Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Upon entering, Shen Wandou immediately felt extremely uncomfortable.

A vast ocean-like divine consciousness spread out recklessly, as if constantly spying on him.

He pursed his lips, and with his left hand hidden in his sleeve, he formed a seal gesture.

”Oh!”

A soft exclamation came, and Luo Chen, dressed in loose white robes with his hair let down, walked out of the quiet room.

He apologized with a smile, ”Sorry, I’m cultivating a technique, causing my divine soul to be overly active and unable to be retracted in a short time.”

While saying this, he continued to observe Shen Wandou with an unceasing gaze.

The other’s original realm was clear, approximately around the Nascent Soul Third Layer, and his divine consciousness lightly touched then withdrew.

Yet in that moment, it displayed a strength not inferior to Luo Chen’s own divine consciousness.

Shen Wandou also looked on with surprise, astonished by Luo Chen’s exceedingly youthful appearance.

In the Immortal Cultivation World, there are secret techniques and elixirs to maintain eternal youth, and youthful appearances are never a standard for judging age.

There are even those who appear as children or youths but are actually several hundred years old.

However, these people always have some unmistakable ”aged essence” about them. Their speech and actions often show a mature demeanor, lacking any youthful semblance.

Yet from Luo Chen’s pale skin and beardless cheeks, he sensed a vibrant ”youthfulness.”

This indicated that the other was indeed very young, with a specific cultivation age definitely not exceeding three to five hundred years.

He exclaimed, ”Friend, to be so young and possess such powerful divine consciousness is truly rare in this world!”

Luo Chen smiled lightly, ”Daoist Shen overpraises. With your abilities, the intensity of your divine consciousness is no less than mine. No wonder you are the Great Elder of the North Sea Heavenly Origin Merchant Alliance!”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this praise, Shen Wandou wore a bitter smile.

”The position of an elder in the merchant alliance, which you deem enviably revered, is but a difficult duty to us.”

Luo Chen was surprised.

The elders of the Tianyuan Merchant Alliance, whether in the Eastern Wasteland or in the North Sea, are revered figures wherever they go.

They command countless cultivators and have extensive connections, holding in their hands numerous rare treasures and valuable resources.

In a mortal kingdom, wouldn’t they be considered high-ranking officials governing a territory?

And this is a difficult duty?

Seeing Luo Chen’s surprised expression, Shen Wandou shook his head and sighed, ”Friend, you are not aware. Our Tianyuan Daoist Sect is vast and abundant, with many geniuses. Truly powerful individuals remain cultivating in seclusion within the sect. It’s only those with mediocre talent, ordinary family backgrounds, and no further path for advancement due to age, who are relegated to the Tianyuan Merchant Alliance to handle these lowly merchant affairs. It’s understandable if those unaware respect us, but for someone like you, who will sooner or later become a Guest Elder of our Star Gate, there’s no need for such formality.”

Luo Chen was even more surprised.

He knew the Tianyuan Daoist Sect was powerful, overseeing a core region and overlooking the mountains and seas of the four states.

But for Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators, how could the term ”relegated” be appropriate?

Moreover...

”How did Daoist Shen know that I would become a guest elder of your sect? And what exactly is this Star Gate guest elder?”

Shen Wandou smiled, ”That’s very normal. As elders of our merchant alliance, we have the task of introducing skilled individuals from the four states into the Tianyuan Daoist Sect. Within the sect, the Star Gate is your destination. I suppose Elder Fu invited you here also intending to have you join our sect!”

”Star Gate?”

Luo Chen repeated the name, his expression serious, ”Please enlighten me, Friend, what kind of place is the Star Gate?”

Previously, Fu Chaosheng only mentioned that he would recommend him to become a guest elder of the Tianyuan Daoist Sect after the matter was completed, but did not mention this special place known as the Star Gate.

The tight timeframe was one reason, and the other probably was some reservation from the other party.

Now it seemed unclear whether Shen Wandou and Fu Chaosheng were foes or friends, but if he could gather some information from the former, it would be easier to act later.

Shen Wandou examined Luo Chen carefully, noted his calm demeanor, neither overbearing nor servile, and his divine consciousness strength not inferior to his own despite being at the First Layer of Nascent Soul, making him a truly rare individual.

After a brief consideration, he smiled broadly and said:

”The Star Gate is a special place within our sect, located at Heaven and Earth Peak.”

”There are nineteen elders altogether within, twelve from the Twelve Great Houses, two are rotated among the Thirty-Six Noble Clans, while the remaining five are recommended by external Guest Elders.”

”But the Star Gate is primarily composed of external formidable individuals like you. The minimum requirement for admission is a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator. Once inside, you’re divided into three levels: ordinary guest elder, Tianyuan emissary, and Heaven and Earth Peak elder.”

”Are you familiar with the Alchemy Saint, Chu Yan?”

Luo Chen was stunned and instinctively nodded.

This person, his name is known far and wide; he had heard of him back during his Qi Refinement Stage.

It’s said he originally came from the Eastern Wasteland Holy Land Dark Abyss Sect, but for some reason, he left for Zhongzhou and joined the Tianyuan Daoist Sect.

Legend also has it that he is the only Alchemy Saint capable of refining Fifth Order Elixirs during the Nascent Soul Stage!

Could the mention of him mean...?

”He is one of the nineteen elders of the Heaven and Earth Peak Star Gate, and has held the position of a Heaven and Earth Peak elder for five hundred years!”

Luo Chen was shaken internally and asked in confusion, ”What benefits does the Heaven and Earth Peak Star Gate offer to attract so many Mountain Sea Realm experts to join?”

”Benefits?” Shen Wandou chuckled, ”There are indeed many.”

He then began to explain in detail.

External Nascent Soul True Masters cannot directly join the Tianyuan Daoist Sect. This taboo is similar to other sects, aimed at preventing disruptive teachings and chaos in the Ancestral Court.