An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

The Duan family possessing supreme-grade enchanted artifacts was to be expected.

Although supreme-grade enchanted artifacts were rare and difficult for ordinary cultivators to come across, the Duan family was a renowned artifact-forging family, and Duan Qiankun himself was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Owning one or two supreme-grade artifacts was not surprising.

However, possessing an enchanted treasure, especially a defensive one, was a cause for great concern.

Luo Chen’s thoughts stirred as he recalled something Miao Wen had once mentioned in passing.

Among the five Foundation Establishment cultivators who besieged Mi Shuhua, Nangong Jin, Li Yixian, and Wang Haichao did not possess enchanted treasures. In other words, only Elder Zhou of the Lianyun Trade Alliance and Duan Qiankun owned enchanted treasures.

Comparing this with what Duan Feng had just said, there was no discrepancy.

”Zeguo Gui Diagram?”

”What is the grade of this enchanted treasure, and what are its strengths and weaknesses?”

”Is there a way to counter it?”

One question after another was raised among the group.

Even though Duan Feng knew the Duan family’s affairs like the back of his hand, he found it difficult to keep up.

He forced a bitter smile. ”How would I know a way to counter it?

”As for its strengths and weaknesses, I recall my mother mentioning that this treasure has almost no flaws. It absorbs the true essence of Gui Water into the diagram, capable of swallowing and neutralizing any attack.”

”That powerful?” Sima Huiniang couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

Duan Feng sighed. ”Of course, it’s powerful. This treasure is a replica of the Zeguo Battle Diagram, one of the six superior mystical treasures of Tianfan City.”

”However, the original Zeguo Battle Diagram is forged with the seven mystical waters, including Xuan Yuan Heavy Water, Ren Water, and Tianyi True Water.

”But this imitation, Zeguo Gui Diagram, only incorporates Gui Water Essence, making it barely qualify as a low-grade enchanted treasure.”

After learning about the origins of this enchanted treasure, everyone exchanged glances.

Even a low-grade enchanted treasure was not something they could counter easily!

Their morale seemed to have taken a hit.

Ahem!

A soft cough echoed, drawing everyone’s attention to Luo Chen.

”I have my own arrangements for Duan Qiankun; there’s no need to worry.”

The crowd was taken aback. Was their leader truly this confident?

Wang Yuan glanced at Luo Chen, deep in thought.

Luo Chen moved past the topic and spoke calmly, “Aside from these, there are two more key points to consider.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Luo Chen continued, “The first is Duan Rui. Though the outside world sees him as unremarkable, he has still reached Perfected Mastery Qi-Refining. We cannot underestimate him.”

Everyone nodded, this was logical reasoning.

”The second is that the Duan family also possesses a puppet with battle prowess comparable to Perfected Mastery Qi-Refining.”

With these words, Duan Feng’s expression drastically changed. ”Since when?”

Since when? That had already happened last year.

Luo Chen glanced at Duan Feng. Duan Qiankun had done far too much to ensure his family’s survival and had prepared extensively. Even with Duan Feng’s burning desire for revenge and constant surveillance, he had not been able to uncover everything.

”In any case, attacking the Duan family is already set in stone. This matter is urgent, but we cannot afford to be reckless.

”We must plan meticulously to minimize our losses!”

***

”Do you have confidence in dealing with Duan Qiankun?”

Inside the stone chamber, the two sat facing each other.

Luo Chen chuckled at Wang Yuan’s question. ”You’re my trump card, Brother Wang, so why are you asking me?”

Wang Yuan’s expression remained serious. ”If he has no defensive enchanted treasure, I can fight him. The odds would be thirty to seventy—three for me, seven for him.”

”That high?” Luo Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He still remembered that when Wang Yuan returned to the Luo Tian Society last year, he had no confidence in facing Foundation Establishment cultivators.

He recalled the words clearly, Do you truly believe the sword of Foundation Establishment is not sharp?

Yet, in such a short time, Wang Yuan had gained so much confidence.

Wang Yuan sighed helplessly. ”Back then, I lacked techniques, not cultivation.”

With that explanation, Luo Chen suddenly understood.

Techniques were often dependent on external resources. As far as Luo Chen knew, Wang Yuan had acquired numerous valuable items from the Precious Dragon Black Market.

Such as supreme-grade artifact gloves, exotic artifact Hengjiang Iron Chain, and others.

Later, Luo Chen had helped him purchase Sky Roc Transformation, allowing him to refine his physical cultivation offensive techniques.

Given all this, Wang Yuan indeed had the right to be confident.

”Besides, Duan Qiankun is different from ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. I have a natural advantage over him.”

”How so?”

”He’s old, physically declining, and his vitality is waning. That is exactly my specialty!” Wang Yuan exuded confidence in this area. ”It’s simply using my strengths to exploit his weaknesses.”

However, after his confidence came hesitation. ”But if he has a defensive enchanted treasure, things will become troublesome.”

Seeing Wang Yuan’s concern, Luo Chen smiled faintly. ”That part, you don’t need to worry about. I would never wage a battle against Duan Qiankun without certainty.

”Enchanted treasures are something many people dream of, after all!”

His words carried a deep sense of sighing regret. He could still vividly recall Mi Shuhua at the Jade Cauldron Auction, recklessly bidding for the Heavenly Moon Purple Gold Wheel.

The uncontrollable ecstasy, the sheer madness of it, still echoed in his mind!

Seeing Luo Chen’s confidence, Wang Yuan refrained from asking further.

He knew that Luo Chen would never deceive him.

After Wang Yuan left, Luo Chen sat alone in the stone chamber, meticulously pondering any flaws in their plan.

After a long time, he finally chuckled.

”Nangong Jin, I hope you won’t disappoint me!”

***

On Xiao Huan Mountain, the ice and snow gradually melted, while withered branches and leaves trembled under the sharp, chilling wind.

The mountain peak was the forbidden land of the Duan family. No one but the direct bloodline was permitted entry. Only the patriarch, Duan Qiankun, and the heavily favored Duan Rui were allowed free access.

At this moment, Duan Qiankun stood outside a thatched cottage, his aged face void of any emotion. His gaze remained fixed on a young figure.

The young man sat beside a spirit spring shaped like a yin-yang fish. The opposing forces of searing heat and frigid cold swirled around him, continuously surging and receding in sync with his cultivation technique. His energy fluctuated unsteadily.

After a long while, Duan Qiankun sighed deeply, his expression tinged with disappointment as he turned to leave the mountain peak.

Someone was already waiting for him on the mountain path outside.

”Patriarch, the young master...?

”He has yet to recover to his peak state. He is not suited for breakthrough.” His aged voice carried a deep sense of frustration and disappointment.

Duan Qiankun’s face held an even heavier weight of regret and disappointment.

If the one inside were not Duan Rui but Duan Feng instead, would he have already reached Foundation Establishment without exhausting so many resources?

This was a question without an answer.

The older one got, the more prone they were to dwelling on such thoughts. He strolled along the narrow mountain path, the dense white mist around him parting as if making way for his presence.

”What about Duan Feng? Is he still unwilling to return?”

Behind him, a middle-aged man in black replied cautiously, ”He refuses. He claims that the Luo Tian Society is not as fragile as we think. Even without returning to the family, he believes he can achieve Foundation Establishment on his own.”

”Hah...” Duan Qiankun sneered, tempted to call it nothing but a delusional fantasy.

Foundation Establishment was no easy feat!

Duan Rui had the full support of the family, countless precious cultivation pills, and even two Foundation Establishment Pills prepared for him. Yet, he still had not succeeded.

A mere rogue cultivator faction without even a single Foundation Establishment cultivator where Duan Feng wasn’t even the leader dared to dream of such things.

Utterly naive!

”No... perhaps it’s simply his blind faith in Dan Chenzi.”

Dan Chenzi—the Dao title of Luo Chen. It had been coined by Mi Shuhua to boost the reputation of Jade Essence pills. Among Foundation Establishment cultivators, before Luo Chen’s real name was known, they had always referred to him as Dan Chenzi.

The black-clothed cultivator spoke, ”I can’t judge Dan Chenzi’s alchemy skills, but his strength is indeed exceptional. The last beast tide should have devastated Luo Tian Society, but Dan Chenzi intervened and resolved it with ease.”

”I know that,” Duan Qiankun sighed. ”I watched the battle against the Fu family from the shadows. Someone so young, yet already proficient in second-tier spells... A pity he isn’t a disciple of the Five Elements Divine Sect.

”And it’s not just Dan Chenzi. That Battle Hall warrior, Wang Yuan, is even more terrifying. He held his ground against a second-tier Explosive Ape single-handedly. That alone was enough to ruin our family’s plans.”

Dan Chenzi. Wang Yuan!

The two names lingered on Duan Qiankun’s lips.

If he went after them now, with these two supporting Duan Feng, how could the Duan family ever know peace?

What a pity... I cannot act personally, nor should I.

He shook his head. Dan Chenzi’s connection to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect was far too concerning. Until the truth was uncovered, every Foundation Establishment faction in Dahe Market had to suppress their own ambitions. Moreover, he had recently agreed to forge weapons for someone, leaving him even less room to act.

”By the way, have you found that Foundation Establishment cultivator with the surname Xiong?”