https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-890-The-Sect-s-Future-The-Youth-on-the-Black-Tiger/13078018/
Chapter 891: Father and Son, Three Repairs
Chapter 891: Father and Son, Three Repairs
January 20th, 2025
Under the moonlight, two figures walked hand in hand across the white jade plaza, their footsteps echoing in the quiet atmosphere. A woman's soft sobs filled the air, followed by a man's comforting voice. As they continued, the woman suddenly laughed, and the atmosphere, which had been heavy, became warm and cozy.
In the Xuan Chen Hall, Yao Mingyue, who had recently emerged from her seclusion, was about to take a step forward when she suddenly stopped.
The young boy, however, quietly peered out, his curiosity piqued by the scene outside.
Suddenly, Sima Hewang, who was leaning against the man's embrace, turned her gaze towards the boy and waved at him.
"Lingxi, come here quickly!"
Lu Lingxi bit his lip, hesitating to take a step forward.
Yao Mingyue, standing behind him, gave him a gentle nudge.
"Go on, that's your father."
Lu Lingxi stumbled, his pleading gaze turning towards Yao Mingyue, who smiled encouragingly.
Biting his lip, he walked towards Sima Hewang, glancing back repeatedly.
Yao Mingyue's continuous encouragement put him at ease, boosting his courage.
Over the years, his mother had occasionally lost her temper, but Yao Mingyue had never been angry with him. He trusted her.
However, was this man truly his father?
As he drew closer, a sense of familiarity welled up within him, as if it were rooted in his very bones and blood. Even the boy's footsteps quickened.
Only when he timidly reached the man's side did Lu Lingxi dare to look up at his 'father.'
So young?
He's even younger than Uncle Qin Yuanjiang and Uncle Sha Longzi!
Instinctively, he held onto Sima Hewang's hand.
"Mother..."
Sima Hewang exclaimed with joy, "Husband, this is our child. Look, he's so much like you! His mouth, his nose, and those eyes!"
Lu Chen looked down at the small boy, who appeared frail and lacked vitality.
As for the mouth and nose that Sima Hewang mentioned, they didn't resemble his at all.
His own mouth was full, while the boy's was thin and sharp.
His nose was high-bridged, but the boy's nose, though similarly prominent, had a slight hook at the tip, resembling an aquiline nose.
Only the eyes were identical!
Deep black eyes, clear sclera, large and divine, as if they could see through one's heart.
With those eyes, even standing side by side, one would subconsciously overlook the other features and believe they shared a strong resemblance.
Was this his child?
Lu Chen smiled faintly and extended his hand.
Lu Lingxi hesitantly reached out, and a powerful force lifted him up, holding him in the air.
"Let's go eat!"
Lu Chen carried the boy in one arm and held Sima Hewang's hand with the other as they walked into the Xuan Chen Hall.
Yao Mingyue stood at the entrance, bowed slightly, and said, "Disciple welcomes the return of the Supreme Elder!"
Lu Chen glanced at her, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
Sima Hewang, sensing his displeasure, quickly spoke up, "It's not that Mingyue disobeyed your order. It's just that I've been feeling lonely these years, so I specifically called her back from Xuan Shan to keep me company. Moreover, Mingyue has been helping to take care of Lingxi all these years, and she's been a great help to me."
Lu Chen's frown gradually softened, and he nodded lightly at Yao Mingyue.
"Let's have dinner together!"
This meant that he was letting go of her disobedience in breaking his order to seclude herself and reflect.
Yao Mingyue's face lit up with relief and joy.
The dinner that night was different from what he had imagined. Instead of the usual spiritual tea and fruits, it had the lively atmosphere of the mortal world.
The strong aroma of hot dishes and wine filled the air.
Lu Lingxi, who had been playing all day, devoured the food, and it was surprising how his frail body managed to consume so much without gaining any weight.
Yao Mingyue sat beside him, occasionally serving him food and wiping his mouth.
Lu Chen, on the other hand, drank wine and chatted with Sima Hewang.
He spoke of his fabricated tales of secluded cultivation and healing injuries, the recent developments in the Luo Tian Sect, and Sima Hewang's personal cultivation progress.
Lu Chen listened but wasn't particularly interested.
However, he did express his opinion about Sima Hewang's slow cultivation progress.
"Now that the threat of the Lingxi Gu is gone, and you're still young, there's a chance to reach the Nascent Soul realm. Why not put more effort into your cultivation?"
"When I returned just now, I scanned the area with my divine sense, and Gu Caiyi's cultivation progress is almost catching up to yours."
Gu Caiyi's talent wasn't exceptional.
But with the abundant resources she had access to as Lu Chen's Dao companion, her progress was remarkable.
Especially now, with a third-rank upper-grade spirit land cave abode, her cultivation had advanced from the early Golden Core stage to the fourth layer in just a few short years.
She was only one step away from the sixth layer of the Golden Core stage, where Sima Hewang had been stagnant for over a hundred years.
By now, Lu Chen understood that before reaching the Nascent Soul stage, talent was merely a threshold for cultivation, and the most crucial factor was the abundance of resources.
With sufficient resources, even a pig or a blade of grass could achieve great things.
Not to mention a Golden Core cultivator with decent talent.
Sima Hewang looked at Lu Lingxi with affection and smiled, "Husband, with your accomplished cultivation and the help of Li Yingzhang, a great talent in the sect, I'm not needed much. If I were to seclude myself for cultivation, who would take care of Lingxi?"
Lu Chen frowned and instinctively looked at Lu Lingxi.
Just as he was about to say something, his gaze was drawn to the small white jade horn hanging around the boy's neck.
"Hmm?"
...
Deep into the night, Luo Lingxi was fast asleep.
From start to finish, he never once called out "Father."
Luo Chen didn't mind, assuming he was shy and that his attention was solely focused on the white jade horn he had taken from the boy's neck.
The horn was smooth to the touch, with a pale hue, and its tip faintly glowed with a seven-colored aura.
Luo Chen played with the horn, inexplicably reminded of someone.
"Qi Xi!"
Sima Hewang put on her outer garment and walked to his side, whispering, "This was a gift that the Lord of Ling Tian City casually gave when he came to inquire about you after your disappearance."
"I had our sect's Artifact Refiner inspect it. This object hasn't undergone complex refinement and only has the Great Wish Formation inscribed on it."
"Moreover, it emits a benevolent aura that wards off evil spirits, so I've had Lingxi wear it ever since."
Luo Chen grasped the smooth white jade rhino horn.
This was the horn of Dong Huang, the Great Demon Emperor of the Eastern Wilderness, which he had intentionally retained as a feature of his human form.
His true form was a seven-colored rhino, capable of warding off evil spirits.
However, during the battle in the Ba Dao Domain, the Lord of Ling Tian City had severed it, a rare display of his prowess.
If this horn were refined into a treasure, it would be especially effective against evil and demonic beings.
Unexpectedly, they had given it to his son.
What a grand gesture indeed!
Sima Hewang asked with concern, "Husband, do you see any hidden issues?"
Issues?
What issues could there be?
Luo Chen's Artifact Refinement skills were exceptional, falling just short of the Master level but still reaching the standard of a Grand Master.
With a glance, he knew that only the Great Wish Formation was inscribed on it.
"Let our son wear it. With this rhino horn's protection, the Gu worm won't dare act recklessly."
Sima Hewang took the white rhino horn and carefully placed it around the sleeping Luo Lingxi's neck.
Sitting by the bed, she tucked the blanket around him with a loving touch.
The Skytouch Cliff was too high, and its coldness made it unsuitable for a young child like Luo Lingxi, even with the formation that warded off the cold.
Despite the array light curtain enveloping the grand hall, the boy remained curled up.
Witnessing this, tears involuntarily fell from the woman's eyes.
She turned to the man, her lips trembling as she spoke, "Husband, do you think our child can't cultivate? I asked Ling Feng Zi to check, and Lingxi has an exceptionally outstanding Water and Fire Spirit Root. Whether he cultivates water or fire techniques in the future, he's bound to have a promising path ahead."
Luo Chen also looked at the boy who had inherited his eyes.
Although his appearance didn't resemble them much, his spirit root attributes were a combination of both parents, especially the Fire Spirit Root, which was comparable to the one nourished by his Fire Spirit Body.
But...
Luo Chen remained calm, even sounding a bit cold as he said, "He can't cultivate. The Demon Heart Parasite is rooted within him, and it has merged with his soul essence. Due to the protection of the white rhino horn, he has been healthy for the past ten years. However, once he embarks on the path of cultivation, it will be beyond the horn's protection. It's about his inner strength; the stronger he becomes, the more powerful the parasite will grow, eventually consuming all his cultivation."
Seeing Sima Hewang's unyielding expression, Luo Chen shook his head.
"You wouldn't want Lingxi to endure the same suffering you did, would you?"
The woman lowered her head, no longer insisting, but tears continued to flow uncontrollably.
Luo Chen pulled her head into his embrace, gently caressing her.
"It's alright. Even with just a hundred years of life, one can still live brilliantly."
"The Taihu Domain nearby has relocated a group of mortals to settle and thrive. Our Luo Tian Sect must have a presence there as well. When Lingxi is a bit older, we can send him there."
"As for low-level cultivators, we are indeed lacking in numbers."
"If we were to open our doors wide and recruit disciples extensively, we might not aim for thousands, but it would greatly aid us in controlling the Luo Tian Domain."
"As it stands now, it does seem a little shabby."
Luochen nodded in agreement.
Seeing his acknowledgment, Gu Caiyi became even more perplexed.
If that was the case, why not agree?
It was common knowledge that several Nascent Soul forces with good relations had already begun recruiting mortals with spiritual roots and honest backgrounds, as well as scattered cultivators, to replenish their losses from the century-long great war.
Luochen didn't offer much explanation for Gu Caiyi's doubts, Li Yingzhang's dissatisfaction, or the voices of the entire sect.
There was a piece of intelligence that many were unaware of.
It was that the Qixia Yuan Jun had awakened! Although the ancient Demon Emperor had perished, Qinghe Immortal had been captured, and the Eastern Wilderness Demon Race had suffered significant losses, the strength of Qixia Yuan Jun was beyond imagination.
If she had the ambition to unify the Eastern Wilderness Demon Race, there would be absolutely no resistance.
If she were to set her sights on the Eastern Wilderness human cultivator world, it would undoubtedly bring about another bloody storm! If that day were to come, the Luo Tian Sect, which had just recruited a large number of new members, would not only fail to increase its strength but would also burden itself.
On the contrary, instead of expanding their numbers, they could take advantage of the rapid development of the Luo Tian Domain to gather resources from all sides and nurture the limited number of cultivators in the Luo Tian Sect, making them individually stronger.
Once the great war resumed, the Luo Tian Sect, with fewer numbers but individually powerful cultivators, would be able to move freely and swiftly.
They would no longer be forced into the quagmire of war like before.
At worst, they could find a secluded place and, with two or three hundred people, make a swift escape!
"Let's wait a little longer," he said calmly.
"Wait until when?" Gu Caiyi asked.
"Wait until the Abyss Sect makes a move, until the Demon Race's minions are restrained, until I have the confidence to influence such a war."
With these words, Luochen entered the Hall of Elixir Devices.
Inside, a shuttle was floating quietly.
It was the Frost Eagle Shuttle.
However, unlike before, it was now covered with a dark beast skin.
The beast skin of the Lightless Demon Emperor! Luochen had intentionally kept it, and now that he had the time, he planned to incorporate it into the Frost Eagle Shuttle.
Once successful, this shuttle, with its incredibly fast speed, would excel in stealth and concealment.
At that time, even a Nascent Soul True Man would find it difficult to detect its movements.
This idea came to Luochen after the battle in the Medicine King Domain.
When he traveled, he made too much noise, lacking secrecy. If someone with ill intentions wanted to ambush him, they could make arrangements based on his general situation.
But with the Frost Eagle Shuttle as a cover, those petty villains would be unable to accurately track his whereabouts.
He needed such a vehicle!
The refining process wasn't strenuous, but it was time-consuming.
So, after returning, Luochen had been staying in the Xuanchen Hall on Skytouch Cliff.
There was no need for him to personally appease the sect; with only two or three hundred members, the news of his return naturally calmed everyone down.
On Sima Hewang's side, she had taken the child and left the mountain.
Perhaps she had taken Luochen's words to heart, as she began to consciously expose Luolingxi to the outside world, so that when the time came to send the child into the secular world, they wouldn't have any psychological resistance.
However, what she didn't expect was that after just half a month, Sima Hewang returned with Luolingxi in a hurry.
After learning from Gu Caiyi that Luochen was in closed-door cultivation refining a treasure, she didn't want to disturb him, so she waited.
It wasn't until another half a month later, when Luochen emerged from the Hall of Elixir Devices looking weary, that she approached him.
"Husband, I've found a way to solve the Demon Heart Parasite!"
Luochen was taken aback.
The Demon Heart Parasite had once plagued him for decades, and it was only through the advice in a letter from the Heavenly Mountain True Man that he had found a temporary solution.
Had Hewang found a solution after just one trip?
As he was about to ask, his eyebrows suddenly furrowed.
"They're here!"
Luochen interrupted Sima Hewang with a wave of his hand, stepped out of the Xuanchen Hall, and looked up at the sky.
Three figures slowly descended in front of the hall.
It had been a month since his return, and the Abyss Sect had shown no signs of movement, making him think they had forgotten about him, the Pill Master.
But to his surprise, they hadn't forgotten; instead, they had sent three top-tier experts all at once!
"Leidaozi!"
"Ling Tian City Lord!"
Luochen slowly spoke the names of the two familiar figures, and his gaze finally settled on the stranger who gave him a familiar feeling.
"Who is this fellow Daoist?"
Before the Ling Tian City Lord could introduce him, the young man took the initiative and bowed to Luochen.
"Zhongming of Abyss, has the Daoist friend forgotten the Pill Saint's Ascension Ceremony?"
As he spoke, a mysterious aura emanated from Zhongming, causing a large amount of water-attributed spiritual energy to gather around him. Even the heavenly spiritual energy of other attributes wasn't repelled but instead circled the periphery.
This was a basic method of controlling the heaven and earth's energy!
The true meaning of the Dao!
Luochen remembered; this was the Nascent Soul True Man who had represented the Abyss Sacred Land at the Pill Saint's Ascension Ceremony in Zhongzhou.
Three Nascent Soul True Men, two of them Great Masters, and two had already comprehended the true meaning of the Dao.
Such a lineup to welcome him, Luochen, was indeed a show of respect!
Smiling faintly, Luochen gestured for them to enter.
"Please, come in!"
(End of Chapter)
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