Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 257: Chapter 144: Soul Refining Hermit, Path of Soul Foundation Establishment, A Road Never Imagined Before_1

Tonight is the longest night in the history of The Great River District.

Thousands of rogue cultivators participate in a chaotic battle, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

Many spend decades cultivating, only to lose everything overnight.

No one knows how many will get lucky, being gifted a large boon for Immortal Cultivation and take a solid step along their lengthy path.

Luo Chen only knows that when the smoke disperses and the sky shows its dawn light.

The ground under him is filled with countless bodies.

Some bodies are still intact, you can vaguely recognize their faces.

Some, however, are completely unrecognizable. If it were not for the iron plate from Broken Mountain Gang they were wearing, no one could identify them.

Still, this was far from the worst of it.

The most tragic ones were those that couldn’t even be put together, having been completely eradicated by techniques and magic tools.

Gu Caiyi, with her pale face, Granny Yuan who couldn’t stop coughing, Murong Qinglian who was held by Qin Liangchen with an empty sleeve, and a couple dozen Qi Refinement Cultivators, their gazes all fell on Luo Chen.

Watching him crouch down and uncover the white cloth.

One familiar face after another comes into view.

The face of the one in the front is particularly familiar, his voice seemingly still echoing in the ear.

But the look of terror and unwillingness in his eyes, even after a whole night, is still heartbreaking.

Elder Sikong, may your soul rest in peace.

Luo Chen reaches out his hand, closing the unseeing eyes of the deceased.

As he stands up, Zhou Yuanli immediately steps forward to give him a situation report.

The Pill Hall lost thirty-one men, Medicine Hall lost forty-three.

One Ninth Level Qi Refinement Cultivator was lost, it’s Elder Sikong Shoujia, killed by Fu Zhang.

Five Eighth-Level Qi Refinement cultivators were killed. Liu Qiang and myself are the only survivors.

Seventh-Level Qi Refinement Cultivators....

Apart from the few who fled, only thirty-six are left when you combine the Pill Hall and Medicine Hall.

The casualty rate left everyone stunned.

So many lively beings reduced to a mere cold statistic, it was indeed hard to accept.

Luo Chen’s expression remains impassive as he inquires about the Great Lake Gang’s casualties.

We found a total of forty-seven bodies, mainly Middle Stage Qi Refinement Cultivators. There were more than ten in the Late Stage Qi Refinement, most killed by you and Duan Feng.

Three Ninth Level cultivators were killed, Gao Tingyuan, Lan Tianyun, and Dan Xiu.

The fierce battle, which resulted in the deaths of over a hundred cultivators and the fall of four Ninth Level Cultivators, has come to an end.

Luo Chen moistens his lips involuntarily and rubs his brows.

What about the situation in other halls?

Zhou Yuanli bitterly smiles, ”I don’t know about that. The Sound Transmission Jade Pendant can only be used by me and Gang Leader Mi. He...”

The rest of the sentence is left unsaid.

But everyone knows what happened to Mi Shuhua.

From the scarce words of Wang, Zhou, and Miao, all Foundation Establishment Cultivators, one can already speculate.

They only came to Crescent Valley for Luo Chen.

If Mi Shuhua was not dead, they definitely wouldn’t have come.

Since they came, it means that Mi Shuhua has most likely fallen.

Especially when the prohibition techniques on Zhou and Liu were suddenly lifted without reason, it can confirm some things.

Hall Master, what should we do now?

Zhou Yuanli couldn’t help but ask.

Luo Chen raises his head, but realizes that not only is Zhou Yuanli looking at him, so is everyone else.

Pairs of eyes full of expectation and trust.

Yes!

During the battle last night, whether before the battle or during it, Luo Chen demonstrated qualities that earned their respect.

Whether it be decision-making or strength.

Especially when Steward Miao Wen of Yu Ding Sword Sect had a long chat with him in the Pill Hall after the battle.

They seemed to view Luo Chen as their cornerstone subconsciously.

Not just the lower order cultivators, but also people like Gu Caiyi, Murong Qinglian thought the same.

Reminded of the things he discussed with Miao Wen last night, Luo Chen couldn’t help feeling a sense of emotion.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Chen, under the gaze of everyone, speaks resolutely:

”If you all do not mind, you can follow me temporarily.”

”The spoils from last night’s battle will also be fairly distributed.”

”As for the subsequent situation, we have to wait a few days to see the changes in The Great River District.”

”I will not make any promises to you!”

”As True Cultivator Miao said, life and death are fated, The Great Dao Path lies in oneself! For whatever comes in the future, we have to rely on ourselves.”

”You all can think about it in the next few days.”

After saying these words, he stops and waits for everyone’s reaction.

Not receiving a promise, not even a word of general protection.

Those who survived don’t know how they ought to react.

Will their lives be easier if they follow Luo Chen in the future?

Although his pill refinement technique is formidable, he is only at the Eighth Level Qi Refinement, far from giving people the sense of security that Mi Shuhua did.

But what would happen if they leave Luo Chen and revert to their previous state as individual rogue cultivators?

For a time, the atmosphere becomes quiet.

Luo Chen doesn’t press for a response, returning to the Pill Hall to prepare the spoils collected earlier for distribution.

Duan Feng crouches on the ground, excitedly rummaging through a pile of magic tools, selecting one over the other.

”Luo Chen, there are twenty-five intact Ascendant Grade magic tools!”

”There are dozens of low and medium grade magic tools as well.”

”The remaining damaged magic tools are not useless, some can be repaired, some can be refined, extracting the crucial materials inside.”