Standing Up for Lüoshan City Today!

What was once a dilapidated and desolate Gathering Place is now quite prosperous, with very wide streets that can accommodate five carriages at the same time. It has the grandeur of a great city, and there is no trace of the chaotic buildings and sewage flowing freely there before.

The main road in the middle was long, with residential buildings and shops connected on both sides, including shops Law Artifact, Spirit Rice, and talismans. Large trees were planted every seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) along the road, providing shade.

Some cultivators even cultivate Spirit Plant in their courtyards.

Looking south, one can see the former location of Platinum Han's Zanhua Tower, where a tall building has now been erected.

"These are all Qiangzi that Qiangzi did while rebuilding Lüoshan City over the years. It can be considered a triumphant return home, having rebuilt and improved the construction of his hometown."

Chen Dengming stood on the main road, looking at the surrounding scene with a touch of emotion.

Looking around at the hurried crowds, he saw Xiantian mortals and cultivators.

This arrangement of immortals and mortals living together is not much different from the past.

But perhaps because the war had already begun, many people looked solemn and hurried along, few stopped to talk, and all avoided the high walls and deep courtyards behind them, as if afraid of disturbing them.

Chen Dengming had already enveloped himself with his Divine Sense, essentially using a smokescreen, making it difficult for non- Foundation Establishment cultivators to detect his presence.

He looked at the tall buildings and high walls in the distance, and behind the walls, among the trees, rows of blue-tiled roofs, grand in scale and imposing in appearance.

The courtyard is filled with lush, verdant banyan trees, their leaves rustling in the wind.

The tree is still the same tree, but the building is no longer the same building.

However, he had already sensed that Jiang Qiang and Zhu Xun were inside the high walls and deep courtyard.

As he approached the past.

Inside the courtyard, the Black Cloud Leopard, which had been lying on the ground fast asleep, suddenly pricked up its ears, twitched its nose, and opened its eyes in a start. It immediately got up and its massive body rose up, an action that immediately alerted the others in the courtyard.

"Senior Black Panther, what's this?"

Why is it wagging its tail so excitedly?

The Black Cloud Leopard's dark head emerged over the high wall and immediately spotted Chen Dengming walking down the street.

"Waaaaah--"

The Black Cloud Leopard immediately let out a melodious cheer, its four paws digging at the ground as if it were an excavator, digging several holes in the yard.

"Senior Black Panther?"

Jiang Qiang walked out of the house in surprise.

The next instant, a flash of Golden Light appeared, and a familiar figure materialized in the courtyard. Immediately, their gazes froze, and they exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother Chen!"

"Qiangzi."

Chen Dengming smiled, then looked at Black Wind who came out of the house and nodded slightly.

"Senior Chen!" Black Wind bowed with a look of shame and dejection.

"You entrusted Lüoshan City to me, but I failed to protect Lüoshan City. This is my greatest fault, and I beg you to punish me, senior!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Dengming chuckled and shook his head. "If the Golden Core Ancestor of the Cold Extreme Gate were to forcibly seize Lüoshan City, it would be strange if you could still protect it. What crime have you committed?"

At this moment, everyone else around was already kneeling on the ground, bowing in unison to this incredibly famous Longevity Dao Child, trembling with fear.

Even Wang Shiduo, a fellow townsman from Nanxun, has been in the Cultivation World for a long time now and has experienced all sorts of beatings due to his low aptitude. He has long since realized the unfathomable depth of his fellow townsman Chen Dengming.

At the same time, he was also filled with fear and confusion.

He couldn't understand why Chen Dengming, who clearly only had the aptitude of Low-grade Spiritual Root that was incompatible with his own, was able to achieve such success.

But despite his confusion, these doubts could only remain buried deep in his heart as a secret; he would never dare to reveal them in the slightest.

"Get up, all of you. You are all heroes in the construction of Lüoshan City."

Chen Dengming glanced at the group of Qi Refining Stage cultivators and smiled calmly.

They did not simply ignore these people just because they were all Rogue Cultivator with low strength.

He went through the same thing, so how could he look down on those who were in the same situation as him just because he has climbed high enough? This is completely contrary to his State of Mind and spiritual cultivation.

The group of Qi Cultivation Cultivator thought they had misheard.

It's incredibly flattering that someone as esteemed as the Longevity Dao Child, who is far more noble than the ancestors of some Foundation Establishment Lineage, would pay attention to such insignificant people as them.

While many people were in a daze, Chen Dengming had already gone into the inner room.

How is Zhu Xun?

Jiang Qiang's expression turned serious as he led Chen Dengming toward an old well behind the house, saying, "Brother Chen, Old Zhu is seriously injured. It seems he was ambushed by that old dog Zhuang. Even after resting for so long, he still hasn't improved."

Chen Dengming frowned and walked towards the Yin Qi ancient well. A flash of Golden Light appeared in his eyes, and he saw a sparsely haired head submerged in the well.

Within that head, Zhu Xun's Soul Power seemed somewhat weak.

"Bang!"

Chen Dengming called out softly.

Startled from his slumber within the ancient well, Zhu Xun surfaced with a 'splash,' his pale blue eyes peering from the bottom to the well's mouth, a glint of light flashing in them. He then slowly emerged from Lin He's head, his Soul Body floating out.

Suddenly, Yin Wind blew, and the air temperature seemed to drop several degrees in an instant.

However, it was noticeable that Zhu Xun's Soul Body had become considerably weaker.

Even deep within the Soul Body, faint spiritual fluctuations, like golden threads, swept by, attempting to tear it apart and causing it to occasionally let out painful roars.

"Golden Core Divine Sense!"

Chen Dengming frowned, his anger rising. He extended a Divine Sense and used the Spirit Refining Art to probe Zhu Xun's Yin Soul.

They quickly discovered the rampant Golden Divine Sense power deep within Zhu Xun's Soul Body.

No wonder Zhu Xun's injuries have been slow to heal since they started; the main reason is that he cannot expel the golden core's Divine Sense.

It's as if a rusty piece of iron has been embedded in the Flesh and Blood; it's a miracle the Flesh and Blood hasn't rotted and worsened, let alone healed.

This is only Zhu Xun, being an evil Fierce Ghost, possesses the power to devour and corrupt spirits; he must have already devoured and corrupted a considerable amount of Divine Sense. Otherwise, the situation would only be worse.

Chen Dengming's eyes flashed with divine light, his eyes turning into vortexes, instantly drawing out the golden Divine Sense from Zhu Xun's body.

The air was instantly filled with a sense of oppression and restlessness.

Amidst Zhu Xun roars, strands of golden threads were drawn from his Soul Body, emanating mental waves that drove people mad.

Jiang Qiang and the others were close by, and even just being affected by the blast wave caused them to feel dizzy and their heads to throb with pain.

"Whoosh--"

The extracted Divine Sense, like a venomous snake, instinctively struggled, its movements resembling tangled golden threads, launching a counterattack.

Chen Dengming snorted coldly, his eyes suddenly flashing with sharp light, like a precious blade flashing, his powerful Divine Sense transforming into two Dao God that slashed out directly.

Instantly, a fierce mental wave exploded, shattering the golden core's Divine Sense, which resembled a ball of golden thread, and vanishing without a trace.

A lingering Spiritual Energy spread out.

Chen Dengming took a step, and a faint Golden Light flashed on his body, instantly devouring all the Spiritual Energy.

Jiang Qiang was slumped to the ground, his mind hazy, while Black Wind had fainted.

Even when Golden Core Great Cultivator deliberately restrained himself, the mere release of fluctuations and spiritual power was enough to overwhelm them.

At the same time.

It is located far away in Lüoshan City.

Zhuang Fangyu, who had just flown out from the depths of the Spirit Vein, changed his expression slightly. He realized that the Divine Sense he had severed and left in the body of that Fierce Ghost had been destroyed, and he frowned.

"It seems that the Fierce Ghost has an extraordinary relationship with this Longevity Dao Child."

He already sensed something was wrong and began to connect the dots.

However, he was, after all, Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator who had once emerged from the Wind Hành Sect. It was impossible for him to simply give up Lüoshan City; where would he put his face?

"Are you ready to climb?"

He suddenly transmitted his voice to the Foundation Establishment Elder inside the sect.

Outside the hall, the burly Pan Feng immediately entered and bowed, saying, "Ancestor, everything is ready. As per your request, I have selected eight female disciples at the Qi Refining stage and prepared a thousand High-grade Spirit Crystal."

As he spoke, his heart bled, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Ancestor, is it really necessary to pay such a high price? Even if he, the Longevity Dao Child, has now broken through to the Golden Core stage, he has only just done so. What is there for you to fear, Ancestor?"

Besides, we have the war order; how could he dare to disobey it?

"Foolish! Now plans can't keep up with changes. This Longevity Dao Child was able to kill Golden Core cultivators when he was still a Pseudo-Core cultivator. Now that he has become a Golden Core cultivator, I may not be able to force him to retreat."

Moreover, given this person's potential, his future is immeasurable.

Zhuang Fangyu's face was gloomy and ugly. He stared coldly at Pan Feng and said, "Back then, I asked you to investigate the details of Lüoshan City. You only found out about some South Mountain Sect Zhu Xun the Nanshan Sect, and then you couldn't take him down. That's why I had no choice but to take action."

Unexpectedly, another Longevity Dao Child appeared midway. If we had known he was Longevity Dao Child, why would we have bothered with this hot potato, Lüoshan City, in the first place?

Upon hearing this, Pan Feng lowered his head in shame.

He knew that the ancestor had already made a decision that there was no turning back. In order to ensure that the other families would submit and move away, even if he learned that Lüoshan City belonged to the Longevity Dao Child, he had no choice but to take it by force. However, he was also prepared to leave the place after the war ended in a few years.

At that time Lüoshan City would be returned to its rightful owner, and the resources of the other families would have been completely depleted.

No matter how powerful the Longevity Dao Child is, he wouldn't be so bored as to take back Lüoshan City and then fight to the death with a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator.

But now, things have really changed; the Longevity Dao Child has broken through to the Golden Core stage so quickly.

This makes the situation very difficult to resolve.

Because of this critical juncture, the Cold Extreme Gate has established absolute prestige in this area and holds the battle order. It is absolutely impossible for them to easily give up their territory just because the Longevity Dao Child has come to demand it; otherwise, where would their prestige be?

"Take your things and let's go! We'll take the initiative to meet this Dao Child, hoping he'll realize the situation and not make things difficult for me."

Zhuang Fangyu stood up, waved his hand, flew out of the main hall, and sat on a Flying Artifact that resembled a golden chariot, with two Foundation Establishment Demon Beast pulling the chariot in front, making quite a grand entrance.

Pan Feng immediately followed, instructing his disciples to send the eight carefully selected female Qi Refining cultivators onto the spirit boat, and then quickly departed.

Seeing that one of the eight female cultivators had a mournful face, Pan Feng's expression immediately turned cold, and he reprimanded her.

"Nonsense! Sending you to serve a Golden Core cultivator is an incredible stroke of luck for you. Who are you trying to impress with those long faces?"

The group of female cultivators were immediately terrified by the power of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, and they all bowed and knelt down, their hearts filled with fear.

They were no ordinary female cultivators; some were disciples of the Cultivation Family, while others were princesses from mortal dynasties who were sent to join the Immortal Sect. Each of them was beautiful, had an exceptional temperament, and was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Although the best among them only possessed Medium-grade Spiritual Root, they were still excellent female cultivators. They could demand a considerable dowry when marrying cultivators of the same realm. In the past, they were all proud and arrogant individuals in their respective territories, but now they were being sent to serve Golden Core seniors.

Whether it's good fortune or bad luck, smart people know that sometimes good fortune doesn't come, and if you encounter someone with strange or unusual tastes, you might even lose your life.

As for the beautiful dream of a Qi Refining female cultivator seducing Golden Core Great Cultivator, like a phoenix soaring to a branch, they dare not even dream of it.

Pan Feng's eyes flashed with a cold light as he said coldly, "Once you've been chosen, you have no room to refuse. Think about your Lineage."

If you fail to win the favor of that Golden Core senior this time, there's no need for you to stay in the sect. The Battlefield is short-handed anyway, and the other disciples have all shed their blood for the sect and the Southern Region. If you didn't have some value in terms of looks, why would you still be able to stay in the sect and cultivate in peace?"

Upon hearing this, the eight female cultivators were filled with fear and trepidation, but they could only immediately calm themselves down and force a smile.

Zhuang Fangyu, inside the golden carriage at the front, remained unmoved.

Each sect has its own way of doing things; not every sect is as gentle internally as the Longevity Sect.

The Cold Extreme Gate's approach is actually similar to many other Immortal Sect: indifferent to cultivation, scarce resources, and prioritizing profit.

By joining the Cold Extreme Gate, one obtains the Cold Extreme Immortal Method, is under the Cold Extreme Gate's protection, cultivates in Spirit Vein, and receives guidance from the sect's elders. This is how one obtains three of the resources of 'wealth, companion, technique, and land': companion, technique, and land.

In return, the Cold Extreme Gate received resources from its disciples.

Disciples, as a resource, can generate wealth for the sect.

Even disciples themselves are a form of wealth.

Sending away a female disciple into the sect and befriending a Dao of Alchemy cultivator from a major sect is a sure-fire way to make money. Not only does it resolve a feud, but it also gains a new connection. This is a perfectly normal resource exchange among those in power.

What Longevity Dao Child lost was merely two First-Rank Spirit Vein and the right to use a mountain city for a few years.

He can also promise that he will absolutely not damage the Spirit Vein.

Both sides achieved a win-win situation, sacrificing only the happiness of some female disciples while reaping the resources and benefits of other Cultivation Family.

The wealthy and powerful were returned in full, while the common people's money was divided 30/70.

The Cold Extreme Sect gained the prestige and benefits it needed to maintain, and the Longevity Dao Child's losses could also be compensated. Why not?

Zhuang Fangyu couldn't figure out why Chen Dengming would refuse.

Before long, the outline of the Gathering Place could be seen ahead.

But at that moment, Pan Feng, who was on the spirit boat, suddenly widened his eyes and saw a figure emanating a faint golden light flying out from the city opposite.

That figure was like a golden sun, making everything around it pale in comparison.

The air around him distorted, turning into a blurry ripple as he flew. What was even more chilling was that a large amount of Spiritual Qi seemed to be drawn to his side, forming a shimmering aurora.

"Longevity Dao Child!?"

The eight female cultivators behind him had all fainted, and Pan Feng felt as if his Divine Sense was being scorched by a blazing sun.

That terrifying spiritual power was scorching his spirit; his heart seemed to be burning with intense anxiety and a strong sense of crisis.

Fear!

Even though they were still more than ten miles apart, the Divine Sense that the Longevity Dao Child was spreading out seemed to contain anger. Even though the main target was the ancestor inside the golden chariot in front of him, the aftershocks alone were enough to overwhelm even Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator like him.

"Longevity Dao Child, why are you so enraged?"

At this moment, a vast and icy Divine Sense power emanated from the golden stick in front.

As I climbed to the top, I felt a sense of relief, though my back was covered in cold sweat.

Suddenly, at that moment, a cold snort, like a giant hammer, slammed down, penetrating the mind and causing a thunderous roar.

"Old devil Zhuang! I, Chen, have always believed in treating others with the utmost respect. You forcibly seized my city and injured my brothers, and you expect me to be polite?"

Boom!--

Pan Feng felt a violent tremor throughout his body, his heart skipped a beat, and his head felt like it was about to explode.

He felt an overwhelming pressure, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, pressing down on him.

Across from him, a blazing Golden Light shone brightly, seemingly revealing a majestic figure within the vast Golden Light, illuminating the mind with sharp tiger eyes and sinister white hair.

His face turned as pale as a hen incubating its eggs, his spine tightened, and his calves cramped.

The Foundation Establishment Demon Beast on both trailers roared in terror.

Inside the golden carriage, Zhuang Fangyu frowned and took a step forward, his body gradually radiating Golden Light. He spoke calmly.

"Your Highness Daozi, Lüoshan City is War Zone requisitioned during the war. I did not seize it by force, and I have already promised that this city will be returned to you after the war ends."

Chen Dengming stood with his hands behind his back in mid-air, his body surrounded by dazzling Golden Light of Core Power. His powerful spiritual aura confronted Zhuang Fangyu opposite him. Suddenly, silver light gathered in his eyes, and a soul-stirring aura surged up. He calmly said.

"Your promise is nothing but a coercion to drive out my brothers. I will not stand for it! Today I will take back Lüoshan City."