https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-480-Obtaining-the-Third-Rank-Cave-Mansion-I-Need-Your-Attitude-/12936191/
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Chapter 481: The 27th Sect's Golden Core Exchange, Are You Dan Chenzi? (Part 1)
Chapter 481: The 27th Sect's Golden Core Exchange, Are You Dan Chenzi? (Part 1)
In the dead of night, within the Grade A Number 8 Cave Mansion in Moonbreaker Immortal City.
Luo Chen sat in a lotus position, with his palms facing the sky, his right hand forming the Orchid Finger Seal, and his left hand executing the Gather Fire Spirit Formation.
The Flame Wood True Art slowly circulated, and the vast amount of spiritual power flowed through his meridians, constantly absorbing the surrounding celestial qi with a strong suction force centered on him.
Not only that, but his immense divine sense also spread out like a giant net, constantly sweeping in large amounts of celestial qi.
Each time he retracted his divine sense, he would gather a massive amount of celestial qi.
The originally invisible and colorless celestial qi, under the dual absorption, formed a miniature cloud-like vortex.
The cloud vortex displayed a mix of green and red, representing the dual attributes of wood and fire.
The other three types of celestial qi were mostly excluded, with only a small portion absorbed into Luo Chen's body.
In the past, during the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment stages, he could only circulate his Life Essence Technique once at a time.
However, after reaching the Golden Core stage, the powerful soul foundation was already sufficient to support a cultivator in continuously circulating their Life Essence Technique within a short period, greatly increasing the efficiency of absorbing celestial qi.
This was one of the fundamental changes brought about by a cultivator's breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.
Luo Chen's soul foundation was comparable to that of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, so even though circulating the Flame Wood True Art was more challenging and complex, he could still ensure five complete cycles of the Grand Heavenly Cycle!
After five complete cycles.
Luo Chen opened his eyes, slightly parted his lips, and a grayish-white turbid gas slowly emerged from his mouth, forming a dragon-like phenomenon in the spacious cultivation room.
Sensing the state of his body, Luo Chen couldn't help but show a satisfied smile.
Indeed!
For high-level cultivators, the importance of a Spirit Land far surpassed that of ordinary pills.
Just one night of cultivation in the Spirit Land brought about an increase in his spiritual power comparable to that of a painstakingly refined third-stage Starlight Pill.
Pills had many restrictions and were extremely tedious to refine.
In comparison, a third-stage Spirit Land had far fewer limitations.
Especially after years of cultivation, the benefits of a Spirit Land were even better than pills.
Unless it was an extremely high-grade third-stage pill like the Five Elements Divine Pill.
"I dare not even think about the Five Elements Divine Pill. The important thing is to quickly improve my proficiency in refining the Starlight Pill."
"With the Luo Tian Sect helping me gather the materials for the Starlight Pill, and now with the help of the Wind and Rain Manor and the Cen Family, I can refine pills and improve my proficiency without restraint."
"I wonder when the Luoyun Sect will start their military campaign, and whether the time left for me will be enough?"
As these thoughts flowed through his mind.
Luo Chen once again circulated the Dust Essence Technique.
Although this technique was a Core Formation secret art, its grade was as high as the Divine level according to the system's appraisal, and its effects went far beyond Core Formation!
Even after reaching the first layer of the Golden Core stage, Luo Chen would still occasionally circulate this technique.
Removing pill poison, condensing spiritual power, purifying spiritual power...
Although Luo Chen's cultivation progress was slow, his foundation, under this unhurried and steady cultivation, became increasingly profound and terrifying! He even felt that his soul foundation had slightly improved over time.
The Lock Pearl Curtain, a technique for splitting the soul and refining spiritual power.
Calm the Storm, a method to rein in one's wandering thoughts and strengthen one's will.
Combined with the early-stage Bright Spirit Defeat Evil.
By integrating the essence of these techniques and secret arts, the Dust Essence Technique naturally gained the additional effect of tempering the soul.
In Luo Chen's opinion, if there was a naturally talented cultivator with a strong soul, and they started cultivating this technique during the early Foundation Establishment stage, they might be able to effortlessly form a Golden Core upon reaching Foundation Establishment Grand Completion!
However, such talented cultivators were extremely rare in the Immortal Realm.
Even the Luoyun Sect might not be able to find a cultivator who could meet Luo Chen's standards in a thousand years.
So, this speculation remained merely a fantasy.
After cultivating the Dust Essence Technique once, Luo Chen's cultivation did not stop.
He took a short break for the duration of an incense stick.
Luo Chen closed his eyes again.
The hand seals he formed began to change continuously.
And a layer of green, misty fire enveloped his body.
The fire was ethereal, as if breathing, and with each inhalation and exhalation, the air in the cultivation room seemed to distort.
This was the Ten Thousand Paths Converge.
As Luo Chen circulated this technique, he manipulated his Lifebound True Flame and Waxing Waning Fire to temper his physical body.
Although cultivators valued their souls and spiritual power more than their physical bodies, Luo Chen, having experienced the numerous benefits of a powerful body, was reluctant to give up on body refinement.
Of course!
It was impossible to focus solely on body refinement, as it would require too much effort, and for Luo Chen, it would not be worth the effort.
The path of body refinement was uncertain, and it emphasized practical combat improvement...
Luo Chen did not enjoy fighting, nor did he want to follow Wang Yuan's path of breaking through during battles.
That was too dangerous.
He preferred to reach a higher cultivation level and thoroughly master various techniques before facing his enemies.
...
After a night of arduous cultivation.
The next day, Luo Chen emerged from the cultivation room, still full of vigor!
This vitality was not because he felt refreshed after a pleasant cultivation session.
The main reason was that he had suddenly obtained a place for cultivation, and Luo Chen was still in a state of joy.
After leaving the cultivation room, he did not exit the cave mansion.
Instead, he passed through four rooms and arrived at a spacious side hall.
Clang!
A cauldron-like object fell to the ground.
It was the incomplete pill refinement treasure, the Chancellor Cauldron.
After infusing it with spiritual power, the Chancellor Cauldron grew to a height of ten zhang in an instant.
Perhaps it was the sound that attracted attention.
The doors of the four rooms also opened.
Wang Yuan, Chu Kui, Xu Hai Zhen, and the younger generation's Zeng Yi Long appeared together.
"Elder, are you going to refine pills?" Zeng Yi Long stood by, curiously observing Luo Chen's actions.
Luo Chen smiled and nodded.
First, he opened the lid of the Chancellor Cauldron and took out various medicinal ingredients from his storage ring, arranging them neatly according to their categories.
During this process, he also checked the pre-processing of the medicinal materials.
This was a good habit he had cultivated over many years of alchemy.
Before refining pills, he must inspect the condition of the medicinal ingredients.
Otherwise, even with the best alchemy techniques, if the materials are not suitable, the pill refinement will fail.
If a single bad ingredient ruins the entire batch, Luo Chen couldn't bear it.
Ceng Yilong looked around in confusion, "This cave mansion doesn't have any Earth Fire, how are you going to refine pills, Elder Taishang?"
A soft sound.
A wisp of flame danced around Luo Chen's fingertips.
"Use this!"
Luo Chen said with a smile.
Ceng Yilong suddenly realized that it was his Lifebound True Flame!
"Is there anything I can help with?" Xu Hai Zhen asked.
Luo Chen waved his hand, "You guys go about your business, I'll be staying in the cave mansion to refine pills. If I need anything, I'll call you."
The group nodded and dispersed.
Luo Chen stood in front of the Chancellor Cauldron, inspected it briefly, and then took out a pile of materials from his storage ring, quickly setting up a pill chamber.
"Although it's not as good as the pill chamber built by the Ailao Mountain cultivators, it's enough for me to use for a while."
Luo Chen missed the pill chamber he had on Tianlan Peak.
Unlike the Jade Cauldron Domain, the Howling Moon Mountain Range didn't have abundant Earth Fire resources.
Therefore, when Moonbreaker Immortal City was built, most of the cave mansions didn't have Earth Fire.
It had to be said that this was a pity.
Fortunately, Luo Chen possessed the Waxing Waning Fire.
Otherwise, even he would have faced the challenge of cooking without rice.
After everything was prepared, Luo Chen manipulated the Waxing Waning Fire while using his spiritual power to draw the medicinal ingredients into the cauldron.
He began to refine Starlight Pills to improve his proficiency!
And to strive for his own cultivation resources!
...
As Luo Chen focused on refining pills, time passed slowly.
Two days later.
A telepathic talisman was spinning outside Luo Chen's cave mansion.
The array opened, and the talisman flew in.
Soon after, a refreshed Luo Chen walked out of the cave mansion.
His high bun, adorned with a jade crown, had two white ribbons fluttering amidst his jet-black hair.
With his youthful face and tall, slender figure, anyone who saw him would exclaim, "What a good-looking fellow!"
With a sweep of his red and gold-trimmed robe sleeve, Luo Chen descended from the solitary peak.
But the direction he headed was not towards the immortal city, but towards another solitary peak.
During his flight, Luo Chen's gaze swept around, and he spotted numerous streaks of escaping light.
From the powerful fluctuations of spiritual power, it was clear that these streaks of light belonged to Golden Core Stage cultivators.
"Luoyun Sect's Golden Core Stage cultivator exchange event has invited quite a few peers!"
Luo Chen sighed, quickening his pace.
After a few breaths, his figure stopped outside a palace gate.
After handing over the invitation to the Luoyun Sect's Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator guarding the gate, Luo Chen stepped into the palace.
As soon as he entered, his eyebrows rose slightly.
In an instant, more than a dozen divine perceptions swept towards him.
Luo Chen's heart stirred, and he also released his divine perception.
After a brief contact, those divine perceptions withdrew, but someone had exclaimed in surprise during this process.
Following the sound of surprise, Luo Chen raised his eyes.
It was an old acquaintance!
"Danchenzi, over here!"
Amidst curious gazes, Luo Chen walked over.
"Friend Fei, how are you?" Luo Chen greeted Fei Ming, the Ailao Mountain Golden Core Stage Elder.
That's why he called him an old acquaintance.
Fei Ming's gaze swept up and down, a bit impolite but also casual.
After a thorough examination, he clicked his tongue in admiration, "When we first made contact, I didn't dare to be sure. Now I can confirm that your divine perception, despite being only at the first layer of the Golden Core Stage, is strong enough to rival mine without any disadvantage. Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"
Luo Chen smiled but didn't speak.
When he had entered the gate, those dozen divine perceptions had scanned him out of curiosity and to gauge his strength.
To determine if he had the qualifications to attend this exchange event.
In such a situation, being at the first layer of the Golden Core Stage wouldn't have any effect.
Therefore, Luo Chen released his divine perception with all his strength, not holding back at all.
This was how he gained everyone's acknowledgment.
"Did you cultivate some kind of soul spirit secret art? How is your divine perception so powerful?"
Fei Ming was very curious.
Seeing that Luo Chen didn't speak for a long time, he realized his slip-up and didn't ask further.
After skipping this topic, Luo Chen casually chatted about the construction of Moonbreaker Immortal City.
Twenty-seven sects had jointly built Moonbreaker Immortal City, led by Luoyun Sect and Tianfan City, and Ailao Mountain had also contributed significantly.
When Luo Chen asked about this, he really touched upon Fei Ming's sensitive spot, and they chatted enthusiastically for a while.
During this conversation, Golden Core Stage cultivators kept arriving outside the palace.
Fei Ming noticed Luo Chen's curious gaze and began introducing the identities of those people.
"The one from Huanzhen Lou is the Vice-Leader, Xiaoxiangzi. His true name and appearance are unknown. This sect is like that; they rarely reveal their true faces, and many suspect that Huanzhen Lou's assassins are high-ranking members of other sects."
Luo Chen was surprised that the Vice-Leader of Huanzhen Lou might be a high-ranking member of another sect. Suddenly, he realized the truth.
Such assassins didn't really fit the sect's inheritance system.
But if they were composed of powerful individuals from various factions, it made perfect sense.
Those who weren't skilled in the hundred arts of cultivation but excelled in combat could join Huanzhen Lou anonymously, earning resources from missions and honing their skills.
It was a win-win situation!
This also explained how a mere assassin organization at the Golden Core Stage could survive in the cultivation world.
"Meng Quan Cave sent two people, the Sect Leader Si Nan and Elder Yu Jiaolong.
The latter should have been brought here to broaden her horizons. In reality, she didn't enter the Core Formation stage much earlier than you."
Luo Chen's gaze paused momentarily on the petite and graceful female cultivator.
Perhaps sensing his attention, Jade Willow unconsciously turned to look at him.
Upon seeing it was Luo Chen, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Such keen perception!"
Luo Chen sighed inwardly, and then he also noticed a pair of eyes staring at him intently.
Turning his head, he was surprised to see the very same deputy hall master of Huanzhen Lou whom Fei Ming had just introduced.
"Why is Xiao Xiangzi staring at me?"
"Such keen perception!"
Xiao Xiangzi, in the corner, had his eyelids lowered, amazed at Luo Chen's spiritual perception.
He himself was extremely proficient in the art of concealing his aura, moving stealthily, and assassination.
When observing others, they usually wouldn't notice him.
But Luo Chen had instantly reacted!
Such perception could only be honed through life-and-death experiences, or it indicated that his soul foundation was far superior to his own, or perhaps his innate talent and foundation were exceptionally outstanding, akin to the existence of Jade Willow's heavenly spirit root.
Xiao Xiangzi couldn't make a judgment, but his level of respect for Luo Chen had unknowingly increased several notches.
"Don't treat him as a novice in the Golden Core stage!"
Luo Chen, sensing that Xiao Xiangzi was no longer staring at him, also stopped looking in that direction.
There were too many Golden Core cultivators here, and aside from testing those who had just entered, everyone else maintained politeness and refrained from excessively using their divine perception.
Hence, communication was primarily through spoken words and eye contact.
Fei Ming continued to introduce the identities of the various fellow cultivators present today.
"That woman with a red birthmark between her eyebrows is Chu Baihong, the founding ancestor of the White Rainbow Sect. She looks young, but she's almost five hundred years old. Her cultivation base is slightly higher than mine, at the fifth layer of the Golden Core stage. Her skill in channeling the White Rainbow is extremely formidable, and she has even gained recognition from the Five Elements Divine Sect."
"Five zhang to your right, there's an old man in dirty clothes whose name is unknown. Everyone calls him Tattered Daoist. It's said that he used to beg for a living in the mortal world, but he was fortunate enough to embark on the path of immortality. Now, he's a powerful existence at the eighth layer of the Golden Core stage. In this coalition of eighteen Golden Core sects, the Dragon Fish Gang he leads is a formidable force."
"..."
With Fei Ming's introductions, Luo Chen gradually became acquainted with the representative figures of the eighteen Golden Core sects.
Combining this with the information previously gathered by the Luo Tian Sect, he gained a preliminary understanding.
"The Green Pill Valley has announced its withdrawal from this Opening War, but with the addition of your Luo Tian Alliance, it remains an alliance of eighteen Golden Core sects."
"Oh, your old friend has arrived!"
Fei Ming paused in his speech.
Luo Chen looked up and saw a woman as cold as ice entering the main hall.
Absolute Emotionless Immortal!
She paused at the entrance, then walked straight towards the two of them.
Midway through her walk, Fei Ming patted Luo Chen's shoulder, "Speaking of which, do you know the real name of the Absolute Emotionless Immortal?"
Luo Chen's interest was piqued, "What is it?"
"You wouldn't expect it. This cold and icy beauty, whose actions are ruthless, is known as Absolute Emotionless. In reality, her true name is Gu Xiaorou. Back then..."
"Fei Ming!"
A cold voice rang out.
Fei Ming chuckled, made a Daoist salute with his hands, and said, "Absolute Emotionless, it's been a long time. I still vividly remember when we joined forces to hunt down the dog thief Qin Tairan."
Absolute Emotionless hummed in response.
Her gaze fell upon Luo Chen.
"You're here."
"Gu..."
"Hmm?"
"Absolute Emotionless, how have you been?" Luo Chen smiled awkwardly, still shocked by Absolute Emotionless' real name, almost blurting it out.
Absolute Emotionless tugged at the corners of her mouth, "I'm doing well, no need for you, the pride of heaven, to worry about me."
Facing this sarcastic remark, Luo Chen was a bit taken aback.
But after thinking about his actions after emerging from seclusion and the situation in the Ice Fortress, he understood.
The Ice Fortress, even if it couldn't be described as precarious, had certainly suffered a significant blow.
However, after Luo Chen emerged from seclusion, instead of visiting the Ice Fortress first, he went to the Green Pill Valley.
It was understandable for the Ice Fortress cultivators to feel resentful.
Additionally, although he still maintained the business of providing Jade Dew Pills to the Ice Fortress, he only occasionally refined batches of superior-grade Jade Dew Pills. Most of the time, it was his disciple, Qu Lingjun, who refined the lower-grade Jade Dew Pills.
These reasons led to the woman's dissatisfaction.
But times have changed!
The Luo Tian Sect was no longer a subordinate of the Ice Fortress, and Luo Chen had established his own alliance with five Golden Core cultivators.
Thus, the relationship between the two sides was now one of equality.
This dissatisfaction...
Luo Chen didn't get angry. Instead, he spoke politely, "After the Opening War concludes, I hope that Daoist friend and I can share a drink on Heavenly Mountain."
A drink on Heavenly Mountain?
Absolute Emotionless' eyebrows furrowed.
Entering another sect's headquarters alone was a sign of great trust.
Luo Chen's words indicated his stance.
It also expressed his hope for both of them to survive this unpredictable Opening War.
The woman's expression gradually relaxed.
However, she didn't say much more and quietly stood to the side.
Fei Ming, on the other hand, felt a bit regretful.
"It's a pity that the Green Pill Valley withdrew. Otherwise, with the four sects of the Jade Cauldron Domain gathered here, it would have been a wonderful occasion."
Although the reason for the Green Pill Valley's withdrawal hadn't been fully disclosed, the several Golden Core sects in the Jade Cauldron Domain were well aware of it.
(End of Chapter)
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