Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1181: Chapter 457 Luo Chen Leaves Seclusion_3

Cleansing Yu Ding Realm of the entrenched Demon Beasts.

Completely opening up several routes to Xiao Yue Mountain Range.

Outside the Xiao Yue Mountain Range, establishing a temporary stronghold, to serve as a war fortress thereafter.

Dispatching those adept in scouting to enter Xiao Yue Mountain Range in advance, to survey the terrain and the gathering situations of various Demon Beast forces.

With the support of innumerable manpower and resources, the alliance army, led by Luo Yun Sect, finally began to slowly mobilize.

It was during these increasingly tumultuous times in the far-eastern Immortal Cultivation World.

Luo Chen had emerged from closed-door cultivation!

Tianlan Peak Jia Third Cave Mansion.

The clouds veiling the cave mansion had dispersed, and the great doors of the mansion stood wide open.

Luo Chen stood at the entrance, quietly waiting for something.

Soon, a Glint flew toward him from not far away.

The light of Qi Power dispersed, revealing the visage of a Golden-core cultivator of Luo Yun Sect.

Luo Chen greeted with a fist and palm salute, ”Qu Dao You, it’s been years. I trust you’ve been well.”

Qu Xibai returned a slight smile, about to say something, but upon setting sight on Luo Chen, a flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes.

He expressed his surprise, ”Indeed, you’re no ordinary person, friend. It’s been scarcely ten years since your Core Formation, yet you’ve managed to contain your Qi Power, unifying the three treasures. I’m curious about your current realm...”

Luo Chen nodded, ”Golden Core First Layer.”

Despite anticipating this response, Qu Xibai was still inwardly astounded.

Ordinarily, cultivators need years of Kung Fu to stabilize their realms after advancing to the Golden Core Period.

Yes, merely to stabilize their realms!

To progress from the initial stage of the Golden Core Period to the accomplished Golden Core First Layer, at least thirty or forty years of meticulous cultivation would be required.

Yet Luo Chen had skipped this step entirely, reaching Golden Core First Layer in a mere decade.

This rate of cultivation...

Qu Xibai shook his head, ”Even with the aid of Great Techniques and Secret Techniques for Core Formation, you’ve been extraordinarily swift. It seems your foundational strength is even more robust than I had estimated!”

At these words of praise, Luo Chen couldn’t help but reveal a wry smile.

In this most basic and easily achieved Golden Core First Layer, his progress had indeed been remarkably fast.

But it was the convenience of accumulated experience paying off in a single moment.

His subsequent cultivation, however, was giving him endless headaches.

With a foundation that was already exceedingly more substantial than others, and having chosen the path of Dual Path Cultivation after reaching Golden Core, the difficulty of his further cultivation had grown even more.

To be frank, upon reaching Golden Core First Layer and realizing his cultivation pace had slowed, Luo Chen did feel a trace of regret.

Would his cultivation speed have been faster had he chosen the singular ”Hua Qing One Heart Technique”?

But!

That trace of regret was just that—a mere trace.

Compared to the slight drop in cultivation speed, the advantages gradually emerging from his cultivation of the ”Wood Burning True Technique” were more than enough to compensate for the single drawback of slower progress.

His Qi Power was more vigorous than before!

And his mastery over the Original Source True Fire had become even more adept.

Not only that, but he had also completed his revision and refinement of ”The Flow of All Things.”

Next, he could normally engage in Body Refinement using the Prosperity and Decline Fire!

The two exchanged a few simple insights about cultivation, then returned to the matter at hand.

”Is there really no way to continue renting this Jia Third Cave Mansion?”

”At least for the next fifty years, it won’t be up to me anymore.”

”Hmm?”

As Luo Chen looked on perplexed, Qu Xibai gestured towards the far east.

With this gesture, Luo Chen suddenly understood.

Open War had already commenced while he was in closed-door cultivation!

As a Golden-core cultivator of Luo Yun Sect, Qu Xibai had no reason to be stationed in the Immortal City, especially since it wasn’t built by their Sect alone, but was a city co-established by The Seven Sects in the past.

”Regarding Tian Lan Immortal City, my Sect has already reached an agreement with Yu Ding Sword Sect.”

”They’ve paid a considerable price to fully reclaim sovereignty over Tian Lan.”

”Don’t mention Luo Yun Sect, even the Ice Castle, Qingdan Valley, Ailao Mountain, and Hundred Flowers Palace, after the last decennial shift in administration, won’t be able to meddle with this city any longer.”

Hearing Qu Xibai’s detailed explanation, Luo Chen couldn’t help but show a solemn expression.

Just how much did Yu Ding Sword Sect spend to completely take back control of Tian Lan?

From now on, the profits of Tian Lan Immortal City would no longer be divided among the various Sects, but solely belong to the Sword Sect.

However, there remained some doubts.

To his knowledge, although the ongoing war to cleanse Xiao Yue was declared to be a collective effort of twenty-seven Sects,

Qingdan Valley and Ailao Mountain were only contributing manpower and effort.

Even if they conquered Xiao Yue Mountain Range later on, they wouldn’t relocate their Sects there.

And after Ascendant Master Cang Long’s failure to advance to the Nascent Soul, the Ice Castle was unlikely to consider moving their Sect base to Great Snow Mountain either.

This meant that these Sects would have to coexist within the Yu Ding Realm in the future.

Would they willingly sell a long-term source of income to Yu Ding Sword Sect in a lump sum deal?

No one could provide Luo Chen with answers to these doubts.

And Qu Xibai wouldn’t either.

His visit today was not only to inspect the Immortal Mansion but also to bid farewell.

”My Sect will soon attack Xiao Yue Mountain Range with full force; this place is not where I should stay for long. In at most three months, after Sword Sect cultivators arrive, I must hand over duties and depart to join the battle.”

Luo Chen nodded, speaking words of blessings.

Before departing, Qu Xibai offered some advice:

”Spending a huge amount of Spirit Stones to rent an Immortal Mansion is not a long-term solution. It would be best for you to join a Nascent Soul Ascendant Sect and enjoy the benefits of a naturally forming Third Order Spirit Vein, or...participate in the open warfare and earn a Third Order Spirit Land with the sword in your hand!”

”Within that vast expanse of the Million Mountains, countless High-Grade Spirit Lands abound. Your vision must not be limited to this tiny corner of the Yu Ding Realm!”