Chapter 1139: My Name Is Chu Yan (II)

The closer they came, the more oppressive the mountain's spirit pressure became. This, too, was a test. The pressure of a fifth-tier spirit land was not something an ordinary cultivator could ignore. Only someone capable of using a Nascent Soul Domain could comfortably resist it and continue flying freely across the mountain.

From below, the two streaks of light seemed insignificant against the peak, yet everyone watching knew what their ascent meant.

Soon, they descended onto a plaza paved with white jade and shrouded in drifting clouds. The moment their feet touched the ground, an overbearing divine consciousness swept across them and settled heavily on Luo Chen.

Fu Chaosheng remained composed and cupped his hands toward the depths of the mountain. "I am Fu Chaosheng, head of the Fu House. I am here to recommend Wilderness Hermit for admission into the Star Gate. His information has already been submitted."

The moment he spoke, the overbearing divine consciousness immediately softened somewhat, though it remained fixed on Luo Chen.

A deep voice echoed around the two of them. "Go to the Immortal-Welcoming Hall and wait. In three days, the elders will decide whether Wilderness Hermit is accepted into the Star Gate."

Fu Chaosheng visibly relaxed and gave Luo Chen a meaningful look before leading him away from the plaza.

Before following, Luo Chen glanced toward the depths of the clouds. There, beyond the drifting mist, stood a gate shimmering with starlight, its interior seeming to open into an unknown expanse.

Is that the Star Gate?

***

The Passing River surged with rolling waves. Along its banks, crowds packed the area. Five Go boards had been set out, with five men seated before them. Moving leisurely between them was an arrogant-looking man with a wine flask in hand. He would take a few sips, glance at a board, and casually place a stone before moving on to the next. He looked completely at ease, while the five seated players did not.

The match was progressing far faster than anyone expected. Gu Daoyin's contest against the Seven Masters of Yearning Plains at the Go Master Hall had lasted an entire month, yet only three days had passed here, and all five games were already approaching their end. Linxian held the advantage on every board, and the growing certainty of his victories had the surrounding spectators flushed with excitement.

Among the crowd, Fu Qinglan was no exception. Her usual cool composure had given way to an enthusiasm rarely seen on her face.

Yu Xu, however, could not understand what she was seeing. "Isn't Heaven Origin Linxian supposed to be on the same level as Master Daoyin? Master Daoyin took an entire month to defeat the Seven Masters of Muyuan, but Senior Brother Linxian has almost finished five games in only three days. Is the gap between them really that big?"

Fu Qinglan shook her head. "It's not that simple. They just play very differently. Senior Brother Daoyin is a ninth dan and he's in the Profound Reach Class. He prefers reading the whole board, adapting as the position changes, and answering each move as it comes. That's why his games usually take longer. Senior Brother Linxian is also at the same level, but his style is much more aggressive, and he prefers the tactics of the Combat Strength Class.[1] Every move is meant to force a confrontation. So if his opponent is even slightly weaker, he keeps pressing that advantage until the whole game collapses."

Yu Xu stared at her blankly for a moment, then spread her hands helplessly. "I suppose that's what I'd expect from a prodigy of the Tan family."

Master Daoyin came from the Gu House, one of the Twelve Great Houses, while Heaven Origin Linxian came from another of the Twelve Great Houses, the Tan House.

Fu Qinglan felt helpless. The thing she loved most was something she could not properly discuss with others. "Let's go!"

Yu Xu blinked. "You're not staying to watch the end?"

Fu Qinglan shook her head. "There's no point. His style is too broad and forceful, and we can't see the finer details well enough to learn anything from it. "

Once a Go player reached the ninth dan or higher, every placement of stones could involve hundreds or even thousands of possible follow-up moves. With their attainments in the Dao of Go, there was simply no way for Fu Qinglan and Yu Xu to run through such calculations in so little time.

At the thought of this, Fu Qinglan could not help feeling sorry for the Five Powerhouses of Upper Commandery. They had chosen the wrong opponent. Losing was one thing, but Heaven Origin Linxian played so quickly and forcefully that they would gain little from the experience. The Seven Masters of Yearning Plains had fared much better against Master Daoyin. Their matches had lasted an entire month, giving them time to study his play and gradually grasp some of the principles of the class system. Three of them had reportedly entered seclusion afterward and might even break into the lower classes when they emerged.

Fu Qinglan and Yu Xu squeezed their way out of the crowd. Once they were clear, Yu Xu stretched and let out a bored sigh. "Not being able to cultivate while we wait for the pocket world to open is driving me crazy."

The excitement on Fu Qinglan's face faded into a smile. "We can still visit friends, see a few places, drink tea, and play Go. There are plenty of ways to pass the time."

Yu Xu sighed. She was not the kind of person who could sit idle. "The elders said newly advanced Sages like us are in the best state to comprehend the Power of Laws inside the pocket world. Our Purple Mansion barriers are still thin, and our Nascent Souls are still closely connected to heaven and earth. But until the pocket world opens, we can't cultivate at all. Every day we spend waiting feels wasted."

Fu Qinglan understood the frustration, but there was nothing they could do about it. Continued cultivation would gradually strengthen the Purple Mansion barrier and weaken that natural affinity, which was precisely why only cultivators who had formed their Nascent Souls within the past hundred years were allowed to enter. Compared with the chance to comprehend the Power of Laws and perhaps open a path toward Divine Transformation, forgoing cultivation for a few years was a small price to pay.

As they spoke, a man pushed his way out of the crowd and hurried toward them.

Fu Qinglan recognized him at once. "Seventh Uncle!"

Although he was only a middle-stage Adept, he was still one of the Fu family's elders. The moment he found her, relief crossed his face. "The family head has come to Heaven-Earth Peak, and the person he mentioned has arrived as well. Qinglan, come with me."

Fu Qinglan's eyes lit up.

Yu Xu clearly wanted to follow, but this was Fu Chaosheng's private arrangement, so Fu Qinglan could only give her an apologetic look. "Sorry, Little Xu. Once I meet him, I'll introduce you."

Yu Xu nodded without insisting. After Fu Qinglan left with her uncle, however, a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes, and she soon flew off in another direction.

Fu Qinglan, meanwhile, found herself growing increasingly impatient. Whatever doubts she had about this so-called Wilderness Hermit, she truly couldn't wait to meet the Dao Protector her grandfather had chosen for her.

Yet when she reached the Immortal-Welcoming Hall, he was nowhere to be seen. A cultivator inside informed her that he had just left to undergo the seven elders' assessment for admission into Star Gate.

Fu Qinglan exhaled in frustration, then quickly composed herself. I've already waited this long. Just a little longer is fine.

***

Luo Chen stepped through the Star Gate alone and found himself in a space filled with countless points of starlight. Seven illusory figures emerged before him, and the moment their gazes settled on him, a chill ran through his body.

Every one of them had cultivation far beyond his own; the pressure he felt from each was comparable to what Moon Hermit had once made him feel. Yet among the seven, one slender figure stood out. For some reason, Luo Chen instinctively hesitated to look directly at her. At the same time, however, there was something strangely familiar about her presence, though he could not understand what or why.

"Oh? A fellow alchemist?"

A gentle female voice broke the silence. The other six figures turned toward her in surprise, and at the same time, the oppressive pressure surrounding Luo Chen receded. Only then did he straighten up and look properly at the seven illusory figures.

He cupped his hands and bowed politely. "I am Luo Chen, a rogue cultivator from the Northern Sea. Greetings, elders."

Although they had already learned of Luo Chen's background from the information submitted by the Fu family, they were still astonished when they saw his appearance and the vigorous vitality brimming from him. For a rogue cultivator to form a Nascent Soul so quickly, he had to be a cultivation genius!

Meanwhile, the woman who had spoken earlier seemed far more interested in something else. "Can you refine fifth-tier pills?"

The question startled not only Luo Chen but also several of the other elders as well. "You think too highly of me, Elder. I know a little about alchemy, but with my cultivation, there's no way I could refine a fifth-tier pill."

"What a pity." The disappointment in her voice was genuine. "It seems there won't be another alchemist here to see me off before I leave."

Luo Chen's heart stirred. After a brief hesitation, he asked, "May I ask for your name, Elder?"

"You're overstepping!" snapped one of the others.

The woman only laughed softly. "It's fine. There's no harm in telling him."

She looked at Luo Chen. "My name is Chu Yan. The cultivators of the Mountains and Seas Realm were kind enough to honor me with the title of Saint Alchemist."

1. This is the seventh class in the ancient system. ☜