Chapter 303: Blood Stains the Great River, Falling Like Rain (II)

As he asked himself honestly, Luo Chen knew he had no confidence in the answer.

The techniques he once relied on during Qi-Refining?

Now looking back, they were downright laughable. What once seemed like lifelines, now felt crude and brittle, barely scratching the surface of true power.

The Lancang River had always been considered one of the safer waterways.

Cultivators had traveled its length for generations, their presence a constant over the years. In contrast, the Howling Moon Mountains were a true wilderness, remote, untamed, and merciless. Even in peripheral areas like Changyin Mountain, second-tier demonic wolves roamed freely, their howls haunting the forests.

Had Luo Chen chosen to escape through those mountains back then, driven by desperation, he might not even have left a corpse behind. His death would have been far more tragic than what had befallen those rogue cultivators earlier.

Just as Luo Chen was lost in thought, he felt a sudden twinge in his heart.

As he quietly reflected on this, a strange sense tugged at his heart. He turned his head, and there, on the deck of the lead ship, stood Li Yixian. Wind whipped through her robes, stained with streaks of blood. She didn’t speak, didn’t gesture, only stared at him across the windblown gap.

As Luo Chen met her gaze, she gave a small, solemn nod.

Luo Chen returned the gesture with a subtle dip of his head.

No words passed between them, but in that silent exchange, an agreement was forged, wordless yet firm.

Wang Haichao... cannot be trusted.

He had sacrificed the rogue cultivators today without a second thought. Who could say he wouldn’t discard his allies next?

The “Four-Faction Alliance” was just a title. Nothing had been bound by oath, no pledge before the Great Dao.

In contrast to the weaker Nangong family, the Luo Tian Society and the Li family, both with their strength largely intact, stood on far more equal footing. They had the foundation to stand together, to retreat and advance in tandem.

Li Yixian believed that Luo Chen would acknowledge and honor that understanding.

Within the ship's cabin, Li Ao respectfully welcomed Li Yixian into the cabin. “Aunt, what did Senior Dan Chenzi say?”

Li Yixian cast a Sound Isolation, sealing the room in silence.

“He didn’t say anything. But he understood what I meant,” she replied softly.

“But understanding is one thing. Willingness to stand with the Li family is another. Aunt, you, ” Li Ao protested anxiously.

“Xiao Ao, this won’t do.”

Uh...

Li Yixian looked at him with gentle pity. “You’re too impatient. How can you possibly lead the Li family to prosperity like this?”

Li Ao didn’t understand. He felt everything he’d done was for the good of their family. How could that be considered impatience?

Seeing his self-assured expression, Li Yixian sighed.

He was no longer young, yet Li Ao’s temperament remained as rash and restless as ever. Among the younger generation, let alone Luo Chen, who now stood shoulder to shoulder with her, he couldn’t even compare to Nangong Qin.

The latter had experienced both glory and downfall over the years. Through many trials, he had gradually developed the bearing of a family head.

She had seen it clearly just now.

Though Nangong Jin had spoken with urgency, the Nangong family had shown no signs of disorder. Under Nangong Qin’s command, their response to the Silver Dartfish had been orderly and efficient. In contrast, the powerful Li family had suffered more than they should have under Li Ao’s command. Caught up in the frenzy of battle, he nearly leapt from the ship in pursuit of the Silver Dartfish.

Had Li Yixian not stepped in, the Li family might have lost even more cultivators.

So how exactly did Nangong Jin manage to raise such a steady son?

Shaking her head, Li Yixian spoke gently, “Luo Chen is not someone innately cold. If he were, he wouldn’t have gathered such a strong group of elites around him.

“He and I share no past grievances, no recent enmities. We’ve built a solid foundation for cooperation.

“When he broke through Foundation Establishment, I gifted him the Medicine King Codex of Yimu, the very thing he desired most, and even personally explained some of its cultivation pitfalls.

“Such kindness may not guarantee reciprocation, but at the very least, he’ll stand with us when the time comes.

“Xiao Ao, when dealing with others, don’t think only in terms of profit. Consider the person. Understand?”

Li Ao’s eyes lit up with realization.

But then he frowned again. “But Luo Chen is secretly aligning with us, isn’t that also just to protect his own Luo Tian Society?”

Li Yixian was momentarily stunned. She didn’t know how to refute that.

She could only wave her gauzy sleeve. “Go now. See to the family. There’s still a long road ahead.”

“...Alright.”

After Li Ao left, a bitter smile rose to Li Yixian’s lips. She’d never married, never studied parenting. All she knew was cultivation. How could she truly know how to raise a child?

All these years, she’d merely imitated what others did, offering guidance to Li Ao here and there. And somehow, she had raised a son who was arrogant and overconfident.

“Elder Sister... I really don’t know how to raise your son anymore...

“Bringing him to Foundation Establishment... that might be all I’m capable of doing.”

***

Onboard the Luo Tian Society’s large ship, Sima Huiniang was in the middle of a tense discussion with Murong Qinglian and Granny Yuan, planning how to deal with the growing number of injured cultivators.

Suddenly, she paused mid-sentence. Her expression shifted.

“Apologies, the President is looking for me,” she said.

Murong Qinglian glanced toward the upper deck and nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll take care of things here.”

Granny Yuan gave a soft cough and spoke in her wavering voice, “Leave the injured to me.”

Sima Huiniang gave her thanks, lifted the hem of her dress, and hurried into the upper cabin.

Unlike the cramped, disorderly lower decks, Luo Chen’s quarters were spacious and well-lit. A gentle scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

“President, what do you need from me?”

On the cushioned chaise, Luo Chen opened his eyes and looked at the woman before him, clad in a black gauze dress, elegant and efficient.

Under his gaze, Sima Huiniang stood with calm dignity, patiently waiting for instructions.

“It’s nothing major,” Luo Chen said, his tone relaxed. “Just have Duan Feng adjust our course. From here on, keep our ship sailing a little closer to the Li family’s.”

Sima Huiniang’s brow arched slightly. “Are we cooperating with the Li family?”

Sharp as always. Instantly understood.

Luo Chen gave a faint smile. “There’s that intent, yes, but neither side has made it explicit.”

Sima Huiniang nodded in acknowledgment, indicating she’d carry out the order.

Then she asked curiously, “Why not the Nangong family? We’re more closely tied with them, aren’t we?”

“Nangong Jin...” Luo Chen murmured the name, then continued slowly, “He places too much weight on profit. Without a binding Great Dao oath, he’s not to be trusted.”

Sima Huiniang was briefly stunned, then nodded sharply in agreement. “That’s absolutely true!”

She wasn’t like those clueless low-tier cultivators. Luo Chen had always ensured she was kept informed of any major matters concerning Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Luo Tian Society.

Nangong Jin had always valued profit above all else. When he first feared offending Miao Wen, he had flatly refused to cooperate with Luo Chen. But the moment he recognized Luo Chen’s potential, he changed his stance without hesitation. For the sake of a single enchanted treasure, he didn’t hesitate to sever ties with a former ally and even went so far as to strike personally against Duan Qiankun. Opportunistic and calculating, such had always been his way.

When Luo Chen was in seclusion and the Luo Tian Society couldn’t meet the demand for Jade Essence pills, Nangong Jin nearly forced his way up the mountain to disturb his breakthrough.

Working with him required substantial mutual interest, and leverage. Otherwise, he was simply too capricious and unreliable.

Whereas, the Li family...

“Li Yixian has a relatively simple mindset. She’s just trying to preserve the Li family and protect herself.

“As long as you don’t touch her bottom line, she’s someone you can befriend.”

Hearing Luo Chen’s words, Sima Huiniang fell into thoughtful silence.

She recalled how, during the Foundation Establishment ceremony, Li Yixian had deliberately shared some breakthrough insights, it had clearly been an extra favor outside of their formal alliance.

That woman... truly was generous in nature.

The President really knows how to tailor his approach depending on the person...

That thought flashed through her mind, and any lingering doubt she had vanished.

“Understood. I’ll issue the order, only the Seven Hall Leaders will be informed.”

“Good. Off you go.”

Sima Huiniang bowed crisply and exited the cabin without delay.

Watching her retreating figure, Luo Chen felt quite satisfied.

That last part, “only the Seven Hall Leaders will know”, he hadn’t told her to say that. But she’d grasped it instantly and acted appropriately.

This woman had indeed grown a great deal in recent years, there was the air of a true commander in her now. Gone was the narrow-minded lone operator she once was; now she considered things from the broader perspective of the entire Luo Tian Society.

“If only her cultivation realm were higher, she could be even more useful.

“Judging by her spirit power fluctuations, she’s not far from reaching Perfected Mastery in Qi-Refining.

“Perhaps... I should make some preparations for her in advance.”

As for Sima Huiniang, Luo Chen’s attitude toward her was crystal clear.

Unlike Murong Qinglian, Gu Caiyi, or Duan Feng, friends from his early years, he had always regarded Sima Huiniang strictly as a subordinate.

There were no emotional entanglements, no friendship, no affection, no sentiment.

What he valued was her capability. And as long as she continued to create value for him, Luo Chen was more than willing to reward her generously.

Foundation Establishment! That was undoubtedly what she desired most. And for the Luo Chen of today, helping a qualified individual reach Foundation Establishment wasn’t all that difficult.

Rather, for most Foundation Establishment cultivators, assisting another with good talent to breakthrough was not difficult at all.

Even Mi Shuhua had managed to procure a Foundation Establishment pill in his day, and so had people like Wang Haichao. Duan Qiankun had gone even further, preparing two Foundation Pills and an eight-hundred-year-old Heaven and Earth Root for Duan Rui.

And yet none of them had successfully raised a Foundation Establishment cultivator, each for their own reasons.

Mi Shuhua had been too hypocritical; Wang Haichao too narrow-minded.

Duan Qiankun’s case was simply... tragic. It wasn’t that he had failed, it was Duan Rui who had fallen short.

Let’s hope she doesn’t let me down when the time comes.

Luo Chen sighed softly, then refocused his thoughts on himself. Without a method to purge pill toxins, his daily cultivation became even more critical.

Due to the spike in divine soul strength after Foundation Establishment, and his recent completion of the first stage of physical cultivation, his daily sessions of the

Medicine King Codex of Yimu

had increased considerably.

Each session lasted an hour. He could manage five sessions a day. The only issue was efficiency, even with a minor spirit-gathering array aiding him.

After all, there were no spirit veins onboard the ship.

Once I settle down, I absolutely must find a land with spirit veins. First-tier won’t cut it, my aptitude is too poor. I need at least a second-tier spirit vein.

Otherwise... I might really be stuck cultivating for a thousand years.