Longevity begins with alchemy master

In late summer and early autumn, north of the immortals.

A convoy carrying a large amount of goods slowly headed north.

Inside a luxurious carriage, Xiao Feng nervously reported the general situation to Luo Chen.

"This journey will take us through seven major cities: Xilong, Sanxiang, and Zijin, with Mofeng City as our final destination. The journey may be a bit slow, but it will accelerate after unloading in each city. Moreover, you won't need to go to three of these cities yourself, which will save you some time. Based on past experience, we expect to arrive in Mofeng City in a maximum of three months. I hope you will be lenient with us."

Luo Chen hummed in agreement, appearing noncommittal.

For him, it doesn't really matter whether it's three months or a year and a half.

As long as the destination has the kamikaze he needs, then the trip can be considered worthwhile.

However, there was one thing that Luo Chen was very curious about.

"I heard that the business affairs have always been handled by officials under the jurisdiction of Yixian City. Why do you have to go out in person this time, and even... bring Tie Xiong with you?"

As he finished speaking, Luo Chen's gaze seemed to pass through the wall of the carriage and he saw the one-armed man sitting in front of him.

Xiao Feng hesitated for a moment, but ultimately told the truth.

"There are some uncertainties among the seven cities, so I must make a trip there myself."

"variable?"

"Yes, it's actually some powerful figures who went to Wuyou City twenty years ago and have returned. They were the former rulers, and once they return, the power structure of their respective districts will inevitably change. Correspondingly, this change will affect the cooperative relationship with our Yixian City. As the lord of Yixian City and a junior, I should personally go and negotiate with them."

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, not expecting this to be the case.

But then, Luo Chen looked at Xiao Feng with a half-smile.

"Didn't the previous city lord of Yixian City, your father Xiao Lin, return?"

“I would like to, but unfortunately…” Xiao Feng gave a bitter smile and sighed as he explained, “Returnees like this have happened before. But those people usually returned because they lacked the necessary talent and failed to break through in Wuyou City, suffering serious injuries. They often died shortly after returning. Someone as obsessed with martial arts as my father, with both talent and temperament, would never suffer such a fate. So, unless I break through to the Wulou Realm and go to Yixian City in person, I'm afraid I'll never see my father again.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Chen looked thoughtful.

Worry-Free City!
The city lord of the seventy-two cities of the Great Destruction Realm is the so-called Lord of the Worry-Free Realm.

Legend has it that there lies a tremendous opportunity for martial artists at the Flawless Realm to break through to the fifth-tier Human Immortal Realm.

This is why every hundred years, a large number of powerful individuals, whether willingly or unwillingly, flock to Worry-Free City.

But this was the first time Luo Chen had ever heard of the Returnees.

Based on what Xiao Feng said, these people lacked the aptitude to break through in Worry-Free City, and often returned carrying old ailments, soon dying a natural death. If that's the case, it seems quite normal that no records were left behind?

After all, it's a shameful thing.

Looking at Luo Chen, who was deep in thought, Xiao Feng cautiously probed, "My lord, with your abilities, you should be able to easily conquer Wuyou City. The only thing you lack is the Wulou realm. I wonder what your cultivation level is now?"

Luo Chen glanced at the other person and asked, "You want me to leave?"

Xiao Feng quickly waved his hand, "You're overthinking it, sir. I was just concerned about your cultivation. If you have any other needs, please don't hesitate to ask! I'll take my leave now. Just let me know if you need anything."

Luo Chen snorted; he had never been polite.

It seems that the other person felt pressured by his excessive demands year after year, which is why they tested him like this.

However, those resources did indeed provide great assistance to Luo Chen's cultivation.

After Xiao Feng left, Luo Chen examined his current cultivation level through the panel.

【Oven-Baking Realm 52/100】

If we divide it into smaller stages, it would be around the middle stage.

This is only ten years of hard work, and the speed of progress is far beyond that of ordinary people!

Of course, the later the cultivation progresses, the slower the speed becomes, especially after the acupoints are closed. Luo Chen's progress is still slow to this day.

Therefore, after learning about the Kamikaze, he took the initiative to go out and make this trip.

Only higher quality internal energy can refine acupoints more efficiently!
The journey was rather dull and not very suitable for daily cultivation, so Luo Chen simply took out a book he carried with him and began to read it seriously.

It was the forbidden technique that Xiao San Niang used in the martial arts arena back then.

Luo Chen was quite interested in this move.

Back then, Xiao San Niang used this forbidden technique to unleash power far exceeding her own level in a short period of time, thus crippling Hua Gu Zi.

Although Xiao San Niang suffered a great price afterward, her performance at the time was indeed remarkable.

Luo Chen can no longer use many of his magical abilities. Even though his physical strength is unprecedented, his mind is still not solid enough.

In particular, in this world, there is a high probability that there are powerful beings of the fifth rank or even higher. Naturally, he wants to master more methods of killing in order to protect himself.

This technique, "Reversal of Heaven and Earth," is reasonably effective, but it is only an incomplete method.

If Luo Chen completes it, he might be able to reproduce its peak power, or even surpass it.

Luo Chen was extremely confident about this!
He was once a master of magic.

Master one method, and you will master all methods!
They also have their own unique insights into martial arts.

Ultimately, it's all about the utilization of energy.

In particular, he also has a panel with a considerable number of achievement points, enough for him to deduce and complete a forbidden technique.

……

The convoy moved slowly forward, and was not robbed by any bandits from beginning to end.

This is related to the large number of people in the Yixian City caravan, and also to the fact that the great master Tie Xiong was personally in charge.

Even if they occasionally encountered some ferocious wild beasts on the road, Chu Zhaonan and his Xuanjia Army would personally handle them.

Luo Chen occasionally became interested and studied those ferocious beasts that terrified mortals in the Great Destruction Realm, but he didn't notice anything strange about them.

Although they are more ferocious and larger than the wild beasts of the mountains and seas, they are ultimately not considered monsters.

Later on, Luo Chen lost interest.

Hearing Chu Zhaonan mention that Mofeng City, a remote and wild area, might have some unique wild beasts, Luo Chen actually started to look forward to it.

During the journey, the large convoy entered another urban area, where the number of people and goods were diverted.

Xiao Feng, accompanied by Tie Xiong, planned to visit the local ruler in Xilong City.

At their first parting, Luo Chen casually asked, "Should I wait for you?"

Xiao Feng refused with a calm expression, "I won't take up any more of your time, sir. You should head straight to Mofeng City. Once we've finished dealing with things here, we'll catch up quickly with a small entourage."

Luo Chen did not insist, nor did he mention visiting the returnees in Xilong City.

The convoy continued its journey.

A few days later, Xiao Feng and Tie Xiong arrived with their men, and then parted ways again in the next city.

And so they parted again and again.

The once cumbersome fleet of vehicles has become increasingly streamlined.

Three months later.

As they approached Desertwind City, only a few cartloads of goods remained.

On the carriage.

Luo Chen closed the book, a satisfied look on his face.

The forbidden technique "Reversal of Heaven and Earth" was finally completed in his hands.

The principles of Qi and blood are ever-changing.

The method of advancement is to embody the elixir and transform it into the furnace of heaven and earth.

The key is to refine and unify, and to find patterns in the ever-changing world.

However, "Heaven and Earth Reversal" aims to break the rules by using reverse methods to manipulate the Qi and even drive the Qi and Blood Furnace to rotate in the opposite direction.

In this way, one's power can be doubled during battle. Rather than calling it a killing technique, it's more like the Withering and Flourishing Divine Restriction that Luo Chen researched back then.

The only difference is that one focuses on a temporary burst of energy, while the other focuses on long-term energy accumulation.

The former is harmful to the body, while the latter is time-consuming.

Luo Chen naturally looked down on such methods of killing that depleted the body's essence. After he modified and improved it, this forbidden technique had undergone a completely different change.

Take the good and discard the bad.

But its power has increased instead of decreased!
According to Luo Chen's estimation, if he were to unleash the "Heaven and Earth Reversal Wheel" as planned, its power would be three to five times greater.

Furthermore, this upper limit will also increase due to the energy he controls.

Especially if he can truly fuse with the divine wind and cultivate his own unique divine fighting spirit, then the power of this forbidden technique will definitely be even greater!

"I wonder if I can reach the level of supernatural powers?"

Just as Luo Chen was thinking this, a respectful voice came from outside the carriage.

"My lord, we have arrived at Desert Wind City."

Luo Chen lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside.

The ancient city wall came into view. Although it was not as tall as the Yixian City, the mottled claw marks and dark blood on the long bricks added a touch of ferocity.

Based on Chu Zhaonan's introduction along the way, Luo Chen knew that the living environment in Mofeng City was far worse than that in Yixian City.

The clues can actually be seen on the faces of the people passing by on the roadside.

Unlike the ordinary people in Yixian City who, despite their hardships, still carried hope on their faces, the people of Mofeng City mostly wore numb, even cold, expressions etched by the ravages of time.

"Is it caused by the Fog of Destruction, one of the three great natural disasters?"

Luo Chen thought to himself.

According to Chu Zhaonan, unlike the Immortal City which only suffers from the two major natural disasters of heavenly wind and ghostly rain, the more remote the city is among the seventy-two cities, the more likely it is to encounter small-scale destruction fog.

When the fog rolls in, some special wild animals will appear in the fog.

They are called "Mist Beasts".

These mist beasts seem to be born to slaughter living beings, and will spontaneously attack any place where living beings gather.

Desert Wind City was the first place to be affected.

"If I have the chance, I'd like to see what these so-called mist beasts are like."

Thinking this to himself, Luo Chen casually asked, "Hasn't Xiao Feng and the others caught up yet?"

Chu Zhaonan could tell that Luo Chen was in a fairly good mood, so he replied with a smile, "The city lord and the others were last in Huangsha City, which is quite far from here, so they probably won't be able to come today. However, everything has been arranged here, so you can rest for the night. After we inform Mofeng City, we can head to Huifeng Mountain Range tomorrow."

Luo Chen nodded, "Then let's go into the city first!"

The convoy started again and slowly entered the ancient city of Mofeng.

Upon entering the city, one feels that the local customs and culture are very different from those of Yixian City.

But before Luo Chen could observe much more, his expression suddenly shifted, and he looked at a tall building in the distance without any attempt to conceal his gaze.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Chu Zhaonan, who was following on the side, asked curiously.

A red light flashed in Luo Chen's eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"It doesn't matter!"

In his mind, an old and sickly face had already appeared.

"Is that one of the returnees who failed to break through and returned severely injured?"

at the same time.

On a high building in Desert Wind City, an old man in a loose robe had a slight change in expression, and a shiver ran through his body involuntarily.

"There are such experts in the City of Lost Immortals? Just one glance from them gave me, a seventh-ring warrior from Worry-Free City, the feeling of oppression?"

……

Late at night.

Just as Chu Zhaonan was about to fall asleep after a busy day, he suddenly sensed something amiss outside.

He opened the door and was taken aback.

"City Lord?"

Xiao Feng turned around with a smile, "General Chu, your strength has improved quite a bit; you can already sense my arrival."

Chu Zhaonan smiled innocently, "It's just that you didn't try to hide it much, Lord City Lord."

As he spoke, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at Tie Xiong behind Xiao Feng. Tie Xiong, dressed in a gray robe, stood there with his hands at his sides, not revealing the slightest trace of his presence, as if he were on guard against something.

With such a high level of vigilance, who is Tie Xiong guarding against?
Before Chu Zhaonan could figure out what was going on, Xiao Feng asked directly, "When you entered the city today, you didn't run into anyone from the Mofeng City Lord's Mansion, did you?"

Chu Zhaonan shook his head. "As per your instructions, we did not proactively contact the local authorities."

"That's good!"

Xiao Feng visibly breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "I won't disturb your rest any longer, go to sleep! Tomorrow, I'll need your help to take Luo Chen to the Returning Wind Mountains."

After saying that, Xiao Feng left with Tie Xiong.

Chu Zhaonan watched the direction the two left in, but left the inn directly without staying there.

For some reason, Chu Zhaonan felt a sense of familiarity with Xiao Feng's actions.

He didn't dare to think too much, pursed his lips, and closed the door.

……

Early the next morning.

Several fine horses left Mofeng City, carrying a number of strong, muscular men with gleaming eyes, heading north.

No soldiers stopped them along the way.

Even when they passed through some mining areas strictly controlled by the authorities of Mofeng City, no one came forward to stop them.

In less than half a day, the group of martial artists rode their horses to a desolate wilderness.

"My lord, the Returning Wind Mountains are just ahead!"

Following the direction Chu Zhaonan pointed, Luo Chen looked around and saw a mountain range stretching for hundreds of miles in the distance, winding and twisting like a giant dragon coiled on the earth.

Where the scales stand tall, there are rolling hills.

Even from such a distance, Luo Chen could still hear the howling wind inside.

Chu Zhaonan explained, "The Huifeng Mountains are different from ordinary, continuous mountain ranges. Within them, the mountains twist and turn, forming layer upon layer of peaks. It is precisely because of this unique terrain that after the Heavenly Wind, one of the three major natural disasters each year, blows through, some of it remains, lurking within. Over time, vegetation withers and life ceases to exist there. It can be said that this kind of terrain is a forbidden zone for humans! And the divine wind you are looking for may be found there."

The Great Destruction Realm is rife with three major natural disasters.

Heavenly winds, ghostly rain, and the fog of destruction!

The wind is very common, and it blows from time to time every year.

If it's just a regular strong wind, it's far from being considered a natural disaster.

The reason why Tianfeng is included is that this wind is a "strong wind"!
Legend has it that it pours down from the highest heavens, and once a mortal body is touched by it, it will become emaciated and its flesh and blood will disappear.

Even martial artists who have embarked on the path of Qi and Blood will find it difficult to withstand this wind.

A martial artist like Chu Zhaonan, who has cultivated his own internal energy, might be able to withstand the wind for a while, but he would absolutely not dare to venture into the Huifeng Mountains, where the wind howls all day long.

However, Luo Chen was not afraid. He looked into the distance with a look of eager anticipation on his face.

"The Unforgivable Heavenly Wind is rumored to be a supreme existence formed from the accumulation of heavenly winds for over a hundred years, and it is indestructible! If I can refine it into my罡气 (罡气 is a type of internal energy in Chinese astrology), and fuse it with my current Nine Tribulations True罡 (罡气 is a type of internal energy in Chinese astrology), I will surely be able to forge my own unique Divine罡 (罡气) Battle Qi!" (End of Chapter)