Longevity begins with alchemy master

The demon's lair was dark and gloomy, with no sunlight ever seen.

The Taoist priest cultivated himself so diligently that he was unaware of the passage of time.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

At the outermost edge of the Dark Demon Cave, the land was a scorched yellow, stretching for more than ten thousand miles.

No cultivator passing by would find it strange; they would simply assume that a cultivator participating in the trial had arrived early and sprinkled a large amount of exorcising liquid to complete the task of clearing away the Nine Netherworld Moss.

Therefore, no one stayed.

But in fact, the withering of the moss here is quite different from that in other places.

The exorcising liquid of the Tianyuan Dao Sect essentially only suppresses the growth of the demonic moss and, in conjunction with dispersing the demonic lair, prevents it from expanding. Otherwise, the Demon Suppression Trial wouldn't be held every thousand years.

But the Nine Netherworld Moss here has been completely eradicated!
It was as if someone had absorbed and refined all the demonic energy they depended on for survival, depriving them of the nutrients needed for growth and life.

To achieve this level is extremely rare in the current Xuan Realm.

Even the Yuanmo Sect, one of the nine great holy sects, which claims to transform demons into their origins and cultivate demonic methods with a human body, would never dare to directly absorb demonic energy.

Some Mahayana Celestial Venerables might be able to do this, but refining demonic energy is ultimately a thankless and arduous task.

That's why we have the current situation where the centipedes in the various demon caves of the mystic realm are dead but not stiff.

Luo Chen had not expected that loosening his restrictions would have such a significant impact.

It can only be said that in a hellish place like Guixu, the "Undying Chaos Scripture" created to adapt to the environment was truly unrestrained.

Absorbing and transforming demonic energy had become as instinctive to him as breathing.

The only difference is whether to transform demonic energy into blood-refined divine energy or immortal magical power.

Now that he is eager to recover his Nascent Soul realm, he naturally wants as much magical power as possible.

In just one year, the nascent soul within the Purple Mansion visibly grew much stronger.

Those snow-white arms, resembling lotus roots, her full, round face, and her plump body all exuded vitality.

That's definitely the case!
"Late stage of Nascent Soul!"

In the rugged cave, Luo Chen slowly opened his eyes.

He was very satisfied with this progress in his cultivation.

This is the combined effect of the Chaos Undying Body and the Five Elements Dao Body.

The speed of cultivation has become beyond description.

However, this place could no longer support him to go any further.

Luo Chen could sense that the surrounding demonic energy had become extremely thin, with only a small amount occasionally emerging from the depths of the earth.

If you want to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, you need to move to a place with a higher concentration of demonic energy.

"It's a level above this place... no, perhaps not even that!"

Luo Chen pondered silently.

If it were the old him, no matter how profound his foundation, a single fifth-tier spiritual land would have been enough for him to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

But now that he has resumed his cultivation of immortality, his foundation is a hundred times greater than before!
In other words, the amount of demonic energy and spiritual energy required to break through to a higher realm is also greater.

Luo Chen looked through the cave dwelling into the distance.

They skipped directly the central area marked on the map and seemed to land at the very center of the Dark Demon Cave—the Central Demon Abyss!
Legend has it that this is the origin of the Dark Cavern.

In previous years, high-level demonic spirits comparable to those at the late Nascent Soul stage or even the Divine Transformation stage were often entrenched there.

Cultivators from various sects dare not enter easily; they must be led by a powerful figure from the Holy Sect before they can enter to cultivate.

But Luo Chen had no scruples.

However, before leaving, Luo Chen still had one thing to find out.

He turned his gaze back to the ground.

Without him making any move, the Yuan Tu Sword suddenly flew out, cutting through the ground like a knife slicing tofu.

Luo Chen calmly got up and followed behind.

After diving to an unknown depth, he finally arrived at a dark and gloomy place.

I picked up a black stone at random. It didn't have any deep luster; instead, it gave off a dull, grayish feeling.

This is a magic crystal!

It can be regarded as a mineral equivalent to the spiritual stones in the cultivation world, and usually contains a large amount of demonic energy.

The reason it has become like this is because Luo Chen cultivated too recklessly. He not only absorbed all the demonic energy within a radius of ten thousand miles, but also devoured all the demonic crystals in this demonic cave.

Yes, this place has become a den of demons!

Only within the Demon Cave can a large number of magic crystals be born.

Luo Chen's purpose in coming here was naturally not to find these useless discarded magic crystals.

Release your divine sense, very quickly!
Luo Chen's expression shifted, and he reached out a hand.

Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the ground, the hard rocks cracked open, and irregular crystals flew out from the depths of the earth.

These crystals are completely black, with irregular, exceptionally sharp edges that can easily cut into a cultivator's flesh.

Inside, there was some kind of inexplicable liquid flowing, like mercury, or perhaps like human bone marrow.

It is the Demon Marrow Diamond!
This thing is a high-grade metallic material, which is extremely effective against wood-attribute magical artifacts and techniques.

Previously, he had feigned a demonic state. To resolve this, he needed a secret technique to refine the substance and eliminate the Nine Nether Demon Moss's corrosive effects on him.

Although he doesn't need it now, the Magic Marrow Diamond itself is a good thing.

Whether used to add to magical artifacts to increase their sharpness or to forge new offensive treasures, they are of great use.

Even from Luo Chen's perspective, when the Yuan Tu Sword in his hand was forged, some demonic marrow diamonds were added, otherwise it would not have achieved that terrifying sharpness.

In his early years, Luo Chen even used this sword to stab Qing Shuang, who possessed the Azure Phoenix Divine Body.

"There aren't many, only about ten in total. Let's keep them for now!"

After putting away the Demon Marrow Diamond, Luo Chen looked at the demon cave.

Even though he had completely drained this place, and even the Nine Nether Demon Moss had withered in large areas, a faint demonic aura still emanated from it.

This situation cannot be achieved by simply disrupting the terrain using ordinary methods.

To dispel the demon's lair, one must possess great supernatural powers and connect with the primordial energy of heaven and earth to completely resolve the issue.

Although Luo Chen didn't have any grand ambitions to save the world, he really didn't want to see the battle between alien races and humans again.

He had seen far too many of those kinds of things in the Mountain and Sea Realm.

Each time, it was nothing short of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, with millions upon millions of people dying in a recurring cycle of horrific tragedy.

Therefore, before leaving, he planned to completely eradicate this demonic cave and also wanted to see what would happen if a spiritual cave was formed after the demonic cave was destroyed.

With a thought, Luo Chen separated a portion of his divine sense and poured it into his nascent soul.

In a sense, the Nascent Soul at this point is no different from the Primordial Spirit of a normal Nascent Soul cultivator.

The only difference is that even though Luo Chen's current Nascent Soul strength is a hundred times greater than his previous Nascent Soul stage, it is still unable to fully withstand the divine soul power of his peak Divine Transformation stage.

When Luo Chen's "primordial spirit" reappeared, that familiar sense of control over the primordial energy of heaven and earth resurfaced.

"It's been a long time."

Luo Chen sighed, then made a hand gesture and slowly pointed out with one finger.

As he moved slowly, the surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy) flowed and converged, eventually all swirling around his finger.

The magical power of Mu Dao - The Finger of Rong Rong!
With a single finger, everything around turned pale.

The demonic energy that had been entrenched here collapsed and disintegrated at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Furthermore, the earth's energy is imbalanced, causing it to surge erratically.

Suddenly, a startling sound was heard.

boom!
It was as if it had exploded.

Luo Chen was at the epicenter of the explosion, and his blood-stained robe naturally appeared, completely ignoring the immense force. However, he did not resist; instead, he was pushed out willingly by the force dissipating the demonic abyss.

In sight, the once towering mountain peak was collapsing inch by inch.

And within destruction, new life is born.

Just like the Dao of Withering and Flourishing, it has the function of instilling the Dao of withering and death, and also the ability to generate vitality.

Luo Chen could sense that a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth was gathering, and a tiny spiritual cave was slowly forming.

And in this generation process...

"A brilliant idea!"

Luo Chen finally caught a glimpse of that inspiration.

However, he did not rush to seize the spiritual energy, but continued to observe the state.

Gradually, Luo Chen began to sense something.

If we compare the Xuan Realm to a human body, then these Nine Netherworld Demon Mosses are the source of the disease caused by the maggots that infest the bones, and the demonic caves that form from them are like lesions resembling tumors.

If this continues, the Xuan Realm may not perish, but the entire world will gradually be shrouded in demonic energy, eventually becoming a place similar to the Demon Realm.

The Holy Ancestor of the Wood Demon Clan who devised the idea of ​​invading the Xuan Realm with the Nine Nether Demon Moss was truly a peerless genius!
Instead of attacking the spirit realm with a violent invasion, they used the gentle method of transforming spiritual energy into demonic energy through demonic moss to gradually erode the spirit realm.

If we really let them settle down, they could actually wage a protracted war against the powerful figures of the Xuan Realm.

However, to the Xuan Realm, cultivators are like living cells and organs, and they will naturally address the ailments affecting them.

During this process, the mystical realm will also provide assistance.

The emergence of inspiration is clear proof of this.

"Heaven and earth have spirits; opportunities will naturally be given to those who have rendered meritorious service!"

Having observed the area sufficiently, Luo Chen didn't want to linger there any longer.

With a slight smile, he moved his hands instantly, forming a magic seal that he hadn't used in a long time.

In an instant!
Within the spiritual cave, faint spiritual energy seemed to be drawn in, surging into Luo Chen's body.

In a daze, Luo Chen's primordial spirit trembled slightly, and countless wonderful ideas emerged.

This is a sign of sudden enlightenment!

However, Luo Chen forcibly suppressed this feeling and continued to use the same hand seals as before, mobilizing streams of heaven and earth energy to seal away the spiritual energy and trap it within his Purple Mansion.

This method is neither like any magic or supernatural power, nor is it a restriction formation.

It's more like the art of alchemy!
Energy is drawn in through alchemy and accumulated within the elixir.

Not bad!

The technique he just used was indeed an alchemy technique called Refining Heavenly Secrets.

Inherited from Chu Yan, it can draw upon spiritual energy and refine it into elixirs.

He used his own body as a elixir to temporarily seal off this faint spiritual energy.

It's not that he doesn't want to have an epiphany, but the time isn't right yet, and there aren't enough opportunities!

"All of this must be reserved for when I break through to the Nascent Soul stage."

Luo Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air, ignoring the discomfort caused by the lingering spiritual energy in his Purple Mansion, and left without looking back, flying deeper into the Dark Demon Cave.

……

In the past, the duration of the Demon Suppression Trial was not fixed, ranging from several months to many years.

Everything depends solely on the growth of the Nine Nether Moss within the Dark Demon Cave and the number of demon lairs.

But the longest it lasted was no more than three years!
The reason is that if the suppression of the Demon Suppression Tower is not lifted for too long, not only will the demonic energy leak out, but more spiritual energy from heaven and earth will also enter it.

Luo Chen was fully aware of this.

Therefore, he increased his travel speed repeatedly.

Even if he encountered Nascent Soul cultivators from other sects on the road, he ignored them.

Along the way, he also sensed from afar that a powerful Daoist was working to disperse the demonic abyss. He did not approach, but instead took a detour.

With his powerful divine sense, it would be difficult for these Daoist masters, who were generally only at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, to detect him.

However, during the journey, Luo Chen gradually realized that the situation in the Dark Demon Cave was quite different from what the people from the Su Ling Sect had said.

There are just too many high-level magical spirits!
Although the cultivators from various sects had adapted to the demonic environment outside for a year, upon entering, they not only faced the demonic cave shrouded in demonic energy, but their most relied-upon divine sense was also greatly suppressed.

He can only unleash about 50-60% of his full strength.

They were almost always at a disadvantage when facing high-level demons born and raised here.

Along the way, he noticed that the number of fallen cultivators was no less than two hands.

This was just one direction he was traveling in; the number of those who perished in other places was probably much greater.

Luo Chen wasn't simply rushing on his way.

Occasionally, when he comes across some rare and precious treasures, he will stop and collect them.

Such as special herbs that can only grow in environments with demonic energy, or strange minerals.

Overall, these stops did not affect the travel speed.

But once he really got deeper into the middle area, he realized something was wrong.

A fifth-tier demon spirit comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator has appeared!

There are quite a few of them, entrenched in various demonic lairs.

This is not something that should be found in the middle ground.

In the past, these things were lurking in the Central Abyss.

How could a thousand years have passed, and things have deteriorated to this extent?

Luo Chen was puzzled, but his heart sank slightly.

If a fifth-order demon spirit appears in the middle zone, will there be demon spirits in the central demon abyss that are comparable to the late-stage Nascent Soul stage or even the Void Refinement stage?
Luo Chen could only try his best to conceal his aura to avoid attracting the attention of powerful demonic spirits.

His main task on this trip was to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, rather than engaging in unnecessary battles.

For example, one day he saw a powerful Daoist leading dozens of Daoist Nascent Soul cultivators to fight a three-headed fifth-tier demon spirit. He did not make a move, but merely glanced at it before taking a detour and leaving.

"One man fought three fifth-tier demon spirits alone. Even with many disciples forming an array to assist him, it was enough to show the power of the Dao Sect's Nascent Soul cultivator."

"In comparison, the low-level cultivators of the Mountain and Sea Realm may have rich combat experience, but the top-level Nascent Soul cultivators lack experience in fighting against their peers and are slightly weaker than these native Nascent Soul cultivators of the Mysterious Realm."

"However, this is only a temporary illusion. Once you integrate into the Xuan Realm and fight a few more battles, the Nascent Soul cultivators from the lower realm will naturally show their extraordinary abilities."

"In particular, they have almost mastered the essence of a realm, and in terms of potential, they are even more powerful than the Xuan Realm experts."

With just a quick glance, Luo Chen made some personal judgments.

But his travel speed eventually came to a standstill.

On the shore of a large underground lake.

Suddenly, an astonishing sword light shot into the sky.

Wherever the sword light passed, it swept across the world, and the sharp screams almost shattered eardrums.

A demonic spirit, resembling a dragon, fell helplessly into the great lake, splashing up waves as large as city walls.

Beneath the giant wave were seven figures gathered together.

The six people outside formed a large formation.

At the heart of the formation, an old man sat cross-legged, holding an extremely illusory sword shadow, looking utterly dejected.

"The Sword of the Uncrowned King!"

"So it was them!"

Luo Chen murmured to himself, his gaze unconsciously falling on the lake, his brows furrowing involuntarily.

After the giant wave crashed down the city wall, a whirlpool was slowly forming. (End of Chapter)