Chapter 269: The Path of the Four Great Foundation Establishments, Beginner Level Imperial Nectar (I)

At the top of the mountain, Luo Chen personally closed the wooden door of the thatched hut.

"Little Red, shrink!"

The Explosive Ape obeyed instantly, its massive frame rapidly condensing. In the blink of an eye, it was only about one and a half zhang tall. Maintaining its larger form for long periods placed a heavy burden on its body.

Luo Chen tossed over a pile of spirit fruits rich in spirit energy before issuing a clear command for it to guard the place.

Afterward, he called for Feng Xia to descend the mountain.

On Feng Xia’s back was Duan Feng. Despite having taken several healing pills, he remained unconscious. After all, while Duan Rui had no real combat ability, he was still at the Perfected Mastery of Qi Refining which should not be underestimated. For Duan Feng to have slain him, it was inevitable he’d suffered grave injuries himself.

Before long, the three of them reached the mountainside.

Luo Chen wasted no time handing the two over to Granny Yuan before continuing down alone.

No one dared to disturb him. Everyone knew that while it seemed as if Luo Chen had done nothing in battle, the truth was that from the initial war declaration to its intricate planning, he had been the mastermind behind it all. Even the final blow that sealed the victory had come from him.

The battle had been brutal. Although many cultivators from Luo Tian Society survived, their losses were significant. In that situation, if the rogue cultivators from Dahe Market had been incited to charge up the mountain, there would have been no way to safeguard their spoils.

Not only that, the cultivators of the Luo Tian Society would likely have been completely wiped out as well. Only Luo Chen, who retained his full battle power, could deter everyone.

Moreover, the threat from Foundation Establishment factions was something no one in Luo Tian Society could withstand. It was Luo Chen who personally negotiated, offering numerous benefits and even making promises, to maintain the balance.

As he walked through the mountain paths alone, Luo Chen’s face finally showed a hint of pallor. Unleashing that Solar Flare had already surpassed the limits of the Qi-Refining Realm. Even an early Foundation Establishment cultivator would struggle to execute such an attack.

He had only managed it by refining the Fireball to the level of Perfected Mastery. Through an intricate blend of delayed detonation and high-speed fusion, he had forced the spell to its absolute limit. But even then, that peak strike had only been possible by repeatedly casting Fireballs and consuming pills to replenish his energy.

If he had to attempt it again, he couldn’t guarantee the same result.

And yet, even after all that, Duan Qiankun still survived.

Defensive enchanted treasures...What a pity...The Zeguo Gui Diagram had already been given to Nangong Jin, rendering further lamentation useless.

Luo Chen paused at the edge of the deep pit. With a powerful leap, he soared into the air! Fierce winds whipped around him, his body slicing through the night like a falcon diving at its prey. He plunged straight into the depths of the crater, the surrounding flames parting before him.

Finally, he reached a cavern entrance sealed by crimson chains.

As he approached, the crimson chains seemed to sense his presence and clattered open.

He slowly descended into the underground cavern. Before his eyes, a blood-colored cocoon radiated a blinding scarlet glow, its eerie presence dominating the space.

Activating Spirit Eyes, Luo Chen peered through the dense essence of blood, uncovering the scene within the cocoon.

Duan Qiankun’s face twisted in agony, his limbs bound tightly by countless blood-colored serpents.

Opposite him, Wang Yuan sat cross-legged, the source of the writhing serpents that ensnared Duan Qiankun. A massive blood python had drilled into Duan Qiankun’s abdomen, its body burrowed deep into his dantian, draining his spirit power at an alarming rate.

Waves of spirit power surged outward, continuously being siphoned away. Most of it was absorbed by Wang Yuan through the serpents, while the remainder leaked out, merging with his blood essence to form the terrifying blood cocoon.

Luo Chen's pupils contracted as he witnessed the scene. "Is this the Heavenly Spirit Seizing Array?"

A voice drifted eerily from within the cocoon. "No, this is my improved fusion—the Blood Fiend Seizing Array."

Wang Yuan’s voice drifted eerily from within the blood cocoon but his words were drowned out by Duan Qiankun’s tortured wails, a chilling symphony of suffering.

Luo Chen felt his scalp tingle, and a chill ran through his body.

What a terrifying Blood Fiend Seizing Array!

Even though Wang Yuan had previously discussed this technique with him, Luo Chen still found it hard to believe that such a secret art could exist in this world. And yet, Wang Yuan actually dared to use it!

The origins of this could be traced back to the Debate Platform, where Wang Yuan had slain the blood cultivator Xiao Wuyan. From Xiao Wuyan’s belongings, Wang Yuan had obtained many things, a blood-path technique, a second-tier alchemical formula, and several blood-path secret techniques. If that had been all, it would have been insignificant.

But Wang Yuan had later participated in the struggle over the Golden Core Ruins. At that time, everyone’s attention had been focused on the heavenly treasures and the storage ring of the Supreme Elder from Divine Valley. Yet, only Wang Yuan had obtained something else—the Heavenly Spirit Seizing Array, the ancient formation that had guarded the ruins.

This formation, designed in an ancient and natural manner, operated on a grand scale. It seized the spirit energy of heaven and earth, forming a self-sustaining great array.

Since Wang Yuan was not skilled in array formations, he had merged this array with Xiao Wuyan’s blood-path secret techniques, creating an entirely new technique.

The Blood Fiend Seizing Array. This formation defied nature and violated the Great Dao itself. Due to its heinous nature, the array was heavily restricted, allowing only three uses before its power would dissipate.

However, its sole effect was something impossible to ignore. It could seize a cultivator’s cultivation. This "cultivation" included spirit power, spirit soul, and even the Dao Foundation!

The Dao Foundation—the very foundation of the Great Dao.

Foundation Establishment cultivators devoted themselves to solidifying this intangible essence. Seizing the spirit energy of heaven and earth was already an act of plundering, but to steal the cultivation of one’s enemy was an outright devastation.

However, if all that power was concentrated onto a single person, it would be an immense boost. This marked the opening of a new path to Foundation Establishment, one that did not rely solely on Foundation Establishment pills.

The reason Wang Yuan agreed to attack Xiao Huan Mountain and took on the main force in direct combat against Duan Qiankun was because his goal was the Dao Foundation of this aging Foundation Establishment cultivator.

With Luo Chen’s assistance, he had indeed achieved the first step of his objective.

Duan Qiankun was not dead—he was under his control, being drained. If successful, Wang Yuan would soar to new heights and become a Foundation Establishment Initiate!

Luo Chen took a deep breath and asked softly, "Do you need my help?"

From within the blood cocoon, Wang Yuan’s steady voice responded. "No need. I must do this on my own."

Luo Chen nodded and turned to leave.

Once outside the cavern, he cast Earth Summit, completely sealing the entrance. Not only that, but he also stationed guards around the area, forbidding anyone from approaching the massive pit.

By now, the flames had gradually died down. After all, a fire without fuel could not burn for long.

A steady spring rain fell over the battlefield, and soon, small pools of water began forming in the depths of the crater.

Given enough time, this place might eventually become a small lake. Such a drastic alteration of the landscape was far beyond the capability of any ordinary Qi-Refining cultivator.

This further proved that Luo Chen’s Solar Flare was a Foundation Establishment level technique, even surpassing the standard attacks of most Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After leaving, Luo Chen strolled along the mountainside.

He watched as Sima Huiniang and Murong Qinglian led people in handling the aftermath of the battle. He did not interfere much. As the leader, his presence alone was enough to reassure everyone.

One had to admit, with him around, everyone felt much more at ease. Since the founding of Luo Tian Society, in less than a year, they had already experienced two or three major battles. And they had all been victorious, bringing Luo Chen great fame.

During this time, Qin Liangchen approached Luo Chen. "There are some surviving mortals from the Duan family?"

"Yes. Among them, there are five early stage Qi-Refining cultivators. Should we kill them?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Chen fell silent. Faced with Qin Liangchen’s cold-blooded suggestion, he did not respond immediately.

Qin Liangchen looked at him and said, "This is a simple matter. Just leave it to me."

He did not want Luo Chen to be troubled by it and was willing to do the dirty work himself.

However, Luo Chen gently shook his head. "The outcome is already set. A group of weaklings won’t change anything.

"As for those Qi-Refining cultivators, just cripple their cultivation and the mortals... let Duan Feng decide when he wakes up."

After saying this, he flicked his sleeve and turned to ascend the mountain.

Qin Liangchen remained where he stood and let out a sigh.

This little brother of mine...He’s still too kind.

***

Was Luo Chen truly kind?

That depended on perspective. Toward close friends, he could indeed be considered kind. But when it came to his enemies, kindness was out of the question. Even toward the mid to low-tier cultivators of Luo Tian Society, it was clearly a relationship of mutual exploitation.

"I provide you with high wages and resources.

"When the crucial moment arrives, you must stand in the front lines for me."

In this battle, the Duan family was almost completely annihilated, but Luo Tian Society also paid a price. The fallen cultivators of Luo Tian Society would never again experience Luo Chen’s generosity.

In Luo Chen’s eyes, it was worth it. Those who survived this battle reaped great rewards.

Nangong Jin obtained the enchanted treasure he desired most—the Zeguo Gui Diagram.

Wang Yuan gained possession of Duan Qiankun, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and had the potential to ascend in a single leap using the Blood Fiend Seizing Array.

And as for himself...

Luo Tian Society has now firmly established itself in Dahe Market.

This was a monumental achievement. It signified that Luo Chen had finally gained the space and time to develop freely. Not through relying on others, not through borrowing power, but through his own strength, he had carved out this opportunity.

And another great reward was the Spirit Spring before him.

"The craftsmanship of nature is truly divine. Such a terrain, where yin and yang coexist, where water and fire harmonize appearing atop a mountain, no less." Luo Chen marveled at the sight.

His gaze flickered as he observed the spirit spring, which bore the shape of a yin-yang fish.

A plan surfaced in his mind.

Imperial Nectar...