Longevity begins with alchemy master

The banquet resumed, seemingly just as before.

However, the still turbulent water vapor and the re-served spirit wine and delicacies all showed the lingering influence of the previous battle.

Especially when the demon cultivators saw Luo Chen, who had previously been arrogant and hostile, now sitting in the seat of honor like a VIP, on equal footing with the Sea Emperor, everyone was stunned and understood the outcome of the battle between the two Nascent Soul experts.

A draw?
It's at least a draw!
More likely, Luo Chen defeated the Sea Emperor Whale; otherwise, it's impossible to explain why Luo Chen received such treatment.

There wasn't much to talk about at the banquet; it was nothing more than mutual flattery.

After realizing that it would be difficult to kill the Sea King Whale without paying a huge price, Luo Chen had already made his decision.

Let's call a truce and make peace!
He was not afraid of the Sea King Whale, but he also had a weakness, which was the Luo Tian Sect.

If the enemy goes berserk and attacks Luo Tian Sect, the casualties will be incalculable.

Moreover, after witnessing Luo Chen's strength, the Sea King Whale was completely convinced and gave a satisfactory explanation.

Most of the resources that the other party plundered from Tianyuan Dao Sect ended up in the mouth of the Sea Emperor Whale, which is why it made great progress in its cultivation.

But Luo Chen didn't really care about those resources.

On the contrary, the remaining part of the cultivation manuals and secret techniques is, in Luo Chen's view, the real highlight.

If they can fully digest and absorb it, the future of Luo Tian Sect will be promising.

……

They left the Sea Emperor's Palace.

Looking at the giant whale-infested sea area after the great battle, Luo Chen sighed softly.

Kong Chan, standing to the side, was quite puzzled. "Master, you overpowered your peers as soon as you reached the Nascent Soul stage, so why do you look so dejected?"

Luo Chen shook his head and sighed softly, "It's just that we're used to crushing those of the same level and killing them at the drop of a hat, but it's extremely difficult for those at the Nascent Soul level to do that. As a result, communication between powerful beings has to be mostly limited to verbal exchanges, exchanges of benefits, and even compromises."

Kong Chan opened his mouth, but was speechless.

When people of the same level fight, it is inherently difficult to determine who will live or die.

Let alone the Nascent Soul realm, the same applies even to those at the Spirit Transformation realm.

It's just that Luo Chen was too abnormal before, which is why he was able to run rampant in the Nascent Soul realm.

Now we're back to normal, this is what should be the norm!

However, Luo Chen did not think that way.

When he reached the Nascent Soul stage, he could easily kill beings of the same level. Besides his superior strength and numerous methods, another special point was his magical treasures.

Hunyuan Cauldron!
His natal magic weapon, the Hunyuan Cauldron, has had an extremely strong binding and restraining effect on Golden Core cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators ever since it was refined.

Therefore, Luo Chen was able to personally kill those enemies who had been defeated by him in countless battles.

However, this wondrous power diminished to the extreme after he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage.

The primordial spirit of a Nascent Soul cultivator is too powerful, easily able to manipulate the primordial energy of heaven and earth. The Hunyuan Cauldron alone is no longer able to restrict the opponent's free movement.

"In the end, it's because my cultivation speed is too fast, which causes my natal magic weapon to not keep up with my improvement. It's still at the True Artifact level."

"Furthermore, the potential of the Hunyuan Cauldron will be exhausted, making it difficult to advance further!"

"If you want to nurture it to the level of a spiritual treasure, it will take at least several hundred years, or even thousands of years."

Luo Chen thought to himself.

Considering his past cultivation levels of Golden Core and Nascent Soul, the Hunyuan Cauldron was undoubtedly an excellent magic weapon.

It combines offense and defense, has many ingenious applications, and can be described as comprehensive!
However, its origin is ultimately just a refining method from a Golden Core sect. Even if a massive amount of precious resources are invested in its refining, its upper limit is still there.

If it weren't for the subsequent refinement of some millennium-old thunder essence and breathing soil to enhance its power, it probably wouldn't have been of any use in the battle against the Sea Emperor Whale.

In comparison, aside from daily alchemy, the Hunyuan Cauldron, Luo Chen's natal magic weapon, is no longer comparable to the Yuan Tu Sword, the Burial Bone Umbrella, or even the Great Five Elements Sword Formation, which focuses solely on killing.

Sometimes that's how it is; being comprehensive either means being perfect or it means being mediocre.

Those who cannot keep up with Luo Chen's level are mediocre and useless!
But Luo Chen couldn't give it up.

One's natal magic weapon is not something that can be easily discarded.

That was a treasure that had been cultivated with him for hundreds of years.

"Perhaps, I should consider how to upgrade my natal magic weapon."

Luo Chen pondered silently, many thoughts flashing through his mind.

With his level of fourth-tier weapon refiner, his knowledge of weapon refining was already quite remarkable. Even though the Hunyuan Cauldron only came from Qingdan Valley, he still had some ingenious ideas to enhance its power.

The only question to consider is: in which direction should we strengthen this?
In what aspects could he be sufficiently helped to reach the Nascent Soul stage?
In fact, when Luo Chen had such a thought, he had already come to the realization of abandoning his natal magic weapon entirely.

This realization was not difficult for him.

Since he already possesses many treasures, he can make up for the lack of his natal magic weapon through other means.

The sound of Kong Chan's question reached my ears.

"Master, where are we going next? Are we going to Hanging Blade Peak?"

"Suspended Blade Peak?" Luo Chen murmured the name, then slowly shook his head.

Another powerful demon from the North Sea, the Great Sage Beili, lived on the Hanging Blade Peak, a place known as the solitary peak where the will of Heaven hangs like a knife for eternity.

Its terrain is complex and extremely dangerous; even when the Yuanmo Sect was still around, no one dared to disturb it.

Even if Luo Chen can break through the Suspended Blade Peak and face the Great Sage of Beili, what then?
Is this another story with the sea whale?
"Forget it. Back then, even the Great Sage Bei Li was relatively restrained outside Tiandi Island. I won't bother him today. Besides, there are others waiting for me."

Luo Chen smiled slightly, and with a sense of emptiness, he merged into the world.

……

Not long after, on an unnamed island.

Luo Chen appeared, looked at the young man waiting quietly below, and smiled slightly.

"I've kept you waiting, young friend."

"I dare not accept it. I will always remember your kindness in helping me back then."

The person who had been waiting for so long was none other than Fengling Jushi.

The previous banquet was crowded and noisy, so the two sides didn't have much opportunity to communicate. Therefore, they specially arranged to meet here.

As for the kindness he mentioned?

For Luo Chen, it was just a simple matter of lending a helping hand.

Within the Arctic Night Demon Realm, Luo Chen used the Nirvana Sacred Flame to destroy the skeletal giant and help Fengling Hermit cultivate demonic arts, ultimately condensing into a demonic body.

Luo Chen laughed heartily, "When I led people to attack Tianyuan Dao Sect, didn't you lend a hand? The debt of gratitude between us has already been settled."

As he said this, Kong Chan behind him couldn't help but nod.

In that battle, it was only through the combined efforts of Kong Chan, Deng Taiyue, and Fengling Jushi that the Daoist reinforcements from the Northern Continent were completely stopped, giving the Eastern Wilderness cultivators on the Eastern Yuan Continent time to retreat.

Therefore, although the three did not have much contact, they developed a mutual respect for each other based on the bond forged from fighting side by side once.

In particular, Fengling Jushi's abilities were recognized by Kong Chan and Deng Taiyue.

It was a fighting style completely different from his handsome and otherworldly temperament; it was wild, domineering, and filled with demonic energy.

Fengling Jushi suddenly bowed deeply.

"I only took your help last time for granted, but today I must truly thank you. If it weren't for your timely assistance, senior, how could I have cultivated the True Demon Body? I will never forget your great kindness."

"True Demon Body?" Luo Chen became interested and suddenly asked, "I wonder if you can control demonic energy? The purest kind of demonic energy?"

Fengling Jushi asked, "Senior, are you referring to the demonic energy of the Yuanmo Sect lineage?"

"More or less!" Luo Chen nodded.

Fengling Jushi smiled and said, "So that you may know that compared to the Yuanmo Qi of the Yuanmo Sect, my True Demon Power, which I obtained from the Refining Heavenly Demon Lord, is still three times purer."

As he spoke, his fingertips flashed.

A wisp of demonic flame rose up.

Its terrifying internal temperature is astonishing.

Seeing this, Luo Chen was secretly delighted. "In that case, please do me a small favor!"

A statue with two horns on its head, its body completely black, with only its veins clearly visible, appeared before the two.

Even though the statue has no aura, just one glance at it gives people a sense of power.

It was a rare treasure that the Black King had unearthed from the depths of the Yuanmo Sect ruins back then.

According to Black King and Luo Chen's speculation, there is a high probability that a body-refining technique is recorded on this statue.

However, it is difficult to fully activate it using only magic power, source power, or even the power of blood and qi.

At that time, Luo Chen guessed that perhaps demonic energy was needed to deduce the complete cultivation path.

Now that Fengling Jushi is in front of him, Luo Chen can take advantage of the situation.

When his benefactor asks for a favor, Fengling Jushi will not be stingy.

He suddenly shuddered, and an incomparably pure power flowed from his body, surging towards the demon statue.

Luo Chen's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

Is this what is meant by the power of true demons?
Compared to the remnants of the Yuanmo Sect I saw back then, they are more than three times purer.

Based on what Fengling Jushi had said earlier—that it was "obtained from the Refining Heaven Demon Lord"—Luo Chen vaguely guessed the source of the other party's opportunity.

Six hundred years ago, Fengling Jushi and Li Canghai explored the Land of Fallen Demons together. While the others were able to enter Mingzhao Heaven, Fengling Jushi was ambushed by the Mighty Barbarian Flood Dragon and unfortunately fell into the Fallen Demon Abyss, which lies between the Five Elements Heaven and Mingzhao Heaven.

Luo Chen had also briefly entered the Abyss of Fallen Demons once.

This is to help Tai Sui escape its predicament.

But that time, the distance inside was limited, only between the cliffs and caves, and we didn't reach the bottom of the abyss at all.

But just a glimpse from a distance is enough to instill a deep sense of dread.

Fengling Jushi was able to emerge alive from that ordeal. Although he had been insane for hundreds of years and earned the title of "madman," once he fully regained his senses, that misfortune turned into good fortune.

However, Luo Chen did not ask.

Everyone has their own opportunities, especially those who can achieve the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stages. Whose opportunities are small?

If Luo Chen gets envious of other people's opportunities, then his crimson eyes and golden pupils will become conjunctivitis.

The island was quite quiet.

Only the faint sound of Fengling Jushi urging his demonic energy could be heard.

His movements were very gentle, as if he were afraid of damaging the statue, but the speed at which the demonic energy flowed was quite fast, much faster than when Luo Chen used his source power to explore the statue back then.

After half a stick of incense.

Suddenly a low shout was heard.

"open!"

The next moment, the three of them seemed to hear the sound of shackles being released.

Blood flowed across the statue, black energy billowed, and the entire demon seemed to come alive.

A phantom demon suddenly swelled and expanded, roaring silently to the sky.

The monster's body was covered with a large number of unfamiliar characters that seemed to be alive, resembling runes at first glance.

Upon seeing this, Luo Chen's eyes lit up, realizing that this method was extraordinary.

"receive!"

Fengling Jushi flicked his finger, and the demonic energy dissipated, but a wisp remained inside the statue.

He breathed a sigh of relief and began to introduce himself to Luo Chen.

“Senior, there is indeed a set of cultivation techniques recorded on this demon statue.”

Its name is "Demon Image Skill".

"Feng Ling doesn't know its specific rank, but this Demonic Image Technique is quite wondrous. Its essence lies in tempering one's blood and qi. When facing an enemy, one can transform one's blood and qi to condense a demonic image outside the body. This demonic image is incredibly powerful. As long as the cultivator's blood and qi are not exhausted, the demonic image will be immortal and indestructible. It is truly miraculous."

After saying that, he smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Luo Chen.

"Congratulations, senior, you have obtained a wonderful method!"

Luo Chen laughed heartily, "We'll have to rely on you for this. Now that you've cultivated the True Demon Body, this 'Demon Appearance Technique' should be useful to you too. Go and copy it down!"

Fengling Jushi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, "Then Fengling will accept the gift without being impolite. Thank you for bestowing the Dharma upon me, senior."

Luo Chen took the statue. The veins were still crystalline, but the blood-red halo surrounding the statue had dissipated. The demonic energy restriction on this object had been broken by Fengling Jushi.

Moreover, a wisp of demonic energy remained within it.

Luo Chen glanced at Fengling Jushi with considerable approval.

The other party also deliberately left behind a wisp of demonic energy, specifically so that Luo Chen could easily read the methods recorded on it before he mastered this technique.

He put the statue away, intending to practice on it later when he had more time.

With this matter concluded, Luo Chen looked at Fengling Hermit with increasing satisfaction.

This person is grateful and knows how to act appropriately. Not only is he extremely powerful, but he also survived a great calamity, which shows that he has a lot of luck.

If this person were recruited to the Luo Tian Sect...

"Young friend, the Ten Thousand Immortals Gathering is over. I wonder where you are now? Are you interested in finding a sect to settle down in?"

Fengling Jushi hesitated for a moment.

Luo Chen seemed to understand what he was worried about, and waved his hand, saying, "If you are unwilling, then so be it, I will not force you."

Fengling Jushi bowed again, saying, "Then I thank you for your kindness, senior. I am used to being alone and wandering the world."

Luo Chen smiled slightly, "In that case, until we meet again."

Luo Chen is a man who appreciates talent, but now he no longer needs to use coercion or inducement to force others to join the Luo Tian Sect.

This moment, that moment.

He once recruited Lingfengzi simply to band together for warmth in the chaotic world.

He did not want to follow in the footsteps of Mi Shuhua and Kurosawa.

……

over nine days.

The frost eagle shuttle sped along, Kong Chan mounted the shuttle, and Luo Chen observed the statue.

After a while, he put the statue away.

Although the "Demon Image Technique" is a body-refining method of the demon race, it is equally righteous and upright, seeking to strengthen one's blood and qi just like the human race's body-refining methods.

Even the blood and qi that constitute the external demonic form must be at least at the level of qi.

This is causing him some trouble.

All his vital energy and blood were transformed into source energy, which is the purest physical strength.

The protective energy is a bit troublesome.

It could be taken back for Wang Yuan to refer to. Since advancing to the fourth level of body refinement, Wang Yuan has had very few body refinement methods to refer to, and his progress has been quite slow.

With this "Demon Image Technique," perhaps Wang Yuan can advance even further.

After putting away the statue, Luo Chen produced another item in his hand.

It was the weapon-refining method that Li Canghai had given him earlier, which contained a technique called "Soul Extraction and Spirit Binding".

Combining Luo Chen's own weapon-refining skills with some previous thoughts, an idea gradually took shape in Luo Chen's mind.

"Emptiness Zen!"

"What's the master's order?"

"Let's not go to the Flying Swallow Sea for now, let's turn around and go to the Arctic Nightfall!" (End of Chapter)