Longevity begins with alchemy master

On the pristine white square, everyone stood ready.

Luo Chen slowly raised his head and looked at the faintly visible portal in the air.

Ancient God's Cave, the gate to the Daoist temple!
Only by opening this door can one enter the Ancient God's Dojo.

The magnificent golden splendor behind the gate was already partially revealed, exuding both majesty and sanctity.

Long before he arrived, Tianxuan Liesu and the others had already tried several times, but each time they ended in failure.

The key is not that everyone is not strong enough.

Strictly speaking, this gathering of martial artists is superior in both quality and quantity to any other gathering in the past ten thousand years.

What truly hinders people is timing!
The opening of the gates to the Ancient God's Dojo is not predetermined, but rather follows certain specific patterns.

For example, when a small fog of destruction spreads, or when the cycle of an era is about to begin.

"I will not waste the last hundred years of my life here."

"If you can't open it after trying two or three times... then leave!"

Luo Chen thought to himself.

He had this idea after perfecting his cultivation technique in the Sea of ​​Stars.

The reason I came to the Ancient God's Dojo was simply to see it for myself.

In contrast, the training environment of the Nine Rings of Annihilation is conducive to him taking the next step, and he also has some ideas about crossing the Gate of Annihilation.

of course!

If the Ancient God's Dojo really has a way out to the outside world, then he wouldn't mind going out along the way.

While pondering, Luo Chen had already taken action.

Like the others, a burst of energy shot out from his mouth, heading straight for the sky gate.

Moreover, the martial arts intent within the protective energy was exceptionally active, constantly attacking the gates of the dojo.

The Lord of Worry-Free Realm glanced at Luo Chen with surprise.

Because the martial arts divine intent that Luo Chen released at this moment was not the same as the one he showed when he broke through to the Martial Immortal realm at the fourth level of the Annihilation Realm. Instead, it was a thunderous divine intent similar to that of Yuan Qingzang beside him, and even the attribute of his Qi had been transformed.

"No wonder he has cultivated to such a level in two hundred years. He has already mastered the art of refining his martial arts divine intent, and the martial arts divine spirit within his body must have been truly condensed."

As the Lord of Worry-Free Realm pondered this, he released his own martial divine intent.

It is an elusive and intangible existence.

It may seem ordinary, but it surpasses all others.

At the same time, the other three kings of destruction also made their moves.

With a soft shout, the stars behind him suddenly appeared, arranged neatly, surrounding him in the very center.

The Heavenly Crying Monster chuckled incessantly in his belly, as wisps of heavenly wind swept around and finally surged into the gate of the Daoist temple.

The corpse remained silent, yet the surrounding area was already a vast sea of ​​bones, resembling a scene from hell.

Luo Chen had originally taken the opportunity to observe the actions of the others, wanting to know the difference in appearance between the Destruction Realm and the Human Immortal Realm.

Indeed, it did allow him to see some clues.

For example, the martial arts spirit, qi, and physical body of the Wuyou Realm Masters are so unified that they are indistinguishable from one another.

They even began to influence the outside world, centering on themselves.

No need for advance preparation, just move as you please, the ground beneath your feet is your home ground.

It is conceivable that under such circumstances, even a True Monarch of the Void Refining Realm who has comprehended the true meaning of the laws, or even a Great Venerable of the Integration Realm, would find it difficult to influence them through the great forces of heaven and earth.

This also clearly distinguishes the essential differences between body refinement and qi refinement.

One influences the outside world with its own will as the center, while the other uses the principles of heaven and earth to control the outside world.

This is the difference between divine will and divine thought!
Luo Chen thought even further.

If one day he is able to leave the Ruins of Return, he will surely pick up the Qi Refining Method again, and it will not be difficult for him to cultivate back to the Nascent Soul Realm.

At that time, how will martial arts divine will and primordial spirit divine will coexist?
Just as Luo Chen was thinking this, he suddenly felt a tremor in his arms.

"It's that rib!"

Luo Chen subconsciously looked at the Corpse Demon.

One could vaguely sense a trace of the Bone Demon clan's aura from the details of the other party's martial arts divine manifestation.

Could it be him...

"wrong!"

Luo Chen suddenly looked up and stared intently at the gate of the dojo.

It was at this moment.

Tianxuan Liesu's face lit up with ecstatic joy.

"Gentlemen, the time has come! Increase the pressure!"

hum!
A peculiar buzzing sound, silent yet permeating everyone.

As if they had merged into one, the faintly visible gate in the air slowly opened to everyone.

No one dared to be careless, and they all multiplied their internal energy.

Luo Chen was among them.

As everyone immersed themselves in the moment, streaks of milky white light emanated from behind the door, bathing each person in its glow.

The anxious, eager, joyful, and shocked expressions on their faces gradually calmed down.

And under this light, the long-standing hidden injuries on some martial artists were healing at an unimaginable speed.

The feeling was like a baby returning to the womb.

Peaceful and serene.

……

The broken body, lit as a lamp, illuminates the path to eternal glory.

Grief serves as fuel, burning away the cold nights of all worlds.

On the ancient glacier, a goddess walked barefoot across the land, leaving behind a trail of flowers and food.

On the cracked earth, the goddess wept, and then rain fell.

In the Avici Hell, people suffer torment, but the Goddess descends and the hell is emptied.

Luo Chen curled up, his body revealing unease like that of a child.

Then a benevolent light shone down, and his expression relaxed.

Not long ago, the body had been forcibly integrated with external force, and it had received the greatest comfort in the compassionate light.

As if sensing something, he opened his eyes and looked towards the horizon.

There was an illusory female figure looking at him with a kind and peaceful expression, like a mother.

"Mother of Compassionate Light!"

A name naturally came to mind.

Conversely, an urge to worship arises spontaneously.

Suddenly!
A wisp of chaotic gray light emanated from his body, blocking the milky white light.

The chaotic gray light came quickly and went quickly.

Luo Chen was struck dumb, instantly sobering up.

Looking around now, there were no gods or holy mothers, only the chanting of worship from all living beings.

But the chanting came from fellow martial artists.

"Compassionate light washes away the dust of calamity, divine tears deepen the desolation."
Looking down, one sees a sea of ​​suffering; raising one's hand, one finds a vessel of compassion.

......"

Luo Chen felt a chill run down his spine and immediately understood the source of the previous strangeness.

He murmured, "Mother of Compassionate Light!"

At that moment, four pairs of eyes fell on Luo Chen.

These are the four kings of destruction.

Lord Wuyou gave Luo Chen an approving look.

Tianxuan Liesu was quite pleasantly surprised.

Even the old monster who cried that day was somewhat shocked, seemingly not expecting that Luo Chen could wake up from the baptism of faith so quickly.

Only the Corpse Demon's face grew increasingly gloomy.

Luo Chen wanted to speak, but seeing the four people remain silent, he restrained himself.

He then began to observe the others.

The milky white light still enveloped the crowd, from which chants could be heard from time to time.

Luo Chen watched these scenes with a thoughtful expression.

"It's the power of incense!"

"The divine power I just experienced was clearly part of the process of a baptism of faith."

“Only after going through this ordeal will everyone have the identity of a believer of the master of this temple, and only then can they enter His temple.”

The weaker one is, the deeper the baptism one receives.

The stronger one is, the faster one can break free from the constraints of influence.

So next...

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The chanting in the square finally ended.

Those who awoke all wore expressions of piety that varied to some extent. Even Tianxuan Liesu and the others became even more reverent.

"Hmph, the door is open, what are we waiting for?"

The Corpse Demon snorted coldly, ignored everyone, and flew directly into the gate.

The others, not wanting to be left behind, transformed into streaks of light and rushed in together.

Luo Chen lagged behind, but he could still sense the Corpse Demon's watchful eye on him before he left.

"Troublesome guy."

Luo Chen muttered something to himself.

Beside him, Yuan Qingzang was full of energy and looked devout. "Let's go and pay homage to the Source of Compassionate Light!"

Source of Compassionate Light!

This is the revered name of that goddess.

Everyone learned all of this during the baptism just now.

Luo Chen was no exception, but his pace of progress was relatively slower.

Even if it's slow, we'll still get in eventually.

The moment I passed through that incense-burning gate, a wondrous sight came into view.

A colossal building, suspended high in the void.

They are arranged in thirty-three layers.

Each level has pavilions and towers, with flying eaves and painted corners.

Each level is accompanied by chanting, recitation of scriptures, and devout prayers.

Furthermore, several figures sat cross-legged among them, silently turning their backs to the crowd.

Above the thirty-third level, streams of milky-white energy could be seen surging out from the void and converging into the thirty-third level golden palace.

Upon witnessing this scene, Luo Chen finally understood what an ancient god's dojo was.

This is the ancient god's dojo!
Suddenly!
call out!
Someone unleashed a burst of energy, targeting the figure sitting cross-legged in the first golden hall.

The moment the qi touched it, the figure instantly disintegrated, turning into ashes.

"This……"

All the martial artists were horrified.

"Cough cough."

The coughing drew everyone's attention.

The Lord of Worry-Free Realm sighed, "There's no need to try. Those people are all fellow Daoists who ventured into the Ancient God's Dao Field in their early years, just like us."

Everyone's expression changed.

"What does it mean?"

"You mean, we might end up like that too?"

"Why does the decaying body of someone who has been dead for so long still exist and utter a chant?"

"What kind of being is the Compassionate Light Goddess?"

One question after another arose.

The Lord of the Worry-Free Realm calmly looked at the corpse.

"Fellow Daoist, some people here know about this place, while others are newcomers. We'll need you to explain things to them!"

The corpse snorted coldly, "Those guys trapped here are nothing but a bunch of losers."

After making a sarcastic remark, he explained the situation to everyone.

"Just as you received the message when you were baptized, the master of this place is an ancient god known as the Source of Compassionate Light."

"Walk through the world with a maternal image and face all beings with compassion."

"Its origin and background are unknown, but it has existed in the Ruins for tens of thousands of years, remaining intact through countless calamities, and can be considered immortal."

The Crimson Lotus Master spoke up, "We came here to find a way out. What does this have to do with these things?"

Shi glanced at her coldly, still speaking in the same unhurried tone as before.

"The reason why the Source of Compassionate Light is immortal lies in its unique cultivation method, namely the path of incense and deity!"

"This method does not seek personal gain, but rather seeks the faith of believers."

"As long as believers remain and faith endures, divinity will endure forever."

Incense offerings and religious practices!

Everyone was curious when they heard about this cultivation method.

Luo Chen stroked his chin, connecting the dots, and vaguely understood something.

Strictly speaking, this method is not particularly sophisticated.

Not to mention the cultivation world, it is widely circulated even among mortals.

It's nothing more than erecting statues, spreading doctrines, and attracting believers.

The truly ingenious technique lies in the secret of transforming the divine power of incense offerings.

He obtained this secret from the "Purification of the Dead Bones Bodhi Method".

If one day he can contact his old friends in the Mountain and Sea Realm, and if his disciples and followers in the Mountain and Sea Realm are devout and have enough faith in him, he can also transform his own incense and divine power.

Observing the surrounding golden hall, there are occasional carved characters, and Luo Chen judged that the "Purification of the World and Bodhi of Dry Bones" that the corpse was found to have may also have come from this place.

Perhaps that rib wasn't its own, but rather left behind by an ancient god of this place.

The Corpse Demon continued speaking.

"After tens of thousands of years, the ancient god's temple still exists, and the incense still burns. Clearly, outside the Ruins, there are still people who worship the Source of Compassionate Light."

"The bond connecting the two sides is the power of faith, that is, the divine power of incense!"

"You all saw those clearly visible milky white powers in the void, right? Those are the concrete manifestations of the divine power of incense under the influence of the Thirty-Three Divine Mother Temples."

"if!"

At this point, the Corpse Demon's tone became more serious, and the other three Destruction Kings also became solemn.

The Corpse Demon swept his gaze across the crowd and said, word by word:

"If we can control the Thirty-Three Divine Mother Palaces and leverage the strongest believer anchor point in the outside world, we will have a chance to open the Reverse God Passage and leave the Ruins of Return!"

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Amidst the uproar, there was also immense excitement.

What the Corpse Demon said does indeed have some merit.

but!

There are still obvious irrationalities in it.

Luo Chen spoke.

"If what you say is true, why doesn't the owner of this place use this method to leave the Ruins?"

The Corpse Demon raised an eyebrow and coldly replied, "The path of incense and deity is both made and destroyed by its believers. If the master of this path cannot control his nature, he will lose himself under the massive incense and divine power and become a mindless and disorderly being."

Luo Chen frowned. "You mean the Source of Compassionate Light, that is, the Mother of Compassionate Light, has lost herself and has no independent consciousness?"

"That's right. Strictly speaking, He has already perished. The fact that this place can still function is merely due to the instinctive drive of His remaining divine power."

The Corpse Demon did not want to answer Luo Chen, but he did clear up the confusion for everyone.

Finally, he said solemnly, "The Thirty-Three Divine Mother Palaces have endured countless tribulations and are far too powerful to be controlled by a single person. That's why many powerful martial artists need to enter together each time, and each attempt to control a single level of the Divine Mother Palace involves facing a massive surge of faith. Those whose martial arts will is not firm enough will become lost in the process and ultimately perish. Moreover, one cannot gradually master each level; all thirty-three levels of the Divine Mother Palaces must be controlled almost simultaneously."

Is this the truth behind the deaths of Guixu martial artists at the Ancient God's Dojo over the years?
Luo Chen's gaze fell upon the magnificent and sacred building.

The Lord of the Worry-Free Realm stepped forward.

"Gentlemen, we have come this far and have no way out. Leave the thirty-third level of the Divine Mother Palace to me."

Everyone was shocked by these words.

The Lord of the Worry-Free Realm no longer concealed himself; all his acupoints were opened, and an unfathomable and powerful aura surged around him.

Its power was so immense that even Luo Chen couldn't help but take notice.

This is the foundation that has allowed it to guard the gate of destruction for three thousand years!
Even the Corpse Demon, who had the longest survival time and was most familiar with the Ancient God's Dojo, did not compete with the Worry-Free Realm Master for the highest level of the Divine Mother Palace mission.

He simply said coldly, "Thirty-two levels, hand them over to me!"

Tianxuan Liesu already knew this, and solemnly said, "Thirty-one levels, I'll go!"

The Heavenly Crying Old Monster said with a half-smile, half-crying expression, "It seems I have no choice. The thirtieth level of the divine temple is mine. As for the others..."

The four Destruction Kings turned their gazes to everyone, but lingered on Luo Chen the longest.

The group hesitated.

They knew that the Ancient God Dojo had the potential to lead them out, which is why so many martial artists have followed suit for countless years.

But I never expected it to turn out like this.

By gathering the strength of everyone, taking control of the Thirty-Three Divine Mother Palaces, opening the Reverse God Passage, and returning to the real world through the anchor of faith.

This process is far more complex than it sounds.

After all, even the ancient goddess Ciguang Goddess lost her self-awareness, so how could they underestimate the impact of a massive amount of incense and divine power?
If one were to lose oneself by mistake, the outcome might be the decaying remains they see in those pavilions and towers today.

While everyone hesitated.

scoff!

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the sky, as if it had been torn apart.

A golden claw appeared before everyone's eyes in a startling display. (End of Chapter)