Cultivation isn’t just about fighting and killing.

The cultivation realm is the foundation of everything.

The Poshan Gang was initially formed to help rogue cultivators secure cultivation resources. The deadly battles on the Debate Platform may have seemed glorious, but if you asked the eighteen participants, how many had truly joined willingly? Probably fewer than a handful.

Take Han Dang, the Devouring Heart Tiger, who had achieved Perfected Mastery in Qi-Refining Realm, and Gao Tingyuan, the River Dragon, who was on the brink of Foundation Establishment. One had died, and the other was left crippled, with no hope of ever witnessing the wondrous path to the Great Dao.

If they could choose again, they would probably refuse without hesitation.

Of course, that’s only if they had the option to refuse.

Above them loomed Mi Shuhua and Wang Haichao, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

One may question why did these two go to such lengths, recruiting manpower and granting supreme-grade enchanted artifacts, all to win the deadly duel?

Wasn’t it all for their own benefit? Those benefits ultimately served their own cultivation pursuits.

In a way, this deadly duel was just another contest in their pursuit of the Great Dao. They just cherished their lives too much and chose to use their subordinates as pawns instead.

Luo Chen was now officially a member of the Poshan Gang.

Of course, he hadn’t joined with the intent to fight and kill. He sought the shelter of a powerful faction, hoping to cultivate in peace. However, he knew that even under the shade of a great tree, one had to pick the right spot—a place where he wouldn’t be sacrificed as cannon fodder.

After learning all he could about the Poshan Gang, he had already made up his mind.

***

Late at night, Wang Yuan sought out Luo Chen, who had just finished practicing his cultivation techniques.

Watching Luo Chen stabilize his breath after completing his session, Wang Yuan nodded approvingly. “Fifth stage of Qi-Refining. It seems you haven’t neglected your foundational techniques.”

Luo Chen smiled faintly, but Wang Yuan unexpectedly sighed, his gaze carrying a trace of envy.

"Brother Wang, what's going on?" Luo Chen asked, puzzled.

Hadn’t Wang Yuan won today? Not only had he displayed his strength before tens of thousands, but he had also left his name on the Elite Prodigy Board. Surely, he was being noticed by other debate platforms and the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. He had earned honor and gained wealth from the Blood-path cultivator’s possessions. Why the long face?

Additionally, he had obtained the possessions of that blood-path cultivator, essentially making a fortune.

Upon returning, his merits were comparable to Qin Liangchen's, and he might even have received the Foundation Establishment pill.

Could it be that Leader Mi Shuhua did not give him the Foundation Establishment pill but instead gave it to Big Brother Qin?

For a moment, Luo Chen's thoughts spun wildly, considering numerous possibilities.

Wang Yuan stepped into the courtyard. “After this battle, the Poshan Gang has cemented its position as the top faction in Dahe Market. We’ve even secured a share of the Lancang River transport routes. The gang’s future will be promising.”

“Mm.” Luo Chen nodded. This was expected; he understood this much without being told.

“But our losses were significant. The deaths of Devouring Heart Tiger, Leaping Tiger, and Wind Forest Tiger have left three major vacancies in the Seven Tigers Hall. Xu Renke’s death also means that, below the Foundation Establishment Realm, I am now the only remaining Protector. Our top-tier combat strength has been severely weakened.”

Luo Chen nodded again. He was aware of this.

The losses were evident, but shouldn't Wang Yuan's personal standing have risen because of this? His future treatment would likely improve too.

Wang Yuan said, “Leader Mi held a meeting tonight and announced several changes. Zeng Wen will return to the Seven Tigers Hall, forming the Three Combat Halls alongside Descending Mountain Tiger Luo Wudi and Dragon Coil Tiger Yang Wei. Murong Qinglian will lead the Medicine Hall. Ke Yuelin will oversee the Beast Hall. Mi Junping, the leader’s daughter, will manage the Merit Hall handling personnel and merit-related affairs.

"The position of the Mining Hall leader remains undecided. Over the next five days, there will be internal competitions to select the new hall leader.

“As for the Protector role, it has been abolished. In its place, four elder positions have been established. I, Qin Liangchen, Luo Wudi, and a senior veteran will assume those roles.”

A flurry of personnel changes flowed from Wang Yuan's mouth, and he didn’t hide any of it from Luo Chen.

Luo Chen absorbed this information and silently nodded. The biggest beneficiaries were Qin Liangchen and Murong Qinglian. They had risen from running a small business to becoming an elder and a hall leader. Clearly, they were building a foundation to support their son, Qin Xiaohu, who had joined the Luoyun Sect. Resources from the Poshan Gang would bolster his cultivation journey.

It was said that competition within the major sects was fierce. If his family could provide some resources, Xiaohu would be better positioned to gain an edge among his peers. Standing out to become an inner disciple or even a core disciple of the Luoyun Sect wasn’t out of the question. The couple was clearly working hard for their son’s future!

On the other hand, Luo Chen hadn’t expected his old client, Zeng Wen, to return to the Seven Tigers Hall.

Wasn’t he the type to only act when he was short on spirit stones? Did he now decide to stop slacking?

Mi Junping? Mi Shuhua’s daughter? She had now taken over the Merit Hall. It seemed that, following this recent battle, Mi Shuhua’s grip on the Poshan Gang had tightened even further.

As for the vacant Mining Hall leader position, it seemed like a move to placate any dissent among the gang members.

But an elder?

Luo Chen raised his brows in surprise. “The Protector position was abolished. Doesn’t that mean your status has technically been lowered, Brother Wang?”

Wang Yuan nodded briefly, then shook his head. "I don't care about that. What I care about is something else."

"What is it?"

"The leader asked me to form a team to take over the Lancang waterway handed over by the Dajiang Gang. It's a route leading to the Taishan Market."

Luo Chen blinked.

What was this all about?

First, they stripped Wang Yuan of his position, then granted him the honorary title of Elder, and finally entrusted him with real power by putting him in charge of a new team.

For a moment, Luo Chen couldn’t help but question Mi Shuhua’s true intentions behind these appointments.

Did he genuinely value Wang Yuan’s abilities, or was this merely a way to push him away from the Poshan Gang’s power center by assigning him to the unfamiliar waterway business?

Suddenly, a critical thought struck Luo Chen.

"Brother Wang, who did the leader give the Foundation Establishment pill to?"

"Nominally, it was given to Qin Liangchen. After all, he's at the ninth stage of Qi-Refining, while I'm only at the eighth. His contributions in this battle were no less than mine."

“Nominally?” Luo Chen asked, his brows lifting.

"Qin Liangchen lost an arm in the battle. Although the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect has promised to give him a new one, whether the new arm will integrate with his body and whether it will affect his advancement to Foundation Establishment remains uncertain."

Wang Yuan’s gaze grew deep. "So the leader said that the pill will be given to Qin Liangchen once he perfects his Qi-Refining Realm. For now, he’s holding onto the pill to protect Qin Liangchen from anyone harboring ill intentions."

Luo Chen frowned deeply.

So, after all this, the Foundation Establishment pill still hadn’t been awarded! And this move left no room for others to criticize.

Mi Shuhua was merely holding onto the pill in Qin Liangchen’s name, ensuring he wouldn’t become a target. Once Qing Liangchen perfected his the Qi-Refining Realm, the pill would supposedly be his.

But as time passed, who could guarantee whether the new arm would affect his cultivation and when the time came, would the pill truly end up in his hands?

Glancing at Wang Yuan’s somber expression, Luo Chen suddenly understood what Wang Yuan truly cared about.

Mi Shuhua seemed different from before! Or perhaps he had never been different, only hiding his true nature exceedingly well.

"Do you know why I let you join the Poshan Gang this time?" The topic shifted abruptly.

Luo Chen was caught off guard but thought for a moment before replying, "Brother Wang, are you short on capable hands? My cultivation is at least decent, and we know each other well. You wanted someone reliable to assist you, right?”

"Yes, that’s part of it." Wang Yuan nodded slightly before adding another point. "And there's another thing. Gao Tingyuan's dantian was damaged, and his qi sea was shattered, leaving him with no hope of Foundation Establishment. He might act in desperation and come after you for revenge over his brother."

Luo Chen’s eyes flickered. He opened his mouth but said nothing at first.

He hadn’t considered this angle. But thinking carefully—if he were in Gao Tingyuan’s place, with no hope for the Great Dao, avenging his only family would surely weigh heavily on his mind.

"Brother Wang, thank you." He expressed his gratitude sincerely.

Wang Yuan waved it off. "Since you’ve joined the Poshan Gang, unless you’re a former Protector, you’ll need to join one of the halls and take up a role.

"So now, you have two choices. One is to come with me and make a living on the rivers and waterways or you can stay in one of the seven halls within the gang."

Faced with these two choices, Luo Chen blinked and had already made up his mind.

Still, Wang Yuan, worried he might not have considered everything, added, "If you come with me, you won't have to worry about anyone in the gang giving you trouble. The early days might be tough, but once you get used to the work on the water, you'll surely earn a lot.

"If you stay in one of the halls, I might not have much say there. The hall leaders are all seniors. Have you made up your mind?"

Luo Chen nodded firmly. "I choose to stay in the Medicine Hall among the seven halls."

"I almost forgot, Qin Liangchen and his wife are your neighbors." Wang Yuan smiled slightly and patted Luo Chen on the shoulder.

He patted Luo Chen on the shoulder. “That’s fine. Stay in the gang, keep an eye on things for me. If anything unusual happens, let me know.”

Luo Chen chuckled. “One on the inside, one on the outside—we’ll build something great together. We’ll restore the glory we once dreamed of!”