"Yes, I did."

Thinking back on that short meeting, Luo Chen's bearing, the way he spoke, even his cultivation... Devil's Cloud had to admit he was impressed. "Even as a rogue cultivator, Devil Lord Azure Yang carries himself like a true hegemon. Honestly... Fellow Daoist Huangfu, he's no weaker than you."

He meant it as an honest praise to Luo Chen, but to Huangfu Song, his words sounded like nails on a chalkboard. "My clan is the ruling lineage of the Northern Sea's greatest country. No matter what title he's got, how could a mere rogue cultivator like him possibly compare to me?"

"Oh?" Devil's Cloud looked at him with a half-smile. "If you think so little of him, then why keep bringing him up in front of me? Are you perchance trying to stir something up? Hmmm?"

That final hum gave his smile a chilling edge. Huangfu Song's expression shifted. Devil's Cloud was known for his artifact creation skills, but he had never shown such sharpness in speech before. Yet now he was matching him word for word. What exactly had he discussed with Azure Yang at Surging Lake? Huangfu Song had no idea. What he also failed to realize was that someone like Devil's Cloud, who had risen through sheer personal ability, could not possibly be dim-witted and incapable of verbal sparring. He had simply grown past the need to argue over every detail. But after some reflection on the way back, Devil's Cloud had begun to suspect that Huangfu Song was using him. Simply put, he was the proverbial borrowed blade.

Under his gaze, Huangfu Song forced himself to say, "I'm not that kind of schemer; you've misunderstood."

"Heh."

Seeing him smile, Huangfu Song hurried to explain, "I've just heard he's good at playing the crowd by talking up his own Dao title and background. And in just a few years, he's built up this whole reputation as an artifact creation master. If he really gains a foothold, he might end up taking the title of top artisan in the Society. Of course, a title like that might not matter to you, but for people like us, reputation is everything. It's tied to benefits, to influence, even to our path of cultivation. That's why I keep reminding you not to let him grow unchecked."

The more he spoke, the smoother he was, to the point where even he himself felt persuaded.

Devil's Cloud put away his smile and studied the man in purple robes. The man looked calm and composed, and his face showed no sign of dishonesty. Still, he knew well that cultivators of their level could control their expressions perfectly unless faced with something truly overwhelming. He would not take Huangfu Song's words at face value. Finally, after a few moments, he made up his mind.

"Let's drop the matter!"

With that, he turned and walked off into the mist. Huangfu Song wasn't willing to let it go and hurried after him. "Fellow Daoist, are you really not worried about Azure Yang growing stronger and affecting your artifact business? You've got hundreds of cultivators under you. Even if you don't care, what about them..."

Devil's Cloud raised his right hand and cut him off. "You're overthinking it. I had a brief exchange with Azure Yang about artifact creation. His foundation is solid, but his knowledge is all over the place. He hasn't even found his own style yet. How can you call that a master? And if he's not a master, how is he supposed to threaten my position?"

"But what if he is hiding his true ability?"

"Hehe. Words can deceive, but the artifacts he makes can't fool me." He spoke with complete confidence; there was even a faint hint of arrogance in his tone. "Right now, the most famous artifact he's made is that top-grade Nine Dragons True Fire Shield. I've analyzed it pretty closely; it's based on the second-tier Ninefold Flame Dragon Formation. He's got some skill with formations and managed to repurpose an offensive formation into a defensive artifact. Quite clever, but it loses the essence of formations. With this level of skill, he won't be a threat to me for at least a hundred years. Fellow Daoist Huangfu, you're worrying too much."

Huangfu Song opened his mouth but could not find a reply. Or maybe he just did not know enough about artifact creation to argue back.

Instead, Devil's Cloud turned to look at him. "I've heard you've been gathering the remnants of the Great Zhou and trying to restore it to its former glory. Sounds like you've got quite a few people under you now and you're in need of a large spirit vein to support them, aren't you?"

Huangfu Song's heart raced, and his lips tightened unconsciously. Devil's Cloud caught that subtle change and shook his head. "The country model is not suitable for cultivators like us. The Great Zhou only lasted because the Primordial Devil Sect backed it. It rose and fell because of them. If they could wipe you out with a flick of a finger, so could anyone else. In my opinion, you'd be better off putting all that aside and focusing on your cultivation. With your talent, the inheritance of the Great Zhou and Fellow Daoist Purple Empress backing you... you might even have a better shot at the Nascent Soul than the rest of us. That's all I'll say. No need to visit my cave for now; I've taken on a job for an old friend and won't be free."

With that, he cupped his fist and slowly disappeared into the mist. This time, Huangfu Song did not follow. He remained where he stood, and his expression darkened. In the end, he cast a resentful glance toward the direction Devil's Cloud had left. That old fox... always keeps such a low profile but handles things perfectly. He clearly saw right through me and he knows I was trying to use him, yet he still gave me a reminder.

He cursed inwardly, yet he did not truly resent Devil's Cloud. Those words had been sincere, after all. But he had already come so far; how could he abandon his plans now? With the world in chaos and the Northern Sea in turmoil, this was the perfect chance to seize an opportunity to restore the Great Zhou's former glory.

It was not that he craved authority. Rather, how could it be easy to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm alone? As for Purple Empress, she had been stuck at the ninth stage of the Golden Core for years and could not even advance a step. And relying on the demon hunter path to gain resources and support from the Society was nothing but an illusion. The final nine-star rank was simply impossible to attain. She could barely sustain herself, let alone offer him further help. In the end, the only path forward was for him to build his own force. He needed to gather talent, accumulate resources, and establish a foundation of his own. Only then could he rely on the inheritances of the Great Zhou and earn himself a chance to attain the Nascent Soul.

As he thought of this, Huangfu Song's mood darkened. The plan sounded simple, but he was already stuck at the very first step. To build a force, he needed a stable base; only then would others be willing to follow him. The eight-hundred-li Surging Lake was the ideal site he had chosen, a place that could support him through the early stages of his rise. Yet after a short trip away, he returned to find it already occupied. If it had been an ordinary rogue cultivator, it would have been manageable. Instead, it was this so-called Azure Yang.

By all reports, he was a ruthless and audacious figure. Threats would never make such a person hand over even a single copper coin, let alone a cultivation land. But Huangfu Song had originally thought that, as a rogue cultivator, Azure Yang would not have much in terms of finances. Thus, his intention when approaching Devil's Cloud had been to cut off his artifact business and drain his income and savings. Once five years had passed and Azure Yang could no longer afford the lease, he would take over Surging Lake without effort. But clearly, that plan had already fallen apart, and he had no intention of waiting any longer.

If scheming won't work, then I'll just do it out in the open. This so-called Devil Lord is all on his own. Once I go to him personally, he'll have no choice but to hand it over.

With that, Huangfu Song's irritation eased, and a faint smile crept onto his face.

***

Heavenjade hurried inside. The palace's magnificent scene stunned her for a brief moment, as always, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Master, this is the information you wanted from the Demon Hunter Division. Senior Angler personally handed it to me."

"Is there anything else?" Luo Chen took the thick stack of bamboo scrolls and casually placed them on the desk.

Heavenjade nodded. "Oh, yes. He has run into some problems with Physique Refinement and asked if you could arrange a time for a chat."

This did not surprise Luo Chen. Physique Refinement seemed simple, and many believed it was just a matter of consistency and accumulation. In reality, every stage came with its own barrier. He had walked this path step by step. Along the way, he had guidance from Wang Yuan, and in the end, he even relied on the system to reach his current level. For the Angler to achieve results easily was impossible. If he did, it would turn Luo Chen's hundred years of cultivation into a really bad joke.

"Next time, if you're in the city, let Angler know that I'm free and he can pick a place."

Heavenjade gave a soft hum of acknowledgement. Then, as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something. "Master, our five-year lease at Surging Lake is almost up. Angler asked if we want to renew."

"Of course we will renew! Why wouldn't we?"

Luo Chen smiled. Much unlike what other people thought, he was not short on funds. He had once held eighteen million in reserve, and even though he'd spent half, he still had the rest. This would only be enough for another five years, but he was not in a hurry. It was not because his newly developed artifact business brought significant profits. That business only earned him a little over a hundred thousand a year, just enough to cover costs. In fact, he thought himself lucky for breaking even. His real insurance lay elsewhere: the loot he had taken from the battle at Coldlight Island.

The haul included all kinds of resources, enchanted treasures, and even some rare items. He had yet to sell them, but he estimated their value at around twenty million spirit stones. This was the accumulated wealth of several Adepts, including the head of a major family, master artisans, and so on. With that amount, he could secure Surging Lake for another two or three decades. By then, whether through a more developed artifact business or a return to alchemy, he would have more than enough to sustain his cultivation. For now, spirit stones were not a concern.

After Heavenjade left, Luo Chen picked up a bamboo scroll and began to read.

History of Dynastic Changes in the Northern Sea: Great Zhou

Holy Lands stand above all, and the ruler of the Northern Sea was the Primordial Devil Sect. Its cultivators were domineering in conduct, but still followed the discipline of true cultivation. Their resources came from the annual tribute paid by the upper sects beneath them. Several mortal dynasties also fell directly under their control and paid foundational resources. The countries of Qian, Zhuang, Zhao, and Yong were among those that served as vassals in their time. Most of these countries were controlled by True Inheritor disciples of the Primordial Devil Sect; at the same time, these countries also served as training grounds for the younger disciples. The Great Zhou, however, was different. It stood apart because it had managed to produce a Sage...

Luo Chen read the simple and direct information on the scroll, and his brow slowly furrowed. The model of sects controlling mortal nations was nothing new to him. Back in the Jade Cauldron Domain, Green Pill Valley governed the country of Yuanzhao. As far as he knew, most major sects oversaw one or more mortal countries. These countries mainly served three purposes. They sustained population growth, provided people with spirit root aptitude, and gathered common yet high-demand resources for the sects. From that point of view, the Great Zhou was indeed different. It went far beyond the scope of an ordinary mortal country.

"They actually produced a Sage?"