https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-424-Luo-Chen-s-Three-Strategies-Horizontal-and-Vertical-Alliances/12934792/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-426-Petty-Rascals-How-Dare-They-Cause-Trouble-in-Yan-Meng-/12934794/
Chapter 425: Tian Mountain, Cang Long, and the Heavenly Fire Treasure Bazaar
Chapter 425: Tian Mountain, Cang Long, and the Heavenly Fire Treasure Bazaar
The cold wind howled, and snow covered the land, creating a wintry scene.
Few cultivators knew that within the Jade Cauldron Domain, during the golden autumn of September, there existed a place amidst an icy wonderland.
But this place was not desolate and uninhabited.
On the contrary!
Amidst the snow-filled sky, streaks of light occasionally appeared, revealing traces of life.
As the streaks of light faded, a region with a distinct architectural style, unlike that of the Jade Cauldron Domain, gradually came into view.
The ice fortress stood tall, with a rounded base and a pointed top.
From the outside in, towering castles made of ice loomed larger and larger.
Several female cultivators descended from the sky and entered one of the ice fortresses to submit their tasks.
"Senior, this is a Tier 2 Snow Fox we hunted down together. It took a lot of effort."
"Yeah, this time, Senior should give us more merit points!"
"What? The pelt is in good condition, why deduct three-tenths of the merit points? Senior, you're so stingy."
Amidst the chatter, three female cultivators in the early stages of Foundation Establishment emerged from the Miscellaneous Hall.
Disappointment was evident on their faces.
After hunting down a Tier 2 Snow Fox together, they had only earned a small amount of merit points.
How long would it take to accumulate enough points to exchange for a Jade Dew Pill?
"It's said that the Jade Dew Pill has an amazing effect on female cultivators. I really want to exchange for a bottle to try it!"
"This isn't just a rumor. Do you know Shi Lan? She's only been in the Foundation Establishment stage for a few years, about a decade, and she's already advanced beyond the mid-stage. It's all thanks to the help of a large number of Jade Dew Pills!"
"Wow, such incredible effects!"
"Of course, it's not just the Jade Dew Pill. Shi Lan is favored by Senior Dan and has the support of the Shi family elders. It's said that she's also good at accumulating wealth, which is why she was able to advance to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment in such a short time."
"With such favorable conditions, she's not the only one. I think it's mainly due to the Jade Dew Pill's effectiveness."
"Unfortunately, the Jade Dew Pill is exclusively supplied to true disciples, and only the most favored ones among the various elders' disciples can obtain it."
"Here's the question: Shi Lan wasn't particularly outstanding initially, so how did she get to enjoy the supply of Jade Dew Pills ahead of time?"
"I know the answer! She seems to have a good relationship with the Guest Elder who refines the Jade Dew Pill. Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, he personally sent her a congratulatory gift."
Speaking of the Guest Elder who refined the Jade Dew Pill, a name popped into the minds of the three.
Dan Chenzi!
He was a renowned pill refining master in the Jade Cauldron Domain, surpassing the new generation of the Seven Azure Pill Masters. Rumor has it that he also possessed formidable combat abilities, capable of defeating Golden Core Senior Cultivators during the Foundation Establishment stage!
Such an existence inspired reverence just by hearing their name and learning about their achievements.
If he came from a major sect, it would be understandable.
But he was a loose cultivator, making his achievements even more admirable.
"I've always heard that he's coming to our Ice Fortress, but I haven't seen him yet. I really want to witness his brilliance!"
"You want to witness his brilliance? You probably want to get close to him and get a few bottles of Jade Dew Pills!"
"You little brat, don't you want the same thing? I bet you'll be the first to approach him when the time comes."
"Hehe..."
Their laughter dispelled some of the previous gloom.
After completing their tasks, the three had a long break, so they decided to wander around the sect.
When they reached the foot of Tian Mountain, they looked up.
Their eyes were filled with envy.
Tian Mountain was the only Tier 3 Spirit Ground within the Ice Fortress.
The various small mountains beneath its continuous peaks were Tier 2 Spirit Grounds, each with a corresponding Tier 2 Spirit Mansion.
However, even these Tier 2 Spirit Mansions were not accessible to ordinary Foundation Establishment disciples.
Unless one became a true disciple, they would automatically own a Spirit Mansion.
Alternatively, they could rely on the annual rotation system to enjoy a period of support from the Spirit Ground.
Or, they could exchange a large number of merit points for a certain amount of cultivation time in the Spirit Ground.
The Ice Fortress's foundation was indeed inferior to that of the other major sects in the Jade Cauldron Domain.
With nine Golden Core Adepts, they had exhausted their resources, and further progress seemed impossible.
Suddenly, a female disciple looked up at a young man standing with his hands behind his back on a mountain peak.
"Who's that Senior? I've never seen him before."
"Strange, I haven't seen him either. He's so young, and his cultivation level isn't high, but why is he cultivating at a mid-grade Tier 2 Spirit Mansion?"
"Hey, I think I know him. His surname is Xu, and he's probably a disciple of Elder Dan Chenzi."
As these words were spoken, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the three.
"Should we go up and say hello?"
"That might not be a good idea!"
"Why not? He's standing outside his Spirit Mansion, clearly not focused on cultivation. Let's go up and chat, exchange cultivation insights!"
"Let's go, I also want to know what the cultivation world beyond the Ice Fortress is like now."
And so, Xu Xiao Liu, who had been patiently waiting for a response from the Ice Fortress, was greeted by the enthusiastic company of three beautiful female cultivators.
...
On Tian Mountain, two figures glanced down at the scene below, not paying much attention.
They raised their eyes and gazed into the distance, where endless snow and wind stretched as far as the eye could see.
In the midst of the boundless snowstorm, a faint black line could be seen, revealing the continuous snow-capped mountains.
There, was the Great Snow Mountain!
Within, the mountain ranges stretched endlessly, with countless snow-capped peaks.
In this extreme icy environment, it was rumored that a Fourth Rank Spirit Ground existed.
"The promises of the Falling Cloud Sect are not to be trusted."
Amidst the desolate wind and snow, a graceful voice sounded, like the soft chirp of a sea fairy, enchanting as if listening to celestial music.
This person not only had a pleasant voice but also possessed unparalleled beauty.
Even Yin Yue Shangren, renowned for her alluring and gentle demeanor within the Ice Fortress, paled in comparison to her.
However, what attracted the world's attention was not her appearance but her strength.
Cang Long Fairy!
The powerful existence of the Supreme Elder of the Ice Fortress, a Ninth Level Golden Core Senior!
It was rumored that she was infinitely close to Golden Core Perfection, just a step away from Nascent Soul.
Upon hearing this, the Heartless Immortal's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Are the promises made by the Falling Cloud Sect to help us conquer the Great Snow Mountain just empty words?"
Cang Long smiled faintly, "They didn't specify a time frame, so even if it takes ten or a hundred years, it still counts as fulfilling their promise. But if we wait for hundreds or thousands of years, when our generation has passed away, will the Ice Fortress still be able to reach the peak it has today?"
The nine Golden Core Seniors had already reached the limit of the Ice Fortress's resources.
To progress further was impossible!
Even if there were a few more Golden Core Seniors, it wouldn't matter!
With the Ice Fortress's current foundation, they couldn't support so many Golden Core Seniors.
When the time comes, to fight for internal resources, the Ice Fortress itself might end up in a bloody internal conflict.
Look no further than the nine Golden Core Cultivators; over the past hundred years, the Ice Fortress has already shown signs of internal strife.
Nine people have formed five different factions! In other major sects, this would be a laughing matter.
"Then what should we do?" Heartless Immortal asked worriedly.
If the Ice Fortress couldn't expand, and the next generation of disciples, Bing Po, and Dan Tai, gradually reached the Core Formation stage, the Ice Fortress would likely descend into chaos.
Cang Long pursed her lips, her slender fingers holding a piece of scholarly paper.
In the cold sunlight, the handwriting on the paper seemed to retain the warmth of the writer.
"Xiao Rou, isn't Dan Chenzi like a ray of hope in the snow?"
Hearing the term 'Xiao Rou,' Heartless Immortal's face stiffened.
She said stiffly, "Do you intend to help Luo Chen?"
"He's a guest elder of my Ice Fortress, and he's being bullied by those stronger than him. Shouldn't I help him?" Cang Long asked in return.
Her enchanting eyes scanned Heartless Immortal, and she shook her head.
"With your personality, I wonder how you've managed to encounter such genius alchemists like Shang Hu and Luo Chen one after another."
"Don't mention that person!"
"Hmph, fine, I won't mention it." Cang Long smiled slightly and gently unfolded the letter in her hand, revealing clear handwriting. "See for yourself, a hundred bottles of Jade Dew Pills per year is far from his limit. To avenge the Yan Meng, he's offering to refine a thousand bottles of Jade Dew Pills for us each year!"
"A thousand bottles! And they're all superior-grade!"
"You know better than I what this means."
Heartless Immortal's slender eyebrows twitched, "If distributed evenly, it can assist over a hundred Foundation Establishment disciples in accelerating their cultivation. If concentrated, it can support ten Foundation Establishment true disciples in rapidly cultivating to Foundation Establishment Grand Perfection. Even more extreme, with the assistance of us Golden Core Seniors, it can enable talented Foundation Establishment disciples to forcefully reach Foundation Establishment Perfection and challenge the Golden Core stage within ten years!"
"Tsk tsk, it seems your understanding of alchemy remains profound. That Shang..." Cang Long shook her head and sighed, "A talented alchemist can indeed revive a sect. You've done well this time."
Receiving praise from her master and mother-like figure, Heartless Immortal rarely showed a smile.
However, before she could fully express her joy,
Cang Long sighed again, "But you haven't done enough! For talents like Dan Chenzi, ordinary means of appeasement are simply not enough."
Heartless Immortal spoke in a low voice, "The benefits I've given him are already considerable."
"But he's endured many grievances! And many times, he endured them without seeking your help." Cang Long blinked, "Considering this, do you still think you've done well?"
Heartless Immortal remained silent.
Some things couldn't be stated so explicitly.
Her feelings towards Luo Chen were complex.
Firstly, she despised men, but Luo Chen was indeed exceptional, repeatedly turning the tables and surpassing her expectations.
Secondly, her lineage within the Ice Fortress had weakened, and showing excessive favor to Luo Chen might attract unwanted attention from within the sect.
Despite her utmost caution, Luo Chen had been discovered and appointed as a guest elder of the Ice Fortress, no longer solely affiliated with her Heartless lineage.
As for the third reason!
That was no longer her problem.
It was Luo Chen's issue.
He was not one to submit easily!
When faced with problems, he might seek her help, but if she tried to manipulate him, he would retreat and solve the issue on his own.
In essence, he was unwilling to rely too heavily on others.
Even Immortal Heartless felt that during the previous battle at Dan Xia Luo Tian, even without her, Luo Chen still had the means to fight Qin Taoran to the death.
In the silence, she spoke softly, "Then what should we do this time?"
"Send someone!"
Master Cang Long said indifferently, "Either you go, or Thin Frost goes. She's very interested in Luo Chen. Previously, she sent Qiu Liangyue to Tianlan to participate in the Dan Xia Luo Tian battle. If you don't go, she should be willing to help Luo Chen."
Thinking of Thin Frost, Immortal Heartless felt a sense of discomfort.
Ever since that man, Thin Frost had liked to compete with her for things.
Even though she wasn't interested in men now, how could she tolerate others coveting her possessions?
"I'll go!"
After giving her response, she asked with some concern, "Don't we need to consider the reaction of the Sword Sect?"
Yan Meng was an ally of the Sword Sect, and it had been so for hundreds of years.
It was rumored that the Sword Sect's Sword Pills were refined with the help of Yan Meng.
Master Cang Long chuckled, "There's no need to consider that. In the first place, the conflicts between the major sects in the new domains are not to be personally involved by the upper sects within five hundred years, and it's only the Falling Cloud Sect that broke this rule. Moreover, they are more than happy to watch us fight to the death!"
The only worry was dispelled by the master's few words.
Immortal Heartless felt relieved.
After chatting a bit more, she turned and left the mountain.
However, halfway down, she felt something was amiss.
"That's it!"
"Just now, we were discussing that this spirit ground on Heavenly Mountain couldn't support too many Golden Core cultivators, but the master is so enthusiastic about recruiting Luo Chen, hoping he can cultivate many Golden Cores for the Ice Fortress."
"If the Falling Cloud Sect helps to conquer the Great Snow Mountain, it's still fine, but the problem is that the Falling Cloud Sect can't be trusted."
"In this case, isn't the master contradicting herself?"
Based on Immortal Heartless' understanding of Master Cang Long, how could she make such a mistake?
She turned to look, and the figure was still standing tall at the peak of the Heavenly Mountain.
The heavy snowstorm couldn't conceal her captivating slender figure, but the thick dark clouds occasionally covering the sky above only made her silhouette dim.
Suddenly,
A shocking thought appeared in Immortal Heartless' mind.
Nascent Soul!
...
In a Tier 2 Lower Grade Spirit Mansion in Heaven Fire Immortal City.
The formation enveloped the place.
Suddenly, the formation opened, and a golden invitation flew in.
The mansion master opened his eyes, and without any visible movement, the invitation landed in his hand.
[The Treasure Bazaar Auction will commence in three days, and various resources unique to the Jade Cauldron Domain will be presented. We sincerely invite fellow Daoists to attend and grace the occasion.]
After a simple sentence, a list of specially marked resources followed.
The mansion master's gaze skimmed through, showing little interest in most of the resources.
They were merely treasures, pills, and other items that Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators craved.
Suddenly!
His pupils constricted, and he fixed his gaze on an item.
[Century Lightning Essence: Can be refined into a Soulbound Artifact, enhancing its power and tempering the Yang Spirit, which can be used to cross the Lightning Tribulation with unexpected effects!]
"Hiss!!!"
"There's such a treasure in the Jade Cauldron Domain!"
"Isn't the Lightning Essence controlled by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect? Even a decade-old Lightning Essence is rare, so where did the Treasure Bazaar, backed by the Falling Cloud Sect, get a century-old Lightning Essence?"
"No, this treasure is fated for me, I must obtain it!"
...
Such a scene occurred in various places in Heaven Fire Immortal City.
In fact, not only in Heaven Fire Immortal City, but also in the nearby Great Light Immortal City and Yu Tao Immortal City, many Golden Core stage cultivators received invitations from the Treasure Bazaar.
And none of these Golden Core cultivators were from the Seven Sects of the Jade Cauldron.
Most of them were Golden Core cultivators from nearby domains like the Medicine Monarch Domain and the Celestial Sail Domain, who had come to the Jade Cauldron Domain in disguise, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Soul Transformation Relic.
However, they were unable to enter due to the seclusion of the two upper sects.
They had been stranded in the Jade Cauldron Domain for some time.
Recently, the Falling Cloud Sect launched a surprise attack on Yan Meng, slaughtering many of their sect's cultivators.
These people, upon hearing the news, moved closer, hoping to take advantage of the chaos and gain some benefits.
Unexpectedly, there were indeed benefits to be had!
In a short time, several Upper Realm masters from various domains gathered in Heaven Fire Immortal City, attempting to bid for the century-old Lightning Essence, which was highly beneficial to Golden Core cultivators.
During this process,
Lu Chen, who had put up the century-old Lightning Essence for auction, was greeted by an old acquaintance.
"I thought it was some Upper Realm master who was so generous, treating a Primordial Soul Master's treasure like the century-old Lightning Essence as something to be auctioned. I didn't expect it to be you, Fellow Daoist Lu."
Facing the visitor, Lu Chen's expression was somewhat complex.
But that unusual emotion flashed by.
He revealed a smile, "Fellow Daoist Tian Xingzi, how have you been?"
Tian Xingzi shook his head, "I'm fine, but it's you, Fellow Daoist, who has a grudge against Yan Meng, yet you dare to enter their self-built immortal city, which is no different from entering a tiger's den. You are truly bold!"
"Isn't Fellow Daoist also aware of the tiger on the mountain, yet still heading towards it?" Lu Chen asked in return.
Tian Xingzi was taken aback, then he and Lu Chen exchanged a smile.
Everything was understood without words.
(End of Chapter)
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