https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-313-The-Golden-Core-Major-Sect-Three-Sects-Offer-Congratulations/12931905/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-315-Spirit-Rhino-Parasite-Tranquil-Mansion-Heroes-Tomb/12931920/
Chapter 314: The Celebration Ends, Chu Kui Visits
Chapter 314: The Celebration Ends, Chu Kui Visits
Within Crimson Peak.
Three figures walked side by side.
Leading them was not the master, Luo Chen, but Dantai Jin.
She stood in the middle, examining the Celestial Assembly's arrangements for the day.
"It's lively, but some aspects are too common, and there are still some places that are over the line."
This was the evaluation of a true disciple from the Golden Core Grand Sect.
Luo Chen helplessly said, "After all, the foundation is shallow, and in terms of ceremony and etiquette, many things are not well-rounded."
Dantai Jin nodded.
"It's not a problem. After all, your purpose is not just for a Foundation Establishment celebration."
Luo Chen smiled slightly, and they both understood each other's intentions.
Tao Yisheng, standing beside them, had been silent all this time.
Although he held a prestigious position, representing Tao Wan of Qingdan Valley, with Dantai Jin, who was no less impressive than Tao Wan, in front of him, it was only natural that he wouldn't have the opportunity to shine.
He was a bit confused by the hidden intentions behind their words.
The three of them arrived at the square outside the palace.
Zuo Song, Chen Xiulian, and others had already come out to greet them.
Looking at these people, Dantai Jin raised an eyebrow and glanced deeply at Luo Chen. Then, she took out three items from her storage bag.
"A small gift, not a token of respect."
Looking at the three items, Luo Chen's eyebrows twitched.
"What are these?"
Dantai Jin chuckled and, in front of the representatives of various families and sects, spoke with a clear voice.
"A Foundation Establishment Pill, wishing the Celestial Assembly to produce more outstanding talents."
"A piece of Ice God Jade, wishing President Sima Hui's Daughter to progress in her cultivation."
"A one-time jade slip, which records the Ice Castle's Core Formation Secret Art, wishing Fire Spirit Lord Luo Chen to form his core one day and catch a glimpse of the Golden Core Dao!"
Such a gift!
Such a gift!
Almost as soon as Dantai Jin finished speaking.
All the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the venue couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Their gazes fell on the jade slip, as if it could melt the void with its scorching heat.
That was a Core Formation Secret Art!
How could Luo Chen, with his abilities and virtues, receive such high regard from the Ice Castle! Even the Core Formation Secret Art was offered as a gift to him? Not to mention outsiders, but even the recipient, Luo Chen himself, was shocked and amazed at this moment.
Previously, he had boldly asked Dantai Jin for the Core Formation Secret Art, only to be directly refused.
There was no room for negotiation.
But now...
"How could she be so generous?"
Luo Chen swallowed.
Looking at Dantai Jin's unmoved expression, he couldn't help but say, "Dantai, this..."
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
"No!" Luo Chen shook his head hurriedly, like a rattle drum under the gazes of countless people who could eat him alive. His throat went dry as he said, "Isn't this... too precious?"
Dantai Jin glanced at Luo Chen with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
When you asked for it before, did you consider whether the Core Formation Secret Art would be too precious?
Now that I'm giving it to you in front of everyone, you dare not accept it? Seeing his wax-like expression, Dantai Jin said leisurely, "It's just a Core Formation Secret Art, which is nothing to the Ice Castle. As long as the Celestial Assembly maintains a good relationship with the Absolute Emotion Clan in the future, that's all that matters."
After saying this, she didn't wait for Luo Chen's response.
With a wave of her sleeve, she strode into the palace.
Many Foundation Establishment Cultivators subconsciously followed her inside.
This scene gave a strong sense of turning the tables.
Luo Chen's expression changed slightly.
Holding the jade slip, which seemed to be cast from cold ice, he felt an immense weight.
He had already recovered from the shock and realized the purpose behind the other party's actions.
Turning the tables!
What a way to turn the tables!
He wanted to borrow strength, and the other party was willing to lend it, but the borrowed strength was too great, overwhelming Luo Chen's original power.
At this moment, in front of everyone.
Everyone had already considered the Celestial Assembly as the Ice Castle's true subordinate!
After all, who would send out precious Core Formation Secret Arts to others if they weren't direct subordinates?
"The one who hunts the geese ends up pecked by them."
"I underestimated these sect elites!"
While his expression was uncertain.
Beside him, Tao Yisheng also presented his gift.
"Brother Luo, I came in a hurry. A small gift, not a token of respect."
Luo Chen subconsciously accepted the gift.
Several bottles of pills and several medicinal herbs.
All of them were beneficial to Foundation Establishment female cultivators.
However, there was nothing specifically for Luo Chen.
After all, this celebration was nominally for Sima Hui's Daughter.
"Friend Tao, you're too kind."
Luo Chen accompanied Tao Yisheng into the palace.
Tao Yisheng praised, "Among the Jade Cauldron Seven Sects, the Ice Castle has the fewest subordinates. I never expected the Celestial Assembly to be so highly regarded by the Ice Castle! Indeed, my initial judgment was correct. You are no ordinary person, and even in the Immortal City of Tianlan, where cultivators gather, you can still open up a new path!"
"Friend Tao, you flatter me."
Luo Chen responded with a lack of enthusiasm.
Tao Yisheng didn't know his thoughts; he only sensed that Luo Chen seemed distracted, so he spoke less.
Entering the palace.
With the arrangement of the maids, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already taken their seats.
The distribution of the seats clearly showed careful planning.
The two seats at the top were left empty, one of which was already occupied by Luo Chen.
The other seat was left vacant, and it was obvious for whom it was intended.
On a high platform, Dantai Jin and Tao Yisheng sat facing each other, representing the Golden Core Major Sect.
Below them, the grand hall was divided into two sides, with rows of tables and chairs where Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat cross-legged. The tables were already filled with various spirit fruits, fine wines, and teas.
The more powerful the sect, the closer they were seated to the front.
For example, Zuo Song and Luo Feng were seated at the very front, not only because of their strong backing but also due to their formidable cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Behind them were Chen Xiulian, Zhou Qing, Qiao Xiyue, and others.
As for the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they were seated further back.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Celestial Assembly were seated at the main table, diagonally facing downward.
This seating arrangement clearly showed the importance the Celestial Assembly placed on their guests, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
However, what surprised everyone was that among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators' tables, there was a Qi Condensation Grand Completion cultivator.
But after learning the person's identity, no one voiced any dissatisfaction.
It was Li Yingzhang, the head of the Qin Hua Li Family.
The Qin Hua Li Family used to be a powerful clan with a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator as its leader.
Although they had declined, they were still a solid ally of the Celestial Assembly.
Moreover, the Celestial Assembly had arranged for Li Yingzhang to sit at the very end, preventing any insult to the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Instead, the Celestial Assembly's respect for the Li Family earned Luo Chen even more admiration from the cultivators.
It was rare for an old friend to show such consideration for the younger generation of their family.
Aside from these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the other Qi Condensation Period cultivators, whether from the Celestial Assembly or brought by the various Foundation Establishment cultivators, were seated at the back and outer areas of the hall.
From above, the arrangement was orderly, and no one could find any fault with it.
"The auspicious hour has arrived. Fire Spirit Lord, why don't you invite your president out?"
The speaker was Zuo Song.
Even though Luo Chen had secrets in his heart, he would never be negligent at such an occasion.
He smiled and said, "My friend, it's just a gathering for an exchange of cultivation insights. What auspicious hour are you talking about? Hui's Daughter will be here soon!"
Before he finished speaking, the sound of jingling ornaments could be heard from outside the hall.
Everyone turned to follow the sound.
A tall and slender woman approached with graceful steps, wearing a snow-white long dress and an exquisite lotus-fringed phoenix crown. As she walked, her steps were as if floating on a lotus, and her movements were radiant.
Her skin was crystal clear and fair, and her features were delicate yet dignified.
Her deep and serene eyes showed no sign of panic even under the gaze of many powerful cultivators, as if she were a calm and deep abyss.
Behind her, a pair of Golden Boy and Jade Girl disciples followed closely, each holding a dusting brush and a precious sword.
As she drew near, everyone's eyes lit up.
A Foundation Establishment female cultivator! It was said that the president of the Celestial Assembly, although at the Qi Condensation stage, possessed exceptional abilities.
A mere woman managed to lead the vast Celestial Assembly with impeccable precision.
Everyone above and below admired her!
Now, after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, her temperament was extraordinary, transcending the mundane.
No one knew how Luo Chen had managed to attract such a heavenly talent and use her as he pleased.
Then, under Luo Chen's gaze, she took a step forward and leaped, landing on the main seat as gracefully as a falling willow catkin, without a trace of worldly concerns.
"Not bad, a solid cultivation base, and her Essence Energy is quite pure!"
This seemingly ordinary evaluation came from Dantai Jin, the direct disciple of the Ice Castle.
Coming from his mouth, it was the highest praise!
At that moment, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the hall began to praise Sima Hui's daughter.
Sima Hui's Daughter smiled slightly and looked at Luo Chen.
"Let's begin!" Luo Chen said indifferently.
Sima Hui's Daughter took a deep breath, unafraid of the occasion, and began to share her insights on Foundation Establishment.
At that moment, all the Qi Condensation Period cultivators in the hall pricked up their ears, listening with utmost attention.
Their focused expressions seemed afraid of missing even half a sentence!
...
The insights of a newly Foundation Establishment cultivator were invaluable knowledge for Qi Condensation Period cultivators.
Many loose cultivators might never have the chance to hear such insights in their entire lives.
Only the disciples of influential families and sects could be brought by their elders to listen in.
The Qi Condensation Period cultivators of the Celestial Assembly were fortunate to have heard such insights four or five times in just over a decade.
If there were any clever ones among them, they could greatly increase their chances of reaching Foundation Establishment by making good use of this knowledge when they broke through.
Perhaps this was why, when a sect rose from humble beginnings, its internal elite would emerge in waves, one after another.
Even if they originally came from remote and impoverished areas, and even if their talents were not absolutely outstanding, under the leadership of an excellent leader, they would continuously improve themselves through victories and gains, eventually growing stronger.
Unknowingly, they would create the illusion that a certain place produced countless geniuses.
In reality, it wasn't that the place had good feng shui.
It was that, at the right time, a suitable hero emerged, forming an extraordinary leadership team.
Luo Chen was such a leader.
The loose cultivators from Great River Market closely surrounded him, providing assistance while also reaping their own benefits.
Of course!
This knowledge was not particularly impressive for Foundation Establishment cultivators within the hall.
The most important part of the ceremony was not what happened in the middle, but who arrived at the beginning!
And when they left, what did they take away!
Therefore, during Sima Hui Niang's speech, most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators were distracted, except for the Qi Condensation cultivators who were fully focused.
If you carefully calculated...
This was the second time the Celestial Assembly had held such a grand ceremony for Foundation Establishment cultivators since Luo Chen's Foundation Establishment Ceremony.
Previously, Duan Feng, Wang Yuan, and others had only celebrated internally.
However, this time, unlike Luo Chen's ceremony, no one dared to test Sima Hui Niang's abilities with offensive actions.
Whether it was out of respect for Luo Chen's reputation as Fire Spirit Lord or the face of the two Golden Core Major Sects' true inheritors, the ceremony proceeded smoothly.
Until the very end!
At this moment, the sky had turned yellowish.
The setting sun bathed Crimson Peak in a dazzling glow.
As the ceremony concluded, Foundation Establishment cultivators, along with their disciples, bid farewell and departed.
This included Dantai Jin'chou and Tao Yisheng, the true inheritors of the two major sects.
But most of them stayed behind, eagerly awaiting Sima Hui Niang.
After seeing off Dantai Jin'chou, Sima Hui Niang and Luo Chen stood side by side on the Rainbow Bridge.
She turned back to look at the many Foundation Establishment cultivators remaining in the hall; her previous excitement had subsided.
"President, may I take my leave?"
"Go ahead!" Luo Chen waved his hand, "After the negotiations, we'll see what we can achieve."
Sima Hui Niang smiled faintly and entered the hall.
After she left, Luo Chen watched Dantai Jin'chou's departing light and couldn't help but sigh.
In his mind, he still vividly recalled the scene before the ceremony began.
Throughout this journey, although he had faced extreme danger and difficulty, every move he made brought him gains.
To outsiders, it seemed like a smooth and fortunate path.
He had become accustomed to taking risks, maneuvering among various powerful cultivators, leveraging their strengths to achieve his goals.
But this time, he had misjudged the situation.
The power of the Golden Core Major Sects was not something he could easily borrow.
They only needed to release a tiny amount of power from their fingernails, and it would be more than he could bear.
Dantai Jin'chou's actions had already branded the Celestial Assembly with the label of the Ice Castle Absolute Emotion Clan.
In the future, if Luo Chen encountered greater difficulties, he might not be able to navigate them as smoothly as before.
"Sometimes, borrowed power is ultimately not your own!"
"Once it surpasses your limits, the overwhelming sense of helplessness makes it almost impossible to breathe."
As he sighed, a streak of light appeared in the distance, rushing towards him at lightning speed.
At this moment, the Rainbow Bridge had already been retracted.
Luo Chen personally welcomed the visitor.
As the light faded, Chu Kui's figure appeared before them.
"Apologies, I emerged from seclusion a bit late and missed your Foundation Establishment Ceremony."
Luo Chen shook his head, "It's fine as long as you're here. At least, I've kept a cup of fine wine for you."
Chu Kui chuckled.
At Luo Chen's invitation, he stepped onto Crimson Peak for the first time.
As they walked and chatted, Chu Kui observed the people and things on Crimson Peak.
From time to time, he marveled at Luo Chen's excellent management.
Luo Chen humbly attributed all the credit to Sima Hui Niang.
His words implied that Chu Kui should not be stingy when it came to offering gifts later.
Chu Kui felt helpless.
However, after learning about the prominent figures who had come to the Celestial Assembly today, he had no regrets whatsoever.
The stronger the Celestial Assembly became, the stronger the enemies it might attract in the future.
As long as it didn't involve Golden Core cultivators, Chu Kui believed he could still make his moves.
Previously, a cup of Taibai liquor had earned him a fee of ten thousand spirit stones.
This time, a small investment might lead to fifty thousand or even a million spirit stones in the future.
"Speaking of which, why didn't you mention the Longlongjin Zheng Family? Didn't they send anyone?"
When the Longlongjin Zheng Family was brought up, Luo Chen scoffed.
In the past, they had only cooperated tacitly, but openly, they were still at odds.
This time, the Celestial Assembly had achieved significant success, especially in the realm of pill concoction, which would greatly benefit their future pill business.
Under these circumstances, it was understandable that the Zheng Family, feeling threatened, would not take the initiative to extend a friendly gesture.
They had sent no response to the invitation Luo Chen had dispatched, and no one from the Zheng Family had shown up today.
Clearly, the Zheng Family had made their stance known.
Moreover, while there were many attendees, it was not as many as Luo Chen had imagined.
Some of the invited factions had not shown their faces.
In response to Chu Kui's inquiry, Luo Chen gave a cold laugh and said, "Those who should have come, have come."
"As for those who shouldn't have come, I'll personally pay them a visit in the future."
The chilling tone sent a shiver down their spines.
Chu Kui's eyes lit up.
"If you need any help, just call me. Tianlan Timely Rain Chu Kui will never let you down!"
Luo Chen rolled his eyes.
"Let's go in and have a drink. I'll introduce you to a few Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Celestial Assembly so that you can get to know them. It'll prevent you from mistaking someone for someone else and accidentally taking their orders, which might cause trouble for our people."
(End of Chapter)
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