Chapter 184: The Dao Lies Within, Life and Death Left to Fate

"I was a step late!"

A towering figure, broad and hulking like a bear, stood shrouded in darkness, his gaze fixed on the remnants of the Mi family estate. The air was thick with the stench of blood. Faint waves of spirit energy still lingered, gradually dissipating, yet enough remained to hint at the ferocity of the battle that had just taken place.

High above, it was as if echoes of fury and unwillingness still clung to the heavens, refusing to fade. The shadowed figure exhaled quietly and began to turn away.

Suddenly, his body stiffened. His head lifted slowly, his eyes meeting another presence in the sky, a cultivator floating silently above, studying him intently.

"A Jade Cauldron sword cultivator?"

The man's eyes gleamed like blades, sharp and penetrating, as if they held a thousand invisible swords ready to strike. Yet as he looked down at the figure cloaked in shadow, his expression faltered.

Is he human? Or a demon?

Below, the figure offered a respectful cupped-fist salute. His voice was low and calm, "You're late as well."

In the sky, the Jade Cauldron sword cultivator furrowed his brows.

Was that man one of Mi Shuhua’s reinforcements? He had never seen such a figure in Dahe Market before.

The man’s cultivation was clearly at Foundation Establishment, and his energy was undoubtedly human and yet it brimmed with dense demonic energy. It didn’t make sense.

Forget it. This wasn't the time to dwell on it. The elder’s orders were the top priority.

"Late?" he muttered with a cold smile. "No. I’m right on time."

With a cold chuckle, he unleashed his sword light, his body turning into a streak of azure brilliance as he sped toward the sensed location.

***

Outside Crescent Moon Valley, the battle raged on!

With both Shan Xiu and Gao Tingyuan slain, the tide shifted in an instant. Luo Chen, Murong Qinglian, Duan Feng, and Gu Caiyi were no longer pressed on the defensive, instead they now surged forward, seizing the initiative.

Even though the Dajiang Gang had sent over thirty late stage Qi-Refining cultivators and sixty mid-stage ones. However, their leaders were killed and Duan Feng joined the fray, the tide of battle began to turn.

"Hall Leader, are you alright?"

"Luo Chen, are you okay?"

Luo Chen turned around to see Gu Caiyi, Zhou Yuanli, and the others looking at him with concern. That soul-wrenching cry he had let out earlier had echoed across the entire battlefield. It was no wonder they were so anxious about him.

He gave a faint smile. "I’m fine. Go support the others."

Without hesitation, Murong Qinglian summoned her enchanted artifact and charged toward the enemy. Gu Caiyi wanted to join the battle as well, but the moment she tried to summon her spirit power, she cried out in pain and staggered.

"The effects of the Laurel pill have worn off," Luo Chen said, pressing her by the shoulder. "Caiyi, stay back and heal your wounds."

Then, he turned to Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang. The two immediately understood Luo Chen’s intention, but just as they were about to move, a strange expression flickered across their faces.

"It’s... unlocked?" one of them murmured.

"It's gone?"

Luo Chen was caught off guard by their sudden change in expression. "What's wrong?"

Zhou Yuanli furrowed his brow in confusion. "The method the Gang Leader used to control me... it's gone?"

"Mine too!" Liu Qiang added, his face going pale as realization dawned. "Could something have happened to the Gang Leader?"

The three men looked at each other, a rush of conflicting emotions rising in their chests. Was it fear? Relief? Perhaps both.

But Luo Chen only gave a slight wave of his hand. "Forget it. We’ll sort it out later. For now, go take care of those Dajiang Gang bastards. They've crossed too many lines tonight."

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang didn’t hesitate. With a grunt of acknowledgment, they rejoined the fray. Though the mental bindings that once compelled them were gone, their instincts still pushed them to follow Luo Chen’s lead.

With their return to battle, the tide turned decisively. The Dajiang Gang forces faltered, their momentum steadily crumbling.

Luo Chen, meanwhile, popped two Dust Transformation pills into his mouth. As his body absorbed the medicine, the Long Spring Art quietly worked to restore his drained spirit power. Slowly but surely, energy returned to his limbs.

He remained by Gu Caiyi’s side, sweeping his gaze across the battlefield like a hawk watching for weakness. From time to time, he flicked out jade essence beads, launched a Fireball, or hurled his jade blade with chilling precision. Mid stage Qi-Refining cultivators were struck down in an instant. Even those at the late stage, though capable of defending for a moment or two, quickly found themselves overwhelmed, left open to be finished off by others.

It wasn’t long before the enemy began to break ranks and flee.

But Luo Chen didn’t order a pursuit. His gaze had shifted, narrowing toward the spirit fields within Crescent Moon Valley.

A formation had been cast over the farmland, enclosing a large swath of it in glowing light. Inside, Min Longyu moved like a shadow, weaving fluidly through chaos, every movement laced with deadly intent. Compared to him, Granny Yuan was clearly struggling.

Her Crane Bill Hoe, her prized enchanted artifact, had lost its spirit light, dim and dull, as if on the verge of breaking apart.

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes.

The others can be dealt with, but Min Longyu is the real threat. Back on the Debate Platform, even Han Dang, who had Perfected Mastery of Qi-Refining, died inexplicably under his formation flags. Never thought Granny Yuan could hold out this long.

Luo Chen’s eyes narrowed, a subtle flicker flashing through them as his lips moved in a barely perceptible whisper. The next instant, a tremendous surge of spirit energy burst forth into the sky.

Responding to the silent signal, Duan Feng leapt into action. Standing amid the waves, his longsword swung relentlessly, layering waves upon waves, stacking higher and higher before crashing down with an earth-shattering roar.

Inside the formation, Min Longyu’s expression contorted in disbelief.

"They found the flaw already?" he muttered. "Is there... a formation master among them?"

Without a second’s hesitation, he flipped his octagonal formation disc. Waves of golden light surged out in all directions, trying desperately to stabilize the faltering array.

But just as the lights spread, the formation twisted and crumbled entirely.

Min Longyu wasted no more time and shot off into the distance.

Granny Yuan’s face turned ashen as she drove her Crane Bill Hoe into the spirit field. "Leaving? It won’t be that easy!"

Her hands formed a flurry of seals, her old fingers—thin and claw-like—moving with surprising dexterity.

Her fingers flew into motion, weaving a rapid flurry of complex hand seals. Though gnarled and thin from age, her hands moved with surprising agility, honed through decades of cultivation.

In about three breaths' time, the spell was ready.

Granny Yuan’s eyes gleamed with golden light as she shouted, "Go!"

Countless rice leaves transformed into golden swords, streaking through the air at lightning speed and chased after Min Longyu.

"Sword of the Golden Harvest!" she declared, her voice echoing across the battlefield.

Min Longyu spun around mid-air. "Old woman, I didn't expect you to have this move!"

The formation disc in his hand flickered with shifting light before releasing a wave of flames that melted the golden swords on impact. Not only that, but the overwhelming flames surged forward, pushing back and rushing toward Granny Yuan.

At this moment, Granny Yuan was completely drained and had no spirit power left to defend herself. She closed her eyes, calmly accepting what she thought would be her inevitable death. Yet, after a few breaths, she felt no pain or scorching heat.

Opening her eyes, Granny Yuan was greeted by the sight of a colossal cauldron hovering above her, its surface gleaming with celestial radiance. Glowing tassels descended from it like strands of divine silk, forming a protective curtain that shielded her from harm.

"Hall Leader Luo," she said hoarsely, forcing herself to rise despite her exhaustion. Her voice trembled, not from weakness, but from gratitude. "This old woman... thanks you."

She looked toward Luo Chen’s distant figure and bowed deeply, her sincerity unmistakable.

Luo Chen didn’t turn. He merely waved a hand dismissively and said, "It’s nothing. Your son and I get along well, it’s just a small favor."

Even as he spoke, a disheveled figure burst out from the loft of the Medicine Hall. Stumbling down the ruined steps, covered in blood and grime, he rushed over like a man possessed.

"Mother, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Yuan Dongsheng nearly collapsed at his mother's side, tears brimming in his eyes. Then he turned to Luo Chen and bowed deeply.

"Luo Chen, thank you. Truly, thank you."

Yuan Dongsheng, covered in blood, had tears welling up in his eyes. Supporting his mother, he choked up as he expressed his gratitude to Luo Chen.

Luo Chen gave a casual reassurance, but his focus remained on the battlefield.

With the support of two ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivators, along with Zhou Yuanli, Liu Qiang, and himself, the tide of battle had decisively shifted. The Dajiang Gang’s forces were collapsing, those who hadn’t been killed were already fleeing.

By Luo Chen’s estimation, it wouldn’t take long for the battle to end.

Actually, it shouldn’t have been this easy. The five ninth-stage Qi-Refining cultivators sent by the Dajiang Gang were among the strongest at their stage. The only slightly weaker one was Shan Xiu, who had lost a hand and had his strength greatly diminished. With such a lineup, they should have been able to crush what they considered a group of "old, weak, and young" defenders.

But they had made one fatal mistake.

They underestimated Luo Chen.

From the very start, he had slain Shan Xiu, immediately tipping the balance of high-ranked combat power.

Then, he detonated tens of thousands of jade essence beads, not only heavily injuring Gao Tingyuan but also killing seven late stage Qi-Refining cultivators in one blow.

Once Gao Tingyuan died, the battle had completely fallen into Luo Chen’s hands.

Duan Feng’s arrival was an unexpected boon. Silently taking down the fleeing Lan Tianyun was an even greater surprise.

At this point, the battle of Crescent Moon Valley could almost be declared a complete victory, with Luo Chen’s Alchemy Hall emerging triumphant.

Luo Chen glanced at the scattered corpses and chuckled. "Today’s gain is going to be quite substantial."

Just as he was calculating how to distribute the spoils, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Two streaks of light shot across the distant sky at lightning speed. An overwhelming Foundation Establishment energy flow radiated without restraint. Wherever they passed, violent winds raged, forcing the remaining cultivators on the battlefield to halt their fighting.

Abruptly, two figures stopped outside Crescent Moon Valley. Luo Chen gazed at the two figures from afar, his expression solemn as he subtly began to retreat.

However, after just a few steps back, he halted. Because the two figures had locked onto him almost instantly.

"Luo Chen!"

"Dan Chenzi!"

Luo Chen forced a smile. "Gang Leader Wang, Elder Zhou, what brings you here as guests?"

"Guest?" Wang Haichao chuckled. "From now on, this will be Dajiang Gang’s territory. How could I be considered a guest?"

Elder Zhou stepped forward. "Dan Chenzi, welcome to Lianyun Trade Alliance. From now on, we are family."

As the two spoke, the battlefield fell into dead silence. No one dared to utter a word. Only the sound of the wind, groans, wails, and the crackling of flames echoed through the valley.

Luo Chen opened his mouth but, in the end, only let out a sigh.

Out of the wolf’s den, only to step into the tiger’s lair.

Haih...

His sigh echoed for ten li!

Wang Haichao’s expression twisted ever so slightly, a flicker of unease crossing his face. Beside him, Elder Zhou suddenly turned.

From the distant sky, a streak of sword light tore through the clouds like a blade splitting the heavens.

A voice, proud and sharp as a drawn edge, rang out.

"Ah, uninvited guests, how bold! But Crescent Moon Valley still belongs to my Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, doesn’t it?"

Steward Miao descended, landing with composed grace above the ruins of the valley. He cupped his fists and bowed respectfully toward the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Return to where you came from," he said. "Please, both of you leave!"

Wang Haichao’s jaw clenched. He cast one last bitter glance toward the ravaged Crescent Moon Valley, then with a flick of his sleeve, turned away and vanished into the distance.

The remaining Dajiang Gang cultivators, upon seeing their leader depart, didn’t dare linger a moment longer. They scrambled to retreat, dispersing like startled birds before a storm.

Only Elder Zhou lingered a moment longer, his brow arching with mild surprise.

"You didn’t go to save Mi Shuhua?"

Steward Miao’s expression didn’t change. His voice remained calm and measured.

"The path of the Great Dao is one’s own. Life and death follow fate. I saved him once and I cannot save him for a lifetime. His destiny is his own."

He didn’t elaborate further, yet his words carried the weight of an unshakable truth. Elder Zhou’s eyes narrowed slightly. A thoughtful silence hung between them.

Then, without another word, Elder Zhou offered a brief cupped-fist salute and turned to leave, his long sleeves fluttering in the wind, his departure light as mist.

When all had departed, and the sky above Crescent Moon Valley grew quiet again, Steward Miao descended into the heart of the valley. His boots touched the ground within the ruins of the Alchemy Hall, where the scent of ash and scorched herbs still lingered in the air.

Steward Miao turned to face him. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he extended a hand in invitation.

Luo Chen met his gaze in silence, then after a moment’s pause, nodded slightly and stepped forward, his figure rising into the air as he followed Steward Miao into the depths of the Alchemy Hall.