Longevity begins with alchemy master

"This is... a teleportation array?"

Within the Fang family's territory, Luo Chen stood beneath an earthen platform radiating ancient energy, and spoke with some uncertainty.

"No, it's more like a crude variation of a teleportation array. The real teleportation function comes from a large number of empty prisms."

Fang Zhibai glanced at Luo Chen in surprise, "I didn't expect Brother Luo to be so proficient in formations?"

Luo Chen replied noncommittally, "I have some knowledge of it."

Fang Zhibai smiled and said, "Roughness is better! Overly intricate formations are easily damaged in the Ruins of Return. This short-distance teleportation array mainly relies on materials for teleportation, although passengers will experience a lot of pressure during the process."

Luo Chen nodded, agreeing with this statement.

He had similar insights when he set up those three great formations in Red Leaf Valley.

It just needs to work; being too elaborate is not beautiful.

As the two were talking, the preparations for the teleportation array were completed, and a bright red light shone from the earthen platform.

Fang Zhibai extended his hand in an invitation, and Luo Chen stepped forward.

The next moment, the red light suddenly contracted, and the two figures on the earthen platform had disappeared.

When they reappeared, the two were in a narrow room.

"Be careful."

Luo Chen subconsciously reached out and supported Fang Zhibai, who was staggering.

After regaining his footing and circulating his inner energy, Fang Zhibai finally felt some relief from his stifled mood.

"I apologize for making Brother Luo laugh."

"It doesn't matter!"

Luo Chen gave a perfunctory reply and walked out of the narrow stone house with his hands behind his back.

Behind him, Fang Zhibai's eyes flashed with surprise.

This crudely modified teleportation array exerts unimaginable pressure on passengers; even a martial artist at the Furnace Realm would be crushed by it. Only those who have cultivated an impenetrable golden body can withstand some of it. However, the teleportation process itself is still painful.

But Luo Chen seemed to feel nothing at all, even though he broke through later than him!
After hesitating for a moment, Fang Zhibai followed him out.

Outside, there was no one on duty.

There was silence.

Luo Chen stood there quietly, gazing at the towering tower in the distance, its spire hidden in the clouds!

The tower is white, with its eaves and sharp angles arranged in a row. It is carved with a large number of rare birds and animals, which look lifelike from a distance.

Around the tower, colorful lights constantly change, creating a sense of surreal space collapse.

It was as if the tower did not stand on the desolate land, but in another untouchable world.

The overall effect is an indescribable sense of awe!
"Isn't it breathtaking!" Fang Zhibai walked to the side and stood shoulder to shoulder with Luo Chen, his words filled with an inexplicable sense of reverence. Even though he had seen it several times before, he still couldn't contain himself every time he saw the Nine-Story Pagoda.

What kind of being, what kind of immense power, could possibly be able to forge such an incredible treasure!

Perhaps he really is the legendary immortal!
Luo Chen took a deep breath, the look of amazement in his eyes lingering for a long time.

The white tower, simply by standing there, gave him a sense of absolute invincibility.

This was a feeling that no magical treasure could give him.

Even the Refining Heaven Cauldron, a legacy left by the Refining Heaven Demon Lord and hailed as a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure, is not even one-thousandth as powerful as this white tower.

What grade of magic weapon is this?

Is it a celestial artifact used by immortals, or a Dao artifact that embodies the essence of Dao?

Fang Zhibai gave him an answer.

"According to my ancestor's speculation, this should be a celestial artifact forged by a powerful immortal. For ten thousand years, it has stood here, untamed and unshakable by anyone, standing adjacent to the most dangerous Gate of Destruction."

"Even though my ancestors explored it many times, they could only grasp the basic functions."

"But even just a little bit is enough to define the Nine Rings of Destruction training area, giving us martial artists an opportunity to reach a higher level."

Luo Chen nodded slightly without saying a word.

Perhaps only treasures as powerful as celestial artifacts can withstand the wear and tear of spatial vortexes for thousands of years without breaking.

He suddenly asked, "Where is that spatial vortex known as the Gate of Destruction?"

Fang Zhibai pointed to the far reaches of the sky, which were obscured by thick clouds.

"It should be up there!"

"should?"

"Yes, I have never seen it, I have only heard people talk about it. Only by cultivating to the Human Immortal Realm and entering the third ring, which is the upper three levels of the Nine-Layer Immortal Tower, can one glimpse a corner of the true face of the Gate of Annihilation."

Are there many people like this?

Very few.

"I remember you mentioned, Brother Fang, that the Lord of Wuyou Realm hopes I will break through as soon as possible and come to Wuyou City to study the Great Dao with them?"

"That's true. The main concern was that Brother Luo, your breakthrough might be too late, causing you to miss the next hundred-year opening of the Nine-Tiered Immortal Tower. However, Brother Luo, your cultivation speed is faster than expected, so it seems you won't miss it. As for my ancestor?"

Fang Zhibai smiled and said, "Because the Nine-Layer Immortal Tower is beyond our control, even he can only enter and exit within a specified time. Now that the hundred-year period has not yet arrived, he is still cultivating inside the tower. If he wants to see the Ancestor, he will have to wait at least ten years."

"More than ten years?"

Luo Chen muttered to himself for a moment, then nodded slightly.

He can wait this long.

As long as that fog of destruction that signifies the turning of the era doesn't immediately surge forth.

Thinking of this, Luo Chen made a point of asking about it.

However, even Fang Zhibai could not give a specific time.

He only briefly described the Fang family's existence.

It has a history of three thousand years!

For three thousand years, it has not been destroyed, meaning it has not encountered that terrifying fog of destruction.

the end.

Fang Zhibai said with a hint of worry, "Only our ancestor knows the specifics. Someone asked, but he was unwilling to say. We estimate that the next round of the Fog of Annihilation will probably come again in a hundred to a thousand years. At that time, whether it is the Fog of Annihilation that comes once every ten thousand years or the Great Fog of Annihilation that comes once every era, we will not be able to get through it."

Upon hearing this information, Luo Chen's mood grew heavy.

He vaguely understood why the Lord of Worry-Free Realm did not tell these things to the world, not even to his children and grandchildren.

Faced with such destructive power, mortals would rather live a carefree life than live in fear and unease knowing the truth.

However, for a high-level martial artist like himself, not knowing the exact time of his death is the greatest pressure and torment.

"Let's go back!" Luo Chen said.

Fang Zhibai was taken aback. "Just a quick glance from afar?"

"That's enough."

Luo Chen turned and entered the stone house. ...

Before leaving the Fang family's territory, Luo Chen inquired about another piece of information.

It was the stone box that had previously contained the Immortal Essence Stone, also known as the Empty Bud Crystal.

Fang Zhibai generously revealed the source of this item.

Originating from the Gate of Ruin, it occasionally appears within the Nine-Layered Tower.

In fact, that's how Immortal Essence Stones came about!
It's not just empty bud crystals and immortal essence stones. According to Fang Zhibai, every now and then, the Gate of Destruction would bring in some special treasures from other worlds.

If Luo Chen wants to obtain more Void Bud Crystals, he either needs to personally enter the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower to search for them, or he needs to trade with those martial artists who have been cultivating in the Nine Rings of Destruction for many years.

after come back.

Luo Chen inquired about the specifics from Xiang Fei.

"I've heard that there is such a thing. Some martial artists occasionally find some strange things in the Nine Rings of Destruction. Unfortunately, I didn't stay there long enough back then and never had such an encounter."

"Tell me about your training inside the tower!"

"The Nine-Layered Immortal Tower has stood for ages, and its interior space is vast and boundless. Once inside, there is almost no stable foothold."

"It sounds like the Nine-Layered Immortal Tower is a celestial artifact possessing the power of spatial laws." Luo Chen pondered for a moment, then asked, "Since there's no stable foothold, how do you cultivate inside?"

Without hesitation, Xiangfei said, "Although there is no stable foothold, there are scattered meteorites everywhere inside. We martial artists rely on these meteorites to stay. The larger and better the meteorite, the safer it is. If you want to stay here for a long time, it is best to have the most solid meteorite as a foothold. In fact, fights sometimes break out inside the tower in order to compete for these cultivation stones."

Luo Chen pursed his lips, understanding the situation perfectly.

In the realm of mountains and seas, whether it's a residence in a market town or a spiritual mountain cave in a celestial city, the better the place, the more sought after it is.

Just like back in Tianlan Immortal City, he spent a lot of effort to obtain one of the only three third-tier spiritual vein caves, and used it to break through to the Golden Core stage.

After thinking for a moment, Luo Chen asked again.

"The tower has nine levels, and the areas filled with chaotic energy are divided into nine rings. How did you manage to climb to the higher levels of the tower and enter the areas with more abundant chaotic energy?"

Xiangfei recalled her brief cultivation period in the Nine Rings of Destruction and answered somewhat uncertainly:
"The source of the chaotic energy is the highest point of the Nine-Layered Immortal Tower, seemingly drawn from that Gate of Annihilation. Then it descends layer by layer, shrinking with each layer, spreading outwards in a ring shape from the central passage of the tower. This is how the Nine Rings of Annihilation came to be. The lower you go, the thinner the chaotic energy becomes, making it suitable for the weak to cultivate. But the higher you go, the more turbulent the chaotic energy becomes. Unless you have enough confidence, it is difficult for ordinary strong individuals to climb the tower and break through to higher ring cultivation zones."

At this point, Xiangfei hesitated for a moment.

Faced with Luo Chen's inquisitive gaze, she still spoke up.

"That's true, but even the ninth ring, where the chaotic energy is the thinnest, is not an environment that an ordinary martial artist in the Flawless Realm can withstand and cultivate in for a long time. Senior, although you possess great power, you haven't been in the Flawless Realm for long. Do you really intend to enter the tower to cultivate in thirteen years?"

Luo Chen nodded.

Consort Xiang bit her lip lightly, "Then I also..."

"No need to force it, just follow your heart!" Luo Chen interrupted her, saying leisurely, "You've done enough for me over the years, which can be considered as making up for the sin of assassinating me back then. Before entering the tower, I will release the blood and qi restriction on you and give you your freedom."

Xiangfei opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

She wanted to say that Luo Chen's mercy in sparing her life was enough to compensate for all the years of hard work she had done for him.

Moreover, Luo Chen also used a precious pill to heal her injuries.

But clearly, Luo Chen wasn't someone who cared about these things.

For Luo Chen, it's all about repaying kindness and avenging wrongs; as for the specifics of the favors and grudges, he only relies on his own judgment.

Next, Luo Chen carefully learned about some things to pay attention to when cultivating in the Nine Rings of Annihilation, and then announced that he would go into seclusion.

Before entering the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower, there were still some things he needed to prepare!
For example, the issue of splitting one's soul!

His physical soul was simply too vast!
Even at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, one's spiritual foundation is comparable to that of a powerful being at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Even though it was divided into nine soul fragments, each one was no weaker than a normal Nascent Soul cultivator.

In this bizarre world of Guixu, a divine soul at the Nascent Soul stage is far too "conspicuous".

Once inside the Nine-Layer Immortal Tower, it might become even more conspicuous, attracting soul-stirring thunderous sounds.

Therefore, whether for self-preservation or to refine the "Martial God," he must split off more soul fragments.

If there are 720 acupoints, then at least 720 separate souls must be created and hidden within the acupoints, enveloped by the Blood Refining Divine Qi.

This is the only way to avoid attracting attention.

This project is simply too massive.

The pain involved is unimaginable to ordinary people.

Even for Luo Chen, who has a strong tolerance for pain, it would be an extremely agonizing experience.

They might go crazy in the process.

The only thing that gave Luo Chen enough confidence was probably the Great Perfection of the Soul Splitting Technique, which he had cultivated to its ultimate level!
……

Thirteen years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Thirteen years later, Luo Chen broke through his seclusion and emerged from his cultivation.

The moment Xiangfei saw Luo Chen, she instinctively covered her mouth.

She had never seen Luo Chen look so "haggard".

Although he was still physically strong, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to have no soul.

"Like a walking corpse" is probably the best way to describe Luo Chen's current state.

Is it really possible to enter the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower for cultivation in this state?
Has anyone come out?

This was Luo Chen's first sentence after emerging from seclusion.

Xiangfei replied with a worried look in her eyes, "People have been coming out one after another. I even heard that the three martial arts immortals in the upper three rings have temporarily left the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower. But the Fang family ancestor, Lord Wuyou, whom you are most concerned about, has not come out this time and is still inside."

Upon hearing this answer, Luo Chen subconsciously frowned.

Since that person had previously asked Fang Zhibai to express goodwill to him through his descendant, why did he not leave the tower this time?

Has something happened, or is it a critical period in your cultivation?
Luo Chen was actually looking forward to his first meeting with the Lord of Worry-Free Realm.

After learning about the Fang family's history, he could roughly estimate the lifespan of the Lord of Worry-Free Realm.

The Fang family has existed for over three thousand years, so the age of the Lord of Wuyou Realm must be above that, after all, he is the first ancestor of the Fang family!

Within the Void, the lifespan of martial artists is far shorter than in the outside world.

Even a powerful being at the sixth level of the Destruction Realm has a lifespan of only three thousand years at most.

In this case, the Lord of the Worry-Free Realm is very likely to be a cultivator who, like Luo Chen, has drifted from the outside world to the Ruins of Return.

Moreover, there is a very high probability that it is an existence like the True Monarch of Refining Emptiness, who enjoys a lifespan of more than five thousand years!
If I could meet him, I would surely learn more about Guixu.

But it's a pity...

Luo Chen sighed, "Never mind, as long as I can get into the Upper Third Ring Road, I'll be able to see him eventually."

Upon hearing this, Xiangfei suddenly said, "Since you intend to strive for the third ring, why not take this opportunity to meet with the martial artists who have come out to rest?"

"Oh?" Luo Chen became interested.

Xiangfei smiled slightly, "They've been cooped up inside for a long time, and they'll rest for a while after they come out. During this time, they'll also meet and exchange ideas in private. Moreover, you mentioned special materials like Void Sprout Crystals and Immortal Essence Stones earlier, and these people might have them. If you want them, you can easily exchange them with the Meridian-Replenishing Pill or similar pills that you used to treat me earlier."

A glint of light flashed in Luo Chen's weary eyes. "A good suggestion!" (End of Chapter)