Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Yixian City, early March.

The snow has melted, and the grass is growing as orioles fly.

The crowded masses from all directions converge toward the city’s center, akin to rivers flowing into the sea.

Such a grand occasion is rarely seen, not only in Yixian City but even in the other seventy-two cities, in a hundred years.

Because today is the time for ”Martial Combat Decides the Master”!

The City Lords of the seventy-two cities are often formidable martial artists.

These beings have profound realms, lifespans far exceeding that of mortals, often spanning several centuries. Therefore, for mortals, they might not witness even once in their lifetime the changing of a city lord, the selection of a new master.

But this time, it has appeared in Yixian City!

In fact, ever since the former city lord left ten years ago, everyone sensed this day would come. However, they didn’t expect the old city lord never to send any decree, forcing events to develop to the harsh level of deciding the city lord’s position through martial combat.

Among the streams of people, those dressed in luxurious attire lead the way, with no one daring to compete for precedence.

These people are among the top figures in the city, either having significant businesses within the city or having expanded their businesses to other cities, powerful individuals with usually one or two Furnace Realm experts under their command.

Behind these are the local tycoons of Yixian City. They are not as powerful as the former, nor can they offer vast wealth to hire Furnace Realm experts for personal protection. They often pay a hefty price to engage a Furnace Realm expert to nominally protect them.

Among them were also Boss Xue of Renji Hall and Boss Shen of Qianjin Hall. They let their shopkeepers and guards surround them protectively while they walked and chatted.

”Boss Xue, you sent a message before, saying the sacrificial official we hired for ’Martial Combat Decides the Master’ will personally take action this time. Is this true?” Boss Shen of Qianjin Hall loudly asked, his eyes filled with keen anticipation.

Boss Xue of Renji Hall perked up his ears and heard Boss Shen’s voice amidst the noisy crowd. He laughed heartily and said, ”There’s no doubt. This news came from Luo Mansion. I privately inquired of Lady Jing. Although she didn’t admit it directly, she didn’t deny it either.”

Boss Shen’s eyes lit up, ”If that’s true, perhaps we can use his reputation to deter the villains!”

Boss Xue nodded repeatedly, his eyes occasionally sweeping around, filled with excitement.

In the past, only those big businesses with many branches could hire powerhouses of guest minister rank from the City Lord Mansion to be their sacrificial officials. Those like them, with some strength in Yixian City but no influence expansion due to the lack of high-ranking martial artists, had no other choice but to gamble.

This time they got lucky and managed to connect with Luo Chen.

Though many people sneered at them for hiring a Second Realm Body Refining martial artist at a significant cost, given that Luo Chen’s realm is only at the Blood River Realm, they had no other choice but to gamble.

In their view, martial arts realms do not count for much, but the guest minister status from the City Lord Mansion is a genuine endorsement of Luo Chen’s strength!

”Of course, all this still hinges on the premise that he will take action today and win!”

”Indeed, indeed!”

”Boss Yang from Half Moon Building has also arrived, let’s join him!”

Half Moon Building, like Renji Hall and Qianjin Hall, spent a considerable amount to hire Luo Chen for nominal affiliation. The three parties gathered together to closely observe today’s grand martial arts event.

...

Martial Arts Arena!

In this world, body-refining martial artists dominate, and martial competitions occur frequently.

Therefore, arenas for martial competitions are ubiquitous, prevalent in all cities, big and small.

Especially in the martial arts arenas of the seventy-two main cities, all built with significant investment from Wuyou City.

Rumored to withstand combat intensity even from Leakless Realm experts if fully unleashed.

However, such intensity is rarely reached in usual times. Generally, only those in the first or second realm of body refining use these arenas, and even Furnace Realm experts rarely step onto the stage.

It’s quite understandable, after all. Low-level martial artists are still seeking fame, naturally requiring many public battles to garner attention.

But Furnace Realm experts have no such necessity.

At their realm, many forces solicit them, offering cultivation resources.

They only need to practice diligently, hone martial skills and deadly moves, and show their prowess when necessary.

But today is different. With the approval of the Wuyou Envoy, Yixian City’s martial arts arena has been fully activated to provide a perfect battle environment for the powerhouses participating in ”Martial Combat Decides the Master”.

Staring at the arena filled with dark blood, Luo Chen gradually withdrew his gaze.

With a foundation of Green Gold Stone to withstand pure tangible attacks, further supported by an Obsidian platform to absorb the impact of Qi-Blood Power. On the arena, there are lines of formation patterns drawn with the blood of some special beasts.

Induced by human activation, it generated a layer of transparent yet tough invisible barrier, giving a sense of immovability!

”The Wuyou City that built this arena clearly possesses exceedingly advanced artifact refining heritage. By perfectly combining the path of formations in the pursuit of Immortal Cultivation and artifact refining materials with the Qi-Blood Changes of body refinement, they’ve crafted an arena capable of withstanding powerful attacks.”

”Although the martial arts arena here in Yixian City is merely imitative, even this tip of the iceberg reveals nearly perfected tool casting skills, nearing the Tao!”

”Wuyou City truly intrigues me more and more!”

Luo Chen squinted slightly, murmuring inwardly.

Proficient in many crafts, Luo Chen’s mastery in tool casting, formation arrays, and material identification had already reached Grandmaster levels, allowing him to discern the depth of Wuyou City from such details unnoticed by ordinary people.

No one below the level of an Array Master could easily construct an arena capable of accommodating the combat of Leakless Realm experts!

If one adds the many Leakless Realm masters converging in Wuyou City every century, then the foundations of Wuyou City are indeed unfathomable!

No wonder Luo Chen had such speculations. The fourth realm of body refining, the Leakless Realm, is comparable to the Nascent Soul stage of the Qi Refinement path.

Before the Destruction Mist spreads again, how many Leakless Realm powerhouses has Wuyou City accumulated over an era?

It’s likely no sacred site of Divine Transformation in the Mountain Sea Realm could compare in terms of Nascent Soul Stage cultivators!

As Luo Chen observed the martial arts arena, many secretly scrutinized him.

People like Granny Yu, Chi Huo, and even Xiao San Niang and the Xuan Armor Army warriors.

No one expected that, after the disappearance of Xiao Zirui, Xiao Feng would place Luo Chen among the five major candidates for ”Martial Combat Decides the Master”. Despite a previous private gathering where Xiao Feng informed others, the day’s arrival still caused disbelief.

After all, Luo Chen’s external realm merely stood at the Blood River Realm, his Qi-Blood might be strong, yet it hadn’t coalesced into invincible Gang Qi!

It’s essential to note, according to the intelligence they gathered, Second Young Master Xiao Yun’s participants this time were truly Furnace Realm elites.

Could Luo Chen withstand it?

”Haha...”

A hearty laugh echoed from behind, everyone turned to see Xiao Feng entering, personally escorted by Tie Xiong.

Full of vigor and spirit, he swept his eagle-like gaze over the crowd, then folded his fan and bowed in salute.

”This battle, Xiao implores everyone!”