Four days later, Luo Chen finally let out a long breath of relief as the contents of Fei Changqiu’s storage pouch spilled across the floor of his residence.0 Unlocking the storage pouch had been more troublesome than he expected. What should have taken two or three days ended up dragging on. Altogether, it had cost him over half a year of effort. Still, the experience left him more confident about unlocking the other storage bags he had acquired.0 "Let’s see what kind of treasures we have here," he murmured.0 The first thing to draw his attention was the sheer number of spirit stones scattered before him, far more than he had expected. With a casual sweep of his sleeve, he gathered them into a neat pile by the side.0 "Little Ling, count these for me," he instructed with a faint smile. "Separate the top-grade ones as well."0 Bai Meiling immediately crouched beside the pile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She began sorting through the stones with great enthusiasm, looking every bit like a mischievous little treasure sprite.0 Luo Chen chuckled softly, then extended his hand, and a jade box appeared in his palm. There was no seal upon it. He opened it with care and gave a satisfied nod—the item was there! 0 Inside sat the long-anticipated Foundation Establishment pill. It seemed Fei Changqiu hadn’t lied to Luo Feng; the Divine Craftsman Sect truly had kept a spare Foundation Establishment pill. With the greatest prize secured, Luo Chen turned his attention to the rest of the spoils.1 Inside the pile lay more pills. Luo Chen uncorked a familiar jade bottle and examined it closely. As expected, it was a bottle of mid-grade qi-consolidation pills, just what he needed at this stage.0 The other pills were of little use to him, so he planned to toss them into the Luo Tian Society’s stockpile, where the others would find them useful. Beyond the pills, he discovered a heap of materials, mostly ores used for artifact forging. Many were unrecognizable even to him. He decided he would have to trouble Duan Feng to identify and sort them later.0 As he sifted through the clutter, a jade slip and a paper-bound manual slipped into his hands. The jade slip contained a second-tier metal-element technique titled Divine Axe Art. That discovery genuinely surprised him. In their battle, Fei Changqiu had never once wielded an axe.0 Beneath a stack of ores lay another unexpected find: a supreme-grade enchanted-artifact that happened to be an axe!0 "So it was just an enchanted artifact," Luo Chen muttered, shaking his head. "That explains it. No wonder he never used it in a true life-and-death fight."0 Supreme-grade enchanted artifacts consumed less energy and were easier to wield, but when survival was at stake, their might was still far inferior to an enchanted treasure like the Sunfire Furnace.0 Luo Chen carefully stored the Divine Axe Art together with the enchanted axe. Both would be sent to the Succession Palace, where they would help fill the Luo Tian Society’s gap in metal-element techniques. With the cultivation method and the matching artifact, the society’s foundation will grow even stronger.0 As for the other manual, it contained crafting techniques for flying boats. It detailed not only construction methods but also repair procedures and other such.0 "This goes straight to the Artifact Palace," Luo Chen decided. "Perfect timing. Now that the Divine Craftsman Sect’s docking grounds at Tianlan are vacant, our cultivators will have another way to earn spirit stones."0 Small flying boats were manageable, while large ones consumed mid-grade spirit stones just to take flight and demanded even more for docking. Tianlan Immortal City thrived as a bustling trade hub, with dozens of flying vessels arriving and departing each day. Without their own docking grounds, many caravans would rather pay fees to the Tianlan Docking Grounds for storage, cleaning, and repairs. Every one of those services was a lucrative venture.0 Calculating the gains, Luo Chen realized that the spoils of the battle were truly immense. Even without considering the tangible resources, the manuals alone were enough to sustain several new industries. The alchemical inheritances had strengthened the Alchemy Palace, while the inheritances of Sky Eagle Peak, Jade True Temple, and others had given the Beast Palace, Agriculture Palace, and Medicine Palace solid foundations. With the forging knowledge obtained from the Geng family and the Divine Craftsman Sect, the Artifact Palace was no longer dependent solely on Duan Feng.0 In time, once these palaces matured, the return on his investment would be immense, perhaps a hundredfold and even a thousandfold.0 As Luo Chen allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction, Bai Meiling’s delighted voice rang out. "Master, I’ve finished counting! There are 117,500 low-grade spirit stones, 100 mid-grade ones, and even one top-grade spirit stone!"0 At that, Luo Chen was visibly surprised. He couldn’t help feeling overjoyed. Not for anything else, but for that one top-grade spirit stone! With this addition, he now possessed two. Yet despite the pleasant surprise, he felt a faint dissatisfaction at the total. That’s all? Doesn't really seem fitting for the scale of the Divine Craftsman Sect....0 Then he remembered—during the assault on the Divine Craftsman Sect, his Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation had consumed eighty thousand spirit stones alone. Fei Changqiu, as the defender, must have expended a huge number of spirit stones to power his own formation. There were always losses in war, and only the victor had the chance to recover what was spent.0 In the end, Luo Chen hadn’t just recouped his costs; he’d come out ahead. But it was by the tiniest margin. He carefully separated the materials and pills into a spare storage pouch, keeping only the items he required for himself within his pouch. With that, his total wealth in spirit stones now stood at roughly three hundred thousand.0 "All these years… and I’ve barely managed to save anything," he muttered, patting the pouch at his waist. The truth was unavoidable. His expenses were immense. Cultivation aids and the rent for a top-grade cave residence... Every day, every year, spirit stones drained away like water. His losses had been replenished, but true profit? Far from it.1 "Hopefully, the Foundation Establishment Ceremony will speed up the growth of the Luo Tian Society," he said softly.0 The following day, Luo Chen left his residence and made his way to Chu Kui’s cave. The protective formation was active, a sign that Chu Kui had made his own fortune and was now devoting himself to seclusion. Luo Chen activated a sound transmission talisman, left the invitation, and then turned his steps toward Tantai Jin’s residence.0 "This is the most recent batch of Jade Dew pills I’ve refined, ten bottles in total," Luo Chen said evenly. "Some are low-grade, others mid-grade. I did my best, but as you know, alchemy is never easy."0 Tantai Jin accepted the jade bottles and examined them one by one. To her surprise, half were low-grade while the other half were mid-grade. Such a success rate was beyond what she had expected.0 "I’d heard you’ve been refining pills obsessively," she remarked with clear approval, "but I didn’t think the results would be this impressive."0 She was clearly pleased with what he’d brought. If only she knew that Luo Chen had given her nothing more than leftover stock, intentionally holding back his true achievements! In that case, her surprise might not have been so pleasant.0 "As agreed, the low-grade pills go for five hundred spirit stones per bottle. As for the mid-grade ones…"0 Luo Chen glanced at her expectantly. In response, Tantai Jin brought out a heavy pouch and set it down.0 "Mid-grade Jade Dew pills, 1,200 spirit stones each. That makes 8,500 in total. Feel free to count them."0 Luo Chen swept the spirit stones over without counting them and dropped them straight into his storage pouch. "I might not trust others, but someone like you would not stoop so low."0 Tantai Jin nodded. "When’s the next delivery?"0 "One year from now," Luo Chen replied earnestly. "My alchemy skills have been improving rapidly. Once everything settles down, I can guarantee the next batch will surpass your expectations."0 Tantai Jin’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. A year was nothing. She could wait, and so could the Ice Fortress. If Luo Chen could consistently refine mid-grade Jade Dew Pills, her long-stagnant cultivation would finally surge forward. Even the Ruthless Lineage she represented would benefit. Such was the weight a skilled alchemist carried.0 Luo Chen added, "Oh, right, our Luo Tian Society's Director, Sima Huiniang, reached Foundation Establishment half a year ago. We’ll be holding a celebration soon. If you’re free, Fellow Daoist, I hope you’ll join us for a drink."0 As he spoke, Luo Chen held out an invitation with both hands toward Tantai Jin.0 Tantai Jin arched her brows slightly. A minor faction daring to host such a grand Foundation Establishment Ceremony was unusual. Yet as she looked into Luo Chen’s expectant eyes, a thought flickered through her mind. She reached out with her slender hand and accepted the invitation.0 "Very well. The Ice Fortress will send someone. Even if I don’t attend personally, a gift will be delivered."0 Hearing that definite promise, Luo Chen’s smile brightened. "Then I’ll be waiting to welcome you in person, Fellow Daoist."0 He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, Tantai Jin’s voice stopped him.0 "I’ve already contacted Green Pill Valley on your behalf. It won’t be long before Tao Wan sends someone over."1 Get full chapters from 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍 Luo Chen’s eyes lit up with delight. "Thank you for going through the trouble, Fellow Daoist!"0 After setting aside all miscellaneous matters, Luo Chen finally enjoyed a rare stretch of peace that lasted for an entire month. 0 Each day was tightly scheduled and carefully managed. As always, he divided his time between cultivation, study, spell practice, and most importantly, alchemy. Ever since he had refined the Blood Fiend pill without the aid of the system, he had grown more composed and confident in his craft. Pills that once seemed difficult now came with ease, and he could wield a variety of alchemical techniques skillfully. There was even a faint sense that everything was converging toward mastery.0 Moreover, his Flowing Creek had advanced from Grandmaster level to Perfected Mastery after years of accumulation. His ability to process water-element ingredients became nearly effortless. The Fire Fusion also grew more refined the more he practiced it during pill refinement. Now, the second-tier earth fire flared or subsided entirely at his command, as though it were an extension of his will.3 With all these developments, Luo Chen made an unexpected discovery. It concerned supreme-grade pills!0 He had always believed that once the system recorded his proficiency at the supreme grade, the success rate would remain fixed at ten percent, with no possibility of progress. Yet recently, while refining supreme-grade Spirit Passage pills, one batch had yielded more than the usual three pills. It had produced five!0 After taking another supreme-grade Spirit Passage pill and strengthening his divine soul, Luo Chen looked back on the path he had taken so far. In that moment, clarity struck him.0 The system’s limits were tied to his own strength; there was a glass ceiling that could never be set higher than his own capabilities. But the opposite was not true. His capabilities were not tied to the system; as long as he grew stronger, he could break through the system’s ceiling on his own.1 "I should have realized this long ago," he muttered. "After I achieved Perfected Mastery in Fireball, I kept refining it, borrowing strengths, trimming weaknesses, and improving it. Its power kept evolving. Even then, it had already surpassed the system's limit!"1 It was such a simple truth, yet he had failed to recognize it. The obvious had blinded him.1 This revelation brought a deeper understanding. One could rely on the system as needed but not depend on it entirely. Some achievements could be reached only by his own effort, but these achievements were beyond what the system could measure. The system was nothing more than a tracker, a mirror reflecting the effort he poured in day after day, rewarding him with concrete feedback.0 "As expected, all my success comes from my own hard work!"5 Unnoticed, his confidence swelled to heights he had never known. Some truths required no great wisdom. Confidence came from taking one step after another, from steady practice and real results. When those results surpassed even his own expectations, his confidence grew a hundredfold.0 Looking back, Luo Chen realized that his accomplishments were already far beyond what ordinary rogue cultivators could dream of. He had battled opponents above his realm, destroyed a Foundation Establishment family while still in Qi Refinement, faced multiple opponents without fear, and forged alliances with clear strategy.0 Yet all of this had once been overshadowed by the dazzling presence of the system. Though confident, he had always carried a faint unease: if the system suddenly vanished, could he still move forward?0 But ever since he refined the Blood Fiend pill on his own, that unease had vanished completely. What he could achieve, the system merely helped him do more easily. What the system could not reach, he would grasp through his own strength.0 With that, his confidence now had a foundation. It was no longer rooted in the system but firmly grounded in himself. And one day, this seemingly insignificant tree would rise to touch the sky, becoming a true power in the cultivation world.0 While Luo Chen continued to live his disciplined life, gold-embossed invitations had already been delivered to the desks of the major powers.0 In the Lianyun Mountain Range, within the headquarters of the Lianyun Trade Alliance, the Grand Elder casually tossed one such invitation onto the table before Zhou Qing. The younger man, who had recently advanced to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, stepped forward to receive it.0 "Go attend it," the elder said.0 Zhou Qing opened the card, and surprise flickered across his face. "All this noise over a mere woman’s Foundation Establishment? Luo Chen truly is a frog at the bottom of a well. He has no idea how vast the world really is."2 He wasn’t wrong. Tianlan Immortal City was no backwater market town. Normally, a successful Foundation Establishment warranted only a modest celebration within one’s sect. To hold a ceremony on such a grand scale seemed laughable. After all, this was not the birth of a dragon or the rise of a Golden Core.0 The Grand Elder’s weathered voice cut through the chamber. "That so-called frog at the bottom of the well has already leapt out from the depths. He now bears the title of Fire Spirit Sovereign. You have known him for years. Why belittle him?"4 Zhou Qing was at a loss for words. The Grand Elder’s words were clearly in admiration of Luo Chen. But to Zhou Qing, there was a faint tone of rebuke. Embarrassment crept across his face, and he bit his lip.0 In truth, his current status as Fourth Elder was little more than accident, nothing but fortune. The last great battle had left the Lianyun Trade Alliance grievously weakened. Once, they had stood as the dominant power of Tianlan Immortal City, boasting more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators and three late-stage elders. Now, only seven remained.0 Among them, Li Yixian and Nangong Jin were new arrivals. He had personally recommended them to cement his position as the new Fourth Elder. Though the alliance had declined, his influence now overshadowed even the Second and Third Elders, placing him second only to the Grand Elder himself. The realization had made him complacent. Now, with a single sentence, the Grand Elder had stripped away that pride and left only frustration.0 The Grand Elder paid him no mind and continued speaking, "The alliance is long past its prime; we are declining. In contrast, the Luo Tian Society thrives under the Ice Fortress’s support. We have some overlap in our dealings, and conflict could arise in the future. Your visit is not just to deliver congratulations but to establish peaceful terms with the Director of the Luo Tian Society. Should any disputes arise in the future, you are to set aside your personal grievances. Cooperation must take precedence."0 Zhou Qing didn’t look too pleased, but he still forced a smile. "I understand, Grand Elder."0 The Grand Elder glanced at him and said, "Since this is a celebration, a gift is required. I will prepare some spirit herbs suited for female cultivators. You will handle the rest. Remember this, Elder Zhou: The situation is precarious. Do not act recklessly out of personal spite."4 That final line struck hard. Zhou Qing’s body trembled, his earlier arrogance collapsing in an instant. He knew well that his position as Fourth Elder depended entirely on the Grand Elder’s support. Without that backing, his seat would be shaky.0 He lowered his head and answered with firm resolve, "I will obey your command."0