https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-916-A-Time-of-Turmoil-Harvesting-Spiritual-Essence/13150598/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-918-Convergence-of-Forces-Divine-Abilities-to-Vanquish-the-Enemy/13150600/
Chapter 917: Condensation Great Ceremony, Luo Chen's Appearance
Chapter 917: Condensation Great Ceremony, Luo Chen's Appearance
February 18th, 2025
Three days later, a man with an ordinary appearance and dark complexion emerged from the crowded Lintian Pass.
He paused for a moment at the boundary stone engraved with the words "Lintian."
"Although Ye Lintian is dead, he has left some traces in this world," he muttered to himself.
After his muttering, the man headed towards the nearest Jue Ling Domain.
The Jue Ling Domain, now devoid of spiritual energy, was no longer suitable for cultivators to reside.
As a result, some of the nearby major powers had relocated large numbers of mortals to settle and reproduce.
Every ten or a hundred years, these powers would regularly hold Ascension Assemblies here to recruit young talents with spiritual roots.
It was a way to make use of this once-precious land.
The man's figure descended into a canyon.
The canyon was deep and vast, stretching for hundreds of miles.
Within, miasma filled the air, and the roars of wild beasts echoed endlessly, making it seem like a forbidden land for living beings.
This place, now known as "Falling Immortal Valley," had a rumor that a powerful immortal had fallen here decades ago.
Before his death, he had cleaved the mountain range with a single strike, forming this awe-inspiring canyon.
Luo Chen knew that the person involved was the former master of Jue Ling Domain and the head of the Ba Dao Sect.
Luo Chen stood in the valley for a while, his eyes seemed to smile but not quite, and in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.
Moments later, three figures shrouded in black robes appeared where he had disappeared.
They stared at each other in disbelief.
"The fat sheep got away?"
"Impossible. Wasn't he marked with the butterfly-attracting powder?"
"If he could detect the powder and disappear right under the noses of three Golden Elixir cultivators, he's probably not as simple as he seems."
"What do we do now?"
"He's been extremely generous, offering high-level treasures and rare materials without hesitation. He must have gained a lot in the You Ming Deep Abyss. I can't let him get away; it's too frustrating."
"Forget it. It was a fair trade, and this person is highly skilled. Let's leave it at that."
The three figures conversed for a while before reluctantly leaving the valley.
After they departed, Luo Chen slowly retracted his gaze from the nine heavens.
"As expected, with so many people, there are all sorts of characters."
"When Lintian Pass was under military control, although we had less freedom, we never encountered such troubles in our transactions."
Shaking his head, Luo Chen couldn't be bothered to eliminate these youngsters.
It was common knowledge that black market transactions carried risks.
One such situation was when someone sold goods and then tried to steal back both the goods and the buyer, engaging in risk-free trades.
He had already gained enough, and his actions were merely an unnecessary complication.
Indeed.
During his time in Lintian Pass, Luo Chen had acquired a substantial amount of Spiritual Essence from the black market in just three days, thanks to his extravagant spending.
The quantity of Spiritual Essence he collected was no less than three bottles, each containing the essence of a million people.
And this was just within three days.
Given enough time, Luo Chen could undoubtedly collect even more Spiritual Essence.
It might sound exaggerated, but upon closer inspection, it seemed only natural.
The method of crafting Spiritual Essence was initially spread from Lintian Pass as the center.
During the Human-Demon War, the number of demons and cultivators who perished exceeded millions.
With the efforts of those with ulterior motives, even extreme demonic forces, large quantities of Spiritual Essence were circulated in the black market within a few decades.
Luo Chen had personally witnessed a cultivator collecting souls on the battlefield and refining Spiritual Essence.
It was easy to imagine that if someone were to discover the usage of Spiritual Essence, its value would further increase.
Some powerful individuals lacking resources would undoubtedly take risks to refine Spiritual Essence and seek enormous profits.
"I wonder if I, as the initiator, will face retribution in the future?"
Luo Chen chuckled lightly and headed towards the Luotian Domain.
He had gathered enough information about the Luotian Sect.
Overall, during the eight years of his absence, the Luotian Sect had not made any significant moves. They had followed his instructions before he left and refrained from recruiting new disciples on a large scale, unlike other Yuan Ying upper sects after the war.
Similarly, no major disasters had occurred.
They had merely acted as intermediaries, mediating conflicts between several Golden Elixir powers within the Luotian Domain.
That was enough.
...
Several days later, Luo Chen's figure appeared atop the Mota Mountain.
His divine sense swept across several locations.
Instantly, it drew responses filled with astonishment and uncertainty.
"Who dares to spy on me?" Lin Feng Zi abruptly woke up from his closed-door cultivation.
"Master's divine sense?" Bai Mei Ling was both surprised and delighted, instantly recognizing Luo Chen.
"Husband!" Gu Cai Yi, who was cultivating on the Mota Mountain, was the first to rush out of seclusion and saw the familiar figure in white.
Luo Chen smiled and embraced her.
Gu Cai Yi's voice choked with emotion, "You're back, and you didn't even say hello?"
"Am I not greeting you right now?" Luo Chen smiled and then frowned, "Where are the others?"
Gu Cai Yi wiped the corner of her eye and quickly replied, "Two years ago, Hui Niang heard about a major event in the Mingyuan Abyss. She immediately set off with others, escorted by Sha Long Zi and Qin Yuan Jiang. Her disciple, Yao Ming Yue, also accompanied them."
Luo Chen had anticipated this situation and was not surprised.
Strangely, Wang Yuan was nowhere to be found.
Just then, a figure flew in from the distance, its aura piercing through the air as it approached.
It wasn't until the figure was visible to the naked eye that Luo Chen noticed its arrival.
Luo Chen was utterly astonished.
After the figure landed, he finally spoke up, "Have you entered the fourth realm of body refinement and achieved the Leakless Golden Body?"
The fourth realm of body refinement brought about changes that were not merely limited to a significant increase in lifespan.
Most importantly, it allowed one to seal off the flow of energy and blood within the body, maintaining peak condition until the very end.
Unlike cultivators, who focused on refining Qi and spirit, the aging of their physical bodies was uncontrollable.
It was because Luo Chen had just swept through with his vast divine sense that he hadn't detected Wang Yuan's presence, leading to the speculation that Wang Yuan had indeed achieved the Leakless Golden Body.
Wang Yuan nodded, his expression calm, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes.
"I knew you wouldn't fall so easily," he said.
Luo Chen laughed heartily, "You have quite the faith in me!"
Wang Yuan sighed, "What choice do I have? I heard about the battle on the Mingyuan side, and it seems that even the mighty can't escape their fate."
Luo Chen acknowledged this with a nod.
In the presence of a Supreme Being, everyone else was as insignificant as ants.
Si Ma Hui Niang was eager to leave, her concern for Luo Chen and her son overwhelming her. Luo Chen could understand her worries.
As they conversed, two more figures quietly arrived.
Lin Feng Zi was incredulous, "You're still alive?"
Bai Mei Ling, on the other hand, was overjoyed as she approached Luo Chen, "Master!"
Luo Chen nodded in response to both of them and waited for the arrival of the last person.
It took a while for Li Ying Zhang's figure to appear on Mota Mountain.
When he saw Luo Chen again, he was equally excited.
"Ying Zhang pays his respects to the Supreme Elder!"
"No need for such formalities," Luo Chen waved his hand dismissively, then headed towards the palace in the mountains, "Let's sit down and talk. There's something I need your agreement on."
The group, still reeling from the surprise of Luo Chen's survival, followed him into the palace with curiosity.
Soon enough, Li Ying Zhang's reluctant voice could be heard from inside.
"Are you leaving the Luotian Domain, which we fought so hard to secure?"
...
Luo Chen's return didn't cause much of a stir.
Within the entire Luotian Sect, only those close to him, like his Dao companion, and those at the Yuan Ying stage, like Lin Feng Zi, were aware of his return.
Li Ying Zhang held a special status as the Sect Master of the Luotian Sect.
Apart from the five hundred disciples within the sect, no one else knew that the Supreme Elder was not only alive but had also returned to the sect.
Not to mention the outside world, where some people with vested interests were still immersed in the shock of the Mingyuan Sect's destruction.
It had only been three years, and the news was gradually spreading to these remote areas.
The various powers in the Luotian Domain were discussing the matter, and they couldn't avoid mentioning Luo Chen, the Dan Dao Master from the Luotian Sect, who had left for the Mingyuan Sect a few years ago.
With the destruction of the Mingyuan Sect, it was likely that Luo Chen had also perished.
This meant that the Luotian Sect had lost its greatest support, and they wondered if this presented an opportunity for them.
After some discussion, everyone realized with despair that there was no such opportunity.
The Luotian Sect still had Lin Feng Zi, a Yuan Ying stage cultivator, holding down the fort.
Although Wang Yuan, the Battle Demon, hadn't stepped out of the sect in recent years, he had a terrifying record of battling Yuan Ying stage cultivators.
The most recent small talk was about the six domains and the 99th chapter.
Moreover, it was rumored that on Ghostly Chant Peak within the Luotian Sect, the Ghost Emperor occasionally appeared.
With three Yuan Ying stage cultivators, they had enough power to suppress the small fries in the region.
Even the Lin and Gu families, who were stationed in the nearby two domains to monitor the Luotian Sect, hadn't dared to make any moves in the past three years.
This showed the depth of Luo Chen's legacy.
In such a situation, a moderate commotion gradually emerged.
Qu Ling Jun, the only direct disciple of Dan Dao Master Luo Chen, successfully broke through the Jin Dan stage before his lifespan limit!
The Luotian Sect seemed to want to dispel the sorrowful atmosphere surrounding the Supreme Elder's demise or perhaps to stabilize the morale of the sect, and they decided to hold a Condensation Great Ceremony for Qu Ling Jun.
However, this ceremony was only for internal disciples and didn't invite outsiders to witness it.
At that moment, the Luotian Sect disciples scattered in various places received the notification, paused their tasks, and hurried back to the sect.
...
Half a year later.
On Mota Mountain, the sea of clouds surged.
A hundred-foot-tall jade platform rose from the ground, and sixty-four Pan Long pillars stood suspended in the air.
Qing mantles cascaded from the sky like waterfalls, and large flags embroidered with symbol patterns fluttered in the wind.
This grand scene was prepared for a single person.
However, as Qu Ling Jun walked among them, his face didn't show excitement but was instead filled with dejection.
Meng Qin'er held his arm and comforted him, "Husband, today is your joyous day. Why are you acting like this?"
Qu Ling Jun sighed, "Achieving the Jin Dan stage and fulfilling my master's expectations is indeed a great joy for me. But with my master's soul returning to the Yellow Springs, how can I bring myself to be happy?"
Then, he pointed to the surrounding red silk ribbons, his face filled with anger.
"This should be a solemn occasion, why is it being celebrated like this?"
Meng Qin'er explained in a low voice, "These arrangements were made by Li Zongzhu. He wanted to use your Condensation Great Ceremony to dispel the sorrowful atmosphere and also to consolidate the morale within the sect. After all, you are the only direct disciple of the Supreme Elder."
"Qu Lingjun opened his mouth, understanding the master's good intentions, but it was hard for him to accept that after he came out of seclusion, he would hear the bad news about his master.
On his most glorious day, the man he wanted to see the most was the one who was like a teacher and a father to him.
But now, he had to use his glory to cover up the man's influence within the sect?
As the Luotian Sect disciples arrived on foot, they saw Qu Lingjun on the square and greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, Master Qu!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother Qu!"
In the cultivation world, seniority is determined by one's cultivation realm, but when the realms are similar, the order of entry into the sect is also considered.
Qu Lingjun was undoubtedly a senior figure in the Luotian Sect, and everyone had to show him respect.
Meng Qin'er squeezed Qu Lingjun's sturdy palm, "Husband, cheer up. You'll be giving a speech later, sharing your insights on the Condensation stage."
Qu Lingjun sighed, "What's there to say? I merely accumulated resources..."
As the words reached his lips, he seemed to remember something.
He couldn't allow his master's existence to be forgotten, especially by using his own success to cover it up.
Since it was already this day, he decided to take this opportunity to speak.
As the incense burned, the disciples of Piaomiao Peak, led by Lin Feng Zi, entered the hall. Wang Yuan, together with Sha Long Zi, who had rushed back, took their seats as elders. Even Li Ying Zhang, who had been missing for two years, appeared with Qin Yuan Jiang, Yao Mingyue, and other Golden Dan cultivators. With their arrival, the Condensation Ceremony, which was only open to internal members, officially began.
Qu Lingjun gracefully ascended the stage, gazing around.
His mind was filled with countless thoughts.
Over the years, although the sect hadn't actively recruited many new members, they had still managed to add some personnel, totaling around five hundred people.
This was similar in scale to when they left the Great River Market.
Unfortunately, the most familiar face was still missing.
Even the two mistresses hadn't shown up.
Qu Lingjun steadied his mind and recalled the scene from when his master emerged from seclusion after reaching the Condensation stage. He slowly began to speak:
"The origin of the Dao is profound, and the secrets of the high immortals are not easily known.
The innate Qi naturally separates purity and impurity.
Inside the palace, Luo Chen comforted Sima Hui Niang, who had rushed back using the teleportation array. She heard the chanting from outside, causing her to be startled.
"This kid..."
Sima Hui Niang wiped away her tears and choked, "It seems like the Condensation verse you recited when you emerged from seclusion after reaching the Condensation stage."
Luo Chen nodded, feeling more and more convinced as he listened.
That verse was spontaneously composed based on his experiences before and after reaching the Condensation stage. After it was spread, it indeed had a significant impact.
Many low-level cultivators in Tianlan Immortal City who struggled to find a path to the Condensation stage later gained insights from this verse, gradually finding their own path to the Condensation stage.
Later, the fame of the Dan Sect was largely due to the influence of this verse.
Now, Qu Lingjun had directly copied it without changing a word.
It was unclear whether he was being lazy or had a deliberate intention.
"Husband, Ling Xi..."
"He's still alive. You'll see him soon."
"As long as he's alive, that's all that matters," Sima Hui Niang murmured.
"Additionally, I've found some clues regarding his cultivation."
Sima Hui Niang was taken aback, and her eyes lit up once again.
However, Luo Chen didn't elaborate further. He only handed her a small booklet that recorded the cultivation methods of the Demon Heart Gu cultivator, as mentioned by Gu Xian.
"It's my turn to take the stage."
Luo Chen strolled out, with Gu Cai Yi and Sima Hui Niang following closely behind, as if afraid he might disappear again.
In the square, the Luotian Sect disciples looked puzzled.
Why was Qu Lingjun discussing the path to the Condensation stage using the teachings of the Supreme Elder?
Wasn't this old news? This senior of the sect wasn't sharing his own experiences; instead, he was glorifying the Supreme Elder's teachings.
Sensing the dissatisfaction below, Qu Lingjun paused on the green jade platform.
"What I just said was the path to the Condensation stage of our Supreme Elder."
"Perhaps you already know it, but you must not underestimate this widely circulated Dan theory. The more you study it, the more you will gain."
"I hope that after you return, you can pay more attention to the many treasures left behind by the Supreme Elder."
"Of course, I also have some insights, which may not compare to the Supreme Elder, but I'm willing to share a few with you."
After saying this, he proceeded to share his experiences and insights from before and after reaching the Condensation stage.
He talked about the preparations he made, the difficulties he encountered, how he broke through the bottleneck, and how he quickly consolidated his realm.
His speech might not have been as profound or complex as Luo Chen's back then, but it was more detailed and had a unique personal style.
The square gradually became quiet as both high-level cultivators and low-level disciples listened attentively.
Just as Qu Lingjun finished speaking, there was sudden applause and exclamations.
"Well said!"
"As expected of my disciple!"
"I bestow upon you a Zhenqi, the Snowdrop Frost Robe, which can protect against fire and poison."
"I bestow upon you a Fu Ding, once used by the Dan Sheng, which can greatly enhance the quality of pill refinement."
Amidst Qu Lingjun's disbelieving gaze and the audience's standing ovation, Luo Chen slowly revealed himself.
Facing the astonished eyes, Luo Chen smiled slightly.
"I'm back!"
(End of Chapter)
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