Chapter 3 of 10

Chapter 3

15 min read3,742 words

"Clank!"

The copper coin fell from Luochuan's neck and split into two pieces. On its front was the character "Chen," and on the back was a complex pattern.

His fingertips touched the copper coin, still warm. Luochuan's eyes widened, and he was momentarily stunned.

It was this very copper coin that saved him in the final moment.

"Heavenly Chen Continent..."

His gaze shifted to the "Chen" character on the front of the coin, and a stream of unfamiliar memories flowed through his mind, memories from the Nine Dragon Lord: The Heavenly Chen Continent, according to legend, was formed after the first celestial stars fell and settled at the end of the vast ocean, accumulating over ten thousand years to form an endless landmass.

It was the most magical land in the Nine Heavens, rich in spiritual energy and blessed with natural advantages, having never suffered any loss in its millions of years. Its vast territory was so extensive that even a fast horse could not cover half of it in several lifetimes.

On the vast and boundless land of the Heavenly Chen Continent, numerous cultivation sects stood, each practicing their own great Daoist methods, some occupying spiritual mountains and blessed lands, others dominating ancient marshes and deep valleys. There were also cultivators who entered the government, absorbing the aura of the human emperor to aid their cultivation.

Closing his eyes, Luochuan's heart pounded.

He saw cranes flying among the peaks, small cranes carrying people, and large cranes carrying mountains. On the mountain peaks, two men in white robes drank and sang, their demeanor graceful and free, like immortals. With a casual wave of their hands, they emitted sword qi that stretched for thousands of feet, like pillars and dragons, as if they could pierce the heavens.

He saw a large fish with blue fins and a dragon tail swimming swiftly on the sea surface. Not far ahead was a coastal city. Suddenly, the fish leaped up, opening its mouth, and black winds rolled out, with millions of soldiers pouring out to attack the unprepared city. Above the fish, a fish-herding immortal, holding a silver whip, flew on a sword, counting his payment.

In the capital of the First-Rank Dynasty, it was the birthday of the young princess. In the thousand-foot palace, with jade trees and splendid courtyards, various immortal sects came to celebrate. Suddenly, a red-haired giant ape, riding a golden-eyed beast, descended from the sky. The Daoists shouted in unison, but the giant ape took out a jade bowl from its chest, containing a full moon, with eighty-one green-robed children dancing inside. These children had strange appearances, some crying and some laughing, transformed from tigers, leopards, and wolves. The young princess held the bowl and laughed, and the emperor was greatly pleased, immediately granting the giant ape the title of Clear Water River Lord...

...

"Immortals... This is what true immortals are!"

Luochuan felt a surge of awe and excitement. These images all came from the Nine Dragon Lord's memories. Luochuan finally understood why the Nine Dragon Lord had shown disdain when speaking of the immortals on Solitary Moon Mountain.

Compared to the immortal dynasties on the Heavenly Chen Continent, which had histories spanning tens of thousands of years, the thousand-year-old Tang Dynasty was like a child's play. A major sect on the Heavenly Chen Continent might have three thousand celestial cranes and nearly ten thousand cultivators of various ranks, far surpassing the so-called "immortals" around the Tang Dynasty.

Gradually, Luochuan calmed down.

Though he was imprisoned in the secret room of the back courtyard, his situation was dire, but his face showed no signs of despair. Instead, he appeared very calm.

Even Luochuan himself did not notice that after absorbing the Nine Dragon Lord's memories, his perspective had rapidly expanded, and his mindset had subtly changed.

He wrapped the copper coin and kept it close to his body, his face expressionless throughout.

To speak of it, this copper coin had a significant history.

When he was six years old, the man strung the copper coin and put it around Luochuan's neck, repeatedly warning him not to let it leave his body. After doing this, the man left White Jade Capital and was never heard from again. The man was Luochuan's father, whom Luochuan vaguely remembered as a merchant in the family.

From this copper coin, which was actually a mystical talisman, it was clear that his father's identity was far more complex, perhaps hiding some unknown secrets.

However, Luochuan did not dwell on it.

For nine years, he had been alone. The depths of the noble household were like the sea, filled with endless intrigue and danger. As a powerless and unsupported collateral son, he had lived on the lowest rung of the noble family, walking on thin ice since the age of six, enduring hardships and humiliations that only he knew.

Honor and life, all depended on himself!

It was so in the past, and it would be so in the future.

"An opportunity to defy fate... That Nine Dragon Lord wasn't all talk."

The cultivation techniques and various mystical arts in the Nine Dragon Lord's memories were vast and comprehensive, leaving Luochuan speechless and in awe. As the saying goes, those who survive great calamities are sure to receive great fortune, and Luochuan felt this deeply.

With a "squeak," the iron window opened, and a bamboo basket containing food and soup slid down the wall. Along with the basket, sunlight that was not too glaring entered the secret room. Unbeknownst to him, it was already the morning of the next day.

"Mr. Chuan, Mr. Chuan, drink some soup, warm your stomach," a young voice called from outside the iron window.

Luochuan felt a sense of relief. The secondary residence sending food meant that there was still a chance, and things were not as bad as he had imagined.

At that moment, a sharp and harsh voice sounded, belonging to the fat inner guard from last night.

"What are you doing! Daring to secretly bring him food, do you want to die? Have you forgotten what the higher-ups said?"

"L-Li Brother, I..."

"You stuttering little fool! Do you know what that person did? He invaded the young lady's chamber in broad daylight. Fortunately, the Third Young Master discovered him in time; otherwise, the first beauty of White Jade Capital would have been defiled in her own home. What would become of propriety and ethics? If this gets out, even we would lose face! You still care about his life and death?"

"I, I..."

"A mere collateral son, his status is not much higher than ours. Even if he hadn't committed a crime, what could he achieve? Hmph, if you want to curry favor, you should go for someone like the Third Young Master, who has already broken through to the Great Void Spirit Realm at the age of twenty, ranking third on the Jade List. Even if he isn't chosen by the immortals, he will become the head of the Luo family in the future."

"I, I, not..."

"Forget it, don't waste your time on this hopeless collateral son. To be honest, the higher-ups never intended to let him live. Last night, the Lord of the Manor saved him on a whim. But if he continues to protect him, it will inevitably lead to a conflict with the main residence. The best way is to let him starve to death here, solving all problems at once. This way, we don't offend the main residence and also save face."

"But, but..."

"But what! I'm warning you, if you get yourself into trouble, it's your own problem. Don't drag me into it! Damn it! Don't do it again! Go, go."

The footsteps faded away, and the images of the two inner guards who had imprisoned him last night appeared in Luochuan's mind.

"So, they want to starve me to death."

"Strange, I don't know that stuttering boy. Why would he help me?"

"That fat guy and the Nine Dragon Lord thought the same. The Lord of the Manor saved me last night purely on a whim, venting his anger. A noble Lord of the Manor wouldn't act on impulse and offend the main residence for my sake."

"In the end, it's because I have no value. If I were like Luo Jiang, who has the Great Void Spirit Realm at the age of twenty and ranks among the top martial artists in the capital, the main residence would protect me even if it meant a conflict."

"The Great Void Spirit Realm sounds impressive, but it's just the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's alchemical martial arts. In the cultivation world, it's just the beginning of the Foundation Establishment stage."

Luochuan's voice was unusually low, and he had never felt such a strong desire for power.

After absorbing the Nine Dragon Lord's memories, the "alchemical martial arts," which were considered the foundation of the Tang Dynasty, seemed shallow to Luochuan.

Alchemical martial arts involve using internal and external alchemical pills to open the small heavenly cycle and form a qi dan (energy core) within the body. Generally, the thicker the qi dan, the stronger the power. Before his qi dan was removed, Luochuan had just reached the Small Dan Realm. With his talent, he had a good chance of breaking through to the Great Dan Realm in ten years.

In the martial arts world of the Tang Dynasty, there are six realms: Small Dan Realm, Great Dan Realm, Small Void Spirit Realm, Great Void Spirit Realm, Half-Step Immortal Realm, and Immortal Realm.

In the Small Dan Realm, one's strength, speed, and reaction are far superior to ordinary martial artists, making one a third-rate expert in White Jade Capital.

In the Great Dan Realm, one can have a thousand pounds of arm strength, move swiftly, and practice martial techniques, making one a second-rate expert.

Above the Great Dan Realm is the Small Void Spirit Realm, like the Third Young Master's guest, Pang Guan. At this realm, true qi is generated from the qi dan, giving one nearly five thousand pounds of strength, the ability to shatter stone with bare hands, and the ability to perform alchemical martial techniques that seem miraculous to ordinary people, such as the Seven Methods of Escape, making one a quasi-first-rate expert.

Above that is the Great Void Spirit Realm, where the Third Young Master and several young lords of the secondary residence are. At this realm, true qi flows through the body's meridians, giving one nearly ten thousand pounds of strength, the ability to perform advanced martial arts with ease, clear thinking, and the ability to go without food or water for half a month without harm. Such individuals are rare in the Tang Dynasty and are considered first-rate experts.

Next is the Half-Step Immortal Realm, where the head of the Luo family and the head of the secondary residence are. At this realm, true qi fills the body's secret acupoints, can leave the body to harm others, and gives one tens of thousands of pounds of arm strength, the ability to leap thirty feet into the air. Such individuals are extremely rare in the Tang Dynasty, numbering no more than fifty, and are considered top-tier experts, capable of facing a thousand iron cavalry.

As for the Immortal Realm, one can abstain from food for three years and live for two hundred years. True qi is solidified, sweeping through thousands of enemies, standing alone against a nation, and is a true enemy of ten thousand, considered a land-bound immortal by ordinary people.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Immortal Realm is the standard for a noble family's prosperity. The Luo family has stood proud in White Jade Capital for a hundred years, not only because of the ancestors' achievements but also because of the presence of an Immortal. This Immortal, who had been famous in White Jade Capital for fifty years, was one of the eight great hands of the Tang Dynasty, known as Dry Luo Po, the old matriarch of the Luo family.

However, Luochuan now knew that the Immortal Realm, which he once considered divine, was only equivalent to the Great Foundation Establishment stage in the cultivation world, but was limited by alchemical martial arts and could not advance further.

In the Heavenly Chen Continent, the Great Foundation Establishment stage was just the beginning of the cultivation path.

Therefore, in the true cultivation path, alchemical martial arts were a significant detour.

Now, for Luochuan, the detour no longer existed.

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