https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-787-Holy-Land-Certification-Luo-Tian-Zong-Thanks-to-the-generous-reward-from-the-flagship/12942884/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-789-Alchemy-Grandmaster-Networking-Extensively/12942931/
Chapter 788: Persuasion and Dominance
Chapter 788: Persuasion and Dominance
The feast began, and the dishes were served.
Female cultivators from Lingtian Pass were invited to perform light songs and graceful dances, playing the se and blowing the sheng.
Amidst the constant stream of guests, two figures swam against the current and sat beside Luo Chen.
Facing the curious gazes of the crowd, Luo Chen briefly introduced them, "These are my two Dao companions, Sima Huiniang and Gu Caiyi!"
The Nascent Soul Zhenren in the crowd glanced at the two women and nodded in acknowledgment, memorizing their appearances and auras.
In the future, if they were to meet, they would at least give Luo Chen some face, if not treat him with courtesy, and would not deliberately make things difficult for him.
With these kind gazes, the tension in the two women's bodies beneath their skirts eased.
Sitting behind Luo Chen, they watched as this man drank and chatted freely in front of the crowd, occasionally glancing at each other with joy and happiness in their eyes.
Once, they had yearned for Foundation Establishment but couldn't achieve it.
Now, they had established their Dao foundation, formed their Golden Core, and could even sit calmly among a group of Nascent Soul Zhenren.
This was a dreamlike scene they had never imagined! And all of this was granted by the man before them.
As their hearts surged with emotion, the dancing in the hall had long stopped, leaving only the gentle sounds of the qin and se as accompaniment, along with the casual conversations among the Nascent Soul Zhenren.
"The Northern Sea?"
"Yes, the Northern Sea. The customs and culture there are vastly different from Dong Huang, especially in terms of resources, which are incredibly abundant. Even among the wandering cultivators, there are those who have achieved the Nascent Soul realm!"
"I've heard in the classics that the Northern Sea is rich in resources, but I never imagined it to be so abundant that even wandering cultivators could achieve the Nascent Soul stage."
"Not just the Nascent Soul stage! Take the three great hermits, for example; they are all capable of competing with late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivators. The number of powerful cultivators overseas is countless, like the stars in the sky!"
"The three great hermits? Is one of them called the Blood Hermit?"
"Does the Nine Spirit Yuankun know this person?"
"When I was younger, I traveled to the Western Desert and did meet this person. At that time, he was being hunted down by the Western Desert's Buddhist sect, and he was in a sorry state. However, despite his predicament, he managed to survive. I took the opportunity to test his skills, and we were evenly matched. This person is indeed a formidable hero, no less than the cultivators from our sect."
"Luo Zhenren, you broke through to the Nascent Soul stage in a hundred years. You must have become quite famous in the Northern Sea?"
"I have a bit of a reputation, but compared to the great war in the Northern Sea, it's nothing worth mentioning."
"The great war in the Northern Sea..."
Luo Chen brought up the topic of the Northern Sea, and the crowd became more engaged.
Indeed, the exotic atmosphere of a foreign land was captivating.
As Luo Chen vividly narrated, the atmosphere in the hall became more lively.
Especially when they heard the details of the Demon Sect's destruction and the rise of the new generation's four overlords in the Northern Sea, everyone became restless.
However, after the Ling Tian City Lord's smiling gaze swept over them, no one dared to have such excessive thoughts anymore.
The Demon Sect's destruction was due to their lack of strength, and they deserved their fate.
The Abyss Sect was not as weak, and they wouldn't be so easily defeated by a mere group of demons. It would be embarrassing if word got out.
Suddenly, Lin Qingxuan, a former friend turned adversary, spoke up.
Luo Chen smiled slightly. Since he had brought up the topic of the Northern Sea, he was prepared.
He took this opportunity to reveal some of the half-truths and half-lies about the past, to prevent others from constantly speculating about him.
He nodded without denying it.
"Yes!"
Lin Qingxuan shook his head vigorously, "Impossible! So many Nascent Soul Zhenren and Golden Core cultivators couldn't escape, how could you possibly have made it out alive?"
Luo Chen maintained his composure, "I don't know if they escaped or not, but how can you assume that I couldn't? You weren't there, so how can you know the details?"
Lin Qingxuan was taken aback, then turned to look at the two cultivators from the Five Elements Divine Sect who had come today.
Shen Huo immediately joined the conversation.
"To rescue the trapped cultivators, the Abyss Sect sent three grand cultivators to attack Cangwu Mountain. In the final battle, the Abyss Sect's grandmaster personally intervened, forcing Cangwu Mountain to retreat into Qingming."
"In that battle, Tianji Hui Ping and Hehuan Zulong suffered tragic deaths, and our sect's grandmaster was also severely injured."
"How could you have survived such a perilous situation when you were only at the Golden Core stage back then?"
Shen Huo's words were both hurried and slow, and the hidden details further shocked those present.
The battle at Cangwu Mountain was well-known, but few knew the specific details.
Tianji Hui Ping and Hehuan Zulong were both renowned and powerful cultivators who had dominated their regions for hundreds of years.
What kind of attack could they have faced that even their Nascent Souls couldn't escape, leading to their direct demise?
And how did a fifth-rank sacred land manage to retreat to Qingming?
As Shen Huo casually revealed these details, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Luo Chen.
Luo Chen, who was only at the Golden Core stage at the time, had survived? What did this imply?
The man in the golden robe next to Shen Huo spoke with a sinister tone, "Could it be that you're a demon..."
"Do you not know the art of void teleportation?"
A mocking laugh accompanied the question.
Luo Chen glanced at the man in the golden robe, and as the crowd puzzled over his words, an object appeared in his hand.
He casually tossed it, and the cracked compass-like object flew towards the Ling Tian City Lord.
"Within Cangwu Mountain, there's an ultimate teleportation array that can take one from the Northern Sea to the dusk of Cangwu, directly crossing the nine heavens into Qingming."
"But this array is significant, and unless absolutely necessary, the demon cultivators of Cangwu Mountain wouldn't easily activate it. It was only because the Abyss Sect's senior was pushing them to the brink."
"This also gave Luo an excellent opportunity to escape."
"During the teleportation, I activated the teleportation disk I had made... But unfortunately, my cultivation level was too low at the time, and I couldn't control the direction and distance. I was thrown into the cultivation world of the Northern Sea."
He couldn't reveal that he had a Qing Luan feather and used a teleportation array; otherwise, people would ask how he obtained the Qing Luan feather.
Luo Chen spoke while observing Ling Tian Chengzhu's reaction.
The other party appraised the compass with interest for a while, but there wasn't much of a reaction.
After a brief glance, he passed it on to the others.
Fu Lao took it, a hint of confusion in his eyes, "This disk array seems a bit new?"
Luo Chen acknowledged, "It is indeed a bit new. The old disk array was destroyed long ago. This one was crafted by me in the Tian Yuan Dao Sect of Central State and has been used several times."
The compass in question was the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands Great Teleportation Disk Array that Luo Chen had crafted in the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven.
As for the so-called 'several times,' it was a bit of an exaggeration.
However, to the onlookers who had taken turns examining it, the fact that this disk array could teleport multiple times indicated its exceptional quality!
If Luo Chen had possessed a similar treasure back then, and with the opportunity of the Cangwu Mountain's supreme array teleportation, he could have responded simultaneously, there would have been a glimmer of hope for his escape.
But, it was just a glimmer!
Jin Ling didn't reach out to take the compass, his eyes cold as he stared at Luo Chen.
"If we're talking about array techniques, the imprisoned Tian Yezi back then was probably far superior to you, right?"
Luo Chen's smile was cold, his gaze fixed on Jin Ling, "The respect a Nascent Soul cultivator receives is beyond our comprehension. Tian Yezi's physical body was destroyed, his Nascent Soul imprisoned, and he was still inferior to a Qi Condensation junior cultivator."
"What about Hao Ranzi and Wei Wu'ai, who were also trapped in Cangwu Mountain back then? They were also proficient in array techniques. Were they not as good as you?"
"Yes, they weren't as good as me!"
"You!"
Luo Chen's face was full of confidence, "Otherwise, how could I have achieved the Nascent Soul stage? How could I stand alongside you?"
Half-truths and half-lies were indeed easier to convince people, but whether others believed them depended on their subjective feelings.
It was clear that these two from the Five Elements Divine Sect had never trusted Luo Chen from the start!
Since that was the case...
If he couldn't convince them with reason, he would do so with power!
A surge of aura began to emanate from Luo Chen.
Like an abyss or a prison, it was supremely domineering!
Sima Hui'niang, standing behind him, and Gu Caiyi's faces showed shock, their hair blowing in the wind, as if an ancient volcano was about to erupt before them.
The powerful pressure almost suffocated them.
But as Luo Chen's thoughts shifted, the oppressive feeling vanished.
Gasping for breath, the two women looked at each other, their expressions shaken.
Even a mere remnant of that power made it hard for them to breathe, so what kind of pressure would the enemy, the main target of this oppressive force, be enduring?
The Nascent Soul Domain!
Almost as soon as the aura rose, everyone present became aware of Luo Chen's intentions.
In an instant, everyone's gaze turned to the two from the Divine Symbol Sect.
Luo Chen's provocation deserved a response.
But as a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, it was appropriate for Shen Huo Zhenren to respond with a few words.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort echoed, and a golden light seemed to flash in the hall.
"Perfect, let this old man test your mettle!"
Before his words had finished, another aura, no less powerful than Luo Chen's, soared into the sky.
The surrounding spiritual energy began to gather frantically, condensing into a sea of golden light above the golden-robed man's head.
It was Jin Ling!
The Grand Palace Master of Splendor Palace's expression changed slightly. Domain collisions were the purest and most direct measure of cultivation, not involving divine abilities, magical treasures, or true artifacts, second only to divine sense battles between cultivators.
This was a pure display of one's cultivation, and she had initially been unconcerned about Luo Chen.
Since he had been able to suppress the Skyward Old Demon back then, Shen Huo Zhenren probably wouldn't pose a threat to him either.
But no one had expected Jin Ling to be the one to make a move!
As the chief among the Five Elders of the Five Elements Divine Sect, Jin Ling's cultivation was at the peak, reaching the fifth layer of the Nascent Soul stage!
His strength was second only to the Supreme Elder within the Five Elements Divine Sect.
In this place, aside from Ling Tian Chengzhu, almost no one dared claim they could defeat Jin Ling.
Even she and Nine Spirit Lord were only on par with Jin Ling in terms of cultivation.
The master of Wanjian Pavilion might be a formidable battle cultivator, but his cultivation was slightly inferior.
It could be said that, in the absence of higher-level cultivators, Jin Ling was already a top-tier powerhouse.
How could a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator like Luo Chen compare to such an existence?
"Fellow Daoist, you're being a bit presumptuous," she said coldly.
Xian He Zhenren, standing beside her, spoke with a hint of displeasure, "Is the Five Elements Divine Sect always this domineering? Others might mistake you for a Sacred Ground expert."
As he spoke, Xian He Zhenren stole a glance at Ling Tian Chengzhu above them.
But the city lord seemed unperturbed, watching the two with a hint of amusement.
If Ling Tian Chengzhu didn't intervene, it meant he was allowing this 'discussion' to continue.
With this tacit approval, Jin Ling's face twisted into a sinister smile.
"Let me see just how you dare to claim equality with us!"
The Nascent Soul Domain, already compressed to its limit, began to slowly fly towards Luo Chen under his mental command.
This domain collision was different from any Luo Chen had ever witnessed.
In the past, they had been clashes of general domains, where neither party intentionally compressed their domain's power but instead focused on rapidly expanding their range, encroaching on each other and vying for control over the spiritual energy-covered areas.
But due to the limited space, this couldn't be done, so they sought an extreme collision in a small area!
It was a test of control over one's cultivation!
It was a test of the depth of one's cultivation, the ability to draw upon corresponding amounts of spiritual energy from heaven and earth!
It was a comparison of the subtleties and intricacies that could be achieved within a small space!
Looking at Jin Ling's sinister face, a line from the Luo Tian Chronicles appeared in Luo Chen's mind.
Duan Feng and his wife, skilled in identifying minerals, were ordered by Jin Ling Zhenren of the Five Elements Divine Sect to participate in the support battle in Two Instruments Grassland of the Wuji Region. They perished in the battle, leaving behind no descendants.
"I haven't even sought you out for an explanation, yet you take the initiative to come to me. Perfect timing!"
Luo Chen's eyes turned cold, and his Yuan Ying domain pressed towards Jin Ling.
The next moment, the red clouds and golden light collided, forming a spiritual energy storm within the grand hall, sweeping through the entire area.
The music of the guqin and sheng had already stopped.
Only the sound of shaking tables and chairs, and trembling pillars, could be heard.
The commotion was a bit too much.
The Ling Tian City Lord, upon seeing this, prepared to intervene to protect the venue.
After all, this was Luo Chen's Incarnation Ceremony, and although he was curious to see what the other party was relying on to suppress their peers in the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven, he didn't want to let outsiders witness the other party's potential embarrassment.
But just as he was about to make his move, his eyes suddenly froze, gazing at the dome of the grand hall, and then revealing a thoughtful expression.
"Is it a treasure or an array that has enveloped this grand hall? This Luo Chen, though young in appearance, has a profound foundation and an endless stream of means."
The extreme collision of domains erupted with an indescribable force of law.
Jin Ling's cultivation base was higher than Luo Chen's, but he discovered that the other party's cultivation was incredibly profound, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth he drew was no less than his own.
For several breaths, he still couldn't suppress the other party.
Jin Ling gritted his teeth, and the power of his Nascent Soul surged, causing his entire body to float up into the air.
He sat cross-legged in midair, facing Luo Chen.
"Your cultivation base is ultimately inferior to mine!"
In an instant, with the assistance of the power of his Nascent Soul, the golden light domain suddenly expanded, dazzling and blinding! Luo Chen's white and gold Daoist robe fluttered, his long black hair tied behind his back danced wildly, and as the red light burst forth, his entire body seemed about to ignite.
In his line of sight, his domain was gradually retreating.
Facing this scene, Luo Chen smirked.
The difference in cultivation base was not the main reason; his profound cultivation was even slightly superior to the other party's.
The inability to suppress the other party's domain was actually due to his unstable cultivation base and poor control over the subtleties of his power.
But all of this was within his expectations.
Without any noticeable movement, he merely uttered a soft, low growl.
"Melt!"
The next moment, the originally retreating red clouds suddenly reversed and enveloped the golden light.
A domineering spiritual energy began to frantically expel the metallic spiritual energy.
Moreover, a strand of pale white flame suddenly appeared within the domain, as if it had been hidden for a long time. The pale white flame chased after the power released by Jin Ling's original body, constantly eroding and obliterating it.
Without the power to draw upon, the unclaimed spiritual energy of heaven and earth dissipated even faster.
Fire inherently restrained metal!
Moreover, the Void Melting technique possessed a powerful exclusivity.
With Luo Chen's countermeasure, the situation in the venue suddenly changed.
The golden light shattered inch by inch, and the red clouds continued to gather, pressing towards Jin Ling.
A loud... Bang!
A heavy, muffled sound reverberated, and Jin Ling's entire body fell to the ground, uncontrollably retreating backward.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
When he finally stopped, he turned around abruptly, his face filled with anger.
"You don't follow the rules of martial arts, relying on external forces!"
Defeat!
Jin Ling, who had previously held the upper hand, was suddenly defeated in the blink of an eye! However, Lin Qingxuan, at the Nascent Soul stage, was perplexed, and Shen Huo Zhenren was astonished.
Feng Hua Xianzi couldn't believe it, and she also showed a thoughtful expression, as if she had glimpsed the essence of Luo Chen's methods.
She raised her eyes and glanced at the Nine Spirit Lord across from her, and he, too, was in a similar state, stroking his chin as if savoring Luo Chen's performance in the domain battle.
Above, the Ling Tian City Lord lightly nodded, his finger resting on the rim of his wine cup.
Such ability was indeed enough to suppress newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivators in holy lands. Even against long-standing experts from ordinary sects, Luo Chen was not inferior.
As for the others, they displayed various expressions and attitudes, all gazing upwards.
Huff...
The red clouds scattered, and Luo Chen sat calmly above.
His black hair flowed down his back, and his robe's hem was smooth.
The crimson gold dragon-patterned crown remained firmly on his head.
He coldly stared at the enraged Jin Ling, "What external force did I rely on?"
"That fire!" Jin Ling pointed at Luo Chen, trembling all over, and in front of everyone, he had lost to Luo Chen, making him almost go crazy. "You hid a strange fire within your domain!"
Luo Chen's lips curled, and a strand of pale white flame appeared at his fingertips.
"Are you talking about this?"
"Yes!"
"Haha, this is my original true fire. Can this be considered an external force?"
Upon hearing these words, Jin Ling's expression froze.
The other people in the hall were filled with curiosity.
Integrating the original true fire into one's Nascent Soul domain was indeed a clever idea!
However, it was clear that Luo Chen's victory over Jin Ling was not solely due to this small trick. The main reason was Jin Ling's Nascent Soul domain, which was incredibly domineering and forcefully repelled other attributes of spiritual energy.
Additionally, with the five elements' mutual restraint, Luo Chen's power was unexpectedly profound... Jin Ling's defeat was not unjustified!
Facing the pitying and sympathetic gazes, Jin Ling felt like vomiting blood, but he suppressed the anger in his heart.
"This is a minor technique. One day, we'll settle this between the two of us!"
Leaving behind a harsh remark, Jin Ling left without looking back.
After he left, everyone's gaze shifted to the other person from the Five Elements Divine Sect.
Shen Huo Zhenren!
To be precise, for today's Incarnation Ceremony, Luo Chen had only invited Shen Huo, while Jin Ling had come uninvited.
At this moment, under everyone's gaze, Shen Huo felt uneasy.
Luo Chen smiled, raised his wine cup, and gestured to everyone.
"Continue the music and keep drinking!"
The guqin and sheng resumed playing, and the clinking of cups and glasses continued, as if nothing had happened before, but many things had already taken place.
(End of Chapter)
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