https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-773-Sunrise-in-the-East-Star-Gate-Luo-Chen/12942847/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-775-Internal-Strife-in-the-Luo-Clan-Sima-s-Usurpation/12942849/
Chapter 774: Eastern Wilderness Situation, Dan Zong Luo Chen
Chapter 774: Eastern Wilderness Situation, Dan Zong Luo Chen
Aboard the Cloud Chariot, Luo Chen's divine sense swept across the jade slip, instantly grasping the geographical location of Shen Yuan City.
After reading, a contemplative look appeared on Luo Chen's face.
Many things could be discerned from the surface.
The Tianyuan Commerce Alliance's Shen Yuan City in the Eastern Wilderness was not as independent as the Northern Sea, but rather, it was under restraint.
The nine great immortal cities surrounding it formed a layout of three in front, three on the right, and three on the left, tightly enclosing it.
The only gap left was where the Dongyang Sect's mountain gate was located.
This alone showed the depth of the Mingyuan Sect's vigilance towards the Tianyuan Dao Sect! To prevent the Dao Sect from infiltrating the Eastern Wilderness through the Commerce Alliance, they not only placed the Alliance's headquarters within the territory of the Dongyang Sect, the most trusted sect of the Mingyuan Sect, but also meticulously surrounded and controlled it.
It was unknown whether it had been this way from the beginning or if it had changed due to the Dan Sheng's matter.
Luo Chen didn't bother to delve deeper into these thoughts.
The so-called Commerce Alliance was merely a tool for the Tianyuan Dao Sect to gather wealth and intelligence, and it had nothing to do with the Star Gate's Guest Minister.
On the contrary, Luo Chen was quite pleased.
Because, he was so close!
With a thought, a voice transmission entered his ear.
"You all rest, I'll control the Cloud Chariot!"
As he spoke, he had already taken control of the Six Imperial Flying Cloud Chariot from afar.
Vast amounts of spiritual power surged into the chariot, causing it to shake momentarily before radiant light burst forth, and it suddenly surged forward, drawing a dazzling arc in the sky.
Under Luo Chen's control, the chariot's speed was nearly more than three times faster than before, rivaling the full-speed flight of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.
Even though the Dongyang Realm was much larger than some smaller cultivation realms, at this speed, crossing half of the Dongyang Realm would take less than a day.
Of course, if Luo Chen were to fly at full speed himself, it would be even faster! But with Zhang Jingqing, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Sang Jinghe, who had just formed his Core not long ago, Luo Chen couldn't do that.
Anyway, they had endured two hundred years, so there was no rush for one or two days.
Luo Chen divided his attention between controlling the chariot and continuing to refine the Crimson Heaven Qi.
This naturally formed spiritual essence was wild and difficult to tame even after being subdued.
If not for the Primordial Cauldron's help in refining it, the consumption would be extremely heavy.
Following the methods in the Sword Scripture, Luo Chen first used the Primordial Cauldron to refine the violent part of the Crimson Heaven Qi, and after refining it to a certain extent, he would infuse it into the Primordial Butcher Sword.
The Crimson Heaven Qi merged with the Primordial Butcher Sword, slowly nurturing sword qi.
During this process, Luo Chen himself would also be slightly influenced.
His aura became sharper and more domineering.
The reactions of Hei Wang and Chi Zhong and the others already indirectly indicated Luo Chen's subtle changes.
...
In the boundless starry night, the Six Imperial Flying Cloud Chariot swayed to a stop outside an immortal city.
"After all, it's just the vehicle of a Golden Core Grand Master, flashy but lacking in grandeur. Under my full control, it almost fell apart."
Luo Chen muttered and put the chariot away in his storage ring.
Tianxuan and the others approached.
"Master, it's already late. We should rest for the night," Tianxuan suggested.
"Of course!" Luo Chen replied without hesitation and strode towards the city gate.
The majestic black city walls, illuminated by starlight, resembled a crouching giant beast.
Luo Chen walked step by step to the city gate, where a cultivator was already waiting.
"Halt, identify yourself..."
Luo Chen casually tossed out the Star Gate's Guest Minister identity token.
His unique spiritual power infused the token, causing it to shine brightly.
This indicated that it was not a forgery but an authentic token.
The cultivator was taken aback but quickly recovered.
"Please wait, True Person. I'll open the city gate for you immediately."
"Mm."
The heavy black gate slowly opened before Luo Chen's eyes.
Within a cave abode in Shen Yuan City, a cultivator received a sound transmission talisman.
"Strange, why is someone coming from the Central Province at this time? Shouldn't the focus be on the Northern Sea and the Western Desert?"
The sound transmission talisman slowly burned, and the cultivator's brows furrowed slightly.
"A Star Gate's Guest Minister, Luo Chen?"
But the next moment, his eyes lit up.
"Could he be that Wild Scatterbrain?"
With this thought, the cultivator's eyes sparkled, and he stood up.
...
When Luo Chen arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, someone was already waiting for him under the starry night.
The man wore a wide-sleeved robe and a high crown that held his hair in place.
His smile was warm, like a spring breeze.
Luo Chen adjusted his clothes and bowed slightly, "It's so late at night, and I've disturbed you, Fellow Daoist. Please forgive my rudeness."
"No need for apologies, Fellow Daoist Gu. I have no important matters. Please, come in!"
Upon hearing the surname Gu, Luo Chen's eyebrows raised slightly.
As they walked inside, the two introduced themselves.
As expected, this cultivator named Gu Zuokai was indeed from the Gu family, one of the Twelve Great Clans!
The Tianyuan Commerce Alliance was divided into four regions, and each region had four Elders at the Nascent Soul stage.
However, these Elders were mostly from noble families, and rarely were there members from the Great Clans.
The Elder of the Commerce Alliance in the Eastern Wilderness was surprisingly sent by the Great Clan, the Gu family.
This showed the level of importance the Tianyuan Dao Sect placed on the Eastern Wilderness.
Luo Chen was initially cautious in his conversation with Gu Zuokai, but he gradually discovered that Gu was very easy to get along with! This so-called "easy" was different from the amiability of Fu Chaosheng; it was as if Gu was intentionally trying to befriend him?
Is it because of his exceptional performance in the Mirage Dragon Cave? Luo Chen's guess was most likely correct.
Gu Zuo Kai looked at the young man before him, who stood tall like a drawn sword, and couldn't help but admire him in his heart.
"The clan speaks highly of this extraordinary man, and we should befriend him. Now that I see him, he's even more impressive than the rumors. If we can truly bring him to our Gu family, we'll gain a powerful ally!"
Just as Gu Zuo Kai was admiring him, Luo Chen didn't beat around the bush and directly asked about the current situation in the Eastern Wasteland.
Gu Zuo Kai didn't hesitate and proceeded to explain the situation in the Eastern Wasteland.
"The demon chaos in the Eastern Wasteland has been going on for over a hundred years. The once glorious thirty-six domains have long lost their splendor."
"Now, out of the thirty-six domains, twelve have completely fallen, and three are under the ravages of war. The various powers that survived from the front lines have gathered in the forefront, with Mu Manor, Glory Palace, and five other domains as their main base, forming the Deathbound Army. They are engaged in a bloody tug-of-war on the three domains that have become battlefields."
"The six extreme eastern domains you asked about have already perished!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Chen's hand clenched tightly under his sleeve.
Even though he had already learned from intelligence reports that the six extreme eastern domains closest to the Million Great Mountains had fallen, hearing the outcome directly from someone else still made his heart tighten.
He asked in a deep voice, "What is this Deathbound Army you mentioned?"
Gu Zuo Kai smiled slightly and explained the origins of the Deathbound Army to Luo Chen in detail.
The demon beasts were too powerful, and the various domains and sects were scattered, making it impossible to directly confront the overwhelming demon beasts.
But cultivators are not dead men; they know how to run, and they understand that as long as people survive, the land survives, and if people are lost, the land is lost.
Therefore, once it was confirmed that they couldn't hold back the demon beasts, they would retreat to the rear.
There were so many people running, like a swarm of locusts, disturbing the various sects in the rear.
According to the history of the Eastern Wasteland, the further back a sect was established, the more profound its foundation.
They were not going to accommodate these "refugees."
After witnessing the fall of twelve domains and the transformation of three domains into battlefields, the sects in the rear took action to prevent the fleeing cultivators from retreating further.
They ordered the cultivators to halt on the front lines of the human-demon battlefield.
To accommodate this, five domains were designated as their wartime base camps.
These five domains were Mu Manor, where the Mu family resided, Glory Palace in Glory Domain, White Crane Gate in White Crane Domain, Hundred Beasts Sect in Hundred Beasts Domain, and Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion in Sword Domain.
By providing territory, resources, and establishing rules, this vast and scattered force was united to form a cultivator army to resist the demon race.
This was the origin of the Deathbound Army.
Placed in a desperate situation and fighting to survive! Either die on the human-demon battlefield or be suppressed and exterminated by the twenty-one Nascent Soul Upper Clans in the rear! Only by turning back and fighting forward, carving out a clear sky, can they return to their homeland!
After understanding the origins of the Deathbound Army, a glimmer of hope rose in Luo Chen's heart.
Before the spiritual gu worm disappeared, he had been certain that Sima Hui'niang was still alive. If they were smart enough to flee to the rear, they would have a chance to survive.
Perhaps, they were among the so-called Deathbound Army.
As Luo Chen felt a glimmer of hope, he asked, "With the Eastern Wasteland's war situation being so dire, does the Sacred Land have nothing to say?"
"What do you want them to say?" Gu Zuo Kai scoffed, "Who knows how many demon beasts are hiding in the Million Great Mountains? In the early years, during the Expansion Wars, we gradually encroached on the demon race's territory, and although we did conquer many domains, it's just like the cultivators on our front lines now. Some smarter and more powerful demon beasts have fled to the rear. After accumulating for thousands of years, they have already gained momentum! Now, the Abyss Sect is biding its time, merely extending the battle lines and expanding the war. They are testing the demon race's strength at the cost of countless sect families, solitary cultivators, and commoners' lives!"
Luo Chen opened his mouth, but what he saw as the Sacred Land's inaction was, in the other's view, the Eastern Wasteland's Sacred Land, the Abyss Sect, testing the overall situation.
However, this strategy, when applied to individuals and small sects, would be a devastating blow! Of course, if the roles were reversed, he might do the same if he were in that position.
Gu Zuo Kai seemed to disdain the "Expansion Wars" strategy mentioned in his speech, a strategy for expanding territory. Luo Chen pondered this and soon understood.
The Heaven-Originating Dao Sect didn't drag things out like this! In ancient times, they fought and conquered the Central Plains, purging the demon energy, thus establishing three thousand years of peace and prosperity.
The numerous cultivators he saw in the Central Plains, with Golden Cores as common as clouds and Nascent Souls not uncommon, were the bountiful fruits of the Heaven-Originating Dao Sect's conquest of the Central Plains.
"Of course, the Abyss Sect is not entirely inactive. During this process, they occasionally dispatch Nascent Soul sects and send their disciples to the battlefield to slay demons."
"At the very least, from a moral standpoint, they cannot be blamed."
After Gu Zuo Kai spoke, his expression turned solemn.
"In my opinion, the Abyss Sect's actions are more like extending their fist and then striking out with greater force.
"Contracting our forces is one option, and ordering the formation of the Deathbound Army is another. There may be even bigger moves to come!"
Bigger moves?
Luo Chen fell silent.
The so-called 'bigger moves' probably refer to the survivors counterattacking the Demon Race, with the Abyss Sect also sending out troops to reclaim lost territories.
However, during this process, the Deathbound Army will undoubtedly be at the forefront, and the casualties will be immense!
If Sima Hui'niang and the others are still alive...
Luo Chen suddenly looked up, "Is there a teleportation array in Shen Yuan City?"
Gu Zuokai was taken aback, "You're going to the front lines?"
Luo Chen nodded.
Gu Zuokai spread his hands helplessly, "I'm sorry, but the Tian Yuan Merchant Alliance is not allowed to set up teleportation arrays in the Eastern Wasteland. If you want to go to the front lines in the Five Beasts Region, you can only use the Dongyang Sect's teleportation array. But at this time, the cost of a single teleportation is quite expensive. Moreover, during wartime, it's difficult for ordinary people to borrow it..."
"I'd still like to ask for your help, fellow Daoist."
As he spoke, Luo Chen handed over a jade bottle.
Gu Zuokai didn't think much of it, "A wandering cultivator like you shouldn't worry about such things, even if..."
The bottle's stopper was opened, and a thick fragrance of pills wafted out.
Gu Zuokai's expression changed slightly.
He carefully took the jade bottle and inspected it with his spiritual sense for a long while before finally saying in a low voice, "I'll do my best!"
...
Shangyang City!
A major city directly under the Dongyang Sect, its scale rivaling that of Shen Yuan City, and one of the top ten Immortal Cities in the Eastern Wasteland!
Here, an ultra-long-distance teleportation array was set up, capable of reaching the White Crane Region.
It was said that the Dongyang Sect and the White Crane Sect had a good relationship, and through mutual visits, they were able to establish this two-way teleportation array.
Luo Chen stood outside a grand hall, speaking to Gu Zuokai, "My followers are different from ordinary people. It's not suitable for them to travel in the Eastern Wasteland at this time. I'd appreciate it if you could arrange for someone to escort them."
Gu Zuokai looked at Tianxuan and the others but couldn't discern anything unusual.
However, when the black dragon pattern on Luo Chen's left arm suddenly came to life, transforming into a small dragon that leaped onto Zhang Jingqing's shoulder, Gu Zuokai's expression changed slightly.
At that moment, he sensed the aura of a peer!
The rumors were true; the wandering cultivator had a fourth-tier Spirit Beast of the Demon Emperor level!
Such a being was indeed not suitable for traveling openly in the Eastern Wasteland.
But considering the bottle of Hong Yuan Pills, he still agreed to the request.
"Please go ahead, fellow Daoist. At the speed of a merchant caravan, as long as there are no accidents, they'll need at most two to three years to reach the White Crane Region."
"In that case, thank you, fellow Daoist!"
Luo Chen cupped his hands in gratitude, then gave Tianxuan and the others some final instructions before striding towards the heavily guarded grand hall.
The cultivators made way, and the doors opened.
As Luo Chen stepped inside, a Primordial Soul Cultivator approached him.
"Please!"
"Thank you for your trouble, Lu Daoist."
"It's no trouble. Those few bottles of pills you took out earlier are truly remarkable. I wonder if you have any more?"
"Unfortunately, those were the only ten bottles I had on me. However, I'm proficient in refining this type of pill. If you wish to obtain more in the future, feel free to seek me out!"
"Then I'm grateful to you, Lu Daoist!"
Lu Zhiren's face lit up with joy.
For a Primordial Soul Cultivator, external objects like pills were of little use.
But those were ordinary pills! The ten bottles of Hong Yuan Pills that Luo Chen had previously offered as teleportation fees were all of medium quality. After taking them, he still hadn't refined them completely.
One could imagine the progress in his cultivation if he fully refined them!
Perhaps with these ten bottles of Hong Yuan Pills, he could break through the third layer of the Primordial Soul stage that had been holding him back for years. With continued consumption, even the late Primordial Soul stage might be within reach!
After giving Luo Chen a jade token, Lu Zhiren watched as he stepped into the teleportation array and personally activated it.
A flash of light later, Luo Chen's figure completely disappeared.
Lu Zhiren breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, nothing unexpected had occurred.
He strode out of the teleportation hall and chatted with Gu Zuokai for a while before returning to his residence, intending to continue refining the Hong Yuan Pill.
But before he could sit down, a servant announced the arrival of a junior disciple seeking an audience.
"Is it Chi Chong?"
Lu Zhiren was curious; this junior disciple usually didn't come to see him.
He didn't put on any airs and quickly summoned the visitor.
After Chi Chong explained his purpose, Lu Zhiren hesitated.
The person he had just sent off was a guest scholar of the Star Gate? No wonder Gu Zuokai had personally vouched for him.
He smiled and said to Chi Chong, "Rest assured, I'll inform your sect of this news."
"In that case, thank you, Master." Chi Chong bowed and respectfully took his leave.
After he left, Lu Zhiren took out a jade slip and began recording the information.
"A guest scholar of the Star Gate, named Luo Chen."
"At the early Primordial Soul stage, with an extraordinary demeanor, possibly a sword cultivator."
After a pause, Lu Zhiren hesitated but added the information he knew.
"Capable of refining fourth-tier medium-quality cultivation pills, possibly a grandmaster of pill refinement!"
(End of Chapter)
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