Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Mutation in the East Sea, Sea Demons have emerged.

The Zhongzhou, which had been peacefully quiet for many years, could no longer suppress those who were eager to move after its fragmentation.

More than a decade ago, shadows of Demon Beasts occasionally appeared near the Tian Nan Continent. Recently, their numbers have grown, and they can no longer be restrained.

During the Zhou Family’s recent sea patrol mission, they encountered a sudden group assault by Sea Demons.

At that time, there were not many High-level Powerhouses on guard, and in the sudden attack, every Noble Family and Great Clan inevitably suffered significant personnel losses.

The Zhou Family was no exception.

A total of seven Foundation Establishment True Cultivators died in battle, along with more than thirty Qi Refinement Cultivators.

This was undoubtedly a major blow to the Zhou Family, which was in a revival state.

The atmosphere within the Zhou Family has been quite somber in recent days, due to the ongoing mourning process, with cries and wails echoing through the quiet nights.

Inside the council hall, a voice filled with anger suddenly erupted.

”Damn it, who allowed you to directly tell him the news of his parents’ death three days ago?”

The current Family Head, Zhou Junxiao, glared angrily at the woman before him.

Zhou Shuzhen was puzzled, ”Second Brother, is there a problem? Zhou Fuqiu is known for his precociousness, and he is the only pillar of the Bai Han family. Telling him this news is quite normal, isn’t it?”

”The procedure was not wrong, but...” Zhou Junxiao shook his head, still unsatisfied, ”He is just a child!”

Zhou Shuzhen’s red lips slightly parted, somewhat dazed.

In the eyes of outsiders, the prematurely developed Zhou Fuqiu is difficult to associate with a child, almost indistinguishable from a normal teenager. Coupled with his mature speech, people often forget his age.

When notifying the close ones of the fallen clan members, she had overlooked these details.

Zhou Junxiao seriously instructed, ”Be more mindful in the future. Now the patriarch does not handle affairs, the eldest brother is in Closed-Door Cultivation pushing towards the Nascent Soul Stage, and the other two have only recently completed Core Formation. The family relies on you and me to manage the situation, consult me more when issues arise.”

”Okay, Second Brother, I will remember.” Zhou Shuzhen said, then saw Zhou Junxiao stepping out, ”Second Brother, where are you going?”

Zhou Junxiao paused for a moment, recalling the command sent to him by the patriarch, and sighed slightly.

”I’m going to see that child.”

He left the council hall, heading toward the vigil location.

Soon, he was standing outside the spirit hall.

Inside or outside, numerous people either stood or kneeled, all relatives of the fallen clan members, many of them were young, but there were also white-haired elders mourning their black-haired children.

And that slender, Yin-bearing young boy knelt silently in front of a coffin, burning paper money.

His expression was calm, though his face bore sorrow, tears were absent.

Zhou Junxiao observed for a while, nodding silently in approval.

”A strong one.”

...

The burial day was four days later, and this funeral lasted a total of seven days.

On the day of the burial, all Zhou Family members put aside their tasks to attend the final ceremony in mourning clothes.

Zhou Fuqiu stood before the tombstone, tightly pressed his lips, holding hands with his tearful sister.

From time to time, sympathetic and pitying looks were cast upon him, but he seemed oblivious.

”Brother, have Father and Mother really gone?”

The sister seemed unable to accept reality.

Zhou Fuqiu had to lift her up, quietly comforting her.

Seeing the girl still bewildered and only knowing to cry, Zhou Fuqiu solemnly said, ”Father and Mother are no longer here, but you have me. Brother will protect you in the future.”

”Then will brother leave?”

Zhou Fuqiu gazed at the tombstone, gently patted his sister’s head.

”Brother will never leave!”

The boy’s words were light but firm, like a mountain.

As the Family Head Zhou Junxiao activated the Guardian Array of the cemetery, this funeral was completely declared over.

Although there was still the sound of mourning and reminiscence echoing, ultimately everyone returned to their homes, continuing their lives.

That night.

After coaxing his sister to sleep, Zhou Fuqiu returned to his father’s study once more.

It was still an all-too-familiar scene, yet he could no longer see that tall man, and there was no longer that gentle voice by his ear.

Recalling the warm memories of the past, the previously unwavering boy had tears on his face at an unknown time.

Suddenly!

He thought of the medicinal soup he drank, of the mysterious death of Yin Siniang, and of Elder Zhou Shuzhen’s calm indifference when announcing the news of his parents’ death.

A chill surged into his heart.

Noble Families and Great Clans, though teeming with warmth, are filled mostly with tales of power struggles and deceit.

People without value do not deserve attention.

And his parents, who once stood up for them siblings, were gone; if he wanted to survive, if he wanted his sister to grow up well, he could not rely on anyone else but himself!

Zhou Fuqiu wiped his tears, walked to the bookshelf, and skillfully took out several books.

Holding a hefty pile of books, the boy was about to return to the desk, but after hesitating for a moment, he pulled out another book from the corner.

With all the books spread open, familiar names came into view, these were the Qi Refining Classics he had read over the past half-year.

”I want to cultivate!”

”I need power!”

”No one can be trusted, I must protect my sister!”

His gaze swept over the books, constantly evaluating and pondering in his mind, ultimately his pitch-black, ink-like eyes rested on ”Lu Chan Technique”.

The other cultivation techniques were too slow, and each had various thresholds and limitations.

Only this Demon Path Technique had the fastest cultivation speed, with no thresholds, as long as you have a Spirit Root, you can cultivate.