Chapter 629: All Show and No Substance; Pill Fragrance of Recognition

Hearing this question, Yousha immediately fell silent, and she turned toward Hermit Xiao with barely concealed anxiety. Even He Lianyun, who had carried himself all day with mild manners and a hint of deference, straightened his expression and grew solemn.

In truth, what stood between them and a true partnership with Luo Chen, aside from questions of materials and alchemy, was one simple but decisive concern: strength.

If the difference in power was too great, their so-called cooperation would be nothing more than sheep walking willingly into a tiger's den. Luo Chen's fearsome reputation as the Fire Spirit Lord only made them all the more wary. If he were to refine the Nether Origin Pill and then turn against them, their combined power might still prove insufficient to restrain him. All their efforts would be wasted.

For that reason, the moment they had decided to seek him out, they had begun investigating every detail about him. That investigation had continued right up to this very moment.

From the instant Luo Chen entered Lianyun Tower, Hermit Xiao, whose divine soul was formidable and whose perception was among the keenest of all rogue cultivators, had been quietly observing his every word and gesture. That was why he had barely spoken during their earlier negotiations. Now, under their expectant gazes, Hermit Xiao finally let out a heavy breath.

"I've caught a glimpse of his true strength, although only a fraction of it. The rumors about him are not entirely false. Luo Chen truly shows signs of recovering from serious injuries. His life force is weak. The power he displayed earlier was merely a dazzling front, brilliant on the surface but hollow within. That said, in my judgment, his strength does exist. At the eighth stage of Foundation Establishment, he can easily rival most Initiates at the ninth. But that is all."

Yousha looked doubtful. "Are you sure you haven't misjudged him?"

Hermit Xiao smiled with confidence. "Unless his ability to conceal his aura, his disguising methods, and his divine soul foundation all far surpass mine, there's no way he could have hidden his strength after being under my observation for an entire day."

At those words, Yousha finally allowed herself to relax a little, though the unease in her eyes had not yet fully faded. She had witnessed Hermit Xiao's strength with her own eyes. Even while suffering backlash from his own divine soul, he had fought the Four Elders of Liancang alone, and despite her husband Mingsha striking him treacherously from behind, he had annihilated them all.

It was through taking their legacies by force that Hermit Xiao's cultivation had not declined but advanced instead. Now, he stood only a single step away from Perfected Mastery.

But while she seemed reassured, Fu Jiusheng was far from at ease. Those in the trade of herb gathering learned to be perpetually cautious. Even after collecting and delivering the requested spirit herbs, they always watched their surroundings, wary of those who might follow their tracks afterward.

That ingrained caution made him press further. "You're saying Luo Chen is only comparable to a ninth-stage Foundation cultivator? Isn't that underestimating him? Two Adepts have fallen by his hand. How many people do you know who have even fought an Adept at his level?"

Hermit Xiao frowned; he found it hard to refute. He could only answer truthfully. "At least from what I observed, that's the reality."

But then, He Lianyun stepped in with a measured tone. "In truth, those two incidents were not as extraordinary as the rumors suggest."

Fu Jiusheng turned toward him. "How so?"

"The first time, when he killed Di Wanyun, it was not entirely his own merit," He Lianyun explained. "He merely used a special technique to trigger the heavenly lightning that had accumulated for millennia atop the ninth mountain in the Jilei region. That force was what annihilated Di Wanyun."

Fu Jiusheng blinked. That explanation made sense. A special technique for a special environment, and the help of external forces—he had seen such methods before, and had even employed them himself. For instance, back when he had first reached the seventh stage of Foundation Establishment, he lured a third-tier demonic beast into a natural illusion formation deep within the mountains and wore it down to death. That remained one of the proudest feats of his herb-gathering career.

"And what about the second time?" he asked carefully.

He Lianyun gave a faint smile. "That battle was even simpler. We have many accounts of what happened, so we know every detail. He relied on a single-use treasure, the Lightning Immortal Pearl, along with the aid of two mid-stage Adepts, to kill Qin Tairan."

Fu Jiusheng frowned. "But from what I heard, he and Qin Tairan clashed head-on a few times and he survived. People say he's as tough as a demonic beast."

He Lianyun did not refute the claim. Instead, he nodded slightly. "That report is accurate. In truth, Luo Chen is not the only one in the Luo Tian Society who pursues Physique Refinement. There are others like Blood Devil Wang Yuan and Tian Kuizi Chu Kui, for instance. Many of the Battle Hall's Qi Refinement cultivators also temper their physiques alongside their qi. It seems that they possess several types of tempering spirit medicine, as well as a few Physique Refinement manuals. But with that said, the Dao of Physique Refinement has long since declined. Against cultivators wielding enchanted treasures, they're nothing but tougher chunks of flesh. Personally, I fear no Physique Refinement cultivator. Do you?"

Hermit Xiao laughed lightly. "I do not."

He had every reason to be confident. However strong the physique might be, in essence, it was only a tougher shell for the soul. It was as fragile as a child's body before his divine soul arts.

"

Hehe

, my husband once practiced Physique Refinement through fiend qi and reached major mastery in the second tier. I, too, have some experience in countering such methods." Yousha smiled gracefully, brimming with confidence. Yet that confidence seemed to carry meanings beyond mere understanding of the path.

Watching the three dismiss Luo Chen's physique so casually, Fu Jiusheng felt a growing sense of unease. If Luo Chen possessed only a hardened shell paired with slow wits, that would be one matter. Yet he knew all too well that this man was anything but a simpleton. Were these three truly unconcerned, or was their confidence based on something he did not understand?

"Actually, don't let Luo Chen fool you," Hermit Xiao suddenly said.

The other three looked at him in puzzlement as he gestured toward the floor near the doorway. Their gazes followed his. At first, the surface appeared perfectly smooth, but upon a closer look, they all noticed something strange. The floor seemed ever-so-slightly slanted.

Yousha frowned in confusion. "What is this... Grand Elder He, surely the floor of your Lianyun Tower wouldn't be this poorly installed, right?"

He Lianyun's expression turned wary. "Was this caused by Luo Chen?"

Hermit Xiao nodded with solemn conviction. "Rumor has it that Luo Chen's mastery of spellcraft rivals his alchemy. I once dismissed that as exaggeration, but it appears there is truth to it. When he first entered, even under the combined pressure of our three auras, he did not take a single step back. Alone, he stood against the three of us without faltering once.

"But in truth, he didn't completely withstand it. To put it simply, we made him sink into the floor. He managed to hide it and then used Cleanse to erase the marks entirely; the execution was flawless and so natural that it seemed he used the opportunity to seize the upper hand. But then, I noticed these traces of weakness. It was a ruse. Luo Chen's strength is largely superficial; he's all show and no substance."

All show and no substance?

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Those words echoed repeatedly in their minds. As they recalled Luo Chen's conduct throughout the day, their thoughts began to align. He had acted domineering and overbearing, full of self-assurance. His confidence bordered on arrogance, his greed seemed tempered only by a modicum of caution, and he had even demanded a blood essence pact from them.

Taken individually, all these things did not belie his reputation as the "Fire Spirit Lord, First of the Foundation Establishment Realm," a name renowned throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain. But when considered together, something felt off. The cause of that inconsistency lay in those very words—all show and no substance!

He's masking his weakness with domineering behavior, trying to take control of this partnership!

As the same realization dawned on the others, their doubts melted away. As long as he did not become an Adept while they weren't paying attention, none of them needed to fear him in direct combat. Even if he surpassed each one of them slightly, their combined strength could still keep him in check. In fact, Luo Chen's current state was ideal for them.

Moreover, everyone knew that alchemy consumed enormous reserves of spirit power and spirits. When they refined the Nether Origin Pill outside, without an earth fire to assist him, Luo Chen would have to rely solely on his Foundation Establishment true fire. That alone would leave him greatly weakened, and his strength would drop by at least half. Then he would pose even less of a threat.

Thus, only one question remained.

Yousha, seeking reassurance, asked cautiously, "I've already handed Luo Chen the formula for the Nether Origin Pill. Could he use it as a basis to create a new one and abandon us?"

Fu Jiusheng was the first to respond. "You're overthinking it. That formula was perfected by a Divine Transformation Ascendant from a Holy Land. Even ordinary third-tier alchemists would be unable to modify it, let alone create another one like it. Luo Chen is only a second-tier alchemist. The fact that he can refine it at all already exceeds expectations. How could he possibly go beyond that?"

Reassured by his answer, Yousha let out a soft breath. Her only leverage in this partnership was the formula itself. If Luo Chen managed to cut her out and work alone, all her efforts would have been for nothing.

"So what happens next?" she asked.

"Just as we agreed, everyone should focus on their own tasks," He Lianyun replied. "I'll handle collecting the basic ingredients for the Nether Origin Pill."

"I'll be entering seclusion for some time. If all goes well, I'll reach Perfected Mastery before we set out," said Hermit Xiao.

"See you in nine years."

***

Inside Cave Residence Bing Seventeen, Luo Chen's eyes shone brightly as a vast Water Mirror stretched before him, its surface rippling with light. No clear images appeared within the mirror. Within Tianlan Immortal City, powerful defensive formations and the sheer number of cultivators made it difficult for Water Mirror to manifest detailed visions. Yet even so, four red dots flickered steadily across the mirror's surface.

One dot had already left Tianlan Immortal City, streaking eastward at great speed.

"That must be Fu Jiusheng. He's already at Perfected Mastery and he doesn't need seclusion. All he lacks is the Core Formation spirit medicine. But heading alone to the far east... Could the Nine-Pattern Snakespit Fruit be growing there?"

Another dot had also left the city, though it had not gone far. "That one should be He Lianyun, returning to Lianyun Mountain."

The remaining two dots, however, were drawing closer to Luo Chen's position.

"They're on Tianlan Peak... Those two must be Yousha and Hermit Xiao. Are they planning to use the spirit land here to push their cultivation to Perfected Mastery? Maybe they can do it in nine years."

Had the four of them seen this scene, they would have been utterly terrified. None of them had realized when Luo Chen had acted upon them, leaving behind a hidden mark that allowed him to track their every movement.

That feat traced back to the gains he had made during years of secluded cultivation. After attaining Perfected Mastery in the second-tier Water Mirror, an unexpected transformation had occurred. From that moment on, anyone marked by him could be detected within a range of a thousand li.

As for how he marked them? The simplest way was a spirit consciousness imprint; however, such marks were easily discovered. So, drawing upon his own hidden means, Luo Chen developed an entirely new method. The inspiration came from Mi Shuhua, who had once spied on him using a blend of spirit power and spirit consciousness and employed something that originated from Ling Yuzhi's spoils—the Fragrance of Recognition. He had refined this into a new art called Pill Fragrance of Recognition!

The moment he had stepped into Lianyun Tower, pushed open that door, and faced the three head-on, he had already used this art. That seemingly casual flick of his sleeve had, in truth, struck three targets with a single move.

What a joke.... With the physique of an ancient demonic beast, how could his body possibly have been suppressed by the mere aura of three Initiates? Those footprints in the flooring had merely been a deliberate act of feigned weakness!

He had then seized the moment to strike back verbally, turning the situation to his advantage and taking command of the exchange. And when he finally swept away the marks with Cleanse, erasing them somewhat clumsily to allow them to notice them later, he had used the same motion to secretly infuse each of the four with a trace of pill fragrance.

For an alchemist to carry the scent of pills was the most natural thing in the world. Thus, none of them had paid any attention to the scent in the room. That was why Luo Chen could now track their movements through Water Mirror.

"Too bad the technique isn't refined enough," Luo Chen murmured. "If any of them use Cleanse a few times, my mark will disappear."

With a sigh, Luo Chen dispelled the Water Mirror. At the very least, he now knew where each of them had gone. Their decision to separate also revealed that the four were far from united in purpose. Otherwise, they would have at least stayed together in the Lianyun Tower for the night instead of parting ways so quickly.

Knowing that they weren't united made many things much easier for Luo Chen. All four of them were formidable figures, among the top tier of Initiates. Even when compared to the True Inheritors of major sects, they were not lacking; they might fall slightly short in open combat, but in a fight to the death, the outcome would be far less certain.

If all four joined forces, Luo Chen would indeed face difficulties. Now that the Lightning Immortal Pearl was gone, his remaining assets were his third-tier physique, his tremendous reserves of spirit power, and his divine soul foundation comparable to a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and his formidable mastery of spellcraft. With those combined, he could dominate nearly anyone within the Foundation Establishment Realm. However, refining pills in the wild was a far harsher environment, and that level of assurance was not enough.

"So, the next steps must focus on that. I need to strengthen my combat capabilities, prepare more trump cards, and ensure I can handle whatever comes. Then, I'll study the Nether Origin Pill formula and see if I can modify it to suit my needs. They think I can't do it because it's too high level? Pft. If I can replace the primary ingredients, I can refine it myself without depending on them. As for the Heavenly Mountain Revitalization Liquid, I'll have to ask Ice Fortress for it. If they can't provide it or they just say no, then I'll become a laughingstock."

Of the three matters at hand, the last was the simplest. The other two were far more complex. Fortunately, Luo Chen still had nine years ahead of him, and he wasn't alone.

That night, Luo Chen cultivated tirelessly in his cultivation chamber. In the morning, he sent out a voice transmission. Before long, members of the Luo Tian Society began arriving one after another at his cave residence.