Longevity begins with alchemy master

The path of martial arts is a series of trials and tribulations, each realm a new level.

The first two realms are alright, mainly for laying the foundation, but the real qualitative change comes in the third realm, the Furnace Realm.

At this level, martial artists can rely on the condensed qi and blood furnace to directly absorb and transform the energy of heaven and earth from the outside world.

Only in this way can one achieve a lifespan that increases dramatically, and gain the confidence to climb higher.

As for the fourth stage of body refinement, the flawless realm?

Based on the numerous classic texts Luo Chen had read and his personal insights, the fourth realm of martial arts, which clearly corresponds to the Nascent Soul stage of cultivators, is more like a transitional phase!
Yes, it sounds incredible.

But that's how Luo Chen sees it.

Once a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul stage, the Nascent Soul can easily resonate with the heavens and earth, and those with exceptional talent can even comprehend just a fraction of the true meaning of the laws.

Therefore, cultivators in the Nascent Soul stage will experience a tremendous qualitative change in both cultivation and combat.

However, the changes in this regard among martial artists at the No Leakage Realm are not significant; they mainly continue the habits of those at the Furnace Realm.

Perhaps the only change lies in the word "no leakage".

After cultivating to the state of perfect perfection, a martial artist becomes an existence that resembles a mythical creature or a gluttonous beast.

It only eats but doesn't excrete; it only takes in and doesn't give out!
After a massive amount of external energy enters the body, it is refined and absorbed by the qi and blood furnace, transforming into the martial artist's own foundation.

Furthermore, because all the acupoints in the body are closed, any possibility of energy leakage is blocked.

In this way, the cultivation trend of the Wulou Realm martial artist becomes one of only moving upwards and never downwards.

Once it declines, it's like an avalanche or a collapsing sky—irreversible.

This is the case with Xiangfei, a failed returnee.

If Luo Chen hadn't first offered himself to the tiger, drawing out the chaotic energy that had damaged her acupoints, and then used the top-grade meridian-repairing pills he always carried with him during his ascension to repair her meridians, Xiang Fei would surely have met her end!

"If you keep going upwards, you will either burst yourself or the world in which the martial artist lives will no longer be able to sustain you. In that case, there will only be one outcome."

Luo Chen thought to himself, already imagining the fate of a fifth-realm martial artist.

See the indestructible God, shatter the void!
Prove your path through strength, and journey to a new world that can accommodate you!

"I'm thinking too far ahead. Let's consider the next cultivation method first!"

Luo Chen's cultivation method for the first three realms was "Divine Qi Battle" written by Wang Yuan.

This technique originated from the Mountain and Sea Realm, where the path of body refinement had declined.

Even with Luo Chen's help and Luo Tianzong's assistance, Wang Yuan's limit was only the fourth stage of Body Refinement.

Wang Yuan made numerous hypothetical guesses about how to cultivate to the fifth realm, but he did not put them into practice.

"Perhaps it's because the time is too short, and so much time has passed since my ascension. I wonder if he has finished deducing the subsequent conjectures?"

Fortunately, I have another body-refining technique of a higher grade.

"The Demonic Image Technique, a body-refining technique of the demon race?"

Luo Chen stroked the Demonic Image Technique in his hand, his expression somewhat hesitant.

It is described as a "book," but it is actually a statue of a demon with two horns on its head.

Its veins are crystalline, and its face is ferocious.

Amidst the swirling black mist, a set of cultivation techniques written in demonic script was inscribed.

He obtained this skill by chance.

It comes from the ruins of the Yuanmo Sect.

The text above had already been deciphered by Fengling Jushi, so Luo Chen naturally recognized it after learning it.

This is a body-refining technique of unknown rank but with considerable power.

What's even more amazing is that cultivators can also cultivate other skills!
The reason is that its essence lies in tempering one's qi and blood. When facing an enemy, one can transform one's qi and blood, condensing a demonic form outside the body. This demonic form is extremely powerful. As long as the cultivator's qi and blood power continues, the demonic form will be immortal and indestructible, truly wondrous and mysterious.

This is very important.

Body refinement and Qi refinement, when they reach a high level, are two opposite paths.

Martial artists strive for an unblemished golden body, preventing any leakage of energy, while cultivators seek to open all the acupoints in their bodies to draw upon the power of heaven and earth. This difference is evident.

There are people in the world who practice both physical and spiritual cultivation, but they often try to avoid this contradiction and pursue a cultivation method that focuses on one aspect.

For example, like dust!

At his peak in the Mountain and Sea Realm, he possessed both the Divine Transformation Realm and the fifth level of the Ancient Realm.

In reality, it focuses on the Qi Refining realm. The fifth level of the Ancient Body Refining realm only tempers the physical body and does not delve into the path of Qi and Blood.

This method of combining cultivation comes at a great cost!
The difficulties involved are beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Even Luo Chen had to invest a massive amount of resources to cultivate such an ancient physical body that could withstand tribulations without decay.

The "Demon Image Technique" in front of us mentions that "as long as the cultivator's blood and qi are exhausted, the demon image will be immortal and indestructible," which shows that this technique has bypassed that contradiction.

That means this technique allows for the cultivation of both physical and spiritual aspects.

"Is it a demonic manifestation that has cultivated to a high level?"

According to the "Demon Image Technique," when a martial artist or cultivator reaches a certain level in practicing this technique, they can condense a demon image from their physical body. At this point, the demon image can then be used to cultivate another cultivation system without affecting the physical body.

"It sounds similar to the method of creating an external avatar?"

Thinking of the "avatar," Luo Chen fell into deep thought.

His gaze occasionally swept over the desolate landscape of the Gobi Desert, and he gradually made a decision.

In the Void, martial arts are the mainstream, and currently the only path.

Whether the immortal bond can continue in the future remains to be seen.

Therefore, we must focus on the present and consider the future later.

The "Demon Image Technique" is the seed for continuing the immortal bond in the future.

"However, it's a bit hasty to switch my main cultivation method now. Who knows if this demonic body-refining method has any hidden dangers, and it may not even be suitable for my physique."

"In order to make it possible to cultivate both body and mind in the future, it is still necessary to make certain modifications according to one's own situation."

"Perhaps, we should follow the example of Wang Yuan next."

After a while, Luo Chen snapped out of his reverie and smiled knowingly.

He was no stranger to what was to be done next.

Based on existing techniques and accumulated knowledge, I will create a new body-refining technique that suits me.

Wang Yuan had been doing this kind of thing, and Luo Chen himself had done it before.

This time, however, Luo Chen was full of fighting spirit!
……

On the Gobi Desert, Xiangfei drove her carriage slowly towards Wuyou City.

She was in a very good mood at the moment.

After his chronic illness was cured, he not only avoided death, but more importantly, he was able to continue his path of martial arts cultivation.

Compared to the dejected feeling I had when I returned from Worry-Free City, it was like night and day.

At this point, she didn't know whether she should resent Xiao Feng's instigation or be glad that she had been so bold and reckless.

However, one question still lingered in her mind.

"Back in Worry-Free City, should I attempt the Nine Rings of Destruction once more?"

A hint of hesitation would occasionally appear on the woman's face.

There are many routes from Yixian City to Wuyou City, but the fastest and safest one is certainly not the one we are on now.

But when setting off, Luo Chen chose this "more dangerous" route. As for the reason, he didn't say.

But Xiangfei could vaguely guess a thing or two.

Perhaps because she had spent a long time with Luo Chen, she gradually became able to grasp his thoughts and style of doing things, despite his deep cunning and unspeakable emotions.

The other party has always acted cautiously, but at crucial moments they will never hesitate to take a risk.

This has always been the case!
However, more than three months have passed, and with only a small portion of the journey remaining to Worry-Free City, Luo Chen's plans may fall through.

Suddenly!
Xiangfei was taken aback.

A tall figure emerged from the carriage and stood beside her, gazing into the distance.

"Senior, what's wrong?"

"Is that the Mist of Annihilation?"

The voice, delivered in Luo Chen's characteristically calm tone, seemed to be a question, but in reality, it was an affirmation.

Xiangfei paused for a moment, then followed Luo Chen's gaze to the boundless Gobi Desert hundreds of miles away.

Before I knew it, the sky had turned completely black.

A massive fog rolled in, enveloping everything.

The pitch-black sky resembled a ferocious beast opening its massive jaws, ready to devour everything in this world.

Xiangfei trembled and quickly said, "Yes, that black mist is the Mist of Annihilation, one of the three great natural disasters!"

Gazing at the distant mist, Luo Chen's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.

The Mist of Destruction!

Legend has it that it appears once every ten thousand years, wiping out all living beings.

When the cycle of ages ends, a great cataclysmic era will begin. Not to mention living beings, even the heavens, the earth, and the sun, moon, and stars will be annihilated.

Of course, that level of annihilation mist hasn't appeared for a long time.

For nearly a thousand years, even when it has appeared, it has mostly been a small-scale fog of destruction, posing only a certain danger to people and animals.

Moreover, they mostly appear in the remote and wild areas on the outskirts of the seventy-two cities.

The route was decided by Luo Chen. He wanted to try his luck before entering Wuyou City and see if he could witness the so-called "Mist of Annihilation" and see if it was as terrifying as rumored.

"Keep going, don't stop, I'll be right back!"

After saying that, Luo Chen jumped off the carriage and headed in the opposite direction, rushing into the vast expanse of black fog.

"senior!"

Xiangfei was unable to stop him in time and could only watch helplessly as Luo Chen's figure became increasingly blurry.

Before she could even marvel at Luo Chen's speed, Xiang Fei drove the carriage even faster.

A thousand miles away, arrived in a moment.

Soon after, Luo Chen stood on a towering stone pillar, looking with great curiosity at the rolling black mist below.

According to historical records, this small-scale fog of destruction is actually not dangerous.

Any major city could defend against it.

The real danger lies in the "Mist Beasts," also known as "Chaos Beasts," mixed in with it.

Those creatures kill anyone they see and devour livestock, which is why tall city walls like those in Yixian City and Mofeng City are needed for defense.

Since they happened to run into each other this time, and Luo Chen was confident in his martial prowess, he naturally wanted to see for himself.

He took a deep breath, locked all the acupoints in his body, and drew the Yuan Tu Sword from his waist, standing tall and imposing.

at last!

Black mist swept over him!

In that instant, Luo Chen's whole body stiffened, and he felt his blood turn cold and his mind become sluggish. In particular, his dormant soul in his sea of ​​consciousness was startled and almost woken up.

Luo Chen let out a soft hum, and the vast blood and qi within his body began to circulate. Furthermore, the Blood Refining Divine Qi burst forth, forming a protective shield around his body.

"This situation is too terrifying. Is it just me, or do other people feel this way?"

He doesn't understand.

Although the fog looked strange in color but otherwise seemed no different from other things, it gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.

But deep within the fog, something else appeared.

His crimson eyes and golden pupils opened, but the murky fog obscured his vision.

At this moment, Luo Chen was even more surprised.

His eyes have been cultivated since the Qi Refining stage, and have undergone countless improvements and transformations. Now they have the ability to break through illusions and even the void!
Let alone ordinary fog, even the supernatural powers and techniques used by a Nascent Soul cultivator might not be able to block or confuse his eyes.

But right now, it can't even penetrate the thin mist?
"How bizarre!"

Luo Chen held his breath, sword in hand, facing the enemies emerging from the mist.

Chaos Beast!
With their minds in sync, the Yuan Tu Sword emitted a resounding sword cry.

……

call out!
A streak of blood-red light ripped through the sky.

Finally, they landed on a speeding carriage.

Xiangfei rose with delight to greet her, "Senior, you're finally back."

"Ah."

Luo Chen nodded, his expression somewhat gloomy.

He looked down at the longsword in his hand. The Yuan Tu Sword, which had broken through to the level of a spiritual treasure, should have been chilling, but it was somewhat dim at this moment.

In his opinion, those bizarre and chaotic beasts were not very strong.

With his strength, wielding the Yuan Tu Sword, he could kill one enemy with a single strike.

However, after a short period of slaughter, the sword spirit of the Yuan Tu Sword issued a warning, as if if the battle continued, the sword spirit of this extremely malevolent sword would also suffer serious damage.

"As expected of the Mist of Annihilation, the foremost of the three great natural disasters!"

Luo Chen exhaled a breath of stale air and sheathed his sword.

Xiangfei couldn't help but sigh, "Senior is truly skilled and daring. In the past, when those great cities encountered a cosmic fog of this scale, they could only defend their cities and defend against the attacks of the Chaos Beasts bit by bit, barely holding on until the fog dissipated. Senior, you broke in alone and managed to fight your way out. Such strength is truly rare in the world."

In the past, Luo Chen would naturally have been more willing to listen to such pleasant words.

But I'm not in the mood right now.

He couldn't see through the fog's illusion or its true nature.

This was hard for Luo Chen to accept.

If divine thoughts could be projected outwards, would it be possible to understand their true nature?
Luo Chen had no answer to this question, but his subconscious told him that it would probably just fizzle out in the end.

He simply accepted reality.

If the once-in-ten-thousand-years Destruction Mist were to strike, all living beings would perish within it, even those at the Flawless Realm!
If the legendary cycle of time and the Great Cataclysm were to arrive, this world would likely perish.

"No wonder even powerful beings like True Monarch Xiao Lan, the master of the Void Refining Realm, and Lord Wuyou, the leader of the Seventy-Two Cities, are thinking about how to escape from the Ruins of Return."

"They must have personally witnessed the power of the Fog of Destruction and recognized its dangers."

"Our journey to Worry-Free City must begin with finding the exact time when the next Great Cataclysmic Fog will strike!"

A sense of crisis brought about by the passage of time enveloped Luo Chen's heart. (End of Chapter)