"My name is Chu Yan. Cultivators of the Mountain Sea Realm honor me as the Alchemy Saint."
Even after Luo Chen stepped out from that door, those gentle, welcoming words—like a spring breeze carrying fine drizzle—still echoed in his mind.
No wonder he had felt an instinctive sense of kinship the very moment he laid eyes on her.
Both hailed from the cultivation world of the Eastern Desolation, both were alchemists, and both had accomplished the wondrous feat of refining a Tier 5 pill while still in the Nascent Soul realm.
With so many similarities aligned, that subconscious feeling of closeness was only natural.
Yet certain aspects had caught him off guard.
In Luo Chen’s imagination, the Alchemy Saint would be an elderly cultivator with a flowing white beard and an immortal demeanor. But judging by that projection, she was clearly a slender, graceful young woman.
Of course, from the moment she abruptly asked, "Can you concoct Tier 5 pills?", it was impossible for Luo Chen to regard her as some fragile maiden.
This was a Soul Formation grandmaster on the verge of ascending in glowing mist!
She had even faintly sensed that he had once concocted a Tier 5 pill, which was why she had asked that question.
Luo Chen had no intention of publicizing the matter of the Tier 5 Law Derivation Pill, so he had smoothed things over with an evasive answer.
From the moment he met the Alchemy Saint, Chu Yan, the questions and answers within the Star Gate had ceased to matter as much; he had merely recited the talking points Fu Chaosheng had previously instructed him to use.
With a composed expression, Luo Chen walked out of the Star Gate and returned to the Immortal Welcoming Hall.
Fu Chaosheng, who had been waiting for a long time, eagerly came forward to greet him, accompanied by a truly youthful woman.
"This is my granddaughter, Fu Qinglan. Qinglan, why haven't you greeted Fellow Daoist Luo?"
Looking at the youthful Luo Chen, Fu Qinglan’s fair cheeks showed a trace of hesitation.
Luo Chen, however, recognized her awkwardness.
It was merely an issue of seniority in the cultivation world.
He interacted with her grandfather as an equal, yet in terms of realm, the two of them were roughly matched. Settling on an address was naturally tricky.
"Let us address each other independently. Fellow Daoist... Little Fu?"
As the words left his mouth, Luo Chen felt a touch of awkwardness himself.
Fu Qinglan pursed her lips into a smile. "The capable take precedence; I shall address you as Daoist Brother! Please do not call me Fellow Daoist Little Fu, Daoist Brother Luo—just call me Qinglan. That is how my friends address me."
Thanks to this smile, the awkward atmosphere hanging in the air dissolved completely.
Fu Chaosheng was adept at smoothing over social situations. His earlier silence had been meant to give the two of them a moment to interact, and seeing that the conversation was now flowing, he naturally did not remain detached. He warmly invited Luo Chen to the prepared banquet while inquiring about the assessment by the Seven Elders of the Star Gate.
***
Inside the realm of flickering starlight and drifting shadows...
The seven illusory figures began their discussion the moment Luo Chen departed.
"A Northern Sea cultivator who claims to be a rogue cultivator with no sect heritage. Yet his magical power is grand and righteous, and his divine soul foundation, though concealed, far surpasses ordinary Nascent Soul Tier 1 cultivators. This man’s origins are unclear. In Xiang's view, he should not pass!"
This speaker was Supreme Elder Xiang, representative of the Thirty-Six Families.
Opening the discussion, he seemed intent on setting the tone.
However, he was swiftly met with rebuttals from the others.
"The Star Gate selects talent without discrimination; it can even accommodate demon cultivators, so why not a rogue cultivator? Everyone has their secrets. Among those of us who managed to become late Nascent Soul great cultivators, who hasn't encountered serendipities? Must we interrogate every last detail?"
"Indeed. If the Star Gate wishes to grow, it is essential to embrace all rivers and swallow the four continents whole. The moment the Desolate Hermit entered the Star Gate, the fire-attribute spiritual qi in this space became exceedingly active; he appears to possess a Fire Spirit Physique. Factoring in his age, he is at most three hundred years old—truly a seed of Soul Formation. I believe he is very well suited to become a guest elder of the Star Gate."
"Leaving his youth and aptitude aside for now, I observe that this man is like rootless duckweed. If the Star Gate embraces him, it will win his loyalty over time. In his intelligence report, Fu Chaosheng also mentioned that this man values sentiment and righteousness..."
Three Heaven and Earth Peak elders from the outer provinces spoke in succession, rapidly shifting the tone set by Supreme Elder Xiang.
The so-called Seven Elders Assessment was composed of five Heaven and Earth Peak elders from the outer provinces, a representative of the Thirty-Six Families, and a representative of the Twelve Great Houses.
The outer province elders were speaking in such unified accord not because they were truly captivated by Luo Chen's extraordinary bearing.
His answers had been standard and unremarkable; what extraordinary bearing could there be to speak of?
If one gave it careful thought, the internal motive was not complex.
It was simply that among the five outer province elders, the Alchemy Saint, Chu Yan, was about to ascend, leaving an empty seat.
Her departure would significantly weaken the faction of outer province cultivators within the Star Gate.
Thus, they were exceedingly eager to recruit an outer province cultivator who shared their background.
With this as a starting point, promoting a new elder in the future would proceed much more smoothly.
Yet unexpectedly, when the fourth person spoke, the conversation took a sharp turn.
"You all praise his aptitude and his temperament, speaking as if Soul Formation were within his easy grasp."
"Are such individuals in short supply on Mount Lanke?"
The three outer province elders’ expressions changed at once.
"Dongfang Bai, what do you mean by that?"
Dongfang Bai sneered. "First and foremost, you must be clear on the Star Gate's guiding philosophy! We absorb talent from outer provinces primarily for immediate combat strength, high cultivation realms, and advanced age. To put it bluntly, we absorb the sturdy branches of the Mountain Sea Realm's five continents and turn them into fertilizer to nurture this land and sustain the younger generation of this province. These words may sound unpleasant, but you and I know the truth in our hearts. It is only because the Dao Sect is benevolent and offers us withered bones in tombs a glimmer of hope—a hope leading toward Soul Formation and longevity—that we gladly accept it."
"That boy Luo Chen is so young and so talented. Do you intend for him to consume the Star Gate's resources and plunder the spiritual opportunities of the Central Plains?"
"Therefore, this old man believes he should not pass!"
No one had expected a rift to appear among the outer province elders, who were supposed to present a united front.
The three were momentarily at a loss for words, glancing subconsciously toward the slender woman.
Dongfang Bai spoke up instead: "In these matters, we have always merely offered recommendations. The one who truly decides is the representative of the Twelve Great Houses. Elder Zhan, what is your view?"
The one addressed as Elder Zhan spoke in an overbearing tone.
"I naturally uphold the tenets of the Star Gate and do not wish for Luo Chen to enter our Heaven and Earth Peak. However..."
The moment the word "however" emerged, both Dongfang Bai and Supreme Elder Xiang sensed something amiss.
Sure enough, Elder Zhan’s tone softened slightly.
"Alchemy Saint, this time, the decision shall be yours!"
"Elder Zhan!" Dongfang Bai called out in a low voice.
Elder Zhan swept a cold glance over him.
The other three outer province elders chuckled internally. The emperor showed no haste, yet the eunuchs were anxious; the native cultivators of the Central Plains did not care, yet an outsider was more agitated than anyone.
Supreme Elder Xiang, for instance, sat serenely, taking his cue entirely from Elder Zhan.
Though they did not know why Elder Zhan had suddenly handed the decision over to the Alchemy Saint, the three elders felt victory was now virtually assured.
They were all cultivators from the outer provinces; surely the Alchemy Saint would grant him passage generously!
The slender figure spoke languidly.
"Heaven and Earth Peak smells far too decaying."
"Having such a young person join is rather fine."
"However, Dongfang Bai’s consideration is not wrong either. Inducting a young outer province talent into Heaven and Earth Peak does violate the Star Gate's philosophy. Once this precedent is set, not only will the resources of the Central Plains' younger generation be diminished, but it will also provoke resentment from the top sects of the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Continents, causing them to unite in resisting the Tianyuan Dao Sect. Just as when I left the Eastern Desolation back then..."
"Therefore, granting him the status of a provisional guest elder should suffice."
A provisional guest elder?
The three outer province elders exchanged glances.
Dongfang Bai was taken aback, surprised by the outcome.
Supreme Elder Xiang furrowed his brow.
Elder Zhan said in a deep voice, "There is no such precedent."
Either one was accepted or not; what was this talk of 'provisional'?
Chu Yan gave a soft laugh. "Elder Zhan, didn't you say the decision was mine?"
Elder Zhan was taken aback, then let out an easy laugh.
"In that case, let it be as the Alchemy Saint says. Grant the Desolate Hermit Luo Chen the status of a provisional guest elder, allowing him free entry and exit from Heaven and Earth Peak. However, none of the resources shall be made available to him; they must be exchanged through corresponding contributions."
"As for his cave abode... let it be Cave Jia-78!"
***
"Luo Chen, you must be weary today. Let us end our drinking here; we will not disturb you any further."
Faced with the grandfather and granddaughter's departure, Luo Chen gladly agreed.
He truly was somewhat "weary."
Of the Seven Elders of the Star Gate, six were late Nascent Soul great cultivators comparable to the Moon Hermit, and one was a Soul Formation grandmaster on the verge of ascension.
Before them, no matter how calm and unyielding Luo Chen appeared, the pressure remained immense.
Had the Alchemy Saint Chu Yan not casually dispersed the pressure exerted by the others, the questioning within the Star Gate realm would likely not have gone so smoothly.
The banquet had relaxed him considerably.
Yet no amount of relaxation could compare to a period of quiet cultivation in private.
Before leaving, however, he cast a deliberate glance at Fu Qinglan.
He found this woman rather unexpected.
He had seen many Nascent Soul True Persons, and each possessed an intimidating, solemn aura.
This woman had a distinct air of her own, yet it was difficult to associate it with a Nascent Soul True Person.
How to put it?
She possessed the steadfast resolve of someone prepared to shoulder her family's rise and fall, yet also a touch of innocent, worldly ignorance.
And he had seen this kind of temperament quite a few times since arriving in the Central Plains.
Luo Chen could only attribute it to this region being simply too peaceful.
Without having endured the crucible of blood and fire, cultivators here might attain high realms, yet they were somewhat green when it came to dealing with the world.
Just like Changfengzi, Guan Xiaoping, and the other cultivator he had met back at the Myriad Immortals Association.
By coincidence, as Luo Chen looked over, Fu Qinglan was also peeking at him.
When their eyes met, Luo Chen remained composed and natural, while the latter shifted her gaze away somewhat self-consciously.
*A real novice!*
On the way back to his quarters, Luo Chen let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
If a person like her were placed in the Eastern Desolation or Northern Sea, he could probably sell her off and she would still count the money for him.
Though a smile graced his face, his heart could not help but harbor a trace of envy.
Even someone like that could attain the realm of a Nascent Soul True Person?
***
Two streaks of escape light borrowed the moonlight to depart Heaven and Earth Peak, flying toward Mount Lanke across the river.
Beneath the night sky, Fu Qinglan lightly bit her lip and suddenly spoke.
"Grandfather, is that man truly up to the task?"
Fu Chaosheng, who had been in high spirits, came to an abrupt halt. At first, he was puzzled. "Up to what task?"
Soon, however, he caught on.
"Are you questioning your grandfather’s judgment?"
Fu Qinglan shook her head, speaking with concern. "It is not that I doubt you, but this grand competition is different from past ones. Setting aside the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment participants, there are thirteen newly advanced Nascent Souls from within the sect alone. The Dao Protectors selected by every one of them are either formidable experts painstakingly groomed by their families, or sect masters and regional hegemons from the outer provinces. By comparison, Luo Chen is too..."
"Too what?" Fu Chaosheng asked, his face clouded with irritation.
Fu Qinglan took a deep breath and said undaunted, "Too young. Though I address him as Daoist Brother, I feel he might even be younger than me. Can someone like that truly protect me inside the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven so that I can focus on comprehending the true intent of the laws?"
"Young?" Fu Chaosheng laughed out of sheer fury. "Since when has the cultivation world measured capability by age? Your grandfather has lived in vain for nine hundred years, yet I remain only at Nascent Soul Tier 3. Do you think Mingren Gu Daoyin, who is not even five hundred years old, is more formidable, or am I?"
Fu Qinglan pressed her lips tight. "That is different. Senior Brother Daoyin is a true prodigy such as the sacred grounds produce only once in a thousand years."
"The Tianyuan Dao Sect has three such prodigies in this generation!" Fu Chaosheng declared, his words ringing like iron and his eyes sharp. "Moreover, in my view, the Desolate Hermit’s capabilities are by no means inferior to any prodigy of the sacred grounds. Do not underestimate him."
Fu Qinglan parted her lips, unsure why her grandfather placed such immense confidence in that man.
Seeing that she still wore a half-doubting expression, Fu Chaosheng’s anger subsided.
He had simply shielded her too well.
If she were like that lad Liu Yuan, spending a century or two tempering herself in the Northern Sea, she would understand that one cannot judge a book by its cover, nor measure the ocean with a bushel.
Sighing, Fu Chaosheng tossed out a jade slip.
"It was inconvenient to explain in detail in the letter earlier. Take this and look for yourself!"
"What is this?"
"It records Luo Chen's battles, great and small. After reading it, you should understand why your grandfather was adamant that it had to be him."
Hesitantly, Fu Qinglan sent her divine sense into the jade slip.
Gradually, her expression turned extraordinary.
***
*Mid Golden Core: self-comprehended the method to form a Nascent Soul.*
*Battle of Lengguang Island: instantaneously slaughtered cultivators of the same tier, and defeated a higher-realm opponent while pursued and intercepted by multiple Golden Core cultivators.*
*Within the Myriad Immortals Association: suppressed a late Golden Core great cultivator.*
*Along the shores of the Sunken Sea: the name of the Devil Lord echoed far and wide.*
*Even suspected of the wondrous feat of slaying a Nascent Soul cultivator across realms!*
*In a mere hundred years, without any assistance from a sect or clan, he formed a Nascent Soul entirely on his own.*
*The moment he stepped into the Nascent Soul realm, he displayed extraordinary capability—Langya actively sought his acquaintance, Lietian suffered a minor loss against him, and even Shen Wandou of the Tianyuan Dao Sect could not gauge Luo Chen's true depth.*
*Though the name of the Desolate Hermit had risen only recently and could not match the Three Great Loose Cultivators of the Northern Sea,*
*in terms of speed of ascent and future potential, he stood above even the Three Great Loose Cultivators!*
When Fu Qinglan returned to the Immortal Welcoming Hall on Heaven and Earth Peak, Luo Chen's record from the jade slip continuously flashed through her mind.
Every single event spoke of an arduous, thrilling, and perilous path of cultivation.
By comparison, the sect competitions and covert clan machinations that she had considered so dangerous seemed utterly childish.
*No wonder his gaze was so complex when he looked at me back then. A touch of curiosity, a touch of disdain, and even a faint trace of envy.*
*A figure like him is more than qualified to be my Dao Protector.*
*Even so, I cannot allow him to look down on me too much. Today, I must have an open and honest conversation with him.*
When Fu Qinglan arrived at the courtyard where Luo Chen was staying, she saw an outer province elder from the Star Gate handing over tokens and credentials to him.
Had he become a Star Gate guest elder?
Yet from the peculiar expression on Luo Chen's face, she noticed that something seemed off.
"Daoist Brother Luo, did an unexpected complication arise?"
Luo Chen weighed the jade medallion in his hand with a puzzled expression. "Does the Star Gate have such a title as 'external affairs guest elder'?"
Fu Qinglan was equally bewildered.
On Heaven and Earth Peak, only three statuses existed: Star Gate guest elder, Tianyuan consecrated elder, and Heaven and Earth Peak elder.
The first was the simplest: holding the title of guest elder granted certain privileges.
The so-called consecrated elders bore the name of Tianyuan, which meant that the Tianyuan Dao Sect would also support their cultivation.
As for the Heaven and Earth Peak elders, they were quite special; individuals of that rank could participate in decisions concerning Heaven and Earth Peak and even the Tianyuan Dao Sect.
Yet an external affairs guest elder was something she had never heard of.
Taken literally, could it mean a guest elder tasked specifically with handling external affairs?
Seeing that she could not provide a clear answer either, Luo Chen did not press further.
"Let's go see my cave abode first!"
With an easy laugh, he strode out of the courtyard.
Fu Qinglan hurriedly followed behind him.
Without realizing it, she had already begun deferring to his lead.
Chapter 742