An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

An hour earlier, Sima Huiniang had just finished her cultivation and was preparing to sleep when she was hurriedly awakened by Yuan Xiaoyue.

”Director, a large number of demonic beasts have been spotted gathering nearby!”

Seeing the anxious young girl, Sima Huiniang felt a jolt of alarm, but her expression remained calm and composed. As she put on her coat, she walked toward the exit.

”What’s the exact situation?” she asked.

Yuan Xiaoyue was an assistant specially assigned to her by Luo Chen, responsible for running errands and delivering messages. While it had the appearance of supervision, it was also an indication that Luo Chen wanted her to look after the girl. Under Sima Huiniang’s steady influence, Yuan Xiaoyue managed to calm herself.

”The demonic beasts were discovered by Battle Hall cultivators on night patrol,” Yuan Xiaoyue reported. ”They mainly come from the Ancient Plains Mountain range, consisting mostly of ape-type demonic beasts.

”Currently, Law Enforcement Elder Zhou Yuanli is leading the effort to build a defensive line. The entire Battle Hall has been notified.”

Sima Huiniang halted in her tracks. Turning around with a frown, she asked, ”Demonic beasts from the Ancient Plains Mountain range?”

She knew that Crescent Moon Valley was adjacent to the Howling Moon Mountains and backed by Huiye Mountain. The demonic beasts in that area were primarily Grayleaf Demon Wolves.

Why would ape-type demonic beasts suddenly appear here?

The nearest major mountain to Ancient Plains Mountain was Zhouyi Mountain, which was indeed home to many ape-type demonic beasts. However, it was several hundred li away. Why had these beasts traveled such a long distance to get here?

Yuan Xiaoyue looked utterly clueless.

Sima Huiniang shook her head, realizing that Yuan Xiaoyue didn’t have much more information to offer. Without wasting time, she strode outside while issuing orders.

”Summon the elders of all four halls.

”Have Duan Feng oversee the Minor Five Elements Grand Formation. If necessary, use the reserve mid-grade spirit stones to fully activate its power.

”And lastly, inform the President!”

Upon receiving her orders, Yuan Xiaoyue immediately dashed off. Sima Huiniang rubbed her temples, her mind filled with questions.

Crescent Moon Valley, though isolated from Dahe Market, rarely experienced demonic beast attacks. While today’s incident was uncommon, it was something they had accounted for in their organization’s records.

But demonic beasts from Zhouyi Mountain? That was unheard of.

Still deep in thought, she quickly arrived at a watchtower, where Zhou Yuanli was issuing commands to fortify their defenses. The two exchanged a silent nod of understanding before Sima Huiniang activated her Spirit Eyes and looked beyond the walls.

Beyond the walls, scattered groups of Explosive Apes, Golden Spirit Monkeys, and Azure Rock Monkeys had already appeared. Their numbers were not overwhelming, just a sparse dozen or so. However, Sima Huiniang’s heart sank.

These demonic beasts normally wouldn’t gather like this. It was evident that a high-tier demonic beast was orchestrating their movements, using them as vanguard forces to assault Crescent Moon Valley.

”How many more are behind them?” Sima Huiniang asked immediately.

Zhou Yuanli replied gravely, ”According to our scouts, no fewer than a hundred, possibly even two to three hundred.”

Hearing this number, Sima Huiniang let out a small breath of relief. Fortunately, this was only a small-scale beast tide.

Throughout Dahe Market’s history, such minor beast tides had occurred countless times.

Moreover, they tended to occur during the winter season. Given the current weather conditions, it wasn’t all that surprising. However, Sima Huiniang also knew she couldn’t afford to be careless.

After all, Crescent Moon Valley had only about a hundred cultivators, and among them, only thirty to fifty were truly combat-capable.

”Notify the Battle Hall, everyone is to be mobilized.

”All late stage Qi-Refining cultivators from the other three halls are to join the battle as well!”

”Understood, Director!” Zhou Yuanli bowed respectfully and immediately sent people to relay the orders.

Although he held the title of Law Enforcement Elder, he did not have the authority to command all cultivators. Only Sima Huiniang, personally appointed by President Luo Chen as director, had the authority to make emergency decisions and oversee the entire situation.

Not long after the orders were given, Crescent Moon Valley was ablaze with lights. Streaks of light flickered into the night sky as cultivators gathered.

Seeing that most of the people had gathered, Sima Huiniang issued another order, ”Elder Duan Feng, lead your team in managing the formation.

”Elder Zhou, you’re best suited for battlefield command. You will take charge here. If you need anything, inform me directly, every cultivator in the Luo Tian Society will support you.”

Zhou Yuanli nodded, accepting the task without hesitation. Standing atop the watchtower, he amplified his voice with spirit power and began issuing commands. Before the beast tide could fully gather, he immediately dispatched squads of cultivators to eliminate the vanguard demonic beasts.

Under the dark night, the slaughter commenced.

With teams of cultivators working in coordination, the scattered demonic beasts stood no chance at all. As enchanted artifacts swirled and danced in the air, they often left behind splashes of fresh blood.

The stench of blood grew thicker and more pungent.

Sima Huiniang stood at the rear, gripping her enchanted artifact, ready to fend off any demonic beast that managed to break through. She surveyed her surroundings, her brows furrowing slightly.

”The president and Hall Leader Wang Yuan still haven’t come out?”

Liu Qiang shook his head. ”The president’s room formation has been active the whole time, and the voice transmission talisman received no response.”

”As for Hall Leader Wang Yuan...”

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yuanli’s stern voice suddenly rang out from the watchtower.

”The beast tide is imminent, everyone, be on high alert!

”All cultivators outside, return immediately and hold your positions within the formation!”

In an instant, the cultivators still hunting outside soared back like swallows returning to their nests. They landed atop the tall walls, their nerves taut with tension.

Thanks to the battle against the Fu family, where they had witnessed the defensive strength of their fortifications, Luo Tian Society had followed suit and reinforced their own walls. Built against the mountains and centered around the valley, such construction was not difficult for cultivators.

The only thing they lacked was the Fu family’s method of integrating talismans directly into the walls. However, Luo Tian Society possessed a supreme-grade Minor Five Elements Formation. For a short duration, it could even hold off Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Because of this, the cultivators of the Battle Hall were not overly panicked.

However, as they watched the number of demonic beasts outside continue to grow, their hearts pounded in anxiety.

One hundred!

Two hundred!

Three hundred!

Under the cover of night, the screeches of apes grew increasingly frantic. By the end, it was as if a mountain was collapsing or a tidal wave was surging, with thousands of voices roaring at once.

Though they knew logically that the beast tide outside was only two or three hundred strong, the overwhelming surge of demonic energy filled them with dread.

For a moment, all the cultivators turned their eyes toward Zhou Yuanli and Sima Huiniang. One was responsible for battle command, while the other was the director who decided Luo Tian Society’s course of action.

Zhou Yuanli’s face was taut, showing not the slightest trace of fear. This wasn’t the first time he had encountered such a situation. It was merely another battle.

Sima Huiniang, however, was a different case. Her face was a little pale. She had been a lone wanderer before, when had she ever encountered such a massive battle formation? If this had been in the past, she wouldn’t have hesitated to flee, taking her elder and younger brothers with her.

But now, she was the director of the Luo Tian Society. In a sect, that was equivalent to being the sect leader.

How could she flee at such a crucial moment?

Taking a deep breath, Sima Huiniang ordered in a steady voice, ”Everyone, prepare for battle!

”Behind us lies Luo Tian Society, the culmination of six months of our hard work. Our families depend on us.

”This battle, we cannot retreat!”

Upon hearing this, the cultivators exchanged glances.

Some still hesitated, contemplating retreat.

The beast tide was terrifying, but it was only two or three hundred strong. If they scattered and fled toward the shantytown, the casualties wouldn’t necessarily be significant.

Sima Huiniang sensed the shift in atmosphere almost instantly. She leaped into the air, gazing down at the assembled cultivators.

”Are you really willing to abandon this foundation we built with such effort?

”Run? Where could you even run to?

”President Luo Chen pays you such high salaries every month, do you think it’s so that you can have the strength to flee at a critical moment?

”Let me tell you, outside of Luo Tian Society, no other faction will ever offer you such good treatment.

”I won’t waste my breath on useless words. I’ll just say this, each demonic beast you kill will earn you one merit point! Five points can be exchanged for two hundred spirit stones. Ten points can be used to redeem a spell from the Merit Hall. And if you earn twenty or more, you will be rewarded with a top-grade enchanted artifact!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd erupted with excitement.

Twenty demonic beasts could be exchanged for a top-grade enchanted artifact!

Among the small-scale beast tide outside, there were plenty of weaker first-tier demonic beasts. Most of the cultivators present were late stage Qi-Refining and had little reason to be afraid.

In an instant, their eyes gleamed with excitement. The creatures outside no longer seemed like terrifying demonic beasts but rather piles of spirit stones and enchanted artifacts waiting to be claimed!

Morale had finally been raised.

Sima Huiniang let out a quiet sigh of relief.

This was not a sect or a family-based force, after all, the cohesion simply wasn’t there. When faced with great danger, everyone’s first thought was to escape. All that talk of the organization’s achievements and bonds of camaraderie, just empty words. Only the promise of tangible rewards could truly drive cultivators to action.

”Hall Leader Murong, I’ll trouble you to handle the merit calculations later.”

Murong Qinglian was momentarily taken aback, was she not expected to participate in the battle? Beside her, Qin Liangchen gently squeezed her hand. Understanding his silent reassurance, she immediately nodded in acknowledgment.

Everything was now in place. The beast tide outside had already reached the gates.

Then—

”Fight!” At Zhou Yuanli’s command, the Battle Hall led the charge, and all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators of Luo Tian Society joined the battle.