Chapter 699: Layout for a thousand years, the endgame has arrived

Small is called clam, large is called mirage.

Swallowing clouds and spitting mist, stirring up wind and rain.

Gathering like a mountain, scattering like a sea.

Between formless gathering and scattering, it contains Mount Sumeru in a mustard seed, forming a world of its own.

This beast is called—Mirage Dragon!

In legends, during the ancient prehistoric times, many wild beasts roamed the Central Plains continent, and among them, the Great Wilderness Mirage Dragon was the most famous.

It has no form or appearance, gathering and scattering uncertainly.

Sometimes it turns into beasts and birds to appear in the world, sometimes it covers the Central Plains continent like clouds and mist.

Because of its existence, the Heaven Origin Dao Sect suffered a lot when opening up the Central Plains, paying countless blood and lives.

And now, it, which has been dead for thousands of years, has opened its mouth again.

Looking at the deep mouth opened on the bank of the Passing River, everyone who was immersed in the Pill Saint's ascension feat had their attention shifted instantly.

Noisy voices sounded instantly.

"So the entrance to the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven is under our Heaven Earth Peak!"

"That's right, such a top-level Great Wilderness, how could it be easily wiped out. According to the Mirage Dragon's characteristics, it's easy to die and resurrect if one is not careful. Only by using a blessed land like Heaven Earth Peak can it be suppressed for generations, never to turn over!"

"In other words, the disciples of the Heaven Origin Dao Sect are going to have that grand competition every five hundred years inside?"

"That should be the case."

"Actually, I'm very curious, why must the qualification for Nascent Soul cultivators to enter the Cave Heaven be limited to within a hundred years of forming the Nascent Soul? If there are really good things inside, wouldn't it be better to let the older generation of Nascent Soul True Persons with longer cultivation time and stronger strength enter to obtain them?"

"Who knows this. Anyway, the Heaven Origin Dao Sect's saying is to give opportunities to the younger generation and give the sect more hope for the future."

"It's just a pity, we Star Gate True Persons are all old and weak, and have no chance to see the true face of the Cave Heaven."

"Who says there's no chance, didn't that one become the protector of the Fu family?"

Beside his ears, the discussions of the Star Gate guest ministers kept coming.

Luo Chen's expression changed slightly.

Especially, he could feel the gazes of those people, always falling on the light ball in his hand intentionally or unintentionally.

Heaven Machine Pill?

Luo Chen chuckled, and quietly put it into his pocket.

He looked up and looked at the noble clans opposite.

Fu Fu Chaosheng nodded to him as if he had a tacit understanding.

But before nodding, Luo Chen clearly saw a look of loss flash in the other party's eyes.

"Is he also thinking about the Heaven Machine Pill in my hand?"

Luo Chen remained calm, and then walked out of the crowd.

Not only one person did this.

One figure after another appeared under the expectation of everyone.

There were thirteen people in the lead, this was the most outstanding generation of the Heaven Origin Dao Sect in a hundred years!

Behind the thirteen people, each stood a Nascent Soul True Person with different temperament and style, this was their protector.

Luo Chen sized them up one by one.

Among the three sons of the great house, behind Gu Yuan stood a man in golden clothes, named Gu Chen, a loyal servant specially cultivated by the Gu family, and even given the Gu surname.

Gu Daosu, the younger brother of the celebrity Dao Yin, stood silently there, and beside him was a young and beautiful woman; if he remembered correctly, that woman also had the surname Gu, and was of the same clan as Gu Daosu. She married out early, and after her husband passed away, she returned to the Gu family, but didn't expect to become Gu Daosu's protector.

Time Ju...

Luo Chen wrinkled his brows; he remembered that this person was not prepared to bring a protector.

But at this moment, Qi Qi Xiongcheng, who had met once, stood behind Time Ju with a hunched waist.

When he looked over, the other party looked over frankly.

Luo Chen pursed his lips and let his gaze continue to wander.

Xiang Qi, the genius of the Xiang family, the head of the thirty-six noble clans, the protector is the Angry-Eyed Vajra, from the Western Desert Buddhist Sect.

Yu Xu, the protector is a Nascent Soul True Person also covered in black robes, whose title is True Person Heaven Mountain, rumored to be the last sect master of a fallen sect in the Southern Border.

Lin Buban, the protector is named Lin Jingtang.

True Person Long Yuan Liu Yuan, the protector is Mingyan.

When Mingyan walked out from behind the Heaven Origin Sect Master and stood behind Liu Yuan, the people were complete.

Luo Chen withdrew his gaze, matched these people one by one with the descriptions in the intelligence, and gradually had a bottom in his heart.

As for the other three hundred Foundation Establishment and Core Formation disciples, he didn't care much.

The two sides were not on the same track at all.

Everyone stood together quietly, as if waiting for something.

Didn't let them wait long.

Heaven Origin Sect Master Mo Mo Shouzhuo, whose fingers had been pressing on the chessboard, slowly loosened.

He flipped his wrist, and suddenly points of white starlight appeared in the air; looking closely, they were chess pieces condensed by pure magic power.

With a flick of his fingers, all the chess pieces landed in front of everyone.

"This is a phantom chess piece combined with my magic power and the Mirage Dragon's power, one for each of you."

"Can allow you to act normally in the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven."

"Even if you fall inside, you can rely on this phantom chess piece to be resurrected from the dead in the outside world."

"But remember, there is only one chance. Once resurrected, you lose the

"If you truly encounter something you cannot overcome, I suggest you actively trigger the Illusion Chess and leave the Cave Heaven on your own initiative, do not let it reach a point of no return."

The Heavenly Origin Sect Master's vicissitudinous voice sprinkled into everyone's ears like a spring breeze and fine rain.

Luo Chen took the white chess piece.

Upon touching it, it felt incomparably soft, with no sense of substance.

But he knew that this was the guarantee Fu Fu Chaosheng had spoken of earlier, ensuring there would be no danger to his life on this trip!

Is this something that combines the power of a Soul Transformation great expert with the power of the Mirage Dragon?

I fear it is more than just that!

Luo Chen vaguely felt more complex things within it.

For example, the spiritual opportunity that had gathered from all directions earlier, even though it was only a very, very tiny wisp.

"The Mirage Dragon has awakened; you all may enter and seek your own opportunities!"

After the Heavenly Origin Sect Master closed the chessboard and handed it to the Chess Saint Ke Lianshan, he spoke this final sentence.

Luo Chen and the others no longer hesitated; their bodies transformed into escape lights, rushing straight down the mountain, charging into that deep, dark mouth with an unswerving attitude.

After they left, in the Cloud Sea Plaza, everyone had different thoughts.

Some had looks of anticipation, while others were indifferent.

Some walked around, while others remained seated on the spot.

The opening of the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven lasts from several months to over a year; it is difficult to estimate accurately, as it depends on the specific time the last cultivator inside stays.

Not everyone is willing to wait that long to see the result.

Especially the True Ones of the Star Gates and the visiting cultivators from outside continents.

The young man from the Mingyuan Sect was the first to propose his departure.

The Heavenly Origin Sect Master did not try to keep him, letting him go as he pleased.

The mysterious black-robed cultivator from the Southern Frontier was the same, only before leaving, he curiously took a few more looks at that deep, dark mouth that was breathing in and out clouds and mist.

The few bald monks from the Western Desert, disregarding the strange looks of others, sought out the Heavenly Origin Sect Master with bitter expressions.

"The Western Desert and the Demon Desolation have joined forces and are restless, yet the Sacred Land Hanging Temple has closed its mountain gate and ignores worldly affairs; we lack a Soul Transformation great expert to preside over the situation, so we ask your sect to lend a helping hand!"

Mo Mo Shouzhuo's calm, aged face revealed a smile because of these words.

"No rush, just wait until our sect's Centennial Grand Competition concludes, then we shall discuss the matter of sending troops."

The Heavenly Origin Dao Sect holds the reins of the world!

Among the five great Sacred Lands, it has always been the one with the most profound strength.

Having recuperated for over three thousand years and possessing all the essence resources of a continent, its current strength is beyond estimation.

From the fact that no one has ascended in the Mountain Sea Realm for hundreds of years, yet a mere outsider Alchemist Saint could cultivate to ascension, one can see a glimpse of it.

Now, the outside continents are all in turmoil and precarious.

It is precisely the time for the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect to take action.

Mo Mo Shouzhuo nodded at the Chess Saint behind him, who nodded slightly and injected magic power into the chessboard.

A mysterious space suddenly appeared.

The next moment, one figure after another appeared within it.

Families of humble origins, patriarchs of great clans.

The nineteenth elder of the Star Gate, the candidate elder Hui Elder Sikong Yuanhong, was also among them, feeling uneasy.

Not only that, but one high-level member of the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect after another appeared at the first moment.

Everyone looked up.

At the highest point of that space, five mysterious and noble figures appeared, looming in and out of sight, with Mo Mo Shouzhuo positioned in the center.

He spoke loudly, his voice filled with endless confidence and pride, completely devoid of his aged and vicissitudinous state.

"The layout has been set for a thousand years, and we have reached the time to close the net; are you all prepared?"

Dazed and confused, not knowing where he was.

Luo Chen woke up from a series of sharp pains in his brain.

As far as the eye could see, there were birds singing and flowers fragrant, mountains clear and waters beautiful; there were none of the rugged mountains and evil waters, bone-scraping gale winds, or five-turbid lands he had imagined.

"Is this the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven?"

"Dao Brother, you're awake!"

Luo Chen subconsciously looked to the side; Fu Fu Qinglan was standing by, looking at him with concern.

Seeing her expression, Luo Chen could not help but frown.

It was not because of her concern, but because of her state.

He himself had fallen into a brief coma the moment he entered the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven, and his spirit had even been shocked with pain; since her cultivation was not yet as high as his, how could she look as if nothing had happened?

Perhaps noticing his confusion, Fu Fu Qinglan hurriedly explained: "Every cultivator who enters the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven will be scoured by the Mirage Dragon's residual consciousness. If not for the protection of the Illusion Chess, one would sink into a boundless illusion. I am different; I have experienced the baptism of the Mirage Dragon's aura in the sect beforehand, so I was prepared early on."

Luo Chen stood up from the blue stone and said unhappily:

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

He had indeed encountered many illusions earlier, to the point of being dazed and confused.

If it weren't for the fact that he had experienced many such things during his previous cultivation, he feared he would have remained unconscious for even longer.

Fu Fu Qinglan smiled slightly, "It's not good to say such things early. Once one is on guard, one will subconsciously resist those illusions, and instead sink into them for even longer. Conversely, with the help of the Illusion Chess made by the Sect Master, you will wake up even faster."

Luo Chen subconsciously raised his hand, and that soft, white chess piece came into view.

Indeed!

What she said was not false; earlier in that illusion, although he was somewhat unable to control himself, this chess piece had been emitting a gentle light, protecting him all the way through.

That scene was even somewhat similar to his experience in the Liwang Heaven at the Meteor Demon Land.

It was just that, at that time, the Lanke black chess piece he refined shattered silently, and it did not perform as well as this white chess piece did this time.

"Eh?"

Luo Chen let out a soft sound; he discovered a tiny black spot on the chess piece.

Seeing this, Fu Fu Qinglan could not help but be startled.

"Inside the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven, there are countless illusion beasts, each marvelous and extraordinary, with infinite power. If one is stained by them too deeply, the Illusion Chess protecting us will slowly turn black. When it turns completely from white to black, it means the time we can stay in the Cave Heaven has reached its limit. At that time, we must trigger this chess piece and be teleported to the outside world. Otherwise, it is very easy to be assimilated into an illusion beast and be trapped in the Cave Heaven for a lifetime."

"Dao Brother, you have already been eroded!"

Luo Chen looked silently at the white chess piece in his hand; the black spot occupied only about one or two percent of it.

It was not an obstruction.

He was "free" now, and instead, his mind was filled with the many doubts he had earlier in the outside world.

Why did the Alchemist Saint Chu Yan give him one of the five elixirs before leaving?

Was it just because they were both alchemists?

That doesn't seem likely, right? In the vast Heavenly Origin Dao Sect, there must be no shortage of powerful alchemists!

Also, the technique used to refine the Heavenly Mystery Pill and the alchemy techniques displayed—even if they were just casual actions by the Alchemist Saint—made him feel quite familiar.

"It's the Fifth-Order Derivation Method!"

Luo Chen remembered it completely.

When he was refining the Fifth-Order Derivation Pill in the Alchemy Realm of the Meteor Demon Land, the techniques he used were extremely similar to those displayed by the Alchemist Saint.

Combining the name of the elixir, Heavenly Mystery... Derivation...

Luo Chen was lost in thought.

But this contemplation did not last long, because there were even more doubts.

He saw very clearly that the Alchemist Saint was definitely not ascending normally!

The place the Star Gate above the Nine Heavens led to was definitely not the legendary Immortal World!

Where did she go?

And why did she abandon the vast spiritual opportunity of this realm and let the Heavenly Origin Sect Master intercept it?

Where did those intercepted spiritual opportunities go?

One doubt after another filled Luo Chen's mind, like countless mists, leaving him completely baffled.

Seeing Luo Chen remain silent, Fu Fu Qinglan thought he was worried about being eroded by the Mirage Dragon's aura.

"Dao Brother, you don't need to worry. For subsequent hunting of illusion beasts, all the illusion cores obtained will be absorbed by me. You just need to be careful, and you won't be eroded further."

"In short, our Heavenly Origin disciples will generally reach their limit before you Dao Protectors."

"At that time, we will just go out together."

Luo Chen looked at her and nodded.

Hunting illusion beasts is the content of the Grand Competition.

Singular and monotonous.

Below the Nascent Soul stage, among low-level disciples, the more illusion beasts hunted and illusion cores obtained, the higher the ranking, and the more sect rewards harvested after going out.

But among the Nascent Soul True Inheritors, the outcome is not decided by the quantity of illusion cores.

It can even be said that there is no such thing as a ranking of victory or defeat.

The true victory or defeat depends on who can go further within the Mirage Dragon Cave Heaven!

Fu Fu Qinglan and these Nascent Soul True Inheritors will refine and absorb the illusion cores hunted by their Dao Protectors, and with the help of the Mirage Dragon's power, they will comprehend the true meaning of the Laws.

Once there is a harvest, they become so-called Soul Transformation seeds.

This is where the true victory or defeat lies!

And what Luo Chen and these Dao Protectors need to do is, first, help hunt illusion beasts, and second, stand guard while the Nascent Soul True Inheritors refine and absorb them, to avoid interference from illusion beasts and other competitors.

That is all!

"Let's go, I also want to see what exactly an illusion beast is," Luo Chen said indifferently.