Longevity begins with alchemy master

Chapter 1170 Entering the Seventh Ring, Luo Chen Stirs Up the Situation
The ninth ring is no longer a good fit for me.

This was Luo Chen's judgment after a full year of cultivation.

Over the course of a year, by constantly adjusting the opening and closing of acupoints and guiding different levels of chaotic energy into his body, he has gradually explored his own limits and perfectly mastered the balance between guiding energy into the body and absorbing and refining it.

Unfortunately, the concentration of chaotic energy in the ninth ring did not reach the limit required by Luo Chen!
Yes, the ninth ring, which is extremely dangerous in the eyes of ordinary martial artists, is no longer enough for Luo Chen, who is familiar with the environment, to maintain his peak cultivation speed.

A cultivation session that opens up 720 acupoints can usually only last for three days at most.

Three days later, his body could hold on, but the energy around him would become extremely thin, almost non-existent.

Luo Chen either has to stop and wait for the surrounding chaotic energy to recombine, or he can only open one-third of his acupoints to continue cultivating.

However, the latter only achieves a maximum of one-third of the cultivation speed.

This is something Luo Chen cannot accept.

Therefore, he had to change his training environment.

According to the book given by Gu Xun and what Xiang Fei said, the closer one gets to the center of the tower, the more concentrated the chaotic energy becomes.

Luo Chen continued forward, approaching the central area.

Along the way, you will occasionally encounter martial artists who are diligently practicing.

There were many of them, each sitting on a cultivation stone of varying sizes.

Luo Chen would avoid disturbing them by keeping a safe distance.

As he approached the center of the Ninth Ring Road, he paused slightly.

Because the owner of the most recent cultivation stone was someone he knew.

Fang Zhibai was momentarily surprised when he saw Luo Chen.

"Brother Luo, I heard you were cultivating in the eastern outer area, what brings you here?"

Luo Chen frankly admitted, "I plan to go to another place."

Fang Zhibai asked instinctively, "Are we going to the central platform?"

After saying that, he added a special reminder, fearing that Luo Chen might not understand the danger involved.

"The central platform is not only a passage to the previous ring, but also an energy channel through which chaotic energy from above pours into the next ring. The chaotic energy there is even more violent and is not suitable for martial artists like us to cultivate, nor is it suitable for martial immortals!"

"Thanks for reminding me, I know that." Luo Chen smiled and said, "Let's see how it goes. If it doesn't work, I'll go for the eighth ring."

Fang Zhibai was stunned.

He asked incredulously, "It's only been a year, and you're already dissatisfied with the training environment for the ninth ring?"

Luo Chen sighed helplessly, "I'm a little different from you guys."

Okay, Fang Zhibai admits that people are different.

Just like him, while others were still gradually adapting to the outer area of ​​the Ninth Ring, he came to the area near the central platform to cultivate early on, thanks to the advice of his elders.

He was also proud of it in ordinary times.

But compared to Luo Chen's progress, this arrogance was shattered and completely disappeared.

In the silence, he recalled his initial assessment of why he had given Luo Chen the Worry-Free Golden Token.

At that time, the reason he favored Luo Chen was because the other party possessed a powerful physical body, which enabled him to easily defeat Tie Futu, a late-stage Furnace Realm cultivator.

That level of physical strength is indeed uniquely suited within these nine shattered rings, allowing it to withstand the impact of chaotic energy.

He found a reason for the difference between himself and Luo Chen.

Just as Luo Chen was about to leave, Fang Zhibai suddenly reminded him, "There's something you need to be careful about. Cultivation stones are everywhere in the lower three rings, but their numbers are quite limited in the middle three rings. If you're not confident, it's best not to force your way into the middle three rings."

Luo Chen glanced at him in surprise.

He really didn't know this detail.

Neither Gu Xun nor Xiang Fei mentioned it.

The former might not care, and the latter might not know it, but Fang Zhibai's suggestion was indeed helpful to him.

Most importantly, it's clear from these words that Fang Zhibai thinks highly of him and has already considered the possibility of him being born in the Third Ring Road area.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Fang!"

Luo Chen cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, then drifted away.

Watching Luo Chen's departing figure, Fang Zhibai sighed with regret.

For someone like Luo Chen, once he adapts to the environment, the Nine Rings of Destruction are like a fish in water or a dragon entering the sea!

……

The location of the central platform.

Luo Chen observed silently.

It stood like a tornado, with surging chaotic energy pouring down from above and into the ninth ring.

In such an environment, it is impossible for martial artists to cultivate normally.

Tightly closed acupoints can be forcibly opened by external pressure.

Luo Chen stood silently for a long time before finally deciding to step onto a higher level.

Even though he could withstand it briefly because of the Hunyuan Cauldron, it was still too dangerous.

He needs to keep all dangers under control.

With a single step, Luo Chen entered the central platform.

In an instant, an immense force pressed down.

Luo Chen's acupoints were tightly closed, his body tensed, and he went upward against the influx of energy.

This process of going against the current is not long, about half an incense stick's time.

For an ordinary martial artist, it might take longer, but Luo Chen didn't feel any difficulty.

Upon entering the eighth ring, Luo Chen didn't even bother searching for cultivation stones. He immediately opened some of his acupoints and then silently observed the concentration of the surging chaotic energy.

"The concentration has increased compared to the ninth ring."

"But it's still not enough!"

"Instead of spending a long time adapting to this place, and then having to change training environments again soon, it's better to go straight to the seventh ring."

Having made his decision, Luo Chen didn't linger and continued forward.

During the process, compared to the numerous martial artists found everywhere in the ninth ring, there were fewer in the eighth ring.

Because most of their acupoints are tightly closed, it is impossible to detect their cultivation level through Qi sensing. However, according to Luo Chen's deduction, the eighth ring should mainly consist of martial artists in the early stage of the No Leakage Realm.

Therefore, the seventh ring should primarily target early-stage and some mid-stage martial artists.

Soon, the familiar scene reappeared.

Luo Chen successfully entered the seventh ring via the central platform of the eighth ring.

After entering, he didn't linger and went straight to the central area.

Along the way, he occasionally encountered martial artists who all looked on with surprise.

Luo Chen was simply too unfamiliar to him.

If one is a renowned martial artist, one should naturally be in the middle three rings.

If they were martial artists who had lived through one or two centuries and resided in the Lower Three Middle School for a long time, they should have some impression of it.

If a newly promoted martial artist is at the No-Flaw Realm, they should be cultivating at the Ninth Ring or at most the Eighth Ring. How could they possibly have reached the Seventh Ring?
Ultimately, although Luo Chen was well-known, he had only actually participated in the trade fair.

There are still many people who don't recognize his face.

Finally, Luo Chen stopped in the central area of ​​the seventh ring.

However, when he arrived here and was looking for a suitable cultivation stone, he found that this place had been quite lively lately!
……

The City Lord of Zixia sat cross-legged on a cultivation stone that was about ten feet in diameter, his pale face tinged with a gloomy expression.

Especially when looking at the shadowy crowd around him, his heart sank to the bottom.

她成功了！

But it failed!
Not long ago, she consumed the Blood Dragon Ginseng she bought at the trade fair, which healed the hidden injuries in her meridians and allowed her to break through to the mid-stage of the Flawless Realm!

After breaking through her cultivation level, she felt a surge of pride and decided to take advantage of the Blood Dragon Ginseng's medicinal effects to enter the sixth ring of the middle three rings for cultivation.

She did indeed successfully make it into the sixth ring.

However, the number of cultivation stones in the sixth ring is extremely limited, with only thirty-six in total.

In order to gain a foothold, she carefully selected a martial artist who had entered the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower at the same time as her and launched a challenge against him.

If she had won, she could have taken the opponent's cultivation stone. But unfortunately, she lost.

Without stable cultivation stones, martial artists simply cannot cultivate in an environment constantly bombarded by chaotic energy.

The Lord of Zixia City was forced to retreat to the seventh floor.

If that were all, it would be fine.

But unfortunately, she suffered a serious injury because of that challenge.

As a result, her cultivation stone, which still retained some warmth, attracted the covetousness of another powerful figure.

Today is the day that powerful figure will come to challenge us.

The people around them were just there to watch the spectacle.

Yes, even amidst the destruction of the Nine Rings, there were plenty of onlookers watching the spectacle.

The cultivation environment here is so lonely and cold that one often stays for a hundred years, with only an occasional opportunity to go out and rest once a year.

Even for high-level martial artists with strong wills, it is difficult to endure.

Therefore, whenever a battle for cultivation stones takes place, martial artists will arrange a time to go and watch together.

In fact, an unwritten rule has gradually formed here.

The struggle for the cultivation stone requires a formal challenge, notifying more than three martial artists and inviting them to be spectators.

Once the challenge is successful, no one else can challenge the same cultivation stone again for ten years.

If a challenge fails, no one else can challenge the original owner for ten years. This avoids the need for a war of attrition.

It's called an unspoken rule.

The reason is that there are some top-tier experts who disregard any opponent and directly launch challenges.

Although he broke the rules, as long as he can withstand the consequences of being constantly challenged by others, then there's no problem.

The Lord of Zixia City felt a pang of regret.

She regretted not arranging for a friend to challenge her beforehand.

In that case, if they put on an act and one of them wins, they can keep this decent cultivation stone.

Although in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, it might be quite embarrassing.

However, she can't be entirely blamed for this.

She came a century ago.

Among that group, some possessed exceptional talent and entered the sixth ring. Others lacked the aptitude to even enter the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower and were forced to return.

The remaining people either remained at the eighth or ninth ring, or had already quietly perished.

She was so engrossed in her cultivation that she had practically no friends within the seventh ring.

"If I had known, I would have joined the Vulture Alliance and used their connections to save this place."

The thought flashed through my mind, but regret was useless.

The Lord of Zixia City was forced to confront the approaching enemy.

As the surrounding crowd shouted, the Lord of Zixia City knew that the enemy had arrived.

"Old monster Qu!"

In the distance, a strange, guttural laugh echoed.

Then, a strange old man with pale eyes and tightly knit features appeared out of thin air and stopped in the center of the crowd.

"Lord of Zixia City, hand over this place, or I'll have to take action!"

The City Lord of Zixia City had a gloomy expression and said in a cold voice, "Do you really think you are my match?"

Old Qu chuckled, "Our strengths are roughly equal, and besides, you're injured now."

"So what if I'm injured?" the City Lord of Zixia sneered. "In a life-or-death struggle, the outcome is still uncertain."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but marvel at it.

This Lady of Zixia City is indeed fierce and resolute; she truly deserves to be called a remarkable woman who dared to force her way into the sixth ring.

It should be noted that many of the people present were actually beings who entered the Nine Rings of Destruction a hundred years ago, or even two or three hundred years ago.

None of them dared to force their way into the sixth ring, but the Lord of Zixia City did.

It relies on that fierce and unyielding will in martial arts training.

However, she ultimately failed, which is why she ended up in this state.

Old Qu spread his hands, his tightly knit features revealing a chilling smile.

"Do you really want to fight to the death? Regardless of the outcome, you will inevitably be severely injured, and now the Nine Heavens Immortal Tower has just closed. Are you confident that you can survive in the Nine Rings of Destruction until the next opening every hundred years to seek a way to heal your wounds? Or do you intend to stop your martial arts journey here?"

A series of rhetorical questions gradually silenced the Lord of Zixia City.

This is a fact.

Moreover, even if she survives until the next century begins, will she really be as lucky as she was this time and be able to bid on a Blood Dragon Ginseng?
Most importantly, after wasting a hundred years, given her lifespan, even if she has the opportunity to enter the Middle Three Rings in the future, it will be impossible for her to advance further and achieve the Martial Immortal realm.

Therefore, there is actually only one answer in front of her.

Endure, admit defeat!

Relying on the nourishing effect of blood dragon ginseng on the meridians, she made a comeback ten years later!

"Ten years?"

Just as the City Lord of Zixia was hesitating, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"This place is quiet and spacious; how about we give it to Mr. Luo?"

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent instantly.

Are there any troublemakers?
Everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward the person who had made the sound.

Dressed in white with black hair, handsome with bright eyes and prominent eyebrows.

When they stand out from the crowd, they possess a transcendent and otherworldly quality that is completely different from that of martial arts masters.

While the Lord of Zixia City was stunned, he subconsciously uttered the name.

"Luo Chen!"

Luo Chen smiled and nodded.

The crowd was stunned. The name seemed both unfamiliar and familiar, as if they had heard it somewhere before.

But soon, through word of mouth, everyone knew his origins.

Yixian, from Yixian City, was once a cultivator and is now a martial artist at the Wulou Realm.

Most importantly, he is suspected to be a high-level alchemist, possessing a Meridian-Replenishing Pill that is extremely valuable to martial artists!
The Lord of Zixia City hesitated for a moment, "But..."

"I won't take this cultivation stone from you for nothing. How about I give you a Meridian-Replenishing Pill as compensation?" Luo Chen tossed out a jade bottle.

Amidst envious glances, the City Lord of Zixia caught the jade bottle.

As her expression shifted, she made her decision and immediately declared emphatically, "This place is yours!"

The situation changed so quickly that it caught everyone off guard.

Especially the old monster Qu who came to challenge them, he had a sense of absurdity.

I was here first!

Luo Chen leaped and landed on the cultivation stone, which was about ten feet in diameter. As he examined it, he nodded repeatedly.

Excellent, excellent!
Among the lower three rings, this cultivation stone is indeed excellent. It has even developed a thin protective membrane due to years of being washed by chaotic energy, providing temporary shelter for martial artists during rest.

Most importantly, according to Luo Chen's observation, the concentration of chaotic energy in the surrounding area far exceeded that of other places.

This is probably why the City Lord of Zixia City was able to quickly advance to the sixth ring.

Of course, this is also why Old Man Qu has his eye on this place.

Luo Chen's smile remained unchanged as he looked around before finally settling on Old Monster Qu's face.

"Hey buddy, do you have a problem with that?"

Old Man Qu gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, and it's huge!"

Luo Chen flicked his hands and waved to Old Monster Qu.

"Very well, let's do it!"

(End of this chapter)