As Zhao Juexian and Lin Wuhua listened on, their minds were gradually overtaken by fear.
This was a new piece of information even for Violet Moon Fairy. Although the Ethereal Heavenly Sect was a major Heavenly Sect, it was a far cry from Luo Changshen and the Changshen Heavenly Region.
“The force behind all of it is the Medicine God Sect,” Li Changsheng said.
While the others were still confused about what that meant, Violet Moon Fairy was shocked by the revelation.
Her study at the Ethereal Heavenly Sect taught her the weight of the word “God” in a name. Not even the top Heavenly Sect would dare to mix that word in their name. This word meant a lineage that was unreachable by mortals. The fact that this word had been added to Medicine God Sect’s name, was indicative of its godly power.
“In other words, I need the so-called Medicine God Sect’s recognition to become an Elixir Monarch?”
Chen Fan crooked his head slightly and grinned.
“Precisely,” Luo Changshen said.
He went on to tell Chen Fan that the Medicine God Sect was elusive; there was no one who knew where they were located, much less the power and abilities they had. The only proof of their existence was one of their member’s routine trips across the planet every hundred or so years. He was the Medicine God’s heir, a worshipped and revered individual.
“I believe a new heir is about to arrive in our world. If you can get his approval, you will officially be the Elixir Monarch,” Luo Changshen said sincerely.
However, Chen Fan didn’t care about any of that.
He had never wanted the Elixir Monarch title. He was the North Mystic Celestial Lord, what was the Elixir Monarch name to him?
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes and asked with a smirk, “Brother Luo came all the way to the middle of nowhere just to tell me this?”
The valley was located deep in the mountains. The way to reach such a place was treacherous; even a Golden Core Cultivator would need to be careful to avoid disturbing the vile beasts lurking behind the thickets. Chen Fan didn’t think that Luo Changshen would go through so much trouble just to warn him. He was a smart young man who surely had something he wanted.
“I will not sidestep the question. Yes, I have some business to discuss with you.” Luo Changshen’s face grew harder and asked, “Have you ever heard of the Ancient Demons’ Loch?”
“You mean one of the nine forbidden lands of Tianhuang, the Ancient Demons’ Loch?”
Zhao Juexian gasped.
Chen Fan looked to him for an explanation. He lowered his head and obliged, “Master, the Ancient Demons’ Loch was a battleground left by the ancient Heavenly Demons. It’s a portal between Tianhuang and the Ancient Demons Realm where billions of demonic legions presided.
“Legend says the loch had ninety-nine levels. The further you went down, the tougher the demons were. Demon Commanders lurked at the deepest level. Even a Heavenly Lord Essence Neonate would need to be careful while traversing the abyss. Compared to the Ancient Demons’ Loch, the Two World Peak was a small tunnel, of much lesser significance strategically speaking. The Ancient Demons’ Loch was key to the Demon world, and its entrance was guarded by the Demon Warding Heavenly Region which was located right above the loch.”
Sthh!
Everyone let out a gasp of cold air.
The Demon Commanders of the Ancient Demon race were equal in power with the human Heavenly Lords. That meant they were nearly invisible on Planet Tianhuang and could easily crush Longevity Roll elites and family elders like insects.
Luo Changshen nodded and continued, “Indeed, the Ancient Demons’ Loch was the battleground where Heavenly Lord Tatian and the Ancient Demon King. Their battle tore a hole in space which connected their world and ours.
“Countless Ancient Demon Overlords tried to invade Tianhuang from the other end each year. Meanwhile, many cultivators on Tianhuang also tried to venture into the abyss to slay demons as a form of self-tempering. Many overlords from the two worlds exchanged blows and many among them had fallen during the battle. However, some people also got lucky and obtained Heavenly Arts and Heavenly Treasures.”
Suddenly, Luo Changshen’s voice grew softer.
“I am aware that Elixir Monarch Chen has reached a stage where he wouldn’t be moved by average Heavenly Arts or treasures. However, the Ancient Demons’ Loch held something very special. Not only was it covered with Arrays left by Grand Cultivators, but it also had a Divine Longevity Medicine in the depths of the loch.”
“A Divine Medicine?”
This time, Chen Fan was finally moved.
Chen Fan couldn’t care less about Heavenly Arts, since he already had the most powerful arts: the Azure Thearch Longevity Body and the Twelve Sky Art Paintings. However, a Divine Medicine was a different story.
Each Divine Medicine embodied the purest energy of Heaven and Earth, and depending on the time of the day it was created, it would have different functions. Any Divine Medicine could make a Nascent Soul Cultivator out of an average mortal.
Therefore, what was hidden inside the loch was tempting even to a Grand Cultivator, more so for a Nascent Soul Cultivator.
The Longevity Pill Chen Fan had created was a top grade Heavenly Pill, which was miles behind even from Quasi-Divine Medicines.
“That’s right. Many people talked about the Divine Medicine that grew at the bottom of the Ancient Demons’ Loch. To get to it, you would have to pass through many perils. A Heavenly Lord onced attempted to retrieve the Divine Medicine, but had to retreat in the end.”
Luo Changshen shook his head.
“That being said, there are also many Quasi-Divine Pills and top grade Heavenly Medicines scattered in the Ancient Demons’ Loch. I think it would be easier to retrieve those, especially for you, Elixir Monarch Chen.”
“So, I wager you’re here to invite me to visit the Ancient Demons Loch. Correct?” Chen Fan asked with narrowed eyes.
“The portal inside the loch will open soon. It has become a tradition among young cultivators of Tianhuang to venture into the portal as a form of self-improvement and challenge. Elixir Monarch Chen, both you and I have passed the point where Spirit Pills could be useful for our cultivation. The most effective way of improving our level of attainment and becoming Heavenly Lords is through battle,” Luo Changshen said solemnly.
His words and promises lit up Violet Moon Fairy’s face with glee.
To cultivate was to defy destiny, to defy destiny required a brave, unyielding heart. That was why some people could rise to power and dominate the world, while others hid behind cowardly pretence.
Some people would hone their skills by challenging many sects by themselves.
Some people would endure a hundred years of solitude, trying to reach a higher enlightenment.
Some people would forsake their power and toil on their own and experience the hardships of mortal life.
However, all of those methods were too soft by themselves and not as effective as reaching a higher level during the heat of battle. There were too many factors to consider while battling on Planet Tianhuang due to the web of relationships of all the factions.
However, things were much simpler inside the Ancient Demons’ Loch. The Ancient Demons and the cultivators on Tianhuang would engage in an internal warfare; therefore, once a cultivator went inside the loch, he was in hostile territory where he had to kill or be killed. Inside the loch, there were also many inscriptions left by primordial Heavenly Lords waiting to be discovered. It was the perfect place for aspiring cultivators to level up.
“I wish to enter the Ancient Demons’ Loch with you to battle against powerful elite demons. We might even find the Ancient Demon King’s descendants. They would stand no chance before our combined might,” Luo Changshen requested sincerely.
However, he had miscalculated one thing.
Chen Fan’s cultivation had no bottlenecks, so he wouldn’t need to partake in violent battles in order to improve himself. He had been reincarnated from a Celestial Lord, so he was familiar with every twist and turn on his cultivation path. His way to success had already been paved and all he needed was patience.
“However, Divine Medicine is too precious to pass up. Even if I can’t get Divine Medicine, I could snatch a Heavenly Medicine or two. The Alchemy Guild’s map did mention a few Heavenly Medicines that were located in the Ancient Demons’ Loch,” Chen Fan pondered.
In addition, once Chen Fan mastered the Azure Thearch Longevity Art, he would start the third transmutation of the Deity Wheel. The Ancient Demons’ Loch would provide a perfect environment for him to strengthen certain parts of the art.
However, Chen Fan politely rejected Luo Changshen’s invitation. He told him that he would enter the loch by himself, without Luo Changshen’s company.
Luo Changshen was not surprised by Chen Fan’s decision.
Before Luo Changshen left, he warned Chen Fan about the Heavenly Lord Families in the Beihuang Region. Although those families were crestfallen, they had hidden deadly moves for the last moment.
Chen Fan nodded and thanked him.
Once Luo Changshen had left, Lin Wuhua furrowed her brow and asked, “Senior Chen, what kind of game is he playing? He seemed to be too friendly.”
Mu Hongti and Yun Yier nodded in agreement.
Despite Luo Changshen’s sincerity and candor, the three girls felt something was off about him.
“We will see his true colors when we meet him again in the Ancient Demons’ Loch.”
Chen Fan shrugged.
The three of them moved deeper into the forest and found a barren hill. Chen Fan climbed to the top and sat down.
He had decided that it was about time to perfect his Divine Body and complete the second transformation.
“Bam!”
Right before Chen Fan’s leveling up, a powerful wave of energy erupted from his body. It shook the ground and made the mountains tremble. The powerful deluge of Qi Energy poured down from heaven, drowning Chen Fan and everything around him.
Under everyone’s incredulous stares, Chen Fan’s energy surged and reached an unthinkable level.