Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2757 - 1018: Life Soul Retrieval Plan, Million Evil Soul Banner (Part 2)

Luo Chen pursued this endeavor entirely through his own efforts, seeking no external assistance.

Despite the protective array barrier, dense water vapor occasionally managed to permeate the surroundings.

Within the grand Luo Tian Hall, copious amounts of Ming Shui were channeled from an elevated spring, subsequently refined by Luo Chen into small, dark vessels.

Without bestowing names upon this particular batch of crafted artifacts, Luo Chen designated them with the moniker 'Crossing Ghost Ship,' a name previously acquired from the Luo Tian Sect.

Their functionalities bore resemblances, and in terms of efficacy, the items he forged proved even more advanced than the original Crossing Ghost Ship, exhibiting superior Qi power conservation.

With these newly refined Crossing Ghost Ships, the cultivators of the Luo Tian Sect would gain the unimpeded ability to traverse the Nether Abyss at their will in the times ahead.

Following Bai Meiling's successful expulsion of the lesser ghost cultivators from the vicinity, the Luo Tian cultivators would no longer face the threat of harassment from spectral assailants.

Haoranzi established a forward operating base for the Luo Tian Sect within the ruins of Upper Nether City, ensuring the sect maintained a degree of awareness regarding the outside world.

With prudent management in the future, and encompassing several centuries to fully integrate the legacy left by the Mingyuan Sect, the Luo Tian Sect was poised for unprecedented prosperity.

Luo Chen found himself free from any lingering concerns.

His gaze then settled upon the shimmering spring.

"My initial strategy was to utilize the water lotus seed I had preserved to forge a clone, infiltrate the Tianyuan Daoist Sect, and reclaim the stolen life soul. However, the foundation of the water lotus seed is insufficient, and in the short term, the clone's strength cannot be bolstered sufficiently to attract the sect's notice. What if I were to refine this spring into the clone? Could it result in a clone possessing talents akin to a demon?"

Luo Chen mused aloud, his eyes gleaming with the spark of a sudden, brilliant idea.

The strategy to retrieve the life soul lacked a concrete framework; Luo Chen possessed only a nebulous concept.

Based on the intelligence provided by Youquan, the vast Zhongzhou was partitioned into five distinct regions, forming five continents, with the Heaven and Earth Peak, a region disrupted by the dominion of Qi Xia Emperor, constituting one such area.

The Tianyuan Daoist Sect held sway over the remaining four continents.

In ages past, the formidable Great Wilderness Soul Hanging propelled the Netherworld Sea westward with immense force, leading to the submersion of the Western Continent, where all life was drawn into the Netherworld Sea, leaving no survivors.

Consequently, the Tianyuan Daoist Sect's cultivators now inhabited solely the southeastern and northern three continents.

The sect's primary gate, the Rotten Stalemate Mountain Range, resided on the Eastern Continent. This implied that upon the return of the sect's Divine Transformation stage grand elder, their cultivation would likely continue on the Eastern Continent.

Luo Chen's objective was to bypass the Eastern Continent entirely, utilizing a clone to infiltrate the sect's divisions on the other two continents, and then rapidly advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

At that juncture, the Tianyuan Daoist Sect would undoubtedly adhere to their established practice of extracting his life soul.

Seizing this opportune moment, he could then reclaim the missing fragment through the innate connection of the soul and effect his escape from the Tianyuan Daoist Sect.

This entire undertaking might potentially circumvent a direct confrontation with the sect's eminent powers.

"But should circumstances deviate from the plan..."

"Then I would be compelled to forcibly reclaim my life soul through direct conflict!"

Luo Chen's eyes narrowed perceptibly, a dangerously sharp glint flickering within them.

He possessed precise knowledge of his missing life soul's location!

It was during his past excursion into the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven that Mo Shouzhuo had seized his life soul, employing a technique known as 'Illusionary Chess.'

This particular Illusionary Chess was clearly a derived application of the Spirit Treasure Lankao Chessboard.

Considering the Lankao Chessboard's formidable capabilities in safeguarding the divine soul, capturing spiritual essence, and exerting dominion over a continent through its diverse powers, it undoubtedly served as a potent artifact for soul capture.

Intelligence gathered from Cangwu Mountain indicated that during the cataclysmic upheaval when Zhongzhou fractured, the spiritual mechanisms dispersed widely, and the Lankao Chessboard itself sustained considerable damage from the resultant backlash.

Under such conditions, regaining possession of the Lankao Chessboard through combat presented a viable method for reclaiming his life soul.

However, he was disinclined to resort to this measure unless absolutely necessary.

To do so would constitute an overt act of defiance against the Tianyuan Daoist Sect. The sect's powerful figures were not naive; they would either annihilate the Lankao Chessboard or locate his life soul and eradicate it directly, potentially leaving Luo Chen with nothing.

Therefore, it was paramount to execute all actions with utmost discretion!

...

A fortnight later.

At the threshold of the Elixir Saint's Blessed Land, a dense assembly of figures stood, their collective demeanor reflecting a somber atmosphere.

Luo Chen's gaze systematically swept across the assembled individuals.

The ever-composed Wang Yuan, the quick-eyed Ling Fengzi, the blush-cheeked Yu Jiaolong, and the deferential, admiring Li Yingzhang...

Without uttering a word, Luo Chen summoned Sima Huiniang and the other three women before the assembled crowd.

"I am departing. Why do I not see Heart-Linked?"

Sima Huiniang, initially displaying a worried demeanor, quickly responded to Luo Chen's inquiry. "Heart-Linked has already commenced his closed-door cultivation, preparing to make a breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment Realm. He wishes to advance his cultivation so he can aid you sooner!"

A sense of mild surprise washed over Luo Chen; his own son was on the verge of reaching Foundation Establishment?

Given his son's naturally decent Spirit Root talent, coupled with the guidance of mentors and the abundant resources readily available from the Luo Tian Sect, success should have been a certainty.

Under such favorable conditions, even a pig should manage to establish its foundation!

Should his son falter, Luo Chen wouldn't harbor excessive disappointment, merely viewing it as a regrettable expenditure of his efforts.

Luo Chen's gaze then settled upon Gu Caiyi, his hand tenderly caressing her smooth hair.

"I am aware of your constant desire for strength, but in cultivation, it is generally better to proceed with patience rather than haste."

At that very moment, palpable mana fluctuations emanated from Gu Caiyi's body, clearly indicating her cultivation base at the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.

How much time had elapsed since she entered the Late Golden Core Stage? It had been less than thirty years, and she had abruptly ascended to the Eighth Layer of the Golden Core. Truly astonishing.

Gu Caiyi prepared to offer an explanation, but her attention was immediately captured by a box that Luo Chen produced.

"This is a Nascent Soul Formation Pill, specially set aside for you. However, I have imposed a seal upon it, which will require at least a century to undo. During this period, your task is to meticulously regulate your Qi power and harmonize the balance of the Essence, Qi, and Spirit."

"Husband..." Gu Caiyi's voice caught with emotion. She realized that Luo Chen had never overlooked her; even Sima Huiniang had not been presented with a Nascent Soul Formation Pill prepared exclusively for her.

Luo Chen offered a smile and turned his attention toward Cang Long Fairy.

Despite her underlying worry, she managed a forced smile.

"You may depart with peace of mind. I shall attend to matters here at home for you."

While speaking, Cang Long Fairy maintained an appearance of calm composure.

Sima Huiniang's expression was rather peculiar, hinting at some unspoken thought, but her spoken words were, "My son and I will await your return."

With a wave of his hand, Luo Chen bid them farewell and smoothly departed from the Elixir Saint's Blessed Land.

Behind him, disciples of the Luo Tian Sect watched with a mixture of expressions.

Ahead of him stood Bai Meiling, who had hastened back astride a Xuan Turtle upon receiving his summons.

"Master, are you departing once more?"

"Yes," Luo Chen affirmed, extending his hand. "Present your accomplishments from these past twenty years."

Indeed, twenty years had vanished in the blink of an eye since Luo Chen's return to the Luo Tian Sect. Within that span, he had condensed his Primordial Spirit, refined the spring essence, attained comprehension of the Water Origin, and achieved Divine Soul Nirvana. Countless significant events had transpired during those two decades.

If any period could be characterized as one of rest and leisure, perhaps the few intertwined days spent with Cang Long Fairy might qualify.

As for Bai Meiling, her focus over those twenty years had been singular.

The black Soul-Refining Flag was placed into Luo Chen's hand. The instant he took hold of it, an inexplicable sense of weight settled upon him.

"Master, 'Little White' has not disappointed you. I traversed the majority of the Nether Abyss and collected a full million low-level ghost souls. Please examine them!"

Luo Chen's eyes lit up, and his Divine Consciousness probed into the Soul-Refining Flag.

A thousand mournful, shrill cries resonated outwards. As if sensing the intrusion of a living soul, countless ferocious ghosts surged towards Luo Chen.

However, before they could reach him, they froze in place, stunned by an innate pressure. In that instant, the cacophony of ghosts fell silent!

Witnessing this spectacle, Bai Meiling exclaimed, "Master, as expected, you can suppress a million ghosts with a mere thought! Lately, I've felt I can barely control the Ten Thousand Soul Banner."

"Excellent work." Luo Chen produced a wooden box and presented it to Bai Meiling. Within it lay a soul stone, acquired from Soulbreak Cliff in the past. This artifact served as a potent supplement for cultivators of the ghost path!

After instructing Bai Meiling on the methods for refinement and absorption, Luo Chen turned his attention back to the Soul-Refining Flag in his grasp.

"The Ten Thousand Soul Banner?"

"A million ghost souls form the foundation of an Evil Soul Banner. What remains is a powerful fierce soul capable of devouring both gods and ghosts."

He retrieved his Soul Nurturing Banner, transferring the dozens of Ghost Emperors contained within into the Soul-Refining Flag. After a brief assessment, Luo Chen sighed.

It wasn't sufficient! Even with these numerous Ghost Emperors, the amalgamation was still inadequate to produce a ghost god comparable to the Divine Transformation stage.

As he contemplated this, Bai Meiling drew closer to his side.

"Master, may I accompany you on this journey?"