Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Gu Zuokai couldn’t help but agree, after all, away from the Tianyuan Daoist Sect, there would be no such thing as a Guest Elder of the Star Gate in the Outer Continent.

But he still had some doubts.

”If you step in, wouldn’t there be issues with the City Lord Mansion...”

Luo Chen shook his head, ”I don’t think so. With so many cultivators forced to stay in Lingtian Pass, the rules won’t be that strict. Look at this Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion in front of us, the City Lord Mansion hasn’t ordered it to close, right!”

Gu Zuokai glanced around, and couldn’t help but smile wryly, realizing he was overthinking it.

Specific details of cooperation were not appropriate to discuss here, so after a few words, the two changed the topic.

This time, it was Luo Chen who had another request.

”Are you talking about magical treasures made from Illusion Cores?”

”Yes, ever since I witnessed the wonders of illusion beasts in the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven, I’ve been thinking about those Illusion Cores. But as you know, I’m not a Daoist Sect disciple, so I can’t use Fourth-order Illusion Cores, and the Third-order ones are of no use to me. So, I can only settle for second best and see if there’s anything special about magical tools and treasures made from Third-order Illusion Cores.”

”Illusion Core magical treasures are quite rare and are usually held by major clans in Zhongzhou. Under normal times, I could only find one or two for you, but now it’s not difficult. The Five Hundred Year Cave Heaven Competition just ended, and many Illusion Cores have surfaced, naturally leading to the production of corresponding magical treasures. If you want, I can have someone gather a few for you.”

”In that case, thank you very much, Brother Gu!”

Gu Zuokai waved his hand, not caring about the matter at all.

Compared to the troubles Luo Chen could potentially solve for him, a few Low-Order Illusion Core magical treasures, which are ineffective against a Nascent Soul True Master, were trivial.

Instead, he was quite happy.

Following his clan’s instructions, he had deliberately befriended Luo Chen and even helped him find a Teleportation Formation.

Now it seems that it was the right decision.

This Luo Chen is someone who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and grievances, bringing help like timely rain when he was in a dilemma.

Having settled two matters, the atmosphere became even more relaxed.

Even the song and dance that had paused before resumed with Luo Chen’s gesture.

As the night deepened, the guests dispersed after drinking to satisfaction.

”This Jade Token is a token of mine. In the sect, there’s someone you know, Tian Xuan, so they will recognize it.”

”Then I’ll go to Baili Qingchuan to discuss this with your Luo Tian Sect’s Sect Master. I thoroughly enjoyed today’s banquet!”

”Brother Gu, don’t leave yet!”

”Hmm? Is there something else?”

At the moment of parting, Luo Chen suddenly called out to Gu Zuokai.

With the other party looking puzzled, Luo Chen took out an envelope.

The envelope was plain, without any prohibition or seal, suggesting that it wasn’t a secret, and he didn’t mind others peeking.

”During the Cave Heaven Competition, I befriended someone called Tianshan True Master. This time, I have some cultivation confusion that only he might be able to resolve. So, if it’s convenient for Brother Gu, could you use the Commercial Alliance’s connections to deliver this letter for me?”

Gu Zuokai laughed heartily, ”Such a trivial matter, it’s no trouble at all!”

Taking the letter, he left with large strides.

Only leaving behind two female cultivators who had served him for a long time in the Warm Jade Pavilion, looking disappointed.

In their disappointment, there was also a sense of inevitability.

After all, how could a Nascent Soul True Master fancy withered flowers like them!

”You two may leave, Lady Yuxiang, stay.”

Those two hesitated for a moment, their gazes instinctively falling on the silent and quiet woman who hadn’t spoken all night.

Could it be that the renowned Alchemy Sect Master had taken a liking to her?

Why didn’t they have such luck!

Was it just that her reserved demeanor during the selection piqued the Nascent Soul True Master’s interest?

With indignant hearts silently cursing Yuxiang as cunning, they left, and the Warm Jade Pavilion quieted down.

Only one man and one woman were left.

That woman’s lowered body visibly trembled.

Until a warm cup of wine was handed to her.

Yuxiang was stunned, the True Master pouring wine for her?

She hesitated as she raised her head and was met with a face warm and serene as jade, and a pair of clean and clear eyes.

”Lady Yuxiang, it’s been a long time.”

Yuxiang took the cup, and to this gentle voice, her tears fell involuntarily.

At this moment, her feelings were so complex, beyond the understanding of outsiders.

Once an insecure Qi Refinement Stage rogue cultivator, who had to pull many strings just to meet her, now had become a generation’s Nascent Soul True Master.

And she, once hopeful on the path of the Dao, had fallen from an inner disciple of the Hehuan Sect to selling smiles and serving wine just to secure a foothold.

Oh, how capricious the world is!

She wiped her tears, ”Let the True Master laugh at me, I am no longer any maiden. Had I not taken the Youth Preserving Pill in my early years and mastered beauty techniques, I would have long been old and haggard, no longer youthful.”

Luo Chen smiled and nodded in agreement with the other person’s words.

To be honest, Yuxiang was actually a few years younger than him.

But no matter how young, the remaining lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wasn’t much.

To be blunt, she was practically an old woman by now.

Compared to Caiyi and others who had already formed their cores and were full of vitality with hope for the Great Dao Path, she was lacking quite a bit.

He thought of Gu Caiyi, and obviously, the other person did too.

”How is Caiyi doing?”

Luo Chen brought up the situation of Gu Caiyi.

Upon hearing that the other had successfully reached the Golden Core stage with hopes of realizing the Great Dao Path, Yuxiang’s emotions grew even more complex.

In truth, she had no real comparisons with Luo Chen; their experiences were different, making any comparison pointless.

But Gu Caiyi, back in the day, was merely a dancer at the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, trailing behind her in both cultivation level and background.

But...

”Could you tell me about the annihilation of the Hehuan Sect?” Luo Chen curiously asked, ”I heard the Qing Shuang Demon Emperor single-handedly stormed into the Hehuan Sect and killed your sect’s only remaining Nascent Soul expert?”

Yuxiang didn’t expect the other person to be curious about this event, but that affair was a nightmare plunging all Hehuan Sect cultivators into a pit of dust, and she remembered it vividly.

After calming herself, she meticulously recounted that battle from years ago.

Luo Chen listened attentively, occasionally furrowing his brow.

Clearly, at that time, Yuxiang’s realm was insufficient; she couldn’t witness the entire battle.

What she spoke of was also mostly limited to the scene of the Mountain Protection Array being shattered and a Golden Core Elder dying in a self-explosion.

The battle details of the Qing Shuang Demon Emperor, which Luo Chen was most concerned with, were unknown to her. She only mentioned that after a wail from the Nascent Soul Ancestor, the Qing Shuang Demon Emperor gave them a cold glance and then left calmly.

”She’s still that strong!”

Luo Chen murmured this before calmly standing up.

Yuxiang looked up at him, hesitantly and timidly asking, ”Would you like to stay the night, Master?”

Luo Chen looked down at her.

Just one glance, and Yuxiang felt as if her entire body was seen through and laid bare.

She couldn’t help but lower her head.

A jade vial landed on the table, making a crisp sound.

”Your realm is enough; you’re just a step away from the Golden Core. As an inner sect disciple of the Hehuan Sect, you shouldn’t lack the method for core formation. This Condensation Pill I refined personally should lend you a hand!”

Yuxiang opened her mouth, and when she looked up again, Luo Chen was nowhere to be seen.

With her lips bitten, she showed an expression of unwillingness.

But when she opened the jade vial, she was stunned.

Third-Order Medium Grade!

And personally refined by the Alchemy Sect!

Perhaps with this pill, she could strive for the Golden Core realm she always feared and yearned for!

For a moment, her emotions of reluctance were mingled with a newfound hope, becoming extremely complex.

...

Upon leaving the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, Luo Chen walked under the moonlight on an alley in Lingtian City.

Unlike Jueqing Fairy, he never intended to recruit Yuxiang into the Luo Tian Sect.

The Hehuan Sect cultivators had deceitful thoughts, difficult to handle.

He also didn’t have deep connections with Yuxiang.

The reason he gave her a medium-grade Condensation Pill was because, years ago, she had sold him her unused Purple Cloud Bronze Furnace, solving his urgent need after his alchemy pot exploded.

”Consider it the fulfillment of an old friend’s bond!”

Luo Chen smiled slightly, feeling quite cheerful.

Not only did he find a financial path for the Luo Tian Sect, but he also found clues for refining the Ghost God Heart Asking Mirror again.

If he could obtain a batch of Illusion Core Magical Treasures to study, he might discover how to utilize such materials, and then try forging the Ghost God Heart Asking Mirror on his own.

As for the last letter handed out?

The content was simple; it concerned the mutation of Sima Huiniang’s Spirit Beetle.

The Tianshan True Master was from the South Border and was knowledgeable about Gu insects; perhaps the other person had a solution.

Just as Luo Chen stepped out of the alley, the smile on his face froze.

”Friend Luo, did you just come out of...the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion?”

Ling Fengzi, who happened to pass by, hesitated, glancing behind him into the alley.

Under the moonlight, their eyes widened at each other, giving Luo Chen an odd feeling of being caught in a raid.