Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Luo Chen was in a daze.

He didn’t rush, found a corner, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes to rest.

While he was waiting, flying boats were entering and exiting the Su Ling Sect, dropping off groups of rogue cultivators.

All around, glints of light flickered, and the atmosphere for the upcoming Spiritual Assembly gradually became lively.

...

Three days later.

On the White Stone Plaza, it was a sea of people.

A dense crowd stretched as far as the eye could see, supposedly tens of thousands of rogue cultivators!

Even though no one was speaking loudly, the occasional murmurs gathered into what felt like a pot of boiling water, incredibly noisy.

”Xuan Luo, do you think we can successfully join the Su Ling Sect?”

Huang Yuanhua’s voice came to his ears again, with an increasingly worried tone.

Luo Chen opened his eyes, glanced at him, and his brow slightly furrowed.

His restlessness was truly a sign of a poor Dao heart.

Reaching the Foundation Establishment at over fifty years old, with not-so-great spirit root talent.

It’s not a good omen!

”Xuan Luo...”

”Talk less, save your energy, and face the upcoming assessments in your best state.”

Luo Chen could only offer this advice, before closing his eyes to rest again.

Considering that the Su Ling Sect not only had a Divine Transformation Great Power but also a Void Refining True Monarch, Luo Chen didn’t actively spread his divine perception, instead, he tried to conceal himself as much as possible.

His understanding of this sect was limited.

But one thing had concerned him these past three days.

”Why is the Spirit Mechanism so sparse?”

As a top-tier force capable of supporting Divine Transformation Great Power and even a Void Refining True Monarch, they naturally would have a Fifth Order Spirit Vein, and it would certainly be a large one.

This level of spirit vein would naturally produce spirit mechanisms, facilitating cultivators’ comprehension of Daoist laws, insights into the law, and even sudden enlightenment!

The purpose of a spirit mechanism is exactly this.

However, in Luo Chen’s perception, he couldn’t detect much spirit mechanism.

Even with a quick scan using his Red Eyes Golden Pupils, there wasn’t much to be found.

This made Luo Chen particularly puzzled.

He couldn’t help but wonder if the Su Ling Sect had a special setup to conceal the spirit mechanism so well, or if the situation in the Mystic Realm was vastly different from the Mountain Sea Realm.

Either way, it would greatly impact his future return to the Divinity Transformation Realm.

Just as Luo Chen was contemplating, he suddenly sensed something and slowly opened his eyes.

Dozens of glints flew down from above the Heaven-Reaching Jade Steps and finally stopped above the front of the plaza.

A middle-aged man, plump and with gentle features, stepped forward, his gaze sweeping kindly across the crowd.

Without saying a word, the noisy atmosphere in the hall gradually quieted down.

When it was silent, with only the sound of the mountain wind rustling clothes, the middle-aged man nodded in satisfaction.

”I am Wan Jiu Zhang, the senior disciple under Yaoxi True Master of Jade Spring Peak, presiding over this Spiritual Assembly on behalf of my master. Unlike before, there is an additional stage in this Spiritual Assembly, with a total of three stages. The details are as follows...”

The rules of the assessment for this Spiritual Assembly, spoken by this late Golden Core Stage great cultivator, were transmitted clearly into everyone’s ears, word by word.

Especially when it was mentioned about the third stage, Heart Inquiry Gate, everyone’s expression subtly changed.

Heart Inquiry?

Inquiring what heart?

Dao heart, true heart, or some nebulous ulterior motives?

For rogue cultivators, this was the most mystical test.

Even if the previous two stages were passed perfectly, if not recognized by the Su Ling Sect in the third stage, would that mean all previous efforts were in vain?

Seemingly sensing the unease of many rogue cultivators, Wan Jiu Zhang said in a loud voice, ”The third stage also has standards, if one can smoothly pass through the 990 Heaven-Reaching Jade Steps behind me, then the Heart Inquiry is considered a success. This stage is personally overseen by a Nascent Soul True Master, and the pressure varies for each person, unconstrained by realm, so there’s no need to worry about being handicapped by a different realm. Of course... for those with matters they don’t wish to be exposed, you may choose not to participate in this Spiritual Assembly.”

This statement made everyone look at each other.

Then came the lively shouts.

”What are we waiting for then?”

”Let’s start!”

”I consider my talent not weak, and my Dao heart firm, only lacking guidance from a master and resource assistance. Since it is not limited by the realm, I am sure I can ascend the 990 Heaven-Reaching Jade Steps.”

”Better pass the first stage first!”

”Hurry up!”

Seeing this lively scene, Wan Jiu Zhang couldn’t help but smile while stroking his beard.

He clasped his fists to the nearby Su Ling Sect cultivators, ”I leave the rest to you, fellow junior brothers and sisters.”

”Yes!”

Everyone responded, then descended onto a row of high platforms left vacant on the plaza, surrounded by many glints of Foundation Establishment cultivators landing between them.

Soon, the cultivators collectively activated, and the high platform was lit up with flowing light.

There were stone gates, jade plates, and even a treasure mirror hanging high.

These were the magic items needed for the first stage of the assessment.

Following that, the Su Ling Sect cultivators began calling out names from the rogue cultivator rosters collected earlier.

Those called were to go on stage for the first-stage assessment.

”Ji Yue of Tan State!”

”Present!”

”Jiang Wenda of Danshui!”

”Present!”

”Taisu Xuanluo!”

Luo Chen was momentarily stunned, then smiled and responded, walking up calmly.

Behind him, the group of rogue cultivators who came from Taisu Immortal City with him had realized something.

This first batch being called up were clearly the promising seeds from various regions that the Su Ling Sect valued, thus given priority testing, sparing them a long wait.

But the first from Taisu Immortal City to be called up was Xuan Luo, not Tang Yuan who had significant ties with the Su Ling Sect, nor Xing Beichen, well-known among rogue cultivators, but rather the recently risen and previously unknown Xuan Luo, which was surprising.

”Perhaps it’s because of age!”

Everyone could only think this way.

After all, Luo Chen’s age was indeed too young, and his apparent external appearance was that of a young man, even with a bit of ”youthful innocence.”

Luo Chen arrived at the high platform, and under the guidance of the Su Ling Sect cultivators, first stepped through the stone gate.

In an instant, it was shimmering, with spirit qi surging.

Although it passed in a flash, marks were left on the stone gate.

”Early Stage Foundation Establishment, stable realm.” Several Foundation Establishment cultivators responsible for the assessment exchanged glances and nodded in acknowledgment.

”Next is testing your age. To ensure accuracy, we will mainly test bone age.”

One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators briefly explained to Luo Chen, then held a treasure mirror towards him.

”Alright!”

Luo Chen nodded, allowing the mirror light to shine on his body.

But the mirror light lingered on the outside, unable to penetrate.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator furrowed his brows and reminded him, ”Don’t be nervous, relax your mind and don’t resist with Qi power.”

Luo Chen was already quite relaxed; he knew the reason the mirror light couldn’t penetrate his body was something else.

He immediately cleared his mind, let his Qi power dissipate, and even retracted all his Gang Qi inside.

Not only that, but he slightly released his divine perception to scan everyone.

The cultivators seemed to see the mirror light sweep over Luo Chen, penetrating flesh, and falling on his bones.

”Bone age: twenty-three!”

The cultivators exchanged glances, revealing expressions of surprise.

It was exactly as submitted on the roster.

This rogue cultivator had managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage at the age of around twenty.

Even within immortal sects, this was a talent one in a million!

Then, his spirit root talent...

”Finally, let’s proceed to test your spirit root constitution!”

With anticipation, they indicated for Luo Chen to place his hand on the jade plate.

In an instant, the golden light burst forth!

Moreover, there was a faint red glow spreading.

Seeing the intense golden light, they were first delighted.

”Indeed a Heavenly Spirit Root, with gold attributes; no wonder he broke through to Foundation Establishment at such a young age!”

”Wait, that’s not right?”

When the red glow flickered, everyone was stunned.

”Why is there also a Fire Spirit Root?”

The surprise on the high platform drew the attention of many eagerly awaiting rogue cultivators on the plaza.

In their twenties, at Early Stage Foundation Establishment, with Dual Spirit Roots talent—any two of these would make an enviable genius, but all three together seemed too contradictory.

Simply because with Dual Spirit Roots talent, it shouldn’t be possible to break through to Foundation Establishment at such a young age!

A glint descended onto Luo Chen’s high platform.

It was the late Golden Core Stage great cultivator from before.

Wan Jiu Zhang nodded at Luo Chen, then without hesitation released his divine perception, scanning him from head to toe.

Gradually, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

”Sharp Gold Body!”