Chapter 210: Elder, Unsheath Your Sword! (II)

The name "Crescent Moon Valley" was no longer entirely fitting. While the original valley remained, the expanded outer region had grown to several times its original size.

Now, the two areas were seamlessly connected, with flowing streams, lush forests, and scattered boulders, their natural arrangement subtly aligning with the principles of the Five Elements.

This was now the headquarters of the Luo Tian Society!

At some point, the cultivators of the Luo Tian Society began to notice a peculiar habit of their president—whenever he had free time, he would sit atop the mountain, seemingly without reason.

Facing the howling wind, his sharp eyes would sweep across the vast horizon, as if searching for something unseen.

At first, they didn’t think much of it. But as time passed, a subtle unease crept in, and before they knew it, their hands moved with newfound focus, their work becoming noticeably more meticulous.

Luo Chen had yet to realize that his act of familiarizing himself with his new sight had made his subordinates think he was monitoring them. He was completely engrossed in the joy of his Spirit Eyes, which could pierce a hundred li into the distance.

"These eyes are truly extraordinary!

"Not only can they perceive distant landscapes with perfect clarity from a hundred li away, but in battle, they grant me unmatched insight into my enemy’s every move and reaction.

"Among my perfected first-tier spells, Fireball reigns as the most destructive, Traction the most practical, and Carefree Wind-Control the most fluid and agile. But among them all, my Spirit Eyes are the most crucial."

The effects of his perfected Spirit Eyes were truly remarkable.

In the short term, they granted him foresight in battle and a hundred-li field of vision.

In the long term, the benefits for his cultivation were immeasurable.

Over the past few days, Luo Chen had tested them in countless ways, confirming their immense value. Once his initial excitement settled, he turned his focus back to refining and optimizing his Fireball.

With these eyes, he was certain his progress would accelerate severalfold. Perhaps soon, he would perfect his improvements and successfully merge them into a stronger Solar Flare.

By then, he would finally possess a trump card capable of threatening Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Just as Luo Chen was about to descend the mountain, his eyelid twitched.

A streak of light pierced through the distant sky, shaped like a sword. As it entered his hundred-li range, he saw the face clearly—it was someone familiar.

"Why is he here in person?" Luo Chen frowned slightly but made no move, quietly descending into the valley.

Moments later, in the Alchemy Hall...

Miao Wen strode in, wind and dust trailing behind him. His sharp black eyes studied Luo Chen with an odd glint.

"I didn't notice it, but it seems my junior brother has quite the keen eyes."

"Hm? Has something happened?" Luo Chen asked, puzzled.

"Come with me. The elder has a use for you."

An elder!

Luo Chen activated Carefree Wind-Control, following behind Miao Wen, his heart filled with unease.

For someone like Miao Wen, a Foundation Establishment Initiate, to address someone as ‘Elder,’ there was only one such figure in Dahe Market.

Golden Core Adept—Pang Renxiong!

What could I possibly have that he needs?

The ‘junior brother’ Miao Wen mentioned is undoubtedly Luo Tianhong, a True Inheritor of Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. My only encounter with him was a month ago, when I helped reattach Qin Liangchen’s severed limb."

Keen eyesight? Did he notice something unusual about me back then?

Luo Chen was filled with uncertainty as he recalled the situation.

Luo Tianhong had shown complete indifference toward Qi-Refining cultivators like them—even when passing by the stunning Murong Qinglian, he hadn’t spared her a glance. Yet, when he had passed by Luo Chen, he had paused for a brief moment and remarked, "The spell was quite successful."

At the time, Luo Chen had assumed it was because Luo Tianhong recognized his connection to Miao Wen and had shown him a rare courtesy. But looking back now, he must have overlooked something.

What was it?

Luo Chen racked his brain, struggling to understand what about him had caught Luo Tianhong’s attention—something valuable enough to be of use even to a Golden Core Adept.

With each passing speculation, his heart grew heavier, sinking deeper into unease.

Miao Wen had no intention of explaining anything and simply flew ahead at his own pace.

Watching the man’s back, an untimely thought suddenly surfaced in Luo Chen’s mind.

Miao Wen’s cultivation isn’t that profound, is it?

He vividly recalled the ambush in Green Hemp Forest—when Mi Shuhua, impatient with his slow flying speed, had simply wrapped him in a streak of spirit light and carried him along. Yet, despite also noticing Luo Chen's sluggish pace, Miao Wen had never done the same.

Well, that makes sense—Mi Shuhua may be a rogue cultivator, but he’s a legitimate mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Whereas Miao Wen is merely at the early stage of Foundation Establishment!

With this somewhat resigned and errant train of thought, the two of them entered the inner city and arrived at the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion.

This was Luo Chen’s first time stepping into the actual Sword Pavilion!

Not the ordinary buildings outside, but a towering structure shaped like a colossal sword.

Inside its vast, empty hall, Luo Chen stood with his head lowered, not daring to glance around. A chilling sensation crept over him, as if countless invisible swords were aimed directly at him, their cold edge pressing against his very soul.

Miao Wen and Luo Tianhong stood on either side, equally respectful.

Their reverence was not without reason.

Beyond the hanging curtain, at the highest seat, sat a man whose presence alone exuded an overwhelming pressure. Even at rest, his very gaze bore down upon them, suffocating and unshakable.

He said nothing—merely scrutinized Luo Chen, his eyes sharp and unreadable.

Suddenly!

He raised his index and middle fingers.

With fingers pressed together like a sword, he pointed at Luo Chen.

Luo Chen's heart pounded wildly as he felt an unimaginably sharp force locking onto him.

No way, big shot! I’m just a small-time Qi-Refining rogue cultivator! What do you want from me?!

In the next instant, Luo Chen felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, his face turning deathly pale.

"Cough, cough!"

He staggered back several steps, feeling as though something had been forcibly pulled from within him.

A deep, resonant voice echoed in his ears.

"Follow this soul seed and find the rat hiding in the shadows for me."

"Go!"

"As Elder commands!"

"As Elder commands!"

***

Amid the howling winds, Luo Chen coughed violently, head lowered.

Beside him, Miao Wen frowned and looked at him. "When did you get injured?"

Luo Chen forced a weak smile. "Ten days ago, I was injured by a talisman treasure."

"A talisman treasure?" Miao Wen snorted coldly. "I told you not to stir up trouble. Overestimating yourself."

Luo Chen twitched the corner of his mouth but chose not to argue. If he hadn’t stirred up trouble, would the Luo Tian Society have developed so smoothly?

Not only had they secured a stable supply of beast milk and Washed Jade. Just two days ago, the Li family had agreed to a deal with them, committing to a monthly purchase of Jade Essence pills. They had even sent the deposit—five hundred spirit stones. If this deal went through, they would earn over a thousand spirit stones per month—an income that would accumulate significantly over time.

Gazing at Luo Tianhong flying ahead, with the eerie green glow of the Soul-Gathering Lamp floating above his head,

Luo Chen couldn’t help but ask, "What did Elder Pang just extract from my body?"

"Heh..." Miao Wen sneered and glanced at him.

"Of course, you wouldn't know what tricks Mi Shuhua left on you."

Luo Chen’s heart trembled.

More tricks?

He had already used Grandmaster level Cleanse to erase the trace of pure spirit power Mi Shuhua had left on him!

An uncontrollable chill crawled up his spine.

"That was a soul seed. You could think of it as a strand of a cultivator's spirit consciousness that was deliberately severed. But since Mi Shuhua is dead, this strand became rootless, surviving by attaching itself to you.

"As everyone knows, all things have spirits. Humans have souls, and once they reach Foundation Establishment, their soul and spirit merge, allowing them to project their spirit consciousness outward.

"Thus, within a strand of spirit consciousness, there always exists a part of the cultivator’s soul essence."

"Elder Pang used a great divine technique, unraveling and tracing back to the very essence of Mi Shuhua’s soul. By combining it with the Soul-Gathering Lamp, he was able to condense it into a soul seed."

Hearing this explanation, Luo Chen couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

He had thought Mi Shuhua had merely left a strand of pure spirit power on him—a trick he believed he had already countered. With his prepared contingencies, he was confident he could have fled without issue.

He had even made thorough preparations for such a scenario. However, he never expected that cunning old fox to have more than one trick up his sleeve!

To actively sever a piece of his own spirit consciousness—how ruthless!

This wasn’t just a simple tracking technique. It meant Mi Shuhua had willingly cut off a fragment of his own soul, embedding it within Luo Chen.

If he had truly escaped back then, it wouldn’t have been long before Mi Shuhua tracked him down.

At that point, his fate would have been sealed. Being locked in a dark room to refine pills might have been the best outcome he could hope for.

I still underestimated the means of a Foundation Establishment Initiate!

Foundation Establishment... it truly lays the groundwork for the Great Dao. Once a cultivator reaches this stage, every aspect of their abilities transforms—it’s far more than just an increase in combat strength.

From now on, I must be even more cautious!

Luo Chen took a deep breath. This was merely a lesson—one to make him stronger.

Glancing at Miao Wen, Luo Chen noticed that his expression wasn’t looking too good either. Recalling Miao Wen’s unusually tense demeanor and tone today, a realization suddenly dawned on him.

Miao Wen probably wasn't having an easy time either!

That’s right. The trick Mi Shuhua left on me had been there for a long time. Yet, despite interacting with him multiple times, Miao Wen had never noticed it.

In contrast, Luo Tianhong, who had only met him once, immediately sensed something was wrong.

As soon as Pang Renxiong emerged from seclusion, Luo Tianhong wasted no time reporting it. It was uncertain whether Luo Tianhong would be rewarded, but Miao Wen would definitely be reprimanded!

That old fox wasn't having it easy either!

With a rather petty sense of schadenfreude, Luo Chen found rare satisfaction in the thought.

Nonetheless, he maintained a respectful expression.

"So, what exactly are we doing with this soul seed?"

"Tracing it back to find Mi Shuhua?"

"But... he’s already dead, isn’t he?"

Surprisingly, Miao Wen showed unusual patience toward Luo Chen’s questions. Though his tone remained unpleasant, he at least provided an answer.

However, his response left Luo Chen utterly shocked.

"Do you really think Mi Shuhua would die that easily?

"Don't be fooled by the so-called siege by five Foundation Establishment cultivators. All five were only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and Wang Haichao, Nangong Jin, and Li Yixian didn't even possess enchanted treasures.

"Mi Shuhua had more than just the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel. He also had the defensive enchanted treasure, the Forsaken Chess Piece, and the suppressive enchanted treasure, the Demon Locking Pagoda.

"Had he chosen to fight to the death, at least half of them would have perished, and the rest would have been severely wounded. Yet in the end, aside from Duan Qiankun and Li Yixian suffering minor injuries, the others were completely unharmed.

"And Mi Shuhua... perished within his own family’s territory."

At this point, Miao Wen took a deep breath.

A sinister smile crept onto his face. "That rat hiding in the shadows... in the end, he just couldn’t resist the temptation!

"Soon!

"Very soon, we’ll drag him out!

Luo Chen was stunned by Mi Shuhua’s terrifying level of preparation.

Three enchanted treasures!

What kind of wealth was that? Even some ordinary Golden Core cultivators weren’t that rich!

Even if Mi Shuhua couldn't wield all three treasures at once, just being able to accumulate them was already astonishing.

And yet, even with such resources, Mi Shuhua still ended up dead.

Recalling how both Pang Renxiong and Miao Wen had referred to a ‘rat’ twice now, Luo Chen suddenly realized something.

He had been dragged into a conflict between Golden Core cultivators!

***

Time flowed like a river, the sun rising and falling in an endless cycle.

As dusk settled and the golden afterglow of the setting sun bathed the vast river, Luo Tianhong came to a halt.

His expression was solemn as he held the Soul-Gathering Lamp. Lowering his gaze, his sharp, penetrating eyes locked onto the depths of the great river.

They were now far from Dahe Market. The river spanned several thousand meters in width, resembling an endless sea.

Just then, a terrifying surge of enchanting power rippled outward from the heart of the river, its might vast and unfathomable.

Its hostility was unmistakable, directly aimed at Luo Tianhong.

Facing this chilling display, Luo Tianhong showed no hesitation and shouted boldly.

"Elder, please unsheath your sword!"

In the next instant, a golden streak of light shot forth from the depths of Dahe Market like a falling meteor.

Sword qi surged like an unstoppable tide, its momentum overwhelming!