Immortality Begins With The Alchemical Master Chapter 601: Blood-Stained, Savage Beast Stone Dragon - Novel Cool

Chapter 601: Blood-Stained, Savage Beast Stone Dragon

Chapter 601: Blood-Stained, Savage Beast Stone Dragon

Above the Qu Yang Sea, two figures exchanged glances and smiled.

A coughing sound came from below, and waves rippled as Duan Li struggled to fly out from the seabed, slowly making his way to their side.

His face was pale, and streaks of black qi resembling earthworms crawled across his face.

His aura was so weak and decadent that it was hard to believe he was a Golden Core Cultivator.

"Cough... Thank you, Qing Yangzi, for your warning. Otherwise, I would have perished under this person's sneak attack." Duan Li said, his face showing gratitude.

Luo Chen waved his hand and smiled, "It's fine. We fought side by side, and a reminder is only natural. It's just a pity about Hao Ye."

As he spoke, he looked towards the Fishing Old Man.

The Old Man raised his eyebrows and with a flick of his finger, a silk thread flew out from his hand and sank into the depths of the sea.

In no time, he pulled out a badly damaged corpse.

It was indeed Hao Ye's body.

His eyes were wide open, filled with unwillingness, unable to close them in death!

Looking at Hao Ye's corpse, the three of them fell silent.

After a while, the Old Man stuffed the corpse, along with its belongings, into a Storage Bag.

"After all, we traveled together. Even though he was a Wanderer, he should have a place to rest in death. After returning, I will make sure he is properly buried."

Luo Chen glanced at his actions, and Hao Ye's Storage Bag, along with his previous Spirit Beast Bag, were taken without hesitation.

Had he done anything to deserve such a reward?

However, the Old Man's greed exceeded his expectations.

With a flick of his fingers, silk threads flew out continuously, right in front of them.

Soon, the white-robed cultivator's black wooden sword, along with his Storage Bag, and even his corpse, were all tied up.

"Qing Yangzi?"

Luo Chen raised his eyebrows and released the Primordial Cauldron chain that bound the white-robed cultivator, allowing the Old Man to collect all the spoils of war.

He didn't resist, but Duan Li couldn't help but feel indignant.

"Elder, this person was killed by our hard work, and Qing Yangzi played a significant role. How can you..."

The Old Man laughed heartily, paying no heed to his indignation.

"Forgive me, but these are the rules of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly. The initial assessment task is like this. In the future, when you take on other tasks as Monster Hunters, the spoils of war will be yours to decide."

As he said this, he patted the bulging Storage Bags at his waist.

"These things aren't something I'm greedy for. Later, I will hand them over to the Monster Hunter Bureau, and after screening, they will be contributed for all Monster Hunters to exchange."

"As the involved parties, you have the priority to choose first. I will inform you when the time comes."

His words were logical and well-founded, leaving no room for doubt.

Luo Chen said nothing.

Naturally, Duan Li couldn't say more.

However, after a brief silence, Duan Li tentatively asked, "Do I still count as a failure in this assessment task? Why am I still included?"

The Old Man stroked his grayish-white beard, "Who said you failed?"

"But..." Duan Li glanced at Luo Chen, who remained unmoved.

The Old Man explained, "This assessment task was taken on by the three of us together. As long as it's successful, it's a joint achievement. The specific evaluation will be reviewed by me, the supervising officer."

"Qing Yangzi, without a doubt, will be promoted directly to a Four-Star Monster Hunter."

"As for you, Friend Duan Li, although you didn't play the leading role, your contributions were significant. Later, when I retrieve the Mirage Pearl and show it to the other elders of the Monster Hunter Bureau, they will give you a suitable Monster Hunter rank. I can't say how many stars, but you will have a title for sure."

As he spoke, he showed a round pearl in his hand.

Mirage Pearl, a special Magical Treasure in the Northern Sea, capable of storing images.

Its principle was derived from the Water Mirror Technique and the Wall-Imprinted Image, but it was even more advanced.

Luo Chen looked at the Mirage Pearl, and his eyebrows unconsciously furrowed.

Seemingly understanding Luo Chen's thoughts, the Old Man reassured him, "Rest assured, the Monster Hunter Bureau won't leak these images, and your combat methods will be kept as confidential as possible."

Luo Chen's eyebrows relaxed a little, but he still had his doubts.

The Old Man couldn't give him further assurance. After all, some unspoken rules had to be followed when participating in assessment tasks.

Duan Li couldn't help but cough a few more times.

"Do we have anything else to do? Let's go back first; my injuries need urgent treatment."

The Old Man looked around, "We can leave anytime, but we have to wait for Qing Yangzi to finish."

As he spoke, he stopped smiling and looked at Luo Chen.

"Is that enough?"

Duan Li was startled and looked at the sea surface, where the ghosts were fighting and killing each other.

Without their master's control, the Soul Refining Banner of the white-robed cultivator became ownerless. He had previously used all the ghosts inside to set up the Shadow Domain.

At this moment, the Shadow Domain was broken, and the strange giant ghost king returned to its original form, trying to escape the area.

However, it was surrounded and attacked by other ghost kings, who would bite off pieces of its soul from time to time.

Obviously, those surrounding ghost kings were created by Luo Chen!

Luo Chen hummed and summoned his Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

After a fierce battle, not only was the Ten Thousand Souls Banner not damaged, but the ghostly energy within it was also replenished.

Especially, that strange Ghost King, who seemed neither human nor beast, was captured alive by the crowd of Demon Crabs and Ghost Kings!

"Thank you, Old Man Fisherman."

Old Man Fisherman smiled and retrieved the tattered Ten Thousand Souls Banner from the white-robed cultivator.

"It's fine. Rules are dead, but people are alive. The main banner of the Soul Refining Banner is still here, so I can take it back to report. As for how many souls are left inside, it's reasonable to have some losses after a battle that killed two Golden Core Cultivators."

"Let's go!"

With a wave of his hand, a flying boat appeared beneath his feet.

He nodded towards Duan Li.

The latter was initially startled but then showed gratitude and jumped onto the boat.

Obviously, Old Man Fisherman was deliberately taking care of his injuries; otherwise, there was no need to use a flying boat.

Luo Chen also boarded the flying boat.

Before leaving, he turned back to look at the sea, still turbulent after the great battle.

A Heaven's Pride from a Holy Land of Spirit Transformation and a Wanderer who had endured countless hardships to advance to the Golden Core stage in the wilderness, both perished.

Silently, without any praise or commemoration.

As Old Man Fisherman set up the spirit stones and infused them with mana, the flying boat transformed into a streak of light, carrying the three of them towards the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly's base in the Qu Yang Sea.

...

Qu Yang Island was the name of the base.

Four went, and three returned.

Xiao Buhan personally came to the island to greet them.

Although he was surprised by Hao Ye's demise, he wasn't entirely caught off guard.

At that moment, he ordered someone to prepare to activate the teleportation array.

However, Old Man Fisherman stopped him.

"Duan Li has suffered severe injuries and is not suitable for forced teleportation. Let him rest here for half a month to stabilize his injuries before departing."

Duan Li expressed his gratitude to Old Man Fisherman and then said to Xiao Buhan, "Thank you for your trouble."

Xiao Buhan waved his hand, "It's no trouble."

However, this made him even more curious about Luo Chen.

Three Golden Core Cultivators participated in the assessment task, one died, and one was severely injured, yet Qing Yangzi remained unscathed, indicating his exceptional abilities.

A desire to befriend him naturally arose.

"Qing Yangzi rarely ventures out to sea. In the future, you might have to take on the defense task here. Why don't I, Xiao, show you around and help you familiarize yourself with the environment?"

Luo Chen's lips curved slightly, "Since it's like this, then I'll have to trouble you."

...

And so, Luo Chen temporarily stayed on Qu Yang Island.

Duan Li recuperated in seclusion.

Old Man Fisherman occasionally went out to sea, saying he had other important matters to attend to, and promised to return in half a month.

Luo Chen, under Xiao Buhan's hospitality, enjoyed a rare leisurely life.

"Each of the Three Sea Defense Lines has its unique features. The Liuyang Sea is filled with hidden currents, making it difficult even for powerful monster beasts to cross the sea. It's easy to lose direction, forming a natural barrier. Our Qu Yang Defense Line also has its advantages, with countless underwater reefs scattered throughout the sea."

"The Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly invited array masters from Divine Essence City to set up the Luo Heaven Boulder Array here. When the array is activated, countless underwater reefs move in unison, forming a formidable killing array."

"As for the Huanyang Sea, the third defense line, it's purely a defensive area. Its intricacies..."

On this day, Xiao Buhan led Luo Chen to land on a reef in the sea.

While introducing the unique features of the Qu Yang Defense Line, he occasionally used the array compass in his hand to manipulate the underwater reefs, each engraved with strange talismans.

The Luo Heaven Boulder Array, combined with the terrain and spirit veins, connects several third-rank spirit veins, forming an indisputable fourth-rank offensive array.

Only then can it block those powerful monster beasts that break through the first defense line.

On the surface, the sea appears calm.

But once in wartime, the intensity of the battles here surpasses even the first defense line.

As Xiao Buhan spoke, a wry smile appeared on his face.

"This defense task seems leisurely, but in reality, we live in constant fear."

"Why?" Luo Chen was curious.

Xiao Buhan pointed towards the north, "Who knows when the monster beast army trapped in the North Pole Night Realm will break free? When that happens, even without the appearance of a fourth-rank Demon Emperor, the massive number of low-level monster beasts will sweep through the human territories like a tsunami. I don't think the Three Sea Defense Lines can hold them back for long."

Luo Chen suddenly understood.

He was well aware that the monster beast army that invaded the Primordial Demon Sect's mountain gate was no ordinary force. They were not mere shrimp soldiers and crab generals, nor could they be compared to the demon crabs and ring-headed turtles of the Xuan Yan Sea.

Even after the Demon-Devil War ended, the remaining monster beasts were still numerous.

Once they break free, relying solely on the Three Sea Defense Lines or even the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly would be absolutely insufficient to stop them.

Only by uniting the entire Northern Sea Immortal World could they hope to resist such a formidable enemy.

However, this meant that Luo Chen's plan to seek tranquility and avoid the Demon-Devil War's vortex would likely fail.

Was he jumping from one vortex to another? Luo Chen frowned, "Have the three Great Loose Cultivators publicly expressed their opinions on this matter?"

"Those three True Men..."

Xiao Buhan was taken aback for a moment before shaking his head. "Aside from the occasional appearance of the Moon Hermit, the other two are as elusive as dragons, with their whereabouts shrouded in mystery. With such secretive movements, how can they openly express their opinions?"

Luo Chen was left speechless.

Suddenly, he recalled the brief words spoken by the white-robed cultivator during their previous battle.

His curiosity piqued, and he couldn't help but ask, "Daoist Friend Xiao, you mentioned that you've been part of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly for seventy years. You must have some knowledge about the three Loose Cultivators, right?"

"I do know a bit."

"Do you know their true names?"

Xiao Buhan hesitated.

Luo Chen recited the three names that the white-robed cultivator had previously revealed.

Pang Buju, Leng Xiaoyue, and Fengling Scholar!

"I'm not sure about that. But before the Mad Hermit went completely mad, he did have the Daoist title of Fengling Scholar."

With one name verified, Luo Chen became more convinced of the authenticity of the other two.

Looking at Xiao Buhan, Luo Chen smiled and said, "I heard that these three have deep-seated grudges against the Primordial Demon Sect. Do you know the specifics of these grudges?"

When cultivators privately exchanged information, aside from sharing cultivation insights, they also discussed other matters.

In a more positive light, it was considered discussing the trends in the cultivation world.

In a less flattering light, it was simply gossip.

Apparently, Xiao Buhan's interest in the conversation had also been piqued.

"I'm not familiar with the Moon Hermit or the Mad Hermit, but I do know a thing or two about the Blood Hermit's grudge against the Primordial Demon Sect."

He began to narrate, "It is said that the Blood Hermit was not always a Loose Cultivator. He belonged to a sect that had high hopes for him, and he was considered Heaven's Pride of his sect!"

"The sect was quite powerful, with a Nascent Soul Ancestor leading it. Naturally, they attracted the attention of other smaller forces. It is said that a Nascent Soul sect of the same level proactively sought a marriage alliance with the Blood Hermit's sect, offering a young and talented female cultivator as his bride."

"However, this female cultivator caught the eye of a cultivator from the Primordial Demon Sect. The Blood Hermit, unaware of the other party's identity, got into a conflict and killed the cultivator in anger."

At this point, Luo Chen, being a good listener, chimed in appropriately.

"Did this incident lead to the grudge?"

Xiao Buhan shook his head, "If that were the case, it wouldn't be considered a deep-seated grudge. Especially since a Holy Land cultivator had never defeated a Supreme Sect's True Transmission, it would be embarrassing to mention. The real reason lies in what happened afterward."

With a hint of excitement, he continued, "The Primordial Demon Sect also values its reputation. Instead of targeting the Blood Hermit directly, the senior of the cultivator he killed approached the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Blood Hermit's sect, proposing a Spell Combat to settle the grudge. It was a graceful move, not using their higher cultivation to bully the weaker side and instead involving the elders to resolve the conflict. Holy Lands have their rules, and the lower sect couldn't refuse. The Spell Combat commenced, and as expected, the Blood Hermit's master regretfully lost."

"Through this battle, the Primordial Demon Sect washed away its shame and regained its reputation."

"However, the Blood Hermit's master passed away within ten years after the defeat. The sect blamed the Blood Hermit, whether it was for their interests, settling scores, or cutting ties. In any case, the elders joined forces to expel him from the sect. Additionally, the female cultivator's sect, fearing retribution from the Primordial Demon Sect, proactively offered her to the Primordial Demon Sect. It is said that she met a tragic end, being used as a living furnace and slowly drained to death."

"After these events, the Blood Hermit's temperament changed drastically, and he gradually embarked on the path of demonic cultivation. After achieving the Nascent Soul realm, he first returned to his sect and annihilated his own power, then headed to the female cultivator's family and turned their land into a living hell."

A change in temperament?

His master's passing, expulsion from the sect, and the tragic death of his beloved...

Luo Chen's heart raced as he listened. Indeed, for a sect's Heaven's Pride to endure such a series of events, it was understandable for him to veer towards extremes.

Xiao Buhan noticed Luo Chen's engrossment and felt a twinge of unease.

He realized he might have shared too much, given their brief acquaintance.

"Daoist Friend Qing Yangzi, these are all hearsay, so please don't take them too seriously. Even the people involved might struggle to clarify the details. It's best to treat this as entertainment and not spread it around."

Luo Chen laughed it off, "Rest assured, Daoist Friend Xiao, I won't."

Xiao Buhan heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Luo Chen's reaction.

However, he quickly changed the subject to steer the conversation away.

"After you return and become a Four-star Monster Hunter, which is a certainty, you'll likely cultivate in the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range. Have you decided which mountain you'll choose as your permanent Cave Abode?"

As expected, this topic immediately piqued Luo Chen's interest.

"Daoist Friend Xiao, could you recommend some options?"

Xiao Buhan smiled with satisfaction, "I've actually done some research in this area!"

"Do you know why the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range is named as such?"

"Please enlighten me!"

"According to legend, in ancient times, savage beasts roamed the Northern Sea. Among them was a beast named Stone Dragon, which was a spirit formed from minerals and attained the Dao. After its passing, it nourished the heavens and earth, giving birth to a Fifth Rank Spirit Vein in the Northern Sea. After the ancient battle between humans and demons, that region became part of the human territory. The Primordial Demon Sect, ruling over the Northern Sea, relocated numerous Spirit Veins to the North Pole Night Realm, creating the Spirit Transformation Holy Land! However, during the relocation of the Stone Dragon Spirit Vein, they didn't anticipate that the Stone Dragon's remnant soul remained, causing a major disturbance."

In the end, it was the newly ascended Blood Sea Ancestor of the Primordial Demon Sect who personally subdued him, taking away not only the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein but also capturing the remnant soul of the stone dragon.

Xiao Buhan paused, and said with conviction, "The Dragon Soaring Mountain Range, where the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is held, is the very same place from back then!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Chen was utterly astonished.

"If the Fifth Rank Spirit Vein has been moved, how can the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range still have Fourth Rank resources?"

"That's why they say the means of a Holy Land are beyond our imagination." Xiao Buhan marveled, then continued, "But it's not without some impact. At the very least, the areas where spiritual energy converges within the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range are vastly different from other Fourth Rank Spirit Veins."

"How so?"

As Xiao Buhan explained, Luo Chen learned of the unique aspects of the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range.

Typically, Fourth Rank Spirit Veins are formed by the concentration and convergence of spiritual energy.

With the Fourth Rank at the center, it spreads outward, forming a pyramid structure with the Third Rank, Second Rank, and even First Rank.

However, the main vein of the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range was relocated by the Primordial Demon Sect during ancient times, leaving the branch veins without support.

After three thousand years of evolution, several branch veins have become independent, absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth, each forming their own peaks.

As a result, the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range is filled with numerous peaks, and each rank of Spirit Veins is scattered like stars in the sky, making it difficult to trace their origins.

Some Spirit Veins that appear to be Third Rank Superior are actually just empty shells, and after a few months of cultivation, their rank will decline.

On the other hand, some seemingly ordinary Second Rank Spirit Veins can provide excellent cultivation conditions, and with proper nurturing, they can even reach the level of a Third Rank, albeit slightly weaker.

For a newly arrived Golden Core Cultivator at the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, choosing a suitable Third Rank Spirit Vein is a challenging task. Even with the guidance of the Assembly's cultivators, selecting an excellent Cave Mansion is like winning the lottery.

...

After hearing Xiao Buhan's introduction, Luo Chen couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

"It's indeed not easy for Loose Cultivators! Even if we find a large Spirit Vein to settle in, there are still numerous difficulties, and one wrong step could result in a loss of millions of spirit stones."

This realization made Luo Chen more vigilant. During the subsequent selection of a Spirit Land, he must keep his eyes open and not be fooled.

Through the Fishing Old Man's collection of spoils, Luo Chen understood that the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, while seemingly a haven for Loose Cultivators, is actually a means for high-level cultivators to amass wealth.

Late-stage Golden Core Cultivators covet the spoils of early and mid-stage Golden Core Cultivators.

As for Nascent Soul Cultivators, they would even covet the accumulated wealth of Golden Core Cultivators.

Although a Nascent Soul Cultivator might not care about the possessions of one or two Golden Core Cultivators, the accumulation of many over time would result in an enormous profit.

This is not just a one-time gain but a continuous stream of income. The Golden Core Cultivators under their command, in their struggle for survival, will continuously generate more wealth.

Luo Chen must not allow himself to be treated like a cash cow.

Even if he were to be one, at least he should get his money's worth.

"Thank you, Daoist Friend Xiao, for your reminder. Qing Yang will remember this favor." Luo Chen bowed in gratitude.

Xiao Buhan waved his hand, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.

"I have a few vacant Cave Mansions to recommend. After you return, carefully consider them, and perhaps we can even become neighbors."

"Oh, Qing Yang would be delighted."

Luo Chen was overjoyed and quickly jotted down the locations of the peaks that Xiao Buhan mentioned.

Time passed, and half a month later...

The Fishing Old Man returned, looking weary from his journey to a distant place.

After his return, he gathered Luo Chen and Duan Li.

Even though Duan Li's condition was still poor, he no longer delayed and forcefully activated the teleportation array.

...

Inside a palace in Dragon Quake Immortal City, the formation light shone brightly.

When it stopped, the old man staggered for a moment, and Duan Li couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Luo Chen calmly observed this scene and stepped out of the teleportation array platform.

The Fishing Old Man couldn't help but glance at Luo Chen once more and said, "You two should go back and rest for a day or two. Come back in three days to receive the related items and decide whether to rent a Cave Mansion in the Dragon Soaring Mountain Range."

Three days? Luo Chen pursed his lips. This was good; it gave him enough buffer time to verify Xiao Buhan's words.

Duan Li, however, was lost in thought, and a faint worry hung on his face.

Luo Chen glanced at him.

In his current state, even if he rented a Third Rank Cave Mansion, he might not be able to keep it.

But with his injuries, he would need the assistance of a Third Rank Spirit Vein to heal quickly.

Luo Chen thought that he must be in a dilemma! However, these matters had little to do with him. If the other party wanted to heal, Luo Chen could offer some help, as they had fought side by side before.

Luo Chen bid farewell and quickly left the palace.

After leaving, Luo Chen couldn't help but feel a moment of dizziness under the slightly glaring sunlight in the sky.

He had now passed the assessment task and was only three days away from obtaining the identity of a Four-Star Monster Hunter in the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.

Had he finally found an organization?

"Organization?"

"It's just a group of cultivators with slightly higher cultivation levels. I can't trust anyone else; I can only rely on myself!"

Luo Chen smiled bitterly and quickened his pace.

(End of Chapter)

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