Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 885: Chapter 363 Combat Hall Master Luo Chen, Setting Out to Accumulated Thunder Ninth Mountain

“I overestimated my array attainment!”

“The geographical environment of Accumulated Thunder Ninth Mountain has an extremely strong repulsion, making it virtually impossible to lay down a complete defensive array. Even the Third Order Defensive Array set up by the Golden Core Ascendant Masters from Luo Yun Sect would hardly withstand a blow in front of their peers.”

“Therefore, I spent nearly half a year adapting to local conditions and constructed a killing array—the Five Thunder Blast.”

“With the omnipresent power of thunder from Accumulation Thunder Mountain, this killing array could threaten any Late Stage Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.”

“But unexpectedly, that battle came too hastily. No one thought the Golden Core Ascendant Masters would brazenly make a move, after all, the previous battles were confined to the realm of Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment.”

“When the battle erupted, I triggered the thunder killing array and killed five Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators in one fell swoop. I thought such a victory could deter the others, but the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators still wouldn’t relent.”

...

“Wang Yuan ordered me to lead a retreat, while the three of them stayed behind to cover our escape. The final result was Li Yingzhang seriously injured, with his magic item, Chi Dragon Sword, falling into someone else’s hands, and Xu Huanzhen sacrificed his Second Order White Crane Spirit Beast to save him. Wang Yuan unleashed his killing move, Blood God Tribulation Pointer, frequently, and after covering their escape, he was pursued and disappeared into the night.”

“After falling back to The Eighth Mountain, Duan Feng came to protect us. Only then was I allowed to return to Tianlan and bring back the bodies of our comrades.”

By the end, Min Longyu’s voice choked up, and his eyes actually reddened.

That battle was indeed too tragic.

He didn’t know about the casualties from other positions, but Luo Tian Creed alone had nearly lost more than half of its members.

Four Foundation Establishment True Cultivators: one seriously injured, one missing, and the highest in rank, Xu Huanzhen, also lost his White Crane Spirit Beast.

Only he, Min Longyu, had returned completely unscathed.

“President, I have failed your expectations, I deserve to die!”

Luo Chen pursed his lips, his face tensed.

Looking at the man overwhelmed with remorse and guilt, for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Before leaving, Min Longyu had indeed said that he was going to set up a great formation over there to preserve the lives of the Luo Tian Creed Cultivators.

But the actual outcome had given him a harsh slap in the face.

On the battlefield, you, an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, where did you get such confidence?

However, there are always things that need to be said.

“The fault is not yours.”

“You did very well. Without your array, half of the people would not be able to survive.”

“Go and rest. In two days, write out the detailed report and hand it to Murong Qinglian.”

Min Longyu wanted to say more.

But Luo Chen had already turned around and slowly pushed open the doors of Hui Xin Hall.

Inside, it was as silent as death.

Min Longyu opened his mouth, but ultimately left in shame.

…

In front of the black wooden coffin.

Luo Chen’s hands gently rested on the unrecognizable corpse.

Pure strands of Wood Spirit Power flowed from his palms, settling upon it.

Flesh regenerated, bones returned to their places, the horrific wounds healed over.

A new ruddy complexion again covered the visage.

Rough, weather-worn, the face of experience.

It was indeed the face of Sima Xian from his memories.

Sima Huiniang, who had recovered her composure by his side, saw the face and couldn’t help bursting into tears once again.

At this moment, she was devoid of her usual strong-woman demeanor.

She seemed as fragile as a blade of grass that might topple in the wind.

“Our three siblings came from a common big city, originally belonging to a wealthy household, but it was only after our family fell into decline that we ended up in such dire straits.”

“My elder brother pulled my brother Wen Jie and me up as we grew.”

“Later, by chance, we found our Immortal Fate, and fortunately, all three of us possessed Spirit Roots, hence we set foot on the path of Immortal Cultivation.”

“In the eyes of outsiders, the Three Sima Cultivators are led by me, planning and making decisions wherever we go.”

“But whenever danger arose, it was always my elder brother who stood at the forefront, and it was always him who chose to stay behind to cover our retreat.”

…

“I wish so much that my brother could find a Dao Companion Cultivator and lead a quiet and ordinary life. But he told me that despite the glamour visible to others, many coveted my position, and he needed to cultivate hard to become my strongest support.”

“My brother was never one for many words. This one sentence was uttered to Wen Jie in private while he was drunk.”

“Failing Foundation Establishment was his deepest pain. Since then, he became even more reticent, directing all his focus on the Combat Hall.”

“But I never expected that he would die on Accumulation Thunder Mountain.”

“No, in truth, I should have anticipated it. How can people not die when even Foundation Establishment True Cultivators can perish?”

“But…”

Luo Chen pulled the woman into his arms.

He, who was always eloquent and capable of impressing high-order cultivators, found himself unable to think of any suitable words of comfort in front of this vulnerable woman.

All he could do was hold her close.

Time trickled by slowly, and the candlelight in the hall flickered continuously, emitting wisps of smoke.

How much time had passed was unknown.

A loud clunk resounded.

The woman closed the coffin lid.

She wiped away her tears, left Luo Chen’s embrace, and in a daze, the familiar Sima Huiniang seemed to return.

“You’re okay…”

“I’m okay!”

Sima Huiniang sniffled, her expression becoming firm again.

“Everyone dies eventually. Zeng Wen can die, Granny Yuan can die, and so many cultivators from Luo Tian Creed can die, then how can my elder brother be any different?”

“The moment he stepped onto the battlefield of Accumulation Thunder Mountain, he was already prepared.”

“Life must go on.”

Luo Chen opened his mouth, somewhat unable to respond immediately.

The Sima Huiniang he knew had indeed returned.

“President, the Combat Hall cannot be without a leader for even a day!”