An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

As Fairy Ruthless stepped forward to announce the next item up for bid, her voice rang out with calm authority, echoing through the grand auction hall. One by one, a steady stream of Foundation Establishment cultivators joined the bidding, and among them was Luo Chen.

The item that Fairy Ruthless announced was the Xuyang Tree, a third-tier spirit tree of significant economic value. During its growth, the tree naturally enhanced the surrounding environment, harmonizing the flow of yin and yang energies. Its immense energies attracted numerous high-tier spirit birds. Roc-type avians, in particular, were fond of nesting in its branches.

However, the tree had its limits. Upon reaching the third tier, it would stop growing and begin to disturb the surrounding ley lines. For that reason, cultivators typically chose to harvest it once it reached that threshold. Once cut down, its parts served various purposes. The bark was useful in alchemy and the leaves were suitable for artifact forging, but the most treasured component was its core. Only the core of the Xuyang Tree retained the full third-tier essence.

When refined into pills, it could enhance one’s divine soul foundation and expand spirit consciousness. This alone made it a coveted resource among alchemists. But alchemical formulas that could make use of this property were exceedingly rare and hard to refine. Most cultivators pursued the tree for a more practical reason.

Xuyang core wood could be ignited with Foundation Establishment true fire and burned like incense. Due to this use, the core wood was also known as Warm Yang Incense. This incense had the remarkable ability to rapidly heal soul injuries. Its direct, uncomplicated use made it widely favored among cultivators. Hence, this property wasn’t a secret, and many knew of it. Even among those who did not suffer from soul injuries, many would purchase some just in case.

The Divine Ghost Heartmirror drained my soul too heavily during the simulation. Even with Spirit Passage pills, recovery will take several months. But with Warm Yang Essence, I could recover much faster, Luo Chen thought.

Luo Chen had made up his mind to win the bid. Though the bidding atmosphere wasn’t especially heated, the price continued to climb, even without Fairy Ruthless actively hyping it up. Luo Chen didn’t rely on clever tactics or feints. He simply raised his hand and bid with a calm, steady, and unshaken emotion.

”Five thousand!”

”Six thousand!”

When the price reached six thousand eight hundred, many Foundation Establishment cultivators bowed out. Spending too many spirit stones on a backup resource wasn’t cost-effective. In the end, only two bidders remained, and following Luo Chen’s offer of seven thousand five hundred spirit stones, the last rival bidder withdrew. It was clear Luo Chen would not back down. The other bidder had his sights set on another item and chose not to expend resources here.

”Congratulations to the Luo Tian Society for securing the item,” came Fairy Ruthless’s declaration. ”Next up is a rare ore material...”

At the mention of ”Luo Tian Society,” Luo Chen frowned slightly but said nothing. At auctions hosted by major sects with Golden Core presence, it was standard to make bidder identities public. There were several advantages to this approach. If the other bidder was notably wealthy, it helped avoid pointless bidding wars and unnecessary grudges. It also made clear who obtained what, allowing for follow-up negotiations or exchanges. That way, secondary transactions could be made more easily among cultivators.

As for the argument that it might cool the bidding atmosphere and result in lower final prices? Major sects didn’t care for such petty losses. They scoffed at such negligible profits. What they valued was a harmonious business environment and a sustainable and stable ecosystem for long-term trade. They couldn’t afford to host an auction only to have bidders fighting bitterly or worse, killing and robbing each other after it ended. If such chaos became the norm, weaker cultivators would no longer dare to participate. By making the bidding process public, such problems could be curbed at the source. And if any rogue cultivator dared to act out, the city could simply blacklist them permanently.

One precious item after another was brought out for bidding, and during the process, Luo Chen placed several calm and steady bids. Among his successful purchases was a batch of third-tier mineral ore, acquired for twelve thousand spirit stones. It was the final material needed to complete Duan Feng’s enchanted treasure embryo. With this and the Heavy Profound Darkwater Luo Chen had previously picked up from a street stall, Duan Feng would finally be able to begin refining his treasure once they returned.

Then came the next item, a second-tier Physique Refinement cultivation technique. The starting bid was modest at just five thousand spirit stones. As expected, interest for it was scarce. The path of Physique Refinement had long declined in popularity, and there were only few cultivators that were still pursuing it. Still, one bidder persisted in challenging Luo Chen, refusing to back down. The price climbed steadily until it reached eight thousand low-grade spirit stones.

”That’s Lu Rong from the Divine Craftsman Sect,” Duan Feng murmured, furrowing his brows.

Sima Huiniang said with concern, ”The Divine Craftsman Sect has never been on good terms with us. President, perhaps it’s best to give up on this technique? No need to deepen the grudge over it.”

Luo Chen gave a faint smirk. Deepen the grudge?

He had never gone out of his way to offend them. If such a petty matter could foster resentment, that wasn’t his fault. Besides, having caught sight of Wang Yuan’s eager expression out of the corner of his eye, Luo Chen had no intention of backing down. He said calmly, ”Lu Rong practices both Qi Refinement and Physique Refinement. That’s common knowledge in the city. If someone like him is interested in this second-tier Physique Refinement technique, then it must hold value. And if it holds value, then... whoever can afford that value gets to own it!”

With that, Luo Chen raised his hand and called out his bid, ”Ten thousand!”

It was a sharp hike, twenty-five percent in one go. His voice cut through the room like a blade, silencing all discussion.

Fairy Ruthless cast a glance at Luo Chen’s private room and said coolly, ”Qi-Physique Origin Method, bid of ten thousand from the Luo Tian Society, first call!”

The Divine Craftsman Sect lacked a private room and sat in the general hall. This was a clear sign of their low standing within Tianlan Immortal City. Even the Luo Tian Society had only secured a modest private room thanks to their collaboration with Tantai Jin. Naturally, this meant Lu Rong wasn’t exactly in a position to make extravagant purchases.

And indeed, hearing this bid, Lu Rong’s expression darkened considerably. Ten thousand spirit stones was no small amount. Their sect never earned much, and his personal wealth was even more limited. Just renting his cave residence cost him a thousand spirit stones every month, and he had already splurged on cultivation pills the day before. At that point, his purse was painfully light.

In desperation, Lu Rong turned to the man beside him and said, ”Sect Master, could you lend me some spirit stones?”

Fei Qingqiu’s face was unreadable, but his voice was cold as he replied, ”You’re always trying to walk both paths. Either refine qi or refine your physique. Not both. With your means, do you think you’ll ever reach Core Formation?”

”But...”

”No buts. If you want to bid, do it with your own spirit stones. I won’t lend you a single one.” Seeing that Lu Rong still looked hesitant, Fei Qingqiu’s tone turned even frostier, ”And if you make a reckless bid and can’t pay, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Lu Rong’s fists clenched tightly beneath the table. He glared at the Luo Tian Society’s private room with undisguised resentment, but in the end, he said nothing more and withdrew from the bidding.

As the Fairy Ruthless declared, ”Ten thousand spirit stones, third call!”

The second-tier Physique Refinement cultivation technique was now Luo Chen’s.

Inside the private room, Wang Yuan’s face lit up with a grin. ”Luo Chen, let me reimburse you for the spirit stones now.”

Luo Chen waved him off casually and replied, ”There’s no need to worry about small things like this between us. Just let me take a look once you’re done with it.”

Wang Yuan smiled and nodded, accepting the gesture without another word. Off to the side, Kang Xianqiong sat quietly, feeling increasingly out of place. Her eyes moved from Luo Chen to the others in the room, and there was a thoughtful look in her gaze. He gifted Sima Huiniang a Foundation Establishment pill. He bid on rare materials for Duan Feng. Now he has a Physique Refinement technique for Wang Yuan. Isn’t this just too generous? Maybe this is why so many people are willing to follow him...

***

The auction moved on. As it progressed, the treasures on offer grew increasingly rare and valuable. Luo Chen also began bidding more frequently, but not every attempt was successful. For example, he had been particularly keen on a second-tier large spirit-gathering formation. If it were installed on Danxia Peak, it would elevate the spirit energy density across the entire area and benefit every member of the Luo Tian Society.

However, the bidding quickly turned fierce. Five powerful cultivation families threw everything they had into the competition, determined to win it. Halfway through, Luo Chen made the call to withdraw. In the end, the formation was claimed by Zheng Kejian of Rolling Dragon Ridge with a staggering bid of twenty-eight thousand. That amount could easily buy a decent offensive enchanted treasure. Only the Zheng family, being in the pill business, had the wealth to afford it.

Shaking his head, Luo Chen turned his focus to the next item.

”Ice Silkworm Meditation Mat, a supreme-grade enchanted artifact!” the Fairy Ruthless’ voice rang out once again. ”A specialty of the Ice Fortress, crafted from the silk of ice silkworms bred in the Great Snow Mountains. A support-type cultivation enchanted artifact. While cultivating, using this mat helps maintain mental clarity and calm, even under great pressure. The starting bid is five thousand spirit stones!”

Hearing the description, Luo Chen’s interest stirred. Enchanted artifacts for cultivation support were exceedingly rare. His Divine Ghost Heartmirror was one such treasure, and it had proven invaluable. Items of this kind were not just decorations; some enhanced cultivation speed, others shielded the mind from external disturbances, and a few granted mystical techniques. As for this Ice Silkworm Meditation Mat, its function was clear; it brought serenity to the heart and clarity to the soul, suppressing the rise of inner demons.

I’ve advanced boldly and steadily all the way here, and I never once paused to rest. Though I’ve built a solid foundation at every stage, my cultivation time is ultimately too short... It’s fine for now, but over time, the risk of falling into deviation is very real.

Luo Chen understood himself better now, especially after undergoing the Divine Ghost Heartmirror simulation. If he truly wanted to progress swiftly yet maintain stability, he had to account for mental fortitude as well. And there was one other factor—ever since the Divine Ghost Heartmirror simulation, his thoughts had often drifted. His emotions had grown erratic. He was not in a state suitable for further cultivation. If he could acquire this mat, it would spare him a lot of trouble.

Luo Chen’s primary targets in this auction were the Warm Yang Incense and some third-tier healing pills. The former could help his exhausted divine soul, and the latter was to fulfill his promise to Kang Xianqiong. The Ice Silkworm Meditation Mat hadn’t been listed among the highlighted treasures on the invitation. It was likely something the Ice Fortress had added at the last minute. In any case, Luo Chen didn’t hesitate and quickly entered the bidding. In the end, he secured it with a commanding bid of nine thousand spirit stones!

After he won the Ice Silkworm Mat, many Foundation Establishment cultivators in the venue began to take notice of him. By the look of things, Luo Chen had made several bids since the auction began, and most of them had been successful. This not only highlighted his sharp auction instincts, but more importantly, it emphasized how wealthy he was. In other words, any treasure he set his eyes on next would likely come at a high price. Many cultivators with thin wallets were already praying they wouldn’t have to compete against him again.

Fairy Ruthless’s calm voice rang out once more, ”One unrefined sword orb, produced by the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. The starting bid is ten thousand spirit stones!”

An eerie silence spread through the auction hall.

A sword orb!

This was the exclusive weapon of the Sword Sect in the Jade Cauldron Domain. While some occasionally leaked into circulation, they were never officially sold! Yet now, an Ice Fortress cultivator was openly putting one up for auction?

It could be on consignment from another party. But would the Ice Fortress really allow that? Could it be that...

Immediately, several sect-affiliated Foundation Establishment cultivators began considering deeper implications. But even so, the bidding enthusiasm was anything but low. After all, sword orbs were widely known to be the embryo of an enchanted treasure. They could be nurtured from the Foundation Establishment stage and used as top-grade or even supreme-grade enchanted artifacts, and once one reached Core Formation, such treasures could potentially evolve into a cultivator’s life-bound enchanted treasure.

It was well known that enchanted treasures varied in quality. Besides tier and grade, they were divided into ordinary enchanted treasures and life-bound enchanted treasures. The former could be acquired by anyone with spirit stones and some luck. Even Foundation Establishment Initiates could wield them with some effect. The latter, on the other hand, were unique; they only had one owner. They were intimately tied to a cultivator’s life, and even to their path to the Great Dao.

From the outset, they were tailored for their owner and capable of growth. As long as one continued cultivating, such treasures could remain useful well into Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, or even Ascension Realm. Well, Ascension was too far off for Luo Chen to consider now. But even within the Golden Core Realm, the power of life-bound enchanted treasure generally exceeded that of ordinary ones of the same tier, as they were crafted specifically for their user and nurtured with considerable effort. Not only did they feel like extensions of one’s own body, but they also brought out the cultivator’s full potential.

An unrefined sword orb? Luo Chen’s eyes lit up.

He didn’t plan on switching to the sword path. Rather, he remembered the gray sword scabbard stored in his storage pouch. It was also an enchanted treasure embryo, one with growth potential. At first, it had only been a low-grade enchanted artifact, but once a sword orb was integrated, it had leapt to mid-grade. If more sword orbs were added, how far could its grade potentially rise? The sword scabbard required no nurturing time, and its activation method was unusually simple, so investing in it was a no-brainer.

He joined the bidding. However, as the price soared to thirty thousand spirit stones, he decisively withdrew.

That is far too much! At this price, it’s more of a burden than a benefit to me. Besides, if I bought it, I’d have to worry about the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect coming after me, it’s just not worth forcing it.

As he calmly withdrew from the bidding, a cultivator from the Shaohua Mountain Yue family, who had been a leading contender, glanced over and offered him a grateful look. Luo Chen met it with a quiet smile and a slight nod. No words were needed; the sentiment was understood.

The Yue family, known for their mastery of swordsmanship, clearly saw the sword orb as a resource to empower their own. Though they were not necessarily sword orb specialists, their sword control techniques far outclassed those of ordinary cultivators. They would put the treasure to good use. And Luo Chen’s earlier bids had certainly caused some tension in the hall. By choosing to back out early, he’d done the Yue family a little favor.

After he stepped back, the other remaining bidder, who clearly didn’t desire the item as much as the Yue family, soon dropped out as well, and so, the pristine sword orb was secured by the Yue family.

Fairy Ruthless announced the next item. ”One hundred bottles of mid-grade qi-consolidation pills refined by the Medicine King Sect. They will be auctioned in ten rounds, with ten bottles each round. The starting bid is ten thousand spirit stones.”

The moment she finished speaking, Luo Chen froze. In that instant, he held his breath and thought, This is it! I have to win these. The more, the better.