An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Murong Qinglian explained everything, and only then did Luo Chen learn what had happened the previous night.

Qin Liangchen had received a distress call from Mi Zifan i, a third-generation member of the Mi family, and had immediately rushed to Crescent Moon Valley. Before departing, he had been thoughtful enough to leave a message for Feng Xia. That was why Duan Feng had come to their aid later.

Qin Liangchen had set off first, but along the fastest route, through the green hemp forest, where Luo Chen had previously been ambushed, Qin Liang chen had encountered enemies.

Nangong Qin! The renowned and powerful young member of the Nangong family, and he had led a group to block Qin Liangchen’s path.

He had quite a temper. Instead of launching an immediate group attack, he had proposed a one-on-one duel with Qin Liangchen.

The main reason had been his pursuit of reputation. Before the Debate Platform had closed, Nangong Qin had ranked first on the Elite Prodigy Board. He had earned that ranking through countless hard-fought battles. However, some of the older figures in Dahe Market had still not fully acknowledged him.

From time to time, they had brought up the blood-soaked duel involving the two gangs deathmatch during the opening of the Debate Platform. Min Longyu, who had brutally slain Han Dang; Qin Liangchen, who had risked his life to kill Bai Qi; and Wang Yuan, who had crushed the blood-path cultivators, these three had become the standards of comparison.

No matter how much Nangong Qin had demonstrated his superior in cultivation realm and battle prowess, he still had not convinced the masses.

The others had a simple reason! ”Your fights were mere sparring matches. Theirs were battles to the death. If it came to risking your life, could you truly defeat them?”

Nangong Qin had never accepted that. In truth, it was not just him. Li Ao, Yan Mingxia, and Duan Feng had all felt the same.

Unfortunately, those from the older generation had all been busy seeking cultivation resources and had not returned to the duels platform. Even someone like Zeng Wen, who had experienced the blood duels firsthand, had only entered the platform as a spectator.

Last night, such an opportunity had finally arisen. Nangong Qin had crossed swords with Qin Liangchen!

Unfortunately, Nangong Qin had come for fame and gain. But Qin Liangchen had been fighting for his Dao companion’s life. The moment their swords had clashed, Qin Liangchen had employed the same desperate, life-risking style he had once used on the Debate Platform.

This had thrown Nangong Qin off balance, causing him to make repeated mistakes. Fortunately for him, his foundation was strong. He had gradually adapted to Qin Liangchen’s combat style and had begun to gain the upper hand.

The current number one Qi-Refining cultivator of Dahe Market was indeed not someone with an empty reputation.

Qin Liangchen had no intention of sitting still and awaiting his doom. Seeing a group of Nangong family cultivators eyeing him greedily from the side, he immediately resorted to his trump card.

”That hand?” Luo Chen asked, he recalled the empty sleeve hanging from Qin Liangchen’s right arm when he had arrived.

”Yes!” Murong Qinglian said with a hint of sorrow. ”Back when the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion made a deal with Liangchen, they were fairly generous. Behind the scenes, they opened Bai Qi’s storage pouch in front of Liangchen, and the items inside were of considerable value.

”As a result, when they attached the hand for Liangchen, they also compensated him with a life-saving technique.

”At the critical moment, Liangchen used this technique. After a single strike, he carved a bloody path to escape. The price he paid was that hand, it was completely gone.”

Hearing these words, Luo Chen opened his mouth. For a moment, he did not know what to say.

The Nangong family was a newly rising Foundation Establishment family that had moved from the Snow Lotus Market last year.

The Grand Elder, Nangong Jin, was only a hundred and fifty years old, relatively young. The younger generation of the family was not mediocre either, talents emerged in great numbers. However, the environment at the Snow Lotus Market had been harsh, far inferior to the resource-rich Dahe Market. For the sake of their future, they had made the decision to relocate.

It was easy to imagine that the group of Nangong family cultivators who had intercepted Qin Liangchen last night had not been weak. For Qin Liangchen to carve a bloody path out, it was impossible not to pay a price. But no one had expected the price to be so steep.

”Can the severed hand be reattached?” Luo Chen asked with concern.

Murong Qinglian shook her head bitterly. It could not be reattached.

The first time the limb had been reattached, it had already required the marvelous techniques of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Even so, Qin Liangchen had taken a long time to gradually adapt to it. Luo Chen had even assisted him during his trials with the hand. Now that it had been severed again, his very essence had been damaged. Even if he attached a false hand, it would never move as naturally as before.

Besides, why would the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect help him reattach it again? Could he seek other physicians?

Did he not see that Shan Xiu had only lost a palm, and even then could only attach a mid-grade enchanted claw to barely function? That had led to Shan Xiu’s strength being greatly reduced, allowing Luo Chen to easily ambush and kill him.

The bitter and frustrated expression on the woman’s face was all too evident.

For a moment, Luo Chen had no words to offer. His gaze fell upon the pile of spoils, and finally, he gritted his teeth.

”Gather everyone here!” Luo Chen commanded.

***

The wounded and the unscathed. Those with weary mental, and those brimming with energy.

Thirty cultivators stood in the clearing of Crescent Moon Valley, raising their heads with expectant expressions as they gazed at the man standing atop a massive boulder.

Facing those countless eyes, Luo Chen hesitated in his heart. However, his gaze soon hardened with resolve. Looking at the crowd, his clear voice rang out.

”The Gang Leader, Mi Shuhua, is dead,” Luo Chen announced.

Silence!

The once slightly bustling atmosphere turned deathly still in an instant. A group of low-tier cultivators listened to the news in shock.

They had been expecting Hall Leader Luo Chen to distribute the spoils from last night’s battle. Even if it was just some resources, those were taken from their former comrades. But they had not expected Hall Leader Luo to drop such a thunderous bombshell the moment he spoke.

The protective umbrella that had once sheltered the Poshan Gang had fallen!

After ten breaths, Luo Chen spoke again. ”Last night, all nine halls of the Poshan Gang, along with the Main Hall and the Mi family estate, were attacked by enemies several times their number. As of now, news from the outside remains unclear, but the Poshan Gang has, in essence, been destroyed.”

Luo Chen paused, once again giving these low-tier cultivators ample time to absorb the reality.

With his keen eyes, he could see panic, unrest, and confusion flashing across everyone’s faces. Among them were also traces of worry, fear, and concern. It seemed that many of these people were not solitary wanderers; they had family and friends in the other halls. Take Tang Quan, for example, he stood there trembling, on the verge of turning around and leaving. He was likely worried about his uncle, Zeng Wen!

Such was Luo Chen’s thought. Then, as countless eyes turned to him, he spoke with clarity and resolve. ”The Poshan Gang is no more, but our path of cultivation must continue,” Luo Chen declared.

”Rogue cultivators had it hard, rogue cultivators were exhausted, rogue cultivators...

Damn it, why was he thinking of rhymes at a time like this?

Luo Chen pressed his lips together. ”The life of a rogue cultivator was not easy. I knew it, and you all knew it too. Therefore, I, Luo Chen, though lacking in ability, wanted to form a small faction so that we could support each other.

”I had already thought of a name, Luo Tian Society. It came from the Great Luo Nine Heavens, signifying the highest and broadest. I hoped that every cultivator in our society could one day set foot above the nine heavens and ascend the Great Dao.

”Of course, this was merely a hope. After all, we were all just the weakest Qi-Refining Realm cultivators.”

As he spoke, all the cultivators gradually snapped out of their confusion and came to a realization. Hall Leader Luo Chen was planning to set up his own base, establishing a new Poshan Gang! But... he was only at the eighth stage of Qi-Refining. Could he really protect everyone?

Suddenly!

Many of them recalled the scene from before, when the three Foundation Establishment experts had gathered. In the end, the Foundation Establishment Initiate, Miao Wen, from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, had spent half the night talking with Luo Chen in the Alchemy Hall.

Could it be... the new Poshan Gang, no, Luo Tian Society!

Was Miao Wen the backing behind Luo Tian Society?

All at once, many sharp-minded cultivators grew excited.

”I won’t say much more. After all, Luo Tian Society only existed in words for now,” Luo Chen said.

”Right now, I would like to talk about two things, though they could be considered one.”

Luo Chen gazed at the crowd with deep sincerity. ”Do you want to join Luo Tian Society? The battle two days ago was a fight we won together. I had seen how much effort each of you put in.

”Therefore, even those who chose not to join Luo Tian Society would still receive a share of the spoils, perhaps even more than those who stayed!

”As for those who stayed, their share would not be small either, it would be enough to satisfy everyone. Our eyes should be set on the future.

”This vast amount of spoils would also be invested in the future development of the Luo Tian Society. Heaven and earth bore witness!”

Hearing these words, everyone exchanged looks.

Those who left would receive more spoils and those who stayed would receive less?

What kind of logic was that?

This time, they were given almost no time to think. Because someone had already declared their intent to join on the spot.

”I, Zhou Yuanli, am still willing to follow the President’s lead!” Zhou Yuanli said.

At the same moment, Liu Qiang also voiced his decision.

Not only that, but Gu Caiyi, Granny Yuan, and Murong Qinglian, representing Qin Liangchen, also joined.

The only Qi-Refining ninth-stage cultivator who had not yet expressed his stance was Duan Feng. Feng Xia, who had rushed over early that morning, immediately jabbed him in the waist from behind. Duan Feng instantly realized the situation and gave Luo Chen a deep bow, filled with admiration.

”I, Duan Feng, shall also follow President Luo Chen as my leader!” he declared.

The low-tier rogue cultivators were stunned. Just moments ago, Luo Tian Society had been a one-man force. Now, it had suddenly gained five ninth stage Qi-Refining experts.

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang were known for fighting side by side and feared no ordinary ninth stage Qi-Refining opponents. Moreover, everyone still remembered Luo Chen’s feat of single-handedly killing Shan Xiu and Gao Tingyuan, both ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

In other words, Luo Chen himself possessed the strength to rival ninth stage Qi-Refining experts. With this calculation, Luo Tian Society now had the battle prowess of seven ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators.

Such strength was formidable, no matter where it was placed. Ordinary rogue cultivators would not dare challenge them!

At that moment, almost no one hesitated. With a faction to rely on, who would want to remain a helpless rogue cultivator?

”I, Tang Quan, wish to join the Luo Tian Society!”

”I, Yuan Dongsheng, wish to join the Luo Tian Society!”

”I, Qu Hancheng, wish to join the Luo Tian Society!”

Hearing that name, Qu Hancheng, Luo Chen’s eyes lit up. The old man was still alive!

With all the chaos before, Luo Chen had thought the man had perished in the fighting.

Truly, the older the ginger, the spicier it was [1].

Watching each cultivator willingly join Luo Tian Society, the heavy stone in Luo Chen’s heart finally settled. The conversation he had with Miao Wen two nights ago had not been complicated and its core point was simple.

Cooperation!

1. Chinese metaphor that refers to experience comes with age, and older people are often wiser, more capable, and more resourceful because of their life experience. ☜