Immortality Begins With The Alchemical Master Chapter 948: Master Litian's Teachings and the Hundred Toxins Body Refinement - Novel Cool

Chapter 948: Master Litian's Teachings and the Hundred Toxins Body Refinement

Chapter 948: Master Litian's Teachings and the Hundred Toxins Body Refinement

The tranquil mountaintop was suddenly stirred by a whirlwind.

Countless ancient seal characters rose from the void, floating upward to weave a golden net in the clouds.

Beams of light descended, landing on the plaza outside the grand hall atop the mountain.

Luo Chen was among them.

After exchanging a glance with the Thundercliff Patriarch, Luo Chen shifted his attention to his surroundings.

At first glance, he already had a sense of the situation.

"Counting us newcomers, there are at least forty True Men here!"

This was no small number. In the Dong Huang cultivation world, aside from the great sages, there were only about seventy to eighty Nascent Soul cultivators at the peak of its prosperity.

Now, the Stiff Peak Alliance alone accounted for half of them!

In comparison, the largest alliance of cultivators Luo Chen had ever seen, the Righteous Alliance of the Vast Sea, fell short.

"I wonder what means Master Songyang used to gather all these people together?"

While Luo Chen pondered this, exclamations of surprise occasionally rang out in the plaza.

"Daoist Xie, why are you here at Miji Mountain too?"

"Master of the Hidden Sword Pavilion, everyone thought he was cultivating in seclusion and keeping his sword hidden, but who would have thought he had already joined the Stiff Peak Alliance."

"Brother Guan, it's been a long time!"

The Stiff Peak Alliance, this massive entity, was only showing the tip of the iceberg.

Only now did the newcomers realize how many powerful cultivators in the Southern Frontier had secretly joined the Stiff Peak Alliance over the past two centuries.

Luo Chen didn't know many of them, so he wasn't particularly moved.

But by comparing this to the alliances he had seen before, he understood the significance.

"The Stiff Peak Alliance is determined to oppose the Life and Death Sect!"

As he mused, Luo Chen suddenly felt several pairs of eyes on him.

Not just one!

He calmly scanned the crowd, not avoiding anyone's gaze.

Ning Yuzhuo's gaze was calm but filled with resentment, while the Purple Robe Marquis looked eager to challenge. Daoist Zheng Guandao smiled and nodded in greeting.

In contrast, Bai Boti, the left envoy of the Moon Worship Sect, looked somewhat surprised and confused. When he met Luo Chen's eyes, he nodded friendly.

Luo Chen ignored them, focusing his attention on the ancient palace atop the mountain, whose grand doors were slowly opening.

Three figures gradually appeared before the crowd.

Two men and one woman, all exuding formidable auras.

The leader wore a deep purple daoist robe and had an incredibly stern face. His sword-like eyebrows seemed to cut through the morning mist, and anyone who met his gaze felt a shiver down their spine.

The other two were an elderly man with a youthful appearance and a kind gaze, his white eyebrows hanging down, giving him an air of venerable wisdom.

The female cultivator, in contrast, looked much older. Her hunched back and deep wrinkles were accentuated by her bright red robe, making her stand out.

"Master Songyang has appeared!"

The plaza buzzed with excitement as the three figures were revealed.

The Thundercliff Patriarch moved closer to Luo Chen and introduced them hesitantly: "According to rumors, the leader is Master Songyang. The elderly man with the youthful appearance is the famous Master Litian, and the female cultivator is Redleaf Elder."

Luo Chen nodded and asked, "Wasn't there also a very powerful grand cultivator within the Stiff Peak Alliance?"

"You mean Elder Zangsheng?" The Thundercliff Patriarch realized and replied cautiously, "That one has a very peculiar temperament and rarely shows up. If you join the Stiff Peak Alliance, it's best to avoid dealing with him."

"Why?" Luo Chen asked.

Before the Thundercliff Patriarch could answer, Master Songyang spoke from above.

"True Men, this is the first public gathering of the Stiff Peak Alliance. I hope everyone will benefit from this exchange."

"Let's not waste time. I'll just lay down three rules!"

"First, any transactions during the exchange must be voluntary. No one should use their cultivation level to pressure others, and no one should use force to buy or sell."

"Second, the exchange will last ten days. After ten days, those who do not join the Stiff Peak Alliance must leave and not linger."

"Lastly..."

Master Songyang's stern gaze swept over the crowd, his words turning cold.

"Within Miji Mountain, no fighting is allowed. Those who violate this rule will be executed without mercy!"

As he spoke the words "executed without mercy", a powerful aura erupted from Master Songyang, spreading out like a mountain.

The Nascent Soul realm, heavy as a mountain, pressed down on everyone.

Those with weaker cultivation found it hard to breathe.

Even Luo Chen felt a slight sluggishness in his movements.

He focused his mind, perceiving the subtle details, and instantly gained a clear understanding of Master Songyang's strength.

"A genuine grand cultivator!"

"From what I can see, his might is no less than that of the Moon Hermit or the Tian Du Zi."

"If his Nascent Soul realm is fully unleashed, he would undoubtedly be one of the top figures among late-stage Nascent Soul experts."

Above.

The old Taoist with the appearance of a child and the hair of a crane smiled gently, "Fellow Daoist Songyang, we are all fellow daoists of the Southern Frontier. Why must you be so formal?"

Songyang Zhenren pursed his lips, noticing that everyone below was intimidated by him. He nodded slightly.

The massive Nascent Soul domain suddenly retracted.

He clasped his hands in a salute, "Everyone, please proceed!"

With this gesture, the atmosphere in the hall became more relaxed.

One by one, figures entered the grand hall.

Upon entering, they were greeted by attendants who led them to their designated seats.

Luo Chen was also treated in the same manner.

The attendant whispered to him about the schedule for the next ten days.

"Each day, a high-ranking elder of the Stiff Peak Alliance will openly share their teachings. If you have any insights or experiences to share, you are welcome to join them."

"Beside the main hall, there are private rooms available. If you wish to have private discussions or trade resources, please let us know, and we will arrange a suitable room."

"Should you have any other needs, feel free to inform me, and we will do our best to accommodate you."

Luo Chen nodded slightly at the beautiful attendant and took a prominent seat in the center of the grand hall.

His presence immediately drew many gazes.

While it was an exchange meeting, the seating arrangement clearly reflected each person's strength and status.

Luo Chen, a rising star, being given such a prominent seat demonstrated the Stiff Peak Alliance's high regard for him.

Even Bai Boti, who was on par with him, had a similar position.

It was worth noting that Bai Boti not only possessed formidable personal strength but also held the position of Left Envoy of the Luo Sect.

His background was a major sect with a thousand-year legacy in the Southern Frontier, while Luo Chen had achieved his status solely through his own strength.

Who would dare to underestimate him?

As soon as he sat down, Bai Boti couldn't resist engaging him in conversation.

"Fellow Daoist Qi, earlier you almost mistook me, saying that I resembled someone you knew. Who is this person, and where are they now?"

Only now did he realize?

Or had he investigated me before daring to inquire?

Luo Chen replied coolly, "That person's true name is unknown. The Northern Sea fellow daoists only refer to him as Nan Qi Old Ghost. His magical aura indeed bears some resemblance to Fellow Daoist Bai."

"Nan Qi Old Ghost..." Bai Boti murmured the name, his eyes growing brighter, "So he fled to the Northern Sea?"

He wanted to ask more, but Luo Chen had already started a conversation with the Purple Robe Marquis.

Seeing this, he didn't want to intrude, considering the Purple Robe Marquis to be rather impolite.

The Purple Robe Marquis indeed lacked manners.

As soon as he approached Luo Chen, he eagerly asked, "Qi Tian, I've heard that you specialize in body refinement. Coincidentally, I also practice some body refinement techniques. Why don't we find a time to spar and exchange insights?"

Luo Chen smiled wryly, "Master Songyang just said no fighting in Miji Mountain. Are you planning to defy his order?"

The Purple Robe Marquis waved his hand, "No worries, a full-scale battle is out of the question. But a light sparring session in my cave abode, who could say anything about it?"

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow and then agreed without hesitation.

"I, too, would like to see the prowess of Southern Frontier cultivators in body refinement!"

The Purple Robe Marquis was overjoyed, "Then you've come to the right person. Body refinement has long been in decline in the Southern Frontier. If not for the sake of my body, I wouldn't have practiced it. But even as a secondary path, I am confident my skills are on par with any dedicated Body Refiner."

In a few words, they exchanged message insects.

Luo Chen's message insect was a common message dove.

He had specially obtained and refined it from the Thundercliff Patriarch before leaving Wind and Thunder Gorge.

Southern Frontier cultivators preferred using message insects for communication over sound-transmitting jade pendants or flying swords, which had limitations in distance.

Message insects, with their intelligence and ability to travel long distances, were more widely used.

The message dove was the most common and widely used type.

In addition, there were some unique and specialized message insects.

For example, the Purple Robe Marquis exchanged a Purple Blood Mosquito with Luo Chen, which had mysterious spots shimmering on it.

The Purple Robe Marquis hadn't expected Luo Chen to be so straightforward, agreeing to the sparring session so quickly.

But soon, he understood the reason for Luo Chen's straightforwardness.

"You want that high-level body refinement technique I didn't trade last time?"

As he said this, he glanced subconsciously toward the secluded corner where the Thundercliff Patriarch was sitting.

During the last private gathering, that person was indeed there, introduced by the Lantern Master.

He frowned and said, "That high-level body refinement technique is extremely difficult to cultivate and comes with great risks. I don’t recommend you take it on."

"Oh?" Luo Chen smiled. "You’re selling it, yet you don’t recommend it? Isn’t that a bit contradictory?"

The Purple Robe Marquis shrugged. "It’s not mine; I’m just helping someone dispose of it in exchange for some useful resources. If you really want it, we can discuss it privately later."

"Deal!"

Luo Chen agreed without hesitation.

The lecture in the hall then officially began.

The first speaker was not the leader of the Stiff Peak Alliance, but the Moon Worship Sect’s Master Litian!

He was the foremost insect master in the Southern Frontier in the past five hundred years.

Even when the Life and Death Sect’s mountain gates were still open, they often invited him to exchange knowledge on insect cultivation.

In the Southern Frontier’s cultivation world, he was a highly respected figure.

Countless cultivators took pride in owning insects personally refined by him.

As he began his lecture, everyone put aside their distractions and listened intently.

Even Luo Chen, with the mindset that one can learn from others, listened carefully.

Seated on a cushion at the head of the hall, Master Litian, with his white hair and youthful appearance, exuded a benevolent aura. The scent of sandalwood incense wafted from the table before him, giving the impression of a sage imparting wisdom.

His voice, clear and resonant, had a refreshing and enlightening effect.

"Our cultivation is about refining qi, forming the spirit, and returning to the void."

"However, while the Great Dao is the same, the paths to it are diverse."

"In the Southern Frontier, we have taken a unique approach, using insects as an aid to develop a cultivation path different from the other four continents."

"Those of you who have reached the Nascent Soul stage likely have a good understanding of insects. However, from my observations, many of you focus only on the power of the insects and fail to grasp their true nature. Thus, you often know the what but not the why, and your cultivation is superficial. While your realm may advance quickly, you do not truly understand the principles."

"This is one of the reasons why few of our Southern Frontier cultivators can grasp the true meaning of the laws at the Nascent Soul stage!"

His words, delivered with gentle eloquence, further captivated the already attentive audience of cultivators.

Even Luo Chen nodded in agreement.

To him, Southern Frontier cultivators, though mysterious and with unique methods, did not necessarily have a significant advantage in true combat power over their counterparts in the other four continents.

In fact, during his travels, he had not encountered a single cultivator who had prematurely grasped the true meaning of the laws.

This alone revealed that using insects as an auxiliary method in cultivation was a shortcut, but one that did not lead to the path of Hua Shen!

He did not doubt that the Southern Frontier had its share of talented individuals, but the results were clear.

Even among the Huashen experts of the Life and Death Sect, there was only one, far fewer than the three elders of the Northern Sea’s Yuan Devil Sect, or the three Huashen elders of the Abyss Sect. The Heavenly Origin Dao Sect, for instance, had six Huashen experts alone.

The problem, he believed, likely lay in the use of insects as an auxiliary method.

Now, the Southern Frontier’s most renowned insect master, Master Litian, had brought this issue to the forefront.

Did he have a solution?

Under the expectant gazes of the audience, Master Litian continued.

"Insects are tools to aid our cultivation, but the true Great Dao cannot be grasped through tools alone."

"Through years of cultivating, nurturing, and using insects, I have gradually realized that even insects are products of the natural Dao."

"To view them merely as tools is to abandon the Dao."

"Therefore, in my opinion, only by truly understanding the nature of your insects and cultivating them alongside yourself can you get closer to the Dao and grasp the legendary true meaning of the laws."

"As for how to understand, integrate, and cultivate together, I have some insights and would be happy to share them as a reference."

...

In a side chamber, Luo Chen waited quietly.

After half an incense stick burned, two sets of footsteps approached from outside the hall.

He stood up and bowed to the Purple Robe Marquis and Master Litian as they entered.

"Qi Tian greets Master Litian!"

Master Litian, with his kind and benevolent smile, teased, "My name is Litian, and yours is Qi Tian. Aren’t we on opposite paths?"

Luo Chen hurriedly replied, "It’s just a name; there’s no taboo in it."

"Ha ha!"

Master Litian laughed heartily, then his expression turned serious.

"According to the Purple Robe Marquis, you are interested in purchasing my ‘Hundred Toxins Body Refinement Technique’?" (End of Chapter)

Chapter end

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