Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2631 - 970: South Border Matters Resolved, Divine Monarch Ascends (Part 3)

To get back to the Mystic Realm, the help of the Star Gate becomes essential.

However, this location is the Southern Border Door of Life and Death—where on earth could the Daoist Sect’s Star Gate possibly exist?

Therefore, departure options boil down to just two possibilities.

The first involves meditating until death, whereas the second means ascension.

Judging from how long the other has endured, his lifespan has surely surpassed the two-thousand-year boundary for a Divine Transformation Great Power.

Luo Chen asked carefully, "May I ask what realm senior has achieved?"

Youli Divine Monarch replied, "Do you understand why the world refers to me as Divine Monarch?"

Luo Chen exclaimed, "Is it possible that senior has attained the Void Refining True Monarch realm?"

"Not quite yet—in this realm, except for certain native supreme Great Desolate creatures, nothing can surpass the True Monarch Realm. However!" Youli Divine Monarch altered his voice, as the Qi Power enveloping him started to surge like rolling waves, "Should I manage to ascend successfully, reaching the True Monarch realm will be effortless!"

The overwhelming rush of Qi Power shoved Luo Chen backward against his will.

In shock, he looked toward the green-robed elder standing on Cloud Sea Peak.

An enormous Primordial Spirit rose from the top of his head.

The nearby Primordial Energy Ocean, still lingering, turned into countless beams of radiance that rushed and flowed into the Primordial Spirit.

Furthermore, through Luo Chen’s Red Eyes Golden Pupils, vast quantities of Spirit Mechanism gathered toward Youli Divine Monarch’s Primordial Spirit.

Within an instant, the Primordial Spirit, previously somewhat faint, grew remarkably substantial.

Even its form was experiencing a profound shift, as True Intent of the Law whirled about, shaping an ethereal colossal figure.

In a flash, it towered a hundred zhang high, resembling a titan dominating the skies and lands.

The dazzling glows pierced through the clouds and fog, like sacred beams descending from above.

This metamorphosis went beyond the ascension spectacle of Alchemy Saint Chu Yan from years past.

Recalling the other’s cultivation level and earlier statements, a realization dawned on Luo Chen.

"Dharma Image!"

The path of Qi Refining hinges on the interplay between Qi Power and Divine Soul transformations.

Particularly the latter stage, which spans every cultivation level for a practitioner!

From Soul to Spirit Consciousness, Divine Consciousness, Nascent Soul, and finally the Primordial Spirit evolution during Divine Transformation ascension.

But what follows Divine Transformation?

Legends say that entering the Void Refining Stage requires forming a Dharma Image to supplant the fleshly body, allowing safe navigation of the Primordial Energy Ocean without peril from Heaven and Earth Assimilation.

Luo Chen lacked knowledge on the exact method to form the Dharma Image.

Yet now, it was clear that Youli Divine Monarch had truly achieved this feat.

"It’s no surprise he claims that successful ascension leads straight to the Void Refining Stage; he’s already started forming the preliminary Dharma Image."

And beneath the Cloud Sea Peak.

The Gate of Life and Death battlefield resembled a hellish Asura realm.

Innumerable cultivators detected the upheavals in the heavens and earth.

Sacred light cut through the haze, brightening the immense universe.

An ethereal giant’s silhouette loomed over the Cloud Sea, surveying the Mountain Sea below.

All onlookers froze in bewilderment, unsure of the portent behind this vision.

Yet the Tianyuan Daoist Sect members responded first!

Decades prior, they had beheld this very sight.

"Ascension!"

"An individual is on the verge of ascending!"

"Who could be ascending right now? Might it be Youli Divine Monarch, the ancestor of the Door of Life and Death?"

A silhouette abruptly materialized before the crowd—it was Liancheng Ancestor, among the five elders of the Tianyuan Daoist Sect.

At that instant, he stared skyward, his face etched with profound doubt.

"This signifies ascension, yet why does Youli Divine Monarch manifest in a phantom form? Isn’t it said that he halted his cultivation progress to extend his life, confining himself motionlessly within the Door of Life and Death?"

This reflection stirred a vague sense of peril in Liancheng Ancestor.

Why choose ascension precisely when foes encroach so near?

Liancheng Ancestor started withdrawing.

Unfortunately, it appeared too tardy.

The phantom giant atop the Cloud Sea abruptly unveiled its eyes.

Those orbs held the sun, moon, stars, and the flux of eras.

Its stare descended, and a palm pressed down gently.

Boom!

The residual Primordial Energy Ocean abruptly plummeted.

The frightful Primordial Energy cascaded straight into the Door of Life and Death.

Right then, the Primordial Energy acted with awareness, skirting all Door of Life and Death cultivators while assaulting the adversaries.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Continuous blasts resounded, each one birthing a burst of blood fog that marked a vanishing soul.

The Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance cultivators, the Tianyuan Daoist Sect members...

Liancheng Ancestor observed the carnage, his gaze brimming with fury and hopelessness.

"Youli! You dare assault my sect’s forces—do you not fear the Daoist Sect’s vengeance?"

High in the clouds, Luo Chen, tucked away in a secluded spot, snapped alert.

Absolutely!

At the pinnacle readiness of Youli Divine Monarch, poised for ascension, scarcely anyone across the world could oppose him. Wiping out all intruders would be a simple task.

However, after his triumphant ascension, the Door of Life and Death would lose its Divine Transformation Great Power.

The core strength of the Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance lurks here—if eradicated, so be it.

But the Tianyuan Daoist Sect endures; does Youli Divine Monarch hold no dread of reprisal against the Door of Life and Death post-ascension?

Is he truly so ruthless, fixated solely on the present crisis?

Luo Chen believed otherwise!

His centuries of sealing the mountain gates to shield sect disciples revealed a genuine devotion.

Then why proceed this way?

Youli Divine Monarch ignored Liancheng Ancestor’s query, and as he restrained the Primordial Energy Ocean, he jabbed a finger from afar.

The aim was Liancheng!

Whoosh!

At the jab, space cracked, and a dark rift stretched across the heavens and earth for thousands of miles.

Terror gripped Liancheng Ancestor, who plunged into the void in desperate flight.

But soon after, he was expelled, as though the firmament had slipped from his grasp.

A small, bloodied puncture, thumb-sized, marred his belly, with rampant Qi Power leaking wildly.

With a frenzied expression, he bolted into the horizon at his utmost velocity.

In moments, he faded from all views.

Silence enveloped everything.

Only Youli Divine Monarch’s soft admonition lingered.

"Invade the South Border once more, and meet your end!"

The cloudborne phantom giant gradually pulled back its palm, as if intending no more moves.

Inside the Door of Life and Death, remnants of foes persisted, like Songyang Alliance Leader, Zhan Bingtao, and the Burial Elder.

They outmatched typical cultivators and thus endured Youli Divine Monarch’s devastating blow.

Still, their resolve shattered.

Confronting a supreme Divine Transformation Great Power who could obliterate a million foes in one fell swoop or repel Liancheng Ancestor with a mere gesture—who would press the assault?

Each one, heedless of all else, retreated by the route of arrival.

Door of Life and Death cultivators made token pursuits of one or two, then halted.

All fixed their stares on their own ancestor, lest they miss a detail.

A subtle sigh reverberated faintly.

"The future rests with you all."

Three streams of Liuguang descended from the clouds—one crimson, one ashen, and one azure glow.

Youli Divine Monarch turned his sight toward distant Luo Chen.

"Young friend, I’ve excised the Calamity Gu, yet your Small Tripod is extraordinary, holding onto a remnant of the Calamity Gu’s essence. A major disaster might strike unforeseen later. I’ve provided a technique; just trigger the leftover Calamity Gu power, and it may summon Heavenly Tribulation for some defense."

"Now, allow me to escort you away!"

A mild Earth Yuan Qi flowed gently toward Luo Chen, urging him onward into the distance.

Luo Chen’s expression held intricate emotions; his encounters with this mighty figure had been exceedingly short.

Short as they were, the other’s kindness shone openly, frequently offering direction amid his uncertainties.

With ascension imminent, the elder’s special farewell stirred deep sentiments.

He offered a profound bow.

"Thank you, senior; if I gain the strength someday, I’ll surely safeguard the Door of Life and Death."

Youli Divine Monarch gave a faint smile, "That sentiment suffices."

"Congratulations on your ascension, senior, and may the Immortal Path prosper!"

Merely Luo Chen’s parting words echoed in the cloud sea.

Yet down below, across the sprawling peaks, a mighty wave of goodbyes surged.

"Farewell, ancestor, as you ascend!"