An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Chapter 261: Enslaving the Second-Tier Explosive Ape, You’re All Forcing My Hand!

In the heart of Crescent Moon Valley, numerous wooden houses and stone caves were built along the mountainside, forming the core of the sect. This secluded area was typically reserved for individuals holding important positions. Meanwhile, those with low cultivation realms and lesser ranks resided in stone dwellings that had been expanded outward.

However, the once peaceful Crescent Moon Valley had recently lost its tranquility.

From deep underground, muffled beastly roars would echo intermittently, rippling through the valley in layers, disturbing the silence. Yet, no one dared to voice complaints or question the source of the sounds, for they all knew exactly where they came from—deep beneath the earth.

Everyone knew exactly where those roars came from!

Inside a vast mining cave, furious roars erupted continuously. Thick iron chains, as thick as a person’s arm, clattered violently as they strained against the fierce struggles of the beast trapped within. An ordinary rogue cultivator would have likely been scared out of their wits, for the creature unleashing such rage was none other than a second-tier Explosive Ape.

Yet, Luo Chen, seated cross-legged atop a massive boulder opposite the beast, remained utterly unbothered. A jade scroll was pressed against his forehead, his eyes tightly shut.

After a long moment, he finally lowered the jade scroll and muttered to himself, “Following the Myriad Beast Sutra’s method, I have tormented this beast for a full seven days. It has lost its demon core, leaving it powerless to resist.”

”With this double blow, combined with the Spirit Enslavement pill given by Tian Xingzi and the infusion of a cultivator’s spirit consciousness, it should now be possible to enslave it.

”Though my spirit sense cannot extend outward, my soul foundation, along with the Soul-Intimidation, should allow me to achieve the same effect as described in the Myriad Beast Sutra.”

Taking a deep breath, his white robes fluttered despite the absence of wind. A powerful surge of spirit energy erupted from Luo Chen’s body, causing his white robe to billow outward.

Suddenly!

A fierce wind howled as Luo Chen’s eyes snapped open. His eerie green gaze swept across the vast cavern before locking onto the Explosive Ape.

The second-tier Explosive Ape met his gaze. The moment it saw its enemy, it let out a thunderous, rage-filled roar.

Roar!!!

”This is my chance!” Without hesitation, Luo Chen’s eyes gleamed as he pierced into the deepest recesses of the ape’s mind.

A pill flicked from Luo Chen’s fingertips, landing precisely in the Explosive Ape’s forcibly pried-open mouth. Almost instantly, a vast current of his spirit energy surged through the beast’s body, forcing it to refine the Spirit Enslavement pill against its will.

Simultaneously, an invisible battle of souls commenced—a silent yet fierce confrontation between them.

Time trickled by, each passing second stretching the intensity of the clash.

A cup of tea’s time, then an incense stick’s duration...

With each moment, Luo Chen’s face grew increasingly pale, his aura visibly weakening. Yet, in stark contrast, his eyes only shone brighter, filled with an unyielding brilliance.

Then, all of a sudden, a blinding green light erupted. The Explosive Ape let out a wretched howl before its massive form trembled and collapsed onto its knees, completely subdued.

Luo Chen rose effortlessly, his figure drifting gracefully into the air above the beast.

With measured precision, his hands wove in intricate patterns, forming one seal after another. As he continued, a faint glow began to manifest in the space before him. Gradually, an ancient cyan-colored sigil emerged, floating in midair with an imposing presence.

This was the Spirit Enslavement!

At the moment when the Spirit Enslavement took shape, Luo Chen slowly pressed his palm downward. As the cyan sigil descended, the Explosive Ape’s body trembled violently, faint traces of resistance flickering within it.

Yet, even as the Spirit Enslavement fully sank into the crown of its head, it did not rise.

Thud!

Having completed the process, Luo Chen staggered, nearly losing his balance as he stumbled onto the ground.

”I never expected enslaving a second-tier demonic beast to be this difficult!”

This second-tier Explosive Ape was renowned for its thick hide and immense fire-attribute explosive power. Yet, in terms of soul strength, it was far from formidable.

Moreover, having been imprisoned for so long and deprived of its demon core, it had long been weakened to an extreme degree. Despite all this, Luo Chen had still expended an enormous amount of effort just to barely succeed.

”Clashing souls is incomparably perilous,” he reflected, a lingering unease in his heart. ”Had I not maintained unwavering will in that final moment along with the effects of the Spirit Enslavement pill kicking in, I likely would have failed.”

Luo Chen, still harboring a lingering sense of unease, turned his gaze toward the kneeling Explosive Ape.

Standing at one and a half zhang tall, even in submission, it loomed over him. Yet now, the ferocious wildness in the Explosive Ape’s demeanor had faded, and within its round, gleaming eyes, there was only fear.

As Luo Chen took a step closer, the beast instinctively recoiled, shrinking back in terror. The scene was eerily surreal—one small, a mere Qi-Refining cultivator; the other towering, a mighty second-tier demonic beast. And yet, their roles had been entirely reversed.

Suddenly, the Explosive Ape’s retreating body came to a halt.

Its large, gleaming eyes now reflected an intense longing.

All because, in Luo Chen’s hand, a crimson demon core had appeared. The very core that should have belonged to it!

”From now on, I’ll call you Little Red!”

***

Stepping out of the mine, Luo Chen immediately issued orders. He commanded his subordinates to bring vast amounts of spirit energy-infused food to nourish Little Red.

He needed to restore Little Red’s strength as quickly as possible. This was a genuine second-tier demonic beast immensely powerful, with a thick, sturdy hide. If it could return to its peak condition, Luo Tian Society would gain a second-tier guardian beast, forcing anyone who dared approach to tread carefully.

In the turbulent times ahead, Luo Chen needed this spirit beast as a hidden trump card.

After giving the orders, Luo Chen’s steps became slightly unsteady.

Whether it was the soul confrontation, suppressing the Explosive Ape, or casting the Spirit Enslavement, all of it had drained him significantly.

He needed time to recover.

Unfortunately, some people simply wouldn’t grant him that time.

Inside the Radiant Moon Hall, Sima Huiniang spoke with a tense expression, “According to Sima Xian’s reports, more and more spies have been watching Luo Tian Society lately.”

She continued, “The pill business has also encountered some disruptions. Many rogue cultivators are expressing dissatisfaction with our pricing.”

Her voice dropped slightly as she hesitated, then added, “The Duan family has even sent a letter, demanding an additional twenty percent discount on top of the existing twenty percent.””

Luo Chen rubbed his temples, his expression darkening.

“Another discount? Why don’t they just break our backs while they’re at it?” he scoffed coldly. “If they keep squeezing our profits, we might as well disband Luo Tian Society altogether.”

His gaze sharpened. “What about the other families? How have they responded?”

Facing Luo Chen’s barely restrained anger, Sima Huiniang gave a bitter smile. “The Chen family hasn’t taken a stance, continuing their purchases as usual.

“The Li family is also asking for a discount, reducing their rate from eighty percent to seventy percent.

“The Nangong family remains the same, not causing trouble, but they are becoming increasingly sluggish in the beast milk and demonic beast meat trade.”

Hearing these reports, Luo Chen’s expression grew even graver, his face like still water before a storm. But the next piece of news was enough to shatter his restraint.

“The Dajiang Gang has issued an ultimatum, demanding exclusive sales rights for the Jade Essence pill. They want to monopolize its distribution and transport it to Taishan Market for sale.”

Crack!

Luo Chen’s grip tightened, and the teacup in his hand shattered into shards. Luo Chen’s face is dark as a storm.

“Huiniang, leave me for now.

“I need some time alone.”

Sima Huiniang hesitated, wanting to say something, but in the end, she silently withdrew.

After she left, Luo Chen’s expression remained grim.

He knew that as time passed and the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect continued to remain absent, his ability to wield their authority as a deterrent would dwindle. Sooner or later, someone would see through his facade and tear it apart.

But he hadn’t expected the attacks against him to come so fiercely.

It wasn’t just one faction, but multiple forces targeting him simultaneously!

Among them, the Dajiang Gang and the Duan family were the most aggressive. One had overwhelming influence and manpower, while the other, pushed to the brink of ruin, was making its final desperate struggle. Their actions were too coordinated to be mere coincidence; there was collusion at play.

They didn’t dare to attack Luo Tian Society outright, yet they probed its defenses bit by bit. The forced price cuts, the pressure to transfer pill sales rights—each move was aimed at destabilizing Luo Tian Society at its very core.

And the ultimate target behind it all was Luo Chen himself.

“All I want is to refine pills and cultivate for longevity,” Luo Chen murmured, his tone low and filled with suppressed fury. “And yet, time and time again, people keep forcing my hand...”

A chilling silence filled the hall as he slowly inhaled, then exhaled, shutting his eyes.

”You want to push me?

”Then, someone must pay the price.”

His fingers curled into a fist. His patience had been stretched to its limit.

“I am no longer someone to be trifled with.”

The Foundation Establishment pills promised by Tian Xingzi were nowhere to be found. The sect he had built with his own hands was now teetering on the edge of collapse. And now, these people dared to set their sights on him.

He had had enough of all of this. If this had happened in the past, he might have swallowed his pride, endured the humiliation, and let others manipulate him as they pleased.

But that was then—this was now!

With Wang Yuan’s increasing strength, the successful subjugation of the second-tier Explosive Ape, and his own methods growing sharper and more refined, Luo Chen was no longer a man to be underestimated.

All of these factors converged into a single, undeniable truth, Luo Chen’s killing intent had been fully ignited.

“Huiniang, summon the three Hall Leaders—Wang, Gu, and Murong. Bring Elder Duan Feng as well!” His cold voice rang out, echoing through the great hall.

Outside, Sima Huiniang, who had been waiting, responded without hesitation.

“Yes, President!”

***

“I will attack the Duan family, destroy their mountain and wipe them out [1]!”

Inside Radiant Moon Hall, a single, simple sentence was enough to stun the entire assembly.

Everyone had been hastily summoned, their hearts filled with doubt—until now.

Sima Huiniang had never expected that after careful deliberation, Luo Chen’s decision would turn out to be this.

“President!”

Gu Caiyi’s face turned pale as she exclaimed, “Luo Chen, have you lost your mind?”

Murong Qinglian’s expression was filled with concern. ”Although the major factions have been putting pressure on Luo Tian Society lately, the Duan family has a Foundation Establishment Grand Elder. How can they be taken lightly? President, you must reconsider!”

Seated at the far end, Duan Feng’s eyes suddenly lit up.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuan, sitting quietly, raised an eyebrow before sinking into deep thought.

Luo Chen took in everyone’s reactions.

He said in a deep voice, “This is not up for discussion, I am announcing my decision.”

Silence fell over the hall. This was a declaration, not a debate. The usual playful smirk and carefree attitude were gone, replaced by an undeniable presence of cold, decisive killing intent.

The first to respond was Duan Feng. “When do we strike? I will lead the charge!”

The second to speak was Sima Huiniang. “If we are to move against a Foundation Establishment faction, we cannot be as high-profile as we were with the Fu family.

“We must act with strategy, one strike to end them!”

Seated nearby, Murong Qinglian and Gu Caiyi exchanged a glance. A silent understanding passed between them before their eyes turned resolute.

Gu Caiyi said, “Regarding intelligence, my Gold Hall will provide full support. Elder Zeng Wen has extensive connections—we will pick the perfect moment to strike.”

Murong Qinglian added, “Logistics won’t be an issue. In the short term, I will gather all available resources.”

Finally, Wang Yuan chuckled freely.

“This battle, I will be part of it!”

As he saw each of them pledging their support, the tension in Luo Chen’s expression finally eased.

Good! Whether or not the battle was feasible, he had at least unified everyone’s resolve.

The worst-case scenario would have been internal division some advocating for war, others for peace. That would have only led to paralysis and chaos.

Now, with a unified battlefront, Luo Chen’s tone softened.

“This battle must be fought.

“The reason is the same as when we fought the Fu family, one decisive strike to prevent countless future ones. In fact, this battle will mark the true establishment of Luo Tian Society!”

Last time, they still had Miao Wen watching over them. The Foundation Establishment cultivators had all refrained from interfering, giving due respect to Miao Wen.

But this time, Luo Tian Society had no backing, no patron to rely on. They had to consider every aspect before the battle and after.

“We must flex our strength and display our power only then will the Foundation Establishment factions take us seriously!

“With all sects withdrawing from Dahe Market and the number of rogue cultivators dwindling, an immense amount of resources has been left vacant.

“If we can replace the Duan family, Luo Tian Society will enter a period of true rapid growth. By then, everyone present here will have a real chance at Foundation Establishment!”

If his earlier words had only emphasized the necessity of war for Luo Tian Society, this last statement struck directly at the hearts of the ninth stage Qi-Refining cultivators before him.

Among the seven people present, the eldest were Wang Yuan and Murong Qinglian, while Luo Chen and Gu Caiyi were the youngest.

Yet none of them were over sixty. Each of them had reached the ninth stage of Qi-Refining, standing on the precipice of advancement.

However, everyone knew that a small faction like Luo Tian Society could not possibly support so many Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But if they secured enough resources, and considering Luo Chen’s broad-mindedness different from Mi Shuhua’s, Luo Tian Society might genuinely produce multiple Foundation Establishment Initiates.

Everyone could see that Luo Chen was magnanimous and accommodating!

As long as one remained loyal, he never hesitated to distribute benefits. Even in Luo Tian Society’s early days, he had offered generous stipends.

If this faction grew as strong as the former Poshan Gang, it was impossible that only a single Foundation Establishment cultivator would emerge—it would be laughable.

For a moment, the six core cultivators of Luo Tian Society felt a surge of excitement.

If nothing else, Sima Huiniang was already deeply tempted. She was only one step away from reaching the Perfected Mastery of Qi-Refining.

Before joining Luo Tian Society, with the help of her two brothers, she had already been preparing to gather Foundation Establishment pills.

Unfortunately, a brutal battle later had cost her much of her resources just to stay alive and recover from her wounds. It was in search of resources that she had later chosen to join the Luo Tian Society.

Luo Chen was pleased with their reactions, this was precisely what he had hoped to see.

Foundation Establishment was difficult to attain not just for him, but for all rogue cultivators!

All else was secondary.

Only the opportunity for Foundation Establishment could truly inspire action.

Sima Huiniang immediately assumed her role, analyzing the strength of both sides for the upcoming war.

“The Duan family has barely a thousand people, most of whom are mere mortals. Cultivators make up only a tenth or so.

“Among them, there are only a dozen late stage Qi-Refining cultivators, and just six at the ninth stage.

“In terms of core strength, they are inferior to Luo Tian Society!”

Murong Qinglian glanced at the visibly excited Duan Feng before continuing the analysis.

“We must take into account that the Duan family is an artifact-forging family, most of their cultivators possess high-quality enchanted artifacts.”

Before she could finish her sentence—

Someone interrupted.

“There’s no need to worry about that!” Duan Feng couldn’t help but say, “Most of the Duan family’s cultivators only have mid-grade enchanted artifacts. Only those six possess a full set of top-grade ones.

“But after experiencing multiple battles, with cultivators coming and going, Luo Tian Society’s Battle Hall now possesses the best-equipped enchanted artifacts among all factions!

“And most importantly, family cultivators are not as strong in combat as sect cultivators, though they are better than ordinary rogue cultivators. But compared to our Luo Tian Society cultivators, they are far inferior!”

He had analyzed the situation with exceptional clarity.

Everyone watched Duan Feng’s eloquent speech and could only sigh no one knew the Duan family better than him. He had likely pondered this scenario countless times over the past days.

“If war breaks out and the old bastard doesn’t intervene, Luo Tian Society will undoubtedly win!” Duan Feng declared firmly.

Luo Chen nodded. Duan Feng had not let hatred cloud his judgment. He remained mindful of Duan Qiankun.

“Therefore, our biggest concern is Duan Qiankun, the Foundation Establishment cultivator,” Sima Huiniang said solemnly.

Her caution was justified, he was an elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator with extensive combat experience. Though his lifespan was nearing its end, his battle prowess was undoubtedly formidable.

Luo Chen’s eyes flickered. “Duan Feng, how well do you know Duan Qiankun?”

Duan Feng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down from his excitement.

He spoke coldly, “He cultivates the Duan family’s second-tier water-based technique, Ocean-Severing Wave. This technique grants three spells at the Qi-Refining realm and two additional ones at Foundation Establishment—Ocean-Severing Triple Waves and Wave Breaking Strike.

“Normally, Duan family cultivators don’t focus on spells; they mostly rely on artifacts. However, Wave Breaking Strike can be used in conjunction with an artifact, so we must take that into account.

“If that old bastard hasn’t changed much over the past year, his artifacts should still be the same three. A supreme-grade water-element flying sword, Luo River Blade, a supreme-grade defensive artifact, Cosmos Shield, and his life-saving treasure, Zeguo [2] Gui [3] Diagram.”

As he reached the end, his voice grew somber.

Everyone exchanged glances—an enchanted treasure!

1. 毁山灭族 (huǐ shān miè zú) is a Chinese phrase that conveys extreme destruction, often referring to the complete devastation of a community, family, or group, sometimes metaphorically extending to the destruction of nature (e.g., mountains). It implies total annihilation, leaving no trace behind. ☜

2. ”泽国” (ze guo) is a land rich in water ☜

3. 癸 (gui), the tenth heavenly stem in the Chinese system, often associated with water and the yin aspect of the five elements ☜