The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 490: Chapter 490: The Giant Gate Reappears

The colossal bronze gate was grand and imposing, as if it held up the heavens and the earth. One glance at it would instill a sense of insignificance in anyone.

Countless regrets swirled around the bronze gate, belonging to those who’d made contact with it but had failed to push it open, filled with lingering thoughts even after their demise.

“Open it!!!”

Each of these regrets was incredibly powerful, representing a mighty expert who had unfortunately failed to open the bronze gate. Only witnessing someone else opening the gate could perhaps release these regrets.

Standing before the bronze gate, Fang Lin was no longer as shocked as he was the first time, but his heart was still not at ease.

No matter how many times one looked at this bronze gate, a deep reverence would be invoked. The gate stood as a barrier to martial artists becoming supreme warriors, causing countless powerhouses to fail and harbor resentment here.

Fang Lin had tried to open it before but failed. The bronze gate remained motionless, and as soon as Fang Lin touched it, he was blasted away.

However, Fang Lin still had a chance to try again as long as his cultivation was still at the Ninth Layer of Earth Element. He could still try to open it.

Moreover, Fang Lin’s father, Fang Qingye, had once successfully opened this gate. Fang Lin firmly believed that if his father could do it, he could as well.

Taking a deep breath, Fang Lin slowly approached the bronze gate. With each step he took, countless howls and roars of regret sounded in his ears.

“Open it!”

“If this gate remains closed, I’ll never rest in peace!”

“If I can’t see the world beyond this gate before I die, I will not die in peace!”

···

These regrets emitted chilling cries, appearing frighteningly grotesque. But they were not against Fang Lin. Instead, they held a deep attachment because they were unable to open the gate in their lifetimes. They hoped that Fang Lin could open the bronze gate so they could finally see the world lying behind it.

Only then could they achieve peace and escape this place.

Fang Lin felt extremely heavy-hearted. Each step he took felt like a tremendous trial. Around him, the limbos took the form of blurred figures, all focusing on Fang Lin.

Some sighed, some anticipated, while others remained indifferent.

Finally, Fang Lin stood before the bronze gate. Looking up, it seemed boundlessly tall, making Fang Lin appear even more insignificant in its presence.

At this moment, certain terrifying entities hidden in various parts of the earth were awakened. They once again sensed someone attempting to push the bronze gate.

Unfortunately, they had no expectations since Fang Lin had already failed once before. Even though he was trying again, it would be highly unlikely for him to succeed.

The bronze gate was simply too grand and heavy. Without truly stepping into the Tenth Layer of the Earth Element, it would be impossible to move it.

No one had ever opened the bronze gate in just one or two attempts. Even the once unmatched Fang Qingye had not been able to open the bronze gate in just one go.

Repeated attempts weren’t an issue, but the despair came when one realized that no matter how many times they tried, they would fail to open the bronze gate, and the outcome remained the same.

Despite standing in front of the gate and being within touching distance, they were only one step away from stepping into a new world and embarking on the road to supremacy. However, why was this last step so hard to take?

Some had tried countless times, spending their prime years stuck at the Earth Element stage, refusing to let their cultivation improve, all in the pursuit of the Tenth Layer of the Earth Element. But in their twilight years, they still struggled to advance.

The allure of the Tenth Layer of the Earth Element was indeed tremendous, but the presence of the bronze gate invoked a sense of resentment in those who considered themselves as geniuses.

As for Fang Lin, although he managed to reach the bronze gate, there was a 90% chance he wouldn’t be able to open it in the end.

As expected, the moment Fang Lin extended his hand to touch the bronze gate, a colossal force threw him backward, and he disappeared from the vicinity.

Countless regrets sighed and howled in dismay, but just before he vanished, Fang Lin revealed a faint smile.

When his consciousness returned to his body, Fang Lin opened his eyes. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he felt that he was in an excellent condition. Although his cultivation hadn’t improved, his strength had significantly increased compared to when he first entered the Dragon Blood Pool.

The effect of the Dragon Blood Pool was remarkably obvious. Fang Lin was confident that if he had to face Chen Wu again, he certainly wouldn’t land himself in such a dire situation.

The only regret was his inability to step into the Tenth Layer of Earth Element. Even though he had reached the bronze gate, he was still unsuccessful in moving it.

Despite the disappointment, Fang Lin was relatively satisfied with his training as it had greatly increased his strength.

Seeing no further benefits from his ongoing cultivation, Fang Lin felt that the Dragon Blood Pool’s effects on him had diminished. His body seemed to be at its saturation point, and staying in the pool wouldn’t improve his cultivation any further.

Without hesitating, he sprung up and leaped out of the Dragon Blood Pool. As his inner strength flowed, his clothes instantly dried.

“Huh?” Only then did Fang Lin notice that Yang Xuanfeng and Han Xiaoxing had both exited the Dragon Blood Pool a long time ago.

Upon walking outside the stone cave, Fang Lin saw Han Luoyun along with Yang Xuanfeng and Han Xiaoxing who had already left the Dragon Blood Pool.

“Uhm, how long have you both been out?” Fang Lin asked.

Han Xiaoxing ignored Fang Lin, showing indifference, while Yang Xuanfeng said with a peculiar expression, “We came out half a month ago. You’ve been training in there for two and a half months.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Lin was taken aback. He had stayed in the Dragon Blood Pool for two and a half months, but it felt like it had occurred in a mere flash.

This wasn’t surprising, though. While Fang Lin was inside the bronze gate, he was oblivious to the passing of time and thought that it was just a brief moment.

Fang Lin then noticed Yang Xuanfeng and Han Xiaoxing, their aura calm and powerful. They had clearly made considerable gains while training in the Dragon Blood Pool, improving their strength significantly.

Especially Yang Xuanfeng, his brow was subtly radiating light, clearly indicating the impending opening of his Spirit Eye.

“Congratulations, brother Yang.” Fang Lin said with a smile.

Yang Xuanfeng also showed a joyful expression. He had used the power of the Dragon Blood Pool to temper his physical body and attempt to open his Spirit Eye. Although he hadn’t fully succeeded, he estimated that he would completely open his Spirit Eye within three months.

As for Han Xiaoxing, there didn’t seem to be any changes, but Fang Lin could vaguely perceive terrifying fluctuations emanating from her. It appeared she was truly just a step away from reaching the Heavenly Origin stage.

Han Luoyun glanced deeply at Fang Lin. Given his cultivation level, he could tell Fang Lin had undergone significant changes, but he couldn’t exactly figure out what they were at the moment.

“Let’s go. We’re leaving here and going back to Qian Country.” Han Luoyun said.