Chapter 597: Shedding the Cage, Fortifying Blood and Purging Dust, Xiaohu Returns Home, Han Zheng Pays His Respects (I)

Several days later, at Cave Residence Jia One, the landscape had changed completely. What was once blanketed in snow and ice now stood renewed, transformed into a refined and elegant residence.

Throughout the residence, pots of flowers and vibrant plants added touches of life, creating an atmosphere that was both warm and pleasing. Inside, an elder in a brocade robe was scattering feed into a small pond, watching the fish swim eagerly to the surface.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Before long, hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor. A young disciple entered and bowed respectfully, announcing, "Elder, Dan Chenzi seeks an audience."

At the mention of that name, Fei Ming's eyes lit up. His anticipation had proven correct—Dan Chenzi had come. The efforts of courtesy and goodwill had not been wasted. As the rumors claimed, this visitor was quick-witted and perceptive, a man who grasped matters at a single hint.

With a calm gesture, Fei Ming ordered, "Invite him in."

Before the entrance, Luo Chen stood quietly, turning over in his mind the topics that might soon be raised. There were things the elder desired, and he was not unwilling to give them for free if need be. If the elder offered to purchase them for a suitable price, of course, it would be all the better.

Moments later, the disciple stepped outside and said, "Fellow Daoist Dan Chenzi, Elder Fei invites you in."

"

Mm

, thank you," Luo Chen replied. He nodded and followed the disciple from Ailao Mountain into the cave residence.

Along the way, the newly arranged furnishings revealed a temperament very different from that of the cave's former master, Fairy Ruthless. Her preference had always been for stillness, and her years spent largely in seclusion. Though her status meant she technically presided over Tianlan Immortal City, in practice, she rarely appeared, delegating almost everything to her disciples.

By contrast, Fei Ming showed the opposite nature. Since his arrival in the city, his presence had been strikingly active. Not only did he frequently invite nearby Golden Core peers for gatherings, but he also involved himself eagerly in the city's many affairs. The reconstruction of Danxia Peak served as a prime example; Fairy Ruthless would never have lifted a hand to help with such a thing.

In truth, those fond of power and worldly affairs were easier to deal with. As long as one catered to their interests, many matters could be resolved smoothly. In contrast, interacting with someone as unpredictable as Fairy Ruthless placed tremendous pressure on any cultivator of the lower realms.

These thoughts flowed quietly in Luo Chen's mind. Before long, he came face to face with the one he had come to see.

At that moment, Fei Ming scattered the last of the feed into the pond, clapped his hands clean, and turned to face him with a genial smile. "Young friend, haven't you been rather occupied with cultivation recently? What brings you here as a guest today?"

Luo Chen cupped his hands and bowed in salute. "Adept Fei, I came to thank you for your assistance in rebuilding Danxia Peak."

Fei Ming waved dismissively. "You provided payment. I merely accepted the task. There is no need for gratitude."

The corner of Luo Chen's mouth twitched at the remark. A dignified Golden Core Adept showing such painstaking courtesy was something few would believe. After all, uninvited kindness rarely came without a hidden purpose. Surely this attention was tied to the century-old Lightning Essence still in his possession.

Obviously, with Hao Ranzi and Fairy Ruthless involved, Fei Ming could not resort to blatant force. That was why he had chosen gestures of goodwill instead. If Luo Chen failed to respond, he would be seen as tactless, and Fei Ming would have every excuse to target him later. For cultivators of the high realm, methods of dealing with those beneath them were endless. Brute force remained the simplest option, but also the crudest. A touch of goodwill forced acceptance whether one wished it or not. Everyone had to put on a show of propriety, in the end.

More importantly, Luo Chen still carried the title of guest elder of the Ice Fortress, and that alone demanded careful conduct.

What mattered now was finding a way to take a step down, offering the century-old Lightning Essence of his own initiative. Although it carried a sting of humiliation, yet if managed properly, it might bring benefits in return.

"Adept Fei, your knowledge is vast. Do you happen to know of the Seven-Pore Lotus Root of Rebirth or the material called Tracing Mud?" Luo Chen asked.

Fei Ming chuckled in response. "The lotus root may be just a third-tier material, but it has always been exceedingly rare, and I know little of it. The latter, however... Tell me, do you seek it for forging a life-bound enchanted treasure?"

The question left Luo Chen momentarily stunned. "Tracing Mud can be used to craft a life-bound enchanted treasure?"

Fei Ming nodded with calm assurance. "Of course. As a fourth-tier material, it possesses a natural ability to repair itself. The low-grade enchanted treasures commonly in use now are inferior in quality. Even a modestly stronger strike can leave them broken."

Luo Chen silently agreed. At present, low-grade enchanted treasures were saturating the market in the Jade Cauldron Domain. While not every Initiate owned one, anyone with some wealth could eventually afford one or two after some saving.

Yet those enchanted treasures carried obvious flaws. They were difficult to refine, their killing moves slow to release, and their materials so mediocre that they were easily destroyed. That was why damaged enchanted treasures were often seen.

"If a Golden Core cultivator refines a life-bound enchanted treasure with Tracing Mud, even severe damage can be repaired with only minor effort," Fei Ming explained. "Such a precious material is worth no less than your Lightning Essence!"

Luo Chen nodded politely, though inwardly he scoffed. One material offered nothing more than a basic capacity for self-repair and still required supplementary materials to fix. The other could influence the very lightning tribulation that barred one's path to Nascent Soul. How could the two possibly be considered equal in value?

Moreover, what he held was not ordinary ten-year Lightning Essence but a century-old cluster. Did this man truly think he was ignorant?

Perhaps realizing he had pushed it too far, Fei Ming added. "Naturally, only with a sufficient amount of Tracing Mud could it rival a single Lightning Essence. Unfortunately, I have only a few jin left."

The mention of that quantity made Luo Chen's eyes brighten. To restore his sister-in-law's severed limb, only two liang[1] of Tracing Mud was required. What Fei Ming had was more than enough.

"I wonder if you might be willing to spare some?" Luo Chen asked.

Fei Ming smiled slyly. "'Spare' isn't quite the word we need here. I can give it to you, yes, but it depends on what you can trade for it."

"What about the hundred-year Lightning Essence?" Luo Chen said decisively.

In Fei Ming's heart, delight quietly stirred. Luo Chen had shown that he truly understood how to conduct himself. For a moment, he was tempted to agree outright, yet caution soon reminded him of the risk. Should word of such an unequal trade reach Fairy Ruthless or Hao Ranzi, ridicule would follow; they'd instantly accuse him of bullying the weak and abusing his status.

Fei Ming restrained his emotions and laughed lightly. "That would benefit me far too much. Are you truly willing to offer that?"

"There's nothing I'm unwilling to offer," Luo Chen replied calmly. "As long as you stay in Tianlan Immortal City and watch over my Luo Tian Society for one more day, that will be more than enough."

Hearing these simple words, Fei Ming almost lost his composure. A smile spread across his face, difficult to conceal. To watch over a faction of rogue cultivators required nothing more than a word, the faintest gesture of goodwill.

For an instant, the deal was nearly sealed, but prudence brought hesitation. "Are you certain you have no other requests?"

In Luo Chen's mind, the thought had been to end the matter there. Yet that expression of Fei Ming's made his thoughts shift. The elder wished to claim the gain without leaving a mark upon his reputation. In that case, why should he hold back?

He spoke at once. "Adept Fei, you should know I exchanged battle merits for a Lower Path Core Formation secret art from your sect."

"Yes, I know. The Transcending Cage method, isn't it? That secret art was something a junior of my sect chanced upon while traveling abroad," Fei Ming replied after a pause, smiling broadly at Luo Chen. "Do you wish to learn more about it?"

He spoke carelessly, as though he did not value the art highly. But Luo Chen would never overlook any method that could aid in Core Formation.

"Senior, I would be grateful for your guidance!" he said earnestly.

"Guidance would be too strong a word. What I can share is only experience and observation," Fei Ming waved his hand, then fixed his gaze on Luo Chen, his eyes showing appreciation. "To speak plainly, this method is most suited for you."

Most suited?

Luo Chen stood momentarily stunned.

His eyes followed Fei Ming's gaze downward, toward his own body. A faint realization stirred within him. As doubt flickered across his mind, Fei Ming's voice sounded beside his ear, calm and deliberate.

"What is the cage? The body itself is the cage! And how does one break free from it? By forming a Golden Core, the cage will be broken! The stronger the body, the sturdier the cage, and the stronger the Golden Core that can be condensed. It will not be a mere fragile seed, but a true core. With your physique, this method would achieve results not inferior to a Middle Path Core Formation technique. Of course, external catalysts are also required. The body alone cannot forge a core powerful enough to shatter the cage. For that purpose, we have Core Formation spirit medicines..."

1. 1 斤 (jin) = 16 两 (liang). In modern terms, 1 jin ≈ 500 g (1.1 lbs), so 1 liang ≈ 31 g (about 1 oz). ☜