Longevity begins with alchemy master

The Nine Rings Destroyed.

Chaos.

Time and space seem to have lost their meaning here.

Only a gigantic blood cocoon stood silently in the void, exuding an eerie yet divine aura.

The surrounding chaotic energy surged, but it would often part away from the blood cocoon like water encountering rocks.

Day by day, year by year.

The blood cocoon remained unmoved for ages, and no one from the fourth ring came to disturb it.

However, Mu Yun, a martial arts grandmaster who was reinstated after the fall of the Zhuoshi Martial Sect, came to observe for a long time.

He was the first person Luo Chen was challenged, defeated, and even kicked down to the fifth ring when he entered the fourth ring.

During his years in the Fifth Ring, he felt humiliated constantly and never stopped thinking about taking revenge on Luo Chen.

But when he actually saw the blood cocoon, all the humiliation and resentment in his heart vanished.

"We are all seekers of the Way, why must we kill each other?"

Mu Yunwuzong murmured to himself as he voluntarily withdrew.

……

Luo Chen knew nothing about the situation outside.

The appearance of blood cocoons was not unexpected.

This was originally a passive defense mechanism he established when he created his own martial arts technique.

In the event of an emergency, the moment one loses consciousness, one's Blood Refined Divine Qi will erupt outwards, forming a defense like a blood-stained cloth.

The only difference is that the blood-stained cloth is only one layer without affecting Luo Chen's normal movements, while this blood cocoon, which seems to be laid like an egg by a demon, is made up of countless layers of blood-stained cloth.

Its defensive power is such that even the most outstanding martial arts grandmasters would have to attack it with all their might countless times before they could barely break through it.

In that situation, it was enough for Luo Chen to regain consciousness.

of course!

Luo Chen established this protection mechanism not to deal with enemies, but subconsciously he had the idea of ​​using this method to resist the return of all things to nothingness.

At this moment, Luo Chen was oblivious to the passage of time, his attention focused entirely on the changes in his own internal energy.

A will, faint yet tenacious, was born from the qi.

This will is full of spirituality, like a newborn baby, full of curiosity about everything in the world.

There was still a distance between her and Luo Chen.

It's as if we're not on the same wavelength!

How could one's own martial arts spirit be out of sync with the will of a martial artist?

The answer is actually not complicated. It's just that Luo Chen hasn't yet grasped its essence, so there's a barrier between the two.

Luo Chen was not flustered. The divided soul hidden in the acupoints awakened from its dead state and wholeheartedly felt the martial arts divine intent.

Gradually, a sense of ambiguity arose.

Under the endless layers of clouds, it felt like being lost in a fog.

Standing on the edge of a vast abyss, one neither enters nor reaches it.

Amidst the ancient glacier, a wisp of ice crystals sparkles brilliantly—this is the insight he gained from the Ice Emperor.

A blazing sun hangs high in the sky, angrily showering the earth with scorching heat; this is the nascent divine will of the Extreme Yang Martial Sect.

A sharp sword pierces the darkness, and a ferocious wolf howls proudly through the ages.

The terrifying giant bear slammed its fists down, intent on crushing all who stood in its way.

A soft force, capable of breaking through immense pressure, like a bowstring, like a spring.

All sorts of distinct martial arts intents were encompassed within the will generated by that qi.

Each one seems to exist.

But none of them are quite right.

As Luo Chen's thoughts wandered, he saw even more things.

Immortals and gods dwell high in the heavens, demons and monsters roam the netherworld, true spirits roam the vast wilderness, and there are even barbaric giants, like ancestors of mankind, running barefoot on the ancient continent.

Too many conflicting wills left Luo Chen feeling lost.

It seems that he could become one of them if he wanted to.

To become a god, one must ascend.

If you want to become a demon, then you will fall into depravity.

however!
"Gods and demons have no inherent form. If I cling to a single form, then who is it, me or someone else?"

Thinking of this, Luo Chen seemed to return to the simplest original intention when he created the "Gods and Demons Without Form" technique.

He wanted to create a cultivation method that best suited him, without seeking shortcuts or wanting to become a fish in a pool of powerful beings.

Therefore, any so-called true meaning of martial arts that we see today is merely parroting others' ideas.

Therefore, Luo Chen's martial arts divine intent does not have a single original form, but can change into any false form at any time.

His martial arts spirit is ever-changing, without a fixed individual existence pattern or form.

That is, the absence of self!

As I pondered, three blurry, illusory figures rose and fell in my consciousness.

Like a god, like a demon, and even a giant Buddha with three heads and six arms sitting cross-legged in mudras.

The absence of self is the very essence of self!
No matter how the world changes, I will remain unchanged.

If I wanted to, I could change everything in the world.

The moment this thought arose, the three vague, fluctuating consciousnesses merged into one.

Right now!
The ever-present barrier instantly dissipated, and Luo Chen's will merged with the will of the Blood Refining Divine Qi.

A martial arts divine intent unique to Luo Chen began to slowly spread outward from his physical body.

In an instant, the other eight martial arts grandmasters in the fourth ring all seemed to sense something and trembled, looking in Luo Chen's direction.

It's not just the fourth ring.

Luo Chen's unique martial arts intent, devoid of self and other, seemed to penetrate everywhere, continuously descending along the central platform where chaotic energy poured downwards.

On the fifth ring, he saw Xiao Lin studying martial arts.

In the sixth ring, he saw the newly appointed Lord Zixia City.

Then came the seventh ring, the eighth ring, and even the ninth ring.

When the tendrils extended to this point, it became extremely difficult to go any further, as if another barrier was blocking the spread of his martial arts divine intent.

That must be the Nine-Layered Immortal Tower itself.

Luo Chen began to withdraw his martial arts divine intent, and when it finally focused on himself.

He suddenly had a feeling.

Unbeknownst to him, a will had been watching over him all along.

"Hello there!"

"Fellow Daoist!"

The two exchanged a brief greeting, and then the will vanished.

Although neither party gave their names, Luo Chen already knew who was watching him.

"Lord of the Land of No Worries..."

As he murmured to himself, Luo Chen suddenly felt a surge of hunger.

Looking at himself now, he discovered that the amount of Blood Refined Divine Qi in his body had decreased by more than half.

However, the remaining part was extremely pure.

"Can one refine their own internal energy while comprehending the divine intent of martial arts?"

Luo Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

But he wasn't alarmed; he had simply lost some of his inner energy.

Within these nine shattered rings, the chaotic energy is inexhaustible.

With the assistance of the Hunyuan Cauldron, he has an inexhaustible supply of resources and can transform them at will.

As the "Gods and Demons Without Form" was activated, the internal energy furnace began to rotate rapidly, and the Hunyuan Cauldron above it shone brightly, emitting a tremendous suction force.

And it fell outside.

The blood cocoon has not disappeared, but it no longer shields the outside world.

The vast chaotic energy, as if drawn by an attraction, surged toward Luo Chen.

A massive amount of chaotic energy is absorbed, then transformed into basic qi and blood power, and then gradually becomes blood-refined divine energy.

The process repeated itself hundreds of times, and everything remained the same.

The only difference is that inside Luo Chen's Heavenly Court acupoint, a small figure is rapidly taking shape.

This little figure looks exactly like Luo Chen, has the same temperament, and even has meridians and acupoints, as well as a miniature furnace of qi and blood within its transparent body.

A martial arts deity is taking shape.

Once you succeed, you will reach the realm of immortals!

……

The moment Luo Chen unleashed his martial divine intent, the entire fourth ring was shaken.

That is not comparable to any seed of divine will or even a rudimentary form of divine will.

Rather, it was a genuine, extremely powerful will, comparable to that of the three individuals in the Upper Three Rings. Everyone understood that at this moment, Luo Chen had truly become qualified to contend for the title of Martial Immortal.

Next, all you need to do is accumulate qi and blood, and you will naturally advance to the next realm.

If you calculate carefully, Luo Chen has only been in the ninth ring of destruction for ninety years, and has only been in the fourth ring for fifty years at most.

Its progress has been so rapid that it has far exceeded everyone's expectations.

In this way, he truly lives up to his reputation as a seed of immortality.

Ten years later.

That is, sixty years after Luo Chen entered the fourth ring.

Sixty years have passed, and flowers have bloomed and faded.

The blood-red cocoon hangs dry, still entrenched as before.

This day.

boom!
A terrifying shockwave reverberated throughout the universe, causing all fourth-ring warriors to tremble.

Feeling the chaotic storm gathering around them towards the center, they vaguely realized something.

Without hesitation, the eight martial arts masters all set out and converged on the center.

Before long, everyone gathered together.

They didn't speak to each other, focusing all their attention on the blood cocoon that was enveloped and washed by countless chaotic storms.

Everyone's eyes were filled with fervor.

When a martial artist breaks through a certain realm, they often need a massive amount of energy to replenish it.

This scene is precisely such a sign.

Luo Chen had already entered the late stage of the Flawless Realm, so it goes without saying what realm he would break through.

No one wanted to miss that moment.

They knew they were witnessing the birth of a martial arts immortal!

Time passed slowly, and the enveloping chaotic storm grew increasingly fierce, forcing the eight Martial Grandmasters to retreat.

Nine days later.

Just as everyone was getting impatient and even began to doubt Luo Chen's failure, a clear voice came from inside.

"All forms are not forms; there is nothing yet there is something."

Words fail me for a moment, dreams are but two separate illusions.

Flowers in the air cannot bear fruit, and shimmering sunlight cannot catch fish.

Gods and demons are not me; all things ultimately return to nothingness.

……

As the clear chanting began, a figure in white emerged from the chaotic storm.

With a flick of his sleeve, the surrounding storm instantly dissipated.

In an instant, the sky cleared and the world returned to normal.

Luo Chen looked at the crowd, their gazes filled with inscrutable meanings. He smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Thank you all for your help earlier, I am deeply grateful!"

Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, jade bottles floated down in front of everyone.

"This is just a small token of my gratitude."

"Everyone, until we meet again!"

After saying that, he gracefully stepped onto the central platform not far away, and his dashing figure disappeared in an instant.

The fervor in everyone's eyes gradually faded, eventually turning into a look of envy.

None of the martial artists who can remain in the fourth ring for an extended period are not quite old, or even nearing the end of their lifespan.

What they all yearn for is to break through to the realm of human immortals and enjoy a longer lifespan.

But in the end, it was Luo Chen, the seed of human immortality, who came from behind and surpassed him.

How could they not be envious?
The mad and savage martial master grabbed the jade bottle, unscrewed the lid, and his eyes lit up.

"It's actually a top-grade Meridian-Replenishing Pill!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly checked their own jade bottles.

Inside lay three pills.

They are all Meridian-Nourishing Pills, and they are all of superior quality!

Holding the jade bottle, everyone smiled wryly, their resentment at being attacked by Luo Chen vanishing into thin air.

……

"Is this the third ring?"

As Luo Chen stepped out of the central platform, he gazed into the distance, subconsciously releasing his Blood Refining Divine Qi.

As far as the eye could see, there was a vast expanse of misty water, a hazy and indistinct scene.

The Nine Rings of Destruction, based on the concentration filtering and isolation of the Nine-Layer Immortal Tower, divided the area into three major ring-shaped cultivation zones: upper, middle, and lower.

If the lower third ring road is like a turbulent sea, and the middle third ring road is like a raging storm, then the upper third ring road is like the ocean!

The extremely viscous chaotic energy filled the surroundings, omnipresent and all-pervasive.

If an ordinary martial artist dares to open even one acupoint here, they will be instantly penetrated by chaotic energy and burst open.

Only immortals who have cultivated the divine will of martial arts possess spiritual energy within their own body, enabling them to autonomously repel forces that do not belong to them.

This is not just a difference in will, but also a fundamental difference in strength.

Even with the aid of his crimson eyes and golden pupils, Luo Chen still couldn't see very far in the chaotic ocean.

Fortunately, his Blood Refining Divine Qi now possesses divine intent, spreading out like his limbs and torso, allowing him to sense more things.

While not as convenient as divine thought, it is more detailed and specific.

The moment Luo Chen released his will, three wills took the initiative to meet him.

"Luo Chen!"

"Fellow Daoist!"

"This way, please!"

Without further hesitation, Luo Chen strolled towards the place indicated by the three wills.

Before long, a small island resembling a snowfield or glacier appeared before them.

Luo Chen landed there, where three figures stood smiling, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Gu Xun spread his hands and pointed, then took the initiative to introduce himself.

"This is Fang Qingxue, from the Fang family of Wuyou City, and a descendant of the Wuyou Realm Lord."

Luo Chen looked at the woman and was surprised to find that she was a young girl!

This is truly rare in the Great Devastation, where people generally have older faces.

Even martial artists like Xiangfei and Zixia City Lord, who possessed the art of preserving their youth, could at most maintain the graceful appearance of a young married woman.

With such fair skin and a delicate, flawless face, it's hard to associate her with a martial arts immortal.

"Luo Chen greets Fellow Daoist Fang."

Fang Qingxue seemed to notice Luo Chen's momentary surprise, and she explained with a light laugh, "I am actually seven hundred years old. The reason I look young is that when I was a child, my grandfather loved me and gave me a celestial pill to preserve my youthful appearance, which is why I can maintain my youthful face forever."

Luo Chen suddenly realized that he had guessed before that the Lord of Worry-Free Realm was a high-level cultivator, and that when he was stranded in the Great Destruction Realm, he might have been carrying immortal pills just like Luo Chen.

It's not surprising that there are anti-aging pills.

Luo Chen smiled and said, "In that case, I am indeed a little older than Fellow Daoist Fang."

"A little?" The old Taoist priest beside him suddenly became curious. "I wonder how old you are, fellow traveler?"

Luo Chen looked at the old Taoist priest, whose black hair and white temples made his face look like a withered tree.

Especially his eyes, which were filled with a sense of vicissitudes of life.

Compared to Gu Xun and Fang Qingxue, this person was indeed much older.

Who is this?

Without needing an introduction, the old Taoist priest spoke up: "I am Mu Bugui, and my Taoist name is Wangchuan."

Never to return to the River of Oblivion...

Luo Chen pondered the man's Daoist name, then honestly said, "If I do the math, I'm nearly eight hundred years old. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I'm a little older than Fellow Daoist Fang Qingxue."

Mu Bugui asked again, "Fellow Daoist Luo should be a cultivator like me before. I wonder what realm you were at before you ended up here?"

"Transformation into a Divine Being".

"At the age of six hundred, he has already reached the level of a deity?!"

Mu Bugui was extremely surprised.

Gu Xun exclaimed from the side, "Fellow Daoist Luo truly deserves to be called a dragon among men. Although I do not know how amazing it is to reach the Nascent Soul stage at six hundred years old, it is truly a miracle that he has achieved the Martial Immortal realm in just two hundred years since arriving at the Great Destruction Realm!"

Luo Chen smiled without saying anything; perhaps there was some misunderstanding involved.

When he attained godhood, he was actually only a little over five hundred years old.

But whether it's a little more or a little less doesn't matter anymore.

It had been a long time since he had heard anyone marvel at his achievements in the Dao, which made him feel somewhat sentimental.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Luo Chen looked at the three of them with curiosity.

"Did you all gather here specifically to wait for me, Luo?" (End of Chapter)