https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-743-Seven-Elders-Decision-Temporary-Guest-Scholar/12942752/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-749-Spirit-Seizure-Flying-Star-Sect-Mirage-Dragon-Awakens-Heavenly-Cavern-Opens/12942754/
Chapter 748: The Gap Between Heaven and Earth
Chapter 748: The Gap Between Heaven and Earth
Swish!
In the misty square, Luo Chen's figure appeared.
As soon as he landed, a Dao Sect disciple approached.
Before the disciple could speak, Luo Chen presented a jade token.
The token shimmered with light, and the Jin Dan cultivator only needed a glance to understand Luo Chen's identity.
"So it's the Star Gate Guest Scholar, please follow me!"
Luo Chen nodded and stepped into the mist behind the disciple. As he entered the square, it felt like passing through a thin membrane.
In that instant, his powerful physique seemed to feel a hint of uneasiness.
"Is this a defensive formation?"
The guiding cultivator blinked, "Senior, you have sharp eyes. Indeed, this is a naturally formed defensive formation of Heaven Earth Peak. It's usually inactive, but since the Alchemy Sage's ascension is our sect's top priority, we want to ensure everything is prepared, even though we're not overly concerned about any issues."
So that was the case.
Luo Chen instinctively turned to look back at the invisible defensive formation.
A naturally formed defensive formation from Heaven Earth Peak, which contained a fifth-rank Spirit Vein? He could sense the terror within it.
Even his powerful physique, comparable to a fourth-rank demon beast, felt slightly uncomfortable.
And this was only half-activated, not fully unleashed.
If the formation were fully unleashed, even his full-power attack might not be able to break through it.
Of course, it was also because his physique was too powerful, making him overly sensitive. Others probably wouldn't even notice the activation of such a formation on Heaven Earth Peak.
"May I ask its name?" He asked curiously.
The Jin Dan cultivator was taken aback. How could a Guest Scholar of the Star Gate named Luo Chen not know the name of this formation?
But soon, he remembered the extra words "External Affairs" on Luo Chen's token.
He must not have the necessary clearance to know about many things.
After a moment of hesitation, he answered Luo Chen's question.
"Seal Heaven and Earth!"
Luo Chen was startled. What kind of name was this? Heaven Earth Peak, so high that its peak was invisible, even this vast cloud sea square seemed to be only at its mid-slope when viewed from outside.
One could say that Heaven Earth Peak, an ancient and wondrous mountain, truly had a connection to heaven and earth.
But its naturally formed defensive formation was called "Seal Heaven and Earth"?
Luo Chen wanted to ask more, but it was clear that the Jin Dan cultivator didn't want to say more, or perhaps he didn't know the true effect of the formation either.
After all, since the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect opened up Central State ten thousand years ago and established its dominance three thousand years later, this formation on Heaven Earth Peak had never been activated.
How could ordinary people know the wonders of the Seal Heaven and Earth Grand Formation?
Luo Chen suppressed his doubts and arrived at the southern edge of the Cloud Sea Square.
Even before approaching, he could hear the lively and bustling voices.
"Senior Luo, you're here. The Star Gate cultivators are arranged here to observe the ceremony. If you have any needs, please feel free to instruct the surrounding Dao Sect disciples."
"Okay, you may go now!"
Luo Chen waved his hand and then walked in.
As he appeared, numerous gazes fell upon him.
Luo Chen remained calm on the surface, but his heart tightened.
The reason was simple!
At that moment, out of the thousands of gazes directed at him, nearly a hundred of them belonged to Nascent Soul cultivators!
Moreover, each of them had a cultivation base higher than his!
The weakest were at the third or fourth level of the Nascent Soul stage, while the strongest were at the sixth or seventh level.
And these were just the ones actively emitting their mana fluctuations.
Most of them chose to conceal their cultivation, so without actively probing, Luo Chen couldn't discern their specific levels.
"Is this the strength of the Star Gate cultivators from Heaven Earth Peak?"
Luo Chen swallowed hard.
Even though he had repeatedly overestimated the strength of the Star Gate and calculated the number of Nascent Soul cultivators, even taking into account the normal cycles of life and death, he still hadn't expected nearly a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators.
With just this force, they could easily dominate one of the three continents if they were in the outside world.
This was the accumulation of the Star Gate over three thousand six hundred years and part of the profound foundation of the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect!
"Fellow Luo, over here!"
As Luo Chen was still in awe, the familiar Seven Lantern Elder waved him over.
Luo Chen immediately walked towards him.
Along the way, he also nodded to the Winter Mountain Man and Lu Qiuzhen, who were watching him.
It was evident that they had arrived earlier than him.
After all, they were official Guest Scholars of the Star Gate, and the Alchemy Sage's ascension was a top priority for the Star Gate, so they naturally received the news earlier and had more time to prepare.
Luo Chen's gaze focused on the Seven Lantern Elder, where four elders were gathered.
Each of them didn't reveal their cultivation base, but their calmness gave Luo Chen a sense of pressure, like the depth of the sea and the height of the mountains.
Could these be four of the five Grand Elders of the Star Gate from the Outer Continents?
He couldn't identify them clearly, as during the resolution of the Seven Elders within the Star Gate, everyone's faces were blurry, and even the Alchemy Sage was only remembered by his frail physique.
As Luo Chen approached, two of the four elders left.
Only the Seven Lantern Elder and a grey-robed elder remained.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Lu Wanding, a Wilderness Loose Cultivator who recently joined the Star Gate."
Luo Chen bowed to the grey-robed elder as a courtesy.
Then, the Seven Lantern Elder introduced the grey-robed elder's identity.
"Gray Yuanhong, an Offering..."
Just an Offering? It seemed different from what he had imagined.
But the Seven Lantern Elder continued, "After the Alchemy Sage's ascension, one of the five Grand Elder positions of the Star Gate from the Outer Continents will become vacant. At that time, Gray Yuanhong will take over the position."
Luo Chen suddenly understood.
Gray Yuanhong, however, was observing Luo Chen with great interest, constantly appraising him.
"Are you the first External Affairs Guest Scholar from the Star Gate of Heaven Earth Peak, specially recruited by the Alchemy Sage?"
Before Luo Chen could respond, the Seven Lantern Elder sighed, "Why go around in circles? I already explained this earlier."
Gray Yuanhong laughed, "Fellow Luo, please don't mind. I'm just getting to know you. In the future, we will cultivate together on Heaven Earth Peak, and I hope we can support each other on the path to immortality."
Luo Chen smiled and nodded, speaking humbly, "I'm just an External Affairs Guest Scholar. I don't deserve such kindness from Elder Gray. With your profound cultivation base, please guide and support me instead of talking about mutual support."
Well done, Elder Gray!
Gray Yuanhong was delighted. He hadn't even become one of the nineteen elders of Heaven Earth Peak, and already someone was addressing him as such. How could he not be happy?
Elder Seven Lanterns was slightly surprised. This Wilderness Loose Cultivator was quite well-versed in social etiquette!
Gray Yuanhong laughed, "An External Affairs Guest Scholar is nothing to worry about. Fellow Luo, as long for the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect, establish some merits, and become an official Guest Scholar, it's just a matter of us saying so."
"Do something for the Dao Sect?" Luo Chen was curious, "Such a grand Holy Land of a continent, what could possibly require my assistance?"
"Soon, soon!" Gray Yuanhong patted Luo Chen's shoulder, "You've arrived at the perfect time!"
Without elaborating on the specifics, he affectionately patted Luo Chen's shoulder and then bid farewell, blending into the crowd.
Evidently, in preparation for his upcoming promotion to Elder, he was enthusiastically networking.
Luo Chen was just one among many, and perhaps the easiest to sway, as he was the last outsider cultivator to join the Heaven Earth Peak.
After he left, Luo Chen awkwardly twisted his shoulder.
It had been many years since someone had shown him such "high regard."
Elder Seven Lanterns, standing nearby, slowly spoke, "Don't mind it. Elder Gray Yuanhong is just overly excited, and it's normal for him to overstep his bounds a little."
Luo Chen hummed in acknowledgment, indicating that he didn't mind.
It was clear that the other party's overstepping wasn't limited to physical gestures; promising Luo Chen a position as an official Guest Scholar was also a form of overstepping by prematurely exercising the authority of a Heaven Earth Peak Elder.
Luo Chen looked around and couldn't help but exclaim.
"So many people!"
"Many?" Elder Seven Lanterns stroked his long beard, "This is just half of the Heaven Earth Peak's strength."
Luo Chen's pupils constricted, and he exclaimed, "Half?"
Even in this corner, Nascent Soul Cultivators occasionally entered, but there were barely over a hundred.
If this was only half, did the Star Gate have as many as two hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators? What a joke!
Elder Seven Lanterns knew he had misunderstood and immediately explained, "The Star Gate's composition isn't solely based on outsider cultivators. This can be seen from the establishment of the nineteen Elders of the Heaven Earth Peak."
Nineteen Elders, twelve from Great Halls, two from Noble Clans, and five from outsider cultivators.
In other words, Central State families also occupied some positions within the Star Gate? Indeed, Elder Seven Lanterns' subsequent words confirmed this speculation.
"Some Nascent Soul Cultivators from various families, upon reaching a certain level of longevity, will voluntarily join the Star Gate."
"However, they usually don't cultivate at the Heaven Earth Peak. They only come to the Heaven Earth Peak when it's time for them to await their death in a mansion."
"The reason you don't see them today is that their families are also here to witness the ceremony, so they've gone to their respective family viewing platforms."
So that was the case.
Luo Chen now fully understood.
Moreover, from Elder Seven Lanterns' subsequent introduction, he learned about some other situations regarding outsider cultivators in the Star Gate.
Often, outsider cultivators who joined the Star Gate weren't alone; they brought their entire families with them.
However, their descendants couldn't cultivate at the Heaven Earth Peak; the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect had arranged for them to stay in other parts of the Central State.
If these descendants were from family backgrounds, they would continue to live as a family.
If they originally had a sect background, they would be separated and form small cultivation families. Or, they might integrate into some local Central State families through marriage.
From this perspective, it was difficult for the descendants of outsider Nascent Soul Cultivators to assimilate into the Central State.
But the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect gave them an opportunity.
After staying in the Central State for five hundred years, their descendants would have the chance to enter the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect for their studies.
The reason this viewing platform had over a thousand people was that many of them were descendants of Guest Scholars and Offering Cultivators of the Star Gate, taking this opportunity to reunite.
Luo Chen was curious and asked if there were any successful precedents.
He received an affirmative answer.
Indeed, the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect wasn't just making empty promises; they were truly putting things into practice.
After understanding all this, Luo Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
"No wonder the Star Gate can attract so many powerful outsider Nascent Soul Cultivators; it not only gives them the hope of advancing to the Soul Transformation stage but also resolves their secular worries."
Amidst these thoughts, he couldn't help but daydream.
"If I bring the old friends of the Luo Tian Sect to the Central State, will they also have the chance to enjoy all this?"
The cultivation ideology of the Central State didn't align with Luo Chen's path.
But who wouldn't appreciate the centuries of peace in the Central State? Even with competition, it was only healthy competition within sects and families, without the constant life-and-death struggles and bloodshed.
Such a place fit the traditional description of a cultivation holy land.
The more Luo Chen learned, the thinner his sense of being a "transient" visitor became, and he even started to consider putting down roots here!
Just as Luo Chen was daydreaming, the clouds and mist in the arena trembled, and white chairs made of cloud patterns, mist, and majestic spiritual energy rose into the air.
"All cultivators, take your seats!"
By his side, the same aged and hoarse voice from before sounded again.
"It's Elder Mo!"
Elder Seven Lanterns spoke and then floated up.
Luo Chen was no exception; following the mysterious guidance, he floated and landed on a cloud chair high in the air.
At this height, the vast clouds and mist could no longer obstruct his vision.
Looking south, there were fifty chairs in the north, facing each other from afar.
Luo Chen's gaze immediately fell on the two chairs in the corner.
The reason for this was that one of the two chairs was occupied by a cramped Jin Dan Cultivator.
This was the only Jin Dan Cultivator among the numerous Nascent Soul Cultivators sitting high in the clouds.
"One of the two representatives chosen by countless poor clans from the Central State?"
The basis for Luo Chen's judgment was that on the other chair, Dragon Spring True Man, a Nascent Soul Cultivator in the early stage, was seated! Since he hadn't yet elevated the Cold Clan to the status of a Noble Clan, he was still treated as a poor clan. Therefore, the person sitting next to him should also be a poor clan cultivator.
At this moment, Dragon Spring True Man instantly sensed Luo Chen's gaze.
He didn't say anything; he merely nodded slightly.
Luo Chen frowned, wondering what this nod meant.
Without thinking too much, Luo Chen's gaze wandered, sweeping across the other forty-eight chairs one by one.
These people should be the representatives of the twelve Great Halls and the Thirty-Six Noble Clans.
...
On the Cloud Sea Plaza, a dense crowd stood, ranging from Qi Condensation to Jin Dan, each at various cultivation realms.
It was clear that these people were the younger generation members brought by the various families to witness the ceremony.
At this moment, three of them stood together, searching in the sky for something, and finally found their target among the True Immortals in the south.
"He's there! Senior Brother Changfengzi, is he really that person?"
"His appearance is completely different, and his temperament is also distinct. Is your information true or false?"
Facing Guan Xiaoping and Wu Tao's inquiries, Changfengzi nodded with difficulty.
There's no mistake!
The intelligence collected by the Shen family is highly accurate!
The Wilderness Loose Cultivator is the Qingyang Demon Lord, and Luo Hai is naturally Luo Chen, who is currently seated high in the clouds.
Facing Changfengzi's affirmation, Guan Wu's expressions were dazed and lost in thought.
Initially, he was just a loose cultivator who guided them, but now he has reached this stage?
After decades, they have only advanced a small step in their cultivation, from the early Jin Dan stage to the middle Jin Dan stage.
Is the gap between them really that big?
It could even be said that in response to their gaze, the other party didn't even bother to glance down.
The difference between Jin Dan and Nascent Soul is like the difference between heaven and earth.
...
Among the representatives of the various families, Luo Chen accurately found Fu Chaosheng.
After a mutual smile, they did not communicate through divine sense.
Luo Chen continued to observe the others, especially the representatives sent by the twelve Great Halls, whom he looked at a few more times.
They were all Nascent Soul True Immortals with profound cultivation and deep insights.
Then, he looked towards the west, the farthest corner.
There, a series of intricately patterned and noble cloud chairs had also risen.
The people sitting on them were not unexpected to Luo Chen, and a few of them were the ones who had appeared in the Peach Blossom Garden.
The Western Desert High Monk, the Southern Border Black-Robed Cultivator, and the young man from the Eastern Wilderness Ming Yuan Sect.
As for the others, Luo Chen had no impression of them.
In total, there were over ten people.
After surveying the entire venue, Luo Chen had a general idea.
"Over a hundred True Immortals, Central State family representatives, and representatives from the Three Continents, these people together form the witnessing group for this Ascension Ceremony, and the standard is already extremely high!"
"This also expresses the importance that the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect places on the Alchemy Sage's ascension."
"If it were me or other non-Central State cultivators from the Star Gate who ascend to the Soul Transformation stage, would they receive such treatment?"
There were definitely others besides Luo Chen who had such thoughts.
On the viewing platform in the south, every Star Gate True Immortal sitting high in the clouds had their hearts stirred, and distracting thoughts arose.
The representatives from the Three Continents in the west also had different thoughts.
The Western Desert High Monk seemed calm, but judging by the constant movement of his prayer beads, he might not be as composed as he appeared.
The young man from the Eastern Wilderness Ming Yuan Sect had a gloomy expression and kept looking around, as if expecting something and resisting something at the same time.
The cultivator from the Southern Border, shrouded in a black robe, showed no expression, but his gaze occasionally glanced towards the Star Gate cultivators in the south.
Suddenly, everyone's thoughts paused for a moment.
Everyone's attention subconsciously turned to the east.
In the cloud sea, three figures slowly emerged.
Everyone ignored the other two and looked towards the leading elder.
"Paying respects to the Sect Master!"
No one knew who spoke first, and then there were sounds of cheering and applause.
Even the representatives from the Three Continents respectfully said, "Paying respects to Sect Master Mo."
Luo Chen, without exception, respectfully greeted along with the crowd.
Mo Shouzhuo! The current Sect Master of the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect!
Realm: Soul Transformation Stage!
He alone represented the entire Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect!
But no one could ignore the fact that he looked solitary and weak, not only because of his cultivation realm but also because, except for the representatives from the Three Continents in the north, everyone else was a part of the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect.
In the midst of the cheering and applause, Luo Chen truly felt the power of the sole master of the Central State for the first time.
Since arriving in the Central State, Luo Chen had encountered the Great Halls and Noble Clans, as well as the poor clans, and he had seen the Star Gate cultivators of the Heaven Earth Peak, but the name of the Dao Sect, which was once widely known in the Eastern Wilderness Northern Sea, had become less clear.
Even after traveling through the Wuzhi Mountain Range, Luo Chen didn't have much of a feeling.
But at this moment, he finally understood what the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect truly was.
The twelve Great Halls are the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect.
The Thirty-Six Noble Clans are the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect.
Countless poor clans are also the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect.
The Heaven Earth Peak and the Star Gate are also the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect.
But the Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect is one, and only when all the people and things are added together, along with the hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators, and even the Central State under their feet, which is thousands of miles long and wide, is the true Heavenly Yuan Dao Sect!
"This is the true Holy Land!"
Luo Chen sighed inwardly, and his eyes revealed an infinite longing.
Just then, the master of the Dao Sect, Mo Shouzhuo, raised his right hand and pressed down in the air.
The crowd fell silent, and not a sound could be heard.
He said lightly, "Let's begin."
As soon as his words fell, the Heaven Earth Peak trembled.
At that moment, everyone felt as if the ancient mountain, which had stood in the world of mountains and seas since time immemorial, had come to life.
An inexplicable aura began to surge, growing from small to large and from weak to strong.
Boom!
The mountain wind roared, and the white clouds swayed.
A hazy ethereal figure suddenly appeared in the void.
The figure was hazy, but its features were incredibly clear.
Its eyebrows were like a painting, and its eyes were like autumn waters.
The nose bridge was straight yet not lacking in softness, like a work of art meticulously carved by an ancient sculptor.
The lips slightly opened and closed, resembling newly blooming cherry blossoms.
The face had a slightly round contour, giving off a sense of fragility while also exuding a cute and lively feeling.
Everyone looked up at the ethereal figure's face.
The young man from the Ming Yuan Sect clenched his palm, his fingertips deeply piercing his skin.
"It's Senior Uncle Chuyan!"
Luo Chen, seated on the cloud chair, was dazed and lost in thought.
"Yin Soul Crossing Yang, Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation, this is the Yuanshen!"
At this moment, even though he had cultivated to the Nascent Soul realm, which he had dreamed of in his youth, he still felt the gap between heaven and earth.
In front of that ethereal figure, he felt as insignificant as an ant.
(End of Chapter)
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