Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

”Ghostly presence?”

Luo Chen slightly furrowed his brow, quietly staring at the door outside.

At some point, strands of blood had already spread over the whites of his eyes.

Divine Perception was unusable, Qi Power completely gone, but that didn’t mean his eyes were ”blind.”

Over the centuries of nurturing, the Red Eyes Golden Pupils had long reached Completion Stage, and by using Origin Force, they could be activated.

His blood-red eyes looked through the doors and windows outwards. In the night, torrential rain obscured visibility, but the unsettling feeling that had been haunting Luo Chen still lingered.

”What exactly is spying in the dark?”

With a thought, Luo Chen once again conjured more Origin Force into his eyes.

Gradually, within the wind and rain, faint outlines appeared.

These outlines were not fixed, sometimes resembling humans, sometimes beasts, and oftentimes dispersing into smoke, mingling indistinguishably with the rain mist, making it hard to detect.

It lingered outside the door, seemingly anxious and eager to break in, yet hindered by something unknown.

Luo Chen instinctively glanced at the fire pit inside the house, where the wisps of blue smoke emitted by the burning Dream Stone were spreading.

”Things that accompany the Ghost Rain are hindered by the blue smoke from the burning Dream Stone—what exactly are they?”

Curiosity stirred within Luo Chen as he stood up.

Arriving at the door, Luo Chen hesitated for a moment and took the Broken Appearance Green Lamp.

Though devoid of possessions, and with a courage born of high skills, this unfamiliar Great Destruction Realm still demanded caution.

At least the Broken Appearance Green Lamp was a Top Grade Magic Tool, capable of being slightly activated by Qi Blood Power.

With an infusion of Qi Blood, the green light suddenly lit up.

Carrying the green lamp, Luo Chen opened the door and stepped out.

At the moment he stepped out, the ghostly presence in the rain urgently rushed forward, but was repelled by the Yang Gang Strength already covering his body.

Luo Chen used the lamp’s green light to closely observe the swirling smoke around him, a thoughtful expression in his eyes as if searching for a match in his memory.

Gradually, a puzzled look appeared in Luo Chen’s eyes.

”Could it really be that legendary creature?”

In the next instant!

A gap formed in Luo Chen’s Yang Gang Strength, allowing the ghostly presence to pounce onto him.

In a blink, Luo Chen’s body stiffened as if weighed down, yet his eyes remained bright.

A moment later, Luo Chen’s Qi Blood suddenly surged, washing away the intruding creature entirely.

Faintly, Luo Chen seemed to hear a scream.

Under the rain, Luo Chen stood under the eaves holding the lamp, a look of sudden realization on his face.

”Turns out, it really is that creature!”

Through the personal experience just now, Luo Chen had verified a certain record in his memory—that strange creature was indeed something known as a ”Ghost Nightmare.”

This creature was exceedingly rare, yet tales of Ghost Nightmares had long circulated through the world.

The Ghost Nightmare, also known as Nightmare!

This was an entity without a real physical form, though it truly existed as a ghostly creature.

It was as renowned as other ghostly creatures like phantoms and demons.

But in the Mountain Sea Realm, this creature only exists in legends, rarely encountered.

The reason lies in the Ghost Nightmare’s method of feeding—by invading the dreams of living beings, causing them to fall into anxiety, unease, anger, fear, and various other negative emotions within the dream until ultimately plunging into a nightmare and failing to awaken, allowing the Ghost Nightmare to consume the pure Power of Soul. Yet, the Mountain Sea Realm is dominated by Immortal Cultivators. Forget the mighty Divinity Transformation Nascent Soul, even the weakest Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators have started condensing their Divine Soul, and those at Foundation Establishment Stage can externalize their Spirit Consciousness and reflect the surroundings, repelling evil.

In such an environment, Ghost Nightmares simply cannot survive!

Even if mortal humans occasionally encounter Ghost Nightmares, they are the weakest ones, and those with slightly stronger wills or slightly clearer minds can awaken from the nightmare. After waking, they at most feel a fear akin to ”ghost pressing on the bed,” with little lasting mental damage.

Over time, Ghost Nightmares lacking food have become mere legends.

It’s jokingly said that the Ghost Nightmare is an unusual existence that starved due to lacking an environment to live.

Luo Chen’s understanding of this creature stems from studying several arrays related to illusion realms and dream realms while crafting the Chen Yuan Immortal Mirror, acquiring knowledge about them.

He hadn’t expected to encounter a real Ghost Nightmare in this Great Destruction Realm.

Despite it being the sole creature, though equally weak.

The interest that had just risen rapidly faded away.

Shaking his head, Luo Chen was about to return indoors carrying the green lamp.

But his steps halted mid-air as he pushed open the door, an epiphany striking his mind.

”According to Jing Lan, whenever the Ghost Rain arrives, villagers light the stored Dream Stones, clearly meant to guard against Ghost Nightmares.”

”Such traditional customs wouldn’t form overnight, but because someone had long ago suffered, having their dream invaded by a Ghost Nightmare and their Power of Soul devoured.”

”Conversely, this Great Destruction Realm surely harbors numerous Ghost Nightmares appearing alongside the Ghost Rain.”

”And in this world, where Immortal Cultivators cannot endure, there’s naturally no situation where powerful Divine Soul Power obliterates Ghost Nightmares. Even highly skilled Body Refiners rely on robust Qi Blood and strong Consciousness for passive defense.”

”Now thinking, would powerful ancient Ghost Nightmares eventually arise?”

Upon such a thought, a gleam appeared in Luo Chen’s eyes.

A certain conjecture emerged clearly in his mind!

Back then, the goal of crafting the True Devices Chen Yuan Immortal Mirror was to strengthen Cang Long’s Divine Soul Endowment within dreams autonomously, allowing him to break free from the seal.

This led Luo Chen to study many arrays involving illusion realms and dreams.

And within the acquired knowledge, Ghost Nightmares were described as perfect for arranging dream realms and excellent for breaking through Divine Soul Restriction!

After all, this entity thrives on feeding off the soul power of living beings.

Initially, Luo Chen hadn’t concerned himself with the latter point, as his Divine Soul was already immensely powerful, capable of breaking Divine Soul Restriction.

But now...

Currently, Luo Chen’s Divine Perception cannot extend out; his formidable Divine Soul Endowment lacks a venue to display its strength, all because his Main Soul has been sealed by Qi Xia Emperor.

With Luo Chen’s own strength, breaking Qi Xia Emperor’s Divine Soul Seal is exceedingly difficult, as said Emperor at Peak levels was an incomparable Void Refining Stage existence.

The sealed Main Soul triggered a series of chain reactions.

Most visibly, though Luo Chen could transform Qi Blood Power into a small amount of Qi Power, without Divine Perception’s assistance, he still couldn’t access the Storage ring.

Yet, if he could utilize a multitude of Ghost Nightmares, or particularly powerful ones, to forcibly break Qi Xia Emperor’s Divine Soul Seal, then his Divine Soul could escape from the Solid Enclosure!

Even though the Great Destruction Realm has that Soul-shaking Thunder Sound deterring Immortal Cultivators, having Divine Perception would expand Luo Chen’s capabilities significantly.

Such as opening the Storage ring to retrieve certain materials.

And using Divine Perception to illuminate the surroundings, aiding Body Refinement.

Even deducing cultivation techniques and uncovering the world’s essence, among other things.

Given that Divine Perception cannot leave the body, however, it remains usable internally.

Luo Chen’s thoughts flowed relentlessly.

”Hmm...”

A soft murmur came from inside, seemingly a result of the cold wind blowing through the opened door, causing the sleeping woman to feel a chill.

Luo Chen gazed at the inky black night sky, keen light in his eyes eventually settling calmly.

”No rush, step by step!”

He returned indoors, sealing the doors and windows, resuming his cultivation as if nothing had transpired.