Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

True Master Xian He also got interested, ”Zhaowu, tell me in detail. As your master has recently been in seclusion to comprehend secret techniques, I am quite curious about the recent events in the Immortal Cultivation World.”

With the approval of his master and the pills Luo Chen provided, which were said to be beneficial to the Spirit Beasts, Zhaowu had no more qualms.

He first pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

”As far as I know, that so-called battle is actually an internal conflict within a sect named Luo Tian Sect. I’ve heard it was due to a split within the branch of the Sect Master, with both sides wanting to consolidate power. After a century of disputes, they were eventually forced to resort to weapons and resolve it by force.”

”One faction insists on maintaining Luo Tian’s orthodoxy, while the other claims that to resist external threats, internal peace must be established first, especially determining the core leader before the Demon Clan’s army presses the border.”

”Of course, from different perspectives, the essence is not as simple as it appears.”

”In my estimation, this time the internal strife in Luo Tian is not as straightforward as it seems on the surface; it’s more about probing Fenghua Palace by Mo Tian Cliff and the Five Elements Divine Sect joining forces!”

At this point, Zhaowu couldn’t help but glance at True Master Xian He.

”Master, actually similar situations exist in our White Crane Domain too. Many survivors, whose sect powers are still intact, have moved here and keep testing our White Crane Gate’s limits. They want to take over our nest!”

True Master Xian He chuckled, ”You don’t mean the Yu Ding Sword Sect, which can’t become a climate, do you?”

Zhaowu nodded, ”Master, you might be unaware since you’ve been cultivating and ignoring external affairs. The Yu Ding Sword Sect may have lost True Master Yu Ding, posing no threat. But let’s not forget, they originated from the Ten Thousand Swords Domain. With the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion backing them and that genius of Yu Ding Sword Sect who broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm during battle, claiming to be the Sword Realm Lone Swan, they pose a great threat to our White Crane Gate!”

The old man’s smile faded, as he silently recited those few names.

Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, Yu Ding Sword Sect, Sword Realm Lone Swan!

On Luo Chen’s side, he couldn’t wait to learn more about the situation.

Zhaowu reminded his master with a sentence, then returned to the main topic, chatting about the Luo Tian Sect.

”Speaking of which, Luo Tian Sect is also said to originate from the Yu Ding Realm, serving the Yu Ding Sword Sect as their Ascendant Sect.”

Luo Chen nodded. This indeed was true.

Any power developing in the Yu Ding Realm back then, regardless of size, was openly led by the Yu Ding Sword Sect.

Perhaps nominally there was no distinction of master and servant, but to earn a living, gain resources, and enter or exit the various Immortal Cities, they more or less contributed Spirit Stones to the Yu Ding Sword Sect.

”What is the situation with the Sect Master’s branch internal conflict you mentioned?”

Zhaowu thought for a moment, then uncertainly said, ”This matter probably began with the first generation Sect Master Sima Huiniang passing her position to her eldest disciple Yao Mingyue. At that time, during Luo Tian Sect’s flight, talent began to surge. Not to mention the old strong ones like War Devil and Tian Kuizi, among the younger generation, there were also promising individuals like Si Wenjun and Sha Dragon Child.”

”Logically, the position of the second generation Sect Master should have been passed to Si Wenjun, who was the closest to Sima Huiniang and had the highest cultivation level.”

Saying this, Zhaowu looked at Luo Chen with a smile: ”Perhaps you don’t know, Si Wenjun was actually Sima Huiniang’s biological brother, originally named Sima Wenjie.”

Luo Chen’s expression paused.

”But somehow, Sima Huiniang didn’t pass the position of Sect Master to Si Wenjun, who was the highest cultivation among the younger generation, nor to Sha Dragon Child, who had the strongest combat strength, but instead gave it to the mediocre eldest disciple Yao Mingyue.”

”Thus, the discord was born!”

...

Lingtian Pass!

A majestic stronghold, like a steel sluice gate, wedged in the midst of towering mountains, blocking the path between the front and back lines.

This city is not an ancient city with deep heritage.

But rather, in the last decade, under the guidance of the Dark Abyss Sect, and funded by twenty-one Nascent Soul Ascendant Sects, built by the efforts of cultivators from the twelve domains fallen at the front lines, a heroic city was built day and night!

It is said that with this city in place, even a Great Demon Emperor in the late stage Nascent Soul cannot forcefully break through!

This has now become the second line of defense for the remaining Human Clan against the Demon Clan’s army.

As for the first line?

Naturally, it is still the front line’s three domains under the ravages of war.

If you were to look down from high above, you would see the dark green city walls with deep cannon mouths, flags standing tall, arrays faintly discernible, and the silhouettes of cultivators neatly patrolling the walls.

Inside the city, however, there are no commercial streets typically found in Immortal Cities, but solid fortresses, open grounds, and countless large flying boats for warfare.

Everything seems poised to strike, ready for battle at any moment.

The formation of the Death Placement Army, while it unified these ”rabble,” also made each person understand what they will face next.

With the Demon Clan, it’s a fight to the death, with no retreat!

Thus, the cultivators walking within wear expressions full of evil qi, keeping others at bay.

However!

At this moment, the central square of Lingtian Pass was teeming with people, filled with morbidly fervent shouts.

”Kill!”

”Kill!”

”Kill!”

A team of well-armored cultivators stood amidst the crowd, blocking the surging masses from nearing the towering platform that spanned over a mile.

Compared to those feverishly enthusiastic cultivators, this group appeared much calmer.

Because they were not homeless refugees, but rather disciples selected from the Five Domains’ Five Sects, forming the Enforcement Team.

Specifically to maintain order within Lingtian Pass.

Listening to the feverish shouts nearby, each enforcer wore a solemn expression.

”How many times has this happened?”

”Countless!”

”Indeed, when disaster strikes, everyone flies on their own. Under the hundred-year onslaught of the Demon Clan, countless cultivators have forsaken their sects and sought higher alliances. Many have taken advantage of the chaos to commit robberies and murders. Now they’ve all gathered within the Five Domains, old grudges and vendettas are being settled, and many are clearing the ranks for their sects. This Battle Platform was established to provide them a fair resolution channel. Since its inception, the fighting hasn’t ceased.”

”Such internal strife, would those above not intervene?”

”How could they manage it? Our kind value clarity of purpose; if they forcefully suppress it, private fights might break out, harming innocent bystanders.”

”What you say makes sense, but this time, the Luotian Sect’s ten crucial duels might be the largest scale in history, right?”

”Indeed! Ten duels, all fought between Golden Core Ascendant Masters!”

”Is it true that Luotian Sect survived the first wave of the demon tide from the Xiao Yue Mountain Range? Amid such chaos, after a hundred years, instead of declining, their Golden Core cultivators only grew more numerous.”

”Who wouldn’t say so? Not only are they individually competent, but they also have extensive connections. Si Wenjun, who wants to establish his own sect, could even recruit so many Golden Core guest elders to support him?”

”They’re probably not supporting him, but rather working for the two major Ascendant Sects behind him! You may not know, but one of Si Wenjun’s guest elders, to my knowledge, comes from the Five Elements Divine Sect...”

”Enough of that; guess who will win the fifth duel?”

”Who’s fighting whom?”

”Qi Emei against Sha Dragon Child!”

The statement left those in the know stunned.

It’s rumored that the two are a pair of celestial lovers, aren’t they?

Back in the Frontier City battle, when both were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, they teamed up to slay the Third Order Fiery-eyed Bull King, earning renown for a time.

Later, they often joined forces to hunt and kill demon beasts, working seamlessly together.

How did they end up facing each other with swords today?

Amidst the crowd’s shock, two figures had already appeared on the high platform.

One, with a heroic demeanor, tall stature, a red ribbon floating behind, making the handsome face even more beautiful.

The other, clad in heavy armor, metallic wings spread, holding a broad sword, lips tightly pursed. Though their expression was resolute, their gaze seemed unsettled, as if avoiding looking at the woman opposite.

Under endless scrutiny, the woman slowly spoke: ”Zeng Yilong, why don’t you dare to look at me?”

Sha Dragon Child kept his head down, staring at the hilt of the broad sword resting on his hands.

”There’s nothing worth seeing; we now serve separate masters, it’s impossible to return.”

Qi Emei’s mouth twitched, ”If I beat you, if Si Wenjun wins the ten crucial duels, Luotian Sect will merge into my Five Elements Divine Sect, and everything can be undone.”

Sha Dragon Child opened his mouth and finally sighed.

”Emei, you are no match for me, never were, and with the current terrain constraints, you’re even less a match now.”

”Is that so?” The woman scoffed, ”You underestimate me too much, and underestimate the Divine Sect Secret Technique too?”

As she spoke, wisps of red threads spread from her fingertips.

The battle was about to begin!