Chapter 972: The Six-Restriction Cloud Carriage; Adepts From The Central Continent
There was a saying that in the mountains, people lose track of the sun and moon, and a thousand years can pass in the blink of an eye. Well, the words might have been exaggerated, but for Luo Chen, the sentiment was not far off.
While he secluded himself at Surging Lake to refine the Infinite Blaze Prison, two full years had slipped by without him even noticing. Over that time, his strength had steadily improved. Not only had he developed a new killing move, but he had also made progress in formations and further refined his Primordial Unity Cauldron. If there was anything that had stagnated, it was his cultivation. Maintaining and refining the Pseudo-Domain consumed far too much mana, which inevitably dragged down his cultivation. He had once estimated that it would take a decade or so to reach the seventh stage, but the timeline would now be pushed back considerably. Whether he could break through before setting out for the Sunken Sea remained uncertain.
But Luo Chen did not dwell on it. In his view, unless it was a matter of breaking through an entire major realm and undergoing a fundamental transformation, it wasn't enough. One or two minor realms did not make an overwhelming difference; in battles among those of the same realm, the power of items, secret techniques, and other such things were what truly decided life and death. And the Infinite Blaze Prison he had developed was clearly such a decisive move. If he wanted to truly master it, then he had no choice but to temper it through real combat—only by doing so could he understand its strengths and flaws and avoid unforeseen dangers when facing an actual life-and-death struggle.
When Luo Chen arrived at the Demon Hunter Division, the bustling scene made him pause. Only then did he realize that it was not just he who had changed; the cultivation world itself was shifting as well.
In the open courtyard lay the corpse of an enormous Demon King. As he passed by, his eyelid twitched. The beast had a silver-white body that looked very much like a water buffalo's, but it only had a single golden horn.
"A Golden-Horned Silver Rhinoceros... they actually managed to kill one of those?"
The Initiate guiding him was equally awed. "Honestly, we were just as shocked back then. When they brought the Demon King's corpse back, the entire division went into an uproar. For Senior Saberstorm to kill one... he truly lives up to his reputation as an eight-star demon hunter."
The Golden-Horned Silver Rhinoceros was no ordinary Demon King. Even among its kind, it stood near the peak, on par with fearsome ocean beasts like the Great King Squid and the Glaive Whale. Luo Chen's eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled the silent man at Withered Wood Ridge, who had roamed the battlefield with nothing but his Golden Ni Saber. It seemed that with the added merit from that mission and years of accumulation, he had finally risen to become the society's fourth eight-star demon hunter.
Luo Chen lingered only briefly before being led into the inner hall. This time, it was Purple Empress who received him.
"Where's the Angler?" Luo Chen asked.
Purple Empress smiled faintly. "As you know, he received a reward from the Sage, so he's been in seclusion these past two years. So the entire division has been left for me to manage."
Luo Chen understood at once. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he got straight to the point.
"You want to go to the Sunken Sea?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Of course not. In fact, I couldn't ask for more." Purple Empress's eyes lit up as she spoke, and then she went on to explain the current situation in detail.
Since Blood Hermit had issued the mission to clear out the outer regions of the Sunken Sea, many previously reclusive rogue cultivators had been drawn to the battlefield by the promise of high rewards. Most of them, however, were low-tier cultivators. Meanwhile, over the past thirty years, the number of demonic beasts along the Sunken Sea coast had grown to a terrifying scale, and it was now estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Even if they were scattered, they were far from something ordinary cultivators could easily handle, especially when they had to take the initiative to attack without relying on the formations of the Three Oceans Defensive Line.
Luo Chen frowned. "Wouldn't the other major forces of the Northern Sea usually step in to help in situations like this?"
Purple Empress smiled bitterly. "Normally, yes. But this time, the demonic beasts aren't invading human territory, so why would they get involved? Besides, aside from the Society and the Heaven Origin Trade Alliance, the other forces in the Northern Sea are all tied up in the war. They don't have the spare strength to support us."
"I see..." Luo Chen murmured, deep in thought.
It now made perfect sense why Purple Empress had been so pleased by his volunteering. A powerful Adept could stand against thousands of weaker opponents. If one fought without holding back, wiping out tens of thousands of low-tier demonic beasts was entirely possible. And Luo Chen was definitely among the ranks of the powerful.
"Are there any other relevant missions? I might as well take another one while I'm heading there."
Purple Empress's eyes lit up. "Of course. I happen to have a task that's both tricky and flexible. If you're willing to take it, you should be able to earn quite a bit of merit."
Huh, tricky and flexible? Luo Chen was puzzled but still followed her to a side hall. Inside were three unfamiliar Adepts, sitting there and simply doing nothing. When he entered, they glanced over with curiosity, only to quickly lose interest. Perhaps because he had concealed his cultivation, he appeared too ordinary to draw their attention.
Luo Chen frowned. "Who are these people?"
Purple Empress pulled him aside and spoke through divine consciousness. "Just three newly joined rogue Adepts. Your task is simply to escort them to the front lines. What they do afterward is none of your concern."
Luo Chen's suspicion instantly grew. "That simple?"
Purple Empress thought for a moment. "Of course, if they are in danger and if you have the ability, you should try to help them out a little."
The situation felt oddly familiar. Luo Chen thought of what Sang Jiugong had done back then. The only difference was that the ones being protected were no longer a group of Initiates, but three unfamiliar Adepts. If that was the case... He quietly swept his divine consciousness over the three of them, only for a seemingly delicate woman to shoot him an annoyed glare.
"Hmph! Fellow Daoist, that's rather rude."
Huh... Does she have some kind of artifact that can detect divine consciousness? Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. The three of them appeared to be around the third stage, and by all reason, they should not have been able to notice his probing. He cupped his fist toward them in apology, but inwardly, he had already reached a conclusion. These three were most likely from sects or powerful families and were certainly not ordinary rogue cultivators.
"Alright, Azure Yang, are you taking this mission or not?" Purple Empress pressed on, clearly a little impatient. She had more than enough on her plate and was eager to offload whatever she could.
Seeing his hesitation, she gritted her teeth. "These three are under the care of Sage Dragon Abyss. That's why the reward is so generous. Just treat it as doing a good deed along the way and take the mission. I don't trust the other Adepts at the front lines. You're the only one I can rely on for this."
Ah, that explains some things. Luo Chen's heart tightened, but his expression remained composed. "If it's Senior Dragon Abyss's directive, then I naturally can't refuse."
Purple Empress visibly relaxed. "Good. Then, that's done."
***
Outside the division, the four Adepts exchanged glances. In the end, Luo Chen reluctantly took out an enchanted-treasure flying carriage from his storage pouch.
"Wow... you're just a rogue cultivator, and you actually have a flying vessel like this?" exclaimed the delicate woman.
Along the road, many rogue cultivators in the city gasped in admiration, their eyes fixed on the carriage. Calling it merely impressive would be an understatement; it was downright extravagant. On one side, long curtains of blue, black, and white unfurled, balanced by purple, gold, and red curtains on the other—three plain tones interwoven with three brilliant hues, completed by cloud patterns. The roof was lined with bead strings, with tassels hanging like flowing sleeves, and above it all rose a five-colored canopy. The walls were inlaid with white jade and gleamed with golden light. Even the six wheels were extraordinary; each had eighteen spokes gilded with gold.
Luo Chen's lips twitched slightly. He had known this Six-Restriction Cloud Carriage would draw attention once revealed. But he had no choice, because he simply did not have a suitable flying boat for long-distance travel. The low-tier ones he owned were inadequate for carrying four Adepts, let alone across great distances. Only this Six-Restriction Cloud Carriage, which he'd found in Liang Baizao's storage ring, could meet the need. And it was easy to imagine just how extravagant would be a vessel meant to carry the master of a major artifact creation sect. It was even a mid-grade enchanted treasure; had it been any higher grade, it would not have been out of place as the personal vessel of a Sage.
Still, Luo Chen shot the delicate woman a curious glance. Though she had exclaimed in surprise, it had been not at the carriage's extravagance but at the fact that a rogue cultivator like him possessed such a vehicle. Simply put, she was accustomed to seeing things of equal or greater luxury. This only deepened his curiosity about their backgrounds.
"Fellow Daoists, please board the carriage."
One of the three, a middle-aged man with a long beard, nodded in earnest. He cupped his fist toward Luo Chen and led the other man and the woman toward the carriage. Luo Chen did not hesitate and followed, entering the central chamber beneath the canopy as his mana flowed out to activate the vessel.
In the next moment, radiant light burst forth before the carriage, and three dragon phantoms took shape. As they let out a thunderous roar, clouds surged beneath the carriage, lifting it into the air. The cloud patterns lit up and it shot forward, pulled by the dragons toward the horizon.
After they departed, many rogue cultivators outside the division in the city continued to look up, clicking their tongues in marvel.
***
The Six-Restriction Cloud Carriage was the personal vehicle of Liang Baizao. It had been passed down through generations and refined by many master artisans. In terms of function, it combined flight, defense, and offense into a single whole. The "Six-Restriction" part of its name referred to the carriage's overall formation framework, which relied on six of the seven fundamental restrictions. The Darkness aspect was missing, but that was only natural. A sect master's carriage was meant to be grand and imposing, not built for concealment.
That said, its design did bring about a certain inconvenience. Aside from the main chamber being covered by a roof, the rest of the structure was completely open, with no additional cabins or room-like compartments. It was likely designed this way so that, during travel, disciples could stand upon the deck and display their presence with grandeur. But with things as they were, that very feature became somewhat awkward. Luo Chen alone occupied the spacious main chamber, while the other three remained outside. After activating the formation, he stepped out and saw them standing along one side of the deck, watching the scenery rush past below.
At the sound of his undisguised footsteps, all three turned at once.
Luo Chen smiled faintly and cupped his fist. "My name is Luo Hai. Fellow cultivators have been kind enough to give me the Dao title Azure Yang. Greetings, fellow Daoists."
The middle-aged man stroked his beard and returned the greeting with a smile. "I am Longwind. A pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Luo."
The other man glanced at Luo Chen with a trace of arrogance and casually said, "I am Wu Tao."
Luo Chen acted as if he had not noticed the arrogant tone and looked at the last person, the delicate woman. She frowned, clearly unwilling to engage. Yet under Longwind's prompting glance, she reluctantly cupped her fist and introduced herself as Guan Xiaoping.
After exchanging names, Luo Chen naturally extended an invitation. "The trip to the Sunken Sea is long. It will take at least fifteen days to get there, and the winds outside are harsh. If you don't mind, you can stay inside to cultivate and avoid the harsh weather."
Wu Tao looked toward the canopied hall with a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Longwind's long beard drifted in the wind, and he also seemed somewhat tempted. But before he could say something, a voice cut in.
"It's just a bit of wind and frost. I'll stay out here and enjoy the view."
Longwind opened his mouth, then sighed and cupped his fist apologetically toward Luo Chen. "Thank you for the offer, but we're fine. With our mana protecting us, a bit of wind and rain is nothing."
Luo Chen's expression remained calm. "It's fine. If anything comes up, just call for me."
With that, he returned to the main chamber and activated the shielding formation. Once he was gone, Longwind sighed. "Junior Brother Wu, Junior Sister Guan... when we're out traveling, it's best to show a bit of courtesy."
Wu Tao curled his lips. "He's just some ordinary rogue cultivator from the Northern Sea. Why should we bother? We're here to seek resources for Nascent Soul formation. If we're making connections, it should be with people like Purple Empress or Saberstorm."
Guan Xiaoping's displeasure deepened. "He was rude to probe us with his divine consciousness earlier. I don't want anything to do with him."
Faced with their arrogance, Longwind grew more helpless. He said earnestly, "I would advise you not to underestimate this man. Did you actually notice when he probed us earlier? I think not. If not for Junior Sister Guan's token reacting to his divine consciousness, we might have been completely exposed without even realizing it. His cultivation is clearly above ours."
Wu Tao scoffed. "What, you mean he's some major character? Pft."
Longwind nodded. "Don't take him for some random rogue cultivator. I asked around before we left. He's the master of Surging Lake, and he's quite well-known within the Society. And when this cloud carriage appeared, plenty of rogue cultivators in the city turned to look. But none of them showed any greed, only respect."
Guan Xiaoping frowned, still doubtful. "He's really that impressive? Then why wasn't he mentioned in the intel we got from Sage Liu?"
Longwind hesitated before replying, "My uncle entered seclusion for fifty years after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, and he only came out recently. The information we got may be outdated. This man likely rose to prominence during those fifty years, and it's not strange that there's no record of him."
Wu Tao and Guan Xiaoping exchanged glances. Longwind sighed. "In any case, even if you don't intend to befriend him, don't go out of your way to offend him. The Northern Sea is vast, and there are many powerful figures. Even if we come from the Central Continent, we shouldn't underestimate the people here."
***
Inside the main chamber, Luo Chen looked at the Water Mirror before him while listening to the sounds transmitted through a jade chime. His expression turned thoughtful.
Scattered pieces of their conversation slowly came together in his mind. In the end, he murmured, "So that Sage Liu is Sage Dragon Abyss..."
