An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”Senior, here are the Ascending Dragon pills you requested.”

Luo Chen nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the densely arranged jade bottles in front of him. ”How many spirit stones?”

The attendant swallowed nervously and spoke with a flattering tone, ”Each bottle is five hundred and fifty spirit stones. That’s ten bottles, for a total of five thousand five hundred. Thank you for your patronage.”

Luo Chen furrowed his brow. ”Wasn’t it five hundred per bottle?”

Seeing his displeasure, the attendant grew increasingly anxious. “The price was recently increased. It’s the current market rate. I beg your understanding, Senior.”

Luo Chen wasn’t about to vent his frustration on a mere attendant. What annoyed him was that everything seemed to be getting more expensive these days. Second-tier pills were already costly, and they were essential for daily cultivation. Fifty extra spirit stones per bottle might not seem like much. But over time, regular purchases would end up costing thousands, even tens of thousands more. Even with wealth surpassing that of ordinary rogue cultivators, he couldn’t afford to keep splurging resources like this.

Luo Chen suppressed his irritation and asked patiently, ”I’m buying in bulk. Doesn’t your store offer any corresponding discounts?”

The attendant’s eyes lit up, her fear quickly replaced by eagerness. “I was just about to mention it, Senior! In the Green Pill Valley, any customer who spends over ten thousand spirit stones in a single transaction is eligible to become a prestigious Nine-Stripe Honored Guest. A Nine-Stripe Honored Guest receives a five percent discount on every purchase. And if you reside in the Tianlan Immortal City, you’ll also enjoy free pill delivery to your doorstep.”

Only a five percent discount? Luo Chen secretly cursed at the Green Pill Valley for being stingy, but his hands moved without hesitation.

”Then give me another twenty-five bottles of Ascending Dragon pills and apply the Nine-Stripe discount.”

The attendant was briefly stunned. She quickly explained, ”The discount doesn’t apply to the first purchase. It starts from the second...”

Mid-sentence, her words faltered. Faced with Luo Chen’s calm yet unfathomable gaze, she instinctively lowered her head.

”Please wait a moment, Senior. You’re asking for too many pills, I’ll need to retrieve them from the storage vault.”

After she left, Luo Chen shook his head. So this was what it meant to deal with a major sect’s enterprise. Even with their so-called discount policies, they still acted high and mighty, unwilling to lower themselves truly.

A mere five percent discount? Was that supposed to impress him? What was that, charity for beggars?

And their staff? Undertrained. They hadn’t even taken the initiative to explain the honored guest system at the start. Worse yet, during the conversation, they showed no ability to adapt or read the situation. A far cry from the sharp, flexible merchants found in independent markets. Compared to that, the female cultivators of Luo Tian Society’s Gold Hall, trained by Gu Caiyi, were far more competent.

As Luo Chen waited, a young figure approached the counter.

”Fellow Daoist Luo Chen?”

Luo Chen looked over in puzzlement. The man smiled faintly and pulled out a jade token marked with nine cloud patterns that resembled the Green Pill Valley sect’s insignia.

”This is your Nine-Stripe Honored Guest token. Infuse it with your spirit power, and you can enjoy your discounts from now on. Additionally, this token includes long-range spirit consciousness voice transmission. If you’re unable to leave home, you can transmit a message across a thousand li and have someone deliver pills directly to you.”

Luo Chen let out a soft grunt and tucked the jade token into his robe. However, as he studied the man’s face, a trace of doubt lingered.

The man was unfazed and promptly introduced himself, ”I am He Yun, of the Yu Xuan He family of the Green Pill Valley. By the grace of others, I’ve earned the Dao title of Xuan Yunzi.”

In the cultivation world, a Dao title wasn’t given lightly. Much like the martial world, where elite warriors receive honorific names, only cultivators of exceptional talent or profound accomplishment were deemed worthy. Luo Chen’s Dao title, Dan Chenzi, had first been little more than a marketing gimmick, a name forcibly bestowed by Mi Shuhua to boost recognition of the Jade Essence pill. That had been a stretch back then; unlike Dao titles like Peach Blossom Adept and Mistress of Fragrance, which were truly earned.

Now, the man before him carried one as well. The reason was not difficult to guess. A thick medicinal fragrance clung to his robes, betraying years steeped in pill energy. His every movement radiated the confidence of someone deeply versed in the Dao of alchemy.

With that realization, Luo Chen eased his expression and gave a respectful nod. ”Fellow Daoist Xuan Yunzi.”

Xuan Yunzi smiled faintly and sized up Luo Chen. ”You’re so young, Fellow Daoist, and yet buying pills in bulk like this. There’s something I want to say, though I’m not sure I should...”

Luo Chen twitched the corner of his mouth, somewhat speechless. If even you don’t know whether to say it or not, then why say anything at all?

However, on the surface, he still wore a look of respectful attentiveness. ”Feel free to speak your mind, Fellow Daoist!”

Xuan Yunzi gave a friendly warning. “Pills are effective, but one should not rely on them too much. Otherwise, pill toxins will build up, and when it comes time to form your core, they’ll cause problems.”

Luo Chen chuckled. “I appreciate the kind advice. Though I must admit... hearing such words from Green Pill Valley, a sect whose livelihood is selling pills, was not what I expected.”

Xuan Yunzi froze for a moment, then laughed as well. “I don’t know why, but speaking with you, I feel an unexpected sense of familiarity, Fellow Daoist Luo.”

“Much appreciated,” Luo Chen added with a grin.

As the two chatted, the attendant had already retrieved the full quantity of Ascending Dragon pills. Including the previous batch, all were discounted by five percent. The total came to eighteen thousand two hundred eighty-seven spirit stones, and Xuan Yunzi took the liberty of waiving the eighty-seven-stone remainder. As for that rule about no discount on the first purchase, it was never mentioned again.

After securing the pills, Luo Chen didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he asked with interest, “Does your store happen to sell mid-grade or top-grade Ascending Dragon pills?”

Xuan Yunzi looked at Luo Chen, thinking to himself that the other man had indeed taken his advice to heart. He was already thinking of switching to top-grade Ascending Dragon pills.

Unfortunately...

“I’m sorry,” Xuan Yunzi said with a sigh. “The Green Pill Valley never sells top-grade pills directly. It’s a rule from above, something I can’t override.”

Luo Chen sighed. ”That’s truly a pity.”

Xuan Yunzi studied Luo Chen carefully, his attire, his bearing, and the way he spoke. He seemed to come to a decision. He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a finely crafted invitation token, bearing the signature nine-cloud pattern of the Green Pill Valley.

”You seem like someone of considerable means, Fellow Daoist,” Xuan Yunzi said. ”The next major auction in Tianlan Immortal City will be jointly hosted by the Green Pill Valley and the Ice Fortress. With this invitation, you can attend without any financial vetting.”

Luo Chen was visibly surprised. He accepted the invitation and flipped it open, scanning its contents. The catalog already lists numerous rare treasures, including several enchanted artifacts and exclusive wares unique to the Green Pill Valley and the Ice Fortress. Among them, his eyes immediately landed on a listing, top-grade Ascending Dragon pill.

Treating the invitation with care, Luo Chen tucked it away. “I’ll definitely be there.”

As Luo Chen left the shop, he cast a final glance back. Xuan Yunzi still stood behind the counter, and as if sensing his gaze, turned and offered him one last smile.

Strange...How could someone radiate such vivid vitality and yet carry the shadow of death energy at the same time? Luo Chen thought as he shook his head and stepped onto the busy street.

Muttering to himself, he walked a while before turning suddenly into another shop.

The Fragrant Delights Pavilion!

“One box of Divine Fiery Incense, and ten bottles of Hundred Flowers Dew,” Luo Chen said as he stepped into the shop.

His entrance immediately drew a number of curious glances, not because of his cultivation, but simply because he was a man. The Fragrant Delights Pavilion was primarily visited by female cultivators, and male customers were an uncommon sight. Still, a guest was a guest, and an attendant quickly stepped forward to serve him personally.

Divine Fiery Incense was one of the renowned three great scents, a second-tier spirit fragrance often used during cultivation. Though cheaper than pills, it was no casual expense, each box of twelve sticks costing nearly three hundred spirit stones. Luo Chen winced inwardly as he handed over the payment.

After all, he wasn’t even sure if the Divine Fiery Incense would work for him. The calming incense he had used during Qi-Refining now had little to no effect. If he wanted to continue raising his proficiency in the Medicine King Codex of Yimu, he needed to find a new incense that would resonate with his current cultivation. Without it, the progress would remain painfully slow.

By contrast, he purchased the Hundred Flowers Dew without hesitation. The reasons were simple. First, it was cheap. As the sweet component among the four flavors and a signature product of the Hundred Flowers Palace, it was produced in massive quantities. The product emphasized volume, not price. Secondly, it was one of the three primary ingredients used in refining the Jade Dew pill.

The three main ingredients for the Jade Dew pill were Blue Smoke Jade, Lingting Fragrant Herb, and Hundred Flowers Dew. He had already tasked the Luo Tian Society with purchasing the first two aggressively. As for this last ingredient, he chose to purchase it personally. It was more convenient that way, and it allowed him to better control the secrecy of the alchemical formula. If all three ingredients were gathered publicly, the core composition of the pill could be guessed.

Even if it did leak, most people still wouldn’t be able to replicate the pill. Still, every bit of secrecy helped. This was an alchemist’s lifeblood! If he could avoid letting others see, he would. And even if someone saw, he would make sure they couldn’t decipher the specifics.

***

Before returning, Luo Chen paid a visit to Duan Feng. Duan Feng was in the midst of final preparations, poised to make a single, decisive attempt at Foundation Establishment. The timing could be anywhere from a few days to more than a month.

Cases like Luo Chen, where Foundation Establishment took an entire year, were extremely rare. That had much to do with how Luo Chen had prepared five different sets of Foundation Establishment spirit medicine. Moreover, the second-tier spirit land at Xiaohuan Mountain wasn’t natural but manmade, which he also had to spend a great deal of time replenishing the spirit stones needed for the formations. In contrast, Duan Feng had none of those complications.

Still, to maximize his chances of success, Luo Chen patiently went through all the key points and techniques of Foundation Establishment one more time. And under Duan Feng’s uncomfortable expression, Luo Chen personally injected a thread of pure spirit power into his body to simulate the dantian’s transformation into a spirit sea and the subsequent rush of energy flushing through the meridians. He exercised strict control, of course, ensuring that Duan Feng felt the process without suffering any harm.

Duan Feng focused his full attention on the experience. In the end, with a deeply conflicted expression, he murmured, ”Thank you.”

”No need to thank me!” Luo Chen replied. “Normally, you call me President, but in private, we’re still two brothers from the same siheyuan. I truly hope you succeed in your Foundation Establishment. The Great Dao is long and winding. If I walk it alone, it will be far too lonely. Not just you, I also hope Qin Liangchen and Caiyi can succeed in their Foundation Establishment.”

Luo Chen waved his hand and spoke sincerely. His words were heartfelt, with not a trace of pretense. Duan Feng was genuinely moved. He handed over the formation key that controlled access to his cave residence.

”If I haven’t come out in a month, it means I’ve failed. I’ll either be gravely injured or dead. When that time comes... come collect my corpse.”

As the Dragon-Sealing Stone descended and the concealing formation activated, a thick fog spread.

“He should succeed, right?” Luo Chen muttered to himself. He never considered himself cursed or a bringer of misfortune. If anything, he believed a touch of fortune followed him. Those around him often lived well and safely; it was his enemies who met untimely ends. With that belief, he had no desire to play the grim sentinel waiting to collect corpses.

What he truly longed to hear was the triumphant roar of someone breaking through.

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and departed. Riding a stream of drifting clouds, he returned to his cave residence, where a ghostly beauty had been waiting patiently.

The moment Bai Meiling sensed his return, her voice rang out with soft joy. “Master, you’re back!”