Immortality Begins With The Alchemical Master Chapter 537: Han Zhan's Submission in the Demon Sea - Novel Cool

Chapter 537: Han Zhan's Submission in the Demon Sea

Chapter 537: Han Zhan's Submission in the Demon Sea

A gray cauldron emanated a hazy divine light.

Nine fire dragons, each exuding a devouring aura, glared at a space within the cauldron.

Not only that, but Luo Chen, seated cross-legged on the ground, was also on high alert, his magical power surging, his right hand enveloped in azure flames, seemingly ready to unleash a strike that would shake the heavens and the earth at any moment.

In his mind's eye, a black chess piece emitted a hazy black glow, tightly enveloping his mind sea.

His eyes fixed on the Primordial Cauldron, the divine light intensified, reflecting a flower in a mirror and a moon in the water, flickering and shimmering.

Without a breeze, his robes fluttered, making a rustling sound.

Such a scene truly lived up to the description of the aged voice within the cauldron, "Such a grand show of force!" One could imagine how terrifying it would be if Luo Chen suddenly launched an attack.

Especially since his intended target, Han Zhan, was currently trapped within his lifebound treasure's confined space.

With heaven's favor, earth's advantage, and people's harmony all in Luo Chen's hands, even though Han Zhan was once a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he had no choice but to bow his head in submission.

Hearing Han Zhan's bitter laughter, Luo Chen did not relax his vigilance.

Or rather, when dealing with any Nascent Soul True Monarch, one must never let down their guard.

He calmly replied, "It's not that I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but I have no choice. Please understand, Senior Han."

There was a moment of silence within the cauldron.

Then, a helpless voice spoke.

"I can understand."

Yes, the situation between the two of them now was completely different from when they first started the war.

However, Luo Chen did not possess absolute suppression in terms of cultivation realm.

In such a situation, no matter how careful he was, it was understandable.

If it were Han Zhan himself, he would probably do the same.

Moreover, he even admired Han Zhan's caution and prudence.

Han Zhan sighed, and his tone seemed to become more relaxed.

"I'm now just a remnant soul, and even if I don't mention being unable to bind a chicken, my capabilities are indeed limited. After escaping from the jaws of death, you didn't kill me on the spot to eliminate future troubles, which shows your true character."

"So, how do you plan to deal with me now?"

How to deal with him?

This time, the one who fell silent was Luo Chen.

Luo Chen had mixed feelings about Han Zhan.

He was a legendary figure who had been frequently mentioned since Luo Chen's arrival in this world.

The most outstanding genius in the history of the Jade Cauldron Domain, his cultivation speed was astonishing, and his combat prowess was even more exceptional than Ren Pingsheng, the first among the Golden Core Cultivators in the Sword Sect.

At just over two hundred years old, he relied on his powerful strength to force Cheng Yan of the Falling Cloud Sect to abdicate and promote him to the position of Grand Elder.

After that, at over three hundred years old, he quietly condensed his Nascent Soul, achieving the realm of a true immortal.

He had no connection with Han Zhan.

However, due to a moment of kindness, he saved Han Zhan's grandson, Han Zheng, which caught the attention of his opponent.

During that time, although they never met, Han Zhan showed goodwill towards Luo Chen because of this incident.

Whether it was the war against the Annihilation Flame Alliance in Incense Valley or when Qu Xiabai of the Falling Cloud Sect opened the spiritual vein restrictions of Tianlan Immortal City during Luo Chen's Core Formation, Han Zhan's goodwill was evident.

After the war broke out, there were instances where Han Zhan personally intervened to help Luo Chen.

It was precisely because of such actions that, even though there were favors exchanged, Luo Chen felt he didn't owe Han Zhan anything, but he still left a deep impression on him.

Therefore, when Han Zhan was on the verge of death, Luo Chen did not take advantage of the situation to strike.

But now? If Han Zhan was still a high and mighty Nascent Soul True Monarch, Luo Chen could still communicate with him as if it were second nature.

It was simply because he was used to it!

In his life, Luo Chen had become very familiar with dealing with those in power.

Even if their positions were reversed, with Luo Chen rising while Han Zhan fell, it wouldn't be a big problem.

After all, Luo Chen's subordinate management skills had become quite effective over the years.

However, the current situation was precisely the opposite.

Control him? Luo Chen believed that his abilities were not weak among Golden Core Cultivators, and even if a late-stage Golden Core grand cultivator intervened, he had some confidence in protecting himself.

But in front of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, even if it was just a remnant soul, he dared not be complacent.

If he were to be counterattacked, it would be a laughingstock.

Kill him?

Luo Chen couldn't bring himself to do it.

Let him go? Luo Chen also felt it was a pity, as Han Zhan had been confined in the Primordial Cauldron for almost four years without paying any rent.

During these four years, Luo Chen had thought more than once about how to deal with Han Zhan.

However, no matter how many backup plans he had, they became pale and powerless after a Nascent Soul Cultivator woke up.

The natural suppression of cultivation realms made it difficult for Luo Chen to easily voice his plans.

An indescribable silence filled the cultivation room.

The aged voice suddenly rang out.

"Luo Chen, you're hesitating."

"Hehe."

"It seems you do have a bit of the gentlemanly demeanor as rumored, not taking advantage of others' misfortunes."

Luo Chen lifted his eyelids and said calmly, "Senior Han, there's no need to flatter me. If you were truly a gentleman, you would have released me long ago."

"Hehe..." Han Zhan chuckled, "A gentleman is judged by his actions, not his heart. Whether it's a false gentleman or a true villain, what matters is the final outcome."

If the result is that I live and remain free, then during this process, no matter what you do, it will only be a tale of mutual support between us, escaping from Cangwu Mountain. What do you think, young friend?"

The final result!

Luo Chen's gaze hardened, as if seeing through the thick gray cauldron wall, he saw the black wooden doll in that space.

"Senior wants to live, and live freely?"

Han Zhan let out a self-deprecating laugh, "There is great terror between life and death, especially for someone like me who has narrowly survived under the Nirvana Holy Flame, I value my life even more, and you can't help but laugh at me."

Luo Chen deeply empathized.

Having struggled under Mi Shuhua, he also yearned for freedom.

For this, he even secretly dug a tunnel, always ready to flee.

But it was precisely because he understood that he was more cautious, as someone who wanted to live freely was truly terrifying!

Seeing Luo Chen fall silent again.

Han Zhan seemed to not want to beat around the bush anymore and got straight to the point.

"Let's talk about the conditions!"

"What must I do to make you leave the cauldron?"

The other party's choice to reveal everything dispelled Luo Chen's doubts.

He solemnly said, "What is Luo worried about, Fellow Daoist must know best."

"Are you afraid I'll secretly harm you?"

"Yes, Senior's methods are mysterious and unpredictable, making it hard to guard against. Thunder Hell Phoenix was deceived by you, and you faked your death to survive. I once believed you were powerless, but under the Nirvana Holy Flame, you unleashed tremendous power. Although you now seem to be just a remnant soul, there's an ancient saying that the strongest leave a drop of blood, and even that can dye the sky blue with their might. With just a wisp of soul, who knows if you can unleash the power of a True Monarch?"

"You are cautious, and I understand, but this time, you are indeed overthinking."

"There's no such thing as overthinking when it comes to planning ahead."

"How about a blood pact?"

"That's not enough, the constraint is far from sufficient."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want a Great Dao Oath!" Luo Chen said firmly.

Han Zhan seemed to have expected this, and he asked, "Can you make an equivalent Great Dao Oath?"

Luo Chen shook his head, "I won't make one, but your oath must include that you will never harm me or use others to kill me."

"For a lifetime..." Han Zhan muttered, and finally sighed, "It's too long. You know that as cultivators, the higher our cultivation, the closer we are to the Great Dao. The Great Dao Oath becomes more effective. These words 'for a lifetime' are like a shackle, I fear that if I make this oath, I won't be able to progress for the rest of my life."

At this point, he paused, then sighed, "Luo Chen, don't be fooled by my age. In truth, I'm only around four hundred years old, which is considered young and promising among Nascent Soul Cultivators. I yearn for the Spirit Transformation Realm!"

Han Zhan formed his Nascent Soul at three hundred years old, and the internal war and the war of expansion added up to over a hundred years. He was now around four hundred years old.

Indeed, he was very young!

Luo Chen, on the other hand, picked up on another piece of information from Han Zhan's words.

"Senior Han, you only have a wisp of remnant soul left, yet you still yearn for the Spirit Transformation Realm. Could it be that you have a method of Body Reconstruction and Soul Revival, allowing you to cultivate the Great Dao anew?"

Han Zhan was taken aback, he hadn't expected Luo Chen's senses to be so sharp.

But since he was at the mercy of the other party, there was nothing to hide.

"Others might not be able to, but I, who am proficient in puppetry, have a corresponding method."

At this point, he suddenly realized something.

"You won't kill me, nor will you let me go, it seems you have plans for me too!"

"Let me think, what could I have that you desire."

Before Luo Chen could respond.

He continued, "My Storage Belt was taken by the demon cultivators of Cangwu Mountain, so I have nothing of value on me."

"This Yin Pole Puppet is quite extraordinary, but it was also consumed by the Nirvana Holy Flame, not worth mentioning."

"It seems what you're after is the knowledge in my mind."

"Cultivation techniques, secret arts, puppet crafting techniques, medicinal formulas, array diagrams... or perhaps, your method of Body Reconstruction and Soul Revival, allowing you to cultivate the Great Dao anew?"

"Luo Chen, do you think my assessment is correct?"

Luo Chen blinked, but he didn't feel embarrassed or angry at being seen through.

Negotiating conditions was a process of gradually exposing each other's bottom lines.

He spoke loudly, "Senior's four hundred years of experience, isn't it more valuable than those things you mentioned?"

Han Zhan smiled, "In that case, why don't we each take a step back."

"How do you propose we do that?"

"I can make a Great Dao Oath, but with a time limit. For example, when you condense your Nascent Soul and ascend to the True Monarch realm, you will have the power to protect yourself and won't fear me. In return, I will assist you in forming your Nascent Soul as much as possible without violating my principles. Of course, during this process, you must help me gather the necessary materials so that I can continue to cultivate the Great Dao in the future.

After listening to these words, Luo Chen fell into deep contemplation.

It has to be said that this was the ideal situation! In his life, although he had friends to support him and a Dao companion to assist him, he lacked the guidance of a so-called "enlightened master."

If Han Zhan was willing to sincerely assist him, it would undoubtedly be a great help.

And the price he would pay wouldn't be too high.

The Great Dao Oath was generally not very binding on ordinary low-level cultivators, but it was extremely powerful for high-level cultivators.

Especially in Han Zhan's current state, he was like a naked child, and if he broke his promise, the backlash of the oath would cause him to die instantly.

Suddenly, Luo Chen spoke with determination.

"Deal!"

As these two words left his mouth, the tense atmosphere seemed to relax.

However, it only seemed that way.

After a while, a voice of laughter and scolding came from inside the cauldron.

"Good lad, you've become so cautious."

Luo Chen tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Senior, please make the vow first, and I'll release you immediately."

"Fine!"

"Cultivator Han Zhan, I hereby swear to wholeheartedly assist my Dao companion, Luo Chen... This vow, the Great Dao bears witness! If I break this oath, may I be struck by the Five Thunder Strike, suffer the counterattack of my heart demon, descend into hell, and eternally fall into reincarnation!"

Each word was spoken as if he were making a pact with someone.

Luo Chen listened carefully, ensuring there were no excessive wordplay loopholes.

Gradually... as the words 'the Great Dao bears witness' were spoken, a faint connection seemed to form between Luo Chen and Han Zhan.

For Luo Chen, it was as if a gentle breeze brushed past his face, and he seemed unaware.

For Han Zhan, golden locks intertwined, and a wooden collar encircled his neck.

At this point, the vow was complete.

Luo Chen heaved a long sigh of relief.

The divine light in his eyes faded, and the azure flame in his hand dissipated.

He opened his mouth and inhaled, and nine fire dragons flew into his mouth.

Finally, he swept his wide sleeves, and a buzzing sound came from the cauldron as a beam of black light flew out.

Before he could even say a polite word, the black light wobbled and fell to the ground.

Crack, crack...

Luo Chen looked closely, and the black wood that formed the puppet seemed like charcoal, shattered into pieces, leaving only a slightly transparent illusory figure with a bitter smile directed at Luo Chen.

"Young friend, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to find me a place to stay."

Luo Chen was speechless.

After all this time, this was the reason he had to wake up after four years of cultivation in the cauldron!

Looking at his state, Luo Chen's heart stirred.

He reached out and summoned a long pennant into his hand.

"Senior, please enter this pennant!"

Han Zhan, upon seeing the pennant, couldn't help but feel both surprised and angry.

"We just agreed on the terms, and now you want to turn me into a Soul Banner Demon, Luo Chen, you've gone too far!"

No wonder he was so furious.

There was a distinction between entering the soul into the demon.

The distinction lay in the difference between living souls and dead souls!

The dead, filled with vengeful qi, lingered after death, their souls remaining in the mortal realm, were known as dead souls. These beings, if refined, became invaluable demon treasures, making them extremely versatile and difficult to defend against in battle due to their ever-changing nature.

However, living souls were different. Even if their bodies were destroyed, they could still retain their consciousness and even cultivate using a new body.

If such a living soul were to enter a demon banner filled with death qi, ghost qi, vengeful qi, and yin qi, even a living soul would eventually become a dead soul, unable to return to the path of normal cultivation.

Han Zhan's current state was precisely that of a living soul with a destroyed body.

Seeing his anger, Luo Chen chuckled.

"Senior, don't be angry. I have a method that might help."

With Han Zhan's skepticism, Luo Chen recited word for word a cultivation technique he had obtained years ago.

Ghost Mystique Script

Although it was a ghost cultivation technique, it encompassed both living and dead souls.

Not only that, but it also included an understanding of how the Ghost Valley used array diagrams to nurture yin souls.

Initially, Bai Meiling was able to advance to the second-rank Ghost General within a few years precisely because she cultivated the Ghost Mystique Script and had a soul-nurturing pennant to assist her.

Luo Chen didn't have a soul-nurturing pennant, but he had a soul-refining pennant! With Han Zhan's abilities in the path of soul cultivation, and with some modifications to the Ghost Mystique Script, this pennant could become an ideal place for Han Zhan to reside.

Nurturing and refining were essentially one!

After listening to Luo Chen's explanation, Han Zhan hesitated.

"There are indeed some feasible aspects, but I'll need to study it first."

As he spoke, he leaped into the long pennant.

Seeing this, Luo Chen couldn't help but smile.

This Ten Thousand Souls Pennant now housed a Nascent Soul-stage remnant soul. If he could fully replenish the lower-level souls, it would not only restore the power of the pennant but also rival the Hundred Thousand Vengeful Souls Banner.

Most importantly!

Luo Chen wouldn't need to divert his attention to control it.

With this, Luo Chen would effectively gain a powerful ally in battle.

With Han Zhan's abilities, even if he couldn't unleash the full might of his Nascent Soul stage, he would still be above the average Golden Core cultivator.

"With this, I finally have some confidence to roam the Demon Sea."

(End of Chapter)

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