Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

In the high sky, clouds loomed.

Suddenly, two figures dashed across, dispersing a mass of clouds, leaving the sky incomplete.

Even after those two figures passed by, echoes still lingered.

”Mi Realm Mountain is one of South Border’s wondrous lands!”

”It half-conceals itself from the mortal realm; its true entrance was discovered only a few hundred years ago and stabilized through grand efforts.”

”Once inside, the spatial layers overlap like three thousand worlds converging into one mountain. A slight misstep can easily lead to becoming lost. Furthermore, for us Nascent Soul cultivators, after escaping, we ought to shrink soil into inches and cover thousands of miles in one stride. Yet within Mi Realm Mountain, we face immense suppression, unable to flee far.”

”Thus, combat is forbidden within Mi Realm Mountain!”

”Some say Mi Realm Mountain is formed by a Great Power’s Spiritual Treasure; others speculate it might be the remnants of some ancient Savage Beast. However, more believe this place is a result of the natural formation by creation itself—a half-formed Cave Heaven Blessed Land.”

A wondrous land containing countless small spaces?

Listening to this introduction, Luo Chen was greatly intrigued.

Could it be similar to the existence like Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven?

Yet according to Master Ming Lei, the entrance to Mi Realm Mountain itself exists in the mortal realm, evidently not crafted from the remains of a Great Desolate.

Thus, it’s clearly not formed by a Spiritual Treasure either.

Could it indeed be a naturally occurring Cave Heaven Blessed Land, like the Elixir Saint’s Blessed Land?

”Such a wondrous land, wouldn’t the Holy Land Life and Death Gate be tempted?” Luo Chen curiously asked.

Master Ming Lei replied, ”It’s not that they aren’t tempted, but before Mi Realm Mountain emerged, Life and Death Gate had already closed itself off and seldom interacted with the Outer World. Then this place fell into the hands of a Great Cultivator—the True Master Songyang—who took over Mi Realm Mountain and established the Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance!”

True Master Songyang, Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance.

Luo Chen pondered these names but was more curious about Life and Death Gate closing its gates, cutting off contact with the Outer World.

However, Master Ming Lei couldn’t provide an answer to this.

He could not even pin down the exact time this closure happened.

”Back then, I was merely a Golden Core cultivator, nowhere qualified to know such secretive matters!” Master Ming Lei chuckled bitterly.

Only then did Luo Chen realize that Master Ming Lei wasn’t like Ling Fengzi, a long-term Nascent Soul expert who was well-versed in the ins and outs of local Immortal Cultivation World affairs.

In truth, he was just a recently ascended Rogue Cultivator.

Not to mention strength, just from the aspect of information channels, he couldn’t compare to the well-established Nascent Soul True Masters.

Reflecting back, when he was a Golden Core cultivator, it was much the same.

Only by relying on the forces of Eastern Wilderness Luotian Sect and the North Sea Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering did he not remain blind to the Outer World.

”I was recommended to the exchange meeting last time. First time makes you unfamiliar; second time makes you acquainted. This time I can recommend you as well.”

”Is it such a hassle?”

”It is quite troublesome. Southern Border practitioners, adept in using Gu Insects to harm others invisibly, coupled with early incidents of Demonic Mind Gu causing chaos in South Border, many inherently distrust outsiders. Various circles are rather closed; without recommendations, even with a sky-reaching cultivation level, one would still be alone.”

”Just joking. If one truly possesses sky-reaching cultivation, why not establish one’s own sect?”

”Haha, Brother Qi speaks wisely. A true strong person should be like True Master Songyang, claiming treasured lands, establishing foundations, rallying support far and wide.”

”True Master Songyang huh...” Luo Chen mused, but abruptly switched topics, ”Have you, Cave Lord, ever experienced the disaster caused by Demonic Mind Gu?”

Master Ming Lei’s expression changed, just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from below.

”To have friends come from afar, is it not a joy? Since Brother Ming Lei is passing through my mountain gate, why not come down for a chat?”

The voice, despite clearly coming from below, was impossible to trace to its source.

This showed the powerful Divine Consciousness of the voice’s originator.

Yet Luo Chen merely glanced briefly before refocusing his attention on Master Ming Lei, ”Who is the person below?”

Master Ming Lei’s expression was awkward, he whispered, ”Consider him a friend. He was the one who recommended me to the Nascent Soul circle last time. His real name is unknown, outsiders call him Lantern Master, his identity is the Sect Hierarch of the Shadow Light Sect.”

”What do you mean by ’consider’?” Luo Chen teased, watching Master Ming Lei.

With resignation, the latter said, ”Since forming my Nascent Soul, I’ve been keen on expanding my network. Lantern Master knew me early on, and I once considered him a friend. But during the last attack on Wind and Thunder Gorge by the Feng Family, I widely sought help but received no response. Hence, the term ’friend’ naturally becomes questionable.”

Luo Chen understood and then asked, ”What shall we do now?”

Master Ming Lei contemplated briefly and resolved.

”After days of travel, my Qi Power is exhausted, might as well go down for some rest and recovery. Also... ask about the prior non-response!”

”That might be a bit impolite.”

Luo Chen laughed heartily, already descending from the cloud bank.

In a place with tall lanterns and silhouetted figures of a grand sect, a red-robed, ominous-looking man came out from his moment of heart-pounding shock.

”They’ve arrived again!”

”It’s that feeling again!”

”No, it seems somewhat different?”

Amidst his puzzlement, his external Divine Consciousness found the two descending figures from the clouds.

He paused, cast several Dao Law Methods upon himself, and then advanced forward.

...

”Cave Lord, won’t you introduce your new friend?”

From afar, Lantern Master laughed heartily.

Master Ming Lei somewhat awkwardly spoke, ”Ba Xiu Qi Tian, one of the thirty-six Cave Masters of Wind and Thunder Gorge.”

Lantern Master’s step halted, astonished.

At that moment, Luo Chen slowly turned, his Qi-Blood surged into the sky, transforming into billowing wolf smoke.

This Qi-Blood wolf smoke was terrifying, yet it dissipated as swiftly as it appeared, like a blooming flower.

Lantern Master exclaimed, ”Physical Cultivator?”

Master Ming Lei’s expression returned to normal; he chuckled, ”Indeed, Brother Qi is a Body Refining Practitioner. Though his path differs from ours, in terms of capability, he’s not at all inferior.”

Lantern Master couldn’t help but hold Luo Chen in higher regard.

His mind was full of admiration.

Isn’t Wind and Thunder Gorge known for its harsh and adverse conditions?

How did two formidable figures emerge consecutively?

No wonder that old fellow from the Feng Family coveted Wind and Thunder Gorge so much, even giving advance notice not to get involved.

Though inwardly cursing, Lantern Master maintained a harmonious smile.

”Come, come, since you’re at my Shadow Light Sect, let me properly entertain you, step inside please!”

Master Ming Lei remained unmoving.

Lantern Master raised an eyebrow, ”Could it be the Cave Lord is resenting my previous reluctance to help you?”

”I wouldn’t dare!”

”Alas, I had no choice. I encountered issues with my cultivation at that time, dared not act rashly. Seeing the Cave Lord safe and sound now, capable of traveling afar, shows those troublesome matters have been resolved. This sect leader is relieved!”

Master Ming Lei was surprised, ”You encountered problems with your cultivation?”

Lantern Master waved his hand, ”Some troubles, let’s sit down and discuss in detail!”

Master Ming Lei hesitated briefly, looked at Luo Chen.

The latter said nothing, already stepping towards the Shadow Light Sect mountain gate.

Master Ming Lei followed immediately.

Lantern Master observed this scene, pondering deeply.

Between the two, is the newly risen Ba Xiu Qi Tian the actual leader?