Longevity begins with alchemy master

The wind howled across the sky, and dark clouds filled the air.

The earth, surrounded by mountains, stands majestically.

Palaces dotted the rolling mountains in twos and threes. Today, many cultivators walked out of the palaces and looked up at the sky above the Tiannan Dao Palace.

Their gazes were fixed on the central Tianyuan Temple, where a white figure sat cross-legged in the void, ethereal as if he were a banished immortal.

Under the oppressive dark clouds, the cultivators looked at the white-robed man with rather complicated feelings.

There is reverence, admiration, and even envy and jealousy.

The great battle on the coast of the East China Sea lasted for three years.

After the Lord of Zhenhai City, Wen Zhenren, joined forces with the Lord of Houtu Palace, Qinglan Fairy, to defeat the three demon emperors, the outcome of the subsequent war was already predetermined.

The reason it lasted so long was that the major Nascent Soul cultivators stopped taking action and instead handed the opportunity over to the lower-level cultivators, especially the true disciples of the Dao Palace.

This can be seen as a test!

An unconventional sect competition!

The ranking of the true disciples of Tiannan Dao Palace in this generation will be determined by the number of demons killed, their cultivation level, and even the ability to reclaim lost territory.

In this way, the demonic threat can be eliminated, and the combat experience of the new generation of disciples can be honed without internal strife.

During these three years of demon-slaying trials, the white-robed man stood out the most!
He first defended Liubo Mountain with his early Golden Core cultivation. Then he saved his life from a wild beast that had broken through six layers of the Sea-Suppressing Gate. His subsequent hunting of demonic beasts was also extremely successful, with both the number of beasts and the number of demon king-level experts far exceeding those of his contemporaries.

Therefore, by the time the true disciples returned to Tiannan Dao Palace, the man in white was already considered the number one among his peers in name only.

The reason it's only nominal is because there was a group of powerful Golden Core disciples who didn't go to the East China Sea coast to participate in the battle.

But nobody cares about that!
Because the man in white was so young, having advanced to the Golden Core stage at the tender age of forty, he was already a peerless genius unseen in the Mountain and Sea Realm for a thousand years. With his monstrous talent for cultivation, catching up with his fellow disciples was only a matter of time.

As for his abilities, people have no doubt about him.

During the three-year demon-slaying trial, the white-robed man's divine sense and magical power were unparalleled, and even his combat skills improved at a visible rate. He even easily slew a great demon king face-to-face with him using his magic ruler. His dazzling combat talent seemed innate, drawing everyone's attention.

To commend his outstanding performance in the demon-slaying trial and to encourage him to continue his efforts, Guan Zhuzhanbingtao decided to personally forge a natal magic weapon for him!
Yes, despite such a crazy performance, the opponent didn't even have their own natal magic weapon.

The purpose of all this grand display today is to forge a magical artifact!
"Zhou Fuyou, are you ready?"

A powerful and robust voice came from the Tianyuan Temple below.

That was Tianyuan Temple's chief warrior, the strongest person in the Southern Continent today, and also a master weapon refiner!
A skilled warrior cannot be without soldiers. When it comes to forging magical weapons, the Zhan family, one of the twelve great families, has always been a leader, and Zhan Bingtao is the best among the best.

Zhou Fuyou sat cross-legged in the void, his eyes half-open and half-closed.

"Master, your disciple is ready!"

"Then let's get started!"

As these words fell, a ray of light slowly emerged from above Zhou Fuyou's head and flew towards the boundless sky shrouded in dark clouds.

At the same time, powerful magical forces from the four directions—east, west, south, and north—were sent from afar and poured into Tianyuan Temple.

Layer upon layer of array light paths unfolded, and Zhan Bingtao gave a low shout.

"The sun shines through the sky, divine thunder descends upon the world, open!"

boom!
The next moment, a huge beam of light, as thick as a water bucket, shot into the sky from Tianyuan Temple.

As if in response, lightning flashed and silver light flickered within the thick black clouds, and a magnificent bolt of lightning suddenly appeared.

This scene truly frightened many people.

Heavenly Tribulation!

This celestial phenomenon is almost identical to the heavenly tribulation that cultivators face when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

As expected of Zhan Bingtao, the master of Tianyuan Temple, he was able to forcefully draw out the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning by joining forces with the four hall masters.

For a moment, many low-level cultivators were breathing heavily. How wonderful it would be if the magic weapon that the five Nascent Soul cultivators had worked together to refine was theirs!
The beams of light and the thunderbolts instantly merged, enveloping the radiant light that Zhou Fuyou had previously released.

Not only that, but from all directions, countless lightning snakes and electric dragons came baring their fangs and claws, rushing towards that beam of light.

Zhou Fuyou watched quietly, gathering his magical power, ready to collect the treasure at any moment.

The materials used to refine this Sea-Stabilizing Pearl are beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

The water lotus seed, one of the main ingredients, is a treasure formed within the Five Elements Lotus Platform, and its grade far surpasses that of an ordinary fourth-order Five Elements Lotus Platform. According to the Abbot's examination, that water lotus seed could only be formed from a lotus platform that is at least approaching the fifth order.

As for the other materials, they weren't cheap either.

The withered marrow fire spirit diamond left behind by our ancestor Zhou Yunshen, and a small piece of top-grade Nine Yang Geng Gold.

The Cantong Wood was a gift from Master Qinglan Fairy.

Finally, Zhan Bingtao, the master of the Zhan family, spent a great deal of effort to retrieve a Reverse Dragon Scale from the Netherworld Earth Dragon that the Zhan family's powerful members had jointly slain years ago. Although the Reverse Dragon Scale was not as good as the Great Dragon's spine and heart, it was still the best fourth-tier earth-elemental material.

Any one of these main materials can be used to refine a mid-grade or even high-grade magic weapon.

If all of them are combined together, and with the help of the power of the Heavenly Tribulation Thunder, what kind of treasure will be forged?
Zhou Fuyou's breathing became rapid for a moment, but she quickly suppressed it.

Because such a magical treasure, once it appears in the world, must have profound implications, and one must refine it.

suddenly!

A thunderous warning came from below.

"If we don't seize the treasure now, when will we ever get another chance!"

Zhou Fuyou leaped up, facing the falling lightning, and plunged straight into the depths of the clouds.

Countless complex gazes were fixed on that cloud, which crackled with electricity and was filled with magical power.

I don't know how much time has passed, yet it feels like a fleeting moment.

A feeling that could suppress the heavens and yet seemed to encompass all things arose spontaneously in everyone's hearts.

The thunder and lightning stopped abruptly.

The dark clouds in the sky vanished in an instant.

A figure in white lightly landed in Tianyuan Temple.

As soon as Zhou Fuyou landed, he attracted the attention of five pairs of eyes.

He took a deep breath, stretched out his hand, and a perfectly round blue pearl appeared before everyone.

"Master and senior master, I, the mayfly, have not failed in my mission!"

The Azure Fairy nodded with satisfaction: "Refining treasures through Heavenly Tribulation is extremely dangerous, but the benefits once successful are unimaginable. The Sea-Stabilizing Pearl in your hand has already surpassed the level of a magic weapon; it is a powerful true artifact!"

Upon hearing this, Hui Yuanhong on the other side said with slight excitement, "With a true artifact as your natal magic weapon, combined with Zhou Fuyou's already powerful strength, you will surely stand out in the Dao Sect's Jiazi Grand Competition!"

However, Zhan Bingtao, the one who created the Dinghai Pearl, poured cold water on the idea.

"Don't think it's too easy. Magical treasures are driven by magical power, and true artifacts are the same, but to unleash their maximum power, they need to absorb the spiritual energy that is circulating between heaven and earth. Zhou Fuyou is only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm."

As the elders chatted amongst themselves, Zhou Fuyou precisely captured the key information within their conversation.

"The Jiazi Grand Competition?"

This was information he had never learned from any of the classic texts.

Seeing his confusion, Master Qinglan Fairy gave him a special explanation.

It turns out that Zhou Fuyou was not ignorant, but that the Tianyuan Dao Sect had indeed never held a "Jiazi Grand Competition" in its past history.

This so-called Jiazi Grand Competition is actually another form of the Centennial Grand Competition. The Tianyuan Dao Sect holds a grand competition every hundred years, and every five hundred years, it opens the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven to hold the Cave Heaven Grand Competition.

However, a hundred years after the last Grand Competition of the Cave Heavens, no grand competition was held.

The reason is obvious to everyone: at that time, Zhongzhou was in turmoil after a great calamity, and there was no time or energy to organize a contest between disciples.

But as time went by, the Tianyuan Dao Sect gradually recovered its vitality, and this ancient tradition should continue.

Zhou Fuyou roughly calculated the time; indeed, more than a hundred years had passed since the last Grand Cave Heaven Competition, and no other competitions had been held during that time. Even this ranking competition within the Tiannan Dao Palace was conducted on the Human-Demon Battlefield.

"The Jiazi Grand Competition is an exception and a product of a special period. It will certainly not continue in the future, because the Tianyuan Dao Sect will definitely return to the right track."

Zhan Bingtao took over the conversation and began to speak eloquently.

"Special products will naturally receive special rewards."

"Unlike previous competitions where top-ranking disciples would receive numerous magical treasures, pills, cultivation technique guidance, and even benefits to their families, this Jiazi Grand Competition will benefit not only the disciples and their families, but also their respective Dao Palaces, which will receive even more resources!"

Zhou Fuyou suddenly realized why the other palace masters cared so much about this matter.

If he can perform well in the Jiazi Grand Competition, the Tiannan Dao Palace, which was originally weak, may receive a lot of resources and then regain its strength.

Zhou Fuyou didn't really feel the help that resources provided for his cultivation.

He cultivates at an extremely fast pace, and apart from the necessary spiritual vein conditions, he hardly uses any external objects.

But he was well aware of how attractive those resources were to ordinary cultivators.

Putting aside everything else, just for my own little sister, if she wants to continue her cultivation on the path of Qi Refining Immortal, she will definitely need a massive amount of resources, even more than ordinary cultivators!
Zhou Fuyou secretly resolved that he must perform well in this Jiazi Grand Competition.

But Zhan Bingtao hadn't finished speaking.

"Most importantly, the top ten in each realm of the Jiazi Grand Competition will have the opportunity to enter the Mirage Dragon Cave for cultivation!"

Zhou Fuyou looked slightly bewildered, not understanding the meaning of entering the Mirage Dragon Cave for cultivation. He subconsciously looked at Fairy Qinglan.

My master was the champion of the last Cave Heaven Competition!
The Azure Fairy smoothed her hair and smiled slightly, "Only Nascent Soul cultivators can enjoy the heaven-defying opportunities inside, but for ordinary cultivators, there is another tremendous opportunity. I only need to mention one point: the difference in the flow of time!"

"One day in the outside world is equivalent to a hundred days in the grotto. One year in the outside world is equivalent to a hundred years in the grotto!"

"If one can enter it to cultivate, even for just one year, one can accumulate cultivation a hundred years faster than one's peers!"

Zhou Fuyou's lips parted slightly, her eyes gleaming; she was unusually out of control.

Given his cultivation speed, if he could transcend a hundred years, what realm would he reach?

"Zhou Fuyou, go and cultivate diligently! The Jiazi Grand Competition is still several decades away. With your cultivation speed, this time is enough for you to improve your realm again and unleash more of the power of the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl. I hope that you can win a good ranking for Tiannan Dao Palace in the Jiazi Grand Competition!" Zhan Bingtao said slowly, his eyes full of anticipation.

Zhou Fuyou bowed deeply, "I will do my utmost and will certainly not disappoint my masters and senior masters!"

After leaving Tianyuan Temple, Zhou Fuyou was extremely excited, but his expression had returned to calm.

Oblivious to the envious glances he received from all sides, he returned to his new Chaoxi Palace on his own.

There, many people were waiting for him.

Eldest Senior Sister Shi Miaoyin, Second Senior Brother Fubin, Fifth Senior Sister...

Clan member Zhou Yuwei, Zhou Yuqi who is in a wheelchair, and cousin Lin Qingtong.

And his sister, Zhou Qingyu!
Upon returning home, everyone congratulated him on acquiring his natal magic weapon and held a grand banquet.

During the banquet, other senior fellow students would occasionally come over to offer their congratulations.

Inside, there are also many of his junior brothers and sisters whom he rescued on the battlefield on the shores of the East China Sea.

Unbeknownst to Zhou Fuyou, he had already amassed a considerable network of connections. These people might not seem particularly outstanding while living in the Tiannan Dao Palace, but if they were placed on the Tiannan Continent or even the entire Zhongzhou, they would all become powerful figures in the future.

And Zhou Fuyou was the most dazzling existence.

After the celebration, Zhou Fuyou returned to his cultivation room as usual.

The words of Zhan Zhubing and his master, which he had observed during the day, were still echoing in Zhou Fuyou's mind.

Even when he was very young, he had a thirst for power.

This yearning, in the end, even became urgent.

He craved power and desperately wanted a higher status, not only for himself but also for those around him.

This urgent desire seemed to disappear after he broke through to the Golden Core stage.

But the gaze of that enormous black dragon on Liubo Mountain made him realize that a Golden Core cultivator was nothing!

Only those at the Nascent Soul stage or the Divine Transformation stage can roam freely in this world and protect those they cherish.

Once again, he was motivated.

"In the Jiazi Grand Competition, I must achieve a good ranking and enter the Mirage Dragon Cave!"

"One year in the outside world is a hundred years in the grotto."

"If I can get out of there, I will be a Nascent Soul cultivator!"

Zhou Fuyou thought to himself, his resolve unwavering!

……

There is no sun or moon in the mountains, yet a thousand years have passed in the world.

Unbeknownst to him, fifty years had passed since Luo Chen arrived in the Arctic Night Demon Heaven.

This once sacred mountain gate is no longer the place where the aurora borealis shimmered and the towering peaks blocked the sun.

The air was filled with cold winds and snow, and the sky seemed to be covered with a layer of gray, forming a thick iron curtain.

This day!
Above the Iron Curtain Sky, a vast stream of stars surged forth, rolling across the sky.

Where the meteor streak passed, the iron curtain burst open, and the wind and snow retreated.

Even the blood pool in the glacier began to boil uncontrollably.

For a moment, it felt like the world was about to be destroyed.

But in an instant, the vast stream of stars vanished.

The iron curtain closed again, the wind and snow continued, the bitter cold remained, and the pool of blood returned to calm.

Noticing this strange phenomenon, Xiaobai and Heiwang returned from other parts of Yemotian early on and waited at the foot of a mountain.

call out!
A beam of sword light shot into the sky and then landed in front of them.

The newcomer was tall with strong features. His lips were slightly upturned, as if he were contemptuous or disdainful. His dark eyes were like a bottomless abyss, making people unable to help but sink into them.

He stood there quietly, like a drawn sword, almost piercing the sky.

After standing quietly for a moment, the Taoist in black exhaled a breath of stale air.

As the breath was exhaled, the sharp edge gradually subsided, returning to its initial gentle and refined state.

Xiao Bai and Hei Wang exchanged a glance, then spoke in unison.

"Congratulations on your successful seclusion, Master!"

Luo Chen smiled slightly and flicked his sleeves.

"Let's go back to the Eastern Wilderness!" (End of Chapter)