Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2577 - 948: Li Tian’s Discourse, Hundred Poison Body Refining_2

"If there are any other matters where Senior requires assistance, please do not hesitate to inform me, and I shall exert every effort to satisfy them."

The attendant's striking beauty drew Luo Chen's attention as he offered a faint nod, then claimed a central, esteemed chair within the grand hall.

His arrival at the seat instantly attracted a multitude of stares.

Though billed as an exchange gathering, the positions were evidently assigned according to personal power and standing.

As a newly risen powerhouse, Luo Chen's assignment to this elite spot underscored the high regard from the Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance.

Even Bei Puti enjoyed no greater honor.

One should recall that Bei Puti boasted immense individual might alongside his role as Left Envoy of the Luo Sect.

Supported by a vast Southern Border sect with millennia of legacy, Luo Chen had earned his place solely on his own merits.

Who could possibly look down on such a figure?

Scarcely had he settled when Bei Puti eagerly initiated dialogue.

"Friend Qi, you nearly confused me earlier, claiming I bore a likeness to an acquaintance of yours. Might I ask who that is, and his current whereabouts?"

Noticing it at last?

Or after some discreet probing, have you returned to probe further?

Luo Chen replied casually, "I know not his true identity; North Sea fellow cultivators simply called him Nan Qi Old Ghost, whose Qi Power presence does indeed echo yours somewhat, Friend Bei."

"Nan Qi Old Ghost..." Bei Puti whispered the title, his gaze sharpening with interest. "So he truly fled to the North Sea?"

He yearned to question deeper, yet Luo Chen had shifted to chatting with the neighboring Purple Robe Marquis.

Observing this, he deemed it improper to intrude, chalking the Purple Robe Marquis's actions up to rudeness.

True enough, the Purple Robe Marquis showed little politeness.

Fresh from Luo Chen's exchange, he pressed on enthusiastically, "Qitian, rumors say you focus mainly on Body Refinement Techniques. By chance, I've explored some Body Refinement principles myself. When occasion allows, how about we exchange moves to test our methods?"

A grin crossed Luo Chen's face. "The Songyang Alliance Leader warned that no battles are permitted at Mi Realm Mountain. Do you intend to flout the leader's decree?"

The Purple Robe Marquis dismissed the concern with a gesture. "Nothing serious; a real clash is naturally forbidden. But a light spar in my Cave Mansion—who could object?"

Luo Chen arched a brow and accepted without pause.

"I look forward to witnessing the prowess of Southern Border experts in Body Refining Techniques!"

Delight lit the Purple Robe Marquis's features. "You've come to the perfect individual. Body Refinement has waned in the Southern Border for ages. Were it not for its advantages in my practice, I wouldn't have ventured down this route. Still, I assure you my body refining prowess rivals that of dedicated Body Refiners."

In mere moments of talk, they exchanged message gu.

Luo Chen's choice was the standard Gu Pigeon.

He had procured and refined it specifically from Master Ming Lei prior to departing Wind and Thunder Gorge.

Southern Border cultivators rarely rely on Sound Transmission Jade Pendants for talks, and Flying Sword Letters suffer from range limits.

Instead, diverse letter gu, endowed with basic Spirit Intelligence for vast travels, gained popularity.

Among them, the Gu Pigeon stood as the most prevalent and accessible.

Beyond these basics, rarer and specialized letter gu existed.

For example, the one from Purple Robe Marquis to Luo Chen turned out to be a Purple Blood Mosquito, marked by enigmatic glowing flecks.

The Purple Robe Marquis hadn't anticipated Luo Chen's immediate consent to the bout.

Yet quickly, he grasped the motivation for Luo Chen's openness.

"Are you after that advanced Body Refining Technique I failed to sell previously?"

As he uttered this, his eyes flicked toward the shadowed nook housing Master Ming Lei.

During the prior secret assembly, that man had indeed attended, brought in by the Lantern Master.

Then, a furrow creased his brow. "That advanced Body Refining Technique demands intense effort to master and carries grave dangers. I advise against pursuing it, Friend."

"Oh?" Luo Chen laughed lightly. "You've offered it for trade, but now you discourage it?"

The Purple Robe Marquis gave a casual shrug. "It belongs to another; I'm merely facilitating the deal for useful gains. If you're truly keen, we can discuss it in detail later when alone."

"Very well!"

Luo Chen assented at once.

At that point, the hall's presentation began.

The opening orator was not the Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance Leader, but rather Master Li Tian of the Moon Worship Sect!

He held the title of Southern Border's premier Gu Refiner over the past five centuries.

Even before the Gate of Life and Death sealed itself, invitations for Gu Refining discussions frequently summoned him.

Across the Southern Border Cultivation World, he commanded universal respect.

Myriad powerhouses boasted of owning Gu Insects crafted by his hand.

With him now sharing directly, attendees abandoned all diversions, absorbing his words with full focus.

Luo Chen, embracing the idea that diverse paths sharpen one's own, tuned in with genuine attention.

At the hall's forefront, the white-haired yet youthful-faced, benevolent Master Li Tian perched on a cushion, sandalwood smoke wafting before him like an Immortal's discourse.

His crisp voice emerged, carrying a subtle invigoration that washed over listeners' thoughts like a surge of insight.

"Our path of cultivation boils down to Refining Qi into Soul and Refining God to Return to Void."

"Though the Great Dao remains singular, the routes diverge sharply."

"We in the Southern Border have carved a unique trail via Gu Insects, distinct from the Gu Cultivator ways of the Four Continents."

"Having reached Nascent Soul, you likely hold some grasp of Gu Insects. Yet from what I've seen, most of you chase only their raw power, missing their core essence. Thus, you grasp the 'how' but not the 'why,' leading to superficial progress. Your levels rise swiftly, but true understanding eludes you."

"Hence, among Southern Border's elite, scarce are the Nascent Soul talents who pierce the Law’s True Intent!"

His measured words flowed smoothly, drawing the already rapt audience into deeper absorption.

Luo Chen found himself agreeing inwardly with a subtle nod.

In his estimation, Southern Border cultivators wielded arcane and odd techniques,

yet their battle strength at equivalent levels hardly surpassed peers from the other Four Continents.

Across his travels, not once had he met someone who glimpsed the Law's profound reality early on.

This fact alone revealed that Southern Border folk treated Gu Insects as supportive tools in cultivation—a handy bypass, yet one resistant to merging with the Dao of God Transformation!

He refused to think Southern Border lacked prodigies, but the outcomes spoke volumes.

Even the Gate of Life and Death housed just one Divine Transformation Great Power, paling against the North Sea Primordial Demon Sect's three Ancestors. The Dark Abyss Sect mirrored that with three Divine Transformation Ancestors. As for the Tianyuan Daoist Sect, it commanded six Divine Transformation Great Powers alone.

The root problem likely stemmed from this Gu Insect-assisted cultivation approach.

Now, Southern Border's top Gu Refiner, Master Li Tian, had exposed the flaw outright.

Did he offer a remedy?

As anticipation built among the crowd, Master Li Tian pressed forward with his revelation.

"Gu Insects serve merely as aids for cultivation and Dao enlightenment. How can one truly fathom the Dao by leaning on mere instruments?"

"Through endless cycles of refining, raising, and employing Gu, I came to realize that Gu Insects themselves spring from the Great Dao of heaven and earth."

"Treating them as simple tools ignores the Dao's depth."

"Hence, in my view, one must thoroughly comprehend the essence of their Gu Insects and pursue dual cultivation of life and spirit—for self and Gu alike—to genuinely near the Dao and grasp that fabled Law’s True Intent."

"Regarding methods to perceive, fuse, and nurture them as one, I offer some thoughts for your consideration."

...

Within a adjacent chamber.

Luo Chen lingered in patient silence.

After half an incense stick had smoldered, approaching steps echoed from beyond the entrance.

He rose swiftly, offering cupped hands in salute to the entering Purple Robe Marquis and Master Li Tian.

"Qitian pays respects to Master Li Tian!"

The affable Master Li Tian offered a gentle smile and jested, "My name is Li Tian, yours Qitian; doesn't that clash a bit?"

Luo Chen responded promptly, "A name is but a trifle, no ill omen in it."

"Haha!"

Master Li Tian chuckled deeply, then adopted a grave tone.

"From what Purple Robe Marquis shared, you seek to obtain my ’Hundred Poison Body Refining Technique’?"