Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1656: Chapter 609 Nascent Soul Formation Theory, Soul Fusion Secret Technique_3

Luo Chen relied on that soul banner to avoid being affected by the Black Realm’s field control during the battle with Yan Zhixian.

Especially after the battle ended, the Fishing Elder allowed Luo Chen to devour several Ghost Kings contained within Yan Zhixian’s Ten Thousand Soul Banner.

Over five years, the soul banner had undergone earth-shattering changes.

To the extent that Qian Ting, the Ghost King originally born of a Resentful Soul, devoured most of the peculiar Ghost King within Yan Zhixian’s soul banner—a creature neither fully human nor fully beast—and had now grown significantly more formidable.

If Luo Chen could obtain this Soul Fusion Secret Technique,

perhaps he too could emulate Yan Zhixian and merge the scattered Ghost Kings within the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, unleashing immense power.

With that, Luo Chen would gain another valuable trump card!

”This technique is one that disciples of the Yuan Mo Sect’s Soul Refining Lineage must learn. Although it’s not passed beyond the sect, North Sea Cultivators have managed to develop some similar techniques over the years.”

”Thus, the exchange price for this Soul Fusion Secret Technique isn’t particularly high. Out of respect for the Yuan Mo Sect’s reputation, it’s set at a cost of 200,000 Spirit Stones.”

”Since you’re now a Four-Star Demon Hunter, the discounted price would be only 120,000 Spirit Stones.”

The Fishing Elder smiled cheerfully as he spoke.

200,000 Spirit Stones truly wasn’t expensive, especially after the discount.

Luo Chen sighed and said, ”This Demon Hunter star rank discount is truly beneficial! If only I could achieve a Nine-Star rank—or even just Seven or Eight Stars—it would be great. The rental for the Penghu Spiritual Land alone is an enormous burden for me.”

While the abundance of Spirit Veins in the North Sea made them seem less valuable,

those of higher quality were still incredibly expensive.

The rental for the Eight Hundred Li Penghu costs 3 million annually, and even after a 40% discount, it still totals 1.8 million per year—9 million over five years!

If Luo Chen’s Demon Hunter star rank were higher, perhaps the rent could drop to 7 million, 6 million, or even lower.

An Eight-Star Demon Hunter like the Fishing Elder could rent a Third-Order Ascendant Grade Cave Mansion for only 3 million every five years—practically at cabbage prices! Perhaps the Demon Hunter Bureau even provides additional perks, waiving the fees entirely.

Listening to Luo Chen’s lament, the Fishing Elder shrugged.

”That’s simple enough. With your capabilities, take on more tasks, and soon you’ll raise your star rank. Even if you don’t reach our level of Eight Stars, a Seven-Star Demon Hunter is still within reach.”

Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering Demon Hunter Bureau, those ranked One to Three Stars are mostly Foundation Establishment True Cultivators. Four to Six Stars are generally Golden Core Ascendant Masters, with the occasional Fourth-Star Foundation Establishment Cultivator who has achieved great feats.

But Seven-Star Demon Hunters are extremely rare.

Those who hold that rank typically have a cultivation realm no lower than the Late Golden Core Stage!

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that within the Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering, all Demon Hunters ranked Seven Stars and above are Late Golden Core Stage cultivators. However, not all Late Golden Core Stage cultivators can attain a star rank of Seven.

Take Huangfu Song, for example—despite his Golden Core Seventh Level cultivation, his Demon Hunter star rank is only Six Stars.

The Fishing Elder’s remarks undoubtedly honored Luo Chen’s strength, equating him to those mighty Golden Core Late Stage Great Cultivators!

Despite this, Luo Chen remained modest.

He waved his hand dismissively. ”Most of those tasks are dangerous. Even the simplest demon hunting missions involve bloody battles, which adds little value to our pursuit of purification; I would rather not take them.”

The Fishing Elder was dumbfounded.

Someone as formidable as Demon King Qingyang, annoyed by battles, preferring purification cultivation?

It seemed somewhat absurd.

However, upon further reflection, the Fishing Elder remembered Luo Chen’s measured handling of the recent farce—it had indeed shown his reluctance to get entangled in additional conflicts.

Perhaps he had been mistaken.

But...

The Fishing Elder sighed. ”Unfortunately, the second thing I wanted to say will disrupt your peaceful cultivation.”

Without giving Luo Chen a chance to question, he directly explained the situation.

It turns out Golden Core Period Demon Hunters have mandatory tasks every five years—a rule all cultivators must be aware of before joining the Demon Hunter Bureau.

Although Luo Chen had already been cultivating in Penghu for five years, he hadn’t undertaken even one mandatory task.

Even with the Fishing Elder intervening to buy him time, the delay couldn’t be prolonged any further.

”But you don’t need to worry too much. These tasks typically aren’t very dangerous; they simply tend to take up a lot of time.”

”Time-consuming?” Luo Chen frowned.

The Fishing Elder waved a dismissive hand. ”I know what you’re worried about—you’re afraid the long duration will affect your cultivation.”

Luo Chen nodded softly; he was indeed concerned about this.

During his years of cultivation in Penghu, his Dao cultivation had steadily advanced, and he was truly unwilling to waste time on trivial tasks.

If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he’d prefer to stay home daily, cultivating his realm to the Late Golden Core Stage, even striving for the Perfect Realm.

”I’ve already selected a few tasks for you—ones that require the least amount of time. How about I share them with you?” The Fishing Elder grinned. As a veteran of the Demon Hunter Bureau, he knew better than anyone which tasks were dangerous, which were easy, and how long each might take.

Evidently, to cultivate good relations with Luo Chen and gain insight into more cultivation secrets, he had already begun leveraging his authority.

Luo Chen’s eyes shone. ”I’m all ears!”

...

The next day.

In the Hidden Wind Cave of the Hidden Dragon Mountain Range,

a pale-faced male cultivator locked up his cave mansion and activated its defensive arrays before stepping out.

Upon exiting, he spotted a glint of light flying in from afar toward a nearby mountain peak.

Halfway there, the glint abruptly turned and landed beside him.

”Are you Friend Duan Li?”

Duan Li glanced over and hesitantly replied, ”Friend Xiao?”

The visitor was none other than Xiao Buhuan.

The same Five-Star Demon Hunter stationed at Quyang Island.

Xiao Buhuan laughed heartily. ”Indeed, it’s me. I didn’t expect you to remember me after we met only a few times.”

Duan Li forced a smile. ”Friend Xiao, didn’t you also remember me?”

Xiao Buhuan chuckled, then curiously looked toward Duan Li’s cave mansion.

”This Hidden Wind Cave?”

Duan Li nodded. ”I’m renting it now—we’re neighbors.”

Xiao Buhuan was astonished.

Back when he introduced Qingyang Zi to the area, hoping to make him a neighbor, he hadn’t expected Duan Li to benefit instead.

Judging by Duan Li’s pale complexion, it seemed he hadn’t fully recovered from the aftereffects of that battle.

Duan Li, in turn, grew curious. ”I hadn’t seen you for years and assumed you were cultivating in seclusion. But now it seems you’ve returned from afar—perhaps just coming back from Quyang Island?”

Xiao Buhuan replied, ”That’s correct.”

Duan Li was surprised. ”Aren’t guard tasks usually rotated annually? How did you end up stationed there for so long?”

”I’m different,” Xiao Buhuan shook his head. ”The mission I took on was a long-term one, lasting ten years. During this time, my cave mansion here in Xiushan was still reserved for me. Plus, such extended guard tasks help improve one’s Demon Hunter star rank.”

Duan Li understood.

Indeed, those decade-long missions were highly laborious for Golden Core Cultivators.

Especially on the front lines resisting demon beasts, where battles could erupt at any moment.

Such missions were entirely different from the mandatory five-year tasks.

Xiao Buhuan asked curiously, ”Do you still have contact with Friend Qingyang Zi?”

”Don’t you know about him?” Duan Li instinctively replied before chuckling at himself, ”I forgot—you’ve only just returned.”

”What happened to him?” Xiao Buhuan grew more curious.

Duan Li smiled. ”I was just planning to visit Qingyang Zi in Penghu. Would you care to join me and make his acquaintance?”

”Penghu!”

Xiao Buhuan’s eyes brightened.

So Qingyang Zi had rented the Eight Hundred Li Penghu!

Without hesitation, he nodded.

”Let’s go together!”