Luo Family Retreats, Qi Cultivation Fourth Level

The white clouds on the mountaintop unfurl and roll, the bright moon in the sky comes and goes.

In the blink of an eye, another month has passed.

Many major events have occurred during this past month.

Firstly, after numerous battles, the original dozen or so forces within the Gathering Place have been reduced to only three factions allied with the Zhu Family: the Iron Forest Hall, the Flower Rain Gate, and the Golden Character Workshop, which defected with Xu Ning.

Even the relatively large neutral forces, the Merchant Alliance and the Feathered Forest Hall, were expelled. The Gathering Place and its surrounding resource points have completely fallen under the Zhu Family's control.

The fall of the Gathering Place seems to symbolize the end of the first stage of the war between the Zhu and Luo cultivation families, marking a defeat for the Luo Family.

Many Rogue Cultivators who were once close to the Luo Family were hunted down and purged. Only by pledging allegiance to the Zhu Family could they hope to survive.

Just as the Zhu Family was about to press further and force the Luo Family to hand over the Secret Copper Mine, a piece of news arrived, temporarily halting the regional cultivator conflict.

The news came from the Wonderful Sound Sect, stating that Lüo Bing had successfully broken through to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Level and had officially begun participating in the sect's trials to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This news undoubtedly boosted the Luo Family's morale and made the Zhu Family hesitant to act rashly for the time being.

The Luo Family's uncharacteristic retreat during this period was primarily to avoid depleting their forces in a temporary dispute. The sacrifices were basically made by cultivators outside the family; not a single one of their own cultivators died.

Now, the Zhu Family appears arrogant and the Luo Family is pressuring them, but the Luo Family simply needs to ignore them and wait for Lüo Bing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. All their troubles and conflicts will be resolved then.

Conversely, if they were to involve the family in a major war with the Zhu Family at this moment, not only would their forces be depleted, but the Luo Family might also take the opportunity to kick them while they're down. This would be unwise.

The Zhu Family naturally anticipated the Luo Family's plan, hence their relentless pressure to quickly reclaim the many lost resource points and even demand more.

Currently, all three cultivation families are waiting for one outcome—whether Lüo Bing can successfully obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.

In fact, the Luo Family has already begun interfering with this outcome.

The only cruel reality is that while none of the three cultivation families have shed a single drop of blood, a large number of Mortals and Rogue Cultivators have already become withered bones, serving as food for Demon Beasts in the winter.

At this moment.

Inside a house in the valley.

"Ling'er, help me cultivate quickly!"

"M-my lord, I can only do three, three more times before I need to rest."

"Are you getting naughty now? You're getting too familiar with me and starting to bargain?"

Chen Dengming assumed an exaggerated split-leg pose, straddling two beams in the room, cultivating.

Below him.

The array disk glowed, and the Little Array Spirit, with an ethereal posture, bathed in light and rain. Her dance was graceful as she diligently gathered a large amount of white, metal-element Spiritual Energy, channeling it towards Chen Dengming, muttering.

"Fellow Daoist, your cultivation speed is already very fast."

"Not enough, still not fast enough..."

Chen Dengming's essence, energy, and spirit were highly concentrated, with wisps of white smoke rising from his head and sweat like bird claws dripping from his forehead and face.

After all the metal-element Spiritual Energy was absorbed.

The Little Array Spirit's dance changed, displaying various wondrous forms. The Wood Spiritual Energy from outside the array was then absorbed to aid Chen Dengming's cultivation.

The Spirit Stones embedded in the six corners were severely depleted, suddenly making 'snap' sounds as they shattered.

"They're all used up again. Is this the tenth round? Sixty Low-grade Spirit Stones are gone just like that."

Chen Dengming awoke from his cultivation, looked down at the shattered Spirit Stones below, shook his head, flipped over, and leaped down from the beam. The faint, oppressive Spiritual Might emanating from him was much stronger than a month ago.

He had already broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level eleven days ago, finally entering the Qi Cultivation middle stage.

After consolidating his cultivation for another ten-plus days, his power had become even more profound.

With a massive amount of Spirit Stones thrown in and the assistance of the Little Array Spirit, even when cultivating outside the Gathering Place, his cultivation speed was only about twenty percent slower than in the Luo Family's mountain.

He calmed his mind and checked the status of his Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique.

"Qi Cultivation Fourth Level Cultivator [Chen Dengming] Lifespan: 163/277 Spiritual Root: Metal, Wood (Mid-grade 50/100) Martial Dao: Chen Family Martial Arts General Outline (Great Perfection) Daoist Magic: Gu Refining Chapter (Master 27/100), Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique (Fourth Level 44/400), Chen Family Daoist Magic Chapter (Proficient 31/100), Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique (First Level 37/100), Artifact Control Art (Master 9/100)"

Since his strength broke through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, his lifespan limit had increased by another fifteen years.

Coupled with the Vajra Shield Technique (Level 1, Grade 3) which he had cultivated to the Proficient level during this period, his lifespan limit had increased by another five years, bringing his current lifespan limit to a staggering 277 years.

If he were to expend his lifespan now to cultivate the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique, his Spiritual Root aptitude could be raised to the High-grade level.

"Once I learn the Gold Touch Technique (Level 1, Grade 4) that I obtained at the Ascension Convention, I can begin cultivating the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique."

Chen Dengming calculated inwardly.

Temporarily ending his cultivation of the Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique, he prepared to take a fragrant bath before starting to practice the Gold Touch Technique.

At this moment, the Little Array Spirit was exhausted. She had long since retreated into the array disk, rubbing her little arms and legs with self-pity, grumbling in dissatisfaction.

Through their interactions during these past days, she was no longer as timid.

Although Chen Dengming seemed like a wicked person who often exploited and oppressed her, he actually had a decent heart.

What touched her most was how much Chen Dengming seemed to care about her past state. He frequently asked questions and mentioned that if the world outside weren't so chaotic with so many Demon Beasts, he would go and see the cave where she was first discovered.

In the Little Array Spirit's opinion, it was already a rare favor for this cultivation fanatic to spare some of his time for her, which made her feel quite flattered and overwhelmed.

"Right, Ling'er, hasn't Fellow Daoist Jiang outside returned yet?"

Chen Dengming asked as he put on the cotton-padded jacket sewn by Xu Wei, his brow furrowing.

Jiang Qiang had just broken through to Qi Cultivation level three a week ago. After a few days of consolidation, he had left the Valley yesterday.

According to him, he was going to another residence to retrieve some empty array discs and also to inquire about the situation outside.

Considering Jiang Qiang's strength at Qi Cultivation level three, his cautious nature, and his skill in evasion, coupled with his frequent trips out to gather information before, Chen Dengming had allowed him to leave the Valley.

However, a day had already passed, and Jiang Qiang had still not returned.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang has not returned."

The Array Spirit replied.

Chen Dengming frowned and pushed open the door.

The north wind outside roared like a frozen Devil, rushing towards him, whipping up his white hair at the temples. The sand kicked up stung his face like a knife cut.

"This wretched weather. Winter is still a month away from ending, yet it's getting colder."

Chen Dengming cursed under his breath, feeling the cold wind drilling straight into his hair and collar. He immediately pulled his collar tighter.

He saw that there was still a considerable amount of snow left in the Valley.

Chen Dengming glanced at Jiang Qiang's house, shook his head, picked up a shovel, and scooped a large basin of snow. Using the Fireball Technique and firewood, he quickly heated it up and sat in the iron pot to stew himself, enjoying a comfortable hot bath.

Afterward, he fed the dried Spirit Fish jerky, which he had caught in the Valley and dried, to his two Gu worms. He sat aside and shaved his beard with the Ice Spirit Blade.

After a period of busyness, he noticed that the sky overhead had darkened again, clearly indicating that night was approaching.

Chen Dengming frowned.

"Why hasn't Qiangzi returned yet? Could something have happened?"

He pondered for a moment, then picked up the Ice Spirit Blade, deciding to go out and look.

He had been counting on Jiang Qiang to return with good intelligence, but now that Jiang Qiang hadn't returned, Chen Dengming was somewhat in the dark.

The resources he had on hand were almost depleted.

With his strength at Qi Cultivation level four, he could already apply to reside in the Luo Family Mountain City and become a guest elder, which would be more comfortable than his previous life in the Gathering Place.

However, considering the trouble the Luo Family had with offending the Luo Family, Chen Dengming preferred to keep his distance.

If he had a choice and the ability, he would rather go to the more distant Jingxiu Workshop to seek opportunities.

He put on his bamboo hat.

Chen Dengming summoned his two Spirit Gu worms, who were being picky about the Spirit Fish jerky, and flew out of the Valley swiftly on his blade light.

After about fifteen minutes.

Chen Dengming stopped on the mountain path not far from the Valley, his expression grim. He frowned as he examined the traces of what appeared to be a fight on the mountain path and numerous holes that had pierced the rocks, feeling quite perplexed.

"Judging by the traces, it looks like a Cultivator fought a Demon Beast here. And from the looks of it, it was that Spider Demon Beast. Could it be Qiangzi...?"