"There's no need to thank me. After all, you refined the Tianli Pill for my disciple, so by rights I should be thanking you on their behalf."
Luo Chuan replied with an unconcerned smile.
Li Muwan gently bit her lower lip. Though she did not kneel, she still bowed respectfully toward Luo Chuan.
"By the way, give this leaf to Li Qiqing. With it, his future achievements will be boundless."
Luo Chuan thought of Li Muwan's older brother, Li Qiqing. Without hesitation, he took out another leaf and gave it to her.
As for whether Li Qiqing would have the chance to break through his limits and become a Nascent Soul Realm powerhouse, that would depend on his own talent and fortune.
"Thank you, Senior."
Li Muwan put away the leaf in her hands and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, thanking Luo Chuan on behalf of her older brother.
"It's nothing."
Luo Chuan took a sip of Peach Blossom Brew and gazed at the stars filling the sky. A meaningful smile touched his lips before he closed his eyes, savoring the comfort of the breeze brushing across his face.
Over the next few months, cultivators within the Huofen Kingdom suddenly began attacking the neighboring Xuanwu Kingdom. Ever since the decision had been made, many cultivators had grown dissatisfied with Xuanwu.
Battles involving more than a hundred people were rare, however. Most were small-scale clashes between a few dozen cultivators.
Gradually, the Huofen Alliance secured its foothold. After seizing roughly a third of the territory, it had no strength left to push further, so the fighting settled down.
As for the clashes between cultivators from the two kingdoms, what had begun as deadly battles eventually became a proving ground where disciples from both sides gained combat experience.
For the disciples on both sides who had died on the battlefield during the earlier campaigns, this was a bitterly ironic outcome.
Luo Chuan did not interfere after learning of it. After all, this was a matter between the Huofen Kingdom and the Xuanwu Kingdom. Whatever happened between the two in the future had nothing to do with him.
"It's time to head to the Demon Cultivation Sea."
Having finished his cultivation, Luo Chuan stood and prepared to leave for the Demon Cultivation Sea. He would strive to reach the Late Spirit Severing Realm, hoping to raise his cultivation to the late stage before entering the Ancient God Land.
Luo Chuan looked at his two disciples and said softly, "Tomorrow, return to the Zhao Kingdom through the teleportation array. I won't be returning to the Hengyue Sect for at least a hundred years. Don't neglect your cultivation."
A-Dai's face was full of reluctance. "Master, are you leaving for a hundred years?"
"Yes. At least a hundred years," Luo Chuan answered calmly, one hand clasped behind his back.
He had no idea exactly how long it would take. Absorbing Ancient God Tusi's Memory Inheritance would take an extremely long time; whether it took a hundred years or two hundred would depend on how quickly he could absorb it.
Hearing their master's words, Liu Mei and A-Dai both sighed. They said nothing more, and after kowtowing to Luo Chuan once again, they turned and left the War God Hall.
Watching them walk away, Luo Chuan moved his fingers and summoned his mount, the Blood Qilin. Without looking back, he sped off toward the Demon Cultivation Sea.
Vermilion Bird Planet, Demon Cultivation Sea.
Dark purple clouds churned across the sky, while ghostly blue phosphorescent flames floated atop the sea, thick and black as ink.
The sea wind swept toward them, carrying a sickly-sweet stench and sharp shards of ice that stung his face.
As the waters surged, enormous whirlpools appeared from time to time. A mournful wail rose from the depths, as if some sealed demon were roaring.
In the distance, jagged reefs appeared and vanished through the mist, their twisted, grotesque shapes like countless dead bones reaching for the heavens.
A few strange red lights occasionally flashed across the sea, disappearing in an instant and lending the waters an even more sinister air.
Luo Chuan showed no expression at the sight. Instead, he released Xu Liguo, whom he had successfully refined into a demonic spirit.
The first thing Xu Liguo did after emerging was try to escape. But in front of Luo Chuan, even if he ran to the ends of the earth, Luo Chuan could catch him in an instant.
"Master, I was wrong! I won't dare do it again! Please, don't kill me!"
Seeing that escape was pointless, Xu Liguo immediately flew over and clung to Luo Chuan's leg, bursting into tears. "Your humble Xu knows he was wrong! Spare my life, Master!"
Luo Chuan said calmly, "As long as you behave and do as you're told, I won't lay a hand on you. But if you harbor even the slightest thought of defying me, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Don't worry, Master. Your humble Xu is utterly loyal, with not a hint of disloyalty!"
Xu Liguo thumped his chest with conviction, then cursed inwardly, Damn fiend. If only I'd found an opportunity, I would've had my family from the Corpse Yin Sect come save me.
Luo Chuan did not hurry to the Star-Shattering Chaos. Instead, he found an open spot, carved out a cave dwelling, and prepared to break through to the Mid Spirit Severing Realm there.
Yet while Luo Chuan was breaking through to the Spirit Severing Realm, Xu Liguo secretly hid behind a rock and watched him.
Looks like this fiend is breaking through. If I take the chance to disrupt him... wouldn't I ruin all his efforts and maybe even cause his cultivation to backfire?
At the thought, a smile like a snake's bloomed across Xu Liguo's lips. While Luo Chuan was still cultivating, he charged straight at him.
But just as Xu Liguo was about to touch Luo Chuan, the barrier before him flared to life and sent him flying a hundred meters away.
"Damn, this fiend was on guard against me the whole time..."
Xu Liguo sprawled on the ground, utterly at a loss for words. He looked at Luo Chuan, whose lips were curved into a smile, and seethed with rage. Damn bastard! He's been hiding his true strength this whole time!
He was just waiting for me to walk right into his trap. Damn fiend...
Xu Liguo sat on the ground, looking aggrieved. Every so often, he glanced toward Luo Chuan, who was in the middle of his breakthrough, and thought, Why hasn't anyone stepped in to kill this fiend?
Looks like I can only rely on the Corpse Yin Sect... No idea if it'll work, but I have no choice but to risk everything...
At the thought, Xu Liguo's lips curved into a smile. He carefully waved his fingers and sent a seal into the sky, calling out inwardly, Family of the Corpse Yin Sect, come save me!
Luo Chuan naturally noticed Xu Liguo's little trick. But even if experts from the Corpse Yin Sect came, they would be no threat to him. The gap in their cultivation was simply too great.
With the Corpse Yin Sect's current strength, they were no match for him.
At that moment, the Corpse Yin Sect's headquarters in the Huofen Kingdom had also sensed Xu Liguo's plea for help and learned that he had been captured by someone calling himself Luo Chuan.
Zhao Chuanliang, the Corpse Yin Sect's sect master, knelt on one knee. A flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes before he addressed the projection before him with utmost respect. "Senior of the Upper Sect, I only ask that you grant me ten days. I will bring Xu Liguo back."