A Frown, A Smile, Like the Sun Rising Through Morning Clouds

Looking at Li Muwan and Li Qiqing appearing before him, Luo Chuan felt a sense of curiosity. According to the original story's description, shouldn't they have already returned to the Luohe Sect by now?

Why would they still be here?

Could it be that my return has caused the plotline to shift?

Luo Chuan swirled the teacup in his hand, lifted his head slightly to look at Li Muwan, and asked softly, "What brings you here this time?"

Li Qiqing stepped forward quickly, cupped his hands in a salute toward Luo Chuan, and said, "Reporting to the Senior, my sister and I have come to the Hengyue Sect for the Daoyuan Fruit that our sect requires."

The Daoyuan Fruit did not grow within the Huofen Kingdom due to the climate; it could not be cultivated there. Therefore, it could only grow in the Zhao Kingdom, where the spiritual energy was more abundant.

Since the Daoyuan Fruit was one of the materials needed to refine pills for cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realm, and the Luohe Sect had previously negotiated with the Hengyue Sect, they did not make things difficult for the two.

Luo Chuan took a sip of tea and asked quietly, "How many Daoyuan Fruits do you need?"

Li Qiqing glanced at Li Muwan beside him before answering, "The junior is acting under the orders of our ancestor... to come and trade for ten Daoyuan Fruits."

"Ten Daoyuan Fruits?"

Elder Liu Wenju frowned and instinctively looked at Luo Chuan beside him, seemingly dissatisfied with the Luohe Sect's exorbitant demand.

The Daoyuan Fruit was an extremely rare item; even the Mystic Dao Sect of the past only possessed a dozen or so. Now that the Luohe Sect was demanding ten at once, it was naturally impossible to agree.

Li Muwan seemed to perceive the thoughts of the Hengyue Sect's elder and sect leader, so she stepped forward immediately and bowed slightly: "Seniors, please rest assured. Before coming, our ancestor specifically instructed this junior that regardless of the conditions, as long as the Senior makes a request, this junior will certainly not refuse."

Elder Liu Wenju stroked his pale goatee and said softly, "In that case, for every Daoyuan Fruit, you shall provide one Golden Core-level magic treasure."

"Golden Core-level magic treasures?"

Li Qiqing's face turned ashen. Clearly, he had not expected the other party to make such an outrageous demand, asking for ten Golden Core-level magic treasures outright—it was simply shocking.

True Person Huanglong coughed awkwardly, looked at Liu Wenju, and transmitted his voice: "Master... isn't this going a bit too far?"

Liu Wenju kept one hand behind his back and replied via voice transmission: "The Daoyuan Fruit is an extremely rare item, and the Luohe Sect is a major alchemy sect; it should not be difficult for them to produce ten Golden Core-level magic treasures."

Just as Li Qiqing fell silent, Luo Chuan placed his teacup gently on the table, stood up slowly, and said calmly:

"Ten Daoyuan Fruits are indeed precious, but the Luohe Sect is, after all, a major alchemy sect of the Huofen Kingdom, while alchemists in my Hengyue Sect are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. This Seat has decided to gift all the Daoyuan Fruits to you."

Once these words were spoken, even Li Muwan couldn't help but be stunned. She looked at Luo Chuan with a face full of confusion, not understanding what the hidden meaning behind this Senior's words was.

Could there be other requirements?

Li Muwan pursed her thin lips, smoothed the dark hair by her ear, and said in a soft, gentle voice: "What does the Senior want?"

Luo Chuan stood up slowly, nodded, and replied: "My Hengyue Sect shall form an alliance with your Luohe Sect. In the future, all medicinal herbs within the Zhao Kingdom will be gifted to the Luohe Sect unconditionally, but the Luohe Sect must also refine pills for our sect."

Li Muwan's eyes lit up upon hearing this. She had originally expected the other party to make an exorbitant demand, but she had not expected it to be such a simple cooperation.

Being able to cooperate with the Hengyue Sect was an honor for their Luohe Sect, and if they could firmly secure a relationship with the Hengyue Sect, the Luohe Sect's future achievements would be limitless.

Liu Wenju stepped forward and said softly, "Ancestor, would this be inappropriate? You are a powerful Spirit Transformation expert; even alchemy sects in Level 4 cultivation nations would agree to our..."

"You don't understand."

Luo Chuan interrupted Liu Wenju directly and said softly, "Those alchemy sects in Level 4 cultivation nations have experts as numerous as clouds and may not necessarily look favorably upon my Hengyue Sect. It is better to simply form an alliance with the Luohe Sect."

Hearing the ancestor's reply, Liu Wenju nodded slightly. Since it had already been said this way, as a junior, he naturally had no need to interfere.

Li Muwan pursed her lips and cupped her hands in a salute toward Luo Chuan, "Then many thanks, Senior. Once this junior returns, I will certainly inform our ancestor of this matter."

"Mm."

Luo Chuan nodded slightly, kept one hand behind his back, and walked up to Li Muwan. Looking at her delicate face, he revealed a meaningful smile.

"Liu Wenju, go and bring out all the sect's Daoyuan Fruits. As for the other herbs they need, let Li Qiqing accompany you."

"As you command!"

Liu Wenju bowed respectfully to Luo Chuan, then turned around gracefully and led Li Qiqing toward the sect's treasure vault.

Li Qiqing was not afraid that his sister would be harmed here; after all, this was the Hengyue Sect, and Senior Luo Chuan appeared to be an upright gentleman, so he would naturally not bully his sister.

Luo Chuan turned his gaze slightly to look at Li Muwan beside him and said softly, "I have heard that the Luohe Sect's alchemy skills are outstanding and that you are also quite accomplished in formations. I wonder if we could sit down and chat?"

Li Muwan looked up, full of confusion, "Does the Senior wish to discuss formations with this junior?"

Luo Chuan nodded.

Having cultivated for over twenty years, he had focused entirely on cultivation, and he was completely ignorant of things like formations and alchemy.

Thinking of the upcoming Ancient God Land, if he did not understand formation restrictions, he feared it would be difficult to pass through the mountains of restrictions in the Ancient God Land to obtain the Memory Inheritance of the Ancient God Tusi from the original story.

Currently, Li Muwan was absolutely a leader in the Huofen Kingdom regarding formations and alchemy; even cultivators at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages could not necessarily be compared to her.

If she could reach the Ascendant Realm, Li Muwan's achievements would be absolutely limitless; she could even make the entire Vermilion Bird Planet go completely mad with a mere flick of her sleeve.

It was a pity that in the original story, Li Muwan consumed a vast amount of her own lifespan for Wang Lin, leading to her cultivation being exhausted just after breaking through to the Golden Core stage. Even taking pills to maintain her lifespan was of no avail.

If given enough time and a sufficient cultivation environment, Li Muwan's achievements would definitely not be lower than Wang Lin's. After all, from beginning to end, Li Muwan's talent far exceeded Wang Lin's.

If not for Wang Lin obtaining the Heaven Defying Bead, he would likely still be an outer sect disciple of the Hengyue Sect, whose daily task was to carry water and chop wood.

Li Muwan pursed her youthful lips and smiled, "Since the Senior wishes to discuss it, this junior will naturally comply."

"Mm, follow me."