Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1145: Chapter 449: Farewell, Friend

Absolute Cloud Mountain, outside Yuan Magnetic Valley.

Luo Chen descended on a spirit cloud, concealed his form and quietly observed the person seated in meditation within the valley.

”That’s right!”

”It really is Miao Wen!”

Miao Wen, an external sect steward of Yu Ding Sword Sect, had once been in charge of mundane affairs at the Yu Ding Sword Pavilion in the daily operations of The Great River District.

In this remote large market district, his realm might not have been the highest, but his identity was truly unique.

Even those like Mi Shuhua and Zhou Qing, whose realms were higher than his, had to cater to him because of his status.

However,

The man who once kept his appearance and demeanor impeccably elegant was now disheveled, his clothes tattered, bearing no trace of the grace expected of a Yu Ding sword cultivator.

His pair of once-fine gold-threaded cloud boots were battered and torn, revealing darkened toes.

The vestment robe bearing the Sword Sect emblem was so torn that aside from the emblem, there were hardly a few intact patches of cloth left on it.

Mud smeared his face, and the corners of his mouth were stained with bits of bloody gristle.

Such was his appearance that others who saw him would only take him for a wild man.

Who would have thought that he, too, was once a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, enjoying the adoration and respect of tens of thousands of rogue cultivators from The Great River District.

Luo Chen examined him carefully and suddenly let out a soft exclamation,

”His realm?”

First Level Foundation Establishment!

And it seemed to be continuously declining.

Luo Chen remembered clearly that Miao Wen’s realm had not been at the first level.

It was about the initial stages of the Third Level Foundation Establishment, a level below Mi Shuhua’s, but he had still been considered one of the powerful figures in The Great River District back then.

Logically, after forty years of no contact, regardless of his situation, his cultivation level shouldn’t have fallen so much, right?

Luo Chen’s gaze shifted.

”Is it because of the long-term residence in Yuan Magnetic Valley, devoid of Spirit Qi nourishment?”

”Or perhaps...”

Suddenly, Luo Chen noticed Miao Wen’s body in the valley shaking violently.

Visible to the naked eye, strands of black, nearly tangible Yin Energy were being expelled from his body.

With the expulsion of Yin Energy, his cloudy eyes seemed to regain a glimmer of lucidity.

But soon, those strands of Yin Energy, like swallows returning to their nest, re-entered his body.

Bone Creeping Maggots, difficult to eliminate!

Once the Yin Energy returned, his eyes showed struggle again.

Luo Chen frowned.

The Yin Energy felt familiar!

Bai Meiling possessed similar Yin Energy.

But compared to the energy congealed around Bai Meiling’s body, the energy surrounding Miao Wen was much denser, almost as if it was beyond an entire level.

”Third-Order Ghost King’s Yin Energy?”

A thought surfaced in Luo Chen’s mind.

In a trance, he seemed to see once again the scene from years past in The Great River District when the three Ghost Kings re-emerged, an endless tide of Yin Energy enveloping the Inner City.

That battle!

Was extremely brutal!

Luo Yun Sect Cultivators sabotaged the city’s Array, unleashing three Ghost Kings. Golden Core Ascendant Master Linghu Jie used the Puppet Technique to control the three great Ghost Generals, besieging and aiming to kill the Sword Sect Elder Pang Renxiong.

The battle left the Inner City of The Great River District wilted and shattered.

Eventually, a once thriving Inner City turned into the Ghost Realm.

Within, thousands of rogue cultivators, few survived, only with the deliberate protection of several Ascendant Sect cultivators from outside the domain.

The rest, including Sword Sect Elder Pang Renxiong and the True Disciple Luo Tianhong, perished in the fray.

Even Luo Chen had once controlled a remnant soul of Luo Tianhong that gave rise to Ghost Generals.

Unexpectedly, Miao Wen had survived that battle.

”But it seems he’s living a life worse than death,” Luo Chen shook his head and stopped concealing his presence.

After making sure the other posed no threat, he voluntarily descended into the Yuan Magnetic Valley.

As soon as he entered, the environment, where Spirit Qi was so scarce it was nearly nonexistent, made Luo Chen somewhat uncomfortable.

However, his gaze immediately turned to Miao Wen, who became frantic from his arrival, his face showing a rapid succession of cruel, angry, desperate, and panicked expressions.

”Roars and whimpers...”

Listening to the unintelligible sounds emerging from the other’s mouth, Luo Chen sighed.

”To live in such agony, our past grudges make this difficult for me.”

”Yet this Yin Energy in you, I have great use for it.”

”Enough of this, let me help you find release!”

Seeing that Miao Wen wanted to flee,

Luo Chen raised his hand, tossing out a long banner from his hand.

”Xiao Ling, set up the Heart Confusion Array!”

”Yes, master!”

From within the banner came Bai Meiling’s assertive cry.

And then, as the banner struck ground, with it as the center, billows of black fog spread out, enveloping the entire Yuan Magnetic Valley.

Amidst the fog, Luo Chen flicked his wrist again,

and a badly damaged bronze ancient mirror floated up.

The mirror flickered with Spirit Light, swiftly encompassing Miao Wen’s form.

Luo Chen’s hands continued to form seals, muttering incantations, his Spirit Vision intensively fixed on Miao Wen, who was now frantic and roaring incoherently like a wild beast.

”Mirror Flower, Water Moon, lure the soul into dreams. Ghost God Heart Inquiry, reflect on one’s heart!”

”Do it!”

With a light command, Miao Wen, who was locking gazes with Luo Chen, stiffened all over.

His body slumped down weakly, settling into a sitting position on the ground.

And from within the Ghost God Heart Asking Mirror, the sound of a sword’s cry resonated crisply.

”We sword cultivators do not linger on external things, we must remain true to one sword!”

...

Within a small courtyard, a young man was brought in to have his Spirit Root tested.

After a while, the cultivator inside the courtyard conveyed a faint voice.

”Gold, Water, Earth Spirit Roots, mediocre talent, unsuitable for beginner entry.”

The young man knelt down with a thud, his face resolute: ”Disciple Miao Wen, willing to serve as a janitor, attending to the Sword Sect disciples, just to stay on Jade Emperor Mountain!”