Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2596 - 956: Opening the Door to the Realm, Armies at the Border (Part 2)

Luo Chen arched his brow, "Oh? What exactly do you imply?"

Meng Shentong gestured with sincerity, "It's tough to describe precisely, yet you can glimpse it from his plot spanning centuries."

Luo Chen's eyes flickered, lost in contemplation.

Could this be why Meng Shentong, despite their shared esteem, was so determined to include Bai Xuanjun?

Bai Xuanjun from the White Bone Sect is no easy opponent!

Though his cultivation stands at the sixth layer of Nascent Soul, legends claim his battle prowess is immense, boasting diverse assault techniques.

Paired with Meng Shentong's might as a mighty cultivator, the duo could tackle nearly any challenge.

In that instant, Meng Shentong's pointed warning served as a gesture of goodwill toward him.

Luo Chen contemplated briefly before accepting the Messenger Gu, simultaneously sliding a cup of wine across.

Meng Shentong paused in surprise, then beamed and downed the wine in a single swallow.

Once the drink was consumed, color rushed to his cheeks only to fade swiftly, accompanied by a single outburst.

"Excellent brew!"

The Dieyun Fine Wine, specially designated by Mingyuan Sacred Land for offering, how could it fail to be exceptional?

Exchanging knowing grins, the pair departed the chamber and stepped onto the deck.

All were already positioned, with Li Tianshi positioned at the vessel's prow, his locks whipping in the wind as he stared toward the far-off Golden Lion Empire.

"Golden Lion Empire, we've reached it!"

...

The Golden Lion Empire stands as the singular most distinctive force across the South Border.

It's common knowledge that within the Immortal Cultivation World, primary influences consist of kin-based sects, faith-based sects, and associations.

Mortal empires and reigns are largely groups scouring for spirit root prospects, typically serving as subordinates to a major sect.

Yet the Golden Lion Empire's power exceeds worldly expectations by far.

During its zenith, nine Nascent Soul True Masters once oversaw it!

To this day, five Nascent Soul powerhouses endure in existence.

Such exceptional status, while the Southern Border Sacred Land's Gate of Life and Death overlooked it, sparking endless rumors over years.

However, none realize the Golden Lion Empire functions merely as an offshoot of the Gate of Life and Death.

Similar to typical Golden Core entities that back several mortal realms.

Merely, the Gate of Life and Death played its cards on a vaster scale.

Within an opulent, majestic, and awe-inspiring palace auditorium, Luo Chen and his companions engaged in warm dialogue with a figure clad in imperial attire.

"State Preceptor, having journeyed from distant lands, you must be weary. Perhaps rest awhile? I'll prepare a feast to honor you, and this evening, we drink till the end!"

Li Tianshi grinned, "Your Majesty is overly gracious."

The Golden Lion Empire's ruler replied with deference, "This is no excess of courtesy; as elders, it's my duty to accommodate you. Kindly hold on briefly."

Having spoken, he departed.

Once gone, Meng Shentong creased his brow and inquired, "Entering the palace so boldly, does it not risk rousing the foes?"

Li Tianshi curved his lips in assurance, "Our aim is to draw the serpent from its lair!"

As he declared, he signaled to Granny Hong Ye.

The elderly lady acted without delay, retrieving an array disk while her divine sense trailed the Golden Lion Emperor.

...

The Golden Lion Emperor departed the grand chamber, hastening his pace.

Solitary, he navigated through successive layers of palace structures, ultimately reaching a bronze portal.

Producing a token, he unleashed a series of dao laws.

The bronze door gradually parted.

He entered.

After an extended period, he reached the exterior of a vast hall.

Pausing briefly in hesitation, he triggered the Messenger Gu in the direction of a somewhat sinister chamber.

Within that chamber steeped in ominous energy, an elder meticulously toyed with a Gu urn, where a tiny insect inside gleefully scuttled, its nippers razor-edged like blades.

Still, the elder found this vibrant demeanor far from ideal.

"This can't be right!"

"The Bean Soldier Gu's qi should remain contained; why does it buzz with such energy?"

"Was there an error in my gu refinement?"

As he fretted, the Messenger Gu abruptly activated.

With a flick of his wrist, the Gu Refining Room's entrance eased open.

The Golden Lion Emperor entered, bowing with reverence.

"Your grandson honors the Ancestor!"

The elder scowled, "What's the matter? I specified no interruptions while refining gu."

The Golden Lion Emperor spoke gravely, "The State Preceptor is back!"

Joy lit the elder's features, "Old Li's return is timely; I've erred in gu crafting and sought his input just now."

Yet, the Golden Lion Emperor's following statement twisted his countenance in an instant.

"The State Preceptor arrived alongside six Nascent Soul masters, all bearing deep cultivations. Even peering through the Emperor’s Treasure Mirror in secret, I failed to gauge their precise stages. Though Master Li Tian says they're mere visitors, I suspect hostile motives!"

"The Emperor’s Treasure Mirror failed to reveal their exact cultivations?" The elder's expression shifted sharply.

That artifact holds True Device status.

Standard Nascent Souls cannot conceal their levels from its scrutiny whatsoever.

Should the Emperor’s Treasure Mirror prove ineffective, then the adversaries either wield supreme hiding arts or possess Mid Nascent Soul stages, perhaps even Late Nascent Soul!

No matter the case, six in number suffice to sow terror.

"What scheme does Master Li Tian pursue?"

The elder drew a steadying breath, eyes lingering on the Gu Urn. Bound here for now, he couldn't dismiss external threats.

"Summon the Fifth Ancestor and Third Ancestor to manage this temporarily. I'll follow shortly!"

Relief washed over the Golden Lion Emperor.

For a simple Golden Core practitioner to confront seven Nascent Souls proved daunting indeed.

The intervention of Third and Fifth Ancestors would ease the burden greatly.

Upon the order, the Golden Lion Emperor withdrew politely, then visited neighboring chambers, dispatching messenger toxins sequentially.

Moments later, two silhouettes emerged one after another.

A male and female pair, one aged and the other youthful.

The senior was the Third Ancestor, the maiden the Fifth Ancestor.

Sharing a look, they departed the Secret Realm alongside the Golden Lion Emperor.

As the bronze gate swung shut once more, the Fifth Ancestor inquired playfully, "Where might those individuals be at present?"

"Within the Yangxin Hall!"

"Very well, off to that place we go!"

The trio moved without hesitation directly to the Yangxin Hall.

It wasn't long.

The three reached the hall's perimeter.

Observing the indistinct shapes within, the Fifth Ancestor offered a faint smile. Following the upheavals in the South Border and their seclusion in the Yin Yang Realm, ages had passed without encountering another soul.

Suddenly, seven cultivators appeared, intent unknown, yet some exchange would surely lift her spirits...

"This feels off!"

The Third Ancestor probed with Divine Consciousness and at once detected irregularity.

The Fifth Ancestor initially puzzled, but upon extending her own Divine Consciousness, grasped the issue.

A single palm thrust unleashed a gale ripping into the hall.

Those seven forms dissolved wordlessly into powder.

"Puppet Gu!"

Right then, a low thunderous noise echoed from the remote earth below.

As though a colossus rent the soil and rock!

"They're attempting to breach the Yin Yang Realm!" the Fifth Ancestor cried out, fury contorting her visage.

The Third Ancestor was already airborne, racing to the Yin Yang Realm's portal.

In flight, he urged, "The Yin Yang Realm features a duplicate Gate of Life and Death. Lacking the token, entry is impossible. We hold the advantage of time. Hasten to engage the Imperial Palace Array and bar their intrusion."

At that juncture.

The lately sealed bronze gate radiated thick Spirit Light.

Hong Ye Granny gripped the Array Disk, invoking Dao Law Methods, the disk's needle spinning ceaselessly.

Abruptly!

The needle halted, Hong Ye Granny's eyes narrowed keenly on a particular location.

"The vulnerability lies here! All attack together, and it shatters."

Yet as her words fell, Master Li Tian dismissed the strategy.

"We seek ingress, not destruction of the gate."

Hong Ye Granny knitted her brows, "Without shattering the gate, how shall we proceed inside? Time presses urgently. Should the Golden Lion Empire's two ancestors trigger the Imperial Palace Array and ensnare us, we'll be like trapped fowl."

Master Li Tian smirked faintly, directing his sight to Luo Chen.

"Rather than demolish the gate, why not simply unlock it?"

Amid the hush, Luo Chen advanced.

Beneath the group's intent stares, he gradually raised his hand, pressing it to the spot Granny Hong Ye had marked.

The Black Armor thrummed, meridians coursing akin to coiling serpents.

Immense force erupted outward.

"Open!"

With a subdued roar, Luo Chen thrust with vigor.

Astounding the onlookers, the bronze gate, which appeared to block all, gradually parted to form a narrow slit.

Golden radiance gleamed through the opening.

Simultaneously, along the Golden Lion Empire's territorial frontier, myriad sparkles dotted the heavens.

The Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance, their forces advanced relentlessly!