When Luo Chen executed Refining Heavenly Secrets to draw a wisp of spiritual opportunity into the token, sudden changes erupted!
Instantly, Luo Chen knew he held the key to this realm.
The entire miniature topography of the Alchemy Saint Realm, hidden within the Alchemy Saint Hall, was imprinted into his mind. On the whole, it was not particularly large, measuring only about half the size of the Jade Cauldron Domain.
No wonder Mister Xuan Yan had been able to find him the moment he entered.
Planted throughout were numerous exotic flowers and rare herbs seldom seen in the outside world.
For instance, the Vast Spirit Grass Luo Chen used to refine Hongyuan Pills was cultivated here across several mu of land—an unexpected boon for him.
Why had he set aside spiritual grottos, pills, and spirit elixirs when previously calculating his cultivation speed?
Was it not precisely because he had no lead on a spiritual grotto yet, and had run into a shortage of Hongyuan Pills?
The batch of Vast Spirit Grass he had acquired from the North Sea in his earlier years was already nearing total exhaustion after heavy consumption over the years.
Even with Sang Jinghe cultivating Vast Spirit Grass for him, the time had been too short, making it a mere drop in the bucket.
In truth, it was not just the Vast Spirit Grass needed for Hongyuan Pills; Luo Chen was also beginning to run short on the Soul Essence required for Great Soul Pills.
Reaching his current fifth-layer Nascent Soul realm had not been accomplished solely by diligent cultivation and fortuitous encounters; more than anything, it was the accumulation of an astronomical amount of resources!
Of course!
At this moment, these exotic plants and even the entire Alchemy Saint Realm were insignificant compared to the alchemical insights left behind by Chu Yan.
What truly mattered were those insights alone!
"Is this the Law True Intent pertaining to alchemy?" Luo Chen murmured to himself, gazing at the illusions.
To an onlooker like Mister Xuan Yan, they were merely phantoms. But to Luo Chen, the experiencer, it felt as though he were personally living through it.
Through the token, Luo Chen could seemingly step into Chu Yan's perspective at any moment, following her to experience the mental journey of each pill refinement and savoring every nuanced shift.
Even the scene where Chu Yan comprehended Law True Intent was preserved—the very moment Mister Xuan Yan had witnessed, where a small world was refined by Chu Yan!
It was also during that very refinement that Chu Yan mastered the alchemical technique *Refining Heavenly Secrets*, learning a method to capture and channel spiritual opportunity that ordinary cultivators could scarcely imagine!
The heavens and earth have Dao, divided into three thousand paths.
The so-called three thousand was merely a figurative number.
It meant that every existence had the opportunity to comprehend a Dao uniquely their own.
Not just the foundational five elements, nor the renowned wind, lightning, yin-yang, space, time, and so forth.
Even flora spirits, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, demons and specters, or pills, formations, artifacts, talismans, puppetry, and beast-taming—any art, when pursued to its pinnacle, held the potential to touch the essence of the Dao.
The saying that craft could verge upon the Dao was based on this very truth.
Naturally, the essence of the Great Dao was by no means something the weak could master completely.
Yet comprehending merely a fraction could allow an art to reach divine perfection, and using it to awaken Law True Intent and step into the Soul Formation realm would follow as a matter of course.
At this moment!
Within the insights left by Chu Yan, Luo Chen's alchemy—already at the grandmaster level—began to achieve complete synthesis, inside and out, from the minute to the grand.
Through Chu Yan's insights, Luo Chen was climbing even higher!
If he so willed it and continued to absorb this comprehension, he was bound to comprehend Alchemy True Intent on top of his Wither-Bloom True Intent.
And he would inevitably become one of the rare—perhaps even the sole—dual-intent Nascent Soul cultivators in the Mountains and Seas Realm!
A dual-intent Nascent Soul might sound unremarkable at first glance, but one had to understand that it was already exceedingly difficult for ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators to comprehend Law True Intent ahead of time.
Usually, they had to elevate their Nascent Soul to the Primordial Spirit level and enter the Soul Formation realm before they could be relatively free from fear of assimilation by heaven and earth and comprehend Law True Intent.
To grasp Law True Intent before Soul Formation was already the mark of an epochal genius, let alone dual True Intents!
As long as Luo Chen was willing, he could take this step!
Yet just as Luo Chen was about to step into the scene of Chu Yan refining that small world, he stopped!
Amidst the hazy chaos, Luo Chen's thoughts grew clearer.
*These are Chu Yan's alchemical insights, not my own.*
*Though my Wither-Bloom True Intent was also opportunistically gleaned when the Wither-Bloom Divine Fire advanced, it at least belongs to my own Great Dao—it has merely strayed slightly off course.*
*What would it say of me if I stole another's insights now?*
*With my current foundation in alchemy, comprehending an Alchemy True Intent uniquely my own will surely come naturally in the future. Why rely on someone else's hand!*
With a turn of thought, the three souls in Luo Chen's sea of consciousness simultaneously unleashed the Kai Mao Art.
"Open!"
Amid the tremors of his soul, Luo Chen broke free from the phantoms Chu Yan had left behind.
At that very moment, the vast influx of spiritual opportunities that had been drawn in also began to slowly disperse.
"What a pity," Luo Chen sighed with mild regret, yet he felt no real disappointment.
After Monarch Qixia's offhand guidance, he had come to realize deeply that while shortcuts were enticing, they rarely led to the ultimate destination.
A real man must know when to take and when to let go!
Fortunately, control of the Alchemy Saint Realm remained in his grasp, so this venture was far from fruitless.
Opening his eyes, Luo Chen met Mister Xuan Yan's dim gaze.
The elder parted his lips, but ultimately let his head droop in silence.
To hold on this long through a final flare of life had been arduous enough.
Having now witnessed the legacy left by his old friend, he passed on without lingering regrets.
The brook babbled, flowing crisply toward the distance.
It was accompanied only by a single sentence from the young man:
"Have a good journey, Mister!"
...
The heavy rain over the Mingyuan Sect lasted for nine full days.
Whether this region was naturally prone to rain or because the clouds and mist that had shrouded the Alchemy Saint Hall for centuries had dissipated, no one could say for certain.
But as cultivators, all preferred to believe it was the latter.
They also believed that once every wisp of cloud cleared, they would behold the new Hall Master of the Alchemy Saint Hall!
And indeed, that was precisely the case!
Under Castellan Lingtian's watchful gaze, the tightly shut main doors of the Alchemy Saint Hall were slowly pulled open.
A tall figure stepped out calmly.
"Pardon me for keeping you all waiting," the white-robed Daoist said with a smile.
"It's Luo Chen!"
"He actually passed the Alchemy Saint Hall's trial!"
"Where is Mister Xuan Yan?"
"What on earth was the Alchemy Saint's inheritance?"
At some point, countless cultivators had gathered in the square outside the Alchemy Saint Hall.
Those permitted to stand among them were Core Formation cultivators at the very least.
Among them were no fewer than a dozen Nascent Soul powerhouses, all figures of great authority and high standing within the Mingyuan Sect.
Amid the clamor of discussion, a booming voice echoed from high above the nine heavens.
"Hereby is Luo Chen: of humble origins, gifted with consummate talent, who by the prowess of an Alchemy Master passed the trial."
"As of today, he is appointed Hall Master of the Alchemy Saint Hall and bestowed one Fortune Cauldron!"
"Furthermore, he is granted the Pingshan Crown, Snowfall Frost Robe, Nine Luminaries Jade Belt, and Cloud-Stepping Shoes."
"Luo Chen is commanded to proceed immediately to Mount Yanfu to pay homage to the three Ancestors!"
While the grand voice still resonated, a figure had already appeared in the airspace above the Alchemy Saint Hall.
Luo Chen glanced at Castellan Lingtian.
Ye Lingtian hurried to transmit his voice: "This is Junior Brother Tan Sheng, one of Ancestor Yuming's direct disciples."
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow. Having arrived at the Mingyuan Sect only recently, he was largely unfamiliar with the people and matters here, let alone the internal factions.
For instance, regarding the three people who had visited Motian Cliff to invite him back then, he had initially guessed they represented the three Ancestors, but later found that was not quite right.
Take Lei Daozi, who was actually not Ancestor Yuming's disciple.
He had inherited the legacy of the late Mingyuan Sect mighty figure Bai Ye, technically forming a faction of his own and merely maintaining close ties with Ancestor Yuming's lineage.
Gathering his thoughts, Luo Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "My thanks to the Ancestors for the bestowal!"
With a wave of Tan Sheng's hand, disciples behind him stepped forward carrying trays.
Upon each tray rested an item.
Shimmering with treasure light, their extraordinary nature was obvious at a glance.
In fact, Luo Chen felt a faint sense of familiarity toward the crown among them.
"Change into these robes first before going to see the Ancestors!" Tan Sheng glanced at Luo Chen, frowning slightly. "Do not neglect propriety."
Luo Chen offered a carefree smile, unbothered by his tone.
The man was bearing gifts, after all!
At this moment, after five years in the trial, his appearance was indeed somewhat disheveled.
Carefree as it was, it would hardly be proper for meeting the seniors.
"Pray wait a brief moment!" Standing to the side, Ye Lingtian sent a voice transmission to a young woman hurrying over. He then said to Luo Chen, "Allow my daughter to assist the Alchemy Saint Hall Master in grooming himself!"
Luo Chen nodded, then beckoned to the youth standing beside the young woman.
"Come inside with me!"
In the eyes of the gathered cultivators, this youth appeared quite out of place.
He possessed no spiritual energy fluctuations whatsoever, visibly an ordinary mortal at first glance.
Yet at this moment, besides Ye Ruoli, who was to assist Luo Chen with his attire, he was the only one permitted to enter the Alchemy Saint Hall.
After the three figures vanished within, the cultivators outside continued their lively chatter.
"Is that youth Luo Chen's son?"
"Still calling him Luo Chen? From now on, address him as the Alchemy Saint Hall Master!"
"He is indeed Hall Master Luo's son, though one wonders why Hall Master Luo, whose alchemical prowess nears the divine, has an offspring incapable of cultivating."
"It really makes no sense!"
"Did you see that small cauldron? That was the Fortune Cauldron used by the Alchemy Saint for many years before she formed her Nascent Soul!"
"The Fortune Cauldron... For the Ancestors to bestow this upon Hall Master Luo shows their unwavering intentions."
"I heard that to prevent the Alchemy Saint Hall from shutting down again in the future, it will have one chief and two deputy hall masters. Now that the chief position is set in stone, who do you think the two deputies will be?"
"Need you even ask? They'll surely be chosen from the four Alchemy Masters like Chu Yu and Lu Chun!"
"Heh, there's quite a story behind that. First of all, is Chu Yu even qualified to be a deputy hall master? Furthermore, two of the four are outsiders..."
"Who told you that one must excel in alchemy to be a deputy hall master?"
The discussions fell dead silent at that abrupt counterquestion.
Then, an even louder debate erupted!
Meanwhile, inside the Alchemy Saint Hall.
Luo Chen stood before a wide mirror, allowing Ye Ruoli to dress him in the Snowfall Frost Robe and fasten the Nine Luminaries Jade Belt.
Stepping into the comfortable Cloud-Stepping Shoes, with the faint scent of a woman drifting past his nose, Luo Chen directed his attention to the youth beside him.
"You've grown taller."
A blink of five years was merely a flick of the fingers to a cultivator.
But to Luo Lingxi, who could not cultivate, it had dragged on for an eternity.
Gazing at Luo Chen, whose appearance hadn't changed at all from five years ago, his voice choked slightly.
"Father."
Luo Chen could see the deep affection and admiration in the youth's eyes.
Beckoning him over, the youth walked over obediently.
Luo Chen rubbed his head. "Have you been practicing the guiding technique I taught you properly these past few years?"
Luo Lingxi nodded vigorously. "I have never slacked off!"
Luo Chen smiled; he could naturally see the boy's condition.
Though he still appeared rather thin and frail, he was indeed far better off than before.
The youth hesitated, wanting to speak, but Luo Chen had already seated himself on a chair.
Ye Ruoli glanced at the youth, then asked hesitantly, "Hall Master, what style of hair bun would you prefer?"
With a casual wave of Luo Chen's hand, spiritual energy coalesced in the air, depicting his former hairstyle.
"Let us go with this bun. Make minor adjustments to fit the crown."
Ye Ruoli studied the portrait of spiritual energy closely, nodded, and lifted a comb to dress Luo Chen's hair.
Beside them, Luo Lingxi could see clearly that this bun was precisely the style his mother, Sima Huiniang, had often combed for his father.
As he sat in silence, Luo Chen did not stay idle, taking up the crown.
"The Pingshan Crown?"
"So that was it!"
Examining it briefly, Luo Chen understood why it had felt familiar.
This crown was plainly the one Ancient Demon Di Tian had worn back then, only with the beaded jade fringe removed.
It lacked the imperial majesty, yet sacrificed none of its dignity, retaining the aura of an honorable gentleman.
"The three Ancestors are quite generous!" Luo Chen murmured to himself. With his discernment in artifact crafting, he could tell at a glance that this crown was exceptional.
It was clearly a powerful defensive True Artifact!
Channeling magic power into it, a protective barrier instantly expanded, capable of enveloping his entire person.
It was fully suited to warding off physical attacks as well as magic power impacts.
While its exact defensive strength was still unknown, any treasure worn by Ancient Demon Di Tian was bound to be formidable.
The only drawback was the missing jade bead fringe!
By Luo Chen's assessment, had those beaded curtains still been present, they likely would have defended against soul attacks as well.
"Still, it is enough. With the Prison-Suppressing Soul Technique, I hardly lack means for soul defense."
Once his hair was dressed, Luo Chen solemnly placed the Pingshan Crown upon his head and slid a jade hairpin through it.
Rising to his feet, he walked outward.
"Wait here for my return!"
"As for the matter of your cultivation, I already have some ideas. Do not fret."
Luo Lingxi, who had been brooding quietly, saw his eyes light up in an instant.
...
When Luo Chen appeared at the main gates of the Alchemy Saint Hall, the square—still abuzz with discussion a moment before—fell dead silent.
Gaze after gaze snapped toward him in unison.
Wearing the pristine Cloud-Stepping Shoes, girded with the Nine Luminaries Jade Belt, the Snowfall Frost Robe was not only a perfect fit but also lent him an ethereal, otherworldly elegance.
The crown, in particular, accentuated Luo Chen's youthful countenance, making him appear extraordinarily handsome and distinguished.
To behold him was like gazing upon a banished immortal!
Ye Lingtian voiced his praise: "Behold the new Alchemy Saint Hall Master of our Mingyuan Sect!"
Instantly, a chorus of responses rose in echo:
"Greetings, Alchemy Saint Hall Master!"
Among the hundreds present, Luo Chen knew almost no one aside from Ye Lingtian.
Even Lu Chun, Chen Mozi, and the others were merely nodding acquaintances, having even been rivals just prior.
Yet buoyed by the festive atmosphere, Luo Chen showed great warmth.
"When I return, I shall host a banquet and wine for us to celebrate together!"
With those words, clouds formed beneath his feet, and he drifted up toward the high heavens.
Mount Yanfu lay right above!
...
Within Shangyou City, carriages flowed like water, and horses bustled amid the streaming crowds.
Amidst the packed throngs, a flash of crimson robes flitted by, breaking away from the crowd to arrive outside the city alone.
A bottomless abyss lay quietly before her like a slumbering behemoth.
The crimson-robed figure walked up to the edge of the abyss, seeming to find it somewhat troublesome.
Suddenly!
A slender, shapely jade hand tapped gently toward the abyss. At once, the behemoth opened its maw, and the abyss parted.
A path leading to the Mingyuan Sect, the Soul Formation sacred land of the Eastern Desolation, opened!
Chapter 905