That very day, Luo Chen disguised himself, surreptitiously descended the mountain, and made his way directly toward Green Pill Valley's Alchemy Palace.
After he revealed his Foundation Establishment cultivation and requested a large quantity of first-tier meridian protection pills, the cultivators of the Alchemy Palace immediately welcomed him into a private chamber.
Once inside, he took out the Tao family's retainer token, infused it with a trace of spirit power, and closed his eyes to rest.
A short while later, the door opened with a soft creak. Tao Wan stepped gracefully into the room. Their eyes met, and both smiled knowingly.
"As expected. I knew you weren't the type to die in a remote corner," she said with quiet certainty.
It had been some time since they last saw each other. Tao Wan's bearing had grown even more dazzling than before. Her attire was elegant and imposing, and she now carried the natural dignity of a sect's Dao Scion and the bearing of someone destined to be the sect leader. In terms of cultivation, she had advanced rapidly and seemed not far from achieving Perfected Mastery of Foundation Establishment.
Luo Chen rose to his feet and cupped his fists in greeting. "All these years, you never cut off my supply of Ascending Dragon pills. I truly thank you."
Tao Wan smiled and gestured for him to sit.
When they were both seated, she said slowly, "You came here because of Tianlan Immortal City's rotation, didn't you?"
"Yes and no," Luo Chen replied.
Tao Wan pressed her lips together, but her expression was calm. "Then the 'no' part must be because of that Flame Alliance's Adept?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "You are as perceptive as ever. I could never hope to keep such things from you."
She shook her head and sighed."I do not know much of the details. I am only here to observe and provide support. The true outcome will depend on the negotiations between Ailao Mountain's Adept and the Flame Alliance's Adept."
Luo Chen frowned. "None of the upper sects sent anyone?"
"I couldn't say for sure," Tao Wan replied, her expression puzzled as well. "Even we cultivators from the Golden Core major sects couldn't make sense of the upper sects' recent behavior. They're clearly cooperating on the Divine Transformation pocket world, yet they refuse to formally end the war. It feels as though the slightest disagreement could ignite war again. Even the enormous profits to be gained from managing the city do not seem to concern them, and they leave us to negotiate among ourselves."
In truth, the confusion did not belong to Tao Wan alone. Luo Chen, too, found it increasingly hard to discern the intentions of the two upper sects. If their earlier maneuvers had been meant to weaken the five major sects in order to make room for the rise of the Falling Cloud Sect, then there was no reason for them to stop halfway.
Could it be that opening the Divine Transformation pocket world had disrupted their original plans? Luo Chen pondered silently.
He noticed the doubt lingering in Tao Wan's eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to share the suspicion he had carried for years.
"You think the Jade Cauldron Sect's civil war was meant to drain the strength of the Golden Core major sects like ours?" Tao Wan grew thoughtful. After a pause, she shook her head slowly. "Some of the elders in my sect have wondered the same, but when we saw even the two upper sects suffer heavy losses, it no longer seemed reasonable."
Who would stage a play like this only to throw themselves into the fray as well?
Luo Chen reminded her, "What if it was for the Pill Valley of your sect? That plot of land with great potential, which might one day advance into a fourth-tier spirit land?"
"This—" Tao Wan's expression shifted slightly. She truly had not considered it in that light. Or rather, not even the higher-ups of Green Pill Valley had thought of it. It wasn't because they lacked wisdom, but because being in the midst of the situation blinded them.
After all, that land was still only a second-tier spirit land for the time being. If someone claimed that a Nascent Soul Sage[1] would covet a mere second-tier spirit land; no one would believe it. Yet, when pieced together by Luo Chen's deductions, the possibility could no longer be dismissed!
"Fellow Daoist, thank you for telling me," Tao Wan said sincerely. "I will report this matter to our sect leader and the supreme elders as soon as possible."
Luo Chen waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need. Perhaps I am only worrying too much."
"This concerns the survival of my sect. Even if it is needless worry, we must still prepare before the danger arrives." She bowed again, her voice steady. "Thank you for reminding me, Brother Luo."
Luo Chen shook his head. After all, he was nominally an official retainer of the Tao family of Green Pill Valley. Over the years, he had enjoyed many benefits from their pills, especially the meridian protection pills unique to the sect, which had contributed greatly to nurturing Initiates within the Luo Tian Society. He understood the principle of repaying kindness with kindness.
But this was not the true reason he had come today. He proceeded to explain the difficulties faced by the Luo Tian Society and the possibility of an impending war.
After listening, Tao Wan furrowed her brows. "I'm sorry. I may be powerless in this matter."
"Oh?" Luo Chen's brows lifted slightly in response.
She noticed Luo Chen's displeasure and gave a bitter smile. "The Luo Tian Society is a vassal of the Ice Fortress. If you want to appeal to someone, that should be the Ice Fortress."
She wasn't wrong. As a vassal of Ice Fortress, they should naturally turn to Ice Fortress when trouble arose. There was no reason for Green Pill Valley to intervene. Yet the situation in the Tianlan Immortal City was far from simple.
Fairy Ruthless had already returned to the Ice Fortress, leaving power firmly in the hands of the sect leader's faction. But Luo Chen did not share good relations with Moonshade, and consequently, he wasn't in good relations with the sect leader's faction. She would never willingly step forward to support them. The only way would be for Luo Chen to betray the Ruthless Lineage and humble himself before Moonshade, but would he do that? Worse still, it was even possible that the current predicament faced by the Luo Tian Society had been given Moonshade's tacit approval.
Luo Chen could neither betray Fairy Ruthless nor bow his head to beg. For the time being, he had no way to solve this issue.
Seeing the heaviness in his expression, Tao Wan gave a gentle smile and offered comfort.
"The Golden Core Adept of the Flame Alliance has yet to arrive. There's still some time."
Luo Chen shook his head. "Leaving things for later will not solve anything. The crisis will still happen, just not right now."
Tao Wan's smile faded as she spoke solemnly, "I cannot interfere in the Luo Tian Society, but you are a retainer of my Tao family. If anything goes wrong, I will personally ensure your safety. Please be at ease on this point, Brother Luo."
Does the Dao Scion of Green Pill Valley promise that?
Luo Chen's expression changed. He rose to his feet and gave her a formal bow. "With this promise, my trip here has not been in vain."
Once Luo Chen had departed, Tao Wan immediately drew out a jade token to send a message. Before long, two Golden Core Adepts appeared on the second floor of the shop. When she shared her suspicion that Han Zhan of the Falling Cloud Sect might covet Green Pill Valley's spirit land, both of their expressions darkened at once.
One of the Golden Core Adepts said, "Senior Brother Long, I'll trouble you to watch over the city with Dao Scion Tao. I must return to the sect at once and inform Senior Brother Qing Danzi!"
"Very well. Go quickly and return swiftly. Whether this proves true or not, it is always best to prepare early," Adept Long replied solemnly.
With just a few words, the matter was settled.
After his junior departed, Adept Long looked at Tao Wan and sighed. "We are blind to what is right before us. We forgot that Green Pill Valley harbors precious land, bound to attract covetous eyes. It took an outsider to remind us. Had this erupted without warning, the ruin of our ancestral foundation would have been our sin."
Tao Wan reassured him. "It isn't your fault, Martial Uncle. In the past, the Jade Cauldron Domain had only the Sword Sect's Nascent Soul Sage, who already possessed a fourth-tier spirit land. They would never spare a glance at our valley's second-tier spirit land. Now that another sect has produced a sage, you simply haven't had the time to adjust your perspective."
"That is why I said we were blinded," Adept Long sighed again. "Who would have thought that Dan Chenzi, aside from his remarkable mastery of alchemy, would also possess such sharp insight? We truly owe him a favor."
Tao Wan's lips curved in a faint smile. "Owing him a favor is no trouble. After all, he does share some ties with Green Pill Valley. Besides, we may have a chance to repay that debt."
"Oh?" Martial Uncle Long's curiosity piqued.
"When the time comes, I may have to trouble you to act personally."