https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-805-A-Threefold-Gain-The-Lingering-Scent-of-the-Great-River/12942954/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-807-Luo-Tian-Treasure-Pavilion-Minor-Success-in-Sword-Canon/12942972/
Chapter 806: The Heavenly Origin's Agent, A Friend's Request
Chapter 806: The Heavenly Origin's Agent, A Friend's Request
At the Heavenly Fragrance Tower, within the Warm Jade Pavilion.
After a few cups of fine wine, Gu Zuokai's recent melancholy was somewhat alleviated by the enchanting fragrance filling his senses and the captivating dance of the ladies before him.
He never expected that Luo Chen would invite him to such a place for entertainment.
In his impression, Luo Chen was once a reclusive wanderer from the Northern Sea, who presumably preferred solitude. Now, with the addition of his title as a master of the Alchemy Sect, it only emphasized his austere daily life. After all, without diligent study and rigorous practice, how could an ordinary person master the alchemical skills of a grandmaster?
This place of pleasure seemed quite out of character for Luo Chen.
Indeed, it appeared to be the case.
Across from him, Luo Chen wore a smile, but he sat upright and tense. The women by his side served him wine and food with utmost caution, but he hardly touched anything.
It was evident that Luo Chen had arranged this meeting for more than just catching up.
After three rounds of wine and some casual conversation, Gu Zuokai set down his wine cup.
"Brother Luo, if you have something to say, please speak frankly!"
Luo Chen smiled slightly and dismissed the attendants, leaving only the three women attending to him.
"I heard that you almost established the Heavenly Origin Commerce Alliance within Lingtian Pass?"
Gu Zuokai sighed, "Yes, that's true. I had already negotiated with the five major sects of the Lingtian Five Domains and even selected a location, but at the last moment, the Lingtian City Lord stopped us."
"What did they say?" Luo Chen asked.
Gu Zuokai helplessly replied, "What else could they say? They gave us vague excuses and delays, and now they won't even see us. They simply won't allow our Commerce Alliance to set up here."
Luo Chen pondered for a moment, "I estimate this is the intention of the Abyss School."
The Heavenly Origin Commerce Alliance wasn't just about conducting business; they also gathered intelligence from various continents and recruited talents for the Heavenly Origin Sect.
In Luo Chen's speculation, the Abyss School intended to weaken the cultivators of Dong Huang by fighting against the demon race's army and then claiming dominance over Dong Huang, just like the Heavenly Origin Sect. In this situation, if the Commerce Alliance made contact with various Nascent Soul Stage experts, it would undoubtedly provide a way out for the Nascent Soul experts of Dong Huang.
At that time, who would stand against the demon race's onslaught? Moreover, after the Abyss School's experience with the Alchemy Saint, how could they allow the Heavenly Origin Sect to continue growing stronger?
Over the years, the Northern Sea's southern border, and even the Western Desert, had seen numerous Nascent Soul Stage experts recruited by the Heavenly Origin Sect. However, in Dong Huang, the Abyss School strictly guarded against it, and few Nascent Soul Stage experts entered the Heaven Earth Peak.
Oh, Luo Chen was an exception.
Gu Zuokai was well aware that the Abyss School, the sacred land of Dong Huang, had a hand in the suspension of the Commerce Alliance's construction. Otherwise, with all the gifts he had sent to the Lingtian City Lord, anyone would be tempted.
The reason they returned everything and refused to budge was undoubtedly due to a stronger directive.
Luo Chen raised his head and asked, "If the Lingtian City Lord doesn't agree, do you plan to stay in Lingtian Pass indefinitely?"
Gu Zuokai paused, his hand holding the wine cup mid-air.
His attempt to establish a Commerce Alliance branch amidst the war was also a task assigned by the Heavenly Origin Sect.
If he abandoned it halfway, even with his status as a member of the Twelve Great Families, he might not fare well.
"Have you considered a compromise, Brother Gu?"
Gu Zuokai frowned, "You mean going to the rear?"
Luo Chen nodded, "Yes, if they won't let you operate in Lingtian Pass, then going to the rear is an option. This way, you won't compete with the shops of the Abyss School and the established sects of Dong Huang. At most, it's a bit roundabout and troublesome."
Gu Zuokai only briefly considered this suggestion before rejecting it.
"According to the Lingtian City Lord's instructions, we are not allowed to use the name of the Heavenly Origin Commerce Alliance, even in the rear!"
This restriction was quite strict.
The Abyss School intended to sever all ties with the Heavenly Origin Sect!
Luo Chen offered another suggestion, "What if we don't use the name of the Heavenly Origin but still conduct business?"
Gu Zuokai was puzzled by the idea of conducting business without the Heavenly Origin's name.
Luo Chen smiled, "We can find an agent, can't we?"
As he spoke, he pointed to himself.
"I have temporarily established myself in Dong Huang, and I have a small but significant sect at my disposal. You can entrust the business of the Commerce Alliance to the Heavenward Sect, and we will act on your behalf. Later, you can deal with us directly."
Gu Zuokai was taken aback.
However, this time, he didn't immediately refute the idea but instead carefully considered its feasibility.
Firstly, Luo Chen was relatively trustworthy in the vast Dong Huang, and he held the position of Diplomatic Envoy of the Star Gate. Secondly, this suggestion circumvented the Lingtian City Lord's prohibition.
Although he hadn't entirely fulfilled the task assigned by his sect, at least he had made some progress, which could be reported to the Heavenly Origin Sect. Even if questioned by the Central Land, he could use the excuse of taking things slowly to appease them.
But did the Heavenward Sect have the capability to do this?
The business of the Heavenly Origin Commerce Alliance involved various parties and aspects, primarily competing with the established sects within Lingtian City.
Relying solely on the Heavenward Sect, which even he looked down upon...
Gu Zuokai's gaze fell upon Luo Chen, and suddenly, a realization dawned on him.
The other party was referring to him first and foremost!
He was not only the one who had defeated the proud genius of the Heavenly Origin Sect in the past, but he was also now renowned in the Eastern Wilderness, causing countless powerful cultivators to fawn over him as the Medicine Monastery!
With just him alone, he possessed an incomparable ability to rally others!
If he were to take the lead in his name, with the Heavenward Sect's manpower as support, and with his side providing various assistance, there was indeed a chance to revive the Commerce Alliance's business.
After figuring this out, the gloom that had lingered in Gu Zuokai's mind for many days suddenly vanished.
"Brother Luo, your suggestion is truly brilliant!"
Luo Chen smiled and humbly said, "It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement. My Heavenward Sect has long been without a source of wealth, and I alone cannot support them. I have to find them something to do. Moreover, this matter is not difficult for you at all; you just need a person you can trust."
Gu Zuokai couldn't help but agree, as without the Heavenly Origin Sect, there were no Diplomatic Envoys from the Star Gate in the Central Land.
However, he also had some concerns.
"If you get involved, will the City Lord Manor have any objections...?"
Luo Chen shook his head, "I don't think so. With so many cultivators forced to stay at Lingtian Pass, the rules won't be that strict. Look at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower in front of us; it doesn't seem like the City Lord Manor has ordered it to close!"
Gu Zuokai looked around and couldn't help but chuckle, realizing that he had been overthinking.
It was not appropriate to discuss the specific details of the cooperation here, and within a few words, the two of them changed the topic.
This time, Luo Chen had another request.
"You mentioned a magical artifact made from an Illusion Core?"
"Yes, ever since I saw the wonders of the Illusion Beasts in the Sea Dragon Cavern, I've been thinking about the Illusion Core. But as you know, I'm not a member of the Sect, so I can't use a Fourth Rank Illusion Core, and a Third Rank Illusion Core is of no use to me. So, I can only settle for seeing a magical artifact made from a Third Rank Illusion Core and whether it has any wonders."
"Magical artifacts made from Illusion Cores are quite rare and are often held by the major families in the Central Land. If it were any other time, I could find you one or two at most, but now it's not difficult. The Heavenly Mansion Competition just ended five hundred years ago, and many Illusion Cores have been circulating, so there are naturally corresponding magical artifacts being produced. If you want, I can have someone collect a few for you."
"In that case, thank you, Brother Gu!"
Gu Zuokai waved his hand, not caring about this matter at all.
Compared to the trouble that Luo Chen might be able to solve for him, a few low-level magical artifacts made from Illusion Cores that were ineffective for Primordial Spirit True Men were not worth mentioning.
Instead, he was quite happy.
At the time, according to the clan's requirements, he intentionally befriended Luo Chen and even helped him find a teleportation array.
Now it seemed that he had made the right decision.
Luo Chen was a man who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges, and when he was in a difficult situation, he brought help like a timely rain.
With two matters settled, the atmosphere in the room became even more relaxed.
Even the performances that had stopped earlier resumed at Luo Chen's signal.
As the night deepened, the party came to an end, and the guests departed.
"This jade token is my token of trust, and there's also Tian Xuan, whom you know, among the members of the sect. They will recognize it."
"In that case, I'll go to Baili Qingchuan to discuss this matter with your sect master. I've had a great time at this banquet today!"
"Brother Gu, don't leave just yet!"
"Hmm? What else is there?"
As they were about to part ways, Luo Chen suddenly called out to Gu Zuokai.
Amidst Gu Zuokai's confusion, Luo Chen took out an envelope.
The envelope was ordinary, without even a sealing restriction, indicating that it wasn't a secret matter and he wasn't worried about others peeking at it.
"During the Heavenly Mansion Competition, I made a friend named Heavenly Mountain True Person. This time, I have some cultivation doubts that only he can help me resolve. So, if it's convenient for you, Brother Gu, please use the Commerce Alliance's connections to deliver this letter for me."
Gu Zuokai laughed, "Such a small matter, it's no trouble at all!"
Taking the letter, he strode away.
Only two female cultivators who had been serving him for a long time were left in the Warm Jade Pavilion, looking disappointed.
Amidst their disappointment, there was also a sense of it being natural.
How could a Primordial Spirit True Man possibly look at them, who were like withered flowers and broken branches?
"You two can leave first, but Yu Xiang, stay."
The two women were startled for a moment, and their gazes subconsciously fell on the quiet woman who had not spoken all night.
Could it be that the famous Medicine Monastery had taken a liking to her?
Why didn't they have such good luck!
Perhaps it was because she was being coy when he was choosing, and that had piqued the interest of the Primordial Spirit True Man?
After silently cursing Yu Xiang for being cunning, the two women left, and the Warm Jade Pavilion became quiet.
Only a man and a woman remained.
The woman's head was bowed, and her body visibly trembled.
Until a warm cup of wine was placed in front of her.
Yu Xiang was startled, and hesitantly, she lifted her head. Before her eyes was a face as smooth as jade and a pair of clear and pure eyes.
"Miss Yu Xiang, it's been a while."
Yu Xiang took the wine cup, and in the midst of this gentle voice, tears flowed uncontrollably.
At this moment, her feelings were so complex that no outsider could possibly understand.
Once a struggling wandering Qi Condensation cultivator, even meeting her required pulling strings, yet now she had become a Nascent Soul True Man.
And as for himself, who had once been so promising on the path, he had fallen from being an inner sect disciple of the Harmony Sect to the point where he had to sell his company and drink to maintain his footing.
How unpredictable the world was!
Wiping away her tears, she said, "Forgive me, True Man. I'm no longer a young lady. If it weren't for taking the Youthful Elixir and mastering the art of preserving youth, I would have long since aged and lost my youth."
Luo Chen smiled and acknowledged her words.
In truth, Yu Xiang was actually a few years younger than him.
But even at a younger age, she wasn't far from the lifespan limit of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
To be blunt, she was already an old lady.
Compared to Gu Caiyi and the others who had formed their Golden Cores and had great prospects on the path, she was far behind.
He thought of Gu Caiyi, and she seemed to have the same thought.
"How is Caiyi doing?"
Luo Chen spoke of Gu Caiyi's situation.
Hearing that she had successfully formed her Golden Core and had great prospects, Yu Xiang's feelings became even more complex.
In reality, there wasn't much to compare between her and Luo Chen; their experiences were different, and it couldn't be said that there was a gap between them.
But as for Gu Caiyi, she was merely a dancer at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower back then, and both her cultivation and background were inferior to Yu Xiang's.
But...
"Can you tell me about the destruction of the Harmony Sect?" Luo Chen asked with a hint of curiosity, "I heard that the Qingshuang Demon Sovereign single-handedly invaded the Harmony Sect and killed your sect's only remaining Nascent Soul expert?"
Yu Xiang didn't expect him to be curious about this matter, but it was a nightmare for all the cultivators of the Harmony Sect, and she remembered it vividly.
After calming herself, she recounted the battle from that year in detail.
Luo Chen listened carefully, his brows furrowing from time to time.
Obviously, Yu Xiang's cultivation at that time was not high enough, and she couldn't see the whole picture of the battle.
Her words were mostly limited to the scene of the Mountain Protection Array being broken and the Golden Core Elder's body exploding.
Luo Chen was most concerned about the details of the Qingshuang Demon Sovereign's battle, but Yu Xiang didn't know anything about it. She only said that after the Nascent Soul Elder's miserable scream, the Qingshuang Demon Sovereign coldly looked down at them and then left calmly.
"She's still that powerful!"
Luo Chen murmured, then stood up calmly.
Yu Xiang looked up at him, hesitantly and timidly asking, "True Man, do you want to..."
Just one look, and Yu Xiang felt as if her entire body had been seen through.
She couldn't help but lower her head, breaking out in a cold sweat.
A jade bottle landed on the table with a crisp sound.
"Your cultivation is already sufficient, just a step away from forming a Golden Core. As an inner sect disciple of the Harmony Sect, you shouldn't lack methods for forming a Golden Core. This Coagulation Pill, personally refined by me, will lend you a helping hand!"
Yu Xiang opened her mouth, and when she looked up again, Luo Chen was gone.
Biting her lip, she revealed a look of unwillingness.
But when she opened the jade bottle, she was stunned.
Third Rank Mid-Grade!
And personally refined by the Alchemy Sect!
Perhaps with this pill, she could finally take on the challenge of forming a Golden Core, a realm she had both feared and yearned for.
For a moment, her unwillingness was mixed with a glimmer of hope, making her feelings incredibly complex.
...
Leaving the Heavenly Fragrance Tower, Luo Chen walked down an alley in Ling Tian City under the moonlight.
Unlike Heartless Fairy, he never had the intention of recruiting Yu Xiang into the Heavenward Sect.
Harmony Sect cultivators were cunning and unpredictable, making them difficult to deal with.
He and Yu Xiang didn't have a deep connection.
The reason he gave her a Mid-Grade Coagulation Pill was because she had sold him a Purple Cloud Copper Cauldron that she wasn't using, solving his urgent need after his alchemy cauldron exploded.
"Consider this as repaying a favor from the past!"
Luo Chen smiled slightly, feeling quite pleased.
Not only had he found a financial path for the Heavenward Sect, but he also had a lead on the Divine Mirror of Soul Inquiry.
If he could research a batch of Illusion Core magical artifacts, he might find a way to utilize this material and try to refine the Divine Mirror of Soul Inquiry himself.
As for the letter he sent out? Its contents were simple: the mutation of the spiritual connection gu on Sima Huiniang.
Tian Shan Zhenren, being from the southern border, had a deep understanding of gu worms, and he might have a solution.
Just as Luo Chen stepped out of the alley, his smile froze.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, were you just at... the Heavenly Fragrance Tower?"
Ling Fengzi, who happened to pass by, hesitantly glanced at the small alley behind Luo Chen.
Under the moonlight, with wide eyes, Luo Chen felt like he had been caught in a raid on a brothel, a strange feeling indeed.
(End of Chapter)
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