The ascendant was none other than the Alchemy Saint, Chu Yan!
Once Luo Chen arrived in the Central Plains, Fu Chaosheng had stopped being secretive about the inside story, gravely disclosing it to Luo Chen and the others.
Truth be told, Luo Chen had been deeply shocked upon first hearing the news.
He had heard tales of that figure since his early days, and among alchemists, the Alchemy Saint's renown thundered like rolling thunder.
The world both marveled at his consummate mastery of alchemy and quietly murmured with ceaseless criticism over his departure from the Mingyuan Sect to join the Tianyuan Dao Sect.
Yet looking at it now, it seemed everything had been worth it!
He had crossed the threshold of Soul Formation and was about to ascend in glowing mist—the ultimate goal of all who aspired to pursue longevity.
Countless efforts were all for this very end.
Yet it was plain to see: the Alchemy Saint's outcome proved that choice often mattered more than effort.
If he had remained in the Mingyuan Sect, could he still have ascended?
Hardly likely. Over a thousand years had passed without word of any cultivator ascending from the Eastern Desolation.
When Fu Chaosheng had solemnly shared this inside information with them, his clear intention had been to inspire them to join the Star Gate.
Though not directly joining the Tianyuan Dao Sect, entering the Star Gate offered vast prospects just the same.
First there had been the legendary grandmaster from the Southern Border, and later the Alchemy Saint of the Eastern Desolation; both had cultivated to the Soul Formation realm within the Star Gate, proving that the Tianyuan Dao Sect held no prejudice against outsiders.
This was also why, the moment they set foot in the Central Plains, Lindong Shanren and Lu Qiuzhen had rushed straight for Heaven and Earth Peak without delay, unable to contain their eagerness.
Now, standing inside Zhigu City and gazing upon the distant, faint silhouette of Heaven and Earth Peak, Luo Chen found his own excitement hard to quell.
Noticing his longing expression, Fu Chaosheng gave a faint smile.
"Let us go. Straight to Heaven and Earth Peak!"
...
Though they spoke of going directly, they were inside an immortal city under an aerial flight ban. The two could only proceed on foot, taking it step-by-step out of the city.
As they walked down the wide thoroughfare, snippets of conversation from surrounding cultivators drifted faintly into Luo Chen's ears.
This was not deliberate eavesdropping on his part. Once divine sense reached a certain magnitude, unless one consciously blocked out external stimuli, sensations and sounds between heaven and earth would involuntarily converge upon the cultivator.
In this sense, there was good reason why a cultivator's Nascent Soul was prone to assimilation by heaven and earth.
The stronger the divine sense, the less boundary existed between oneself and the world. In time, one might lose track of "Who am I?"
The phrase "spirit blending into heaven and earth" was no idle joke.
"Hurry, hurry! Quickly, to the banks of the Shi River! A grand event like this cannot be missed!"
"What happened?"
"Does Fellow Daoist Li not know? The Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery have arrived at Mount Lanke together, looking to challenge Tianyuan Linxian right beside the Shi River! By now, the stones must already be falling."
"*Hiss!* First the Seven Sons of Muyuan challenged Mingren Daoyin, and now the Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery are here to challenge Tianyuan Linxian. The weiqi world is truly beyond me."
"What is there not to understand? Before every Centennial Grand Competition, talents from all quarters gather at Mount Lanke. They come not only to spectate, but also to build their reputations and catch the eye of the sect. Martial duels make it difficult to control the measure of force, but scholarly contests carry no such worries. Across the square foot of the board, blades clash and shadows dance in life-and-death struggle—the ultimate arena to vie for supremacy! And the three standing at the pinnacle of the weiqi world are the most dazzling targets. Defeating them is the fastest way to inherit the glory they have carried for years."
"Tsk, tsk. True as that may be, having several people challenge at once rather lacks grace."
"Why worry on their behalf? If those three wish to avoid an endless stream of challengers, they must pull off extraordinary feats to shut down the eager ambitions of those who follow."
"Mingren Daoyin spent an entire month to defeat the Seven Sons of Muyuan. Who knows if Tianyuan Linxian can triumph over the Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery this time."
...
Luo Chen listened with relish as he walked.
Beside him, Fu Chaosheng casually filled him in on the general situation.
Fu Chaosheng naturally understood the three figures standing at the summit of the weiqi world.
As for those so-called Seven Sons and Five Heroes, Luo Chen knew very little.
Through Fu Chaosheng's explanations, Luo Chen learned that these people hailed from various prominent and lesser clans.
Connected by region and possessing superb skill at the board, busybodies had grouped and named them over time based on their origins.
The Seven Sons of Muyuan were cultivators from several families near the Muting Grassland. Each had a distinct playing style, and all had reached the ninth dan, some even attaining rank.
The Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery, on the other hand, referred to five players who rose to fame together during a tournament held in the city of Upper Commandery. Though from different places, they had been bestowed that collective title.
Still, they were all considered juniors, having gained fame barely one or two hundred years ago.
Naturally, they could not be mentioned in the same breath as the top three.
Luo Chen, however, grew rather interested in another detail from his words.
"I understand the nine dans of weiqi, but what is the meaning of the nine ranks?"
Fu Chaosheng stroked his beard with a smile. "The weiqi circles of our Central Plains divide a player's skill into nine dans. Yet above the ninth dan lies a system of nine ranks, corresponding to their realm of weiqi understanding. For the Seven Sons of Muyuan or the Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery, reaching the ninth dan after a century or two is hardly surprising, but attaining an official rank still lacks maturity."
Luo Chen blinked. "And those three? Have they attained rank?"
"Of course they have. In fact, they are standout figures even among the nine ranks. Someone like Gu Daoyin is at least in the realm of Penetrating the Profound!"
Luo Chen marveled inwardly.
In the Mountain Sea Realm, the hundred arts of cultivation could be said to bloom in great variety, yet none seemed to have developed into something as refined and intricate as the weiqi of the Central Plains.
There were academies teaching the game everywhere, halls where players competed, shops large and small selling boards, stones, and manuals of games, and even clear-cut gradations of dans and realms.
A system of nine dans and nine ranks for weiqi?
If alchemy were categorized along such lines, how would it look?
"Fellow Daoist Luo, would you like to visit the banks of the Shi River and witness this grand contest?" Fu Chaosheng suggested.
Luo Chen shook his head. "I have little interest in such matters. Better that we head to Heaven and Earth Peak as soon as possible and settle my position as a Star Gate guest elder!"
"True enough. Proper business comes first!"
The elder and younger pair moved against the tide of the crowd, walking swiftly out of the city.
Wherever they passed, no matter how packed the throng, people unconsciously parted to make way for them.
Before long, the two stood beside a great river rolling eastward.
The axe handle rotted to dust, while time flowed like rushing water.
Beyond the Shi River lay the true mountain gate of the Dao Sect: the Lanke Mountain Range.
And beside the river stood that solitary, majestic peak connecting heaven and earth—Heaven and Earth Peak!
Luo Chen gazed across the water. Beneath that towering, precipitous mountain, he felt exceedingly small, like a mayfly between heaven and earth, or a single grain of sand in the Ganges.
It had been a very long time since he had felt this way, not since ascending to Nascent Soul.
Yet in his memory, had he not experienced a similar sensation?
Where had it been?
Fu Chaosheng's voice sounded beside his ear.
"Our sect treats outsiders with great generosity. This Heaven and Earth Peak is actually one of the rare Tier 5 spiritual lands in the world. The Star Gate was established atop it, meaning that guest elders and enshrinees who join the Star Gate can enjoy an abundant spiritual qi environment at any time. Even if you cultivate to the Soul Formation realm in the future, Heaven and Earth Peak can still serve as your cultivation dwelling!"
Right—a Tier 5 spiritual land.
Mount Cangwu, the sacred land of the Feather Race in the Eastern Desolation!
That, too, had been a spiritual land endowed with a Tier 5 spiritual vein.
This Heaven and Earth Peak was not the least bit inferior to Mount Cangwu.
Even as awe welled within Luo Chen, he found himself feeling far more favorably toward the Tianyuan Dao Sect. Rarely in this world did anyone act with such generosity, making even a Tier 5 spiritual land available to outsider cultivators.
"Let us go. We will head up the mountain and finalize your position as a Star Gate guest elder. Do not worry; with my recommendation, there is rarely an issue. When the Seven Elders of the Star Gate question you, simply reply according to the script I taught you."
The Seven Elders of the Star Gate referred to seven representatives dispatched from among the nineteen sect elders to oversee screenings whenever newcomers joined the Star Gate.
Under normal circumstances, five would be guest elders of the Star Gate, one would represent the aristocratic families, and the last would come from the Twelve Great Houses.
And the ultimate authority of decision usually rested upon that single elder representative from the Twelve Great Houses.
Without a second thought, Luo Chen gave his Nascent Soul a tremor, drawing upon worldly spiritual qi. Shrouded in a hazy halo of spiritual light, he shot toward Heaven and Earth Peak like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Fu Chaosheng followed at his side.
Though swift, to the eyes of onlookers, they appeared as insignificant as mayflies flying toward a colossal mountain.
Yet everyone knew that only Nascent Soul True Persons could fly freely over Heaven and Earth Peak!
This, in truth, served as an invisible test.
Without a Nascent Soul domain, one could never resist the immense spiritual pressure naturally exuded by this Tier 5 spiritual mountain.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Two streaks of light descended upon a massive, cloud-wreathed plaza paved in white jade.
The moment their feet touched the ground, an overbearing divine sense swept over them, settling particularly on the unfamiliar Luo Chen.
Fu Chaosheng's expression remained steady as he bowed deeply.
"Fu Chaosheng, current head of the Fu family, hereby recommends Desolate Hermit of the Northern Sea to join the Star Gate. The relevant particulars have already been submitted in advance."
At those words, the overbearing quality of the divine sense softened somewhat, though it remained draped over Luo Chen.
A rasping, aged voice echoed around them.
"Proceed to the Welcoming Immortals Hall and wait. In three days, the Seven Elders shall jointly deliberate on Desolate Hermit's admission to the Star Gate."
Hearing this, Fu Chaosheng let out a breath of relief, shot Luo Chen a meaningful glance, and led the way off the plaza.
Before departing, Luo Chen cast a curious glance deep into the drifting mists.
There stood a massive gate.
Starlight glittered across its surface, as though opening into the great unknown.
Was this the Star Gate?
...
Along the Shi River, white-capped waves surged.
By the water's edge, crowds thronged like woven fabric.
Five boards were laid out, with five players seated in their respective places.
A wildly unrestrained middle-aged man walked among the five, drinking as he went. With every hearty swig of wine, he casually dropped a stone.
He looked carefree and leisurely, while the five squirmed in their seats, visibly tormented.
Outside the ring, countless spectators flushed with feverish excitement.
No one had expected this match by the Shi River to conclude even faster than the one at the Hall of Mingren.
In just three days, Tianyuan Linxian had pushed the Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery to their limits. The endgame had arrived, and Linxian's triumph was already indisputable.
In the crowd, Fu Qinglan's delicate face flushed crimson, her usual aloof composure replaced by visible agitation.
Yu Xu did not understand. Tianyuan Linxian and Mingren Daoyin were roughly equal in renown, yet the latter had taken a whole month to defeat the Seven Sons of Muyuan, whereas the former had secured absolute victory in a mere three days.
Could there really be such a massive gulf between the two?
Fu Qinglan explained in an undertone: "It is a matter of contrasting styles. Senior Brother Daoyin is ninth dan, middle fourth rank, in the realm of Penetrating the Profound. He excels at reading formations, adapting to changes, and countering move for move, which is why his matches take so long. Senior Brother Linxian is likewise ninth dan, middle fourth rank, but his style is vastly more aggressive—he favors the clash of strength characteristic of the lower seventh rank. The moment he moves, battle is joined, head-on and unrelenting. Thus, any slight disparity in skill is magnified to the extreme, triggering an avalanche..."
Yu Xu listened in a daze, looking thoroughly bewildered.
Once Fu Qinglan finished, Yu Xu merely spread her hands.
"As expected of the proud prodigy from the Great House of Tan!"
Mingren Daoyin hailed from the Gu family, one of the Twelve Great Houses.
Tianyuan Linxian came from the Tan family, likewise one of the Twelve Great Houses.
Fu Qinglan felt a helpless sigh; the thing she loved most was something she could not truly share.
"Let us go!"
Yu Xu was puzzled. "We are not watching the endgame?"
Fu Qinglan shook her head. "Under such a sweeping, grandiose style where everything opens and closes on a massive scale, we cannot perceive the subtle nuances at all. My mind cannot keep pace."
As she said this, she tapped her head.
Indeed, for players of high dan and high rank, every move factored in hundreds or thousands of follow-ups; in such a brief window, cultivators of their caliber simply could not fathom the calculations.
Speaking of which, Fu Qinglan could not help feeling a twinge of pity for the Five Heroes of the Upper Commandery.
They had truly picked the wrong opponent in challenging Senior Brother Tan Linxian. Being routed was bad enough, but the game had moved too quickly for them to glean anything from the experience.
They would have been far better off like the Seven Sons of Muyuan, who, across a month of battle against Senior Brother Gu Daoyin, had been able to gradually absorb ranked techniques.
It was said that three of the Seven Sons had gone into secluded meditation after the match at the Hall of Mingren, and upon emerging, they might very well step into the lower three realms of the seventh rank.
The two squeezed out of the crowd. Yu Xu stretched languidly, looking somewhat bored.
"Not being able to cultivate before entering the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven is truly agonizing."
The feverish passion on Fu Qinglan's face receded, and she smiled. "Visiting mountains and friends, savoring tea and playing weiqi—does that not pass the time just as well?"
Yu Xu sighed; she was not one to sit idle.
"The clan elders say that for newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivators like us, our Purple Mansion barriers are still thin, and our Nascent Souls share an innate closeness with heaven and earth. Such a state is prime for perceiving the laws of heaven and earth inside the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven. But so long as the grotto-heaven remains unopened, we cannot cultivate for even a single day. It is such a waste of time."
Fu Qinglan nodded.
Once one actively cultivated, the barrier of the Purple Mansion would unconsciously thicken, severing assimilation with heaven and earth.
That was why the restriction of having formed a Nascent Soul within the last hundred years existed.
Yet in her view, compared to grasping the true essence of laws and seizing a future opportunity to reach Soul Formation, this bit of time was well worth sacrificing.
Sharpening the axe would not delay the cutting of firewood!
While the two conversed, a man peered through the crowd and jogged over to them.
"Oh, it is Seventh Uncle." Fu Qinglan recognized him.
Though only in the mid-Core Formation stage, he was an elder of her clan.
Seeing Fu Qinglan, the middle-aged man let out a breath of relief.
"The Family Head has arrived at Heaven and Earth Peak, and that gentleman is here as well. Qinglan, come with me!"
Fu Qinglan's eyes lit up.
Beside her, Yu Xu felt inclined to come along, but given Fu Chaosheng's intentions, she could not accompany them.
"I am sorry, Little Xu. Once I meet him, I will introduce him to you," Fu Qinglan apologized.
Yu Xu nodded, not pressing the matter.
Yet after the two departed, her eyes darted about, and she swiftly flew off in another direction.
Fu Qinglan could hardly wait.
Conflicted though she felt, she still wanted to see Desolate Hermit as soon as possible.
Yet upon arriving at the Welcoming Immortals Hall, she saw no sign of him.
The cultivators inside the hall informed her that he had just left and was currently undergoing screening by the Seven Elders of the Star Gate.
Fu Qinglan exhaled a breath of frustration. "I have waited this long; there is no rush for this moment."
...
In the end, Luo Chen stepped through that stellar gate.
Alone, he arrived in a realm filled with countless specks of starlight.
The moment he stepped inside, seven phantoms slowly materialized.
As seven pairs of eyes fell upon him, Luo Chen felt needles at his back, a chill running through his entire body.
Every single one possessed cultivation surpassing his own!
Every single one carried the oppressive aura that Moon Hermit had once exerted over him!
Yet among the seven, the slender figure—the one he dared look at least—evoked an instinctive feeling of kinship within him.
"Oh? An alchemist?"
A melodious, gentle voice rang softly out, drawing surprise from the others while sweeping away the crushing pressure the other six exerted on Luo Chen.
Only then could Luo Chen lift his head and look directly at the seven phantasmal silhouettes.
Taking a deep breath, he announced his identity.
"Luo Chen, rogue cultivator of the Northern Sea, greets the Seven Elders."
A rogue cultivator?
Even though they had already known his background from the intelligence provided by the Fu family, seeing his youthful countenance and the surging vitality he radiated still left the seven Star Gate elders deeply astounded.
To form a Nascent Soul so swiftly as a rogue cultivator—he was truly a cultivation prodigy!
Right then, the woman who had spoken earlier spoke once more, as if there were no one else present.
"Can you concoct Tier 5 pills?"
At those words, everyone was startled, and Luo Chen felt his heart leap.
"Elder must be joking. Though I possess some modest skill in the art of alchemy, how could I possibly refine Tier 5 pills with only a Nascent Soul cultivation?"
The woman's tone was laced with immense regret.
"What a pity... to have no fellow traveler to see me off before I depart."
Depart?
A thought struck Luo Chen, and he asked with utmost caution, "May I dare ask Elder's name?"
"Insolence—"
Someone rebuked sharply.
Yet the woman gave a soft laugh. "No matter. Telling you my name does no harm. I am Chu Yan, and the cultivators of the Mountain Sea Realm revere me as the Alchemy Saint."
Chapter 741