https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-905-White-Robed-Ascending-the-Heavens-Red-Robed-at-the-Abyss-Thanks-to-the-Million-Reward/13111453/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-907-Qixia-Yuanjun-Mount-Yanfu-s-Fall/13111535/
Chapter 906: The Deep Black Pool, A Distinguished Visitor (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!)
Chapter 906: The Deep Black Pool, A Distinguished Visitor (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!)
February 5, 2025
Two streaks of escaping light shot through the sky like meteors.
Piercing through the vast clouds, they finally caught sight of the majestic mountain floating in mid-air.
Vaguely visible, the eaves of three palace halls revealed themselves.
This was Mount Yanfu!
Luo Chen knew that the three palaces were Tian Ming Palace, Tian Yuan Palace, and Tian Ze Palace, corresponding to the three Transcendent Masters of the Abyss Sect.
Yu Ming, Tian Yuan, and He Ze! As the two of them proceeded, there seemed to be formations blocking their path, but with Tan Sheng leading the way, none of the formations truly revealed their might.
Suddenly—
"We're here!"
Tan Sheng's feet touched the ground, standing before an expansive open square.
Without turning back, he said, "Please wait for a moment, Hall Master of the Dan Sheng Hall. I'll go and meet the Old Ancestor."
Luo Chen cupped his hands and smiled, "No trouble at all, thank you for your efforts, Fellow Daoist Tan."
Only then did Tan Sheng turn around and carefully examine Luo Chen, his haughty expression fading significantly.
He explained, "It'll be quick!"
Then, Tan Sheng ascended the long staircase, heading towards Tian Ming Palace.
Luo Chen smiled. Although this person's attitude wasn't very friendly from the start, there wasn't much malice in it.
It was probably just the natural pride and arrogance of a sacred land disciple.
Especially since he was a direct disciple of Yu Ming Old Ancestor, it was normal for him to have such arrogance.
But you don't slap a smiling face, and he, Luo Chen, was already considered the first person under the Three Grand Ancestors of the Abyss Sect, so why bother maintaining that arrogance?
He politely gave Tan Sheng a way out, and if Tan Sheng wasn't too foolish, he would take it.
As he watched Tan Sheng climb the stairs of Tian Ming Palace, Luo Chen began to examine the mountain beneath his feet.
The three grand palaces, majestic and awe-inspiring, didn't really catch his attention.
With a shift of his golden pupils, Luo Chen's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Not until you enter the mountain will you know its true face. Only now do I realize its marvels!"
He had seen floating buildings before.
Initially, he found it impressive, but later learned that it was just a special arrangement made by Qing Dan Valley for the True Transmission Grand Competition.
Maintaining the Cloud-Top Palace required a large amount of spirit stones, and it was only brought out during the True Transmission Grand Competition or when the Sect Master traveled.
But Mount Yanfu was completely different!
Under Luo Chen's penetrating gaze, Mount Yanfu was constantly absorbing a vast amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Moreover, the spiritual energy flowed downward, sweeping across the entire Abyss Sect and its surroundings, like a blessing to all living beings.
There were also faint traces of formation light appearing in various places, causing the earth's energy to circulate endlessly.
Luo Chen's gaze returned, and he looked pensive.
"So, this is the main vein of the 5th-grade Spirit Vessel of the Abyss Sect!"
According to rumors, Mount Yanfu was initially buried deep beneath the earth.
In ancient times, it was excavated by powerful cultivators of the Abyss Sect and then lifted into the sky using great means.
Now it seemed like a way to cultivate the Spirit Vessel.
Suspended in the sky, it received the starlight, circulated the earth's energy, and blessed all living beings.
Moreover, through constant tempering, Mount Yanfu itself had become a powerful magical treasure, just a step away from becoming a sentient mountain.
This was a sub-divine treasure!
It not only blessed the Abyss Sect but also suppressed the earth's energy in this region, attracting various Ling Ji to come and submit.
If it continued to grow, it might have the chance to become a sect-suppressing treasure like the Rank 9 Divine Chessboard of Tian Yuan Dao Sect.
At that time, it wouldn't just suppress a region but an entire continent!
Although it was still far from that level, even now, the foundation of Mount Yanfu was already substantial.
If someone forcefully used it to attack an enemy...
"Tsk tsk!"
Luo Chen praised quietly, not daring to imagine the scene.
With his current powerful physique, there was no way he could withstand it.
Just as Luo Chen was marveling, a figure hurriedly descended the distant staircase.
Tan Sheng quickly approached Luo Chen, "Go ahead, the Old Ancestor has made time for you."
"You can just call out from up there, why go through all this trouble?" Luo Chen smiled.
Tan Sheng waved his hand, "Tian Ming Palace is currently under strict lockdown. Ordinary cultivators are not allowed to approach. Even as a disciple of the Old Ancestor, I can't make an exception. You can go up by yourself."
Luo Chen cupped his hands in gratitude, "In that case, I'll go by myself then."
After saying this, he brushed his robe and gracefully stepped onto the staircase.
As he took the first step, his body paused for a moment.
But it was just a brief pause, and after that, everything returned to normal, and his speed wasn't affected much.
Seeing this, Tan Sheng's eyes widened in surprise.
"Is he unaffected by the pressure being released?"
In just one step!
Luo Chen felt something was amiss.
There were waves of pressure being released from the palace above from time to time.
Although it wasn't strong and wasn't intentionally directed at him, that force still made people feel uncomfortable.
"Is this the pressure of the Abyss Old Ancestor?"
"No!"
"How could a Transcendent Master like him not control his own pressure?"
Suddenly, the Origin Force within his body circulated, and that pressure became as gentle as a breeze, causing no significant impact.
A thought crossed Luo Chen's mind.
"Could this pressure be from the suppressed Qing He Xian?"
He stopped thinking about it and continued climbing the densely packed staircase, step by step, with speed and stability.
From above, Luo Chen looked like an ant on the long heavenly staircase, so small that it seemed he would never reach the end.
But when he stepped onto this ladder, there was no turning back.
No one knew how much wind and rain Luo Chen had endured on this journey, how many times he had worked tirelessly day and night, or how he had once been young and arrogant with boundless ambition.
Until this moment, when he stood before the palace gates.
Luo Chen looked back at the path he had taken, feeling a sense of emotion.
Perhaps there wouldn't be as many storms in the future.
With the protection of the towering tree of the Abyss Sect and under the guidance of Qixia Yuanjun, he had finally found the right path. The only obstacle before him was the tiger of ascending to the Hua Shen stage.
Finally, he could relax a little.
Shaking his head, Luo Chen composed himself and straightened his robe.
"Before I give up, I must meet those three again!"
He slowly pushed open the door, and in an instant, three divine consciousnesses landed on him.
Luo Chen bowed, "Junior Luo Chen, I pay my respects to the three Old Ancestors!"
...
"What's your relationship with Qixia Yuanjun?"
The moment he entered the main hall, the elder in the center, dressed in a blue robe, abruptly asked this question.
It was so sharp that it caught him off guard.
Luo Chen calmly replied, "I have no relationship with her whatsoever!"
This answer was not satisfying.
Yu Ming Old Ancestor's gaze burned intensely, as if trying to see through Luo Chen from head to toe.
Luo Chen hesitated for a moment, then, as if confessing, he spoke softly, "Just as the three Old Ancestors value my pill refinement skills, Qixia Yuanjun did the same. She invited me to Cangwu Mountain to refine a few Transformation Pills."
"Transformation Pills?" Yu Ming Old Ancestor was taken aback.
Luo Chen nodded and explained, "Actually, back when I was at the Golden Core stage, I was captured by demon cultivators from Cangwu Mountain during a failed war with Luoyun Sect and taken back to their mountain. In order to survive, I had no choice but to refine pills for them. Unfortunately, my skills were not refined enough, and the pills I made were of poor quality, causing one of their important figures to fail in their transformation. That's why I had to go back to Cangwu Mountain a second time."
Beside him, He Ze Old Ancestor had some doubts.
But then, he remembered something.
"When I went to Cangwu Mountain to investigate, I did see a woman with a crow's head and a human body. It was obvious that she had failed in her transformation."
Luo Chen quietly explained, "That woman is Yuquan, the Deputy Hall Master of the Du Zhen Hall, one of the three main halls of Cangwu Mountain."
A Deputy Hall Master, yet she was the result of a failed transformation. It would be embarrassing if this became known.
If the reason for bringing Luo Chen back was because of this, it seemed understandable.
Moreover, the Transformation Pill was of far greater importance to the demon race than ordinary fourth-order pills.
"Can you really refine Transformation Pills?"
Luo Chen didn't speak but presented three Transformation Pills he had refined in the Fallen Demon Land, which were among his few remaining stock.
After all, some of the materials required for the Transformation Pill formula were missing in the Shan Hai Realm.
However, with Luo Chen's current Grandmaster level of pill refinement, he could easily modify the pill formula using local ingredients to create a pill with effects no less than the original Transformation Pill.
The three old ancestors sat in a circle, forming a tripod, with a black spring in front of them, bubbling vigorously.
They waved their hands to summon the Transformation Pills, carefully examining them for a while, and indeed, they sensed the intricacies within.
But even so, He Ze Old Ancestor still had his doubts.
"You're a human, and they're demons. They invited you over, and they let you return?"
At this moment, Luo Chen hesitated slightly.
He Ze Old Ancestor's eyes flashed with cold light, "Now that you've joined our Abyss Sect and been granted the position of the Hall Master of the Pill Sage Hall, we're practically family. If you're still hiding something, we can raise you to the heavens today, but we can also send you to hell tomorrow!"
Tian Yuan Old Ancestor smiled, "Brother, that's a bit harsh."
"Hmph!" He Ze Old Ancestor snorted coldly, still staring intently at Luo Chen.
In fact, not only him but also Yu Ming Old Ancestor and Tian Yuan Old Ancestor, despite his smile, were also staring fixedly at Luo Chen.
Who would dare to lie before the gaze of these three Hua Shen stage powerhouses?
Luo Chen took a deep breath and trembled, "The reason they were willing to let me return was not only because I resolved the aftermath of the demon girl Yuquan's failed transformation but also because my fire cultivation was exceptionally outstanding. Qixia Yuanjun, being a fellow cultivator of the fire path, empathized with my cultivation struggles and didn't deliberately make things difficult for me. She even offered some guidance."
In Luo Chen's words, Qixia Yuanjun suddenly became a respected senior cultivator.
And she even offered guidance!
But he was telling the truth, even if it was only part of it!
"Your fire cultivation is exceptional?" Tian Yuan Old Ancestor became interested, "Is it your Primordial True Fire?"
Luo Chen nodded, not holding back, and with a thought,
Boom!
A ball of blue-white flame appeared, centered around him.
In the main hall, it transformed into a small tree with blue and white flames, its branches swaying.
Not a single mistake in the first 16,918 words!
The three old ancestors' faces changed slightly.
"Fifth-order Divine Fire!"
"And it's a true fire with two opposing attributes!"
"Indeed, it's remarkable!"
Amidst their exclamations, they clearly sensed a hint of danger.
If Luo Chen's cultivation was on par with theirs and he could control the heaven and earth's energy, this fire would become a deadly weapon.
But for now, it was like a child wielding a large sword, incapable of harming others and more likely to hurt himself.
Gudong, gudong!
In the center of the main hall, the dark and cold spring erupted with violent splashes.
Luo Chen subconsciously looked over.
He Ze Old Ancestor hummed lightly, "Put it away, no need to show off."
With that light hum, the Kurong Divine Fire, as if struck, suddenly retreated back into Luo Chen's body.
Luo Chen, as the master, paled slightly, realizing something.
This He Ze Old Ancestor had already attained the Law Essence of the water attribute!
Water and fire were mutually restraining, and the water system naturally restrained the fire system.
Unless a cultivator of fire attribute was inherently much stronger than a water cultivator, they could form a counter-restraint.
But it was clear that Luo Chen was far inferior to He Ze Old Ancestor at this moment.
He glanced at the black spring again, then stood respectfully to the side, looking slightly aggrieved, "Actually, I'm used to this kind of thing."
"When I was young, as a wandering cultivator, I was noticed by a Foundation Establishment cultivator just for showing a slight talent in pill refinement. I was forcibly recruited into their sect."
As he spoke, he paused, then continued, "After achieving the Foundation Establishment stage, it was also through my pill refinement skills that I was able to establish a connection with a sect, allowing me to stand on my own."
"I never thought that even after achieving the Nascent Soul stage, I still couldn't escape this fate."
"All I can say is that there are always people better than you, and there's always a higher realm. I still have many shortcomings and can't control my own destiny!"
These words were filled with both grievance and helplessness.
Even the three old ancestors felt a bit uncomfortable.
Their Abyss Sect had recruited Luo Chen, just like how the Foundation Establishment cultivator had forcibly recruited him. It was the same behavior.
But they knew that Luo Chen was telling the truth.
The information about Luo Chen was never a secret.
No matter how secretive one is about collecting information, not only the Abyss Sect, but even other ordinary Yuan Spirit Infant Upper Sect cultivators could easily investigate and understand Luo Chen's rise to prominence.
Old Ancestor Tian Yuan consoled, "A tree that stands tall in the forest invites the wind's wrath, and a commoner with a precious treasure invites trouble. Your alchemical skills surpass those of ordinary people, naturally attracting envy and covetousness. Now that you've joined the Abyss Sect, you need not worry about such things anymore."
Luo Chen's eyes lit up, "Really?"
Old Ancestor Tian Yuan burst into laughter, "How could it be false? From now on, you can freely research the Dao of Alchemy like Chen Mozhi and Xinyi Sheng, or even leave your own legacy like China Yan and Xuan Yan."
Luo Chen exclaimed in surprise, "Thank you, Old Ancestor!"
Old Ancestor He Ze suddenly spoke up, "Before that, hand over the key to the Dan Sheng Paradise."
"Is it that space?" Luo Chen asked.
Old Ancestor Tian Yuan nodded, "Yes, that space was left behind after Mount Yanfu ascended. It is a source land with a Fifth-order foundation. We had intended to give it to China Yan for her cultivation, and also wanted her to slowly nurture it to the Fifth-order level, providing the Abyss Sect with an additional Fifth-order spiritual vein. Unfortunately, before she left, she locked the door, and we couldn't force it open, severing the connection between the Paradise and the outside world."
Before Old Ancestor Tian Yuan could finish, Luo Chen took out the Dan Sheng Token.
The divine sense left on the token had already been exhausted.
Whether it was the Lian Tianji alchemy technique or China Yan's insights into the Dao of Alchemy, they all dissipated along with the illusions, returning to nothingness.
Seeing Luo Chen's understanding, the three old ancestors didn't say more.
Moreover, this also showed Luo Chen's attitude.
Handing over the key to his future cultivation site so openly to others, how could he not be forthright?
The token first landed in the hands of Old Ancestor Yu Ming.
After playing with it for a moment, he nodded.
With this token and through Mount Yanfu, they could naturally sense the existence of the Dan Sheng Paradise.
As for the medicinal ingredients inside, someone would be sent to take an inventory soon.
For now, Luo Chen's side had been thoroughly investigated.
"You may leave now!"
Luo Chen felt relieved and respectfully took his leave.
It wasn't until he left Tian Ming Palace that Luo Chen realized his back was soaked in cold sweat.
This was an incredible feat for someone who had achieved such a high level of physical cultivation.
It showed the immense pressure he felt facing the three powerful beings.
As he descended the steps, he replayed the previous conversation in his mind, confirming that there were no issues.
His biggest concern, which was openly mentioned, was about refining pills for the demon race, and the other party didn't seem to mind at all.
This was the influence of his status as a Grand Master of the Dao of Alchemy.
Others wouldn't care about what he had done in the past; they would only care about what he could do for them in the future.
If he were still at the Jin Dan level, a somewhat ordinary master, the Abyss Sect wouldn't have paid much attention, and the matter of life and death would have been decided with a single word.
There were too many such existences within the Sacred Land of Cultivation.
Halfway down, Luo Chen was surprised to see Tan Sheng rushing up the steps.
As they passed each other, neither had a chance to say anything, and Tan Sheng merely nodded slightly before continuing upward.
...
Inside Tian Ming Palace.
After Luo Chen's departure, there was a moment of silence.
Old Ancestor Tian Yuan broke the silence, asking, "Why didn't we help Luo Chen resolve the Tian Yi Sheng Shui?"
Old Ancestor He Ze countered, "Didn't we give him the formula for Li Yuan Dan?"
Li Yuan Dan was the primary pill the three of them used for cultivation. After China Yan's departure, no one in the Abyss Sect could refine it.
Xuan Yan had occasionally succeeded once or twice, but it was purely by chance, and he couldn't consistently produce the pill, instead wasting large amounts of precious medicinal ingredients.
Centuries had passed, and the Li Yuan Dan left by China Yan had long been exhausted.
They had originally hoped Luo Chen would be able to refine it, but during their first meeting, they didn't even mention it.
"It's a matter of life and death; how dare we be careless!" Old Ancestor Tian Yuan sighed, looking at Yu Ming, the current leader of the Abyss Sect. "What do you think, Senior Brother?"
Old Ancestor Yu Ming took the token again, narrowing his eyes, "He didn't lie, but he might not have told the whole truth."
Old Ancestor He Ze scoffed, "Although he disguised himself well, a Yuan Spirit Infant acting so poorly is too amateurish."
Sometimes, acting too convincingly can make it seem less real.
Old Ancestor Yu Ming nodded, "It doesn't matter. Now that he's here, and the Paradise is open, we can keep an eye on him. Over time, we'll see his true colors. Junior Brother, take this key; aren't there some of your things inside?"
Old Ancestor He Ze took the token; indeed, he had a few medicinal ingredients planted there.
They were the ones he had entrusted China Yan to nurture for him centuries ago, and now that the time had come, he wanted to check on them.
Then, Old Ancestor Yu Ming turned his attention to the water pool in front of him.
When Luo Chen released the Kurong Divine Fire earlier, the pool had stirred for some reason.
Was it sensing the powerful external force and trying to break free from its seal?
The other two also refocused their attention.
"We're just two or three years away from success, and we mustn't make any mistakes during this period."
"I sensed something amiss earlier and immediately had Luo Chen retrieve the Fifth-order Divine Fire. At this critical juncture, we can't afford any mistakes. Otherwise, not only will our efforts be in vain, but if Qinghe Xian escapes, it will also bring great backlash to the three of us!"
Just then, Tan Sheng requested an audience.
...
As Luo Chen descended the long staircase, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The rest would be much simpler.
He was actually quite patient and could endure a lot as long as he could survive and maintain a certain level of dignity. Many details could be overlooked.
At the very least, the three old ancestors had shown him sufficient respect in front of others.
They had granted him status and bestowed gifts.
Even if they asked him to refine some pills in the future, he wouldn't mind.
For now, he should return to the Dan Sheng Hall, where he felt more comfortable.
However, his mind kept wandering back to the black water pool that had stirred because of him.
"What's inside?"
Just as Luo Chen was about to leave Mount Yanfu, a voice suddenly transmitted into his ear.
"A distinguished guest has arrived, and it concerns you!"
(End of Chapter)
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