Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Combining the power of a Divine Transformation Great Power with the power of the Mirage Dragon?

I’m afraid that’s not all!

Luo Chen, above, seemed to sense something more complex.

For instance, the spirit mechanisms that gathered from all directions earlier, though only a tiny trace.

”The Mirage Dragon has awakened. Enter and seek your own opportunity!”

After the Head of the Tianyuan Sect closed the chessboard and handed it to Chess Saint Ke Lian Shan, he spoke his last words.

Luo Chen and the others hesitated no longer, transformed into a glint, and rushed downhill, daringly plunging into that deep, dark mouth.

After they departed, at the Sea of Clouds Square, everyone had different thoughts.

Some appeared eager, while others were indifferent.

Some wandered, others remained seated.

The opening of Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven could last from several months to over a year; it’s difficult to predict accurately and depends on how long cultivators remain inside.

Not everyone is willing to wait so long to see the outcome.

Especially the True Disciples of the Star Gate and the cultivators from the Outer Continent.

The young man from the Dark Abyss Sect was the first to bid farewell.

The Head of the Tianyuan Sect did not hold him back, allowing him to leave.

The mysterious black robe cultivator from the South Border did the same, but before leaving, he took a curious glance or two at the deep, mist-swirling mouth.

The bald monks from the West Desert, however, disregarded people’s strange looks, and with a bitter expression, approached the Head of the Tianyuan Sect.

”The West Desert and Demon Wastes are joining forces, their intentions are obvious, yet the Holy Land Hanging Temple remains shut, indifferent to the world. We lack a Divine Transformation Great Power to oversee, and humbly ask your sect for aid!”

Mo Shouzhuo’s calm, elderly face broke into a smile at these words.

”No rush, wait until our sect’s centennial competition concludes, then we’ll consider the matter of dispatching forces.”

Tianyuan Daoist Sect, leading the world!

Among the Five Great Sacred Lands, it has always been the most powerful.

After three thousand years of recuperation, it possesses the essence of a continent’s resources, making its present power beyond estimation.

From the Mountain Sea Realm, where no one has ascended for centuries, even an outsider Alchemy Saint can reach ascension, which speaks volumes.

Now, the Outer Continent is in turmoil, precarious under wind and rain.

It is precisely the time for the Tianyuan Daoist Sect to act.

Mo Shouzhuo nodded to the Chess Saint behind him, who in return nodded slightly and infused Qi Power into the chessboard.

An enigmatic space instantly emerged.

The next moment, figures began to appear one after another within it.

Noble Families, clan chiefs.

Star Gate’s Nineteen Elders; even the apprehensive candidate Elder Hui Yuanhong was among them.

Moreover, several Tianyuan Daoist Sect high-level members appeared immediately.

Everyone looked up.

At the highest point in that space, five mysterious noble figures dimly visible, Mo Shouzhuo stood at the center.

He spoke boldly, full of confident spirit, completely devoid of any aged demeanor.

”The thousand-year plan has reached its closing stage, are you ready?”

...

Confused and disoriented, unsure of where it ends.

Luo Chen awoke from a throbbing headache.

His sight met with bird language and fragrant flowers, clear mountains and waters, far from the expected desolate mountains and evil waters, biting winds stripping bones, or the land fouling everywhere.

”Is this the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven?”

”Brother Dao, you’re awake!”

Luo Chen instinctively glanced to the side where Fu Qinglan stood, thoughtfully watching him.

Seeing such a demeanor, Luo Chen frowned involuntarily.

Not because of the other’s concern, but due to the other’s condition.

He had fallen into a short unconsciousness upon entering the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven, even experiencing Divine Soul pain, while the other’s cultivation level was inferior to his, yet appeared unfazed?

Perhaps noticing his doubt, Fu Qinglan promptly explained: ”Every cultivator entering the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven is inundated by the remnants of the Mirage Dragon’s consciousness. Without the Illusionary Chess to shield, one would succumb to endless illusions. I am different, having undergone the Mirage Dragon Qi baptism in the sect beforehand, thus prepared.”

Luo Chen stood up from the bluestone, dissatisfied:

”Why didn’t you say so sooner?”

Previously, he indeed encountered numerous illusions, to the point of being dazed and confused.

If it were not for his extensive experience during past cultivation, he might have remained in a coma for much longer.

Fu Qinglan smiled faintly, ”It’s not good to reveal such things too early. Once the mind begins to guard against them, you’ll subconsciously resist those illusions, causing you to sink deeper and remain longer. However, with the Sect Master’s Illusionary Chess, you’ll awaken even faster.”

Luo Chen instinctively raised his hand, and the soft white chess piece came into view.

Indeed!

What the other said was true. Although he lost himself a bit in the illusion, this chess piece consistently emitted a gentle light, protecting him all the way through.

The scene was somewhat reminiscent of his experience in Li Wangtian at the Land of Fallen Demons.

Except that, back then, the Lan Ke Black Chess he refined shattered silently, not having as effective an outcome as this time’s White Chess.

”Eh?”

Luo Chen made a slight sound of surprise; he noticed a small black dot on the chess piece.

Seeing this, Fu Qinglan was also momentarily stunned.

”Within the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven, countless Illusion Beasts, each wondrous and formidable, possess boundless power. If the contamination runs deep, the Illusionary Chess that guards us will gradually turn black. When it completely transitions from white to black, it signifies our time in the Cave Heaven has reached its limit. At that point, we must activate the chess piece to be transported to the Outer World, lest we risk being assimilated into Illusion Beasts and trapped forever within the Cave Heaven.”

”Brother Dao, you’ve already been eroded!”

Luo Chen looked silently at the white chess piece in his hand; the black dot roughly covered only about one percent.

It wasn’t really a concern.

Now that he’d ”settled” down, a myriad of doubts from the outside world filled his mind.

Why did Alchemy Saint Chu Yan give him one of the five pills before leaving?

Was it merely because they were both Pill Refiners?

Unlikely. In the vast Tianyuan Daoist Sect, skilled Pill Refiners were certainly not in short supply!

Moreover, the method of refining that Tianji Pill, the pill technique used, even if done casually by the Alchemy Saint, felt quite familiar to him.

”It’s the Fifth-Order Yefadian Pill!”

Luo Chen thoroughly recalled.

When he was refining the Fifth-Order Yefadian Pill in the Land of Fallen Demons’ Alchemy Realm, his technique was remarkably similar to the one the Alchemy Saint demonstrated.

Considering the name of the pill, Tianji... Yefadian...

Luo Chen pondered it over.

But this contemplation didn’t last long, as he had more doubts.

He could see clearly that the Alchemy Saint’s ascension was far from normal!

The place where the Star Gate above the Nine Heavens led to was definitely not the legendary Immortal Realm!

Where did she go?

And why did she give up the vast Spirit Mechanism of this realm, allowing the Head of Tianyuan Sect to seize it?

Where did those Spirit Mechanisms that were intercepted go?

These questions crowded Luo Chen’s mind, like countless mists, leaving him at a loss.

Seeing Luo Chen remaining silent, Fu Qinglan assumed he was worried about the erosion from the Mirage Dragon Qi.

”Brother Dao, there’s no need to worry. The Illusion Cores we obtain from hunting Illusion Beasts will be absorbed by me. As long as you pay attention, you won’t be further eroded.”

”In any case, our Tianyuan disciples normally reach the limit before you protectors.”

”When the time comes, let’s leave together.”

Luo Chen glanced at her and nodded.

Hunting Illusion Beasts was the content of the competition.

The only thing, monotonous.

Among Lower Order Disciples below Nascent Soul, the more Illusion Beasts they hunted and the more Illusion Cores they collected, the higher their ranking, and the more rewards they received from the Sect after exiting.

However, among the Nascent Soul True Inheritance, it wasn’t determined by the number of Illusion Cores.

In fact, there wasn’t really a concept of victory or defeat at all.

The true outcome depended on who could advance further within the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven!

Fu Qinglan and other Nascent Soul True Inheritance would refine and absorb the Illusion Cores hunted by their protectors, using the Mirage Dragon’s power to comprehend the Law’s True Intent.

Once they gained insights, they became a so-called God Transformation Seed.

This was the true measure of victory!

And what Luo Chen and the other protectors needed to do was assist in hunting Illusion Beasts and protect the Nascent Soul True Inheritance during their refinement, guarding against disruptions from Illusion Beasts and other competitors.

That’s it.

”Let’s go; I’m also eager to see what these Illusion Beasts truly are!” Luo Chen said.