Longevity begins with alchemy master

Only after completely subduing the Kui Niu could Luo Chen's Million Soul Banner truly live up to its name.

Above are fifth-tier ghost gods as the main souls, below are millions of low-tier vengeful souls to solidify the foundation, and in between are a large number of third-tier and fourth-tier ghost kings and ghost emperors.

Even if it can only be used once or twice, as long as the Kui Niu Divine Body can be condensed at the critical moment, it means that Luo Chen will have a helper comparable to the God of Transformation.

Only now did Luo Chen breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Whether it was the Blood Jade Three Flames Fan, his powerful primordial spirit, or his various methods and supernatural abilities, none of them gave Luo Chen a sense of security.

After all, the formidable enemy he envisioned was not only a Nascent Soul cultivator, but also the terrifying foundation of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, which had existed for thousands of years.

In particular, during the great calamity in Zhongzhou, the massive projection of divine beings descending from the Star Gate Passage was unparalleled by any sect in the Mountain and Sea Realm.

Including the other four holy sites!

Although it is said that the Star Gate has mysteriously disappeared, and even the traditional Star Gate guest minister system has collapsed, it is hard to say whether the Tianyuan Dao Sect still has similar means to seek help from the Xuan Realm.

This Kui Niu demon god was one of Luo Chen's greatest assets.

When things become hopeless, he could also emulate the Goddess of Qixia and command the spirits to self-destruct, thus leaving himself an escape route.

"Next, we'll begin our training in the sword manual!"

As he murmured, a wisp of light appeared at Luo Chen's fingertips.

It is the Crimson Sky Qi, one of the Nine Great Sky Qi!
According to ancient records, these special gases are natural products formed by the gathering of various spiritual energies in the azure sky, where turbid energy sinks and pure energy rises. They are the most essential substances in the world!

However, as Luo Chen came into contact with more and more of it and refined a large amount of the celestial energy, he gained a deeper understanding of its essence.

At this moment, in his view, the Qi of the Sky was not so simple.

The celestial energy is born in the azure sky, backed by a vast expanse of heaven and earth, facing the boundless universe.

The reason it is so domineering is most likely because it has absorbed some special substances from the universe, which is why it has such powerful abilities.

Although the Nine-Headed Primordial Sovereign did not comprehend the true meaning of the laws, by refining a large amount of celestial energy, her strength was no less than that of those of the same level who had comprehended the true meaning of the laws.

Especially the Great Nine Heavens River, whose power is comparable to a divine technique!

It's difficult to compare the strength of the "Thousand Heavens Myriad Transformations Sword Scripture" and the "Great Nine Heavens Heavenly River," but in Luo Chen's opinion, the Thousand Heavens Sword Qi is at least one or two levels higher in terms of destructive power.

"Currently, I have only one hundred strands of celestial energy left. Even if I refine them all, it won't be enough to raise my proficiency in this sword technique to the Grandmaster level, let alone the Great Perfection."

"It's time to capture the wild Qi."

Luo Chen turned his gaze to this void, his eyes filled with ambition.

Capturing the aura of the heavens on one's own is largely a matter of luck.

It often takes several years to encounter one or two strands.

That wouldn't be of much help to Luo Chen.

Fortunately, he was prepared for this!
With a flick of his wrist, a large black urn landed in front of him with a thud.

It is the Nine Heavens Jar, a true artifact passed down through generations of the Nine Spirits Sect!

Relying on this treasure, the Nine Spirits Sect was able to continuously capture a large amount of celestial energy, supporting the Nine Spirits Primordial Sovereign in cultivating the powerful technique of the Great Nine Heavens River.

If it weren't for the two-hundred-year war in the Eastern Wilderness, which prevented the Nine-Headed Spirit Sovereign from peacefully collecting the celestial energy, she would likely be even more powerful.

With Luo Chen's expertise in weapon crafting, one can vaguely glimpse some clues about this true artifact.

The main ingredient is a special mineral that has an extremely strong sensitivity to celestial energy.

The array engraved on it is mainly for capturing and suppressing, and there is also an array specially set up to help cultivators expand the range of their divine sense search.

As for its assistance in combat offense and defense, it is not so obvious.

Clearly, this is a treasure specifically crafted to explore, capture, and even refine celestial energy.

Its method of use is not very complicated. It is driven by magic power and guided by divine sense, with the cultivator himself as the center, to explore the surroundings.

The stronger one's spiritual sense, the wider the search range.

This is a huge boon for Luo Chen!

His current spiritual strength can be said to be unparalleled in the world, and his efficiency in searching for spiritual energy far surpasses that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Then let's multitask, refining the Crimson Sky Sword Qi while searching for more Nine Heavens Qi!"

Luo Chen smiled slightly, released a wisp of magic power into the Nine Heavens Jar, and his divine sense slowly spread out through the jar.

Believe it or not, after being amplified by this treasure, Luo Chen's divine sense had a different kind of feeling.

Normally, whether it's divine consciousness, spiritual consciousness, or even the divine thought of a powerful being who has transformed into a deity, what one senses most are living beings, and the "divine" contained within them.

But after the Nine Heavens Urn amplified his power, Luo Chen was surprised to find that his divine sense could also subtly sense objects without "gods".

Especially the aura of the heavens!
"Huh, what a coincidence! There's a wisp of celestial energy eight hundred miles away?"

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow and smiled.

With his robes fluttering in the wind, he took a step forward, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the distant blue sky.

……

In the southern continent, the Zhou family drinks from the Green Water Pavilion.

Two young figures sat silently facing each other, eating their still-steaming food in small bites.

These dishes are all imbued with abundant spiritual energy, making them a spiritual feast that many low-level cultivators would covet.

However, for the two of them, even the most delicious dishes tasted bitter and tasteless.

Time passed slowly, and eventually, the gathering ended and people parted ways.

pat!

As Zhou Fuyou put down her chopsticks, she raised her head and looked at the quiet woman opposite her.

"Mao Mao, I'm leaving."

The woman lowered her head, chewing the distinct grains of rice, and said softly, "Mmm."

"Before I left, I had already made all the arrangements. My share of cultivation resources will be yours to receive from now on. The Third Elder will personally teach you. In addition, I have specially obtained a defensive magic treasure from the Ancestor. Remember to refine it after you reach Foundation Establishment."

"I see."

"Grandma Lin is getting old and may pass away peacefully in a few years. When that time comes, you must remember to take good care of yourself. As for the servants, do not show them any pity; you can use them as you please."

"I will take care of myself."

"Finally, I've considered your cultivation. As long as you work hard enough and have sufficient resources, you have a great chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. However, after Foundation Establishment, your Core Spirit Root will disappear, and relying solely on your spiritual sense and Qi Sea will ultimately make your cultivation slower than others. Therefore, I think you could try switching to martial arts and relying on body refinement to reach a higher level. The large amount of lifespan provided by Foundation Establishment should be enough to support you to the third stage of Body Refinement."

As Zhou Fuyou spoke, he took out a thick book from his storage bag.

"I don't know much about martial arts and body refinement, but I've been familiar with martial arts scriptures since I was a child, and I've also acquired a lot of knowledge about martial arts and body refinement from the clan's library and our ancestors. It's all recorded in there. When you have free time from cultivation, be sure to read it to prepare for the future."

Every word and phrase is filled with heartfelt care and concern.

The woman finally raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Brother, are you not coming back?"

Zhou Fuyou shook her head and gave him a doting smile.

"How could that be? I'm just going to Tiannan Dao Palace for further studies. Once I've established myself there, I'll bring you over, and then we siblings will cultivate together and become disciples of Tianyuan Dao Sect."

With tears welling up in her eyes, Zhou Qingyu asked, "Then why did you arrange so many things, like you were making your final arrangements?"

Zhou Fuyou was stunned.

He didn't actually know either.

With the promise of the ancestors, the family would certainly not mistreat his sister, but he still made arrangements for everything with utmost care, even considering his sister's future path after she reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Why?

Is it unease in your heart, or confusion about the future?

Zhou Fuyou instinctively wanted to comfort her, "I just want you to be okay..."

"Brother, go to the Dao Palace with peace of mind. I will definitely work hard to cultivate!" Zhou Qingyu interrupted her, wiped away his tears, and showed a determined look.

Zhou Fuyou opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing.

He had the servants come in to clear the table, and then he took Zhou Qingyu for a stroll in the Yinlu Water Pavilion, gradually making their way into the clan's territory.

Every time I visit a new place, many childhood memories come flooding back.

The two siblings walked quietly, and every member of the Zhou family they encountered greeted them respectfully.

They didn't return home until late at night and quietly went to sleep.

As dawn broke, the night passed.

At the entrance of the Yinlu Water Pavilion, several figures whispered softly.

"Let's go!" Zhou Yunshen waved his hand, released a simple and unadorned flying boat, and beckoned Zhou Fuyou to board.

Zhou Fuyou turned around and saw her younger sister standing next to the Third Elder, biting her lip and waving.

"Brother, goodbye!"

Third Elder Zhou Shuzhen bowed respectfully, "May our Ancestor have a safe journey!"

Zhou Yunshen smiled kindly, and after Zhou Fuyou came aboard, he flicked his sleeves, and the flying boat floated lightly up into the clouds.

It disappeared into the vast clouds in a flash.

……

Not long after leaving the Zhou family, the flying boat carrying an old man and a young man hovered beside a large river.

Near that great river, there is a deep valley where many figures come and go, and occasionally streaks of light fly up.

This is Hanjiang Valley!

Zhou Fuyou looked at the ancestor with confusion, not understanding why the ancestor had brought him here.

Zhou Yunshen did not shy away from the topic. While spreading his divine sense, he calmly said, "Since joining the Tianyuan Dao Sect, my Zhou family has always been cautious and careful, never offending anyone, but also not afraid of others! The Yin family of Hanjiang Valley dared to covet the Zhou family and even used despicable means. They deserve to be punished accordingly."

As he spoke, he snorted coldly and raised one hand slightly.

The next moment, the mighty river roared and broke free of its course, rushing directly into the Cold River Valley.

Not only that, some of the demonic beasts inside also instantly turned red-eyed and began slaughtering the Yin family members.

Blood and madness permeated the air.

Occasionally, powerful Golden Core cultivators would fly out, but inexplicably they would be unable to unleash their own power and would be pounced upon and devoured by powerful demonic beasts.

Rivers change course, enslaving living beings, and countless lives vanish in an instant.

Zhou Fuyou swallowed hard as she watched this scene.

Is this the power of a true master?

But is doing this really a good idea?

Seemingly sensing the young man's worry, Zhou Yunshen smiled and said, "The earth shook, rivers changed course, monsters rampaged, and the Yin family was slaughtered! Such a reason can be accepted by many people."

"But how should we deal with the Tiannan Dao Palace?"

Zhou Fuyou was still puzzled.

He was well-versed in classical texts related to the Central Plains.

In the vast Central Plains, the Tianyuan Dao Sect is the leader, supported by twelve powerful families, thirty-six noble clans, and three thousand commoners.

Dao Palace encourages competition, but will never tolerate senseless slaughter.

Even though Zhongzhou has collapsed and been divided into three continents and Tiandi Island, the Dao Sect's control remains.

The Dao Palace on the Southern Continent is a banner!
As long as this banner stands, the competition among the various forces below can only be limited to a certain extent.

The Yin family of Hanjiang Valley was wiped out overnight, which will inevitably attract the attention of the Dao Palace.

Zhou Yunshen still appeared indifferent to this.

"As long as you are still here, even if the Dao Palace suspects that I did it and suspects that the Zhou family is the murderer, they will not hold the Zhou family accountable. On the contrary, this incident will deter all the major forces within a radius of tens of thousands of miles and bring another hundred years of peace to the Zhou family."

"As for what happens a hundred years from now..."

Zhou Yunshen looked at Zhou Fuyou.

Zhou Fuyou suddenly realized, "A hundred years from now, as long as I am still alive, I will surely be able to continue to protect the Zhou family!"

"maybe!"

Zhou Yunshen smiled, not even glancing at the hellish Cold River Valley, and maneuvered the flying boat back into the sky.

Behind them, the surging river washed away the blood and returned to its course, while before them lay a vast and open road.

Zhou Yun Shen didn't take the annihilation of a Golden Core family to heart at all; instead, he inquired about Zhou Fu You's cultivation progress.

What is your current level of cultivation?

"Reporting to the Ancestor, I have now reached the sixth level of Foundation Establishment."

"Oh, so fast?"

The young man did not hide his spiritual energy fluctuations.

However, Zhou Yunshen carefully examined it for a long time, praising it repeatedly.

"Such fluctuations in magical power and such spiritual awareness cannot be judged by ordinary standards regarding your level of cultivation."

In the world of cultivation, the strength of a cultivator's magical power fluctuations is often used as the standard to judge their cultivation level.

This standard is mostly based on cultivators of the same level who break through normally and have ordinary aptitude.

However, if one encounters beings with special physical constitutions and terrifyingly powerful magical abilities that defy common sense, it becomes very difficult to make a judgment.

At least in Zhou Yunshen's view, the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from Zhou Fuyou already surpassed those of many who had just entered the Golden Core stage.

The only difference is probably the gap in spiritual power and magical power!

"Put it away!"

After Zhou Fuyou withdrew his spiritual energy fluctuations and showed no signs of distress, Zhou Yunshen stroked his white beard and began to give instructions.

"Reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishment is not difficult for you. Next, you need to consider how to form your core."

"There are countless methods for forming the elixir, and each method has its own intricacies."

"Finding the most suitable method for you to form your core will allow you to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Zhou Fuyou instantly realized the ancestor's intention.

The journey to Tiannan Dao Palace was long, but the flying boat piloted by the ancestor was not very fast.

Clearly, he wanted to take this opportunity to give me some pointers.

Zhou Fuyou didn't stand on ceremony and bowed respectfully: "Please enlighten me, Ancestor!"

Zhou Yunshen smiled slightly, "First, I will teach you a secret technique, the most core Core Formation technique of my Zhou family. As long as you complete the preliminary steps, the chance of successfully forming your Core will increase by 30%!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Fuyou's eyes lit up immediately.

……

The airship headed west at a moderate speed.

On the boat, an old man and a young man spoke gently and patiently, offering their guidance.

This instruction is not limited to cultivation knowledge; it also touches on combat aspects.

Occasionally, the airship would stop, and the young man would disembark to find someone to fight.

In addition to the late Foundation Establishment stage cultivators at the beginning, his enemies later on frequently included early Golden Core stage cultivators and even mid-Golden Core stage cultivators.

Such unusual behavior naturally aroused the curiosity of various forces along the way, but under the unfathomable pressure revealed by Zhou Yun Shen, no one dared to resist.

Fortunately, Zhou Fuyou did not kill him. Instead, following Zhou Yunshen's guidance, he tested Zhou Fuyou's cultivation progress by fighting against a higher-level expert.

Time passes day by day.

Thus, more than half a year later.

That year, Zhou Fuyou was twenty-one years old.

The flying boat hovered outside a mountain range shrouded in mist and filled with spiritual energy.

"We've arrived at Tiannan Dao Palace!"

Zhou Yunshen stood up, looked down at the mountains below, and his eyes revealed a sense of regret and desolation.

As expected of the strongest holy land in the Mountain and Sea Realm, and as expected of the Tianyuan Dao Sect which possesses an entire continent.

Even though Zhongzhou collapsed, there is still a fifth-order spiritual vein on this Tiannan Continent!
If I were in my prime, and if I had grasped the essence of water earlier, I could have used this spiritual vein to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Unfortunately, no if.

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yunshen spoke slowly.

"The Zhou family, grandfather and grandson, have come to pay their respects at the mountain!"

In an instant, the resounding sound spread for eight thousand miles, and layers of clouds and mist rolled back, revealing towering mountains, flowing waters, and magnificent palaces.

Is this the complete view of Tiannan Dao Palace?
Looking at the rows of palaces and Taoist temples, and the powerful auras emanating from various places, Zhou Fuyou couldn't help but feel a surge of longing.

This is where he will practice his spiritual cultivation in the future!

He displayed his talent, joined the Dao Palace, stood out from the crowd, became a true disciple, and ultimately became a pivotal figure in the Tianyuan Dao Sect. (End of Chapter)