An Alchemist's Path to Eternity

”Wrong?” Hu Changle was stunned. He had asked himself repeatedly and felt he had considered every possible angle, yet there was still something he had missed?

As he struggled to understand, the look in Hu Changxi’s eyes deepened. ”There’s no such thing as an eternally close ally. Former friends can become enemies as times change.”

Hu Changle was taken aback. ”Big Brother, what do you mean?”

Hu Changxi explained patiently, ”The Danyuan Sect and the Li family are tied together by interests and strength. Now that Li Jinhuang is dead, only the interests remain, and interests can sway the heart. At this moment, that chain between them is at its most fragile point. It could turn to enmity in a single night. All it takes is a little push, and we can be the hand that gives the push.”

Hu Changle’s eyes brightened. He realized he had been relying entirely on old impressions to judge the future. That was indeed a mistake.

”And what about the Geng family?” Hu Changle asked.

”The Geng family?” Hu Changxi let out a cold laugh, his eyes carrying a hint of chill. ”Back then, the Geng family and the Li family stood together against us because of a conflict between their interests and our sandalwood trade. Now, for the sake of your Foundation Establishment breakthroughs, I’ve cut off the sandalwood trade. The feud with the Geng family is already gone. Of course, given the old grudge, working together is impossible.”

Hu Changle was puzzled. ”If we can’t work together, then what’s the point?”

Hu Changxi gave him a sidelong glance. ”We might not be able to cooperate, but if they are neutral, that’s good enough. The Geng family has their own long-term concerns and short-term worries.”

Long-term concerns and short-term worries? Hu Changle furrowed his brow, carefully pondering the meaning. The long-term concerns clearly referred to the Hu family. If they did not seek revenge, the Geng family would have no reason to worry. But the short-term worries?

Hu Changxi didn’t elaborate and went straight to giving orders. ”That said, what you said earlier had some merit. Whether it’s the Green Pill Valley’s stance, the possibility of Li Jinhuang faking his death, or the support from the Luo Tian Society, we have to consider them all.

”Therefore, Fourth Brother, you go contact the Danyuan Sect and see what they’re thinking. Second Brother, you spread the news of Li Jinhuang’s death, especially among those who have a grudge or business entanglements with the Li family. Also, keep a close eye on the Li family estate to see if Li Jinhuang is truly dead or just pretending.”

Hu Changnu couldn’t help but ask, ”Can I make a move?”

Hu Changxi nodded. ”Killing a few of the Li family’s low-tier cultivators to test their reaction is fine.”

A cruel smile spread across Hu Changnu’s face. ”Good, I’ll collect some interest first!”

”And what about you, Big Brother?” Hu Changle asked curiously.

Hu Changxi’s eyes glinted. ”I will personally visit the Geng family to show our sincerity!”

With the plan decided, the three brothers wasted no time preparing to set off. But before they could even step out, a visitor arrived.

”A cultivator from the Danyuan Sect?” Hu Changle was startled.

He instinctively looked at his eldest brother, who gave him a slight nod. Indeed, everything changed with time; there was no such thing as an eternal ally!

***

By Qinhua River’s banks, countless rugged mountains loomed. Atop a solitary peak stood a man in a crimson Daoist robe, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes gazing across the plains stretching thousands of li into the distance.

The Li family estate lay nestled against the mountainside, its houses arranged in neat rows. On the plains below, countless medicinal fields released their rich fragrance, while three vast fish ponds teemed with various types of first-tier spirit fish. Such wealth would stir envy in any Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even Luo Chen, who had visited often, felt a flicker of desire. Yet when he recalled all that Li Jinhuang had done in his lifetime, he suppressed the thought. A person needed to have principles! Besides, such a fat piece of meat wouldn’t be easy to swallow.

Luo Chen’s gaze wandered over the fish ponds and medicinal fields. Usually, countless mortals and cultivators would be bustling among them, managing the family business diligently. Now, with Li Jinhuang’s death, the entire estate was steeped in mourning. White banners fluttered high, and paper offerings drifted on the wind.

His eyes moved to the rolling waters of the Qinhua River and the rugged mountains flanking its banks, but he refrained from probing with his spirit consciousness. Doing so might alert hidden watchers. Instead, he relied on his Spirit Eyes to examine every detail. After several hours, he finally stopped.

”It seems there really are quite a few people interested in the Li family’s estate,” he murmured.

Like Danxia Peak, this region still fell under the jurisdiction of Tianlan Immortal City and was subject to a rental fee every ten years. Yet compared to that rent, the Li family’s profits were dozens of times greater.

However, Tianlan Immortal City had an unspoken rule. If the land was rented to you, how you developed and managed it was your business, and whether you could keep the fruits of your labor was also up to you. If the estate had been left half-abandoned like Danxia Peak had once been, it would have drawn little attention from other factions or rogue cultivators. But the Li family had unlocked the land’s full potential. Seizing it now would mean reaping all its rewards with barely any effort.

”To keep this piece of the pie, I’m afraid I’ll have to put in quite a bit of effort,” Luo Chen muttered.

Reaching into his robe, he drew out a banner as black as ink, wreathed in ghostly energy. This was none other than the Soul-Refining Banner!

”Come forth!” he commanded.

As he recited the incantation, a Ghost General clad in dark armor emerged from the Soul-Refining Banner. Even with the blazing sun high overhead, the light posed no threat to him. Once a ghost advanced to the rank of Ghost General, the sunlight could no longer harm it.

Upon seeing Luo Chen, the Ghost General dropped to one knee, its unruly demeanor replaced with deep reverence.

Luo Chen studied the familiar figure, Little Black, and gave a satisfied nod. After devouring the soul of Tu Shan, a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator, Little Black had fallen into a deep sleep. In the years since, Luo Chen had frequently refined the Soul-Refining Banner, forging an exceptionally strong spirit bond. Now, the banner had advanced to supreme-grade, and Little Black, the single main soul within, acknowledged him as its only master.

”Stand guard here! If any Foundation Establishment cultivator attacks the Li family, report to me at once,” Luo Chen commanded.

Little Black let out a deep, muffled acknowledgment, its kneeling posture growing even more deferential.

Luo Chen immediately unfurled the Soul-Refining Banner and set up a concealment formation within the mountain. This mountain had little spirit energy and was quite far from the Li family estate. Anyone interested in the Li family wouldn’t come this far out.

With Little Black hiding here, the chance of discovery was minimal. This move served as surveillance, and it also gave Luo Chen a fallback in case his plans failed.

Before planning for victory, he had to consider the possibility of defeat. He would do everything in his power for the Li family, but if the situation became untenable, he would not throw his life away.

With the precaution in place, Luo Chen left the area.

After taking a long detour, he arrived outside Danxia Peak. But before he could enter the mountain, his steps halted. A figure paced back and forth outside the mountain, seemingly hesitant about something.

”What are you doing here?” Luo Chen called out, his tone calm yet edged with curiosity.

***

In the quiet Grand Hall of the Luo Tian Society, Xing Zhonghan spoke in a troubled tone, ”That’s how it is. I never expected Ying Yang to not only collude with the Jade True Temple but also ally himself with the Divine Craftsman Sect.”

Above him, Luo Chen’s expression grew solemn. He hadn’t anticipated that this reunion with Xing Zhonghan would bring such unsettling news.

After a moment of thought, Luo Chen asked patiently, ”Are they working with the entire Divine Craftsman Sect or just Lu Rong?”

Xing Zhonghan looked uncertain, then slowly nodded. ”It’s probably just Lu Rong,” he replied. After another pause, he added with more certainty, ”Yes, I’m sure it’s only him. As far as I know, the Divine Craftsman Sect wants to shift its business focus outward. Sect Master Fei Changqiu thinks the artifact forging trade in Tianlan Immortal City is too competitive and has no interest in getting further entangled.”

Luo Chen frowned. ”Then why are you sure these three forces have united to target the Luo Tian Society?”

”I don’t know the details,” Xing Zhonghan admitted. ”But it was Lu Rong who personally approached me. As for why the Sky Eagle Peak and the Jade True Temple agreed, I’m not sure.”

Once he finished speaking, Luo Chen fell into deep thought. He had some entanglement with the Divine Craftsman Sect, but nothing worth fighting to the death over. Sect Master Fei Changqiu had never bothered them again, and if he didn’t act, then the Divine Craftsman Sect wouldn’t act either. Lu Rong, despite being humiliated, was alone and powerless. But who could have guessed that the man would find allies outside? Was it simply a matter of pride? Or was it for that second-tier Physique Refinement technique? Or perhaps they were just envious of Danxia Peak’s growing wealth?

Suddenly, Xing Zhonghan seemed to remember something and said, ”The Sky Eagle Peak and the Jade True Temple might be after your Foundation Establishment pills!”

Luo Chen was stunned. ”Foundation Establishment pills?”

”Yes!” Xing Zhonghan’s voice was certain, his expression resolute. ”Both sects have a huge number of Qi Refinement cultivators, but only one Foundation Establishment Initiate each. Every auction offers only a limited number of Foundation Establishment pills. The Luo Tian Society has nurtured three or four Foundation Establishment Initiates in just under six years since arriving at Tianlan Immortal City! I’ve heard that one failed before, but now even the director is attempting to reach Foundation Establishment.

”And you only bought a single Foundation Establishment pill at auction, yet that one pill has supposedly fueled four or five attempts. Rumors have been saying that the Luo Tian Society either swept some land clean of wealth or found a secret realm inheritance and has a hoard of Foundation Establishment pills! There’s no shortage of envious eyes!”

Luo Chen’s expression changed dramatically. This news shook him even more than hearing someone might target the Luo Tian Society.