A journey through immortal realms begins with a phantom tale.

After leaving the city, Li Qiang and Luo Cheng quickly reunited with Zhao Hao and Mei Jingjing.

After some training, Zhao Hao had transformed from a frail old man back into a young man of about thirty. As Li Qiang's eldest disciple, he was meticulous in his actions, and upon seeing Luo Cheng, he immediately knelt down respectfully and performed a grand salute.

Luo Cheng said helplessly, "Old Zhao, can't you learn from your master and act a little more freely?"

"Ritual must not be abandoned," Zhao Hao replied solemnly.

Luo Cheng shook his head and chuckled, patting himself down: "I don't have any treasures on me right now. I'll make up for the gift later."

"Thank you, Senior Uncle."

In contrast, Mei Jingjing seemed much more lively. Her eyes curved into crescents, and she said playfully, "Big brother, I never expected you to be as handsome as my brother!"

Luo Cheng laughed and said, "Praising me won't help, I didn't bring any gifts with me."

"Niu Niu wasn't praising you because of the gift."

"I know," Luo Cheng said gently, "but I've remembered the gift I owe you, and I'll definitely make it up to you next time."

"Then Niu Niu thanks her master in advance."

After everyone got to know each other, Li Qiang set a meeting point and asked Zhao Hao to take good care of Jingjing. Then, Li Qiang and Luo Cheng went together to find the legendary Star Palace.

Luo Cheng originally thought that the Star Palace was surrounded by a huge immortal array and wouldn't be difficult to find, but he didn't expect that he had overestimated his abilities. Or perhaps, the Star Palace was an opportunity unique to Li Qiang.

Unable to find anything in a short time, Luo Cheng had no choice but to go to the Frost Source with Li Qiang, hoping that he could learn alchemy from Master Mei Youbing.

The three essential skills for cultivators are weapon crafting, alchemy, and talisman making. Luo Cheng learned the Chongxuan Sect's exquisite weapon crafting techniques and decent talisman making skills by studying under Master Mei. However, the Chongxuan Sect's alchemy techniques were relatively weak, so he had long wanted to ask Master Mei for guidance.

Just as the two were about to meet up with Zhao Hao, they were suddenly blocked by a group of cultivators.

Luo Cheng thought to himself: Could they be cultivators from Qianjie Star?

Li Qiang had already encountered the cultivators from Qianjie Star before, and asked directly, "Why are you cultivators from Qianjie Star blocking our way?"

"Boy, that's a question I should be asking you." The leading cultivator sneered. "Two Nascent Soul cultivators, not bad. Capture them all, we can turn them into puppets."

"Brother, we'll play it by ear," Li Qiang transmitted his voice.

"it is good."

To be honest, this was the first time Luo Cheng had faced a high-level cultivator head-on since he began cultivating. Previously, he had only encountered low-level cultivators on Tianqi Star, whom he could easily crush. Now, facing a high-level cultivator, Luo Cheng's methods were clearly insufficient.

Looking at Li Qiang, he did possess two decent magical treasures. After Luo Cheng unleashed two spells, he was gradually losing ground—among his opponents was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

Seeing Luo Cheng's perilous situation, Li Qiang immediately transmitted his voice: "Retreat!"

"Okay!" Luo Cheng replied, "Let's split up and run."

Luo Cheng wasn't worried about Li Qiang; he knew this brother was the chosen one of the ethereal world and would always turn misfortune into good fortune. Li Qiang, on the other hand, was somewhat worried about his senior brother. He hadn't expected Luo Cheng to lack even a decent magical artifact.

Li Qiang deliberately chose the strongest cultivator, using his eloquence to lure him in and make him relentlessly pursue him. Luo Cheng, on the other hand, chose a direction and fled at high speed.

Unfortunately, the difference in cultivation level was too great, and Luo Cheng was relentlessly pursued and unable to break free.

Luo Cheng smiled bitterly to himself: Am I, a transmigrator, going to perish here? Where's my cheat code? Why hasn't it arrived yet?

"I'll risk it all!" Luo Cheng gritted his teeth. "If you keep chasing me, I'll self-destruct my Nascent Soul!"

"Go ahead and explode! I'd like to see you self-destruct." The other party was not afraid at all.

At this moment, Luo Cheng suddenly entered a state of tranquility, allowing himself to remain absolutely calm.

The view of oneness when no thought arises.

A mind as clear as a mirror reflects the mountains and rivers.

He saw it—it was the Dao. In the void, there were some things that were indescribable and inexplicable.

To be in harmony with the Tao.

In an instant, a massive amount of spiritual energy converged around Luo Cheng. He had actually gained the ability of the protagonist of destiny—breakthrough in the face of battle.

The surrounding cultivators were all dumbfounded.

"You can do that?"

"You've already broken through?"

After Luo Cheng's breakthrough, he finally understood the true use of magic.

"Behold my Heavenly Fire!"

Luo Cheng unleashed fire magic again, this time with several times the power of the previous spell.

"So what if he breaks through? He'll only be at the Nascent Soul stage. Kill him!"

Luo Cheng, still in the Enlightenment Realm, calmly said, "I can break through again. If I can't kill you with my Out-of-Body cultivation, I'll kill you all with my Divine Transformation cultivation."

"Alright, let me see how you break through!"

Luo Cheng claimed he could break through, but in reality, it proved quite difficult. Previously, he had reached a bottleneck and then happened to enter a state of enlightenment, which allowed him to break through easily. The Divine Transformation Realm—he had never comprehended it before—what exactly was that realm?

Luo Cheng allowed his mind to merge with the void, sensing the Daoist rhythm within it.

"Oh no, that's a supernatural power, a sign of the Nascent Soul Realm! Let's go!"

These monks were truly terrified—they had encountered a monster.

Seeing the cultivators who had been besieging him flee in panic, Luo Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a wave of weakness wash over him. Instead of resting and recuperating on the spot, he flew in a straight line for a distance before landing in a dense forest.

After finding a safe location, Luo Cheng set up two defensive formations before entering a meditative state to regulate his breathing. He first recovered his energy and then stabilized his cultivation level.

Meanwhile, while being chased, Li Qiang accidentally stumbled into the Star Palace, where he first absorbed the Heavenly Fire and then encountered Mo Huaiyuan, obtaining immortal artifacts and a large number of treasures. After leaving the Star Palace, he was very worried about Luo Cheng's safety—although he had already lured away several of the most powerful cultivators and done his best.

"Sigh," Li Qiang sighed, "I hope my senior brother is alright."

Luo Cheng stabilized his cultivation at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, not in a hurry to break through. He had a feeling that he could enter the Spirit Division stage if he wanted to. Keep in mind, he had only been cultivating for a few years, less than ten years at most, and was already close to reaching the Spirit Division stage.

Luo Cheng headed towards the meeting point he had agreed upon with Li Qiang. Li Qiang arrived at the meeting point first, but neither Zhao Hao nor Luo Cheng were there, and he felt anxious and frustrated. Along the way, he unexpectedly encountered Hua Meiniang, who surprisingly began to comfort him.

A few days later, Luo Cheng also arrived at the rendezvous point, but did not encounter Li Qiang, so he decided to go to the Frost Source alone. This time, he was extra careful, knowing that the Frost Source was in great chaos, with a large number of cultivators from the Prodigy Star pouring in, all for the sake of seizing the alchemy secrets.

Meanwhile, Li Qiang unexpectedly encounters Hou Pijing. Hou Pijing learns that Luo Cheng is being hunted and decides to turn back to find him. Unexpectedly, he actually runs into Luo Cheng.

Hou Pijing was dumbfounded upon seeing this.

"He's already out of body? He was still a Nascent Soul cultivator just a few days ago!"

Now he finally understood why Li Qiang said Luo Cheng was more perceptive than him.

Soon, everyone met. Hua Meiniang was also stunned: "He's already separated from his body?"

Luo Cheng humbly replied, "I broke through by sheer luck. Because my realm was unstable, I wasn't in a hurry to break through to the Nascent Soul stage."

Hua Meiniang was no longer calm—this was simply a blow. She remembered that when they parted on Mars, this person was still in the Nascent Soul stage, and now he was only one step away from becoming a Spiritual Distraction Master.

Li Qiang was overjoyed to see his senior brother: "Senior brother, I'm relieved to see you're alright."

Hua Meiniang complained, "Luo Cheng, you don't know, when your brother didn't see you, he looked like he was about to massacre the city."

Luo Cheng knew that Hua Meiniang was teasing Li Qiang, but he also showed Li Qiang's concern: "My brother here is kind-hearted and wouldn't do that."

Li Qiang was overjoyed: "Brother Hou, now you know my brother's talent, right?"

"I saw it," Hou Pijing exclaimed. "This guy is a monster. Not only is his cultivation level improving rapidly, but it's also so stable. It's really strange!"

Next, Li Qiang gave Luo Cheng several treasures.

Luo Cheng asked, "Have you found that mysterious place?"

Li Qiang replied, "I accidentally stumbled in." He didn't elaborate on the details, as he needed to protect Mo Huaiyuan and didn't want his brother to worry about him.

With Hou Pijing leading the way, the group soon arrived at Plum Valley in the Frozen Source. Outside, it was a world of ice and snow, but inside Plum Valley, birds sang and flowers bloomed, like a paradise on earth.

Master Mei Youbing treated Luo Cheng and Li Qiang with great courtesy after learning that they were Fu Shan's brothers.

Luo Cheng wanted to learn alchemy, but was somewhat embarrassed to ask. Besides, he knew Li Qiang would face a calamity, being imprisoned in the Black Prison, but through it he would make a group of good brothers. After much deliberation, Luo Cheng decided not to stop it from happening.

Sure enough, Li Qiang was arrested soon after. Mei Jingjing was heartbroken and cried her eyes out. Hou Pijing first contacted Fu Shan, and then the two mobilized all their friends to begin searching for Li Qiang. Luo Cheng also joined the search team.