https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-940-Shadowlight-Sect-Lantern-Master/13463466/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-942-A-Single-Staff-Shatters-All-Techniques-Even-the-Fox-Mourns-the-Rabbit-s-Death/13463473/
Chapter 941: The Shadow Reflection Sect and the Mysteries of the World
Chapter 941: The Shadow Reflection Sect and the Mysteries of the World
The various sects in the five continents of the Immortal Cultivation Realm each have their distinct characteristics.
Dong Huang is home to numerous sects, the Western Desert is dotted with temples, the Northern Sea is dominated by various islands, and while the Central Province is nominally under the control of the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect, it is essentially divided into many large and small cultivation families.
The Southern Frontier, on the other hand, is primarily composed of various sects.
For instance, Tianshan Seer, whom Luo Chen had previously met, was from the Tianshan Sect.
The Shadow Reflection Sect is similarly structured.
From Luo Chen's brief interactions with the Southern Frontier cultivation realm, he began to understand the underlying reasons.
The key lies in the word "gu" (insect charm)!
Insect charms are quite mysterious. For those unfamiliar with them, it's often too risky to use them for cultivation assistance.
Only deep-seated trust would make one dare to incorporate an insect charm into their body.
Therefore, the various forces in the Southern Frontier, using a wide variety of unique insect charms as their foundation, developed doctrines and guided their disciples, gradually forming a multitude of sects.
The Shadow Reflection Sect is no exception.
In a palace, two large red lanterns hung at the entrance, and the shadows of trees swayed outside.
Inside the hall, Luo Chen was playing with the "shadow charm" he had casually obtained from the lantern master out of curiosity.
"So that's how it works!"
"By using the five senses of the insect charm to record the general situation of a scene, a cultivator can then extract the memory to achieve a level of detailed recording and sound preservation."
"Quite ingenious."
Luo Chen's face showed admiration, but it was merely admiration.
While the design was intricate, it lacked grandeur.
For a cultivator, it was merely a way to pass the time when bored.
As he was about to put the shadow charm away, a thought suddenly struck him.
The lantern master had given him only the most basic first-stage shadow charm. Perhaps higher-stage shadow charms would have more miraculous effects?
What if they could record not just light, sound, and color, but also other more unique elements?
"If I have some free time, I should inquire about this."
Luo Chen put the shadow charm away and decided to rest.
He had no particular connection with the lantern master, and after a brief banquet, they parted ways.
Now, the Thunder Echo Cave Lord was likely having a pleasant conversation with the other party.
"In such a time of great peril, a friend who stands idly by would probably not last long in conversation. It must be difficult for Lei Ming."
Luo Chen chuckled lightly and went to his cultivation room.
Sitting on a cushion, he assumed the cultivation posture, and the Heavenly Phoenix Rebirth Scripture immediately began to circulate.
Since he had restarted his cultivation with this foundational technique, Luo Chen's progress had been astonishingly rapid.
He had advanced from the fifth layer of the nascent soul stage to the sixth, partly due to the convenience of comprehending the Fire Essence, but also thanks to the assistance of this world's top-tier fire cultivation technique.
Especially since he possessed a fire spirit body, his efficiency in absorbing the essence and qi of heaven and earth far exceeded that of ordinary people.
At this moment, a large amount of essence and qi gathered in the cave abode.
Without much effort from Luo Chen, it could be easily refined and absorbed.
In the purple palace, the nascent soul, which had initially been in an infant state, had grown considerably.
From the features of its face, it now had a youthful appearance.
Legend has it that a cultivator's yuan shen (primordial spirit) is almost identical to the person's demeanor, temperament, and even appearance.
If his nascent soul could reach that level, it would be equivalent to achieving the Hua Shen stage!
At this moment, the nascent soul in Luo Chen's cultivation showed a comfortable and even lively demeanor, with a strong desire to leave the purple palace and explore the vast world.
Lively...
When the nascent soul touched the thick purple palace barrier, Luo Chen suddenly awoke.
"Strange!"
"Why is my nascent soul so active?"
The nascent soul is a fusion of essence, energy, and spirit.
When a Yuan Yin cultivator practices, most of their soul is integrated into it, primarily guided by their own will.
Under normal circumstances, systematic cultivation should not cause such activity.
Otherwise, prolonged practice would exhaust even the most profound soul foundation of a cultivator, just as even the most intelligent person would tire from constant mental exertion.
Now, without Luo Chen's deliberate guidance, the nascent soul was abnormally active, which was highly unusual.
If not for the robustness of the purple palace barrier, the nascent soul might have tried to break free and embrace the world.
"Why is this happening?"
Just as Luo Chen was about to delve deeper into his thoughts, there was some commotion outside the palace.
He frowned and walked out of the cultivation room.
"Come in!"
The Thunder Echo Cave Lord, with a slight hint of alcohol, entered after a short wait.
"Sorry to disturb your cultivation, Brother Qi."
Luo Chen waved his hand, "It's fine. How did your conversation with the lantern master go?"
The Thunder Echo Cave Lord smiled wryly, "There's nothing much to it, just going through the motions."
At this point, he sighed, feeling a mix of melancholy and reflection.
"I thought that after rising from an obscure independent cultivator to the nascent soul realm through hard work, everyone would have to look at me with more respect. But reaching this realm, I realized it's not that simple."
"Even those at the same level still look down on me, considering my shallow background and lack of resources. Everyone wants to take advantage of me."
"Feng Buyan is one such example, so he chose to force me into a corner. The Lantern Master is another; he stood by and did nothing, not wanting to offend the Feng family for my sake."
"Thinking back, when I had the good fortune to participate in that nascent soul gathering, perhaps the reason others wouldn't sell me the resources I wanted was also because of this?"
Luo Chen's brows furrowed. Why was he being told all this late at night?
He spoke bluntly, "Does the opinion of others really matter that much? In the world of cultivation, it ultimately comes down to the survival of the fittest, where strength is paramount. If you show enough power, who would dare to ignore you?"
The Thunder Echo Cave Lord laughed bitterly, "What you say is true, but increasing one's strength isn't as simple as drinking water or eating a meal. Away from Thunder Pass, I'm just an ordinary nascent soul cultivator."
That was indeed the truth.
Thunder Pass, with its constant accumulation of lightning and thunder, provided an excellent advantage for cultivators of this path during battles. However, once he left, the Thunder Echo Cave Lord's strength would be significantly reduced.
Luo Chen thought for a moment and suggested, "If you can't quickly enhance your strength, you can still improve your reputation. If you build a force, over time, you'll become a leader in your own right, and others won't overlook you."
This was a path Luo Chen had once taken.
Though it was troublesome, it was effective.
The Thunder Echo Cave Lord agreed, "This time, I also have this in mind. But building a force requires many things, such as cultivation techniques, core insects, and even methods for making Spiritual Stones."
"The cultivation techniques are manageable; I have my own set. The core insects are more troublesome, especially those that assist disciples in their cultivation, which are mostly closely guarded secrets of various families."
"That's why I endured the unpleasantness to communicate with the Lantern Master, hoping to buy some low-tier Reflecting Spirit Insects from his Shadow Reflection Sect. As for visiting the Mijie Mountains, it's because the Life and Death Sect is currently closed, and the Stiff Mountain Alliance is rumored to have the method for making Spiritual Stones, which I plan to obtain from them."
Listening to these ramblings, Luo Chen felt a sense of familiarity.
It reminded him of when he was building the Luo Tian Sect.
Whenever he found suitable cultivation techniques, he collected them.
Whenever he found suitable resources, even if they were in the distant Northern Sea, he brought them back.
It was through such meticulous efforts that he managed to amass the vast resources of the Luo Tian Sect.
He no longer felt impatient and listened patiently, occasionally nodding in agreement.
"What are Reflecting Spirit Insects?"
"These are one of the most core insects of the Shadow Reflection Sect. Once cultivated within the body, they can replicate the internal conditions of a cultivator during practice. After a cultivation session, the cultivator can review the details through the Reflecting Spirit Insect, identifying and addressing any issues. With such an insect, a low-tier cultivator can build a very solid foundation. Even for high-tier cultivators like myself, a high-tier Reflecting Spirit Insect can save a lot of trouble."
"Will the Shadow Reflection Sect sell them?"
"They definitely won't sell the high-tier ones, but according to my understanding, the Lantern Master has privately sold many low-tier ones to major forces to maintain relationships."
"Did you succeed?"
"The Lantern Master hasn't agreed yet, but because he didn't help me earlier, he feels guilty. I think if I persist for another day or two, he will sell me some low-tier ones."
"Then I wish you success! If you can gather independent cultivators in Thunder Pass and establish a force, it would be a great accomplishment."
"Thank you, Brother Qi!" The Thunder Echo Cave Lord smiled, his gloomy mood lifting.
For independent cultivators like them, who have wandered for so long, being able to establish a force and become a leader is indeed a wonderful thing.
If they can pass on their legacy and be remembered by future generations, it would be even better.
Luo Chen smiled, "I think the independent cultivators in Thunder Pass won't refuse you. When the time comes, you can take on a few personal disciples... Cheng Bai would be a good choice!"
Mentioning Cheng Bai, the Thunder Echo Cave Lord's expression briefly turned awkward.
He quickly changed the subject, looking around with surprise.
"The Lantern Master must not have mistreated us; he arranged a very nice residence for you!"
Indeed, it was a very nice residence!
The palace was rich in spirit energy, at the fourth stage level.
By guest standards, it was considered very high.
“This is all thanks to you…”
Luo Chen nodded with a smile, but as he spoke, his voice trailed off, and ripples stirred in his heart.
Thunder Echo Cave Lord waved his hand. “I have no light to offer. It’s all because of the formidable aura you displayed that he looked favorably upon us. Well, it’s late, Brother Qi. You should get some rest! We may have to stay here for another two or three days, so bear with it.”
Luo Chen made no attempt to detain the other man as he left.
The moment the palace gates closed, Luo Chen swept his fingers over his eyes.
Open!
Golden pupils flickered, bloodshot eyes.
Red eyes and golden pupils reappeared on Luo Chen’s face.
He stared intently at the main hall, particularly at the flow of spiritual energy in the cultivation room.
Gradually, Luo Chen found a clue.
“This is just an ordinary Four-Stage Spirit Vein, so why is the spiritual energy so dense?”
“Moreover, there’s even some pure primordial energy floating around.”
“Could it be that the liveliness of my nascent soul is due to this external environment?”
At this thought, Luo Chen’s expression darkened instantly.
A nascent soul being too lively was not a good thing.
At this stage, the nascent soul was far from the powerful state of a true spirit.
It was like the difference between an infant and an adult.
Being too active could harm the soul!
Furthermore, if it were to truly leave the purple palace and wander through the world, it would eventually become lost, leading to the four words—“harmony with heaven and earth”!
These four words might sound light and insubstantial, but after witnessing the fall of a divine essence sage, Luo Chen was determined to avoid it.
In a state of lost self-awareness, even the deepest magic and the strongest physical body were meaningless.
A breeze, a rain, and everything would return to nature.
Luo Chen was absolutely unwilling to reach that point.
“Is the Lighthouse Master trying to harm me?”
“Or does he not even know?”
With his mind filled with doubt, Luo Chen returned to the cultivation room.
First, he adjusted his mindset, then began his actions.
With a wave of his sleeve, several array flags landed in the corners of the cultivation room.
In his mind’s eye, the three soul fragments emerged, transforming into three ghostly lights that circled around him.
With a flick of his wrist, a weathered stone mirror appeared in his hand.
This was the dust karma immortal mirror that Luo Chen had painstakingly refined!
Although he hadn’t used it much himself after creating it, he had used it extensively on Cang Long.
However, he was already well-versed in its miraculous uses.
Without any command, the three soul fragments, connected by his will, began to act.
Each emitted a ghostly light that infused the treasure mirror, poised and suspended above his head.
Only then did Luo Chen feel fully prepared.
He took a deep breath and began to circulate the Heavenly Phoenix Rebirth Scripture.
With each breath, a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth flowed into his body.
It coursed through the eight extraordinary meridians, passing through the key points and spirit acupoints, gradually refining into magical power.
Finally, it entered the purple palace, merging with the nascent soul within.
Time passed slowly.
One day, two days, three days…
Thunder Echo Cave Lord stayed at the Shadow Reflection Sect longer than initially expected.
Luo Chen, who never left his room, was not acting out of the ordinary, but it was exactly as some people had anticipated.
Under the night sky, the lamplight flickered, and shadows moved.
One by one, figures gathered outside the palace where Luo Chen resided.
Luo Chen paid no attention to them.
He was entirely focused on his own world, where his magical power grew at an unimaginable rate!
Even though it didn’t match the efficiency of cultivating in the fourth-stage supreme cave abode on Cangwu Mountain, it far surpassed that of ordinary spirit veins.
But his eyes were quite confused and chaotic.
The fluctuations of his spiritual power were slowly drifting outward, beyond his control.
If not for the array flags he had prepared, the vast and deep fluctuations of spiritual power would have surely alarmed the entire Shadow Reflection Sect.
Even so, a suppressed and formidable aura brought immense pressure under the night sky.
It was as if an ancient behemoth was crouching within the palace!
Suddenly!
The weathered stone mirror suspended above his head showered a flood of light.
“Wake up!”
“Wake up!”
“Wake up now!”
The three soul fragments chanted in unison, their soul sounds resonating and stirring the nascent soul.
Suddenly, the confusion in Luo Chen’s eyes vanished, and he awoke from his daze.
He instinctively pressed his hand to his abdomen, his face still showing signs of fear.
“Something’s wrong!”
“This place is different!”
“The concentration of primordial energy is too high, almost like an essence qi ocean.”
“Being here, although the cultivation efficiency is extremely high, a moment of inattention could lead to a deep slumber, and then gradually, one would be assimilated with heaven and earth.”
“How can this be?” (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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