiling babbled for a moment, then opened her mouth and sucked in the pure ghostly power, absorbing it into her body.

With the Soul Refining True Art in motion, it completely merged with her original body.

Witnessing this, Luo Chen's soul-deep hunger finally dissipated.

"This method of absorption is much better than Blackie's savage devouring. At least, it allows one to maintain rationality."

After devouring the remnant soul, Blackie had indeed become more ferocious.

But Bai Meiling was different.

Her facial expressions became more lively.

With a few more sessions like this, she would eventually recover her memories from her past life.

When that time comes, Luo Chen will also arrange for her to meet Feng Xia and the others.

But not now!

Meeting them now would only add to their sorrow.

"That's enough for today."

Seeing Bai Meiling patting her little belly, looking satisfied, Luo Chen shook his head and smiled.

After leaving the Ghost City, Luo Chen strolled through the increasingly desolate streets of the outer city.

He began to ponder how to further enhance his soul foundation.

For now, he dared not take the Spirit Penetrating Pill again.

It wasn't that the first-rank Spirit Penetrating Pill had no effect on him, but he was afraid! He feared that the alchemical poison barrier that appeared during his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment would manifest in his soul.

"After the Golden Core stage, spiritual sense transforms into divine perception. Only then do Qi Refiners begin to cultivate both the body and the soul simultaneously."

"I've heard that Primordial Spirits are even more incredible, with souls transforming into infants, granting a second life."

"The soul is of utmost importance, and we must not make any mistakes!"

Without eliminating the alchemical poison, the Spirit Penetrating Pill could not be taken for the time being.

Therefore, Luo Chen had to think of other ways to enhance his soul foundation.

Luo Chen was well aware of the advantages of a powerful soul.

His ability to challenge the Foundation Establishment stage five times relied not only on his robust physique but also on his soul, which could freely manipulate the spiritual energy within his body! If it were anyone else, they would have been overwhelmed by the uncontrolled spiritual energy during their first failure, resulting in severe injuries.

When he breaks through to the Golden Core stage in the future, the strength of his soul will become even more crucial!

"Divine Spirit Demonic Annihilation has reached perfection, so perhaps I can consider cultivating with Sha Qi?"

"Sha Qi..."

Looking at Xiao Huan Mountain, Luo Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end