Chapter 315: The Battle of Gaoling Plains (I)

Several days later, a flying boat drifted slowly over the desolate wilderness and jagged mountains below. It was the height of summer, yet the mountains that should have been lush with greenery stood barren and bare.

Luo Chen went out for a stroll on the deck. He looked out at the uneven ridges and jagged rocks and couldn’t help but shake his head. They had already entered the territory of Glowing Stream Market, yet this vast market domain held none of the spirit energy found in Dahe Market or Taishan Market.

It seemed the rumors were true; the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had indeed devastated the spirit veins here in their quest for ore.

Now the ore was gone. The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had waved a hand and left, as if they’d never been here at all. All they left behind for the local cultivators was devastation.

No wonder raiding cultivators are everywhere in Glowing Stream Market!

In a place where there are such scarce resources, how else can one survive? You expect them to cultivate obediently in meditation?

Sighing, Luo Chen was about to return when his gaze froze in a particular direction.

"Xiao Duan, is the Bai family in that direction?"

At the moment, the Skyhawk Flying Boat was being piloted by one of Duan Feng’s artifact-forging disciples, so their pace was relatively slow.

Duan Feng had taken the chance to step out for some fresh air. But the moment he heard the name “Bai family,” his usually calm expression cracked.

A deeply buried hatred flickered in his eyes. He nodded and replied in an icy tone, "If you see a mountain covered in massive evergreen cypresses, then it’s surely the Bai family’s ancestral land."

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.

In the distance, a towering mountain came into view, its slopes densely covered in lush, green cypress trees. But what truly drew the eye was the colossal cypress at its heart, rising straight from the mountain’s center like a jade pillar, stretching thousands of zhang high, piercing through the clouds.

Its vast canopy enveloped the entire peak, casting it in near-perpetual shadow, barely allowing a trace of sunlight to reach the ground. The evergreen cypress was known as a first-tier spirit wood, but to grow to such an immense size, it had clearly surpassed that classification, reaching into the second-tier. In fact, the faint energy it exuded hinted that it was already brushing against the threshold of the third.

"There’s definitely an enormous cypress there," said Luo Chen.

"Then that’s the place," Duan Feng said coldly. "Most of the Glowing Stream Market’s spirit veins were destroyed. Only the Bai family managed to survive, due to that second-tier cypress, which locked down the local leyline’s spirit energy. It’s what earned them two hundred years of prestige.

"That tree also produces cypress resin, an excellent material for artifact forging." Paired with the region’s once-rich ore supply, the Bai family rose to prominence as a family of artifact forgers."

Luo Chen nodded in realization, then asked curiously, "So that’s what led to the cross-market war between your Duan family and the Bai family?"

"Exactly. The cultivators in Glowing Stream Market didn’t have the purchasing power. The Bai family mass-produced too many low-tier enchanted artifacts and tried to push them into Dahe Market. That triggered a war between the two great artifact-forging families."

Duan Feng spoke with precise clarity—almost word for word.

Luo Chen studied his face, twisted in hatred, and understood.

It had been in that very war that Duan Feng’s father gave his life for the family, slain by a cultivator from the Bai family.

"Don’t worry. I hate them, yes. But I won’t let that cloud my judgment or compromise the bigger picture." Duan Feng pressed his lips into a line. His voice squeezed out from between clenched teeth, one word at a time. "When I reach Foundation Establishment, I’ll repay this debt myself!"

Luo Chen patted his shoulder gently. "Xiao Duan, you won’t have to wait long for that... Hmm?"

Suddenly, his words trailed off. Luo Chen furrowed his brows, and his gaze grew sharp as it swept across the surrounding landscape.

Just now, he had distinctly felt the eerie sensation of being watched.

"I’ll go take over the helm. Call me if you need anything."

Duan Feng clearly had no interest in lingering outside. Casting one last deep glance toward the Bai family’s territory, he turned and ducked into the lower deck.

Luo Chen gave a soft grunt in acknowledgment but didn’t move. His eyes remained narrowed, steadily scanning the area with growing doubt.

Nothing? That abrupt withdrawal... only makes me more certain. Someone was spying on me just now. But who was it and from where?

In the next instant, radiant light surged from his pupils, Perfected Mastery Spirit Eyes, fully activated. His gaze locked onto the distant valley, stretching toward the towering evergreen cypress.

***

"What a frightening sense!"

Atop the massive cypress, a ruddy-faced, slightly greasy-looking middle-aged man stiffened. His expression darkened as he gripped the formation disc tightly, muttering under his breath with sharp unease.

"Overbearing and unguarded... this boy is no ordinary cultivator."

Moments ago, it had been he who used the massive cypress beneath him to spy across the plains. But to his surprise, he’d nearly been caught in the act.

No, not nearly.

That Dan Chenzi had already noticed him.

Beside him, a Bai family cultivator at the ninth stage of Qi-Refining asked curiously, “Patriarch, now that we’ve been spotted... should we still take action?”

Bai Lun, Patriarch of the Bai family, let out a cold laugh.

"So what if we’ve been discovered? Pretending ignorance now would be the most suspicious thing of all. Besides, if they want to pass through our land, how could we let them leave without paying a little toll?"

The cultivator frowned, clearly uneasy. “But... the Luo Tian Society isn’t easy to provoke.”

Though the Luo Tian Society had only been around for a few years, its name had spread far and wide. The destruction of the Duan family alone had etched them into the minds of cultivators across multiple markets.

Back in the day, during the infamous cross-market war, the Bai and Duan families had fought a blood-soaked, world-shaking conflict. At one point, the Duan family’s forces had nearly stormed Mount Cypress itself.

If not for the massive evergreen cypress and the second-tier grand formation they constructed atop it, the Bai family would never have been able to deliver such a devastating blow to the Duan family, and they would have been erased from the cultivation world altogether.

The fact that the Luo Tian Society had managed to wipe out the Duan family completely... was proof of just how formidable they truly were.

Bai Lun let out a cold chuckle. "Of course, I know the Luo Tian Society isn’t an easy enemy. That’s precisely why we won’t be laying a finger on them. Someone else will handle that for us."

He leaned forward slightly, a cruel glint in his eyes. "As for us? The Nangong family was who we’re after."

A vicious gleam flashed across his face, laced with a flicker of greed. He’d heard about what happened at the Huo family auction and how Nangong Jin had challenged Wang Haichao over a low-grade enchanted treasure.

That could only mean that Nangong Jin was carrying a hefty amount of spirit stones. The defensive enchanted treasure might have already been claimed, but all those spirit stones? They were still up for grabs.

When the other Bai family cultivators heard they were targeting the Nangong family, the tension noticeably eased.

The Luo Tian Society and the Li family? Both were difficult opponents.

But the Nangong family? That was a target they could handle.

Just then, Bai Lun’s eyes narrowed, and he let out a soft sound of surprise.

“Patriarch, what is it?” one of the cultivators asked.

Raising an eyebrow, Bai Lun muttered, “Seems this Dan Chenzi is more cautious than he looks. My spying must’ve stirred his instincts, he’s already changed course.”

***

"Change course, bypass Glowing Stream Market!"

With a single command, Luo Chen made the call.

Even though Sima Huiniang was visibly confused, she didn’t question him. She relayed the order at once, and soon, the Skyhawk Flying Boat veered off its original path, slowly curving around Glowing Stream Market.

"What’s going on, Luo Chen?" Wang Yuan asked, frowning.

“Brother Wang,” Luo Chen replied quietly, “something feels off.”

Hmm?

“It’s fine. I’ll keep an eye on it.” Luo Chen narrowed his eyes. His Spirit Eyes gleamed faintly as he scanned the distant landscape with piercing clarity.

The prying gaze from earlier had undoubtedly come from the Bai family.

That alone wasn’t surprising. Anyone bold enough to fly straight through another territory would naturally draw scrutiny.

But that wasn’t the problem.

What unsettled Luo Chen was that after being detected, the other party had made no move to appear, greet, warn, or open communication. In a world where even enemies followed certain formalities, such secretive behavior could only mean one thing. They bore ill intent.

The journey to Tianlan Immortal City was already long and dangerous. There was no need to invite trouble.

Besides, bypassing Glowing Stream Market didn’t mean straying far from their route. It would only cost them a bit more time.

While the Skyhawk Flying Boat adapted easily to the change, the sudden turn caught the Li and Nangong families off guard.

Behind them—

“Father, do we keep following them?” Nangong Qin asked, staring at the distant, curving flight path.

Nangong Jin stood still for a moment, gaze unreadable. After a long pause, he shook his head. "No. Let’s not follow. We’re not suited for an extended journey. Glowing Stream Market may be barren, but it’s just barely enough for us to hold on.”

And just like that, the decision was made. The Nangong family would settle in Glowing Stream Market.

Still, Nangong Jin looked toward the horizon, troubled.

“The Luo Tian Society’s sudden change in direction... something must’ve happened. We can’t let our guard down either. Have everyone stop here and rest.”

With his command, the Nangong family halted and began setting up camp.

Not long after, the main forces of the Li family caught up.

From a distance, Nangong Jin flew out and hovered midair, watching as the Li family’s flying boat slowly approached. On the deck, Li Yixian met his gaze with a calm expression.

“So the Li family has chosen to travel with the Luo Tian Society,” Nangong Jin murmured to himself.

He let out a long sigh. From this point onward, their paths would diverge. Without Luo Chen and Li Yixian, his fellow Foundation Establishment Initiates from Dahe Market. Nangong Jin felt an unexpected heaviness settle on his shoulders.

Was Glowing Stream Market really the right place to settle...?

No one could give him that answer, but he had made his decision.

First thing tomorrow, he would pay a visit to the local power, the Bai family’s Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If negotiations went well, that would be ideal. But if not...