Chapter 1118: The Star Gate of Heaven-Earth Peak; Tempering the Divine Soul with Lightning (I)

The moment Shen Wandou stepped into the cave residence, Luo Chen's divine consciousness closed in around him and followed every one of his movements. The scrutiny left him uncomfortable, but he kept his expression plain. Unseen, he slipped his left hand into his sleeve and formed a seal.

Luo Chen soon emerged from the meditation chamber. He wore loose white robes, and his hair fell freely over his shoulders. He offered Shen Wandou an apologetic smile. "Forgive me, fellow Daoist. The technique I'm practicing has made my divine soul unusually active, and I can't quite keep it under control yet."

Despite the apology, his divine consciousness continued to cover Shen Wandou. Before the hidden seal took effect, Luo Chen had already determined that the man's cultivation was at the third stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. Their divine consciousnesses touched for only an instant before withdrawing, but that brief contact was enough for him to determine that Shen Wandou was in no way weaker than himself. And when the unknown secret art took effect, it concealed every trace of the man's aura, so perfectly that Luo Chen could not detect the slightest hint of it even while standing face-to-face with him.

Of course, Shen Wandou was studying Luo Chen just as closely. What truly caught him off guard was how young Luo Chen actually was. There were many pills and secret arts in the cultivation world capable of preserving one's appearance, so a youthful face told little about a person's age. The passage of centuries, however, inevitably left traces in a person's bearing, speech, and habits. Even those who retained the appearance of a youth or even a child could never entirely conceal the weight of their years.

Luo Chen, however, was different. His beardless face and fair complexion radiated a vitality no disguise or age-preserving art could convincingly imitate. He was not simply maintaining a youthful appearance—he truly was young, likely no more than two or three hundred years old.

Shen Wandou could not help voicing his admiration. "To possess such powerful divine consciousness at your age is truly remarkable. Few cultivators in the world can compare."

Luo Chen smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist Shen, you flatter me. Your divine consciousness is every bit as powerful as mine, and your position as a Grand Elder of the Heaven Origin Trade Alliance is clearly well deserved."

To his surprise, Shen Wandou responded with a bitter smile. "It may look prestigious from the outside, but to us, it's nothing more than a miserable posting."

Luo Chen indeed found that difficult to believe. Whether in the Eastern Wilderness or the Northern Sea, elders of the Heaven Origin Trade Alliance commanded respect wherever they went. Countless cultivators had to act respectful in front of them; their influence spread over every corner of the cultivation world; and all manner of rare treasures passed through their hands. This was evident from how easily Fu Chaosheng had gathered such a large amount of various cultivation resources for him. In the mortal world, such a person would at least be considered a powerful regional governor. How could that be tied to the word "miserable"?

Seeing his confusion, Shen Wandou sighed. "There's much you don't know yet, fellow Daoist. My sect controls a lot of land and has no shortage of resources. Every generation produces more talented disciples than it can count. Those with real potential stay in the sect and focus on cultivation, but people like us are different. We lack the talent, the family backing, or both, and by our age, there isn't much hope of advancing any further. So we're sent to the trade alliance to handle business and other mundane affairs. Outsiders only see the title of Grand Elder, so naturally they assume it is impressive. You, however, will likely become a guest elder of the Star Gate sooner or later. Once that happens, you will understand why someone in my position is hardly worthy of admiration."

That caught Luo Chen by surprise. He knew the Dao Sect was immensely powerful and occupied the most prosperous region of the Mountains and Seas Realm. Even so, he had not expected one of its Sages to speak of himself with such resignation. More importantly...

"How did you know I was invited to become a guest elder of your sect? And what exactly is the Star Gate?"

Shen Wandou smiled. "One of the trade alliance elders' responsibilities is to identify powerful cultivators from the four other territories and recommend them to the sect. Those recruited from outside are placed under the Star Gate. Given Elder Fu's recent actions, his intentions were not difficult to guess."

"In that case, would you mind explaining what the Star Gate actually is?"

Fu Chaosheng had promised to recommend him as a guest elder once Luo Chen fulfilled their agreement, but he had never mentioned the Star Gate. Perhaps there had simply been no time to explain, though it was equally possible that Fu Chaosheng had deliberately withheld certain details. Luo Chen still could not tell whether Shen Wandou regarded Fu Chaosheng as a friend or an enemy, but any information he could obtain now would help him prepare for what awaited in the Central Continent.

Shen Wandou studied him once more. Luo Chen remained composed under his scrutiny, neither reserved nor arrogant. Also, though he was only a first-stage Sage, Luo Chen's divine consciousness was already on par with his own. A cultivator of such caliber was rare enough that he felt Luo Chen deserved a proper explanation.

"The Star Gate is a special branch of our sect. Its base is Heaven-Earth Peak. It has nineteen seats for elders. Twelve belong to the twelve Great Houses, two are shared among the thirty-six Noble Houses, and the remaining five are reserved for powerful outsiders recommended by the sect's elders. That said, in truth, most of the Star Gate is made up of outside experts like you. The minimum requirement is the first stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, of course. Once someone joins, they are placed into one of three categories: ordinary guest elder, Heaven Origin retainer, or Heaven-Earth Peak Elder. Fellow Daoist..." He paused for a moment. "Have you heard of Saint Alchemist Chu Yan?"

Luo Chen nodded instinctively. Chu Yan had been famous throughout the cultivation world for centuries; Luo Chen had first heard that name while still in the Qi Refinement Realm.

It was said that Chu Yan had originally come from the Nether Origin Sect, the Holy Land of the Eastern Wilderness, but had later left for the Central Continent and joined the Dao Sect for reasons no one seemed to know. More remarkably, so far as people knew, Chu Yan was the only Sage who could refine fifth-tier pills. And if Shen Wandou was mentioning this matter now...

Shen Wandou immediately confirmed Luo Chen's suspicion. "Chu Yan is one of the nineteen elders of the Star Gate. Has been for the past five centuries, in fact."

The revelation left Luo Chen stunned. "What does the Star Gate offer that draws so many powerful cultivators from across the Mountains and Seas Realm?"

"What does it offer?" Shen Wandou smiled. "Far more than I could list in a few words."

He went on to explain the reason for the Star Gate's existence. Like most sects, the Dao Sect would not accept Sages who had already established their own legacies elsewhere. Allowing powerful outsiders unrestricted access to its ancestral court would invite too many hidden dangers, so the sect created the Star Gate to accommodate them without granting them ordinary discipleship. Once admitted, even ordinary guest elders could freely enjoy access to fourth-tier cave residences without spending a single spirit stone. Those who made significant contributions to the Dao Sect, or advanced into the late stage, could rise to become Heaven Origin retainers and gain access to resources normally reserved for the sect members.

As for the five outsiders who became Heaven-Earth Peak Elders, they were even qualified to participate in some of the Dao Sect's most important meetings and decisions. If these were the only privileges, they would not be enough to draw Sages from throughout the world, but Shen Wandou then revealed two further benefits that few outsiders knew about. One was that anyone who served in the Star Gate for five centuries earned the right to recommend a descendant or personal disciple for formal admission into the Dao Sect itself. The second and most important of everything, however, was access to the secrets of Ascension!

Shen Wandou did not elaborate on that final point, but what he had already revealed was more than enough to clarify Luo Chen's doubts. With rewards like these, it was no wonder powerful cultivators from across the Mountains and Seas Realm flocked to the Star Gate.

"The Northern Sea is in chaos, and the demonic beasts are at the height of their power. Many of the region's experts have lost their homes and territories. I've recommended several Northern Sea Sages to the Star Gate this time as well." Shen Wandou stroked his beard with a smile. "When you have the time, I could arrange a gathering and introduce you to them. We could exchange a few insights into cultivation. For people at our level, shutting ourselves away and cultivating alone isn't always the best approach."

Luo Chen took a sip of tea before politely declining. "I appreciate the offer, but you've seen my condition for yourself. My secret art is still incomplete, and I can't fully control it just yet. I'm afraid I'm in no state to discuss cultivation with others right now."

"Yes, I suppose that's true. Then we can leave it for another time."

Shen Wandou could feel Luo Chen's divine consciousness pricking faintly against his skin. He knew Luo Chen was not doing it intentionally, but the sensation was still uncomfortable for someone at the same cultivation level. In his current state, Luo Chen truly was not suited to social gatherings.

He thus changed the subject. "No wonder you're interested in puppet arts. With divine consciousness as powerful as yours, you're well suited to them. As it happens, I have an ancient text on puppet techniques that may be useful to you."

Luo Chen hesitated. "What would you like in exchange?"

Shen Wandou laughed. "There's no need for that. I've enjoyed our conversation today, so consider it a gift."

When Luo Chen still seemed reluctant, he waved a hand. "It's only a random copy, and I have no use for it myself. There's really no need to worry about whatever implications."

Since Shen Wandou insisted, Luo Chen accepted the jade scroll. They chatted for a while longer about the customs and local conditions of the Central Continent, after which Luo Chen personally escorted him out of the cave residence.

The two men parted with smiles, but Luo Chen's faded soon after while holding a jade scroll in his hand. Until now, he had treated the Central Continent as little more than a temporary stop on his journey. Once he fulfilled his promise to Fu Chaosheng, he would be free to leave and continue on his way. Now, however, he found that the place he was heading for was a deeply rooted force, and the Star Gate and Heaven-Earth Peak, were only one small part of it. That glimpse of its foundations was enough to leave Luo Chen feeling the weight of what awaited him.

Meanwhile, as he descended farther down the mountain, Shen Wandou's smile only deepened. His visit had confirmed everything he needed to know. To become a Sage at such a young age, he really must be something. Once he joins the Star Gate and gains access to the resources, he'll only grow stronger. But that's still a long way off. He only recently formed his Nascent Soul, and he can't even control his divine consciousness yet. He can't be much of a fighter right now. When the grand competition begins in the pocket world, he won't be a threat to Liu Yuan. Heh. All it cost me was a copy of a puppet art I have no use for. In return, I can keep his attention on puppetry and slow his progress for a while, all while earning his goodwill. Once he grows stronger, he may even become a valuable ally to my family. Come to think of it, Fu Chaosheng really does have a good eye. To think he managed to find a genius like this...