Chapter 788: Restructuring the Combat Framework (I)

Cheng Dou's intentions were plain to see. In fact, from the very start, he had made little effort to conceal them. He simply wanted Luo Chen to deal with that Adept Nantian! As for whether this would mean getting rid of the wolf only to invite a tiger into the house, that was not something he cared about right now. He had greater problems to deal with.

Luo Chen's senses were keen. The moment they met, he could instantly sense Cheng Dou's cultivation. It was deliberately suppressed, only a tiny fraction away from Perfected Mastery. Once the restraint was lifted, Cheng Dou could not only reach that stage immediately, but also attempt Core Formation right away. Perhaps it was this sword hanging overhead that had nearly driven Cheng Dou mad, leading him to grasp desperately at an unlikely solution like this. Besides, even if it meant inviting another wolf inside, the Cheng family would still fare far better than the other families of the Flying Swallow Archipelago.

"Limited experience but decent judgement, I guess."

Luo Chen let out a light chuckle. Their interests happened to align. Still, seizing control of the archipelago was not something that could be done in a rush. At the very least, he needed a clear understanding of Adept Nantian's methods before making a move. Moreover, his time trapped on Green Parasol Mountain had also meant a complete lack of progress in terms of combat abilities. Moreover, after switching to the fire path, his old combat system was no longer appropriate and needed a complete overhaul. This interlude was the perfect opportunity to resume cultivation and set things in order.

Having made up his mind, he first glanced at the small black wooden figurine resting in a compartment of the Primordial Unity Cauldron. Even now, Han Zhan had yet to awaken.

"It seems that fire did far more damage than I expected..." murmured Luo Chen.

Within the figurine, a single wisp of remnant soul lingered on the brink of extinction. There was no trace left of the former Nascent Soul powerhouse's presence. With only this fragment remaining, recovery in the future was likely impossible. In fact, this was precisely why Luo Chen dared to keep Han Zhan by his side. He was weak, depleted, and easy to keep under control.

Luo Chen released his mana, isolating the Primordial Unity Cauldron, and his gaze fell upon the five Blue-Ringed Great Fang Sea Serpents held back by the cauldron's chains. Even though their bodies had been forced to shrink to the extreme, their ferocity remained undiminished.

Just the sight of them earlier had been enough to make Cheng Haixin, a fresh Initiate, turn pale with fear. Yet when Luo Chen's gaze settled on them now, aside from the late-stage second-tier ones, the other four all revealed unmistakable terror, shivering uncontrollably.

Luo Chen frowned slightly, then understood the cause. "Is it because I slaughtered tens of thousands of their kin in one go? It seems like I have enough fiend qi around me now."

The so-called fiend qi was not merely the energy born of filthy and dangerous lands. It also arose from prolonged involvement in slaughter. With each enemy's death, a special kind of aura lingered on the slayer. This aura contained not only his killing intent and hostility, but also the resentment, fear, anxiety, and terror left behind by those who died in their final moments.

This resulted in the formation of a distinctive "mental fiend," a kind of fiend qi condensed from spirit consciousness and emotions. Creatures of the same kind were especially sensitive to it.

Luo Chen had killed plenty in the past, and he had naturally accumulated some of this energy, but he had always removed it with Cleanse. This time, however, he had let it be—or rather, he had

intentionally

increased it. In a place like the Sea of Demons, a harmless appearance invited trouble. Looking especially ferocious, on the other hand, reduced many potential problems, and his reception right now was a prime example.

Well, since they're afraid of me, they can be used.

Luo Chen smiled faintly and extended one hand, his mana forming a palm that seized an early-stage second-tier sea serpent. With a flick of his finger, a pill dropped into the sea serpent's mouth and was forcibly refined under the drive of Luo Chen's mana. The pill took effect in just a moment; the sea serpent stiffened, losing part of its ability to resist. Indeed, it was only part of it; the Spirit Enslavement Pills Luo Chen had obtained years ago were too low grade to enslave the serpent instantly. Fortunately, it was already under tremendous fear, which made his work quite a bit easier.

Luo Chen's fingers moved like fluttering blossoms as incantation words flowed from his lips. Then he suddenly struck out with a palm, and a palm projection instantly appeared in the air. It was Spirit Enslavement! The palm slammed into the sea serpent's head, pinning it to the ground.

At once, the massive sea serpent started writhing violently, twisting and slapping the ground with its tail while letting out shrill hisses without pause. Yet all resistance proved futile. In no more than the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the sea serpent lay quietly prostrate on the ground.

"Come here!"

One beckoning gesture from Luo Chen and the sea serpent hissed as it slithered toward him, coiling by his side and revealing a submissive demeanor.

Seeing this, Luo Chen could not help but show a satisfied expression. The

Myriad Beast Scripture

, a manual he had obtained years ago from the Precious Dragon Black Market, contained a complete system of beast-taming techniques, pills, and specialized control commands. Back then, he had relied on these very methods to enslave a second-tier Explosive Ape. In the battle to assault Xiaohuan Mountain and wipe out the Duan family, that beast had played a decisive role.

That enslavement had been extremely difficult, consuming much of his mental energy and nearly ending in failure. This time, on the other hand, it was effortless, as easy as taking something out of his pocket. The gap between the Golden Core Realm and the Qi Refinement Realm was simply too vast. The same techniques, when applied across different realms, yielded vastly different results. Thus, after enslaving one sea serpent, Luo Chen didn't feel tired at all, and immediately turned his gaze to the remaining four.

"Alright, it's your turn. One by one," he said lightly.

***

Time passed by slowly.

The towering Sea-Gazing Cliff stood five hundred zhang above the boundless ocean, shielding the Black Swan Island from the raging winds and the hidden threats lurking in the depths of the ocean.

In past years, the Cheng family would dispatch low-tier cultivators to patrol and guard this island. But at some point, the Sea-Gazing Cliff had become a forbidden area for them and all outsiders were barred from entry. Moreover, there were layers of drifting white clouds and illusory mist that gathered there, cutting it off from the prying eyes of the outside world.

At the Small Mirror Lake manor, Cheng Dou wore an anxious expression as he looked at the tall woman standing before him. "Seventh Sister!"

Cheng Haixin curled her lips and looked entirely unconcerned. She tilted her head to glance at her elder brother and smiled. "Why are you looking at me? Calling me over won't help. That senior's been in seclusion lately. It's not like I can go bother him or try to curry favor."

Cheng Dou frowned. "Is it really that there's no way? Or is it that you don't want to? Didn't he give you a token allowing free entry to Sea-Gazing Cliff? You should go over there more often..."

"Go over there for what? Act coyly?" Cheng Haixin's smile faded. "I didn't expect you'd stoop as low as to send your own sister into a stranger's bed..."

She was certainly not mincing words, but that was the truth. Yet Cheng Dou shook his head and said resentfully, "That senior may be extremely ruthless, but he has principles. He wouldn't do anything weird to you. Besides, becoming the companion of an Adept is a blessing countless low-level cultivators can only dream of."

"Then why don't you enjoy that

blessing

yourself?" Cheng Haixin retorted without yielding.

Cheng Dou's expression froze, but then quickly pointed at himself. "I would if I could. Honestly, I'm regretting not being born a woman."

Cheng Haixin was stunned.

What the hell... Did he just say what I think he said?

Cheng Dou sighed. "You think I'm sending you there because I don't care about you? Please. It's just that... the threat of Yan Nantian is simply too great. If my cultivation stays stuck forever, problems will arise sooner or later. But once I reach Perfected Mastery, Yan Nantian will definitely move against me. I can't run off like the Flood Dragon Gang's leader, either. If I leave, the Cheng family loses its pillar and will instantly fall to the bottom. When that happens, things will only get worse. Seventh Sister, you have to understand me."

This time, Cheng Haixin fell silent. The wise men of old said that one should not meddle beyond one's station, yet her elder brother's years of effort, struggle, and silent endurance were clear to all of them. For the sake of the family's survival and growth, every one of them had given everything they had.

Second Uncle Cheng Ji was already advanced in years, yet still had to go to sea in person to operate the ship. Fourth Brother Cheng Haichang was stuck at the third stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, but still boarded demon-hunting ships to earn income for the family, not even taking the time to work on his own cultivation. By comparison, she was outright sheltered. She had remained under the family's protection all these years, and she'd smoothly advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm without ever giving anything back. Such conduct truly failed those who had worked so hard for her.

Seeing her silent, Cheng Dou's spirits lifted and he pressed on. "As long as you deepen your relationship with Senior Azure Yang and persuade him to deal with Yan Nantian and seize the Flying Swallow Archipelago, then the thirty-six islands will belong to our family. Then, I can take the opportunity to push for the Golden Core Realm. I will be an Adept, standing on equal footing with Azure Yang! Seventh Sister, think about it—your Dao companion would be an Adept, and your elder brother also. You could walk anywhere without fear, not just in the Flying Swallow Archipelago but even away from it. Wouldn't that be worth it?"

At this moment, Cheng Haixin felt torn. The cultivation life she had imagined was not like this. She had thought that once she reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, she would be a true cultivator, free to roam the seas and pursue the Dao at her own pace. Yet now, the weight of the family pressed squarely onto her shoulders.

Cheng Dou struck while the iron was hot, grasping the woman's arm and speaking earnestly. "Whether our family can rise and unify the thirty-six islands rests on a single thought of yours. Seventh Sister, do not disappoint me, and do not disappoint the spirits of our members who died in battle over the past hundred years!"

Cheng Haixin opened her mouth, but in the end could only say dejectedly, "Then I'll go up and try again...."