An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

Luo Chen handed the massive Green-Scaled Dragon Fish to Yuan Dongsheng and said, ”This is a great fish; its droppings can be used as fertilizer to enhance soil aeration. It allows spirit energy to permeate the roots of spirit plants, making them grow faster and better!”

Yuan Dongsheng’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. He had only heard of Green-Scaled Dragon Fish from his fiancée, Li Yingjun. The reason the Li family’s medicinal herb business thrived was precisely because they often used the droppings of Green-Scaled Dragon Fish to elevate the tier of their spirit fields and aid the growth of spirit plants. He hadn’t expected that the president would actually catch a first-tier late stage Green-Scaled Dragon Fish!

Yuan Dongsheng immediately ordered people to feed the big fish and then took Luo Chen on a walk through the mountains. As they walked, he started ranting off a detailed report. ”This area is relatively flat. There are thirty-seven spirit fields here, and all of them have been restored to their original tier. We’ve pulled out the Sky Silkworm Cloud Beans and Ten Fragrant Pods that were previously planted. After the heavy snow, we plan to plant Azure Silvergrass here. The Azure Silvergrass is rich in spirit energy, high in economic value, and grows quickly. The only flaw is that it’s too delicate and requires careful tending. We’ve had Elder Min Longyu survey the area once, and he said that a formation could be arranged to protect the growth of the Azure Silvergrass. And over there is...”

The two of them walked and talked, though it was mostly Yuan Dongsheng doing the speaking while Luo Chen listened quietly. Along the way, they occasionally encountered Battle Hall cultivators working in the spirit fields to earn merit points. Whenever they saw Luo Chen, they would always stand aside, greeting him warmly and respectfully, and Luo Chen would respond with a smile. Sometimes he would stop to ask about their cultivation progress and offer a few words of guidance or encouragement.

As they made their way around Danxia Peak, Luo Chen gained a clear and comprehensive understanding of the spirit fields spread across the peak. The scale was far beyond what he had initially expected. If properly managed, it could yield over a hundred thousand spirit stones annually! Setting aside the Alchemy Hall, these spirit fields would be the main source of income for the Luo Tian Society. Renting Danxia Peak for ten years at one hundred thousand spirit stones was an absolute bargain!

Of course, the Ice Fortress didn’t lose out either. All they had was the right to collect rent; the ownership of Danxia Peak was jointly held by seven sects. In truth, they didn’t even mind selling the land, because it wasn’t theirs alone. Moreover, managing spirit fields was a tough job that required constant care. It required an experienced spirit botanist like Yuan Dongsheng. If it were given to some rogue cultivator with no knowledge of farming, he wouldn’t even know how to grow weeds on it.

Previously, no one wanted to rent it because the situation on Danxia Peak was too complicated. Rent was high, rogue cultivators were everywhere, and minor factions like the Divine Craftsman Sect and the Geng family also meddled. In the end, it was Luo Chen who used his wit and strength to secure this territory.

Even so, the Luo Tian Society spent considerable effort to restore these spirit fields to their true potential.

As they continued walking, they arrived at a secluded section of Danxia Peak. Here, a few narrow spirit fields were already planted with Climbing Star Vines. These plants were well-suited for the terrain, as they normally grew along mountain walls.

Luo Chen stopped and praised his interlocutor, ”You’ve done well, and I hope you’ll continue to do even better!”

Yuan Dongsheng smiled modestly. ”President, you’ve done so much for me and even arranged a wonderful marriage for me, so these things are only my duty.”

It seems he’s quite satisfied with his fiancée. Watching his enthusiasm, Luo Chen couldn’t help but shake his head with a faint smile and said, ”Keep up the good work in the future! When you reach the ninth stage of Qi Refinement, I’ll make sure you’re in charge of the Medicine Hall.”

Yuan Dongsheng froze and asked instinctively, ”Then what about Hall Leader Bian Zhen?”

”That was never his true calling. He’s only in that position because of his cultivation,” Luo Chen replied as he turned to walk back. ”Of course, the Luo Tian Society will make other arrangements for him.”

Hearing those words, Yuan Dongsheng finally felt at ease. As he followed behind Luo Chen, his expression lit up with excitement, and his heart beat faster with anticipation. He had never been one who desired power, but the Medicine Hall had been established and built up by his grandmother. If one day he could take charge of the Medicine Hall again, he would have lived up to her expectations.

***

Next, Luo Chen made his way to the Artifact Hall, the Battle Hall, and even took some time to visit the newly forming Biyou Valley. By the time he finished visiting, it was already quite late. When he finally returned to the Luo Tian Society’s Grand Hall, Sima Huiniang had already been waiting patiently for some time.

Sitting down on a chair, Luo Chen let out a sigh. ”Huiniang, you’ve really done a great job!”

After many years of honing her mindset, Sima Huiniang had developed a mature and steady composure. Yet when she heard Luo Chen’s praise, she still felt her nose tingle and her eyes moisten. To an outsider, his praise might have seemed random or just a polite remark, but Sima Huiniang knew exactly why he had said it.

That afternoon, Luo Chen hadn’t just been checking the progress of the various halls. Instead, he had been assessing the members’ attitude toward the new policies of the society.

It was undoubtedly a risky move to reduce the base salaries. Throughout history, the decline of countless great sects and organizations often began with policies like budget cuts and tightened personnel management.

In his previous life, Luo Chen had been nothing more than a mid-level corporate employee. He understood these concepts in theory, but not always in practice. Thus, when deciding to implement this policy, he felt a deep unease. He didn’t want to see the Luo Tian Society he had built to crumble so quickly. But the reality proved that he had no other choice. Otherwise, the collapse of the Luo Tian Society would have come even sooner.

This matter had weighed heavily on Luo Chen’s mind for some time. That was why, after meeting with Li Jinhuang, he had come straight to Danxia Peak.

But after observing the situation firsthand, he found no sign of overwhelming public resentment. The cultivators had accepted the new policy without much resistance. And what earned that acceptance wasn’t the policy itself, but rather the fact that the person who enforced it did an excellent job!

That was why Luo Chen had offered his praise so sincerely. Sima Huiniang might have had some limitations in developing a business on her own due to her cultivation, but when it came to management and personnel affairs, she possessed real talent. Over the years, she had refined that talent into something solid and reliable.

”President, you flatter me,” Sima Huiniang said softly. ”I was only able to manage this much because of your standing. Your prestige is what made everything proceed so smoothly.”

“Prestige?” Luo Chen shook his head with a small smile. “Maybe.”

Looking at the slightly weary woman before him, Luo Chen could guess just how much she had endured during the rollout of the new merit policies. After all, all the generosity and benefits were attributed to Luo Chen as the president, but when it came to cutting corners or enforcing limits, the blame always landed on Director Sima Huiniang.

She said seriously, ”When we first implemented the merit policy, I started by setting an example to keep everyone in line. Then I followed through with both rewards and penalties, making the system clear from the start. The Luo Tian Society’s policy is much better than what many other factions have, anyway. Everyone keeps their accounts in their hearts, whether it’s good or bad.

”Most importantly, everyone here feels that following you means they have a chance to rise. Duan Feng, Wang Yuan, and Min Longyu have already reached Foundation Establishment, and Hall Leader Murong is on the verge of breaking through. Of course the rest wonder about themselves and what future holds. They feel that as long as they stay with you, they’ll have a shot as well. Other factions would not give them such hopes. Only you would, President.”

Is that so? Luo Chen was pleased to hear it, but his mind drifted back to Li Jinhuang’s words that morning. That old man probably used that as a way to judge my character too!

After all, anyone could speak sweet words, but the reality was another matter entirely. Luo Chen didn’t need to say much, because Foundation Establishment cultivators had appeared one after the other thanks to his support. That was the strongest proof!

”I have complete trust in leaving the Luo Tian Society in your hands,” Luo Chen said. ”Keep up the good work.”

Without wasting any more words, Luo Chen simply offered a few words of encouragement before leaving Danxia Peak. If he stayed any longer, Tianlan’s Immortal City gates would close, and he would have to trouble old Xu Jingnian again.

Now was a crucial time for advancing to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and Luo Chen didn’t want to waste even a day. He had taken the whole day to check on any hidden threats within the Luo Tian Society. Only when the society was stable could he fully devote himself to alchemy and cultivation.

Under the cold night, a flying boat streaked across the sky above the wasteland.

Suddenly, Luo Chen frowned. Up ahead, not far in the distance, three eagles twisted and dove through the air, each one fitted with enchanted artifacts gleaming with a murderous glow.

Amidst them, a single figure was being surrounded, struggling to hold their ground.

”How interesting,” Luo Chen murmured. ”A dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator forced into such a state by three Qi Refinement cultivators...”

Luo Chen shook his head, having no intention of getting involved in this mess. He merely glanced at it before fully activating the Langqi Flying Boat, preparing to go around the group ahead.

Still, as the flying boat soared through the sky, his eyes remained fixed on the battle below. For some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the person under assault looked familiar.

Hmm? It’s him!

Luo Chen remembered the scar-faced cultivator who had sold him three incomplete enchanted treasures. The man reached Foundation Establishment around the same time as Min Longyu, but before stabilizing his realm, he had left Tianlan Immortal City.

As Luo Chen watched, that scar-faced cultivator seemed to be at the end of his rope and suddenly let out a furious roar. ”You whelps, you’re going too far! Die!”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, a blinding sword light burst forth. It gleamed like a divine blade, slicing through the air with unstoppable force. In the blink of an eye, the three Qi Refinement cultivators and their eagles were completely obliterated, so swiftly that not even a final cry was left behind.

”An enchanted treasure!” Luo Chen noted. ” What a pity. He barely refined it a little. That one strike drained all his spirit power and even injured him in return.”

He shook his head with a faint sigh. Either way, to think three Qi Refinement cultivators dared to surround a Foundation Establishment cultivator... They truly didn’t know the limits of their strength.

Those three cultivators may have been decent, but they weren’t strong enough to pose a real threat. Compared to Duan Feng or Qin Liangchen during their time in Dahe Market days, these three didn’t even come close. At best, they were on the same level as Zeng Wen. For them to think they could kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator was simply the epitome of folly.

Shaking his head once more, Luo Chen adjusted the course of the flying boat, steering it to bypass the aftermath of the fight.

Suddenly, a voice called from behind him. ”Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, save me!”