Immortality begins with Becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster

Chapter 1146: Chapter 449: Farewell, My Friend_2 ”Forget it, Senior Brother, just give him a chance!”

The youth was allowed to stay.

Each day, he did the cleaning and sweeping.

In his free time, he practiced the External Sect’s sword techniques of the Yu Ding Sword Sect.

So, ten years passed, and he drew Qi into his body, reaching the Fourth Level Qi Refinement Stage. He entered the Yu Ding Sword Sect walls and became an External Sect Disciple.

After becoming an External Sect Disciple, although general matters were still numerous, he never gave up cultivating.

Day and night, he practiced his swordsmanship for decades. Finally, during the small competition for disciples at the Qi Refinement Stage, with his exquisite sword techniques and unyielding spirit, he was exceptionally promoted to the Inner Sect by an Elder of the Yu Ding Sword Sect.

Entering the Inner Sect should have been a joyous affair.

It signified hope for his path!

However, the sudden change in environment also meant that the people he interacted with were different.

No longer were they the mediocre people from the External Sect who muddled through life; they were now all hardworking geniuses with exceptional talent and prospects.

Against these individuals, Miao Wen seemed all the more insignificant.

The so-called persistence, the so-called effort; others had them, too.

He thought that with three times the effort, he could catch up to those with Dual Spirit Roots and Heavenly Spirit Roots.

But, let alone catching up, those geniuses, under the guidance and direct teachings of their mentors, also worked tirelessly, their spirit no weaker than his own.

In everyday cultivation, setbacks followed one after another.

His increasing age meant that his hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage was becoming even more remote.

When it was time for the once every sixty years grand competition of the whole Sword Sect, Miao Wen participated with a body at the Ninth Level Qi Refinement.

Yet, he was defeated in succession by his fellow geniuses whom he interacted with daily.

Failure was not to be feared.

What was dreadful, however, was that he did not receive a Foundation Establishment slot.

Plus, as his age had passed the prime time for Foundation Establishment, resources from the Sword Sect naturally would not be inclined towards him.

Once again, he returned to the External Sect.

As someone who had been exceptionally promoted to the Inner Sect from the External Sect, he had been a legend, an existence admired and yearned for by countless External Sect Disciples. But rolling back in such a wretched state, those pairs of eyes made it hard for him to bear.

”There are true geniuses in this world; the so-called ’hardworking genius’ does not exist. Because true geniuses will also work hard. Only with effort can potential be converted, transforming a genius into a powerhouse of their generation.”

”From the time I was tested for my Spirit Root in that small courtyard, I had already lost disastrously.”

The night he returned to the External Sect, Miao Wen had completely lost heart.

Even though he continued to cultivate out of habit, it was just that ‒ a habit.

His mind was no longer focused on the path of the sword.

It had shifted to networking, seeking attachments, power, and wealth.

After all, the world outside the Yu Ding Sword Sect had taught him that the path of the sword was not the only way.

Thus, at the age of eighty, he unexpectedly obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill from an Inner Sect Disciple who had no use for it.

Fortune wasn’t limited to just this incident.

Depending on that one Foundation Establishment Pill, he amazingly achieved Foundation Establishment at an unsuitable age!

After Foundation Establishment, he became even more convinced of his beliefs.

The path of the sword was not the only way; with other methods, he could still achieve the Great Dao!

As a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator within the Sword Sect, there were other treatments in store, and even at an older age, one could still have the identity of an Inner Sect Disciple.

But Miao Wen refused the status of an Inner Sect Disciple, choosing instead to become an External Sect Steward, which to others seemed like toiling thanklessly.

Afterward, he began to take over various general matters of the External Sect.

From the Sect’s mundane affairs to managing the nearby district’s businesses, eventually after a long time, he earned the trust of the Sect, was sent out to manage a Yu Ding Sword Pavilion alone.

The Great River District was the furthest and most dangerous place he had been sent to in his life experiences.

But likewise, it was also the opportunity he felt was most suitable for him!

Here, he befriended stationed cultivators from Ascendant Sect industries from foreign regions, curried favor with local Rogue Cultivator Groups, and seized various resources and wealth.

He even managed to acquire several Spirit Medicines that could extend one’s lifespan.

One such Spirit Medicine, the Six Leaf Heavenly Emperor Lotus, was given by Mi Shuhua of the Broken Mountain Gang.

With these longevity pills, he opened up connections with the higher-ups in the Sect, allowing him to stay in The Great River District for a long time.

Then, his actions to seize wealth started to accelerate and expand!

”Once I’ve earned enough resources to cultivate to Foundation Establishment Stage Finalization, I’ll return to the Sect. When the time comes, I’ll choose a Second Order Ascendant Grade Immortal Mansion and cultivate in seclusion for a hundred years. Before my lifespan ends, I might make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Period!”

This was Miao Wen’s fantasy.

And he indeed nearly had such an opportunity to fulfill his dreams.

Dan Chenzi, Luo Chen!

A Pill Refiner who had unexpectedly risen from among the Rogue Cultivators.

He represented countless wealth!

Alas, an unexpected battle destroyed everything.

Within the Bronze Mirror.

Miao Wen, Luo Tianhong, and others, according to Pang Renxiong’s instructions, operated the Array, resisting the three great Ghost Kings.

Eventually, the Array broke and people perished!

Luo Tianhong died in battle on the spot.

Miao Wen was also severely injured.

However, relying on his years of operating The Great River District, and his familiarity with the Inner City, he luckily escaped the Ghost Realm.

But while escaping, he was invaded by the crushing Yin Energy of the Ghost King unleashed by Pang Renxiong.

Already gravely injured, with the remnant consciousness of the Ghost King in the Yin Energy bombarding his mind, he was unable to control himself.

In a daze, he fled to a place that his subconscious deemed extremely safe.

Absolute Cloud Mountain, Yuan Magnetic Valley.

”As long as I recover from my injuries here, I can return to the Sword Sect and report on the situation in The Great River. Perhaps, I might even achieve a great merit.”

However, this recovery turned into decades.

His injuries did not improve, yet his own condition grew increasingly worse.