An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

In the dead of night, silence blanketed the world.

A faint breeze whispered across the peaks of Changyin Mountain, stirring the snow-laden branches. Amidst the stillness, a figure emerged from a narrow crevice carved into the cliffside. His eyes gleamed faintly beneath the moonlight.

With the Spirit Suppression fully activated, Luo Chen stood as still as a dead tree, carefully surveying his surroundings.

Good. The entrance to this cave hadn’t yet been discovered by the demonic beasts of Changyin Mountain.

Not long ago, he had obtained a geographical guide to the Great Million Mountains of the Eastern Wilderness through Zeng Wen’s connections. It detailed many locations unknown to rogue cultivators.

The Ancient Plains were marked most thoroughly, as it was a frequent destination for Poshan Gang cultivators and rogue cultivators from Dahe Market alike.

In contrast, the Howling Moon Mountains were only sparsely mapped. For instance, this tunnel he had dug from Crescent Moon Valley led straight to Changyin Mountain. This mountain was rich in resources, teeming with demonic beasts, and had long been dominated by the Grayleaf Wolves and Frost Wolves. In fact, these two wolf clans were the main inhabitants of the dozens of nearby peaks.

Additionally, a few rare predators of the demonic wolves and weaker demonic beasts roamed the area. After confirming the area was safe, Luo Chen cautiously stepped out of the cave and began exploring bit by bit.

After a while, his footsteps came to a halt. His gaze sharpened, focusing on a spot three hundred meters ahead. Two solitary demonic wolves were locked in combat, their howls and heavy breaths echoing through the night.

I didn’t expect the battles between the wolf clans to still be ongoing after all this time. But this works to my advantage!

Luo Chen’s thoughts stirred as he retrieved four array flags from his storage pouch.

The hidden spirit array, a treasure he had acquired from Lu Huaiben. Previously, he had used it to conceal the spirit energy fluctuations of his spirit vein cavern. Today, it was the perfect tool for setting up a battlefield.

Carefully placing the four array flags in their designated positions, Luo Chen settled in and patiently waited for the results of the battle unfolding ahead.

The battles between low-tier demonic beasts were simple and straightforward. So straightforward, in fact, that they didn’t even use their innate demonic technique, relying entirely on physical combat. This behavior wouldn’t change until they advanced to the second-tier at least.

It was said that when demonic beasts reached the third-tier, equivalent to the human Golden Core Realm, their spirit intelligence would undergo significant evolution. Many third-tier demonic beasts could even refine their throat bones to learn various languages, no longer limited to primal growls and roars.

The phenomenon of ”demons speaking human words” typically only occurred at the third-tier and above. The two demonic wolves before him hadn’t reached that level of spirit intelligence yet, relying solely on instinct for their fight. Thus, their battle ended swiftly.

A Grayleaf Wolf’s corpse lay quietly on the ground. Its body was covered in gruesome wounds, fur torn, internal organs spilling out, and a thick stench of blood lingering in the air.

After all, it was the season of snow-covered mountains and pervasive frost. The Grayleaf Wolf lacked both time and terrain on its side. But the victor wasn’t in great shape either. Its once-pristine, snow-white fur was now ragged, and a deep wound on its neck revealed bone. It tried to lick its wounds, but the location was too awkward to reach, so it trudged back, weary.

Suddenly, it stopped in its tracks. A low growl escaped its throat, its fur standing on end as a massive sense of danger clouded its limited spirit intelligence. The Frost Wolf prepared to resist, but a massive cauldron came crashing down upon it.

Four colored lights, like flowing tassels, wrapped tightly around its limbs and even its head, immobilizing it completely.

“This Four Symbols Cauldron, though derisively called the ’Four Misfit Cauldron’ truly has extraordinary uses.” Luo Chen remarked and smiled as he watched the cauldron hovering over the Frost Wolf.

It was said that this cauldron was crafted by the grandmaster artifact forger Hu Yanzhuo of Tianfan City, who had originally intended to forge a low-grade enchanted treasure. However, due to issues with the formations and crafting techniques, it ultimately became a high-grade enchanted artifact.

Since acquiring it, Luo Chen had frequently experimented with it and discovered numerous ingenious applications.

Alchemy, defense, offense, suppression—the cauldron excelled in them all.

Each of its applications wasn’t particularly powerful, possessing only the strength of an average high-grade enchanted artifact. However, its versatility meant it could be used in a variety of situations. For instance, Luo Chen was now utilizing its suppression function to its fullest.

A first-tier demonic wolf wasn’t a match for Luo Chen to begin with. Especially since this one was injured!

Taking it by surprise, the Four Symbols Cauldron easily suppressed and subdued it.

As he watched the wolf lying on the ground, its eyes a mixture of fury and terror, Luo Chen approached with a friendly demeanor. Squatting down, Luo Chen grinned as he took out a blood-red pill.

“Little pup, don’t be scared.” he said. “Big brother’s got something good for you. It’s great for your health!”

The demonic wolf ”obediently” swallowed the pill, though it almost choked in the process, prompting Luo Chen to use his spirit energy to guide it down while gently patting its back.

After feeding it the Blood-Burning pill, Luo Chen cautiously stepped back. The Spirit Eyes was no longer passively activated but actively invoked as his glowing eyes locked onto the wolf.

Soon, the wolf began to react! As the pill’s medicinal power spread, the wolf let out a low howl, its eyes turning completely blood-red. Its back arched high, and its muscles began to tremble violently, as if a subterranean dragon were writhing within.

Moreover, a putrid demonic energy began spreading rapidly. This indicated that its demonic power was surging uncontrollably.

Clang!

Luo Chen’s eyelid twitched as he felt the Four Symbols Cauldron under his control start to wobble. The four-colored tassels that bound the Frost Wolf were now stretched taut, seemingly on the verge of snapping.

Luo Chen increased his spirit energy output, maintaining the cauldron’s suppressive force. But the ever-increasing power of the wolf made the already moderate suppression force difficult to sustain.

Crack! A faint cracking sound reached his ears.

The Frost Wolf rose from the ground, its human-sized body now swelled by an additional third, growing even more massive.

Standing there, its height now almost exceeded Luo Chen’s. Its muscular, knotted frame appeared colossal, resembling an elephant when viewed up close. Its blood-red, furious eyes locked onto Luo Chen, and its previously weak aura now surged, surpassing its peak condition.

Savage, tyrannical, bloodthirsty, and utterly mad.

Suddenly, it moved. It broke free from the remnants of the cauldron’s suppression and charged at Luo Chen.

Luo Chen, already prepared and retreated unhurriedly at the sight.

Not only that, but he also recalled the Four Symbols Cauldron, continuously firing streams of four-colored light.

Some streams obstructed; others suppressed.

As for defense, there was no need. Luo Chen’s speed was simply too fast. With the Cloud-Stepping Boots fully activated, combined with his Carefree Wander and Wind-Control.

It could be said that he was now ”walking the dog.”

But Luo Chen wasn’t running aimlessly; he moved in circles. The area he circled was precisely within the hidden spirit array he had set up.

Thus, even though the Frost Wolf’s spirit energy surges were massive, they did not leak a single bit outside the well-prepared hidden spirit array.

Luo Chen continued circling the Frost Wolf, keenly observing its condition while calculating the time. After roughly three to four minutes, the Frost Wolf’s aura began to wane.

At the same time, its consciousness seemed to return somewhat. Realizing its opponent was toying with it and far superior, the wolf instinctively began to retreat.

Seeing this, Luo Chen flicked his hand, unleashing the jade blade. Seven flying blades danced in the air, splitting into groups of three or two, cutting off its retreat without harming it but forcing it to stay within the encirclement.

In this manner, another two minutes passed. The demonic wolf’s aura weakened to its lowest point, even more feeble than before.

“That should do it.” Luo Chen muttered.

At this moment, Luo Chen stopped holding back. The Four Symbols Cauldron roared to life, descending forcefully upon the wolf.

The pitiful Frost Wolf was once again bound in place. Luo Chen approached, extending his spirit power into the wolf’s body. After a while, he thoughtfully withdrew his spirit power.

He glanced at the pitiful Frost Wolf and, using both hands, gently tore open the massive wound on its neck.

The demonic wolf succumbed. There were no traces of Luo Chen’s interference on its body, only the injuries inflicted by the Grayleaf Wolf earlier.

The array flags turned into streaks of light and returned to his storage pouch. Retrieving the hidden spirit array, Luo Chen chose not to covet the two demonic beasts’ corpses and quietly retreated into the tunnel.

***

Blood-Burning pill: First Test Report

Capable of stimulating muscle and blood energy within the body, which instantly produces a large amount of spirit power, akin to the process of refining essence into qi.

After activation, strength increases by thirty percent but consciousness becomes blurred, and violent tendencies arise—possibly linked to Explosive Ape Blood, the primary ingredient.

However, the effect is forcibly induced, damaging the foundation and leaving aftereffects such as expanded and torn meridians and weakened blood energy. The pill’s efficacy lasts for five minutes. The duration may shorten if powerful techniques are used.

Conclusion: Not a cultivation or auxiliary pill, but a combat-oriented one. However, it doesn’t bear strong demonic traces and likely won’t violate sect prohibitions.

Luo Chen put down his pen, reviewing the notes on his little notebook. Testing the pill on a demonic beast had yielded ample information, leaving him quite satisfied. However, some aspects remained unclear.

After all, the Blood-Burning pill was designed for human cultivators, and its effects might differ drastically when used on them compared to beasts.

Unfortunately, the Poshan Gang lacked specialized pill testers like those in the Hall of Hundred Herbs.

As Luo Chen pondered the four remaining pills in his storage pouch, he considered how to verify their effects on cultivators. Only by determining the pill’s effects could he decide how to handle it.

Would he keep them for personal use, crafting a dozen for emergencies? Or would he sell them?

These questions could only be answered after the pill’s effects were confirmed.

”I can’t reveal the Blood-Burning pill, so finding a tester is tricky.” Luo Chen mused.

Naturally, Luo Chen thought of his elder brother, Wang Yuan. This battle-boosting pill, tied to blood energy, might pique Wang Yuan’s interest.

Most importantly, Wang Yuan was far freer than Luo Chen, managing his hall independently outside.