Chapter 2155: Chapter 791: Recuperation and the Sima Calamity
There are a few top grade Spirit Stones, but exchanging them for Spiritual Cranes would be extravagant.
Moreover, the lack of Spirit Stones is clearly just a surface problem.
The deeper issue is that the Luo Tian Sect currently lacks a stable financial source!
In times of chaos, everyone seeks to survive, and few forces can continue to thrive financially like the Shen Fu Sect.
In response, after some thought, Luo Chen provided a solution.
"For now, we’ll temporarily accept the Spiritual Cranes from the White Crane Gate, and the Spirit Stones... consider them owed!"
"Let’s endure this period. The Luo Tian Sect may be small in numbers, but there’s an advantage in that; at least the unity among people is enough. Everyone tighten their belts, and gradually improve afterwards."
Li Yingzhang didn’t expect Luo Chen’s method to be like this.
But since the other party said so, he accepted it. At worst, when owing money is recorded, one just needs to have a thicker skin.
Before he left, Luo Chen reminded with one more sentence.
"Let all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, as well as outstanding disciples in the late stage Qi Refinement, master the most basic Beast Taming Technique!"
...
After dealing with these matters, the sun was already high in the branches.
Feng Hua District this area tends to be cold, Baili Qingchuan didn’t manage it well, nor did he set up any temperature adjustment arrays, so when Luo Chen returned to the simply constructed palace, he could still feel the cold air swirling in it.
Fortunately, the rising sun brought a bit of warmth to this chilly late autumn.
Inside the hall, there was a rustling sound.
Luo Chen walked in, two pairs of eyes looked over simultaneously, then shyly withdrew.
The notion of three people sleeping under one blanket was indeed somewhat absurd.
Especially since the two women usually appeared to be not so harmonious.
Luo Chen smiled slightly and directly spoke: "Caiyi!"
Gu Caiyi lifted her head and looked at Luo Chen.
A Jade Slip flew to her front.
"You need not worry about matters within the sect, go into closed-door cultivation to consolidate your realm. The Jade Slip contains the ’Dust Origin Technique’ I’ve meticulously revised, this technique no longer limited to condensing the Golden Core, can greatly benefit your cultivation."
Gu Caiyi joyfully took the Jade Slip.
"Furthermore, do you have any ideas for your Natal Magic Item?"
Gu Caiyi nodded quickly; among the Golden Core cultivators of Luo Tian Sect, Fu Jiusheng and Chu Kui had formed their cores early and had their Natal Magic Items prepared.
Li Yingzhang’s Natal Magic Item is the family-inherited Chi Dragon Sword.
Even Yang Pingdu, who later joined the Luo Tian Sect, had suitable Magic Items left by the Wanxiang Sect from back in the day.
Only her item didn’t suit her hands.
"Husband, I want an item balanced in offense and defense, a Red Silk Flying Sleeve is best, Brocade Handkerchief and Long Whip would suffice, Flying Sword comes next."
After saying, she sighed.
"Unfortunately, such items are rather niche. Any occasional acquisitions often carry a large imprint of their original owners and do not suit my Qi power."
Luo Chen smiled, "No matter, I can personally refine one for you after a while."
Gu Caiyi widened her eyes, somewhat not understanding.
Her husband can also refine artifacts?
Luo Chen then looked towards Sima Huiniang, "Huiniang, you should move more within the sect to assist Li Yingzhang. He hasn’t been in the Sect Master position long, regardless of capability, he’s unfamiliar with related affairs. Yao Mingyue needs to go into seclusion to strive for the Golden Core Realm, so it depends on you."
Sima Huiniang replied with a nod, accepting the matter.
From beginning to end, Luo Chen hadn’t mentioned anything about letting her cultivate.
Before the Heart-Linked Spirit Beetle in her body is resolved, Sima Huiniang cannot easily cultivate, otherwise it could easily lead to issues.
"Next, I shall refine a batch of Nascent Soul Formation Pills for the Shen Fu Sect!"
The two women’s expressions shifted with curiosity as they looked at Luo Chen.
Luo Chen smiled confidently, "The difficulty of crafting this pill is a small matter for me. However, if successful, it will be a significant event for me, for the Shen Fu Sect, for the Luo Tian Sect, and even for the entire East Desolate Immortal World! So, it mustn’t be delayed."
Sima Huiniang pondered, "Husband wishes to use this opportunity to solidify the identity of a Grandmaster of Alchemy Dao, making the entire Eastern Wilderness Strongman acknowledge you, right?"
"You’re the one who understands me, Huiniang!"
Luo Chen laughed heartily, extending and grasping towards the earth.
The Primordial Chaos Tripod, previously secretly buried in Daqing Mountain as the array core for suppressing the Nascent Soul Formation ceremony, rapidly shrunk, whirling towards him.
"No matter how grand my previous declarations were, they are merely empty words without evidence. Only when the Fourth Order Pill is genuinely refined will those Nascent Soul True Masters believe in my capabilities!"
"By then, with my astounding prowess in the Dao of Alchemy, I’ll forge connections everywhere, turning the Eastern Wilderness into a field filled with friends."
"Even the Dark Abyss Sect... won’t dare do anything to me!"
Luo Chen took a deep breath, eyes filled with confidence.
This is his approach to respond to the Dark Abyss Sect’s accountability.
With a reputation as a base, leveraging the Pill Refinement Technique as capital, so even if his past assistance to the Cangwu Mountain Demon Clan gets exposed, the Dark Abyss Sect won’t easily kill him.
After all, a Pill Refinement Grandmaster of the Golden Core Realm and a Grandmaster of Alchemy Dao at the Nascent Soul Stage are two entirely different concepts.
Especially since the Dark Abyss Sect has lost a figure like an Alchemy Saint!
After settling major and minor matters, Luo Chen did not indulge in the pleasures of softness but instead began preparations to refine the Nascent Soul Formation Pill.
As he was leaving, Sima Huiniang wanted to speak but stopped, ultimately saying nothing.
Gu Caiyi saw this scene after tidying up.
"Why not mention that aberrant’s matter?"
Sima Huiniang lowered her head, "My husband is very busy right now, I don’t want to distract him."
Gu Caiyi said coldly, "Have you decided, is it kill or release?"
"Certainly can’t release. But to kill him..." Sima Huiniang pursed her lips, a pained expression in her eyes, "In the end, he is my own brother!"
Gu Caiyi furrowed her brows, "But he has betrayed the Luo Tian Sect."
Sima Huiniang whispered, "I was the one who let him down first."
"You weren’t this soft-hearted before!"
"I’m no longer the Sect Master of the Luo Tian Sect!"
Gu Caiyi shook her head, realizing such matters are indeed difficult to resolve.
Before leaving, she hesitated for a moment but still said, "Do as you see fit. Your husband brought Sima Wenjie back but neglected him, clearly leaving everything for you to handle. No matter what, he will not blame you."
Sima Huiniang opened her mouth, then finally lowered her head dejectedly.
...
Three days later.
Three figures entered the underground prison of Daqing Mountain together.
Sima Wenjie saw the three.
Li Yingzhang, Min Longyu, and his own sister.
He knew the judgment upon him had finally come.
Unexpectedly, the anxiety he once felt now calmed at this moment.
Under the light of the Luminous Pearls, seeing Sima Huiniang’s face restored to its fullness of color, made him feel even more at peace.
Because of that face, because of the previous grand ceremony of the Luo Tian Sect, he realized his sister’s steadfastness was correct, his own wavering was wrong.
Thus, everything before was his own fault.
Sima Wenjie did not plead, only smiled and said:
"Second sister, he has healed you, you’re even more beautiful now."
Sima Huiniang pursed her lips, her body trembling slightly, and finally nodded to Min Longyu.
"I trouble you."
Min Longyu pulled the corner of his lips, "Leave it to me, it will take just some time."
Sima Huiniang cast a final glance at her brother, then left the dungeon together with Li Yingzhang.
After they went out, a suppressed, low cry of pain echoed from within.
Listening to that sound, the woman covered her mouth.
Li Yingzhang sighed, "Ultimately, having reached the Golden Core Realm, crippling him is more cruel than killing him! If it were me, I’d rather give him a quick end."
Sima Huiniang lowered her head, her expression unseen.
"I am not the Sect Master now."
Can’t one be swift and decisive without being a sect leader?
Li Yingzhang was confused but as he watched the woman’s desolate figure leave, he vaguely understood that her current identity was the Dao Companion Cultivator of the Supreme Elder and the sister of the man in pain within the Transformation Array, no longer the leader who could sacrifice kin for the sake of sect interests.
He considered and then said, "I’ll arrange for him a task within the sect, to scrape by until natural death, that’s no issue. Sweeping the Scripture Pavilion, what do you think?"
Sima Huiniang paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Thank you!"
Scripture Pavilion, where Wang Yuan held guard.
The place had few people, was tranquil, and no one would point fingers at him. With Wang Yuan watching over, the crippled Sima Wenjie wouldn’t stir trouble again.
This was already his best outcome.
Li Yingzhang accepted this gratitude calmly. He didn’t fancy the idea of stirring things up as a new official, but giving a favor was harmless.
Moreover, this matter might have had Luo Chen’s silent consent?
Walking through the dim, wet corridor, as a faint light became visible, Li Yingzhang suddenly said:
"Tomorrow, Qu Lingjun should be back!"
...
Yes, everything is returning.
But unexpectedly, Qu Lingjun did not return alone.
His Dao Companion Cultivator Meng Qin’er accompanied him all the way.