An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Luo Chen awoke early. After completing his morning cultivation, he sat quietly, lost in thought. A concern tugged at the edge of his mind—not quite an immediate problem, but something that had troubled him for some time.

Would I be responsible for every single alchemical task in the Alchemy Hall? If that were the case, wouldn’t I be worked to death?

Previously, he had tried delegating some responsibilities. Fire control, for example, seemed like an obvious task to assign. So, when he opened the furnace to refine pills the day before, he allowed others to manage the flames.

The results were... less than ideal.

Even with some hasty training, the cultivators had failed to handle the tasks effectively.

Luo Chen found himself darting between the three alchemy rooms, constantly stepping in to fix mistakes. While fasting pills were unranked and relatively simple to make, the Myriad Wonders pill was a first-tier pill that required far more attention to detail.

To avoid burning himself out, Luo Chen spent the entire morning weighing his options. In the end, he arrived at a conclusion.

The solution was to further divide tasks!

***

”Division of labor?”

The murmured repetition of his words caused a ripple of restlessness to pass through the gathered cultivators. There were thirty of them, and none seemed to understand what he meant. In their minds, alchemy was a seamless, singular process. How could it be separated into parts?

Luo Chen’s eyes settled on the man who had spoken—Luo Erduo, a fellow clansman who appeared slightly older and not at all friendly. Behind him stood Luo Wudi, the Descending Mountain Tiger, who had openly aligned himself with Mi Shuhua during the Radiant Moon Hall meeting.

Just because Mi Shuhua supported Luo Chen now didn’t mean his followers did as well.

With a cold expression, Luo Chen answered flatly, ”Yes, division of labor is necessary. I know some of you came here hoping to learn alchemy. Tell me—do you even know the steps required to train a proper alchemist in a sect?”

This question left everyone completely clueless.

Just as Luo Chen prepared to fill that silence with his own explanation, a calm, soft voice spoke from among the crowd.

”Identify herbs, master fire control, study countless texts, research pill recipes, perfect techniques... and gradually work from low-grade pills to mid-grade and beyond before attempting more advanced types.”

Luo Chen turned slightly, frowning. The speaker had a pale face but maintained a composed expression. It was Mi Li—the daughter of Mi Junping and granddaughter of Mi Shuhua.

Forget it, Luo Chen thought. This is someone I can’t afford to offend.

He wasn’t sure of her exact standing within the Mi family, but the fact that she had been sent to the Alchemy Hall at all meant she carried weight. He cleared his throat.

”Yes. Miss Mi is absolutely correct.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, he began pacing slowly in front of the group.

”Even the major sects follow those steps. So what makes you think you, with no prior alchemical training, can do more?”

He paused to let the words sink in.

”That’s why dividing tasks—and having each of you focus on one specific responsibility—is not just what you need, it’s all you’re capable of right now.”

No one spoke after that. He was, after all, the leader of the Alchemy Hall.

Without wasting time, Luo Chen divided the thirty members into six teams of five. One team would handle certain auxiliary materials, another team would manage a different set of auxiliaries. Two more teams were assigned to process different primary ingredients. The final two were responsible for fire control, rotating shifts among the three alchemy rooms.

I should appoint a fire team leader eventually, he mused.

”You must quickly familiarize yourselves with the materials for the fasting pills and Myriad Wonders pills,” he instructed. ”Then, process them using the techniques I’ve already taught you.

”Furthermore, I don’t want you venturing into other teams’ areas before mastering your own responsibilities. Doing so will only slow your progress.

”You may think I’m holding you back, but if you try such things, don’t blame me for being blunt.”

After finishing, he gestured outside. Gu Caiyi arrived with a group, carrying all the medicinal materials he had requested.

”This is standard ginseng,” Luo Chen announced, holding up a root. ”Artificially cultivated. Ten years old. Low in spirit energy but crucial for many basic pills.”

He glanced at the team handling auxiliary materials.

”Thus, the processing methods are varied. I’ll teach you two techniques first. You few, follow me into the medicine room!”

The group eagerly followed Luo Chen inside. The rest remained outside, murmuring quietly amongst themselves. Among them, Mi Li furrowed her brows. Though her face remained pale and still, there was a trace of confusion in her eyes.

The standard procedure was indeed as the Hall Leader had described. But was it really necessary to divide tasks in such detail?

***

Was it necessary?

Luo Chen thought so. Of course it was.

If he didn’t split things up, someone might eventually learn every step of the pill refinement process. They’d figure out the proportions, the timing, the techniques. After dozens—or hundreds—of failures, someone might even succeed.

And then what?

What use would the Poshan Gang have for its so-called top alchemist?

Luo Chen wasn’t just organizing the work—he was deliberately building knowledge barriers. Even if someone gathered the group to try and combine their experience, the full picture would still elude them.

Even if they figured it out, Luo Chen planned to add subtle tweaks to later alchemy details.

In short, Luo Chen had no intention of teaching his apprentices everything. He wasn’t about to starve himself by giving away all his secrets.

***

It took five days to train them.

On paper, it wasn’t long. But whispers of impatience had already begun to spread.

Mi Shuhua, growing concerned, sent Sikong Shoujia to ask when the Myriad Wonders pill refinement would begin. With so many cultivators stationed in the Alchemy Hall, the Poshan Gang was losing spirit stones by the day.

After learning more about the Gang’s internal operations, Luo Chen understood why. Unlike the combat halls, which paid cultivators based on performance, the logistics halls—like the Alchemy Hall—paid fixed wages. Combat halls could earn hefty bonuses after raids or battles. Thus, most capable fighters were in the three combat halls or Wang Yuan’s Water-Dragon Hall.

So when Sikong Shoujia carefully tried to probe, Luo Chen simply replied with a smile, ”No rush. No rush.”

Of course, he wasn’t in a hurry. Once this group mastered their skills, his future alchemy work would become much easier.

Five days later, Mi Shuhua arrived in person.

Luo Chen gave the order, and the Alchemy Hall roared to life. Steam curled through the air from all three alchemy rooms. The scent of Gentle Smoke and Sparse Rain Incense drifted through the halls.

Luo Chen moved smoothly between rooms, instructing his subordinates, adjusting the fires, adding ingredients with practiced ease.

Mi Shuhua, observing from afar, began to felt some ease of anxiety.

”Grandfather,” Mi Li murmured.

”Hm?” Without turning his head, Mi Shuhua casually asked, ”Have you learned anything under Hall Leader Luo Chen these past few days?”

Mi Li softly replied, ”His handling of medicinal materials for two kinds of pills is exceptionally skilled, far surpassing the alchemists the family has previously hired.”

Mi Shuhua shook his head. ”Those alchemists could only produce low-grade pills. Naturally, they can’t compare to Luo Chen.”

Mi Li thought for a moment. The hall leader is also highly experienced in controlling the fire.

But Mi Shuhua waved his hand dismissively. ”That’s not what I was asking.”

”He hasn’t taught us much else,” she admitted. ”And he doesn’t allow us apprentices to observe his personal work.”

”Apprentices?” Mi Shuhua was intrigued by this term.

Mi Li promptly replied, ”Currently, the Alchemy Hall is divided into two roles: apprentices and fire handlers. Their tasks are self-explanatory.”

Hearing this, Mi Shuhua frowned in thought. A few moments later, he gave a firm nod.

”You. Go inside and observe.”

Mi Li looked up, surprised. But when she met her grandfather’s unwavering gaze, she had no choice but to obey.

She stepped into the alchemy room.

Immediately, Luo Chen noticed her. His eyes snapped to hers—calm, sharp, and unwelcoming.

Mi Li froze.

Around her, the fire handlers barely breathed.

For a moment, the only sounds in the alchemy room were the crackling of Green Steel Wood and the bubbling from the alchemy furnace.

Outside, Mi Shuhua narrowed his eyes as he watched. After a moment, he frowned—and then, with a long breath, sent a voice transmission into the room.

”Little Mi Li is the most talented alchemist in my family. Let her observe for a bit.”

”This is my livelihood,” came Luo Chen’s flat response.

”She...

”No way, unless... you add one more bottle of qi-nourishing pills per month!”