Inside one of the small towers among the Dan Tower complex.
Emperor Ming and two of his subordinates were inspecting the Dan Pills.
“Phew.”
Countless Dan Pills floated densely in midair.
“Heart Cleansing Pills, 935 of superior quality, 72 of supreme quality.” One of the subordinates observed the Dan Pills and stated his assessment.
For Dan Tower’s alchemists, creating medium-grade pills was considered a major failure, let alone producing waste pills.
“Accurate.” The other subordinate confirmed after inspecting.
Emperor Ming glanced at the pills, nodded in satisfaction, and carefully divided them into two separate groups for storage.
Currently, he served as the Deputy Hall Master of Dan Tower’s Heart Clearing Hall, responsible for the easiest task: identifying and collecting pills, specifically Heart Cleansing Pills. Heart Cleansing Pills were the most commonly sold foundational pills in Dan Tower, accounting for about thirty percent of its total sales.
As for collecting materials and alchemy itself, those required more specialized individuals.
“These pills have already been checked once by the alchemists, then inspected and stored by me here. Before selling, a final inspection will be conducted as well—nothing could possibly go wrong,” thought Emperor Ming, feeling at ease.
Dan Tower’s most intricate and crucial part lay in alchemy, but his abilities weren’t suitable for meddling in that.
“By following Brother Luo Feng, I can still serve as the Deputy Hall Master of Heart Clearing Hall in Dan Tower, earning two hundred Primordial Crystals per epoch. Living so leisurely for ten thousand epochs means accumulating two million Primordial Crystals.” Emperor Ming was quite pleased with his work.
With this income, along with free residence in Luo Feng’s cave mansion, he could still manage to amass a fortune.
“Deputy Hall Master, the production of Heart Cleansing Pills has steadily increased over the last epoch,” remarked one of the subordinates. “I’ve heard the Insect Nest people aren’t pleased.”
“Do you think the Insect Nest will make a move?” The other subordinate seemed concerned.
Although they were just ordinary members, they were quite informed and aware of the ongoing conflict between Insect Nest and Dan Tower.
In the past, Dan Tower had conceded, but now it was rapidly expanding its production. Given the Insect Nest’s domineering style, how could it remain tolerant? Naturally, these ordinary members were a bit uneasy.
“Why panic? The Dan Tower Owner and Luo Feng Divine Emperor themselves are stationed here—you have nothing to fear,” Emperor Ming reprimanded.
“Deputy Hall Master, you’re from Source World and aren’t scared, but we are! We’ve even temporarily canceled our external accommodations and moved entirely into Dan Tower.” The two subordinates spoke with visible worry.
In the Dan Tower complex, personnel like Luo Feng or the key alchemists were provided with private cave mansions suitable for retreats and cultivation.
But for those at the very bottom, there weren’t any dedicated places for training in seclusion. Living permanently inside the Dan Tower meant their cultivation routines were far from ideal.
“You’ve even canceled your rentals?” Emperor Ming was startled.
“We don’t dare to leave Dan Tower at all. If the Insect Nest can’t deal with the Tower Owner or Luo Feng Divine Emperor, they might vent their anger on us instead.” The two subordinates spoke with great caution as they didn’t possess any spiritual avatars.
Emperor Ming nodded in acknowledgment.
Through Luo Feng, Emperor Ming had learned that the Insect Nest Master’s spiritual avatar had already clashed once with Luo Feng! It was anticipated that the Insect Nest Master might attempt revenge again.
“You must indeed be careful,” Emperor Ming advised.
In confrontations at the level of the Insect Nest Master and Luo Feng, he knew he couldn’t provide any meaningful assistance.
…
The members of Dan Tower were somewhat uneasy but couldn’t give up such a lucrative job. They could only exercise caution.
Luo Feng and Changqing Building Owner were also fully prepared!
Since they had initiated “normal competition,” preparation for conflict with the Insect Nest Master was inevitable.
“Her spiritual avatar suffered a setback; given her temperament, she’ll definitely retaliate,” Changqing Building Owner spoke resolutely.
“If her true body intervenes, I’ll have to rely on formations for defense,” Luo Feng replied with awareness, “but as long as I focus solely on defense, I am confident in holding my ground.”
“Defense alone will suffice,” Changqing Building Owner laughed. “After all, this is Yulan City. Within the city, there are laws forbidding mutual slaughter! Therefore, she can’t act recklessly here.”
Outside the city, she could unleash her aggression.
But inside, there were numerous restrictions.
“Given her vindictive nature, I estimate she’ll strike within a few epochs,” Changqing Building Owner predicted.
“I’ll keep one of my avatars stationed here long-term, just waiting for her arrival,” Luo Feng smiled.
Time passed.
Epoch after epoch went by. In the blink of an eye, ten epochs had elapsed, and the Insect Nest Master had not made a move.
“Hmm?”
Both the vigilant Luo Feng and Changqing Building Owner were baffled.
“The Insect Nest Master took a loss and then held back?” Changqing Building Owner couldn’t believe it. “That’s entirely out of character for her!”
In all of Yulan City, who didn’t know that the “Insect Nest Master” was tyrannical! As one of the three leaders of theft and plunder forces, the Insect Nest Master stood side by side with the Master of Deceit Workshop and the Shadow Tower Owner—all notorious figures.
However, the Master of Deceit Workshop and Shadow Tower Owner usually acted cautiously and calculatedly.
The Insect Nest Master, on the other hand, operated with a domineering approach: submitting to her meant flourishing, defying her meant annihilation.
“Could it be that after her spiritual avatar clashed with Luo Feng, she determined it wasn’t worth the risk?” Changqing Building Owner speculated.
“I used secret techniques to wound her, but I estimate it was nothing more than a minor injury,” Luo Feng replied with perplexity. “Such a minor injury shouldn’t matter much at all.”
During that clash within the illusory Insect Nest, his Lie Yuan Technique had sliced a wound. Yet compared to the entirety of the illusory Insect Nest, that wound was far from substantial.
“Perhaps issues in the Dark Sacred Realm are delaying her revenge,” Changqing Building Owner suggested.
“Hmm.” Luo Feng nodded.
…
Years flowed by.
Luo Feng and the Dan Tower Owner continued to wait patiently, prepared at all times to fend off an attack from the Insect Nest Master.
Unconsciously, over two hundred epochs had elapsed.
Within the vast interior of the Insect Nest.
“Finally stabilizing the contamination.” Even the Insect Nest Master’s face bore signs of exhaustion.
The sudden loss of billions of souls had left her reeling.
These imprisoned souls, tortured across endless ages yet remaining intact, were integral to her power. Losing such a great number had truly pained her.
“After consuming another batch of cultivators from my homeland, I have finally stabilized my spiritual power and suppressed the contamination completely,” the Insect Nest Master reflected.
In her homeland, the Source World, everything served as nourishment for her.
Countless cultivators’ lives were hers to consume at any time.
Though her soul capacity was vast, it was nonetheless limited.
“While the contamination is now under control, any direct clash between my true body and Luo Feng wielding his Will Secret Technique might cause another major setback.” After spending such a long time stabilizing herself, the Insect Nest Master was in no mood to suffer another hit from the Lie Yuan Technique.
“I need a sufficiently powerful Secret Treasure that can resist mental attacks.” The Insect Nest Master muttered, feeling troubled.
While she did possess a mighty Secret Treasure, it was situated within the Dark Sacred Realm! Given the dangers of the Dark Sacred Realm—where challenges arose constantly and where even Half Primordial-level entities were common—she prioritized using her treasures there.
“The Dark Sacred Realm remains my top priority!”
“As for Yulan City, I’ll find a way to purchase a suitable treasure. Without adequate protection for my spiritual will, I won’t confront Luo Feng again.” The Insect Nest Master contemplated. “Unfortunately, the extensive losses I’ve suffered mean I can only muster thirty billion Primordial Crystals at the moment.”
Items like the “Undying Heart,” which offer sufficient protection for spiritual consciousness while matching one’s own essence, were exceedingly rare. Purchasing such treasures for thirty billion Primordial Crystals would be considered just a fair market price.
These treasures were extremely difficult to acquire.
If a powerhouse wanted to sell such an item, it was often purchased by their close allies at exorbitant rates immediately.
“Without a treasure, I’ll have to bear this grievance,” thought the Insect Nest Master, feeling irked.
Normal elders, whose spiritual will reached its peak bottleneck, would only sustain minor injuries from Luo Feng’s Lie Yuan Technique and recover quickly.
Ironically, it was the Insect Nest Master who felt more vulnerable to Luo Feng’s Lie Yuan Technique.
…
Three hundred epochs had passed since Luo Feng’s clash with the Insect Nest Master’s spiritual avatar. During this time, Luo Feng experienced nothing but calm days in Yulan City.
Land of Origin, inside the Star Tower.
Luo Feng sat cross-legged, his brow marked by the Eye of Life and Death, focusing on the 195th sample of early Divine Emperor-level Primordial Bloodline.
Each strand of Primordial Bloodline unveiled a hint of the mystery that lay “outside the cage.” Luo Feng could sense countless intricate Secret Patterns merging in perfect unity, forming an innate masterpiece! Yet he knew that his own path was far from achieving such perfection.
Nonetheless, Luo Feng could also sense his growth.
The more he delved into these Bloodlines, the more he uncovered patterns. His understanding of the integration of Life and Destruction had reached profound depths, allowing his conception to achieve ninety percent similarity with the Primordial Bloodlines.
“Simple integration is too ordinary.”
“True fusion of Life and Destruction transforms everything.”
Luo Feng’s mind spontaneously surged with inspiration, pushing him toward attempting true fusion.
Suddenly, a fully fused path surfaced in his heart!
“The Life and Death Dao has broken through?” Luo Feng exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “So quickly?”
Previously, when he advanced the Life and Death Dao from the Ultimate Realm of Godly King to the Early Stage of Divine Emperor, Luo Feng had done so through deliberate contemplation and study.
This time, his advancement came naturally, stemming from profound insights gained through the exploration of Primordial Bloodlines. When the accumulated knowledge reached critical depth, the Life and Death Dao transitioned naturally into the Middle Stage of Divine Emperor.
“I truly owe thanks to Yuan Xiang Palace Master; with his gift of fifty billion Primordial Crystals, I’ve been able to afford such abundant resources for my cultivation and understanding.” Luo Feng felt thoroughly satisfied.
Over the past three hundred epochs, he had frequently used various auxiliary elixirs sourced from Dan Tower.
These aids greatly accelerated his comprehension of Primordial Bloodlines.
“I haven’t even finished studying the complete set of early Divine Emperor-level Bloodlines yet. Higher-level mid-stage, late-stage, and even perfected Bloodlines await.” Luo Feng brimmed with confidence.
Now, his Life and Death Dao had ascended to the Middle Stage of Divine Emperor.
When he fully analyzed the remaining Bloodlines, where might his Life and Death Dao lead?
“Boom~~~”
As Luo Feng conjured a thought.
An Endless Blood Sea materialized around him—the Middle Stage of Divine Emperor’s Life and Death Dao represented an evolution in quality compared to the previous stage.
“The Middle Stage of Divine Emperor’s Life and Death Dao should rival ordinary paths at the Half Primordial Level.” Attempting to perceive its magnitude, Luo Feng gauged the immense leap encompassed in his advancement.
This vast improvement in his Dao far surpassed the strength offered by artifacts like the “Undying Heart” or the “Palm World.”
“Haha, this is a day worth celebrating,” enthused Luo Feng, his heart stirring with excitement. “Ah, I’ve yet to deliver the gifts I prepared for my masters!”
After returning to the Land of Origin, his focus had been entirely consumed by the study of Primordial Bloodlines. Only now did he feel free.
“Let’s pay a visit to each of my masters.”
Carrying his gifts, Luo Feng set off initially toward the Chu Capital to visit his master, Emperor Chu.
——
Highly recommend Wandering Toad’s new book, *Sword Shouting Spirit Sky*. It’s an excellent martial arts novel.