Chapter 248: Nanwa Is Gone, An Old Friend Comes in the Snow, Luo Tian Society’s Shift, Rising to the Summit (I)

The first time Luo Chen stepped into the Precious Dragon Black Market was during the period when the Golden Core Ruins had opened, and chaos in Dahe Market had intensified.

It was also then that Luo Chen auctioned off the Blood-Burning pills, catching the attention of Tian Xingzi, laying the groundwork for their future collaboration.

As such, Luo Chen vividly remembered that initial black market auction.

He distinctly recalled that there were three Foundation Establishment cultivators in attendance.

Aside from Tian Xingzi, the master of the black market, the other two had rather suspicious behavior.

The Golden Core Ruins held the legacy of the Supreme Elder of Ghost Valley, containing not just rare enchanted treasures, but also enchanted artifacts, and even opportunities crucial to Foundation Establishment cultivators seeking Core Formation.

Given such valuable prospects, it was highly unusual for those two Foundation Establishment cultivators to ignore the ruins and instead attend a black market auction. Their motives were undeniably suspect.

At that time, Luo Chen had limited knowledge and experience. His only prior encounter with Foundation Establishment cultivators had been a fleeting glance at the Golden Core Banquet in Zhongding Restaurant.

Thus, he hadn’t recognized them.

After attending multiple black market auctions and encountering more Foundation Establishment cultivators, Luo Chen gradually became familiar with the key figures operating around Dahe Market.

Through their mannerisms, speech patterns, and small details, he eventually confirmed that the two Foundation Establishment cultivators at his first black market auction had been none other than Duan Qiankun and Elder Zhou of the Lianyun Trade Alliance.

After all, the circle of cultivators in the region was small, and the number of powerful figures even smaller.

Even with disguises, after repeated encounters, Luo Chen was no fool, he could naturally distinguish who was who.

He distinctly remembered that Duan Qiankun’s primary reason for attending that auction had been to obtain an eight-hundred-year-old heaven and earth root.

Because of this item, he had even verbally agreed to one of Elder Zhou’s conditions.

Later, in conversations with Miao Wen, Luo Chen pieced together what had truly happened on the night the Poshan Gang was annihilated.

Five Foundation Establishment cultivators had besieged Mi Shuhua. It had even led to the intervention of Lu Jiushi, the Golden Core Adept from the Lianyun Trade Alliance.

Among them, Duan Qiankun had also played a role.

Luo Chen knew well that Duan Qiankun and Mi Shuhua had risen together in Dahe Market and had once been close. For Duan Qiankun to turn against Mi Shuhua, it must have been because of that promised condition.

In the past, these events had seemed shrouded in mist, unclear, full of unanswered questions. But as Luo Chen’s cultivation realm advanced and his network expanded, everything became crystal clear with just a bit of thought.

The dead were gone, and there was no changing the past.

Thinking about them now was merely a way to settle his own thoughts.

What Luo Chen truly cared about was the heaven and earth root that Duan Qiankun had won at the auction.

heaven and earth root! A miraculous medicinal treasure with extraordinary effects on realm breakthroughs! It was categorized by age, three hundred years as a minor stage, three thousand years as a major limit.

For every additional three hundred years, it could increase a cultivator’s Foundation Establishment success rate by ten percent. An eight-hundred-year-old heaven and earth root could increase a Qi-Refining cultivator’s Foundation Establishment success rate by twenty percent.

Its effectiveness was only ten percent lower than that of a standard Foundation Establishment pill available on the market. If an alchemy master refined it into a mid-grade or even high-grade Foundation Establishment pill, the success rate could be raised to forty or even fifty percent!

Moreover, as a miraculous medicine for breaking through bottlenecks, the heaven and earth root had advantages beyond just its potent effects. Typically, when attempting a breakthrough, failure could result in severe consequences. In the best-case scenario, it would cause only minor backlash, leading to damaged meridians. But in the worst-case scenario, it could completely destroy the dantian, send spirit energy into a chaotic eruption, and lead to instant death.

However, using the heaven and earth root for a breakthrough, even if unsuccessful, its gentle medicinal properties would ensure that the cultivator wouldn’t suffer severe injuries.

This was the true power of a breakthrough pill.

Duan Qiankun had paid such a hefty price for it. There was no way it was for himself.

Duan Rui!

Even after two failures, Duan Qiankun still hadn't given up on him. Purchasing the eight-hundred-year-old heaven and earth root was clearly another attempt to aid his Foundation Establishment.

Judging from his later actions, Duan Qiankun’s frequent attendance at black market auctions was not just for family resources but also to gather more supplementary items for Foundation Establishment.

Revitalization liquid, Glazed Balm, calming incense...

All of these had varying degrees of use in assisting Foundation Establishment. They were common alternatives used by rogue cultivators who couldn’t obtain a Foundation Establishment pill.

Although these supplements combined could never match the potency of a true Foundation Establishment pill, they were still better than nothing.

Since Duan Qiankun couldn’t find a third Foundation Establishment pill in time and his own lifespan was running out, he had decided to use the heaven and earth root for Duan Rui’s final attempt.

They say that failure shouldn't happen more than thrice!

Perhaps this time, if Duan Rui had the courage to risk everything, he might just succeed. If he did succeed, the Duan family would have two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

How then could Duan Feng ever hope to exact his revenge?

I can't say it!

If I say it now, Duan Feng might storm into their home by tomorrow.

He’s absolutely reckless enough to do something like that. But I can't just watch him throw himself at a stone wall to be crushed.

Watching as Duan Feng emptied Luo Chen’s wine gourd cup by cup in such a short time.

Luo Chen frowned and snatched the wine gourd that Grandpa Xiaoyue had given him."Stop drinking. At this rate, my wine will be gone."

"So stingy? Didn’t you say there was plenty of wine?"

"Tch, your story’s over anyway!"

Duan Feng was stunned for a moment before forcing a bitter smile and shaking his head.

He slumped onto the table and murmured, "Yeah... My life hasn't had much worth mentioning. My only good memories are from when my mother cared for me. Back then, I always thought that once I became powerful, I’d forge a bracelet for her. One that was beautiful and had strong defensive abilities..."

Luo Chen looked at him helplessly.

He stood up and pushed open the door.

A biting cold wind swept into the room, carrying with it the sharp chill of winter.

At the same moment, a figure outside startled, leaping back like a frightened deer.

"You’re not alone," Luo Chen said, his voice steady. "You have us, your friends."

Outside the door, Feng Xia cast a grateful glance at Luo Chen.

Lately, Duan Feng had been in a constant state of restlessness, his emotions weighed down by frustration, yet tinged with an uncontrollable impatience.

Now that Luo Chen had comforted him, perhaps it would help him...

"And there's Sister Xia!" Luo Chen’s voice carried a teasing lilt.

"Sister Xia is such a great woman, where else would you find someone like her?

"You spend every day consumed by revenge, that’s your choice, and I won’t interfere.

"You can take what the Duan family offers you without guilt, it’s not being ungrateful. After all, that’s what you deserve. But Sister Xia has given you her heart and soul. If you let her down, then you really would be ungrateful.

"If that happens, I, Luo Chen, will be the first to—

Before Luo Chen could finish his sentence, Feng Xia, her face flushed red, cut him off.

She shook her head silently, her eyes slightly reddened.

Inside the room, Duan Feng was completely silent, slumped over the table. It was unclear whether he had passed out from the alcohol or was simply avoiding reality like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

Luo Chen smirked, nodded at Feng Xia, and strode away without hesitation.

Feng Xia quietly entered the room, gathering the bone fragments, bowls, dishes, and chopsticks from the table and carrying them to the kitchen. She swept the crushed porcelain cup’s powder into a dustpan.

Finally, she fetched a coat from the bedroom, draped it over Duan Feng, and then left the house.

Just as she shut the door, she faintly saw Duan Feng’s shoulders tremble for a brief moment.

***

A hundred li south of Dahe Market, nestled within a snow-covered mountain, lay Xiao Huan Mountain.

On the outside, it was covered in silver frost, with withered trees standing stark against the cold.

Yet within, the climate was unexpectedly warm, with mortals bustling about, their movements unimpeded by the harsh winter.

At the peak of the mountain, within a secluded pavilion, an elder stood in silence, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

Once, from this very vantage point, he could behold the breathtaking grandeur of Nanwa Snow Mountain.

Each winter, when the snow descended, the eternal ice that crowned Nanwa would extend outward, an unbroken expanse of white. The snow, thick and heavy, spread like an enormous tile, jutting forth into the sky, blocking out the sun, and veiling the mountain beneath its frozen embrace.

On clear days, the sight was truly magnificent.

Each time the elder witnessed that spectacle, he saw himself reflected in it.

Like that immense, protective layer of ice, he too had shielded his family, sheltering them beneath his unwavering protection.

But alas, Nanwa Snow Mountain had been destroyed by the Golden Core Adept, Pang Renxiong. That once-stunning spectacle had been reduced to a barren peak.

And now, as he stood there, the elder, Duan Qiankun, could not help but feel that his family's fate mirrored that of the mountain. The great tile that had shielded the Duan family for so long... was melting away, vanishing without a trace.

Just then, a voice broke the silence.

"Patriarch, I have returned."

A middle-aged man stood beside him, his posture respectful, his demeanor solemn.

Duan Qiankun did not turn around but asked directly, "How did it go?"

The man hesitated for a moment before responding. "It went smoothly... and yet, not."

Hm?

The middle-aged man lowered his head and said, "The pill matter did not go well. Gu Caiyi from the Gold Hall said that medicinal materials are in short supply, and pill production has not been able to increase.

"Additionally, before the Nangong family sealed themselves away, they purchased a massive stock of Jade Essence pills, completely depleting their reserves.

"Right now, all Jade Essence pills on the market are made and sold immediately."

After speaking, he stood there respectfully, barely daring to breathe.

As if expecting to be reprimanded at any moment. Yet this time, the patriarch did not scold him.

There was only a sigh.

"Dan Chenzi...

"When Mi Shuhua refused to ally with me, I never understood why. But now, it’s clear, his foresight was sharp, his judgment keen. If I had him under my control, how could the Duan family not flourish!"

The middle-aged man was stunned.

Why was the patriarch suddenly talking about the president of Luo Tian Society?

But that alchemy master was indeed formidable. He had single-handedly built up the Luo Tian Society as an emerging force and his pill business was thriving.

Many rogue cultivators in Dahe Market spoke well of them, saying that if not for Luo Tian Society, they would have nowhere to buy pills after the Spirit Herb Pavilion relocated.

Shaking his head, he pushed aside these thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Duan Feng accepted the things we sent him!"

That was the smooth part of the mission.

Yet after hearing this, Duan Qiankun showed no joy. He merely asked calmly, "Did Duan Feng mention whether he would return for Qingming [1] to visit his mother's grave?"

The middle-aged man hesitated. "I think... he didn't mention it."

"Alright, you may leave."

After the man left, Duan Qiankun let out a long sigh.

Duan Feng was his grandson too... Yet, unknowingly, he had drifted away from the family, even turning against it.

He refused to forgive me. But what exactly did I do wrong?

For the long-term future of the family, every decision Duan Qiankun had made had been undeniably correct.

His younger grandson, Duan Rui, had superior talent. The Duan family's cultivation environment was perfectly suited for him, water and fire dual cultivation. Once he achieved Foundation Establishment, even if he lagged slightly in the realm, he would still stand as a formidable force among his peers.

Even if he passed away, Duan Rui could still be the pillar that held up the family. It was merely a matter of making Duan Feng's family endure some hardship.

And Shisan Niang[2]... why did she have to take her own life?

The Nangong family was eager to establish themselves, if she married into them, she would surely be well-treated. Nangong Qin was also a peerless talent among Qi-Refining cultivators, with great potential to reach Foundation Establishment!

He had even been named the future patriarch of the Nangong family. How could that be considered an injustice to Shisan Niang, a widow?

With that marriage, Duan Feng could rely on his artifact-forging skills to secure a high-ranking position within the Duan family. He could even use his mother’s influence in the Nangong family to gain even more power.

With support from both sides, securing a Foundation Establishment pill for Duan Feng in the future would be no challenge at all.

Duan Qiankun asked himself, had he ever acted selfishly in any of these decisions?

By his plan, if everything had gone as expected, the Duan family would only have grown stronger. The grand vision of a family with two Foundation Establishment cultivators was entirely within reach!

So where, exactly, had things gone wrong?

Duan Qiankun let out a bitter laugh. Perhaps the mistake had been spoiling Duan Rui too much! Ever since discovering his dual spirit roots of water and fire, everything had begun to go astray.

The favoritism in resources, the overwhelming focus of the entire family, the all-encompassing protection, he had been given whatever he desired. His cultivation progressed quickly, but unknowingly, his temperament had been neglected.

Ever since that fierce battle with the Bai family of Glowing Stream Market, the Duan family has been at peace for too long. The training of Duan family disciples has not been as strict as the Nangong and Li families.

Among his peers, the Foundation Establishment cultivators all praised him for raising a Perfected Mastery Qi-Refining genius and a grandson with exceptional artifact-forging talent.

But how could he not envy young talents like Nangong Qin and Li Ao, who could stand on their own?

He had initially agreed to join Xuanyi Society, hoping to use its influence to temper the younger generation of his family. Unfortunately, chaos struck too swiftly, the upheaval was too great, and Xuanyi Society collapsed prematurely.

Duan Rui, having failed another Foundation Establishment attempt, never got the chance to be tempered by these conflicts.

The original hope was that he would mature once he reached Foundation Establishment. But instead, he remains stuck at what should have been a simple hurdle.

Two Foundation Establishment pills, wasted!

With a sigh, his spirit sense swept outward. It didn’t take long for him to locate the so-called genius of the Duan family, the one who had wasted two Foundation Establishment pills.

Lying comfortably in a warm bed, he was embracing beauties on either side.

Outside, snow covered the heavens, and cold winds howled, but within, he lived in absolute comfort.

Does he not realize that if I die, how will the Duan family hold onto this prosperous spirit land?

Duan Qiankun’s expression darkened, a flicker of fury flashing across his face as he let out a cold snort.

Far away, in a lavishly furnished chamber, a young man who bore a slight resemblance to Duan Feng suddenly turned pale.

Immediately, he waved his hand.

"Get out, get out. I need to cultivate now. Women truly cloud my mind!"

A surge of pure spirit power sent the two women flying. They tumbled out of the room like rolling gourds, utterly disheveled.

Once they were gone, the young man gave a sheepish smile.

Facing the empty chamber, he muttered to himself, or perhaps, to the invisible presence watching over him.

"Grandfather, I haven’t fully recovered yet, so I just rested for two days.

"I really haven’t been slacking."

There was no response.

The young man curled his lips in disdain. He had already reached Perfected Mastery in Qi-Refining, what was the point of cultivating anymore?

It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t break through his realm. It was the family’s weakness that was to blame.

If they had sent him to a major sect back then, with his talent, he would have reached Foundation Establishment long ago! Perhaps by now, he would have been a True Inheritor in some great sect, already on the path to the Golden Core Dao.

On Xiao Huan Mountain, Duan Qiankun had long since withdrawn his surveillance of him.

Alone, he stepped out of the family’ territory.

On this snowy day, an old acquaintance arrived through the swirling snow.

"Old friend, how is the progress on that item I entrusted you to refine?"

"It will be completed in just a few days. But now, I have a matter in which I must trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

"Oh? Spirit purification pill!"

1. 清明 (qing ming), a traditional Chinese festival for honoring ancestors and sweeping tombs, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day. ☜

2. This means Madam Thirteenth or Lady Thirteenth. I think she is the thirteenth daughter of her family. Not sure what lineage she is part of. To anyone who questioned this translation choice, this was intentionally done because this name holds emotional value to the son, which you will see later on. It would feel off if a name that carries so much emotional weight for the son ended up being something like "Lady Thirteenth" or "Madam Thirteenth." ☜