Chapter 337: No Next Time (I)

Once Luo Chen and Sima Huiniang had exited the city limits, the Langqi Flying Boat shifted seamlessly into flight mode. Without the urban crowds and curious gazes, it looked far less conspicuous as it glided effortlessly through the sky.

Relying on the map burned into his memory from the sand table, Luo Chen steered the vessel forward at full speed. Sima Huiniang stood beside him, silent and steady as they approached their destination. Before long, the towering silhouette of Danxia Peak loomed into view.

To his surprise, the area wasn’t as barren or abandoned as Shi Lan had described. In fact, the surroundings bustled with unexpected activity.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Luo Chen activated his Spirit Eyes, sweeping the terrain before nodding slightly.

"Huiniang," he said calmly, "go ask around and get a clearer picture of what’s really going on here at Danxia Peak."

He had no intention of relying solely on Shi Lan’s rosy descriptions. This was to be the Luo Tian Society’s long-term base; if something went wrong later, it would be his burden to bear.

Sima Huiniang didn’t need convincing. In her early days, she’d run businesses and bartered goods with her brothers across various markets. Gathering intel in unfamiliar places was second nature to her.

As she headed toward a shadowed valley at the mountain’s base, Luo Chen clasped his hands behind his back and gazed up at the towering peak before him.

Tall!

That was his first impression. Danxia Peak loomed high into the sky, its ridgeline bold and proud.

Next, what struck him was the mountain’s distinct plant life.

At the base, a gentle river flowed, seeming to emerge from Biyou Valley. Purple bamboo lined both banks. These were the Purplemist Bamboo shoots transplanted by the Min family long ago from the Bamboo Sea.

If grown to the second-tier, these bamboo stalks were excellent materials for crafting artifact flutes and other wind instruments. Unfortunately, after so many years, not even first-tier stalks remained in decent numbers.

No one would leave top-grade spirit bamboo growing by the roadside untouched.

Past the foot of the mountain lay its gently rising slopes where vast, flame-red maple trees spread in every direction. Like tongues of fire licking skyward, they painted the entirety of Danxia Peak in a vivid blaze of color.

Halfway up the mountain, the fiery sea of maples gave way. Flame maples became sparse, appearing only here and there as scattered bursts of red. In their place, the slope was dominated by two striking species of trees, cool-hued Azure Oaks and shimmering Golden Phoenix Trees. The blend of blue and gold created a breathtaking scene.

As for the peak, it was completely shrouded in white mist and hidden from sight.

Finally, what caught Luo Chen’s attention were the streaks of light zipping across the sky.

All of them were rogue cultivators in the Qi-Refining Realm, mostly late-stage.

"So they really have made themselves at home, huh?"

Luo Chen chuckled. He held no particular grudge against rogue cultivators. In fact, had their roles been reversed, he too would’ve gladly taken advantage of a rent-free spirit vein to settle down.

But now... they were infringing on his interests. So they couldn’t blame him for being unkind.

Before long, a figure emerged from the shadows of Biyou Valley and rose into the air. Sima Huiniang had returned.

She landed softly in front of Luo Chen.

"President, I’ve found out almost everything."

"Let’s hear it."

"There are around eight hundred rogue cultivators scattered across Danxia Peak, mostly living at the base and halfway up the mountain. Due to the presence of a first-tier earth fire vein here and some geographical advantages, Biyou Valley has developed into a little market, with several earth-fire caverns being rented out."

Luo Chen raised a brow.

A market? Earth fire caverns?

The former made sense; where there are people, there’s commerce. But the latter...

Under Luo Chen’s gaze, Sima Huiniang explained excitedly, "These earth fire caverns are fully excavated. They’re rented out to rogue cultivators for alchemy, artifact forging, or even cultivation, especially those with fire spirit roots."

"Rented out?" Luo Chen raised a brow. "Who’s collecting the rent?"

"The Divine Craftsman Sect and the Geng family," she replied.

Luo Chen shook his head with a chuckle. "Just as I thought. Binglan Palace hasn’t been paying attention out here. Others are already profiting off this spirit mountain, and no one noticed. Do they have any Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed here?"

Sima Huiniang shook her head, lips pursed in thought. "No, none stationed permanently. Which means... if we move in, we could take over those earth-fire caverns for our Alchemy and Artifact Halls. They’re already built and ready to use."

Luo Chen gave a thoughtful hum. He had originally considered hiring cultivators from Ai Lao Mountain to help construct such facilities. Now, with the groundwork already done, he could skip an entire phase of logistics.

Still, there was something else he cared about more.

"How many Foundation Establishment Initiates are on the mountain?"

At that, Sima Huiniang’s expression turned serious. "Three," she answered. "One is a first-stage cultivator named Cao Yunchun. The other two are a couple; the man is at the second stage, and the woman has just stepped into Foundation Establishment."

"What’s their reputation? Their strength? Any signature techniques? Any backing?"

One question after another rolled from his lips.

Sima Huiniang didn’t flinch. She had anticipated Luo Chen’s priorities and already spent spirit stones gathering information from locals in Biyou Valley. And as she answered each question, Luo Chen smiled.

"Those who end up occupying a first-tier spirit vein like this... really are washed-up rogue cultivators. Alright. Let’s head back."

Sima Huiniang boarded the flying boat, glancing back at Danxia Peak.

This was going to be their new home. Even with three Foundation Establishment cultivators entrenched on the mountain, the kind anyone else would handle with extreme caution... she didn’t feel the slightest trace of worry.

And somehow, it was Luo Chen’s confident smile; she couldn't feel a trace of worry. It was the kind of unwavering trust born from watching Luo Chen win, again and again.

With the president here, nothing is ever a problem.

***

"My dear, what are you looking at?" Gan Xiaoyan looked at Bian Zhong in confusion. He was standing in front of the cliffside garden they'd carved out, his expression deeply serious.

Bian Zhong shook his head, a trace of concern flickering in his eyes. "A moment ago, a Foundation Establishment Initiate down the mountain blatantly scanned all of Danxia Peak."

"What’s strange about that?" Gan Xiaoyan didn’t understand.

Every now and then, other Foundation Establishment Initiates passed by and gave the peak a glance. But it was just a first-tier spirit vein, not enough to catch their eye. It had never been something to worry about.

Bian Zhong let out a quiet sigh. "I fear that man wasn’t just passing through."

He had seen it clearly. That cultivator hadn’t just taken a casual look. He had paused for a long while at the base of the mountain.

"He’s probably got his eye on Danxia Peak," Bian Zhong added grimly.

Gan Xiaoyan shrugged. "So what if he means trouble? With Fellow Daoist Cao Yunchun, the three of us aren’t weak among rogue cultivators. Unless Tianlan Immortal City itself sends someone, no one’s going to start a war over a low-tier mountain like this. It’s not even good for cultivation."

Bian Zhong didn’t argue. He just shook his head and let it go.

He knew better than to press the point. Any more would just make him seem overly anxious, like a man imagining ghosts where there were none. Instead, he changed the topic. "Do we have enough spirit stones saved up?"

At that, Gan Xiaoyan brightened. "Almost. Another year, and we’ll have enough to rent a second-tier cave on Tianlan Peak. You can cultivate during the day, I’ll take the night shift. We’ll break through these bottlenecks in no time!"

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Still a year left?" Bian Zhong frowned deeply.

After a moment of silence, he finally resolved himself. "Danxia Peak really isn’t suitable for cultivators at our level. We need to relocate sooner. Living off what we make as retainers to cultivation families just isn’t cutting it. Next month, I’ll start taking on some jobs."

Gan Xiaoyan’s face immediately changed. "My dear, you mustn’t get involved in the war between the upper sects!"

"Don’t worry, I value my life too much," Bian Zhong said gently, rubbing her soft hair. "The jobs I’m eyeing aren’t that dangerous."

She relaxed a little. "Good. That’s good then."