https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-401-The-Thriving-Luo-Tian-Association-Trouble-Brewing/12932562/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-403-Triad-Unity-Love-Extends-to-the-Beloved-s-Family/12932572/
Chapter 402: Confidence Stems from Strength, Driving Away Tigers and Devouring Wolves
Chapter 402: Confidence Stems from Strength, Driving Away Tigers and Devouring Wolves
The news released by the Flame Alliance!
Upon hearing this, even Sima Huiwang, who had grown accustomed to the ways of the world over the years and had exceptional mental cultivation, couldn't help but pale.
They all understood what this implied!
It meant a deliberate targeting by a Great Gold Core Sect, intending to destroy the Luo Tian Association through others' hands!
However, why would a prestigious Gold Core Sect specifically target a small association like the Luo Tian Association?
Her gaze instinctively fell on Luo Chen.
The answer was right before her eyes.
Luo Chen sighed, "It seems that even with the Ice Fortress and the Falling Cloud Sect taking the lead, the Flame Alliance won't easily let go of my killing Di Wan Yun!"
Sima Huiwang bit her lip, her face filled with worry.
Su Xiaolin stood there with her head lowered, her heart filled with turbulent emotions ever since learning about the intelligence.
Now, hearing the confirmation from Luo Chen's mouth, her feelings intensified.
They would never let it go!
On the battlefield, everyone fought for their own masters, and there was no distinction between right and wrong.
Even with a deep-rooted grudge, at least before the two Great Sects had a clear winner, everyone would still maintain their dignity.
But Luo Chen killing Di Wan Yun had already exceeded the normal scope of battlefield slaughter.
He was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had killed a Golden Core Senior!
Moreover, Luo Chen was only at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, while Di Wan Yun was a powerful third-level Golden Core cultivator, unafraid of anyone except late-stage Golden Core masters.
Yet, he had died so easily at Luo Chen's hands.
It was a blatant slap in the face to the Flame Alliance, a Great Gold Core Sect!
It challenged their authority, damaged their reputation, and would make outsiders look down on the strength of Flame Alliance cultivators.
No one could swallow this insult.
Sima Huiwang worried, "Would the Flame Alliance send Golden Core cultivators to deal with us personally?"
This was the point she cared about the most.
However, Luo Chen merely tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"That won't happen. The Great Gold Core Sects will at least maintain a basic level of face."
Seeing Sima Huiwang's confusion, he hinted at two names.
"The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect and the Linked Cloud Commerce Alliance."
The woman was taken aback, then fell into deep thought.
Soon, she understood.
Indeed, Great Sects had their own pride.
If directly offended, they would suppress with thunderous means.
But if not, it would be too demeaning for a Great Sect to personally take action; they would become a laughingstock among sects of the same level.
It was like when the Sword Sect suspected the Linked Cloud Commerce Alliance and the Falling Cloud Sect of collusion, yet they didn't take direct action.
Of course, not taking direct action didn't mean they would let it go.
The Sword Sect only needed to express a hint of their intentions, and there would be plenty of people willing to help deal with the Linked Cloud Commerce Alliance.
The situation back then unfolded in a similar manner.
The Linked Cloud Commerce Alliance suffered heavy losses in the onslaught of a pile of second-rate forces, losing cities and territories.
Initially, they had a Golden Core Offering, three late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators, and over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators!
Under their command, they had businesses in more than a dozen market towns, some openly and some secretly.
They were considered a first-rate force!
Yet, in the end, the Offering died a miserable death, and only the Linked Cloud Great Elder survived among the three Grand Cultivators, while the over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators were nearly wiped out.
By the end, only six or seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators remained.
Even Nan Gong Jin and Li Yi Xuan, loose cultivators from outside, were eagerly recruited to help restore their strength.
It could be said that the Sword Sect did nothing at the time and merely hinted at their intentions.
This directly led to a first-rate force being reduced to a second-rate one.
Moreover, it was one of the weaker ones among the second-rate forces.
Now!
What the Flame Alliance had done was so similar to what the Sword Sect did back then, or even more sinister.
They didn't directly express their dissatisfaction with the Luo Tian Association; they merely leaked the news that the Luo Tian Association had exchanged four Core Formation Secret Techniques.
As a result, not only would the subordinate forces close to the Flame Alliance deal with the Luo Tian Association, but the trapped late-stage Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators would also be extremely envious, causing trouble for the Luo Tian Association.
This speculation wasn't baseless.
The frequent actions taken by Luo Chen against some foreign Foundation Establishment experts in recent times were a clear indication.
Although he had the intention of practicing his skills,
most of these experts were at the eighth or even ninth level of Foundation Establishment!
For a second-rate force with only late-stage Foundation Establishment strength on the surface, the loss of these experts was devastating.
It was only because the Luo Tian Association had a well-established department structure, and Luo Chen and Sima Huiwang had set up the intelligence department, the Luo Wang Department, early on.
Otherwise, they would have suffered heavy losses without prior knowledge.
It wasn't just about intelligence.
There was also combat power!
Chu Kui, Wang Yuan, and even Min Longyu.
The three of them had become increasingly coordinated, and even one or two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were no match for their combined might. It was this that ensured the Luo Tian Association's peace over the past year.
After Sima Huiwang understood this, she relaxed slightly.
As long as the Great Gold Core Sects didn't take direct action, ordinary subordinate forces, along with some scattered foreign Foundation Establishment experts, wouldn't pose a significant threat to the Luo Tian Association.
However!
Considering what Luo Chen had done...
She couldn't help but ask, "If the Luo Tian Association remains standing, will the Flame Alliance truly swallow this insult?"
"Even if they can't swallow it, they'll have to," Luo Chen coldly huffed.
"Firstly, I haven't exposed my tracks yet. If they openly target the Luo Tian Association, it will only be a simple act of venting their anger, making them appear weak in the eyes of others.
"Secondly, I still hold the position of Elder of Ice Fortress. If it comes to light, it would be easy for them to justify that an Ice Fortress Elder killed a Flame Alliance Elder."
"Lastly, even if the Flame Alliance ignores the Ice Fortress, they should still consider the thoughts of the Falling Cloud Supreme Sect!"
"The war is merely paused, and a complete ceasefire has not been established. The Flame Alliance dares not openly break the treaty, so they sent a Golden Core Cultivator to Crimson Cloud Rampage."
As he spoke, a flash of sternness appeared on Luo Chen's face.
All these statements were merely strategic calculations.
What truly gave him confidence was his own side's strength.
If the Flame Alliance doesn't make a move, then fine, but if they really send a Golden Core Senior, they should be prepared to face the consequences!
With the geographical advantage of Crimson Cloud Peak, Min Longyu's years of preparation, and the Seven-Colored Crimson Cloud Soul-Seizing Array, they could threaten ordinary Golden Core Seniors.
With Chu Kui and Wang Yuan working together, they were not to be underestimated.
Lastly, Luo Chen's increasing proficiency in the Celestial Phoenix True Form further bolstered their strength.
Unless the Flame Alliance sends a mid-stage or even late-stage Golden Core Cultivator, he, Luo Chen, truly had no fear of an ordinary early-stage Golden Core Senior!
These were all last-resort plans.
For now, things were far from that stage.
Upon hearing the information about the Flame Alliance targeting the Luo Tian Association, Sima Huiwang quickly connected it to other recent business-related issues the association had faced.
The sudden emergence of a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Zeng family was likely instigated by the Flame Alliance, using the Zeng family's name to deal with the Luo Tian Association.
Although the Iron Sword Hall was destroyed, it had recently risen again under the leadership of a surviving elder.
It was likely that the Flame Alliance was also involved in this.
Luo Chen and Chu Kui had obtained a large number of spoils of war on Thunder Mountain, including a significant number of magical artifacts.
The two of them couldn't handle all of it.
Currently, they were using the Luo Tian Association to sell these spoils.
However, the business of selling these spoils was not going smoothly, partly due to the interference of the Iron Sword Hall.
It wasn't just about pills and magical artifacts! Sima Huiwang instantly thought of more issues.
After connecting these dots, she couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Unknowingly, the Luo Tian Association was surrounded by enemies on all sides! Among them were not only subordinates of the Flame Alliance but also a small number of Sword Sect affiliates and a large number of powerful loose cultivators.
Each of these parties was not to be taken lightly!
Immediately, she gave orders to Su Xiaolin, directing all the Luo Wang cultivators to monitor the area within a thousand miles of Crimson Cloud Peak and collect various types of information.
This was to ensure that she would be aware of any relevant information before encountering any issues.
...
On their way back, Sima Huiwang remained worried.
Luo Chen, on the other hand, appeared calm and unperturbed.
"You don't seem worried at all, my President!"
Luo Chen smiled, "Rest assured, with me here, nothing will go wrong."
Sima Huiwang rolled her eyes and slightly relaxed her grip on Luo Chen's hand.
Indeed, Luo Chen's strong confidence infected her.
With him around, everything would be fine!
Throughout their journey, Luo Chen had always been her most reliable support.
Even in the harsh environment of the Nine Thunder Mountains, Luo Chen had led the Luo Tian Association cultivators to safety.
Compared to these hidden enemies, what could be so daunting?
"Let's temporarily halt our external expansion!"
Luo Chen said leisurely, "We should focus on digesting our gains from the battlefield and strengthening our internal power. This is the top priority."
Luo Chen's harvest from the Thunder Mountain battle was immense!
Even without considering the vast resources from the cultivators' legacies, the Foundation Establishment Pills obtained from the Four Sects Alliance through merit points alone numbered twenty!
Even accounting for the high failure rate of Foundation Establishment, these twenty pills could still create a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Su Xiaolin was one of the beneficiaries.
By abandoning expansion and focusing on internal growth, they would wait for the right moment.
In just a few words, Luo Chen had set the development strategy for the Luo Tian Association for the next few years.
As for the specific operational details, he entrusted them entirely to Sima Huiwang.
In the end, Luo Chen squeezed Sima Huiwang's hand.
"Don't neglect your cultivation either!"
"With a Second Stage Superior Cave Mansion and the Supreme Jade Dew Pills I provided, it's been several years, and you're still stuck at the Foundation Establishment Stage. It's a bit embarrassing for the President of the Luo Tian Association."
"For less important matters, you can actually delegate them to your disciple, Yao Mingyue. You don't have to handle everything personally."
Sima Huiwang casually replied, "I understand, don't worry too much."
Seeing her nonchalant attitude, even though she knew that the other party was dedicated to the affairs of the Luo Tian Association, Luo Chen still felt a sense of frustration.
But he didn't know how to persuade her.
Suddenly, Luo Chen's eyes lit up, and he casually said, "Gu Caiyi's cultivation progress is quite impressive. Although she started Foundation Establishment a few years later than you, she's already at the Second Level of Foundation Establishment. According to my estimation, it won't be long before she catches up to you."
The woman's expression froze.
Her carefree demeanor vanished, and she asked uncertainly, "Is her cultivation progress really that fast?"
Luo Chen shrugged, "Why not? She has no shortage of Spirit Land pills, and Yuan Xiaoyue helps with business matters, so her cultivation naturally progresses rapidly!"
After hearing these words, Sima Huiwang fell silent.
Unnoticed by others, a slight smile appeared on Luo Chen's lips.
(End of Chapter)
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