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Chapter 712: Black King's Dragon Transformation, Luo Chen's Awakening
Chapter 712: Black King's Dragon Transformation, Luo Chen's Awakening
Strictly speaking, the first alchemy book Luo Chen encountered was gifted to him by Uncle Mi.
Its name was "Qingyuanzi's Detailed Guide to Alchemy."
This book contained detailed records of low-level pill refinement techniques and included several foundational alchemy methods, such as Huanxi Hand and Zheyu Hand.
When Luo Chen was at a lower cultivation level, these alchemy techniques provided him with great convenience.
Additionally, there was another technique called "Qingyuan Nourishing Pill Technique." At the time when Qingyuanzi wrote this alchemy book, he was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he successfully refined a third-tier pill.
He didn't have Luo Chen's attribute panel as an external aid, so his ability to refine pills beyond his cultivation level relied solely on this Nourishing Pill Technique.
Qingyuan Nourishing Pill Technique:
Requires alchemy tools, at least of high-grade spiritual artifact level, with supreme-grade being better, and divine artifacts being the best!
The pill to be nurtured must also be of the highest quality!
Not only that, but during the nurturing process, at least ten portions of raw materials are needed.
Furthermore, it's best to take advantage of favorable locations, preferably a spirit vein, or at least a special environment beneficial to pill refinement.
Lastly, the alchemist must constantly use Foundation Establishment True Fire to temper the pill's quality.
This nurturing process can take anywhere from half a year to a century.
It's a tedious and time-consuming process!
Luo Chen remembers this technique well, mainly because the requirements for Essence Energy Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage are incredibly demanding!
However, from his current perspective, these so-called demanding conditions aren't as challenging to fulfill.
Moreover, with Luo Chen's fourth-tier pill refinement skills, he re-examined the Qingyuan Nourishing Pill Technique and found numerous flaws.
Even so, Luo Chen still believes this technique has its merits.
Especially since he naturally meets some of the conditions.
He possesses a fourth-tier spirit vein.
He has the already-enlightened Prosperity and Withering True Fire.
And he has all the time he needs.
As for the other conditions...
"The pill's quality must be supreme, but that's only because lower-tier pills lack potency. My fourth-tier Incarnation Pill, when placed below the fourth tier, is also a supreme quality within the supreme."
"The requirement for around ten portions of raw materials is not an issue. Although I don't have much leftover material, I have ten complete pills, which will only enhance the effect!"
"The only limitation is the alchemy tools."
Luo Chen had the idea of nurturing the Incarnation Pill to improve its quality.
Just like what he told Han Zhan, why take an eight or ninety percent chance of success when you can ensure a hundred percent?
Luo Chen was a bit troubled by the alchemy tools.
The Primordial Cauldron couldn't be used.
Two of his three backup alchemy tools became unusable after refining pills, unable to withstand the heat of the Prosperity and Withering True Fire.
The remaining alchemy furnace was also on the verge of collapse.
Logically, Luo Chen had no backup plan.
But, surprisingly, he had one more item in his possession!
A flash of spirit light appeared, and a yellowed copper basin landed in front of him.
It was the Dragon Nurturing Basin! This treasure had the ability to nurture treasures and enhance their quality.
In the past, Luo Chen used it to nurture the Primordial Cauldron, his life-saving treasure. Originally, it was estimated to take two to three hundred years to completely remove impurities, but with the Dragon Nurturing Basin, it only took a few decades for the Primordial Cauldron to reach its peak.
At that time, he thought this treasure could only be used to nurture weapons.
But later, he gradually realized that he had fallen into a rut, influenced by the previous owner of the Dragon Nurturing Basin, Qian Ting.
This treasure could actually be used to nurture not only weapons but also pills, and even minerals and herbs to some extent.
Its effectiveness was remarkable, far beyond what contemporary cultivators could achieve.
Luo Chen didn't delve into the origin of the Dragon Nurturing Basin, but for now, it was the best tool for nurturing the Incarnation Pill.
After carefully considering for two days and ensuring nothing was overlooked, Luo Chen began the steps before nurturing the pill.
He placed the Dragon Nurturing Basin in the area with the richest Earth Abyss Spirit Qi.
He set up an array nearby and placed nine Incarnation Pills within it.
Yes, he only placed nine pills.
As a precaution, Luo Chen kept one pill aside.
This way, even if the nurturing process failed, Luo Chen would still have a spare.
Finally, it was time for the Prosperity and Withering True Fire! Luo Chen separated a wisp of the fire's essence and slowly burned it, which could last for a year.
After a year, he could replenish it.
Speaking of which, this technique of separating the fire's essence was something he had comprehended during his seclusion over the years.
Previously, the Prosperity and Withering True Fire was just a single flame, and it was impossible to separate it.
But after absorbing numerous Fire Spirits and becoming more profound, Luo Chen intuitively understood this technique.
He had even specifically separated three essences for Tianxuan, demonstrating the flexibility of this method.
Watching the spirit light in the copper basin, as the essence of eight pills was drawn by the array towards the central pill, Luo Chen nodded in satisfaction.
Before he had more raw materials to refine pills in large quantities and improve his pill refinement skills, the ability of this nurturing technique to enhance the quality of the pills, even if only by a small degree, was still an unexpected delight.
"I don't aim to elevate it to the fifth tier, but as long as it can be improved from the lower fourth tier to the middle or even the upper fourth tier, it will be sufficient for my Soul Formation."
Luo Chen murmured and returned to his thatched cottage.
Glancing at his attribute panel, the cultivation level indicator showed that he had reached the halfway point of the ninth level of the Golden Core.
He was just a decade away from the Golden Core stage.
Perhaps he needed to speed up a little.
...
Speaking of tension, it wasn't as tense as it seemed.
At the ninth level of the Golden Core, Luo Chen's cultivation mainly involved increasing and refining his essence energy, a straightforward process.
Therefore, he had free time to go out and chat with Han Zhan, seeking advice on various aspects of the Soul Formation process.
Their discussions and exchanges usually took place on Scarlet Hill, the highest and most scenic location on Dragon Abyss Island.
On this day, Luo Chen and Han Zhan sat facing each other, drinking and chatting leisurely.
"Since coming to Dragon Abyss Island, it's been seventeen years. I've observed that your cultivation is just a step away from the completion of the Golden Core stage. However, I've noticed that your essence, energy, and spirit remain distinct and separate." Han Zhan finally voiced his long-held doubt.
Over the years, Luo Chen had re-engraved the Hidden Formation, and the Primordial Energy constantly permeated his body, making it impossible for Han Zhan to observe Luo Chen's specific condition.
He could only catch glimpses of Luo Chen's abilities through occasional conversations, seeing just the tip of the iceberg.
But one thing he could discern was the lack of integration among Luo Chen's essence, energy, and spirit.
Luo Chen couldn't help but chuckle at this.
"If you are aware of this, then you should also know the principle of balancing the Three Treasures in an orderly manner. Without absolute certainty, I wouldn't dare force their fusion."
Han Zhan seemed deep in thought, "You've always developed in all aspects, with almost no weaknesses. How could the Three Treasures be imbalanced? Could it be due to an overly strong physique?"
Luo Chen smiled and nodded.
Han Zhan didn't suspect that Luo Chen's divine soul foundation was lacking.
This was only natural.
Although Luo Chen hadn't deliberately cultivated profound spirit-refining techniques, his divine soul foundation had always been solid.
Back when he was at the sixth level of the Golden Core stage, he could already rival those at the eighth level, and he was infinitely close to the cultivation of a great cultivator at the ninth level.
Now, as he was just a step away from completing the Golden Core stage, his divine soul foundation had unknowingly reached a level comparable to that of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
In the end, the reason Luo Chen was stuck and couldn't advance further was still his overly strong physique and weak essence energy.
However!
This problem was about to be solved.
He twirled his finger, and a faint spiritual light flickered.
Although the amount was small, the power contained within it was astonishing.
Han Zhan looked on in shock, finding it hard to believe.
Could this be the quality of essence energy a Golden Core stage cultivator could possess?
Its purity was comparable to the essence energy used by a cultivator to refine their Nascent Soul!
He shook his head, marveling, "I don't know how you managed it, but you've achieved such a level. Now it seems that losing the second Golden Core has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for you."
Luo Chen deeply agreed.
Previously, while cultivating two Golden Cores simultaneously, he had focused too much on quantity and inadvertently neglected refining his essence energy.
Although it was still purer than that of his peers, it was still lacking and far from reaching Luo Chen's full potential.
Over the past decade on Dragon Abyss Island, Luo Chen had calmed down and returned to the right path.
Every strand of essence energy he condensed was continuously purified and tempered by the Prosperity and Withering True Fire, eventually leading to a qualitative change.
Now, even though his essence energy level was still inferior to the Primordial Energy, with the assistance of his divine soul power, he could barely achieve the fusion of the Three Treasures.
Luo Chen had already made plans to undergo this process once he completed the Golden Core stage.
Knowing that Luo Chen had reached this stage, Han Zhan began explaining the intricacies to him.
When a cultivator reaches the ninth level of the Golden Core stage, they must harmonize their essence, energy, and spirit, achieving a certain balance.
The sign of achieving this balance is the formation of the Nascent Soul!
The essence blood and divine soul merge with the Golden Core, using it as a vessel to create the so-called Nascent Soul.
This is completely different from the initial stages of the Golden Core, where the divine soul is merely tainted by essence energy.
That tainting is like a fleeting visitor, touching and then withdrawing.
But this fusion aims for a long-term stay.
When a certain opportunity arises, the Nascent Soul will resonate with the heavens and earth, producing a "fetal movement" that only the cultivator can perceive.
At that moment, it will be time for Soul Formation!
To summarize:
The Three Treasures unite, and the Golden Core transforms into the Nascent Soul.
The fetal movement triggers the tribulation, shattering the Golden Core and forming the Nascent Soul!
Only then can one become a Nascent Soul Immortal, truly experiencing the vastness of the heavens and earth!
Luo Chen listened with rapt attention, his heart resonating with the knowledge from the scriptures he had read in the past.
It was said that in ancient times, the cultivation stages of essence energy cultivators were not as strictly defined as they are now, and there were many different terms.
For instance, the Essence Energy Cultivation stage was divided into Drawing Energy, Spirit Light, Foundation Establishment had Opening the Acupoints, Sensing, Dividing the Meridians, and Transforming the Liquid, and the Golden Core stage was even more intricate.
Entering the Divine, Purging the Evil, Seeking the Root, Fetal Movement... Several terms existed between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages.
But ultimately, all paths of essence energy cultivation led to the same destination. These profound and abstruse terms, when applied to his own cultivation, enlightened Luo Chen, and he suddenly understood.
Han Zhan's words, amidst the chaos of his thoughts, pointed out a clear path.
A path that had been validated countless times by predecessors in the cultivation world!
As twilight approached, this discussion drew to a close.
Luo Chen stood up and bowed to Han Zhan, his posture respectful, sincere, and genuine.
"What's this...?"
"Throughout our journey, although we've supported each other, you've provided more guidance, and I've benefited more. This bow comes from the bottom of my heart, Luo Chen."
Han Zhan was caught off guard. Luo Chen had never shown such respect towards him before!
In the past, he had been a Nascent Soul with a damaged body, barely surviving under Luo Chen's protection.
Even though their cultivation levels differed, circumstances were beyond their control.
Especially when seeking this stolen body, he had painstakingly helped Luo Chen improve his strength and research combat techniques.
Now, hearing Luo Chen's heartfelt words, he was somewhat taken aback.
But as he saw Luo Chen's sincere expression, his gaze became complex, and he fell silent.
Just then, Luo Chen suddenly turned around!
Han Zhan was puzzled, but the next moment, his expression changed as he gazed into the distance at the boundless blue ocean.
A powerful aura was brewing deep within the sea.
In the sky, dark clouds suddenly gathered.
They came without warning, and their momentum was immense!
Crack!
A flash of white light, and a thunderbolt ripped through the air.
"This is a sign of tribulation!" Han Zhan exclaimed.
Luo Chen's face was filled with surprise and uncertainty, but he slowly shook his head.
"It's not a tribulation. It's the natural culmination, and the heavens are celebrating with thunder."
Indeed, the next moment, the dark clouds scattered.
Just as they had gathered without warning, they dissipated quietly.
There was no startling thunder or lightning, no chilling wind or cold rain.
Not far from Dragon Abyss Island, countless spiritual energies gathered and formed a funnel-like shape, pouring into the vast sea.
Han Zhan was astonished as he witnessed this scene, feeling a vague sense of familiarity.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon Luo Chen.
Yes, the last time such an eerie celestial phenomenon occurred, it was on Luo Chen.
Back then, on Penghu Island, his physical body had transformed, as if he had become an ancient Beast of the Wasteland!
"Black King, is this the path of Beast evolution?" Han Zhan asked.
Luo Chen nodded slowly, "It seems so. His demonic core has shattered, and the Blood Pill I condensed for him is just a temporary measure. Moreover, many years ago, Black King had mentioned more than once that he didn't want to take the path of Beast transformation. Instead, he instinctively wanted to follow the path of the Beasts of the Wasteland. Now, it seems he has made his final decision!"
Upon reaching the fourth stage, Beasts undergo a qualitative change.
Not only can they transform into human forms, but they can also condense Primordial Spirits like humans, known as Demon Emperors or Demon Cultivators.
At the same time, their understanding of the universe surpasses that of their original beastly bodies.
However, aside from generating Primordial Energy, the Beasts of the Wasteland do not undergo significant changes.
This was also the main reason why most Beasts of the Wasteland changed their allegiances after the ancient war, choosing to follow the path of transformation.
It was unclear whether Black King's choice was right or wrong.
At this moment, Han Zhan had a different feeling.
"It was said that the Beasts of the Wasteland were the true favorites of the Mountain and Sea Realm, and even when they advanced to the fourth stage, this realm would not send down heavenly tribulations."
"At that time, I thought it was just a rumor."
"But with you and Black King as examples, I can't help but believe it now."
Mentioning heavenly tribulations, Han Zhan curiously asked, "Have you thought about how to face the heavenly might and overcome the Primordial Spirit Tribulation when you advance to the Primordial Spirit stage?"
Luo Chen nodded but didn't say more. Instead, he leaped into the air and flew to the coast, standing on a cloud.
Standing quietly, Luo Chen sensed Black King's transformation.
He stood there for an entire night.
The next morning, the waves parted, and a massive, deep black dragon head slowly emerged from the water.
Its face resembled a camel, its horn was like an inverted cone, and spiral patterns spiraled around it.
Two strands of yellow whiskers hung leisurely.
Its slightly open mouth revealed row after row of snow-white teeth, ready to tear apart anything that dared to challenge it.
Huff...
As it exhaled, two streams of smoke burst from its huge nostrils, splashing countless waves.
Beneath its high, arched eyebrows, round, golden-yellow eyes stared straight ahead, filled with an icy, cold intent.
Just a glance revealed the raging power within.
Luo Chen's expression was calm as he slowly extended his right hand.
At this moment, hesitation and struggle flashed in the dragon's eyes.
But in the end, it slowly leaned its head affectionately towards Luo Chen.
His palm rested on the dragon's face, slick as ink, and Luo Chen smiled with satisfaction.
He could feel that he and Black King still had a vague connection.
It wasn't the slave mark.
That slave mark had already disintegrated during his physical body's Nirvana, not only freeing Black King but also Tianxuan, who no longer bore his mark.
This connection originated from their bloodline!
Now, thinking back, Black King's decision to follow the path of Beast evolution, aside from his instincts, was also influenced by the drop of essence blood Luo Chen had given him.
Luo Chen himself had also cultivated the body transformation techniques of the Beasts of the Wasteland!
"Master..."
A deep, heavy voice resonated slowly.
Boom!
Luo Chen patted his face and said with a smile, "Go back! It's not easy to advance, so consolidate your realm. Don't wander around. Soon, I'll attempt to break through to the Primordial Spirit stage, and I'll need you to protect Dragon Abyss Island from disturbances."
Black King snorted loudly and slowly retreated into the sea, then soared like an arrow, piercing the depths.
Amidst the splashing water, Luo Chen vaguely saw Black King's four legs beneath his belly.
Though still a single horn, it now had four legs, becoming a true dragon! No longer an awkward, misshapen creature.
Luo Chen turned around, his back to the morning glow, his face filled with a smile, clearly in high spirits.
Behind him, Tianxuan had been waiting quietly for a long time.
Witnessing this scene, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, has Black King advanced?"
"Yes," Luo Chen patted her shoulder as he passed by, smiling encouragingly, "You shouldn't fall too far behind!"
Luo Chen was in high spirits.
He didn't feel embarrassed that his spiritual beast had advanced before him.
On the contrary, he felt proud that he had achieved the fourth stage of Beast transformation before his partner.
He was delighted that all his efforts had finally borne fruit.
But he wondered, what was Black King capable of now?
...
Upon returning to the Earth Abyss, Luo Chen didn't leave his residence, not even visiting Han Zhan.
Apparently, he had entered a true seclusion.
Time passed slowly.
His essence energy began to increase at an undeniable rate.
When his vast Qi Sea could no longer absorb even a drop of spiritual energy, it meant he had reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage - Great Perfection!
At this point, his essence energy could no longer advance, nor could it be further refined.
Only an extremely compressed, solid golden core, like a blazing sun, hung high within his Qi Sea.
Luo Chen attempted the Three Treasures Unification, guiding his divine soul from the Mind Sea to merge with the golden core. Not only that, drop after drop of essence blood appeared from every corner of his body, flowing towards the golden core.
His once robust physique seemed to wither and shrink.
But within the Qi Sea, the liquid essence blood, solid golden core, and ethereal divine soul began to intertwine and merge as one.
An indescribable transformation occurred within him, constantly evolving and transforming.
Three years later.
Boom!
A faint, barely audible sound echoed.
Ripples of invisible waves emanated from the white-robed Daoist sitting in the thatched hut, causing the Earth Abyss to rumble.
The Daoist slowly opened his eyes.
The Primordial Spirit stirred!
(End of Chapter)
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