Chapter 432: Gentle Grace and an Orchid Heart? No, A Heart of Boundless Ambition! (I)

Sima Huiniang frowned in confusion. "With two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and another at the sixth stage watching from the sidelines, how is that not dangerous?”

Luo Chen smiled faintly and pointed toward the direction of Tianlan Immortal City. "For the next ten years, Ice Fortress will still hold the reins of the city.”

Sima Huiniang’s eyes widened in astonishment. If that was true, that the Ice Fortress’s control was guaranteed, then the supposed danger had never been danger at all. And from his words, it was clear he had their full backing.

Under such circumstances, those late-stage cultivators who still needed to operate within Tianlan Immortal City would never risk offending Luo Chen too much. She had only just emerged from seclusion and had heard only surface-level details from her subordinates. The deeper politics at play had been hidden from her.

Luo Chen gave a quiet chuckle. "Besides, there was never a true conflict of interest between us. Whatever Fei Changqiu promised them was only an illusion until they actually held it in their hands. In that kind of situation, with the Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation looming, would they really risk falling out with me?”

With that explanation, Sima Huiniang understood everything. No wonder he had been so calm, even under pressure. To face two late-stage cultivators alone, to kill Fei Changqiu in front of them without hesitation, and never once flinch... His composure now made sense.

"You were far more far-sighted than I imagined, President. I was the one overthinking,” she admitted.

Luo Chen shook his head. "Just a difference in information, that’s all.”

Then he frowned. "You’ve just reached Foundation Establishment. Why not focus on stabilizing your cultivation? What made you rush down from Tianlan Peak?”

Sima Huiniang sighed and replied, "I was only in seclusion for half a month, yet the Luo Tian Society experienced so many major events. How could I sit still and stabilize my cultivation with all that happening?”

She remembered stepping out into an empty courtyard, with no one to welcome her breakthrough, no one to share her joy. Before she could even find anyone, news had spread that Luo Tian Society was already at war again.

One Foundation Establishment enemy after another. Battle after battle. Sect after sect collapsing. Not to mention the piles of jaw-dropping resources now stacked across Danxia Peak!

There was no way she could stay in seclusion. She knew that such a time was when the Luo Tian Society and Luo Chen needed her the most. So, without hesitation, she gave up stabilizing her cultivation and left Tianlan Peak.

When she learned that Luo Chen had been assaulting the Divine Craftsman Sect for eight straight days, she gathered her people and rushed straight there. Fortunately, nothing had gone catastrophically wrong.

"President, about the spoils from this campaign...” she began.

Luo Chen raised a hand, cutting her off. "We’ll tally everything once we return.”

Sima Huiniang nodded. She knew counting the spoils was always tedious, and Luo Chen had never liked handling such matters. Still, she had to bring up the most important matters.

"What about the storage pouches of those two Initiates?”

These storage pouches bore spirit consciousness seals. Even if their owners were dead, removing the imprints would take time, and a Qi Refinement cultivator wouldn’t be able to do it. Only another Foundation Establishment cultivator with spirit consciousness could unlock them. On any battlefield, storage pouches were always dealt with first.

Luo Chen did not hesitate. He had already made arrangements.

"Min Longyu made the greatest contribution in this battle. We will settle the rest of his rewards later. For now, give him the Divine Craftsman Grand Elder’s pouch. I heard that the elder was a formation master. Min Longyu should appreciate what’s inside.”

Sima Huiniang nodded. She had also heard of Min Longyu’s relentless accomplishments and knew that he had already earned the admiration of countless Luo Tian Society cultivators.

"And Fei Changqiu’s pouch... Hmm... Give that one to me. I’ll take care of it myself.”

He looked at Sima Huiniang and said meaningfully, "Supposedly, there’s more than one Foundation Establishment pill in there!”

Sima Huiniang nodded reflexively, but even as she did, she felt that something about his tone was off.

Luo Chen gave no further explanation. Instead, he gestured for her to step outside.

When she was gone, he took out the Mystic Flame Sword.

By common standards, this enchanted treasure was not considered especially powerful. Many viewed it as inferior to the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel that Mi Shuhua had once purchased at an auction. Compared to the signature weapons of other famed Foundation Establishment cultivators, it seemed to lack any clear advantage.

Yet Luo Chen was confident that in a battle with his peers of the same cultivation, he now held a decisive edge with this weapon.

"If there were a progress bar for refining enchanted treasures, I was at forty percent before. After using the Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation, I raised it all the way to sixty percent,” he murmured to himself.

That level of refinement was no small feat. With sufficient spirit power, he could now draw out sixty percent of the sword’s full strength. Even most late-stage Initiates managed only seventy or eighty percent, and that depended heavily on both their cultivation and the density of their spirit power.

What gave Luo Chen an even greater edge was control. Unlike most cultivators, who relied on brute force and speed, he could manipulate his sword with fine adjustments and subtle precision. That kind of mastery was far more practical in real combat.

Defeating Fei Changqiu, a fellow fourth-stage Initiate, in a single clash was the best example of this.

"Using a formation to refine an enchanted treasure... now that’s satisfying,” Luo Chen muttered, the corners of his mouth lifting in amusement. "If only I could keep using the Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation...”

The thought amused him, and he let out a quiet laugh. But the world was never that generous.

To sustain the formation during the battle, he had burned through nearly every mid-grade spirit stone he had saved over the years. When combined with the formation tools provided by Min Longyu, the total cost had certainly exceeded one hundred thousand.

No matter how extravagant he could afford to be, taking such a shortcut again was out of the question. Still, with the Mystic Flame Sword now refined to sixty percent of its potential, it was more than sufficient for his current needs. That single advancement had saved him years, maybe decades of painstaking effort.

As Luo Chen ran his fingers along the sword’s warm hilt, his gaze turned distant. Battle, chaos, rising fame, and establishing authority...

Enough of that for now. The next step is digesting all the gains from this campaign.

If all these resources were used to their full potential, both his strength and that of the Luo Tian Society would ascend to an entirely new level.

In the past, such a process would have been fraught with danger, always shadowed by the threat of unseen enemies. But now, with Ice Fortress confirmed to rule over Tianlan Immortal City, it has undoubtedly provided the best environment for him and the Luo Tian Society.

***

Aboard the flying boat, Sima Huiniang busied herself with organizing the spoils of war. She moved from group to group, asking questions and piecing together the full picture of what had transpired.

Her thoughts already turned toward the broader political consequences. The families and sects destroyed by the Luo Tian Society might have surviving allies or hidden enemies ready to respond. The fallout from this campaign would run deep.

From here on, their approach could not remain as blunt and forceful as it had been in battle. What was needed now was finesse, like seasoning a delicate fish one had just butchered with a large knife. Too much and the dish would be ruined; too little and it would be bland.

How should the Luo Tian Society deal with the former allies of the fallen sects? Should they be treated as enemies or brought under the banner as allies? And what of old adversaries of the Danyuan Sect or Sky Eagle Peak? Could this victory be leveraged to change those relationships, or at least open the door to trade if not full alliances?

While considering all this, Sima Huiniang suddenly recalled something Luo Chen had said.

"Supposedly, there’s more than one Foundation Establishment pill in there!”

But the President hasn’t even opened the pouch yet. How does he know?

She frowned slightly and paused in her work. Given the Divine Craftsman Sect’s hundred-year history in the city, having one or two Foundation Establishment pills in reserve would be par for the course, but certainly not more than that.

Then why did he imply that there are many? What was he trying to say...

The answer struck her. "To create a public illusion!”

Sima Huiniang suddenly understood what Luo Chen intended.

He wants to make outsiders believe that the Luo Tian Society has gained a large number of Foundation Establishment spirit medicines! That way, if the Luo Tian Society happens to produce more Initiates, it will appear perfectly reasonable!

This guess matched Luo Chen’s style completely. He always laid the groundwork before acting. Whether spreading rumors before attacking the Fu family, or pulling Nangong Jin, the Dajiang Gang, and the Li family into an alliance before the Xiaohuan Mountain battle, Luo Chen always made sure the stage was set.

But that raised another question. With such groundwork laid, would the Luo Tian Society actually produce more Foundation Establishment cultivators?

She knew better than anyone how difficult that was. For Qi Refinement cultivators—especially poorly-talented rogue cultivators—to break through, abundant Foundation Establishment spirit medicines were required. Her own breakthrough had only succeeded because of Luo Chen’s full support. Without him, it would never have gone so smoothly.

But where would one easily acquire Foundation Establishment pills and similar medicine? The major auctions in the Tianlan Immortal City happened only once every ten years, and even then, the Foundation Establishment pills released were split among many factions. Meanwhile, on the black market, Foundation Establishment pills were extremely hot commodities. As soon as they appeared, they were immediately snatched up at exorbitant prices.

So could the answer lie in the larger markets under the Tianlan Immortal City? But the Luo Tian Society’s influence does not extend that far yet! Unless... the President has a special channel to obtain a large amount of Foundation Establishment spirit medicines?

Inexplicably, Sima Huiniang thought of this one possible explanation.

"Director, we’re arriving at Danxia Peak!” Xu Xiaoliu’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Looking ahead at the lush, vibrant peak now looming close, Sima Huiniang drew a deep breath. She understood what Luo Chen needed

. Information only needs to be spread. As for the rest, that isn’t my place to question.

Having grasped her role, she no longer felt troubled. With a firm wave of her hand, she gave the order.

"Prepare for landing!”