An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”This is the Nangong family’s territory!” Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang flanked him on either side, while behind them, Elder Sima Xian of the Battle Hall led a ten-man squad.

The former was introducing Luo Chen to the cluster of buildings below.

”That over there is the beast pen under construction. I heard the Nangong family will assign cultivators to oversee it.

”And over here is...”

Looking down, Luo Chen’s expression grew complicated.

Nangong territory?

It was the Mi family’s land!

Two months ago, when he had come here alone, all he had seen were members of the Mi family. Now, everything has changed beyond recognition.

”Who goes there?!” A stern shout rang out from below, followed by a figure soaring up into the air.

Luo Chen remained silent as Sima Xian stepped forward to meet the newcomer.

”Luo Tian Society’s President, Dan Chenzi, bearing a formal greeting card, has come to pay respects to Senior Nangong Jin!”

As he spoke, a gold-embossed invitation flew forward. The Nangong family cultivator hesitated for a moment before instinctively reaching out to catch it.

However, the moment it landed in his palm, his expression shifted.

Suspended in midair, he was forcibly pushed back three meters by an overwhelming force.

”You—!” Sima Xian was not one for words; he simply curled his lips slightly in response.

The cultivator’s eyes burned with anger. He spat out a quick, “Wait here!” before flying back to the compound below.

Once he had left, Zhou Yuanli voiced his concern. ”President, won’t this offend the Nangong family?”

Luo Chen shook his head but remained silent.

Sima Xian’s aggressive display had not been his own initiative—it had been at Luo Chen’s instruction. He had not acted so audaciously out of arrogance.

In truth, he was testing how well Miao Wen’s name carried weight. And the results were about to be seen immediately.

Under the guidance of a cultivator, Luo Chen was led into an elegant flower hall, where he met the head of the Nangong family.

The young master!

Luo Chen’s gaze fell upon the sharp, heroic brows and handsome features reminiscent of Pan An. His brow furrowed slightly.

It was Nangong Qin—not the Foundation Establishment cultivator Nangong Jin!

”You must be President Luo of Luo Tian Society, Master Dan Chenzi! I’ve long heard of you!”

Luo Chen relaxed his expression. One could not strike a man who greeted with a smile.

”I am Luo Chen. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Nangong.”

Nangong Qin was unsurprised. Someone of his status would already know Dan Chenzi’s real identity. He immediately took the main seat and chuckled. ”One does not visit the Three Treasures Hall without reason. What brings you here uninvited, Fellow Daoist?” As he spoke, he idly played with the gold-embossed invitation that bore Luo Tian Society and Dan Chenzi’s name.

Luo Chen smiled slightly. ”A small business proposal. I wonder if your esteemed family would be interested?”

”Oh?”

”It concerns Fu Zhu Deer.”

”Then let’s hear it.”

After listening for some time, Nangong Qin nodded in understanding.

”It is indeed a profitable business—beneficial to both you and me.

”However...”

At these two words, Luo Chen, who had been smiling warmly, let his expression fade.

Nangong Qin’s lips curved, but his eyes remained cold. ”We have only recently relocated here, and we are currently engaged in extensive reconstruction. We simply do not have the manpower to provide a stable supply of Fu Zhu Deer milk to your society. So...

”My apologies!”

Luo Chen’s expression darkened slightly. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he took his leave.

Nangong Qin only escorted him as far as the flower hall entrance before stopping.

Watching Luo Chen’s departing figure, a cold smirk tugged at his lips.

An insignificant Qi-Refining cultivator at the eighth stage and yet he dares act like a leader before me? Truly thinks he’s someone important!

Suddenly, his ears twitched slightly. He immediately turned and walked toward the back.

Before long, he arrived at an underground meditation chamber brimming with spirit energy. He took a deep breath as he stepped in and felt an immediate lightness throughout his entire body.

”Father, the spirit vein here is truly remarkable—it even has the effect of a second-tier vein.”

Inside the room, a middle-aged man sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion opened his eyes. His gaze fell on a corner of the room, revealing a hint of distress.

”It was all exchanged for mid-grade spirit stones. This place is not suitable for long-term cultivation—it’s only for emergencies.”

Upon hearing this, Nangong Qin immediately came to a realization. After all, this was merely a first-tier spirit vein—the abundant spiritual energy in the area came from a gathering formation refining mid-grade spirit stones. Sustaining long-term cultivation here would undoubtedly be a massive drain on resources.

Realizing this, Nangong Qin grew even more perplexed. ”If that’s the case, why reject Luo Chen’s business proposal? A deal worth thousands of spirit stones each month would bring in a sizable profit over the course of a year.”

The valuable parts of the Fu Zhu Deer were its antlers and blood—its bones, meat, and milk were practically worthless. Luo Tian Society’s deal would essentially create a new revenue stream for them.

However, Nangong Jin simply shook his head.

”Little Qin, you don’t understand.

”Business isn’t just about profit—it’s also about who you’re dealing with.”

Nangong Qin frowned. ”Isn’t Luo Tian Society under Steward Miao’s protection? He’s from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect—shouldn’t we show him some respect?”

”Respect must be given, but the method matters. If given incorrectly, it may instead cause resentment.”

Nangong Jin did not spell it out but instead guided his son, allowing the future leader of the Nangong family to think for himself. Nangong Qin was accustomed to this mode of discussion. He furrowed his brows and pondered deeply.

After a while, realization dawned upon him. ”Father, you mean that Steward Miao values Luo Chen for his alchemy skills. If he seeks anything related to alchemy, we should comply.

”This way, we still honor Steward Miao’s reputation. But for other matters, there’s no need?”

Understanding this, Nangong Qin’s mind became completely clear.

He paced within the meditation chamber, speaking fluently.

”With power and the ability to command subordinates, a person’s ambition will inevitably expand.

”But in Steward Miao’s view, he does not want another Poshan Gang to emerge from his subordinates—he only wants a stable Luo Tian Society dedicated to refining pills. Therefore, apart from pill-related business, we don’t need to concern ourselves with Dan Chenzi at all.

”If we form too deep of a connection, it might even provoke his displeasure.”

A disciple worth teaching!

Nangong Jin smiled faintly. ”That is correct. Furthermore, we must consider that the Luo Tian Society originated from the Poshan Gang.

”In other words, this faction holds deep grudges against our Great Five Families, as well as Dajiang Gang and Lianyun Trade Alliance.

”During that battle, how many Poshan Gang cultivators died at our hands? Among the survivors, how many might have lost their loved ones?

”In this situation, every interaction with them must be carefully considered. A single misstep, and we might stir discontent among the other families.

Hearing this, Nangong Qin deeply reflected on it.

It wasn’t just that Luo Tian Society held a grudge against them—the Great Five Families also harbored deep enmity toward Luo Tian Society.

If nothing else, Qin Liangchen alone was a hurdle the Nangong family could not ignore! Ten family members had died beneath that golden radiance, and even he himself had suffered severe injuries. If the opportunity arose in the future, a decision would have to be made.

”Father, I understand now.

”From now on, aside from pill-related matters, I’ll treat Luo Tian Society as just another minor rogue cultivator faction.”

With that, he withdrew from the meditation chamber. As he walked through the quiet underground passage, a thought struck him.

Today, Luo Chen had presented a greeting card intending to meet his father, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Yet, his father had sent him instead, implying this very reasoning.

Steward Miao deserved respect, but the so-called ”Dan Chenzi” did not.

***

In the wilderness, a team of thirteen moved forward at a leisurely pace. They did not use Wind-Control nor ride enchanted artifacts; instead, they simply walked.

Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang followed closely behind. Sima Xian led his men, spreading them out in all directions to guard against potential threats.

The man in the center had a rather somber expression at the moment.

Miao Wen’s reputation as an investor doesn’t seem to carry much weight.

Luo Chen recalled his earlier negotiations with the Nangong family, replaying their reactions in his mind.

They had been quite tolerant of him, never once mentioning his slight breaches of etiquette. That was Miao Wen’s influence at play. But when it came to business...

No, at first, Nangong Qin was interested. But the moment he learned it had nothing to do with pills, he flatly refused.

So, was it the Nangong family assessing Miao Wen’s stance and making their decision accordingly?

At this realization, Luo Chen felt a pang of discomfort.

Luo Tian Society was indeed built around him, serving his alchemy needs. But the organization could not possibly sustain itself on alchemy alone.

Keeping so many people around for nothing was truly a waste. Even if it couldn’t reach Poshan Gang’s level of full-scale development, it still needed multiple revenue streams to stand firmly.

Luo Chen didn’t want to take overly ambitious steps and end up stretching himself too thin. Thus, he planned to start small by using something as inconspicuous as Fu Zhu milk tea to slowly build momentum. This was both a way to establish a foothold and to test Miao Wen’s tolerance toward him.

At the end of the day, Miao Wen was nothing like Mi Shuhua. Before Luo Chen even started taking advantage of Mi Shuhua’s resources, he had already gained a fair understanding of his character from Qin Liangchen, Wang Yuan, Zeng Wen, and several cultivators from the Medicine Hall. Once he grasped Mi Shuhua’s temperament and way of handling affairs, he could exploit his resources with precision.

But Miao Wen was different—he was a Foundation Establishment Initiate from a major sect. Luo Chen had interacted with him far too little, and the opinions of others about him were mixed.

All the information he had on Miao Wen was unreliable. Most likely, the impression Miao Wen projected was nothing more than a carefully crafted facade.

Especially in hindsight—how effortlessly he had orchestrated multiple outcomes with a single move, even probing Luo Chen’s true nature with a subtle test. This man was far from the amiable figure he appeared to be.

Under these circumstances, Luo Chen had to weigh every action carefully, always considering Miao Wen’s potential reaction.

But judging from today’s test, things weren’t looking good.

Suddenly, Luo Chen came to a halt. Because Sima Xian had stepped in front of him.

”What’s wrong?”

”President, we may need to take a detour.”

”Hm?”

***

A massive fortress stood tall on the desolate plains. Its towering watchtowers loomed over the surroundings, and its long, pristine walls suggested that it had been recently constructed.

Banners hung high, fluttering in the wind. On the fortress walls, a dark cyan plaque was displayed, inscribed with two characters—Fu Family!

Gazing at this enormous stronghold, Luo Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. Inside, hundreds of figures moved about, and nearby, numerous commoners were seen tilling the land.